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ALL RIGHT, IT IS 1:13 PM AND THIS WEBINAR IS BEING TRANSCRIBED AND SUMMARIZED AND THE SPECIAL CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO
[VOTING AGENDA]
ORDER AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY SECRETARY.YOU HAVE ONE ITEM, BUT YOU DO HAVE 76 INDIVIDUALS HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES.
I'LL CALL SPEAKERS IN GROUPS, BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, LET ME RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY TO DECORUM IN GOOD CONDUCT, APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL IMP, PERTINENT PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS.
WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN PERSON.
FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION.
INDIVIDUALS AGAIN ARE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
YOU'LL NOTICE FOR THOSE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, YOU'LL NOTICE THE TIME ON THE MONITOR AT THE PODIUM WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.
PLEASE STOP FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
ALSO SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFER TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME AND TO ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR JOHNSON, ONLY YOUR FIRST GROUP OF SPEAKERS.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, WELL THIS, THE CHAMBER IS PRETTY FULL.
SO THE FIRST SPEAKER, HARRY SWANSON, YOU MAY BEGIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL HARRY SWANSON.
8 2 2 3 CLAREMONT DRIVE, DISTRICT SEVEN.
I AM HERE TODAY TO PRESENT ANOTHER OPTION FOR THE FUTURE OF DALLAS CITY HALL BUILDING.
THE DISCUSSION SO FAR HAS CENTERED ON TWO PATHS, KEEPING CITY FUNCTIONS IN THE BUILDING AND UNDERTAKING MA MAJOR RENOVATION OR DEMOLISHING THE BUILDING AND SELLING THE LAND.
BUT THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE DISCUSSION ABOUT A THIRD PATH ADAPTIVE REUSE, REPOSITIONING THIS BUILDING FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE USE THAT GENERATES REVENUE BY PRESERVING THE ICONIC CIVIC STRUCTURE.
WHY CONSIDER ADAPTIVE REUSE? BECAUSE IT CAN GENERATE PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
PRESERVE AN IMPORTANT LANDMARK IN DALLAS ARCHITECTURE, CREATE ONGOING TAX REVENUE SUPPORT CONVENTION CENTER ACTIVITY, ATTRACT ARCHITECTURE OF TOURISM, AND BECAUSE IT DEMONSTRATES DALLAS COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY IN A WAY TO COMBINE TWO PATHS OF DISAGREEMENT WHERE THE CITY MOVES AND CONSOLIDATES IN THE DOWNTOWN.
AND IF WE STRUCTURE THE ADAPTIVE REUSE CORRECTLY, NO TAX MONEY WILL BE PUT IN THE RENOVATION OF THE BUILDING.
A NATURAL PRIVATE REUSE OF THIS BUILDING COULD BE A BUSINESS BOUTIQUE HOTEL WITH A RESTAURANT, A LOUNGE, COFFEE SHOP, AND RETAIL, ESPECIALLY GIVEN ITS PROXIMITY TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.
THERE ARE MANY USES FOR ADAPTIVE REUSE AROUND THE WORLD.
I WON'T GO INTO 'EM RIGHT NOW, BUT ADAPTIVE REUSE WORKS ENHANCES COMMUNITIES.
IT GENERATES REVENUE AND TRACKS VISITORS RATHER THAN LIMITING OURSELF TO RENOVATION OR DEMOLITION, WE SHOULD EXPLORE THIS BUILDING COULD BECOME AN ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DESTINATION THAT DRAWS PEOPLE DOWNTOWN FOR EXPERIENCES LIVE, WORK, AND LEARN FROM A TRULY UNIQUE CIVIC LANDMARK.
NOW IS THE TIME TO BEGIN THE WORK FOR RESEARCH PROGRAM PLANNING, LEGAL STRUCTURE, INCENTIVE DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL MODELING, AND BROAD PUBLIC PRIVATE ENGAGEMENT TO IDENTIFY THE BEST ADAPTIVE REUSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS REMARKABLE BUILDING.
BEFORE ANY IR IRREVERSIBLE DECISION IS MADE, WE SHOULD NOT BE NARROW IN OUR THINKING AND WE SHOULD NOT RUSH TO TEAR IT DOWN.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE, UH, FOR LISTENING TO ME.
YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, AMY LEWIS HOFFLAND.
AMY LEWIS HOFFLAND IS NOT PRESENT.
SIDNEY WALKER WHILE SIT, MS. WALKER IS COMING FORWARD.
I WILL ASK THAT ANDREW SCOLA AND SARAH CRANE, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST ROW.
MY FAMILY CONDOLENCES TO YOUR FAMILY CITY MANAGER.
SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT PROJECTS AND MONEY.
SO WE HAVE THE OMNI HOTEL CITY COUNCIL, I MEAN CITY OWNED, UM, COST 480 MILLION IN BONDS.
UM, HOW MUCH DO WE STILL OWE ON THIS HOTEL? KAY
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BAILEY HUTCHINS RENOVATION INITIAL BRIDGE LOAN FOR $1 BILLION IN JUNE AND NOW IT'S UP TO $3.7 BILLION.UM, AND THE INCREASE IN THE HOTEL TAX THAT WAS VOTED ON IN 2022 IS SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR THAT AND THE A A C, SO IT'S BEEN GENERATING REVENUE SINCE 1998.
SO NOW THERE'S CONFLICT BETWEEN THE MAVS AND THE STARS ON THE 300 MILLION OF RENOVATIONS.
SO BOTH TEAMS ARE LOOKING TO RELOCATE.
WHAT HAPPENS IF EITHER OR BOTH TEAMS LEAVE THE A A C? WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS STADIUM AND THE INCOME THAT WE WILL LOSE? SO IF WE'RE SELLING CITY HALL, WHAT KIND OF OFFERS ARE WE GETTING? IS THIS MONEY THAT'S GOING TO COVER ALL OF OUR MOVING EXPENSES, DEMOLITION EXPENSES? WILL IT HELP TO OFFSET THE RENT THAT WE WILL END UP PAYING? BECAUSE AT 20 TO $30 PER SQUARE FOOT, WE'RE LOOKING AT MILLIONS PER MONTH.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT GETTING RID OF THIS BUILDING FOR ANOTHER STADIUM ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
SO HAS ANYONE ASKED WHAT ARE THE REAL PROJECTIONS OF HAVING A SECOND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT SO CLOSE TO THE OTHER ONE, WHAT KIND OF REVENUE WAS GONNA COME IN FOR THAT? WHAT REVENUE IS GONNA GET IMPACTED OR LOST FROM THE A A C BY HAVING ANOTHER ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT SO CLOSE? SO AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT HERE AND A LOTS OF TALK WITH CONNECTING TO SOUTH DALLAS.
HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE FAIR PARK AND THE PROGRAMMING THAT GOES ON THERE? SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING THREE PLACES WHERE THERE WILL BE CONCERTS IN ADDITION TO GAMES.
SO HOW IS THAT GONNA IMPACT DOSIS? HOW IS THAT GONNA IMPACT MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO RENOVATE AND GET MORE AMENITIES INTO OUR COMMUNITY SO WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OUR DOLLARS ELSEWHERE? SO I DO WANT TO POINT OUT AS THIS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FROM PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, UM, VALLEY VIEW AND MONEY THAT IS BEING LEFT ON THE TABLE WITH THAT TIFF AND THAT MONEY COULD BE COMING INTO SOUTH DALLAS TO HELP US GET THE THINGS THAT WE NEED IN THE OTHER DISTRICTS IN SOUTH IN SOUTHERN DALLAS.
HI, I AM ANDREW KOOLA FROM CORNELIA LANE IN DALLAS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON.
I'D LIKE TO ADVISE THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR ON TWO SPECIFIC CHALLENGES AND ONE POTENTIAL SOLUTION.
THE FIRST IS THE LACK OF COMPARATIVE COSTS FOR ABANDONING CITY HALL.
YOUR CONSULTANT AND STAFF HAVE NOT OUTLINED SCENARIOS OF WHAT IT WILL COST TO LEAVE FOR A NEW HOME.
SO I DID, AND YOU HAVE THAT ON SCREEN IN FRONT OF YOU.
IF YOU EXTEND THE BASE NUMBERS IN THE LOGIC OF THE REPAIR SCENARIO, THE BOND FINANCING RATES MOVING AND OUTFITTING EXPENSES MARKET RENT, IT'S LIKELY THAT MOVING TO LEASE SPACE FOR 20 YEARS WOULD COST, COULD COST 200 TO $400 MILLION MORE THAN A REPAIR SCENARIO.
OR IF WE BUILD, BUY AND RENOVATE A NEW HOME DOWNTOWN THAT COULD RUN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALSO REQUIRE FINANCING AND MOVING AND OUTFITTING COSTS, RESULTING IN TOTALS THAT COULD BE 300 $500 MILLION HIGHER.
SO THAT MEANS THE CITY'S ANNUAL BOND DEBT SERVICE WOULD THEN BE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ABOVE THE REPAIR SERVICE.
THAT'S TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS NOT AVAILABLE FOR YOUR POOLS, YOUR LIBRARIES, YOUR STAFF, YOUR PARKS, YOUR HOUSING, A VOTE FOR LEAVING CITY HALL TODAY IS A VOTE FOR PAINFUL CUTS IN SERVICES DOWN THE ROAD TO PAY FOR THE HIGHER COST OF LEAVING THIS BUILDING.
THE SECOND IS A SIGNIFICANT TRUST AND CREDIBILITY PROBLEM THAT THIS BODY NOW HAS WITH RESIDENTS AND MANY RESIDENTS OF ALL POLITICAL STRIPES BELIEVE THAT THE PROCESS IS RIGGED, THAT THE ADELSON'S ARE GREASING EVERYBODY'S POCKETS THAT I HEARD LAST NIGHT THAT STAFF AND COUNCIL ARE HAVING SECRET MEETINGS IN THE NIGHT WITH THE MAVS AND THE ADELSONS TO, TO FIX THIS OUT.
I'M NOT SAYING I BELIEVE THAT THOSE ARE REAL BELIEFS AND IT'S DRIVEN BY THINGS LIKE RELEASE OF REPORTS LATE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, VOTING ON A MONDAY BY COMMITTEE VOTES FIRST, THEN GETTING INPUT SECOND BY NOT HAVING FULLY INDEPENDENT VALUATION BY NOT PROVIDING COMPARATIVE COSTS BY RUSHING THIS THROUGH.
WE MIGHT DISAGREE ON THE NUMBERS BUT THAT LACK OF TRUST IS REAL AND IT MUST
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BE FIXED.YOUR CREDIBILITY AND OUR TRUST IS ESSENTIAL TO THE CITY'S SUCCESS.
YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THOSE HAVE ERODED.
YOU HAVE ANY BIG DEVELOPMENT OR INITIATIVE THAT THE CITY NEEDS GOING FORWARD IS GOING TO BE UPHILL SLEDDING AND LESS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF HOW VOTERS FEEL AND THE CITIZENS FEEL ABOUT THE DECISIONS OF THIS COUNCIL.
YOU CARE ABOUT THE CITY YOU ALL DO.
THESE TWO CHALLENGES CAN BE BEGIN TO BE SOLVED BY VOTING AGAINST THE RESOLUTIONS AT HAND TODAY AND STEPPING BACK TO BUILD A TRANSPARENT, INCLUSIVE AND STRATEGIC PROCESS FOR OUR SHARED VISION AND OUR SHARED SHARED CITY HALL.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SARAH CRANE AND I'M HERE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PRESERVATION DALLAS, LOCATED AT 2 9 2 2 SWISS AVENUE.
EACH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL HAS VOICED INDIVIDUALLY THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IN REGARDS TO THE FUTURE OF THIS DALLAS CITY HALL SITE.
THE MOTION BEFORE YOU INCLUDES THE REMOVAL OF NINE 11 OR 9 1 1 AND 3 1 1 SERVICES FROM CITY HALL.
THIS MOTION RIGHT NOW IS DEVOID OF ANY DETAILS REGARDING THE COST OF MOVING POTENTIAL FUTURE LOCATIONS AND THE COST OF HARDENING THE STRUCTURE FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY.
SO THIS IS A PROCESS THAT COULD BE TENS TO HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE MOVE VOTING TO MOVE THIS PROCESS FORWARD WITHOUT PROPERLY UNDERSTANDING.
THE COST IS NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND FRANKLY THIS NEEDS MORE INFORMATION BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE.
ADDITIONALLY, WE NEED MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO SOUTH DALLAS.
THE $3 BILLION INVESTMENT AT THE CONVENTION CENTER NEXT DOOR WILL FINALLY CONNECT THE CORE OF SOUTH DALLAS WITH DOWNTOWN.
SO YOU SEE, WE REALLY CAN HAVE BOTH 'CAUSE WE'RE CURRENTLY HAVING BOTH.
YET ALL OF THE STUDIES REGARDING THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF SUCH AN INVESTMENT WERE ALL KEPT NORTH OF I 30.
THIS IS A DOWNTOWN DALLAS PROBLEM BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH SOUTH DALLAS AND DOWNTOWN REMAIN NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE CEDARS NEIGHBORHOOD DOWNTOWN DALLAS, RARELY IF EVER INCLUDES THEM IN THEIR PLANS.
I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO MOVE THE STUDY, UH, TO MOVE THIS MOVE TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF THESE ECONOMIC EXPLORATIONS ON SOUTH DALLAS.
I URGE YOU TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO YOUR PROMISES OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PAUSE THE MOVE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES OUT OF CITY HALL UNTIL WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE TRUE RANGE OF COSTS.
LASTLY, I URGE YOU TO PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME, EXPLORE THE TRUE COSTS, GET SECOND OPINIONS.
THIS IS LIKELY THE BIGGEST, MOST IMPACTFUL, MOST EXPENSIVE DECISION YOU MAY EVER MAKE IN YOUR CAREER.
AND YOU CAN SEE BY THE OUTPOURING OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS HERE HOW IMPORTANT THIS PROCESS IS.
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS QUICKLY OR LIGHTLY OR WITHOUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF THOUGHT A DECISION LIKE THIS DESERVES.
THANK YOU DOLORES LEVY SOROKA.
WHILE MS. SOROKA IS COMING FORWARD, I WILL ASK MICHAEL RELL AND JIM ANDERSON TO COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST ROW.
DOLORES LEVY SOROKA, I LIVE AT 48 22 SWISS AVENUE IN DISTRICT TWO.
CITY HALL IS NOT JUST A BUILDING, IT'S A PUBLIC ASSET, A CIVIC SYMBOL, AND A PIECE OF DALLAS HISTORY.
WHY IS URGENCY BEING MANUFACTURED? THE MAVERICK CEO RECENTLY STATED, THERE'S NO PROJECT TO TALK ABOUT UNTIL THE CITY WOULD SIGNAL TO US THAT THERE'S SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.
SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE MAVS WANT THIS SITE FOR A NEW ARENA AND ARE AWAITING COUNCIL ACTION.
THERE ARE TWO FINALIST LOCATIONS DOWNTOWN CITY HALL AND THE 110 ACRE VALLEY VIEW SITE.
THE VALLEY VIEW PROPERTY OFFERS SCALE FOR A FULL ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, POSSIBLY EVEN A CASINO RESORT IF THE LEGISLATURE EVER EXPANDS.
GAMBLING DOWNTOWN IS DESCRIBED AS BASKETBALL FIRST BECAUSE OF THE ACREAGE IS LIMITED.
IF A PUBLICLY OWNED CIVIC INSTITUTION IS BEING CLEARED TO SATISFY A PRIVATE TIMETABLE, THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP.
ONCE I MPE CITY HALL IS GONE, IT IS GONE FOREVER.
DO NOT VOTE TODAY TO GIVE AWAY PUBLIC TRUST.
ITS INTEGRITY AND ITS CIVIC PRIDE.
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SORE.CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY.
I'M THE PRESIDENT AT PAUL QUINN COLLEGE.
UH, I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I AM SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY HAS HAD TO EXECUTE ON WHAT IT IS YOU ARE WRESTLING WITH.
19 YEARS AGO WHEN I TOOK OVER THE PRESIDENCY AT PAUL QUINN, WE HAD 15 ABANDONED BUILDINGS ON OUR CAMPUS.
IT WAS A CAMPUS THAT PEOPLE LOOKED AT THE BUILDINGS AND SAID, IF WE ONLY COULD RENOVATE THEM, IF WE ONLY COULD DO THESE THINGS, WE CAN RETURN IT TO ITS GLORY.
THE REALITY OF IT IS IT WOULD'VE COST ROUGHLY $50 MILLION TO RENOVATE EVEN HALF OF THE 15 BUILDINGS THAT WERE ABANDONED.
SO WE HAD TO MAKE A DIFFICULT DECISION, WHICH WAS TO TEAR DOWN THOSE BUILDINGS, PRESERVE THOSE WHICH WE COULD, AND CREATE A DIFFERENT VISION FOR THE INSTITUTION TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
19 YEARS LATER, OUR INSTITUTION IS RADICALLY DIFFERENT THAN IT EVER HAD BEEN DURING ITS TIME.
IN DALLAS, WE ARE AN INSTITUTION THAT REGULARLY HAS SEVEN FIGURE SURPLUSES.
WE HAVE WAITING LISTS FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND OUR INSTITUTION.
WE WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, WE SEND STUDENTS OFF TO IVY LEAGUE GRADUATE SCHOOLS, ALL BECAUSE WE HAD THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS BEFORE US AND SEE NOT WHAT WAS THE BEST DAYS OF IT BEFORE, BUT THE POSSIBILITIES AHEAD OF US.
AND SO AS YOU WRESTLE WITH THIS, I UNDERSTAND HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE PEOPLE BE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT BUILDINGS AND ABOUT THEIR IDEAS AND HOW THEY INTERNALIZE IT AND SEE THEMSELVES.
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO MAKE A DECISION TO GO FORWARD, TO HAVE A VISION, TO EXECUTE THAT VISION AND TO COMPLETE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE COULDN'T SEE BUT YOU COULD SEE.
SO AS YOU GO FORWARD WITH IT, JUST REMEMBER THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE EASY.
IT'S NOT SET UP TO BE EASY, BUT THE COURAGE IT TAKES TO CREATE A NEW VISION, TO ARTICULATE THAT VISION AND THEN TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
AND ONE LAST THING ABOUT DOING SO, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES ABOUT IMAGINING A NEW MODEL OF GOVERNMENT OPERATION ARE QUITE SIGNIFICANT.
THE ABILITY TO SEND JOBS INTO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITIES SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY SURROUNDING IN COUNCILMAN BLAIR'S DISTRICT WHERE WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JUST AS MANY OF YOUR DISTRICTS ARE AS WELL.
I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, NOT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITIES ON THE TABLE AS YOU THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.
AND I JUST ALSO WOULD ALWAYS LIKE TO REMIND YOU, YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME VISIT PAUL QUINN COLLEGE.
JIM ANDERSON, FORMER HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
IN THE MID 1990S, DOWNTOWN DALLAS WAS DEAD, REALLY DEAD.
THERE WERE 40 LARGE VACANT HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT WERE UP FOR DEMOLITION.
ONLY NEIMAN MARCUS IN THE OFFICE WAS, WAS OCCUPIED.
THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AT THAT TIME SAID, TEAR THEM DOWN.
THIS IS DALLAS, WE'LL START OVER.
A SMALL GROUP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WENT AGAINST THE GRAIN HAD ANOTHER GREAT IDEA.
HOW ABOUT IN TOWN HOUSING? CAN WE CONVERT THESE BUILDINGS INTO NEW RESIDENCES? A HUGE INCENTIVE PACKAGE WAS ESTABLISHED.
THESE BUILDINGS CAME BACK SLOWLY BUT SURELY BECOMING, UH, RESIDENCES AND OLD DEPARTMENT OF STORES OFFICES AND BANKS.
DOWNTOWN DALLAS' POPULATION IS SOARED TO 15,000 PEOPLE.
15,000 PEOPLE LIVE IN DOWNTOWN IN 20, 25 YEARS.
SO THERE'S SMALL GROUP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS SAW HOPE.
IF THESE 40 BILLIONS HAD BEEN DEMOLISHED DOWNTURN, DALLAS WOULD, WOULD SPIRAL DOWN AND BE NOTHING LIKE THE DOWNTURN WE HAVE TODAY.
ONE OF THE INCENTIVES IS THE HUGE INCENTIVE IS THE NATIONAL REGISTER, 20% INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT AND THE STATE OF TEXAS MATCHES THAT WITH 20% CREDIT.
THE NATIONAL BANK BUILDING, WHICH IS 1960S HISTORIC BUILDING, WAS A $450 MILLION RENOVATION.
45% OF FOUR $50 MILLION OF THE GAME CHANGER FOR THAT BUILDING IF LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER, 45% OF THAT $1 BILLION WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT CAN BE SOLD TO FOR PROFIT ENTITIES LIKE A DEVELOPER.
SO THERE'S THE WAY YOU CAN MAKE THESE INCENTIVES WORK FOR CITY HALL AND IF THE BUILDING IS RENOVATED BY A, UH, ANOTHER DEVELOPER, THUS 45% CAN GO DIRECTLY TO THAT, THAT ENTITY.
SO THERE ARE WAYS THAT HISTORIC PRESERVATION WORK FOR THE CITY
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OF DALLAS AND FOR THIS BUILDING.THANK YOU ELIZABETH BETH BRANDT.
WHILE MS. BRANDT IS COMING FORWARD, IF KEVIN PFEIFFER AND MARTHA BERG WOULD COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST ROW.
MY NAME IS ELIZABETH BRANT AND I LIVE AT 26 11 ROSS AVENUE IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
I HAVE BEEN A PROUD RESIDENT FOR 22 YEARS AND A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT FOR THE LAST THREE.
I LOVE THIS CITY AND THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
THINK OF ANY GREAT CITY IN THE WORLD.
PARIS, NEW ORLEANS, BOSTON, WHAT COMES TO MIND? THEIR SKYLINES, THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, THE MIX OF HISTORIC AND MODERN STANDING SIDE BY SIDE.
THAT VARIETY OF BUILDING STOCK DID NOT HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.
IT IS THE RESULT OF CITY LEADERS WHO EMBRACED THEIR HERITAGE AND THEY KNOW IT HAS VALUE.
OLDER BUILDINGS TELL A STORY AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO TEAR THEM DOWN IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD.
DALLAS HAS NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THIS LESSON OF THE 200 PLUS BUILDINGS IN OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
VERY FEW BUILT BEFORE 1960 REMAIN.
THANKFULLY THERE WAS A BIG BUILDING BOOM IN THE SEVENTIES AND THE EIGHTIES, WHICH GAVE DALLAS ITS ICONIC SKYLINE.
THOSE GENERATIONS BUILT SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF AND WE HAVE DEMOLISHED A REMARKABLE PART OF OUR OWN HISTORY IN THE NAME OF PROGRESS.
NOW IT FALLS TO THIS COUNCIL, TO US AS CITIZENS TO BE THE GENERATION TO PROTECT IT.
BUILD NEW, LET IT DECAY, TEAR DOWN, REPEAT.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY SECOND POINT COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU ARE ELECTED TO BE THE STEWARDS OF THIS CITY'S RESOURCES, ALL OF THEM.
AND THAT INCLUDES THE BUILDINGS THAT THE DALLAS CITY OF DALLAS OWNS.
IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, DALLAS CITY HALL WILL BECOME ELIGIBLE TO BE PUT ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY, NOT A BURDEN.
MONEY FROM PAST ELECTIONS HAS NOT YET BEEN ALLOCATED.
USE THAT MONEY, DIRECT THOSE FUNDS TOWARDS THE MINOR BUT NECESSARY REPAIRS AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT ALIGNS WITH THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
WE CANNOT LET CITY HALL FOLLOW THE SAME PATTERN WE HAVE WATCHED PLAY OUT ACROSS DOWNTOWN.
NEGLECT IT, DECLARE IT BEYOND SAVING AND TEAR IT DOWN O ONLY TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW THAT WILL FACE THE SAME GENERATION OR THE SAME FATE IN ANOTHER GENERATION.
THAT IS NOT STEWARDSHIP, IT'S NEGLIGENCE.
I'M ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO DO TWO THINGS, OWN OUR HISTORY, THE POSITIVE AND THE DIFFICULT, COMMITTED TO PRESERVING IT AND FULFILL YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS STEWARDS FOR THE RESOURCES ENTRUSTED TO YOU BY THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS.
YOU ARE ELECTED TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF DALLAS RESIDENTS.
BUILDINGS ARE RESOURCES, HISTORY IS A RESOURCE.
UM, I LIVE AT 1905 OLD ORCHARD.
I SPENT OVER 42 YEARS OF SERVICE AS A PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECT.
GETTING PROJECTS SUCCESSFULLY BUILT, NOT ABANDONING THOSE BUILDINGS AND TEARING THEM DOWN.
THE ABILITY OF CITIZEN LEADERS WITH A STRONG DESIRE FOR ACTUAL PUBLIC SERVICE HAS LARGELY BEEN REPLACED WITH CANDIDATES WHO CATER MORE TO THEIR WEALTHY DONORS THAN TO THE CITIZENS THEY'RE ELECTED TO REPRESENT.
KEY WORDS ARE STEER STEWARDSHIP AND LONG-TERM FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY AND THE PATIENCE TO SLOW THIS ENTIRE PROCESS DOWN.
WE'RE THE CAP FIGURE INTO THE CURRENT PROPOSALS TO ABANDON CITY HALL AND JUST GIVE UP.
DALLAS IS NOT A CITY OF QUITTERS.
MAYBE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH JOHNNY TAYLOR'S SONG CHEATER CHEAPER TO KEEP HER.
MM-HMM IT'S LIKE IF WE KEEP THE CITY IT'S MUCH OR KEEP THIS BUILDING, IT'S MUCH EASIER TO DO THAT.
IS THIS CIVIC CENTER AT THE RISK OF BEING ABANDONED? IF SO, WHY? THE CONCEPT OF OUR TAX DOLLARS BEING USED TO PAY RENT AND THOSE ASSOCIATED TAXES FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS FOR NO REASON WHEN STANDARD SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE WOULD KEEP THIS, THIS FACILITY OPERATIONAL FOR GENERATIONS IS CERTIFIABLY CRAZY? THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS HAVE PAID FOR AND OWN THIS BUILDING AND THE LAND IT CURRENTLY OCCUPIES.
BECAUSE OF THAT, WE ALL NEED TO BE EXCELLENT STEWARDS FOR THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, NOT THE LANDLORDS OF EXISTING BUILDINGS IN THE CBD OR OUT-OF-STATE OWNERS OF LARGE LOCAL SPORTS FRANCHISE.
WHAT IS A RUSH SCHEDULE AND HAVE QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED THIRD PARTY PROFESSIONALS WHO DO NOT HAVE ANY VETTED INTEREST IN THE THOROUGH AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF THE ACTUAL CONDITION OF THE FACILITY.
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ISSUE RFP TO GEN TO SUITABLE GENERAL CONTRACTORS IDENTIFYING AND OUTLINING SCOPES OF WORK? THIS PROCESS WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE TIME PROBABLY FOUR TO SIX MONTHS, INCLUDING RESPONDING TO RFIS AND RQS HAVE A PUBLIC BID OPENING WHERE QUALIFIED BIDS ARE OPENED AND REVIEWED.NONE OF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ARRIVE AT THE CURRENT BUDGET.
WHY NOT TRY COMING FROM A PLACE OF REPAIRING WHAT IS NECESSARY LIKE A GLASS HALF FULL TO REUSE THIS CIVIC CENTER INSTEAD OF BOWING AT THE FEET OF AN OUT OF TOWN SPORTS FRANCHISE OWNER? IS IT BETTER TO POLISH A DIAMOND ONE ALREADY HAS RATHER THAN TO CONSTANTLY ASPIRE FOR ANOTHER? THANK YOU.
I AM UH, GREG JOHNSTON AT 5 3 3 6 IN SHANNON LANE IN DISTRICT SEVEN, CITY HALL SERVES AS OUR CIVIC CENTER AND BELONGS TO DALLAS OUTRIGHT.
THE STRUCTURE IS INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED AND HAS ALREADY BEEN DETERMINED.
ELIGIBLE FOR LISTENING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
THE ROBUST BUILDING TOOK SIX YEARS TO CONSTRUCT THE MASSIVE CONCRETE STRUCTURE WOULD REQUIRE AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF ENERGY, COST AND DISRUPTION.
TO DEMOLISH THIS ACT WOULD REVERSE THE COURSE OF THE CITY'S GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVES.
OVER THE PAST DECADES, ROOFING, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL RESTROOMS AND OTHER ACCESSIBLE MOD MODIFICATIONS ARE NOT UNUSUAL FOR A BUILDING OF ITS AGE.
THE PLAZA DECK HAS ISSUES AND THIS COULD SERVE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REIMAGINE THIS PUBLIC SPACE.
REPORTS INDICATE ASBESTOS CONTAIN MATERIALS IN THE BUILDING.
ALSO NOT UNCOMMON FOR BUILDINGS OF THIS ERA.
ABATEMENT EFFORTS WILL BE REQUIRED EVEN IF THE BUILDING WERE TO COME DOWN THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION COULD BE PHASED AND COULD BE COMPLETED WITH THE BUILDING PARTIALLY OCCUPIED.
LOOK AT THE DFW AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS OF THE TERMINALS FROM THE SAME ERA WHERE THIS APPROACH HAS BEEN GOING FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE THIS ICONIC STRUCTURE AND HELP REIMAGINE IT FOR ITS NEXT 50 TO A HUNDRED YEARS.
WHY RUSSIA DECISION WHICH WILL SEVERELY AFFECT THE CITY FOR DECADES.
UM, MAYOR J MAYOR PROTI MARINO.
COUNCIL PERSONS, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PUT ON THE BRAKES FOR THIS PROPOSAL TO TEAR DOWN OUR GLOBAL LANDMARK CITY HALL.
OUR CASTLE FORTRESS HOME, WHERE OUR LEADERS, OUR PLANNERS WORK AND CREATE OUR FUTURE.
I PUT ON MY WE THE PEOPLE STICKER.
WE BUILT THE CITY HALL AND WE WANT A REFERENDUM.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE CITIZENS ALL OVER DALLAS TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT THE OPTIONS ONCE WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE BID, MORE THAN ONE REVIEW OF WHAT IT COSTS TO REPAIR IT.
IT IS OUR HOME FOR ALL THE REASONS ECONOMIC AND SENTIMENTAL.
WHAT A GREAT CHANCE TO BRING MORE PEOPLE IN TO TALK TO.
THIS IS WHERE YOU COME TO VOTE.
YOU CAN COME TO THIS PLACE TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT FOR OUR CITY TO LEARN THINGS ABOUT OUR CITY.
IT MAY BE THERE ARE OPTIONS, OTHER OPTIONS, BUT PLEASE LET'S OPEN IT UP AND EXTEND IT SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE SO THAT THE PEOPLE THAT BUILT THE CITY.
I THINK WE'RE GETTING NEAR THAT AND I HOPE SO.
AND UH, WHEN WE DO RENOVATE AND I THINK WE WILL, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOMEONE PUT IN A TASTEFUL STARE RAIL
[00:30:01]
US DON'T FALL DOWN THE STAIR.WELL LOOK AT THIS ROOM FULL OF ARCHITECTS SO THAT WE'RE NOT DOING ONE STEP, HALF STEP.
OKAY, I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
BUT DO CONSIDER THAT AND THANK YOU MR. MARINO.
WHILE MR. AMNET IS COMING FORWARD, IF MICHAEL KING AND JESSICA STEWART LINY COULD COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST ROW.
I'M A THIRD GENERATION OAK CLIFF NATIVE.
IT'S HARD TO BE AN OLD BUILDING IN DALLAS IN OAK CLIFF.
IT'S HARD BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE PREY AND DEVELOPERS OR THE PREDATORS.
THE BEST ANCHOR FOR THIS AREA IS THIS BUILDING, REPAIR IT, RESTORE IT, CREATE A MASSIVE LAWN IN FRONT OF IT LIKE CLYDE WARREN PARK FOR PARK GOERS FOR LARGE GATHERINGS.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT YOU HAVE.
THAT'S THE SORT OF AUTHENTICITY THAT VISITORS DESIRE AND A REAL CITY NEEDS.
SOMETHING UNIQUELY DALLAS THAT CAN'T BE FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE.
LET IT ANCHOR THE DISTRICT ALONG WITH MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM.
I'D LIKE TO READ YOU JUST A COUPLE STATISTICS FROM YOUR OWN REPORT THAT WAS RELEASED LAST YEAR ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN DALLAS.
UH, HISTORIC AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS ARE 15% MORE VALUABLE THAN OTHER AREAS.
COMMERCIAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS SAW AN OVERALL 57% JOB INCREASE IN SMALL BUSINESSES.
273 INCREASE IN LARGE COMPANIES.
THIS FAR OUTPACES JOB GROWTH IN THE REST OF DALLAS IN BOTH CATEGORIES, HISTORIC DISTRICTS HAVE A HIGHER SHARE OF CREATIVE WORKER JOBS THAN THE REST OF THE CITY.
64.1% OF THE JOBS FALL INTO PROFESSIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SERVICES.
HERITAGE TOURISTS SPENT $2.5 BILLION ANNUALLY.
IN DALLAS, THERE IS AN INCREASING APPETITE FOR AUTHENTIC CULTURAL EXPERIENCES.
MILLENNIALS DRIVE THE INDUSTRY AS THEY TRAVEL THE MOST.
THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR UNIQUE CULTURAL AND AUTHENTIC TRAVEL EXPERIENCES.
THERE'S A REASON WHY THERE ARE SO MANY ADVOCATING FOR THIS BUILDING EVERY TIME YOU TALK ABOUT IT.
MORE AND MORE VOICES OR OP VOICE THEIR OPPOSITION TO THIS.
WITH EACH DAY WE DISCUSS DEMOLISHING IT.
MY PARTNER AND I BOUGHT A BUILDING AT THE CORNER OF BISHOP AND EIGHTH IN BISHOP ARTS 20 YEARS AGO.
THERE WERE BULLETS FLYING, THERE WERE BIRDS FLYING AROUND INSIDE OF IT.
THE ROOF WAS FALLING IN AND THERE WERE PACKS OF DOGS OUTSIDE.
ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT WANNA DEMOLISH THIS BUILDING WOULD SURELY HAVE SAID, TEAR IT DOWN.
TODAY THE AREA IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND POPULAR DISTRICTS IN THIS CITY.
SPURRING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN NEW DEVELOPMENT, ADDITIONAL HOUSING ANCHORED BY THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
THEY HAVE BEEN A CATALYST FOR GROWTH AND A CHANGE IN THE OVERALL PERSPECTIVE OF OAK PERCEPTION OF OAK CLIFF.
WE ARE A PART OF THOSE STATISTICS.
THE PRESERVATION OF CITY HALL HAS NEITHER BEEN CONSIDERED NOR QUANTIFIED.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE AWAY OUR PUBLIC GATHERING SPACE.
EASY CENTRALIZED ACCESS TO OUR GOVERNMENT.
BE HONEST AND STOP MAKING BACK RUDE DEALS WITH DEVELOPERS, DIRECT STAFF TO CREATE A PLAN FOR THIS BUILDING'S FUTURE INTACT.
LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF US WANT.
CREATE A TASK FORCE OF EXPERTS TO HELP YOU IMPLEMENT IT.
WHO WON'T CREATE POLICIES TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES? BE VISIONARIES, ABANDONMENT, SELLING OUT BILLION, SERVING OUT TO BILLIONAIRES AND HIDING AN OFFICE BUILDING SCATTERED AROUND TOWN IS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.
DEMOLISHING THIS BUILDING WOULD BE AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TRAVESTY.
WE DON'T WANT THAT TO BE YOUR LEGACY OR OURS.
MY NAME IS JESSICA STEWART LIN BAY AND I LIVE AT 1 55 CLASSEN, DALLAS, TEXAS 7 5 2 1 8.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO THE CITY MANAGER.
I'M AN ARCHITECT AND A CONSTITUENT AND I CAN SAY FROM A PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE PERSPECTIVE THAT THERE IS NO MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH THAN TO STAY PUT AND THERE'S NO MORE AFFORDABLE APPROACH THAN TO STAY PUT.
WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT IN THIS BUILDING FINANCIALLY.
UM, AND WE WOULD LOVE AS THE ARCHITECT AND DESIGN COMMUNITY TO SPEND MORE TIME EXPLAINING OUR POSITIONS AND THOUGHTS.
UM, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF BENEVOLENT, UM, ARCHITECTS AND DESIGN MEMBERS WHO WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO PARTICIPATE IN MAKING THIS THE BEST CITY THAT IT CAN BE THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD.
UM, NOT ONLY AM AN I AM I AN ARCHITECT,
[00:35:01]
BUT I'M A CONSTITUENT AND I AM DEEPLY PASSIONATE ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE AND I CARE ABOUT ALL PEOPLE.I HAVE COME TO THIS PLACE SO MANY TIMES TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER THE MOST TO ALL OF US.
HARM AGAINST CHILDREN, PEOPLE BEING ABUSED, CIVIL RIGHTS, UM, SO MANY ISSUES.
IN 2006 AND 2017, I WALKED IN THE MEGA MARCH WITH FAMILIES, STROLLERS, PEOPLE IN CANES FROM THE CATHEDRAL TO THIS BUILDING.
WE WERE IN A PROCESSION FROM THE HEART OF THE CITY IN THE ARTS DISTRICT, THE CATHEDRAL TO THE HEART OF THE CITY, CITY HALL.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO EXPRESS OURSELVES AND HAVE THE POWER OF THIS PEACEFUL MARCH BECAUSE WE HAD A PLACE TO GO.
CAN YOU IMAGINE US JUST WALKING TO SOME BUILDING AND JUST STANDING THERE ON A STREET? THIS PLAZA RECEIVED US, IT GAVE US CONTEXT FOR OUR POWER AS CITIZENS TO VOICE OUR GRIEVANCES AND OUR VISION FOR CARE.
AND, AND GUESS WHAT? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO BECAUSE YOU GUYS CANNOT DO THIS BY YOURSELF.
THERE'S NOT AN ARCHITECT HERE, THERE'S NOT A PLANNER HERE.
DON'T VOTE TO DO SPEND ONE SINGLE PENNY WITHOUT THE PROPER PROCESS.
WE NEED YOUR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT IN CITY HALL DALLAS TO SAY, HEY GUYS, WE WANNA TALK ABOUT SPENDING SOME MONEY ON OUR HOUSE.
OKAY, WE NEED A LOT MORE INFORMATION AND INVESTMENT.
WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO SPEAKER NUMBER TWO.
AMY LEWIS HOFFLAND, WHO'S VIRTUAL? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR JOHNSON AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MY CONDOLENCES TO YOU, CITY MANAGER AND MY NAME IS AMY LEWIS HOFFLAND AND I SERVE AS BOARD CHAIR OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS INC.
THE PRINCIPAL ADVOCATE AND STEWARD OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
FOR NEARLY 70 YEARS, DDI HAS WORKED TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC VITALITY AND LONG-TERM COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR CITY'S URBAN CORE.
TODAY I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE POSITION OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS BASED IN PART ON THE FINDINGS OF THE EDC REPORT.
EDI SUPPORTS RELOCATING CITY HALL OFFICES WITHIN THE CBD CORE AND FREEING THE CURRENT SITE FOR BOLD CATALYTIC REDEVELOPMENT.
WE KNOW THIS WILL REQUIRE THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.
THIS WAS NOT A CASUAL DECISION.
IT FOLLOWED CAREFUL DELIBERATION ABOUT WHAT KIND OF DOWNTOWN WE WANT AND NEED.
WE UNDERSTAND THIS CONVERSATION HAS BEEN FRAMED LARGELY AS A CULTURAL PRESERVATION VERSUS COMMERCE.
WE ALSO BELIEVE IN DOWNTOWN GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS.
DOWNTOWN DALLAS IS AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT.
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT ARE UNDERWAY ALONG THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF DOWNTOWN, THE CONVENTION CENTER REDEVELOPMENT, THE FUTURE DALLAS WINGS ARENA, MAJOR I 30 CONSTRUCTION AND CONNECTIVITY PROJECTS LINKING DOWNTOWN TO THE CEDARS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE CONFRONTING HISTORIC OFFICE VACANCY AND AGING BUILDINGS AND WORKING TO STABILIZE AND MODERNIZE OUR CORE.
IN THAT CONTEXT, THE CITY HALL SITE REPRESENTS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES OF OUR GENERATION IN A GENERATION.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO MODERNIZE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS WHILE UNLOCKING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND VIBRANCY IN A LONG DORMANT CORNER OF DOWNTOWN BENEFITING THE RESIDENTS, SMALL BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURS AND WORKERS.
SOME HAVE CRITICIZED THE PACE OF THIS PROCESS.
WE BELIEVE IT HAS MOVED AT THE PACE REQUIRED TO MEET THIS MOMENT OF URGENCY.
INVESTING SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES INTO A BUILDING THAT DOES NOT MEET LONGTIME LONG-TERM FUNCTIONAL NEEDS.
DOES NOT POSITION DALLAS FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
LEVERAGING THIS SITE IN ALIGNMENT WITH SURROUNDING PUBLIC INVESTMENTS DOES LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE.
IF CITY HALL MOVES THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT BELONGS IN DOWNTOWN, IT SHOULD REMAIN WITHIN THE HIGHWAY LOOP, ACCESSIBLE BY TRANSIT, INTEGRATED WITH OUR BUSINESS AND CULTURAL DISTRICTS AND SYMBOLIC OF DALLAS'S COMMITMENT TO ITS URBAN HEART.
PART OF THIS DECISION IS ENSURING THAT WE DO NOT PUT FUTURE LEADERS IN THE SAME TOUGH POSITION DECADES FROM NOW.
GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES REQUIRE GENERATIONAL DECISIONS.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE DDI BOARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR HARD
[00:40:01]
WORK AND YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION.PATRICIA SIMON IS NOT PRESENT.
WHILE MR. BALK IS COMING FORWARD, I WILL ASK VALLETTA THE HONORABLE VALLETTA, FORSYTH LI AND RENEE SCHMIDT TO COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST REP.
I LIVE AT 1 5 7 4 6 COVE WOOD CIRCLE, DALLAS, TEXAS.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M NOT HERE TO REPEAT THE MANY SUBSTANTIVE ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE ABANDONMENT AND DEMOLITION OF CITY HALL.
OTHERS WILL SPEAK TO THOSE ISSUES.
I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE PROCESS AND AS A COUNTERPOINT TO WHAT YOU JUST HEARD, I WOULD ARGUE THE PROCESS IS NOT GOING WELL.
FRANKLY, THE PROCESS UNDER WHICH IS YOUR CONTROL IS FALLING SHORT.
IT'S BEING RUSHED AND NOT MAKING, NOT BEING FULLY TRANSPARENT BY NOT FOSTERING A ROBUST PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND BY NOT SEEKING MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT EXPERT OPINIONS ON THE SCOPE AND COST OF THEIR PAYERS.
YOU'RE SQUANDERING PUBLIC TRUST.
THE PROCESS ITSELF SHOULD NOT BE AS CONTENTIOUS AS THE OUTCOME.
IF THE PROCESS IS CLEAR, OPEN AND WELL DOCUMENTED, PEOPLE MAY STILL DISAGREE WITH THE FINAL DECISION, BUT AT LEAST THEY'LL UNDERSTAND THE INPUTS THAT LED TO IT.
THAT TRANSPARENCY BUILDS CREDIBILITY AND ACCEPTANCE.
RIGHT NOW THERE IS UNNECESSARY SUSPICION SURROUNDING THIS DECISION.
THE DISCIPLINE TRANSPARENT PROCESS, A DISCIPLINE TRANSPARENT PROCESS WOULD REMOVE MUCH OF THAT DOUBT.
SLOW DOWN, OPEN IT UP, GET THE FACTS FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES AND THEN YOU LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY AND ULTIMATELY PLEASE RETURN THE COUNCIL'S FOCUS TO THE CORE RESPONSIBILITIES.
WE ELECTED YOU TO HANDLE FUNDING LIBRARIES, ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY AND MANAGING THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THIS CITY.
HONORABLE VALLETTA FORSYTH LI, MAYOR COUNCIL.
MS. TOLBERT, MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES AS A PERSON WHO USUALLY HAS LOTS TO SAY, I STRUGGLE TO ARTICULATE ALL MY CONCERNS TODAY AS THEY ARE MULTILAYERED AND COMPLEX.
WHILE THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS A SPORTS TEAM, I WILL LEAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS TO OTHERS.
THERE IS LOADS OF DATA FOR YOUR DECISION MAKING.
BEYOND THAT CONCERN IS MY CONCERN ABOUT ACCESSIBLE TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT AS WE AS THERE MAY NEVER BE ANOTHER CITY HALL, WILL OUR GOVERNMENT BE OPEN TO, THE PEOPLE WILL BE ACCESSIBLE AND WILL WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC PLAZA TO CELEBRATE, TO GRIEVE, TO PROTEST THAT THERE IS A COST OF THAT INACCESSIBILITY THAT FOR THE GOVERNMENT SPACE YOU'LL BE RENTING IT IN PERPETUITY.
WE WILL NOT HAVE EXPLORED THE TRUE COST OF DEPARTURE OR A DEMOLITION TO YOUR GENERAL FUND.
THERE IS THE LOSS OF THE ARCHITECTURAL CIVIC AND CULTURAL HERITAGE.
FINALLY, THERE IS A PLAN FOR OUR DOWNTOWN.
THIS DISCUSSION IS BEING DRIVEN BY THE ECONOMICS OF PERSONAL WEALTH.
RATHER THAN THE VALUE OF HUMAN SCALE, URBAN PLANNING, OUR DOWNTOWN SHOULD BE CONNECTED AND ACTIVATED THROUGHOUT.
THIS IS NOT AN EITHER OR, IT'S AN AND THIS IS A TIME TO HIRE AN URBAN PLANNER, NOT A DEVELOPER.
DO NOT TODAY ALLOW THIS TO BE A DEATH NAIL FOR OUR SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.
RENE RENE SCHMIDT, 7 1 5 PARK IN DALLAS.
[00:45:01]
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU.PLEASE DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THE DEMOLISHING CITY HALL.
THIS ICONIC BUILDING IS THE HEART OF DALLAS.
A SYMBOL OF THIS GREAT CITY KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
CAN YOU IMAGINE BERLIN WITHOUT THE GRANBERG GATE PARIS, WITHOUT THE EIFFEL TOWER OR LONDON WITHOUT BIG BEND? IT IS UNTHINKABLE THAT DALLAS WOULD EVEN CONSIDER TEARING DOWN ITS ICONIC A WARD I AM PAY ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE.
WHY HAS THE CITY NOT MAINTAINED IT ALL THESE YEARS? WHY IS IT SO CRUCIAL NOW SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY FANFARE THAT ELEMENTS IN THE CITY WISHED TO DEMOLISH IT RATHER THAN REPAIR IT? THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT IN PART AS A UNIFYING SYMBOL.
AFTER THE ASSASSINATION OF JFK, THE CITY LOOKED FORWARD WITH THE VISION OF GREATNESS AND UNITY.
THE CONVERSATION SHOULD BE HOW TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN IT NOT DESTROY THIS EMBRYONIC ICON OF DALLAS.
WHY IS THIS VOTE BEING RUSHED? WHAT ARE THE EXPENSES OF BUILDING AND DESIGNING A NEW CITY HALL? AT A MINIMUM, THERE SHOULD BE MORE TIME FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION AND PERHAPS A VOTE BY THE ENTIRE ELECTORATE OF DALLAS.
IT IS OUR BUILDING, OUR HEART, OUR SOUL, AND OUR TAX DOLLARS.
WHILE MS. MICHAELS IS COMING FORWARD, I'LL ASK THAT CHARLES BROWER AND JOANNA HAMPTON, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST ROW.
UM, I'VE LIVED, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AS WELL AS FOR HERITAGE JOE CLIFF OF WHICH I'M PRESIDENT.
I'VE LIVED IN DALLAS ALL MY LIFE AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING MOVE SO FAST WITH SPEED.
LIGHTNING THROUGH CITY HALL JUST 13 DAYS FROM THE TIME OF THE REPORT WAS MADE PUBLIC 13 DAYS NOW FOR THE VOTE.
THIS FACT ALONE COULD CAUSE YOU TO VOTE NO.
IT WOULD BE LUDICROUS TO DO OTHERWISE.
TOO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
COST OF REPAIRING AND REMODELING CITY HALL, YOU HAVE NO CLUE THE COST OF RELOCATING CITY HALL OVER A 20 YEAR PERIOD.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF THE COST TO TEAR DOWN CITY HALL.
BEN HENDERSON'S POST IS EYEOPENING.
HIS POST ALONE SHOULD GET YOU TO VOTE NO.
REGARDING TEARING DOWN CITY HALL.
THE COST VERY WELL MAY BE $1 BILLION.
EVEN THOUGH MOST OF YOU NEVER ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF REPAIRING CITY HALL.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A REMODELED BUILDING RIGHT HERE IN DALLAS.
THE SAME COULD BE DONE WITH CITY HALL.
IT WAS THE LARGEST HISTORIC RENOVATION OF A COUNTY BUILDING IN TEXAS HISTORY.
THE DALLAS COUNTY RECORDS BUILDING ONCE CRUMBLING STRUCTURE WITH OVER A THIRD OF ITS SPACE UNUSABLE AND IN DESPERATE NEED OF RESTORATION.
NOW IT IS ONE OF THE MOST MODERN AND EFFICIENT FACILITIES IN THE COUNT IN THE COUNTY'S REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO.
NO MAJOR UPGRADES HAD BEEN DONE IN THE BUILDING IN OVER 50 YEARS AND THE COMPLEX HAD TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
IT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE NEEDS FROM PLANNING TO COMPLETION.
THE PROJECT TOOK ALMOST SEVEN YEARS BECAUSE IT'S A HISTORICAL BUILDING.
HISTORICAL AGENCIES HAD TO CONSULT AND AND APPROVE STRUCTURAL AND FACADE IMPROVEMENTS.
IT HAD ASBESTOS AND LEAD PAINT, WHICH WAS CAREFULLY REMOVED, EVEN ADDED THE SEVENTH FLOOR.
THE BUILDING, THE RECORDS BUILDING IS A LEADERSHIP AND ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEAD SILVER CERTIFIED STRUCTURE IN THE FIRST GOVERNMENT BUILDING IN THE STATE.
TO OBTAIN THE WELL BUILDING STANDARD CERTIFICATION FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING, IT'S COST 200 MILLION, NOT 1 BILLION.
ALSO PLEASE SEE HOW BOSTON REFURBISHED AND REMODELED THEIR CITY HALL WITH WHICH IS A BRUTALIST DESIGN AND MOST COMPARABLE TO THE DALLAS CITY HALL IN AGE IN AGRICULTURE IN ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE IN 2022, MAJOR INNOVATION WERE COMPLETED FOR 95 MILLION.
UH, YOU WANT, OH, I MEAN THE MAVERICKS ONE.
OH WAIT, NOW IT'S THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT IS DERIVING THE NEED TO RELOCATE CITY HALL.
PLEASE LOOK AT ZDA ZORA'S PRESENTATION THAT SHE GAVE TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
IT GIVES A VERY GOOD PLAN OF HOW YOU CAN USE THE MIXED USE PROJECT LAND AROUND CITY HALL WITH THE DEMOLITION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.
AND LOOK, YOU STILL GET CITY HALL AND YOU CAN EVEN HAVE A SPACE FOR THE MAVS ARENA.
PLEASE, I BEG YOU, DO NOT MAKE A HORRIFIC MISTAKE TODAY.
RELOCATING AND TEARING DOWN THE PEOPLE'S BUILDING THE DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE CITY OF DALLAS BY LOSING CITY HALL WOULD BE UNFATHOMABLE AND IR, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL ALLOWING TIME FOR ME TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
I'M CHARLES BROWER, I'M RESIDENT OF OF UH, DISTRICT
[00:50:01]
13 AND MY WIFE AND I MOVED BACK TO DALLAS IN 2016 AFTER GRADUATING FROM SMU IN THE EIGHTIES AND WORKING IN LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK.OVER A COUPLE OF DECADES WE'VE BEEN WELCOMED WARMLY BY OLD AND NEW FRIENDS ALIKE AND, UH, WE'RE MEMBERS OF SEVERAL CIVIC AND AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN TOWN.
MORE THAN 60 YEARS AGO, THIS CITY FOUND RENEWAL AND HOPE AFTER EXPERIENCING A SERIOUS CRISIS IN 1963.
AT THE TIME, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR JAY ERIC JOHNSON KNEW THEY NEEDED TO BUILD A BOLD CREATIVE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
THEY RALLIED AROUND A NEW VISION FOR DALLAS, PROCLAIMING THAT OUR EFFORTS SHOULD BE TO BUILD OUR CITY, NOT NECESSARILY INTO A BIGGER ONE, BUT ALWAYS A BETTER ONE.
THAT VISION FOR DALLAS FEATURED SYMBOLS FOR REBIRTH AND OPPORTUNITY, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CITY HALL WE'RE IN TODAY AFTER SE SELECTING WORLD CLASS ARCHITECT IM PAY MAYOR JOHNSON AND SEVERAL CITY LEADERS DELIVERED TO DALLAS.
WHAT HAS BECOME AN ICON AND A CIVIC CENTERPIECE.
OVER TIME, THE STRUCTURES PLAYED HOST TO GLOBAL, NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEADERS AND MANY, MANY SUCCESSES.
TODAY, CITY HALL IS USED WEEKLY AS A HOST A MYRIAD ACTIVITIES AND HAS BECOME ARGUABLY THE CENTER AND SOUL OF OUR CITY.
BOTH THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT YOU JUST HEARD AND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES THAT I LIVED IN HAVE FACED SIMILAR CHALLENGES THAT NOW FACE US.
THEY BOTH CHOSE TO RENOVATE AND RENEW EXISTING STRUCTURES TO NOT ABANDON THE SOUL OF THE CITY.
WE'D BE WISE TO FOLLOW THEIR LEAD AND CONSIDER A PROPER TRANSPARENT APPROACH TO RENOVATION THAT DOES NOT DIMINISH THE YEARS OF EFFORT THAT HAVE RESULTED IN CITY HALL.
BEING THE CIVIC SOUL OF DALLAS, I WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH TWO THOUGHTS FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, I'D ASK THE COUNCIL TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER RENOVATION AND REUSE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SEVERAL PROMINENT ARCHITECTS IN TOWN WHO'VE OFFERED UP THEIR TIME AND IDEAS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, FROM A FIDUCIARY PERSPECTIVE, I'D ASK THIS COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER A FLAWED AND INACCURATE FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT AND TO PULL TOGETHER AN INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT WAS ASSEMBLED UNDER MAYOR JOHNSON YEARS AGO, KEEPING THE SOLE OF THIS BUILDING IN PLACE.
THE DECISION YOU MAKE TODAY TO ABANDON THE CIVIC AND CULTURAL LANDMARK WILL HAVE REPERCUSSIONS IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE FOR YEARS TO COME.
PLEASE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, JOANNE HAMPTON, 5 4 0 8 SWISS AVENUE.
AS YOU CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF CITY HALL, THE CHOICE IS NOT BETWEEN A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN AND THE STATUS QUO.
THERE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT THEMES FROM ALL ADVOCATES, INCLUDING FOSTERING A VIBRANT AND ACTIVATED DOWNTOWN AND ARENA ENVIRONMENT, ENVIR, POTENTIALLY ENTERTAINMENT ENVIRONMENT, BUILDING ON CURRENT PUBLIC INVESTMENTS, RECONNECTING DOWNTOWN TO THE CEDARS IN SOUTH DALLAS AND CREATING A DOWNTOWN THAT ATTRACTS AND KEEPS BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS AND OUR CITY SPORTS FRANCHISES.
BUT THE MATTER BEFORE YOU TODAY IS BASED ON ANALYSIS REPORTS WITH SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS REGARDING THE DATA.
AS STATED BY MANY, THE AVAILABLE DATA DOES NOT SUPPORT THE COST ESTIMATES WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF AN RFP PROCESS TO DEFINE THE PARAMETERS, IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT SO MANY QUESTIONS EXIST.
THE PROPOSED RELOCATION ALSO DOESN'T REFLECT THE NEEDS OF A LARGE WORKFORCE REFLECTED IN THE AT AND T RELOCATION FOR AN HORIZONTALLY INTEGRATED CAMPUS.
THAT LAYOUT EXISTS TODAY IN THIS BUILDING ADDRESS THE EXISTING BUILDING CHALLENGES, WHICH ARE MANY, BUT THOSE WERE CREATED OVER TIME IN PIECEMEAL RENOVATIONS AND COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE SPACE PLANNING PROCESS.
THIS COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE ASKED TO TAKE ACTION ON SUCH A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE WITH QUESTIONABLE DATA IN NO ESTABLISHED VISION OR DEFINED FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE PATH, BENEFITING ALL CITIZENS TO CREATE THE VIBRANT DOWNTOWN.
WE ALL ENVISION MY PERSPECTIVE THE SOLUTION TO DOWNTOWN'S, DALLAS DOWNTOWN'S CHALLENGES SHOULD NOT BE AT THE COST OF THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO AND INSTEAD ALLOW FOR A PLANNING VISION TO ESTABLISH WHAT DOWNTOWN COULD AND SHOULD BE FOR ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS AND TO COMPLETE AN EFFECTIVE INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT GUIDED BY THE CITY'S STANDARD RFP PROCESS THAT WOULD REQUIRE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AND WITHOUT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, THIS WOULD PROVIDE COUNSEL AND ALL CITIZENS
[00:55:01]
A BASIS FOR EVALUATION THAT EVERYONE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN.KAREN MUNCY? YES, KAREN MUNCY 26 14 LAKE FOREST COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE.
IT IS BEYOND BELIEF THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL WOULD SEE THE ABANDONMENT OF OUR CITY HALL AS NOTHING BUT A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION AND A LOGISTICS CHALLENGE.
A CITY HALL IS NOT JUST ANOTHER BUILDING, IT IS THE CENTER AND HEART OF A COMMUNITY.
IT'S PRESENCE AND STABILITY ARE ESSENTIAL CITIZEN ACCESS TO AND PARTICIPATION IN THEIR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY ISSUES.
AS PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE NOTED, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY POSSIBLE LOCATION FOR A NEW SPORTS FACILITY, NOT EVEN THE ONLY ONE DOWNTOWN.
IT JUST SEEMED TO BE THE EASIEST ONE TO ACQUIRE WITHOUT A FIGHT OR EVEN MUCH THOUGHT BEYOND.
HOW TO SNEAK IT THROUGH AS QUICKLY AND QUIETLY AS POSSIBLE.
PLEASE STEP ON THE BRAKES AND GIVE THIS HUGELY IMPORTANT PROPOSAL THE CONSIDERATION AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IT DESERVES.
WHILE MR BOX IS COMING FORWARD, I'LL ASK MEREDITH JONES AND AS THE ALVAREZ TO COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST ROW.
I'M A THIRD GENERATION DALLAS HEIGHT, BORN AT BAYLOR HOSPITAL.
I'M A FORMER DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS FOR THE GREATER DALLAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE DALLAS PRESS CLUB.
MY FATHER HAL BOX WAS A PARTNER IN THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM, PRATT BOX AND HENDERSON.
HE WAS INVOLVED IN GOLDS FOR DALLAS AND WAS THERE FOR THE 1970 UNVEILING OF THE MODEL.
HE POINTED TO THE STREET IN FRONT AND SAID, THIS WILL BE RENAMED.
I GOT A BIG LAUGH 56 YEARS AGO, PRAT BOX ANDERSON DESIGNED THE GREAT HALL OF THE APPAREL MART, BROOKHAVEN COLLEGE, THE GARDEN CENTER AT FAIR PARK PARK, SAINT STEPHENS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND THE QUADRANGLE.
ON HIS LAST TRIP TO DALLAS, I ASKED HIM IF HE WANTED TO DRIVE BY THE QUADRANGLE AND HE SAID NO.
HE DIDN'T WANNA SEE WHAT WAS DESTROYED BY DEVELOPERS AND THAT THE BEST PART OF THE DESIGN WAS THE LARGE PLAZA IN FRONT.
THIS PLAZA WAS REPLACED FOR THE 12 STORY OFFICE BUILDING.
THE SAME THING SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING HERE.
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS SEE THE LARGE PLAZA IN FRONT AND BELIEVE THAT THAT SPACE SHOULD BE MONETIZED.
MY FATHER BELIEVED THAT GREAT CITIES NEED GATHERING PLACES.
A PLAZA IS NOT AN EMPTY SPACE, IT IS A CIVIC SPACE.
IT'S WHERE A CITY SEES ITSELF.
I ASK THAT THIS COUNCIL TABLE THE MOTION TO DEMOLISH THIS GREAT BUILDING.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF US TODAY.
MY NAME IS MEREDITH JONES AND I CURRENTLY LIVE IN DISTRICT 14.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN DALLAS AND I WORK IN URBAN DESIGN AND PLANNING.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN FAVOR OF SAVING CITY HALL.
PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME KNOW MY TWO FAVORITE THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ARCHITECTURE AND SPORTS.
I'VE BEEN SADDENED BY THIS CONVERSATION AT HAND, NOT AT THE THOUGHT OF LOSING ONE OF THESE LOVES, BUT AT THE CONTINUED PATTERN OF A LACK OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CREATIVITY IN SOLVING ISSUES IN OUR CITY.
THIS FABRICATED NEED FOR A RUSH TIMELINE HAS TURNED WHAT COULD BE A VISIONARY AND PARTICIPATORY DISCUSSION INTO ONE OF EXTREMES.
THE QUESTION IS NOT TO SAVE CITY HALL OR TO SAVE THE MAVS, AND IT IS NOT TO SAVE CITY HALL OR TO SAVE DOWNTOWN.
THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE TURN THAT PLAZA BACK INTO A BEACH? I'M ONLY PARTIALLY KIDDING.
THERE IS NO DOUBT A NEED TO REIMAGINE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
HOWEVER, THIS CAN BE DONE WITHOUT ABANDONING CITY HALL AND INSTEAD HIGHLIGHTING IT AND THE PLAZA AS THE ASSET THEY ARE.
THE THOUGHT OF LOSING THIS BUILDING AND LAND IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY TO PRIVATE INTERESTS IS DISHEARTENING.
AND AS A FULLY PAID OFF CITY ASSET, IT IS UNFAIR TO PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF DIAL SITES.
WHAT MAKES CITIES BEAUTIFUL ARE THE LAYERS BUILT OVER TIME.
WE DO NOT NEED TO START FROM SCRATCH, BUT BUILD UPON WHAT IS HERE.
I'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL MEETINGS ABOUT CITY HALL SINCE NOVEMBER, AND A LOT OF REALLY BEAUTIFUL STORIES WERE SHARED ABOUT WHAT THIS BUILDING AND PLAZA MEAN TO BOTH THE CITY AND INDIVIDUALS.
UNFORTUNATELY, VERY FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE AT THESE MEETINGS AND NOW THE CONVERSATION IS CENTERED AROUND A FINANCIAL REPORT THAT MANY HAVE POINTED OUT TO BE FLAWED AND MISLEADING.
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PLEASE TABLE THIS VOTE TODAY.TAKE THE TIME TO PLAN EFFICIENT RENOVATIONS OF THIS BUILDING.
ENVISION A MORE VIBRANT PLAZA AND NEIGHBORHOOD, INCENTIVIZE THE MAVERICKS TO MOVE ELSEWHERE IN DALLAS.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, PLEASE INVITE THE PEOPLE TO CO-CREATE THE FUTURE WITH YOU.
ASEL ALVAREZ, ALVAREZ, DISTRICT NINE.
I'M ONE OF THE LA YOUNGER LATINO RESIDENTS SPEAKING OUT TONIGHT.
UH, AND LIKE MANY PEOPLE IN MY GENERATION, I WILL LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS BUILDING LONG AFTER THIS DEBATE IS OVER.
EVERYONE AGREES CITY HALLS HAS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ISSUES.
THE ROOF, EMERGENCY POWER, HVAC, IT'S ACTUALLY COLD IN HERE TODAY.
UM, CLEARLY THE NEED ATTENTION, BUT TONIGHT, UH, WE ARE NOT JUST DECIDING HOW TO REPAIR A BUILDING.
WE ARE DECIDING WHETHER TO PERMANENTLY RELOCATE THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AND POTENTIALLY REDEVELOP ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CIVIC SITES IN DALLAS BASED ON A $1 BILLION HEADLINE THAT BUNDLE BUNDLES, REPAIRS, MODERNIZATION, FINANCING, RELOCATION AND TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES ALL INTO ONE THAT IS NOT A FACILITIES DECISION.
THAT IS A GENERATIONAL DECISION ABOUT LAND GOVERNANCE IN THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS, AND WE ARE ALREADY SEEING HOW QUICKLY THE STAKES AROUND THIS SITE ARE ESCALATING.
JUST YESTERDAY, THE CEO OF THE DALLAS MAVERICK SAID THAT THERE IS NO DEAL AND NO PROJECT TIED TO CITY HALL, BUT HE ALSO SAID SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.
HE SAID, THE DOMINOES WILL FALL BASED ON WHAT THE CITY DECIDES HERE.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THIS CHAMBER DETERMINES WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS LAND.
AND ONCE THOSE DOMINOES START FALLING, THEY'RE GONNA BE VERY HARD TO STOP BECAUSE THIS BUILDING IS NOT JUST REAL ESTATE.
THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND THE PEOPLE DESERVE NUMBERS THAT THEY CAN TRUST BEFORE THE CITY STARTS TALKING ABOUT MOVING OUT OF IT.
THERE'S ALSO PUBLIC SAFETY QUESTION HERE TOO.
IF PROPOSALS INVOLVE RELOCATING CRITICAL OPERATIONS LIKE 9 1 1, THIS CITY COUNCIL SHOULD ASK WHAT CONTINU CONTINUING PLAN EXISTS TO GUARANTEE UNINTERRUPTED EMERGENCY SERVICE DURING ANY TRANSITION? THE PUBLIC DESERVES AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
SO FIRST COMMISSION, AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY FACILITY CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND COST VALIDATION, NOT CONSULTANTS CONNECTED TO REDEVELOPMENT INTEREST.
A TRULY INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING REVIEW USING FULLY IN FULL INDUSTRY STANDARDS, NOT LIMITED SITE SURVEYS.
THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO WOULD VOLUNTEER RIGHT TO CONDUCT THIS RIGHT.
SECOND, SEPARATE CORRECTIVE REPAIRS FROM MODERNIZATION UPGRADES.
AND THIRD, IF A RELOCATION IS PURSUED, REQUIRE A PUBLIC LAND VALUATION AND REDEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK BEFORE ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SELLING OR REDEVELOPING THIS SITE.
AGAIN, BECAUSE BEFORE DALLAS EVEN CONSIDERS LEAVING THE BUILDING, THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW THE VALUE OF THIS LAND THAT WE ARE GIVING UP.
THIS DOES NOT DELAY NECESSARY REPAIRS.
SO FIX WHAT MUST BE FIXED, BUT DO NOT RUSH TO REALLOCATE THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE BASED ON BUNDLED NUMBERS.
DALLAS DESERVES A CAREFUL DECISION, NOT A FAST ONE.
WHILE MR. MATTHEWS IS COMING FORWARD, I'LL ASK THAT RAVI PAUL SURETY AND DAMIEN LEVIT.
COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST ROW.
MAYOR JOHNSON, I WOULD LIKE TO BE POLITE, BUT IT'S HARD TO HIDE MY ANGER.
JUST AS I BELIEVE IT'S HARD FOR EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WHO SUPPORTS KEEPING OUR CITY HALL.
THERE IS NO ONE IN THIS ROOM WITHOUT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WHO'S SUPPORTING CITY HALL DOES NOT HAVE A FINANCIAL CONNECTION.
WE ARE HERE AT OUR OWN EXPENSE.
WE WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS CITY HALL.
WE CANNOT SAY THAT FOR THE OTHER SIDE.
NO ONE WHO IS INFORMED, NO ONE WHO IS INFORMED ABOUT THIS CITY KNOWS THE HISTORY OF THE CITY, KNOWS ABOUT THIS CITY HALL BELIEVES THE FIGURES THAT WERE ADOPTED AND PRESENTED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
WHEN THIS CITY HALL WAS DREAMED OF AND BUILT OVER 50 YEARS AGO, IT WAS NOT JUST A COUNCIL, IT WAS NOT JUST MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON.
IT WAS TWO MAYORS, FIRST OF ALL.
AND IT WAS CITIZENS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY WHO MET FOR YEARS, WHO MET FOR YEARS TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT THIS CITY TO BE.
I WAS AMONG THE THOUSANDS THAT GREETED PRESIDENT KENNEDY.
THE CITY WAS BROKEN EVEN THEN, EVEN BEFORE HE WAS
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KILLED.BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU THE KIND OF PAIN THIS CITY WENT THROUGH FOR YEARS.
AND THIS CITY HALL WAS NOT JUST ABOUT REPAIRING THAT, BUT IT WAS PRESENTING A NEW DALLAS TO THE WORLD.
THERE IS NOT A CITY IN THIS WORLD THAT IS KNOWN BY ITS ARENA.
YOU MAY SAY ROME, BUT THEY WERE DISMANTLING THAT ONE BRICK BY BRICK.
THE, UH, THE PANTHEON IN ROME, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS BUILDING IN ROME, IS MADE OUT OF WHAT POURED CONCRETE AND IT HAS STOOD FOR 2000 YEARS.
WE KNOW WHAT THIS IS ABOUT AND WE KNOW WHAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT.
I TRUST YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
YOU'RE OUR COUNCIL PEOPLE AND TRUST US TO GIVE YOU INPUT.
DAMIEN LEVEQUE IS NOT PRESENT.
OKAY, MR. LEVEQUE, YOU MAY BEGIN.
WE WILL COME BACK TO MR. LEVE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KATHY KAUFMAN AND AM I'M AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO SLOW THIS DOWN.
WE SHOULD NOT TEAR DOWN THE PEOPLE'S BUILDING IN A RUSHED EFFORT TO INCENTIVIZE THE MAVERICKS TO STAY IN DALLAS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ALTERNATIVES EXIST.
VALLEY VIEW OFFERS MORE THAN 110 ACRES OF VACANT BUILD READY LAND AT THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE 35, WHICH BY THE WAY IS DOUBLE DECKED FROM CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY ALL THE WAY OUT TOWARDS THE AIRPORT AND THE DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY, IT SITS AT THE CROSSROADS OF NORTH DALLAS AND THE BOOMING NORTHERN SUBURBS.
IT IS ACCESSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE READY AND LARGE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY MEET THE ACREAGE REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY DISCUSSED FOR A MODEM, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY FOR A MODERN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT INTO TROUBLESHOOT.
IF THIS CONVERSATION IS TRULY IN KEEPING WITH THE MAVERICKS ABOUT KEEPING THE MAVERICKS IN DALLAS, THEN LET'S PURSUE THE SITE.
I AM A NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE OF VALUE AND HAVE SAT AND LOOKED AT THE UGLINESS OF THAT FOR MORE YEARS THAN I CAN HEAR TO TALK ABOUT.
AND HERE'S THE PART THAT MAKES THIS A WIN-WIN.
THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING REVENUE GENERATED BY A VALUE REDEVELOPMENT COULD BE DIRECTED TO SUPPORT INVESTMENT IN SOUTHERN DALLAS.
INSTEAD OF CONCENTRATING OPPORTUNITY IN ONE AREA, THRIVING CORRIDOR, WE COULD LEVERAGE GROWTH IN NORTH DALLAS TO DRIVE RESOURCES WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST.
WHAT WE CANNOT DO IS RUSH A VOTE TO DEMOLISH THE PEOPLE'S BUILDING WITHOUT MEANINGFUL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
PEOPLE ACROSS POLITICAL PARTIES, ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS AND ACROSS ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS ARE UNITED IN ONE THING.
THE SPEED OF THIS PROCESS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
IF YOU THINK RESIDENTS WERE UPSET ABOUT THE LUCA TRADE, WAIT UNTIL YOU VOTE TO TEAR DOWN CITY HALL WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY AND DELIBERATION.
NOTHING ABOUT THIS HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE.
LET THE PUBLIC WEIGH IN AND VOTE AND DO NOT TEAR DOWN OUR PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
I'VE BEEN IN A HISTORIC PRESERVATION 30 YEARS NOW WORKING TO SAVE HISTORIC BUILDING AND IT'S VERY HEARTENING TO SEE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE BEHIND ME WITH THE BLUE STICKERS SAYING, SAVE CITY HALL.
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BUILDING THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS GET THE LOVE.UM, IT'S HARD WHEN YOU HAVE CONCRETE TO LOVE, BUT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE AND ICONIC BUILDING FOR DALLAS AND I WANTED TO GIVE Y'ALL A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE TO THIS BUILDING.
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THE 1966 GOALS FOR DALLAS HELPED ESTABLISH THIS BUILDING AS A REACTION TO THE DEATH OF THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY, AND AS A WAY TO REINVENT THE CITY.
AND I WANNA GIVE YOU A QUOTE FROM THE DEDICATION BROCHURE FOR THIS BUILDING.
THE QUOTE IS THE 1966 GOALS FOR DALLAS EXPRESSED WELL.
THE COUNCIL'S DETERMINATION THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD IN SEEING THAT ITS BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES REPRESENT THE HIGHEST ATTAINMENTS IN CIVIC AND DESIGN EXCELLENCE.
WITH THIS NOBLE CHALLENGE IN MIND, THE ARCHITECTS DESIGNED A BUILDING UNIQUE IN STRUCTURE AND INNOVATIVE IN STYLE.
AND THEN MAYOR ROBERT FOLSOM STATED IN THE SAME BROCHURE.
IN THE PRACTICAL SENSE, A GOVERNMENT BUILDING SEEKS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PLACE FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC BUSINESS PUBLIC'S BUSINESS, WHILE ENHANCING THE EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO WORK THERE.
IN AN IDEALISTIC SENSE, PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE HAS ANOTHER AIM TO REFLECT CIVIC ASPIRATIONS.
WE THINK THE CITY HALL FULFILLS THE HIGHEST PURPOSES OF PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE AND CITY MANAGER GEORGE R SCHRADER STATED IN THE BROCHURE BEYOND THE CITY'S HALL'S, DISTINCTIVE APPEARANCE IS A WORKABLE STRUCTURE FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS OF DALLAS DALLAS'S MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
THE BUILDING'S INTERIOR WAS DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE 400 1400 WORKSTATIONS.
WITH THE FLEXIBILITY FOR FUTURE EXPANSION.
THE STRUCTURE IS MORE THAN JUST AN OFFICE BUILDING, IT'S A PUBLIC BUILDING.
AS SUCH, IT WILL BE THE FOCAL POINT FOR CIVIC AFFAIRS PROVIDING MEETING SPACE FOR CIVIC ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATIONS, AND DISPLAY FOR AREAS FOR CITYWIDE PROJECTS OF ART.
ENHANCING THE PUBLIC ASPECT IS THE 4.7 ACRE PARK PLAZA, A NATURAL ATTRACTION FOR STROLLERS WITH ITS NATIVE TEXAS TREES REFLECTING POOL, FOUNTAIN, AND SCULPTURE.
IN SHORT, DALLAS CITY HALL IS A FACILITY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
AS YOU ARE MAKING THIS DECISION TODAY TO START THE PROCESS OF LEAVING THIS ICONIC STRUCTURE, I ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPETUS FOR THIS BUILDING AND THE DESIRE OF PAST CITY LEADERS TO CREATE A BUILDING THAT IS A STATEMENT FOR DALLAS OF ITS CIVIC PRIDE AND DESIRE TO BE A GREAT CITY.
THEN ASK YOURSELF WHAT CITY HALL AND A NONDESCRIPT OFFICE TOWER WOULD SAY ABOUT THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE CITY.
WE CAN BE A GREAT CITY WITH PAYS, CITY HALL BUILDING INTACT MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT SURROUNDING IT, A REVITALIZED CONVENTION CENTER AND THE MAVERICKS ARENA IN BETWEEN ALL OF THAT.
WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO SPEAKER 29, DAMIEN LEVEQUE, WHO'S VIRTUAL? MR. LEVEQUE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
UH, DAMIEN LEVE, 62 15 GEORGIAN COURT.
TODAY I AM SPEAKING TO THOSE OF YOU IN C CITY LEADERSHIP WHO'VE BEEN PUSHING TO SCRAP CITY HALL FROM THE VERY BEGINNING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
AND WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
WE ALL WANNA KEEP THE MAPS IN DALLAS, BUT IF THAT WERE TRULY THE STORY HERE, WE WOULD BE HAVING AN OPEN PUBLIC CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO INCENTIVIZE THEM TO STAY.
INSTEAD, WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT A DEAL IS BEING BROKERED OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW, HIDDEN BEHIND A MANUFACTURED CRISIS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF CITY HALL.
THIS DISCREDITED $1 BILLION ASSESSMENT PROVIDED FOR FREE BY CONFLICTED PARTIES HAS ZERO CREDIBILITY WITH THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THE GASLIGHTING STRATEGY IS DEEPLY OFFENSIVE TO ASSUME THAT WE WOULD JUST NOT OUR HEADS AND GO ALONG WITH IT, UNDERMINES THIS COMMUNITY AND OUR COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE.
BUT FINE, I'LL GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND ASSUME YOU'RE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY.
IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MAKE US FEEL BETTER? THIS CITY HAS AN ABYSMAL TRACK RECORD WHEN IT COMES TO REAL ESTATE DEALS.
THE HOSPITAL ON SOUTH HAMPTON, WHICH WILL NEVER RECOUP OUR COSTS ON THE LEMON ON STEMMONS, THE $5 BILLION CONVENTION CENTER BOONDOGGLE, WHICH STILL DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A FINAL BUDGET.
THE WINGS FACILITY, WHICH THE CITY MANAGER TOLD US TO HOLD HER PERSONALLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR.
IF IT DOESN'T OPEN ON TIME NEED I GO ON.
WHY WOULD ANY OF US TRUST YOU TO MAKE DEALS ON OUR BEHALF AFTER SUCH A RECORD OF INCOMPETENCE, NOT JUST IN REAL ESTATE, BUT IN MAINTAINING THE CITY'S ASSETS, KEEPING AT AND T AND MANAGING THE DART SITUATION? MAINTENANCE OF CITY BUILDINGS FALLS SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF OUR CITY MANAGER WHO HAS WORKED FOR DALLAS LONGER THAN ANYONE SITTING AT THIS HORSESHOE.
WE ALL WANNA SEE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZED.
WE ALL WANNA SEE DOWNTOWN DALLAS THRIVE, BUT THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT.
A YES VOTE TODAY IS A CAREER DEFINING CHOICE.
HANDING THIS BUILDING OVER TO PRIVATE INTERESTS WILL PERMANENTLY STAIN YOUR RECORD.
AND GIVEN HOW THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS MISHANDLED PAST REAL ESTATE DEALS, WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS ONE WILL BE NO DIFFERENT EXCEPT FOR ONE THING, IT MAY BE THE FINAL STRAW THAT WAKES THIS CITY UP AND MAKES THEM REALIZE WHO IS REALLY REPRESENTING THEM.
AND IT'S NOT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THEIR OPINIONS
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AND FEEDBACK, UNLESS OF COURSE THEY'RE A BILLIONAIRE DEVELOPER.CAN YOU HEAR ME? HELLO? CAN YOU, MR. TLA, IS MY MICROPHONE ON? WE CAN HEAR YOU.
MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
I AM A DALLAS RESIDENT, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, A TAXPAYER, AND A MEMBER OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION.
THIS IS SIMPLY NOT A FACILITIES DECISION, IT'S A GENERATIONAL CIVIC DECISION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DALLAS CITY HALL.
AND SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD NOT BE RUSHED THROUGH THIS CHAIN.
IT SHOULD BE DECIDED BY THE VOTERS OF DALLAS.
FORMER MAYOR LAURA MILLER RECENTLY REMINDED US THAT DALLAS HAS SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE.
IN THE MID 1990S, DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, CITY STAFF NEGOTIATED A MASSIVE DEAL WHERE CITY COUNCIL WAS LARGELY SHUT OUT OF THE PROCESS.
THE CITY MANAGER LATER LEFT TO WORK FOR THEIR AREA DEVELOPMENT.
THE RESULT WAS A FLAWED DEAL THAT DALLAS TAX PAYERS ARE STILL LIVING WITH TODAY.
THE EXPERIENCE IS EXACTLY WHY DALLAS STRENGTHENED ITS ETHICS CODE AND CREATED DALLAS ETHICS COMMISSION.
WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT CITY HALL IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT THIS MUST HAPPEN, BUT TRANSPARENCY IS MISSING.
REPORTERS HAVE REQUEST THOUSANDS OF EMAILS BETWEEN CITY STAFF DEVELOPERS AND SPORTS TEAMS INVOLVED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS.
THOSE COMMUNICATIONS STILL HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED.
TRUST COLLAPSES WHEN TRANSPARENCY DISAPPEARS.
WE ARE ALSO BEING TOLD THAT CITY HALL IS BEYOND SAVING.
YET THE RECENT CONDITION ASSESSMENT FOUND NO WIDESPREAD STRUCTURAL FAILURES.
AGING INFRASTRUCTURE EXISTS IN NEARLY EVERY SINGLE DOWNTOWN BUILDING OF COMPARABLE SITES.
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS NOT A DEMOLITION WARRANT.
AND LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT THE STAKES.
DALLAS CITY HALL IS NOT JUST ANOTHER OFFICE BUILDING, IT'S THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
IT'S WHERE RESIDENTS GATHER TO PROTEST, TO CELEBRATE, TO MOURN, TO HOLD GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE.
AND AFTER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, IT'S WHERE THE PUBLIC MUST BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR GOVERNMENT OPERATE.
IF YOU BELIEVE DEMOLISHING THIS BUILDING IS THE RIGHT DECISION FOR DALLAS, THEN LET THE OWNERS DECIDE THAT.
HISTORY REMEMBERS VOTES LIKE THIS, AND SO WILL THE PEOPLE ANNOUNCE.
I'M JUST GONNA THANK YOU MS. ELA.
YOUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE BRIAN CARTER.
I DI I DIDN'T CALL YOUR NAME YET.
MS. TOLBERT, YOU HAVE OUR CONDOLENCES.
MY NAME IS REVEREND BRIAN CARTER, AND I SERVE AS THE SENIOR PASTOR OF CONCORD CHURCH AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PASTORS COALITION.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE REDEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS, INCLUDING THE FUTURE OF DALLAS CITY HALL, WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT A BUILDING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VISION IN THE FUTURE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN OPPORTUNITY, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PREPARING DALLAS FOR THE FUTURE.
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE RETHINKING HOW PUBLIC SPACES SERVE PEOPLE BOTH IN MODERN AND A MODERN WORLD.
TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED AS RESIDENTS INTERACT WITH THEIR CITIES.
ACCESS ACCESSIBILITY, EXPECTATIONS OF CHANGE, INFRASTRUCTURE MUST SUPPORT INNOVATION, DIGITAL SERVICES, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF GROWTH.
AND THAT MEANS WE MUST ASK AN HONEST QUESTION.
ARE OUR FACILITIES DESIGNED FOR THE FUTURE? DALLAS IS BECOMING.
IF DALLAS WANTS TO COMPETE WITH THE GREAT CITIES OF THE FUTURE, WE MUST BILL FOR THE FUTURE.
AND WE MAKE WISE DECISIONS ABOUT HIGH VALUE, LAND AND AGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE UNLOCK BIGGER THAN DEVELOPMENT.
WE UNLOCK REVENUE, WE UNLOCK OPPORTUNITY, WE UNLOCK THE ABILITY TO REINVEST ACROSS DALLAS, INCLUDING COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH DALLAS AND SOUTHERN DALLAS THAT HAVE WAITED FAR TOO LONG FOR CONSISTENT REINVESTMENT.
WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN WHAT INTENTIONAL INVESTMENT CAN DO.
CONSIDER REDBIRD RIGHT NEAR OUR CHURCH.
FOR YEARS, PEOPLE WONDERED IF THAT CORRIDOR WOULD EVER COME BACK.
BUT WHEN LEADERS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS
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CHOSE TO INVEST, BRINGING HEALTHCARE, RETAIL, OFFICE SPACE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES TOGETHER, THAT COMMUNITY RESPONDED.WE RESPONDED, MOMENTUM RETURNED ENERGY RETURN AND POSSIBILITY RETURN.
WHEN REAL INVESTMENT SHOWS UP, COMMUNITIES RESPOND.
NOW IMAGINE PAIRING THAT SAME MOMENTUM WITH A FORWARD LOOKING DOWNTOWN, MODERN FACILITIES, TECHNOLOGY READY, READY, INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPROVED ACCESSIBILITY AND REDEVELOPMENT THAT ALLOWS THE CITY TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF ONE OF ITS MOST IMPORTANT SITES.
IMAGINE NEW RESOURCES HELPING TO STRENGTHEN SMALL BUSINESS, IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION, EXPAND OPPORTUNITY, AND CREATE JOBS ACROSS THE DALLAS, INCLUDING IN COMMUNITIES THAT DESERVE GREATER INVESTMENT.
THIS IS NOT AN EITHER OR CONVERSATION.
A THRIVING MODERN DOWNTOWN CAN FUEL A THRIVING SOUTHERN DALLAS AND ULTIMATELY A STRONGER DALLAS FOR EVERYONE.
NOW IS THE TIME TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS THE FUTURE.
THERE ARE WAYS TO STILL MEMORIALIZE THE SPACE IN A SMALLER WAY, BUT WE SHOULD NOT SACRIFICE THE FUTURE OF DALLAS FOR A BUILDING THAT IS COST PROHIBITIVE TO RENOVATE.
WHEN WE INVEST STRATEGICALLY, OPPORTUNITY EXPANDS.
WE MODERNIZE WISELY, WE ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS, AND WE CAN LEAD WITH VISION THAT MOVES FORWARD FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR ENTIRE CITY.
IF DAVID VOSS AND RONNIE MESES COULD COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST ROW, YOU MAY BEGIN.
MS. ROCKWELL, I'M TOLD I I'M THE 33RD SPEAKER, SO I HOPE I CAN TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID OR EMPHASIZE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE OF THIS BUILDING IS AN EXAMPLE.
I'VE ONLY KNOWN OF THIS TWO, TWO WEEKS THAT IT COULD BE POSSIBLY TORN DOWN.
JUST ROCKED ME AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
WHAT DO LA CHICAGO AND NEW YORK CITY HAVE IN COMMON? TOWN HALL? CITY HALL.
WHAT DOES HOUSTON HAVE IN COMMON? ONLY TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
WHAT IS FOR WORTH HAVE IN COMMON? FOUR DISTINCT LOCATIONS FOR CITY HALL.
CAN YOU IMAGINE? AND WE'D EVEN CONSIDER TEARING IT DOWN, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT IT IS AN ARCHITECTURAL DIAMOND.
EVERY DAY PEOPLE WILL DRIVE PAST, OR MAYBE THEY DON'T, MAYBE THEY WALK PAST, MAYBE THEY WORK HERE GOING, THIS IS SPECIAL.
I I WANNA ADDRESS SOME THINGS THAT THAT CAME TO MIND.
UH, PRIMARILY THAT IT, THIS BUILDING IS IN NEGLECT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE TORN DOWN OR RENOVATED OR WHATEVER WE'VE HAD SINCE IT WAS BUILT.
10 MAYORS, 10 CITY MANAGERS, 10.
AND NOW IT'S IN TOTAL DISREPAIR.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IF WE HAD DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BEGIN WITH ALONG THE WAY IN ORDER TO KEEP THIS DIAMOND, WHY NOW? PRIME REAL ESTATE.
THAT'S ANOTHER REASON I'LL TAKE YOU ON A WALK.
AFTER THIS MEETING, I'LL SHOW YOU PLACES THAT REALLY COULD DO WITH SOME DEVELOPMENT.
MANY, MANY PLACES HERE IN DALLAS, THIS PLACE WAS ESTABLISHED TO.
BE THE DIAMOND OF THE HEART OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
MY LAST THOUGHT, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE MANY MORE.
[01:25:04]
DAVID VOSS.I LIVE AT 1 6 5 4 6 OREO DRIVE, DALLAS, TEXAS.
I'VE BEEN COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.
I SPOKE TO THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT 30 DAYS AGO.
I WAS THE FIRST BUILDING MANAGER OF THIS BUILDING IN 1970S WHEN IT OPENED.
AND ME AND MY TEAM, WE ACTUALLY UNVEILED THAT CITY SEAL RIGHT THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SO I'VE GOT A LOT OF HEART AND A LOT OF, UH, MY LIFE IN THIS BUILDING AND I FEEL VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT.
AND I SPOKE TO THOSE EMOTIONS THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE TODAY.
I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THOUGH, NOT MY EMOTIONS.
WHEN I LEFT THE CITY OF DALLAS, I CONTINUED MANAGING BUILDINGS.
I SPENT 40 YEARS PLUS YEARS IN MY CAREER AS A PROFESSIONAL FACILITY MANAGER.
I WAS INVOLVED IN OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, RENOVATIONS OF BUILDINGS, MANY OF WHICH WERE LARGER AND OLDER THAN THIS CITY HALL.
I'VE READ AND EVALUATED HUNDREDS OF FACILITY CONDITION ASSESSMENTS, REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS, PROPOSALS, ESTIMATES, BIDS, CONTRACTS, AND RELATED, RELATED TO BUILDING RENOVATION.
OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE READ THE ASSESSMENT OF DALLAS CITY HALL REPORT THAT WAS DELIVERED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 23RD.
THE ASSESSMENT OF DALLAS CITY HALL SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED AN ACCURATE DECISION, INFORMATION GROUP.
BUT FOR THAT PURPOSE, IT IS FLAWED AND INADEQUATE AT BEST.
FIRST, MANY EVALUATIONS HAVE BEEN RUSHED.
WALKTHROUGHS, VISUAL INSPECTIONS DRIVEN BY ARTIFICIAL DEADLINES, NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE A DECISION.
SECOND, THE PARKING GARAGE, CITY HALL, PLAZA AND REFLECTING POOL HAVE ALL BEEN LUMPED INTO THE PLAN FOR THE CORE BUILDING ITSELF.
IT'S CONFUSING THE INFORMATION AND PLANS.
THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS AT BEST FOR THE GARAGE PLAZA POOL HAVE BEEN MADE BY OBSERVATIONS ONLY WITHOUT DIGGING A HOLE AND LOOKING WITHOUT PERFORMING CORE SAMPLES, WITHOUT USING IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES TO INVESTIGATE THE REBAR AND CONCRETE AND WITHOUT ANALYZING THE WATER, ENTERING THE GARAGE TO DETERMINE IF IT'S RAIN, WATER, POOL, WATER, OR DOMESTIC IRRIGATION WATER NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE A DECISION.
THIRD, NO RATIONAL BUILDING OWNER WOULD ASSUME THAT TO COMPLETE THE LEVEL OF REPAR REPAIRS NEEDED BY THIS CITY HALL, THEY WOULD MOVE EVERYONE OUT OF A 700,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING LEASE SPACE FOR FIVE YEARS TO HOUSE THE FUNCTIONS AND COMPLETELY REFIT THE LEASE SPACE WITH NEW FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENTS PROPERTIES DO STAGED AND STAGGERED RENOVATIONS ALL THE TIME.
ABANDONING CITY HALL FOR REPAIRS IS AN ASSUMPTION TO FIT THE NARRATIVE.
IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE A DECISION.
I BELIEVE THE DECISION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CITY HALL BELONGS WITH THE PEOPLE, NOT THE COUNCIL.
WITH A DETAILED, THOROUGH FACT-BASED INVESTIGATION OF THE ALTERNATIVES, DEVELOPMENT OF A REALISTIC AND EFFECTIVE PROJECT TO REHABILITATE THIS BUILDING FUNDED BY GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROPOSAL.
THAT'S YOUR TIME THAT IS VOTED ON BY THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS.
UH, RONNIE METI, WEST DALLAS, TEXAS 7 5 2 1 2.
UH, THANK YOU FOR APPOINTING ME, COMMISSIONER, AND UH, UH, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
UH, AS A WEST DALLAS RESIDENT.
I, I WANNA MAKE A COUPLE OF THINGS CLEAR.
THIS IS NOT JUST A BUILDING, THIS IS A PIECE OF ART.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT'S RESPECTED BY, I THINK BY ALL DISTRICTS, NOT JUST ONE OR TWO.
UM, I'M GONNA REFERENCE A TRIP, UH, RECENTLY TOOK TO CHICAGO AND A GENTLEMAN SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE PYRAMIDS AND THE EIFFEL TOWER OR, UH, THINGS IN ITALY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT I WENT TO CHICAGO 1967 AND I'M GONNA AGE FOR MYSELF.
THERE WAS A PICASSO PUT IN THE KING DAILY PLAZA, AND I CALL HIM KING DAILY.
'CAUSE KING DALEY, RICHARD DALEY WAS THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO AT THAT TIME, THAT'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1967 IN THAT PLAZA.
I WENT BACK THIS WEEKEND, SAME THING.
I STILL DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS, BUT IT'S THERE.
UH, I WENT TO, UH, AS PART OF MY MILITARY TRAINING, I WENT TO, UH, GOSH, UH, THE BOARDWALK IN, UH, JERSEY CITY, UH, THE TRUMP TOWER WITH THE NEW ONE AT THAT TIME.
NOW IT'S VACANT, IT'S EMPTY, IT'S GONE.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S THINGS THAT DO CHANGE AND SOME THINGS THAT DON'T CHANGE.
THIS DOESN'T NEED TO BE CHANGED, BUT IT DOES, AS A GENTLEMAN JUST SAID, IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S VOTED ON BY THE VOTERS.
NOT, NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM Y'ALL'S RESPONSIBILITY OR WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE, BUT THIS BUILDING BELONGS TO ALL OF US.
EVEN YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, OR I SHOULDN'T EVEN SAY GUYS, YOU CONSOLE PEOPLE.
[01:30:01]
ON THE SIDES.UH, I DON'T KNOW WHO PAYS FOR THOSE, BUT THEY CAN ONLY FILM PARTIAL TRANSPARENCY.
THEY CANNOT FILM HONOR OR INTEGRITY AND THEY CAN'T FILM WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
AND, UH, THE NEXT THING IS WHEN WE'RE FIGHTING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR, YOU KNOW, OR WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE.
BECAUSE IN WEST DALLAS, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED IN WEST ALLISON IS STILL HAPPENING.
WE, WE LOST 200, OVER 200 FAMILIES OVERNIGHT, NOT OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS OVERNIGHT BECAUSE THEY DESERVED A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO WE CAME UP WITH CHAPTER 27, AND THIS IS GONNA PUT A FINE ON ALL THE HOMEOWNERS THAT WERE RENTING.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED? THEY MADE THE RENTERS HOMEOWNERS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD REALLY COULD LOOK AT.
BUT THOSE THINGS TAKE NEGOTIATION AND THEY TAKE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
IT'S JUST NOT JUST UP HERE IN A HORSESHOE.
YOU HAVE TO GO OUT TO YOUR COMMUNITIES.
'CAUSE I SEE CERTAIN SECTIONS OF CERTAIN DISTRICTS, BUT IF THIS INFORMATION IS NOT GOING OUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE IN ALL THE COMMUNITIES, UH, SO AGAIN, I THINK THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING THE DECISION ON THIS BUILDING AND, AND THE, UH, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THE PROCESS BELONGS TO THE VOTERS.
AND I, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
FLEMING MARSH, SCHREYER FLEMING HI THERE.
CAN, AND I'M SURE YOU CAN HEAR ME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ARRANGING THIS VIRTUAL, UM, PRESENTATION, MORRIS SCHREYER FLEMING, DISTRICT 12.
IT IS HORRIFYING THAT CITY COUNCIL WOULD RUSH A DECISION ON CITY HALL'S FUTURE.
YOU HAVE HEARD HOW MANY CITIZENS OPPOSE DESTROYING AN IMA DESIGN BUILDING.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO EXAMINE THE MAINTENANCE EXPENSES THAT ARE OVERSEEN BY CITY MANAGEMENT AND THAT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
LETTING NOT ONE, NOT JUST ONE, BUT TWO BUILDINGS DETERIORATE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF MAINTENANCE IS VERY CONCERNING.
FIRST WAS THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE I MPE CITY HALL EUROPE'S BUILDINGS LAST HUNDREDS OF YEARS, SOME EVEN THOUSANDS.
WHY CAN'T DALLAS GET A BUILDING TO LAST 50 YEARS? I THINK YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THESE VERY IMPORTANT BUILDINGS AND MAKE THE NEEDED ADJUSTMENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I JUST WANTED, I'VE LISTENED TO EVERYBODY AND I WANNA SAY ONE THING THAT YOU ALL PROBABLY DON'T KNOW WHY WAS I AM PAY BILL SELECTED FOR THIS BUILDING BECAUSE WE HAD SHOT PRESIDENT KENNEDY.
I MPE DESIGNED THE KENNEDY LIBRARY WHEN HE WAS YOUNG.
THIS WAS DALLAS'S WAY TO MAKE US RECOGNIZE HOW WRONG THEY WERE TO BE CALLED THE CITY OF HATE, WHICH WE WERE CALLED.
I AM SAD THAT YOU ALL HAVE THOUGHT THAT YOU ARE NOT, THAT YOU ALL WANNA TEAR THIS DOWN.
IT GOES BACK TO PROBABLY GEORGE SCHRADER WHO WAS CITY MANAGER WHEN THIS WAS BUILT.
I LIVE IN A HOUSE THAT SOME OF YOU ALL HAVE BEEN TO.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF I DON'T HAVE A WORKMAN THERE ONCE A WEEK OR ONCE EVERY OTHER WEEK, SOMETHING IS BROKEN.
YOU ALL, EACH COUNCIL CANNOT BIND ANOTHER COUNCIL.
THAT'S WRONG BECAUSE YOU MAKE DECISIONS THAT BIND US AND YOU BIND THE CITIZENS.
WHY DON'T YOU ALL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS
[01:35:01]
BEAUTIFUL BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT DURING A VERY BRUTAL TIME OF DALLAS? I AM SORRY, BUT I TOTALLY HOPE YOU ALL WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION, NOT AN ECONOMIC ONE.BRETT SHIP 1902 MARYDALE INVESTIGATIVE AND DALLAS CITY HALL REPORTER SINCE 1991.
AND TRUST ME, I DO KNOW ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS BUILDING.
I KNOW THE GHOST THAT HAUNTED AND THE SCANDALS THAT PLAGUED IT.
I HAVE COVERED MANY, MANY OF THEM.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT INSPIRATIONAL VIEW IN THE FLAG ROOM RIGHT BEHIND US OVERLOOKING THE MAJESTY AND THE VIBRANCY OF OUR DOWNTOWN.
I HAVE ALSO, HOWEVER, TIPTOED AROUND THE PERPETUAL PUDDLES IN THE BASEMENT GARAGE.
AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CLAUSTROPHOBIA OF THE BASEMENT OFFICES AND MEETING SPACES DOWN THERE.
BUT THEN THERE IS A DRAMATIC SIX FLOOR ATRIUM.
VIEW THE BIRD'S EYE, LOOK INTO OFFICES AND CONFERENCE ROOMS. A DELIBERATE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE ARCHITECT IM PAY, UNDERSCORING THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPARENCY IN THIS CITY HALL.
I HAVE WITNESSED MANY OF THE INSPIRATIONAL DECISIONS MADE BY THIS AND OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
JUST WEEKS AGO, POLICE CHIEF CUOMO STOOD RIGHT IN THIS SPOT AND DECLARED THAT HIS DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT ACCEPT ONE DIME OF MONEY TO PARTNER WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS.
AND THIS ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL JOINED WITH HIM NO TO EASY MONEY.
NO TO MILLIONS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS.
YOU SAID NO BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I BELIEVE HISTORY WAS MADE IN THIS, AT THIS HORSESHOE ON THAT DAY.
COUNTLESS TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, DALLAS CIVIC LEADERS HAVE STEPPED FORWARD TO SAVE HISTORIC AND ICONIC STRUCTURES.
DEVELOPER SEAN TODD WHO'LL SPEAK IN JUST A BIT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST BUILDING PRESERVATIONISTS IN THE HISTORY OF DOWNTOWN.
HE RESTORED THE OLD DALLAS POST OFFICE, THE FIRST NATIONAL BUILDING.
HE THE, UH, ICONIC OLD KLIF IN THE EAST QUARTER CHANT TODD SAVED IT AND PRESERVED IT.
OTHERS HAVE SAVED THE COUNTY RECORDS, BUILDING THE MAJESTIC THEATER, THE SCHOOL BOOK DEPOSITORY, THE HALL OF STATE.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WAS POURED INTO SAVING THE OLD CITY HALL.
A FEW YEARS AGO, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMOLISH THE OLD DALLAS MUNICIPAL BUILDING CITY COUNCIL SAVED IT.
YOU CAN DO THE SAME THING RIGHT NOW.
YOU CAN STOP THE DEMOLITION FREIGHT TRAIN, STOP THE BULLDOZER, STOP THE WRECKING BALL, AND WE ASK YOU PLEASE FIND A WAY TO RENOVATE AND GIVE LOVE TO THIS CITY HALL.
HOW ABOUT WE ASK THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR OPINION? IN FACT, WHO IN THIS AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW STAND UP IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR.
IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF DEMOLISHING CITY HALL, STAND UP.
IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF DEMOLISHING CITY HALL.
I LIVE IN THE CEDARS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I LIVE DO WHAT CLOSER? HOW'S THAT? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY, UM, OKAY.
I LIVE IN THE CEDARS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I LIVE ABOUT, UM, A HALF A MILE FROM THIS FACILITY.
UM, AS A NEARBY RESIDENT, UM, I EITHER WALK OR DRIVE BY THIS CITY HALL DAILY.
AND SO I SEE THE HOMELESSNESS, THE STREET FEEDINGS AND THE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT ARE OCCURRING AROUND THIS PROPERTY AND AROUND THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES BECAUSE IT'S VASTLY UNDERUSED ON THIS PROPERTY AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT ONES.
UM, SO IN MY OPINION, REDEVELOPING THIS SITE
[01:40:01]
INTO THIS PRIME SITE, INTO AN ACTIVE MIS MIXED USE, UM, AREA, WHETHER IT BE HOTELS OR RESTAURANTS OR ENTERTAINMENT, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BRING THIS AREA.IT WOULD BE A SAFER AND MORE VIBRANT PART TO THIS AREA, WHICH IT JUST IS NOT RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND I THINK WE ALL COULD ADMIT TO THAT.
UM, SO LASTLY, THE BUILDING'S ORIGINAL INTENTION AND DESIGN FROM THE 1970S SHOULD NOT OVERRIDE TODAY'S REALITY.
AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REIMAGINE THIS AREA AND REVITALIZE THIS PORTION OF SOUTH DALLAS, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I KNOW IT IS TO YOU AS WELL.
YOUR AUDIO IS NOT COMING THROUGH.
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU, MS. BAIN REAGAN, ROTHENBERGER.
AND AS MR. ROTHENBERGER COMES FORWARD, I'LL ASK MATT HOUSTON AND SHELLY POTTER TO COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FRONT ROW.
CITY STAFF MAKE MANY UNSEEN SACRIFICES.
MY CONDOLENCES, MADAM CITY MANAGER MAYOR, THERE'S AN OLD SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T FIGHT CITY HALL, BUT I'M PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE MANY WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR CITY HALL TODAY AS THE LANDMARK COMMISSIONER WHO BROUGHT FORTH THE NOMINATION REQUEST OVER A YEAR AGO.
I ONLY MENTION THIS BECAUSE MY DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES REPRESENT ALL PARTS OF DALLAS JUST LIKE YOU.
WELL BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WAS EVEN A THOUGHT, THE COMMISSION VIEWED THIS BUILDING AS HISTORICALLY VIABLE AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO BEGIN THE ARDUOUS PROCESS OF INITIATION.
AND FOR THE RECORD, NO STAFF MEMBER CAME TO TALK TO THE COMMISSION ABOUT THE BUILDING'S IMMINENT FAILURES.
I TALK ABOUT THIS BUILDING TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN AND HAVE BEEN FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.
THE THOUGHT OF IT BEING UNDER THREAT.
YES, SOME OF US ARE EMOTIONAL, BUT I ARGUE THAT LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED TO FIND A REASON TO DO AWAY WITH THE BUILDING IS JUST AS EMOTIONAL.
THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN UNDER THE IMPRESSION THIS BUILDING WOULD REMAIN.
JUST ONE EXAMPLE, DOWNTOWN DALLAS INC'S 360 MASTER PLAN SHOWS CITY HALL REMAINING A KEY ACTIVITY NODE OF THE DISTRICT.
AND NOW I'M AFRAID THERE'S A NEW PLAN FOR THIS BUILDING.
NOT ONE SHOWN ON A PUBLIC DOCUMENT, A NEW LESS EGALITARIAN FORM OF THE GOALS FOR DALLAS.
AT MONDAY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING.
NO ONE HAD EVEN HEARD OF THE MAVS.
SO NOW THE PURPOSE OF THIS INTENSE SCRUTINY OF THE BUILDING IS FURTHER CLOUDED.
WHY MUST WE PRESUME WHAT THE SALE IS ABOUT? IF THERE'S TRULY NO REASON OTHER THAN A FACT FINDING MISSION? WHY SPECIAL MEETINGS ESTABLISH A SPECIAL COMMITTEE? CLOSED DOOR EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, THE BUILDING'S FOOTPRINT ITSELF IS JUST UNDER THREE ACRES.
WHAT WILL THESE EXACT THREE ACRES OF THOUSANDS AMONG US REALLY DO TO TRANSFORM DOWNTOWN? THE FIVE ACRES OUT FRONT THERE ARE PARK, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT VOTE.
SO IN CLOSING, YOU'LL FIND ANY REASON FOR LETTING THIS GO? WHAT'S TO SAY? THE COUNCIL DECIDES IT'S NOT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE TO MAINTAIN THE HALL OF STATE, THE MYON, ALDA HUMPHREYS, YOU NAME IT.
WE WILL NEVER HAVE TRULY INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES BUILT LIKE THIS AGAIN.
AND WE NEEDN'T DESTROY THE FEW WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY A BUILDING CHAMPION BY GREAT CIVIC LEADERS OF THE MID-CENTURY, LIKE ERIC JOHNSON, GEORGE ALLEN, STANLEY, MARCUS, ELIZABETH BLESSING, WHO SOUGHT TO GIVE US SOMETHING MONUMENTAL TO REMEMBER DALLAS BY ANY DECISION TO MOVE FROM THIS SITE SHOULD BE UNANIMOUS FROM THIS BODY AS A UNIFIED CITY COUNCIL AFTER TRUE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND EVEN AN ELECTION BECAUSE THE TEMPLE FOR THE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT MAKE WAY FOR A TEMPLE INTENDED ONLY TO WORSHIP THE GODS OF SPORTS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS MATT HOUSTON AND I STAND HERE AS A LIFELONG DALLAS RESIDENCE.
THIS IS MY HOME AND I, I'M SOMEONE WHO PUTS MY SKIN IN THE GAME, INVEST IN MY TIME, MY ENERGY, AND MY RESOURCES TO CONTINUE BUILDING THE FABRIC OF THIS CITY.
BUT MY INVESTMENT ISN'T JUST IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
[01:45:01]
AND PERMANENT APPLICATIONS OR ZONING AND PLAN USE, BUT IT'S ALSO IN HUMAN CAPITAL.AT UNT DALLAS, I WORK DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EDUCATING THEM ON HOW TO BE MORE ENGAGED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN DALLAS AND BEYOND.
FOR THE RECORD, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS OF THE VIEWS SHARED HERE AT CITY COUNCIL OR CITY HALL AND HOW WE CAN WORK AS A UNIFIED CITY.
I TEACH THEM THAT THEY DON'T JUST HAVE TO LIVE IN THIS CITY.
BECAUSE OF THAT, I HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THE GENERATION EXPECTS FROM ITS GOVERNMENT.
THAT BRINGS ME TO THE PROPOSED REMODEL OF THIS BUILDING.
WE ARE CURRENTLY SITTING IN AN IM PAY MASTERPIECE, A 1970S INVERTED PYRAMID THAT WAS MEANT TO BE A HEROIC STATEMENT OF STRENGTH, BUT AS A DEVELOPER AND EDUCATOR, THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN LANDMARK AND SUNK.
AND A SUNK COST BRUTALISM BY ITS VERY NATURE, IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT, UH, INEXPENSIVE TO MODERNIZE, SINKING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO SPECIALIZED CONCRETE.
AND A FORTRESS LAYOUT DOESN'T JUST STRAIN OUR BUDGET.
IT KEEPS OUR GOVERNMENT PHYSICALLY ISOLATED FROM THE PEOPLE IT SERVES.
WE ARE TRYING TO FORCE A 20, WE'RE TRYING TO FORCE 2026 WORKFLOWS INTO A 1977 SHELL.
LET'S DISCUSS A PIVOT IN OUR THINKING OF HOW WE'RE USING THIS CITY HALL.
INSTEAD OF A STANDALONE MODEL, LET'S EXPLORE MIXED USE CIVIC CAMPUS THROUGH A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
IMAGINE A DEVELOPMENT THAT INTEGRATES A CITY SERVICE OR SERVICES WITH WORKFORCE HOUSING, RETAIL, GREEN SPACE, CONNECTED A CONVENTION CENTER DISTRICT BACK TO THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THINK OF THE MESSAGE IT SENDS TO THE STUDENTS.
I TEACH AT U-N-T-D-A PROJECT OF THIS SCALE AND INNOVATION COULD SPARK THE CREATIVITY OF OUR FUTURE LEADERS.
IT SHOWS THEM THAT DALLAS IS A CITY THAT ISN'T AFRAID TO EVOLVE.
SO LET'S JUST NOT REPAIR THE PAST.
LET'S BUILD AN ENVIRONMENT THAT INSPIRES THE NEXT GENERATION TO LEAD.
WE'LL NOW GO BACK TO SPEAKER 40.
MARLA BAIN, WHO'S VIRTUAL MS. BAIN? MS. BAIN, YOUR AUDIO IS STILL NOT WORKING.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JOHNSON AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS SHELLY POTTER AND I LIVE AT 4 4 3 7 COLE AVENUE IN KNOX, WHICH IS DISTRICT 14.
YOU KNOW ME AS A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR URBAN PLANNING AND ALSO A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.
APPARENTLY I WAS ON TV ON MONDAY FROM THE, UH, ONE OF THE SOUND BITES.
I'M KIND OF GLAD I HAD SOME DECENT HAIR, BUT HOW DID I FIND OUT? I GOT MESSAGES FROM COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE WATCHING DALLAS.
THEY SAID, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP AND STANDING UP TO SAVE CITY HALL.
I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT WHAT I SAID MONDAY BECAUSE MANY OF YOU HEARD THAT, BUT I WANNA JUST ADD A COUPLE POINTS.
AS A DESIGN PROFESSIONAL, IF I HAD ISSUED A REPORT LIKE YOU ALL RECEIVED LAST WEEK, I WOULD BE CALLED IN TO MEET WITH MY CLIENTS AND I SURE BETTER BE READY BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA BE ASKING ME A LOT MORE QUESTIONS THAN I HEARD AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
THEY'RE GONNA WANNA CHALLENGE THE ASSUMPTIONS, ASK QUESTIONS, WHERE DID THE MARGIN OF ERROR PERCENTAGE COME FROM? HAVE WE GOTTEN SECOND OPINIONS? DO WE HAVE NON-CONFLICTED PEER REVIEW? WHAT IS REASONABLE PHASING? ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THAT MEETING HAS NOT TAKEN PLACE SINCE THE REPORT WAS RELEASED.
AS I HAVE DIGESTED THE FINDINGS AND THE COST MYSELF, IT OCCURS TO ME THAT IT COSTS $750 MILLION TO REBUILD NOTRE DAME AFTER THE FIRE WITH THE FINEST CRAFTSMEN IN THE WORLD.
AND WHEN THE EIFFEL TOWER NEEDED TO BE REPAINTED FOR THE 20TH TIME AT $70 MILLION COST, DID THEY CONSIDER TEARING IT DOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME RUST THAT THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH AS PART OF THE RECONSTRUCTION.
I SAID IT MONDAY AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITY STAFF SAID IN PUBLIC FORUMS TO THE MEDIA AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE WILL DO ANYTHING TO KEEP THE MAVS? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN REGARDING THE MAVERICKS? CAREFULLY WORDED DENIAL TODAY, AS
[01:50:01]
SHAKESPEARE ONCE SAID, DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH ME THINKS.AND FOR MS. MENDELSOHN, I WORE MY STAR BRACELET.
THE POOR STARS AREN'T EVEN GETTING ANY ATTENTION.
CITY HALL BELONGS TO ALL OF US.
AND WHILE I COULDN'T SEE, 'CAUSE I WAS ONLINE, ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS PRESENTATION THIS MORNING, WHAT I DID SEE IS WE HAVE A ROADMAP.
LET'S REPAIR CITY HALL, RE-ENVISION THE PEOPLE'S PLAZA EVEN BETTER IDEA.
ALL THESE DEVELOPERS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE FOR TEARING IT DOWN, HAVE THEM GIVE US THE MONEY FOR INVESTMENT IN THAT PLAZA.
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE CITY AND YOUR CITIZENS.
UH, DON'T SELL YOUR SOULS IN THE SOUL OF OUR CITY.
WHILE MR. BOWERS IS COMING FORWARD, I'LL ASK THAT TAMMY PIERCE AND ANTHONY RASH COME FORWARD AND HAVE HIS SEAT ON THE FIRST ROW.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
CHRIS BOWERS, 41 15 RAIN SONG DISTRICT 12 FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
AND BEFORE THAT, UH, DISTRICT, UH, 14 EXPERTS SAY $1 BILLION WILL BE NEEDED TO REPAIR CITY HALL.
IF IT SEEMS TOO BAD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS.
25 YEARS AGO, AN OUT OF TOWN DEVELOPER TOLD DALLAS CITY OFFICIALS THAT A GOVERNMENT BUILDING WAS TOO DILAPIDATED TO BE REPAIRED.
THEN COUNCIL MEMBER BETTA LIL PERSUADED HER COLLEAGUES ON THIS COUNCIL TO DESIGNATE THAT BUILDING TO BE A LANDMARK.
ANYWAY, THE DEVELOPER HIRED ONE OF DALLAS'S BIGGEST LAW FIRMS AS WELL AS VERY RESPECTED ARCHITECTS, A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, ACCOST ESTIMATOR, REAL ESTATE BROKER, AND AN APPRAISER.
AND THE DEVELOPER TOLD CITY OFFICIALS THAT THE BUILDING WOULD, THE PROPERTY WOULD BE WORTH ALMOST $12 MILLION IF THE CITY WOULD LET HIM DEMOLISH THE PROPERTY.
BUT IF THE CITY REFUSED TO ALLOW HIM TO DEMOLISH THAT FORMER GOVERNMENT BUILDING THE PROPERTY WOULD HAVE A VALUE OF NEGATIVE $4 MILLION BECAUSE IT WAS NOT FEASIBLE TO RESTORE.
AND PROPERTIES CAN IN FACT HAVE NEGATIVE MARKET VALUES IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE HEAVILY ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTAMINATED.
WHEN THE CITY REFUSED TO ALLOW THE PROPERTY OWNER TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDING, THE DEVELOPER SUED THE CITY CLAIMING AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT THE CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION DESIGNATION HAD TAKEN HIS PROPERTY RIGHTS WITHOUT COMPENSATION SEEKING MORE THAN $11 MILLION.
AND THE CITY ATTORNEY ASSIGNED ME TO HANDLE THAT LAWSUIT.
THE DEVELOPER WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE CITY COULD NOT DAMAGE THE CREDIBILITY OF HIS APPRAISER BECAUSE THAT APPRAISER HAD WORKED FOR THE CITY AND HAD PERFORMED THE APPRAISAL JUSTIFYING THE CITY'S SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS, 1000 FOOT, UH, UH, SPACING DE UH, SEPARATION.
BUT AFTER A FOUR WEEK TRIAL, THE JUDGE RULED FOR THE CITY AND ISSUED FINDINGS OF FACT GIVING 31 REASONS WHY THAT DEVELOPER, UH, APPRAISER WAS NOT CREDIBLE AND THE DEVELOPER APPEALED.
IT TOOK A FEW YEARS, BUT JACK MATTHEWS RESTORED THAT FORMER GOVERNMENT BUILDING AND IT IS STILL STANDING TODAY.
THAT FORMER GOVERNMENT BUILDING IS THE ORIGINAL DALLAS HIGH SCHOOL, BETTER KNOWN TODAY AS CROSIER TECH.
TODAY FOLKS SAY THAT ANOTHER OUT OF TOWNER WANTS TO DEMOLISH THIS GOVERNMENTAL BUILDING AND RESPECTED EXPERTS SAY IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO RESTORE IT.
DO WE NEED ANOTHER TRIAL TO PROVE THEM WRONG? THANK YOU, TAMMY PIERCE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JOHNSON AND COUNCIL, UM, SITTING HERE TODAY LISTENING TO THE RHETORIC, UH, IN REGARDS TO CITY HALL.
AND I'M GONNA EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY.
HOW DOES THE CITY MAKE MONEY? PROPERTY TAXES, BUSINESS LICENSE AND SALES TAXES ONLINE, IT SAYS 500 PEOPLE A DAY ARE RELOCATING TO THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THAT'S MORE WATER, MORE SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOBS.
AND HOW ARE YOU GONNA PROVIDE THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS? YOU HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY BE ABLE TO GENERATE INCOME INTO THIS CITY TO KEEP THIS CITY VIABLE AND TO KEEP THIS CITY COMPETITIVE AND TO HOLD ONTO A BUILDING THAT'S FULL OF ASBESTOS AND THAT'S OLD AND SIT HERE AND NOT BE A SINGLE ASSET ENTITY THAT'S MAKING MONEY FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS IS NOT LOGICAL.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS 1.2 BILLION WILL COST TO RENOVATE THIS BUILDING.
[01:55:01]
FRACTION OF THAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER FOR THIS BUILDING TO MOVE.SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT ALL THIS EMOTION THAT I'VE HEARD BECAUSE IT'S NOT CHECKERS, IT IS CHESS.
THIS IS THE BUSINESS MOVE FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE CITY OF DALLAS ALLOWED A MAJOR, A MAJOR, OKAY, A MAJOR ECONOMIC ENGINE TO LEAVE THIS CITY AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND BILLIONS WENT TO THAT CITY.
SO RIGHT NOW, THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOUP THOSE DOLLARS WITH KAY BAILEY.
HUTCHINSON WAS SINGLE ASSET ENTITIES THAT WILL CREATE TAX REVENUE FOR THIS CITY.
THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU HEARD, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
WE ELECTED YOU IN OFFICE AND YOU UNDERSTAND THE WAY LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKS.
IT'S AS IF A CHILD, A CHILD WILL EAT CANDY ALL DAY LONG IF THE PARENT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT.
BUT THE PARENT KNOWS THAT THE CHILD NEEDS GREEN VEGETABLES, NEED WHOLE GRAINS IN ORDER TO GROW.
THE CITY OF DALLAS NEEDS TO GROW IN ORDER TO REMAIN VIABLE IN THIS CITY.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.
THE TOPIC I WAS GOING TO SAY, I WAS, I HAD A WHOLE SPEECH PREPARED, BUT I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THIS RHETORIC HERE TODAY, BUT THE TOPIC OF MY SPEECH WAS CALLED THE CYCLE OF LIFE.
RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A MONTH OF MARCH, RIGHT? WE'VE WATCHED THE LAST QUARTER OF THE YEAR, WE, WE WATCHED THE LEAVES DIE.
OKAY? WE'VE WATCHED THE GRASS, TERRANCE BROWN, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE SPRING, WE'RE SEEING BIRTH.
THIS IS NOT A MOVE TO SLIGHT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THIS IS BIRTHED INTO THIS CITY.
IN ORDER FOR THIS CITY TO REMAIN VIABLE AND COMPETITIVE, LIKE I CONTINUE TO SAY, YOU NEED TO MOVE AND YOU NEED TO MOVE ON.
AND UNITED BLACK CONTRACTORS, OUR MOTTO THIS YEAR IS ALL GAS AND NO BREAKS.
AND WHAT I SAY TO YOU, MAYOR, AND I SAY TO YOU, CITY COUNCIL, LET'S GO.
MS. TOLBERT, UH, MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES, IT'S A TOUGH TIME TO BE HERE AND I'M SORRY YOU'RE UNABLE TO BE WITH YOUR FAMILY TODAY, BUT CAN, CAN WE JUST TALK Y'ALL THIS, THIS PROCESS IS, THIS IS A BANANA, BUT REPUBLIC OF A PROCESS.
THIS PROCESS IS A PARODY, RIGHT? LIKE, AM I THE ONLY ONE TO SEE THAT, RIGHT? I I JUST, I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT'S BEEN A FOOL'S ERRAND, RIGHT? AND A VOTE FOR ABANDONMENT CAN ONLY LEAD TO NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT.
WE'RE THE PRIVILEGED FEW WHO ARE SITTING HERE TODAY ABLE TO BE HERE, PAID, MAYBE, PROBABLY NOT PAID.
WHAT ABOUT THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO BUY NECESSITY OF DESIGN CANNOT BE HERE TODAY? TO THE WOMAN WHO SPOKE JUST RECENTLY, SHE HAD ONLY HEARD ABOUT THIS TWO WEEKS AGO.
MY NOTES HERE DON'T WORK ANYMORE AFTER EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S TALKED TODAY.
AND THERE IS A LOT OF EMOTION.
BUT WE ELECTED Y'ALL OUT OF EMOTION TOO.
TO REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENCY AND NOT DEVELOP OUR INTEREST.
YES, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T PUT AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT NEXT TO A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WOULD ANY OF Y'ALL PUT YOUR KIDS THERE? LET'S SEE ABOUT THAT.
THIS HAS BEEN A DIZZYINGLY FAST CLOWN SHOW AND I SEE PEOPLE ON THEIR PHONE, I SEE PEOPLE MOVING AROUND, BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AND A VOTE TO ABANDON THE CITY HALL RIGHT NOW IS A NEGLECTFUL MOVE TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, YOUR DUTY AND YOUR HE OF LEADERSHIP.
AND I'M NOT SAYING I HAVE ANSWERS, I'M NOT SAYING THAT ANYONE HERE DOES, BUT INDIVIDUAL MOTIVES MUST BE PUT ASIDE AND A VOTE TO SLOW DOWN DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T CONTINUE TO TRULY DISCUSS AFFORDABILITY IN THIS CITY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PREMIER TOPICS THAT HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED.
AND WE HAVE ALL RECENTLY SEEN THIS COUNCIL FAIL TO ADOPT POLICIES AND CAPITULATE TO FORCES OF FASCISM IN OUR COUNTRY.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T MISUSE TAX DOLLARS BY WHICH ANY HISTORICAL ACCOUNT WILL CERTAINLY HAPPEN IF PRIVATE INTERESTS COME IN AND TOO OFTEN REVEAL OVERWHELMING DISINTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING.
I'M SHORT ON TIME, BUT VERY QUICKLY, I'VE RECENTLY JUST WROTE ABOUT WORK OF THIS TYPE AND IT DIRECTLY TRANSLATE TO THIS CURRENT DEBACLE.
THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE CULTURAL, CULTURAL ERASURE IS THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO PLACE TO PEOPLE AND A COLLECTIVE FORM OF CIVIC IDENTITY.
VOTE NO ON THIS RESOLUTION AND GIVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE YOUR COMMITMENT THAT MAYOR
[02:00:01]
IS THE HARD DECISION.WHILE MS. DENISON IS COMING FORWARD, I'LL ASK BRENT BROWN AND BENJI HAN TO COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST ROW.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO HEAR HERE ON THE CITIZENS.
UH, I I AM HERE TO SUPPORT CITY, THE THE CITY HALL.
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, TOWN SQUARES HAVE BEEN AN IMPORTANT INTEGRAL PART OF COMMUNITY AND CIVIC LIFE.
OUR CITY HALL WITH THIS CHAMBER, THE CONFERENCE ROOMS FOR MEETING OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND THE OUTSIDE PLAZA FOR GATHERING IS OUR TOWN SQUARE.
IF WE LOSE IT, THIS IMPORTANT BRAND PUBLIC SPACE WILL NEVER BE REPLACED.
CONSULTANTS HAVEN'T PROVIDED AN INDEPENDENT COMPLETE DATA STUDY OF REPAIR COSTS AS DIRECTED BY THE NOVEMBER 12TH RESOLUTION FROM THIS COUNCIL.
IN FACT, AT THAT MEETING, AN AMENDED RESOLUTION REQUIRING AN INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR DATA DID NOT PASS.
MANY OF US NOW HAVE LOST TRUST IN OUR MUNICIPAL POLITICAL SYSTEM, ALONG WITH OUR TRUST OF MANY OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THERE MUST BE AN OPEN, HONEST, AND INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF BUILDING AND REPAIRS BALANCED AGAINST THE COST OF A PERMANENT MOVE OUT AND SUBSEQUENT SETUP AND RENT PAYMENTS DO NOT DESTROY THIS BUILDING OUR TOWN SQUARE.
WE MUST HAVE AN HONEST PROCESS WHICH INCLUDES AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF ALL COSTS, BOTH MONETARY AND THE COST OF THE LOSS OF THIS BUILDING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, MICHAEL, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
UH, WELL I WON'T, UM, I APOLOGIZE.
UM, AND TO CITY STAFF, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
THE LAST TIME THIS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT BEGAN TO CONSIDER A VOTE ON CITY HALL WAS 1964.
IT TOOK 14 YEARS BEFORE THIS BUILDING WOULD BE OCCUPIED.
14 YEARS TO MOVE FROM A VOTE TO BEGIN THE EXPLORATION AND HIRE SOMEONE 14 YEARS.
WHAT PROPELLED, AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE BUILDING AND THE BUILDING IS DEFINITELY A STATEMENT, BUT THE BUILDING WAS A RESPONSE.
IT WAS A RESPONSE TO A DREAM, IT WAS A RESPONSE TO A VISION.
THE GOALS FOR DALLAS AS THE DISTINGUISHED, UM, EMERITUS PROFESSOR THIS MORNING BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT, I WISHED HE COULD HAVE FINISHED WHAT FOLLOWED BEYOND THIS BUILDING.
AND DURING THAT SAME TIME, DALLAS GREW FROM UNDER 700,000 PEOPLE TO 900,000 PEOPLE.
IT WAS THE MOST EXPANSIVE PERIOD IN OUR CITY.
AND THAT VISION WAS LED AT THAT TIME.
BY THE WAY, THE COUNCIL WAS MADE UP OF NINE PEOPLE, ALL MADE UP AT ALL VOTED AT LARGE.
THERE WERE NO WARDS OR COUNCIL DISTRICTS AT THE TIME.
TODAY WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.
DURING THAT SAME TIME, ACTUALLY, WE, WE EVOLVED OUR GOVERNMENT, WE BECAME MORE INCLUSIVE.
WHAT I COMPEL YOU IS DO NOT TAKE ACTION TODAY.
DELAY OR SAY NO BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO VISION.
AND MR. MAYOR WITH RESPECT, IT STARTS WITH YOU.
IT'S YOUR JOB, BUT YOU CANNOT HAVE THAT VISION.
YOU HAVE TO COMPEL IT BY BRINGING US TOGETHER AS A CITY AND DEMANDING THAT WE HAVE A GREAT VISION FOR WHAT OUR CITY WILL BE 50 YEARS FROM NOW.
AND WHATEVER THAT CITY HALL IS, LET IT PLAY OUT.
BUT LET US DREAM AND LET US VISION AND LET US NOT BE ONLY TRANSACTIONAL.
ONLY IN THE MOMENT, ONLY IN A VERY BRIEF TIME WHERE ONE CHOICE IS MADE.
DO WE INVEST OR NOT INVEST? NO, THAT'S NOT THE POINT.
THE POINT IS WHETHER OR NOT OUR CITY WILL BE SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE FOR THE FUTURE, NOT
[02:05:01]
RIGHT NOW.AND THAT REQUIRES BOLD VISION.
MY TAKE, I THINK I CAN TALK ABOUT THIS, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE SOMEWHERE AROUND A NINE TO SIX VOTE TODAY.
A JUST IMAGINE IN 1998 THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER PASSED BY LIKE 1.5%.
IF THAT HAD FLIPPED, IT WOULDN'T BE THERE.
MAYBE WE'D HAVE TRIED AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT WOULDN'T HAVE BE THERE.
SO IF TWO PEOPLE DECIDE TO VOTE NO THAT MAYBE CONSIDERING TO VOTE YES, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I'M ALSO AN ARCHITECT LICENSED HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO SAY THAT SOMETIMES 'CAUSE OF THE ACCENT.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK FROM TWO PERSPECTIVES.
ONE, AS A TECHNICAL PROFESSIONAL AND THE SECOND AS A CONCERNED RESIDENT.
MY PROFESSIONAL CRITIQUE IS WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING IS EVIDENTLY A FAILURE OF PROCESS.
I DO NOT BELIEVE WE ARE WITNESSING DUE DILIGENCE AND IT APPEARS TO BE A RUSH TO A PREDETERMINED CONCLUSION.
THERE'S A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, THERE'S A FAILURE OF ANALYSIS, AND THERE IS A LEVERAGING OF INTENTIONAL DECAY.
THE FAILURE OF THIS BUILDING'S NOT ARCHITECTURAL INEVITABILITY, IT'S THE RESULT AS WE ARE AWARE OF DECADES OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
USING THAT NOW AS A PRETEXT FOR A QUICK OUT IS A BREACH OF THE PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES OF CIVIC STEWARDSHIP.
PERSONALLY, I ALSO BELIEVE YOUR SIGNALING EXCLUSION BEYOND THIS BUILDING, I HAVE DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT THE SIGNAL THIS RUSH PROCESS SENDS TO OUR RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY OUR MOST VULNERABLE WHEN WE TREAT THE HOUSE OF GOVERNMENT AS A DEAL TO BE TRADED RATHER THAN A HOME TO BE PROTECTED.
WE TELL OUR RESIDENTS THAT D DALLAS VALUES A DEAL OVER DEMOCRACY AND THAT CULTURE, HISTORY AND IDENTITY CAN BE ERASED IN A MATTER OF MONTHS.
LET'S BE HONEST, WHEN IT COMES TO THIS INSTITUTION, THE CITY OF DALLAS TRUST IS HARD TO COME BY.
TRANSPARENCY IS THE ONLY CURRENCY YOU HAVE TO BUILD TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES.
BY BYPASSING A BROADER PUBLIC DISCOURSE AND CITYWIDE REFERENDUM, YOU ARE RUNNING THE RISK OF FURTHER ERODING THAT TRUST IN THE COMMUNITIES YOU SERVE.
MY PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATION IS SLOW DOWN, GIVE THE DECISION TIME, AUDIT THE DATA, OPEN UP THE PROCESS TO A BROADER PUBLIC DISCOURSE.
DO NOT TRADE OUR CIVIC HERITAGE FOR A PROJECT PERFORMER.
LET'S PROVE THAT IN DALLAS, OUR DEMOCRACY IS NOT FOR SALE AND OUR CITY HALL TRULY BELONGS TO ALL THE PEOPLE.
WE'LL GO BACK TO MARLA BAIN AGAIN.
MS. BAIN, IS YOUR AUDIO WORKING? MARLA BAIN, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
MY NAME IS MARLA AND EXCUSE ME, BECAUSE I CAN'T REALLY LOOK AT YOU AT THE CAMERA WHILE I'M TRYING TO READ, BUT, UM, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 13 AND 7 5 2 4 4.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, AN EXCITING AND INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITY EXISTS TO ENHANCE AND REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN THROUGH INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY THAT CAN AND SHOULD INCORPORATE CITY HALL.
IF WE ARE ABLE TO EXPRESS, EXPLORE THESE OPTIONS INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN THE PATH OF TEARING DOWN CITY HALL.
A CITY HALL SHOULD BE A MARQUEE, A SOURCE OF CIVIC PRIDE, A FOCAL POINT FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS, AND AN ICON FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
SOUND BUSINESS DECISIONS SHOULD NOT BE MADE BY THE COUNCIL, SHOULD BE MADE BY THE COUNCIL AS CUSTODIANS FOR THE PEOPLE AND THIS PUBLIC EDIFICE.
BE MINDFUL OF OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO PLACE TO ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE AND NOT FOR COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK THAT WE REVIEW AND FIX THE ENTIRE DALLAS REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO.
BEFORE MORE TAX DOLLARS ARE WASTED OR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS ACCRUED, OR WE WILL BE PERPETUALLY TRAPPED IN THIS ENDLESS LOOP OF FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY.
A CLEAR AND CONCISE COMMUNICATION PLAN IS NEEDED DETAILING WHAT WE ARE, WHERE WE ARE AT, AND IDENTIFYING OPTIONS WITH CLARITY TO ALL RESIDENTS IN PERSON.
AND VIRTUAL MEETINGS SHOULD BE HELD TO SOLICIT
[02:10:01]
PUBLIC OPINION.PLEASE DO NOT SEND OUT ONLINE SURVEYS.
WE NEED TO HAVE THIS COMMUNICATION IN PUBLIC FORUMS. PLEASE DO NOT VOTE TODAY TO VACATE OR MOVE OUT OF ANY PART OF CITY HALL OR TO ACT ON ANY LEASES.
CURRENTLY WITH NEW PARTIES, I STRONGLY OPPOSE BREAKING UP CITY HALL INTO ANY MULTIPLE LEASED OFFICE BUILDINGS.
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, WE NEED ONE CENTRAL LOCATION DOWNTOWN.
PLEASE LISTEN TO ALL THE IMPASSIONED AND ELOQUENT MESSAGING THAT YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY, MONDAY, AND HAVE READ FROM EMAILS FROM CITIZENS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
A PROP, A PROJECT OF THIS SCOPE AND MAGNITUDE SHOULD REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL.
BUT AS THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, I IMPLORE EVERY THE COUNCIL TO STAND TOGETHER, DO THE RIGHT THING, AND TO ACT TO SAVE, PRESERVE, REFRESH, REVITALIZE, INNOVATE, AND SAVE ALL.
WHILE MS. LOREN IS COMING FORWARD, I'LL ASK THAT CHRISTOPHER WEISS AND SANFORD DENISON, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST ROW.
I'M, UM, IN DISTRICT 14 AND I AM REALLY NERVOUS.
I DON'T LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKING, BUT I READ THE MOTIONS MORE CLEARLY LAST NIGHT AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU.
UM, AS A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, I WAS SCARED TO DEATH WHEN I READ THE FIRST PART SAYING DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO MOVE EMERGENCY SERVICES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THAT SHOULD FRIGHTEN ALL OF US.
MR. ALVAREZ MADE A COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
MOVING EMERGENCY SERVICES IS NOT A ROUTINE FACILITIES MOVE.
IN MY CAREER, I MANAGE CRISIS LINES 24 7.
YOU HAVE TO MITIGATE THE RISK, NOT MANAGE THE ISSUES THAT COME UP AFTERWARDS.
THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER TO THIS.
SAFETY IS, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE
IN FACT, I'M REALLY, REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE, I MEAN, I I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PART OF THIS PROCESS IS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PLACES OR WHATEVER.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TRUE.
I HEARD THAT THERE MAY BE A MALL AVAILABLE THAT THAT RAISES ALL KINDS OF ISSUES FOR ME AND IT SHOULD FOR YOU AS WELL.
FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT MONEY, BUT THERE IS NO GREATER RISK THAN THE LOSS OF LIFE.
AND IF THIS ISN'T DONE VERY THOUGHTFULLY, WE'RE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A BIG PROBLEM.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE SPEAKING TODAY.
EVERYONE ELSE HAS SHARED MANY, MANY, MANY THINGS I AGREE WITH.
BUT I REALLY WANT YOU TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY TO PUNCH AS MANY HOLES INTO THIS PLAN AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT GO RIGHT.
SO I HAD THINGS PLANNED OUT TO SAY, BUT THAT'S THE CORE.
AND I WANNA KNOW AS A CITIZEN WHAT THOSE PLANS ARE.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A TORNADO HITS THE BUILDING? WHERE ARE THE REDUNDANCIES WHEN I CALL MY HOUSE IS ON FIRE.
WILL IT, WILL IT GET THROUGH? I WANNA KNOW THAT THAT'S YOUR TIME.
[02:15:01]
I LIVE AT 1419 GRIFFIN STREET, 7 5 2 1 5.MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY ON MARCH 4TH, NATIONAL PUNK ROCK DAY, UM, 25 YEARS AGO I MOVED TO DALLAS, SPECIFICALLY WITH CEDARS AND AIL LOVE AT VISA.
NOW AS A DALLAS RESIDENT AND BUSINESS CENTER, I'M INTENSELY INTERESTED IN THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE CITY, ESPECIALLY IN DETERMINING HOW WE GROW SOUTHERN DALLAS.
TODAY I'M HERE IN OPPOSITION OF THIS RESOLUTION FOR CITY HALL.
WE NEED NEAR AND LONG-TERM STRATEGY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NOT A RECKLESS BREAKNECK DASH TO APPROVE DEMOLITION WITHOUT CONSIDERATION FOR THE OTHER ACTIONS IT SETS IN IN MOTION.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING AS EACH IS A DOMINO THAT SETS THE NEXT IN MOTION.
RUN A COMPREHENSIVE RFP PROCESS ADDRESSING THE OPTIONS AND COST FOR BOTH RENOVATION AND REPLACEMENT OF CITY HALL.
VALIDATED BY PARTIES WITHOUT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
HELP US UNDERSTAND THE LATEST $1.4 BILLION QUOTE, WHICH IS NEARLY 36000% MORE THAN THE $39 MILLION QUOTED JUST SIX YEARS AGO.
AS THINGS STAND THE SMELLS LIKE A TOLLWAY THROUGH THE TRINITY RIVER, SHARE THE ECONOMIC PLAN FOR THE CITY OWNED AMERICAN AIRLINE CENTER AND SURROUNDING AREA.
ONCE THE STARS AND MAVS MOVE OUT, WE CANNOT HAVE ANOTHER REUNION ARENA THAT SITS IDLE FOR DECADES.
JUSTIFY THE COST OF THE NEW MAVERICK STADIUM, ANOTHER BILLION DOLLAR PLUS PROJECT THAT WILL LIKELY BE PUT ON THE SHOULDERS OF DALLAS CITIZENS, DESPITE THE OWNERS HAVING A NET WORTH OF OVER $40 BILLION.
WHY DOESN'T NEW PARK WORK AS A, AS A SITE FOR A POSSIBLE LOCATION? WHY CAN'T WE DO THE LAND NEXT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER? IT'LL BE FREED UP WITH DEMOLITION THERE.
PRODUCE A STUDY ON HOW THIS PROJECT WILL DELIVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN DALLAS, TOUTED BY SEVERAL AS PARTIES AS JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROJECT.
GIVEN THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN THE LAST 25 YEARS, I HAVE SERIOUS DOUBT THESE ACTIONS WITH A TOTAL COST LIKELY MORE THAN $4 BILLION WITHOUT ANY FUNDS EVEN BEING DISCUSSED FOR AMERICAN AIRLINE CENTER, HAD THE POTENTIAL TO LIFT THE ECONOMY.
IF DONE WELL OR FURTHER, ITS DECLINED IF DONE WITHOUT COLLABORATION WITH THE DALLAS COMMUNITIES.
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN RUSHED WITHOUT REAL EFFORT TO JUSTIFY THE COST AND PROVE SUPPOSED BENEFITS.
INSTEAD, WE HAVE FEAR TACTICS.
THE DEMOLITION IS THE ONLY ANSWER WE'LL LOSE THE MAVS I IMPLORE YOU.
CONSIDER LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF EACH OF THESE ITEMS ON THE CITY AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
MAKE THIS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INNOVATIVE RENOVATION AND INTEGRATION WITH SOUTHERN DALLAS.
IF NOT THAT, AT LEAST PUT THIS ON THE BOND REFERENDUM FROM THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SANFORD DENISON, 45 YEAR RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 14.
WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY TO CONVINCE YOU THAT ABANDONING CITY HALL IS AN ILL CONCEIVED DARE I SAY CRAZY IDEA THAT HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN SAID BY OTHERS.
UH, INDEED SAID BY EVERYONE WHO DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE SOME SELF-INTERESTED REASON FOR SEEING THIS BUILDING TORN DOWN, BE THAT REASON.
FINANCIAL PROMISE OF POWER OR INFLUENCE OR, OR FOR SOME OTHER REASON OTHER THAN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS AND THIS CITY.
WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO TEARING DOWN CITY HALL, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, THIS SURELY IS A JOKE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A LANDMARK, A SYMBOL OF THE CITY.
IT'S OUR TOWN SQUARE THAT SHOULD BE PRESERVED.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE JUST SELF-EVIDENT THAT REALLY DON'T NEED PROOF.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WALK THROUGH THIS BUILDING, IT'S SELF-EVIDENT TO ME THAT THIS BUILDING, UH, THIS BUILDING IS NOT A TEAR DOWN.
THAT NEEDED REPAIRS CAN BE MADE IN A COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER MORE, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS TO ME SELF-EVIDENT THAT DEMOLITION OF THIS BUILDING WOULD BE A MONUMENTAL ENDEAVOR.
I WONDER, HAS ANY THOUGHT REALLY BEEN GIVEN TO THE CHAOS AND DISRUPTION THAT DEMOLISHING THIS BUILDING AND HAULING AWAY THE MASSIVE, THE MASSIVE RUBBLE OF CONCRETE AND STEEL WOULD CAUSE? WHY THE RUSH? YOU KNOW, WHY DO WE MAKE THIS DECISION? UM, WHY DO WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS DECISION IN A MATTER OF WEEKS? UH, IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR TO ME THAT THIS TIMETABLE IS DICTATED NOT BY THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS, NOR BY THE NEEDS OF THE CITY, BUT RATHER BY CONCERNS THAT ARE ONLY CONCERNED WITH THEIR OWN SELF-INTEREST, SHORT-TERM
[02:20:01]
SELF-INTEREST, AND NOT THOSE OF THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS.AT THE COUNCIL MEETING LAST FALL, AN AMENDMENT WAS PROPOSED, UH, THAT BEFORE WE RUSH HEADLONG INTO AN IN FORM DECISION ABOUT THE FATE OF THE CITY HALL, THAT PRUDENCE DICTATED THAT WE FIRST CONSIDER, UH, WHAT A CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE FACILITY ASSESSMENT WOULD SHOW ABOUT THE REAL NEEDS FOR REPAIR AND THAT A TASK FORCE BE, UH, APPOINTED, UH, OF INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONALS TO REVIEW THAT.
UM, WHY WOULDN'T THE CITY WANT TO KNOW THE, THE RESULTS BEFORE IT MADE THIS DECISION? THE ONLY CONCLUSION I CAN COME TO IS THAT THE DECISION HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT, AND THEY KNEW THAT THE DECISION THAT THE AD ASSESSMENT WOULD MAKE WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE DECISION THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE.
FINALLY, YOU KNOW, IF WE TEAR DOWN THIS BUILDING DESIGNED BY AND PAY WHAT ARCHITECT WOULD EVER ACCEPT A COMMISSION, THE CITY OF DALLAS, TO BUILD THAT YOUR TIME, ANY KIND OF WORLD CLASS CENTER.
BRIAN CHESSMAN IS NOT PRESENT.
WHILE MR. MARTINEZ IS COMING FORWARD, I'LL ASK STEVE JENNINGS AND DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER TO COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT IN THE FIRST ROW.
I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE REGIONAL HISPANIC CONTRACTORS.
I REPRESENT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL EITHER WORK ON REMODELING THIS OR A NEW STRUCTURE.
THEY'RE NOT HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M, I'M PAID TO BE HERE.
THE MEN AND WOMEN I REPRESENT, THEY LIKE DIAMONDS, BUT IF YOU GAVE 'EM ONE TODAY, THEY PROBABLY HAD TO SELL IT TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLE, TO PAY FOR THEIR KIDS' EDUCATION TO LIVE, RIGHT? SO WHEN I COME HERE AND I SAY, AND I HEAR, I AM PAID.
I WORKED HERE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN IN MY TWENTIES.
EVER SINCE THIS BUILDING HAS OPENED, WE HAVE WORKED TO MAKE IT FUNCTIONAL FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK HERE.
IM PAY, IMAGINE IT TO BE OPEN, RIGHT? SO THAT THE CITIZENS AND THE EMPLOYEES WOULD MIX.
COULD YOU IMAGINE IF PEOPLE COULD WALK UP TO KIM'S OFFICE RIGHT NOW WITHOUT ALL THE SECURITY? COULD YOU IMAGINE IF THEY COULD WALK UP TO YOUR OFFICES? SO THIS BUILDING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DIAMOND, ALWAYS BEEN A PIECE OF ARTWORK.
IT HAS NEVER BEEN FULLY FUNCTIONAL FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN HERE.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT YOU ARE BEING BOLD, BOLD IS MAKING DECISIONS THAT MAY NOT BE POPULAR NOW, BUT WHEN JESSICA'S LITTLE GIRL GROWS UP, THAT SHE KNOWS SHE HAS GOOD ROADS, GOOD PLACES TO LIVE, AND THAT SHE HAS POLICE AND FIRE.
ONE DAY I CAME TO MARY, SOON, ONE OF THE PAST CITY MANAGERS, AND I ASKED HER FOR SOME MONEY FOR OUR OUR OWN BUILDING.
AND SHE TOLD ME, JOHN, HOW MANY AMBULANCES DO YOU WANT ME NOT TO BUDGET FOR? AND I UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY HER ROLE.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MAINTENANCE, PLEASE DON'T POINT FINGERS.
'CAUSE WHEN THOSE DECISIONS WERE MADE, WE WERE LOOKING AT BUDGETS AND WE WERE SAYING, HEY, HOW MUCH PAINT FOR THIS BUILDING OR HOW MUCH AMBULANCE FOR THE CITIZENS? SO I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS.
WE BUDGETED ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
IT COST FOUR AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
WE DID EXACTLY WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR.
BUT IN THE END, THAT'S HOW MUCH IT COST.
'CAUSE IT WAS AN OLD BUILDING.
EVERY TIME WE OPENED UP SOMETHING, IT WAS SOMETHING WE DIDN'T KNOW.
WE HAD ENGINEERS, WE HAD ARCHITECTS LOVE 'EM ALL.
THE ARCHITECT ARGUED TO SAY, WE CANNOT HAVE THE DEWALT SIGNED.
IT'LL DESTROY THE WAY IT LOOKS.
DEWALT PAYS THE BILLS, RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ASKED RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ALL ABOUT SAVING THE DIAMOND.
BUT IN A FEW MONTHS WHEN YOU HAVE THAT BUDGET, THEY'RE GONNA BE SAYING, WHERE ARE YOU IN A FEW YEARS? WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE AN ECONOMIC ENGINE TO PAY THE BILLS, THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE REALLY BEING BOLD.
STEVE JENNINGS IS NOT PRESENT.
I HAVE A VIDEO THAT'S GOING TO BE PLAYED.
[02:25:13]
YOU TURN THE VOLUME UP.WANNA TURN THE VOLUME UP HERE? START IT OVER.
CAN THE AUDIO WORK MR. ALEXANDER? YES.
WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO JUST COME BACK TO YOU? SAY THAT AGAIN? YES.
THANK YOU ZORA MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AI DALLAS, BUT ALSO A FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORK.
SO I TOO HAVE SPENT MANY YEARS HERE AND MANAGED MANY PROJECTS.
I WANT TO BRIEFLY TOUCH ON FOUR POINTS.
EVERY MAJOR PUBLIC BUILDING FROM THIS AREA THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY MODERNIZED HAS DONE SO THROUGH CAREFUL FACING AND PROFESSIONAL ABATEMENT.
DALLAS HAS ABATED, ASBESTOS IN MANY OF ITS FACILITIES OVER THE YEARS AND MAINTAINS A STANDING SERVICE CONTRACT.
THIS IS FAMILIAR, A FAMILIAR, WELL-MANAGED PROCESS FOR THE CITY, NOT A CRISIS AND NOT A REASON TO ABANDON THE BUILDING.
SECOND, REGARDING 9 1 1 AND 3 1 1.
THE STANDARD CITED IN YOUR BRIEFING IS ABOUT SURVIVABILITY AND SEPARATION.
IT REQUIRES THAT A COMMUNICATIONS CENTER EITHER BEING ITS OWN BUILDING OR SEPARATED WITHIN A JOINT USE BUILDING WITH FIRE RATED BARRIERS AND DEDICATED SYSTEMS. SO A FAILURE ELSEWHERE DOES NOT COMPROMISE SERVICE.
A PEER CITY SLIDE THAT SIMPLY LIST 9 1 1 IN CITY HALL, YES OR NO, REDUCES A TECHNICAL STANDARD TO A CHECK BOX MISSING THE REAL MEASURES THAT CITY HALL ALREADY FUNCTIONS AS THE HEART AND BACKBONE OF OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.
SOMETHING OTHER CITIES ARE NOW SPENDING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BUILD FROM SCRATCH.
THIRD, THERE IS A PROCESS AND EXPERIENCE GAP.
THE ADVISORS PRESENTING THESE SCENARIOS ARE EXPERIENCE PLANNING AND REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS.
THEY CAN BRIEF YOU ON STUDIES AND MARKET OPTIONS, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, OR CONTRACTORS WHO WOULD DESIGN AND BUILD THIS WORK WITHOUT THOSE TEAM MEMBERS AND THAT PERSPECTIVE AT THE TABLE SO THAT YOU CAN ASK ALL YOUR QUESTIONS TO FAIRLY JUDGE WHAT IS TOO HARD TO KEEP, OR WHETHER A SERIES OF RENOVATION PROJECTS COULD PROCEED WITHIN A NORMAL CAPITAL SCHEDULE BEFORE MOVING TOWARD ANY RELOCATION.
COUNCIL SHOULD REQUEST SIDE-BY-SIDE PERFORMANCE FOR AT LEAST THREE OPTIONS, RENOVATING, PLACE, ACQUIRE, AND OWN, AND LONG-TERM LEASE SO YOU CAN NEGOTIATE FROM INFORMATION NOT URGENCY.
FINALLY, THE SOUTH EDGE OF DOWNTOWN, WE'VE HEARD MUCH ABOUT THAT.
THE REAL OPPORTUNITY IS TO USE A RENEWED CIVIC DISTRICT TO RECONNECT THE CORE BY STRENGTHENING CITY HALL'S ROLE AS AN ANCHOR, BRINGING OTHER PUBLIC FACING SERVICES TO THE SOUTH FRONT EDGE, AND DESIGNING STREETS AND PUBLIC SPACES THAT TURN A HARD EDGE INTO A BRIDGE TOWARD THE NEIGHBORHOODS BEYOND.
I URGE YOU NOT TO RUSH TOWARD RELOCATION ON THE BASIS OF PARTIAL INFORMATION AND TO REINVEST IN, RENEWING AND REUSING CITY HALL AS A CATALYST FOR REVITALIZING THE SOUTH SIDE OF DOWNTOWN.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CITY MANAGER TOLBERT AND STAFF.
AGAIN, RICHIE BUTLER OF SENIOR PASTOR OF THE ST.
LUKE COMMUNITY, UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HERE IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
AND, AND I JUST WANT TO ARTICULATE SOME, SOME THOUGHTS AS IT RELATES TO THIS MOMENT.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, UH, I HAVE SERVED AS THE PASTOR OF, OF A CHURCH THAT WAS A HISTORICAL BUILDING.
PAUL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND THE ARTS DISTRICT, UM, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
[02:30:01]
TO RENOVATE A HISTORICAL BUILDING IN, UH, AT PEARL AND COMMERCE, UH, THE FIRST BLACK HEALTH CLINIC IN DALLAS, UH, THE BLUE FLOWERS BUILDING.AND I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE PIVOTAL MOMENTS, MOMENTS OF WHAT WE CALL CATALYTIC MOMENTS, OPPORTUNITIES WHERE PRESERVATION MAY NOT BE THE BEST OPTION AND SOURCE OF CHOICE.
AND SO AS YOU PONDER THIS, THIS DECISION AND THE WORK GOING FORWARD, I WANT YOU TO KEEP IN MIND THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT I THINK IS BEFORE YOU AS A CITY COUNCIL, AS YOU THINK ABOUT, UH, THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY HALL, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND I REMEMBER IN 2004, I SERVED ON THE INSIDE THE LOOP COMMITTEE THAT WAS TASKED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TRYING TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO REIMAGINE DOWNTOWN.
AND I THINK SOME PROGRESS CLEARLY HAS BEEN MADE, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE A CATALYTIC OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US.
AND AROUND THAT SAME TIME, THE DALLAS MA, THE DALLAS COWBOYS WERE CONSIDERING THEIR OPTIONS AND OUR CITY WAS AT THE TABLE AND COULD NOT GET A, GET SOMETHING DONE.
AND THEY MOVED TO ARLINGTON AND THE REST IS HISTORY.
AND SO I JUST WANT US TO RECOGNIZE THIS, THIS MOMENT, UH, THIS MOMENT THAT I BELIEVE WILL BE, IS SEMINAL TO THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US AS A CITY.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA DO YOUR PART TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE VOICES THAT HAVE BEEN HEARD ARE REPRESENTED IN THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN IN, UH, YOU WILL GATHER.
BUT REMEMBER, UH, THAT, UH, WE HAVE SEMINAL MOMENTS WHERE WE CAN CATALYZE AND TRANSFORM A CITY IN, IN A MANNER, IN A WAY THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.
AND I BELIEVE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND GOD BE WITH YOU AS YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS.
UH, ALEX SCOTT, 64 72 TRAMMELL DRIVE.
AND, UM, I'M YOUR NEIGHBOR IN DISTRICT NINE.
UH, SO I'M GONNA CUT TO THE CHASE.
UM, I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS AFTER, UH, THIS RESOLUTION GETS PASSED TODAY BECAUSE, UH, NOT ONLY WILL YOU BE IN VIOLATION OF ETHICS, UH, YOU'LL ALSO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE BOND COVENANT THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS SIGNS, AS WELL AS THIS RESOLUTION TRIGGERS THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA NUMBER 20 OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHICH STATES THAT PRIOR TO AUTHORIZATION OF NEW REQUIRED FACILITY BUILDINGS OR RENOVATION OF PREVIOUSLY DECOMMISSIONED FACILITIES, THE CITY MANAGER WILL PROVIDE THE TOTAL ESTABLISHED CAPITAL COST AND FIVE YEAR FORECAST OF ONGOING OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
OPERATING EXPENDITURES WILL BE PROGRAMMED TO INCLUDE THE COST OF IMPLEMENTING SERVICE TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THE FUTURE REVENUES OF THE NECESSARY OF THE NECESSARY FOR THESE EXPENDITURES WILL BE ESTIMATED AND PROVIDED PRIOR TO UNDERTAKING ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL AUTHORIZE EACH NEW OR REOPEN FACILITY BUILDING BY SUPER MAJORITY VOTE, WHICH IS THREE-FOURTHS OF THIS CITY COUNCIL.
ALSO PER THE, UH, DALLAS BOND COVENANT, UH, NUMBER G OR LETTER G STATES THAT DISPOSAL OR PROPERTY IT, WHILE WITH PREVIOUSLY ISSUED TY BONDS OR THE BONDS OR ADDITIONAL BONDS ARE OUTSTANDING.
UNPAID WILL NOT SELL CONVEY MORTGAGE, ENCUMBER OR AT LEASE ANY MANNER TRANSFERRED TITLE TO OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF THE SYSTEM OR ANY SIGNIFICANT OR SUBSTANTIAL PART THEREOF.
THERE ARE OUTSTANDING BONDS THAT ARE UNPAID ON THIS BUILDING, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU CAN'T SELL THIS OR LEASE THIS OR DO ANYTHING UNTIL THOSE BONDS ARE PAID OFF.
THE NEXT THING IS THAT, UM, AND A NOVEMBER DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL INTERVIEW, SEAN TODD, FOUNDER OF THE CEO OF TODD INTEREST, WHICH IS BEHIND SEVERAL ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECTS IN DOWNTOWN, SAID THAT DALLAS CITY HALL IS OBSOLETE IN A DRAIN ON THE CITY RESOURCES, EVEN IF IT'S HERALD AS AN ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARK.
HE SAID THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT THE BUILDING DOES NOT SERVE THE LONG-TERM NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS WHO? LINDA MCMAHON, THE CEO OF THE DALLAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION USED TO FOR TWO OF THE ASSESSMENTS OF THIS BUILDING.
HE SHE IS ON, SHE'S ON RECORD STATING THAT SHE USED HIM SPECIFICALLY FOR TWO OF THE REPORTS OF THIS BUILDING.
AND SO YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME THAT A MAN WHO'S ON RECORD SAYING THAT THIS BUILDING IS OBSOLETE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE SOLD, IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE GONNA ALLOW THE DALLAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO USE AS AN IMPARTIAL
[02:35:01]
INDIVIDUAL TO RECOMMEND FOR TWO OF OUR REPORTS THAT IS NOT ETHICAL.THE LAST THING IS THAT PER THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER, AT ANY TIME, FIVE MEMBERS CAN SUBMIT A RESOLUTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND GET 5% OF OUR VOTES.
AND, UM, I'M GONNA PUT TOGETHER A FIVE PERSON THAT'S ORDINANCE, THAT'S YOUR TIME, UH, THAT'S GONNA PROVIDE THAT ANY FACILITY'S YOUR TIME.
THAT'S UNDER BOND, THAT'S BOND FUNDED.
YOUR TIME HAS TO BE VOTED ON BY THE CITY, BY THE CITY OFFICIALS.
LUCY BILLINGSLEY, 1722 RUTH STREET, DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.
THIS IS AN ICONIC BUILDING AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN INEFFICIENT.
IT HAS NEVER SERVED THE FUNCTION OF THE STAFF AND THE OPERATIONS AND DELIVERY OF THE CITY OF DALLAS AS IT SHOULD HAVE.
THIS STAFF, THIS CITY DESERVES BETTER FORT WORTH BOUGHT PIER ONE BUILDING AND THEIR DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR PLAZA, SIGNIFICANT BUILDING, BRAND NEW SPACE.
ANYTIME A COMPANY RELAUNCHES ITSELF INTO A GREAT ENVIRONMENT, SO GOES THE MORALE AND THE ENERGY OF THE BUSINESS.
SO THAT'S ONE ASPECT OF THIS CONSIDERATION.
I'M ON A PANEL TOMORROW AND WAS REVIEWING THE QUESTIONS AND ONE OF THEM WAS, WILL THE ARTS DISTRICT MERGE WITH UPTOWN AND IS DOWNTOWN DALLAS DEAD? I'M GONNA JUMP IN AND DISCUSS THAT TOPIC.
AND OF COURSE, I BELIEVE THERE'S TREMENDOUS HOPE FOR DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
THAT'S AN AGGRESSIVE QUESTION, BUT WE DON'T WANT DOWN DALLAS AND ALL THE GROWTH OF DOWNTOWN TO BE MOVING NORTH, TO BE MOVING TO THE, UH, UPTOWN, AND THEN WE'RE MOVING ON DOWN TURTLE CREEK.
THOSE ARE GREAT AREAS, BUT IT IS WRONG FOR DALLAS TO ONLY LOOK NORTH.
THIS AREA HAS BEEN DETERIORATING AND SLIDING FOR A LONG TIME.
OUTTA 34 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
9 MILLION IS VACANT AND THE 9 MILLION IS THE CLOSEST TO THIS AREA.
SO FIRST, THE CITY WOULD HELP SOLVE PART OF THAT BY ACQUIRING SOME OF THAT SPACE.
BUT SECONDLY, THIS AREA DESERVES ENERGY, ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AND, UM, PEOPLE, WE NEED TO BE ENGAGED.
THE CONVENTION CENTER'S GONNA BE FANTASTIC AND DO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT FOR US, BUT IT'S TOO FAR AWAY FROM THESE BUILDINGS OF THE 1940S, FIFTIES AND SIXTIES TO REINVIGORATE THIS PROPERTY IS NOT, THIS IS, UH, AN UNUSUAL MOMENT AND OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REINVEST WITH THE GROWTH OF THE CITY.
AND AS MUCH AS I LOVE HISTORY, I LIVE FOR TOMORROW.
AND I KNOW YOU OWN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TOMORROW IN YOUR HANDS WITH GREAT ESTEEM AND THOUGHTFULNESS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE CONSIDERATIONS FOR ALL THAT'S BEEN SAID TODAY.
MY NAME'S BEEN MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES.
I'VE BEEN ATTENDING THIS BUILDING SINCE 1985.
I'VE HAD HUNDREDS OF MEETINGS SINCE THEN.
OUR FIRM HAS INVESTED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS OVER $1.5 BILLION IN THE CORE OF DOWNTOWN OVER 30 BUILDINGS, TWO EMPTY I AND PAY TOWERS.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK TOWER OF THE TOWER PETROLEUM BUILDING.
WE'VE WON NUMEROUS PRESERVATION AWARDS.
WE ARE ACTIVE CARING PRESERVATIONISTS.
I SEE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT SHARE WITH ME IN THE CARE FOR PRESERVATION.
TO THAT END, I'VE BEEN VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS AND THAT I WAS CONSULTED BY LINDA MCMAHON.
TWO OF THE ENGINEERING FIRMS THAT PROVIDED YOU ESTIMATES ARE FIRMS OF GREAT REPUTATION FIRMS THAT HAVE DEALT WITH MANY OF US THAT HAVE REPURPOSED BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN.
AND I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CITY STAFF HAD INITIALLY PRESENTED TO YOU, THAT THESE ENGINEERS SUBSTANTIATED BASICALLY WHAT CITY STAFF HAD ALREADY SAID.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF DRIVE BY ANYTHING YOU CAN SAY, MEDIA COUNCILMAN RIDLEY AND I HAVE A GREAT FRIENDSHIP AND WORKING GROUP TOGETHER FOR YEARS.
I CALLED PAUL BEFORE MY EDITORIAL THAT WAS RECENTLY MENTIONED OUT OF GREAT RESPECT FOR PAUL BECAUSE I RESPECT HIM IMMENSELY.
[02:40:01]
JUST BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ON THE SAME SIDE OF THIS ISSUE DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T HAVE RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.I'VE BEEN THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED WITH THE DILIGENCE IN WHICH SHE'S GOING TO TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL WANT TO GET ANSWERS TO.
I STAND HERE AS A MAN WHO NO LONGER HAS ANY FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN DOWNTOWN.
I STAND NOTHING TO GAIN FROM THE DECISION THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO MAKE OTHER THAN CARING.
JUST LIKE MANY OF THE MEMBERS HERE CARING ABOUT OUR STUDY, JUST AS YOU ALL CARE, I'M GLAD I'M NOT IN YOUR SEAT BECAUSE EACH OF YOU, COUNCILMAN BOW, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW PARK.
AS MUCH NEEDED AND I WATCHED YOU FERVENTLY STAND UP FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS EACH OF YOU'RE DOING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
OUR DOWNTOWN GENERATES A MASSIVE TAX BASE FOR OUR CITY.
YOU KNOW HOW TIGHT THE PURSE STRINGS ARE.
YOU KNOW WHAT LITTLE MONEY YOU HAVE TO SPEND.
I MAY NOT AGREE WITH SOME OF YOU ON YOUR POSITION, BUT I KNOW ULTIMATELY THAT YOU WANT THE VERY BEST FOR THIS CITY.
WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY HAVE LOOKED AT THESE NUMBERS.
I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THEM, BUT I KNOW THE LADY LEADING THE PROCESS.
LINDA MCMAHON, I'VE WORKED BESIDE HER FOR YEARS IN THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL.
SHE'S A LADY OF TREMENDOUS INTEGRITY.
I'VE SEEN THAT EXHIBITED BY YOUR STAFF THAT ANSWERS TO YOUR CITY MANAGER EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE EMPTY BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN THAT CAN BE PICKED UP LITERALLY FOR A SONG.
SO MY BEST TO YOU, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER, YOU MAY RESUME YOUR TIME.
I THINK IT, THEY FOUND THE SOLUTION.
UM, I SPOKE IN FRONT OF THE COMMITTEE.
IF ANYBODY WANT TO SEE THE VIDEO, THEY CAN GO ON THE NEXT GENERATION ACTION NETWORKS, UH, SITE.
UM, I'M BORN AND RAISED IN THIS CITY.
UM, I'VE USED, I'VE SEEN POLITICAL SITUATIONS BE USED FOR THE EXPEDIENCE OF WHATEVER NARRATIVE OR WHATEVER CONVERSATION.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT A REPORT, UM, HAS BEEN GENERATED.
I THINK THAT A LOT OF DEAL OF THE FRUSTRATIONS IS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF HOW MUCH IT COSTS.
UM, I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SITTING ON VICE CHAIR OF THE DALLAS ISD BOND BOARD AND, UH, IN THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY SEE $3.5 BILLION BE DONE.
AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT, WE ALWAYS PRICE OUT SCHOOLS.
NOTHING, NEVER BE THE NUMBER OF WHAT IT IS.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I AM FEELING LIKE WHAT IS BEING LEFT OUT OF THIS DISCUSSION THAT IS TRULY DISGUSTING.
AND IT, IT MAKES IT VERY HARD FOR ME TO FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY HOME CITY.
'CAUSE I DON'T HEAR NOBODY SAYING NOTHING ABOUT IT.
WHAT ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE TO WORK IN THIS FACILITY? WHEN YOU VOTE, I WANT YOU TO GO DOWN THERE IN THAT BASEMENT AND EVERY LAST ONE OF THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU SEE WORK DOWN THERE, LOOK AT THEM DEAD IN THEIR EYES AND TELL THEM THAT THEIR HEALTH MATTER, THEIR LIFE MATTER.
THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO WORK HERE.
JUST BECAUSE THEY HAD TO WORK HERE DOESN'T MEAN IT RIGHT.
IF YOU COME RIGHT HERE ON THIS FLOOR, IT SMELLS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ON L ONE AND L TWO.
LOOK AT THEM IN THE FACE WITH YOUR VOTE.
WHILE MR. U DALEY COMES FORWARD, I'LL ASK FOR MARCEL QUIMBEE AND CEDRIC JORDAN TO COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST ROW.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DALLAS ARCHITECTURE FORUM AND I ALSO SERVE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD, UH, SUPPORT CITY LAB HIGH SCHOOL, UH,
[02:45:01]
DISD, INNOVATION AND TRANSFORMATION SCHOOL.I WANNA COVER FOUR POINTS BRIEFLY.
THE FIRST ONE, AS MS. COOK MENTIONED VISIONARY LEADERS COMMISSION, I AM PAID TO DESIGN THIS BUILDING AS A CIVIC HEART OF DALLAS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT DALLAS WAS LEAVING ITS STAINED REPUTATION OF HATRED AND BIGOTRY AT THE JFK ASSASSINATION.
JACKIE KENNEDY PERSONALLY SELECTED I AM PAID TO DESIGN THE PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY FOR JFK IN BOSTON.
AND HE REMAINED A CLOSE CONFIDENT OF MS. KENNEDY AND THE KENNEDY FAMILY THROUGHOUT HER LIFE TO ALLOW THIS BUILDING TO BE DEMOLISHED AND RELOCATE.
CITY HALL TO COMMERCIAL SPACE WOULD BE SEEN BY THOUGHT LEADERS AROUND THE WORLD AS A BACKWARD STEP BY A SHORTSIGHTED CITY AND A SCAR ON J F'S K'S LEGACY CAUSED BY THE CITY IN WHICH HE WAS ASSASSINATED.
VICTORY PARK, UH, VICTORY PARK INITIALLY WAS A BOONDOGGLE AS FAR AS FINANCIAL.
UH, A LOT OF MONEY WAS INVESTED INTO IT AND FOR A LOT OF TIME THE MEDIA TALKED ABOUT VICTORY PARK AS BEING A GHOST TOWN.
MOST OF THE STORES THAT OPENED ORIGINALLY CLOSED.
SO WHAT HAVE WE DONE NOW AFTER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT BY THE CITY? WELL, THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A RESIDENCE IN VICTORY PARK IS A MILLION $50,000 FOR 1500 SQUARE FEET.
THE AVERAGE RENTAL RATE IS 2,300 FOR LESS THAN 900 SQUARE FEET.
SO VICTORY PARK IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE WEALTHY, BUT VICTORY PARK DOES NOT WORK FOR FAMILIES.
THERE'S A SOBERING REPORT IN THIS SUNDAY'S METRO SECTION THAT STATED THAT BETWEEN 21 AND 20 23 2 YEARS, RENTAL UNITS AVAILABLE IN DALLAS FOR LESS THAN A THOUSAND A MONTH DECREASED BY OVER 50%.
DALLAS HAS A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MOVING THE MAVS TO DOWNTOWN DALLAS MAY HAVE MANY BENEFITS, BUT THE CITY MUST RECOGNIZE THAT IT WILL CAUSE A PRICE OF HOUSING FOR THE AVERAGE CITIZEN OF DALLAS TO INCREASE AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE TO DALLAS UNTIL ALL FINALIST SITES ARE COMPARED.
WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN ANYTHING ABOUT, OKAY, LET'S MOVE.
WHAT DOES IT COST TO MOVE BEFORE MOVING? WE WOULDN'T MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT HAVING APPLES TO APPLES.
WE MUST HAVE COMPLETE DATA AS FAR IT COSTS TO MOVE BEFORE THAT DECISION IS MADE.
I THINK IF WE DO THAT, IT'S THAT BEFORE THAT DECISION IS AVAILABLE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION, IT'S DISSERVICE TO EMPLOYEES OF THE DALLAS CITY AS WELL AS ABROGATION OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AND FINALLY, UH, CITY LAB HIGH SCHOOL, IF THIS SITE IS SOLD TO THE MAVERICKS, UH, THEY MAY BUILD THEIR PRESENCE HERE.
CITY LAB IS THREE BLOCKS FROM HERE.
IT'S A TRANSFORMATIONAL SCHOOL FOR DID IT WILL BASICALLY CHOKE AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE THAT TO CLOSE.
WE REALLY WANT TO INVEST IN EDUCATION AND BRINGING CITIES TO DALLAS AND CHILDREN.
WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT CAREFULLY MOVE THE MAVS OVER BY WHERE THE LAND IS BEING VACATED BY THE ARENA.
PLEASE BE STEADFAST YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF THE CHILDREN OF DALLAS.
CHRISTOPHER EDGEMAN, CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES.
UH, CHRIS EDGEMAN, 1841 SHELL MEYER, DISTRICT ONE OAK CLIFF.
ON SUNDAY, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD WROTE THAT THE COST TO REPAIR CITY HALL HAD GROWN IN WAYS BOUND TO GENERATE SKEPTICISM.
THEY DID NOT WRITE ABOUT ALL THE OTHER COSTS.
THE COUNCIL IS NOT LOOKING INTO.
DEMOLITION ALONE WOULD COST TENS OF MILLIONS, AT LEAST.
THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI IS CURRENTLY DEMOLISHING A SIMILAR CONCRETE BUILDING THAT'S ONE SEVENTH THE SIZE OF CITY HALL.
IS THIS REALLY ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY? THIS IS ABOUT THE MAVERICKS.
THIS IS ABOUT THE ADELSON DUMONT THREATENING TO MOVE OUR TEAM.
THIS IS ABOUT GIFTING OUR LAND TO BILLIONAIRES.
IN 2024, MIRIAM ADELSON GAVE $106 MILLION TO HER OWN SUPER PAC TO ELECT DONALD TRUMP.
THAT SAME YEAR JUST IN TEXAS, THEY SPENT $13 MILLION LOBBYING TO LEGALIZE GAMBLING.
PATRICK DUMONT, GOVERNOR OF THE MAVS IS ALSO CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF LAS VEGAS.
SANDS POLITICAL MANIPULATION IS A CORE PART OF THE ADELSON DUMONT BUSINESS MODEL.
THEY DON'T RESPECT THIS PROCESS.
THEY HAVE NEVER SHOWED UP HERE.
IF YOU VOTE YES TO THIS, YOU'RE VOTING TO GIVE TAXPAYERS MONEY TO A FAMILY ALREADY WORTH OVER $40 BILLION.
A FAMILY THAT BOUGHT THE DALLAS MAVERICKS TWO YEARS AGO TRADED AWAY THE TEAM'S FRANCHISE PLAYER ONE YEAR AGO.
AND THIS YEAR THEY WANNA DESTROY CITY HALL TO BUILD A STADIUM SLASH CASINO.
THE MAVS ARE AN ASSET TO THEM.
WHAT DO WE GET FOR DESTROYING CITY HALL? YEARS OF DEMOLITION AND UNTOLD COSTS.
A COUNCIL THAT RENTS INSTEAD OF OWNS
[02:50:01]
AN EMPTY AMERICAN AIRLINE CENTER.AND 20 YEARS FROM NOW, THE SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN.
THE MAVS CHOSE THEIR JULY DEADLINE ON PURPOSE TO TRY TO CREATE ONE.
IF THIS REALLY IS JUST ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, THEN JUST PROVE IT.
LOOK AT BOTH SIDES OF THE LEDGER, ACTUALLY FUND DEMOLITION AND PHASED RENOVATION STUDIES.
AND DON'T MOVE 9 1 9 1 1 OR ANYONE OUT OF CITY HALL UNTIL THAT'S DONE.
UM, I'M MARCEL QUIMBEE AND I LIVE AT, LIVE AT 7,001 HAMMOND AVENUE IN DISTRICT 14.
UM, AS THE COUNCIL HAS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN HISTORIC TAX CREDITS OVER THIS WEEK, I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME FOLLOWING BASICS WITH THIS VAL, VERY VALUABLE FINANCIAL TOOL FOR TO USE, UM, HISTORIC TAX CREDITS ON A BUILDING SUCH AS THIS.
THE BUILDING MUST BE OVER 50 YEARS OLD AND MUST BE ELIGIBLE OR ELIGIBLE OR LISTING IN LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
WE'RE WE'VE, WE'VE GOT THAT COVERED.
UH, THE REHABILITATION PRO PROJECT MUST COMPLY WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION, WHICH IS A COMMON STANDARDS THAT MANY HISTORIC PROJECTS FOLLOW.
THERE ARE TWO, HIS TWO DIFFERENT CREDITS AVAILABLE.
THE FIRST IS THE FEDERAL CREDIT WORTH 25, 20% OF THE CONSTRUCTION COST.
UM, AND THAT, AND THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1976, UM, 1976.
AND THE SECOND IS TEXAS, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2017.
AND THAT IS WORTH 25% OF THE, UM, CONSTRUCTION VALUE SO THAT THOSE MONIES GO BACK, UM, AGAINST THE COST OF, UM, CONSTRUCTION.
UH, THE BUILDINGS MUST BE INCOME PRODUCING, UM, AS THE CREDITS APPLY AGAINST THE OWNER'S INCOME TAXES.
OR IN TEXAS, THE STATE FRANCHISE.
TEXAS, THE OWNER OF CITY HALL, CITY OF DIALYSIS IS NOT AN INCOME PRODUCING COMMERCIAL BUILDING.
BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO TEAM UP WITH PROFIT WITH FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES THAT CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND THE FACT THAT THE CITY HALLS NOT, DOESN'T PAY TAXES IS ON PAR WITH EVERY OTHER GOVERNMENT BUILDING IN THE WORLD.
UM, HISTORIC TAX CREDIT PROJECTS HAVE HAD A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS DALLAS'S RENEWAL IN 2010.
UM, THERE WERE 45 HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS THAT HAD USED THEM WITH A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF $1.45 TRILLION OVER, YOU KNOW, THE LAST, YOU KNOW, 15 YEARS.
AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT KEEPING BUILDINGS AND KEEPING THE ENVIR, YOU KNOW, THE AREA, UM, THERE'S A BENEFIT TO BEING CLOSE TO, YOU KNOW, UM, PART OF A HISTORIC AREA AS WELL AS BENEFITS TO THE OWNERS.
UH, THE INVESTMENT TAX CREDITS ARE AN IMPORTANT TOOL AND ONE THAT CAN OFFSET MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE CITY HALL'S RENOVATION PROJECT IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION, WHICH WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE.
THANK YOU CEDRIC JORDAN TO THE HONORABLE ERIC JOHNSON, DALLAS CITY COUNCIL.
BORN, RAISED, ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOL, MARRIED IN DALLAS, PROPERTY OWNER.
THERE APPEARS TO BE TWO LOOMING QUESTIONS, AND THEY ARE, SHOULD THE CITY OF DALLAS RENOVATE THE CURRENT CITY HALL AT A STAGGERING PRICE OF 1.2 BILLION OR TWO, SHOULD THE CITY OF DALLAS ABANDON THE CURRENT LOCATION BY RELOCATING AND SELLING THE PRESENT SITE? NOW, LET ME SAY CITY HALL IS AN ARCHITECTURAL WONDER BY I AM PI.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CITY HALL WITH SUCH DESIGN AND CHARACTER, AND IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO SEE AN ARCHITECTURAL WONDER RAISE.
BUT DOES CITY HALL MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT DALLAS? ARE PEOPLE MOVING TO DALLAS JUST BECAUSE OF CITY HALL? NOW, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS.
NO ONE BUILDING ALONE CAN MAKE A CITY GROW.
THE QUESTION IS, WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS? WILL THE CURRENT LOCATION PROMOTE ADVANCEMENT FOR THE CITY? DO PEOPLE COME TO DALLAS JUST TO TOUR CITY
[02:55:01]
HALL? NO, THEY COME BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT THIS CITY OFFER AND BECAUSE OF RETAIL EXPERIENCE.IF THIS BUILDING IS SOLD, WOULD DALLAS SURVIVE? YES, IT WILL SURVIVE.
IF THEY WERE RAISED THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, WOULD NEW YORK FAILED? NO, IT WOULD NOT FAIL.
I'M ASKING YOU TO NOT SUPPRESS PROGRESS.
WE CAN SUPPRESS PROGRESS OR WE CAN EMBRACE IT.
SELLING OR REPURPOSING THE CURRENT LOCATION CAN RESULT IN ENHANCEMENTS TO ATTRACT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TRUE, IF THE CURRENT OWNERS OF THE MAVERICKS WANT THE CURRENT SPACE, BUT IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THE CURRENT LOCATION, THINK OF THE JOBS THAT WILL BE CREATED, THE TAX REVENUE THAT CAN BE GAINED, THE SALES TAX, THE ENTERTAINMENT TAX.
NOW I'M A AVID DALLAS COWBOY FAN, BUT I DON'T GO TO AT AND T STADIUM JUST TO SEE THE BUILDING.
I GO THERE TO SEE THE TEAM THAT PLAYS IN THE BUILDING.
IN MY OPINION, CITY HALL IS FULLY UTILIZED, BUT CAN I BE MORE CREATIVE USE? AND IN CLOSING, IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL SURROUNDING CITIES, AND I CALL THEM MAGNET CITIES, WE KEEP LURING AND DRAWING BUSINESS AWAY FROM DALLAS.
NOW WE DON'T HATE OUR SURROUNDING CITIES, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR CITIES.
AND IF DALLAS DOES NOT EMBRACE PROGRESS, PROGRESS WILL MOVE AWAY FROM DALLAS.
WHILE MS. PHILLIPS IS IS COMING FORWARD, I'LL ASK THAT.
DIANE BIRDWELL, TRISTAN TALKINGTON, IRA ALLEN, BRUCE RICHARDSON AND HARRISON BLAIR, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT IN THE FIRST ROW.
MS. PHILLIPS DOLORES PHILLIPS.
MY NAME IS DOLORES PHILLIPS AND ON THIS HANDOUT, I GOT IT FROM THE LIBRARY TODAY.
AND THIS IS A ARCHIVED DOCUMENTED.
IT STATES DALLAS CITY HALL, THE BLUEPRINT, 1966, CONSTRUCTION STARTED 1972, DEDICATED MARCH 12TH, 1978.
AND THE FIRST PARAGRAPH READS, IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT THAT DALLAS BE MERELY EFFICIENT, A RICH AND REWARDING URBAN LIFE.
FOR DALLAS PEOPLE REQUIRES THE ENVIRONMENTAL NECESSITIES OF ORDER, CLEANLINESS AND BEAUTY.
IT'S NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO COME IN THIS BUILDING AND BULLY OR INTIMIDATE YOU FOR ANY REASON.
I ASK THAT YOU PRAY AND ASK GOD FOR DISCERNMENT TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
THIS STRUCTURE WAS NEVER A BUILDING ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
THIS IS A STRUCTURE THAT WAS BUILT FOR A SELECT GROUP.
IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
I ASKED YOU FOR THE MANY YEARS THAT YOU KNOW OF 30 PLUS YEARS, SOMEBODY HAD TO COME A GROUP, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS COMMUNITY BEGGING FOR A PARK, DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM FOR 30 PLUS YEARS, STILL TO THIS VERY DAY, BEGGING YOU THEIR EMPLOYER TO GET IT RIGHT IN THIS BUILDING.
I ASK YOU TODAY TO VOTE, GET ON THE GAS AND VOTE UNANIMOUSLY TO BE DONE ABANDONED.
LET'S MOVE ON AND DO SOMETHING TRULY FOR THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS, THE, THE PEOPLE AS A WHOLE.
DIVERSITY, MEN, WOMEN, NO MATTER IF THEY'RE GAY OR STRAIGHT, POOR, WEALTHY IN THIS BUILDING, SINCE I'VE BEEN SPEAKING HERE 2012, ABOUT A COVERUP.
WITHIN A COVERUP, THERE HAS BEEN MANY PEOPLE, BLACK, WHITE, BROWN,
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AND EVEN A FEW GAY THAT WAS FORCED OUT BECAUSE THEY DID THEIR JOB.MAYOR JOHNSON, YOU OWE YOURSELF BETTER.
YOU HAVE A DUALLY DUTY TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR SECURITY FOR THE PEOPLE.
NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO BEHIND YOU.
YOUR SECURITY DISRUPTING YOUR SECURITY.
THEY WENT DOWN TO DALLAS COUNTY TO DPD, THEY WENT DOWN TO THE FEDERAL BUILDING, THEY WENT DOWN TO EL CENTRO.
MOVE YOUR PEOPLE UP OUT OF HERE.
IF IT IS GONNA BE A DALLAS MAVERICKS, LET 'EM COME AND BE HAPPY.
THIS WAS NEVER A PLACE OF PEACE.
IT WAS NEVER A PLACE ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER KENNEDY BEING SHOT.
I REMEMBER IT BEING THE CITY OF HATE.
I REMEMBER WHEN THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT AND I ALSO REMEMBER WHEN THEY MOVED THE COWBOYS TO TEXAS STADIUM.
AND THAT WAS GONNA BE A GREAT BIG DEVELOPMENT.
GO OUT THERE NOW AND LOOK AT IT.
I WORKED AT TEXAS STADIUM SELLING COKES BACK IN 75 REUNION ARENA.
WHAT HAPPENED TO IT? AMERICAN AIRLINES WAS FLAILING AMERICAN AIRLINES.
SO NOW IT'S KIND OF COMING BACK.
BUT TO SAY THAT DOWNTOWN NEEDS AN ARENA, NEEDS A BASKETBALL TEAM, NO WE DON'T.
NO ONE GOES TO ROME OR LONDON FOR A BASKETBALL TEAM.
THEY GO TO SEE OLD ARCHITECTURE, THEY GO TO SEE CULTURE AND THEY TRADED LUCAS AT A HELL WITH THEM.
BUT THE THING IS, MY MOTHER USED TO SAY, FORT WORTH IS WHERE THE WEST BEGINS.
BUT DALLAS IS WHERE THE EAST PETER'S OUT.
WE HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO BE MANHATTAN ON THE PRAIRIE, BUT INSTEAD WE'RE GONNA BECOME DETROIT ON THE TRINITY.
AND I QUOTED THAT, NOT YOU DID THAT.
WHY? BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT AT AND T IS LEAVING DOWNTOWN DALLAS, HOW DO YOU THINK WE FEEL? IF CITY HALL LEAVES DOWNTOWN DALLAS, WHY SHOULD ANYBODY STAY? YOU KNOW WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT? THEY'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE MAVERICKS.
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THINGS LIKE MY ROOMMATE, WHO'S A VETERAN LIKE ME, WHO'S A FEDERAL, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, RETIRED WHO WAS AT THE DOG PARK AT MOCKINGBIRD AT WHITE ROCK LAKE AND WAS, UH, HARASSED BY THIS CRAZY GUY, TROUBLEMAKER AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND HAD HIS FACE CRACKED AND IS INJURED.
IT TOOK 90 MINUTES FOR THE DALLAS POLICE TO SHOW UP.
NO INVESTIGATOR, NO DETECTIVE.
SO IF ANYONE HERE FROM THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO TALK TO ME, I'M WEARING PINK FOR A REASON.
THIS GUY IS A RETIRED SPECIAL AGENT AND HE FEELS ABANDONED BY THE CITY THAT HE NOW CALLS HOME BECAUSE THE ONE TIME HE NEEDS HELP TO GET THIS OTHER BAD GUY AWAY.
BUT WHY BRING ALL THAT UP? BECAUSE I'M ALSO HEARING, OH, WHAT IS GONNA BRING JOBS? UH HUH WE HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME.
IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME PEOPLE FROM THE SAME PART OF TOWN WHO ARE BEING TOLD THIS BY THE PEOPLE FROM NORTH DALLAS THAT IT'S GONNA HELP SOUTH DALLAS AND IT NEVER DOES.
AND FINALLY, I'M GONNA LEAVE IT WITH ONE THING THAT'S GONNA SOUND A LITTLE BIT AWFUL.
BUT LADIES, WE ALL KNOW WHEN WE'RE BEING BAMBOOZLED BY A MAN ON A DATE, WE ALL KNOW THAT MOVING 9 1 1 AND 3 1 1 IS THE EXACT SAME THING AS WHEN WE HEAR, OH, COME ON HONEY.
TRISTAN TALKINGTON IS NOT PRESENT.
UH, I WONDER WHEN YOU LAST FELT FEAR.
UH, I'D ASK MY FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE TO, UH, TO STAND WITH ME AND, UM, STAND WITH ME WHILE I'M HERE.
ORD ERIC JOHNSON, WHO HAD CHANGED THE WORLD.
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YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THESE IF ERIC JOHNSON HADN'T LICENSED THE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT TO IBM.NO TELLING HOW LONG IT WOULD'VE BEEN BEFORE WE HAD THESE.
AND WHEN HE WAS DONE, HE TOOK ON THE JOB OF REIMAGINING DALLAS' GOVERNMENT.
THAT WAS A MOVEMENT OF INCLUSION.
AND I'M GONNA PAUSE AND QUOTE JUANITA CRAFT, WHO SAID AT GOALS FOR DALLAS THAT I, AFTER ALL I'VE DONE, I'VE NEVER FELT LIKE A CITIZEN UNTIL NOW.
SITTING AT THE TABLE WITH THESE PEOPLE FOR THE RECORD, TRANSPARENCY IS WHAT THIS BUILDING WAS ABOUT.
YET THIS PROCESS, YOU DID VOTE TWICE TO EXCLUDE US.
YOUR CONSTITUENTS, YOU EXCLUDED US DALLAS, MAVS HAVE SAID, DON'T DON'T BLAME US.
WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING, WE'LL, WE'LL TALK TO THEM AFTER THEY'RE DONE.
UM, BUT MOST OF ALL, YOU EXCLUDED US.
WE, WE BEG FOR A VOICE IN THREE MINUTE INTERVALS HERE THINKING OF WHAT WE CAN SAY, WHAT WE CAN CRAM INTO THREE MINUTES WHILE PEOPLE GET TO SIT AT A TABLE WHO ARE TASKED WITH FINDING OUT WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO MOVE OUT, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE IN AN OFFICE SPACE THAT IS NOT THIS OFFICE SPACE.
I HAVE 22 SECONDS TO MAKE A CLOSING ARGUMENT.
AND THAT CLOSING ARGUMENT IS SOMEHOW YOU WOULD BETRAYED US, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, ALL THE VOICES IN THE ROOM WERE MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR VOICES, ALL OF THEM.
SO I BEG YOU, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
YOUR FINAL, YOUR FINAL SPEAKER.
COUNCIL, UH, MEMBERS, MADAM CITY MANAGER.
LET ME START BY JUST GIVING AN OFFERING OUR CONDOLENCES FROM THE BLACK CHAMBER AND FOR MY FAMILY.
UH, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN DALLAS SINCE BEFORE THERE WAS A CITY HALL.
WE'VE SEEN MANY CITY HALLS AND WE'RE PRETTY SURE WE'LL SEE ANOTHER ONE.
HOPEFULLY IF THIS PROJECT GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.
I WALKED IN TODAY AND FOR MANY OTHER MEETINGS, I'VE COME DOWNTOWN FOR MY BOARD SERVICE.
I'VE NEVER ONCE SEEN THE PLAZA FULL OF PEOPLE, MAYBE ENLISTED IF THERE'S A TURKEY TROTTER, SOME KIND OF MAJOR EVENT.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE BUILDINGS AROUND CITY HALL AND ARE ALSO NOT GETTING ANY ACTION OR ANY PLAY.
I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GONNA SPEND A BILLION DOLLARS ON AN ASSET, JUST ONE, THERE ARE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT TAKE PRECEDENT TO ME.
THE FIRST IS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE 4,000 NEW POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET OF DALLAS STREETS OF DALLAS TO PATROL.
THAT'S NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET.
WE HAVE $3.2 BILLION DEFICIT IN OUR POLICE AND FIRE PENSION.
SPENDING A BILLION DOLLARS ON THIS ONE ASSET IS NOT GONNA HELP THAT.
YOU ALSO HAVE THE CHOICE BETWEEN FAIR PARK A BILLION DOLLARS THAT IS REAL.
AND, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO OUT THERE AND LOOK AND TABULATE WHAT WOULD COST A BILLION DOLLARS TO FIX THERE? THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN INVESTING IN FAIR PARK VERSUS CITY HALL IS THAT IS ACTUALLY A DESTINATION THAT WILL SEE A RETURN IF I PUT ON MY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HEAD.
SO I DO THINK IN ALL FAIRNESS, THIS BODY DOES NEED THE POWER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AT LEAST EXPLORING WHAT COULD BE BETTER FOR THE CITY.
BECAUSE CITY HALL DOESN'T REPRESENT A PROPERTY.
AND AT THE CHAMBER, WE ARE PEOPLE OVER PROPERTY.
AND IF YOU'VE GOT A BILLION DOLLARS THAT YOU WANNA PUT ON A BUILDING, I'VE GOT A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS AND SERVICES THAT THIS COUNCIL CAN OFFER TO PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I KNOW YOU'RE FACED WITH A TOUGH DECISION AND I KNOW PEOPLE FROM NORTH DALLAS AND OTHER PLACES CAN AFFORD TO BE HERE AND THEY HAVE TIME.
BUT THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT FROM THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, I COULD ASK THEM TO STAND, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR THE LUXURY TO BE HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE PROBABLY AT WORK.
BUT THESE ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT.
AND I'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAVERICKS MENTIONED, I DON'T WANT THE MAVERICKS TO LEAVE CITY HALL.
I DON'T WANT THEM TO LEAVE DOWNTOWN.
WE'VE ALREADY LOST THE RANGERS.
HELL, I'LL THROW IN THE HORSE TRACK, BUT FOR A BILLION DOLLARS WE DESERVE SOMETHING NEW AND AT LEAST A NICE STEAK LUNCH AND SOME GUCCI SLIPPERS OR SOMETHING.
BUT WE CAN'T DO A BILLION DOLLARS ON AN OLD FACILITY THAT'S MOSTLY MADE
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OF CONCRETE.I LOVE THIS LOVELY PIECE OF ART, BUT I AM FOR PEOPLE OVER PROPERTY AND I BELIEVE MOST OF DALLAS RESIDENTS WOULD FEEL THE WAY THAT I FEEL, AND I'LL JUST MAKE THIS QUICK POINT, WHERE WERE THE PRESERVATIONISTS WHEN THEY WERE TEARING DOWN THE HOMES ON HISTORIC 10TH STREET IN MY COMMUNITY? WHERE WERE THE PRESERVATIONISTS WHEN THIS BODY PUT UP THE BOND IN 2024 AND THEY PUT $30 MILLION ON THE TABLE TO FIX THIS BUILDING AND SOME OF THE MOST PERNICIOUS ISSUES.
I ALMOST SLIPPED AND BROKE MY NECK ON A, ON A DRIP DOWNSTAIRS ON MY WAY IN.
WHEN ARE WE GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT? THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
POINT OF ORDER MAYOR STATE'S POINT OF ORDER.
YEAH, I BELIEVE IT WAS A VIOLATION OF RULES TO HAVE SOMEONE SPEAK WHO WASN'T SIGNED UP.
AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE, UH, RIGHT WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT TO OFFER THAT SAME AFFORDABILITY TO ANYONE ELSE WHO WAS, UH, WHO'S PRESENT AND DID NOT SIGN UP.
I'LL LOVE PARLIAMENTARY AND ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT RELIEF YOU'RE GONNA GET FOR OUR RULES.
A SUSPENSION OF THE RULES WOULD BE WHAT, WHAT YOU'D HAVE TO REQUEST IF YOU WANT TO LET ANYBODY SPEAK.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT SOMEONE WAS JUST GIVEN THAT VIOLATED OUR RULES ALREADY.
IT IS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
SO MADAM SECRETARY, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR IS ABSENT AND VOTE TAKEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSON? YES.
SO MADAM SECRETARY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL PLEASE BY SHOW OF HANDS.
AND YOU MAY COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT IN THE FIRST TWO SECTIONS.
AND ANY SPEAKER CAN COME TO THE PODIUM.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
62 19 PROSPECT AVENUE, DISTRICT 14.
I'M JUST HERE TO POINT OUT ONE LITTLE TEENY TINY BIT OF HISTORY THAT HAS BEEN LEFT COMPLETELY OUT OF THIS.
THIS BUILDING WAS FINISHED AND OCCUPIED IN 1978.
IN 1979 AFTER A COURT ORDER, THE CITY OF DALLAS HAD ITS FIRST SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT ELECTIONS PRIOR TO 1979.
MOST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ALL WHITE MEN IN BLUE SUITS.
THE WOMEN WHO SERVED ON THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE FIRST NAMES.
AFTER THE 1979 ELECTION, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND FOR THE LAST 47 YEARS, THIS HORSESHOE HAS LOOKED JUST LIKE YOU ALL LOOK TODAY.
AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER.
AND THIS SITUATION MUST BE REPLICATED SOMEWHERE.
WELL NOT BE REPLICATED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
PLEASE DO NOT SELL THIS BUILDING.
NEXT SPEAKER, MR. MAYOR, HONOR MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, SAUL ANA.
ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, I STOOD RIGHT HERE BEFORE A DIFFERENT COUNCIL AND A DIFFERENT MAYOR REPRESENTING A GROUP OF, OF FOLKS WHO WERE TRYING TO SAVE A LITTLE RED BRICK SCHOOLHOUSE CALLED ST.
ANNE'S AND THE OLD LITTLE MEXICO NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S GONE AND NEIGHBORHOOD'S GONE.
THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE AT THE TIME HIRED TWO SILK STOCKING LAW FIRMS DOWNTOWN.
THE BEST LAND GUY IN THE CITY.
AND, UH, OPPOSED THE SAVING OF THAT LITTLE RED BRICK SCHOOLHOUSE IN THAT LITTLE BRICK SCHOOLHOUSE ST.
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ANN'S.NO GREAT ARCHITECT DESIGNED IT.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THERE? THOUSANDS OF KIDS, MEXICAN KIDS WENT TO SCHOOL THERE.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE, HAD FUNERALS IN THE CHURCH.
NEXT DOOR TO THAT SCHOOL, THOUSANDS OF MEXICAN BOYS AND GIRLS PLAYED IN THE SCHOOL GROUND OF THAT SCHOOL.
'CAUSE THERE WAS A LITTLE MEXICAN SCHOOL.
IT WAS AN OLD MEXICAN NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DIDN'T THINK WE HAD THE CHANCE TO SAVE THAT POOR LITTLE SCHOOL.
I EVEN TOLD MY CLIENTS I DIDN'T THINK WE HAD A CHANCE.
WE WERE UP AGAINST THE DIOCESE AND SOME OF THE BEST LAND LAWYERS IN TOWN.
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO, AFTER NINE MONTHS OF DEBATE AND DISCUSSION BEFORE SEVERAL COMMITTEES AT THE, AT THE CITY HALL, FINALLY GOT TO THE COUNCIL, WE WERE ABLE TO VOTE ON IT AND SAVE THAT LITTLE SCHOOL.
AND THE IRONY THAT TODAY, THAT LITTLE SCHOOL HOUSE GOT MORE DISCUSSION FOR THE PUBLIC THAN YOUR GIVING CITY HALL, HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT? THE TABLE, THE RESOLUTION FOR YOU SHOULD BE TABLED AND LET MORE CITIZENS DISCUSS THIS WITH YOU AND, AND BE HONEST WITH YOU ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY HALL.
MY NAME IS ROSEANNE MACINO MILLS.
I LIVE AT 6 9 0 6 CASA LOMA AVENUE.
I AM A, UH, CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT 14.
MY HOUSE IS A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
I AM CURRENTLY RENOVATING A HISTORIC CHARLES BECK HOME THAT WAS SAVED FROM A DEVELOPER'S WRECKING BALL.
I AM A MEMBER OF THE CONGRESS OF NEW URBANISM AND I HAVE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF A GLOBALLY KNOWN NEW URBANISM COMMUNITY.
EARLIER TODAY, A MEMBER OF, UH, THE, UH, CITY OF DALLAS, UM, CITIZEN CAME HERE AND EXHORTED OUR MAYOR TO SHOW VISION.
AND IN THINKING ABOUT THAT, I THOUGHT THAT RECALLS A MEMORY I HAVE FROM A LONG TIME AGO BECAUSE BACK WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THAT TOWN, THE MAYOR AND I HAD SUCH A CONVERSATION ABOUT VISION.
AND THAT VISION OCCURRED IN FRONT OF THAT NEW URBANISMS TOWN, ICONIC TOWN HALL AS WE WERE SURROUNDED BY CHILDREN RIDING ON BICYCLES, RUNNING VAST, GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF WHAT EVERY TOWN NEEDS TO HAVE, WHICH IS A VIBRANT CIVIC CENTER AND AN ICONIC CIVIC HALL.
AND AS A CONSEQUENCE, THAT ICONIC TOWN DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAVE A CIVIC HALL, BUT THE FOUNDER OF THAT COMMUNITY SAID EVERY COMMUNITY OF NOTE, WHETHER TOWN OR GLOBAL CITY SHOULD HAVE A CITY HALL, A TOWN HALL, AND A CIVIC COMMUNITY AND SPACE AROUND IT.
AND SO WITHOUT NECESSARILY AN ECONOMIC REASON, THAT TOWN DOES HAVE SUCH A PLACE AND IT IS INDEED ICONIC.
LIKEWISE, DALLAS, WHICH CONSIDERS ITSELF AND I DO BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART, AS SOMEONE WHO IS BORN IN THIS TOWN, IS INDEED A WORLD CLASS CITY, SHOULD LIKEWISE HAVE A CITY HALL THAT IS ICONIC.
THAT IS A PLACE WHERE WE DO IN FACT GATHER FOR DEMONSTRATIONS, FOR FESTIVALS, FOR WALKING THE DOG IN, UH, COMMUNITIES, UM, NEAR AND FAR IN THIS CITY.
UM, THAT WE IN FACT SHOULD KEEP THIS PLACE AS OUR TOWN CENTER AND OUR TOWN LIVING ROOM.
AND I STRONGLY URGE EVERYONE IN THE HORSESHOE TO TABLE OR REJECT WHAT IS BEING CONSIDERED TODAY.
HI, I'M JAN BRIDGES, 9 8 7 SOUTH RUSTS CIRCLE, DALLAS, TEXAS.
I HAVE A LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES OF THIS PLACE.
UM, BEING UP ON THE FIFTH FLOOR WHEN I WAS ON THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, UM, WE'D HAVE MEETINGS UP TO TWO OR THREE IN THE MORNING, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS ASKING SO MANY QUESTIONS OF CITY STAFF.
JUST, IT WAS JUST KIND OF A FUN THING.
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UM, I'M ASKING Y'ALL NOT TO DO THIS.OKAY? THIS IS REALLY THE SOUL OF THIS CITY.
I MEAN, THIS IS WHERE WE COME TO PROTEST OR TO HAVE PARADES OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S A PUBLIC SPACE AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IT BE CENTRALLY LOCATED, THAT IT BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
IT JUST WILL NOT BE THE SAME TO HAVE CITY HALL IN SOME RENTAL SPACE ON CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY OR WHATEVER.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS JUST DELAY, JUST PUT IT OFF UNTIL YOU GIVE IT SOME MORE THOUGHT.
THIS IS JUST A MAJOR, MAJOR DECISION, OKAY? AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK MOST IMPORTANT, IT'S, IT'S THE PUBLIC TRUST.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, THAT, THAT KEEP INTACT BETWEEN OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, DO YOU REALLY WANNA BREAK THAT PUBLIC TRUST? SO I'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER THAT.
MY NAME IS FITZGERALD DOD, I LIVE AT 5 0 8 FOX STREET, 7 5 2 0 3.
AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MAY GET LOST, UH, WITH A FEW PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S THE CONVERSATION ABOUT CITY HALL AND DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT.
AND THAT'S WHAT ACT, THAT'S WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE LIKE MYSELF, NOT JUST DOWNTOWN, BUT ACROSS DALLAS AND ESPECIALLY SOUTHERN DALLAS.
FIRST DOWNTOWN IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE WHOLE CITY.
AND RIGHT NOW IT NEEDS A JUMPSTART.
I MEAN, REALLY, DOWNTOWN DALLAS HAS BEEN STRUGGLING.
OUR OFFICE VACANCIES ARE UP, FOOT TRAFFIC HASN'T FULLY RECOVERED, AND WE'RE LOSING GROUND TO SUBURBS.
WHEN DALLAS, WHEN DOWNTOWN THRIVES TAX BASE GROWS, CITY SERVICES IMPROVE, AND EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD BENEFITS A NEW ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER COULD MEAN 50 ACRES OF REDEVELOPMENT, OVER 50 BILLION OR OVER BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INVESTMENT AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THAT'S NOT JUST A NUMBER ON A SPREADSHEET.
THAT FUNDS, PARKS, ROADS, LIBRARIES, PUBLIC SAFETY IN EVERY DISTRICT.
SECOND, SOUTHERN DALLAS STANDS TO GAIN A BULK OF THIS.
THE PROPOSED ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT SITS RIGHT AT THE DOORSTEP OF SOUTHERN DALLAS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF CONSTRUCTION JOBS, PERMANENT HOSPITALITY AND SERVICE JOBS, NEW RETAIL, NEW RESTAURANTS ON A SHELF.
SO I'M LEANING TOWARDS THE RESTAURANTS AND NEW HOUSING ALL IN AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN WAITING DECADES FOR THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT.
WHEN THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT ON, UH, COME ONLINE TOGETHER, THE E THE ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECT DOESN'T STOP AT I 30 LIKE NORMAL.
IT ACTUALLY CROSSES OVER I 30.
IT REACHES THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKING THE CITY TO SHOW UP FOR THEM.
THIS IS HOW WE START TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH DALLAS, NOT WITH PROMISES, BUT WITH REAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND DOLLARS FLOWING IN.
LASTLY, OUR COMMUNITY HAS A VOICE IN THIS AND WE INTEND TO USE IT.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS SHOWN UP WHEN DALLAS MAKES BIG DECISIONS.
WHAT I WANT THE COUNCIL TO HEAR IS THAT WE ARE NOT UP HERE ADVOCATING FOR ANY TEAM OR BUILDING.
WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR E EQUITABLE INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
OUR VOICE CARRIES WEIGHT BECAUSE WE SEE THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR THE NUMBERS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
MY ADDRESS IS 50 28 MILAM STREET IN DISTRICT 14.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UM, ALL OF YOUR DELIBERATIONS.
AND, UM, I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU OF COURSE SAVE CITY HALL.
I LIVED DOWNTOWN FOR TWO YEARS.
I WAS RESTORING A CHARLES BECK HOUSE AND I NEEDED A PLACE TO LIVE.
AND I LIVED IN MANOR HOUSE AND I ABSOLUTELY, WHEN I GOT DONE AND READY TO MOVE IN MY HOUSE, I DIDN'T WANNA LEAVE DOWNTOWN.
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UM, WHEN I LIVED DOWNTOWN, I WALKED EVERYWHERE.AND THAT'S PART OF THE FUN AND THE ARCHITECTURE.
IF YOU BUILD APARTMENTS IN SOUTH OF YOUNG STREET, I MIGHT RENT ONE OF THOSE APARTMENTS.
IF I'M LOOKING AT AN I AND PAY BUILDING, IF I'M LOOKING AT A BAR DOWNSTAIRS WITH HOT DOGS, I WILL NEVER STEP FOOT IN THAT AREA AS A RESIDENT.
WHEN I LIVED DOWNTOWN, I OFTEN WANTED TO WALK ACROSS YOUNG STREET, SOUTH OF YOUNG STREET.
I WALKED DOWN THERE AND I ALWAYS FELT LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, OKAY, I WANT TO, AND IT'S A LITTLE DANGEROUS IF YOU PUT STREET SCAPING ON YOUNG STREET FROM THE FARMER'S MARKET TO UNION STATION, AND YOU REDO THE INTERIOR OF UNION STATION BACK TO THE VICTORIAN OR THE EDWARDIAN ERA WITH TAX CREDITS AS MENTIONED, THOSE PEOPLE FROM FORT WORTH ARE GONNA HAVE A BALL.
THEY'RE GONNA COME ON THE TRAIN.
AND EVERYONE IN FORT WORTH, I EVERYONE IN DOWNTOWN WHO LIKES TO WALK, WE'LL BE WALKING SOUTH OF YOUNG STREET.
IF YOU LIVE IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS, YOU LIKE ARCHITECTURE, YOU LIKE ART, YOU LIKE THE NASHER, DON'T PUSH THOSE TENANTS AWAY.
I BELIEVE YOUR ROI WILL BE MUCH BETTER.
I HAVE A MASTER'S AT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FROM UT AUSTIN.
I DON'T PRACTICE, BUT LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF SOMEONE WHO BUILDS IN AN AREA THAT IS ALL NEW AND A PERSON WHO BUILDS PROJECTS IN AN AREA WITH SOME DIVERSITY OF ERAS AND VISUAL INTEREST.
THIS BUILDING COULD BE MADE BETTER FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
I VERY MUCH AGREE WITH THAT SPEAKER.
THE STAFF NEED REALLY GOOD OFFICES.
I ACTUALLY SEE THE FOUNTAIN AT THE KALITA HUMPHREYS, AND I THINK I WANNA MAKE A BETTER STAFF OFFICE TO FIX THAT FOUNTAIN.
IF I WERE WORKING HERE AND I HAD A BAD OFFICE, I WOULDN'T REALLY HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO WANNA, OR, OR THE, THE SENSE OF URGENCY ON ANY PROJECT.
SO I DO ASK FOR Y'ALL TO REALLY CONSIDER WHAT STAFF NEEDS ARE.
I THINK THAT'S, HI, MY NAME IS CATHERINE SEAL.
I'M AT 5,500 CHATHAM HILL ROAD.
I'M A JUST, UM, MEMBER OF A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 13, UM, FORMER LANDMARK COMMISSIONER AND FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PRESERVATION DALLAS.
AND, UM, I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF THE PROPONENTS WHO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE, I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY DECISION.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY IS LIKE, LET'S TAKE A WRECKING BALL.
WELL, THERE'S ONE GUY, ONE PERSON THAT WANTS TO TAKE A WRECKING BALL TO CITY HALL.
BUT I THINK, UH, A LOT OF YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE UP.
YOUR MINDS ARE, ARE FACED WITH, UH, YOU SEE A LACK OF LEADERSHIP IN A, IN A SPIRALING DOWNTOWN.
AND YOU SEE THIS AS PERHAPS A WAY TO, UM, AN ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT CAN BRING SOMETHING NEW LIFE TO YOUR DOWNTOWN.
AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE REALLY DESPERATE FOR A MIRACLE.
AND YOU'RE HOPING THAT BRINGING THE MAVS INTO DOWNTOWN IS THE MIRACLE THAT, UH, YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF EMAILS AND, UM, SPEECHES AND PRESENTATIONS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU, UM, IS THE MIRACLE.
YOU THINK THAT THERE'S A LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND RESOURCES, UM, AND ENERGY TO PUT INTO OUR DOWNTOWN TO TRY TO SAVE IT.
UM, THE DEVELOPERS WILL TELL YOU IT'S GONNA TAKE 20 YEARS TO BRING US BACK TO THE LEVELS THAT WE WERE AT, UH, PRE COVID.
UM, IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT TAPPING INTO THE RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
IT'S ASTOUNDING TO SEE THE SUPPORT FOR CITY HALL AND PEOPLE ARE OFFERING TO HELP YOU ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPETENT, UM, AND HAVE A LOT OF BACKGROUND, UM, IN URBAN PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN AND, AND MAKING CITIES GREAT AGAIN.
SO UTILIZE THE RESOURCES, THE MIRACLES, RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
AND, UH, IT'S A TOUGH VOTE I KNOW.
BUT, UM, DON'T BE AFRAID TO, UM, TO, TO LET CITY CALL WORK ITS PROCESS AND PUT YOUR FAITH IN THE PUBLIC.
THIS CONCLUDES YOUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.
I'M 92 46 FOREST HILLS BOULEVARD.
I'VE COME HERE BEFORE, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN THIS ANGRY, SO FORGIVE ME.
AND I'VE BEEN SITTING UP IN THE, LISTENING TO THIS FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A DONE DEAL.
I'M FROM DALLAS, I WAS BORN IN OAK CLIFF.
I REMEMBER WHEN DALLAS, DOWNTOWN DALLAS WAS A PLACE WE COULD MEET.
[03:30:01]
UH, THERE WAS MOVIES, THERE WAS ALL SORTS OF THINGS.I LIKE OUR CITY COUNCIL IN DOWNTOWN.
I THINK WHEN I WAS A KID WE CAME DOWN.
SO IT GR I THINK THAT IT CREATES A COMMUNITY AND, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY AND WE SAVE AND PROTECT EACH OTHER.
I FEEL THIS IS TURNING INTO DOWNTOWN DALLAS IS TURNING INTO A CARNIVAL OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT WHERE IT'S ALL, I DON'T CARE WHY NOT PUT, UM, A STADIUM OVER IN SOME PART OF THE OTHER PLACE.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT REALLY, REALLY CONCERNS ME IS IF WE MOVE THIS TO SOMEPLACE ELSE THAT'S NOT IN THE CENTER OF DALLAS, HOW ARE PEOPLE GONNA GET AROUND? HOW ARE THEY GOING TO, ARE WE GONNA PUT PUBLIC? I KNOW SOME OF YOU WANTED TO GET RID OF CARS AND SOME OF YOU WANTED, UH, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THEN SOME DON'T WANT IT.
HOW ARE WE GONNA GET THE PEOPLE FROM OAK CLIFF OR SOME OF THE OTHER PARTS OF TOWN DOWN HERE? HOW, WHAT DO WE DO? I MEAN, I, I JUST THINK THE WHOLE THING IS POORLY THOUGHT ABOUT.
AND, UH, AND WHAT ABOUT ALL THE BUILDINGS AROUND HERE? I, I WENT TO THE, I DROVE BY THE, THE, THE BUILDING THAT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
WHERE ARE ALL THOSE BUILDINGS GONNA GO? IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A REALLY, REALLY COLD PLAN THAT YOU HAVE.
AND I THINK THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T CARE ABOUT WHETHER WE HAVE SOME KIND OF CIRCUS DOWNTOWN.
I THINK WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER.
HELLO, UH, I'M MICHELLE WALKER.
UH, I AM IN, UH, DISTRICT ONE OAK CLIFF.
I SERVE ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF PRESERVATION DALLAS.
I SERVE ON THIS BOARD WITH MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED ON THIS BUILDING.
AND I KNOW THE $1 BILLION REPAIR ESTIMATE IS GROSSLY INFLATED.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN FAVOR ABANDONING CITY HALL, SEEM TO HAVE FALLEN FOR THIS RIDICULOUS $1 BILLION REPAIR STORY, WHICH IS DISHEARTENING.
IT IS ALSO BEING PRESENTED AS EITHER RESTORE CITY HALL OR REVITALIZED DOWNTOWN AND CONNECT DOWNTOWN WITH THE SOUTH.
THIS IS NOT AN EITHER OR AND WE MUST DO BOTH.
SOME SUGGEST NOT DEMOLISHING CITY HALL, BUT REDEVELOPING THE BUILDING INTO SOMETHING ELSE.
THIS IS A VERY PARTICULAR BUILDING TO CHANGE ITS USE.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHERE WOULD OUR PUBLIC CITY OF SITTER, I'M SORRY, CITY CENTER OF CITY GOVERNMENT BE, ARE WE SUPPOSED TO HOLD PROTESTS OR RALLIES IN AN OFFICE BUILDING PARKING GARAGE? A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN FAVOR ABANDONING THE CITY HALL, WANT TO CONNECT THE CORE.
I THINK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED AND NEEDS TO HAPPEN SEPARATELY FROM PRESERVING CITY HALL.
I WOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUST THE ADELSON FAMILY OR ANY BILLIONAIRE TO ACT IN FAVOR OF THE NEEDS OF SOUTH DALLAS.
THIS INCLUDES YOUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM, MR. MAYOR.
ALRIGHT, WELL I THINK PROCEDURALLY, AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO SAY THAT AT 4:47 PM THE SPECIAL CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING STANDS AT RECESS UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING AND GO BACK INTO OUR BRIEFING MEETING NOW.
IT'S 8:52 PM AND OUR SPECIAL CALL MEETING IS BACK FROM RECESS.
AND MADAM, UH, CITY SECRETARY, I'LL LET YOU, UH, TAKE IT FROM HERE.
YOU HAVE ONE ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA.
I'LL READ THAT ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
AGENDA ITEM ONE IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON CITY COUNCIL POLICY DIRECTION FOR THE STATE OF DALLAS CITY HALL.
THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR, CHAIRMAN WEST.
YOU HAVE A MOTION? YES, MAYOR.
I MOVE TO FOLLOW THE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO ONE.
EXPLORE RELOCATION OPTIONS FOR 3 1 1 9 1 1 AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS TO NEW GOVERNMENT CENTER LOCATIONS.
EXPLORE OPTIONS TO RELOCATE ALL OTHER CITY HALL STAFF AND FUNCTIONS TO NEW GOVERNMENT CENTER LOCATIONS.
AND THREE, EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR THE DISPOSITION OF CITY OF THE CITY HALL SITE.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
[03:35:01]
MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS RESET.SPECIAL CALL MEETING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.
BEFORE IS YOURS, CHAIRMAN WEST.
THIS VOTE TODAY IS ABOUT TWO THINGS, CH SEVERAL CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE US.
I'M GONNA START WITH THE CHALLENGES FIRST.
THE CITY COUNCIL'S JOB IS TO MAKE DECISIONS, BUT THOSE DECISIONS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVE.
WE DO NOT SIT AT THE NEGOTIATION TABLE WITH BROKERS, DEVELOPERS, OR PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM OWNERS.
WE RELY ON CITY STAFF TO CONDUCT THOSE NO NEGOTIATIONS AND BRING FORWARD COMPLETE ACCURATE INFORMATION SO WE CAN ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF DALLAS.
I HOPE AND I EXPECT THAT WE RECEIVE THAT FULL PICTURE APPROVING THIS ITEM TODAY MUST MOVE US TOWARD THAT STANDARD.
THE SECOND CHALLENGE IS THAT DALLASITE ARE UNDERSTANDABLY ANGRY ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THIS PROCESS TO DATE.
WHILE THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME THINGS THAT MUST BE DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, LIKE NEGOTIATING A LEASE AT ANOTHER BUILDING, WE OWE IT TO OUR RESIDENTS TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
THE THIRD CHALLENGE IS THAT THIS ICONIC BUILDING HAS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF NEEDED REPAIRS.
WHETHER THE NUMBER IS 150 MILLION OR 329 MILLION, IT IS MONEY THE CI CITY SIMPLY DOES NOT HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD STOMACH FIRING POLICE OFFICERS OR CLOSING POOLS AND LIBRARIES OR LETTING STREET REPAIRS GO UNANSWERED IN MY DISTRICT BY SHIFTING FUNDS AWAY FROM THOSE SERVICES TO CITY HALL.
A BUILDING THAT SIMPLY HAS LESS DIRECT BENEFIT TO OUR RESIDENTS.
AND FRANKLY, I KNOW THAT MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES FEEL THE SAME WAY BECAUSE ALL OF US, UM, AS WELL AS PAST COUNCILS HAVE DECIDED TO FUND OTHER CITY SERVICES AND BOND AFTER BOND INSTEAD OF PUTTING MONEY INTO THIS BUILDING.
LAST AND CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, DOWNTOWN TODAY AND ESPECIALLY THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF DOWNTOWN IS STRUGGLING.
AT AND T IS LEAVING AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT HERE IN YEARS.
I SEE MORE HOMELESS PEOPLE WALKING AROUND THAN RESIDENTS, TOURISTS OR EMPLOYEES.
CIVIC BUILDINGS PLUS EMPTY PARKING LOTS DO NOT EMPTY, DO NOT EQUAL A THRIVING DOWNTOWN.
AND OUR CITY'S CAPITULATION TO SHAKY PROMISES FROM THE STATE REGARDING I 3 45 HAVE ONLY MADE REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN HARDER BECAUSE IT IS CHOKED OFF BY HIGHWAYS, TAKING PEOPLE ANYWHERE BUT DALLAS.
BUT IT'S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM.
WE ARE DALLAS AND IN DALLAS, WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET BIG THINGS DONE.
WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN A BETTER DIRECTION.
ONE THING I'VE HEARD AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON IS THAT OUR RESIDENTS IN SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS DON'T WANT TO SEE MASSIVE CHANGES TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL GONNA MOVE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE AGENDA ITEM.
WHICH HAS TO DO WITH DEVELOPMENT HERE.
PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO MOVE TO DALLAS BECAUSE OF BUSINESSES LIKE SCOTIA BANK, GOLDMAN SACHS AND OTHERS ARE COMING HERE AND THEIR EMPLOYEES NEED A PLACE TO LIVE.
WHY NOT PUT MORE HOUSING IN DOWNTOWN? INSTEAD OF PUTTING PRESSURE ON OUR SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS, WHY NOT FINALLY CREATE A DOWNTOWN RICH WITH HOUSING OPTIONS FOR OUR WORKFORCE INSTEAD OF ALLOWING ENDLESS SPRAWL AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION? SECOND OPPORTUNITY IS THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF DOWNTOWN WILL CAUSE WILL CREATE INCREDIBLE ECONOMIC BENEFIT AND REVENUE.
AS FORMER MAYOR MIKE RAWLINGS ARGUED IN ITS OP-ED THIS PAST WEEKEND, THAT REVENUE WILL GO TO FUNDING.
POLICE, FIRE STREETS, PARKS, LI LIBRARIES ACROSS OUR ENTIRE CITY WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
THERE ARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT HERE AROUND US.
THE $3 BILLION CONVENTION CENTER REDEVELOPMENT IS HAPPENING NEXT DOOR.
WHETHER WE FIND THE MONEY TO FIX THIS BUILDING WE'RE IN NOW AND INVEST IN IMPROVING THE PLAZA, OR WE MOVE OUT AND THIS LAND TURNS INTO SOMETHING ELSE.
AND YES, COULD EVEN BE A STADIUM FOR THE MAVERICKS.
ALL OF THESE OPTIONS ARE BETTER THAN OUR STATUS QUO, GHOST TOWN THAT WE HAVE DOWN HERE.
NOW WE NEED TO START DREAMING ABOUT THE LONG-TERM VISION FOR DOWNTOWN.
AND AS THE MAYOR HAS POINTED OUT, WE NEED TO DOWNTOWN THAT WORKS FOR THE NEXT CENTURY.
WE HAVE A GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM DOWNTOWN INTO A HUSTLING BUSTLING HUB FOR RESIDENTS, TOURISTS, AND WORKERS.
AND AS CHAIR OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL SPORTS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, I SEE KEEPING THE MAVERICKS AND STARS AND BRINGING THE WINGS AS CRITICAL TO DOWNTOWN'S FUTURE.
TODAY'S VOTE IS A CRITICAL STEP TO ENSURING WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO MAKE A FINANCIAL AND A FACT-BASED DECISION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CITY HALL IN DOWNTOWN.
WITHOUT IT, WE ARE ALL OPERATING IN THE DARK.
IF YOU WANT MORE DATA, MORE INFORMATION, AND MORE TRANSPARENCY, THEN I URGE
[03:40:01]
YOU TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION.I BELIEVE I WAS NEXT IN THE QUEUE AND FOR SOME REASON IT DROPPED ME OFF.
YEAH, BUT I WAS FIRST IN THE QUEUE AND IT DROPPED OFF.
GIVE, GIVE AS MUCH TIME AS YOU WANT.
NO, BUT YOU KNOW, BUT PAUL, YOU KNOW PAUL SEEMS REALLY CONCERNED.
BUT REALLY JUST FIVE MINUTES THOUGH.
WELL, I WANNA START BY THANKING THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS FOR TAKING THEIR TIME TO SPEND MOST OF THEIR AFTERNOON AND MANY OF YOU YOUR EVENINGS BY SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US TONIGHT.
I, LIKE MANY OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED OVERWHELMING CONSTITUENT FEEDBACK ON THIS ISSUE.
ONE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE AND ONE THAT I SHARE WITH MANY RESIDENTS I'VE HEARD FROM IS THAT THEY ARE CONFUSED BY A PROCESS THAT HASN'T BEEN TRANSPARENT.
WHY NOW? WHY ARE WE HOLDING THREE SEPARATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN JUST TWO WEEKS AND THEN VOTING THE VERY NEXT WEEK ON SUCH A MONUMENTAL DECISION? A DECISION THAT AFFECTS NOT ONLY WHERE WE GOVERN, BUT HOW REPRESENTATION CONNECTS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
WHEN WE MOVE THIS QUICKLY ON AN ISSUE OF THIS MAGNITUDE, AND WITHOUT ALL THE FACTS AND MANY REMAINING QUESTIONS, IT ERODES PUBLIC TRUST.
WE ALL AGREE THAT CITY HALL NEEDS ATTENTION.
THERE ARE DECADES OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND MUCH NEEDED MODERNIZATION TO TO ADDRESS.
BUT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL CREATES A FALSE NARRATIVE TO JUSTIFY LEAVING CITY HALL.
AND I BELIEVE THAT DIRECTION IS PREMATURE AND INADEQUATELY SUPPORTED BY THE