Mar 02, 2026 Economic Development

[00:00:01]

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. AFTERNOON. TODAY IS MARCH 2ND.

[Economic Development on March 2, 2026.]

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER 3RD.

AND THERE'S A MOTION. AND THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS? OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. SECOND ITEM IS APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 6TH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU TO THOSE THAT TOOK THE TIME TO BE HERE TODAY.

YOUR PRESENCE MATTERS. SHOWING UP, SPEAKING OUT AND STAYING ENGAGED ARE POWERFUL WAYS TO SHAPE THE DECISIONS THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO APPRECIATE THOSE THAT HAVE CALLED AND EMAILED EVERY EFFORT TO PARTICIPATE.

WHILE THERE IS NO ACTION TODAY ON CITY HALL, THIS IS STILL AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC INPUT.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH OUR REGISTERED SPEAKERS, EACH OF WHOM WILL RECEIVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS US AFTER ALL REGISTERED SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN HEARD.

WE WILL INVITE THOSE THAT HAVE THAT DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO REGISTER TO COME FORWARD AND SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS.

THANK YOU, MADAM CITY SECRETARY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WILL NOW RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.

SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY, DECORUM AND GOOD CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE.

ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL AND PERTINENT, PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS, OR WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE COMMITTEE, WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN PERSON.

FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION AGAIN.

AS THE CHAIR HAS MENTIONED, INDIVIDUALS BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

YOU'LL NOTICE THE TIME YOUR TIME ON THE SMALLER MONITOR ON THE PODIUM.

FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

ALSO, SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO REFER TO ANY OF THE COMMITTEE COUNCIL MEMBERS BY NAME.

AND TO ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO CHAIR MORENO.

I WILL CALL SPEAKERS IN TWO GROUPS. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, I WILL ASK THAT YOU COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST TWO ROWS OF THIS CENTER SECTION. JENNIFER SCRIPPS AND MISS SCRIPPS. IF YOU'RE HERE, YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM.

JENNIFER SCRIPPS, SYDNEY WALKER, ANDREW SKOLA, QUIN MATTHEWS, MELANIE VANLANDINGHAM, DOLORES LEVY SERROKA, ROBERT MECKFESSEL, COOKIE PEADON, DARWIN PAYNE, KEVIN PHEIFFER, MIKE NORTHRUP, CAROL BELL-WALTON, BRUCE RICHARDSON AND STAN ATEN.

MISS SCRIPPS, YOU MAY BEGIN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JENNIFER SCRIPPS, AND I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS, INC., THE CHIEF ADVOCATE, CHAMPION AND STEWARD OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS FOR NEARLY THE LAST 70 YEARS.

AND I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE AT DDI HAVE CLOSELY FOLLOWED EVERY STEP OF THIS PROCESS OF DISCERNMENT REGARDING THE FUTURE OF CITY HALL. CITY HALL IS CORE IN MANY WAYS TO WHAT DOWNTOWN IS AND WILL BE.

WE APPLAUD THE SOLID ANALYSIS OF THE EDC REPORT, AND WHILE NOT EVERYTHING CAN POSSIBLY BE KNOWN TO THE LAST CENT OF CERTAINTY IN A PROJECT THIS LARGE AND COMPLEX, WE BELIEVE THAT IT MADE A COMPELLING AND OVERWHELMING CASE THAT THIS BUILDING NEEDS MAJOR COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE IN AN ERA IN WHICH EVERY PUBLIC DOLLAR MUST WORK HARDER AS WE BALANCE INVESTMENTS IN LIBRARIES, PARKS, SANITATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, STREETS, FLOOD CONTROL, AND MORE.

THESE ARE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT TAXPAYERS EXPECT TO BE PRIORITIZED AHEAD OF POURING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO A BUILDING THAT MOST RESIDENTS HAVE NEVER VISITED.

AS SUCH, THIS IS A GENERATIONAL DECISION. DDI SUPPORTS THE DIRECTION TO CONTINUE EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE GOVERNMENT CENTER OPTIONS.

WE BELIEVE THIS IS A PRUDENT COMMON SENSE STEWARDSHIP, BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT ANY FUTURE GOVERNMENT CENTER SHOULD REMAIN IN DOWNTOWN, INTEGRATED WITH TRANSIT, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE DENSE CONCENTRATION OF CITY SERVICES THAT DEFINE THE HEART OF OUR CITY.

PLUS, THE AMAZING PARKS WE HAVE INVESTED HERE IN DOWNTOWN, WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE KEY GATHERING SPACES.

WE KNOW OUR CONSTITUENTS NEED. DDI WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY WILL NOT ONLY HONOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY HERE, BUT ALSO ALLOW FOR US TO LEVERAGE THE SITE AS WE CONNECT IT BETTER TO OTHER MAJOR INVESTMENTS ALREADY UNDERWAY AND TOWARDS SOUTHERN DALLAS.

WE MUST GROW OUR TAX BASE AND KEEP BELOVED SPORTS TEAMS AND OTHER GATHERINGS IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS AND PUT DOWNTOWN ON A NEW TRAJECTORY.

[00:05:06]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. SYDNEY WALKER. SYDNEY WALKER, 2245 JORDAN STREET, 75215. DETROIT IS THE ONLY CITY THAT HAS DEMOLISHED THEIR CITY HALL AND HAVE PUT CITY SERVICES AND OTHER BUILDINGS THAT THE CITY OWNS.

YOU ALL ARE LOOKING LIKE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THIS CITY HALL.

THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN BUILT BY RENOWNED ARCHITECT AND I HATE TO USE THIS KIND OF REFERENCE, BUT IT IS BUILT TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME LIKE GOVERNMENT HOUSING.

WE TRUSTED YOU ALL AND PAST CITY COUNCILS TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS, EVEN WHEN IT MEANT PROJECTS IN OUR DISTRICTS MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN FUNDED BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR HOUSE.

AND I'M GETTING EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S A BETRAYAL.

IT IS A COMPLETE BETRAYAL TO THE TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY, AND YOU'RE GOING TO ASK THE TAXPAYERS TO HELP FUND YET ANOTHER STADIUM IN THIS CITY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK IN 20 TO 25 YEARS AND ASK THE TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR ANOTHER STADIUM.

DO WHAT'S RIGHT. DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY THE TAXPAYERS, BECAUSE YOU ASK THEM TO DO TOO MANY THINGS AND TO RECEIVE TOO LITTLE FOR WHAT THEY PAY IN TAXES. I YIELD MY TIME.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] GUYS. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE IN THE GALLERY THAT WE CANNOT HAVE OUTBURSTS ON EITHER SIDE. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CHEERING.

BUT YOU DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THANK YOU.

ANDREW SKOLA. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANDREW SKOLA.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DALLAS FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS.

I WORK AS A STRATEGIC CONSULTANT AND ADVISE COMPANIES IN DALLAS AND NATIONALLY AROUND BIG TICKET DECISIONS AROUND THEIR BRANDS AND BUSINESSES.

ENERGY COMPANIES, REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT FIRMS, UNIVERSITIES, BIG TICKET HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WITHOUT FAIL THAT HAPPENS TO THEM IS IF THEY GO THROUGH A RUSHED PROCESS AROUND STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING, WHERE THERE'S HIDDEN AGENDAS, WHERE THERE'S BACKROOM POLITICS, WHERE THERE'S PERSONALITIES, WITHOUT VISION, WITHOUT RIGOR. THAT DECISION MAKING PROCESS BRINGS OUT HUGE RISK AND DAMAGES TO THE ORGANIZATION WITHOUT FAIL.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE MAKING THE DECISION. IT'S ABOUT THE WAY YOU'RE COOKING THE FOOD. AND THIS PROCESS RIGHT HERE IS BAD NEWS.

AND THERE'S FIVE REASONS WHY. NUMBER ONE, THERE'S NO ONE ON THIS COUNCIL CAN OUTLINE A VISION OF WHAT A CITY HALL, NOT THIS CITY HALL, BUT WHAT A CITY HALL SHOULD BE.

IF ANY OF YOU WERE MOVING YOUR PARENTS OUT OF AN AGING HOME, WOULD YOU JUST MOVE THEM OUT? OR WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT THE, WHAT'S THERE, WHAT DID THEY NEED FOR THEIR LAST, NEXT 20 YEARS, 25 YEARS OF THEIR LIFE? NO ONE'S DONE THAT. WE'RE JUST GOING IN ABOUT COST.

NUMBER TWO, THERE'S NO COMPARATIVE SCENARIO OF WHAT A COST WOULD BE.

IF ANY OF THE COUNCILMAN OWNED A BUSINESS AND SAID, OH, WE GOT SOME REPAIR COSTS, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE AND PUT THE STORE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WOULDN'T YOU TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT'S A FAIR MARKET, RENT OR BUY OVER THAT SAME PERIOD? YOU'VE GOT ONE COST HERE. NO OTHER SCENARIOS.

NUMBER THREE, THERE'S NO RIGOR IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THIS WAS ALL UPLOADED ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, AND BY MONDAY YOU'RE VOTING ON IT.

THESE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF WORK AND TIME, AND YOU'RE JUST SKIPPING THROUGH IT.

IF ANY OF YOU HAD TO MAKE REPAIRS TO YOUR HOME, WOULD YOU JUST TAKE ONE ESTIMATE AND NOT ASK FOR ANY OTHERS? WOULD YOU TRUST A REAL ESTATE AGENT TO TELL YOU WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD MOVE OUT OF YOUR HOME? OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO SAY MOVE OUT. THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE. THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A BENEFIT. THERE WAS NO COMPARISON TO SIMILAR PROJECTS.

I'M FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON. YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL FROM MY ACCENT THEY'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH A VERY SIMILAR PROJECT THROUGH THEIR CITY HALL.

DID ANYONE CALL DION IRISH, THE BOSTON CHIEF OF OPERATIONS? KEVIN SULLIVAN FROM SHAWMUT CONSTRUCTION. MIKE BENEDETTO FROM SKANSKA PROJECT MANAGEMENT.

DID ANYONE ON THE EDC CALL THOSE FOLKS AND SAY, HEY, HOW DID IT GO FOR YOU? WHERE WERE THE CHALLENGES? NO THEY DIDN'T. THEY JUST RUSHED TO GIVE YOU A REPORT.

AND FINALLY, THERE WAS NO PUBLIC INPUT. AND BY THAT I DON'T MEAN HEAR PEOPLE YELLING AND SCREAMING.

I MEAN WHAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS FOR THEIR CITY. THOUSANDS OF HOURS, THOUSANDS OF PAGES, NOT ONE IOTA ON WHAT DOES A PUBLIC NEED FOR A CITY

[00:10:01]

YOU ALL PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO IT, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.

IT'S ABOUT A RUSH PROCESS THAT'S VERY AGENDA DRIVEN, THAT'S PREDETERMINED, THAT LACKS STRATEGIC APPROACH, AND THAT'S A RECIPE FOR RISK THAT'S GOING TO SADDLE THE TAXPAYERS IN THE LONG RUN, ALL TO SUPPORT A BILLIONAIRE OWNERSHIP THAT'S OUT TO PUT CASINOS IN THIS CITY.

THAT'S YOUR TIME. HEY, MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN SHOW UP ON TIME TO START THE MEETING AT 1:00, AND WE'LL RESPECT YOUR TIME AS WELL.

THANK YOU. GUYS. QUIN MATTHEWS, LET'S FOLLOW OUR DECORUM.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN MORENO, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK OUR MINDS HERE, I APPRECIATE IT.

MY NAME IS QUIN MATTHEWS. I'M A I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN DALLAS.

I WAS A JOURNALIST FOR MANY YEARS. I'M AN INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER.

MY BUSINESS HAS BEEN LOCATED IN DEEP ELLUM UPTOWN AND CURRENTLY EAST DALLAS, WHICH IS WHERE I LIVE.

THE CITY'S IMPORTANT TO ME. AND THANK YOU FOR HEARING US OUT.

I THINK I'M, I DON'T THINK IT'S A STRETCH FOR ME TO SAY THAT THOSE OF US WHO SUPPORT CITY HALL WELCOME THOSE WHO SAY CONNECT THE CORE.

I THINK WE ARE JUST AS EMPHATIC AS ANYONE THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO BE UNIFIED.

THAT SOUTHERN DALLAS, WHICH IS WHERE MY MOTHER IN LAW GREW UP IN SOUTH DALLAS, I ORIGINALLY MARRIED A WOMAN FROM SOUTHERN DALLAS, AND WE CARE ABOUT THE ENTIRE CITY. THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS HAS FOR THREE MONTHS RUN COMMENTS THAT CITY HALL IS, QUOTE, FALLING APART, TOO COSTLY TO FIX AND THAT WE SHOULD ABANDON IT.

YESTERDAY, IN WHAT I INTERPRET AS A SENSE OF PANIC, THE NEWS ADMITTED THAT, AS WE ALL KNOW, THAT'S NOT THE REASON AT ALL. IT'S ALL FOR THE MAVERICKS.

SO I WILL NOT TAKE MY THREE MINUTES. I'M GOING TO BE VERY QUICK HERE.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD BE ANSWERED.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU TO ASK. WHO IN CITY GOVERNMENT OFFERED CITY HALL TO THE MAVERICKS? ARE YOU AWARE THE OWNERS OF THE MAVS HAVE PUBLICLY COMMITTED TO BRINGING CASINO GAMBLING TO DALLAS? HOW DID REPAIR COSTS GO IN SIX MONTHS FROM 36 MILLION TO OVER $1 BILLION? DO YOU BELIEVE THOSE FIGURES? AND DO YOU BELIEVE THEY DESERVE ADDITIONAL SCRUTINY BEFORE WE ABANDON CITY HALL? SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED. HOW WOULD DEMOLITION HAPPEN? WHAT WOULD IT COST? WHAT WOULD BE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT? WHY WOULD THE CITY STAFF HAVE TO MOVE OUT FOR REPAIRS TO THE BUILDING? CITY HALL HAS RECENTLY ACCOMMODATED AS MANY AS 40,000 PEOPLE, THAT WAS IN DECEMBER.

THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE COME TO CELEBRATE AND TO PROTEST.

WHAT WOULD IT COST TO PROVIDE A NEW PUBLIC PLAZA FOR DALLAS AND WHERE WOULD IT GO? FINAL QUESTION, HOW DO YOU THINK VOTERS WILL RESPOND TO ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO VOTES TO ABANDON AND DEMOLISH OUR CITY HALL? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MELANIE VANLANDINGHAM.

MELANIE VANLANDINGHAM, 6311 LAKESHORE. THE CONSULTANT REPORT IS INADEQUATE, MISLEADING, INCOMPLETE AND NOT AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT. IT PROVIDES NO PHASED OPTION OR THE DATA REQUIRED BY YOUR NOVEMBER 12TH RESOLUTION.

REVENUE STREAMS WERE NOT EXPLORED TO OFFSET COSTS.

CONSULTANTS EVEN ADMITTED THEY STAND TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR OWN RESULTS.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEIR NUMBERS DID SHOW THAT STAYING AND MAKING REPAIRS WILL COST LESS MONEY THAN RELOCATING AND LEASING SPACES FOREVER.

STAYING AND REPAIRING WILL PAY FOR ITSELF IN ONLY TEN YEARS, AND WE'D STILL OWN OUR CITY HALL ASSET.

COUNCIL CANNOT VOTE TO ABANDON, RELOCATE AND DESTROY CITY HALL WHEN LEASING COSTS MORE MONEY AND INCREASES OUR TAXES FOREVER. THIS BUILDING EVEN QUALIFIES FOR CONVENTION CENTER DOLLARS AND REVITALIZATION REVENUE STREAMS. DETERMINE AND LEVERAGE THIS FUNDING. DON'T THROW AWAY FREE MONEY.

DON'T GIVE AWAY OUR ASSETS. EXPLORE OPTIONS AND FUNDING TO KEEP, REPAIR AND REVITALIZE OUR CITY HALL.

INCLUDE PUBLIC MEETINGS. GET THE NUMBERS FOR A FULL FINANCIAL PICTURE.

THAT'S DUE DILIGENCE, GOOD BUSINESS AND DECISION MAKING REQUIRED BY YOUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND IT'S NOT EVEN AN EITHER OR DECISION. TRUE OPPORTUNITIES HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN QUANTIFIED.

CITY HALL CAN BE A CATALYST OF CONNECTING THE CORE TO LINK TO SOUTH DALLAS AND THE CEDAR SPARK DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS IF WE STAY AND REPAIR

[00:15:07]

THE IDEA OF KLYDE WARREN PARK STARTED AS A SEA OF HIGHWAY, CONCRETE, COURAGEOUS VISION AND LEADERSHIP, EXCELLENT PROGRAMING AND ENDOWMENT MADE IT A NATIONAL DESTINATION FOR TOURISTS AND VISITORS, AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE THAT IS UTTERLY REDEFINED THAT SIDE OF DOWNTOWN.

THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND BOOST TO DEVELOPMENT HAVE BEEN AMAZING.

THAT VITALITY AND PROMISE CAN HAPPEN RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL.

THE MAVS CAN BE DOWNTOWN AND CITY HALL CAN REMAIN.

DON'T ABANDON AND RELOCATE. VOTE TO STAY AND REPAIR, TO REVITALIZE CITY HALL AND CONNECT DOWNTOWN TO US ALL.

BE BOLD. THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE CAN BE THE NEXT POWERHOUSE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DOLORES LEVY SERROKA.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN MORENO AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

MY NAME IS DOLORES LEVY SERROKA AND I LIVE AT 4822 SWISS AVENUE.

I AM HERE TODAY WITH SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT THE DIRECTION BEING CONSIDERED FOR DALLAS CITY HALL.

CITY HALL WAS COMMISSIONED AND FINANCED BY US, THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY.

IT IS NOT SIMPLY A STRUCTURE. IT'S A PUBLICLY FUNDED CIVIC ASSET PLACED IN YOUR STEWARDSHIP.

ANY RECOMMENDATION YOU ADVANCE WILL INFLUENCE THE ULTIMATE VOTE OF THE ENTIRE COUNCIL AND SHAPE THE FUTURE OF DALLAS FOR DECADES TO COME.

WE ARE BEING PRESENTED WITH SIGNIFICANT COST PROJECTIONS RELATED TO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, ALONGSIDE SUBSTANTIAL ESTIMATES FOR RELOCATION AND ALTERNATIVE FACILITIES. BEFORE ANY IRREVERSIBLE STEP IS RECOMMENDED THOSE FIGURES NEED TO BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED.

THE CITY MANAGER CARRIES A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT PUBLIC RESOURCES AND TO ENSURE THAT THE FINANCIAL DATA GUIDING THIS BODY IS COMPREHENSIVE, OBJECTIVE AND TRANSPARENT.

IF THAT FIDUCIARY STANDARD IS NOT FULLY SATISFIED, PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE DECISION ITSELF MAY BE QUESTIONED.

AND I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE. THIS IS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP.

IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC TRUST AND IT'S ABOUT LEGACY.

THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS WILL PAY FOR WHICHEVER PATH IS CHOSEN.

DILIGENCE AND LEADERSHIP GROUNDED IN FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IS WHAT IS NOW REQUIRED.

IN TWO DAYS, YOU WILL VOTE TO BECOME PART OF THAT PUBLIC RECORD.

LET IT SHOW THAT YOU DEMANDED INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION BEFORE MAKING ANY IRREVERSIBLE GENERATIONAL DECISION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ROBERT MECKFESSEL.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ROBERT MECKFESSEL. I RESIDE AT 1427 HAYNES 75208.

I SPEAK TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THE TEN PRESIDENTS, A COLLABORATION OF DALLAS ARCHITECTS, ALL OF WHOM ARE FORMER LEADERS OF AI, DALLAS OR OTHER AI COMPONENTS. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE HAVE PUBLICLY ISSUED A SERIES OF PAPERS ILLUMINATING CRITICAL ASPECTS OF THE CITY HALL DISCUSSION. DALLAS CITY HALL, NAMELY THAT, DALLAS CITY HALL IS NOT IMPEDING REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF DOWNTOWN.

WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT IT IS ENTIRELY FEASIBLE TO CONSTRUCT A STATE OF THE ART ARENA ON THE SOON TO BE EMPTY SITE OF THE CURRENT KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON CONVENTION CENTER, PLUS 40 MORE ACRES OF SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT.

DALLAS CITY HALL'S HORIZONTAL MID-RISE CONFIGURATION IS HIGHLY SUITABLE FOR RENEWAL AS A HIGHLY FUNCTIONING AND INSPIRING HOME OF CIVIC GOVERNMENT, FAR MORE THAN ANY RELOCATION TO AN AGING HIGH RISE OFFICE TOWER.

DALLAS CITY HALL PLAZA CAN BE RE-ENVISIONED TO BECOME AN URBAN AMENITY FOR THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, WITH THE SCALE AND IMPACT COMPARABLE TO THAT OF SIMILARLY SIZED KLYDE WARREN PARK.

THE COST PROJECTIONS PROVIDED TO DATE BY BOTH STAFF AND THE EDC TEAM OF CONSULTANTS ARE OVERTLY BIASED TOWARDS ACHIEVING AN OUTCOME THAT WOULD REQUIRE RELOCATION.

THEY ARE CHOCK FULL OF CONTRADICTIONS, GAPS AND FUZZY NUMBERS, AND DO NOT GIVE ANY CONSIDERATION TO RESPONSIBLE, PHASED RENOVATION THAT WOULD RENEW CITY HALL AS A MAJOR CIVIC ASSET AND DRIVER OF REVITALIZATION.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXAMINE, ANALYZE AND ILLUMINATE OTHER CLAIMS AND INFORMATION AS THEY ARISE,

[00:20:05]

IN THE MEANTIME, WE URGE THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS FROM THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER MAKE PUBLIC THE DETAILED BACKUP OF THE RENOVATION COST ESTIMATES.

MAKE PUBLIC THE DETAILED BACKUP FOR ANY ALTERNATIVE RELOCATION PROPOSALS.

MAKE SURE THOSE PROPOSALS REFLECT ALL COSTS, INCLUDING RELOCATION OF EMERGENCY FACILITIES, AND CONSIDER ALL FUNDING SOLUTIONS UNIQUE TO STAYING AT CITY HALL, INCLUDING USE OF HISTORIC TAX CREDITS.

FURTHER, ALLOW TIME FOR THE PUBLIC AND OTHER INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY EXPERTS TO THOROUGHLY REVIEW THAT INFORMATION AND WEIGH IN ABOUT IT.

A FEW DAYS IS NOT ADEQUATE. AND FINALLY, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IS NOT A RACE TO THE BOTTOM FOR THE CHEAPEST POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO HOUSE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. WHETHER IT'S CITY HALL OR ELSEWHERE, DALLAS IS A PROUD, VIBRANT CITY, AND OUR HOMES SHOULD HAVE THE PUBLIC ACCESS, GRAVITAS AND PRESENCE THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE ASPIRATIONS OF OUR CITIZENS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COOKIE PEADON.

COOKIE PEADON, 7111 DEBBE DRIVE, DALLAS 75252.

CURRENTLY, I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH DALLAS NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE AND AM A FORMER CPC COMMISSIONER FOR THE, FOR MY DISTRICT. MY LIFELONG DALLAS RESIDENT AND A TAXPAYER.

I'M NOT A SENTIMENTALIST, BUT A BUSINESS PERSON.

AS A BUSINESS PERSON, I HELPED RELOCATE AMERICAN AIRLINES HEADQUARTERS FROM ONE BUILDING TO ITS NEW HEADQUARTERS.

SO I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN WHAT IT TAKES TO RELOCATE A MAJOR HEADQUARTERS WITH THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES.

COST PROPOSED FOR THE REPAIR OF CITY HALL SEEMED TO BE GROSSLY EXAGGERATED.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHY INCLUDE MOVE OUT COSTS FOR CITIZENS.

AND I'M SORRY. FOR CITIZENS WHO MEET HERE AND FOR PEOPLE WHO COME DOWN AND CAN WORK REMOTELY AS THEY DID DURING COVID.

THAT'S A GROSS OVERSTATEMENT OF COST. THE RUSH TO MAKE A DECISION INCLUDES LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR OVERSIGHTS, MISCALCULATIONS. I'VE SEEN NOTHING THAT SAYS WHAT THE TRULY ALLOCATED COST OF RELOCATING CITY HALL TO ANOTHER BUILDING WOULD BE.

I'M A BUSINESS PERSON, AND I AM MOST OF ALL, A TAXPAYER.

DON'T YOU DARE INFLICT THOSE ADDITIONAL TAX PAYMENTS OVER YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS ON THE REST OF US AS TAXPAYERS HERE IN THE CITY.

I ALSO REPRESENT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BEGINNING TO QUESTION SOME OF THE DECISION MAKING POWER OF THIS ENTITY.

THE REASON IS THAT WE HAVE SPENT, IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, OVER $100 MILLION ON BAD REAL ESTATE DECISIONS.

THAT IS INEXCUSABLE. IF THIS BUILDING IS TO BE TAKEN DOWN, WHAT ABOUT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON OUR LIBRARIES, OUR CURRENT POLICE ACADEMY, OUR FIRE STATIONS? DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE GOING TO DEMOLISH ALL OF THEM AS WELL? I HOPE NOT. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU TAKE THE TIME TO DO A TRUE, REAL EVALUATION OF THE ABSOLUTE COST INVOLVED IN RELOCATING PEOPLE FROM THIS BUILDING TO OTHER AREAS.

THERE'S NO OFFICE BUILDING IN THE CITY OF DALLAS THAT'S BEEN HARDENED TO PROTECT THE EMPLOYEES AND THE CITIZENS WHO VISITED.

THERE ARE NO CEREMONIAL SPACES ALLOCATED FOR THINGS LIKE RECEPTIONS, MARATHONS, OTHER THINGS THAT WE EXPECT TO HAVE AS CEREMONIAL EVENTS AT OUR CITY HALL. THERE'S NO PLACE TO DO THAT.

SO PLEASE CAREFULLY CONSIDER AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE COSTS.

DON'T RUSH INTO A DECISION THAT COULD BE A HUGE BURDEN ON EVERY TAXPAYER IN THIS BUILDING AND IN THE RESIDENCES IN DALLAS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DARWIN PAYNE. DARWIN PAYNE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. IT'S CANCELED. KEVIN PHEIFFER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR MORENO. MY NAME IS KEVIN PHEIFFER.

I LIVE AT 1905 OLD ORCHARD IN STEVENS PARK. THE DALLAS COWBOYS NFL FRANCHISE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1960.

THE FOUR MAJOR SPORTS FRANCHISES CURRENTLY IN NORTH TEXAS DALLAS.

THE COWBOYS ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT PREDATES THE DURATION OF MY RESIDENCY IN DALLAS, SPECIFICALLY IN OAK CLIFF, WHERE I'VE LIVED IN SIX DIFFERENT HOUSES. HAVING MOVED HERE IN 1962.

IN 19, I'M SORRY, THERE ARE A LOT OF PARALLEL DATES IN MY LIFE IN DALLAS CITY HALL.

IN 1963, I WAS A STUDENT IN JOHN W CARPENTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEN JFK WAS ASSASSINATED.

[00:25:06]

THAT'S MY PURPOSE IN LIFE TO BE AN ARCHITECT, AND I HAVE OVER 42 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE PRACTICING ARCHITECTURE AND COLLABORATING WITH VARIOUS CONTRACTORS, ENGINEERS, CODE OFFICIALS, FIRE DEPARTMENT, ADA SPECIALISTS, TO FULFILL MY CLIENT'S OBJECTIVES AND TO ENSURE THE PROJECTS RECEIVE THE NECESSARY CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY FOR MY PROJECTS. THE ABILITY OF CITIZEN LEADERS WITH A STRONG DESIRE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE HAS LARGELY BEEN REPLACED WITH CANDIDATES WHO CATER MORE TO THEIR WEALTHY DONORS THAN TO THE CITIZENS THEY ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT.

KEY WORDS HERE ARE STEWARDSHIP AND FIDUCIARY.

FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY AND PATIENCE TO SLOW THIS ENTIRE PROCESS DOWN.

LONG TERM GOAL VIEW. IF CITY OF DALLAS EMPLOYEES ARE RELOCATED TO OTHER BUILDINGS AND THE CITY LEASES OFFICE SPACES, THE CITY IS IN EFFECT PAYING TAXES. CURRENTLY, THE CITY PAYS ZERO TAXES.

SHOULD THE CITY'S EMPLOYEES RELOCATE TO OTHER BUILDINGS, THE BUILDING LANDLORD WORK THEIR RENTAL RATES TO INCLUDE ALL PROPERTY TAXES INTO THEIR LEASES FOR THE NEXT 950 YEARS. THIS BUILDING WOULD LAST A THOUSAND YEARS.

IF THE PROPERTY TAX RATES INCREASE, THE LEASE RATES DURING THE NEXT TIME PERIOD WOULD ALSO INCREASE.

I'M GOING TO BACK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT. MARCH 25TH, 2023, BUILDING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THERE WERE FIVE ITEMS NOTED AS CITY HALL REPLACE FIVE SIX GENERATORS NOT TO EXCEED $6 MILLION.

REPAIR WATER POTENTIAL FOUNDATION $36 MILLION.

UPGRADE ELECTRICAL PANELS, 210 PANELS, 5,300,000.

ENTIRE ROOF REPLACEMENT OF THE PROJECT $1.8 MILLION.

CITY HALL AC RETROFITS, WHICH WAS SCHEDULED TO HAPPEN IN 23RD TIME $5 MILLION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MIKE NORTHROP.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. MY NAME IS MIKE NORTHROP.

I LIVE AT 5703 GOLIAD AVENUE. I SPENT THE DAY ON 9/11 IN THIS BUILDING.

LONG AFTER OTHER BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN HAD BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN DEEMED TOO UNSAFE FOR THE EMPLOYEES TO REMAIN IN THOSE BUILDINGS. THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT CONTINUED ITS WORK IN THIS BUILDING BECAUSE THIS BUILDING WAS DEEMED SAFE.

THIS BUILDING IS THE NERVE CENTER OF OUR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

THE CONCRETE IN THIS BUILDING IS SO REINFORCED THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE A RISK ON 9/11.

AND I DARE SAY THAT NOT MUCH ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE COST THAT IT WILL TAKE TO REMOVE THE CONCRETE THAT PUT THIS BUILDING IN PLACE. THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

IT'S PAID FOR AND WE SHOULD KEEP IT. NOBODY BELIEVES THAT THE STATE OF CITY HALL IS THE REAL REASON FOR THIS DISCUSSION. BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS COUNCIL IS GOING TO POINT TO THE RUSE THAT IS IN THE CONSULTANT'S REPORT, THEN LET ME SUGGEST THIS. YOU ALL OWE A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE CITY, AND THAT FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION IS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS BUILDING IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO SELL OFF THIS BUILDING OR DEMOLISH IT, OR EVEN TO START MOVING PEOPLE OUT OF THE BUILDING, AND YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED AT OR LOOKED FOR INDEPENDENT EVALUATIONS FROM THE ONES THAT ARE CONTAINED IN THE CONSULTANT'S REPORT, THEN YOU HAVEN'T MET YOUR FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS.

AND I WOULD IMPLORE THE VOTERS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AT THE NEXT ELECTION WHEN THE TIME COMES, DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THIS VOTE.

THANK YOU. GUYS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A RECESS IF WE CONTINUE WITH THE OUTBURST.

OKAY. CAROL BELL-WALTON.

[00:30:02]

AND THE FIRST QUESTION IS JUST TO PLEASE LET US VOTE.

LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE. PUT THIS AND THE MONEY NEEDED IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP CITY HALL CITY HALL.

IT CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO A CONNECTED SOUTH. IT CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

IT CAN BE A KLYDE WARREN PARK. THERE'S BEAUTIFUL THINGS WE CAN DO WITH THIS.

WE CAN CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS BUILDING AND IN 2028, WITH AN EVENT WHERE WE SHOWCASE ALL OF OUR I.M. PEI AND WE BRING WE BRING VISITORS INTO DALLAS TO SEE THE GEMS THAT WE HAVE.

I SAW IN THE PAPER TODAY OR YESTERDAY THAT MIKE RAWLINGS, OUR FORMER MAYOR, HAD SAID THAT THIS HE CITY HALL, THIS NEEDS TO GO TO THE MAVERICKS. AND THE MAVERICKS, WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT THE MAVERICKS.

OH MY GOSH. REALLY? IS THAT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT? BECAUSE THAT HADN'T REALLY BEEN TRANSPARENT. I BECAME AN ADVOCATE WHEN MIKE RAWLINGS WANTED TO GIVE WINFREY POINT TO THE ARBORETUM.

I STAYED AN ADVOCATE WHEN MIKE RAWLINGS WANTED TO GIVE FAIR PARK TO ONE OF HIS CHECK RIDING FRIENDS.

SO ANY CITY PROPERTY IS AVAILABLE TO GIVE TO ANY CHECK RIDER.

I DON'T THINK HIS OPINION SHOULD SWAY US. THIS HAS BEEN A KABUKI THEATER.

IT'S BEEN DISINGENUOUS, RUSHED, AND IT HAS IGNORED ESTABLISHED RFP PROCESSES.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE WORKED SO HARD TO GET RFP PROCESSES INTO FAIR PARK.

I REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS A MEMO FROM AN OUTSIDER THAT SAID, THIS IS HOW THE MEETING SHOULD BE DIRECTED, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DISCUSS AND NOT DISCUSS.

WE FOUGHT THAT, WE FOUGHT THAT AND GOT AN RFP.

NOW, I KNOW THERE WERE PROBLEMS LATER ON. BUT IT WASN'T A GIVEAWAY.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE TAXPAYERS TRUSTED. SO WHY THE RUSH? HOW DO WE KNOW THAT GAMBLING IS GOING TO BE LEGALIZED? WHAT DO YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW. BECAUSE I SEE THE BIBLE BELT KIND OF GETTING TIGHTER, NOT REALLY LOOSENING UP. SO THAT'S A QUESTION THAT I HAVE.

CAN THIS BUILDING BE REPURPOSED AS A CASINO? CAN IT BE REPURPOSED AS ANYTHING? I MEAN, IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO TEAR IT DOWN. WHAT IS THE COST TO TEARING IT DOWN? AND WHO'S GOING TO BEAR THAT? ARE WE TEARING DOWN THE LIBRARY NEXT? BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE MAVERICKS WANT, BUT I KNOW THE MAVERICKS ARE GOING TO GET WHAT THEY WANT.

SO DO THEY WANT THE LIBRARY, TOO. WE JUST NEED TO KNOW KIND OF IN ADVANCE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO ALL THIS AGAIN.

ANYWAY, EMERGENCY SERVICES SHOULD BE IN A CONCRETE BUILDING.

IT SHOULDN'T BE IN A WAREHOUSE OUT AT REDBIRD.

THE NEW OWNERSHIP HAS PRETTY MUCH DESTROYED THE MABS, HOW CAN WE TRUST THEM TO DO THIS? AND WILL ALL THIS CONCRETE GO TO THE LANDFILL? IS A LANDFILL FULL? THANK YOU. BRUCE RICHARDSON.

THANK YOU, CAROL, FOR MENTIONING THE SECRECY.

DON'T HAVE TO COVER THAT. DALLAS CITY HALL WAS THE FIRST BUILDING IN THE WORLD CONSTRUCTED OF SHRINKAGE CONTROL CONCRETE.

A NEW YORK BUILDING AT 42ND AND VANDERBILT WAS THE FIRST TO BE DEMOLISHED.

AND IT OVERRAN ITS DEMO BUDGET BY 400%. BECAUSE NOW WE KNOW HOW HARD THIS STUFF GETS.

UNLIKE CITY HALL, IT WAS NOT BUILT LIKE A NUCLEAR REACTOR WITH 13.2 MILLION POUNDS OF ROVING WOVEN REBAR AND POST-TENSIONING CABLE WITHIN. HA! YOU CAN'T IMPLODE IT.

A WRECKING BALL WILL HAVE TO BASH IT AGAIN AND AGAIN IN LITTLE PIECES, TANGLED IN ALL THAT REBAR.

EVERY TIME IT HITS, IT WILL BE HEARD FOR MILES.

MILES IN MOSTLY DEMOCRATIC DALLAS FOR MIRIAM ADELSON.

NO ONE WHO VOTES FOR A SINGLE PRONG OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION WILL EVER BE REELECTED IN DALLAS, TEXAS. YOU SAY THAT DISTINGUISHED ARCHITECTS MUST BE BIASED WHILE TRUSTING AN ENTITY WITH THE CLEAREST ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST I HAVE EVER SEEN ADMITTED ON THE RECORD.

I HAVE GIVEN THAT TO MR. BAZALDUA THE PRECISE LANGUAGE THAT WAS GIVEN ON RECORD.

I HAVE IT FOR THE PRESS. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN IT, I THINK YOU SHOULD BE.

[00:35:06]

THERE WAS GOING TO BE A SUBWAY TERMINAL AT THE BOTTOM.

IT'S GONE. ALL THESE CHANGES CAME ABOUT NOT BECAUSE WE WANTED IT, BUT BECAUSE CITY HALL WANTED IT OR NO LONGER WANTED IT.

THAT CAUSED A LOT OF UNHAPPINESS ALONG THE WAY FOR US AS WELL AS FOR THE CONTRACTOR.

AND ALL OF THIS SOPHISTRY ABOUT L3, IT IS INSULTING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

INSULTING. MY GOD, WHAT HAVE WE BECOME THAT WE ARGUE THESE POINTS AND WE ARE THROWN DOWN THIS RABBIT HOLE TO WONDER WHY IT ALL DOESN'T ADD UP.

WELL, NOW WE KNOW WHY IT DOESN'T ADD UP. IT'S BECAUSE IT NEVER MADE SENSE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WERE EVEN STUDYING. WE LOST SLEEP.

YOUR CONSTITUENTS. BECAUSE WE BELIEVE FACTS MATTERED.

AND NOW IT'S JUST THE FREAKING MAVERICKS. UNBELIEVABLE.

THANK YOU. STAN ATEN. MR. ATEN. YOUR AUDIO IS NOT. WE CANNOT HEAR YOU.

I'M SORRY, MR. ATEN. WE'RE STILL NOT ABLE TO HEAR YOU.

OKAY, OKAY. WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU MR. ATEN. OKAY.

I WILL NOW CALL THE REMAINING REGISTERED SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME.

AGAIN, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, I WILL ASK THAT YOU COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST TWO ROWS IN THE CENTER SECTION.

RONNIE MAESTAZ, HOWARD DENNIE, SHELLEY POTTER, MARTHA HEIMBERG, MICHAEL AMONETTE, MATTHEW BACH, JESSICA STEWART LENDVAY, SHANITA CLEVELAND, MARY PARIS.

MR. MAESTAZ, YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM. I'VE GOT MY SPEAKER WORKING NOW.

HELLO. ONE SECOND WE WILL COME BACK TO THE SPEAKER.

LET ME FINISH CALLING THE NAMES SHENITA CLEVELAND, MARY PARIS, ALEX SCOTT, LUIS ESPINOLA, DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER, LUCY BILLINGSLEY, AND ZAIDA BAZORA.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN. I JUST RONNIE MAESTAZ, WEST DALLAS, TEXAS.

75212. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT MYSELF. AND I TALKED TO A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.

HE SAID, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF THIS, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.

AND AT THIS POINT, IT JUST MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL TO PUSH THIS THROUGH.

IT'S JUST, IT'S SO MUCH CONFUSION BETWEEN THE INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU'RE CREDIBLE OR UNCREDIBLE.

AND IT'S JUST A WASTE OF NOT, I'M GOING TO SAY A WASTE.

IT'S JUST A RUSH DECISION ON SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT YOUR DECISION.

IT'S GOING TO AFFECT, EFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT'S ALL. ALL OF DALLAS. MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT IT SHOULD GO TO THE VOTERS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT PUTTING Y'ALL DOWN OR, YOU KNOW, TAKING AWAY FROM YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES OR CAPABILITIES, BUT THIS IS A DECISION THAT THAT'S BEYOND RESPONSIBILITY OF A COMMITTEE AND BEYOND THE RESPONSIBILITY OR EVEN THE AUTHORITY FOR A COMMISSION OR A CITY COUNCIL THAT YOU WEREN'T VOTED ON TO DESTROY STUFF FOR US THAT WE PAID FOR THIS DESK, YOUR CHAIRS, THE MICS, YOU KNOW, THAT SCREEN, WE PAY FOR THAT. AND SO THAT SHOULD GO TO THE VOTERS IF IT'S PUSHED DOWN THAT FAR.

AS FAR AS THE FACADE ON FRONT, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE EVENTS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, I WAS A COMMISSIONER FOR THE VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR EIGHT YEARS, AND WE DID A VETERANS PARADE DRIVE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THIS PLACE, AND WE PASSED THE GRANDSTANDS AND I HAD A CONVERTIBLE.

BUT YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN THE PRIDE IN THOSE VETERANS WHEN WE COME ACROSS THE CITY HALL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE LOOKING AT US, YOU KNOW, SHOWING PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO IN OUR CITY, YOU KNOW. AND NOT JUST FOR VETERANS, BUT AS VETERANS.

THERE'S TWO LEVELS OF EVEN OF DECISION MAKING, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING AT THIS LEVEL, BUT THERE'S SOME TIMES THAT YOU HAVE TO EVEN TAKE IT HIGHER THAN THAT. AND THE HIGHEST LEVEL YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS TO GIVE IT TO THE VOTERS.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE TOO MUCH MORE OF YOUR TIME. WELL, I'M GOING TO SAY ONE MORE THING. AND WHAT'S DALLAS WE ALREADY SEEN THIS IS THE PROCESS FOR

[00:40:06]

THEY MOVE SOMETHING ELSE IN. OH, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOMETHING ELSE OVER HERE. YOU KNOW WHAT? WE GOT TO TAKE SOMETHING ELSE OVER HERE. AND THOSE PEOPLE, THEY CAN JUST PUSH. AND WE'RE THINKING, WELL, IT'S GOING TO HELP US. IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE 1,000,000.7 HOUSE IN $80,000 HOMES RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

AND THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL NOW GO BACK TO STAN ATEN.

SORRY FOR THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. I'VE LIVED IN DALLAS FOR OVER 43 YEARS NOW.

AND EVERY TIME I'VE WATCHED CITY HALL RUSH AN ISSUE OR RUSH A DECISION, IT USUALLY MEANS SOMEONE'S GOING TO BENEFIT OTHER THAN THE TAXPAYERS.

NOW, I KNOW CITY HALL LOOKS KIND OF AWKWARD AT TIMES, BUT IT'S AMID.

IT'S NOT THAT OLD. I LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S BEEN BUILT OVER 70 YEARS AGO.

MANY PARTS OF OAK CLIFF ARE OLDER THAN THAT. WE TAKE CARE OF OUR BUILDINGS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, OUR CITY MANAGEMENT HAS NEGLECTED CITY HALL. THAT'S ON THEM.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PROFESSIONALS, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPENDING MONEY FIXING UP THAT BUILDING FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS.

I THINK YOU SHOULD PAUSE THIS EFFORT TO RUSH AND SELL OUR CITY HALL.

YOU SHOULD SPEND MONEY FIXING UP CITY HALL. AND BEFORE YOU GO AND SELL THIS BUILDING, YOU NEED TO REMEMBER THAT IT WAS FUNDED PARTLY BY THE CONVENTION CENTER SO THAT YOUR PARKING GARAGE IS PAID FOR BY THE CONVENTION CENTER BONDS.

AND THEREFORE, IF YOU SELL THE BUILDING, THE PROCEEDS FROM THAT BUILDING WILL GO TO PAY OFF THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE ONE YOU'RE TEARING DOWN RIGHT NOW, WHICH ISN'T EVEN PAID FOR.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS THE WAY OUR CITY IS RUN.

WE BUILD A BUILDING, WE USE BONDS, WE LET IT FALL APART, AND THEN WE TEAR IT DOWN.

IT'S SHAMEFUL THE WAY YOU RUN OUR CITY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. HOWARD DENNIE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS HOWARD DENNIE, I LIVE AT 5638 WINDING WOOD TRAILS, DALLAS, TEXAS.

75227. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.

I APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO SPEAK ON THIS, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS FACING OUR CITY RIGHT NOW.

AND I WANT TO BE UPFRONT. THIS ISN'T ABOUT NOSTALGIA.

IT'S NOT ABOUT SENTIMENT. IT'S ABOUT WHETHER WE KEEP POURING TAXPAYER MONEY INTO A BUILDING WITH NO RETURNS, OR WHETHER WE MAKE A SMART DECISION THAT ACTUALLY GENERATES REVENUE AND REINVEST IN DALLAS, THE DALLAS THAT WE NEED THE MOST. FIRST, CONTINUING TO CONTINUE TO PATCH THIS BUILDING IS NOT FAIR TO THE TAXPAYERS.

INDEPENDENT ENGINEERS DID THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT THE MOST IN CITY HALL'S HISTORY.

EVERYTHING IS FALLING AT ONCE. THE STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, FIRE SYSTEMS, THE ENTIRE BUILDING'S ENVELOPE.

THE COST OF REPAIRING ALL OF THESE ARE ENORMOUS.

AND HERE'S THE THING. AT THE END OF ALL OF THIS SPENDING, YOU DON'T GET ANYTHING NEW.

YOU GET NO NEW REVENUE, NO NEW OPPORTUNITIES, NO GROWTH.

YOU JUST GET THE SAME AGING BUILDING PATCHED TOGETHER WITH THE SAME THE SAME RESULTS.

THAT'S NOT STEWARDSHIP. THAT'S AN ABUSE OF TAXPAYER MONEYS, AND IT'S A MONEY PIT.

SECONDLY, REDEVELOPING THE SITES CREATES REAL REVENUE FOR THE CITY.

INSTEAD OF SPENDING MASSIVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO MAINTAIN A LIABILITY, WE CAN TURN THIS SITE INTO AN ASSET.

REDEVELOPING DOWNTOWN, GENERATING TAX REVENUE, ATTACK A, ATTRACTING PRIVATE INVESTMENTS AND CREATING JOBS.

THIS KIND OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ACTIVITY PUTS MONEY BACK INTO THE CITY'S BUDGET.

WE'VE SEEN IT WORK BEFORE. LOOK AT THE GROWTH THAT HAPPENED AT THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER.

THE ENTIRE DISTRICT WAS BORN FROM A BROWNFIELD.

PROPERTY VALUES SKYROCKETED. BUSINESSES MOVED IN, RESIDENTS FOLLOWED.

THAT'S THE MODEL. WE HAVE A PRIME DOWNTOWN REAL ESTATE SITE UNDER A BUILDING THAT'S DRAINING RESOURCES RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF GENERATING THEM. THIRD, THE NEW REVENUE LETS US INVEST WHERE WE NEED IT THE MOST.

AND THIS IS WHAT KIND OF EXCITES ME. THE DOWNTOWN GENERATES REAL ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THOSE DOLLARS DON'T JUST STAY DOWNTOWN. THEY FLOW INTO THE SERVICES, INFRASTRUCTURES, INFRASTRUCTURES, NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS DALLAS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

THINK ABOUT FAIR PARK. THINK ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE I-30 CORRIDOR THAT HAS BEEN ASKING FOR INVESTMENTS FOR DECADES.

A THRIVING REDEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN GIVES THE CITY FINANCIAL ENGINE TO DELIVER THOSE PROMISES.

[00:45:03]

SO HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE. WE CAN KEEP POURING TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.

THAT'S YOUR TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. SHELLEY POTTER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN MORENO AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS SHELLEY POTTER. I LIVE AT 4437 COLE AVENUE IN KNOX.

YOU KNOW ME AS A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR URBAN PLANNING, AND I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU ON MANY AN OCCASION YOU ASKED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO I'VE SHOWN UP AND I'M STANDING UP FOR SAVING CITY HALL.

HERE ARE MY KEY POINTS. I LISTENED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.

THERE ARE CLEARLY MORE QUESTIONS THAN THERE ARE ANSWERS WITHIN THE THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF THE REPORTS.

AND WHILE CERTAINLY EXPERTS WERE ENGAGED, AS WE ALL WANTED THEM TO BE, THEY SHOULD WELCOME PEER REVIEW, ESPECIALLY NON-CONFLICTED PEER REVIEW. THEY SHOULD WELCOME QUESTIONS, AND THEY SHOULD ALSO BE WILLING TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE BACKUP DATA FOR COST AND TO VALIDATE THE ASSUMPTIONS THEY'VE PUT FORWARD.

YOU'LL CHUCKLE. BUT I DON'T ALWAYS. NUMBER TWO, I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH DALLAS NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD, BUT I KIND OF THINK THEY GOT IT RIGHT, AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED.

PLEASE JUST TELL US THE TRUTH. TELL US WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON AND WHAT'S IN YOUR BACK POCKET, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE. PROJECT XYZ WE DESERVE NO LESS.

AS A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, I BELIEVE WHAT WE NEED IS A MASTER PLAN TO RE-ENVISION, REPAIR CITY HALL, RE-ENVISION THE PLAZA, CONNECT THE DOWNTOWN FABRIC WITH SOUTHERN DALLAS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT PARKS.

IF WE CAN BUILD KLYDE WARREN PARK OUT OF AIR, WE CAN DO ANYTHING.

AND THE TEN ARCHITECTS HAVE ALREADY LAID OUT AN OUTSTANDING ROADMAP.

AND FINALLY, NUMBER THREE, AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID, CITY HALL IS A PAID FOR ASSET.

IT BELONGS TO ALL OF US. AND IN THIS ROOM AND BEYOND THE REPORT WAS VERY CLEAR.

THIS BUILDING IS NOT FALLING DOWN. I ACTUALLY PARKED IN THE PARKING GARAGE AND WASN'T TOO WORRIED ABOUT IT.

SO IT'S NOT A CRISIS THAT HAS TO BE SOLVED BY WEDNESDAY.

I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE WHAT IS OFTEN CALLED A CHEETAH PAUSE, A STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING PROCESS TO STOP, TO LISTEN, TO CHECK DATA AND BIASES, TO REVIEW OPTIONS AND BE WILLING TO RECALIBRATE.

THIS IS BIGGER THAN MONEY, AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MARTHA HEIMBERG.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MARTHA HEIMBERG. I LIVE AT 1523 ABRAMS. IN THE JUNIUS HEIGHTS HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND I HAVE WORKED VERY HARD FOR MOST OF MY RESIDENCY IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT TO PRESERVE HOMES, TO PRESERVE HISTORY, AND TO PRESERVE.

NOW, THE CITY HALL BUILDING, WHERE I HAVE COME MANY TIMES TO ADDRESS YOU AND TO THANK YOU FOR SAVING SO MUCH OF DALLAS.

THANK YOU TO MY COUNCILMAN, PAUL RIDLEY, AND THE THREE OTHER COUNCIL PERSONS WHO ARE URGING A MORE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE COSTS OF REPAIR FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THAT BRUCE, BRUCE AND SHELLEY AND OTHERS BEFORE ME HAVE SAID, IT'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST NOT TO DO THAT.

WE NEED TRANSPARENCY. WE NEED HONESTY. AND I DO REPRESENT SO MANY PEOPLE FOR WHOM THIS CITY HALL HAS AFFECTED OUR HEARTS, NEVER MIND OUR POCKETBOOKS.

IF YOU DO DEMOLISH THIS BUILDING, I URGE YOU WAIT.

CYNICS SAY WHEN I SAID I WAS COMING, IT WON'T DO ANY GOOD TO APPEAL.

[00:50:01]

AND I'M SEEING PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING. MAKE US HAPPY.

JUST GET ANOTHER BID. OKAY, JESSE. OKAY, EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LET'S DO THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. MICHAEL AMONETTE.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MICHAEL AMONETTE. I LIVE AT 2210 WEST 10TH IN DALLAS.

I SERVED ON THE LANDMARK COMMISSION FOR FOUR TERMS, AND I WAS ON THE DESIGNATION COMMITTEE. I'M GOING TO SHORTEN MY REMARKS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WAITING, AND YOU DON'T NEED TO HEAR ME TALK TO YOU ABOUT HOW BAD CASINOS ARE OR HOW ARENA ADVOCATES WILL BE BACK HERE WITH THEIR HANDS OUT IN 20 YEARS, JUST AS AGGRESSIVE AS THEY ARE NOW, IF NOT MORE SO. I WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING ELSE THAT BRUCE BRIEFLY MENTIONED.

THE CURRENT PRESIDENT HAS NEVER CONVINCED MORE THAN 38% OF DALLAS COUNTY TO VOTE FOR HIM.

AND YET, THE LIKELY NEW LONER OWNER OF THIS LAND HAS PLEDGED $250 MILLION TO KEEP HIM IN OFFICE DESPITE THE CONSTITUTION'S RULES TO THE CONTRARY.

THIS IS THE NINTH LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

NONE OF US SHOULD WANT ANY PART OF BEING ASSOCIATED WITH A SCHEME TO SUBVERT THE CONSTITUTION.

THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE IS LIKELY TO BE FRAUGHT WITH CONFLICT AND NEGATIVE INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION. IS IT GOOD FOR BUSINESS AND FOR A BRAND TO BECOME PART OF THAT? SUCH NEGATIVITY CAN DETER INVESTMENT AND HARM OUR REPUTATION IN ATTRACTING TALENT.

THAT SORT OF UNPRECEDENTED DISREGARD FOR DEMOCRACY IS NOT WHO WE ARE.

THE LAST HEARING ON THIS TOPIC, THIS ONE TODAY, YARD SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND LETTERS TO THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY BEEN OPPOSED TO ABANDONING CITY HALL AND STILL THE TOPIC MOVES FORWARD.

IF OUR WILL TO YOU IS NOT CLEAR TODAY, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE MATTER.

FINALLY, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED AT CITY HALL FOR YEARS, AND NEVER HAVE I SEEN SUCH AN ILL CONCEIVED, CONSEQUENTIAL DISLIKE PROPOSAL MOVE SO QUICKLY THROUGH THIS CHAMBER.

ALMOST EVERYONE WHO CAME HERE TODAY LOVES THIS BUILDING, BUT THEY WERE FORCED TO SPEND THEIR HOLIDAYS WORRYING ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF YOUR RUSH TO GET THIS APPROVED. THAT DEMONSTRATES A TOTAL LACK OF REGARD FOR CITIZENS OF THIS CITY THAT BORDERS ON CONTEMPT.

THE ISSUE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS NOT JUST THE INTOXICATING PROMISE OF RICHES.

YOU MUST ALSO CONSIDER THE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON OUR REPUTATION AND CIVIC PRIDE BY CONTINUING DOWN THIS ROAD.

WHAT WE WANT IS CLEAR AND WE VOTE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

PLEASE DO WHAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU. MATTHEW BACH.

GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME AND THE OTHERS TO SPEAK.

I'M NOT WELL. I AM VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF RESTORING CITY HALL.

I WON'T GO INTO THE REASONS EVERYONE ELSE HAS COVERED THAT VERY WELL, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK PROCESS.

YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE ULTIMATE DECISION, BUT YOU CAN CONTROL THE PROCESS.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, AS A CITIZEN, YOU'RE SQUANDERING PUBLIC GOODWILL BY NOT HAVING A TRANSPARENT ROBUST PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND RUSHING THIS ALONG. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN CONTROL.

I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE ULTIMATE DECISION WILL FALL, BUT YOU LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

BUT YOU CERTAINLY HAVE, THE PROCESS SHOULD NOT BE AS CONTENTIOUS AS WHAT THE ULTIMATE DECISION WOULD BE.

SO PLEASE, YOU ALL, AS LEADERS, EXERCISE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND CONTROL THE PROCESS TO WHERE AT LEAST IF THE DECISION DOESN'T GO THE WAY I WANT IT TO GO, AT LEAST I FEEL LIKE THERE'S BEEN A GOOD AIRING.

WE HAD GOOD FACTS AND MADE A SOLID DECISION. THAT'S FINE.

I COULD ACCEPT THAT. BUT IF YOU RUSH THIS AGAIN, YOU'RE SQUANDERING PUBLIC TRUST BY NOT HAVING A TRANSPARENT, OPEN PROCESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. JESSICA STEWART LENDVAY.

THANK YOU. CHAIR MORENO. MY NAME IS JESSICA STEWART LENDVAY.

I LIVE AT 155 CLASSEN, DALLAS, TEXAS 75218. LIKE THE LAST SPEAKER, I WANT TO SAY STOP. THAT'S ENOUGH. THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE IS NOT FOR SALE.

THIS PROCESS FEELS LIKE CORRUPTION TO ME BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE THE QUALITIES THAT I BELIEVE THIS PROCESS SHOULD HAVE. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S CORRUPTION BECAUSE I AM A CONSTITUENT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW, BUT I DO NOT SEE THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD EXHIBIT IN ORDER FOR OUR CITY TO HAVE THE VITALITY THAT SOME DEVELOPERS SEEM TO THINK THAT WE DON'T HAVE, AND THAT THIS IS NOT AN IMPORTANT PLACE, THAT IS EMBARRASSING.

[00:55:03]

THAT THIS IS PRIME REAL ESTATE AND SO WE NEED TO USE IT.

WE ARE USING IT. THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. THIS IS THE HEART OF OUR CITY.

WE NEED TO DO MORE TO ENGAGE CONSTITUENTS. WE NEED TO BE, WE NEED TO DO MORE EDUCATION, MORE, MAKE THIS PROCESS MORE ACCESSIBLE. REACHING OUT TO DIVERSE VOICES.

PROTECT THE CITY'S INVESTMENT. TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR INVESTMENTS ARE.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE MONEY? MAKE THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.

BUT THIS PROCESS IS EMBARRASSING. AND IT'S SAD BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TRANSPARENCY IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

WE DON'T SEE ANY PEOPLE WHO ARE VOTING TO MOVE, TRYING TO BUILD CONSENSUS WITH DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN THEIR DISTRICT OR THROUGHOUT THE CITY. I LOOK ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I LOOK ON THE DALLAS CITY HALL INSTAGRAM, I DON'T SEE, HEY EVERYBODY, WE NEED A NEW HOUSE. I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

BE ACCESSIBLE, BE ACCOUNTABLE. ENCOURAGE CIVIC PARTICIPATION THROUGH EDUCATION, DIALOG, AND ENGAGEMENT.

DON'T SPREAD MISINFORMATION. INFLATED COST A FALSE SENSE OF URGENCY.

RUSH THE PROCESS WITH UNINFORMED INFORMATION.

DON'T HAVE CLOSED DOOR MEETINGS MORE THAN PUBLIC COMMENT.

DON'T PROVIDE SPECIAL ACCESS FOR DEVELOPERS OR SPORTS TEAM OWNERS WHO WILL ALWAYS PRIORITIZE THEIR OWN FINANCIAL INTERESTS. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO PRIORITIZE THE CONSTITUENTS INTEREST.

THESE DEVELOPERS. THAT'S ONE PERSON JUST LIKE ME.

JUST LIKE ME. JUST LIKE YOU. THAT'S YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SHENITA CLEVELAND.

SHENITA CLEVELAND IS NOT PRESENT. MARY PARIS.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARY LOU PARIS, AND I RESIDE AT 2703 KINGSTON STREET.

I'M A LIFELONG DALLAS RESIDENT, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO SAVE CITY HALL.

I HAD BEEN OUT OF THE LOOP HERE FOR A FEW ACTUALLY A MONTH OR SO, AND I DECIDED I WAS COMPELLED TO COME HERE AND SPEAK MY PIECE THAT THIS THIS BUILDING BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS.

THIS IS OUR HOME AND I, AND IT NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED.

I COULDN'T HELP WHEN I WALKED IN HERE. I JUST WANDERED BACK ON THIS SIDE PAST THE LADIES RESTROOM, AND I SAW ALL THE PICTURES OF PAST PREVIOUS COUNCILS IN THE PAST YEAR, AND I COULDN'T HELP TO THINK THAT.

WHY WASN'T THIS BUILDING MAINTAINED? HOW DID IT GET TO THIS STAGE? YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE YEARS. AND IT'S SADDENING BECAUSE IT'S IT'S HOW HOW HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? I MEAN, WE HAVE HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS, WHICH I'M ON THE LIST, AND I'M STILL WAITING SINCE 2022.

SO HOW HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN HERE? SO, I MEAN, IT WAS BUILT IN 1978.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING. I HAVE A LOT OF MEMORIES HERE.

I'M, AS A LIFELONG DALLAS RESIDENT, NEVER MOVED OUTSIDE OF DALLAS OR TEXAS.

SO I DROVE DOWN DOWNTOWN, AND I CAN TELL YOU ALL THE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE REPUBLIC NATIONAL BANK BUILDING, I WENT INSIDE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT WAS SAVED AND IT'S REPURPOSED AND IT'S BEING USED THE OLD DALLAS CITY HALL NOW RESIDES THE UN TO LAW SCHOOL.

THE OLD STATLER HOTEL HAS BEEN REFURBISHED. THE OLD MERCANTILE BUILDING, H&R GREEN BUILDING, FIRST NATIONAL BANK IN DALLAS, ONE MAIN PLACE WITH ITS UNDERGROUND TUNNELS.

THE EL CENTRO COLLEGE, NOW THE IS USED USED TO BE THE SANGER-HARRIS.

NOW THE OLD BUILDING AS WELL IS IS BEING UTILIZED FOR COLLEGE AND LIVING.

THE REUNION. THE EDDIE BERNICE TRAIN STATION.

THEY DIDN'T TEAR ALL THESE THINGS DOWN, THEY'RE HERE.

AND THAT CREATES A BEAUTIFUL TAPESTRY FOR OUR CITY, FOR OUR DOWNTOWN DALLAS.

IT'S A TAPESTRY OF OUR HISTORICAL BUILDING OUR OUR HISTORICAL BUILDINGS HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

[01:00:02]

HERE, WHERE OUR PEOPLE CAN RIDE THE TRAIN, CAN RIDE THE BUS, AND CAN COME HERE IN PERSON.

AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHETHER IT'S TO TALK TO A LIFE PERSON IN DALLAS WATER DEPARTMENT TO TALK TO THE COUNCILMAN OR JUST THIS IS THEIR HOME.

IT'S MY IT'S MY HOME. AND I CHERISH THIS BUILDING.

IT'S A UNIQUE BUILDING. AND I'M HERE TO THANK YOU.

AND I HOPE YOU DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU.

ALEX SCOTT. ALEX SCOTT IS NOT PRESENT. LUIS ESPINOLA.

MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS LUIS ESPINOLA, WITH BUSINESS ADDRESS AT 2518 CHALK HILL ROAD IN THE WEST DALLAS, DISTRICT NUMBER 6. I HAVE BEEN AROUND DOWNTOWN SINCE 1983, INCLUDING BEING IN THIS BUILDING WHEN IT WAS FAIRLY NEW.

IN THE LAST 30 YEARS WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS HERE IN DOWNTOWN BESIDES THE EXPANSION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER 26 YEARS AGO, THE OMNI HOTEL AND THE FARMERS MARKET DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT.

I SEE THAT THE TAX BASE FOR THE CITY HAS NOT GROWN LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SINCE THEN.

I SEE OTHER CITIES IN NORTH TEXAS GROWING WITH GREAT DEVELOPMENTS AND GREAT INVESTMENTS.

WE ALL HAVE THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THE DOWNTOWN AREA THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, WITH A VIBRANT ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT THAT WOULD BE THOROUGHLY OPEN AND CONNECTED TO SOUTH DALLAS WITH A POTENTIAL PARK OVER THE I-30 CANYON.

I KNOW THAT CONNECTING SOUTH DALLAS WITH DOWNTOWN HAS BEEN ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF THIS COUNCIL, AND WITH THE CONNECTION THAT THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER WILL ENABLE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ATTENDING THE CONVENTIONS RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN BEING ENTERTAINED AND SPENDING MONEY.

I HAVE SEEN THE LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, AND I QUESTION MYSELF, WHY NOT IN DALLAS? WE ALSO HAVE THE EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON UNION STATION, THE FARMERS MARKET DISTRICT, DEEP ELLUM, AND FIR PARK. THIS ALL WOULD BE CONNECTED, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FESTIVALS, CULTURAL EVENTS, SPORTS, AND OTHER MAJOR EVENTS, BRINGING THE COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES TOGETHER.

THERE IS AN EXCELLENT CONNECTIVITY WITH DART AND EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON UNION STATION TRANSPORTATION HUB.

I REMEMBER 25 YEARS AGO, I WAS SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO THE THE RENOWNED DALLAS LEADER, THE LATE MR. PANCHO MEDRANO, THAT WE REMEMBER AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA IN DOWNTOWN.

I REMEMBER WE WERE SITTING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING IN THE MIDDLE OF A LARGE, EMPTY PIECE OF PROPERTY.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE ARENA WOULD EVENTUALLY, 25 YEARS LATER, GENERATE SUCH A TREMENDOUS DEVELOPMENT EXPLOSION IN UPTOWN BY DEVELOPING DOWNTOWN PROPERTY? I BELIEVE THAT YOU COULD DOUBLE THE EFFECT THAT THE AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA HAS DONE IN UPTOWN.

TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN TAX BASE FOR THE CITY, CREATING EMPLOYMENT FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND CREATING AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE SEEN WHAT THE FIVE ACRE WARREN PARK HAS DONE FOR THAT AREA.

THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS CREATED AROUND IT, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND FAMILIES THAT ATTEND EVENTS EVERY WEEK.

IT BROUGHT LIFE TO AN AREA THAT HAD NO ACTIVITY.

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL FORWARD YOUR TIME IN CITY HALL.

THANK YOU. AND OBVIOUSLY, I SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING.

TRANSPARENCY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DOMINIQUE.

ALEXANDER. HELLO, Y'ALL. I'M MINISTER DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER, PRESIDENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION ACTION NETWORK ADDRESS 2512 EAST OVERTON ROAD, DALLAS, TEXAS.

75216. I'M BORN AND RAISED IN THIS CITY, 36, 37 YEARS OLD.

I SAW THE DISCUSSION FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS REGARDING CITY HALL, AND IT SEEMS LIKE INDIVIDUALS DON'T WANT TO LISTEN.

SEEMS LIKE INDIVIDUALS ONLY WANT TO HEAR THEMSELVES TALK.

WHEN IT COMES TO DALLAS CITY HALL, I HEAR WHEN PEOPLE USE THE SOUTH AS A CONNECTED WAY AND THEY USE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS TO CREATE THEIR ARGUMENT. LEAVE US OUT OF IT.

WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO WITH THIS BUILDING? LET IT BE BASED ON FACTS, TRUTH, AND YET DATA.

WELL, YOU KNOW THIS THING CALLED HISTORY. IT NEVER CHANGES.

[01:05:03]

IT DOESN'T CHANGE NO MATTER WHAT SOMEONE WANTS TO SAY IN 2026, IT STILL DON'T CHANGE.

BUT THE CURRENT MANAGER AND THE CURRENT MAYOR OPENED THIS BUILDING UP ANYWAY, RIGHT? AND YET, WHOEVER WAS THE CITY MANAGER IN 1980, WHOEVER WAS THE CITY MANAGER IN 1990, 2000, 2010. BUT ONE THING IS NOT IT'S NOT ON THE CURRENT CITY MANAGER.

SO WHAT IS IT? WHEN WE SIT HERE AND SAY THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS IGNORING IT, LET THEM DO IT.

THEY THE ONE CREATED, WHO IS THEY? WE'RE JUST CORRECTING A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD FOR YEARS NOW.

A CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY COMES AND RISES.

DO I GIVE A CRAP ABOUT THE CURRENT DALLAS MAVERICKS OWNER? NO. I'M A DALLAS COWBOYS FAN. DO I GIVE A CRAP ABOUT JERRY JONES? NO. THE REALITY. COME ON NOW, LET'S BE SERIOUS.

RIGHT? RIGHT NOW, OUR CITY GOVERNMENT, THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT IS RIGHT NOW IN SHAMBLES.

WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THE 50 TO $100 MILLION? AND I REMEMBER THIS WORD. THIS WORD CALLED SELF-SERVING.

IT'S A WORD USED BY A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL WHEN I BELIEVE THERE WAS A FORMER CITY MANAGER THAT SAID, HEY, I WANT TO PUT $30 MILLION INTO THIS STRUCTURE AND INVEST IN IT.

SHE ASKED, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IS SELF-SERVING BECAUSE IT'S NOT HITTING THE STREETS OF THE PEOPLE NOW LEADING THE CHARGE TO SAVE A BUILDING THAT YOU COULDN'T EVEN INVEST IN? FACTS NEVER CHANGE. DO THE RIGHT THING. LET THE PROFESSIONALS LEAD US INTO THIS DECISION.

THANK YOU. LUCY BILLINGSLEY. HELLO, I'M LUCY BILLINGSLEY.

MY ADDRESS IS 1722 RUTH STREET. I'M OFFICE IN THE CBD AND ONE ARTS IN THE ARTS DISTRICT.

A LOT OF VERY CONSIDERED COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE HERE TODAY, AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LISTEN TO ALL ASPECTS OF THIS CONVERSATION.

I HAPPEN TO BE SOMEONE WHO ALWAYS LEANS TOWARDS THE FUTURE, CARING ABOUT THE PAST, BUT BUILDING FOR TOMORROW.

AND ONE THING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THIS CITY FOR SEVERAL DECADES NOW IS THE DETERIORATION OF DOWNTOWN.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT YET TODAY.

AND WE HAVE 34,000,000FT² OF OFFICE SPACE IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS, 09,000,000FT² VACANT.

AND IT'S ON THIS SOUTHERN EDGE. MOSTLY THEY'RE OLDER BUILDINGS AND THEY'RE COMERICA TOWER, BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS THAT ARE LOSING THESE OFFICE TENANTS.

AND SO WE HAVE A MOMENT NOW TO MAKE A BIG CHANGE IN THE MOVEMENT OF DOWNTOWN.

AND IT'S HARD TO DO. IT'S BEEN SLOWLY COMING UPON US BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO DO.

THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THIS LAND AND THIS AREA AND MAKE IT BE AN ECONOMIC ENGINE TO HELP US LIFT THE REST OF DOWNTOWN IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY. ALSO, THIS IS AN ICONIC BUILDING AND IT'S A DYSFUNCTIONAL BUILDING, AND IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE DAY IT WAS DESIGNED.

BEAUTIFUL AND YET NOT VERY FUNCTIONAL. YOU KNOW ABOUT THE NATURE OF YOUR OWN OFFICES.

CITY OF FORT WORTH MOVED INTO A HIGH RISE DOWNTOWN.

THEY REINVIGORATED THE CITY. THEY HAVE MUCH MORE CONTEMPORARY JUST OFFICES OF TODAY.

THE MORALE OF CITY STAFF HAS MOVED RIGHT FORWARD, AND SO DOES THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE CITY.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS BUILDING IS TO STAND OR TO LEAVE.

THAT'S NOT MY VALUE. MY VALUE IS TO GROW THE CBD AND TAKE THIS AREA AND GIVE US AN ECONOMIC ENGINE TO MOVE DOWNTOWN AS TO WHERE IT OUGHT TO BE, AND TO REINVIGORATE CITY STAFF SO THEIR FUNCTIONS CAN BE MUCH BETTER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. SAIDA BIZOR.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS SORA. I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AIA DALLAS.

I'M ALSO A FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS HERE IN THE CITY, AND FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BUILDING SERVICES,

[01:10:03]

THE CIVIC CENTER DISTRICT IS THE FRONT DOOR OF DALLAS.

THE MAP IN THE HANDOUT THAT YOU'RE NOT RIGHT NOW RECEIVING MAKES THAT VISION CONCRETE ON CITY OWNED LAND ALONE.

THERE IS ROOM TO KEEP CITY HALL WHERE IT IS. REBUILD THE CONVENTION CENTER AND SITE A NEW ARENA IN A SINGLE CONNECTED CIVIC AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

AND SINCE DEMOLITION OF THE CURRENT CONVENTION CENTER IS SCHEDULED TO BE FINISHED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, THAT LAND IS AVAILABLE ON A TIMELINE THAT MATCHES YOUR ARENA AND CONVENTION PLANNING.

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WILL COST AROUND $1 BILLION OVER 20 YEARS TO STAY AT CITY HALL.

IN THE CITY'S OWN FIGURES, ONLY A FRACTION OF THAT IS ACTUALLY LABELED AS CORRECTIVE REPAIRS.

THE REST ARE COSTS THEY WILL INCUR THAT THE CITY WILL INCUR IN ANY SCENARIO.

WHAT HAS NOT BEEN SHARED WITH YOU YET IS AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON THAT INCLUDES THE FULL COST OF MOVING OUT, LEASING AND FITTING OUT SPACE, AND PAYING ESCALATING RENT FOR DECADES.

ONCE YOU ACCOUNT FOR LEASE AND RELOCATION COSTS, RELOCATION IS THE COSTLIEST PATH.

EVEN THE 329 MILLION REPAIR FIGURE ITSELF IS NOT A HARD FACT.

FIRST, IT STATED IN $2,028. IT IS A ROUGH ESTIMATE THAT ASSUMES AN EMPTY BUILDING ESCALATES ITEMS BEYOND RECENT BIDS AND LOADS IN WORK THAT PRIOR STUDIES TREATED AS LOCALIZED ISSUES, NOT FULL REPLACEMENTS.

WHEN YOU REMOVE COSTS THAT OCCUR IN ANY SCENARIO AND CORRECT THE OBVIOUS OVERSTATEMENTS.

THE TRUE REPAIR NEED IS WELL UNDER 200 MILLION BEFORE EVEN COUNTING POTENTIAL HISTORIC AND FEDERAL TAX CREDITS.

THESE REPAIRS CAN BE PUT ON A 20 YEAR CAPITAL SCHEDULE.

THE SAME SCOPE ALREADY ASSUMED FOR FINANCING A MOVE.

CITY HALL IS NOT A NEGLECTED, FAILING ASSET. IN ROUGHLY THE LAST DECADE, THE CITY HAS INVESTED TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THIS BUILDING ELECTRICAL WATERPROOFING 911311 AND FIRE DISPATCH UPGRADES, TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CENTER AND EOC BUILD OUTS, ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION, AND HEATING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT.

THE 2026 ASSESSMENT STATES THE BUILDING AND GARAGE REMAIN OPERATIONAL AND THAT DEFICIENCIES DO NOT REPRESENT IMMINENT FAILURE, BUT INCREASED RISK OVER TIME IF IGNORED. EXACTLY WHAT A DISCIPLINED SCHEDULE OF REPAIRS, MODERNIZATION AND UPGRADES IS MEANT TO MANAGE ECONOMIC NOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND DALLAS IDENTITY AS A GREAT CITY ALL POINT IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

KEEP CITY HALL AT THE HEART OF THE CIVIC CENTER AND FIX THE NUMBERS BEFORE YOU CAN SEE THEM WALKING AWAY FROM A TAXPAYER ON LANDMARK.

THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES YOUR REGISTERED SPEAKERS, MR. CHAIR, BY SHOW OF HANDS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AT THIS TIME? OKAY. IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT.

I'M GOING TO SAY IN THESE FIRST THREE ROWS IN THE CENTER SECTION. AND ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT'S COMING FORWARD CAN COME TO THE PODIUM, THE FIRST PERSON UP, COME TO THE PODIUM AND YOU'LL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

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

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. MY NAME IS MATTHEW MABEL.

I LIVE AT 3914 FRONTIER LANE IN DALLAS. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE MAVERICKS, BUT NOT FOR THE REASON YOU MIGHT THINK.

I AM A DALLAS MAVERICKS FAN. I LIKE THE MAVERICKS.

I AM A DALLAS MAVERICKS SEASON TICKET HOLDER, AND I WILL GLADLY TAKE MY SEAT IN THE NEW ARENA THAT THE MAVERICKS DECIDE TO BUILD AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. NOT ON THIS SITE. WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE LUKA DONCIC TRADE.

PROBABLY NOT. THE FIRST THING YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN YOU CAME IN HERE THIS MORNING, BUT THE LUKA DONCIC TRAIN HAD SEVERAL CHARACTERISTICS A FEW PEOPLE DID NOT SHARE INFORMATION, DID NOT GET THE FACTS, MADE A QUICK DECISION BECAUSE THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT IF THEY LET IT PLAY OUT, PEOPLE OPPOSED TO THEIR DECISION WOULD BE REALLY UPSET AND STOP IT.

AND THEN THEY FOUND OUT WHEN THEY MADE THE DECISION.

BOY, WERE THEY RIGHT. PEOPLE WERE OPPOSED TO DECISION MUCH MORE THAN THEY COULD EVER IMAGINE.

AND AS A MAVERICK FAN, I'M SUPER GLAD THAT PATRICK DUMONT AND HIS TEAM HAS CORRECTED HIS ORGANIZATION AND THAT THE MAVERICKS ARE GOING TO WIN A LOT OF GAMES GOING FORWARD.

BUT WAIT A SECOND. THAT'S KIND OF SOUNDS FAMILIAR.

A FEW PEOPLE MAKING A DECISION, RUSHING IT THROUGH BEFORE THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THAT DECISION.

[01:15:03]

THE MAVERICKS WERE RIDICULED NATIONALLY. STILL ARE.

WORST TRADE IN THE HISTORY OF THE NBA. THE DECISION TO ABANDON THIS BUILDING AND KNOCK IT DOWN WITHOUT GETTING ALL THE FACTS AND ALLOWING THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS TO MAKE THE DECISION, IS YOUR LUKA DONCIC TRADE.

I URGE YOU, DON'T MAKE IT YOU'RE BETTER THAN THAT.

AND I ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT SOME OF THE BIGGEST ADVOCATES OF ABANDONING THIS BUILDING AND KNOCKING IT DOWN ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO MADE THE DECISION TO DEFER MAINTENANCE. NOW, IF YOU'RE A PARENT LIKE ME, YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU ENCOURAGE BAD BEHAVIOR, ALL YOU GET IS MORE OF IT. YOU GET MORE OF WHAT YOU DON'T WANT.

DON'T DO IT. IT'S NOT WHAT WE WHAT WE WANT. WHAT WE NEED FOR THIS GREAT CITY.

WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BE RIDICULED FOR KNOCKING DOWN AND ABANDONING THIS BUILDING.

THE WAY THE MAVERICKS WERE RIDICULED FOR TRADING LUKA DONCIC.

THIS. EVERY CITY IN AMERICA WILL BE LAUGHING AT DALLAS FOR GIVING UP A BUILDING THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AS THE CENTER OF THEIR CIVIC LIFE.

I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 45 YEARS. I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN WE BUILT THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, WE WERE NEVER GOING TO KNOCK DOWN REUNION ARENA THAT THE CITY OWNED BECAUSE THE CITY COULD SUPPORT TWO ARENAS.

I'M OLD IN YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. MY NAME IS FERNANDO ESPARZA AT 1135 MOUNTAIN LAKE ROAD DISTRICT ONE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE AUDIENCE YOU HAVE HEARD BEFORE YOU EMOTIONAL, PERSONAL, TECHNICAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REASONS AS TO WHY CITY HALL SHOULD BE PRESERVED.

BUT I MUST BESEECH AND IMPLORE YOU TO CONSIDER THE IDEOLOGICAL DIMENSION AS WELL.

IF DALLAS CITY HALL WISHES TO FOLLOW THE NEOLIBERAL PATH OF POLITICAL ENFEEBLEMENT AND MANAGED DECLINE, THEN I SUGGEST YOU CAPITULATE TO THE MAVERICKS AND GIVE UP CITY HALL.

IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE WISH TO EMULATE THE GREAT EXAMPLE OF NEW YORK AND MOVE INTO A MORE PROGRESSIVE AND PEOPLE POWERED AGE, THEN I SUGGEST YOU KEEP CITY HALL AND INCREASE MUNICIPAL POWER IN THIS CITY.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO BECOME, AS MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON WISHES, A WORLD CLASS CITY BY GIVING UP ALL ECONOMIC DIRECTION AND POLITICAL POWER TO THE DALLAS OLIGARCHS.

THAT CONCLUDES MY TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.

PATRICIA SIMON 4519 GASTON AVENUE, DISTRICT TWO.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR MORENO AND MEMBERS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM THE NORTHEAST. YES, A YANKEE BITCH AND PROUD OF IT.

I COMPLETED MY RESIDENCY IN BOSTON. BUT WHEN I MOVED TO DALLAS, I WAS IMMEDIATELY STRUCK BY HOW EVERYTHING FELT SO NEW.

AT FIRST, I ASSUMED IT WAS SIMPLY BECAUSE DALLAS WAS A YOUNGER CITY THAN BOSTON.

HISTORY HADN'T HAD TIME TO CATCH UP HERE. BUT AFTER LIVING HERE FOR YEARS, I REALIZED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

DALLAS DOESN'T JUST LACK OLD BUILDINGS. DALLAS HAS A PATTERN.

WE TEAR THINGS DOWN. WE BUILD SOMETHING SHINY AND NEW.

IT BECOMES DATED. IT SITS VACANT. AND THEN WE REPEAT THE CYCLE.

THAT'S NOT GROWTH, THAT'S CHURN. NOW WE ARE BEING ASKED TO APPLY THAT SAME MINDSET TO DALLAS CITY HALL, AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CIVIC LANDMARK DESIGNED BY I.M.

PEI. AND I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.

I'M NOT A FAN OF BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE. PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME KNOW THAT I GRAVITATE TOWARDS VICTORIAN AND CRAFTSMAN.

I DON'T PERSONALLY LOVE THIS BUILDING, BUT PRESERVATION IS NOT ABOUT PERSONAL TASTE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DISLIKE VICTORIAN HOUSES. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK CRAFTSMAN HOMES ARE OUTDATED, BUT THAT DOESN'T DIMINISH THEIR HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL VALUE.

WE DO NOT GET TO ERASE ARCHITECTURE SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S NO LONGER FASHIONABLE.

DALLAS CITY HALL IS A SIGNIFICANT WORK OF LATE MODERN CIVIC ARCHITECTURE.

WHETHER WE LIKE ITS ESTHETIC IS IRRELEVANT TO WHETHER IT DESERVES STEWARDSHIP.

WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT REPAIRS AND MODERNIZATION COULD COST BETWEEN 900 MILLION AND 1.4 BILLION OVER 20 YEARS, BUT THOSE NUMBERS COMBINED DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WITH OPTIMAL UPGRADES, FINANCING ASSUMPTIONS AND RELOCATION PROJECTIONS.

[01:20:04]

WE SHOULD BE ASKING, ARE THESE FIGURES TRANSPARENT? INDEPENDENTLY VALIDATED? ARE WE TRULY COMPARING REPAIR VERSUS REPLACEMENT, OR ARE WE CONSTRUCTING A NARRATIVE THAT MAKES DEMOLITION POLITICALLY EASIER? BECAUSE ABANDONING CITY HALL IS NOT FINANCIALLY NEUTRAL.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE PARCELS IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS.

THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT ARENA DEVELOPMENT, INTEREST TIES TO THE MAVERICKS, AND WHETHER POWERFUL PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS SITE BECOMING AVAILABLE.

EVEN THE PERCEPTION OF THAT INFLUENCE SHOULD GIVE THIS BODY PAUSE IN BOSTON.

IN CITIES ACROSS EUROPE, I HAVE SEEN HISTORIC CIVIC BUILDINGS, SUCCESSFULLY MODERNIZED, SYSTEMS REPLACED, INTERIORS ADAPTED, ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVED. ADDITIONS ARE THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED.

PRESERVATION AND MODERNIZATION COEXIST. THE REICHSTAG, FOR EXAMPLE, IN BERLIN.

OLDER CITIES UNDERSTAND SOMETHING WE'RE IN DANGER OF FORGETTING.

THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.

THANKS FOR ALLOWING OTHERS OF US TO SPEAK THIS AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS RON SOMERS CLARKE. I LIVE AT 1131 NORTH PLYMOUTH ROAD IN DALLAS AT 75208, IN STEVENS PARK ESTATES IN STEVENS PARK. WE'RE CELEBRATING THE 100TH YEAR OF OUR BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD.

MY HOME IS CONSIDERED PERHAPS THE OLDEST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUILT IN 19 2526, THE YEAR OF THE GOLF COURSE WAS BUILT ACROSS THE STREET.

MY HOME HAS THREE STORIES AND HAS 18 INCH CONCRETE WALLS AND LOTS OF REBAR IN IT BECAUSE WE'VE TRIED TO ADD ON TO IT.

THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL THE DALLAS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT DEEMS IT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.

I'M RETIRED. I'M THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE SPIRITUAL CARE AND CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE TWO CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS HERE IN DALLAS AND PLANO, AND TEXAS SCOTTISH RITE HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN.

THESE HOSPITALS, I KNOW SINCE I'VE LIVED IN THEM FOR 26 YEARS, JUST ABOUT REQUIRED CONTINUOUS UPKEEP AND REBUILDING TO MAKE THEM EFFICIENT BECAUSE WE HAD TO CARE FOR CRITICALLY ILL CHILDREN AND NEEDED THESE BUILDINGS TO BE EFFICIENT IN ORDER TO DO THAT AND SAVE THEIR LIVES.

I'M GOING TO BE 83 NEXT. WELL, ACTUALLY, THIS MONTH, I'LL KEEP PUTTING IT OFF.

AND IF YOU FOLLOW SOME OF THE ANALOGIES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE I WOULD NEED TO BE GOING TO THE CLINIC TOMORROW TO SEE ABOUT REPLACING MY LEFT KNEE.

BECAUSE I'M GETTING OLD OR HAVING SURGICAL REPAIR LATER THIS YEAR IN MY NECK.

MAYBE THEY'D JUST SELL ME. I MENTIONED MY HOME AND MY BUILDING.

LIKE, THIS BUILDING IS DALLAS CITIZENS. CITIZENS HOME FOR OUR CITY BUSINESS.

IT ALSO REQUIRES REGULAR UPKEEP AT SOME COST.

MY HOME IS THE PROVERBIAL THIS OLD HOUSE. I WOULD BE AN IRRESPONSIBLE STEWARD.

A WORD THAT I'VE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES TODAY. STEWARDSHIP TO LET IT GET IN DISREPAIR.

BUT MY WIFE AND I HAVE KEPT IT UP INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AT SOME COST, AND I'M VERY UNHAPPY THAT THIS CITY AND ITS LEADERSHIP AND THOSE BEFORE YOU HAVE NOT TAKEN STEPS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF IMPROVEMENT FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND THIS ESPECIALLY GREAT SPOT THAT IT SITS IN.

SELLING THIS BUILDING DOES NOT SPEAK WELL OF ALL OF YOU, AS OUR STEWARDS OF THIS BUILDING ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE BEFORE YOU AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO HAVE PLANNED REPAIR AND CONTINUOUS UPKEEP FOR THIS BUILDING.

DO NOT SELL IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, MY NAME IS TERRY WRAITH.

I LIVE AT 1518 ABRAMS ROAD IN JUNIUS HEIGHTS HISTORIC DISTRICT.

I'M A 73 YEAR OLD NATIVE DALLASITE, AND I AM ASHAMED.

I CONSIDER OUR CITY HALL THE MOST ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDING THAT DALLAS HAS POSSIBLY EVER BUILT, AND I DOUBT THAT WE WILL EVER CREATE ANYTHING ELSE AS WORLD KNOWN WORLDWIDE, LIKE OUR CITY HALL.

TO EVEN THINK ABOUT DEMOLISHING THIS BUILDING, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE NAME OF ANOTHER STADIUM TO ME IS A TRAVESTY.

[01:25:03]

I'VE SEEN THE COWBOYS GO THROUGH FOUR STADIUMS WHEN THE MAVERICKS AT LEAST THREE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, OH, WE'RE GOING TO BRING GROWTH TO SOUTH DALLAS.

BALONEY. IF THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF A STADIUM HERE ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY, WHY DIDN'T IT HAPPEN 45 YEARS AGO WITH REUNION ARENA? AND ONCE AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE MAGICAL ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE GOING TO BRING THE PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN DALLAS.

WELL, THEN ONCE AGAIN, WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE AT AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER? THAT'S THE SAME STORY WE GOT 25 YEARS AGO ASKING TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THIS.

I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THE TAXPAYERS HAVING TO FOOT AND HELP BUILD STADIUMS FOR THESE POOR BILLIONAIRES.

AND NOW, IN THE CASE OF THE MAVERICKS, WE'RE THEY'RE OWNED BY AN OWNER THAT DOESN'T EVEN LIVE IN THIS CITY, HAS NO REAL TIES. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY CONTRACT GUARANTEE AND THE MAVERICK STAY HERE.

IF THEY GET A BETTER DEAL, THEY'LL MOVE. THAT IS THE NATURE OF SPORTS BECAUSE IT'S JUST BUSINESS.

SO IF THEY WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW, HOW ABOUT UP THERE ON THAT BIG EMPTY PLOT OF LAND AT VALLEY VIEW? THAT'D BE A GREAT SPOT. EASY TO GET TO OFF THE FREEWAYS.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GROWTH IN SOUTH DALLAS, ONCE AGAIN, BALONEY.

GILLEY'S, LAMAR, THE THE SOUTH SIDE ON LAMAR ALL OF THAT.

NEVER GOT IT TO GO ANY FURTHER. AND YES, THE CEDARS IS GROWING BUT THE CEDARS ONLY GROWING BECAUSE THEY'RE DEMOLISHING EVERYTHING ON A CITY BLOCK AND BUILDING NEW CONDOS. THERE'S NO INTEGRATION.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO ANY FURTHER THAN THEY CAN KNOCK OUT EVERYTHING.

IF YOU THINK THAT THIS STADIUMS BRING GROWTH, PLEASE SHOW ME WHAT'S GOING ON OUT AT 183 AND 114 WHERE THERE USED TO BE A COWBOY STADIUM.

AS SOON AS THE STADIUM GOES DOWN, EVERY ONE OF THE FAST FOOD BURGER JOINTS DISAPPEARS.

AND THEY CAN'T EVEN KEEP A GOOD RESTAURANT AT AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER.

SO BUILD YOUR OWN STADIUM, BILLIONAIRES, AND LEAVE OUR CITY HALL ALONE.

THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M EDWARD STONE, 6718, ROLLING VISTA IN DALLAS. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU ALL YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO BE THE CUSTODIANS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST AND THE PUBLIC PURSE.

$1 BILLION, AN UNFATHOMABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY. SOMEONE TOLD ME YESTERDAY.

THAT'S MORE THAN IT COST TO REBUILD THE NOTRE-DAME IN PARIS AFTER THE FIRE.

HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY OVER 20 YEARS. WE AS CITIZENS HAVE NOT SEEN A PROGRAM.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IN YEAR ONE AND AT WHAT COST? AND IN YEAR THREE, AT WHAT COST? AND IN YEAR 16, AT WHAT COST? WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE JUSTIFICATION OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEED TO HAVE AND LIKE TO HAVE.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE. AND LET'S ADDRESS THOSE FIRST.

SOME OF THEM IN YEAR 17, 18, 19 MIGHT BE USED TO HAVE, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO DECIDE ON THOSE TODAY.

IN READING THE PAPERS AND LOOKING AT SUGGESTIONS MADE BY MR. WASHBURN AND MR. HOKE, THERE ARE SOME REALLY GOOD IDEAS, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY'RE DEPENDENT ON THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF REAL ESTATE TO MAKE ALL THOSE THINGS HAPPEN. ALL THE RENOVATION AND RESTORATION OF DURATION OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS IS IMPORTANT, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT TEARING DOWN THIS BUILDING SOLVES THOSE PROBLEMS AND ADDRESSES THEM.

ASK YOUR CONSIDERATION IN YOUR THOUGHT AND YOUR HELP IN PROTECTING THIS BUILDING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. I'M ROLLINS GILLELAND.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE. I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK TODAY BECAUSE I'VE SPOKEN BEFORE, AND I'VE SAID WHAT I FELT NEEDED TO BE SAID. AND I RESPECT EVERY ONE OF YOU AROUND THE HORSESHOE FOR THE HARD WORK YOU DO AND THE ENORMOUS PRESSURE YOU'RE UNDER.

AND I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO KNOW MANY OF YOU AND HELPED MANY OF YOU GET ELECTED.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, HERE'S SOMETHING I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU.

I'M A DALLAS NATIVE WHO WAS TWO BLOCKS AWAY AT 18 YEARS OLD WHEN KENNEDY WAS SHOT TWO BLOCKS AWAY.

[01:30:06]

I LEFT THIS TOWN BECAUSE I HATED IT. AND THEN I CAME BACK AFTER I'D BEEN POET IN RESIDENCE WITH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT.

DISILLUSIONED WITH MY STATE, I CAME BACK IN 1978 AND SAW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY TOWN.

IT SEEMED TO ME THAT IT WAS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

BUT HERE'S THE OTHER THING I LEARNED IN MY 20S WHEN I WAS DATING, WHEN TO HAVE A BROKEN HEART, AND THEN WHEN I DATED AGAIN TO RECOGNIZE WHEN THEY'RE LYING.

IT WAS AMAZING. I STARTED MAKING BETTER AND BETTER DECISIONS ABOUT WHO I DATED.

I COULD TELL WHO WAS DOING DRUGS AND WHO WASN'T.

I COULD TELL THERE IS NOTHING I'M HEARING ABOUT THIS BUILDING OR THIS EVENT THAT IS NOT TELLING ME SOMETHING I'VE HEARD BEFORE. THERE ARE A THOUSAND THINGS WRONG WITH THIS BUILDING, AND I NEVER LIKED IT.

BUT THERE'S A MILLION THINGS WRONG WITH TEARING IT DOWN AND ABANDONING IT, AND HAVING NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO TEAR IT DOWN. WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IS THAT GOING TO HAVE? ALL OF IT. IT'S JUST LIKE WHEN YOU WERE LIED TO WHEN YOU WERE 24 YEARS OLD ON THAT BLIND DATE, AND YOU KNEW IT BECAUSE OF WHO YOU HAD DATED AT 22.

I CAN RECOGNIZE RIGHT NOW THAT THERE ISN'T ONE PERSON SITTING HERE THAT I WOULD NOT TRUST IF YOU WERE MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AND VALUE TO HAVE. BUT I'M ASKING YOU RIGHT NOW, THIS DOESN'T PASS ANY SMELL TEST.

AND FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO WAS PROUD WHEN THEY CAME BACK TO DALLAS IN 1978, I CAN TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.

FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS, I'VE BEEN PROFOUNDLY DISILLUSIONED BY THIS AND THAT.

AS SOMEONE WHO LEARNED AGAIN TO LOVE THIS TOWN, MY HEART HAS BEEN BROKEN.

AND I'M ASKING YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER. VALETTA FORSYTHE. LIL. 622 BLAIR BOULEVARD.

I DID NOT COME HERE TODAY ORIGINALLY TO SPEAK, BUT I THOUGHT AFTER LISTENING, PERHAPS WE NEED A BIT OF CLARIFICATION.

I UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURE YOU'RE UNDER. EACH OF YOU.

I SAT THERE IN 1997 WHEN WE TOOK THE VOTE TO BUILD THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER.

WE CHOSE TO BUILD IT ON A GREEN FIELD. NO, I SHOULD SAY A BROWNFIELD.

IT'S GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT. NOTHING BUT A DECOMMISSIONED UTILITY WAS THERE.

WE TOOK DART THROUGH THAT SPACE. TOTAL REHABILITATION OF THE SITE.

OKAY. YOU ARE NOW FACED WITH ANOTHER CHOICE. ARE WE GOING TO DO IT HERE? I HEAR THE COSTS OF REHABILITATING THIS BUILDING.

I KNOW FROM MISS ZORA'S COMMENTS WE HAVE INVESTED IN THIS BUILDING OVER THE YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU CHOSE TO TAKE THE $28 MILLION OFF THE BOND IN 24.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE $6.5 MILLION OF ARPA MONEY THAT SHOWS UP IN YOUR MEMORANDUM FROM LAST WEEK. I DO KNOW THAT IF THIS BUILDING IS HISTORIC, YOU ARE SUBJECT TO A 30% HISTORIC TAX CREDIT.

THAT'S FREE MONEY THAT YOU CAN TAKE THAT MONEY, SELL THAT TAX CREDIT.

OKAY. THE GARAGE UNDER THIS BUILDING WAS NOT BUILT WITH GEO BONDS.

IT WAS BUILT WITH REVENUE BONDS. IT WAS BUILT WITH HOT TAX.

THE SAME MONEY YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE TO BUILD THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER.

YOUR MOST EXPENSIVE REDO HERE IS YOUR GARAGE.

AND YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THAT WITH GEO BOND MONEY.

I WANT TO KNOW, DO I GET A NEW CITY HALL? APPARENTLY I DON'T.

WHAT CITY IN AMERICA DOESN'T HAVE A CITY HALL? YOU'RE GOING TO PUT YOUR STAFF INTO DIFFERENT BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN.

[01:35:02]

YOU HAVE ASSETS. TELL ME PLEASE. WE'RE NOT PEARL CLUTCHERS.

THOSE OF US WHO ARE PRESERVATIONISTS WERE RESILIENT.

WE FIGHT FOR THE PAST AND THE FUTURE. AND 25 OF YOUR BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN WERE DONE WITH DIFFERENT KINDS OF ECONOMIC PROPERTY. THAT YOU'RE TIED TO IT.

TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.

HELLO. MY NAME IS SARAH CRANE AND I LIVE AT 6350 KELLER SPRINGS.

AND I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF PRESERVATION DALLAS AS THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

I DO JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK THOSE THAT ARE IN SUPPORT OF SAVING DALLAS CITY HALL FOR SHOWING UP TODAY, TAKING TIME OFF OF WORK AND WEARING BLUE SO QUIETLY.

WE'LL JUST DO THIS FOR YOU GUYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE FUTURE OF THIS, OUR CITY HALL SITE, SHOULD IT BE MAINTAINED FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OR SHOULD THE SITE BE DEVELOPED? WHILE I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THE NATURE OF THIS MEETING TO BE A DEBATE ON THE MAINTENANCE NUMBERS YOU RECEIVED OR HOW BEST TO STAGE REPAIRS, I AM INSTEAD BEFORE YOU TO REMIND THE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE TRUE COST OF DEVELOPMENT.

CURRENTLY, DALLAS HAS A $3 BILLION TAXPAYER MONEY INVESTED IN THE CONVENTION CENTER NEXT DOOR.

THIS RENEWED CONVENTION CENTER AND SUBSEQUENT PLANNED DECK PARK WILL RECONNECT THE CORE OF DOWNTOWN TO SOUTH DALLAS.

THIS CONNECTION IS ALREADY APPROVED AND YES, FUNDED BY US.

DALLAS SITES. DEMOLISHING THE STRUCTURE IN HOPES OF ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE PROCESS.

HOW EXPENSIVE IN COMPARISON TO FIXING THIS BUILDING? WE HAVE NO IDEA. BUT IF WE ARE TO TAKE RECENT ESTIMATES AT FACE VALUE, THAT IT WILL COST US 700 MILLION TO MOVE OUT FOR FIVE YEARS, THEN IT WILL CLEARLY TAKE BILLIONS FOR A LONG TERM LEASE OF SOMEWHERE ELSE DOWNTOWN.

AND THE COST IS OURS. THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS TO BEAR.

FURTHERMORE, IF THE RUMORS ARE TRUE, AND THIS IS TO BE A FUTURE SPORTS STADIUM SITE, THEN THAT BILL QUITE FRANKLY BECOMES ASTRONOMICAL.

THESE PROMISES OF IMPROVED LAND VALUE ON THIS SITE DO NOT BENEFIT US.

THE AVERAGE DALLAS SITE ONLY DALLAS DEVELOPERS.

I URGE THIS COMMITTEE TO TAKE TIME. IF THIS IS TRULY A TIMELINE DRIVEN BY DALLAS NEEDS AND NOT PRIVATE INTERESTS, THEN THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON WHY WE CANNOT SLOW DOWN.

CONSIDER HOW BEST TO ENVISION THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN AND TO UNDERSTAND FULLY HOW THIS FUTURE WILL IMPACT DALLAS TAXPAYERS.

BECAUSE IF WE, THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS, MUST BEAR THE COST OF MOVING, DEMOLISHING, DEVELOPING ALL FOR THIS SITE AND CONTINUE TO PAY FOR DALLAS MAVERICKS TICKETS, THIS MAY BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE DECISION DALLAS WILL HAVE EVER MADE, AND ONLY WE WILL BE THE ONES PAYING FOR IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M CATHERINE SEALE. I'M THE FORMER LANDMARK COMMISSION CHAIR, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PRESERVATION DALLAS, AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 13.

I'VE HEARD PROPONENTS OF REMOVING CITY HALL FOR A NEW MAVS STADIUM SAY THAT DOWNTOWN IS HEADED FOR LIFE SUPPORT FOLLOWING A STEADY DECLINE SINCE COVID.

CITING A LACK OF LEADERSHIP, UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF CRIME AND BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.

PERHAPS SO, BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO BELIEVE THAT BRINGING THE MAVS TO DOWNTOWN WILL BE A SHOT, WILL BE A SHOT IN THE ARM FOR DOWNTOWN AND HELP REVERSE OUR DECLINE.

HISTORY SUGGESTS OTHERWISE. A CITY HALL IS NOT JUST AN OFFICE BUILDING.

IT'S A PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF A CITY'S INDEPENDENCE AND AUTHORITY.

AND MOVING CITY HALL TO A LEASED OR REPURPOSED OFFICE BUILDING SUBORDINATES THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO THE PRIVATE REAL ESTATE MARKET.

DALLAS I.M. PEI DESIGNED CITY HALL IS ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZED MUNICIPAL SILHOUETTES IN THE WORLD.

IT TELLS THE STORY THE WORLD THAT DALLAS IS BOLD, UNCONVENTIONAL, AND VISIONARY.

REPLACING A GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL ICON WITH A STADIUM MAKES THE CITY LOOK LIKE A COMPANY TOWN FOR A SPORTS FRANCHISE, RATHER THAN A WORLD CLASS METROPOLIS. THE ARGUMENT THAT CITY HALL IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN IS A FAILURE OF THE IMAGINATION.

THIS CITY HALL WAS BUILT TO LAST 500 YEARS. IT IS A CIVIC ANCHOR.

STADIUMS, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE EVENT BASED ANCHORS.

AND WHILE THE STADIUM PROPOSAL PROMISES VIBRANCY, STADIUMS ARE INWARD FACING AND STADIUMS,

[01:40:04]

THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. BUT THEY CAN'T. THEY CAN'T BECAUSE STADIUMS ARE NOT ECONOMIC ENGINES.

I URGE YOU TO SAVE CITY HALL. CONSIDER AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION FOR THE MAVS AND PROTECT THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN.

THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANDREW CEBOTARU. I AM ACTUALLY A RESIDENT OF FORNEY, BUT I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN DALLAS, AND I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE CITY WHERE I COME FROM.

I ACTUALLY WORK IN DOWNTOWN AT AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM IN THE HISTORIC LANDMARK REPUBLIC CENTER.

I URGE YOU TO, YOU KNOW, PAUSE AND TAKE TIME AND DO NOT RUSH THIS DECISION BECAUSE IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH SAVING.

AND YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO LIKE THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING TO APPRECIATE IT.

I PERSONALLY KNOW PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DON'T LIKE THE DESIGN, BUT THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF SAVING THE BUILDING, INCLUDING MY OWN MOM. SHOUT OUT TO MOM, BUT I JUST WANT TO URGE THAT YOU KNOW AND STRESS THE FACTS HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, IN REVIEWING THIS CDC REPORT, IT FRANKLY, JUST THE NUMBERS DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

I MEAN, JUST JUST YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT TO LOOK AT IT AND SEE THAT WHERE DOES THIS $1 BILLION FIGURE COME FROM? I MEAN, JUST TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FULL COST OF CONSTRUCTION.

IF YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT INFLATION, IT TOOK IT COST AROUND $500 MILLION.

SO HOW DOES THAT JUST BY USING BASIC LOGIC THAT DOESN'T ADD UP.

THE MATH IS NOT WORKING. SO I JUST URGE AND STRESS, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT DIFFERENT REPORTS, DIFFERENT FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAT ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, DON'T HAVE ANY ANYTHING TO GAIN FROM THIS DECISION.

AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT YOU CAN YOU CAN ALSO BE IN SUPPORT OF RECONNECTING THE URBAN CORE WITH DOWNTOWN WHILE STILL KEEPING THE BUILDING IN PLACE.

THIS BUILDING ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE. IT WAS DESIGNED TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME.

AND I MEAN, JUST JUST LOOK AT THIS CONVENTION CENTER SITE THAT IT'S ALREADY IN PROGRESS TO BE REDEVELOPED.

IT WILL IT WILL ACTUALLY RECONNECT THE, YOU KNOW, THE URBAN FABRIC.

ALSO TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE REUNION ARENA SITE, WHICH WAS DEMOLISHED NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO, AND THAT SITE IS STILL VACANT TO THIS DAY. HOW COME THAT WAS NOT REDEVELOPED? THERE'S PLENTY OF ALREADY VACANT LAND FOR REDEVELOPMENT OR DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY.

THIS THIS SITE HERE IS IT'S IT'S A IT'S A CIVIC LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SET IN STONE.

I MEAN THIS THIS PLACE IS JUST NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

SO I DON'T KNOW, I JUST THAT'S MY TIME. THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER. HI. MY NAME IS RUDY KARIMI. 60.

214, GOLIAD, THE ONE AND ONLY COUNCIL DISTRICT 14.

I'M HERE BECAUSE CITY HALL MATTERS. I'VE SEEN OUR CITIZENS SHAPE THEIR LIVES HERE.

I HAVE SEEN A SEVEN YEAR OLD GIRL COME TO MY PARK BOARD AND ASK US FOR A NEW PLAYGROUND.

I MYSELF HAVE SEEN SOME OF MY DREAMS COME TRUE IN THIS BUILDING, BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

WE'VE SEEN POLICIES IMPOSED THAT HAVE TORN FAMILIES APART.

EVEN AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE'VE SEEN A NONSTOP ATTACK ON SOME OF OUR OTHER CIVIL LIBERTIES.

DESPITE OUR BEST INPUT. FOR MANY OF US, OUR CITY HALL SHOULD BE THE VERY LAST PLACE WE SHOULD LOSE OUR COLLECTIVE VOICES.

BUT EVEN THAT SEEMS TO HAVE ERODED LATELY, MUCH TO MY CHAGRIN.

I AM A MILLENNIAL, AND EVEN AS A GERIATRIC MILLENNIAL, I GO AROUND AND I TRY TO ACTIVATE PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN ME TO CARE ABOUT THIS STUFF.

I TELL THEM, SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT OUR PRESIDENT.

SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT OUR GOVERNOR. I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE RIGHT OR LEFT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER. THEY WILL NEVER COME TO YOUR HOME AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THINGS.

BUT YOU KNOW WHO WILL. A GOOD COUNCIL MEMBER.

THEY WILL COME TO YOUR HOME BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT YOUR PARKS, YOUR LIBRARIES, YOUR POTHOLES, YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY, AND YOUR CITY HALL. BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT YOU.

SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP ON US. PLEASE LISTEN TO US.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO CARE ABOUT US. AND REMEMBER WE DO LISTEN.

WE DO CARE. WE VOTE. WE MATTER. AND YOU KNOW WHO? WE MATTER MORE THAN WE MATTER MORE THAN AREA BILLIONAIRES.

SO PLEASE BE A LEADER OF THE PEOPLE. DO NOT BE A LEADER FOR THE BILLIONAIRES.

[01:45:01]

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BRANT BROWN. 2500 MCKINNEY AVENUE, DISTRICT 14.

I AM AN ARCHITECT, BUT I'M NOT HERE TO TALK TO YOU AS AN ARCHITECT, AS A CITIZEN OF DALLAS, SOMEONE WHO MOVED HERE IN 1999 CHOSE TO LIVE IN MAGNOLIA LOFTS, ONE OF THE EARLY LOFTS RIGHT OUT MY WINDOW.

THE FIRST THING TO BREAK DOWN AND BREAK DOWN AND BREAK GROUND WAS A PARKING GARAGE.

IT WAS A SIGNAL OF WHAT WAS COMING. WASN'T FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN DOWNTOWN OR IN THAT AREA.

THIS WAS LITTLE MEXICO VILLAGE. WHAT IT WAS, WAS A SIGNAL OF WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A DESTINATION.

WE NEED SOME PERSPECTIVE. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE AND HOW MUCH PUBLIC MONEY DID IT TAKE TO REALIZE VICTORY TODAY? IT WASN'T JUST PAYING FOR THE STREETS OR AN ARENA.

IT WAS COUNTLESS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TIF MONEY THAT WENT TO SUBSIDIZE THE PRIVATE MARKET, BUT NOT A CAPITALISTIC MARKET. NO. I QUICKLY MOVED DOWNTOWN, LIVED IN THE KATY BUILDING. SORRY. KIRBY BUILDING. IT WAS THE FIRST BUILDING REDEVELOPED IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS, OTHER THAN THE MANOR HOUSE. IT WAS THE ONLY PLACE TO LIVE. IN 1999.

THERE WAS NOWHERE TO EAT AFTER 6:00 EXCEPT CITY TAVERN, OR MAYBE A PIZZA BY THE SLICE WHERE THE OLD PRETORIAN IS, WHICH IS TORN DOWN, AND NOW AN ALL SEEING EYEBALL.

THE POINT IS, DOWNTOWN HAS COME A LONG WAYS IN THE LAST 25 YEARS.

IT'S COME A LONG WAYS. AND RIGHT NOW YOUR DECISION IS NOT ABOUT THE CITY WE WANT TO BE.

IT'S ABOUT THE CITY WE ARE. WHAT I CHALLENGE YOU TODAY IS TO STOP FOLLOWING THE DALLAS WAY.

BIG D, BIG DALLAS BIG THINGS HAPPEN HERE. IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE FUTURE.

IT'S ALWAYS THE PROMISES, THE PROPAGANDA FROM A FEW.

WHAT I CHALLENGE YOU TO DO INSTEAD IS TO LOOK AT DOWNTOWN AS A SERIES OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AS A PLACE, AS JANE JACOBS SAID THE GREAT URBANIST. YOU CAN'T BRING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.

YOU DOWNTOWN. YOU GOTTA PUT THEM THERE. AND HOW DO YOU PUT THEM THERE? YOU'VE GOT 80 ACRES OF VACANT PROPERTY. PUT TOGETHER AN ECONOMIC STRATEGY FOR DOWNTOWN.

DON'T PUT AN ECONOMIC STRATEGY TOGETHER TO BUILD ANOTHER ARENA BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WORK.

THERE ARE FINANCIAL STUDIES, AFTER FINANCIAL STUDIES THAT THE PUBLIC SUBSIDIZING OF ARENAS DOES NOT WORK.

AND LASTLY, INVEST IN CITY HALL. INVEST IN THIS PART OF THE CITY WHERE I AM NOW MOVING BACK TO DO THAT AS A SYMBOLISM OF WHO DALLAS IS TODAY.

WE MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS. WE INVEST IN OUR PAST.

WE INVEST IN OURSELVES AND NOT OTHERS. THANK YOU.

BEFORE I WOULD LIKE TO BY SHOW OF HANDS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO SPEAK? I JUST SEE ONE. OKAY. OKAY. TWO. COME FORWARD.

YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM AND BEGIN, SO TO SPEAK.

THERE'S A BUTTON AT THE BASE OF THAT. I'M ERICA HUDDLESTON.

MY ADDRESS IS 5028 MILAM STREET IN DISTRICT 14.

I AM A TRAINED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, AND MY MASTER'S FROM UT AUSTIN.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE DISCUSSIONS THAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH ARE DIFFICULT.

AND I THINK 27% VACANCY RATE, MAYBE 33, IS DIFFICULT.

BUT I LIVE DOWNTOWN. WHEN I MOVED BACK FROM AUSTIN, I WAS EXCITED ABOUT URBAN LIVING, AND I BOUGHT A CHARLES DILBECK HOUSE, AND IT WAS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO RESTORE. SO I LIVED AT THE MANOR HOUSE.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AFTER TWO YEARS OF CONTRACTOR DELAYS WITH MY HOUSE? I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE DOWNTOWN. I LOVED LIVING DOWNTOWN AND I WALKED EVERYWHERE, AND I KEPT WANTING TO WALK PAST YOUNG STREET, EXCEPT THAT THERE'S NOTHING OVER THERE.

AND YOU'D WALK OVER THERE AND YOU'D WANT TO WALK SOUTH OF YOUNG STREET, AND THERE JUST WASN'T ANYTHING OVER THERE.

AND IT FELT A LITTLE BIT NERVE WRACKING AND DANGEROUS.

OF COURSE, IF YOU DO STREETSCAPING ON YOUNG STREET AND MAKE A DISCOVERY GREEN SLASH, YOU KNOW, CLYDE, YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE YOUR DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL 15,000 PEOPLE WALKING SOUTH OF YONGE STREET.

[01:50:01]

BASICALLY, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A STADIUM DOWN THERE, DO IT.

BUT DO IT WITH 20 900,000 DRAWINGS. PUT THEM ON THE GROUND.

WHEN WE WERE IN SCHOOL, THEY SAID, IF IT'S NOT ON PAPER, YOU DIDN'T DO THE WORK.

I'VE SEEN PARKS NEXT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AND I'VE SEEN THAT SAME LAND WITH BUILDINGS ON IT.

WHICH IS IT? IN 2022? THERE WAS A WONDERFUL ARTICLE IN D MAGAZINE, WE NEED TO TEAR DOWN THE CONVENTION CENTER AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A PARK. WHEN I LOOK THROUGH THE CATALOG OF ARTICLES OVER THIS SOUTH OF YOUNG AREA, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SO I JUST REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE PEOPLE.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOUR FINAL SPEAKER.

YOU MAY COME FORWARD. THE FINAL ONE. THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS KAREN LAWRENCE. I LIVE AT 5607 RICHMOND AVENUE.

AND YOU GUYS HAVE A TOUGH JOB. I CAN'T IMAGINE SITTING IN YOUR CHAIRS FOR AS LONG AS YOU GUYS HAVE TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO EVERY ONE OF US SPEAK.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE.

I'VE HEARD THE WORD TRANSPARENCY A LOT IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS WHEN THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS.

AND SO IN THAT SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, I'M MARRIED TO A VERY PASSIONATE MAN, BRUCE RICHARDSON.

AND YOU HEARD FROM HIM EARLIER. AND HE HAS DEVOTED HIS LIFE ESSENTIALLY FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS ON THIS. THERE'S TWO THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WHEN BECAUSE I KIND OF GET TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, YOU CAN IMAGINE. BUT I DO LISTEN. HE'S A BRILLIANT PERSON, AND AND SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE MUCH, BUT I DO KIND OF PICK AND, YOU KNOW, PIECES OUT OF IT, AND I AM HE'S GOT THE PASSION.

AND MAYBE I'M A LITTLE POLLYANNAISH, BUT I REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE ELECTED TO REPRESENT US, THAT THAT WHAT WE WANT IS IMPORTANT, NOT WHAT I WANT.

IT'S A COLLECTIVE WE. RIGHT? THAT. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN HERE. IN FACT, THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED SENT US DOWN A RABBIT HOLE.

WELL, SENT HIM DOWN A RABBIT HOLE. AND IN SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HE WAS WORKING WITH CHECKING FACTS, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT THINGS. AND THEN I'M HEARING THAT THAT WASN'T THAT.

THAT'S NOT EVEN THE ISSUE. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.

MAYBE I KIND OF AVERAGE. I BET A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

THAT'S A PROBLEM. AND ALL I'M SAYING IS JUST PAUSE.

LET'S DO THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT FROM SO MANY PEOPLE TODAY.

AND JUST HOPEFULLY THIS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WE NEED TO KNOW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THIS CONCLUDES YOUR SPEAKERS ON YOUR PUBLIC HEARING ITEM.

THANK YOU. KAREN, HOPEFULLY I GAVE YOU A BREAK THIS PAST WEEKEND BY BEING ON THE PHONE WITH BRUCE FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO SPEAK TODAY AND SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVES.

YOUR PARTICIPATION IS APPRECIATED. WE WILL NOW BE MOVING ON TO OUR BRIEFING.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY AND CONTINUE TO OBSERVE.

HOWEVER, IF YOU NEED TO STEP OUT, NOW WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO DO SO.

WE WILL TAKE A QUICK FIVE MINUTE RECESS AND YOU MAY EXIT AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, WE'RE ABOUT TO GET STARTED.

THE TIME IS NOW 319 AND WE ARE BACK IN SESSION.

WHAT IS THAT SHOT? AND WE HAVE STAFF COMING UP TO THE TABLE NOW.

THANK YOU ROBIN. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ROBIN BENTLEY WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. ITEM B IS TO RECAP LAST MONTH'S MOTION AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE PIECE THAT WAS REFERRED TO THIS COMMITTEE AND GET SOME DIRECTION ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. ACTUALLY ONE MORE.

[01:55:04]

AND THAT PIECE OF THE MOTION, IF IT PASSES ON WEDNESDAY, WILL BE MANAGED BY THE COMMITTEE.

AND SO NEXT SLIDE. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING IN PREPARATION FOR THAT WORK.

IF THE ITEM PASSES ON WEDNESDAY, THAT WE START GATHERING SOME INFORMATION AND JUST HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE MARKET AS TO WHAT IDEAS MIGHT BE OUT THERE FOR EITHER THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THIS BUILDING OR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE.

NEXT SLIDE. AND SO OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO ISSUE AN OPEN CALL FOR CONCEPTS AND IDEAS.

AND WHAT WE WOULD ASK FOLKS TO RESPOND WITH ARE THE THINGS LISTED HERE.

WAS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT OF THE PROJECT.

HOW DOES IT TIE INTO OUR CONVENTION CENTER DEVELOPMENT? HOW DOES IT SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY? HOW DOES IT TIE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE CITY HALL SITE.

AND SO WE JUST WANT TO STOP HERE AND ASK, ARE THERE THINGS THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS PART OF THAT CALL FOR CONCEPTS AND IDEAS BEYOND THE SIX ITEMS LISTED HERE, AND WE'LL GET IT DRAFTED AND OUT IN MARCH.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, AND COME BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE WITH ANY UPDATES.

BY BY MAY WITH THE FIRST BRIEFING LIKELY MORE BRIEFINGS AFTER THAT, BUT WE'LL AT LEAST LET YOU KNOW HOW THINGS ARE GOING BY MAY.

SO I'LL STOP THERE AND ASK IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE THE THE RESPONDENTS ADDRESS IN THEIR CONCEPT RESPONSES? THANK YOU, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. TODAY MARKS YET ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP.

ONE OF US, ONE OF A SERIES OF STEPS ON THE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS REGARDING CITY HALL.

I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN TODAY.

THE COUNCIL'S FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN BRIEFED AND RECEIVED THE INFORMATION IT'S REQUESTED, AND STAFF HAS PROVIDED ADDITIONAL RESPONSES TO OUR QUESTIONS.

TODAY'S ITEM IS INTENDED TO GAUGE THE MARKET INTEREST IN THE CITY HALL BUILDING AND SITE, SO THAT WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE FULL RANGE OF OPTIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL OPTIONS REMAIN UNDER CONSIDERATION, INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL REPURPOSE OF CITY HALL, AND TO SEE IF THERE'S OPTIONS THAT COULD INCLUDE KEEPING CITY HALL AND DEVELOPING THE AREA AROUND IT.

THIS BRIEFING WILL ALSO INCLUDE AN OVERVIEW OF POTENTIAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS TO HELP INFORM FUTURE DELIBERATIONS.

WE WILL ENSURE THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER CAN SPEAK, WHETHER PARTICIPATING IN PERSON OR ONLINE.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THEN PROCEED TO NON-COMMITTEE MEMBERS WITH ROUNDS OF FIVE MINUTES, THREE MINUTES AND ONE MINUTES FOR QUESTION. AT THIS TIME, I AM GOING TO SEE IF CHAIR GRACEY HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND BEFORE I GET INTO MY QUESTIONS.

I DO WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY PERSON THAT SHOWED UP TODAY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND KNOW WE ARE LISTENING.

I AM LISTENING AND I HEAR YOU. IN FACT, I WROTE DOWN SOME SOME QUOTES THERE ABOUT SOME OF THIS, AND I'M GOING TO USE SOME OF THIS TO KIND OF GO WHERE WE'RE GOING BECAUSE I WON'T, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT'S TRAUMATIC OR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW. BUT I WANT US TO JUST SLOW DOWN. EVERYBODY KEEPS USING THIS WORD SLOW DOWN, DON'T RUSH. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

THESE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING HERE. AND I KNOW EVERYBODY'S SHAKING THEIR HEAD, BUT.

BUT THE FIRST THING WE SAID WAS DO AN ASSESSMENT.

WE DID THAT ASSESSMENT. NOW WE'RE HERE TRYING TO SAY AT CITY HALL WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THIS FACILITY, IN THIS SITE, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. WE ARE DOING THAT.

SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO READ SOME OF THESE. WE SAID THEY SAID WE CAN'T DEFINE WHAT CITY HALL WOULD BE.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT THIS PROCESS IS. SOMEONE ELSE SAID THERE ARE NO OTHER SCENARIOS.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN ANY OTHER SCENARIOS. THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THEM.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DEMOLITION WAS A VERY VALID POINT, AND I AND I CAN APPRECIATE THAT WHEN THE SAME SIDE OF THAT ARGUMENT, THOUGH, IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, EVEN IF WE DO THE THE, THE REMODEL AND FIX THIS BUILDING UP, THERE'S STILL THOSE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT, WE CAN'T NOT TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AROUND THIS ENTIRE AREA WITHOUT ALSO CONSIDERING WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WOULD BE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES WHILE WE'RE INSIDE MAKING THESE RENOVATIONS.

SO SOME OF THOSE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED.

I GOT THAT ONE. ALL FUNDING SOLUTIONS TO FINANCE WAS A GOOD ONE.

DON'T RUSH. THERE'S THAT ONE AGAIN. AND I LIKE THIS ONE, TOO.

[02:00:04]

AS WELL. AND THEN WHAT DOES PAUSE MEAN? AND, AND I GUESS TODAY IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS FIGURE OUT WHAT DOES THAT PAUSE MEAN.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS SAY, LET'S PAUSE AND EXPLORE THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

I KNOW PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THE FIX IS IN, BUT I'M TELLING YOU FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I'M ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING AND EXPERIENCES.

I HAVE TIES TO THIS BUILDING. I'VE WORKED IN THIS BUILDING FOR 16 YEARS.

I HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS AN EMPLOYEE, AND I'VE SEEN SOME STUFF IN THIS BUILDING.

I'VE SEEN EVERY TRANSITION THAT THIS BUILDING HAS GONE TO, AND I'VE SEEN EVERY REASON WHY WE COULDN'T DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE MADE SOMETHING MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE IMPACTFUL TO THE COMMUNITY'S EXPERIENCE.

AND I WORKED IN A IN A SPACE WHERE I WAS I NEEDED TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY QUITE A BIT.

THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO ASK IS AND THIS IS JUST A SAMPLE.

I MY POSITION HAS ALWAYS BEEN I WANT TO EXPLORE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THIS BUILDING.

I THINK THE COST 300 TO 450 MILLION IS ABOUT RIGHT TO REPAIR.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT'S A BIG NUMBER IN THERE.

BUT I WANT TO EXPLORE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF IT AND WHAT THAT COULD COST.

AND THE EXAMPLE I KEEP USING IS HOW MANY OF YOU ALL PARKED OUTSIDE TODAY BY SHOW OF HANDS, HOW MANY OF YOU GOT A CHANCE TO PARK INSIDE? THAT'S MY POINT.

SO SOME OF US CAN PARK IN THE GARAGE AND WE CAN WALK UP.

BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE PARKING, THE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE IS ON THIS SIDE.

SECURITY ENTRANCE IS ON THIS SIDE. WHY? I'M TRYING TO FIND THAT OUT.

WHY IS THAT THE CASE? HOW DID IT END UP BEING THAT WAY? AND THAT IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE FOR THE PUBLIC.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I WANT TO ANSWER. I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT'S EITHER BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING, OR PERHAPS IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO PUT IT ON THAT SIDE.

BUT THOSE WHEN I SAY FUNCTIONALITY, I KNOW I GET IT, I GET IT, I'M NOT SHOOTING, I'M JUST ASKING THE QUESTIONS, JUST LIKE YOU ALL ARE. I'M SINCERELY I AM. AND YOU WERE THE MOST ANIMATED I APPRECIATE YOU.

BUT BUT THE THING IS, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT US TO EXPLORE.

AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH HERE. BUT AS FAR AS WHAT COULD BE DONE HERE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, MR. CHAIR, THAT THIS IS NOT THE OPTIONS THAT COULD COME FROM THIS IS WE COULD STAY HERE AND WE COULD REIMAGINE THIS AS PART OF THIS EXPLORATION. FROM THERE. SO AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THOSE WHO SPOKE UP ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EXPLORING THOSE OPTIONS BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE SAID, LET'S GO EXPLORE.

LET'S GO EXPLORE. AND THAT'S WHAT THAT RESOLUTION SAYS. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A SOUND DECISION SO THAT I CAN MAKE A SOUND DECISION ON BOTH.

AGAIN, HAVING WORKED IN THIS BUILDING AND FINANCE PROFESSIONAL, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS.

I WORKED ON THE BOND PROGRAMS, AND I REMEMBER ALL OF OUR DECISIONS FROM THAT AS WELL.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THESE NUMBERS.

AND RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THEM. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A DECENT DECISION.

SO AGAIN, MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK.

AND AT LEAST TRY TO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY ON WHAT THIS PROCESS WILL BE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND, GUYS, JUST SO YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE YOUR TIME CLOCK IN THE MONITORS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH. THANK YOU. CHAIR. I NEED I WANTED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION OF WHAT WE'RE REALLY DISCUSSING HERE.

THE THE ROBIN HAS MENTIONED TO US THAT WE'RE TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO PURSUE OPTIONS FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF CITY HALL.

THE WORD PURSUE BOTHERS ME A LITTLE BIT. AND I THINK THAT THE CHAIR HAS CLARIFIED THAT WORDING A LITTLE BIT TO ME.

THIS IS NOT A PURSUIT OF ONLY OPTIONS TO REVIEW REDEVELOPMENT OF CITY HALL OF THE CITY HALL SITE.

IT'S. I THINK THE PROPER WORD SHOULD BE INVESTIGATE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

THIS SHOULD NOT BE PERCEIVED, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S MY INTENTION OR MY MY INSTRUCTION FROM FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OR OTHER OR OUR COUNCIL TO PURSUE A A REDEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

I THINK THAT THIS IS A AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT INITIATIVES, LOOK AT OPTIONS, BUT ABSOLUTELY NOT TO DIMINISH OR REJECT THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE THOUGHTFULNESS AND THE REQUIREMENT TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE MAINTAIN OUR POSITION HERE. SO WITH ALL AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY QUESTION, MY.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS CORRECT. ROBIN, CAN YOU HELP ME? MAKE SURE THAT I'M ON THE RIGHT TRACK HERE? YES, WE'RE ON EXACTLY THE SAME PAGE.

[02:05:04]

I SAW PETER BRODSKY HERE EARLIER, THE FIRST TIME HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS PLANS FOR REDBIRD MALL.

I DID NOT SEE IT. SO PEOPLE HAVE INTERESTING IDEAS.

AND SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO ASK, WHAT WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS BUILDING COULD BE? OR WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SITE COULD BE? AND WE'LL BRING ALL OF THAT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE AND FOLLOW THE COMMITTEE'S DIRECTIVE ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

SO THERE'S NOTHING I'M NOT EVEN ASKING FOR A MOTION TODAY.

I'M THIS IS JUST AN INFORMATIONAL GATHERING EXERCISE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GATHERING THE RIGHT INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THE COMMITTEE WORK. THANK YOU. THE SECOND THING IS, IS THAT IS THERE ANY IMMEDIATE URGENCY THAT REQUIRES US TO TAKE DECISIONS, FOR SAFETY, SECURITY, FOR THE USE OF THIS FACILITY.

ARE WE UNDER ANY SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO THE STATE OF CITY HALL, IRRESPECTIVE OF REDEVELOPMENT AND OTHER ISSUES? SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE SAFETY, THE BUILDING CONDITION.

THAT'LL BE A QUESTION FOR WEDNESDAY FOR FOR THAT TEAM.

BUT WE'RE NOT UNDER ANY URGENCY TO DO ANYTHING ON THE REDEVELOPMENT SIDE.

SO NO, NO, NO PARTICULAR URGENCY THERE. WE JUST WANTED BECAUSE THE TIMING LINES UP, WEIRDLY, WITH THE COMMITTEE MEETING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'D GOTTEN SOME DIRECTION IN CASE THE ITEM PASSES ON WEDNESDAY OF HOW YOU WOULD LIKE US TO START GATHERING INFORMATION, BUT NO URGENCY HERE.

OKAY. AND THEN IN CREATING SOME KIND OF A, A TARGETED GOAL TO, TO RECEIVE INFORMATION I WOULD THINK THAT THAT THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH TIME FOR FOR.

IF YOU ALL WANT TO DO OTHER ECONOMIC REVIEWS AND DO OTHER INSPECTION, THERE'S SINCE THERE'S NO URGENCY, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS HAS TO BE DONE IN 60 DAYS.

THERE'S I THINK THIS COULD BE HANDLED. AND I'M NOT TAKING TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR A YEAR, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S A NEED TO PRESSURE EVERYBODY TO GET THIS THING DONE WITHIN A 60 DAY PERIOD OF TIME.

NO, TO BE REALLY CLEAR, WE'RE NOT EVEN ASKING FOR, LIKE, RENDERINGS OR BUDGETS.

THIS IS JUST IDEAS. WHAT IDEAS ARE OUT IN THE PUBLIC.

AND SO NO, THERE'S NOT ANY URGENCY TO GET IT, TO GET IT DONE AT ALL.

THANK YOU. MY MY MY COMMENT IS IF YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE PURSUING THIS KIND OF A, OF AN ECONOMIC SORT OF THOUGHTFULNESS, I THINK THE MAIN QUESTION IS, IS THE FIRST QUESTION IS, AND DO WE NEED TO MOVE? AND THAT'S, I THINK, THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE, IRRESPECTIVE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER PEOPLE DO WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE? AND IS THIS FACILITY IN A POSITION THAT'S USABLE, THAT'S WORKABLE AND THAT CAN HANDLE IT? AND THEN THE OTHER ALTERNATIVES MIGHT COME. AND IN MY IN MY LITTLE LIFE, I YOU ONLY SELL A BUILDING, YOU ONLY MOVE A BUILDING, YOU ONLY GO. YOU ONLY LEAVE IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING BETTER AND BETTER COULD MEAN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND I THINK THAT I'M GOING TO IF I USE UP MY TIME, I'M GOING TO COME BACK.

BUT THE POINT IS IN THINKING WHAT IS BETTER IF YOUR FACILITY IS NOT WORKING? THAT COULD BE A REASON. IF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT STABLE AND IS NOT PARTICULARLY POTENTIALLY IMPROVING, THAT COULD BE A REASON. IF THE IF THERE'S A, A MAJOR, A MAJOR COST AND ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE, THAT COULD BE A REASON IF THE BUILDING WORKS AND IS USABLE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE, THAT COULD BE OR NOT.

THAT COULD BE A REASON. THE POSSIBILITY OF OF HAVING OTHER MISSING OPPORTUNITIES IN WORKING ON YOUR PROPERTY, THAT COULD BE A REASON. THE FUTURE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF REDEVELOPMENT COULD BE A REASON.

AND THE FACT THAT WE MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT LOSE MONEY ON ANY KIND OF A TRANSACTION SHOULD BE A REASON.

NONE OF THOSE REASONS THAT I'VE MENTIONED, I SEEM TO THINK, HAS A POSITIVE RESPONSE TO FOCUSING ON A DEFINITE MOVE. AND I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS I'D LIKE THE STAFF TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT IF THOSE REASONS JUSTIFY MAKING A MAJOR DECISION, SPENDING A LOT OF TIME SORT OF PURSUING THESE OPTIONS IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY.

THANK YOU FOR FOR LETTING ME SAY THAT. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER. ROBIN JUST TO KIND OF ASK THIS QUESTION IN A DIFFERENT WAY IS SO IS THIS TIED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPERTY?

[02:10:04]

OKAY. SO THEN THE TIME URGENCY IS NOT TIED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.

NO, I MEAN, THE CONVENTION CENTER WON'T BE DONE UNTIL 2029.

OKAY. AND THEN ON NUMBER FIVE, IT MENTIONS CONNECTIVITY.

AND I SEE SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE MENTIONED.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING LIKE WEST DALLAS DESIGN DISTRICT EVEN DISTRICT ONE MENTIONED AT ALL.

AND THOSE, THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE EXTREMELY CLOSE TO, THE SITE.

THANK YOU. THAT'S GOOD FEEDBACK. I'LL MAKE SURE TO ADD THAT IN.

NUMBER ONE, IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT, ALSO, I SEE I MEAN, THE CITY HALL SITE WAS PAID FOR BY ALL OF THE RESIDENTS.

AND THEN I SEE THAT IT MENTIONS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT THEN SPECIFICALLY SOUTHERN DALLAS, WHICH DEFINITELY WE NEED TO INVEST IN. BUT I'M WONDERING HOW WE'RE, YOU KNOW, HOW HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE RESIDENTS ARE BENEFITED IN SOME WAY? GOT IT. THE OTHER MY LAST COMMENT WOULD BE, I SEE WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT WANTING TO GET INPUT FROM THE MARKET, AND WHAT I SEE THAT'S LEFT OUT OF HERE REALLY IS PUBLIC INPUT, BECAUSE THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

EVEN FOR THE LIBRARIES THAT STAFF RECENTLY TRIED TO CLOSE, PUBLIC MEETINGS WERE ALREADY SCHEDULED.

BUT FOR THIS, NOT ONE PUBLIC MEETING IN PEOPLE'S COMMUNITIES HAS BEEN SCHEDULED TO SEE WHAT IT IS THAT RESIDENTS WANT, WHETHER IT'S TO KEEP THE BUILDING READAPT IT.

IF WE WERE TO MOVE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE A BUILDING THAT'S NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM HERE.

IT'S THE 100 YEAR OLD MUSIC HALL. IT WAS LAST RENOVATED IN 1972.

IT ALSO HAS A LACK OF ADEQUATE FIRE SAFETY SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS. OBSOLETE BUILDING SYSTEMS, LEAKING ROOF, A ROOF AND ADEQUATE SPACES.

HOW ARE WE LOOKING AT OUR OTHER CITY FACILITIES? I MEAN, WE'RE NOT CALLING TO TEAR THIS DOWN, BUT SOME OF OUR OTHER BUILDINGS ARE HAVING SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES.

KALITA HUMPHREYS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE, WHICH IS A FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT THEATER.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME OF OUR LIBRARIES, RECREATION CENTERS, FIRE STATIONS HAVING SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'VE REPEATEDLY SAID I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.

I'VE HAD TO ASK SEVERAL TIMES, EVEN FOR THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE AT FINANCE COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.

AND IT'S IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE WE'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE A BIG DECISION WITH LITTLE INFORMATION.

I'M GETTING MORE INFORMATION BY READING THE NEWSPAPERS THAN THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEING PROVIDED TO ME HERE.

SOME OF MY OTHER QUESTIONS ARE WILL THE PROPERTY BE LEASED OR SOLD? WHAT IS BEING ASKED OF THE CITY BY THE PURCHASER? IF THE MAVS WANT TO REMAIN DOWNTOWN, WHAT IS THE ASK? WHY CAN'T WE HAVE THE MAVS AND CITY HALL? THE NEWSPAPERS IN DOWNTOWN ORGANIZATIONS SEEMS TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION THAN I HAVE.

OUR RESIDENTS GUARANTEED A NEW CITY HALL OF EQUAL VALUE WITHIN THE CITY CORE IF WE MOVE.

ARE WE MOVING FROM ONE OLD BUILDING TO ANOTHER OLD BUILDING WITH SIMILAR ISSUES? WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS, BECAUSE THEN WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH A BUILDING, JUST LIKE WE DID ON STEMMONS CORRIDOR, WHERE WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO MOVE INTO.

I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR NOW. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN.

I TOOK REALLY GOOD NOTES WHILE YOU'RE TALKING, AND I'LL MAKE SURE ON ALL OF YOUR BUILDING QUESTIONS THAT BY WEDNESDAY THE FACILITIES TEAM IS READY TO ANSWER, IF NOT BEFORE. THANK YOU.

THANKS. THANK YOU. CHAIR RIDLEY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO, ROBIN, WHAT EXACTLY WILL THE CITY MANAGER UNDERTAKE BY ISSUING THE OPEN CALL FOR CONCEPTS AND IDEAS? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? ESSENTIALLY. IT'S AN INFORMATION GATHERING EXERCISE FOR THE COMMITTEE OF WHAT IDEAS PEOPLE HAVE FOR THE BUILDING OR THE SITE, SO THAT YOU HAVE A STARTING POINT TO DO YOUR WORK ON EXPLORING POSSIBLE REDEVELOPMENT OPTIONS. SO ARE WE GOING TO PUT A SUGGESTION BOX ON THE FRONT OF CITY HALL AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME WITH THEIR IDEAS? KIND OF YES. I MEAN, REALLY IT REALLY IS A CALL FOR WHAT DO PEOPLE HAVE IDEAS TO DO? SO YOU KNOW WHERE TO START. I MEAN, THERE MAY BE REALLY INTERESTING ADAPTIVE REUSE, REUSE IDEAS FOR THIS BUILDING, BUT UNTIL WE ASK, WE WON'T KNOW. THERE MAY BE INTERESTING REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SITE,

[02:15:03]

I'VE BEEN THE CHIEF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE CITY FOR A DECADE.

NOT A DOLLAR OF INCENTIVE GOES OUT THAT I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, I HOPE I HAVE SOME CREDIBILITY WITH ALL OF YOU BECAUSE I TRY TO BE A PLAIN TALKER AND A FAIR DEALER.

THERE'S NO DEAL. THERE'S NO TERM SHEET. THIS IS TRULY A CALL FOR ALL OPTIONS.

AND THE MAVERICKS MAY RESPOND, BUT THERE IS NO TERM SHEET OR DEAL TO BRING THEM HERE.

THAT THAT'S NOT THE THE BEHIND THE SCENES ACTION HAPPENING HERE.

WELL, WE'RE NOT THERE YET, BUT WE SOON WILL BE.

SO DO YOU PLAN TO SEND OUT AN RFP OR JUST PUT IT IN THE NEWSPAPER? HEY, WE'VE GOT A SUGGESTION BOX ON CITY HALL.

COME BY WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT. I MEAN, WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS HERE? YEAH. GREAT QUESTION. THIS WOULD NOT BE AN RFP, BUT WE MAY USE BONFIRE FOR RESPONSES.

THERE OBVIOUSLY ARE SOME LOGISTICS TO WORK OUT ON HOW WE WANT FOLKS TO RESPOND.

IF THEY'RE SENDING BIGGER FILES, HOW WE MIGHT DO THAT BONFIRE MAY BE THE BEST USE, BUT I'VE GOT TO TALK WITH OUR IT FOLKS AND FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW LOGISTICALLY TO ACCEPT THESE RESPONSES. AND SO THAT'S WHY THE LAST SLIDE SAYS IT'LL BE ISSUED IN MARCH.

I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE TO GET ALL OF THAT PIECE WORKED OUT, BUT YES, THIS WILL BE JUST AN OPEN CALL FOR ANY IDEAS.

SO WILL YOU PUT SOMETHING ON THE CITY WEBSITE WITH INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT HOW TO SUBMIT A DIGITAL SUGGESTION? EXACTLY. OKAY. I THINK THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THE MOST IDEAS IS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO DO IT VIRTUALLY.

AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO MAY OR WHENEVER YOU WANT TO UPDATE THIS COMMITTEE, WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE? JUST A RECITATION OF PEOPLE'S IDEAS. OR WILL STAFF RESEARCH THEM AT ALL OR MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? IT'S HARD TO SAY WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING TO BE COMING IN, BUT AT A MINIMUM, IT WOULD BE AN UPDATE TO THIS COMMITTEE OF WE'VE HEARD NOTHING OR WE'VE HEARD SOMETHING WHAT SOME OF THE IDEAS LOOK LIKE.

BUT IT'S HARD TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE RESPONSES ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

SO OTHER THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC OUTREACH, YOU'RE NOT ANTICIPATING GOING TO ANY PARTICULAR DEVELOPERS OR PROPERTY OWNERS TO ASK THEM FOR THEIR IDEAS. I KNOW I HADN'T PLANNED ON IT, BUT IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION OF THIS COMMITTEE, WE COULD, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO DO.

WELL, I'M NOT SUGGESTING IT. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE STRATEGY IS GOING TO BE.

OPEN PUBLISHED CALL. I'M NOT TARGETING ANYONE, BUT YES, IF YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO, WE IF YOU'D LIKE US TO TALK TO ANY PARTICULAR FOLKS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. AND WE DIDN'T MENTION IT EARLIER, BUT I ASSUME THIS WOULD BE POSTED IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES WITH GRAPHICS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF YOU, LIKE ALL OF OUR SIMILAR COMMUNICATIONS.

AND THEN WILL YOU HAVE A FORUM LINK TO THE WEBSITE THAT SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A STANDARDIZED FORM THAT ASKS CERTAIN QUESTIONS, THAT WE CAN COMPARE APPLES WITH APPLES? YES. SO I THINK FORMAT IN THE FORMAT, THIS WOULD LOOK A LOT LIKE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE APPLICATION, WHICH IS SORT OF A FILL IN THE BOX. WHAT YOUR CONTACT INFO, WHAT'S YOUR BASIC CONCEPT? JUST A MUCH SIMPLIFIED VERSION OF THAT WHERE, YES, EVERYONE WOULD BE SUBMITTING ESSENTIALLY THE SAME INFORMATION, SO WE WOULD HAVE COMPARABLE DATA ON EACH ONE.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, CHAIR WEST.

THANK YOU. CHAIR. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID ABOUT APPRECIATING EVERYONE WHO CAME HERE.

AND I REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A DIFFICULT ONE FOR US, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE LIKE AYA WHO'VE ACTUALLY PROVIDED SUGGESTIONS THAT WE CAN WE CAN CONSIDER.

THAT'S VERY HELPFUL. I KNOW MR. ROTH AND I, I THINK OTHERS HAD ASKED ABOUT ASKED YOU, ROBIN, ON THE REDEVELOPMENT STUDIES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH IN THAT PROCESS.

ARE YOU ARE YOU ALSO GOING TO GO THROUGH STUDIES ON WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO RENOVATE CITY HALL AND ACTIVATE THE LAND AROUND US IF WE DID STAY HERE? ARE YOU GOING TO LOOK AT BOTH REDEVELOPMENT AND RENOVATION? SO FOR THIS COMMITTEE, WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT REDEVELOPMENT.

THE REDEVELOPMENT. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD CONTINUE ON ANYTHING TO DO WITH REDEVELOPMENT, WITH RENOVATION. BUT WILL YOUR REDEVELOPMENT STUDIES INCLUDE STUDIES KEEPING CITY HALL HERE AND ACTIVATING EVERYTHING AROUND IT? YES. IF THAT. IF WE GOT TO THE POINT OF BRINGING A PROPOSAL, THEN YES, SOME OF THE INFORMATION WE'RE ASKING FOR WOULD HELP US DO THE ANALYSIS OF WHAT WOULD IT MEAN IN TERMS OF SPILLOVER IMPACT TO THE LARGER AREA, THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, ETC.? WELL, SO AS WE LOOK AT LET ME MAKE SURE I'M REALLY CLEAR HERE.

AS WE LOOK AT THE FULL FINANCIAL PICTURE, WHICH IS WHAT I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR SINCE DAY ONE,

[02:20:03]

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE THE FINANCIAL DATA OF STAYING IN CITY HALL, FIXING IT UP.

AND THERE'S OTHER ACREAGE AROUND US THAT CAN BE REDEVELOPED AND TIED INTO THE CONVENTION CENTER.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT PICTURE. AND I THINK THE PUBLIC'S ASKING FOR IT.

SOME OF US ARE ASKING FOR IT. I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS.

RFI. YOU'RE GOING TO PUT OUT. OKAY. LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONVENTION CENTER LAND WON'T BE AVAILABLE FOR QUITE A WHILE, SO I.

THAT WON'T BE A PART OF THIS ANALYSIS NECESSARILY, BECAUSE WE WON'T BE ASKING FOR PROPOSALS RELATED TO THAT LAND.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE. NO, NO, NO NOT EXACTLY. SO HOW WHAT IS THE ACREAGE FOOTPRINT OF CITY HALL ITSELF? 15 ACRES. OKAY. PART OF CITY HALL'S FOOTPRINT.

NOT COUNTING THE PLAZA, NOT COUNTING THIS BUILDING, BUT OTHER PARTS OF THE ACREAGE COULD BE REDEVELOPED.

THEORETICALLY. RIGHT. OH, RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING.

WHAT COULD BE REDEVELOPED? RIGHT. AND I'M JUST SAYING WE NEED TWO ECONOMIC STUDIES HERE.

ONE OF A FULL REDEVELOPMENT WITH WHATEVER THE STAFF, WHETHER IT'S MAVERICKS, ARENA OR ITS CONVERSION TO HOUSING AND A WHOLE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT OR WHATEVER, OR AND WE NEED SECONDLY, A REDEVELOPMENT OF IF WE'RE GOING TO TRULY MAKE THIS THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CENTER AND ACTIVATE AROUND IT.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND? YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT IF WE STAY OR IF WE GO ESSENTIALLY ON THE.

ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. I MEAN, THAT'S HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE A FULL FINANCIAL DECISION WITHOUT THAT? OKAY. OKAY. IT GOT THROUGH THREE OF MY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. WE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MAYBE NOW WE GOT AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT CONCLUDED THAT PRESERVATION DOES ADD VALUE TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN YOUR ANALYSIS, IN YOUR RFI, ACTUAL OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE ADDED VALUE AROUND PRESERVATION IN IN THEIR DOWNTOWNS. SO WE'RE GOING TO I WANT TO SEE IT FROM THE SPORTS ARENA SIDE, BUT ALSO ON THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION SIDE. SO THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT I'M SAYING.

I JUST WANT IT TIED TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ASPECTS.

OKAY. AND THEN LAST QUESTION ALONG WITH MISS CADENAS REQUEST ON COMMUNITY INPUT JUST LIKE SOME STATISTICALLY VALID REPRESENTATION OF RESIDENT OPINION. SO I THINK TOWN HALLS ARE GREAT AND WE SHOULD DO THOSE.

BUT I THINK THERE'S OTHER WAYS WE CAN COLLECT FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO AREN'T THE ONES WHO COME TO TOWN HALLS.

WE CAN, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE DO THE COMMUNITY SURVEY. SURVEY. YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S STATISTICALLY VALID THAT I CAN REFERENCE WHEN I'M TALKING TO MY RESIDENTS.

AND THEN I'VE GOT A FEW COMMENTS, BUT I'LL WAIT TILL AROUND TWO.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR. THANK YOU. CHAIR.

I, TOO, WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO TOOK THE TIME TO COME OUT TODAY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS FROM A FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, NO FINAL DECISION HAS BEEN MADE.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF US HERE ARE EQUIPPED TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION UNTIL WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING.

WE MAY HAVE A PREFERENCE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION, IN MY OPINION, TO SAY I WANT TO GO HERE OR THERE.

STAY, REDEVELOP, REBUILD, FIX WE? BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT WE STILL HAVE TO THINK LOGICALLY ABOUT, EVEN IF AND I WANT TO ASK YOU IN A KIND OF A I'M MAKING A STATEMENT KIND OF QUESTION, THIS TYPE OF THING.

NO MATTER WHAT DECISION IS FINALLY MADE, REDEVELOP REPAIR, WE STILL WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE PEOPLE FROM THIS BUILDING AND NO MATTER WHAT WE WOULD CHOOSE TO DO.

IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT? THAT'S WHAT I HEARD FROM THE TEAM.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S MORE OF A QUESTION FOR THEM TO ANSWER ON WEDNESDAY. THAT WAS NOT MY TEAM'S WORK.

THAT WAS THE EDC TEAM'S WORK. SO I WOULD REFER THAT TO THEM ON WEDNESDAY TO TO TALK THROUGH THAT.

SO. OKAY. SO LET LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT, THAT CHAIR WEST SAID THERE'S TWO COMMITTEES LOOKING AT THIS. WE HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOOKS AT HOW DO WE GET MORE BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

[02:25:07]

IS THAT CORRECT? KIND OF. YEAH. OKAY. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT IT.

WOULD WE THEN ALSO LOOK AT THE ARE THE COSTS TO JUST CONTINUE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, REPAIR PUTTING MONEY ASIDE TO REPAIR TO FIX AND TO STAY.

AND THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHAT WE BE LOOKING AT THE TOTAL PICTURE TO SAY BOTH TO STAY AND BRING IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS SURROUNDING THIS, TO LOOK AT HOW THIS WOULD THEN INTERACT WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER, SINCE THE CONVENTION CENTER IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.

YES. SO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY WOULD CERTAINLY LOOK AT THE CONVENTION CENTER AS A PIECE OF THE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

EITHER WAY, WHETHER WE STAY AT GOVERNMENT CENTER OR REDEVELOP THE SITE.

AND YES, I WILL PUT ALL OF THAT INTO THE SCOPE FOR THOSE TWO STUDIES THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WEST REQUESTED.

AND WHILE I DID AGREE, I MEAN, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING DOWN TO TO TO TALK TODAY.

I TOO BELIEVE THAT THE NEED FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS, WE DID PROMISE THAT TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE WOULD HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS.

AND I DO AGREE THAT THERE ARE CERTAINLY DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS THAT WE SHOULD START WITH BASED ON WHERE WE ARE TODAY, AND THE FACT THAT OUR RESIDENTS DON'T FEEL THAT WE'RE HEARING THEM IS A SURVEY, A SURVEY THAT IS ELECTRONICALLY BEEN ABLE TO DO. BUT WE I HAVE SOME RESIDENTS THAT DON'T USE THE INTERNET.

SO IT NEEDS TO BE ALSO PAPER. I WOULD ALSO THINK THAT WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, JUST LIKE WE DO FOR BUDGET TOWN HALLS.

THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO TOUCH MORE RESIDENTS THAN A FEW, THE FEWER RESIDENTS.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A SERIES ONE NOW SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT WE KNOW TODAY WHAT THEY KNOW.

SO THEY KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING. WHAT WE NEED, WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

OR WE CAN HEAR WHERE THEY THINK WE NEED TO GO BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE HAVE TODAY.

AND THEN ONE AS WE MAKE FURTHER DECISIONS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'LL NOW GO TO NON COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION AND WHAT WE'RE EXPLORING AND GATHERING INFORMATION AND COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I DO FEEL THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IF POSSIBLE, OBVIOUSLY SHOULD NOT STOP AT THE DOWNTOWN BOUNDARY.

AND SO AS WE STRUCTURE THIS OPEN CALL, IT, CAN WE REQUIRE RESPONDENTS TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THEIR PROPOSAL STRENGTHENS REGIONAL ASSETS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TEXAS HORSE PARK.

THE THE GREAT TRINITY FOREST FOR REAL. AND WHETHER COMMUNITY IMPACT INVESTMENTS CAN BE DIRECTED TOWARD INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIENT NEIGHBORHOODS. GENERALLY BUT SPECIFICALLY THE PEMBERTON HILL COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT FIVE.

THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER. GOT IT, COUNCILMEMBER WILLIS. THANK YOU.

ROBIN. WELL, COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED SOME GOOD QUESTIONS, BUT AS I LOOK AT THIS, I FEEL LIKE IT'S PART OF DUE DILIGENCE TO EXPLORE OR PURSUE OR INVESTIGATE OR WHICHEVER WORD WE LAND ON, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT INFORMATION AND UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT THE MARKETPLACE.

[02:30:06]

BUT IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT WHAT IDEAS DOES THE MARKET PROPOSE FOR THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE CITY HALL BUILDING? I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A SENSE OF THAT. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT CITY HALL.

BUT I YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF WE WERE TO MOVE, BUT ALSO THINK ABOUT ADAPTIVE REUSE, AND THIS IS HOW YOU GET AT THAT. THIS IS HOW YOU GET AT THE REALITY AND THE FINANCIAL ASPECT OF IT.

WHAT DO OTHERS THINK ABOUT IT? HOW REALISTIC IS IT? AND THEN WHAT'S THE ANTICIPATED ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY IMPACT? I THINK THAT'S SO CRITICAL FOR US TO KNOW AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, IS WORKING THROUGH A PROCESS.

BUT AS FAR AS WHAT YOU'VE GOT LISTED ON THE CALL FOR OPEN FOR CONCEPTS AND IDEAS I THINK ALL THE CATEGORIES YOU'VE GOT ABOUT ECONOMIC IMPACT AND ADAPTIVE REUSE DOWN TO CONNECTIVITY, BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG BONUS POTENTIAL OF THIS, AS WELL AS LOGISTICS AND ALIGNMENT WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER, I, I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT I WOULD ADD TO THIS.

SO THANK YOU. AND I THINK IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO CONTINUE GATHERING INFORMATION.

CHAIR MENDELSOHN FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU CHAIR, FOR ALLOWING NON MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE.

APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL AS ALLOWING NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WHO REGISTERED BUT EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE TO SPEAK.

THAT WAS THAT WAS A GOOD MOVE. THANK YOU. I WANT TO FIRST SAY HAPPY TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY EVERYBODY.

BUT ALSO HAPPY PURIM. SO WITHOUT GOING INTO A LONG EXPLANATION OF WHAT THE JEWISH HOLIDAY OF PURIM IS, I WILL TELL YOU THAT ONE ASPECT IS DRESSING UP.

SO THEREFORE I AM DRESSED UP TODAY AS THE MAVS, IT SEEMED, USUALLY IS QUEEN ESTHER.

IT SEEMED IMPORTANT TODAY TO DRESS UP AS THE MAVS FOR THIS REASON.

WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE MAVS. THEY'RE THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY NOT HERE.

SO LET'S AT LEAST LET THEM HAVE A SEAT AT THE HORSESHOE.

THANK YOU FOR THINKING THAT WAS FUNNY. OKAY, SO I HAVE THIS FIRST QUESTION FOR YOU.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE PREMISE OF THIS DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLY ABANDONING THIS BUILDING IS MADE REGARDLESS OF THE MAVERICKS? LIKE WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IF THE MAVERICKS LEASE WASN'T COMING UP? YES. I'M SAYING THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION ON CITY HALL BASED ON THE FACTS AND WHETHER THE BUILDING WORKS.

I MEAN, IT'S THE MAYOR'S CHARGE TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ALL LOOKING AT. THERE IS NO DEVELOPMENT DEAL FOR THE SITE.

AND SO THE DECISION CAN'T BE BASED ON A FUTURE HYPOTHETICAL SOMETHING.

AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE GENESIS OF THIS CONVERSATION IS NOT ABOUT THE MAVERICKS.

THE GENESIS OF THE CONVERSATION WAS THE MAVERICKS CHARGE TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND EVERYTHING THAT THE STAFF HAS BROUGHT TO COMMITTEES, TO COUNCIL, TO THIS COMMITTEE, HAS ALL BEEN FROM THAT CHARGE.

CORRECT? OKAY. WELL, I'M HEARTENED TO HEAR THAT THE PUBLIC REQUEST AND THE INPUT FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IS SUCH THAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR TOWN HALLS WITH THE DISTRICT, THAT THERE IS PUBLIC INPUT.

WHILE I APPRECIATE THIS MEETING, IT'S 2:00 IN THE MIDDLE OF A DAY AND NOT PARTICULARLY CONVENIENT FOR EVERYBODY.

SO I THINK THIS IDEA OF HAVING A VOTE ON WEDNESDAY IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD EVERYONE HERE WHO SAID THEY WANT TO GET LEGITIMATE PUBLIC INPUT TO THAT AND VOTE THAT WAY ON WEDNESDAY BECAUSE IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THERE TO BE A VOTE. THE.

COMMUNITY SURVEYS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, HAVE BEEN SO CONTRIVED AND SO WORDED TO ELICIT SPECIFIC ANSWERS THAT I DON'T TRUST ANY OF THEM.

AND I WOULD NOT LIKE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY SURVEY THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US RESULTS THAT ARE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY THINK, WHEN THERE'S FALSE CHOICES PROVIDED, AND SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT THE PEOPLE THINK.

PROVIDED AS AN ACTUAL ANSWER, IT'S NOT USEFUL.

ALL ACROSS THE CITY AND INCLUDING DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN REMODELED, SIGNIFICANTLY REMODELED, LIKE DOWN TO THE STUDS, KIND OF REMODELED WITH ASBESTOS.

[02:35:04]

THERE'S A SPECIFIC DESIGNATION ONE GOES THROUGH TRAINING TO RECEIVE.

WHEN I WAS RUNNING REBUILDING TOGETHER, ME AND MY STAFF RECEIVED THAT DESIGNATION.

I SAT THROUGH HOURS OF HOW TO DO IT. I PERSONALLY NEVER PARTICIPATED IN IT, BUT THIS IS DONE EVERYWHERE.

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS TO THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THIS BUILDING.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY. AND OF COURSE WAS SET UP TO MAKE THE HEADLINE BILLION DOLLAR EFFORT.

THE PARKING LOT ENTRANCE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY TALKED ABOUT, I'LL JUST TELL YOU, I'VE WALKED FROM THAT PARKING LOT.

WE CAN ADDRESS THE COMMENTS. HE LITERALLY BROUGHT IT UP AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THERE IS A DOOR.

AND IT USED TO BE OPEN AND THE CITY MANAGER STOPPED IT.

AND TODAY WE COULD ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO STAFF IT AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE AGAIN.

THE PARKING GARAGE USED TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

IT COULD BE AGAIN. AND BY THE WAY, EVER SINCE I CALLED OUT THE LARGE NUMBER OF NON USED FLEET VEHICLES THERE, THEY'VE BEEN REMOVED AND THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THE PUBLIC.

ROBIN, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, IF YOU SAY IT'S A BLANK CANVAS OF IDEAS TO REDEVELOP, HOW HARMFUL AND MISGUIDED IS IT TO START RELEASING THAT KIND OF IT'S NOT EVEN A PROCUREMENT, RIGHT? REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, DON'T YOU THINK? NARROWING IT DOWN INTO VERY SPECIFIC IDEAS OF WE'RE LOOKING TO GENERATE THIS KIND OF DOLLAR AMOUNT.

WE'RE LOOKING TO ACTIVATE IT IN THESE WAYS. LIKE YOU NEED TO HIT THESE SPECIFIC GOALS.

AND HOW COULD YOU WOULD YOU DO THAT WOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUST SAYING, I DON'T KNOW, JUST TELL US ANYTHING. YEAH, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE TOO EARLY TO BE ASKING PEOPLE TO INVEST.

CREATING THAT KIND OF DESIGN PRO FORMA RENDERINGS IS EXPENSIVE, AND SINCE WE DON'T EVEN HAVE CLEAR DIRECTION ON WHETHER WE'RE STAYING OR GOING, IT SEEMED A LITTLE EARLY TO ASK PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT KIND OF COMMITMENT, BUT AT LEAST TO EXPRESS SOME IDEAS AND INTERESTS SO THAT THIS COMMITTEE COULD DECIDE HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WAS WAS A THOUGHT PROCESS. WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.

NOW YOU'RE SAYING THEY HAVE TO DO DRAWINGS AND PRO FORMAS? WELL, I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE SUGGESTING. NO, I'M SUGGESTING THAT IF IT'S JUST WIDE OPEN, THAT THEY HAVE TO AT LEAST SAY YES, THEY CAN MEET CERTAIN GOALS.

FOR INSTANCE, IF THAT'S YOUR TIME. OKAY. ROBIN, DID YOU WANT TO? YEAH. I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND BETTER, BUT I'LL.

I'LL FOLLOW WHOEVER YOU NEED TO GO ABOUT IT. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. OKAY, SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS OUR CURRENT TIMELINE? I'M KIND OF CONFUSED BECAUSE YOU SAID IT'S EARLY, BUT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

WE'RE VOTING ON SOMETHING ON WEDNESDAY. WHAT IS OUR TIMELINE? THERE'S A VOTE ON WEDNESDAY TO ASK THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO KEEP DOING SOME THINGS, AND THE COMMITTEE TO KEEP DOING SOME THINGS.

AND THAT'S THE WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. SO THERE IS A VOTE FOR WEDNESDAY FROM FOR FROM A RECOMMENDATION FROM THIS COMMITTEE? NO, THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION ON WEDNESDAY FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION.

SO ONLY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS MOVING 311 OEM 911 DIRECT CITY MANAGER TO RELOCATE CITY HALL STAFF AND REDEVELOPMENT OF CITY HALL, CORRECT. OKAY. AND SO THAT IS STILL THE TIMELINE.

AND WE HAVE TO HAVE IT DONE BY WHEN THERE'S THE TIMELINE, I THINK, FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M GETTING THIS WRONG, WAS THAT THOSE ITEMS WOULD BE REPORTED BACK TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE BY WAS IT MAY OR JUNE? I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, MR. WEST. THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT A TIMELINE.

YES. NEVER. I MEAN, NEVER MIND. SO BECAUSE I'VE GOT MY TIME, SO I DON'T WANT TO.

YEAH. OKAY. CAN SOMEBODY LOOK AT THAT AND GET BACK TO STAFF WHILE I'M CONTINUING THIS? BECAUSE I DON'T WANT IT ON MY TIME. YEAH. OKAY.

I GUESS I'M WONDERING WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS ON VACATING THIS AND IT BECOMING SOMETHING ELSE? BECAUSE I'M KIND OF INSULTED THAT EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM KNEW IT WAS ABOUT A MAVS ARENA.

BUT I THINK THE PEOPLE HERE, I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE WRITING ABOUT IT.

AND WHETHER YOU'VE SEEN IT OR NOT, IT'S OUT THERE AND YOU CAN'T EVER TAKE IT BACK.

AND YOU JUST SAID THAT THERE HAS BEEN YOU'VE SEEN NO PLANS, IS THAT CORRECT? THERE'S NO TERM SHEET. THERE'S NO DEAL. BUT HAVE YOU SEEN PLANS? HAVE YOU MET WITH THEM? HAVE SEEN PLANS. PLANS? I'VE HEARD THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT DOWNTOWN. THEY'RE LOOKING AT VALLEY VIEW. THAT'S WHAT I READ IN THE PAPER. AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE EXPRESSED TO ME. BUT UNTIL THEY PICK A SITE,

[02:40:01]

BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT THESE ARE ALL RELATED.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR IT? HOW ARE WE GOING TO MOVE? WHAT IS IT? I MEAN, THESE ARE ALL RELATED. SO BEING SPOON FED THIS STUFF IS IS KIND OF INSULTING.

LIKE WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M LIKE UNCLEAR ABOUT THE TIMELINE BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING WE'RE DOING THIS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS. AND THEN, OH, WAIT, WE'RE THROWING IN COMMUNITY MEETINGS. BUT WE HAVE AN ENDING DATE OF IN THE MIDDLE OF JUNE, AND WE'VE HEARD FROM THE MAVS THEY NEED TO MAKE A DECISION BY JULY.

THAT'S BEEN REPORTED. CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY.

SO MY GUESS MY NEXT QUESTION IS YOU SAID IT'S TOO EARLY FOR SOMETHING.

WHAT CAN YOU. BECAUSE IT'S NOT TOO EARLY? BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION IN 60 DAYS.

WELL, AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE FEEDBACK I'M WANTING. I MEAN, IF YOU WANT US TO, TO ASK FOLKS FOR MORE AND MAKE THESE MORE REAL PROPOSALS, WE CERTAINLY CAN. CAN WE JUST ASK FOR MORE REAL DATA THAT MAKES SENSE FOR MORE REAL DATA? I MEAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF DATA THAT WE'VE GOTTEN IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, A LOT OF IT'S NOT REAL.

AND I MEAN, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ON PAPER. PLEASE DON'T.

OKAY. IT'S NOT REAL. I MEAN, ASK ANYBODY. WE DON'T PAY IN A $700 BOND.

300 MILLION OR $700 MILLION BOND, 300 MILLION IN INTEREST.

I MEAN, IT'S ON THERE. AND SO. SO YOU'RE WANTING US TO SELL THIS HOUSE WITHOUT A PLAN, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR A PLAN AND BRING US YOUR BEST AND HIGHEST OFFER. WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE A BOX IN THE FRONT DOOR TO GIVE US YOUR IDEAS.

IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING.

OKAY, THEN EXPLAIN IT TO ME. YES. SO EVEN ON WEDNESDAY.

THE COUNCIL HAS NOT MADE ANY DECISION. NOTHING BINDING IS HAPPENING.

YOU'RE JUST TELLING STAFF KEEP EXPLORING THIS WAY OR KEEP EXPLORING THIS WAY.

I THINK THAT'S ALL I HEARD FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

AND FOR THE PEACE OF THAT EXPLORATION THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS IN CHARGE OF, THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS IN CHARGE OF.

WHAT I'M ASKING YOU HERE TODAY IS HOW DO YOU WANT US TO PROCEED? AND WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING IS AT LEAST ASK PEOPLE WHAT THEIR IDEAS ARE FOR THE SITE IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO LISTEN AND RECEIVE. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW, IS HOW THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD. I'VE GOT SOME GOOD FEEDBACK SO FAR.

I'LL RECAP IT AT THE END TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING.

AND I'VE HEARD SOME GOOD QUESTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY'S BRIEFING.

FOR THE FINANCE SIDE OF IT, I'M SURE EVERYBODY'S LISTENING THOUGH, SO BUT THERE IS AN ACTION CITY MANAGER TO MOVE 311911 IN OEM. THAT IS AN ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S THE MOTION. SO THERE IS AN ACTION ITEM.

IT'S A DIRECTIVE THAT CAN'T TAKE PLACE UNTIL WE COME BACK WITH AN ACTUAL LEASE, AN ACTUAL PLAN, AN ACTUAL PURCHASE. YOU KNOW, YOU DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO MOVE FOLKS SOMEWHERE IS NOT AN ACTION UNTIL THERE'S AN ACTUAL BINDING VOTE ON A PLAN.

THIS IS YOU KNOW WHAT, THOUGH? IT'S LIKE, YEAH, BUT NO, YOU'RE ALREADY TAKING US DOWN A PATH.

YOU'RE PUTTING US IN A CORNER THAT WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND WE'VE ALREADY SAID WE'RE MOVING THIS PART.

AND I MEAN, AND I'M HOPING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. SO I'M HOPING TO TELL. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE BY VACATING THIS? WHAT ARE YOUR WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HIGHEST AND BEST USE HERE? I'M NOT HOPING TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING BY VACATING THIS. I'M JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ASKED THIS COMMITTEE TO TAKE ON.

I HAVE NO POSITION ON ANY OF THIS. I'M JUST TRYING TO FULFILL THE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S MOTION.

AND WILL YOU BE MANAGING THOSE REPORTS COMING BACK THAT THE LAND REPORTS, OR IS THIS CBRE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT TO THE CITY MANAGER WOULD ISSUE THIS? AND THEN DO WE GET TO SEE THOSE AND HOW WILL WE GET TO LOOK AT THOSE PROPOSALS? YES. THAT'S WHAT WE'D BE BRINGING BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE. AND WILL THAT BE IN CLOSED SESSION OR WILL BE OPEN? I DON'T KNOW. I'LL HAVE TO ASK THE ATTORNEYS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS ARE TYPICALLY CONFIDENTIAL IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I ASSUME THAT WOULD BE THE SAME CASE HERE.

YEAH, WELL, I'M HOPING THAT THERE'LL BE A DISCUSSION ON HOW TO FINANCE AN ARENA, BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG.

WE ARE AT CAPACITY ON A LOT OF THINGS. AND THAT'S MY THAT'S MY THING IS WHERE ARE WE GOING TO HOW ARE WE GOING TO FINANCE AN ARENA EITHER AT WHEREVER IT IS.

BECAUSE THAT'S A QUESTION THAT'S AMONGST THE CITY COLLECTIVE.

I THINK THAT'S O BACK TO THE PLAZA. IS HOW WILL THAT BE DETERMINED IN THESE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSIONS? BECAUSE IS IT A PARK? IS IT NOT A PARK? WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT DISCUSSION.

AND I MEAN, THEN YOU GO FROM TEN ACRES, YOU KNOW, FROM 15 TO 10.

YEAH. IT'S BEEN REPORTED THAT IT'S NOT A PARK, HOWEVER, IN A LOT OF THINGS THEY CALL IT A PARK PLAZA.

SO KIND OF CURIOUS, IS THAT GOING TO HOW ARE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DEFER THAT IN YOUR REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL? YEAH, I'M ASSUMING IT'S DEVELOPABLE, BUT I'LL, I'LL ASK.

I BELIEVE THAT PARKS CANNOT HAVE LONG TERM HOUSING ON IT, BUT THAT'S THAT I MEAN, YES, IF YOU RETAIN.

BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS. BUT I WOULD THINK AS THE DIRECTOR YOU WOULD HAVE SOME IDEA.

[02:45:03]

AND SO AS PROPOSALS COME IN, WE WOULD RUN THOSE THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE USE AND THE LAND AND ARE ALL COMPATIBLE.

OKAY. AND SO WHEN DO WE GET TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PARK PART? SINCE THERE'S NO DOCUMENT, I GUESS EVERY PARK HAS A DOCUMENT SAYING IT'S A PARK.

I DON'T KNOW, I'D ASK THE ATTORNEYS TO WEIGH IN IF THERE'S ANYTHING TO ADD THERE. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING. DO YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING? THERE'S A LOT OF, I DON'T KNOW, OUT OF WHAT IFS. AND. AND YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO MAKE A DECISION, AS YOU'VE SAID, BY JUNE.

AND BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS BY JUNE FOR THE FINANCE OR INFORMATION'S COMING BACK.

AND WE'VE HEARD THAT THE MAVS IS JULY. SO I'M JUST REALLY CURIOUS ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THESE HAVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, HAVE BUDGET TOWNHALLS IN BETWEEN. IT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, STAFF, Y'ALL ARE GOING TO BE WORKING HARD.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN JOHNSON THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SOMEONE ASKED, HOW DID WE GET HERE? I'VE HEARD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS TODAY.

AND I WANT TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT.

ONE THING I KEEP HEARING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS THAT WE WANT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WE WANT TRANSPARENCY AND TRANSPARENCY. AND THAT IS WHAT THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED. SO HOW DID WE GET HERE? THE COUNCIL INSTRUCTED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXPLORE, INVESTIGATE.

WHEN THIS CONVERSATION FIRST CAME, THE STAFF PRESENTED AT A BRIEFING, AND WE DID NOT WANT TO HEAR FROM STAFF.

WE STRICTLY SAID WE DON'T TRUST THE NUMBERS THAT'S BEEN SAID.

WE WANT YOU TO GO IN AND GET AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY, AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER, EXPERT ENGINEER, TO GIVE US AN ANALYSIS FROM EXPERTS. AND THAT IS WHAT SHE IS DOING.

THAT'S WHAT IS BEING DONE. THIS IS AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNCIL AND AT THE REQUEST BY OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BECAUSE SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HEARD THE SAME NUMBERS AND THEY DIDN'T AGREE.

I KNOW IN MY DISTRICT, I HEARD PEOPLE SAY THIS DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

AND SO THAT IS WHAT'S BEING DONE RIGHT NOW. WE'RE GETTING THE INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN BE TRANSPARENT, SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AND KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO STAY, HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST TO FIX THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY.

THE MONEY THAT THAT WE NEED TO INVEST IN IT, IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, MOVE THAT ALL THOSE INFORMATION, ALL THAT INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GATHERING.

NOW, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

AM I CORRECT OR AM I INCORRECT? YOU'RE CORRECT.

A QUESTION WAS POSED BY A COMMITTEE, AND THE STAFF HAS BEEN RESPONDING TO THE DIRECTIONS OF THAT COMMITTEE AND WILL RESPOND TO THE DIRECTIVE OF THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, BUT WE'RE JUST MOVING IN THE DIRECTION WE'RE BEING TOLD TO MOVE.

YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. AND THIS WAS DIRECTED BY THE COUNCIL, CORRECT? THIS WAS THE MAYOR'S CHARGE TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT WHETHER.

CORRECT ME, CHAIR, I'M GOING TO GET THIS WRONG IF WHETHER CITY HALL WAS SERVING THE RESIDENTS WELL AND HOW WE ADDRESS THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.

SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. I'M ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. I'M SAYING COUNCIL, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND SO THIS IS BEING DONE AT THE REQUEST, HOWEVER, THE CITY MANAGER. AND HELP ME IF I'M INCORRECT, THE CITY MANAGER CAN'T DO THIS ON HER OWN.

SHE MUST BE DIRECTED BY THE COUNCIL A COUNCIL MEMBERS ON ANYTHING RELATED TO POLICY.

ABSOLUTELY. YOU ARE ALL THE THE POLICY MAKERS.

THAT'S NOT OUR ROLE AT ALL. YOU TELL US WHAT AND WE TELL YOU HOW, RIGHT? SO UNTIL YOU TELL US WHAT YOU WANT, WE CAN'T TELL YOU HOW TO ACCOMPLISH IT.

SO YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. OKAY. THAT THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.

SO I'M, I'M I WANT TO KNOW I'VE HEARD I HEARD COUNCILWOMAN BLACKMON AND A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING THE SAME THING.

WE WANT TO KNOW THE NUMBERS. HERE IS MY CHALLENGE.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR FROM STAFF. THEY'RE SAYING THAT NUMBERS WHEREAS WAS IN A FALSE AND INFLATED.

THEN THE CITY MANAGER GO GET EXPERT ENGINEERS.

AND THEN I'M HEARING THOSE NUMBERS ARE FALSE OR HIGHLY INFLATED.

SO WHETHER IT'S FROM STAFF OR EXPERT ENGINEERS, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ISSUES.

AND SO I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE REAL NUMBERS ARE.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE REAL NUMBERS ARE. WE WE CAN'T SAY OVER HERE IS FAKE OVER THERE.

IT'S FAKE. WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THE EXPERT ENGINEERS.

AND THAT'S WHERE I'M LEANING TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

THERE'S A LOT OF SPECULATION, THERE'S A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

AND I DON'T WANT TO DRILL YOU BECAUSE I WAS LISTENING TO COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON.

AND LIKE SOMETHING ELSE, I LEANED OVER TO HER AND SAID, SEEMS LIKE WE CAN'T GET CERTAIN ANSWERS, SO I DON'T WANT TO DRILL YOU IF WE CAN'T GET CERTAIN ANSWERS. BUT THERE ARE SOME. THERE ARE SOME ANSWERS THAT NEEDS TO BE GIVEN, NOT ONLY TO THIS COUNCIL, BUT TO THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS. AND AND WE HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT.

NOW, ONE THING I BELIEVE IN IS TRANSPARENCY. WHETHER WE LIKE THE ANSWER OR DON'T LIKE THE ANSWER.

[02:50:01]

YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH MY WHY. YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH MY WHAT, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW MY WHY, AND YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW MY WHAT? BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT, LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

RIGHT? BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED THE FACTS.

NOW, WE DO HAVE SOME NUMBERS THAT WAS GIVEN. AND SO I'M I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBERS THAT'S BEGINNING.

PLUS I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE ON ON SCHOOL BOARD AND I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THAT AS WELL.

BUT THERE ARE SOME THERE'S SOME STRONG CONVERSATION THAT THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON PUBLICLY.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE FACTS. AND SO THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE ARE KIND OF BEING MISGUIDED, AND THEN PEOPLE ARE KIND OF GOING ON THEIR OWN OPINION, BUT WE WANT TO DEAL WITH THE FACTS.

AND THIS, THIS COUNCIL NEEDS THE FACTS SO WE CAN MAKE A PRUDENT DECISION AND WE CAN BE TRANSPARENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS.

SO THAT IS WHAT I'M LEANING TOWARD. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE DID SAY, THIS COUNCIL AND WHETHER THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE CALL OF THE MAYOR, WE HAVE INSTRUCTED THE CITY MANAGER AFTER WHEN THE STAFF CAME, WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM STAFF. WE SAID THAT WE WANT TO ENGINEER EXPERTS.

AND SHE IS DOING WHAT WE REQUESTED LAST TIME.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. CHAIR. JOHNSON. CHAIR I HAVE THREE REMAINING QUESTIONS.

I'M HAPPY TO JUST ASK THEM TO YOU EVEN WITHOUT AN ANSWER.

BUT I THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT STAFF NEEDS TO HEAR.

I'M GOING TO DO MY FIVE MINUTES FIRST AND THEN.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

THANK YOU. BENTLEY. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

A LITTLE DIRECTIVE HERE IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE LANGUAGE THAT WE USE IS VAGUE ENOUGH TO INCLUDE ADAPTIVE REUSE, MIXED USE ENTERTAINMENT, CONVENTION CENTER. AND SO WHEN WE PUT THIS OUT, THIS PROPOSAL OUT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REQUESTS COMING THROUGH.

WE KNOW WE HAVE SOME VERY TALENTED LOCAL ARCHITECTS AND DEVELOPERS IN OUR CITY.

BUT THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS OUTSIDE OF THE DALLAS ARENA TO TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS TODAY VERSUS FORECASTING FOR TWO YEARS OUT OR EVEN FIVE YEARS OUT AND HOW CRITICAL OR JUST TELLING US ABOUT THE TIMELINE ON AS WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND HOW, HOW, HOW FAST THE MARKET CHANGES.

YEAH, THAT'S A TOUGH ONE. MARKET CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW, HIGH OFFICE VACANCY, GROWING RESIDENTIAL GROWTH.

HOPEFULLY MORE AND MORE HOTEL DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY AS A CONVENTION CENTER.

I MEAN, DEMOLITION STARTED THIS MONTH. YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE WALLS FALLING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. AND I THINK WHEN PEOPLE FEEL THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER CONSTRUCTION IS MORE REAL AND THEY CAN SEE IT, THEY WILL START SEEING THOSE COMMITMENTS FOR THE HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING ARE IN THE WORKS.

IN TWO YEARS, A LITTLE YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'LL BE MORE OF THE SAME.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL START TO SECURE EVEN MORE OFFICE CONVERSION DOWNTOWN.

I KNOW THAT'S WHAT THE DOWNTOWN CONNECTION TIFF IS REALLY FOCUSED ON ARE THINGS LIKE THE BANK OF AMERICA REDEVELOPMENT, CONVERTING THAT BUILDING FROM OFFICE INTO HOTEL AND OFFICE AND OTHER APPLICATIONS ARE PENDING.

I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE JUST BEEN WAITING FOR THE CITY TO MOVE ON THE CITY HALL OR, PARDON ME, ON THIS CONVENTION CENTER DEVELOPMENT BEFORE THEY WERE WILLING TO MOVE ON THEIR OWN.

SO NEW PARK BEING ONE. I KNOW THAT'S JUST SORT OF BEEN SITTING AND WAITING AND AND NOW I THINK THEY'RE PROBABLY GETTING A LITTLE CLOSER TO ACTUAL ACTION.

IT'S HARD TO SPECULATE BEYOND A FEW YEARS OUT WHAT THE DOWNTOWN MARKET WILL LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE DOWNTOWNS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE CHANGING FROM THEIR TRADITIONAL OFFICE COMPONENT TO MORE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN DALLAS AS WELL, IS THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE MOVEMENT TOWARD A NEIGHBORHOOD. OKAY.

THANK YOU. TWO THINGS THAT I DEFINITELY HEARD WAS CONNECTIVITY, ESPECIALLY INTO WEST DALLAS, INTO SOUTHERN DALLAS AND SOUTH DALLAS AS WELL, AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

IF WE COULD INCLUDE IN A FUTURE BRIEFING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND A COST FOR DEMOLITION, IF THAT WERE TO EVER HAPPEN. I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT NOW ABOUT FINANCING AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.

DO WE OR FIRST LET ME ASK THIS. DO WE KNOW WHAT THE CURRENT ZONING IS FOR THE CITY HALL SITE? I BELIEVE IT'S A CENTRAL AREA, BUT I'LL HAVE TO.

THEY'RE NODDING. YES. A CENTRAL AREA, WHICH IS A VERY PERMISSIVE ZONING TYPE.

OKAY. AND SO WHAT FINANCES DO WE HAVE BOTH FROM A LOCAL AND A STATE INCENTIVE LEVEL.

[02:55:03]

THAT'S AN IRS PROGRAM, NOT A CITY INCENTIVE. I BELIEVE EVERYTHING SOUTH OF YOUNG IS A NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS ELIGIBLE, WHICH IS AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM THE CITY OPERATES.

THE SITE IS NOT IN A TIF DISTRICT. THAT'S ALL THAT COMES TO MIND.

HONESTLY, WHATEVER THE DEVELOPMENT ENDS UP BEING, WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO REDO SOME OF OUR CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE SITE TO SUPPORT IT, BUT WE WON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SO IT'S A IT'S TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT THAT. WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT HISTORIC TAX CREDITS.

OUR CITY OWNED AND OCCUPIED BUILDINGS ELIGIBLE FOR A HISTORIC TAX CREDITS.

LET ME GET YOU AN OFFICIAL ANSWER. I'LL SEND A MEMO.

FOLLOW UP. THERE MAY BE A LOOPHOLE I'M NOT AWARE OF, BUT I THINK HISTORIC TAX CREDITS HAVE TO BE USED FOR INCOME PRODUCING PROPERTIES.

THEY CAN BE NONPROFIT OWNED OR FOR PROFIT OWNED, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE INCOME PRODUCING.

SO I DON'T THINK A CITY OWNED FACILITY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.

BUT LET ME I'M LOOKING AROUND TO SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE KNOWS THAT OFF THE TOP OF THEIR HEAD.

NO, I'LL GET YOU AN ANSWER, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

SO I WOULD ALSO LIKE WHEN WE PUT THE PROPOSAL OUT, OPTIONS TO INCLUDE CITY HALL STAYING HERE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES ON THE PLAZA BEHIND CITY HALL. I EVEN HEARD, YOU KNOW, A PARTIAL DEMO TO BETTER SUIT TODAY'S NEEDS. AND SO I DO WANT TO THANK ALL THE PUBLIC WHO HAS COME DOWN TO GIVE SUGGESTIONS.

WANT TO TALK NOW ABOUT THE BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS? WHAT I WANT TO SEE THINGS LIKE ARE HEALTH BENEFITS, POSSIBLY A INVESTMENT FUND THAT WOULD GO TO EXISTING HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE CITY WHERE THOSE DOLLARS THAT WOULD COME THROUGH, WHATEVER ENDS UP DEVELOPING HERE ON THE SITE THAT WE COULD TAKE THOSE DOLLARS BACK AND REINVEST THOSE INTO OTHER HISTORIC STRUCTURES THAT ARE CITY OWNED, POSSIBLY OWNED BY INDIVIDUALS AS WELL. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR FOR THIS FIRST ROUND AND THEN AS FAR AS THE PARK DEPARTMENT WILL CONNECT WITH THE PARK DEPARTMENT.

BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHETHER IT'S PARKLAND OR NOT, IF IT IS PARKLAND, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S CONCEPTS AND IDEAS WHERE HOTEL USES ARE ALLOWED ON PARK PROPERTY. AND SO, AGAIN, I THINK WE SHOULD ALLOW THE PARK DEPARTMENT TO WEIGH IN ON THOSE OPTIONS.

AS WE HAVE HAD TALKS ABOUT HOTEL USES OR OTHER USES ON PARK PROPERTY.

WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW GO INTO A SECOND ROUND OF THREE MINUTES AND WE WILL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I WANT TO SAY THAT LISTEN, ECONOMIC.

WE'RE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF DOWNTOWN IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

BUT I'M I'M NOT PERSUADED. AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S THAT THE THE.

MESSAGE HAS BEEN MADE CLEARLY TO ME THAT MOVING CITY HALL IS THE CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA.

AND I THINK THAT THE WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON WHETHER WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THIS BUILDING TO STAY HERE.

AND I THINK IT'S A SHORT TERM, MEDIUM TERM AND LONG TERM DISCUSSION.

AND I THINK THAT I THINK THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY ABSOLUTE NEED TO BE PUSHING THIS THIS FAST.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENT TO DO TO INVESTIGATE, SPEND THE MONEY, SPEND THE TIME TO BE INVOLVED IN PURSUING THIS LINE OF OF OF INQUIRY AT THIS TIME.

THERE ARE NO DEALS ON THE TABLE. APPARENTLY, THERE'S NOTHING HAPPENING IN IN OUR PARTICULAR WORLD HERE THAT'S FORCING US TO MAKE A DECISION. AND I DON'T I DON'T FEEL PERSONALLY COMFORTABLE MAKING A DECISION IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ON A VERY MAJOR, MAJOR SITUATION LIKE THIS. AND I KNOW THE THE ATTITUDE IS GOING TO BE, WELL, WE'RE JUST INVESTIGATING STUFF.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WE DON'T HAVE TO INVESTIGATE IT RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK THAT THERE'S THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING HERE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A HUGE POSITIVE IMPACT IN ON THIS

[03:00:01]

AND SO I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT IF AND AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S APPROPRIATE.

BUT ON THE WEDNESDAY MEETING, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE MOVING THIS THING FORWARD.

IF ANYTHING, WE SHOULD TABLE THAT DISCUSSION AND WE SHOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE DON'T PURSUE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE REQUEST TO CONTINUE THIS INVESTIGATION AND PURSUIT OF ALTERNATIVES AT THIS TIME.

I'M NOT SAYING TO TURN OFF THE WATER COMPLETELY DOWN THE ROAD, BUT NOW'S NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO DO IT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT STUFF TO DO IT, IN MY OPINION.

BUT WE DO HAVE TO FOCUS THAT CITY OF DALLAS NEEDS TO BE PROACTIVE IN CREATING AN ECONOMIC PLAN FOR THIS DOWNTOWN, AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THAT WE NEED TO PUSH OFF TO THE SIDE, BUT THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT.

THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. YOU'RE FINE, COUNCILMEMBER CADENA.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT CAME TO SPEAK TODAY.

AND ALSO AS A FORMER CITY AND CITY EMPLOYEE I REMEMBER WATCHING THE BUDGET, I MEAN, THE BOND MEETINGS, IT WAS JANUARY 31ST AND ALSO FEBRUARY 14TH WHEN COUNCIL VOTED TO DEFER SOME OF THE FUNDS TO TO FIX THIS BUILDING. THIS IS A HARD DISCUSSION BECAUSE DEFINITELY AS AN EMPLOYEE, I WANT THIS BUILDING FIXED. I WANT THE BUILDING TO BE A GOOD PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO WORK.

BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE THIS IS BEING RUSHED AND LIKE I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT I NEED.

I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M READING THIS FINANCE COMMITTEE, THIS MOTION, AND IT IT DOES DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO MOVE TO 311 AND 911.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THOSE PEOPLE DON'T NEED A BETTER WORKING SPACE.

THEY DO. BUT WE DIDN'T EVEN GET A FULL COUNCIL BRIEFING LIKE I, I CAME TO THIS COMMITTEE AND STAYED AS LONG AS I COULD, BUT I ALSO HAD TO LEAVE. AND SO I FEEL LIKE I'M NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE INPUT THAT I NEED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION FOR MY RESIDENTS.

MY RESIDENTS ARE ASKING ME QUESTIONS AND I CAN'T ANSWER THEM.

YOU KNOW, I THINK EVEN SOME OF THE PROPOSALS THAT WE'RE THAT MAY BE INQUIRING ABOUT IS THAT GOING TO REQUIRE LEGISLATION CHANGE? IS THAT GOING TO REQUIRE ZONING CHANGE? WHAT IS THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT LOOK LIKE? SO EVEN IF WE STAY HERE IN THIS BUILDING, WHAT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRED OF US? SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS OUT THERE, AND I'M JUST NOT COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD.

THANKS, CHAIR. THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

SO I SHARE. COUNCILMAN BIRTHS. CONCERNS ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE BASICALLY PROCEEDING IN THE DARK HERE IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE DON'T HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN THAT WOULD IDENTIFY WHAT AREAS, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF DOWNTOWN WITH THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE WOULD BE FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE.

WITHOUT THAT, WE'RE JUST PROCEEDING IN THE BLIND.

THIS IDEA OF PUTTING A SUGGESTION BOX OUT FOR ANYBODY TO COME UP WITH A HAREBRAINED SCHEME ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH CITY HALL SITE IS NOT GOING TO LEAD US ANYWHERE. IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO GIVE US CONCRETE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS FOR THIS SITE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ANY GUIDELINES AS TO WHAT THIS SITE COULD BE USED FOR.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE NEED TO PUT OUT WHAT THE ZONING OF THIS SITE IS AND HAVE SOME CONCEPT OF WHAT AS THE CITY FATHERS, IF YOU WILL, WANT TO SEE HAPPEN ON THIS SITE SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME CONCRETE IDEAS BACK, BUT IT JUST STRIKES ME THAT WE JUST HAVEN'T PUT ENOUGH THOUGHT INTO THIS PROCESS OF WHAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OR FUTURE IS OF THIS SITE.

IS IT TO BE AN ADJUNCT TO THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER?

[03:05:03]

SO I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS PREMATURE. IT'S I UNDERSTAND IT'S DOING WHAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WANTS, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE HOW THIS IS BEING CARRIED OUT AT THIS TIME.

WE NEED TO PUT THE HORSE BEFORE THE CART AND CREATE SOME PARAMETERS OF WHAT WE THINK ALTERNATIVE USES FOR THIS SITE MIGHT BE. AS AN EFFORT TO LOOK AT THE REASON FOR ABANDONING CITY HALL. WE HAD MULTIPLE SPEAKERS HERE TODAY TALK ABOUT HOW THIS WILL INCENTIVIZE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT THERE'S NO PLAN FOR THAT. THERE'S NO REALITY TO THAT.

THANK YOU, CHAIR WEST. THANK YOU. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY EMOTIONAL PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, MANY OF US HAVE PERSONAL STORIES. FOR ME, IT WAS SEEING THE BUILDING FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO NOW, AFTER HAVING WATCHED ROBOCOP AS A TEENAGER. YOU KNOW, THE VOTE WE TOOK LAST WEEK AND THE VOTE WILL TAKE ON WEDNESDAY LIKE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, IS NOT A FINAL VOTE. IT'S A VOTE THAT DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO GO OUT, NEGOTIATE LEASES FOR US TO CONSIDER IF WE DECIDE TO MAKE A FINAL MOVE IN THE FUTURE, THE COST TO DO SO IS GOING TO BE A BIG ONE.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT NUMBER ON THE TABLE TO COMPARE IT WITH THE COST OF COMMITTING TO THE LONG OVERDUE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE BILL THAT THAT WE KNOW EXISTS IN WHATEVER STATE IT IS TO BRING MARILLA BACK TO THE STATE THAT IT DESERVES.

THAT IS THE THAT FINANCIAL PUZZLE IS THE MISSING PIECE OF INFORMATION.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE OUR DELIBERATIONS, AS MANY OF OUR SPEAKERS, SUCH AS COOKIE PEDEN AND OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED EARLIER.

WE'RE AT A POINT NOW AS A COUNCIL WHERE OUR CITY BUDGET IS TIGHT.

STAFF IS PUSHING TO CLOSE SOME OF OUR LIBRARIES.

THEY'RE PUSHING TO CLOSE ALL NINE OF OUR COMMUNITY POOLS, INCLUDING THE MARTIN WEIS POOL IN WEST OAK CLIFF, WHICH SERVICES 5000 OF MY NEIGHBORS EVERY SUMMER.

I'M HAVING TO LAUNCH A PRIVATE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO TRY TO SAVE OUR POOL, AND IT SEEMS DISINGENUOUS FOR ME TO TELL MY RESIDENTS THAT THE CITY CAN'T COME UP WITH $5 MILLION TO SAVE THEIR POOL. BUT WE NEED TO SPEND $1 BILLION OR $350 MILLION, OR WHATEVER IT COSTS TO STAY IN THIS BUILDING.

IF IT MIGHT MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE FOR US TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO WEIGH THESE OPTIONS.

AND SO NOT ALLOWING THE CITY MANAGER TO GO FORWARD AND NEGOTIATE LEASES AND BRING US BOTH SIDES OF THE PICTURE TO ME IS REALLY IT'S A BREACH OF A FIDUCIARY DUTY UP HERE. WE NEED TO HAVE THE FINANCIAL PICTURE.

WE NEED TO COMPARE THAT WITH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PIECE.

AND AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.

SO WE HAVE EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE. AND THAT'S MY THAT'S MY POSITION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR. ROBIN, CAN YOU TELL ME, IS THIS BUILDING SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONNECTIVITY TO THE KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON $3.4 BILLION INVESTMENT? I MEAN, IT'S CERTAINLY AN ADJACENT PROPERTY.

IT'S NOT PART OF THAT MASTER PLAN REDEVELOPMENT, BUT IT WOULD BE AN ADJACENT PROPERTY.

SO WHATEVER IS HAPPENING HERE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON CENTER.

I WOULDN'T SAY THAT. I MEAN, I MEAN, BASICALLY WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO DOWN TO CITY HALL, THAT THEY ARE CONNECTED. BUT THE BUT WHAT WAS PLANNED FOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON WAS THIS HAD NOT THIS WAS NOT PART OF THAT INITIAL PLAN. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. SO AND I YOU KNOW, I, I REMEMBER READING THAT VOLUMINOUS DOCUMENT THAT WE ALL GOT TO SEE AS PART OF PUBLIC RECORD ABOUT THE ASBESTOS.

I REMEMBER STAYING UP, YOU KNOW, QUITE YOU KNOW, I READ ALMOST EVERY PAGE OF THOSE 3000 PAGES IN A WEEKEND BECAUSE THAT WAS

[03:10:03]

MY UNDERSTANDING IS IF YOU'RE REMOVING THINGS THAT HAVE ABESTOS, YOU HAVE TO VACATE THAT AREA.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ON WEDNESDAY, CBRE WILL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THE ASBESTOS STUDY.

BUT THAT'S NOT INFORMATION THAT I HAVE THAT I COULD SHARE WITH YOU TODAY.

OKAY. SO I DON'T I'M I'M NOT AN EXPERT WITH THIS ASBESTOS, BUT I KNOW I DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND IT EITHER.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT WITH CBRE, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO GIVE US FINITE INFORMATION AS TO WHAT KIND OF ASBESTOS THEY FOUND, WHERE IT IS, IF WE WERE TO HAVE TO REMEDIATE AN AREA THAT ARE RENOVATED, AREA THAT HAS ASBESTOS, HOW WOULD WE REMEDIATE IT WITH WHAT WOULD IT BE, AN ENVIRONMENTAL WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS WOULD IT HAVE? WHAT WHAT KIND OF HEALTH IMPACTS IT WOULD HAVE IF WE LEFT PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING AROUND THE AREA THAT HAS THIS BESTOS THAT IS BEING REMOVED.

I KNOW THAT'S A MOUTHFUL. THAT'S HELPFUL. I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE WEDNESDAY SO THEY'RE READY TO ANSWER FOR YOU.

AND THE FINAL QUESTION SINCE I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME BUDGET ITEM.

WASN'T THIS DIDN'T THIS START WITH ALL THIS START BECAUSE OF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THE REPAIRS? THE 600 WHATEVER MILLION DOLLARS IT WOULD TAKE TO REPAIR THE BUILDING.

SO HOWEVER THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO MOVE FORWARD, THERE WILL BE WE WILL HAVE TO COME BACK WITH HOW TO PAY FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT DONE RIGHT.

WHAT? EITHER WAY. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE ANSWERS WOULD BE.

JACK GARLAND WOULD HAVE TO COME IN AND MAKE THOSE EXPLANATIONS AT A FUTURE BRIEFING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHAIR. THANK YOU. CHAIR. MENDELSOHN.

SO NOW I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS. MY FIRST QUESTION IS THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT DOWNTOWN DALLAS.

AND IS THERE A MASTER PLAN FOR REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN? SO I DON'T KNOW IF I STILL HERE, BUT I SEE EVAN THERE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY'RE WORKING ON A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR.

OR AM I GETTING THE WORDS WRONG? A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN? YES. DON'T YOU THINK WE OUGHT TO WAIT TO SEE THAT BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING? I, I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS COMMITTEE MOVES FORWARD WITH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S DIRECTIVE TO EXPLORE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE WITHOUT GATHERING SOME INFORMATION.

AND SO I DO THINK WE SHOULD AT LEAST MOVE FORWARD WITH ASKING THE QUESTION OF WHAT PEOPLE HAVE IN MIND FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF THE BUILDING OR THE SITE.

BUT BUT I, I SEE YOUR POINT. SO AS, AS I WAS ASKING EARLIER AND AS CHAIR RIDLEY ASKED, THERE'S NO PARAMETERS FOR THIS WHOLE THING.

WOULD YOU BE TELLING PEOPLE IN ADVANCE THAT THE CITY WILL RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND? NO. I MEAN, I THINK IT'S JUST OPEN. IT'S TOTALLY OPEN ON THAT.

OKAY. YES. SO I'M GOING TO JUST SAY THIS AS A RECOMMENDATION INSTEAD OF A QUESTION.

I THINK YOU NEED TO ASK ABOUT THE ASSEMBLAGE OF THE LAND BETWEEN HERE AND THE CONVENTION CENTER.

WHY WOULD WE? YES. WHY WOULD WE ONLY LIMIT IT TO THE 1415 ACRES OF CITY HALL WHEN WE KNOW THAT IS AVAILABLE, AND THAT MAY YIELD WAY DIFFERENT RESULTS? I WOULD EXPECT IT WOULD.

THIS IDEA THAT THIS IS DISCONNECTED FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER IS 100% FALSE.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PROXIMITY. THE ENTIRE REASON IT'S BECOMING VERY APPARENT, THE ENTIRE REASON THE CONVENTION CENTER HAS BEEN SHIFTED, HAS BEEN TO MAKE THIS LAND, WHICH CAN BE ASSEMBLED EXACTLY FOR THE MAVERICKS, WHO HAVE PUBLICLY TWICE SAID THEY NEED 50 ACRES, WHICH WE DON'T QUITE HAVE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT YOU ASK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF INCENTIVES THE PROPOSAL THEY'RE SUBMITTING REQUIRE, AS WELL AS ANY KIND OF EXEMPTIONS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

WE NEED TO KNOW UPFRONT ARE WE LOOKING AT THIS FABULOUS DEVELOPMENT, WHICH, BY THE WAY, ISN'T ACTUALLY GOING TO GENERATE THE REVENUE WE WERE EXPECTING, BUT YET WE'RE GOING TO SOMEHOW PAY RENT FOR INFINITY WHEN WE DON'T NOW.

[03:15:02]

WE GOT TO SAVE $2.6 MILLION ON LIBRARIES, BUT SOMEHOW WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH ANNUAL RENT.

UNBELIEVABLE. OKAY. THE NEXT ONE I HAVE IS THAT EVERY PILOT PROGRAM IN THE CITY BECOMES A STANDARD PROGRAM.

AND ANYTIME WE ARE JUST EXPLORING IT IS A CODE WORD FOR DONE DEAL.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT VALLEY VIEW, AND I THINK THAT ABSOLUTELY HAS TO BE TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE IT HAS THIS UNIQUE ABILITY, BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE TIF MALDEF TO BRING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT TO SOUTHERN DALLAS FORGET WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWNTOWN.

THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR A WIN FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY.

SO THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO SAY IS WHEN YOU CONSIDER THIS FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE HAVE HAD ZERO BRIEFINGS IN THE SIX AND A HALF YEARS I'VE SERVED ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ABOUT MOVING 911 CENTER, AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY AN AFFRONT THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, REMOVAL WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A BRIEFING AT PUBLIC SAFETY.

THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO GO VIRTUAL FOR FIVE MINUTES FOR COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. CAN YOU SEE ME? BECAUSE MY PHONE IS.

YES. OKAY. JUST MAKING SURE. THANK YOU. ROBIN.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN.

I UNDERSTAND FROM LISTENING TO YOUR ANSWERS TO OTHERS THAT YOU'RE JUST MOVING AT THE PACE OF, OF COUNCIL. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST ASK THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS, ON ALTERNATIVE MOVES.

I WOULD LOVE FOR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO GIVE US A BETTER EXPLANATION THAN WE GOT LAST WEDNESDAY ON WHY THIS BALLOONED ESTIMATE THAT WAS MADE PUBLIC IS INCLUSIVE OF FINANCING, WHY THAT IS NOT A TRADITIONAL PRACTICE.

AND THAT WAS USED TO TO BALLOON THE COST AND GIVE A SHOCK VALUE OF THAT $900 MILLION.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHY WE'RE FOCUSING ON FINANCING BEING ABORTION, AND EXPLAIN TO ME WHY FINANCING FOR 20 YEARS WOULD NOT BE APPLES TO APPLES CONSIDERATION FOR ANY, ANY ALTERNATIVE.

ON LEAVING CITY HALL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER.

I CAN'T ADDRESS THIS TODAY. I'M REALLY JUST HERE TO TALK ABOUT POTENTIAL RENOVATION OF THE SITE, BUT I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE TEAM IS READY ON WEDNESDAY TO TALK ABOUT THE FINANCING.

OKAY. ON THE POTENTIAL RENOVATION OF THE SITE.

THE ASBESTOS THAT MY COLLEAGUE WAS JUST MENTIONING.

IT SPEAKS VERY DETAILED ABOUT HOW I CAN'T REMEMBER THE RIGHT TERM, THAT IT WAS LOCALIZED, HOW LOCALIZED IT IS AND HOW LITTLE IS EXISTS WITHIN ALL OF THE SAMPLING. AND I KNOW YOU SAID IT WILL TALK TO THE TO TO TO.

WE'LL GET MORE OF A BRIEFING FROM THE ASBESTOS, BUT CAN YOU JUST I GUESS GIVE ME THE UNDERSTANDING OF OF WHY WE HAVE NOT EXPLORED ALL POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES.

WE WERE GIVEN THIS LARGE NUMBER. BUT WHENEVER WE WANT TO BREAK IT DOWN INTO.

THE THE REMEDIATION, THERE'S PROBABLY SOME DOLLARS THAT CAN BE USED THERE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER THE ORIGINAL FUNDING FOR IT AND HOW IT'S CONNECTED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER. WHY HAVE WE NOT EXPLORED THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE POT TAX? I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN INTENTIONALLY PAINTED THIS GRIM PICTURE INSTEAD OF BEING INNOVATIVE AND OPEN MINDED AND GIVING US ALL OF THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING SUCH A LARGE DECISION.

WHY HAVE Y'ALL NOT EXPLORED THESE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES AND GIVEN US A MORE EXHAUSTIVE OPTION.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER. WE ONCE WE KNOW WHAT THE COUNCIL WANTS US TO DO, THEN HOW TO PAY FOR IT WILL BE A NEXT STEP. AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE REPAIRING THE BUILDING OR RELOCATING, AND THOSE WOULD PROBABLY BE FINANCED DIFFERENTLY UNTIL WE GET THAT POLICY GUIDANCE.

THE TEAM HASN'T BEGUN TO DIG IN ON HOW TO PAY FOR THE DIFFERENT ACTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK LATER.

IT SEEMS, QUITE FRANKLY, THAT THIS IS AT BACKWARDS.

[03:20:03]

YOU BASICALLY ARE TELLING ME Y'ALL ARE NOT WILLING OR ABLE TO GIVE US NECESSARY INFORMATION TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS, BUT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES I'VE BEEN ASKED TO SINCE BEING ON COUNCIL.

HAVE YOU ADDRESSED THE LANDMARK COMMISSION'S WORK? WHY WOULD WHY WOULD WOULD STAFF RECOMMEND ANY POTENTIAL ACTIONS? I GUESS RECOMMEND YOU'RE GOING TO YOU'RE GOING TO PUSH BACK ON.

BUT WHY WOULD Y'ALL GO IN A DIRECTION THAT IS UNDERMINING THE WORK FOR MORE THAN A YEAR NOW OF OUR LANDMARK COMMISSION.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE LANDMARK COMMISSION WORK WILL ULTIMATELY GO TO CPC AND THEN TO COUNCIL.

SO IT WILL BE YOUR DECISION HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT WORK.

SO I DON'T SEE THEM AS IN CONFLICT, SINCE YOU'RE THE ULTIMATE DECISION MAKERS ON ALL OF THIS.

OKAY. REPEAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID. MY UNDERSTANDING, I'M GOING TO ASK THE ATTORNEY TO TELL ME IF I'M WRONG IS THAT THE LANDMARK COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION WOULD THEN GO TO CPC AND ULTIMATELY TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

THEY'RE NODDING YES. AND SO THE LANDMARK COMMISSION IS AN ADVISORY GROUP TO YOU ALL.

AND SO THEY THEY WOULDN'T BE DOING ANYTHING WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT.

AND SO THIS IS ULTIMATELY A COUNCIL DECISION ON ALL OF THIS.

WELL, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER BOARD OR COMMISSION ONE THAT IS SUPPORTED BY STAFF, WORK AND STAFF IS INTENTIONALLY NOT GIVEN THE RIGHT NECESSARY TOOLS.

WHICH SOUNDS PAR FOR THE COURSE WITH HOW THIS HAS COME TO OUR DESK AS WELL.

SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A BIG PROBLEM WITH US IGNORING THE FACT THAT THERE'S BEEN A PROCESS STARTED WITH OUR LANDMARK COMMISSION FOR OVER A YEAR, AND NOW THERE'S AN ATTEMPT TO RAMROD THIS AT A RAPID PACE THAT NOTHING AT CITY HALL MOVES TOWARDS.

IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT THE FIX IS IN. I JUST WISH WE WOULD START BEING MORE HONEST WITH THE PUBLIC, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I WISH Y'ALL WOULD BE MORE HONEST WITH THE COUNCIL, BECAUSE THE MORE AND MORE THAT COMES OUT FROM THE CITY HALL BOONDOGGLE IS EXPOSING THE FACT THAT THE COUNCIL, THE DECISION MAKERS OF THIS CITY, ARE ACTUALLY SOME OF THE LAST PEOPLE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. AND I DO WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT AND BEING VOCAL ABOUT THIS.

IT IS IMPORTANT. I MEAN, THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

WE BUILT IT IN 1978, AND IT WAS AFTER A A HORRIBLE DECADE AFTER 1963.

I'VE GOT THE GOALS FOR DALLAS RIGHT HERE. AND AND SO MY QUESTION AND BECAUSE IT IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN COMING OUT BECAUSE, MR. WEST, YOU MADE A POINT.

WE DON'T HAVE A TRUE FINANCIAL PICTURE BECAUSE.

DO YOU REALLY THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FREE TO MOVE OUT? I MEAN, IT'S NOT. LET'S. CAN WE BE HONEST? I THINK WE'VE GOT A WHITE PAPER THAT SHOWS IT'S OVER $1 BILLION TO MOVE OUT.

SO IT'S LIKE I GUESS HOW AGAIN, WE'RE GIVING THIS INFORMATION IS VERY INSULTING.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT THAT DOWN AS A, YOU KNOW, TO REPLY TO THAT, BUT IT'S LIKE TO TELL ME IT'S GOING TO COST.

AND YOU WANTED THE HEADLINE, THE BILLION DOLLAR HEADLINE.

BUT THE THE ANSWER IS ALSO TOO, IT'S $1 BILLION TO MOVE.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO IT MAKES NO SENSE.

SO MY I GUESS MY NEXT QUESTION IS IS WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THOSE COSTS.

BECAUSE IT SAYS RIGHT HERE MAY OF 2026 IS WHEN WE WILL GET ITEMS TWO AND THREE.

BACK TO FINANCE COMMITTEE. BUT I'M JUST WONDERING WHEN DO WE GET.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST AGAIN. YOU'RE PAINTING US IN A CORNER. THAT'S WHAT STAFF IS DOING.

JUST BE HONEST THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION THAT, OH, WAIT, WE'RE DOWN THE ROAD.

WE'VE ALREADY PUT THE MARK. WE'VE ALREADY PUT IT TO THE MARKET. WE'RE GOING TO SELL. SO WHEN DO WE GET THE COSTS TO MOVE? SO WEDNESDAY'S VOTE WOULD DIRECT CBRE TO GO AND CONTINUE NEGOTIATING AND COME BACK TO THE COMMITTEE WITH ACTUAL FINAL NEGOTIATED PROPOSALS.

SO AT THAT POINT YOU WOULD HAVE THE REAL MARKET PROPOSALS.

THERE'S NO DATE, THOUGH. IS THAT IN MAY? NO, I THINK IT WAS BY MAY OR BY JUNE BEFORE THE BREAK, ESSENTIALLY, I THINK, WAS THE IDEA TO COME BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. AND YOU DO REALIZE THAT THE CHAIR'S COMMENTS SAID, IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER, CBRE EXPEDITIOUSLY NEGOTIATE WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND IDENTIFY ONE FINALIST PROPERTY OPTION FOR THE RELOCATION OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AND BRING THE PROPOSAL TO CITY COUNCIL AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE.

IT'S MOVING. SO IT'S LIKE I GUESS THE THING IS, IS LET'S JUST BE HONEST, GIVE US THE INFORMATION AND SAY WHAT IT IS THAT

[03:25:10]

AND I JUST FEEL VERY I'M VERY SADDENED BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN ALL THE INFORMATION, BUT YET WE'RE MAKING A LOT OF DECISIONS. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. DO YOU NEED A ROUND FOR THREE MINUTES? OKAY. NO, SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I WANT TO SHARE A CONCERN THAT'S BEEN WEIGHING ON ME.

WE'RE ASKING STAFF TO PROVIDE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE YET, IN PART BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DIRECTED OR AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT THAT LEVEL OF ANALYSIS. IF WE'RE SEEKING DETAILED AND COMPLETE RESPONSES, WE SHOULD ENSURE THAT STAFF ARE FORMALLY TASKED WITH THE WORK, GIVEN THE AUTHORITY AND THE TIME NECESSARY TO GATHER THAT INFORMATION THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO RETURN WITH THOROUGH, WELL SUPPORTED ANSWERS THAT CAN BETTER INFORM OUR DECISION MAKING.

BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO KNOW IS WE KNOW THE ZONING FOR DOWNTOWN.

WE KNOW THE ZONING AT VALLEY VIEW. WE KNOW THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITIES IN DOWNTOWN.

WE KNOW THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES AT VALLEY VIEW.

SO AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE QUESTIONS, AS WE CONTINUE TO DIALOG, LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE EQUIPPING OUR STAFF WITH THE NECESSARY DIRECTION SO THAT THEY CAN ANSWER THOSE GREAT, TOUGH QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE.

BUT THE ONLY WAY THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK IS BY US GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK AND RESEARCH, TO GO BACK AND SEE WHAT THE MARKET IS OUT THERE.

AND SO LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE'RE NOT SAYING, HEY, WE WANT YOU, WE WANT THESE ANSWERS, BUT WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND FIGURE THOSE OUT.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THIS ROUND. WE WILL NOW GO INTO OUR FINAL ROUND.

THREE MINUTES. WE'LL START WITH VICE CHAIR RIDLEY FOR ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO BUILD ON YOUR COMMENTS AND RESPOND TO SOMETHING THAT CHAIRMAN WEST MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE TO VOTE YES TOMORROW. I'M SORRY, WEDNESDAY TO AUTHORIZE OUR CONSULTANTS TO NEGOTIATE LEASE TERMS. THAT MAY SOUND INNOCUOUS ON THE SURFACE, BUT IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT LEAVES US WITH JUST ONE OPTION.

AND IF WE APPROVE THAT, STAFF WILL STOP WORKING ON THE REPAIR OPTION.

WE HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS REMAINING AND SO MANY DEFICIENCIES AND FALSE ASSUMPTIONS IN THE EDC'S CONSULTANT'S REPORT THAT IF WE STOP WORKING ON THAT, THEN WE HAVE ALREADY DECIDED THAT THAT'S NOT A VIABLE OPTION AND THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY ABANDONING CITY HALL AND MOVING ELSEWHERE AT UNKNOWN COST. IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT WE CONTINUE TO RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATE BOTH OPTIONS IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT LEAST NEGOTIATIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ROTH, ONE MINUTE.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO NEGOTIATE LEASES IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.

SO I THINK WE'RE TOO EARLY TO BE NEGOTIATING ANY LEASES WITH ANY.

IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE MARKET TO BE ASKED TO PROVIDE US WITH THESE KIND OF DOCUMENTATION.

AND THEN MY LAST 10S, IF THE MAVERICKS WOULD LIKE TO GO TO VALLEY VIEW, THAT'S A VERY EASY DEAL TO DO.

IT'S AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW AND I WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONSIDER IT.

WE WANT THEM IN DALLAS. WE WANT THEM TO STAY IN DALLAS.

VALLEY VIEW WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.

AND IT'S IN MY DISTRICT AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME THERE.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA. I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO CONTINUE SENDING YOUR EMAILS, PROVIDE INPUT. SHOW UP ON WEDNESDAY, SIGN UP TO SPEAK.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR FROM Y'ALL. I'M GOING TO KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS AS LONG AS I CAN.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU WANT ME TO ASK, PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME.

EMAIL ME. BUT Y'ALL ARE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD.

COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. CHAIR WEST. THANK YOU. CHAIR.

[03:30:01]

THE MY INTENT CERTAINLY IN MY COMMENTS, IS NOT FOR STAFF TO STOP ANY REVIEW OF THAT.

I HAVE A TON OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE THOSE REPORTS AND I THINK STAFF THAT I DON'T THINK THE RESOLUTION INDICATES IN ANY WAY THAT THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE REVIEW AND CONTINUED GRILLING OF THE CONTRACTORS SHOULD STOP.

ROBIN, AS YOUR UNDERSTANDING. THE SAME WITH THE RESOLUTION.

I'LL HAVE TO ASK DON ZELL KIND OF HOW HE IMAGINED MOVING FORWARD.

BUT IF WE'RE HEARING MOVE FORWARD ON BOTH, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD ON BOTH.

YOU'RE YOU'RE THE DECISION MAKERS. WELL, MY MY POSITION IS TO CONSIDER BOTH BECAUSE I WANT THE FULL FINANCIAL PICTURE IN FRONT OF ME.

AND I CAN'T GET THAT WITHOUT YOU KNOW, TAKING THAT STEP.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR. THANK YOU. AND I'M GOING TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF CHAIR WEST WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO NOT STOPPING THE BALL ROLLING AND GETTING MORE INFORMATION AND NOT HAVING STAFF STOP. BUT I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE ARE TRYING OUR LEVEL BEST TO DO ALL THAT IS NECESSARY, NOT JUST A PIECE OF WHAT IS NECESSARY.

WE ARE ALL TRYING TO GET TO THE FINAL GOAL AND TO PROVIDE SAFE, ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEAN AREAS AND TO DO IT IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY FOR NOT ONLY OURSELVES, BUT FOR THOSE THAT HAVE TO WORK EVERY DAY. WE DON'T HAVE TO COME HERE EVERY DAY. COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T HAVE TO COME HERE EVERY DAY.

STAFF DOES. THANK YOU. CHAIR. MENDELSOHN. WELL, I WOULD REFUTE.

THE STAFF COMES HERE EVERY DAY. I'M WORRIED IF WE SAY SO.

HYPER FOCUSED ON DOWNTOWN, ONLY THAT WE'LL BE DRIVING TO FRISCO TO SEE THE MAVS.

THERE'S A VIABLE OPTION AT VALLEY VIEW. WE SHOULD BE TAKING THE WIN OF KEEPING THEM IN DALLAS AND GIVING THEM EVERYTHING THEY WANT.

THIS. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT IT. IF THIS WAS IT, THEY WOULD HAVE ONLY ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE DOWNTOWN.

WE'D HAVE DEAL TERMS IN FRONT OF US. THE IDEA OF EVEN SELLING THIS LAND IS A LITTLE BIT HILARIOUS TO TRY TO RETAIN IT AS A BUILDING.

WE'VE JUST TOLD PEOPLE IT'S GOING TO TAKE $1 BILLION.

WHAT, ARE WE GOING TO GET A DOLLAR FOR IT? WHO'S GOING TO INVEST LIKE THAT? ONLY A GOVERNMENT THAT CAN TAX THE PEOPLE OVER TAX THE PEOPLE LIKE WE DO CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD TO DO THIS.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES YOU SAID I DON'T KNOW TODAY, BUT IT'S A LOT AND I'M NOT FAULTING YOU. BUT THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE PLETHORA OF I DON'T KNOW IS THAT PAUL RIDLEY AND I HAD CHAIR MENDELSOHN WITH CONSULTANTS COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON. SO TO BE CLEAR, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER, MR. WEST, YOU WANT STAFF TO STILL FOCUS ON CITY HALL? NOT AS FINE. YES. AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE PAPER, IS IT GOING TO BE AVOIDED? BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS OUR PLAYBOOK, IS THAT YOU'VE SAID IS EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING IS HERE ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER.

SO I'M JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT STOPPING ON FIGURING OUT HOW TO SEQUENCE THE ORDERS OF WORK AND GETTING A REALLY GOOD FINANCIAL PICTURE OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST. AT CITY HALL, WE FOLLOW WHAT THE COUNCIL SAYS TO DO, AND IF YOU'RE SAYING PURSUE BOTH, THEN I'LL LET THE TEAM KNOW IT'S BOTH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE MOTION SAYS.

SO IT WASN'T BOTH INITIALLY UNTIL NOW. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE MOTION SAYS, BUT YES, IF YOU'RE SAYING CONTINUE TO PURSUE BOTH, WE WILL PURSUE BOTH.

IT SAYS NEGOTIATE WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND DETERMINE A LIST OF FINALIST PROPERTY OPTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THIS COMMITTEE.

IF YOU'RE ASKING US TO PURSUE BOTH, I MIGHT ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK ON WHAT YOU WANT US TO CONTINUE WORKING ON ON THE RENOVATION COSTS, LIKE WHAT THE QUESTIONS ARE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE EDC TEAM TO KNOW WHAT TO CONTINUE WORKING ON.

BUT SURE, YES, WE ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR DIRECTION.

OKAY, BUT IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHEN WE DID IT LAST WEEK.

AND SO WE'VE HAD A WEEK OF. AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR TOMORROW.

THANK YOU. WEDNESDAY. CHAIR BAZALDUA DO YOU NEED A MINUTE? COUNCIL MEMBERS SEEING NONE. OKAY. TO OUR RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS AS THEY CONTINUE TO GO AHEAD.

COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU COULD GIVE ME A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE HOW THIS IS GOING TO GO HAND IN HAND WITH THE FINANCE RECOMMENDATIONS.

I MEAN, WHAT WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR FROM THIS COMMITTEE OUTSIDE OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS?

[03:35:09]

WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING THE COUNCIL TO GIVE ROBIN.

OKAY, THAT WASN'T THAT. MR.. WELL, THE CHAIR STOLE MY ANSWER.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR A MOTION TODAY. I'LL RECAP WHAT I HEARD, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH THE CHAIR, JUST TO MAKE SURE I CAUGHT EVERYTHING. BUT I WAS REALLY JUST LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK.

AND THEN WE'LL FOLLOW WHATEVER THE COUNCIL VOTE ON WEDNESDAY SAYS TO DO AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO WHAT WAS THE INTENT OF TODAY IN STAFF'S EYES? TO GET FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSED CALL FOR CONCEPTS AND IDEAS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO OUR RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS.

I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SHOW UP TO ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS, AND THAT YOUR PARTICIPATION IS MEANINGFUL TO THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING.

I ENCOURAGE ANY GROUP WITH AN IDEA OR A CONCEPT TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS, AND TO FORMALLY SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL SO IT CAN BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THIS DISCUSSION. THANK YOU GUYS. AND ROBIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AT THIS POINT. WE WILL NOW BE MOVING TO BRIEFING ITEM C.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'M KEVIN SPATH, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM C, WE HADN'T PLANNED ON PRESENTING THAT ACTIVELY, BUT THERE ARE A VERY THERE ARE DETAILED SLIDES ATTACHED TO THE MEMO.

IF THE COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE I CAN RUN THROUGH THOSE QUICKLY OR JUST RESPOND TO QUESTIONS.

DOES ANYONE NEED A SUMMARY OF THE ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA FIRST SINCE IT'S IN HER DISTRICT.

SO FOR FIRE STATION 45, I ACTUALLY STARTED WORKING ON THIS.

WELL, I GUESS ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO UNDER COUNCIL MEMBER NARVAEZ WE HAD ANOTHER FIRE STATION THAT WE USED A TIF MONEY FOR, AND SO I STARTED LOOKING AT FIRE STATION 45, JUST BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.

IT'S GROWN QUITE A BIT. WE HAVE A LOT OF DENSITY THAT'S COMING OVER THERE WITH APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

HAROLD SIMMONS PARK IS CLOSE BY AS WELL. AND SO WE DID TRY TO GET IT ON THE BOND BUT WE'RE UNABLE TO DO SO.

I THINK THE LOMBARDY FIRE STATION TOOK PRECEDENT.

WE ALSO HAVE A FIRE STATION OVER ON CHALK HILL ROAD THAT WE NEED TO GET REPLACED DOWN THE LINE.

SO THIS WAS A GOOD WAY TO USE FUNDS SO THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY GET A NEW FIRE STATION, AND IT'S EXPANDED.

SO IT WILL HAVE ADDED BAYS AND OTHER SERVICES.

THAT WILL HELP THE NEEDS OF THE GROWING AREA.

YEAH. THAT'S IT. VICE CHAIR. RIDLEY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO I DON'T DOUBT THAT WE NEED A NEW FIRE STATION NUMBER 45.

MY QUESTION WAS RAISED BY SOMEONE WHO EMAILED ME AND ASKED WHY WE WOULD BE ACQUIRING THIS ADDITIONAL PROPERTY FIVE YEARS AHEAD OF ANY POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCE TO BUILD A NEW FIRE STATION, WHICH TAKES IT OFF THE TAX ROLLS.

LEAVES US THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SECURING AND MAINTAINING THE SITE.

SO CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? SURE. IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO IN ORDER TO DESIGN A FACILITY, YOU NEED A SITE TO DESIGN IT TOO, AND WITHOUT A SITE.

THE CURRENT SITE IS INSUFFICIENTLY SIZED TO DO A REPLACEMENT STATION.

SO ON. AT THE REQUEST OF DALLAS FIRE RESCUE, WE'VE BEEN HELPING THEM EXPLORE OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS A NUMBER OF SITES.

[03:40:05]

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED A SITE TO BE UNDER OUR CONTROL.

AS TO THE PART OF THE QUESTION REGARDING TAKING IT OFF THE TAX ROLLS, YOU ARE CORRECT.

THE SECOND WE CLOSE ON THE ACQUISITION AND NOTIFY DCAD IT WILL COME OFF THE TAX ROLLS.

HOWEVER, IT'S NOT WORTH ANYTHING, NOT WORTH MUCH OF ANYTHING.

NOW ON THE TAX ROLLS I THINK IT'S 1,000,001 WITH ALMOST NO VALUE IN THE CURRENT BUILDING.

THE CURRENT BUILDINGS 100% VACANT AND ONLY A SHELL.

SO THE CITY WOULD BE MISSING OUT ON LIKE $8,000 ANNUALLY IN TAXES WHEN IT COMES OFF THE TAX ROLL.

WELL, KEVIN, THERE'S AN UNSTATED ASSUMPTION IN YOUR RESPONSE.

YOU SAID THE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUIRING IT NOW WAS SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE A SITE TO DESIGN THE NEW BUILDING.

BUT IF WE CAN'T BUILD THE BUILDING FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS AT LEAST, PROBABLY LONGER UNTIL WE GET THE BOND FUNDS, WHAT'S THE IMPERATIVE TO DESIGN THE FACILITY NOW? THAT'S PROBABLY A QUESTION BETTER DIRECTED TO CHIEF SALAZAR, WHO'S HERE WITH ME TODAY.

AGAIN, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS FACILITATING THIS PROCESS ON BEHALF OF BFR.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FIRE STATION 45, YOU KNOW, NOW IN THEIR PORTFOLIO, IT'S THE OLDEST FIRE STATION IN THE PORTFOLIO THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY ON A PATH FOR REPLACEMENT OR SUBSTANTIAL REHABILITATION.

SO I DON'T I DON'T THINK THEY CAN WAIT ANY LONGER, IS PROBABLY THE ANSWER.

BUT I'LL DEFER TO THE CHIEF. THANK YOU. DANIEL SALAZAR, ASSISTANT CHIEF.

AS IT RELATES TO THE SITE THAT WE'RE TARGETING FOR THE REPLACEMENT FIRE STATION, WE LOOKED AT A MULTITUDE OF PROPERTIES.

WE LOOKED AT HEAT MAPS, WE LOOKED AT RESPONSE TO IMPACT TO RESPONSE.

AND THAT WAS THE OPTIMAL SITE. WE LOOKED AT GOING NORTH, GOING SOUTH JUST IN EVERY DIRECTION.

BUT ULTIMATELY, IT LED US BACK TO THE EXISTING SITE WHERE WE HAVE STATION 45.

THAT IS A VERY CRAMPED FIRE STATION. EVEN THAT SHIFT CHANGE, IT'S IT'S JUST DIFFICULT.

THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TO PARK THEIR VEHICLES OUT IN THE STREET DURING SHIFT CHANGE BECAUSE THE PARKING LOT ITSELF IS PRETTY SMALL.

BUT GETTING BACK TO THE CRUX OF YOUR YOUR QUESTION THAT IS THE OPTIMAL LOCATION JUST BECAUSE OF THE.

NO IMPACT TO RESPONSE TO ALL THE LOCATIONS THAT THE ENGINE AND THE AMBULANCE THAT RESPOND TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE GOING TO. SO I UNDERSTAND, CHIEF, THAT THIS IS AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR THE REPLACEMENT STATION, BUT IS IT CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET? IS IT FOR SALE NOW? IS THAT WHY THIS ISSUE IS BEFORE US? I, I CAN PROBABLY GO BACK THROUGH THE SLIDES, BUT.

SO THE THE CITY'S REAL ESTATE TEAM OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS REACHED OUT TO ALL OF THE OWNERS OF THIS SURROUNDING THE EXISTING STATION, INCLUDING THE EXISTING BLOCK.

SO THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING STATION, THERE'S FIVE PARCELS ON THE CURRENT ON THAT BLOCK SPREAD ACROSS THREE OWNERS WITH THREE BUILDINGS, TWO OF WHICH ARE STILL PARTIALLY OCCUPIED.

BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE OWNERS OF THOSE PROPERTIES AFTER THE CITY INITIATED INTEREST IN THOSE PROPERTIES.

SO WE SHIFTED TO THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS ONE OWNER SUFFICIENTLY SIZED WITH ONE PARCEL, SUBMITTED A LETTER OF INTEREST, AND THAT PROPERTY OWNER WAS INTERESTED IN TALKING AND NEGOTIATING.

SO IT WAS NOT ON THE MARKET AT THE TIME. BUT WE HAVE THE OWNER HAS ACCEPTED, YOU KNOW, A NON-BINDING OFFER FROM THE CITY.

AND HOW IS THE CITY GOING TO PAY FOR THAT WITHOUT HAVING BOND FUNDS FOR THE ACQUISITION? WE'RE ONLY SEEKING ACQUISITION CURRENTLY. THAT'S WHAT THIS ITEM IS FOR.

WELL, I UNDERSTAND, BUT WHERE THE WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM TO BUY IT FROM THE FORT WORTH AVENUE TIF DISTRICT.

SO THE BOARD DID LAST LAST WEEK APPROVE THE ACQUISITION.

AND 2.5 MILLION FOR THE DESIGN. DESIGN. CORRECT.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. COUNCILMEMBER ROTH. THANK YOU.

NOT BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE WITH THE BACKGROUND AND THE HISTORY ON THIS.

WAS THERE ANY INDICATION OR IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY IF YOU WANT TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY?

[03:45:05]

THE POSSIBILITY OF A LEASEBACK WHERE THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF, OF MAINTENANCE, TAXES, INSURANCE THEY WOULD PAY FOR HOLDING COSTS FOR US FOR A PERIOD OF 5 TO 10 YEARS WITH THE ABILITY FOR US TO TERMINATE IF NECESSARY.

IT LOOKS LIKE I DON'T KNOW THE ECONOMICS ON THE DEAL.

$5 MILLION. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD VALUE OR NOT A GOOD VALUE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR A WHAT IS THIS, A LESS THAN AN ACRE WITH A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING ON IT? SO THAT'S THAT'S $100 A SQUARE FOOT, GIVE OR TAKE, TO THE LAND.

IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S IT'S AN APPRAISED IS BASED ON APPRAISED VALUE.

MY MY POINT BEING IS THAT IT'S A IT'S A FULL PRICE.

IT'S A GOOD SURE IT'S A GOOD IT'S A IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A STEAL.

IT'S NOT. AND THE GUY IS GETTING A FULL PRICE.

AND MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT TO ADDRESS CHAIR RIDLEY'S CONCERNS, THAT OUR HOLDING COSTS FOR FIVE YEARS IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL LIKE IS BAKED INTO THIS NUMBER OF OUR PURCHASE AND MAYBE A WAY TO OVERCOME THE ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD, GET YOU THE PROPERTY, TIE IT UP, AND THEN DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO GET IT, GET IT DEVELOPED OVER THAT FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

SO IT'S JUST A SUGGESTION. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR ALONG YOU ARE IN YOUR SITUATION.

THANK YOU, MR. ROTH. WE WILL ACTUALLY MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION TO THE REAL ESTATE TEAM.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR. YES. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE PROCESS WE KNOW THAT WE ARE.

WE NEED THAT THE 2222 SYLVAN IN ORDER TO DO THE REBUILD.

IS THAT NOT CORRECT? AND AND WE DON'T AND WE I KNOW I WATCHED A FIRE STATION BE REBUILT IN DISTRICT THREE ON CAMP WISDOM, BUT IS IT THAT AT THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION, THAT SITE WAS BIG ENOUGH TO DO THE REBUILD WHILE WE STILL IT WAS STILL ONE SITE THAT WAS BIG ENOUGH TO BE DUE TO THE REBUILD.

OR DID WE HAVE TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY RIGHT NEXT TO IT? WE DIDN'T. STATION 46 ON CAMP WISDOM WAS ACTUALLY THE LAND BEHIND THE FIRE STATION WAS ALSO THE CITY'S PART OF THE CITY'S INVENTORY. AND SO WE DID NOT NEED TO ACQUIRE THE LAND WHEN WE BUILT THE LARGER REPLACEMENT FIRE STATION.

SO DO WE HAVE WE ANY EXAMPLES? BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE.

DO WE HAVE ANY EXAMPLES WHERE WE DID A REBUILD AND WE DID HAVE TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO DO SO? AND WHAT WAS THE PROCESS THAT IT LOOKED LIKE WHEN WE DID THAT? WE, WE HAVE HAD TO ACQUIRE LAND TO DO NEW CONSTRUCTION OF A FIRE STATION.

I'M TRYING TO THINK OF SOME RECENT EXAMPLES, BUT I THINK WE HAD TO DO THAT AT CYPRESS WATERS, I BELIEVE. WELL, I WAS GOING TO ADD, I MEAN, CYPRUS WATERS IS A DIFFERENT CONTEXT.

THAT WAS NEW, NEW DEVELOPMENT IN AN AREA THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DEVELOPED BEFORE.

THERE WAS A PREEXISTING MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

AND SO THE OWNER OF THAT PROPERTY DONATED THE LAND TO THE CITY THROUGH THE TIF DISTRICT, PAID FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, AND IT BECAME THE CITY'S UPON COMPLETION. I WOULD RECALL IN, IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, FIRE STATION 18 DOWN HERE DOWNTOWN.

THERE THERE WERE THERE THERE WERE SWAPS OF LAND INVOLVED IN THAT TRANSACTION.

SO THE CITY, THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN CONNECTION TIF DISTRICT, IS FUNDING THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THAT NEW FULL REPLACEMENT FIRE STATION 18.

BUT IN ORDER TO GET TO THAT POINT, THERE WERE OTHER TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING LAND THAT HAD TO OCCUR.

SO CHIEF PAUL JUST WALKED IN AND WHISPERED, STATION SIX.

THAT REPLACEMENT DID UNTIL ACQUISITION OF LAND, BUT THEN ALSO RECALLED THAT STATION 39, IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF DALLAS THE SAME CONCEPT. WE HAD TO ACQUIRE LAND THAT WAS CLOSE TO THE OLD FIRE STATION SO THAT WE COULD CONSTRUCT THE LARGER FIRE STATION.

[03:50:03]

SO I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE LOOKING AT A FIVE YEAR WINDOW AND NOT REALLY SAYING MUCH BECAUSE.

IN ORDER TO GO THROUGH OUR PROCESS. IT IS GOING TO BE A LENGTHY ONE.

AND BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO BREAK GROUND, AND THEN BY THE TIME YOU BREAK GROUND, IT'S ANOTHER TWO YEARS BEFORE YOU CAN COMPLETE IT.

SO BY THAT TIME YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN A FIVE YEAR CYCLE.

IS THAT NOT CORRECT? I SEE THE HEADS BOBBING.

THAT SOUNDS THAT SOUNDS ACCURATE. ALSO ALSO RECALLED ANOTHER FIRE STATION PROJECT, STATION 44, BY FAIR PARK, THAT ENTAILED ACQUISITION OF A LARGER PLOT OF LAND FOR THAT REPLACEMENT FIRE STATION, STATION 40. THAT WAS A BRAND NEW STATION. AND THAT WAS LAND THAT THE I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY OWNED IT, BUT I KNOW IT'S A BRAND. IT WAS A BRAND NEW STATION YEARS WHEN IT WAS BUILT.

CORRECT? YEAH. THAT'S CORRECT. SO THEREFORE IT DIDN'T EXIST.

SO. RIGHT. SO HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO GO THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS? DO YOU KNOW? THE TIMELINE THAT YOU DESCRIBE SOUNDS ACCURATE.

IT CAN TAKE, ONCE WE CONTRACT WITH ARCHITECTURAL FIRM UP TO A YEAR TO A YEAR AND A HALF TO DO THE COMPLETE DESIGN, BUT CLOSER TO A YEAR. OH, SO FIVE YEARS IS A IS A NOT SO FAR FETCHED TIMELINE? NO. ONCE THE DECISION IS MADE, IT IT I'D SAY BETWEEN 2 AND 5 YEARS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD ADD, I MEAN, IF THE ASSUMING THE NEXT BOND PROGRAM IS IN 2030 OR 2031, DHFR NEEDS TO HAVE A STATION DESIGN AND A REALLY SOLID COST ESTIMATE TO BE ABLE TO REQUEST THAT THAT PROJECT BE IN THE NEXT BOND PROGRAM. SO THE FINAL QUESTION, SO CAN YOU DO THE DESIGN? WELL, NO, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. I'VE ASKED MY OWN QUESTION.

YOU CAN'T UNLESS YOU OWN THE LAND BECAUSE YOU CAN'T MAKE A DESIGN AND THEN THE LAND GETS SOLD OUT FROM UNDERNEATH YOU.

SO I JUST ANSWERED MY OWN QUESTION. THANK YOU, CHAIR WEST.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. AND I APOLOGIZE IF I MISSED THIS WHEN I STEPPED OUT TO GET MY CHARGER.

I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. I WANT TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUE.

I UNDERSTAND WE NEED A NEW FIRE STATION, AND.

AND WE GOT TO GET IT PAID FOR. I'M JUST NOT. AND I GUESS I MISS THE ONE DOWNTOWN.

I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH USING TIFS TO PAY FOR FIRE STATIONS AND JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND.

SO PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES CAN BE ENCOMPASSED WITHIN A TIF.

ABSOLUTELY. SO UNDER STATE LAW, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES ARE THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF TIF DISTRICTS.

AND IN 2023, YOU MAY RECALL THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR FORT WORTH AVENUE TIF DISTRICT ACTUALLY APPROVED AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN, THE PROJECT PLAN AND FINANCING PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT AND CLARIFIED THAT PUBLIC FACILITIES LIKE A FIRE STATION WOULD BE IDENTIFIED AS ELIGIBLE PROJECTS, BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS THE FEELING THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO FIND A CREATIVE SOLUTION TO FUND THE REPLACEMENT OF FIRE STATION 45. SO WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

AND SO AFTER IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM, WE STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH TFR ABOUT HOW TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT INTO THE NEXT BOND PROGRAM.

BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO HAVE PROPERTY UNDER CONTROL AND DESIGNED.

OKAY, I WANT TO ASK FOR A FOLLOW UP CONVERSATION ABOUT, JUST LIKE THE USE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND TIFS, BECAUSE I THINK I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ON THE RULES, BUT I VERY MUCH SUPPORT THIS AND AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING MY COLLEAGUE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I TO SUPPORT THE ITEM, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THE MODEL FOR A TIFF FOR THE DOWNTOWN WAS GOING TO IS GOING TO BE BOUGHT WITH TIFF, BUT THEN IT'S GOING TO BE BOUGHT, SOLD, AND THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE RECOUPED. I DON'T KNOW ALL THE MECHANISMS, BUT ANYWAYS, JUST A FOLLOW UP ON CHAIR WEST IS THOUGHT PROCESS IS.

THE CITY DOES NOT PAY INTO THE TIFF SYSTEM. IS THAT CORRECT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. CITY OWNED FACILITIES.

THE CITY OF DALLAS. IF WE HAVE A BUILDING. WELL, CITIES DON'T.

CITY DOESN'T PAY TAXES. CORRECT? OKAY, SO TIFF DISTRICTS ONLY COLLECT TAX REVENUE GENERATED BY PRIVATE PROPERTIES.

[03:55:03]

YES. SO OBVIOUSLY THIS PROJECT, THE FIRE STATION IS OBSOLETE.

IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCATION WE DID STUDY TO ENSURE THAT THE GROWTH THAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN WEST DALLAS, WHERE THERE'S DENSER AREAS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET TO THOSE OTHER.

BUILDINGS AND HOMES IN A IN A TIMELY MANNER. YES.

WE RUN THE DATA ON IT. THIS WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE RESPONSE TIMES.

OKAY. AND THEN CAN WE BE REMINDED WHAT WILL BE THE BALANCE OF THE TIF? SO RIGHT NOW THE DISTRICT HAS AN UNENCUMBERED BALANCE OF LIKE 8.6 MILLION.

AND SO THE 7.6 MILLION WOULD COME OFF OF THAT.

THE DISTRICT IS GENERATING ABOUT 5.5 MILLION, AND IT HAS FIVE YEARS LEFT.

SO LOOKING FORWARD FIVE YEARS. YOU KNOW, THERE'LL BE UPWARDS OF 25 MILLION COLLECTED OVER THAT LAST FIVE YEARS.

SO THERE'S PROBABLY 1 OR 2 REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECTS TO COME AFTER THIS STILL LEFT TO BE DONE IN THE DISTRICT.

OKAY. AND HAVE WE IDENTIFIED THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRE STATION? NO. OKAY. SO IT COULD BE A BOND PROJECT. THAT'S MY ASSUMPTION.

IS THE TIMING WOULD WORK. SHOULD WORK OUT NICELY THAT THEY HAVE A STATION THAT'S FULLY DESIGNED WITH A REALLY SOLID ESTIMATE OF COST.

AROUND THE TIME THAT THE CITY STARTS TO PUT TOGETHER ITS NEXT BOND PROGRAM.

YEAH. SO THAT WOULD BE THE BEST CASE SCENARIO.

OKAY. FINAL THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS ARE WE DON'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB ABOUT SECURING OUR PROPERTY.

THAT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE STAFF IN. AND SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS AREA STAYS CLEAN AND WHO'S RESPONSIBLE AND WHAT'S THE COST? WHAT'S THE COST ASSOCIATED? IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND WE WERE ENCOURAGED, STRONGLY ENCOURAGED BY THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS, TO FIGURE OUT A PLAN TO DEAL WITH THAT. AND SO THE PLAN IS TO DEMOLISH IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE ACQUIRE THE BUILDINGS EMPTY. IT'S ONLY A SHELL.

IT'S NOT EVEN OCCUPIABLE. AND SO THE PLAN WOULD BE TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDING AND ERECT THE SECURITY FENCE AROUND IT IMMEDIATELY.

BFR HAS AGREED TO HELP KEEP EYES ON THE SITE IS, YOU KNOW, 50FT AWAY FROM THEIR CURRENT STATION.

THEY WILL HELP TO KEEP IT LOOKING GOOD. LITTER PICK UP MAYBE EVEN MOWING AND WEED WHACKING THE PERIMETER OUTSIDE OF THE SECURITY FENCE. YOU KNOW, BUT BFR IS COMMITTED TO KEEPING EYES ON IT.

WHILE IT'S SITTING THERE. AND WHO'S GOING TO BEAR THE COST FOR DEMOLITION AND THE WHAT'S PART OF THIS REQUEST? YEAH. SO THE TIF DISTRICT WOULD BE PAYING FOR THAT, TOO.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. KEVIN. IF YOUR GOAL IS TO TIE UP THE PROPERTY SO THAT YOU CAN PROCEED WITH THE DESIGN, WHY DIDN'T YOU CONSIDER A LONG TERM OPTION OR A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL THAT WOULD KEEP IT ON THE TAX ROLL UNTIL WE ACTUALLY NEED IT? IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. IT'S NOT A TYPICAL I MEAN, I'M NOT HANDLING THE NEGOTIATION AND I'M NOT HANDLING THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE OWNER. SO IT'S NOT A TYPICAL PROCESS THAT OUR REAL ESTATE FOLKS WOULD, WOULD START MAY NOT BE TYPICAL, BUT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE HERE, WOULDN'T IT? YEAH. SO ALL I CAN COMMIT TO YOU IS, IS ASKING FOR THE REAL ESTATE TEAM TO TO SUGGEST THAT.

WELL, I I I, I, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU DID.

I THINK WE NEED TO EXPLORE OUR OPTIONS. I THINK THIS WOULD ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES OF ALLOWING THE DESIGN TO GO FORWARD. WE'VE TIED UP THE PROPERTY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT UNTIL SOME SPECIFIED DATE.

ONCE WE HAVE BOND FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION.

THERE IS THE DOWNSIDE OF A HIGHER PRICE AT SUCH TIME THAT WE CHOOSE THE EXERCISE.

THAT. OF COURSE. WELL, BUT YOU COULD NEGOTIATE THAT AS A SET PRICE TODAY, PLUS SOME KIND OF ESCALATOR CPI OR SOME OTHER INDEX OVER THE TERM OF THE OPTION OR RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS SO THAT,

[04:00:04]

YES, SIR. ANYONE ELSE FOR ROUND TWO? COUNCIL MEMBER.

DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO BRIEFING ITEM D. OKAY.

ITEM D IS A MEMO. MY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MARIA SMITH, WILL BE TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS ONE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MARIA SMITH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO IN 2015, THE CITY ENTERED INTO AN $11 MILLION LOAN AGREEMENT WITH HUD UNDER THE SECTION 108 LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM.

THE CITY, IN TURN, LOANED THOSE FUNDS TO TEE OFF HOTEL L.P.

AS THE BORROWER TO REDEVELOP A VACANT HOTEL STRUCTURE RIGHT BEHIND CITY HALL ON AKRON STREET THAT TODAY OPERATES AS THE LORENZO HOTEL.

SO ONCE THE BORROWER PAYS BACK THE CITY, THE CITY IN TURN USES THOSE FUNDS TO PAY BACK HUD.

RECENTLY, THE BORROWER IS REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED US THAT DUE TO A NUMBER OF EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAKE AN UPCOMING MILLION DOLLAR LOAN PAYMENT THAT'S DUE TO THE CITY ON MAY 1ST.

THEY ALSO INFORMED US THAT THEY INTEND ON LISTING THE HOTEL FOR SALE.

SO IN ORDER TO AVOID A DEFAULT ON OUR LOAN WITH HUD, WE ARE REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL ON MARCH 25TH TO AMEND OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN BUDGET TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF APPROXIMATELY $900,000 IN ALLOCATED CDBG FUNDS THAT WILL BE USED TO MAKE THE NEXT TWO PAYMENTS TO HUD.

AND WHAT THIS DOES IS TWO THINGS. IT ENSURES WE STAY CURRENT ON OUR LOAN WITH HUD, AND IT GIVES US SOME TIME TO CONSIDER AND PURSUE ANY NECESSARY ACTIONS TO RECOVER THE CITY'S FUNDS. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, COUNCILMEMBER BLAIR.

SO IF THE IF THE OWNER OF THE LORENZO IS GOING TO BE IN DEFAULT, AND WE HAVE CBDG MONEY THAT WE WOULD TAKE TO MAKE THOSE MAKE THAT PAYMENT OR TO PAY BACK HUD, WOULD THEY DEFAULT WITH THE COUPLE OF THINGS WITH THE PROPERTY, THEN BECOME THE CITY OF DALLAS? OR IS IT ALREADY THE CITY OF DALLAS? SO WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID A DEFAULT.

WITH HUD. AND SO WE WOULD LIKE SOME TIME TO, FOR THE BORROWER TO SELL THE HOTEL, AND HOPEFULLY THE PROCEEDS OF THE THE HOTEL SALE WILL BE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CITY WHOLE.

SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE IF THE BORROWER WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE SALE AT THE PRICE WE HAVE TO PAY BACK HUD, THEN WOULD WE NOT BE THE ONE THAT'S LEFT HOLDING THE THE THE SO THERE'S A GUARANTEE AGREEMENT THAT WE CAN, I DON'T KNOW, CAN I DISCUSS IT PUBLICLY? NO. NOT DETAILS. SO THERE IS A, THERE IS A GUARANTOR THAT THE CITY COULD TRY TO RECOVER SOME FUNDS FROM.

SO WOULD THE CITY BE, IN ESSENCE, ARE YOU SAYING THAT IF THEY DEFAULT, THE CITY WOULD STILL BE MADE WHOLE? EVEN IF WE DO MAKE THE COMPLETE PAYMENT TO HUD? IT'S HARD TO. IT'S HARD TO KNOW NOW WHAT YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH THE PROPERTY WOULD SELL FOR.

BUT OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO TO RECOVER ALL THE FUNDS THAT ARE DUE TO THE CITY.

SO WHAT ARE YOU ASKING US TO DO TODAY? SO THIS IS JUST INTERIM FINANCING.

THIS IS JUST A STOPGAP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MONEY TO PAY HUD ON AUGUST 1ST.

SO IF WE SAY NO, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? SO THE HUD WOULD TAKE THE MONEY THAT'S DUE FROM THE THE CITY'S LINE OF CREDIT, CDBG LINE OF CREDIT. AND WE WOULD BE IN DEFAULT WITH OUR LOAN WITH HUD.

THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO.

DOES THE CITY HAVE A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY? WE'RE IN SECOND POSITION.

YEAH. SO WE DO HAVE A LIEN. THAT'S SECOND TO HUD.

SO THERE'S A THERE'S A SENIOR LENDER, AND THEN WE ARE IN SECOND POSITION.

OH, OKAY. SO THERE'S A PRIVATE LENDER TO THE PROPERTY, AND IF THE LOAN PAYMENT REPAYMENT TO THEM IS NOT MADE,

[04:05:06]

THAT'S CORRECT. SO THAT'S THAT'S WHY THAT'S THE JUSTIFICATION FOR MAKING THE LOAN PAYMENT ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER.

WE'RE NOT MAKING THE LOAN PAYMENT ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER. SO THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE LOANS. I JUST WENT THROUGH THIS. ROBIN, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE CLOSER? YES. OF COURSE.

SO WE HAVE A LOAN FROM HUD, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR PAYMENT TO HUD REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE HOTEL OWNER DOES.

RIGHT. WE USE THOSE FUNDS TO MAKE A LOAN TO THE HOTEL OWNER.

THEY'RE GOING TO DEFAULT ON THEIR PAYMENT TO US UNDER THAT SUBORDINATE LOAN.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH THEM. WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENT TO HUD OR THEY WILL GARNISH OUR CDBG ACCOUNT.

AND SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO GO AHEAD AND ALLOCATE THE CDBG DOLLARS.

AMEND THE ACTION PLAN SO WE CAN MAKE OUR PAYMENTS TO HUD, AND THEN WE WILL PURSUE REPAYMENT FROM THE HOTEL OWNER.

WHO'S THE GUARANTOR? YES, LARRY. SO THE QUESTION I HAVE, THOUGH, IS, OKAY, WE USE THESE FUNDS TO PAY THE LOAN PAYMENT DUE TO HUD, BUT IF THE BORROWER IS NOT PAYING THE FIRST LIEN LENDER, THAT COULD GO INTO FORECLOSURE.

EVEN IF WE PAY HUD, IT COULD. CORRECT. AND THAT FORECLOSES US OUT.

AND THEN OUR ONLY SECURITY LEFT IS THE GUARANTEE.

THAT IS CORRECT. BUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE BORROWER, AND THEY CAME TO US EARLY TO LET US KNOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE PAYMENT AND THAT THEY'RE PLANNING TO SELL THE BUILDING.

AND WE WOULD COLLECT SOME FROM THE SALE AND THE REST FROM THE GUARANTEE.

OKAY. DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH DEBT THERE IS ON THE PROPERTY VIS A VIS ITS APPRAISED VALUE? IN OTHER WORDS, IS IT UNDERWATER? THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH TO PAY OFF THE SENIOR LENDER AND PART OF OUR LOAN, BUT NOT THE FULL BALANCE. I SEE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH. THANK YOU. LET'S SORT OF GET TO THE TO THE REAL POINTS HERE AND AND GET THE FACTS. AND I'M, I DON'T WANT TO EMBARRASS OR OR TO MAKE THE THE OPERATOR UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT THESE ARE IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

WHAT'S GOING ON, IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY, IS THAT WE'VE GOT TWO, TWO PAYMENTS EVERY.

IT'S A SEMI ANNUAL PAYMENTS. THE THE LOAN HAS A BALLOON PAYMENT IN ABOUT A YEAR OF ABOUT $7 MILLION.

AND THAT'S THAT BASICALLY, WE'RE A SECOND LIEN THAT THE, THE POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITY IS THAT THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH PROCEEDS IN A SALE TO TO BASICALLY COVER OUR POSITION. MY QUESTION TO THE TO THE OPERATOR IS THAT WE REALIZE YOU'VE GOT TO GUARANTEE THROUGH YOUR TRUST OR THROUGH THROUGH THE THROUGH YOUR FAMILY SITUATION, WHICH WE APPRECIATE.

WHAT I'M WONDERING IS, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT? THOSE THAT GUARANTEE. WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE TRUST? IS THERE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO COVER A $10 MILLION, POTENTIALLY 7 TO $10 MILLION OBLIGATION THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE IN THE EVENT OF A COMPLETE DEFAULT OR IN THE EVENT OF A SHORTAGE IN THE SALE OF THE OF THE ASSETS.

SELLER. AND AND AGAIN, I'M I'M SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT COULD YOU COULD YOU PROVIDE US WITH SOME INFORMATION ON THAT.

AND I'LL JUST LOOK TO DIRECTOR BENTLEY ON ANY QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ON OUT HERE OR IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO LOOK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE ON IT. THANK YOU. HI I'M TED HAMILTON.

I REPRESENT THE BORROWER. I CAN'T HEAR YOU. SORRY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? MY NAME IS TED HAMILTON.

I AM THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BORROWER. AND AS ROBIN SAID, I APPROACHED THE CITY A MONTH AGO OR SO AND SAID, HEY, I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR PAYMENT ON MAY 1ST.

CURRENTLY, THE PROPERTY IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH FIRST MORTGAGE.

WE'VE RETAINED CBRE TO MARKET THE PROPERTY FOR US.

WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE GET GREAT OFFERS. THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO PAY BACK THE ENTIRE FIRST MORTGAGE AND THE ENTIRE SECOND MORTGAGE.

WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CAPITAL ON THE HOTEL, KEEPING IT AFLOAT.

WE'VE LOANED ALMOST $7 MILLION TO THE HOTEL SINCE COVID, TRYING TO KEEP IT AFLOAT.

AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO KEEP DOING IT.

[04:10:01]

SO I TOOK OVER RUNNING THE PROPERTY. AND WE MADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITY BACK IN 2023 TO RESTRUCTURE THE THE MORTGAGE SO WE COULD GET IT BACK ON TRACK FROM COVID.

AND SO I MADE THE GUARANTEE ON MY FATHER'S ESTATES BEHALF.

WELL, SINCE THEN, HE STILL LIVES IN AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY.

BUT HE HAS BECOME MORE INTERESTED IN THE BUSINESS.

AND HE'S VERY ANGRY WITH ME FOR DOING A GUARANTEE.

SO HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T COME TO THAT. BUT YOU KNOW, FIRST STEP IS TO IDENTIFY A WILLING BUYER AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST PRICE IS. AND THEN FROM THERE, WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO APPROACH THE CITY WITH HERE'S HERE'S WHAT WE CAN OR CAN'T DO.

AND, AND HAVE YOU GUYS APPROVE, WHATEVER THAT IS.

AND HOPEFULLY THERE'S ENOUGH PROCEEDS WHERE WE CAN JUST PAY YOU OFF, AND THEN THERE'S REALLY NO ACTION NEEDED BY THE CITY. RIGHT.

THANK YOU. AND LISTEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING CANDID.

I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR ABILITY TO TO DEAL WITH A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

AND, AND AGAIN, THE MARKET TELLS YOU WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A PERSONAL. YEAH. WELL, THE TEXDOT THING WAS KIND OF THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN THAT I MEAN, IT JUST TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE IS A GUARANTEE, WHAT'S THE VALUE OF THE ASSETS IN YOUR TRUST? MY FATHER ASKED ME NOT TO DIVULGE. OKAY. THAT'S FINE.

IS. OR LET ME SAY IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. IF WE ASKED YOU TO ASSIGN A NON ENCUMBERED ASSET IN THE TRUST OR OTHERWISE AS A GUARANTOR, AS A, A ASSET THAT WOULD BE APPLICABLE TO OUR PORTION OF THE POTENTIAL 7 OR $10 MILLION DEAL. IS THERE A $10 MILLION ASSET THAT YOU COULD PLEDGE? A PRIORITY ASSET FOR US IN THE EVENT THAT WE HAVE A A DEFICIENCY? WELL, YOU GUYS ALREADY HAVE A GUARANTEE. NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT A DIFFERENT GUARANTEE, AN ACTUAL ASSET THAT WOULD BE PLEDGED AS AS THAT WOULD BE AN NON-INCUMBENT ASSET THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH A TRUST GUARANTEE SITUATION. SO I, I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO ANSWER THAT.

OKAY. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD EXPLORE WITH WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOLKS IN TERMS OF, OF, OF OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP YOU OUT? I THINK THE STEP ONE IS FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH WE CAN SELL IT FOR.

AND THEN FROM THAT I'LL PRESENT THAT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER OFFERS WE GET, I'LL PRESENT TO THE CITY, AND THEN WE'LL JUST HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM THERE, I THINK. GREAT. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. CHAIR WEST, ANY COMMENTS? OKAY.

OKAY. FIRST, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THIS HAS TO BE A FISCALLY SOUND FINANCIAL DECISION, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THE FAMILY FOR THEIR INVESTMENT IN THIS HOTEL. IT WAS A EYESORE.

WHEN THEY ACQUIRED IT, AND THEY'VE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT BEHIND IT.

THEY HAVE STEPPED UP DURING THE ICE STORMS TO GIVE ROOM RENTAL RATES TOWARDS OUR TOWARDS OUR RESIDENTS.

THEY'VE ALSO HELPED DURING HOMELESS INITIATIVES IN CRISIS.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP AND YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT.

WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WHEN THE SALE HAPPENS IS THAT THE HOTEL IS OCCUPIED.

I THINK THAT'S WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GET THE BEST RETURN FOR A PURCHASE OF THE HOTEL.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MOVING THIS AT A ON THE TIMELINE THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US.

AND THAT COUNCIL HEARS THIS. I THINK IT'S SCHEDULED FOR NEXT FOR FOR THIS WEDNESDAY.

IS THAT CORRECT? MARCH 25TH. MARCH 25TH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. ANY OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS? SEEING? NONE. THERE IS NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM.

CORRECT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT ITEM.

THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM E. THIS IS THE QUARTERLY UPDATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES AWARDED BY OUR OFFICE THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION.

I'LL BRING UP DEPUTY DIRECTOR HEATHER LOPEZ TO HELP ME WITH THIS QUICK OVERVIEW.

BUT IN SUMMARY FOR THE PERIOD OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2025, WE HAD FIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION INCENTIVES

[04:15:06]

WE HAD ONE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK HUMAN DEVELOPMENT GRANT.

WE HAD TWO SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANTS.

WE HAD ONE GRANT UNDER OUR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE ADELINE AT BONNYVIEW.

AND THEN WE HAD ONE AS OF RIGHT, BUSINESS, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT WITH WELSH AND INDUSTRIES.

AND THAT IS OUR FIRST AS OF RIGHT, BPP ABATEMENT.

THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION FROM ANYONE VICE CHAIR RIDLEY? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO, HEATHER, WHAT IS THE LIMIT ON ADMINISTRATIVE INCENTIVES? SO THERE ARE UNDER OUR CURRENT POLICY, THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO DO THIS.

ONE IS THE AS OF RIGHT, TAX ABATEMENTS CAN BE PROCESSED THROUGH THE THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION.

AND THE SECOND IS FOR ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARD UNDER $1 MILLION IN TARGET AREAS.

OKAY. SO THERE'S NO DOLLAR LIMIT FOR AN AS OF RIGHT BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT.

THEY'RE NOT NOT UNDER THE POLICY BUT UNDER FOR THE ACTUAL LIKE THE THE INCENTIVE AMOUNT.

BUT AND AS OF RIGHT ABATEMENT DOESN'T APPLY FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE GREATER THAN 25 MILLION.

SO THERE'S A CAP THROUGH THE POLICY. OKAY. SO THE CAP IS 25 MILLION.

I JUST WONDERED BECAUSE THE WILSON INDUSTRIES CORP TAX ABATEMENT STOOD OUT AT $5 MILLION, AND I WAS JUST WONDERING WHERE THAT STOOD WITH REGARD TO THE CEILING ON WHAT YOU CAN DO.

CORRECT. SO THAT'S NOT THEIR ABATEMENT AMOUNT.

THAT'S THE MINIMUM INVESTMENT THEY HAVE TO MAKE.

AND SO THEY'RE GETTING OH WHAT'S THE ABATEMENT AMOUNT.

SO IT WOULD BE 90% OF WHATEVER THEIR BUSINESS FIVE YEARS.

YES. SO IT'S A MUCH SMALLER NUMBER THAN THAT.

OH OKAY. WHAT DO WE KNOW APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH THAT WOULD BE.

WE CAN DO THE MATH REALLY QUICKLY. OKAY. I MEAN, IT'S UNDER $1 MILLION.

YES, IT'S UNDER $1 MILLION. OKAY. I THINK IT'S A.

THAT'S ALL. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. SEEING NONE. THANK YOU.

WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM. F.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL COMMITTEE.

ANDREA WYDRA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR PLANNING AND ZONING WITH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM NUMBER F IS A CONSIDERATION OR IS AN ITEM TO AMEND OR WE'RE PRESENTING TO YOU THE AMENDMENT PROPOSED FOR THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT RULES OF PROCEDURES.

THE BOARD YOU'VE BEEN WE'VE BEEN CIRCULATING A FRIDAY MEMO OR A COUNCIL MEMO.

COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMO TO YOU IS DATED MARCH 2ND.

THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT RULES OF PROCEDURE WERE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ON OCTOBER 2025.

DURING THEIR ANNUAL FULL BOARD MEETING. THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE MEMO.

HOWEVER, IN JANUARY, THEY APPROVED ALSO AN AMENDMENT TO ALIGN THE LANGUAGE TO THE NEW FEDERAL DIRECTIVES THAT WERE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL IN DECEMBER. THE RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ARE PROPOSING NINE CHANGES THAT ARE SUMMARIZED IN YOUR MEMO HERE.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IS PROPOSED IS NUMBER SIX.

THAT REQUIRES THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF ALL BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE MEETING TO HAPPEN.

AND EVERYTHING ELSE I WOULD SAY IS THE THE IS A CHANGE HOW THE MEMBER MAY BE REMOVED.

IT'S A LOT OF CLEAN UP AND ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER RULES AND PROCEDURES AND CODES OF THE CITY.

THIS IS JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE RULES, THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT IS ADVANCING THEIR AMENDMENT FOR THE RULES OF PROCEDURE.

WE ARE SCHEDULING THEM FOR MARCH 25TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF COMMENTS, MR. ROTH? I WANTED TO JUST THANK CHAIRMAN NEWMAN FROM FROM THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FOR REVIEWING THESE THESE CHANGES WITH US. AND AND THANK YOU FOR THE, THE, THE EDUCATION AND ALSO THE EXPLANATIONS.

AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE RECOMMEND THIS FOR APPROVAL AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

[04:20:07]

IT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE CHANGES AND FOR YOU, SITTING HERE ALL DAY WAITING FOR THIS ITEM TO COME UP.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON TO ITEM G.

THANK YOU. CHAIR. ITEM G IS ALSO A PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ITEM IS WE RECEIVED A FIVE SIGNATURE OR THE MAYOR RECEIVED THE FIVE SIGNATURE MEMO. TO INITIATE A CODE AMENDMENT.

IT IS ATTACHED TO YOUR ITEM, AND THE MAYOR RECOMMENDED CONSIDERATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AND IT'S ON ITS WAY. I THINK WE'RE SCHEDULING THIS ONE FOR COUNCIL DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS MARCH 25TH OR APRIL.

THE PROPOSED THE FIVE SIGNATURE MEMO IS TO PROPOSE A CODE AMENDMENT FOR THE TATTOO AND BODY PIERCING TO BE CONSIDERED A PERSONAL SERVICE USE FOR ALL FORM BASED DISTRICTS IN THE CITY, WHICH IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT THE NORMAL NON FORM BASED CODE PORTIONS OF THE CITY DO.

THIS IS NOT A CODE AMENDMENT AT THIS TIME. THIS IS JUST FOR CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER.

IF THEY WANT TO INSTRUCT STAFF TO PROPOSE SUCH A CODE AMENDMENT AND FOLLOW ITS RULES WITH CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THEN IF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL, IT WILL COME IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

BUT FOR NOW, IT'S JUST TO BASICALLY AUTHORIZE STAFF TO START WORKING ON IT.

I'M HERE FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. CHAIR WEST, I BELIEVE YOU INITIATED THIS.

SO WE'LL START WITH YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU CHAIR, AND APPRECIATE STAFF FOR THIS.

THIS WAS BACKGROUND IS THAT WE HAD WHEN WE PASSED THE THE WEST OAK CLIFF AREA PLAN WAS SUCCESSFUL IN ACHIEVING MOST OF THE GOALS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTED.

ONE OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WAS THE FORM ZONING THAT WAS PUT IN OUTLAWED SOME OF OUR CURRENT USES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF BOUTIQUE TATTOO PARLORS IN THE DISTRICT.

I ASKED STAFF WHAT WE COULD DO TO TRY TO REMEDY THIS BECAUSE IT'S.

I'M GETTING CALLS FROM MY OPERATORS AND AND STAFF.

THIS WAS THE BEST RECOMMENDATION OTHER THAN WAITING UNTIL ZONING REFORM, WHICH COULD BE A YEAR, TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS, WHATEVER. SO THIS WAS A RECOMMENDATION TO DO THE FIVE SIGNATURE MOMENT TO GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED.

I KNOW FROM HEARING FROM SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, AT LEAST I'VE TALKED TO THREE OF THEM ARE GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE.

THERE IS AT LEAST ONE I KNOW THAT'S CONCERNED.

AND SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. BUT MY REQUEST WOULD BE JUST TO, YOU KNOW, ONCE THIS GETS TO COUNCIL, JUST LET IT GO TO ZONE AND CPC SO THEY CAN TALK THROUGH IT AND MAYBE FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE CAN HELP MAKE THIS A VIABLE BUSINESS STILL FOR DISTRICT ONE.

AND IF THERE'S CONCERNS IN DISTRICTS, WHATEVER DISTRICT EIGHT OR ANYONE ELSE LIKE LET CPC DO THEIR MAGIC AND TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT. SO THAT'S THE GOAL HERE. THANKS.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR. WELL, YEAH, I DO HOPE THAT THROUGH THE PROCESS, WHILE WE DON'T STRIP THE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE DISTRICTS OR THAT DISTRICT THAT UTILIZES THAT SERVICE, AND IT'S THE APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR IT, IT DOESN'T OPEN THE DOOR SO THAT DISTRICTS THAT ARE THAT IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE. THAT AND DOES NOT NECESSARILY WANT SOMEONE WHO COULD JUST BY RIGHT, COME IN AND THROUGH, YOU KNOW, FORM DISTRICT ZONING, PUT IN THINGS THAT AREN'T WANTED.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT, BUT I GUESS THOSE WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE AND THIS WOULD BE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO GET GET IT TO A FORUM FOR DISCUSSION AND HASH IT OUT AND BRING US BACK A SOLUTION.

THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO I'M NOT AVERSE TO RECOMMENDING THIS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE FULL COUNCIL.

BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU IS IF THE COUNCIL APPROVES AN AUTHORIZED HEARING, WHERE WOULD IT LAND ON THE LIST?

[04:25:01]

WOULD THIS MAGICALLY JUMP TO THE TOP OF THE LIST, OR WOULD IT GO WHERE IT OTHERWISE WOULD BE AS A NORMAL ITEM? WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION. I'M VERY EXCITED. WE'LL BE BACK AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AS WE PROMISED WITH THE WITH AN UPDATE ON THE AUTHORIZED HEARINGS.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT PROCESS. THIS THESE ARE DIFFERENT QUEUES.

THE QUEUE FOR THE AUTHORIZED HEARINGS FOR DESIGNATED AREAS OF THE CITY TO PURSUE AND ANALYZE WHAT ZONING IS, IS APPROPRIATE THERE? YEAH, EXACTLY. THAT'S A DIFFERENT LINE.

CODE AMENDMENTS ARE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LINE.

THE ONLY BATTLE IS COUNCIL MEMBER WEST SAID, IS, IS THIS GOING IN FRONT OF THE ZONING REFORM? AND BECAUSE IT IS MANDATED SUCH IT MAY IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE MANDATED SUCH BY COUNCIL.

AND IT'S SUCH A SIMPLE FIX. WE CAN TAKE IT IN PARALLEL WITH THE ZONING REFORM.

WE DO HAVE OTHER CODE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED BY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION AND COUNCIL.

I THINK WE HAVE 2 OR 3, BUT THOSE WARRANT A BIGGER DISCUSSION.

THEY HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT, AND WE WILL ADDRESS THOSE WITH THE ZONING REFORM FOR THIS ONE.

WE CAN MOVE PRETTY FAST BECAUSE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF A WORD CHANGE IN THE ORDINANCE AND THE IMPACT.

OUR INITIAL IN OUR INITIAL REVIEW, AS I SAID, THE REST OF THE ZONING IN THE CITY, THAT'S THE DE FACTO SITUATION ANYWAY.

SO THEY GO IN DIFFERENT CUES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I'M OVERALL SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AS WELL. DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD CODE AMENDMENT. BUT MY QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE THE SAME STAFF FOR CODE AMENDMENTS AND THE AUTHORIZED HEARINGS? NO, THOSE ARE DIFFERENT TEAMS. OKAY, PERFECT.

OKAY. SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THIS IS THAT THIS WAS A RESULT OF UNINTENTIONAL CONSEQUENCES THAT CAME IN. SOMETHING THAT I HAD ASKED FOR WAS A MAP OF THE FORM ZONE AREA SO THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD KNOW EXACTLY WHAT AREAS WOULD BE IMPACTED. DOES STAFF HAVE THAT PREPARED AND AVAILABLE? WE CAN CREATE THAT. AND IF NEED BE, I CAN CIRCULATE OR I CAN WE CAN PUBLISH IT IN A FRIDAY MEMO IF, IF YOU WANT TO. THERE ISN'T MUCH LAND THAT'S ZONED FORM BASED IN THE CITY BECAUSE WHEN WE CREATED ARTICLE 13, WHICH IS THE FORM BASED CODE WAS A FLOATING ONE, IT WASN'T IT DIDN'T LAND.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO REZONE TO FORM BASED CODE.

AND WE HAVE FEW PDS THAT DEFAULT. A LOT OF THEM ARE IN DISTRICT ONE.

I THINK DISTRICT ONE IS THE ONE THAT HAS MOST FORM BASED CODE IN THE CITY.

YEAH. AND I'LL ASK YOU, I'VE ALREADY ASKED YOU.

I'LL ASK YOU TODAY AND I'LL ASK YOU WHEN THIS COMES BEFORE US.

IS WILL DEEP ELLUM BE IMPACTED BY FORM ZONE ON THIS ISSUE? NO. THE ALBUM HAS A LIST OF USES AND IT BASICALLY IT'S I'M SORRY LET ME BACK UP IS ZONED AS A PD AS A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

AND IT CALLS OUT THE LIST OF USES THAT ARE PERMITTED OR PROHIBITED.

SO THIS CODE AMENDMENT WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON DEEP ELLUM WHATSOEVER.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE CHAIR WES FOR POINTING THIS OUT.

AND I KNOW FOR STANDING UP FOR HIS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

SO. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING. NONE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS EMILY LIU, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT TODAY WITH SAM ESKANDER.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EV CHARGING.

THIS ITEM ORIGINALLY WAS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING IN FEBRUARY, BUT THEN WE RECEIVED SOME COMMENTS FROM THIS COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

SO WE ASKED THIS TO BE SENT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE SO WE CAN EXPLAIN OR GET SOME MORE FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL.

AND SAM, YOU WOULD LIKE TO START. SURE. SAM ISKANDER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

JUST REALLY QUICKLY, TWO THINGS THAT THIS CODE AMENDMENT DOES.

FIRST OF ALL, IT CLARIFIES THAT THE EV PARKING REQUIREMENTS ARE BASED OFF OF PARKING SPACES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED ON THE SITE.

AND THEN NUMBER TWO IS TO ADDRESS THE THE EV REQUIREMENTS THAT CAN RESULT IN DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH NUMBER OF EV CAPABLE SPACES

[04:30:01]

WE WERE HOPING TO ADDRESS THIS AND KIND OF PUT POSSIBLY A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF EV CAPABLE SPACES TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.

ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER ROTH THANK YOU. I JUST NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION AS TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

THIS THIS IS MAXIMIZING THE REQUIRED EV CHARGING STATIONS TO BE NOT A MAXIMUM OF SIX, REGARDLESS OF PARKING SPACES. IS THAT CORRECT? SO OUR THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO PUT A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF EV CAPABLE SPACES. EV CAPABLE. SO THERE'S EV THERE'S EV SPACES, EV READY AND EV CAPABLE.

SO OUR GOAL HERE IS TO ADDRESS THE EV CAPABLE SPACES.

IF IF YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE IN THE TABLE THERE ON THE MEMO THERE'S A TABLE ON THE FIRST PAGE AND ALSO ON THE SECOND PAGE THERE'S EV READY SPACES, WHICH WE THINK ARE FINE.

AND THEN THERE'S THE EV CAPABLE SPACES, WHICH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IS TELLING US.

I'M SORRY. I'M COMPLETELY CONFUSED. AND AND THAT'S WHY WHEN I READ IT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAPABLE AND READY? AND WHAT'S THE WHAT HOW MANY, HOW MANY CHARGERS DO YOU NEED TO HAVE IF YOU HAVE 100 SPACES? CAN I TAKE THIS ONE CHAIR? I'M SORRY. YEAH. YEAH.

SO, ROBIN BENTLEY, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. THE CODE RIGHT NOW.

AND I DRIVE AN ELECTRIC CAR, SO I'M SUPPORTIVE, RIGHT? BUT IT REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY YOU HAVE TO HAVE SO MANY ACTUAL CHARGERS, WHICH WE'RE NOT CHANGING AT ALL.

THE NUMBER OF ACTUAL EV CHARGERS YOU HAVE TO HAVE.

WE ALSO HAD A REQUIREMENT FOR EV CAPABLE, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO PAY TO RUN THE CONDUIT UNDER THE GROUND, BUT NOT ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING. AND PEOPLE WERE.

WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE DEVELOPER THIS I LEARNED ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID, WE'RE BUILDING A SPACE WITH A HUGE PARKING LOT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE US BUILD 90 SPACES WITH CONDUIT, BUT NO ACTUAL EV CHARGING CAPACITY.

AND IT'S GOING TO COST US $1 MILLION TO RUN THAT CONDUIT, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT EVEN BE THE RIGHT TYPE OF CAPACITY FOR WHATEVER THE FUTURE EV CHARGING LOOKS LIKE. CAN YOU HELP? AND SO SAM EXPLAINED IT TO ME.

20% OPEN ENDED WITH NO CAP SEEMED LIKE A REAL BURDEN ON OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.

SO I ASKED THEM TO TAKE A LOOK, AND THEY CAME BACK WITH THIS PROPOSAL. AFTER HEARING FROM SOME OF YOU AFTER OUR FRIDAY MEMO A MONTH AGO.

AND SO NOW, INSTEAD OF BEING 20% OF WHATEVER YOU BUILD FOREVER WITH NO CAP, WE'RE SAYING SIX.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SIX EV CAPABLE WITH THE CONDUIT FOR FUTURE EXPANSION.

AND THAT'S SUFFICIENT. OKAY. SO AND THEN IS THERE A REQUIREMENT FOR ACTUAL CHARGERS.

AND WHAT'S THAT WHAT'S THAT REQUIREMENT. SO THAT'S THE FIRST COLUMN OR THE FIRST ROW OF THE COLUMN.

AND SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY SPACES YOU HAVE.

BUT IT'S A FEW CHARGERS AND A FEW CAPABLE DEPENDING ON HOW BIG YOUR YOUR PARKING LOT IS.

AND SAM CAN WALK THROUGH IF YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR EXAMPLE YOU'D LIKE.

SO IS AND I'M SORRY TO BE SO THICK ON THIS, BUT ON YOUR FIRST ON YOUR FIRST COLUMN, IT SAYS IF YOU HAVE 26 OR MORE SPACES, YOU ONLY NEED TWO ACTUAL CHARGING STATIONS. YOU COULD HAVE 100.

YOU ONLY NEED TWO. OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MAXIMUM OF SIX WIRES THAT POSSIBLY COULD BE LATER ON IF YOU WANTED TO. YEAH.

THE CONDUITS. YEAH. IS THAT WHAT IT IS? YOU GOT IT.

OKAY. DOES THIS APPLY TO. DO YOU. DOES DOES THIS CHARGING STATION APPLY TO.

THIS IS ONLY FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS, COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION AND DOES IT APPLY TO IF YOU IF YOU WANT TO CAN YOU CAN YOU SATISFY THE REQUIREMENT IF YOU CONTRACT WITH ANOTHER COMPANY TO INSTALL EV CHARGERS INTO YOUR PROPERTY OR OR PROVIDE THEM THROUGH A THIRD PARTY, OR IS IT A DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENT FOR THE FOR THE THE PROPERTY ITSELF? IT'S A DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENT FOR THE PROPERTY.

WOULD A WOULD A CONTRACT WITH ANOTHER COMPANY SATISFY THAT? IN OTHER WORDS, IF THEY WANTED TO HAVE A THIRD PARTY PUT IN CHARGING STATIONS ON THE PROPERTY, WOULD THAT SATISFY THE REQUIREMENT? YEAH, IT DID NOT DISTINGUISH WHETHER YOU OWN IT OR THIRD PARTY OPERATOR.

SO IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, YOU JUST WANT TO HAVE A PLACE.

YOU WANT TO HAVE TWO OF THEM. PEOPLE CAN INSTALL THIS AND CHARGE CUSTOMER OR THROUGH THIRD PARTY AND THAT ALSO SATISFY THIS.

I THINK THE REASON WE BRING IT BACK. FIRST OF ALL, THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT IS THAT REQUIRED PROVIDED IT WAS NOT CLEAR HERE.

[04:35:06]

IT JUST IF YOU LOOK AT THE TABLE THE TITLE BASICALLY TOTAL NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES.

IT DID NOT SAY THESE ARE PROVIDED OR REQUIRED.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS.

SO OVER THE YEARS INTERPRETATION ARE DIFFERENT.

AND AT ONE TIME WAS PROVIDED IF ANOTHER TIME WAS REQUIRED SOMETIME YOU REQUIRE TO 100.

BUT THE CUSTOMER MAY PROVIDE 200. SO THAT WAS NOT CLEAR.

THAT'S ONE REASON. THE OTHER REASON, THE REASON WE BRING BACK WITH A CAP IS YOU KNOW, FOR TO BALANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS. WE ALSO TALKED TO OUR SURROUNDING CITIES LIKE FORWARDS.

WE CALL THEM ALL THESE OTHER CITIES. NONE OF THEM HAVE THIS REQUIREMENT.

SO FOR VERY LARGE FACILITY LIKE, SAY, THE CONVENTION CENTER, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO REQUIRE LIKE 1200 OF THESE.

SO WE ARE AT ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE BY REQUIRING A PERCENTAGE WITH NO CAP.

AT THE SAME TIME WE TALKED TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT AND AND TRYING TO PRESERVE SOME OF THESE CAP, BUT STILL PROVIDE OR REQUIRE EV CAPABLE EV READY.

SO IT'S KIND OF BALANCED, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU WANT TO LAND, YOU WANT FOCUS MORE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YOU HAVE A SMALLER CAP IF YOU WANT TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY THEN.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. WE ARE HERE TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM YOU.

AND SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. MOSTLY A CORRECTION.

THE PROVIDED AND REQUIRED IS REALLY NOT WORKING VERY WELL RIGHT NOW.

AND AGAIN, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS THE RIGHT APPROACH IS TO LIMIT IT.

I LIKE THE IDEA. AND SO WHAT YOU'RE BASICALLY SAYING IS YOU NEED TO HAVE EIGHT SPACES.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SIX THAT ARE CAPABLE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO THAT ARE THAT ARE ALLOWED.

AND THAT'S FOR 26 OR MORE. THAT'S YOUR MAXIMUM REQUIREMENT IS TO HAVE EIGHT POTENTIAL LOCATIONS, WHICH I THINK IS FAIR. THAT'S FINE AS LONG AS IT'S CLEAR IN THE ORDINANCE THAT THAT'S THE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO IS AM I INTERPRETING IT CORRECTLY? OKAY. SO IT'S NOT A SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT IT IS OKAY.

THANKS, VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, EV READY SPACES DO NOT HAVE A CHARGER.

THEY JUST HAVE CONDUIT CONNECTING UP TO A JUNCTION BOX NEAR WHERE YOU COULD INSTALL A CHARGER.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S ACTUALLY THREE CATEGORY.

EV EV INSTALLED. THAT'S THE ONE. YOU CAN JUST GO AND PLUG IN.

SO THAT'S FIRST CATEGORY. AND THE SECOND CATEGORY IS JUST LIKE COUNCILMAN REALLY SAID IS EV READY.

AND THE THIRD ONE IS EV CAPABLE. THAT'S REALLY FOR THE LONG TERM INSTALLATION.

SO THE CODE DOESN'T CURRENTLY REQUIRE ANY SPECIFIC NUMBER OF CHARGERS TO BE INSTALLED.

CORRECT. WE CURRENTLY DO NOT REQUIRE THAT. HOWEVER THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF USES, ESPECIALLY APARTMENT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT REQUIRED THERE. THEY THEY INSTALL THEM ANYWAY BECAUSE THEIR CUSTOMER REQUIRE THAT.

AND PDS COULD REQUIRE THAT AS A PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS AND THE CONDITIONS FOR APPROVAL OF THE PD.

YES. SO WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ITEM BEFORE THIS MEETING, AND I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES REGULATE THE NUMBER OF EV CAPABLE AND READY SPACES ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF LAND USE, BECAUSE SOME LAND USES ARE MORE LIKELY TO REQUIRE CHARGER STATIONS THAN OTHERS, FOR EXAMPLE MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL.

THOSE ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE LEAVE THEIR CARS LONG ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN BE CHARGED OVERNIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEREAS RETAIL PEOPLE DON'T TYPICALLY SPEND MUCH TIME IN A RETAIL STORE SUFFICIENT TO CHARGE THEIR VEHICLES.

AND SO ULTIMATELY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE STAFF LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE, AUSTIN'S ORDINANCE, WHICH I PROVIDED TO YOU, THAT HAS CATEGORIES OF LAND USE, OCCUPANCY, AND HOW MANY EV READY SPACES AND CAPABLE SPACES ARE REQUIRED, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A MORE THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF JUST WHAT WE SHOULD REQUIRE DEVELOPERS TO DO IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEIR

[04:40:05]

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING THAT WE HAD WITH COUNCILMAN RIDLEY.

AND HE GAVE US AN EXAMPLE OF AUSTIN, CITY OF AUSTIN DID A FEW YEARS AGO ADOPTED SOMETHING JUST LIKE THAT.

AND OUR OFFICE HAVE CONTACT THERE YOU KNOW, CITY OF AUSTIN TRYING TO LEARN A BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVEN'T GOT THE CHANCE TO GET THE DETAILED INFORMATION, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THEM TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS AT THIS TIME.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIX THIS ISSUE HERE. AND AND ALSO WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THAT WORKS WITH OUR PLAN REVIEW BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, WE USED TO HAVE A PARKING REQUIREMENT BY LAND USE.

AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE TAKE A LOT OF TIME FOR STAFF TO FIGURE OUT THE CATEGORY.

AND AFTER THE PARKING REFORM STAFF TELLING ME THAT REVIEW TIME IS CUT BY HALF.

SO I THINK THAT'S VERY GOOD. AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THIS TO SEE HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR REVIEW TIME.

BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE MIXED USE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE COMMERCIAL, YOU HAVE A RESTAURANT, YOU HAVE A HOTEL OR YOU HAVE RESIDENTIAL.

THERE'S A WAY OF CALCULATING THAT. BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO THAT.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO IN THE FUTURE.

IN THE SHORT TERM, I WOULD ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO LOOK AT CORRECTING THAT TERM PROVIDED I THINK THAT'S GENERALLY SPEAKING, MOST CITY USE THAT IS PROVIDED INSTEAD OF REQUIRED.

SO ADDING THAT WORD AND ALSO SEE IF YOU AGREE WITH PUTTING A CAP ON THIS.

WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, BUT I THINK LONG TERM RIGHTS.

COUNCILMAN REALLY WOULD LIKE TO CHECK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. THAT MAY TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO RESEARCH AND TO MAKE SURE THAT ALSO SUPPORT OUR REVIEW TIME.

AND NOT TOO COMPLICATED, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT THAT IN THE FUTURE.

AND I SUPPORT THE NOTION OF A CAP, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS UNREASONABLE AS WE GET INTO USES WITH LARGER PARKING LOTS, 100 PARKING SPACES TO REQUIRE THEM TO HAVE 20% TO BE EV CAPABLE WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE AN ANTI-COMPETITIVE BURDEN ON THOSE KINDS OF DEVELOPMENT, THE LARGER DEVELOPMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR I WAS IN CPC WHEN WE LOOKED AT ALL THIS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED AND I DIDN'T QUITE GET WAS THE EV INSTALLED.

I THINK THIS CHART SHOULD HAVE A NUMBER FOR EV INSTALLED, AND AND I USE THE ANALOGY OR MY REFERENCE POINT WAS WHEN I GO TO LOS ANGELES AND I GO TO, THERE'S A TARGET THAT I GO TO ON 120TH AND BETWEEN VAN NESS AVENUE AND CRENSHAW. FIVE YEARS AGO, THEY ONLY HAD FIVE EVS INSTALLED SPACES. TODAY THEY HAVE OVER 20. SO BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT BECAUSE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET IS ONE OF IS ONE OF OUR MANUFACTURING OF, OF SOME MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

SO. SO ALL OF THE, THE EMPLOYEES PARKED THEIR CARS, CHARGE ALL DAY WHILE THEY'RE AT WORK, AND THEN THEY GO WALK ACROSS THE STREET TO THEIR THEIR OFFICE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS AND I LOOKED AT DISTRICT EIGHT BECAUSE I HAVE I 20 AND I HAVE A LOT OF AUTO SALES RIGHT THERE AT THE AT ON I-20 AND OFF OF HAMPTON, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY EV.

AND ALL OF THE ALL THE ONLY THING THEY REALLY SELL IS ELECTRONIC CARS.

TOYOTA. ALL OF THEM. BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY. SO WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT SAYS WE NEED TO HAVE THEM INSTALLED.

WHEN I DID THE PDS, THEY HAD TO GIVE ME SOME INSTALLED.

THEY HAD TO GIVE ME SOME READIES AND THEY HAD TO GIVE ME SOME CABLES.

THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE EVE AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE SELLING, WE'RE PUTTING IN IN DEVELOPMENT THAT DOES NOT SUPPORT WHAT OUR RESIDENTS OR WHAT OUR WHAT OUR RESIDENTS AND WHAT OUR DRIVERS USE.

IF YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN I-20 AND YOU'RE GOING ACROSS COUNTRY, YOU NEED A PLACE TO TO PUT SOME.

[04:45:03]

SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DON'T HAVE ANY EV INSTALLED.

I AGREE WITH THE CAP. I GET THE CAP. I DON'T GET.

BUT BUT I WOULD REQUIRE I. I AM GOING TO ASK THAT YOU ALL WHILE YOU ALSO LOOK AT THE CATEGORIES, BECAUSE WHAT CHAIR RIDLEY SAID IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

MULTIFAMILY WOULD NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN RETAIL.

I WOULD THINK MULTIFAMILY WOULD NEED MORE THAN A RETAIL IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT NOT UNLESS YOU.

BUT I ALSO WOULD THINK SOMEBODY OR SOMEWHERE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND A LONGER LENGTH OF TIME WOULD NEED INSTALLED, READY AND CAPABLE. CAPABLE WOULD BE MORE FOR APARTMENTS OR FOR THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT READY AND INSTALLED WOULD BE FOR PEOPLE OR LONG TERM ALONG THE HIGHWAYS. SO AND I DO THINK THIS, THIS CHART SHOULD HAVE INSTALLED THAT THAT NEEDS TO COME BACK TO US WITH THE NUMBER OF INSTALLED.

STAFF IF WE CAN. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M FOLLOWING COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR'S REQUEST ON INSTALL.

AND TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE IS NOT A CHARGE OR REQUIREMENT CURRENTLY TO HAVE A BUSINESS OR A AN APARTMENT TO HAVE INSTALLED CHARGING STATIONS.

IT'S NOT IN THE BUILDING CODE. IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT.

IS THAT ACCURATE? YES, THAT IS ACCURATE. THIS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED IN 2020.

AT THE TIME THIS IS WAS PASSED ONLY WITH EVERYDAY AND EV CAPABLE.

AND WE ARE BRINGING THIS BACK TO YOU BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LITTLE EMERGENCY GOING ON.

WE NEED TO HAVE THIS. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING YOU AS A POLICY MAKER YOU CAN MAKE THAT DECISION TO ADD IT NOW, OR WE CAN COME BACK WITH A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH.

IF YOU LOOK AT THIS TABLE PARKING SPACES PROVIDED EVEN ONE, IT COULD BE A VERY SMALL BUSINESS.

SO THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EV INSTALLED AND EV READY AND EV INSTALLED.

IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE, VERY EXPENSIVE. SO YOU MAY HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE CATEGORIES BECAUSE IF YOUR SMALL BUSINESS ONLY PROVIDING, SAY, 2 OR 5, 2 OR 3 PARKING SPACES, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE A LOT OF EXPENSES.

SO I THINK IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, MAYBE A FEW LARGER APARTMENT OF A CERTAIN SIZE OR BIGGER, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH AND GET IT BACK TO YOU.

AND. I AM I'M LOOKING AT WHAT THE WAY OF THE FUTURE IS NOW.

THE MOVEMENT IS A TOTALLY AWAY FROM GAS DRIVEN CARS AND AND SUVS, AND EV IS THE WAY TO SAY THAT WE ARE NOT WE'RE NOT PROVIDING THAT KIND OF SERVICE IS SAYING WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE FUTURE.

I'M SAYING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE INSTALLED WHETHER IT DOES, WHETHER YOU NEED ONLY ONE AT 16 OR 20 AND ALL THE WAY TO 26. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT ANSWER IS, BUT IT WE NEED TO HAVE A, HAVE A ROLE.

THAT'S A ROLE THAT SAYS INSTALLED HOW MANY NUMBERS YOU NEED BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES IS BASED ON THE CATEGORY OF OF LAND USE. FROM WHAT CHAIR RIDLEY WAS SAYING, WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT LAND USE.

YOU GO, WHEN I GO TO LOS ANGELES, ALL OF THE EVEN THE OLD, OLDER APARTMENTS, THEY ALL HAVE EV STATIONS FOR THEIR, THEIR THEIR RENTERS BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE ELECTRIC CARS. SO FOR US TO SAY WE'RE THE NINTH LARGEST CITY AND WE'RE NOT IN TUNE TO WHAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS LOOKING FOR, THEN WE'RE WE'RE CUTTING OURSELVES OFF AT THE KNEES.

WE NEED TO ALSO INCLUDE THAT INTO THIS CHART.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO TOMORROW. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO TODAY. WE ALWAYS THINK ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO TOMORROW.

[04:50:03]

SO I'M JUST SAYING, ADD IT NOW. DO IT NOW. LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW.

THANK YOU. DIRECTOR BENTLEY. YEAH. CAN I SET A DATE FOR TOMORROW? BECAUSE IF THE WITH THE APPROVAL OF THIS COMMITTEE, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MARCH ITEM TO SET THE CAP, AND THEN I'LL GUARANTEE WE'LL COME BACK BEFORE THE SUMMER BREAK WITH A MORE ROBUST LOOK AT THE REFORMS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER REALLY RECOMMENDED WITH YOUR PROPOSAL.

AND WE'LL BRING A MORE HOLISTIC LOOK. BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CAP ITEM NOW WITH YOUR APPROVAL. COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA. SO I ACTUALLY LIVE IN AN APARTMENT, AND THAT WAS KIND OF ONE OF MY QUESTIONS ABOUT APARTMENT USES.

IN MY APARTMENT COMPLEX, WE PROBABLY HAVE MORE EV STATIONS THAN WE ACTUALLY NEED BECAUSE EVERYBODY TRIES TO PARK IN THEM.

SO I THINK TO SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING WOULD BE BENEFICIAL AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WANT TO ACTUALLY THANK AND COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY FOR FOR DOING A LOT OF HOMEWORK AROUND THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE TRY TO BALANCE THE C CAP AND OUR CHARGE AS AN ECO DEV TEAM TRYING TO BALANCE THAT AND ALSO REALIZING THAT A LOT OF THE USES, SUCH AS CONVENIENCE STORES OR RESTAURANTS OR HOME IMPROVEMENT STORES, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE AT THOSE LOCATIONS FOR 20 PLUS MINUTES, RIGHT? AND SO WE GOT TO TREAT THOSE DIFFERENTLY THAN APARTMENTS.

BUT I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, WITH STAFF, AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS IMMEDIATELY. BUT I AM DEFINITELY OPEN TO PUTTING THIS BACK ON A FUTURE AGENDA TO LOOK AT USES TO LOOK AT THE INSTALLS AS WELL. BUT YES, WE DO NEED TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AS PRESENTED. AND THEN SO THAT WE JUST SO I HAVE CLARITY THERE IS NO PREVENTION FROM US TAKING THIS ITEM BACK UP WITHIN ANY TIME FRAME. NOTHING STOPS US FROM APPROVING SOMETHING THIS MONTH AND THEN REEVALUATING US THREE SIX MONTHS FROM NOW. YES, I'LL PUT IT ON THE FORECAST FOR JUNE IF WE'RE READY EARLIER.

WE'LL BE BACK EARLIER. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER. ROTH I'M SORRY TO, BUT I REALLY NEED A CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE. SO IF I HAVE A SHOPPING CENTER THAT I'M GOING TO BUILD, I HAVE TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF, OF EV CHARGING STATIONS. IS THAT CORRECT? CURRENTLY, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE EV READY AND EV CAPABLE A LOT OF EV CHARGING STATIONS.

YOU SEE NOW, I USED TO LIVE IN APARTMENT TWO.

THERE'S A LOT. THEY ARE DRIVEN BY MARKET BECAUSE THEY THEY WANT TO INSTALL.

THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED CURRENTLY. WHAT I'M WHAT I'M ASKING IS TO ADDRESS COUNCILMEMBER BLAIR'S ISSUE.

I IF, IF, IF I HAVE A PUBLIC PARKING LOT, MAY I.

I HAVE TO ALLOW I CAN ALLOW ANYBODY TO COME INTO MY SHOPPING CENTER AND CHARGE THEIR CAR ON MY ELECTRICITY ON THE SHOPPING CENTER'S ELECTRICITY AS A AS A MATTER OF RIGHT. OR IS THIS OR CAN I RESTRICT IT? CAN I? IN OTHER WORDS, I UNDERSTAND AN APARTMENT WHERE A PERSON LIVES THERE.

I UNDERSTAND A DEVELOPMENT WHERE WHERE YOU WANT TO HAVE SOMEBODY PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.

BUT WHY DO I, AS A PROPERTY OWNER, IF I HAVE TO HAVE A A CHARGING STATION THAT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN UTILIZE ON MY ON MY COST. NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, TO YOUR POINT, IF YOU HAVE A GUY WHO'S GOT A STORE THAT IT'S IT'S A SINGLE STORE AND HE'S, IT'S HIS BUSINESS AND HE WANTS AND HE WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING OR AND IT'S A STORE FOR A SMALL STORE.

WHY WOULD YOU REQUIRE A PERSON LIKE THAT TO HAVE A CHARGING STATION? I MEAN, THAT DOESN'T SEEM LOGICAL TO ME. I DO APPLY.

I DO MEAN THAT A CAP IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME KIND OF A NOTHER LEVEL OF REQUIREMENT TO SAY, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO.

WHY DO I HAVE TO PROVIDE IT? DO I PROVIDE WATER TO ANYBODY WHO CAN COME TO MY TO MY SHOPPING CENTER AND GET WATER? CAN I DO I DO I GIVE THEM GAS? I MEAN, IT'S A UTILITY.

AND AND IT'S WE'RE NOT PROVIDING GAS STATIONS.

SO ANYWAY, IT'S JUST A I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY THAT AS LONG AS WE'RE GOING TO BRING THIS BACK FOR CLARIFICATION,

[04:55:05]

IT'S MORE THOUGHTFUL. SO I DON'T THINK THAT OUR STAFF IS EQUIPPED TO ANSWER THAT DIRECT QUESTION.

I BELIEVE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE PROPERTY RIGHTS THAT IF THEY HAVE A VEHICLE ON THEIR PROPERTY THAT IS NOT AUTHORIZED, THERE'S TOWING SERVICES, OTHER SERVICES THAT COULD HAVE THAT VEHICLE REMOVED, PRIVATE PROPERTY.

BUT I'M NOT SURE, ROBIN, IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT.

YEAH. VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE CHARGERS INSTALLED OUTSOURCE IT TO A COMPANY LIKE BLINK.

SO IT'S SOMEWHERE YOU'D HAVE TO RUN A CREDIT CARD THROUGH. THE PROPERTY OWNER GETS A LITTLE PAYMENT SO THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, PLUGS OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN JUST GRAB FOR FREE.

COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR SHE JUST EXPLAINED SOME OF THEM USE THEM AS A WAY OF INCOME, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A THIRD PARTY WHO IS MANAGING THAT AND YOU HAVE TO RUN YOUR CHARGE JUST LIKE A GAS STATION, YOU PAY FOR YOUR GAS, YOU PAY FOR THE ELECTRICITY YOU USE IN ORDER TO CHARGE YOUR CAR.

SO IT'S NOT ONLY PLACE THAT IT'S HUGE, AND EVEN IN THE APARTMENTS, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO THEM, THERE IS A THIRD PARTY WHO MANAGES HOW YOU ACCESS THEM AND IN AND HOW YOU PAY FOR THEM.

THE ONLY PLACE I KNOW OF THAT THEY'RE TOTALLY FREE IS AT YOUR HOUSE, BUT THEN YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT BECAUSE YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT ON YOUR ELECTRICITY, ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL. I WOULD JUST I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE INVESTIGATE THE RESTRICTION ON THE OBLIGATION OF NOT SO MUCH THE NUMBERS, BUT UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES? WHICH GOES TO THE ZONING, WHICH GOES TO THE REQUIREMENT, WHICH MIGHT GO TO SOME OTHER USAGE REQUIREMENTS.

BUT ANYWAY, I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF LIMITING IT TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT AS A MAXIMUM, BUT UNDER.

BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME OTHER THOUGHTFULNESS INTO WHAT THE REQUIREMENT IS FOR.

WHY DO YOU NEED TO HAVE ELECTRONIC ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS IS.

I THINK I'VE BROUGHT IT TO STAFF'S ATTENTION.

BUT WHERE WE HAVE CITY. CHARGING STATIONS, WHICH I BELIEVE ARE CURRENTLY FREE. I SEE A NUMBER OF THESE COMPANIES THAT HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT A RESOURCE THAT SHOULD BE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, NOT FOR A PRO PROFIT BUSINESS.

SO I WANT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO PUT SAFEGUARDS TO ENSURE THAT THE STATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS AND NOT FOR A COMPANY THAT IS A FOR PROFIT COMPANY. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THIS WILL MOVE TO FULL COUNCIL.

THE TIME IS SIX 6623, AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.