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[Dallas Park and Recreation Board on June 4, 2026. ]
WE CAN MEET OUR DALLAS PARKS ANDIT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE WHEN THE ROOM IS FULL.
SO WE'LL MOVE TO OUR AGENT, THIS TEAM, MR.
I KNOW THAT'S OUR FIRST POINT OF BUSINESS CELEBRATING VANESSA LEG.
MR. LAGUNA, IF YOU WILL COME UP HERE.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE SEE YOU ON TV ALL THIS WAY.
AND, UH, MR. LAGUNA, UH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
AND SO I WANNA READ TODAY, WHEREAS ON JUNE THE NINTH, 2026, VANESSA LAGUNA IS RETURNED FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AFTER 26 PLUS YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, MS. LAGUNA BEGAN HER CAREER WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IN 1997.
ARLINGTON PARK RECREATION CENTER.
THEN SHE TRANSFERRED TO NASH DAVIS AND KEITH AND JOHN C PHIPPS.
IN 1999, SHE CONTINUED HER SERVICE AS A, AS ARLINGTON PARK RECREATION.
NOW THAT'S WRONG, BUT SHE STARTED ARLINGTON PARK RECREATION CENTER.
UH, AND THEN IN 2016, JONNA PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN PREPARATION, IMPLEMENTATION OF
MS. LAGUNA'S CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL TO THE SUCCESS OF DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AND HER LEGACY WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE CARE SHE PROVIDED TO THE FACILITIES.
SHE SERVED AN EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE.
SHE EXTENDED TO ALL WHO ENTERED THEM.
MR. LAGUNA HAS SERVED AS A COLLEAGUE, MENTOR, AND A VALUE TEAM MEMBER, AND BE REMEMBERED FOR HER EDUCATION TO YOUTH ADULT SENIOR PROGRAMMER, HER EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATION SKILLS, HER LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AND HER PASSION TO SERVING THE RESIDENT OF THE DALLAS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I JOHN D. JENKINS, DIRECTOR ON BEHALF OF THE DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
DUE HERE, BACK STANDS SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO VANESSA LAGUNA, SIGNED ARO
MS. LAGUNA, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.
AND I DIDN'T SAY THE OTHER PART ABOUT HER, BUT I APPRECIATE ALL THESE YEARS, MS. LAGUNA WOULD NOT HESITATE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES.
SHE WOULD, SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE I KNEW AND ALL THE EXECUTIVE TEAM KNEW WHAT ANY ISSUES THAT WAS GOING OUT THERE.
AND IT TAKES SPECIAL FOLKS LIKE LAGUNA THAT'S NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK UP.
AND SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE AT EVERY REC CENTER, YOU NAME IT, VOLUNTEERING AT TIMES, PAYING KIDS FACES, COMING IN, CLOWN SUITS,
AND I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK MS. LAGUNA FOR MAKING OUR SYSTEM BETTER.
AND WE ALWAYS ALLOW YOU IF YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING.
WE CANNOT, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR OWN STREET
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LAGUNA WAY.SO I TICKET FOR THIS
UH, PARKER RECREATION BECAUSE THEY GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BIG PART ON A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY WITH MY SENIORS AND MY KIDDOS.
UH, I LOBBY AROUND THEM AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE ME, TO DO
ENJOY, BE HAPPY IN THE BUILDING AND HELP ALL THE RECREATION CENTER.
UH, WE LOVE IT, UH, TO BE PART THE PREPARATION CENTER.
BUT THANK YOU EVERYBODY AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
HEY, YOU KNOW SHE HAS A TWIN SISTER.
I WAS SAYING I AS SHE LOOKS JUST LIKE HER.
THEY, THEY BOTH ARE OUTSPOKEN.
TAKE THE PICTURE WITH THE SIGN.
OKAY, NEXT ONE IS, UH, EVEN MORE SPECIAL SLAUGHTER.
ALL BEFORE JOHN READS ALL THE FANCY WORDS, I HAVE TO TELL YOU WHO IS THE ONE WHO WELCOME PEOPLE TO THIS BOARD WHEN I JOIN AND YOU KNOW, HAS BECOME A BROTHER TO ME.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE.
I THINK THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO RECOGNIZE ENOUGH.
WE STILL HAVE A PIECE OF PAPER FOR YOU.
'CAUSE YOU ALL DO NOT GET PAID, OKAY? BUT Y'ALL WORK LIKE YOU GET PAID.
OKAY? Y'ALL WORK A LOT OF LONG HOURS, UH, FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SEND YOU ON YOUR WAY FROM GIVING YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS AND TIME FROM 2017 TO 2026.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND EVERYBODY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ERNEST SLAUGHTER WAKES
YOU'RE ONE TO GET THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBER.
WE ALL, Y'ALL KNOW HOW WE DO IT.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
SEE, SOMEONE TOLD ME YOU IN TROUBLE.
WE WILL GUYS, YOU CAN MAKE SURE I SEE Y'ALLS FACE.
I SEE EVERYBODY MOVE THIS WAY.
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YOU SAY SOMETHING, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? ANYTHING GOOD YOU KNOW ABOUT HIM? OH, SPEAK.
NO, FIRST, FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, UH, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GROUP THAT, THAT THE, UH, ENDURED ALL THE STUFF TAYLOR AND HARD FUNDING.
REMEMBER YOU WERE HAUNTED TO BE SEATS.
YOUR GRANDMOTHER MOTHER DID NOT PASS IT DOWN TO YOU NOT INHERIT THESE SEATS.
AND YOUR PRE IS THE DEFENDANT'S DEPARTMENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS THE GREATEST DEPARTMENT IN THE NATION.
AND I LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
I DIRECT THE STORIES FROM PRESIDENT.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HEART FAILURE.
I CAME UP AND GOING OUT DOING THE SEARCH AND WE HAVE SOMEONE, JOHN IS SITTING UP STUFF NOW THAT WE CAN PASS A TIME.
WE HAVE SOMEBODY ON OUR STAFF.
RANDALL CONNOR SHOULD GET THAT JOB.
I LIKE WHAT I SEE IN THIS BOARD.
YOU GOT SOMEBODY CONGRESS, MY COUNCIL PERSON HAS APPOINT SOMEONE.
BUT REMEMBER THAT, REMEMBER WHY YOU'RE HERE.
SUPPORT THIS DEPARTMENT AND THE STAFF, BUT DON'T RUBBER STAMP ANYTHING BECAUSE SOMETIMES STAFF CAN BE MISLEADING.
WELL, THAT'S GONNA BE HARD TO FOLLOW, BUT I'M GONNA TRY
HE WILL ALWAYS START MY CONVERSATION.
WHAT HAPPENING NEW YEAR? 'CAUSE AND I ASKED HIM ONE TIME, WHY WAS IT HAPPENING NEW YEAR? HE SAID, BECAUSE EVERY DAY IS A NEW YEAR.
SO JUST LIKE I WILL TELL, I WILL END UP CONVERSATION WITH I LOVE YOU.
HE STARTS EVERY CON HE'S STATIONED WITH HAPPY NEED.
HE'S BEEN MY PARK BOARD REPRESENTATIVE FOR THIS LAW.
UM, BUT WE WORK TOGETHER AS OFFICIAL APPOINTEES TO LL ATKINS.
AND IF, YOU KNOW, BEING APPOINTEE TO TELL LL ATKINS MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK HARDER.
YOU HAVE TO STAY UP LATER IN ORDER TO, TO SAY, I ALMOST GOT THE JOB DONE.
IMAGINE I TOLD HIM HE DIDN'T GIMME ENOUGH TIME.
I TOLD HIM I WASN'T GOING TO ACCEPT HIS RESIGNATION.
I TOLD HIM, UM, IF HE LOVED ME, HE WOULDN'T
I TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET HIM TO STAY, BUT I THEN HAVE TO SAY, LORD, PLEASE, IF HE'S STEPPING DOWN, PLEASE GIVE ME THE RIGHT PERSON TO BE ABLE TO HALFWAY FILL HIS SHOES.
AND IF YOU GUYS KNOW ME, I'M A PRAYING WOMAN.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING THE EASY WAY, BUT I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I THINK IS THE RIGHT WAY.
WHEN HE FINALLY TOLD ME HE HAD, HE WAS STEPPING DOWN AND I HAD TO, I, HE TOLD, HE TOLD ME I HAD TO ACCEPT IT.
UM, I THEN GOT MISS JACKIE OWENS.
JACKIE OWENS IS A, A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.
JACKIE OWENS, UM, WORKS LIKE I DO, JACK.
OH, HE'S SITTING NEXT TO MY ANOTHER BUDDY.
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OKAY, YOU SITTING NEXT TO HIM, YOU GET ALL THE KNOWLEDGE.OKAY? THAT WAS WHAT WE WORKED CTC TOGETHER.
AND IF YOU, IF HE'S HERE, THE CITY IS SAFE.
YOU HAVE WHERE HE LEAVES, YOU ARE HERE.
I I CAN TRUST THE PARK BOARD RIGHT NOW, I THINK.
BUT LET ME SAY THAT YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THIS WAS THE DAY, BUT SEE WHAT, WHAT, NO, NO, NO IN TROUBLE BEFORE MY LUNCH WHERE I WANT TO GO.
UM, BUT WHAT WITH ME STUMBLING IN HERE WAS THE RIGHT TIME AND THE RIGHT WAY.
I THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE SERVICE, YOU AND ALL THAT YOU INSTILLED IN HIM.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT WAS AN EXCHANGE HE GAVE YOU, GABE, HE TOOK YOU TOOK, NOW IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO GO HOME AND DO SOME WORK FOR HIS WIFE AND HIS SISTER.
YOU SAY SOMETHING, ANYONE HAS ANY OH, I SEE THIS WORKS.
MR. GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
HEY, WE'RE GONNA, WE MISSED OUT A LOT BECAUSE EVERY TIME HE SPOKE, YOU ALWAYS STARTED OFF WITH HAPPY NEW YEAR AND, AND, AND GAVE US HIS PEACE OF MIND OR HIS KNOWLEDGE THAT HE HAD HERE FOR EIGHT YEARS.
BUT JUST KNOWING, JUST KNOWING BO IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD AND GOT TO KNOW HIM.
AND WE, AND WE ALL, WE ALL FRIENDS HERE AND WE ALL GET TO KNOW EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S, THAT'S NEW.
BUT BO TRULY BECAME A FRIEND AND, AND A FAMILY MEMBER OF MINE.
UH, HE HAS A SWEET, HE HAS A, HE HAS A, HE HAS A A LOVE FOR BASEBALL.
IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW NICE ME, HIM ARE BASEBALL GUYS.
SO JUST KNOWING THAT, UH, WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT BASEBALL AND, AND MY SON WHO PLAYS.
UH, BUT, UH, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU BOTH.
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE AND, AND HELPING ME AND, AND HELPING EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND YOU, YOU'RE SOME OF THE PILLARS THAT I LEARNED FROM KNOWING THAT YES, IT'S ABOUT OUR DISTRICT.
WE ALL FIGHT FOR OUR DISTRICT, BUT IT'S ALSO OVERALL ABOUT THE CITY.
AND WE GOTTA MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON OUR DISTRICT.
AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO BOW AGAINST OUR DISTRICT TO MAKE THE CITY BETTER.
AND THAT'S WHAT BO AND OTHERS, LIKE TIM AND ALL PEOPLE HAVE, HAVE, HAVE RETIRED, TAUGHT ME AS A LEAD, AS A, AS A BOARD MEMBER.
SO SHE WANNA SAY THANK YOU BOTH.
UM, CAN'T EXPRESS HOW MUCH I'M GONNA, I I HAVE MISSED YOU AND WILL CONTINUE TO MISS YOU ON THE BOARD.
UH, FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY I ARRIVED, YOU MADE ME FEEL SEVEN YEARS AGO, YOU MADE ME FEEL WELCOME, VALUED, AND THAT THIS WAS A HOME.
UM, THAT MEANS MORE THAN, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I ARE LIVING EXAMPLES OF WHAT THIS BOARD IS TRULY ABOUT.
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, DIFFERENT AGES, RACES, AND DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND LIFE EXPERIENCES AND MAKING THE CITY BETTER.
UM, BOW AND I WOULD NEVER HAVE CROSSED PATHS HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THIS BOARD.
LIKELY WOULD NEVER HAVE CROSSED PATHS HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THIS BOARD COME FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY, BOHO FROM THE SOUTH, BE FROM THE FAR NORTH, AND YET WE ARE LIVING PROOF THAT PEOPLE FROM EVERY CORNER OF DALLAS GET TOGETHER AND EFFECTUATE CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL AND WE PARTNERED ON THE BOND AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE WORKED ON FOR THIS DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, SERVICE, YOUR DEDICATION, AND ABOVE ALL YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
AND I LOVE MY RANDOM TEXTS FROM YOU, UH, THE 11 O'CLOCK ON SUNDAY NIGHTS.
I THINK, UH, WE MIGHT ALL START CRYING BEFORE THIS IS OVER.
OH, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE MY FAMILY AND MY BROTHER.
UM, I STARTED ON THIS BOARD DURING COVID WHEN WE WERE ALL ON LITTLE SCREENS.
AND WHEN WE CAME LIVE INTO THE, UM, TO THE SIXTH FLOOR, YOU, UH, REALLY EMBRACED ME TO HELP ME, UM, LOOK AT THIS BOARD IN A DIFFERENT POSITIVE WAY AS OPPOSED TO BEING ON THE COMPUTER ALL THE TIME.
THE, THE HAPPY NEW YEAR'S, THE, THE LOOKING AT STAFF IN A DIFFERENT WAY, UM, AND REALLY LOOKING AND BRIDGING AND BEING A CONNECTOR.
UM, MY PARENTS ARE YOUR FAMILY.
UM, AND I LOVE, I CAN, I LOVE THINKING BACK WHEN PRISCILLA IS HERE
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AND YOU GUYS SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND, UM, AND THE, THE BRIDGE THAT YOU CREATED ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.AND LIKE LANE SAID, OR JR SAID, IT WASN'T JUST YOUR DISTRICT, BUT IT WAS ALL OF DALLAS, MAKING DALLAS A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYBODY.
CONTINUE BEING POSITIVE AND SHARING THAT.
AND, UM, AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE, YOU WILL BE MISSED AND YOU ARE MISSED EVERY DAY.
BE, YOU KNOW, I, I COULD HAVE PICKED A BETTER DAY ACTUALLY TO CHANGE SEATS.
I'M CHANGING INTO YOUR SEAT TODAY.
OH, I, AND I'M VERY HONORED TO BE DOING THAT, SITTING NEXT TO YOUR AIR.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF PRISCILLA AND THE BRIDGES THAT WERE BUILT BETWEEN COMMUNITIES, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE OUR CONNECTION.
YOU KNOW, COMING INTO THIS BOARD, I REALLY HAD THE, THE BENEFIT OF THERE BEING SO MANY MEMBERS WHO HAD BEEN HERE FOR YEARS, ALMOST A DECADE IN YOUR CASE.
AND, UM, HAVING THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND THE WAY THAT IT WAS SO READILY SHARED, UM, WITH ME.
AND IN GOOD HUMOR, YOU ARE, YOU, YOU BRING A, A LEVITY TO THESE CONSIDERATIONS THAT IS JUST, IT'S, IT WAS VERY MUCH NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.
AND WHETHER THAT WAS DURING THE MEETING OR AFTER THE MEETING, OR OVER THE PHONE AND BETWEEN MEETINGS OR AT A, AT A PARK OPENING, ALWAYS, UM, HAVING SOMETHING FUN AND FUNNY TO SAY.
AND THOSE, THOSE MOMENTS ONES REALLY BUILT THOSE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN US.
UM, THAT'S HOW WE WORK MOST EFFECTIVELY.
AND WE SEE EACH OTHER AS HUMAN BEINGS AND AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE, AS YOU SAID HERE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY AND FOR OUR DISTRICTS.
UM, YOU REALLY REMINDED ME OF THAT REGULARLY, AND YOU WERE A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THAT.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH AND OUR CONNECTION, AND I AM THRILLED TO BE SITTING IN YOUR SEAT TODAY.
UM, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT YOU ARE ACTUALLY, WELL, YOU AND YOUR, UH, COLLEGE ROOMMATE, UH, MY UNCLE TIM DICKEY.
UM, Y'ALL ARE THE REASONS WHY I WANTED TO GROW UP AND BE A PARK BOARD MEMBER BECAUSE OF A STORY IN, UH, 2019 WHEN I CAME IN HERE, LIKE A FRIGHTENED LITTLE PUPPY TO TALK ABOUT MY LITTLE PARK.
AND, UH, UNCLE BO HEARD ME, NOT ONLY DID HE HEAR ME, HE WALKED OUTSIDE THE ROOM AFTER I WAS DONE.
AND, UH, HE TOLD ME HE BELIEVED IN WHAT I SAID.
AND I WAS LIKE, REALLY? LIKE, LIKE REALLY LIKE, AND FROM THAT MOMENT, UH, UNCLE BOWIE, HE PAID IT FORWARD AND HE, HE, HE PUT SOMETHING IN, IN, IN MY HEART.
I WAS LIKE, GOSH, I COULD BE IMPACTED IN THAT.
HE COULD BE IMPACTED BY WHAT I SAID.
I COULD BE IMPACTED BY WHAT HE SAID.
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE FUTURE HOLD FOR US? AND, AND FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, UNCLE BO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DID A LOT OF GOOD PROJECTS TOGETHER.
MOST RECENTLY, THE MKA FAMILY, YOU KNOW, THE GOOD DISTRICT AND THE DISTRICT EIGHT.
AND, UH, THOSE THINGS ARE GONNA STAY WITH ME FOREVER.
THOSE MEMORIES ARE GONNA STAY WITH ME FOREVER.
UNCLE BO, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT ON THE GOLF COURSE.
UH, WHITE ROCK LAKE FOUNDATION HAS A THING COMING UP.
I GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TO SEE YOU BE, RECOGNIZE THAT IT, WHAT? AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME
I JUST THANK YOU ALWAYS THE WILL FOR CHICK.
AND I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW I'M GONNA LEARN HOW TO PLAY GOLF SO I CAN JOIN Y'ALL.
MR. BOW, YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE BOARD TO REACH OUT TO ME AND BECAME FRIENDS.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT AND I LOVE ABOUT YOU, YOUR PASSION FOR PEOPLE, UM, YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT STOOD OUT AND THAT OUR PLAYGROUNDS ARE SOMETIMES SOMEBODY'S DISNEYLAND THAT MIGHT BE ALL THEY EVER GET.
SO YOU INVEST HARD, YOU INVEST HEAVY IN PEOPLE AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.
UM, WHEN YOU KNOW YOU SERVE ON THIS TYPE OF BOARD THAT YOU INVEST IN THOSE PEOPLE, AND I CAN'T SAY THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT HASN'T CHAMPIONED PEOPLE MORE THAN YOU HAVE CHAMPIONED PEOPLE.
UM, WHETHER IT WAS A POPULAR THING TO DO OR NOT, YOU ALWAYS STOOD BEHIND AND YOU CHAMPION PEOPLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR CHAMPIONING NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT HELPING ME BE BETTER.
UH, BUT TO HELP EVERYBODY ELSE, UM, SEE THE LIGHT AND HAVE A GOOD HAPPY NEW YEAR.
WHAT MORE CAN I SAY? I THINK FIRST DAY ON MY PARK, SAT NEXT TO YOU AND THEN I WENT HOME AND TOLD MY WIFE, THIS GUY SITTING NEXT TO ME, HE WOULD STOP OFFERING TO HELP ME.
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AND TRULY, I THINK I HAVE FOUND A COLLEAGUE ON THIS.
AND AS LANE SAID, I THINK THIS IS THE BOARD ONE MANY BESIDES MANY THING.
I'M THANKFUL THAT CONNECTED ME TO YOU NOT ONLY KNOWING HOW TO DO PUBLIC SERVICE, BUT A BROTHER AND WHO WENT BEYOND THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY GOING TO PARKS IS RELAXING, BUT SERVING ON PASSPORT IS NOTHING BUT RELAXING.
IT DOES TAKE LOTS OF COMMITMENT.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO COUNT, BUT SOME OF THE DECISIONS YOU MADE, EVEN BEFORE I CAME, SOME OF YOUR VOTES, YOU WERE, UH, SINGLE ONES AND THEY'VE PROVEN TO BE RIGHT IN FUTURE.
SO IT SHOWS THAT YOU HAD GOOD FORESIGHT.
I THINK THEY AGREED TO COUPLE OF YOUR VOTES, YOU VOTED AGAINST ME, BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
SO
AND IF YOU NEED HELP WITH SOME TEA TIME, SINCE YOU'RE NOT ON PARGO, LET US KNOW.
THANK YOU WITH THAT, UH, WELL ENJOY AND WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
SO WHEN WE MOVE TO NEXT, UH, AGENDA, PUBLIC SPEAKERS, I HAVE TO WELCOME A COUPLE OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
I SHARE A CORNER, BUT I THINK
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOARDS TO BE IN, I THINK, DOING SOMETHING WHICH IS CRITICAL TO THE CITY.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TRYING AND, UH, CHRISTOPHER, I THINK WELCOME TODAY IS YOUR FIRST DAY AND YOU CAN SEE AFTER SIX YEARS WHAT KIND OF RECEPTION YOU'LL GET WHEN YOU'RE LEAVING
SO THAT SHOULD MOTIVATE YOU AS TRULY AS I THINK WELCOME YOU AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING.
THANK YOU, HONOR THAT WE MOVE TO OUR NEXT POINT, UH, OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
UM, WE HAVE 10 PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
I'M GONNA READ THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD.
ONLY ANY SPEAKER WHO MAKES PERSONAL AND PERTINENT REMAIN OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR BECOMES BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS KATHY BELL.
MS. BELL, GOOD MORNING TO THE CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UH, MY NAME IS KATHY BELL AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF KEEPING THE MARCUS SENIOR ANNEX CENTER OPEN IN THE COMING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
AND MY REASONS FOR THAT ARE SEVERAL FOLD AND MY STORY AND WHAT I HAVE BENEFITED FROM THIS.
I'VE BEEN A REGULAR PARTICIPANT THREE TO FIVE TIMES A WEEK AT THE CENTER SINCE 2022.
I ATTEND EXERCISE CLASSES THAT MEET TWO AND THREE DAYS A WEEK AND RECENTLY RELEARNED HOW TO PLAY BRIDGE AND IN PLAIN BRIDGE TWICE A WEEK.
SO I'M IN THE CENTER FOUR TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE OF SENIOR AGE, AND THAT'S A FAIRLY WIDE RANGE, BUT THIS IS A COMMUNITY FOR SOME FOLKS.
THAT'S THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SEE EVERY DAY AND THAT'S IT.
I DO LIVE ALONE AND HAVE NO LOCAL FAMILY, BUT I'M ABLE TO GET OUT AND DO THESE THINGS.
THE PROGRAMS, IN ADDITION TO THE EXERCISE AND LEARNING PLAY BRIDGE, I HAVE HEARD GREAT MUSICAL PROGRAMS FROM TEXAS WINDS.
I'VE GONE ON FIELD TRIPS TO THE ARBORETUM AND THE GEORGE, UH, BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AT SMU AND WE'VE HEARD NUMEROUS PRESENTATIONS FROM VARIOUS, UH, COMMUNITY AND, UH, COMMERCIAL GROUPS WHO ARE TEACHING US EVERYTHING FROM HEALTH NUTRITION, HOW TO BE AWARE OF FRAUD SCAMS THAT WE ARE VULNERABLE FOR.
THIS IS A VALUABLE EDUCATIONAL SOURCE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES.
IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND BEGAN TREATMENT AND, AND DOING VERY WELL.
AND THE CENTER WAS A HUGE PART IN THAT.
MY DOCTORS WERE AMAZED AT HOW QUICKLY I BEGAN TO RECOVER AFTER TREATMENT
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WAS COMPLETE.AND THAT WAS DUE TO THAT, THAT THEN TIME, ALMOST TWO YEARS WORTH OF REGULAR EXERCISE THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DOING ON MY OWN.
THAT REALLY INCREASED MY, NOT ONLY MY CHANCES FOR RECOVERY, BUT THE SPEED AND I WAS ABLE TO GO BACK WITHIN A MONTH.
I'M STILL NOT THE MOST GRACEFUL PERSON IN THE ROOM, BUT IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN MY OVERALL HEALTH.
AND SEEING A REGULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE ON A REGULAR BASIS IS REALLY GOOD FOR MENTAL HEALTH, FOR NOT JUST ME, BUT OTHER SENIORS FOR SOME FOLKS WHO WE, UH, WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED DURING THE WEEK.
SO I THINK THIS IS PROVIDING NOT ONLY A FUN PLACE AND LOTS OF FUN THINGS TO DO, BUT IT IS TAKING CARE OF THE HEALTH OF A GROUP OF POP THE POPULATION THAT IS GETTING
AND WE ARE A LOT FROM THE BOOMERS, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE OF US AND I YOU PROVIDE A TREMENDOUS SERVICE TO THIS SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IN TURN CAN ALSO BE OF HELP TO THEIR FAMILIES.
AND IT'S FOR THESE REASONS THAT I AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE CENTER OPEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, THE NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER, CONNIE PRESLEY.
UM, I'M CONNIE PRESLEY AND I'M HERE WITH MY HUSBAND RICK.
HE'S BEEN IN DALLAS FOR 20 YEARS AND RETIRED, UH, TWO YEARS AGO.
AND AFTER LIVING IN OUR HOME IN THE MARCUS PARK AREA FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS, WE REALLY LOOKED FORWARD TO ALL THE BENEFITS OF THE PARK OFFERED, INCLUDING THE SENIOR CENTER.
WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOME, UH, BEING, HAVING THE PARK, THERE WAS A DECIDING FACTOR.
WE LOOKED FORWARD TO THIS BEING OUR FOREVER HOME.
AND SO WE KNEW THAT WE WOULD BE RELYING ON A SENIOR CENTER JUST RETIRED TWO YEARS AGO AND ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE'S TALK OF IT CLOSING.
WE'RE REALLY HOPING THAT THAT WON'T HAPPEN AND WE WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT.
UM, AS KATHY SAYS, THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT GO, UH, TO THE CENTER ARE LIVING ALONE.
AND THIS IS THEIR OPPORTUNITY FOR PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
UM, A LACK OF THINK THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE WORKING, YOU HAVE YOUR FRIENDS AT WORK, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS.
SO WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS AND CAN RELY ON THEM, THEY CAN RELY ON US.
IT'S A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM AND KEEPS US INDEPENDENT AND NOT BEING A BURDEN TO FAMILIES OR OTHER SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS.
I'M RETIRED FROM THE STATE, BELIEVE ME,
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BECKY BAIRD.
GOOD MORNING TO THE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS BECKY BAIRD AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF NORTHWEST DALLAS FOR 21 YEARS.
I'M A RETIRED NURSE AND STARTED COMING TO MARCUS ANNEX SENIOR CENTER IN NOVEMBER, 2022.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS THREATENED TO CLOSE MY CENTER.
I WANT TO SHARE EXACTLY WHAT MARCUS ANNEX HAS DONE FOR MY LIFE AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE COMMUNITY I'M A PART OF IF YOU TAKE IT AWAY.
WHEN I FIRST WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE CENTER, I WAS MANAGING A DIAGNOSIS OF OSTEOPOROSIS FOR SOMEONE WITH THIS CONDITION.
AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE IS A MEDICAL NECESSITY.
MY WEEKLY ROUTINE AT MARCUS ANNEX IS BUILT AROUND A STRUCTURED FITNESS SCHEDULE.
ON MONDAYS AND FRIDAYS, I ATTEND A 40 MINUTE EXERCISE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES CARDIO AND UTILIZES WEIGHTS.
ON WEDNESDAYS, WE PARTICIPATE IN CHEER YOGA WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON BREATHING EXERCISES BETWEEN OUR MOVEMENTS.
OUR CENTER'S DIRECTOR, MR. GOOD PERSON, PERSONALLY LEADS THE EXERCISE SESSIONS.
HE AND HIS STAFF ARE INCREDIBLY DEDICATED TO THE SENIORS AT OUR CENTER.
WORKING OUT WITH THE WEIGHTS HAS ALLOWED ME TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPROVE MY BONE DENSITY, LOSE WEIGHT,
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INCREASE MY STRENGTH, AND IMPROVE MY BALANCE BEYOND THE WORKOUTS.WE ALSO THOROUGHLY ENJOY THE FREE WEEKDAY LUNCHES PROVIDED AT THE CENTER.
THESE MEALS GIVE US A RELIABLE SOURCE OF HOT, CONSISTENT NUTRITION THAT FUELS OUR EXIT TODAY.
BECAUSE I'VE BENEFITED SO DEEPLY FROM MARCUS ANNEX, I DIDN'T KEEP IT TO MYSELF.
I'VE PERSONALLY RECRUITED SEVERAL PEOPLE TO JOIN THE CENTER, AND THOSE PEOPLE HAVE RECRUITED EVEN MORE MEMBERS.
TOGETHER WE HAVE BUILT A CHAIN REACTION OF WELLNESS AND CONNECTION.
THROUGH THIS CENTER, I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW OTHER SENIORS AND I TRULY VALUE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BEYOND OUR WORKOUTS AND LUNCHES.
WE ENJOY INCREDIBLE ORGANIZED FIELD TRIPS TOGETHER, TRAVELING TO THE DALLAS ARBORETUM, EXPLORING CANTON FIRST MONDAY, AND ATTENDING THE DART OLDER ADULT FAIR.
THESE ADDINGS KEEP US MENTALLY ACTIVE, ENGAGED, AND CONNECTED TO OUR CITY.
MARCUS ANNEX IS ONLY A FOUR MINUTE DRIVE FROM MY HOUSE.
THAT SHORT, SHORT CAR RIDE MAKES IT AN IRREPLACEABLE ACCESSIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD HUB.
IF YOU CLOSE MARCUS ANNEX, YOU DO NOT JUST CLOSE A BUILDING, YOU LOSE DEDICATED CITY STAFF LIKE MR. GOODE AND YOU DISMANTLE A THRIVING COMMUNITY OF SENIORS.
YOU STRIP AWAY THE EXERCISE CLASSES THAT PROTECT MY BONES, THE LUNCHES WE ENJOY FOR DAILY NUTRITION, AND THE FIELD TRIPS THAT KEEP US FROM BEING TRAPPED AT HOME.
MARCUS ANNEX IS A VITAL HEALTHCARE CENTER AND A A SOCIAL LIFELINE.
I URGE THIS BOARD TO REJECT THESE SHORTSIGHTED CUTS AND PROTECT OUR CENTER.
PLEASE DO NOT BALANCE THE BUDGET ON OUR HEALTH.
I'M MARILYN DARTER AND I'M A MEMBER OF MARCUS SANEX SENIOR CENTER.
LET ME START WITH A SIMPLE QUESTION.
DO YOU HAVE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, MAYBE AN AUNT AND UNCLE, OR ELDERLY NEIGHBORS? HOW MANY OF THEM RELY ON PLACES OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES FOR CONNECTION, PURPOSE, AND WELLBEING? THE MARCUS AND EX SENIOR CENTER, NOT JUST A BUILDING, IT'S A LIFELINE IN OUR AREA.
THERE'S A HIGH POPULATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS, YET THIS IS THE ONLY AVAILABLE CENTER IN THIS ENTIRE PART OF DALLAS.
FOR MANY, IT'S THEIR ONLY SOCIAL OUTLET.
WITHOUT IT, THEY DO NOT SIMPLY FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GO.
BUT OUR CENTER SENIORS PARTICIPATE IN BRAIN GAMES, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS THAT SUPPORT MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH.
WE ALSO PROVIDE SOMETHING JUST AS CRITICAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS.
MANY OF OUR MEMBERS RELY ON THE CENTER FOR HEALTH LUNCHES.
EXERCISE CLASSES HELP MAINTAIN STRENGTH AND BALANCE AND MOBILITY.
THINGS THAT BECOME SO CRITICAL AS WE AGE.
WITHOUT THESE PROGRAMS, WE INCREASE THE THE RISK OF ISOLATION, DECLINE, AND PREVENTABLE HEALTH ISSUES.
LET'S TALK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY.
MANY OF OUR SENIORS NO LONGER DRIVE THE FRAGILE.
THEY DEPEND ON ONE ANOTHER, TRANSPORTATION TO THE CENTER THAT'S CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES.
IF THIS FACILITY CLOSES, YOU'RE NOT ONLY ASKING THEM TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU'RE LEAVING THEM WITH NOWHERE TO GO.
AND FINALLY, I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE INVESTMENT YOU'VE ALREADY MADE.
LAST FALL, THERE WERE SOME $150,000 SPENT ON IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS CENTER CLOSING.
IT NOW IS NOT ONLY A LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY, IT'S A LOSS OF THAT INVESTMENT.
THIS DECISION IS NOT JUST ABOUT COST, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE.
IT'S ABOUT DIGNITY, HEALTH AND HUMAN CONNECTION.
CLOSING THE MARKETS AND SENIOR CENTER WOULD TAKE AWAY FAR MORE IN THEIR FACILITY.
IT WOULD TAKE AWAY A WHOLE COMMUNITY THAT MANY DEPEND ON EVERY SINGLE DAY.
IF YOU CLOSE A CENTER, YOU'RE NOT JUST SHUTTING A DOOR, YOU'RE CUTTING OFF THESE LIFELINES.
YOU'RE CHOOSING LONELINESS OVER CONNECTION, DECLINE OVER SUPPORT, ISOLATION OVER COMMUNITY.
OUR SENIORS DO NOT HAVE TIME TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER SOLUTION.
I URGE YOU, PLEASE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
PLEASE, PLEASE FIND OTHER ALTERNATIVES AND KEEP THE CENTER OPEN.
SCOTT, SORRY Y'ALL, I'M CRYING.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF THIS IS NOT DO TODAY, GUYS, I'M SO SORRY.
YEAH, HOW, UM, IT'S TIME TO START GETTING A STRATEGIC BONE IN MIND WITH HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THIS, RIGHT.
[00:40:01]
OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE ACQUISITION OF FAIR PARK.AND I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING BACK AND WATCHING EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF FROM 2011 UNTIL WHAT HAPPENED WAS FAIR PARK FIRST AND MISMANAGEMENT AND HOW THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE COULDN'T CONTROL.
BUT NOW WE HAVE FAIR PARK BACK UNDER OUR WING.
WE HAVE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT WITH THAT.
I CAME HERE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, NOT HERE, BUT TO THE COUNCIL AND TALKED ABOUT HOW Y'ALL NEEDED TO RENEGOTIATE THE PEPSI CONTRACT BECAUSE WHAT YOU WERE GETTING WAS CRAP.
IF I'M BEING HONEST, I WORKED FOR GARTNER
AND THE CONTRACT THAT YOU WERE GETTING, YOU WERE GETTING SCREWED OVER AS THE NINTH LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES FOR HOW MUCH, UM, PRODUCT WE'RE PUTTING INTO OUR PARKS AND INTO THE COTTON BOWL, BY THE WAY.
WHICH NOW BECAUSE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, PEPSI HAS FULL ACCESS TO THE COTTON BOWL AND WE DIDN'T RENEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT.
WITH THAT, I REALLY THINK THAT THIS BOARD NEEDS TO DO A TABLETOP EXERCISE WHERE YOU LOOK BACK OVER THE PAST DECADE AND WE SAY, HEY, WHEN WERE THERE STOP GAPS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AND COME BACK TOGETHER AS A GROUP AND SAID, OV G'S GETTING A LITTLE BIT TOO OUT OF CONTROL.
A VENDOR CAME IN AND SAID, HEY, WE'RE GETTING SCREWED OVER BY THESE CONTRACTS.
HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT CONTROLS IN PLACE SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING? WE KNOW WHERE EVERY CONTRACT IS, WE KNOW WHERE THE FEES ARE.
SO THAT WAY WHEN PEOPLE COME IN HERE, THEY'RE NOT SAYING, OH, WELL WHO HAS THAT? WHO HAS THAT? YOU TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU HAVE OVER THIS MEDICAL PARK AND REALLY TURN IT INTO SOMETHING GREAT.
UM, I'M SO SORRY THAT Y'ALL ARE HAVING THESE ISSUES WITH XANAX.
UM, I LOST MY GRANDMOTHER DURING COVID AND I CAN EVEN IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO LOSE ITS PLACE.
BUT WITH THAT, YOU NOT, YOU COULD NOT CUT THE CORE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE.
YOU CUT CONTRACTS WITH CONTRACTORS, CUT CONTRACT, YOU CUT CONTRACTS WITH PEOPLE WHO DO NOT NEED MONEY FROM US.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DESERVE THE MONEY WHERE THINGS ARE GOING.
AND IF WE'RE CUTTING DOWN ALL OF THIS STUFF IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS JUST TAKING OVER.
WE WILL BE LOSING OUT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CANNOT REMOVE AN APPOINTED BOARD MEMBER, BUT I NEED TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS WITH THIS AUGUST BODY.
WHEN WE SAY BLACK LIVES MATTER, TWO IS IN FIVE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
TWO, WHEN A WHITE MAN CALLS A BLACK WOMAN A B***H, THE WORD BLACK PROCEEDING, THE DENIGRATING NAME IS ALSO IMPLIED.
THE TARGETED DISPARAGEMENT OF A BLACK WOMAN JUDGE BY AN APPOINTED PARK BOARD MEMBER IS NOT AN ISOLATED INSULT.
IT IS A PAINFUL
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE OCCUPY POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP AND AUTHORITY FOR GENERATIONS, BLACK WOMEN HAVE NAVIGATED A DISTINCT INTERSECTION OF RACISM AND MISOGYNY WHERE OUR COMPETENCE IS ROUTINELY MET WITH WEAPONIZED DISRESPECT, DESIGNED TO STRIP US OF OUR DIGNITY AND DIMINISHED OUR HARD EARNED ACHIEVEMENTS.
WHEN AN APPOINTED PUBLIC OFFICIAL RESORTS TO SUCH DEROGATORY LANGUAGE, IT REPRESENTS A PROFOUND FAILURE OF PUBLIC TRUST AND A BLATANT VIOLATION OF THE STANDARDS OF MORAL INTEGRITY AND DECORUM REQUIRED OF CIVIC LEADERS.
INSTEAD OF UPHOLDING THE DIGNITY OF THIS OFFICE AND SERVING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WITH EQUITY, THIS OFFICIAL WEAPONIZED INSTITUTIONAL PRIVILEGE TO DEGRADE A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY.
AND SHE IS A MEMBER BECAUSE SHE'S GOING BACK ON THE BENCH REINFORCING SYSTEMIC BIAS AND SIGNALING A HOSTILE DISREGARD FOR THE VERY PUBLIC HE WAS APPOINTED TO RESPECT.
THIS IS NOT THIS PERSON'S FIRST OFFENSE.
HE LITERALLY AGGRAVATED, LET ME SAY, P****D OUT THE DIXON NEIGHBORHOOD CARE ASSOCIATION AT THE 2024 DIXON DAY BY ATTEMPTING TO DIMINISH AND DISPLACE THEM BY STATING THAT THE LARRY JOHNSON REC CENTER WAS HIS CENTER DISRESPECTING ALL OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE CONTRIBUTED.
AND LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT DIXON DAY.
THAT IS LARRY JOHNSON'S SIGNATURE
[00:45:01]
EVENT THAT WAS CREATED, FOUNDED, ENVISIONED BY A BLACK WOMAN.ME, I'M SICK AND I'M TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED.
GAY WHITE MEN ARE MARGINALIZED, BUT WE STILL HAVE THE SAME BATTLES.
AND DOGGONE IT, WE DESERVE A MODICUM OF RESPECT.
I AM HURT AND I AM ANGRY WHEN YOU DO STUPID STUFF THAT SUPERSEDES THE ACTUAL WORK YOU DO.
I CREATED A DAY THAT YOU ALL BENEFIT FROM.
I'M NOT OUT HERE BEING HATEFUL, BUT AT LEAST NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO FAKE LIKE WE LIKE EACH OTHER.
I KNOW WHERE I STAND WITH YOU BRO, AND I'M OKAY WITH IT.
WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE? YOU DO NOTHING BUT DIMINISH THE VALUE OF THIS BOARD.
YOLANDA WILLIAMS. ALEXIS WILLIAMS IS OUR FORMER BY 14.
UM, I'M A FORMER BOARD MEMBER FOR DISTRICT FIVE, 2014 2019.
AND I MADE IT MY BUSINESS THAT I WOULD NOT COME HERE AND INTERFERE UNLESS DISTRICT FIVE NEEDED HELP.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME COMING BACK.
AND I WANT TO SAY THIS, I HATE TO COME BACK ON THIS PAUSE D SEVEN.
I KNOW THAT YOU ALL CANNOT REMOVE HIM, BUT I KNOW HOW TO COUNT TO GET TO EIGHT VOTES ON COUNCIL.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY DISRESPECTFUL.
I DON'T LIVE IN BUCKNER TERRACE TO TELL JUDGE KIM COOKS THAT SHE COULD NOT PLACE HER SIGN THERE.
THEY LISTEN TO HIM, THEY VOTE THE WAY HE SAY VOTE.
AND I VOTED FOR YOUR OPPONENT AND I HOPE YOU LOSE B***H.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WHEN I SERVED ON THE PARK BOARD, HE GOES TO REFORM DALLAS.
WHEN THE COUNCIL FORMER COUNCILWOMAN TIFFANY YOUNG, HE DID THE SAME.
NOW, I NEVER COME AND INJECT RACE BECAUSE I ALWAYS GO TO CITY COUNCIL AND SPEAK.
BUT TODAY, AS A BLACK WOMAN, I'M GOING TO INJECT IT.
WE ARE THE MOST DISRESPECTED FAITHFUL.
AND I ASSURE YOU, IF I WAS SITTING WHERE YOU SITTING AT MR. GRADY AND RICK CALLER HAD HEARD ME CALL ANYONE, LET ALONE A BLACK WOMAN, A B***H PETITIONS, HE WOULD'VE CALLED ME.
HE WOULD'VE TOLD ME I HAD TO RESIGN.
I AM NEVER PROTESTED DEAD IN MY LIFE.
WE ARE GOING TO, UH, WE HAVE TO GO TO D SEVEN BECAUSE HE BULLIED HIS WAY ON THE PARK BOARD.
HE BULLIED HIS WAY BECAUSE THE FORMER COUNCILWOMAN TIFFANY YOUNG WOULDN'T PUT HIM ON.
AND THEN THE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, KEVIN FELDER.
SO THE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBER FELL FOR IT.
BUT I HAD A LOT OF RESPECT FOR D SEVEN.
BUT WHEN YOU CALL ANY WOMAN A B***H, WELL, HE'S GONNA KNOW THAT GUESS WHAT, YOU HAVE JUST UNITED THE BLACK WOMEN IN DALLAS COUNTY AND WE ARE STANDING TOGETHER.
I CAN GET TO EIGHT VOTES AND I ASSURE YOU, JUST LIKE THAT FLYER YOU MADE WHEN I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL, YOU PUT ME AND DONALD TRUMP AND SAID THAT SOME OF HIS OPPONENTS GAVE ME MONEY.
AND YOU POSTED IT ON FACEBOOK AND YOU SAID, WHO GONNA OWN UP TO IT KNOW THAT THIS IS REVENGE.
DANIEL, YOU ARE COMING OFF THIS PART.
BOY, YOU CAN REST ASSURED, WANNA PORT.
I'M SORRY, BUT YOU KNOW, HE DOES A LOT OF DAMAGE THAT Y'ALL DON'T KNOW.
BUT THIS IS REVENGE WHEN YOU BRING A GROUP OF BLACK WOMEN TOGETHER AND WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU, WE KNOW THAT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS NOT GONNA WANT TO REPLACE YOU, BUT I CAN COUNTER A VOTES BECAUSE CALLING JUDGE COOKER BINGE YOU IS VERY DISRESPECTFUL.
'CAUSE AFTERWARDS I HEAR YOU LIKE TO GIVE COMMENTS AFTERWARDS.
BUT Y'ALL GO TO FACEBOOK AND REFORM DALLAS.
THAT'S WHERE HE DO ALL HIS NASTINESS AT.
HE DON'T DESERVE TO SIT IN THAT SEAT.
I PROUDLY REPRESENTED DISTRICT FIVE EVEN WHEN I DIDN'T GET ALONG WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I HAVE NEVER DISRESPECTED ANYONE AND CALLED THEM OUT THEIR NAME.
BUT JUST KNOW THAT IT IS REVENGE AND YOU ARE COMING OFF THAT OUT THAT SEAT.
I'M HERE, REPRESENTATIVE DALLAS UBON.
I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES JUST FROM THE HEART ABOUT WHAT I OBSERVED, UH, IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
I'M, I'M, I'M SO HATEFUL OF THAT WORD, SOUTHERN SECTOR BECAUSE IT IS, IT, IT, IT DIVIDES
[00:50:01]
US.IT DIVIDES US FROM NORTH AND SOUTH.
IT IT REMINDS ME OF BEING IN GERMANY WHERE YOU HAVE THE EASTERN SECTORS.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME TOGETHER BECAUSE WE'RE ALL BREATHE THE SAME AIR.
WE ALL ARE THE SAME TEARS AND WE ALL HAVE THE SAME FEARS AND WE'RE ALL, ALL DIE SO MANY YEARS.
BUT WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER IS NATURE AND THE PARKS BOARD, PARKS AND RECREATION BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER.
WE ARE NOW AFTER APEX OF MAKING CUTS AND SOME OF THE CUTS AFFECT SOME OF US IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
WE HAVE IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR IN THE HILL COUNTRY, THE HILL COUNTRY, CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE.
THE HILL COUNTRY IS CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE, WHICH IS OUR VERSION OF CENTRAL PARK.
OUR VERSION OF CENTRAL PARK, WHERE WE CAN ALL HARNESS THE WINDS OF NATURE AND COME TOGETHER.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR THE PARKS BOARD AND FOR THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT CUT WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER.
IT'S NOT THE DALLAS MAVERICKS, IT'S NOT THE DALLAS STARS, BUT IT'S ALL MY GOD AND THE NATURE THAT MR. CREATED.
GOOD MORNING BOARD MEMBERS NEHA B JACKSON.
I LIVE AT 28 51 TO LUCA, DALLAS, TEXAS 7 5 2 2 4.
IN THE WORDS OF MY SISTER ANGELA DAVIS, I AM NO LONGER ACCEPTING THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE, BUT I'M CHANGING THE THINGS I CANNOT ACCEPT.
FOR THE RECORD, LET ME SPEAK VERY OPEN TO THE MEMBER OF THE PARK BOARD ABOUT ONE OF YOUR MEMBER OF DISTRICT SEVEN REPRESENTATIVE, THE SUBJECT DISCIPLINARY DISTRICT SEVEN REPRESENTATIVE CALLING JUDGE
MY UNDERSTANDING GEORGE KEMP WAS PUTTING UP A SIGN.
DISTRICT SEVEN ALSO SAID HE'S WRONG.
BUT TERRY, IF THAT'S SO, DO THE OTHER WHITE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT BLACK WOMEN EDUCATED, TALL, SMART, NICE LOOKING.
JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, YOUR PRESIDENT CALLED ONE OF A NEWS REPORTER, RACHEL SCOTT, TO BE WORRIED.
LET ME DOUBLE UP WITH YOU IN 2026 IS THIS IS THE NEW WORD FOR BLACK WOMEN.
I DO KNOW THE MOST DISRESPECT, UNPROTECTED, AND NEGLECT WOMEN IN AMERICA IS STILL THE BLACK WOMEN.
IF I CAN, I CAN SUMMARY THIS SPEAK OF WHEN BLACK WOMEN RISE, JUST FOLLOW WHEN BLACK WOMEN LEAD THE NATION MOVE.
BLACK WOMEN ARE THE FOREST THAT HISTORY CANNOT CONTAIN THE VOICE THAT INJUSTICE CANNOT SOLID AND THE FUTURE THAT THE ELECTION CANNOT IGNORE.
DISTRICT SEVEN REPRESENTATIVE PLEASE REMOVE YOURSELF TODAY.
I'M ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF BOTH THE TERRACE D SEVEN FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
I'M THE PRECINCT CHAIR, THE ELECTION JUDGE, A FOUNDING COMMUNITY MEMBER, FAITHFUL SERVANT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE DISRESPECT THAT WAS DONE, I PERSONALLY RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM, UH, JUDGE COOK TO MY PERSONAL CELL IN REGARDS TO THE MANNER IN WHICH HE WAS TREATED.
THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS.
THERE'S BEEN VOTER INTIMIDATION THAT I'VE TURNED INTO MY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TO THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT.
THE ADULT TEMPER TANTRUMS THAT'S BEING EXEMPLIFIED BY A BOARD MEMBER OF THE PARTS, UH, DIVISION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
THIS IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF WHAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED AND TAKING PLACE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
I'M VERY DIRECT IN MY ACTIONS, MY SPEECH, AND WHEN I SPEAK TO SOMEONE, I'VE HAD THESE SAME CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR BOARD MEMBER,
[00:55:01]
OUR BOARD REPRESENTATIVE HERE.SO I'M ASKING IF HE WOULD REMOVE HIM HIMSELF.
IF NOT, I'M GONNA DO WHATEVER I CAN IN MY POWER, MY WILL, UH, BECAUSE HE DOES NOT RUN BUMP TERRACE.
HE'S NOT BEING A PROPER REPRESENTATION OF WHAT WE ARE ABOUT AND WHAT WE STAND FOR.
AND THAT'S SERVING GOD AND SERVING THE PEOPLE EVERYBODY IN THE SAME MANNER.
KEEPING YOUR OPINIONS, FAULTS AND FEELINGS TO YOURSELF REGARDLESS.
TRANSPARENCY IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE REFLECTING HERE.
A POSITIVITY, SOMETHING THAT CAN REPRESENT DALLAS AS A WHOLE IN A POSITIVE MANNER.
NOT THE MATTER WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I'M A BLACK WOMAN AND I'M RAISING BLACK OTHER BLACK WOMEN.
SO THAT CONCLUDE CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
UH, ONE STATEMENT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTERS.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALL LINK AND, UH, AS A POINT OF PRIVILEGE BEING CHAIR, I CAN SAY TODAY, THAT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION WHEN WE DISCUSS THE PROJECT.
SO WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOU, UH, COMING HERE WITH THAT.
BEFORE I GET TO THE NEXT POINT OF AGENT, I, LET ME DO A BIRTHDAY WISH.
MS. LANNER IS BIRTHDAY TOMORROW.
AND MR. CONNOR'S WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
YEAH, THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER BIRTHDAY IN THE DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY.
SO NOT IN THE ROOM TODAY, BUT AMAZING.
THEN WE MOVE TO THE NEXT POINT OF AGENT.
APPROVAL OF A MINUTES ON MAY 21ST.
HAVE IT
DO I HAVE A MOTION HERE? UH, MR.
I SEE DALLAS ZOO PRESIDENT, MS. NEW HERE.
AND WITH THAT WE MOVE TO OUR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION FAIR PARK FEE POLICY.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? UH, MR. GO DO I HAVE A SECOND? UH, MR. MCCANN? ANY DISCUSSION WITH THAT? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UH, THAT NOW WE GET TO OUR BANK OF TEXAS AND WE'LL JUST FUND THE UPDATES.
SO LET'S, UH, GET MS. BARRY, MS. BARRY, HOPEFULLY WE ARE MAKING LOTS OF MONEY.
UM, SCOTT WINTON AND HIS TEAM, I'LL LET HIM GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE THEM, BUT THEY ARE HERE TO GIVE US A, AN UPDATE ON OUR, UM, INVESTMENT ON OUR, UM, SMALL, I WOULDN'T SAY SMALL PORTFOLIO, BUT PORTFOLIO THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR, UM, GRANTED OUR GRANT FUNDS, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN INVESTED THROUGH THE BANK OF TEXAS.
UM, THIS IS A YEARLY
AND THEN OF COURSE, AT ANY POINT IN TIME YOU CAN ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE INVESTED AND WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO WITH THOSE FUNDS.
SO SCOTT, IF YOU, BUT I, I DO WANNA ADD TO THE BOARD JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND.
'CAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, THERE'S THREE, WHAT WE CALL THESE ARE TRUST FUNDS.
UH, THEY WERE SET UP FOR THERE'S CREDIT, WHICH WHEN WE, WHEN THE INTERSTATE WAS DIVIDED, UH, AND THEY, UH, THEY NEEDED PARKED LAND FOR THE TOW ROAD.
THERE WAS A TRUSS SET UP THAT WAS PUT UP IN A TRUSS, UH, SO WE COULD ACCUMULATE, UH, USE IT FOR THAT PARTICULAR PART.
UH, AND THEN THERE'S THE GR WALLER AND THAT WAS LEFT, UH, WHEN, UH, MR. GR WALLER PASSED.
ONCE AGAIN, THAT WAS SET UP AS A TRUST.
AND THEN IT WAS THE THIRD ONE WAS THE, UH, BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT.
WE, MARTIN, WE, WHICH NOT MARTIN, WE REC CENTER, WHICH MR. WE LEFT, UH, AS, AS A BENEFACTORS.
WELL, SO ALL THREE OF THOSE WAS SET UP PUT INTO WHAT WE CALL A DOCUMENT TRUST AND BANK OF, UH, BANK OF TEXAS MANAGED THAT ON OUR BEHALF.
UM, I'M SORRY, SAID HAS THAT WE ORIGINALLY MANAGED THOSE HERE WITHIN THE CITY, BUT WE HAVE SINCE THEN TURNED THEM OVER, UM, TO BANK OF TEXAS FOR THOSE INVESTMENTS.
UM, AS, UH, RACHEL SAID, WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ANNUALLY
[01:00:01]
TO THE PARK FLOOR.THIS WITH ME AND RONNIE JOB, UH, THE INVESTMENT MANAGER WILL SPEAK, UH,
UM, SO THE PARKING RECREATION TRUST FUND OF THE CITY OF DALLAS WAS CREATED IN 1970.
THE PURPOSE OF THE TRUST IS TO HOLD ASSETS DONATED TO THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD FOR THE EXPENSE, UH, FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING CERTAIN PARKS.
AND, UH, MR. JENKINS HAS, UH, DESCRIBED THOSE THREE, UH, PARKS.
THE VALUE OF THE TRUST AT MARCH 31ST WAS $2,094,000.
BANK OF TEXAS WAS APPOINTED TRUSTEE OF THE TRUSTEE IN 2015.
UH, AND THE TRUST DOCUMENT STATES THAT THE TRUSTEE WILL PROVIDE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD, WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR, OUR VISIT, UH, TODAY.
UM, I'M GONNA START MY COMMENTS ON SLIDE SEVEN, AND I'M JUST GONNA HIT A, UH, THREE OR FOUR OF THE SLIDES IN THIS DECK FOR THE, FOR THE SAKE OF TIME.
UH, TO GO OVER THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION, UH, THE VALUE OF THE TRUST, AS I MENTIONED AT THE END OF MARCH, WAS $2,094,069.
AND THE ALLOCATIONS, UH, OF THE PORTFOLIO, UM, YOU CAN SEE LISTED HERE, UH, 57% IN EQUITIES, 37% IN FIXED INCOME, AND JUST UNDER 6% IN CASH.
UH, THE TRUST IS INVESTED IN A BALANCED, GLOBALLY DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO OF STOCKS, BONDS, AND CASH EQUIVALENTS USING INSTITUTIONAL SHARE CLASS MUTUAL FUNDS.
UM, ON SLIDE NINE, THIS IS THE, UH, PERFORMANCE SUMMARY FOR THE TRUST.
I'M GONNA FOCUS MY COMMENTS ON THE ONE YEAR COLUMN SINCE THIS IS OUR ANNUAL REVIEW, UH, AT, UH, MARCH 31ST.
AND THESE NUMBERS ARE AS OF MARCH 31ST OF THIS YEAR.
AT THE END OF MARCH OF LAST YEAR, THE VALUE OF THE TRUST WAS $1,862,000.
UM, WE HAD NET DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE TRUST OVER THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS OF JUST OVER 23,000.
THE, UH, GAINS IN THE, IN THE TRUST OVER THAT 12 MONTH TIME PERIOD WERE 254,000.
AND THAT GETS US BACK TO THE 2,094,000 ENDING MARKET VALUE AT THE END OF MARCH THIS YEAR.
GROSS OF FEES, THE FUND EARNED 13.75% NET OF FEES.
UH, THE, THE BENCHMARK FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES HAD A RETURN OF 13.26%.
SO THE FUND WAS GENERALLY IN LINE WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BENCHMARK ON A GROSS OF FEE BASIS.
ON SLIDE, UH, NUMBER 10, THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE, OF THE BALANCES FOR EACH OF THE THREE PARKS THAT THE TRUST ESTABLISHED FOR EACH OF THE THREE PARKS.
MOST OF THE ASSETS IN THE TRUST ARE DEDICATED TO THE CREDIT PARK, ABOUT 83%, UH, WITH A BALANCE OF 1.4 MILLION.
UH, AND YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, DOLLAR BALANCES, UH, FOR THE OTHER TWO PARKS.
UH, LEASE AND GROW WEILER LISTED THERE AS WELL.
UM, ON SLIDE, UH, LET'S GO TO SLIDE 13.
THESE ARE THE HOLDINGS, UH, IN THE TRUST AT THE END OF MARCH.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, THE PORTFOLIO IS A COMBINATION OF RATES OF STOCKS, BONDS, AND CASH EQUIVALENTS USING INSTITUTIONAL SHARE CLASS, UH, MUTUAL FUNDS.
THESE ARE THE MUTUAL FUNDS HELD IN THE PORTFOLIO AT THE END OF MARCH.
IT'S A COMBINATION OF, UH, PASSIVE, UH, INDEX FUNDS AND ACTIVELY MANAGED, UH, FUNDS.
AND, UH, WITH THAT I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANY OF INVESTMENTS? I GUESS I THINK WE LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, SO NO QUESTIONS.
I KNOW IT'S A VERY VOLATILE, UH, TIME AND THE INVESTMENT INDUSTRY, SO THANKS FOR TAKING CARE OF OUR INVESTMENTS.
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, TO THE BOARD, EVER SINCE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH BANK OF TEXAS, THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
AS YOU ALL SEE, THE PERFORMANCE HAS DOUBLED IN OVER 10 YEARS AND IT IS A VERY, IT IS A CONSERVATIVE PORTFOLIO.
THAT'S THE WAY THE TRUST DOCUMENT IS SET UP.
WE APPRECIATE WORKING WITH YOUR TEAM.
THEY'RE VERY RESPONSIVE TO OUR NEEDS AND QUESTIONS AND SO FORTH.
IT IS A GREAT TEAM RELATIONSHIP.
THANK YOU THAT WE MOVE TO OUR NEXT PART, PARTNERS STIPEND, THEN BUDGETING, FACT, ALWAYS HAVE TO SEE OUR PARTNERS HERE.
[01:05:24]
UH, GOOD MORNING MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.SO, UH, AS RACHEL AND PATRICK ARE KIND OF GETTING SET UP HERE, WE'RE DOING UP THE PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANTED TO, TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD, AS WE'VE BEEN EXPRESSING THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, THIS IS VERY MUCH A PROCESS.
THE BUDGET IS A PROCESS TO GO THROUGH EVERY YEAR.
IT'S AN EXERCISE UNTIL IT'S NOT.
YOU'LL NOTICE THE INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDED CONTINUES TO BE REFINED.
UM, AND SPECIFICALLY I WOULD LIKE TO CALL OUT, UM, THE COMMUNITY CENTERS.
OH, ARE WE DOING A STIPEND BRIEFING FIRST? OKAY, SO WE NEED TO PIVOT TO THE YEAH, THE STIPENDS.
YEAH, THE STIPENDS FIRST, BUT, UH, I, AND I, I, I, IT'S ON.
YEAH, THIS IS JUST A CONTINUATION FROM THE LAST MEETING.
THAT'S WHAT RYAN WAS ABOUT TO TEE UP.
SO, UH, PUT A PIN IN THOSE REMARKS 'CAUSE THEY'RE APPLICABLE TO THE NEXT ONE.
BUT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE, OF THE, OF THE PARTNER DISCUSSION, OBVIOUSLY THAT, UH, THAT WAS A BIG, UH, PORTION OF THE DISCUSSION LAST WEEK.
SO WE WANTED TO HAVE THE PARTNERS COME IN TODAY, UM, PRESENT SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT TO THE BOARD, UH, WITH RELATION TO THEIR MANAGEMENT FEES AND STIPENDS.
AND, UH, WE WILL BE AVAILABLE AS ALONG WITH US, LONG AS, AS WELL AS THE PARTNERS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
SO I BELIEVE THE FIRST ONE THAT'S COMING UP IS THE ZOO TEAM.
UM, I, UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TO CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION.
I'M JOINED TODAY BY JUSTIN SHIPLEY, CHAIR BARBOUR, MARIANNE DE YOUNG, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
SO WE APPRECIATE HAVING ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE STRENGTH OF OUR PARTNERSHIP AND THE VALUE WE BRING TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UM, WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR HELP, UM, AT YOUR DEBT, AT YOUR SEAT, YOU HAVE A PACKET OF INFORMATION THAT INCLUDES THE RESULTS OF OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, AS WELL AS A LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO DOC, UH, DIRECTOR JENKINS OF THE WEEKEND.
UM, YOU CAN HAVE A LOOK AT THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T.
UM, AFTER LEISURE, NEXT SLIDE.
FOR 122 YEARS, WE WERE A DIVISION OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WRITTEN INTO THE CITY'S CHARTER.
17 SHORT YEARS AGO, WE PRIVATIZED ONE OF THE MOST RECENT ZOOS IN THE COUNTRY TO DO THAT.
THE CITY OUTSOURCED OPERATIONS TO DALLAS ZOOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT.
WE ARE A PARTNERSHIP BUILT ON VALUE.
THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED DURING A CITY BUDGET CRISIS.
IN 2009, IMMEDIATE BUDGET SAVINGS TO THE CITY APPROXIMATED $6 MILLION.
OVER THE LIFE OF OUR CONTRACT, WE WILL HAVE BROUGHT $249 MILLION IN SAVINGS TO THE CITY.
TODAY THE ZOO MANAGES 111 ACRES, 150 PLUS FACILITIES AND STRUCTURES, 2000 ANIMALS, AND SERVES APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION GUESTS ANNUALLY.
WE ARE A MODEL FOR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WE HAVE BEEN A, WE HAVE BEEN A SUCCESSFUL GROWTH DRIVER, AFFORDABLE AND SAFE FAMILY DESTINATION SINCE THAT TIME.
WE ARE A PARTNER THAT WORKS WITH THE CITY THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD, A BELOVED JEWEL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE WHO CAME TO THE ZOO IN 2009 AND EARLIER, THEY WILL SAY, YOU ARE NOT THE ZOO THAT YOU ARE, THEN.
WE ARE NOT A ZOO THAT WAS FACING CLOSURE AND HARD TIMES.
WE ARE A WORLD CLASS INSTITUTION.
YOUR MANAGEMENT SERVICE FEE IS A CONTRACTED SERVICE WITH THE CITY.
IT PROVIDES ANIMAL CARE AND WELLBEING FOR 2000 ANIMALS, 600 EMPLOYEES, HUNDREDS OF WHICH ARE HIGHLY SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONALS MAKING US THE SECOND LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYER IN OAK CLIFF.
WE MAINTAIN A HUNDRED WITH YOUR MANAGEMENT SERVICE FEE.
[01:10:01]
THE CITY OWNED FACILITIES AND STRUCTURES, 111 ACRES PARKLAND SAFE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR OUR GUESTS, USDA, LICENSING AND ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS, WHICH ARE REQUIRED IN OUR CONTRACT SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE, UTILITIES, AND ASSET PRESERVATION.AND WE'RE A PARTNERSHIP THAT WORKS.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE COMPLETED AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY AND WE ARE AN ECONOMIC MULTIPLIER FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THIS NEW ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY SHOWS VISITOR SPENDING, JOB CREATION AND TAX REVENUE IS GENERATED WELL BEYOND ZOOS GATES.
THIS STUDY LOOKS AT THE ZOO BOTH TODAY AND PROSPECTIVELY ACROSS THE GROWTH WE ANTICIPATE THROUGH BOND FUNDED PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT 12 YEARS.
THOSE BOND FUNDS, UM, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO RECEIVE AND THE BOARD VOLUNTARILY MATCHED A TWO TO ONE MATCH TO THOSE BOND FUNDS TO MAKE THIS INVESTMENT POSSIBLE.
TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OVER THE NEXT 12 YEARS WILL REACH THROUGHOUT $3.2 BILLION DIRECT SPENDING 1.7 BILLION ZOO OPERATIONAL SPENDING 597 MILLION OFFSITE SPENDING OF ZOO PATRONS.
77% OF PATRONS ORIGINATE FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY OF DALLAS, INJECTING SIGNIFICANT NEW DOLLARS INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
THEY DON'T COME TO A MEDIOCRE EXPERIENCE.
THEY COME FOR A WORLD CLASS ZOO JOBS SUPPORTED OVER THIS TIME, 21, ALMOST 22,000 AND TOTAL STATE AND LOCAL TAXES, 150,000,001 POINT, UH, 12.5 MILLION PER YEAR.
WE CREATE GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE REGION WHERE A CATALYST AND ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR SOUTHERN DALLAS AND YOUR CONTRACTED MANAGEMENT FEE SUPPORTS THAT NEXT SLIDE.
FROM DOLLAR DAYS TO NEW BOND FUNDED EXPANSIONS, OUR GROWTH IS ON GROWING REVENUE AND ATTENDANCE AND OUR TRACK RECORD DEMONSTRATES SUCCESS WITH SAFARI TRAILS CONSTRUCTION BEGINNING THIS FALL AND PHASED OPENINGS PLANNED FOR 20 28, 9, AND 30, WE EXPECT TO STEADILY GROW ATTENDANCE TO MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION.
THAT'S A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE IN OUR FINANCIAL MODEL.
THAT PLAN SHOWS AN INCREASE IN REVENUES FROM THAT GROWTH, WHICH REDUCES THE MANAGEMENT SERVICE FEE TO JUST 27% OF OUR OPERATING REVENUES.
BY 2031 HEADING, OUR MANAGEMENT FEE WOULD HARM OUR ABILITY TO GRADUALLY GROW NET REVENUE AND NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO HIT THIS GOAL.
WE WERE REMINDED DURING THE PANDEMIC OF OUR INCREDIBLY HIGH FIXED COST, WE CANNOT SIMPLY FURLOUGH, CANCEL SHOWS AND GO HOME.
IN 2021, COMING OUT OF COVID, THE ZOO VOLUNTARILY REMOVED ITS CPI ESCALATOR FROM OUR MANAGEMENT FEE IN ORDER TO HELP THE CITY DURING LEAN BUDGET YEARS.
WE AGREED AT THAT TIME THAT THIS WOULD PREVENT THE NEED FOR FURTHER CUTS TO THE MANAGEMENT'S FEE FOR SERVICE.
HOWEVER, IN 2023, THE ZOO RECEIVED A 3% CUT ALONG WITH OTHER CITY PARTNERS.
WHILE OUR MANAGEMENT CONTRACT STILL OBLIGATES US TO RECEIVE 15.3 MILLION, WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO SHARE THE SACRIFICE AND ARE EXPECTING TO MAINTAIN THE SAME 3% CUT AT 14.9 MILLION.
OUR MARGINS ARE RA RAZOR THIN AND WE ANNUALLY REINVEST ANY MARGINS INTO THE CITY CAMPUS.
FOR EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR WE WERE REPAIRED CAMPUS-WIDE WATER LEAKS RESULTING IN OF THE CITY'S PIPES, RESULTING IN $500,000 A YEAR IN SAVINGS.
WE REPLACED 12 HVAC UNITS, TWO ROOFS, COUNTLESS OTHERS.
WE ARE ALREADY LEAN AND EFFICIENT IMPACT OF AN ADDITIONAL 3% CUT TO THE MANAGEMENT FEE WOULD INCLUDE INFRASTRUCTURE CUTS WOULD CUT, WOULD IMPACT USER EXPERIENCE AND CREATE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ISSUES ACROSS THE CAMPUS.
IT WOULD REDUCE SAFETY AND SECURITY INVESTMENTS IN JEOPARDIZED LICENSING PROGRAMMING.
WE WOULD REDUCE EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMMING.
THIS WOULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT ATTENDANCE, CONCESSIONAIRE REVENUE AND RESULTING SALES TAX REVENUE, ADMISSION COST POTENTIAL, INCREASE PRICING ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES, INCLUDING REDUCED ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMS SUCH AS DOLLAR, DAYS, WEEKLY, DISCOUNT TICKETS TO SCHOOL GROUPS, SEEK, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICT DAYS, AND TEEN ALL ACCESS PASS.
[01:15:01]
CITY MANAGEMENT.WE WOULD DISCUSS RETURNING FUNCTIONS OUTLINED IN THE CONTRACT BACK TO PARKS AND RECREATION.
NO, AS I SAID, WE'RE ALREADY A LEAN AND EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
OUR OPERATING MARGIN IS EXPECTED TO BE $200,000.
FISCAL YEAR 27 IS PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING FOR US.
CONSTRUCTION IS, UH, WILL BE UNDERWAY, INCONVENIENCING OUR GUESTS AND EWING WIDENING WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS THE ZOO.
AN ADDITIONAL 3% CUT WOULD GREATLY JEOPARDIZE OUR EFFORTS FROM ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE ROU, UM, WELFARE TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE OF CITY FACILITIES AND EVEN ACCREDITATION.
YOUR RELIABLE PARTNERSHIP IS CRITICAL ALWAYS, BUT PARTICULARLY DURING THIS VULNERABLE YEARS BEFORE WE GROW, WE VALUE OUR PARTNERSHIP AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIVE DEEPER INTO WHAT OUR MANAGEMENT FEE SUPPORTS.
AND WITH THAT, UM, OUR CHAIR WOULD LIKE TO SAY WAS, GOOD MORNING.
UH, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR PARTNERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE DALLAS ZOO, WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE THAT GOOD PARTNERSHIPS PLAY STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY ASSETS, BUT AS WE LOOK TO THE MONTHS AND THE YEARS AHEAD IS HARD TO FUNDRAISE AND IS HARD TO PLAN TO ACCELERATE THIS GROWTH IF OUR PARTNERSHIP IS ON SHAKY GROUND.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE PARK BOARD, TO THE DEPARTMENT STAFF FOR PRIORITIZING PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND CONTINUING TO INVEST IN THE ZOO AND OTHER PARTNERS.
I THINK WE'LL RESERVE THE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AND ALL THE PRESENTATIONS.
SO YEAH, I THINK THAT WILL BE THANK PLEASE MIGHT CALL YOU BACK ONCE I THANK YOU AND I WILL APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE THAT JUSTIN HAS ANOTHER OBLIGATION AND SO HE MAY NOT BE
JUSTIN, I DO WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT NO, THE RELATIONSHIP IS NOT ON SHAKY GROUNDS AT ALL.
IT'S THE SHARED TROUBLE, WHICH WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS HOW TO UNDERSTOOD.
UM, MS. CYNTHIA, ARE YOU REPRESENTING THE SEAT
ALWAYS RUNS TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND I FEEL SO OF SORRY FOR YOU,
THESE ARE BIG DECISIONS BEING MADE, VERY TOPICS.
UM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE, WHICH IS MANAGED BY ON DALLAS, AND I HAVE WITH LEGETTE BOYLAN, WHO IS THE, OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT'S A NEW POSITION EVERY, WE'RE VERY EXCITED SHE'S HERE.
UM, I USED TO KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE PARK WHERE THERE'S BEEN QUITE A CHANGEOVER, SO I'M GONNA DO A LITTLE, A LITTLE REVIEW ABOUT WHAT CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE IS.
CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE IS A NATURAL HABITAT OF OVER 600 ACRES, UM, FEATURING NINE MILES OF SOFT SURFACE TRAILS, GRASS, WILDFLOWERS GARDENS, PICNIC AREAS, ET CETERA.
IT'S ALSO HOME TO NATIVE TEXAS WILDLIFE PLANTS, SOME SORT OF OTHER THINGS.
CRP HAS BEEN MANAGED BY UBON DALLAS, BY CHARTER FROM, FROM THE DALLAS COUNTY PARKS AND OPEN SPACE PROGRAM AND CITY OF DALLAS.
WHAT I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO RIGHT NOW IS THE PROFOUND USE THAT AFFECTS LITTLE PRESERVE HALVES.
THIS YEAR ALONE, WE HAVE 575,000 VISITORS, A SALON FOR US.
WE HAVE EIGHT TOILETS JUST TO GO.
WE PARK 310,000 CARS WHEN OUR PARKING LOT HOLDS 245.
AND WE HAVE MORE THAN WE WALKED AWAY.
THE PRESERVE IS USED BY MANY PEOPLE TRYING TO GET HELP, PEOPLE DOING SCIENCE.
PEOPLE WORK WITH THEIR PETS ANY NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
UM, JUST THIS LAST WEEKEND WE HAD, OR WE HAD ORGASM PRESERVE AND WE HAVE AIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE, TEXAS AND DOING RESEARCH WITH US, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.
UM, OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT IS QUITE HIGH.
WE HAVE NOW HAVE WE ALONG, WE DID 156 FORMAL EDUCATION EVENTS WITH OVER 6,000 PARTICIPANTS AT EACH AND COUNTLESS INFORMAL EDUCATION ENCOUNTERS.
WE WERE NEVER OUT THERE WHEN WE WERE INTO THE PUBLIC.
WE TALK ABOUT THE WONDERFUL THINGS PRESERVE AND TEXAS HAS TO OFFER.
[01:20:03]
IN THE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO STRENGTHEN OUR ACTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE DSW CONSERVATION COMMUNITY.SO WE NOW HAVE FORMAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH LIKE CORONA MUSEUM, WITH DOGWOOD CANYON TRACK, SO, AND SEVERAL OTHERS.
SO WE ARE ENGAGING WITH OUR PARTNERS AS BEST WE CAN AND WE HAVE LOTS OF ALL OPPORTUNITIES.
I WILL TELL YOU, WE HAVE A STUNNING NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERING HOURS.
WE HAVE 5,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS A YEAR THAT ARE GIVEN THAT THAT PLACE.
SO YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW HARD IT'S TO ACCUMULATE 500, VOLUNTEERING, 5,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS.
SO SINCE CRP CANNOT CHARGE ADMISSIONS OR PARKING FEES, THE CITY OF DALLAS STATENT IS CRUCIAL TO SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS, VISITOR SERVICES, EDUCATION, PROGRAMMING, AND PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
THE CITY STIPEND IS APPROXIMATELY 22% OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE STIPEND REDUCTION, IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE PROFOUND FOR US THAN FOR ANY OF OUR OTHER, YOUR OTHER PARTNERS THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE HEARING ABOUT.
BECAUSE WE HAVE NO OTHER AVENUE FOR, UH, REVENUE GENERATION.
WE ARE REDEEMING FROM CHARGING FOR, AGAIN, ADMISSION FEES AND PARKING.
SO THE MORE PEOPLE WE HAVE, THE MORE THE WHOLE WE GET.
SO WE LOOK AT OUR, OUR GROWING NUMBERS, A LITTLE BIT OF HORROR AS WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE ACTUALLY MAKE THIS WORK WITH DIMINISHING DETERRENCE HERE.
SO WE CAN'T CHARGE ADMISSIONS, WE CAN'T DETER WHAT WE HEARD THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS AND WHAT WE GET TO THE CITY IS WHAT WE HAVE.
SO REDUCING OUR FUNDING WILL LIMIT THE ORGANIZATION'S ALREADY TASK CAPACITY TO DELIVER SERVICES AND SUPPORT AND TO VISITORS WHILE ENGAGING IN CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES.
WE WILL SHED SOME RESOURCES TO ADDRESS HIGHLY HIGH PRIORITY SAFETY ISSUES.
WE DO HAVE 10 MILES OR PROBABLY 10 MILES COUNT AND NINE OFFICIAL MILES OF SOFT SURFACE TRAIL.
D TWO MAINTAIN OF 575,000 FEET.
HITTING THOSE TRAILS COSTS A LOT OF MONEY AND ENERGY TO KEEP THOSE TRAILS IN
WE ALSO HAVE THE, THE WHOLE COMPLEMENT OF NONE OF THE SNAKES OUT THERE AND EVERYTHING ELSE YOU COULD WANT.
SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES AS WELL.
SO, UM, SO WE WOULD ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS WE MIGHT HAVE TO CONSIDER DOING IF WE CAN'T GET RELIEF, OR AT LEAST SUSTAIN, IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT WE'RE OPEN.
WE ARE SIX DAYS A WEEK, SIX DAYS WEEK UNTIL IT'S A LOT HOURS.
WE MIGHT CONSIDER WE HAVE CLOSED ON MONDAYS.
WE MIGHT CONSIDER CLOSING ON TUESDAY DAYS AS WELL.
THAT DOESN'T SAVE US MUCH IN DOLLARS, BUT IT DOES ALLOW US TO BE ORGANIZED TO SELVES.
WE HAVE A, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PERMIT STAFF OF THREE.
UM, WE MIGHT END UP PRODUCING OUR FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.
ANYBODY WALKS IN DOOR, YOU COME TO SEE RICHARD PRESERVE.
WE GOTTA GET, GET WHAT YOU LIKE, TALK FAST.
WE MIGHT HAVE TO END UP DOING THINGS THAT ARE MORE FORMAL, LIKE, UH, OUR SPANISH, UM, SPEAKING HIKES AND OUR
AND THEY SEEM SMALL BECAUSE THOSE KIDS SHOW BACK UP AND THEY SHOW BACK UP IN MEANINGFUL WAYS.
UM, WE MIGHT HAVE TO SHIFT OUR ATTENTION TO THE BASE PROGRAMS AND ANYBODY WHO RUNS PRODUCE OR ARRES OR ANYTHING, WHO DOES IT KNOW THERE'S ONLY A FEW PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY GENERATE A LOT OF REVENUE.
AND THIS PROGRAMS AN OVERNIGHT SUMMER.
THINGS AND
WE HAVE TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THOSE PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE TO FEED THAT DON'T GENERATE PRESSURE AND WILL, BUT THEY'RE IMPORTANT.
THE DELAY IN OUR FUNDING OR REDUCTION FUND WILL ALSO FORCE US TO SLOW DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE GONNA LAUNCH OUR FIRST SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM THIS YEAR, THIS SUMMER.
UM, BUT WE ARE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO GET THROUGH AND I'M STILL, UH, HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE.
SOME OF OUR FUNDING IS GONNA HAVE TO BE CURTAILED.
SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE DELAYED OR SLOW.
SO FUNDING IS REALLY A BUDGET HAS GONNA, UM, NEGATIVELY IMPACT ATTENDANCE AND COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ESPECIALLY, AND ARE ALREADY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
NOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IMPACT ON BUSINESS OPERATIONS, IT'S, I I I LOOK AT THE BUDGET, OH MY GOSH, THEY'RE TALKING LIKE THOUSAND.
AND IT IS, IT'S THE POINT THAT, UH, DR.
S MADE IS COMPOUNDED ON TOP OF A BUDGET CUT THAT OCCURRED TWO YEARS AGO AS WELL.
AND IT HITS IT, IT HIT A, A BRAND NEW CONTRACT THAT WE JUST SIGNED.
SO WE HAVE POTENTIAL OF A TOTAL OF ALMOST $10,000.
BUDGET CUT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT TO YOU.
UM, IT'S GONNA REDUCE OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS AND MAINTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
[01:25:01]
OUR RESTROOMS, OUR PARKING LOT, TRAIL INFRASTRUCTURE, EDUCATION BUILDING, ALL NEED A LITTLE BIT OF TLC.SO, AND WE'RE IN THE BIG GREEN SPACE.
NOT ONLY DOES EVERYTHING LEAK, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE CRAWLS.
UM, WE MIGHT HAVE TO REDUCE OUR EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON HABITAT SPECIES CONSERVATION.
WE DO A LOT OF PRAIRIE RESTORATION, PLANT COMPLICATION AND COLLABORATIVE WORK.
UM, WITH, WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
WE WILL, WE MAY HAVE TO PRAY PLACE GREATER RELIANCE ON OUR, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE VOLUNTEER FOR.
BUT I DON'T KNOW ANY ORGANIZATION THAT WANTS TO PUT ESSENTIAL SERVICES ON HANDS OF THE VOLUNTEER CORE JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF VOLUNTEERS COMING AND GOING AND IF THEY HAVE MODELS OF THEIR OWN THEY'RE DOING.
SO IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST PLACE TO PUT THAT.
THE POTENTIAL POSTPONEMENT OF EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PLACEMENT FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, THE OLD DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE ALSO FAMILIAR WITH AND INCREASED DAY TO DAY SUPPLIES AND EXPENSES.
THE THING THAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS 7 570 5,000 PEOPLE COMING TO THE RESERVE COSTS ABOUT $7,000 IN TOILET PAPER.
WE HAVE A TINY LITTLE BUDGET AND THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THINGS THAT ACCRUE AS WE'RE TRYING TO, TO GRAPPLE WITH THIS REALLY LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO VISIT US BECAUSE WE MATTER, BECAUSE WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES AND TRY TO KEEP OUR BUDGET IN CHECK.
SO THAT'S BASICALLY THE ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT.
SO WE, WE, YOU ASK ABOUT REVENUE ENHANCEMENT STRATEGIES AND ARE, WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY TO MAKE A LOT OF 'EM.
THIS LENDING SIDE ME IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
SHE'S INSTRUMENTAL IN HOW WE MANAGED TO FUND, TO GET MONEY TO, BY THE SOLVE TO OBSERVE THAT THAT ACQUISITION CHANGED THE NON PROPERTY THAT IS UNDER MANAGEMENT BY DALLAS FROM 600 TO ALMOST 700.
IT'S ACTUALLY 6 35 OR 65 IN SANCTUARY AND SHARON'S IN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THAT DONE.
SO WE ARE EXPANDING INDIVIDUAL CORPORATE RESPONSE, UH, SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, INCREASING GRANT APPLICATIONS ON, ON THE LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL.
STRENGTHENING DONOR CULTIVATION AND ANNUAL LIVING CAMPAIGNS AND EXPANDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, FOUNDATIONS, AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, THAT GO, THAT WEIGHS HEAVY ON ME, THIS GOES TO MY HEART, IS OUR NEED TO CONTINUING TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING BOTH FREE AND FEE-BASED EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE FEE-BASED PROGRAMS OFTEN.
UM, AND THESE ORGANIZATIONS TAKE A LONG TIME TO ACTUALLY REACH MATURITY.
OFTEN TAKES PROGRAMS LIKE OVERNIGHTS THREE YEARS TO ACTUALLY GO INTO PROFIT.
THAT'S TWO YEARS OF BUILDING YOUR BRAND, BUILDING YOUR CLIENTS BEFORE YOU GO INTO PROFIT.
SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT.
WE HOPE TO LAUNCH THAT THIS YEAR TO START OUR FIRST YEAR SO WE CAN LAUNCH THAT AND START INCREASING OUR ABILITY TO BRING PROFIT FROM OUR PROGRAMS. WE WANNA DEVELOP AND EXPAND MERCHANDISE SALES.
WE COME FROM, UM, WE ACTUALLY MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROPERTY, UM, AND ARE NOW ABLE TO BE PART OF THE PROPERTY FOR RENTAL, UH, THE WINTER, GREEN WEDDINGS, MEMORIALS, THAT TYPE OF THING.
I'M NOW IN THE WEDDING BUSINESS.
UM, BUT LATELY WE HAVE ALSO, UM, ENGAGED IN PLAN GERMINATION AND PLAN SALES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.
WE HAVE EVER, WE WHOLESALE AND WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE PLANS FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
SO, SO WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OUR GREAT BEST TO LEVERAGE WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US SO THAT WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THE RESERVE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE IN, IN A SITUATION WHERE WITH SO MANY PEOPLE COMING OUR, THE BUSINESS MODELS,
AND I PUT DOWN A LOT OF THINGS ON THE LIST THAT ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND
THE KEY ISSUE HERE IS THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE THE MODEL THAT COP OPERATES.
WE CAN NEVER BE A, A GOOD PROFITABLE BUSINESS AS LONG AS WE CANNOT CHARGE FEES FOR ENTRANCE OF A PERMIT.
WE HAVE NO BASIS AS, AS THE OTHER INSTITUTION, BOARD, BOARD MEMBERS GOING UP.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA SEE PROFITS GOING UP 'CAUSE THEY'RE CHARGING FOR US AS OUR ATTENDANCE GOES UP.
WE DON'T ORDER FURTHER FROM DEBT.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE WE HAVE TO GO UNLESS WE CAN GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE TO, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY OFFSET SOME OF THAT.
AND AUDUBON DALLAS' EFFORTS TO RAISE FUNDING CAN COMBINED WITH, WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY'S EFFORTS, WE'RE WE'RE GONNA BE CERTAIN NATION RETURNS
[01:30:01]
OVER THE YEARS.SO REALLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THE BOARD THIS YEAR IS HELP, HELP GETTING US TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNTY SO WE CAN PERHAPS COME OUT FROM OTHER RESTRICTED FORM OF MANAGEMENT.
WE'RE IN KNOWING SITUATION AND I'LL JUST READ WHAT I WROTE 'CAUSE I MIGHT BE INCAPABLE ACTUALLY SAYING IT.
SO CRP HAS PROFOUND RESTRICTIONS ON ITS POTENTIAL FOR GENERATED REVENUE.
THE OPEN SPACES AGREEMENT BETWEEN DALLAS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF DALLAS IMPOSES PROHIBITIONS ON CHARGING FOR IGNITIONS, FOR PARKING, AX, ALL OPERATIONS INEVITABLY IMPACTS LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS STAFF AS WE BEGIN TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
SO WE ARE VERY MUCH HOPING, UM, TO GET SUPPORT BY
I THINK WE DO QUESTIONS TOGETHER WITH THANK YOU.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE THE DALLAS SALGAR SAB LISTEN.
SO I'M GONNA TAKE YOUR MICROPHONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US BACK AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT OUR STIPEND AND THE DALLAS ARBORETUM IN GENERAL.
I ALSO WANNA, UM, COMMEND THE OTHER TWO PARTNERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN SO ELOQUENTLY ON BEHALF OF THE SITUATION AND CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF WEDDINGS.
WE'RE ALL ABOUT THE DALLAS ARBORETUM, SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO TALK TO OUR TEAM ANYTIME, RIGHT
SO I'M SABINA CARR, I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE DALLAS ARBORETUM.
AND I AM WITH OUR FABULOUS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, AMBER SLAYTON AND OUR FABULOUS, UH, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MARY DEBRA.
UM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN.
WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED, BUT BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE WERE ASKED TO ALSO, UH, TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE COMING UP THIS YEAR AND ALSO NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS.
AND SO, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT YOUR SPRING MEETING, WE HAVE HUNT SLOAN BUNNYS, BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES AT THE ARBORETUM RIGHT NOW.
YOU SHOULD SEE THE CHILDREN, THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
IT IS FULL OF JOY AND WONDER AND IT IS OF MAXIMAL SCALE.
SO THEY FEEL LIKE YOU'VE BEEN SHRUNK IN FRONT OF A GIANT BUNNY RABBIT.
AND THIS IS THE ARTIST HIMSELF WHEN HE WAS HERE AND, UH, PAINTING HIS OWN BUTTERFLIES.
AND I'LL GET BACK TO THAT SLIDE IN A MINUTE.
SO LET'S GO FROM THAT TO THE NUMBERS.
SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU LIKE A FOUR YEAR SNAPSHOT OF THE STIPEND AS IT'S COMPARED TO OUR GROWTH AT THE ARBORETUM SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE AS THE CEO, UM, AS I STARTED IN THE FALL OF 2023.
SO IN THE 40 YEARS, OUR ANNUAL FINANCIALS HAVE INCREASED BY 15%.
WE ARE NOW AT A $39 MILLION ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET.
I INHERITED, UH, ALMOST A $33 MILLION BUDGET.
OUR ATTENDANCE HAS ALSO CLIMBED TO THE SAME LEVEL AT JUST 17%.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT 1.2 MILLION VISITORS THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HANLEN WILL HELP ATTRACT THAT.
AND WE'RE ALSO SAYING GOODBYE TO THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS.
AND SO IT'LL BE THE LAST YEAR YOU'LL GET TO SEE THAT.
SO WE ASSUMED THAT THOSE WOULD BE TWO PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS THAT THE PUBLIC WILL COME SEE.
AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THE STIPEND IT HAS BEEN DROPPING OVER THE, THE YEARS.
UM, IT USED TO BE EVEN BEFORE THAT 455 TO $60,000.
UM, BUT AS IT STANDS TODAY AND AS IT HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, UH, THE STIPEND, WE DO APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR BECAUSE WE'RE PARTNERS TOGETHER AND IT DOES HELP US WITH OUR OPERATIONAL FUND.
IT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF LESS THAN 1% OF OUR ANNUAL LABOR BUDGET.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR 2026 BUDGET, IT'S THE HIGHEST IN THE ARBORETUM'S HISTORY.
UM, AND WE HAD SET IN OUR FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH ENDS IN 2029, THAT WE HOPE TO BE AT $40 MILLION.
SO IF WE MAKE IT THIS YEAR, WHICH WRONG FORECAST TO DO, WE'LL HIT THAT A COUPLE YEARS EARLIER, THREE YEARS EARLIER, WHICH IS EXCITING.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO ALSO SAY THAT, UH, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE SPRING WITH YOU ALL AT YOUR MEETING, IS ROUGHLY $170 MILLION.
AND SO THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS AND FRIENDS HERE AT THE DALLAS ZOO.
WE'RE USING THE EXACT SAME COMPANY.
THEY HAVE USED TO PUT TOGETHER A NEW ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY AND WE HAVE IT IN PROGRESS RIGHT NOW.
SO WE HOPE THAT NUMBER WILL BE QUITE LARGER IN THE FUTURE, PARTICULARLY THESE NUMBERS.
SO IF WE'LL PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE INVESTMENT THAT DALLAS ARBORETUM GIVES BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT IT'S ROUGHLY 1.8 MILLION IF YOU WERE TO HAVE TO PURCHASE ALL OF THESE UH, ITEMS TOGETHER.
AND FOR 2026, WHAT WE ARE MOST PROUD OF IS MUSEUMS FOR ALL.
[01:35:01]
HAVE ALREADY SEEN OUR FIRST QUARTER NUMBERS IN THE DISCOUNTED ADMISSIONS.REMEMBER FOR THE $3 ADMISSIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON THE SNAP OR WIG PROGRAM, WE HAVE DOUBLED THAT NUMBER THIS YEAR IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR VERSUS YEAR AGO, WHICH MEANS IT'S REALLY TAKING OFF IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WORD OF MOUTH IS SPREADING.
SO WE THINK WE HAD, I THINK WE HAD 30,000 ADMISSIONS ON MUSEUMS FOR ALL, ALL LAST YEAR.
WE THINK WE'RE GONNA DOUBLE THAT THIS YEAR.
UM, SO JUST STAY TUNED ON THAT.
SO QUITE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION.
THE $317,000 IS REALLY FOR BUS STIPENDS AND ADMISSIONS FOR SCHOOL KIDS, OF WHICH WE SERVE 102,000.
SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER 'CAUSE IT'S NOT JUST OUR INVESTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S ALSO INTO THE BUILDINGS AND THE FACILITIES THAT YOU ALL OWN.
SO THIS YEAR WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE MAKING A $1.5 MILLION OPERATIONAL INVESTMENT INTO THE CITY'S PROPERTY AND FACILITIES, WHICH INCLUDES ROUTINE AND AND LARGE SCALE MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS STRUCTURAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE.
WE HAVE 200,000 PLUS IN PLANNED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THIS YEAR, AGAIN, TO THE, THE CITY'S BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY.
UH, BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE BECAUSE THESE BUILDINGS ARE IN GREAT NEED.
THE HISTORIC DE GOER HOUSE HAS, UH, 25,500 SQUARE FEET OF ROOFING, WHICH IS A VERY, VERY LARGE BUILDING THAT ALL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
REPLACING IT WITH THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL, WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER, WILL COST, UH, UPWARDS OF $2 MILLION.
THE
SEE IF THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT THAT GOES BACK INTO THE ACTUAL STRUCTURES ON THE PROPERTY.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF A STIPENDS CUT IF WE NEXT THE NEXT SLIDE, HOW DO WE USE OUR STIPEND? OUR STIPEND GOES DIRECTLY INTO OUR GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS.
THIS IS ACCORDING TO OUR CONTRACT AND IT DIRECTLY FUNDS OUR OBLIGATIONS AS DEFINED IN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT.
SO WHAT WOULD BE A REDUCTION OF THREE TO 5% FOR US, IT'S GOING TO DIMINISH OUR AVAILABLE OPERATING RESOURCES, BUT IT'S NOT TIED TO ANY SPECIFIC PROGRAM.
UM, WE, BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF THE STIPEND IS LESS THAN 1% OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE TO 5% CUT.
THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 12 TO $20,000.
WE HOPE TO ABSORB THAT AND WORK TO RAISE, COVER, RECOVER THAT THROUGH FUNDRAISING AND THROUGH GATE REVENUE.
BUT WE DO WANT TO NOTE HOW IMPORTANT THE STIPEND, STIPEND IS TO US OVER OVERALL.
AND AS TINA POINT OUT THE FIRST SLIDE OF THE PRESENTATION, HOW IT'S BEEN REDUCING OVER TIME.
AND WHILE WE CAN ABSORB AND, AND, AND NOT BE CRITICALLY IMPACTED BY A THREE TO 5% AND CUT IN ONE YEAR OVER TIME, THAT KEEPS REDUCING.
AND WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRECEDENT THAT THAT IS SETTING BECAUSE A STIPEND AS A WHOLE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE SUCCESS OF WHAT WE DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
ALRIGHT, AND WE'LL WRAP WITH THE NEXT SLIDE BECAUSE WE WERE ASKED TO, UM, COME TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE COMING UP THROUGH THIS YEAR, BUT ALSO FOR WHAT'S COMING NEXT YEAR.
UM, AGAIN, WE HAVE SLOAN BUDDIES, BIRDS, AND BUTTERFLIES.
WE ARE GONNA MOVE BECAUSE IT'S ALL ART.
HE'S A VERY FAMOUS AMERICAN ARTIST.
WE'RE GOING INTO AUTUMN AT THE ARBORETUM WITH HARVEST HUGHES.
SO ALL OF THE PUMPKIN VILLAGES WILL BE A SPECIFIC ARTIST, WHETHER IT'S MONET VAN GOGH, KEITH HERRING, YOU NAME IT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH THAT.
THAT'S ALWAYS OUR MOST POPULAR SEASON AS, AS YOU ALL REMEMBER.
AND THEN WE GO TO HOLIDAY AT THE ARBORETUM AND IT IS THE 12TH YEAR OF THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS.
AND AS MUCH AS WE HAVE LOVED AND ADORED, AND IT'S BECOME A TRADITION FOR, FOR OUR CITY, IT IS TIME.
THEY ARE VERY, AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE SPAN, THEY ARE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX.
AND SO WE'RE COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS.
SO IN ITS 12TH YEAR, WE'RE GONNA THROW A PARTY FOR THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS.
SO MAKE SURE YOU PUT THAT ON YOUR CALENDAR TO COME SAY GOODBYE.
AND THEN NEXT YEAR WE HAVE ALICE'S WONDERLAND.
AND THIS IS, UH, AN ART FORM BASED IN HORTICULTURE.
YOU CAN SEE THE CHE HER CAT RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS A, YOU KNOW, SHE'S ONE OF THE SMALLER PIECES, BUT WE'RE TALKING MONUMENTAL PLANT GIANTS OF ALICE, HERSELF OF THE P OF THE WHITE RABBIT, OF THE QUEEN OF HEARTS, AND HER CHECKERBOARD.
I, GARY AND I DEBUTED IT WHEN WE WERE IN ATLANTA TOGETHER, AND WE, YOU JUST SEE SIGNIFICANT SUCCESS WITH VISITATION AND MEMBERSHIP ORDER AND SO MUCH ELSE.
SO PUTTING THAT ON YOUR CALENDARS, IT SHOULD BE APRIL THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF 2027.
WE REALLY ADMIRE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US WITH DALLAS GREEN AND BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY CITY.
AND, UM, WE'RE ON THE EVA FIFA, SO IT'S GONNA BE EXCITING TO WELCOME HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GUESTS.
[01:40:02]
WE DO HAVE THE, UM, TRINITY RIVER ARBON CENTER, ONE NAME.UM, I AM, UH, AMARI RO AND I'M THE CENTER DIRECTOR AT TRINITY RIVER, UH, BUS CENTER.
AND I'M JOINED BY, UH, EDUCATION MANAGER JACOB WINSETT AND OUR VP OF AUDON, DALLAS, TEXAS.
UM, I, UH, RELATIVELY NEW TO DALLAS.
I MOVED HERE FROM CHICAGO ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS AGO, AND I'LL ADMIT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WAS ATTEND A PARK BOARD MEETING.
IT TOLD ME A LOT ABOUT HOW MUCH THE CITY VALUES ITS PARKS AND PUBLIC SERVICES.
NEXT, I'M REALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL INCREDIBLE SITES BEFORE, ME TRACK IS A BIT SMALLER, BUT OUR IMPACT IS UNIQUE.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOCATED ON WHAT WAS ONCE AN ILLEGAL LANDFILL, NOW TRANSFORMED INTO A THRIVING WILDLIFE HABITAT AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE.
WE PROVIDE FREE PUBLIC ACCESS FIELD TRIPS AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT BURNING PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT PEOPLE TO NATURE AND INSPIRE CONSERVATION ACTION.
AND WHAT MAKES TRACK ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT IT'S ACCESSIBLE AND PROUD AND RESTORATIVE ON ENTRY POINT TO NATURE FOR MANY DALLAS RESIDENTS.
THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, WE DIRECTLY SUPPORT DALLAS'S RESILIENT GOALS, PARTICULARLY ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH AND AROUND INVESTING IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS.
TODAY I'LL WALK THROUGH WHAT IT TAKES TO SUSTAIN THIS WORK, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN ATTENDANCE AND PROGRAMMING, AND HOW WE'RE CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
SO WHAT SUPPORTS THAT LEVEL OF ACCESS AND USE IS HOW THE CENTER IS OPERATED DAY TO DAY.
SO ON THIS SLIDE, I WANT TO REFRAME THE ROLE OF THE MANAGEMENT TEAM.
AT ITS CORE, THIS ISN'T AN ADDED OR FLEXIBLE EXPENSE, IT'S HOW WE ENSURE THE CENTER IS OPERATED RESPONSIBLY.
YEAR OVER HERE, THE FACILITY HAS ONGOING, UNAVOIDABLE OPERATION NEEDS, MAINTENANCE, CLEANING, AND SECURITY.
THEY'RE BASELINE REQUIREMENTS TO KEEP THE BUILDING SAFE, OPEN AND ALIGNED WITH CITY STANDARDS.
THE MANAGEMENT FEE EXISTS TO COVER THOSE OBLIGATIONS IN A STABLE AND PREDICTABLE WAY.
AND THIS IS THE LEVERAGED FUNDING MODEL WHERE AUDUBON GENERATES MOST OF THE OPERATING REVENUE AND THE CITY'S INVESTMENT HELPS STABILIZE AND SUSTAIN THOSE EFFORTS TOGETHER.
THAT STRUCTURE ALLOWS THE FACILITY TO OPERATE AT THE LEVEL REQUIRED ON THE EXPENSE SIDE.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE BREAKDOWN ON THE SLIDE AFTER STAFFING, THE NEXT LARGEST CATEGORY IS FACILITY AND OPERATIONS AT ABOUT 30% OF THE BUDGET.
THAT REFLECTS THE VERY REAL COST OF MAINTAINING AND RUNNING A BUILDING LIKE THIS YEAR ROUND.
WE'VE ALSO DEMONSTRATED STRONG STEWARDSHIP OF THESE RESOURCES.
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, AUDUBON HAS INVESTED ABOUT 195,000 IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THINGS LIKE THE DECK, HVAC, AND A NEW BOILER.
AND IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WITH TRENDING BELOW BUDGET IN KEY AREAS LIKE SECURITY WITHOUT COMPROMISING SAFETY OR SERVICE.
SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT OVER RESOURCES, IT'S ABOUT RIGHT SIZING TO REAL NEEDS.
LOOKING AHEAD, THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET INCLUDES ABOUT 225,000 IN ESSENTIAL FACILITY RELATED COSTS.
THOSE ARE DISCRETIONARY, THEY'RE THE BASELINE REQUIRED TO KEEP THE FACILITY OPERATING SAFELY AND RELIABLY.
WE ALSO ALREADY HAVE A CLEAR AND PRIORITIZED CAPITAL PLAN DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY ENGINEERING STAFF WHEN THE 2024 BOND PACKAGE WAS APPROVED.
BUT THERE'S ALIGNMENT NOT JUST ON DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, BUT ON LONG-TERM INVESTMENT AS WELL.
AND SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS REDUCING THE MANAGEMENT FEE DOESN'T ELIMINATE RESPONSIBILITY.
AND IF THE FEE IS REDUCED, WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE CORRESPONDING ADJUSTMENTS, WHETHER THAT'S SCALING BACK SERVICE LEVELS, DELAYING MAINTENANCE, AS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ALSO SHARED OR ACCEPTING HIGHER OPERATIONAL RISK.
AND OVER TIME, THOSE TRADE OFFS CAN IMPACT BOTH THE CONDITION OF THE FACILITY AND THE VISITOR.
[01:45:01]
SO THE QUESTION REALLY ISN'T WHETHER THESE COSTS EXIST, IT'S HOW PREDICTABLY AND RESPONSIBLY WE MANAGE THEM.ON THIS SLIDE, I WANT TO FOCUS ON WHAT THIS FACILITY UNIQUELY DELIVERS AND WHAT'S AT RISK.
IF THAT CAPACITY CHANGES THAT A BASELINE.
THIS IS A HIGH USE, HIGH DEMAND PUBLIC ASSET.
WE'RE CONSISTENTLY SERVING OVER 30,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY, WHICH REFLECTS STUDY AND RELIABLE COMMUNITY DEMAND WORK.
TRACK STANDS APART AS HOW THE FACILITY IS USED.
WE'RE NOT JUST DELIVERING PROGRAMS. WE'RE FUNCTIONING AS A COMMUNITY ACCESS HUB, AND IT SHOWS UP IN A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS.
FIRST, IN STUDENT ACCESS AT SCALE FOR A SMALL CENTER, WE'RE SERVING NEARLY 5,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY WITH A 17% INCREASE THIS PAST YEAR.
AND THAT'S, UM, UM, MOST NOTABLY, UM, CONTINUING TO GROW BECAUSE DALLAS, UH, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS APPROACHED US ABOUT EXPANDING THIS WORK TO SERVE ALL EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS ACROSS THIS DISTRICT.
AND SO, UM, IT IS A TRUSTED AND CONTINUED DESTINATION FOR STUDENT ACCESS.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING INCREASING DEMAND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PARK AND RECREATION CENTERS, LIBRARIES, AND DISCOVER DALLAS PARKS EXTENDING OUR REACH AND CONNECTING MORE RESIDENTS TO THE SPACE TO COORDINATED PROGRAMMING ON SITE AND ALSO OFFSITE TO THESE PARKS.
SECOND IS PLACE-BASED COMMUNITY CONNECTION.
THE CENTER SUPPORTS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE PLEASANT GROVE,
SO THE VALUE HERE ISN'T JUST WHAT WE RUN, IT'S ABOUT HOW THIS SPACE IS USED ONCE A FORMER ILLEGAL LANDFILL HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A COMMUNITY ASSET THAT REFLECTS THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO DOING RIGHT BY SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE, UM, OF THIS LINE IS THE KEY CONSIDERATIONS OF WHAT HAPPENS IF FUNDING IS REDUCED.
THE IMPACTS HERE ARE LESS ABOUT ELIMINATING A SINGLE PROGRAM AND MORE ABOUT NARROWING ACCESS ACROSS THE BOARD.
THAT COULD MEAN REDUCED HOURS.
UM, LIMITED THREE ACCESS AFFECTING HOW THE COMMUNITY USES A SPACE.
IT COULD LOOK LIKE FEWER FIELD TRIPS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AS CAPACITY TITANS.
IT COULD ALSO MEAN TO CHANGES HOW WE SUPPORT PARTNERS.
FOR EXAMPLE, NEEDING TO CHARGE FOR THE FACILITY USE FOR THESE SMALL NONPROFITS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THROUGH IN KIND ACCESS.
IT COULD ALSO AFFECT REGULARLY SCHEDULED OFFERINGS LIKE ELIMINATING FREE PROGRAMS. UM, AND IT COULD LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO TAKE ON NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, LIKE RECENT INTERESTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH US ON AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING AT THE CENTER.
SO THESE AREN'T ISOLATED, UM, PROGRAM CUTS.
THEY'RE DECISIONS THAT COLLECTIVELY REDUCE HOW ASSESSABLE AND RESPONSIVE THE CENTER CAN BE.
SO THE TAKEAWAY IS THIS REDUCTIONS WOULDN'T JUST SCALE BACK OPERATIONS.
THEY WOULD NARROW HOW THE SPACE CAN BE USED BY THE COMMUNITY IT WAS DESIGNED TO SERVE.
LET'S, I WANT TO CLOSE BY STEPPING BACK AND TALKING ABOUT WHERE THIS IS GOING.
SO OVER THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS, I'VE BEEN INTENTIONALLY FOCUSED ON SHAPING AND STRENGTHENING TRACKS MODEL TO SUPPORT LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
WE'RE ALREADY EXPANDING HOW THE CENTER GENERATES REVENUE, UM, THROUGH RENTALS, FUNDRAISING EVENTS, AND CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS.
UM, AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE STRENGTHENING FOR FUNDRAISING THROUGH BOTH LOCAL EFFORTS AND AUDUBON'S BROADER NETWORK.
SO OVER TIME, THAT MAKES SHIFTS.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE MODEL BECOMES MORE DIVERSIFIED AND LESS RELIANT ON ANY ONE SOURCE OF FUNDING.
THAT SAID, THAT TRANSITION DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE.
IT TAKES STABILITY TO DO IT WELL.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE MANAGEMENT FEE FITS.
IT ALLOWS US TO OPERATE THE FACILITY RESPONSIBLY TODAY WHILE CONTINUING TO BUILD FORWARD MODELS THAT'S MORE SELF-SUSTAINING OVER TIME.
AND AT THAT SAME TIME, WE'RE ALSO ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S LONG TERM INVESTMENT IN THIS SITE THROUGH THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM.
YOUR DESIGN CAN BE IN, UH, ON OUR END AS EARLY AS FALL 2026 WITH CONSTRUCTION POSITION FOR 2027 OR 28 AS BOND FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE.
AND WE'VE SECURED 1.35 MILLION IN SUPPORTING FUNDS AND ARE READY TO BEGIN WORKING ALONGSIDE THE CITY AS THE PROCESS MOVES FORWARD.
[01:50:02]
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FULL PICTURE OPERATIONS GROWTH AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT, THIS IS REALLY ABOUT CONTINUITY AND ALIGNMENT OVER TIME.WITH THAT IN MIND, WE'RE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSED FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT UNDER THE STRUCTURE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED.
IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO MEET TODAY'S EXPECTATIONS WHILE CONTINUING TO BUILD TOWARD A MORE SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR THE FUTURE.
ULTIMATELY, THIS GOAL IS TO CONTINUING STRENGTHENING TRACK AS AN ASSET FOR DALLAS, ONE THAT OPERATES RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBLY TODAY AND CONTINUES TO GROW IN HOW IT SERVES THE COMMUNITY OVER TIME.
UH, SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE ALL OUR, UH, PARTNERS, MAJOR PARTNERS GIVEN THE PRESENTATION.
SO I LEAVE NOW OPEN IT TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND WE CAN ACCORDINGLY INVITE THE SPECIFIC SPECIFIC QUESTION.
SO I SEE FIRST IS MR. LEE CORNER.
CAN YOU, UH, START MY TIME OVER PLEASE? I WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNERS FOR BEING HERE TODAY, THE ZOO, THE ARBORETUM, CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE, AND TRINITY RIVER AUDUBON CENTER.
FOR NOT THE REASON WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
THEY'RE EXTRAORDINARY INSTITUTIONS DOING IMPORTANT WORK, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERY ONE OF THEM.
WE CAN SEE VERY CLEARLY THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS CUTS WILL HAVE ON OUR PARTNERS.
THIS BOARD DID NOT INVITE THIS BUDGET REDUCTION DISCUSSION.
THAT ASK CAME FROM CITY MANAGEMENT.
AND I BELIEVE IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS BOARD TO SAY PLAINLY AND PUBLICLY, IT'S UNJUST.
THE CITY OF DALLAS IS FACING A $34 MILLION GENERAL FUND SHORTFALL, A PROJECTED REVENUE GAP GROWING TO 83 MILLION NEXT YEAR, A HIRING FREEZE AND IS ASKING THIS DEPARTMENT TO ABSORB 15% OF ITS BUDGET.
DALLAS IS ONE OF THE MOST PROSPEROUS CITIES IN AMERICA, AND IT CAN'T BALANCE ITS OWN BOOKS.
THIS IS A CITY MANAGEMENT PROBLEM.
YET WE'RE AMONG THOSE BEING ASKED TO BAIL OUT CITY MANAGEMENT.
THERE IS A HANDOUT WITH NUMBERS AT, IN EACH OF YOUR SEATS THAT I I CAME UP WITH.
OUR TOTAL BUDGET IS 119.3 MILLION.
OF THAT 30.1 MILLION IS LOCKED IN SACRED CODES OVER WHICH WE HAVE NO DISCRETION.
THAT LEAVES A TRUE OPERATING BUDGET OF 89.2 MILLION OF THAT AMOUNT.
$1 OUT OF EVERY SIX GOES TO A SINGLE PARTNER AT THE DALLAS ZOOS MANAGEMENT FEE REPRESENTS 16.7% OF EVERY DOLLAR THIS DEPARTMENT CONTROLS.
I WANT THE BOARD TO SIT WITH THAT NUMBER.
AT OUR LAST MEETING, I RAISED THE ZOO'S MANAGEMENT FEE DIRECTLY WITH SOME FORCE.
AND I WANNA EXPLAIN WHY, BECAUSE I THINK CONTEXT MATTERS.
THE EASY CUTS IN A BUDGET CRISIS ARE ALWAYS THE QUIET ONES.
REDUCING MOWING FREQUENCY, CUTTING RECREATION CENTER HOURS, CLOSING FLOOR COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT SERVE RESIDENTS DO WE SAW TODAY, WE LARGELY HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE.
AND FEW, IF ANY, PAID LOBBYISTS, THOSE CUTS DO NOT PRODUCE PRESENTATIONS WITH ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDIES.
AND THE PEOPLE WHO BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES ABSORB THEM QUIETLY.
TAKING FROM THOSE WITH THE LEAST IS ALWAYS THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE.
I CHOSE TO FOCUS ON THE ZOO'S FEE, NOT BECAUSE I WANNA HARM THE ZOO, BUT BECAUSE NO ORGANIZATION, REGARDLESS OF ITS SIZE, ITS BACKING OR ITS SEAT AT THE TABLE, SHOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THE SAME STANDARD APPLIED TO EVERY OTHER PART OF THIS DEPARTMENT.
IF WE'RE ABSORBING 15%, THAT CONVERSATION BELONGS AT EVERY LINE ITEM.
THIS DEPARTMENT HAS REDUCED ITS BUDGET BY $5.4 MILLION IN EFFICIENCY CUTS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.
WE HAVE RUN LEAN, WE ARE NOW BEING ASKED TO RUN ON EMPTY.
AND THE ANSWER TO THAT SHOULD NOT BE TO FIND THE QUIETEST CUTS POSSIBLE.
THE ANSWER SHOULD BE TO ASK WHETHER EVERY OPTION IS TRULY BEEN CONSIDERED AND WHETHER EVERY PARTY IS BEING ASKED TO SHARE EQUALLY IN THE SACRIFICE.
THANK YOU MR. CONNER FROM MR.
UM, I'M ALSO GONNA DOUBLE CLICK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.
UH, THIS IS NOT A CHOICE BETWEEN FUNDING THE ZOO OR HURTING THE ZOO.
UH, THIS IS A CHOICE IN OVERFUNDING A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OR DECIMATING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND CORE SERVICES.
IF WE CAN GO TO SLIDE FIVE, A CHART PRESENTED BY THE ZOO SHOWS BACK IN 2011, OUR STIPEND WAS 52% OF THEIR OPERATIONS.
TODAY IT'S AT 36%, AND IN FIVE YEARS IT'LL DROP TO 27% AS A BENCHMARK.
THE HOUSTON ZOO STIPEND IS CURRENTLY 17% OF THEIR OPERATIONS IN THE FORT WORTH.
ZOO STIPEND IS CURRENTLY 27% OF THEIR OPERATIONS.
BOTH OF THE ZOOS I JUST MENTIONED ACHIEVED THOSE LOWER PERCENTAGES IN JUST 15 YEARS, WHICH IS NOW LONGER THAN WE'VE
[01:55:01]
BEEN PAYING.NOW ZOO STIPEND, WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER FIVE YEARS TO CATCH UP TO SECOND PLACE.
IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED ALREADY.
I DO APPRECIATE THE ZOO'S ARGUMENT TO KEEP THEIR FUNDING, BUT AS MR. VICE-CHAIR SAID, AS A BOARD, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE ZOO'S OPERATIONAL REVENUE HAS ALSO INCREASED 157% SINCE 2009.
THE CURRENT STRUCTURE OF THIS STIPEND PREVENTS US FROM SHARING THAT SUCCESS EQUALLY.
I'VE ALWAYS SAID THIS FROM DAY ONE, AS A PARK BOARD MEMBER, WHEN WE WIN, WE SHOULD WIN TOGETHER.
UNFORTUNATELY, ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, THE SAME THING IS TRUE.
WHEN WE LOSE, WE SHOULD LOSE TOGETHER TOO.
RIGHT NOW, THE CITY MANAGER, UM, IF WE FOLLOW THAT DIRECTIVE, WE WILL TAKE A 33% CUT IN OPERATIONS AND AQUATIC CENTERS, 60% REDUCTION IN KIDS PROGRAMMING, 33 TO 50% REDUCTION IN MOWING AND LITTER PICKUP, A HUNDRED PERCENT ELIMINATION OF FOUR COMMUNITY CENTERS.
MEANWHILE, UH, THIS STIPEND REPRESENTS OVER 16% OF OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET.
I WANNA CLOSE MY ROUND ONE BY TALKING ABOUT SLIDE SIX.
IF I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT.
I DO APPRECIATE THE DETAILS OF THESE IMPACTS ON THE ZOO, BUT I WANNA BE CLEAR WITH EVERYONE THAT'S JUST A NORMAL DAY WITHIN THE PARK DEPARTMENT.
I'LL ALSO SAY THESE IMPACTS, I'M SORRY THEY DON'T SCARE ME.
UH, THEY SHOULDN'T SCARE ANY OF US AROUND THE BOARD.
IN FACT, I GLADLY ACCEPT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM OVER THE DRASTIC CUTS TO CORE SERVICES I MENTIONED JUST A MOMENT AGO.
MRTA, UH, THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT.
SO I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE, A LITTLE HISTORY.
SO ALL THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND, AND ALL THE CURRENT BOARD MEMBER DURING OUR BOND AND, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING DURING OUR BOND.
TALKED ABOUT, ABOUT BRINGING IN NEW PROJECTS.
NOBODY IN THIS ROOM WANTED TO CUT THEIR PROJECTS AT ANY TIME.
SO INSTEAD WE REDUCE EVERY PROJECT BY A LITTLE BIT.
A GREAT EXAMPLE NOW THAT WE'RE FACING IS THE WHITE ROCKS HILL REC CENTER ONLY GOT $13 MILLION TO BE BUILT.
WELL, THAT NUMBER'S GONNA BE WAY OUT THERE, WAY ABOVE 13 MILLION.
BUT WE CUT THAT PROJECT BECAUSE WE, WE SAID, WELL, EVERY, EVERYTHING'S GOTTA BE CUT TEN FIVE PERCENT TO GET EVERYTHING IN IN THE LINE, RIGHT? SO WE THINK ABOUT WE DID THAT BOND.
SO WE'RE DOING THE SAME EXACT THING BY CUTTING EVERYTHING 15%, WHETHER IT, WHETHER IT'S THE ZOO, WHETHER IT'S, UH, RECREATION CENTERS, WHATEVER IT IS.
SO WE, WE DEFINITELY AS A BOARD SIT HERE AND SAY, THERE'S SOME THINGS WE DON'T CUT, WHICH IS REC CENTERS, UH, MAINTENANCE AND, AND STAFF.
I'VE OFFSET THOSE THREE THINGS ALREADY NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT ALSO SOME OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T HURT AND WE CAN'T TAKE STIPENDS AWAY, UH, FROM THEM.
SO WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE WE NOT DOING EFFICIENTLY AND CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, LET'S CUT EVERYTHING BACK 15%.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE A, A SERVICE THAT'S NOTHING.
OR WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE A SERVICE THAT'S NOTHING OR, OR HOW DO WE, IF WE DON'T NEED THAT SERVICE, LET'S REMOVE THAT SERVICE FROM OUR DEPARTMENT AND GIVE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE'RE REALLY GREAT AT.
OR THAT WE CAN ENHANCE OUR YOUNG KIDS, OUR YOUTH, AND OUR SENIORS.
SO WE GOTTA FIGURE THAT OUT, RIGHT? SO WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT CUTTING EVERYTHING BACK, START THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE DID DURING THAT BOND.
WE PASSED THE GREATEST, THE, THE, THE HIGHEST EVER BOND FOR PARTS.
BUT WE DID CUT OUR PROJECTS BACK SOLO THAT WE'RE NOW WE'RE FACING A CRISIS WHERE SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS MIGHT NOT GET BUILT NEXT YEAR OR TWO YEARS.
WE MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER ROUND TO GET MORE MONEY TO ADD TO THOSE PROJECTS.
AND WE SEE THAT EVERYWHERE WE'VE DONE, NOW THAT YOU'VE SEEN ALL YOUR PROJECTS GETTING DONE.
SO BEFORE WE START CUTTING EVERYBODY, INCLUDING OUR PARTNERS HERE, THINK ABOUT WHAT WE REALLY DON'T DO WELL.
AND THAT'S OKAY IF WE CUT OUT A SERVICE AND, AND WE DON'T PROVIDE THAT SERVICE ANYMORE AS LONG AS IT'S NOT A KEY, A CORE SERVICE.
AND THESE THREE OF THESE PARTNERS MINUS THE ARBORETUM, THEY'RE ALL IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
SO NOT ONLY ARE WE TAKING, TALKING ABOUT TAKING THEIR DOLLARS AWAY, WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT TAKING JOBS AWAY FROM THE SOUTHERN SECTOR BECAUSE IE THE ZOO IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, UH, EMPLOYER OF THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF OAK CLIFF.
LAST NIGHT I HAPPENED TO BE AT ADAMSON HIGH SCHOOL THAT WE HAD A TRAGEDY THERE AND WE'VE, I LEARNED JUST A CONVERSATION THAT ALMOST ALL THE STUDENTS, A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS THERE ARE EMPLOYED BY THE DOLLAR ZOO.
SO JUST THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, THE, THE ZOO AND THE OTHER TWO PARTS THAT ARE THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
I KNOW ARBORETUMS A LITTLE BIT NORTH, BUT THEY'RE ALSO PRETTY KEY TO ONE OF OUR, OUR SOUTHERN SECTORS.
SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TAKING AWAY FROM THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
I'LL, I'LL COME BACK AROUND TO THANK YOU MR. MS.
ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT HAVE COME OUT HERE TO EXPLAIN, TO HIGHLIGHT, TO SHOW, UM, EVERYTHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
[02:00:01]
OUR FIRST TIME DOING THIS FOR SOME OF US SEASONED MEMBERS.THIS IS, UH, FAMILIAR IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT TIMES.
AND, AND YOU HAVE ELOQUENTLY GIVEN A BEAUTIFUL BRIEFING OF, OF, OF WHERE YOU'RE AT TODAY.
AND I'VE, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THOUGH, UM, CEDAR RIDGE, IF WE CAN JUST GET A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY, CEDAR RIDGE AND THE TRINITY RIVER AUTO BOND, UM, AND HOW THAT IS COEXIST TOGETHER.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF EVERYBODY WHO'S NEW UNDERSTANDS THAT, UM, IF THAT'S OKAY.
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, THANK YOU.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR TEXAS FOR THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY.
UM, SO TRINITY RIVER AUDUBON CENTER IS A CENTER THAT IS DIRECTLY OPERATED BY THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY.
IT'S ONE OF 32 CENTERS, UH, CONSERVATION ACTION CENTERS THAT WE OPERATE ACROSS THE US IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE HAVE 20 INDEPENDENT LOCAL AUDUBON CHAPTERS.
THEY ARE THEMSELVES, THEIR OWN 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SEPARATE NON-PROFITS FROM THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY, DALLAS AUDUBON AND, AND CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE.
UM, THAT'S SEPARATE, A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY IN TRINITY RIVER.
I JUST HOPING IT'S STILL CLEAR TO, FOR PEOPLE.
UM, AND THEN ALSO FOR THE CEDAR RIDGE, ARE THERE FIELD TRIPS THAT SCHOOLS PAY FOR TO COME OUT THERE OR NOT FOR TRINITY RIVER, ALL OF 'EM, BUT, BUT FOR LECTER THERE CAN BE.
UM, WE CAN, FROM TIME TO TIME, SOME OF US WILL ASK US FOR A PROGRAM AND WE'LL CHARGE THAT.
OTHERWISE YOU JUST DRIVE YOUR BUS UP AND GET OUT.
I JUST WAS, I WAS LOOKING BACK OVER EVERYTHING.
THIS IS, IT IS A LOT TO TAKE IN FOR, YOU KNOW.
FOR THOSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEE US.
I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT TO KIND OF GO OVER.
UM, AND I, I GUESS WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
SO, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S COME OUT HERE TO EXPLAIN, TO SHOW EVERYBODY, UM, THE NEW, THE, THE SEASONED AND THE, UM, STAFF.
SO THANK YOU MR. AND, UH,
YOU CAN TAKE TEAM, UH, SEE IN THE MEETING THAT WE, WHOEVER NEEDED, WE CAN.
LET'S SEE WHO IS, UH, FORWARDS.
UM, I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING THAT, UH, WE ARE ALL IN A POSITION OF MAKING THIS DECISION AND COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS.
AND I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE BURDEN HAS TO BE SHARED SOME WAY SOMEHOW WITH THE PARTNERS.
NOW, DOES THAT NECESSARILY ALWAYS LEAD TO CUTS? WE HAVE, UH, LISTENED TO THE DOMINO EFFECT OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF THESE CUTS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE ALL VERY INTELLIGENT BEINGS AND, UM, SOME OF US ARE AGREED, CEO, CEOS, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH MEANS THAT WE CAN BE CREATIVE.
WE CAN BE CREATIVE, I THINK WITH SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WERE MENTIONED AND THE PARTNERSHIPS, YOU KNOW, THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS, THERE ARE A LOT OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO SHARE THE SAME VISIONS AS SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COME IN AND PARTNER WHO HAVE THEIR OWN FUNDING SOURCES, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, WHO HAVE THEIR OWN FUND FUNDING SOURCES AND WHO WILL COME IN AND SHARE YOUR VISION WITH, ALONG WITH YOU.
AND SO THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSIDER THAT DON'T RELATE TO SHUTTING DOWN A PROGRAM OR CLOSING A PROGRAM.
SO I JUST REALLY FEEL LIKE, UM, THERE HAS TO BE MAYBE A SYSTEM IN PLACE JUST TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE THOUGHT PARTNERS AROUND HOW CAN WE CONTINUE WITH PROGRAMS ASIDE FROM CUTTING.
NOW DOES THAT MEAN THAT NOTHING WILL BE CUT? NO, BUT IT MAY ABSORB A LOT OF THE IMPACT.
SO ONCE, AND LET'S SEE, MR. JANG, UH, I GUESS I WANT TO BEGIN BY ENDORSING OUR BOARD MEMBERS, UH, CONNOR AND EMI'S COMMENTS AND OFFER SOME FURTHER COMMENTS ON THAT.
I, I TAKE TWO THINGS FOR GRANTED.
FIRST, THAT THESE PARTNERS ARE DOING GOOD WORK AND SECONDLY, THAT THE PROPOSED DECREASES IN THEIR STIPENDS WILL HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT.
[02:05:01]
EFFECT, AND I WOULD, IF IT WERE UP TO ME FAVOR A 0% DECREASE IN THIS DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AND INTEND TO PUSH THE COUNCIL FOR THAT THIS FALL.BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS DEVELOPING A WHAT IF BUDGET.
WHAT IF OUR BUDGET WERE TO BE CUT 15%? WHERE SHOULD THOSE CUTS BE? AND I HAVE A HARD TIME SAYING THAT OUR PARTNERS SHOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THE CUTS THAT OTHER PROGRAMS IN THIS DEPARTMENT ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE.
I'VE HAD EXPERIENCE ON TWO CHARITABLE BOARDS WHERE, WHICH FACED OVER 50% CUTS IN THEIR BUDGET DUE TO LOSS OF STIPENDS FOR OTHER REASONS.
AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING ANYWHERE NEAR THAT MAGNITUDE.
I HOPE THAT NO CUTS HAVE TO BE MADE, BUT IF CUTS HAVE TO BE MADE, I THINK WE SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER MAKING THEM IN THE AREA OF PARTNER STIPENDS.
UM, THE HARDEST THING ABOUT SEEING OUR PARTNERS, UM, ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I DON'T WANT TO SEE US LOSE ANY MONEY AT THE PARK DEPARTMENT AT ALL.
AND I THINK IF WE BAND TOGETHER, UM, WE FOUGHT HARD FOR THE BOND AND TOGETHER WE'RE STRONGER.
SO I THINK, UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THINK WE ALL RALLY TOGETHER, FIGHT OUR COUNCILS, FIGHT OUR CITY MANAGER AND LET THEM KNOW THAT PARKS ARE NOT OPTIONAL.
UM, PARKS ARE ESSENTIAL, AND WE NEED TO HAVE A UNITED FRONT THAT, YOU KNOW, HEY, WE, WE RISE TOGETHER AND WE FALL TOGETHER.
UM, BUT THE, THE, THE FACT THAT WHEN WE GO TO SOME OF THESE, UM, CUTS, UM, AND I CAN SHARE WITH, WE WERE GONNA CUT THE AQUARIUM AT FAIR PARK AT ONE POINT BECAUSE OF BUDGET CUTS, AND THE ZOO WAS OUR OPERATOR AT THE TIME, AND THE PROCESS THAT CLOSED DOWN THE AQUARIUM, YOU HAVE TO FIND A LOCATION FOR ALL OF THOSE, UM, FISH AND THOSE ANIMALS SO THAT THE DECOMMISSIONING OF A ZOO OR WITH SOMETHING WITH ANIMALS, IT TAKES A LONG TIME.
SO IT'S NOT AN IMMEDIATE CUT ON BUDGET.
UM, SO IT'S GOING TO HURT THAT EVEN MORE THAN WE'RE NOT GONNA MOW THIS WEEK OR WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, SO I GET THE, THE IMPACT IS HIGH.
UM, I DON'T, LISA, YOU SAY OR GAVE US A NUMBER, WHAT IS IT THAT IT COSTS TO, UM, RAISE AN ELEPHANT?
UM, YEAH, IF THE, THE COST OF, UM, ANNUAL COST OF CARE FOR ONE ELEPHANT AT AL SUE IS ROUGHLY $204,000.
EIGHT, EIGHT AND ONE ON THE WAY.
SO AUTOMATICALLY LARGEST HERDS IN THE COUNTRY AND ONE OF THE FEW SUCCESSFULLY REPRODUCING HERDS.
HOW LONG IS THAT WAS DONE TO SAVANNAH? THAT'S BEEN, JUNE SAID SAVANNAH, WHICH OPENED 2010.
WAS THAT A BOND PROJECT BACK THEN? I BELIEVE SO.
SO IT WAS AN INVESTMENT THAT WE MADE.
IT WAS, AND IT'S BROUGHT IN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
SO I, I DON'T SAY THAT ANY OF THE OTHER PARTNERS ARE, I MEAN, WE HAVE THE CEDAR REACH PRESERVE THAT $3,000 IS GONNA CUT JUST AS DEEP AS TAKING CARE OF AN ANIMAL.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY GET THEIR HANDS TIED.
UM, I KNOW THE CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE IS TRYING TO GET AS CREATIVE AS THEY CAN FOR THEIR BUDGET, AND THEY CAN'T EVEN CHARGE FOR PARKING.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A RESTRICTION THAT THEY'VE BEEN SHACKLED, THAT THEY CAN'T DO THAT AND THAT'S NOT FAIR TO THEM.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THE WAYS TO HELP THEM, UM, BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO AGAIN, IT, I THINK IT IS, MS. OWEN SAID THIS BEST.
WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION, THE, THE CONVERSATIONS, UM, AND WORKING THROUGH IT TOGETHER.
UM, BUT WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE AND HAVE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WORK THROUGH AND LOOK AT THOSE THINGS.
SO I THINK THAT IT, IT'S HARD.
IF HYPOTHETICALLY, IF WE HAVE TO CUT THE BUDGET AT THE ZOO BY THE 400 AND SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS, HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE, OR WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY? FOR THE ZOO OR FOR THE FAIR? I MEAN, FOR THE PEOPLE VISITING IS WHO IT'S REALLY GONNA AFFECT.
[02:10:01]
I, I THINK AS I INDICATED IN MY PRESENTATION, WE WOULD, UM, WE WOULD DEFINITELY REDUCE OUR, UM, INVESTMENT IN MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE.UM, THAT HAS A RETURN FOR VISITATION OF COURSE, BUT ALSO, UM, JUST SAFETY AND THEN A BACKLOG.
WE'VE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME THE PAST THREE YEARS INVESTING IN, IN DIFFERENT MAINTENANCE.
SO THAT BOND MONEY CAN BE USED FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS.
THE OTHER KEY IMPACT WOULD BE, UM, IN PRICING.
AND OF COURSE OUR LAST RESORT, UM, WOULD BE STAFF LAYOFFS.
UM, LIKE AS YOU INDICATED, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T QUICKLY RAMP DOWN IN CRISIS, UM, IN, IN COVID, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAD HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES WHO WERE NECESSARY TO BE THERE TAKING CARE OF ANIMALS.
SO ANY SORT OF MAJOR RAMP DOWN, UM, TAKES TIME.
THE, THE EMPLOYEES THAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE AT THE ARBORETUM AND THE ZOO WOULD, THAT'S YOUR TIME PER ROUND ONE.
IT COMES MR. SO, UH, LET'S, UH, LET'S SEE.
MORNING, I AGREE WITH MY OTHER COLLEAGUES, IS SAYING THAT THE REDUCTION TO OUR BUDGET, MEANING THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING THINGS THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED.
IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME, UM, THAT I'VE SEEN IT, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN IT THIS DRASTIC BEFORE.
UM, I'M, I'M AGREEING THAT THERE SHOULD BE ZERO, BUT TO EVERYTHING.
AND I THINK AS A PARK BOARD AS A WHOLE, COLLECTIVELY, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ASSERT OURSELVES TO THE CITY, UM, AND THOSE IN MANAGEMENT IN THE CITY AND LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THIS IS ESSENTIAL AS, UH, MR. WOOD JUST SAID.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PARTNERS, I THINK THE WHAT IF BUDGET SCENARIO OR THE WHAT IF CUTS, WHATEVER WE TALK ABOUT, I'D LIKE TO PLAY THAT ALL THE WAY OUT AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH EVERY ONE OF THE PARTNERS BECAUSE THESE THINGS ARE COMPOUNDING YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AND IF I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR TOO, TO MAKE SURE I'M LOOKING AT THIS RIGHT, OUR RECOMMENDED CUT CURRENTLY IS THREE TO 5%.
IS THAT RIGHT? FOR THE ZOO? THE ZOO? UH, THAT'S 3%.
IN ALL FAIRNESS, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, THAT THAT IS A FAIR REDUCTION, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT COST IS FOR THE OTHER, UM, IDEAS BROUGHT IN.
BUT WHAT MR. WOOD JUST SAID IS WE KEEP PLAYING THE WHAT IFS.
WHAT IF THE ZOO SAYS WE LEAVING? WHAT IF THE ZOO REALLY SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT? BECAUSE OF THESE PITS, WE CAN NO LONGER DO WHAT OUR DUTY IS TO PARK DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE CONSERVATION AND ANIMALS THAT WE SERVE IN THAT SPACE AND WE HAVE TO LEAVE.
THAT IS PART OF THAT WHAT THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CONSIDERATION FOR.
AND GIVEN, UM, AS IN THE EDITORIAL IN THE PAPER, THE DONUT THAT'S BEING BUILT HERE IN THIS CITY RIGHT NOW AND EVERYTHING, LEAVING THE, THE COURT OF OUR CITY, I HAVE TO STAND FOR MY DISTRICT IN DISTRICT FOUR ON WHERE THE ZOO IS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO MY DISTRICT AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS IF THE ZOO IS GONE.
AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE CONSTITUENTS, THE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE THERE, THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE.
I GUARANTEE YOU THOSE GONNA BE THE FIRST ONES WHO GET CUT.
THOSE STUDENTS WHO WORK AT ADAMSON, UH, OR GO TO ADAMSON AND WORK AT THE ZOO.
SO AS WE TALK ABOUT IT, AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE TO THINK OF ALL THE FISCAL, UH, IDEAS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND I'M FINE WITH BEING EXTREME IN CERTAIN SPACES, BUT AT THIS MOMENT, WE GOTTA BE FAIR AND, UM, CONSIDERATE FOR EVERYONE.
BECAUSE WHAT I KNOW IS I GOT TO HEAR MY SON TALK ABOUT GOING TO AFRICA THIS MORNING.
A LOT OF KIDS IN MY COMMUNITY WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THAT, BUT THEY CAN IN OUR BACKYARD AT THE ZOO, AND SEE THOSE ANIMALS AND SEE THE NATURE AND SEE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE WORLD CAN PROVIDE.
UH, MR. RAB, DID I SAY YOUR LAST NAME, CORRECT.
UM, I PREPARED JUST VERY SHORT REMARKS.
JUST SAID, I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENTS, PARTICULARLY THE ZOO, THE ARBORETUM, THE AUDUBON CENTER, AND THE CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE.
THESE PARTNERS ARE DOING A TERRIFIC JOB, AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE THE ONES THAT
[02:15:01]
ADVICE FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN, UH, THEY RUN HAPPENING IN CITY HALL.THESE VENUES, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING A TERRIFIC JOB CREATING WORLD-CLASS VENUES FOR EDUCATION AND, AND ENTERTAINMENT.
THESE VENUES ATTRACT OVER A MILLION VISITORS EACH YEAR, MANY FROM OUTSIDE OF THE DFW AREA, WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO SUPPORTING TOURISM IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, THESE PARTNERSHIPS WERE CHARACTERIZED AS NON OPERATIONS OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
I DISAGREE WITH THAT CHARACTERIZATION.
THESE PARTNERSHIPS ARE CORE ASSETS OF THIS CITY, AND THESE CORE ASSETS HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED TO THE REVENUE GROUP, THE PARKS AND RECREATION, OR THE ZOO, THE ARBORETUM, THE AUDUBON CENTER, AND CEDAR RIDGE, LIKE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY PARKS ARE HAPPY PLACES FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF ALL AGES, PARTICULARLY FOR THE KIDS.
AND THIS, THIS IS, IN MY OPINION, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP PRESERVING DOING WHAT WE CAN TO PRESERVE THE HAPPY PLACES IN OUR CITY.
I THINK IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST, INTEREST OF OUR CITY, THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE VISIONS THAT EACH OF THESE VENUES, UM, SUPPORT THEIR VISION IN EACH OF THEIR VENUES.
AND THE PROPOSAL, THE BENCHMARKING PROPOSAL.
THAT'S, THANK YOU, MR. MR. CONNOR.
I DON'T WANT TO CUT FROM OUR PARTNERS EITHER.
HOWEVER, WE ARE BEING ASKED TO REDUCE OUR BUDGET BY 15% FOR THOSE AROUND THIS TABLE ASKING NOT TO CUT FROM OUR PARTNERS WHEN WE'RE BEING ASKED TO CUT 15%.
WHERE ELSE DO YOU WANT TO CUT? PLEASE TELL ME HOW WE CAN GO TELL KIDS NOT TO GO TO SUMMER CAMPS, BUT CAN GIVE 16% OF OUR ENTIRE BUDGET TO ONE PARTNER.
DALLAS STARS AND AT AND T ARE MOVING TO PLANO.
DOWNTOWN DALLAS CURRENTLY HAS A 27% OFFICE VACANCY RATE.
WHEN ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS AND ANCHOR EMPLOYERS LEAVE THE CITY LIMITS, THE PROPERTY TAX BASE CONTRACTS AND THE SALES TAX BASE CONTRACTS WITH IT.
I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT THE PRESSURE ON THIS BUDGET AND THIS DEPARTMENT WILL NOT EASE IT, IS GOING TO COMPOUND IN YEARS AHEAD.
IF CITY MANAGEMENT CANNOT PRODUCE A BALANCED BUDGET DURING WHAT IS ARGUABLY THE MOST PROSPEROUS ECONOMIC PERIOD, ONE OF THE MOST PROSPEROUS, PROSPEROUS ECONOMIC PERIODS IN DALLAS HISTORY, THIS BOARD NEEDS TO ASK WHAT OUR PARKS WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN THE REVENUE PICTURE IS LESS FAVORABLE.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS DEPARTMENT IN A RECESSION IF WE'RE BEING ASKED TO CUT 15% NOW BECAUSE THAT MOMENT WILL COME AND THE DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY ESTABLISH THE PRECEDENT FOR HOW THOSE FUTURE CUTS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.
I'VE GOT SOME MORE OF A DIRECTOR.
JENKINS, CAN YOU COMMENT ON YOUR EXPERIENCE ON HOW THIS BUDGET RED PRODUCTION REQUEST IS DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS YEARS? UH, FIRST I'M GONNA COMMENT ON THE, YOU YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT, UH, THERE WILL BE AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN OR RECESSION, AND THE IRON IS THE TYPE OF CUTS YOU SEE ON THE TABLE TODAY.
IT'S LIKE WHEN SOME TYPE OF ECONOMIC RECESSION, THE LAST TIME I HAD TO PUT THIS TYPE OF CUTOUT WHERE THE DEPARTMENT WAS ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT CLOSING SOME REC CENTERS, TAKING HOURS BACK DOWN TO 40 HOURS.
THOSE WERE ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS.
AND THIS 13 OR 15% REQUEST IS LIKE WHEN AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.
AND, UH, IN, IN MY EXPERIENCE, I DON'T SEE THIS GETTING BETTER.
'CAUSE THIS REQUEST IS BASED ON SOME STRUCTURAL CHANGES, AS I MENTIONED IN THE, AT THE LAST ZOOM MEETING, UH, THE BOARD MEETING.
'CAUSE THE STRUCTURAL CHANGES THAT HAPPEN WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, UH, STATE LEGISLATORS REDUCING THE PROPERTY, UH, CAPPED AT 3.5% WHAT THE CITY COULD USE FOR ANY TYPE OF ADDITIONAL NEW REVENUES.
POLICE AND FIRE PENSION, I MEAN, UH, POLICE AND FIRE PLUS THE CIVILIAN PENSION.
UH, AND THEN THE OTHER STRUCTURE CHANGE WAS THE 50% GOING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
THOSE THINGS ARE HERE TO STAY UNLESS THERE'S SOME TYPE OF PROPOSITION CHANGES IN THE FUTURE, LEGISLATIVE CHANGES.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHEN ME AND MR. O'CONNOR WAS DOWN AND, UH,
[02:20:01]
WE SAW THIS DATE COMING, UH, WHEN WE WAS DOWN IN THE LEGISLATION, UH, I WANNA SAY TWO SESSIONS AGO, AND WE BELIEVE THIS NEXT SESSION, UH, THE STATE LEGISLATORS ARE GONNA TAKE THAT FROM 3.5 DOWN TO PROBABLY 2.5, IF NOT 1.5.SO, SO YOU'RE DEALING WITH STRUCTURAL CHANGES TODAY AND YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA DEAL WITH ANOTHER STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN ANOTHER YEAR HERE.
AND THEN JUST LIKE ANY CYCLE, 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN AROUND 30 PLUS YEARS, BEEN THROUGH AT LEAST FIVE TO SEVEN BUDGET CYCLE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE UP, THEY'RE DOWN, AND THERE WILL BE A DOWN ECONOMY.
SO THEN WHAT DO WE DO? AND BECAUSE WE SAW WHAT WAS COMING, THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN APPROACHING THIS BOARD FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT WE GOTTA CHANGE THE WAY WE OPERATE UNLESS WE WANT TO BE PART OF THIS CYCLE BECAUSE WE'RE SO TIED TO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
SO WE GOT A STRUCTURAL CHANGE, AND THEN WE'RE NOT TO PREPARE FOR A FUTURE FINANCIAL DOWNTURN.
AND I ASSURE YOU, WE GET A FUTURE FINANCIAL DOWNTURN.
WE WON'T BE TALKING ABOUT IF YOU GOING TO CLOSE SOME RECS OR IF YOU GOING TO REDUCE HOURS OR REDUCE MORE.
SO WHAT I DON'T WANNA DO IS PUT US IN THAT POSITION, OR AT LEAST THE FUTURE OF THIS DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO, LIKE WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST TWO, TWO OR THREE YEARS, THREE YEARS, WE ARE GONNA FOCUS ON WHAT'S OUR CORE SERVICES.
AND YOU ALL MENTIONED, I THINK MR. CONNER, SOMEONE MENTIONED IT ABOUT THIS NON-CORE STUFF WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT, I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN MR. TER, BUT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT MORE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND SAY, THIS IS TRULY WHAT IS CORE IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
AND HOPE THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN ACROSS THE REST OF THE CITY AS WELL.
BUT THIS IS BASED ON THE STRUCTURAL CHANGES.
HOWEVER WE CAN, WE CAN MARK THE PATH GOING FORWARD BY SAYING, BUT HEY, WE DON'T WANNA GO BACKWARDS.
SO WHAT ARE THOSE CREATIVE THINGS WE CAN DO, LIKE DIFFERENT WAYS TO BRING IN REVENUES, MORE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
WHAT'S THE BALANCE BETWEEN FREE AND FEE? BECAUSE THERE'S A MARKET FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO PAY.
AND THERE'S A, THERE'S A MARKET WE GOT TO ALWAYS PUT AT THE FOREFRONT.
THERE ARE FOLKS WHO CAN'T PAY.
AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THAT BALANCE.
IF YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THIS PARK SYSTEM SYSTEM DOESN'T GO BACKWARDS, AND THOSE OF YOU ALL WHO ARE AROUND IN THE NINETIES, YOU KNEW NO ONE WANTED TO BE NEAR A PARK SYSTEM.
YOU DIDN'T WANT YOUR HOUSE NEAR A PARK.
YOU WEREN'T TAKING YOUR KIDS TO OUR REC CENTERS, YOU WEREN'T TAKING THEM TO THE POOLS.
AND SO THAT, SO I AM CONCERNED, MR. CONNOR, THAT WE GOT THESE STRUCTURAL CHANGES AND HOW DO, ARE WE GONNA BE PREPARED WHEN WE GET THE FINANCIAL DOWNTURN THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ONE DAY.
AND HAVE WE POSITIONED THIS DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO NOT GO BACKWARDS? TO BE CLEAR, I THINK THE, THE WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE FUTURE AND TRYING TO FUTURE PROOF RENEW REVENUES IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
BUT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO CUS 15% TODAY AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO COME IN THE FUTURE.
I WANNA BE FAIR, THE PRESENTATION TODAY MADE CLEAR THAT THE DALLAS ZOO DELIVERS GENUINE AND REAL VALUE TO THE CITY.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS SOMETHING MORE FUNDAMENTAL.
WHEN THIS BOARD IS ASKED TO FIND $14 MILLION IN CUTS, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY DEMANDS THAT WE BEGIN THE CONVERSATION AT THE LARGEST NUMBERS, NOT THE SMALLEST ONE, AS EVERY LINE ITEM BEEN SUBJECTED TO THE SAME SCRUTINY, STANDARD AND EXPECTATION OF SHARED SACRIFICE.
THE RESIDENTS WHO STAND TO LOSE THE MOST FROM CUTS CURRENTLY PROPOSED HAVE NO FANCY PRESENTATION TODAY, NO ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, AND NO SEAT AT THIS TABLE.
MR. THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. CHAIR.
UM, I WILL HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE ZOO, BUT FIRST, UM, A A COUPLE OF, UH, COMMENTS.
FIRST, I ALSO DON'T WANNA SEE THE ZOO, YOU KNOW, STOP SERVICES AND, AND PACK UP AND LEAVE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, I ALSO DON'T WANNA SEE, I DON'T WANNA SEE OUR RESIDENTS SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, HEY, I'M BETTER OFF IN THE SUBURBS BECAUSE I GUARANTEE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
YOU KNOW, I JUST, I GUARANTEE IT.
I'LL BE LYING TO YOU SOMETIMES I WONDER IF I'M BETTER OFF LIVING IN THE SUBURBS.
UM, I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE OTHER THREE PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
CEDAR RIDGE, ARBORETUM AUDUBON SOCIETY THAT YOU PRESENTED TODAY.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HERE, BUT LET'S BE HONEST WITH ONE ANOTHER.
YOU SHOULDN'T NEED TO BE HERE.
I DON'T SUPPORT ANY CUTS TO YOUR PROGRAMS.
[02:25:01]
IN FACT, I CAN MAKE VERY GOOD ARGUMENT ABOUT PROSPEROUS YEARS.WE SHOULD ADD 3% TO YOU AND I'LL, I'LL SAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS FOR A FUTURE DATE.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE ZOO.
UM, KIND OF OR A LITTLE REPEAT FROM MY ROUND ONE.
I'LL STATE THAT THE, THE HOUSTON ZOO STIPEND IS CURRENTLY 17% OF THEIR OPERATIONS.
AND THE FORT WORTH ZOO STIPEND IS CURRENTLY 27% OF THEIR OPERATIONS.
BOTH THESE ZOOS ACHIEVED THESE LOWER PERCENTAGES IN JUST 15 YEARS, WHICH IS NOW LONGER THAN WE'VE BEEN PAYING THE DALLAS ZOO STIPEND.
MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS PREVENTING OUR ZOO FROM LOWERING THEIR STIPEND REQUESTS AT THE SAME SPEED AND RATE AS PIER CITIES LIKE HOUSTON AND FORT WORTH? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
UM, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHERE YOU, YOU GET YOUR STATISTICS.
I SPOKE WITH THE FORT WORTH ZOO, UM, AND THE HOUSTON ZOO FORT WORTH ZOO PRIVATIZED IN 1991, SO IT'S CONSIDERABLY OLDER.
UM, THEY, I'M NOT SURE ALL OF THEIR FINANCIALS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSTON ZOO AND YOU PULL UP THE HOUSTON ZOO TODAY, THEIR TICKET, IT'S $45.
SO THEY, UM, OURS IS CALFED AT 29 AND THAT'S A SELF CAP.
OUR TICKET PRICES AVERAGE BETWEEN $15 AND 25.
SO WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE BEEN CONSTRAINED BY TICKET PRICING UNTIL JUST, UM, OUR LAST CUT WHEN WE WERE RELEASED WITH DYNAMIC PRICING HOUSTON ZOO, AGAIN, A $70 MILLION BUDGET.
SO THEY DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF, UM, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME ON US.
UM, HOUSTON ZOO STAFF WILL ALSO TELL YOU THAT IT, THEY ARE IN SOMEWHAT OF A LESS COMPETITIVE MARKET.
THEY'RE HOUSED IN A MUSEUM DISTRICT.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANOTHER ZOO JUST, UM, JUST, UH, 30 MINUTES AWAY.
SO WE DO HAVE PRICING SENSITIVITY, UM, WITH FORT WORTH ZOO.
AND I'LL ALSO SAY THAT THOSE STIPENDS OR THOSE MANAGEMENT SERVICE FEES ARE NOT FIXED AS OURS ARE.
THEY CLIMB AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO CLIMB.
UM, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT THE, UH, FORT WORTH ZOO CITY DOES FOR THEM.
YOU KNOW, THEY REPAIR ALL UTILITY AND ONE LINE REPAIRS OVER FOUR INCHES.
UM, THEY PROVIDE ALL UTILITY FUNDING FOR CAPITAL PROGRAMS. SO IT'S HARD TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES.
AND I'LL ALSO SAY THEY'RE HALF OUR SIZE, THEIR ACREAGE IS ROUGHLY 50 OR 111 ACROSS TWO CAMPUSES.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, HAVING AN OLDER ZOO HAVING A SHORTER TIME TO DO IT, WE HAVE PURSUED REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN, UM, WITH WITHIN AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO STILL BE COMPETITIVE IN THIS MARKET.
SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT AND, AND, AND TRUSTING ME.
THESE ARE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, BUT WE ARE IN AN EXTREMELY TOUGH SITUATION AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE NO STONE GOES UNCOVERED.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
I'LL PROBABLY HAVE QUESTIONS FROM THAT FOR A FUTURE DATE.
AND, AND WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT, UM, NOT ONLY IS THERE NO APPETITE FOR US TO LOOK AT A $45, UH, TICKET PRICE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO SOME BASIC RESEARCH ONLINE, YOU'LL SEE THAT, THAT THEIR CITY MAYOR IS NOT HAPPY WITH THEIR TICKET PRICE, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY, THEY HAVE TO DO TO MAINTAIN THEIR OPERATIONS.
UM, AND UM, BUT NOT ONLY DO WE NOT HAVE AN APPETITE FOR THAT, UM, OUR MARKET WON'T WITHSTAND THAT.
WE, WE, WE CANNOT WITHSTAND A TICKET PRICE TO EVER GO THAT HIGH.
AND THEY ALSO HAVE 2 MILLION VISITORS IN HERE, HOUSTON ZOO.
UM, WE ARE HOVERING AROUND 950 TO A MILLION, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD CAPITAL INVESTMENTS SINCE 2018 WHEN WE OPENED THE SIMMONS HIPPO HABITAT.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO SEE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH.
WE ANTICIPATE WITH THE OPENING OF SAFARI TRICKS.
AND THAT IS, UM, OPENINGS EVERY 12 MONTHS TO 18 MONTHS FOR SUSTAINED GROWTH OVER TIME.
UM, WE HAD GIANTS OF THE, IN 2010 THAT OPENED, UM, WE HAD A SURGE OF ATTENDANCE AT THAT TIME, A BIG MOUNTAIN.
AND THEN WE, WE VALLEYED WE CLIMBED OUT WITH HIPPOS AND NOW WE'RE, YOU KNOW, TRENDING ON THAT, MAINTAINING A MILLION A YEAR.
THIS PLAN SHOWS INCREASED ATTENDANCE GROWTH.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT FORT WORTH ZOO, WHO CAN KEEP THEIR COSTS VERY AFFORDABLE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW HOW THEY ARE SUBSIDIZING THAT, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT LAST YEAR THEY ALMOST REACHED 1.5 MILLION, UH, PEOPLE THAT CAME TO THEIR ORGANIZATION THAT THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE DALLAS ZOO CAN'T DO THAT, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT INVESTMENT.
AND THAT'S WHAT THESE BOND PROJECTS, UM, AND THE STIPEND ARE GOING, OR THE MANAGEMENT SERVICE FEES
[02:30:01]
GO INTO SUPPORT.ONE LAST STATEMENT, UM, I DON'T WANT IT TO BE FORGOTTEN HOW HARD THIS BOARD FOUGHT IN THAT LAST BOND FOR $30 MILLION.
I WANT IT TO BE CLEAR, THERE WAS PRESSURE FOR US NOT TO DO $30 MILLION.
THERE WAS A PARK BOARD MEMBER WHO SAID, YOU SIT BY A MILLION AND SPREAD A MILLION ACROSS FOUR PARTS OF TOWN, AND THAT GOT TURNED DOWN SO WE COULD KEEP $30 MILLION WHOLE, I NEVER WANT ANYONE FROM THE ZOO TO FORGET THAT.
AND WE, WE COULDN'T BE DOING THIS GROWTH WITHOUT YOU.
UM, AND, AND THAT WAS IN EXCHANGE FOR, UM, A TWO TO ONE MATCH, SO IN EXCESS OF THE ONE-TO-ONE.
AND WE ARE ACTIVELY FUNDRAISING, UM, TO SUPPORT THAT.
AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE AT THE DALLAS ZOO NOW? UH, ROUGHLY 600.
AND DO WE KNOW HOW MANY OF 'EM ARE SPECIALIZED? WE HAVE, UM, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY, BUT I COULD TELL YOU, UH, ALL, PROBABLY HALF.
UM, THE LARGEST, UH, STAFF THAT WE HAVE IS IN OUR MISSION DIVISION.
UM, ALL OF THOSE ARE EXTENDED DEGREES, UM, AND PROFESSIONALIZED ANIMAL CARE.
UM, AND THEN AGAIN, UH, WE HAVE, UH, A LOT OF FRONTLINE STAFF THAT, THAT ARE SELLING TICKETS AND POPCORN AND HAVE ENTRY LEVEL JOBS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE ACCOUNTANTS AND WELDERS AND CARPENTERS AND, UM, AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS SPECIALISTS.
SO I WOULD SAY THREE QUARTERS, IF I'M GUESSING.
AND MOST OF 'EM, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, LIVE IN OAK CLIFF IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
AND WITH THAT BEING, HOW MANY OF THE, INCLUDING DO YOU MEAN DO WE, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY OF THEM MAY HAVE RELOCATED TO DALLAS BECAUSE OF THEIR SPECIALTY SERVICES TOO? SO, I MEAN, THEY'RE ADDING TO THE TAX BASE.
THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, LIVING HERE BECAUSE OF THE ZOO.
UM, UH, IT'S A NUMBER I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU AND IT'S A GOOD ONE.
UM, BUT WE ARE ACTIVE RECRUITERS, UM, OF, UH, FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY, UM, AS WELL AS INSIDE.
BUT A LOT OF THE SPECIALIZED SERVICES ARE BEING RECRUITED FROM OUTSIDE.
UH, SOME, SOMETIMES EVEN THE STATE.
NOPE, I, I DON'T DISAGREE THAT THESE ARE HARD CONVERSATIONS AND I DON'T WANNA, YOU KNOW, DIG ON, YOU KNOW, JUST THE ZOO.
UM, BUT I DON'T WANNA SEE A GOOD OPERATOR BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'VE REDUCED THE COST.
YOU'VE BROUGHT IN TONS OF MONEY.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE OPERATING ABOVE THE BOARD.
ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE ON BOARD RIGHT NOW ARE DOING GREAT WORK ON BEHALF OF THIS CITY FOR OUR, UM, AMENITIES WITHIN THE CITY.
WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS HAD GREAT PARTNERS.
FAIR PARK IS A GREAT EXAMPLE AND WE'RE GOING DOWN A ROUGH ROAD WITH FAIR PARK.
SO WE'RE BEING ASKED TO CUT ALL THIS EXTRA MONEY ON OUR BUDGET WHEN WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO TAKE BACK FAIR PARK ON THE SAME TOKEN, ON THE SAME YEAR.
SO ALL THAT EXTRA MONEY IS BEING BROUGHT BACK INTO THIS.
AND IT'S KIND OF HARD THAT THE CITY IS NOW ASKING US TO CUT THIS WHEN THEY ADDED THAT BACK ON.
AND I MIND YOU, THAT WAS NOT VOTED ON BY THE BOARD, THIS BOARD, IT WAS VOTED ON BY THE COUNCIL.
SO I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE FUNDING, UM, FAIR PARK AT A HIGHER RATE, WHICH WOULD OFFSET OUR EXPENSES THAT WE HAVE TO CUT FOR EVERYBODY.
SO IT, IT, IT'S A BIG OLD THING THAT WE JUST HAVE TO FIGHT TOGETHER TO GET EVERYBODY BACK UP AND GET PEOPLE WHOLE.
BUT IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO CONTINUE TO GET GREAT PARTNERS LIKE THE FOUR PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE REPRESENTED TODAY IF WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO CUT AND NOT MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE FOR THEIR OPERATIONS TO BE GOOD PARTNERS.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING GOOD PARTNERS FOR THAT SEAT.
AND MAY I JUST SAY BEFORE I RECUSE OF LEAVE THAT UM, THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT TIMES AND WE HAVE, UM, WE'VE HELPED SHOULDER THAT BURDEN, UM, SIGNIFICANT CUTS OF IN 15% WOULD, WOULD ALSO DEVASTATE US WITH THE $200,000 MARGIN.
AND I DO THINK THAT, UM, I CAN'T SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF MY, THE PARTNERS HERE, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT WE ALL WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE A UNITED FORCE IN SUPPORT OF ARCS AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE THESE WHAT IF CONVERSATIONS? OKAY, LET'S SEE.
MS. OWEN, I WANTED TO, UH, COME BACK AND JUST,
[02:35:01]
UH, REITERATE AND BE CLEAR ABOUT MY POSITION.I AM GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY TO NOT LOOK AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR BUDGET CUTS.
HOWEVER, IF IT HAPPENS, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS AND BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO SAY WHAT WE DON'T WANNA HAVE AND WHAT WE DON'T WANNA HAVE.
I DON'T WANT ANY OF IT EITHER.
BUT WHAT I'M NOT WILLING TO DO IS CUT RECREATION CENTERS BECAUSE MY KIDS HAVE TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, MY, IN THE SUMMER, I DON'T MIND IS A DEVIL'S WORKSHOP.
AND SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO.
NOT JUST THAT, BUT OUR SENIORS HAVE TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO.
YOU KNOW, MY MOM, MY DAD PASSED LAST YEAR AND I'M GONNA TRY NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL SAYING THIS, BUT THE RECREATION CENTER IS WHAT HELPED TO GET HER THROUGH.
AND SO I'M NOT WILLING TO DO THAT, NOR AM I WILLING TO SACRIFICE CITY JOBS.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I DO AGREE WITH MR. CONNOR AND I AGREE WITH, UM, DIRECTOR JENKINS, THAT WE HAVE TO START CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, PARTNERSHIPS AND SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH, UM, MY COLLEAGUE LANE.
HE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO MAKE CUT, THAT'S UNFAIR.
I DO THINK CUTS ARE NECESSARY.
UM, I'M TALKING ABOUT TWO SIDES OF MY NECK THAT I GET THE PREDICAMENT THAT WE'RE IN AND THE CUTS THAT WE HAVE TO DO, I THINK FOR ME OVERALL TOO IS, UM, I GO BACK TO THIS EVERY TIME AND WHAT ARE OTHER DEPARTMENTS BEING ASKED TO DO? MM-HMM
YOU KNOW, WHY ISN'T OUR DEPARTMENT VIEWED THE SAME AS PUBLIC SAFETY? AND I BRING THIS UP OFTEN BECAUSE I, I DON'T THINK PUBLIC SAFETY IS EVER ASKED TO MAKE THE DRASTIC CUTS THAT WE ARE AS A DEPARTMENT.
Y'ALL TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, I MAY BE IGNORANT TO THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE CORRELATION OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WHEN YOU START CUTTING THESE QUALITY OF LIFE SERVICES, THEN YOU ACTUALLY ADD INTO THE EQUATION AND THE NEED OF PUBLIC SAFETY RIGHT FRONT END OF THINGS WHERE INVESTING QUALITY OF LIFE LIKE THAT, THAT'S THE BETTER INVESTMENT.
AND I THINK WE GONNA CONTINUE TO FIND OURSELVES IN THIS CONVERSATION, RIGHT WHEN WE'RE GONE.
THERE'S GONNA BE ANOTHER PARK BOARD HERE THAT'S GONNA BE SAYING THE SAME THINGS.
AND AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO MAKE A STAND AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A CAMPAIGN.
THE SAME, THE CAMPAIGNS FOR SAVING THE CITY.
LIKE WE GOTTA GET PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES BOUGHT IN BECAUSE THE SAME ONES, RUDY, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT WANTING TO MOVE TO THE SUBURBS.
I HEAR YOU, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PEOPLE CAN'T MOVE TO THE SUBURBS TO BE THE ADVOCATES AS WELL.
LIKE, WE'RE HERE ADVOCATING AND FIGHTING ON YOUR BEHALF, BUT WE NEED THEM HERE BECAUSE THE OTHER, WHAT IF IS, I DON'T WANT TO KEEP THE WHAT IFS GOING, BUT LIKE FOR REAL, WHAT IF WE JUST CUT ALL OF ALL OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS? WHO'S TO SAY THAT'S 30 YEARS FROM NOW WE'RE BUILDING THE, THE, UM, THE CONVERSATION OR FOUNDATION FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN? SO JUST KEEPING IT ALL IN MIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO FIGHT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
WELL, I WANT IT FOR THE RECORD TO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS MOVE TO THE SUBURBS.
SO I WANT THAT FOR A RECORD COUNT THAT SO I CAN COME DOWN ON THE RECORD.
BUT, BUT, BUT MR. POINT, I, I WHOLEHEARTED AGREE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
PARKS DO SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR US.
KEEP PEOPLE BUSY, KEEP 'EM ENTERTAINED, GO OUT, FEEL HEALTHY.
YOU KNOW, EVERY, EVERY PARK THAT WE BUILD WITHIN 10 MILES OF A HOUSE, PEOPLE GET OUT THERE AND WALK AND, AND, AND ENJOY LIFE.
SO IT'S REALLY, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T TAKE CUTS.
BUT I KNOW SOMETHING WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, AND I JUST WANT THE STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS CORRECT.
WE ARE NOT CUT TALKING ABOUT CUTTING SUMMER CAMPS AT ANY POINT IN THIS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE SUMMER CAMPS BRING THEIR OWN REVENUE AND CREATE JOBS AND THEY, AND WE KEEP 'EM.
CAN THE STAFF CORRECT ME ON THAT IF I'M WRONG? WELL, LEMME JUST MAKE SURE JUST TO CLEAR THAT UP.
NO, WE'RE NOT GETTING RID OF SUMMER CAMPS.
BUT WHAT WE WOULD DO IS, FOR EXAMPLE, THESE SUMMER CAMPS NOW HAVE NOW STRETCHED OUT TO THE STANDARD WHERE WE'RE FUNDED FOR LIKE, AND EVEN WITH THE
[02:40:01]
POOLS, I WANNA MAKE THIS ON THE RECORD SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND, UH, SUMMER CAMPS, THE POOLS ARE FUNDED FOR EIGHT WEEKS.WHAT WE HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A DEMAND ON THE SERVICE, WE HAVE BEEN CONTINUING AND, AND REQUESTS FROM THE BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL.
WE HAVE EXPANDED THE AQUATIC SEASON WITHOUT GOING, ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY.
OVER THE YEARS, WE EXPANDED THE SCHOOL BY KIND OF GETTING A, I MEAN THE, UH, THE, UH, SUMMER CAMPS BY BEING ABLE TO HAVE CHARGE A FEE.
BUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IF YOU END UP CUTTING OUR BUDGET, THEN I'M THE GENERAL FUND MONEY THAT DOES SUPPORT IT.
YES, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REDUCE THE DURATION OF THE APPROVED SEASON AND THE SUMMER CAMPS AND THEY WILL STRICTLY BE EIGHT WEEKS AND NOT 14 WEEKS.
SO OUR SUMMER CAMP DOESN'T FUND ITSELF.
THE $80 WE CHARGE FOR A KID DOES NOT HELP.
NO, WE GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT HELPS FUND THE SUMMER CAMPS 'CAUSE UH, THEY HAVE THE STAFF THEY HAVE AT DIRECT CENTERS AS WELL, PLUS THEY DO CHARGE WHERE THEY CAN TAKE ON MORE KIDS AT THE SUMMER CAMPS AND PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF QUALITY AT THE SUMMER CAMPS.
SO, SO WE'RE NOT USING THE METRICS TO FIGURE OUT THE NUMBER THAT WE NEED, CHARGE THE PUBLIC OR A DYNAMIC DYNAMIC PRICING DEPENDING THE, THE, THE REC CENTER MANAGERS KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THIS, THIS REC CENTER CAN TAKE ON THIS FEE, BUT THIS OTHER REC CENTER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE ON, THEY HAVE TO TAKE A DIFFERENT FEE.
IF YOU JUST ANNOUNCE THIS, WE DO ALLOW SOME, UH, BY DIFFERENT REC CENTER MAY SEE YOU SEE SOME DIFFERENT PRICING.
BUT THEY DID TRY TO STANDARDIZE OVER TIME BECAUSE WE WAS CRITICIZED THAT WHY ARE YOU CHARGING MORE OVER HERE AND LESS OVER HERE? SO WE TRIED TO STANDARDIZE IT.
NOW WE'RE KIND OF GOING BACK TO IF THE MARKET CAN BEAR THEN WE DO DO THE, WE TRY TO ADJUST THE PRICING.
HOWEVER, REMEMBER Y'ALL ALWAYS GONNA HEAR ME SAY IT, BUT WE GOTTA LIKE, WE TELL THE STAFF, BUT WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN'T PRICE OTHER PEOPLE OUT OF THE MARKET.
AND AND EVEN ON, ON, ON THE DALLAS PARK WEBSITE, THERE IS A WAY WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET FREE CAPS IF THEY, IF THEY SUBMIT THE PAPERWORK AND ALL THAT.
SO WE DO HAVE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD, BUT THAT'S THE WHOLE THING.
WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT DYNAMIC PRICING.
AND THEY, SOMEBODY MENTIONED EARLIER, FREE VERSUS FEE, RIGHT? SO WE JUST GOTTA FIGURE ALL THAT OUT AND, AND I'M OF A POOL RIGHT NOW, I WON'T SAY A PULL OUT, BUT WE CHARGE A DOLLAR TO SWIM ALL DAY AT THAT POOL.
NOT EVEN DOLLAR TREE CHARGES A DOLLAR FOR BANKS ANYMORE.
SO THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME KIND OF PRICE INCREASE THERE OR SOMETHING THAT'S TO BE DONE.
SO JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
YEAH, AND THAT'S WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE BOARD, UH, YOU KNOW, AND Y'ALL HAVE OVER THE YEARS, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN GIVING STAMP, UH, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO CONTINUE TO KEEP ADJUSTING THE DEPARTMENT TO BE READY FOR THESE FUTURE LEAN YEARS.
IT'S JUST THAT IT, AND I GOT HERE A LOT FASTER.
AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS IS WHERE THERE HAS TO BE THE POLITICAL WILL THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T WANT THIS PARK SYSTEM TO GO BALANCE.
THERE HAS TO BE A POLITICAL WILL TO ALLOW THE EXPERTS, THE STAFF, BOTH OF 'EM WENT TO SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS, RECREATIONAL PROFESSIONALS AND PARK MAINTENANCE PROFESSIONALS AND OPERATIONAL PROFESSIONALS TO DEVELOP THE STRUCTURE AND THE PRICING THAT ALLOWS THIS DEPARTMENT TO THRIVE WITHOUT HURTING THOSE WHO NEED US THE MOST.
AND AND MY LAST POINT, WE, WE HAVE TO LET OUR PARTNERS FIGURE OUT THEIR PRICING AND GIVE 'EM FREE WILL TO FIGURE OUT THE PRICING THEY CAN HANDLE.
ALSO GIVE OUR OUR STAFF THAT, THAT WILL, TO FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT PRICING AT THIRD LOCATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE BRINGING IN FUNDS SO THESE CUTS DON'T HURT.
SO WHEN WE DO ASK THE ZOO AND, AND CEDAR CREEK AND ARBORETUM, WE ASK 'EM ALL TO TAKE A CUT.
THEY CAN RAISE THEIR PRICES TO MAYBE MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE UP.
WE HAVE TO GIVE 'EM FREE WILL, WHETHER IT'S, IT IS DALLAS COUNTY FOR CEDAR HILL, FOR CEDAR RIDGE, BUT JUST TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT, THAT OUR PARTNERS DO THEIR WORK.
THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER DISTINCTION, LET ME TELL YOU THAT I THINK DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES WILL COME OUT WHEN WE DO THAT.
SO, UH, SCHOLAR, THANK YOU SIR.
FROM MY LAST ROUND, UH, JUST TO BE CLEAR, AS MR. UH, CREAMY SAID, I FOUGHT SIDE BY SIDE FOR AND WITH THE DALLAS ZOO DURING THE 2024 BOND PROCESS TO ENSURE THE ZOO RECEIVED ITS FULL ASK OF $30 MILLION.
I WAS ONE OF, IF NOT THE MOST VOCAL ON KEEPING THAT MONEY ON BOTH THE PARK BOARD
[02:45:01]
AND THE BOND COMMITTEE.I DID THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE INSTITUTION AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THE CITY.
THAT SUPPORT WAS NOT CONDITIONAL OR TRANSACTIONAL.
IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR DALLAS.
I DON'T ENJOY THIS CONVERSATION.
I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A FIGHT WITH A PARTNER I DEEPLY AND GENUINELY ADMIRE.
I WOULD ASK THE SAME GOOD FAITH BE EXTENDED IN RETURN, A WILLINGNESS TO SIT AT THE TABLE AND HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT SHARED SACRIFICE LOOKS LIKE WHEN THE WHOLE CITY IS BEING ASKED TO TIGHTEN.
WHEN CITY MANAGEMENT COMES TO THIS BOARD AND ASKS US TO MAKE CUTS, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ASK WHETHER EVERY OPTION HAS TRULY BEEN EXPLORED AND WHETHER THE WEIGHT OF THOSE DECISIONS IS BEING SHARED BY EVERYONE AT THE TABLE, NOT JUST BY THOSE WHO HAVE NO SEAT AT IT.
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THESE CUTS.
BUT IF WE'RE GONNA BE FORCED INTO THIS CONVERSATION, WE OWE IT TO EVERY RESIDENT OF THIS CITY TO LOOK AT EVERY OPTION, NOT JUST THE EASIEST ONES.
AND MR. THANK YOU FOR MY ROUND THREE, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, LOOK, I'M NOT, I'M NOT ALWAYS A JERK.
UM, I ACTUALLY WANT TO END WITH LEVITY THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, CEDAR RIDGE, UM, TOILET PAPER, $7,000 ANNUALLY.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING THAT OUT.
UM, TALKING ABOUT POOP, UH, AND THINGS LIKE THAT IS NOT MY FAVORITE THING IN THE WORLD, BUT IT IS A SOLID NUMBER TWO
IF YOU EVER WANT TO BRAINSTORM SOME CREATIVE SPONSORSHIP IDEAS TO COVER THAT NAMING RIGHTS ON THE TOILET PAPER, BRING YOUR OWN TOILET PAPER, JUST LET ME KNOW.
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT INTO THE CONVERSATION.
NUMBER TWO, MR. TO JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT, UM, RICK JENKINS JUST SAID, AND THAT'S US TRUSTING THE STAFF IN PARKING, THE PARKING REC DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT I TRY TO MAKE SURE I ASK ALL THE TIME IS WHAT DOES THE STAFF SUGGEST? WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE BEST RECOMMENDATION? 'CAUSE AS MUCH AS I LOVE MY VOLUNTEER ROLE, I DON'T GET PAID TO DO THIS.
AND I SPEND EVERY DAY MY LIFE WORKING ON THESE THINGS.
SO FOR ME, I ALWAYS LOVE TO TAKE CONSIDERATION TO WHAT THE STAFF HAS PROVIDED.
COUNSEL FROM MY SEAT AND FOR THE REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE THAT I SERVE AT A DISTRICT FOUR.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE ALL HEARD THIS.
I, I, YOU MENTIONED IT, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'VE HEARD IT BECAUSE I TRUST THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE IN THIS DEPARTMENT, UM, TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND HAVE THE RIGHT IDEAS FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR ALL OF WHO YOU SERVE.
THANK YOU, MR. TO IT'S VERY, VERY HEALTHY DISCUSSION.
I WANT TO ENTER THE NOTE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE SOME TECHNICAL DECISIONS
PARTNERSHIPS ARE WHAT MAKES THIS DALLAS PARKS AND CREATION.
REALLY WHAT IT IS, IT'S THE Z SHARED PAINS.
AND JENKINS, UH, SAID IT VERY WELL.
THIS IS NO WAY I WOULD EVEN SAY THAT WE ARE IN THIS SESSION.
THESE ARE CHANGES WHICH HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF LEGISLATURE, BECAUSE OF PROP HERO, BECAUSE OF PUTTING MONEY INTO SOME OTHER PRIORITIES.
I WON'T ARGUE RIGHT AND WRONG.
SO AS WE DISCUSS IT, I'M SURE THIS BOARD WILL MAKE SOME DIFFICULT BUT THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
BUT ONE EXAMPLE I WANT TO THROW OUT IS WHAT MR. ROBERT DECKER DID.
I THINK HE KNEW THIS, HE VISIONED IT THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND FOR DOWNTOWN DALLAS, HE IS WORKING ON AN ENDOWMENT TO MAKE HIS BOX SELF-SUFFICIENT.
AND I THINK WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH MR. JENKINS A FEW YEARS BACK THAT THIS WAS COMING AND THIS WILL COME EVEN HARDER IN YEARS TO COME.
SO AS, UH, YOU KNOW, AS STRONG AS THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ZOO AND ARE
BUT DEFINITELY I THINK I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR GOALS TO START CONSIDERING THAT, UH, MODEL OF ENDOWMENT TO SUPPORT THE FUTURE OPERATIONAL BUDGET.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY, WAY TO FIGHT THE FUTURE AS WE ARE SEEING THIS HEADWINDS WHICH WILL CONTINUE.
SO WITH THAT, WE TRULY, TRULY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
PLEASE KNOW THERE'S NOT ONE ORGANIZATION WHICH IS, UH, MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHERS.
IT'S JUST A TYPICAL DISCUSSION WE HAVE TO HAVE AS AN ADULT.
SO WITH THAT, UH, I THINK THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL BEING HERE.
[02:50:01]
BOTH MEMBERS ARE A LITTLE HUNGRY, SO I DON'T WANT THEM TO GET ANGRY.SO IT'S 1250 AND WE WILL BREAK TILL ONE.
WE RECONVENE OUR DALLAS PARKS AND ION CODE MEETING TO ORDER AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A LITTLE TWO FROM WHAT WAS IN THE AGENDA.
AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE BUDGET UPDATE.
SO THAT WAS A SUGGESTION BY BOARD MEMBERS AND TOO.
I, MR. CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
SO WE WILL QUICKLY GO THROUGH, UH, THE BUDGET UPDATE THAT, UM, IS TEEING UP.
UM, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT AND AS I WAS SAYING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THIS MORNING, UM, AND MR. YOUNG SAID IT, WELL, WE'RE VERY MUCH STILL IN THE KIND OF WHAT IF PHASE OF THIS PROCESS.
UM, BUT WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THE BOARD AS Y'ALL HAVE BEEN SHARING YOUR INPUT ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED AND WE HAVE BEEN REFINING IT.
AND AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS, UM, RELATED TO OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS.
SO YOU WILL NOTICE WHEN RACHEL AND PATRICK GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, YOU WILL NOW NOTICE THAT IT IS AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF WHAT'S BELOW THE LINE LIST.
AND WE WILL BE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION.
YOU KNOW, SHOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL DO NOT HAVE AN APPETITE FOR WHATSOEVER, UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE REMOVED.
SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS VERY MUCH A PROCESS.
WE'RE LISTENING AS WE'RE PRESENTING THIS INFORMATION AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO REFINE THE INFORMATION AS WE COME BACK TO YOU, UM, IN THESE SUBSEQUENT MEETING.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA HAND IT OFF TO RACHEL AND PATRICK, I'LL RUN THROUGH THE INFORMATION QUICKLY AND THEN OF COURSE WE GET THE QUESTIONS.
SO ONCE AGAIN THIS, WE'RE BACK HERE TO, UM, RESPOND TO SOME OF THE INQUIRIES THAT WE RECEIVED ON THE LAST BUDGET BRIEFING.
UM, MORE PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE PARKER STIPENDS, UM, THE REDUCTIONS BY PERCENTAGE, SOME OF THE SECURITY EXPENSES AND THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE SUMMARY.
UM, THIS WAS THE TABLE THAT WE HAD BROUGHT FORWARD ON THE PARTNER STIPENDS AND THEN THEY HAVE ALREADY COME BEFORE THE BOARD AND, UM, TALKED ABOUT WHAT THESE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE, BUT THE ASK HAD BEEN WEAK FOR US TO PROVIDE THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET AS IT WAS RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND SO THOSE ITEMS ARE IN THE RED, YOU KNOW, THEIR, UM, FOR EACH ONE OF THE PAR PARTNERS, WHAT THOSE STIPENDS WERE FOR THEN.
AND THEN OF COURSE THE AMOUNT OF THE BUDGET REDUCTION THAT IT WOULD BE FOR US.
WE WENT AHEAD AND PROVIDED SOME CONTEXT OF WHAT IT WOULD BE IF IT WERE A 5% REDUCTION AS OPPOSED TO THE 3% REDUCTION.
UM, JUST INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES.
ONCE AGAIN, UM, AS RYAN ALLUDED TO, WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING, WE DID MAKE A FEW CHANGES TO THESE LINE ITEMS, UM, BASED ON THE PERCENTAGES.
SO WHAT YOU WILL NOTE IS THAT, UM, THE
UM, AND THAT IS AT THAT THREE PERCENTAGE, 4 68, 6 59, UM, ON THE SIDE THAT YOU WILL SEE THE PERCENT OF THE REDUCTION BASED ON THE PROGRAM.
THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL HANDOUT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO YOU THAT DOES GIVE YOU, UM, THE REDUCTION BASED ON THAT PARTICULAR SERVICE ALSO.
SO IF YOU, UM, FOR CONTEXT, WILL WE GIVE THE PER THE REDUCTION OF THE PROGRAM, THAT IS JUST FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM, THAT IS THE PERCENTAGE.
BUT IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THE HANDOUT PAGE, IT HAS THE REDUCTION, UM, ON THE DIVISIONAL BUDGET.
AND THAT PERCENTAGE IS BASED ON WHAT THE FULL BUDGET IS FOR THAT DIVISION THAT HOLDS THAT.
SO THE PARTNER STIPEND IS, UM, MANAGED BY CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
SO THAT IS THE PERCENTAGE ON THAT TO THINK OF A BUDGET, WHICH WOULD BE AT 2% OF THAT BUDGET.
SO ADDRESSING THOSE ITEMS THAT FELL BELOW THE LINE AS WE HAVE, UM, AS RYAN MENTIONED, NUMBER 18 IS DE THE COMMUNITY CENTERS.
IF YOU CHOOSE FOR US TO REMOVE THAT, THAT COULD BE DONE.
WE HAVE ALSO, OF COURSE, UM, NUMBER 17 AND I'M STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM, UM, IS THE REC CENTER HOURS WAS ALSO DROPPED DOWN BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE BOARD.
UM, AND OF COURSE DROPPING LITTER, MOWING DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT, UM, REDUCING, UM, PMO DOLLAR, THOSE WERE ALL AT THE BOTTOM.
AND THEN THOSE ITEMS THAT REMAINED AT THE TOP WERE, UM, THE PAINT SERVICES SHOP, UM, THE INDOOR POOLS, BAHAMA BEACH, UM, THE DISD PROGRAM AND THE FOUR DAY OPERATION AT THOSE AQUATIC
[02:55:01]
FACILITIES.AND ONCE AGAIN, THE REDUCTION IS BY PROGRAM AND ALSO BY THE DIVISIONAL BUDGET.
AND THEN, UM, JUST TO MAKE NOTE, WE DID PROVIDE THE SECURITY EXPENSES AND THE INFORMATION THAT IS ON HERE.
IT HAS BEEN BROADENED BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM OUR BOARDS THAT YOU NEEDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
SO THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE ABOVE AND BELOW THE LINE HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
AND THEN THE REQUEST WAS FOR PARK RELATED SECURITY EXPENSES.
AND THIS IS JUST GIVING YOU A RUNDOWN OF HOW MUCH WE SPEND ON THE MARSHALS, UM, POLICE, GOLF COURSE SECURITY, AND OF COURSE THE ADDITIONAL CAMERAS AND MONITORING THAT WE'RE DOING.
HOWEVER, IF YOU WILL KNOW, WE DID REMOVE THAT ITEM FROM THE LIST OF CUTS.
SO THE SECURITY ITEM HAS BEEN REMOVED, BUT THIS WILL ADDRESS THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED OF US.
AND THEN THE UM, LAST ITEM WILL BE ADDRESSING IS THE ADDITIONAL PROPOSED REVENUE SUMMARY.
THE REQUEST WAS WHAT WAS ENCOMPASSED IN THOSE ADDITIONAL REVENUE DOLLARS.
UM, AND SO YOU WILL SEE HERE BY SERVICE WHAT THIS IS GOING TO ENCOMPASS, UM, FOR PARK MAINTENANCE, $876,000 AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT COURT LIT RESTROOMS, SURCHARGES, EVENT IMPACT FEES AND FACILITY AGREEMENTS.
UM, THE SAME THING WITH RECREATION.
I THINK WE MENTIONED IT EARLIER, UM, LOOKING AT THE RESERVATION SERVICE CHARGES, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THOSE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AND WHERE WE CAN INCREASING THOSE FEES TIERED SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS. AND THEN OF COURSE GETTING BACK THE FEES ON RECREATION PARTS.
UM, RESERVATIONS ALSO SOME INCREASES THERE.
UM, PICNIC, SPECIAL VAN, INCREASED FEES.
SO ONCE AGAIN, NOT ANYTHING ATTACHED TO ANYTHING FOR THROUGH THE RESERVATIONS.
AND THEN AQUATICS IS BASICALLY ADMISSIONS RESERVATIONS AND SOME OF THE SEASONS AND PASSES WOULD HAVE TO RAISE SOME OF THE PRICES ON THOSE.
AND THAT GETS US TO $2.4 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL PROPOSED REVENUE.
AND WE STILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT CAN BE, UM, INCORPORATED INTO, UM, THE BUDGET.
UM, AND SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THIS.
WE JUST NEED ONE AND SOME ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM THE PARK BOARD.
UM, WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING TO TAKE FORWARD.
NO, I WAS GONNA SAY, UH, MR. CHAIR AND THE BOARD, UH, AS YOU ALL HEARD FROM, UH, MS. BARRY AND, UH, MR. MR.
BECAUSE IF YOU TALK ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL REVENUES, IT DEFINITELY GIVES ME A GOOD STARTING POINT TO START TALKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THEN IF, IF THE CONVERSATION GOES INTO, HEY, WE STILL GONNA NEED SOME SERVICE LEVEL CUTS, THEN MR. CHAIR HAS AGREED, UH, MR. AL HAS AGREED THAT THEN WE WOULD CALL A SPECIAL CALL MEETING WITH THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND IT.
NOW WE REALLY ARE, WE'RE BEING ASKED TO GO BELOW THE LINE AND DO YOU STILL AGREE WITH THE LIST? BUT I THINK WE'RE IN A GOOD POSITION TO, TO START THAT CONVERSATION WITH
YEAH, SO MR. JENKINS AND, UH, MR. RACHEL, THANKS FOR POINTING IT OUT AND GIVEN ONE THING I'LL KICK OFF AND I'LL LET, UH, OTHER OF MY COLLEAGUES, UH, CHIME IN GIVEN WHAT WE HEARD TODAY AND ALL LINE NUMBER 18, CLOSURE OF FULL COMMUNITY CENTER NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OFF.
WE JUST CANNOT HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE THE PARKS FOR SENIORS AND THE KIDS.
AND YOU SEE HOW, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY EFFECT ON ROAD THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OFF AND SEE DIRECTOR JENKINS, WHERE ELSE YOU CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT EITHER IN AVENUES OR IN IMPACTS THAT, THAT'S ONE THING OF MY VERY IMPORTANT AND I HOPEFULLY MY COLLEAGUES WILL AGREE NOW, NOW I OPEN IT UP.
UH, MR.
UM, AND I, AND I AGREE WITH YOUR, YOUR, ABOUT THE, ABOUT THE REC CENTER, BUT LOOKING AT PAGE NUMBER SIX ABOUT THE, UH, SECURITY EXPENSES, I THINK THAT WE OPPOSE THIS SINCE, SINCE PUBLIC SAFETY IS WHAT OUR BIGGEST BUDGET FOR THE CITY.
WE SHOULD MAKE, WE SHOULD PULL THAT ASIDE AND TELL IF WE CAN REQUEST THAT THE MANAGER MAKES THIS A LINE ITEM ON THEIR BUDGET WHERE SECURITY FOR THE PARK DEPARTMENT IS A WHOLE LINE LIKE, LIKE FAIR PARK IS AND THEN A PARK AND THAT, THAT SOLVES A, A THREE TO $4 MILLION BUDGET.
WE, AND PUT IT UNDER THE PUBLIC SAFETY 50% WINDOW THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH,
[03:00:02]
I'M SORRY, DPD, YOU'RE GONNA LOSE $4 MILLION WORTH OF OVERTIME THIS COMING YEAR.BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT DON'T HAVE TO ADJUST TO, BUT JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
IF WE CAN DO THAT, MAKE IT A WHOLE NEW SIGN ITEM AND THAT'LL HELP US SOLVE OUR PROBLEM.
AND WE STILL INDEPENDENT POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WE ARE NOW, AND THEN THAT'LL HELP SOLVE LINE NUMBER 18, 17, AND 12, WHICH IS THOSE FOUR CENTERS.
UH, THE PRESIDENT WAS TALKING ABOUT REC CENTER HOURS AND THE REDUCED
SO THAT KIND OF HELPS SOLVE, AND, AND, AND IT GIVES US, STILL GIVES A LITTLE MORE LIKE A MILLION DOLLAR MORE TO FLEX OUT, WHICH IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IF WE CAN PUT THAT OUT THERE.
I KNOW THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA SAY NO, BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW THAT PUBLIC SAFETY HAS A BIG NUMBER AND WE'RE ONLY GONNA TAKE LIKE 1% OF THEIR BUDGET AT 5 MILLION OR $4 MILLION OR 3 MILLION, RIGHT? LEMME JUST SAY, I WOULDN'T SAY WE'RE NOT TAKING, WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH MC.
WOULD THEY LIKE TO, UH, WOULD THEY LIKE TO PROVIDE THIS GRANT OR FUNDING TO US? AND, AND WE, WE GOTTA ASK THE QUESTION 'CAUSE THE ANSWER IS NO.
NOW MAYBE THE ANSWER WOULD BE YES, IT IS AN ANSWER.
AND MR. JENKINS, ONE THING MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO SEE THE EVENT OF SCHEDULES IN CITY NEXT BUDGET YEAR, SOMETHING LIKE FIFA, THEY'RE GETTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SUPPORT FROM FEDERAL, STATE, OTHER ONES.
SO IF THERE ARE ANY EVENTS WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GETTING ANY SUPPORT, THAT SHOULD PARKS ARE KEY PART OF IT.
SO MAYBE WE SHOULD REQUEST THEM TO BE SHARING SOME OF THOSE SAFETY FUNDS WITH US FOR THOSE EVENTS.
SO THAT DEPENDS ON THE CALENDAR BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENING AND THESE FEDERAL FUNDINGS ARE COMING BIG WAY WE SAY, SO WHY, WHEN WE ARE BEING ASKED TO GET THE CUTS, WE SHOULD BE ASKED TO, WE SHOULD REQUEST TO SHARE THOSE REVENUES.
OKAY, THAT'S VERY, MAYBE I THINK, SEE WHAT ARE THE EVENTS AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO ESTIMATE WHAT FEDERAL FUNDING, STATE FUNDINGS MIGHT COME.
THEY'RE COMING IN PRETTY DECENT NUMBERS.
LIKE FOR FIFA, HAVE WE, WE ARE GOING TO PUT EXTRA EFFORTS ON OUR, IT'S TOO LATE.
UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WE GETTING ANYTHING FROM UH, THIS DEPARTMENT? I THINK THEY GOT GREAT.
UH, AND AGAIN, I KNOW WE ARE TALKING NEXT YEAR, SO MAYBE, BUT I AM JUST GIVING YOU, I I SAY FOR, FOR THIS YEAR FOR SURE, WE, FOR THE FIFA, WE HAVE ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT OR THEY HAVE PAID FOR ADDITIONAL, UH, SECURITY PERSONNEL, SECURITY CAMERAS.
SO, SO, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE SECURE ANYWAY, SO SOMETHING TO SEE THAT, HOW WE CAN PUT THAT, WE CAN PUT THAT BELOW THE LINE REVENUE TO HOPEFULLY HELP, UH, CLEAR OUR SHORTFALL BECAUSE IT'S TOO
UM, THIS, THIS CONVERSATION HAS BEEN ONGOING.
I'VE BEEN BRINGING IT UP MEETING AFTER MEETING EVERY TIME THE BUDGET HAS COME UP.
AND I WOULD PREFACE THESE REMARKS BY SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I AM A SUPPORTER OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE NO DESIRE FOR THERE NOT TO BE POLICE THERE TO BE LESS POLICING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THE CITY HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THEY WANT MORE POLICING.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE INTERSECTION OF THE POLICE, SPECIFICALLY DPD, UM, AND THE BUDGET OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY IS AN OVERARCHING CONCEPT UNDER WHICH POLICING EXISTS.
POLICING IS ONE TOOL IN THE TOOLKIT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS ANOTHER ONE.
AND THE PROGRAMS THAT WE PUT ON, YOU KNOW, AS BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FAMOUSLY SAID, AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.
AND THE WORK THAT WE DO, YOU KNOW, KEEPING OPPORTUNITY IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE TO KEEP THEM OFF THE STREETS TO, YOU KNOW, IDLE HANDS AND MAKE THE DEVILS WORK.
THERE'S SAYING AFTER SAYING, AFTER SAYING THAT PROVES THAT THE WORK THAT WE DO REDUCES THE BURDEN OF POLICING.
AND THE IDEA THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS DEFINED ONLY BY POLICING WOULD BE LIKE HAVING A MEDICAL SYSTEM THAT ONLY HAS EMERGENCY ROOMS. AND THAT IS, THAT WILL NOT BE A GREAT WAY TO DO THAT.
AND IT IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO LOOK AT PUBLIC SAFETY ONLY AS A A KNOW POLICING MECHANISM.
AND SO, AGAIN, I'D ASK FOR THESE NUMBERS.
I'M, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THEM.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND TPD TO BE FOCUSED ON KNOW HOW CAN WE TOGETHER WORK WITH POLICE A, YOU KNOW, A PUBLIC SAFETY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AS PARTNERS IN THE WAY THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE US CLOSING REC CENTERS.
I MEAN, WE'RE ASKING WHAT OUR CORE SERVICES ARE OR OUR CORE COMPETENCIES ARE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE NAME PARK AND RECREATION.
WE SHOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT CLOSING COMMUNITY CENTERS OR REC CENTERS.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A SMALL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO THAT INVOLVES WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A GYM WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CLOSING FOUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, WHICH I DON'T HAVE THE APPETITE FOR CLOSING THAT AT ALL WHATSOEVER.
[03:05:01]
UH, SHARON, YOU KNOW, BRINGING THAT UP RIGHT OFF THE BAT.I WAS AT MY, YOU KNOW, MY OWN FIRST REC CENTER YESTERDAY AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO GO THERE AND WALK THERE, THEY CAN'T SIMPLY JUST GO TO ANOTHER CENTER AND MOST OF THEM ARE SENIORS AND THAT IS THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND I'M JUST NOT WILLING TO STRIP THAT AWAY WHEN WE HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SOLVE THESE BUDGETARY ISSUES.
SO AS WE'RE ASKING OUR PARTNERS LIKE WE DID EARLIER TODAY TO THINK ABOUT HOW CAN WE REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE GIVING YOU AND STILL WORK IN PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE TOGETHER.
WE NEED TO BE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH 'EM AS WELL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY'RE NOT FACING THE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS THAT WE ARE.
AND IF WE MAKE THESE CUTS AND WE PUT KIDS OUT ON THE STREET WITH NOTHING TO DO AND WE ARE GONNA INCREASE THE BURDEN OF POLICING AND WE'RE GONNA DECREASE THE QUALITY OF WHAT COMMUNITY AND I DON'T SEE HOW ANYBODY WOULD WANNA MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO HERE.
UM, YEAH, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT FOR NOW.
CONSIDER MR. DI COULD, UM, COULD YOU ALL JUST GIVE ME, JUST TO REMIND US OF WHAT BELOW THE LINE MEANS? SO ABOVE THE LINE, WE'RE CONSIDERED THOSE SERVICES THAT WOULD HAVE A LESS IMPACT ON THE CORE SERVICES.
UM, AND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT LIKE VACANT POSITIONS, YES THEY MIGHT HAVE AN IMPACT, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THEM FILLED RIGHT NOW, THIS WOULD BE IN BLUE OF, YOU KNOW, TAKING A POSITION THAT IS FILLED.
UM, AND OF COURSE SOME OF THESE OTHER ITEMS, UM, HE, YOU KNOW, BLACK, BLACK CEDAR PRESS, SOUTHERN STATES, THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT COULD BE PRIVATIZED AND WOULD NOT REQUIRE THEM BE TO THEM.
AND OF COURSE, UM, SIMPLY SMALLER ONES, SPECIAL EVENTS FOR AQUATICS.
UM, THIS IS JUST LIMITED THE AMOUNT OF EVENTS THAT DON'T BRING IN REVENUE.
MORE LIKE A, I DON'T NECESSARILY BRING IN REVENUE OR UM, ARE MAYBE NOT AS IMPACTFUL AS OTHER PROGRAMS THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, AQUATICS.
SO THAT WOULD BE REDUCING THOSE.
OF COURSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE UM, PARTNER STIPENDS AND THEN OF COURSE THE OTHER ONES ARE JUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO TO REALLOCATE UM, OR JUST BASICALLY ELIMINATING ANY KIND OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY THAT'S PRIVATIZED ITEMS. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MR. TO BEING THAT REALLY SIMPLY PUT MS. RACHEL KIND OF MS. BEAVER TOUCHED ON THOSE THINGS ABOVE LINES PRETTY MUCH WHERE I CONSIDER THOSE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS, THE STIPENDS, THOSE ARE NOT SERVICE LEVEL CUTS.
ANYTHING BELOW THE LINE, THEY'RE SERVICE LEVEL CUTS.
WE EITHER, IN THIS CASE THE ONLY THING THAT WAS ELIMINATING A A SERVICE WAS GONNA BE THE REC CENTERS, BUT THAT'S HERE FROM THE BOARD THAT'S OFF THE TABLE AND EVERYTHING BELOW THAT LINE REALLY IS REDUCTION IN SERVICE LEVELS.
AND UH, AS FAR AS THE STIPENDS, UH, YEAH, I MEAN WE HEARD FROM SOME PARTNERS TODAY WHO SAID IT MAY BE AN IMPACT, IT MAY NOT BE AN IMPACT.
UH, BUT I WILL SAY I'M SORRY WE, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WHERE OUR PARTNERS WERE HERE.
'CAUSE NOW WE'VE BEEN BUDGETING, BUT UH, THEY DO UNDERSTAND THAT, AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE HAD, WE HAVEN'T HAD BUDGET CUTS.
THEY DO UNDERSTAND ONCE I GET INTO SERVICE LEVEL CUTS, THEY SHARE IN THOSE SERVICE LEVEL CUTS BECAUSE UH, IF I'M GOING CLOSE A REC CENTER, I MEAN SHUT THE REC CUT HOURS AT THE REC CENTER.
IF I'M GONNA LAY OFF PEOPLE THEN OUR PARTNERS ARE AN EXTENSION OF OUR SERVICES.
SO THEY JUST NEED TO MANAGE WHATEVER PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION WE HAVE FOR THEM.
WHAT I DON'T WANNA DO IS, IN THE ZOO CASE IS I DON'T WANT THEM HAVING TO BE THINKING EVERY YEAR, IS IT GONNA BE A 5% CUT THIS YEAR? IS IT UM, SOMETHING THAT COMING AFTER $2 MILLION? THAT'S NO WAY FOR ANY OF OUR PARTNERS TO OPERATE.
AND SO WE HAVE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE ZOO.
WHAT IS GOING TO BE THAT SYSTEMATIC WAY OF GETTING TO AN AGREEMENT THAT MAKES SENSE FAR AS REDUCING THEIR STIPEND OVER TIME.
BUT I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IS IT 500 TODAY THIS YEAR OR IS IT GONNA BE A MILLION NEXT YEAR? THAT'S NO WAY TO OPERATE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE FAIRNESS HAS COME.
I THINK EVERY PARTNER AND TIME ALSO FIGHT FOR REDUCTION.
THAT'S WHERE IT'S THE FIDUCIARY AS WELL AND THAT'S WHERE AS I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL DECISION WE MAKE AT THIS BODY TO LIE.
DIRECTOR JENKINS, WHERE TO GO? SO MR. CONNOR, WE NEED TO QUIT AT TWO O'CLOCK.
SO I HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS.
[03:10:01]
WHENEVER I LOOK AT ITEM NUMBER 17 BELOW THE LINE, IF YOU REDUCE DOWN TO 40 HOURS PER WEEK, WHAT DOES THAT THEN DO TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN THOSE RACE CENTERS? ARE THEY, ARE THEY NOT GETTING HOURS TO WORK? ARE THEY LIKE THEIR TIME IS BEING CUT OR ARE THEY SALARY? SO BASICALLY JUST KNOWING THE RECREATION CENTERS, IF YOU GO DOWN, 'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE.IF YOU GO DOWN 40 HOURS, THE BASICALLY MEANS IS ALL THE PART-TIMERS ARE GONE AND WE PROBABLY HAVE TO LET GO AT LEAST ONE FULL TIMER AND THEY WILL PROBABLY OPERATE MORE LIKE A MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY SCHEDULE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING UH, THOSE SERVICES.
OR THEY MAY GO BACK TO A MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
UH, WE OPERATING, YOU KNOW, ABOUT NINE HOURS A DAY AND THEN ON FRIDAYS OPERATING FOUR HOURS FIVE AFTER SCHOOL.
SO, AND I JUST WANTED TO CALL THAT OUT.
THAT WAS MY ASSUMPTION BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS JUST SAYING LIKE TIME, BUT WHAT YOU JUST TOLD US ARE PEOPLE TOO MM-HMM
THAT THIS IS THEIR LIVELIHOODS, THEY HAVE FAMILIES.
UM, AND IT IS NOT JUST THE REC HOURS ARE GONNA CHANGE AND THE STAFF IS GONNA BE ABLE TO STAY
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARITY AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE MR.
EVEN IF WE, LET'S SAY THOSE BELOW THOSE MIND COULD HAVE HAPPENED THEN OF COURSE DPD AND, AND SHOULD THAT, THAT COST SHOULD GO DOWN TOO, RIGHT? BASED OFF OF THE HOURS.
IF WE DID THAT, IF, IF IF EXPLAIN IF WE DID.
SO LET'S SAY WE GO WITH THAT 40 HOURS A WEEK FOR RANK CENTERS.
DPD WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE PAID FOR AS MANY HOURS AS THEY'RE IN OUR CER IN OUR CENTERS TO EQUAL TO THAT 619,000 BUCKS EASIER.
I AM PRETTY SURE HOW THEY'RE USING THE DPD OFFICERS IS PROBABLY LIKE CERTAIN REC SIGNS.
THEY'RE PROBABLY THERE IN THE AFTERNOON MM-HMM.
WHEN WE GETTING READY TO CLOSE OR THERE MIGHT BE SOME EVENTS THEY HOLD.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GONNA REDUCE THE COSTS ON SECURITY 'CAUSE IF THEY STILL GONNA BE USING THEM IN THE EVENINGS MM-HMM
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE OVER NINE HOURS OR 12 HOURS A DAY.
WELL THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARITY TOO.
I THINK WHEN WE HAD OUR PARK BOARD MEETING, GREET THEM IN THE LEAST CHIEF IS THERE, UM, I'M GONNA SAY HOW, WHAT I, WHAT I FEEL HE WAS THINKING OR BELIEVES ABOUT OUR WORK AND I WOULD MORE SO SAY LET'S HOLD COURT WITH THEM AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS, YOU KNOW, LIKE AND MAKE PERFECT SENSE IF WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ALL IN PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION.
WE'RE SAVING REC CENTERS, WE'RE SAVING JOBS AND WE'RE SAVING OUR CHILDREN AS WELL.
'CAUSE THEY HAVE PLACES TO GO BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR YOU NEVER KNOW, LIKE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND I KNOW MY TIME IS RUNNING, ONE OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS IS 49% CHRONICALLY ABSENT.
SOME OF THOSE KIDS ARE GOING TO THE REC CENTERS DURING THE DAY.
SOME OF THEM ARE BEING IN THOSE SPACES.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE WANT THAT TO BE A SAFE, UH, A HAVEN FOR THEM, BUT IT IS A SAFE PLACE THAT I KNOW THAT THEY MIGHT BE, THEY COULD TELL THEM TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND IF THAT IS CLOSED DURING THOSE DAYS, GOD FORBID WHERE THEY'LL BE.
UM, SO I DO THINK WE NEED A PARTNER CONVERSATION AND I WOULD SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES, LIKE, WE CAN ALL EMAIL THE POLICE CHIEF AND TELL HIM DIRECTLY SO IT'S NOT ALL ON YOU.
LIKE HE NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT, NOT JUST THE POLICE CHIEF, BUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY CHIEF AS A WHOLE TO DISCUSS THIS $3 MILLION THAT COULD SAVE LITERALLY REC CENTER HOURS AS A WHOLE.
AND IT'S A MUCH LARGER RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY OR PUBLIC WILL BE OPPOSED TO THAT.
BUT I WANNA ASK ONE QUESTION ON SPEAKER.
I KNOW MS. CONGRESS WANTED TO GET ON REAL QUICK, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, UH, COULD I GET SOME SAVINGS FROM IF DPD WILL WORK TO HAVE OFFICERS THERE WHEN WE RUN THE TEAM PROGRAM AND SOME PROGRAMS THEY RUNNING ON, LIKE ON SATURDAY NIGHTS OR FRIDAY NIGHTS? YES.
THAT WOULD BE A SAVINGS IF I CAN GET SOME OFFICERS THEY CAN HELP AT OUR SWIMMING POOLS IN THE SUMMER.
'CAUSE WE, WE HAD GOT OFFICERS THERE.
I WAS GONNA ASK QUESTIONS, BUT I'VE GOTTA DROP IN A SECOND.
SO I'M JUST GONNA MAKE STATEMENTS AND YOU GUYS CAN DISCUSS PRESENTATION PROPOSES REDUCING PLAYGROUND INSPECTIONS FROM TWICE MONTHLY TO ONCE MONTHLY TO SAVE MONEY.
THESE ARE INSPECTIONS DESIGNED TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE BEFORE THIS BOARD ACCEPTS THAT REDUCTION, I WANT TO KNOW IS PROPORTIONAL REDUCTION TO OUR LARGEST CONTRACTED LINE ITEM MODELED AS AN ALTERNATIVE.
I WOULD RATHER PROTECT PLAYGROUND SAFETY IN KIDS THAN PROTECT A BUDGET LINE ITEM.
UH, NO ONE HAS BEEN WILLING TO APPLY THE SAME STANDARD TO, UM, THREE LINE ITEMS ON THE ABOVE
[03:15:01]
THE LINE REDUCTION SLIDE, OR IT CUT AT A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, OR COMPLETE ELIMINATION.MEANWHILE, THE LARGEST NON-SALARY LINE ITEM IN THIS BUDGET IS CUT AT 3%.
WOULD LOVE AN EXPLANATION, UH, OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT JUSTIFY ELIMINATING INTERNAL PROGRAMS WHILE ENTIRELY, UH, APPLYING A 3% REDUCTION STANDARD ARE OUR LARGEST CONTRACTED PARTNER.
CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVES SERVES 575,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY.
THE 3% CUT TO THEIR STIPEND SAVES $3,649.
THAT'S LESS THAN ONE 1 CENT PER VISITOR.
WE'RE CLOSING A $14 MILLION GAP.
THIS BOARD SHOULD SAY PLAINLY.
IT'S A GESTURE ON THE GOLF COURSE SECURITY QUESTION.
THIS PRESENTATION SHOWS WE'RE SPENDING $250,000 ANNUALLY ON GOLF COURSE CONTRACTED SECURITY ALONE FOR GOLF COURSES THAT HAVE OPERATED AT WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD IS A DEFICIT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
BEFORE WE CLOSE ANY COMMUNITY CENTERS, I WANNA KNOW WHETHER THE FULL COST OF OPERATING THOSE GOLF COURSES NET OF EVERY DOLLAR OF REVENUE THEY GENERATE HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO CITY MANAGEMENT IS A REDUCTION ALTERNATIVE.
IF NOT, WHY NOT? AND THEN ON THE PAINT SHOP, ITEM 13 ELIMINATES THE DEDICATED PAINT SERVICES SHOP COMPLETELY A 100% REDUCTION.
THE DESCRIPTION SAYS THE PAINTING OF ALL PARKS, BUILDINGS, RECREATION CENTERS, AQUATIC FACILITIES, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, AND METAL FENCING WOULD'VE TO BE ABSORBED IN OTHER AREAS.
I WANNA KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS IN PRACTICE.
UM, DOES THAT MEAN IT'S NOT GONNA GET DONE? DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST LINE ITEMS WE HAVE IN THIS CITY, IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO WHAT'S THE ESTIMATED LONG-TERM COST OF DEFERRED PAINTING AND PROTECTIVE COATING RELATIVE TO THE 575? 570 ISH THOUSAND DOLLARS SAVED BY ELIMINATING THE PAINT SHOP.
I SUSPECT WE'RE SAVING A DOLLAR TODAY TO SPEND $10 TOMORROW.
SOME VERY GOOD POINTS, BUT HAVE TO FIND SOMEWHERE.
BUT ANYWAY, UH, LET'S SEE, WHO IS MS. AL? YOUR GOLDEN WORDS
UM, SO I AS WELL, UM, NUMBER 13, I HAD CIRCLED BUT WAS WONDERING CAN WE TAKE THIS IN-HOUSE? UM, I KNOW THAT THERE POTENTIALLY IS SOME POSSIBILITY OF DOING MORE PAINT IN-HOUSE, UM, WITH FACILITIES.
SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO DO, THAT'S WHAT THIS IN, THEY, WE DO IT IN HOUSE NOW.
WE'D BE ELIMINATING THIS SERVICE TO, TO FAR AS LIKE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE WHAT, UH, THIS IS FULL CIRCLE AGAIN.
WE ELIMINATED OUR PAINTERS PROBABLY LIKE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.
Y'ALL PROBABLY KNOW THAT THINGS GET TAKEN CARE OF RIGHT AWAY.
UH, WHEN WE GOTTA GO PAINT A PAVILION, WHEN WE GOTTA GO PAINT, YOU NAME IT, WE THEY'RE ON HAND TO DO THAT.
THEN WE HAVE TO CONTRACT THAT OUT.
AND THAT COULD PROBABLY TAKE YOU SIX, PROBABLY SIX WEEKS.
BASIC SEE, GET TIME IF NOT LONG.
NUMBER 10, WHAT DOES IT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? REDUCE DISD DAYTIME PROGRAM TO TUESDAY AND THURSDAY? IS THAT IN THE SUMMERS? IS THAT YEAR ROUND? IS THAT, DOES THAT TAKE AWAY FROM SENIORS WITH THE, I'M GONNA ASK, UH, WHO'S, UH, WHO'S OVER SAYING, IS THIS AQUATICS? IS THAT AQUA WHAT THIS CUT IS? IT'S A TIC.
DAYTIME PROGRAMMING IS, OH, THAT'S AQUATICS.
IT IS CHANGING NUMBER FROM A FOUR DAY TO A TWO DAY SCHEDULE.
AND THAT IMPACT WOULD BE, UM, HAS THE CONVERSATION BEEN HAD TO FOR, I MEAN, WITH THEIR FUNDING TO MAYBE DECREASE OR PROVIDE MORE, HUH? C TWO? NO, WE JUST VOTED ON A HUGE BOMB FOR THE
SO THIS, SO THIS, UM, PROPOSED CUT IS FOR THE, IT'S A DAYTIME PROGRAM AT THE, AT THE SCHOOL.
AND SO THEY WOULD, INSTEAD OF DOING THE FOUR DAYS, THEY WOULD CUT IT DOWN TO TWO DAYS A WEEK.
BUT THOSE ARE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, BUT THOSE ARE SOME PAID PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE COME TO.
SO IT WOULDN'T AFFECT THE STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL, BUT IT'S LIKE MORE COMMUNITY-BASED COMING IN THE DAYTIME.
SO THERE ARE SOME SENIOR PROGRAMMING, BUT A LOT OF IT'S PAID PROGRAMMING.
HOW ABOUT A WHILE AGO? I WANNA SAY ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AGO, WE WERE PRESENTED WITH A LOT OF THE, THE YOUNG ADULTS AND KIDS THAT HAD SPECIAL NEEDS.
AND THE POOLS WERE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SO BENEFICIAL TO THEIR HEALING, TO THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE BUILDING TO EVERYTHING ABOUT BEING IN A POOL FOR SOMEBODY WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
IS THAT, WOULD THAT AFFECT THEM AS WELL? UM, TO, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME DAYTIME PROGRAMMING AT
SO NOT NECESSARILY AT THE DISD.
[03:20:01]
RIGHT.UM, REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF LITTER COLLECTION IN PARKS AND PUBLIC AREAS.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH, UH, JUVENILES JAILS, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR, UH, PROGRAMMING, UM, LIKE THERE, THERE'S PROGRAMS IN OUR JAILS IN OUR COUNTIES AND JUVENILES THERE ANY WAY TO SUPPLEMENT WHERE WE THEY WOULD DO LIKE A WORK PROGRAM? YEAH, WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM BEFORE AND IT NEVER MATERIALIZED IN ANYTHING.
AND THEN JUST ALSO, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I MEAN, NEIGHBORHOODS ARE VERY, WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR PARKS, I'M JUST BEING HONEST, THEY ARE VERY, UH, IT IS NOT RECEIVED WELL IN EVERY COMMUNITY.
IF WE HAVE FOLKS ON, UH, ON, ON SUPERVISION TYPE WATCH COMING FROM THE JAIL IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, I'M JUST TELLING YOU, I MEAN, I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR, IN YOUR PROGRAMS, YOU'RE POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT PEOPLE WITH WHO ARE HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING BACK INTO THE MAINSTREAM.
YOU KNOW, SO YOU'D HAVE PEOPLE ON DIFFERENT I THAT'S NOT THE WORST OF THE WORST.
I HOPE NOT, BUT I'M JUST THINKING IF WE CAN THINK ABOUT THAT IN A WAY TO OFFSET SOME OF THIS AND PARTNERING WITH THOSE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITIES AND GROUPS.
AND THAT MIGHT BE A WAY TO WITH THAT.
BECAUSE I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, I WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE LOVE ON THE LAKE.
UH, THEY SUPPLEMENT OUR, OUR LITTER BUDGET LITERALLY BECAUSE THEY DO A CLEAN UP EVERY SINGLE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT THE LAKE AND THEY SAVE THE DEPARTMENT WELL OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IF WE WAS IN THAT SAME BUSINESS.
A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IS WHAT THEY SAVED US.
CONSIDERING I THOUGHT I SAW THEIR, THEIR SIGNS ONE POINT.
SO FIRST THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF.
UM, THEY REALLY WERE AMAZING AND HELPFUL, UM, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MARCUS CENTER.
AND I REALLY WOULD ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TODAY IF WE CAN TAKE THE ACTION JUST TO REMOVE THE REMOVING THE BOARD COMMUNITY CENTERS.
I THINK THAT'S BEEN A HUGE SOURCE OF ANGST FOR A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THEY MET ME OUT THERE ON MONDAY AND IT WAS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT THE ORGANIZATION WAS DOING AND HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THEM.
AND WE, BRIAN WAS SO GRACIOUS AND HAD A
UM, BUT IT'S SUCH A GREAT, AND IT'S COOL TO SEE THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE SENIOR CENTERS.
I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO GUIDE MORE INTO THE PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP FUND SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS. BUT, UM, SENIOR CITIZENS, I, I THINK THE STATISTICS ARE SAYING THAT 2% OF ALL NONPROFITS ACTUALLY BENEFIT THEM.
UM, SO IT WOULD BE KIND OF HARD PRESSED FOR THE SENIOR CENTERS TO BE ABLE TO FIND A, A NONPROFIT THAT WOULD SUPPORT THEM AND IT WOULD JUST MAKE IT ONE MORE CHALLENGE.
UM, AND IT'S SUCH AN AMAZING CENTER, UM, SAYING THEY PROVIDE FIVE HOT MEALS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY EVERY WEEK.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THE WORST THAT, UM, I AM DISAPPOINTED OBVIOUSLY AT EVERYTHING THAT'S BELOW THE LINE.
SO DO WE JUST GO IN WITH THE ABOVE THE LINE OR DO WE GO IN WITH ABOVE AND BELOW THE LINE? WE GO IN WITH ALL OF IT.
SO, SO HE SEE OR THEY SEE ALL OF IT.
YOU GO IN WITH ALL OF IT AND, AND I LEFT.
THIS ONE SAME WAY I'M PRESENTING YOU.
HERE ARE THINGS IS THIS WON'T BE A SERVICE LEVEL CUT.
AND HOPEFULLY AFTER SHE GOES THROUGH HER ENTIRE PROCESS LOOKING AT ALL OF HER DEPARTMENTS THAT, AND THEN MAYBE THE PROPERTY TAX APPRAISALS COME IN HER THEN EXPECT IT AFTER THE PROTEST.
AND THAT'S WHY THAT PROCESS REALLY DOESN'T GET FINALIZED FOR US TO REALLY LIKE AROUND PROBABLY LIKE THAT, THAT LAST WEEK IN JULY, FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S ON HERE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO.
'CAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE TABLE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING WE ARE, WE WANT TO DO IT ALL.
BUT IF IT'S ON HERE, IT'S LIKE, BUT IF IT, IF IT GET TO THAT POINT AND THE COUNCIL DECIDES THEY WANT TO ACCEPT THE CUTS YEAH.
THEN YES, THIS IS STUFF THAT WE WILL, WE WILL HAVE TO GIVE THEM.
AND I, AND I, I HAVE TO REITERATE IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE FINAL DECISION.
AND THEN DO YOU KNOW WHEN THEY WILL RELEASE THE TOWN HALL BUDGET MEETING SCHEDULE AND HOW WE CAN GET THAT OUT TO OUR RESPECT COURT? IT'S BEEN MY PHONE NUMBER OVER THERE EARLY AUGUST.
THAT'S WHEN THEY'LL RELEASE THE SCHEDULES.
BECAUSE I KNOW WE WERE ALREADY GETTING THAT QUESTION OF WHEN ARE THEY, CAN THEY GET THEM CALENDARED? YEAH.
SO I WANNA GIVE, UM, A CONSIDERATION.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS MAY HAVE ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT, BUT JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE, UH, HAVE YOU GUYS
[03:25:01]
CONSIDERED STUDENT INTERNSHIPS TO SUPPORT ITEM 1911 ACTUALLY COULD ALSO SUPPORT 16 AND EVEN 17 THAT MAY, YOU KNOW, IF THIS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO, IT MAY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PERSONNEL ON STAFF IF THERE'S, UM, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO WANT AN INTERNSHIP AND YOU KNOW, MENTORSHIP AND THINGS LIKE THAT.UM, SO, AND THAT MAY REDUCE THE NEED TO HAVE TO DECREASE HOURS IF WE CAN PARTNER IN THAT FASHION.
ALSO, ANOTHER THING CONSIDERED, CONSIDERED TRUIST PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES TO BRING IN REVENUE, MAYBE INCLUDING OUR PARTNERS.
SO THOSE ARE SOME IDEAS THEY ALL WELL RECEIVED.
AND UH, IT WAS, IT WAS INTERESTING.
THERE WAS LIKE FIVE INTERNS AT LUNCH I WAS JUST TALKING TO.
AND SO WE DO TRY TO AUGMENT MM-HMM
UH,
AND THEY MIGHT, YOU KNOW, IF EXPANDING THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
UM, I KNOW MS. UH, MONDELL WAS TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER, UH, NUMBER 16, WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET SOME STUDENTS TO NOT SEE IT AS A NEGATIVE.
THEY'RE COLLECTING VOLUNTEER HOURS SO THEY GET, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR COLLEGE AND HOSTING PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE POSITIVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
I HAVE, I KNOW A WHOLE LOT OF SCIENTISTS WHO WOULD LOVE THAT.
HI EVERYBODY DOING, SO I WANNA SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 14.
SO WHEN YOU SAY ELIMINATE A DEDICATED TRAIL MAINTENANCE TEAM, HOW BIG IS THAT TEAM AND WHAT AREAS, LIKE DOES THAT TEAM COVER? IS IT MULTIPLE TEAMS THAT JUST COVER DIFFERENT REGIONS, AREAS, PARTS SPECIFICALLY? UH, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? AND, UM, WHAT I WANT TO ASK IS SINCE WE WILL BE PRODUCING OR ELIMINATING THINGS LIKE THAT AND UH, CAPACITY TO MAINTAIN THE PARTS AND SERVICE REQUESTS, DO WE LEAN ON, WHAT COULD WE LEAN ON MORE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE DOPA, TEXAS BANK CONSERVANCY, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE KNOW HAVE THE CAPACITY AND THE ABILITY TO DO CERTAIN TRAIL MAINTENANCE.
LIKE CUTTING DOWN TREES, MAKING SURE THE TRAIL STAYS DIFFERENT TO WHERE WE MIGHT CAN GIVE THEM A SUPPLEMENTAL COST INSTEAD OF REDUCING EVERYTHING DOWN SINCE THEY ALREADY OPERATE HEAVILY IN THOSE PARTS AND ARE CONSIDERED, UH, MANAGERS OF THESE PARTS.
UM, YEAH, THAT'S MY FIRST PLACE.
SO WE DO, WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH DO NOW AND THEY HELP US MANAGE THE, LIKE ONCE SAY THEY, THEY MANAGE SOFT TRAILS AND SO, UM, THEY, THEY PROBABLY, THEY CITYWIDE FOLKS.
SO THEY HAVE ABOUT FIVE, SIX PARTS.
I KNOW THEY'RE AT THEIR CAPACITY FOR SURE.
AND THEN WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAIL MAINTENANCE, THESE IS OUR HARD SURFACE TEAMS. AND SO I THINK THERE'S TWO TEAMS, OR MAYBE THREE AND I THINK THERE ARE THREE PERSON TEAMS. AND, AND SO I CAN TELL YOU LIKE TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO WE ALL, THE TRAIL MAINTENANCE WAS DONE WITHIN THE SIX MAINTENANCE DISTRICTS, WHICH ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND SO THEY HANDLE ALL THE GROUND MAINTENANCE, BEAUTIFICATION, FORESTRY AND THE TRAILS.
WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW SAYING IF WE TAKE THIS CUT, WE ARE NOT GONNA HAVE THEM NO MORE.
HAVING THE CITYWIDE TEAM THAT GO BACK INTO THE DISTRICTS AND STILL PERFORM THAT SAME LEVEL OF MAINTENANCE.
SO IT WON'T, IT WILL BE A REDUCTION FROM THE STANDPOINT.
WE WON'T HAVE NOW SPECIALIZED FOLKS WHO CAN DO THINGS A LOT MORE EFFICIENT AND FASTER.
'CAUSE THAT'S THEIR EXPERTISE.
THEY'LL GO BACK IN WHERE YOU'RE DOING 10 THINGS OUTSIDE OF REAL MAINTENANCE.
AND THEN MY OTHER, TO PIGGYBACK ON MS. OWENS WITH NUMBER 16, I DO KNOW THAT IT IS, UH, YOUTH WOULD BE INTERESTED, I WOULD ASSUME IN A LOT OF THESE PARTS TO LEARN IF WE CAN BASICALLY, LIKE I SAY, FUSE IT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PLUS, UH, VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR COLLEGE, LIKE YOU SAID, UH, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THROUGH DIFFERENT COLLEGES SPECIFICALLY LIKE UNT, DALLAS, UT DALLAS, STUFF LIKE THAT TO WHERE THEY CAN COME IN, HELP LEARN ABOUT THESE PARTS, WHY THEY'RE IMPORTANT, WHAT UH, HOW THEY HELP PUBLIC HEALTH, HOW THEY, UH, HELP THE CITY, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IF WE COULD, I GUESS, IDENTIFY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, PEOPLE, DISTRICTS
[03:30:01]
THAT COULD COME IN AND HELP DO THAT.I DO LIKE WHAT MS. FIAN SAID ABOUT THE REENTRY.
I MEAN, SHE DIDN'T SAY REENTRY, BUT LIKE A REENTRY.
BUT I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I DO KNOW SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOCUS ON REENTRY AND HAVE A, LIKE A LONG, UH, I CAN'T THINK OF THE WORD RIGHT NOW, BUT A GOOD, UH, TRACK RECORD.
OF GETTING PEOPLE BACK INTO IT.
SO, UH, I WOULD DO LIKE THAT IDEA IF THAT IS FEASIBLE.
SO THAT WAS MY, I DO WANNA TALK ABOUT THE REENTRY.
'CAUSE UH, REENTRY WE DO, WE, WE, WE, WE HAVE, WE ARE THE LARGEST, WE'RE THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE THE MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT THE MOST REENTRY PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR US.
AND WE, WE DON'T TELL PEOPLE AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
AND THESE FOLKS ARE, HAVE CAME IN AND HAVE MOVED UP TO BE MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS AND THEY ARE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
SO KNOW WE BELIEVE IN THAT PROGRAM AND, AND THEY DO PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY OF WORK AND DOING AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB.
NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO VOLUNTEERS, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHEN IT COMES TO LITTER PICKUP.
'CAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS THE LITTER PICKUP GOTTA BE PICKED UP CERTAIN TIMES EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND WHEN, TRUST ME, WHEN THAT LITTER DON'T GET PICKED UP, Y'ALL CALL ME AROUND THIS HORSES, YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS CALL ME AROUND THIS.
AND WHY ISN'T MY LITTER PICKED UP ON THIS PARK? AND SO THAT ONE, I WON'T REALLY DEPEND ON THE VOLUNTEERS.
THEY CAN COME IN AND DO SOME SPECIFIC LIKE SPECIAL EVENT TYPE PICKUP FOR EM.
HOW I CAN DEPEND ON THEM, RIGHT.
AND MAKE SURE IT'S PICKED UP AT 6 45 EVERY DAY, MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY.
ON ITEM 15 MOWING, I WOULD COMMEND TO YOU THE MOWING REDUCTION PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE NOW AT BOY ROCK LAKE PARK, UH, WITH THE ADVENT OF THE PRIVATE VENDOR THAT'S DOING THE MOWING.
UH, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME VERY STRATEGICALLY MADE CUTS IN MOWING FREQUENCY.
OBVIOUSLY THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AREAS ARE STILL GETTING MOWED EVERY WEEK DURING THE SUMMER.
BUT, UH, WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND IDENTIFIED AT THE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT LEVEL, UH, WHICH AREAS WE CAN AFFORD TO CUT BACK ON.
AND WHICH ARE IMPORTANT TO PRIORITIZE, UH, EVERYTHING FROM WEEKLY DUE DOWN TO SOME OF THE PRAIRIE AREAS, WHICH ARE MOW ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR.
WELL, THAT TO YOUR POINT, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
AND, UH, I DO THINK PART OF OUR LONG TERM PLAN IS WE'VE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE FOLKS THAT CERTAIN PARTS OF THE PARK REALLY DON'T NEED TO BE MOWED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT, YOU CAN'T, I CAN'T MOW A PARK LIKE YOUR FRONT YARD OR BACKYARD
AND CERTAIN PARTS OF THE PARK REALLY DON'T NEED TO BE MOWED.
AND THOSE CAN TURN INTO MORE, UH, WILDFLOWER AREAS, NATURAL AREAS.
IT HELPS TO KEEP THE WILDLIFE VIBRANT.
IT CONTROLS THE RUNOFF IN THE CREEKS.
THERE'S BENEFITS OF NOT MAKING SURE ALL OUR PARKS ARE LANDSCAPED,
UM, I JUST WANNA CHIME IN REAL QUICK AND, AND TALK ABOUT LINE ITEMS 9, 10, 11, AND 12.
THESE ARE VERY SMALL DOLLAR AMOUNTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY'RE THE SMALLEST OF THE BUNCH.
THEY DO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL PERCENTAGES IN THE REDUCTIONS THEMSELVES.
THAT MEANS, UH, IN MY OPINION, THEY'RE GONNA BE VERY VISIBLE AND THE OPTICS ARE GONNA BE VERY UNSAVORY FOR OUR PUBLIC.
I THINK LANE SAID IT NICELY, UM, SMALL DOLLAR AMOUNTS LIKE THIS, THIS ISN'T REALLY EFFECTIVE BUDGETING.
THESE ARE GESTURES AND LIKE I SAID, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA BE WELL RECEIVED.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT LINES 9, 10, 11 AND 12 B REMOVED.
THAT'S THE TOTAL OF ABOUT 200 K.
AND, UM, I, I DO WANNA FIGHT FOR LINE 18.
I THINK I WAS EMOTIONALLY MOVED THIS MORNING WHEN OUR FRIENDS CAME IN FROM, FROM THE MARCUS, UH, ANNEX.
I KNOW THERE WAS ANOTHER, UH, ANOTHER PUBLIC SPEAKER WHO WAS LITERALLY BROUGHT TO TEARS.
UM, WE, WE CAN'T HAVE SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.
WE CAN'T BE LIKE AFFECTING INDIVIDUALS LIKE THAT, UM, WITH SOME OF THESE DECISIONS.
I, I JUST WANNA SAY AGAIN, ITEMS 9, 10, 11, 12, AND NUMBER 18 SHOULD BE, SHOULD BE ELIMINATED FROM ANY CONSIDERATIONS.
UH, SEEING ALL THE DISCUSSION.
[03:35:01]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
BEFORE WE GO, I'M JUST HAVE AN ISSUE.
WE, WE GOT CLEAR GUIDANCE, UH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 19 11 12, WHAT I JUST HEARD NOW, BUT I THOUGHT I HAD, WE HAD A CONSENSUS ON MAKING SURE NUMBER 18 YES.
OKAY, SO NOW, UH, I'M NOT TRYING TO SPEAK FOR MR. KAMI, BUT UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION Y'ALL GONNA WANT TO HAVE ON THE 19 11 12? IF SO, THEN I'M GONNA ASK STAFF TO COME UP AND EXPLAIN YOU ALL WHAT DOES THIS REALLY MEAN? HEY, MS. BONDO.
SO 17 SAYS REDUCTION OF, UH, REDUCED REDUCTION, REDUCED REDUC.
REDUCTION OF RE RECREATION CENTER HOURS DOWN TO 40 HOURS PER WEEK.
UM, WHAT IS IT NOW? UH, IT CAN RANGE ANYWHERE FROM 59.
YEAH, BUT THAT'S AN AVERAGE 54 AND 49.
SO LET'S SAY NINE TO 14 HOURS.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO YOU GUYS WHEN WE REDUCE THE I'M JUST ASKING FROM THE REC COME OVER.
MAKING CAN EXPLAIN MY QUESTION.
YOU GOT IT FOR THE NEW, FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S NEW? 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT.
CAN YOU JUST TELL HOW MANY REC CENTERS WE HAVE AND THEN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AND FEEL FREE IF, UH, I MEAN, 'CAUSE I KNOW TRANSITION.
SO STEVE, FEEL FREE TO GO ON UP TO THE TABLE AS WELL.
SO IT, FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU CAN HELP THE, THE NEW PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM KNOW HOW MANY REC CENTERS WE HAVE AND WHAT A NINE HOUR TO 14 HOUR A WEEK DEFICIT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN OUR REC CENTERS AND HOW THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE OR HOW THAT, HOW WHAT THAT DOES.
UM, YEAH, SO WE HAVE 40, 40 RECREATION CENTERS THAT OPERATE.
UM, AND WE HAVE OUR TWO DEDICATED SENIOR LOCATIONS, WHICH IS THE, UM, FIRST RECREATION CENTER AND THE, UM, MARCUS ANNEX.
SO THEY ALL, AGAIN, THERE'S, WE HAVE CURRENTLY 25 RECREATION CENTERS THAT ARE OPEN 54 HOURS A WEEK.
THAT IS A REDUCTION OF FIVE HOURS FROM WHAT THEY WERE OPEN THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 15 CENTERS THAT ARE NOW OPEN 49 HOURS A WEEK AND THOSE CENTERS, UM, SO THAT WAS A REDUCTION OF 10 HOURS A WEEK FOR THEM.
UM, AND THOSE LOCATIONS ARE NOT OPEN ON SATURDAYS.
STEVE, IF YOU CAN KIND OF JUST GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF IDEA HOW THAT MADE IT, HOW THAT IMPACTED THE COMMUNITIES.
YEAH, IT BEEN, IT HAS BEEN AN IMPACT.
UM, OUR REDUCTION IN SERVICE HAS GONE DOWN.
OBVIOUSLY SATURDAYS IS WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE YOUTH ARE OUT OF SCHOOL.
WE HAVE SENIORS WHO ARE STILL LOOKING FOR ACTIVITIES AND FITNESS CENTERS TO BE ABLE TO USE ON THE WEEKENDS AS WELL.
UM, IT'S IMPACTED, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFFING, UH, LEVELS, UM, ALL OF THOSE CENTERS THAT WENT DOWN TO 49 HOURS, THEY LOST A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE AS WELL.
SO THAT IMPACTS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO, TO DELIVER THOSE SERVICES IN THAT, IN THAT WAY.
UM, GOING DOWN TO 40 HOURS ACROSS THE BOARD, THAT WOULD BE A RESULT.
AS MR. JENKINS ALLUDED TO, THAT WOULD BE A REDUCTION OF ADDITIONAL PART-TIME STAFFING, POTENTIALLY OTHER POSITIONS AS WELL.
UM, AND WOULD REDUCE OUR OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE INDICATED FOR THE PRESENTATION THAT THERE IS A, UM, WE'RE GONNA MAINTAIN OUR SENIOR PROGRAMMING AND WE'RE GONNA MAINTAIN OUR AFTERSCHOOL SERVICES FOR OUR YOUTH.
AND SO THEN THAT KIND OF CREATES A BIG CHALLENGE FOR US AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THOSE.
I'M GONNA SAY AFTER HOUR, EVENING, EVENING TYPE PROGRAMS. MY NEXT QUESTION IS HOW THAT AFFECTS THE YOUTH PROGRAMMING, UM, OR YOUTH SPORTS.
UM, ON SATURDAYS OR AFTER SCHOOLS OR HOWEVER, WHETHER IT'S VOLLEYBALL, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE USE OF AT SOCCER OR BASKETBALL OR EVEN OUR NON-TRADITIONAL SPORTS THAT WE'VE ADDED TO OUR WORLD.
IT WILL, IT WILL, UM, IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THOSE SO IT GETS A SERVICE IMPACT.
SO THOSE PROGRAMS WILL BE LIMITED.
THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO, UM, OFFER THOSE PROGRAMS. AND AGAIN, JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE HOURS ARE.
40 HOUR A WEEK DOES CUT SOME EVENING PROGRAMMING WITH A LOT OF THE, UM, YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMMING
[03:40:01]
HAPPENS AT THAT TIME.OBVIOUSLY THE WEEKENDS AS WELL.
SO THOSE WE'LL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO DELIVER IT, BUT SOME THINGS WILL BE AFFECTED.
SO FOR LINE 11 FOR THE BAHAMA BEACH, ALL I REALLY WANT TO KNOW, I UNDERSTAND, UH, GOING FROM 10 TO 12 FROM TUESDAY TO THURSDAY, DO, DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW MANY PATRONS PEOPLE LOSING OUT ON BETWEEN THOSE TWO HOURS? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S DURING THE WEEK, BUT I JUST WANT TO KNOW ABOUT A NUMBER.
I'D HAVE TO PICK THAT NUMBER FOR YOU TO BE MORE SPECIFIC.
AND, AND I'LL GET BACK TO, I JUST CAN'T FATHOM OPPOSING REC CENTERS COMMUNITY.
I JUST CAN'T, I'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT FIRST DAY.
I KNOW, I, I, I HAVE A HEADACHE JUST THINKING ABOUT IT SOMETIMES WHEN I'M SITTING THINKING ABOUT IT.
AND I CAN IMAGINE YOU GUYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT NUMBER OF HOURS, THE RIGHT AMOUNT TO CHARGE PEOPLE FOR, FOR FEEDING IN OUR REC CENTERS, YOU KNOW, I KNOW, I THINK WE'RE GOING SOMEWHERE THERE.
I'D ALREADY KNOW WE'RE GONNA START CHARGING FOR ID CARDS AGAIN.
UH, EVEN THAT FREE IF OUR, IF OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS DON'T KNOW EVEN THAT FREE REC CARDS, I THINK WE ONLY HAD 43,000, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT NUMBER SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE THAT, THAT HAD A FREE REC CARD.
AND BEFORE, WHEN WE WERE CHARGING A FEW YEARS BACK, $10, I THINK WE HAD LIKE 60, 70,000 PEOPLE PAYING $10.
SO EVEN THE RENT, THE FREE DID PAY OFF.
LIKE WE THOUGHT, OH, WE GOING INCREASE OUR NUMBER BY A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
SO PEOPLE DON'T VALUE SOMETIMES FREE.
WELL, I DON'T NEED A FREE ACT THOUGH.
ANYTIME I DON'T NEED A CARD, BUT THEY PAY.
MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
AND ALSO THINKING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AND, AND, AND AS WE TALK ABOUT REMODELING SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE OLDER ONES AND, AND RE BUYING, UH, MAKING NEW ONES.
DO ALL OF THEM NEED TO HAVE A WEIGHT ROOM? WELL I CALL IT A WEIGHT ROOM.
YOU GOTTA THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY PLANT FITNESS USA IN OAKLAND, THERE'S FIVE NEW FITNESS CENTERS THAT OPENED UP WITHIN ALL OF OUR REC CENTERS THAT ARE OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY AND CHARGING BASICALLY WHAT WE CHARGE TO USE THE SAME AND HAVE A LOT MORE MACHINES.
SO SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA THINK ABOUT IS THAT A REASONABLE SPOT OF A ROOM THAT WHY DO WE NEED THAT? IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
I KNOW, I KNOW THAT'S POOR, BUT, BUT MAYBE SOME REC CENTERS DON'T NEED THAT.
'CAUSE MAYBE WE HAVE OLDER PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU KNOW, GO LOT OF, YOU KNOW, I OR IF YOU WANNA CALL A COMPETITOR, BUT SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
I JUST CAN'T SEE WHY WE'RE GONNA CLOSE REC CENTER.
THAT'S NOT, I TOLD YOU FROM GETTING, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I'M, WE ACTUALLY GOT CHAMPION, HOW CAN WE MAKE 'EM MORE VIABLE SO PEOPLE CAN COME AND SPEND AND USE THEIR DOLLARS THERE VERSUS OTHER PLACES.
SO WHAT'S GONNA, I ONLY HAVE A CONSENT, SO NUMBER 18, OTHER THAN THAT, WE WILL KEEP THE LIST.
LIKE IT'S, I I I THINK FOR NOW, YEAH, I MEAN I, I THINK WE HAVE CONSENSUS ON NUMBER 18.
NOBODY WANTS TO CLOSE THE FOUR REC CENTER, THE 40 HOUR.
WE JUST GOTTA SEE HOW IT LOOKS LIKE, I THINK IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING.
HOW IS A 40 HOUR WORK WEEK WORK IN EACH REC CENTER? I THINK EVERY REC CENTER, YOU CAN'T JUST GO ACROSS THE WHOLE BLANKET.
WELL, EVERY RED CENTER, THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE CLOSED 40 BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE 10,000 PEOPLE A YEAR, WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS, RIGHT.
YOU CAN TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
I, IT'S COULD BE A LOT MORE WORK.
BUT IF WE KNOW A REAL NUMBER WHEN THEY SCAN THEIR CARD, LIKE THEY, WE LOCKED IN CLOSE TO SCAN THEIR CARD.
IT JUST, BUT THAT'S HOW WE DETERMINE NUMBERS THAT ARE IN OUR BUILDING, YOU KNOW? SO I AGREE, AGREE.
I'M, I'M GONNA AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.
LIKE FIGURING OUT HOW THE USAGE AND IF WE'RE SHUTTING DOWN SOMETHING OR REDUCING HOURS ON SOMETHING THAT'S HIGHLY USED OR WE'RE RE CUTTING OR SHUTTING DOWN OR CUTTING DOWN THE HOURS ON SOMETHING THAT'S MINIMAL USE.
NOW I ALSO REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM.
IF WE'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN ONE PERSON'S LIFE, THEN SHAME ON US FOR CUTTING IT DOWN.
HOWEVER, IF WE'RE IN THIS CRISIS, THEN WE NEED TO REALLY KIND OF FIGURE THIS OUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO I MEAN I KNOW THERE'S D REC CENTERS AND THEIR, THEIR USAGE FOR DIFFERENT TIMES OR DIFFERENT EVENTS IS HIGHER.
SO I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABLES, SO, BUT I, IT'S A LOT OF VARIABLES.
UM, BUT I DID SHARE WITH, UM, PARK BOARD MEMBER PINK IS THE OTHER DAY.
SO I GAVE HIM A LIST OF ALL THE RECREATION CENTERS WITH ALL THE USAGE NUMBERS, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
AND, AND I THINK WE GIVE US THE DATA.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS SCAN, SCAN NUMBERS.
I THINK YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE AN ESTIMATED NUMBER BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE, LIKE I SAID MENTIONED WE HAVE A SCAN NUMBER, WE SOMETIMES IT'S NOT A GOOD NUMBER, BUT WE KNOW THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S 10,000 WERE SCANNED AND WE KNOW THERE WAS PROBABLY 30 TO 40,000 IN THAT BUILDING.
DOES THAT KIND OF MAKE SENSE? THE, UM, THE KID, THE, SO YOU DO THE SCANS BUT THEN YOU DON'T HAVE A SPECTATOR.
SPECTATOR NUMBERS ARE NOT COUNTED IN THE SCANS SOMETIMES.
SO IF A FAMILY COMES TO WATCH THEIR KID IN SPORTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE GONNA BE COUNTED IN THE SCAN.
AND I THINK THAT NUMBER ESTIMATED
[03:45:01]
NUMBER WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT ALSO, IT DETERMINES A LITTLE BIT WHAT WE WANNA BE AT ON THOSE CENTERS.SEEING ON THE HANDS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GENERAL SAY THANK YOU BOARD, UH,
I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING BUDGET REDUCTIONS OR SERVICE LEVEL CHANGES, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR UNDERSTANDING, AND BE WILLING, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO, UH, EVEN SIGN UP TO BE A BOARD MEMBER.
GONNA BE ALL, ALL NICE AND SHINY PARK OPENINGS OR REC CENTER OPENINGS, BUT THIS IS WHERE I APPRECIATE YOU ALL ROLLING UP YOUR SLEEVE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU HAVE A TOUGH COUNTER AHEAD.
BUT AS MS. OWEN SAID, I JUST THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, UH, COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE BETTER THAN WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
IF WE'RE WILLING TO, UH, TO, UH, THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, COME UP WITH SOME CREATIVE WAYS OF HOW WE DELIVER OUR SERVICE, AND ALSO LOOK AT SOME CREATIVE WAYS TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES THAT CAN PAY FOR, UH, THE FOLKS WHO NEED US THE MOST.
BUT ALLOW FOLKS WHO'S WILLING TO PAY THE ANSWERS TO GET THE FUNDING THEY CAN PAY FOR THOSE CORE SERVICES THAT EVERYBODY NEED TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN.
NEXT WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION.
BEFORE WE DO, I HAVE TO READ A STATEMENT.
IT IS 2:29 PM ON JUNE 4TH, 2026.
THE PARK IMMIGRATION BOARD WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 AND 5 5 0 7 2 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT.
UM, THE PARK BOARD HAS COM HAS COMPLETED ITS CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0.072 AND 5 5 1 0.07, ONE OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT AT A TIME OF 3:05 PM ON JUNE 4TH, 2026.
WE HAVE RETURN TO OPEN SESSION.
WE ONLY GOT A COUPLE MORE THINGS.
UH, WE HAD OUR BUDGET UPDATE, CORRECT? YES.
THESE REPORTS, MS. MONDELL, IT'S NOT COMPLETELY A LIAISON REPORT, BUT THE HISTORIC KILLER GOLF COURSE DEDICATION IS HAPPENING JUNE 13TH ON SATURDAY AT 10:00 AM UM, AT THE, UM, THE 60 6700 BLOCK OF MAPLE AVENUE.
AND IT'S HONORING THE LEGACY OF ONE OF THE FIRST MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND IT'S HERE IN DALLAS AND IT'S A SYMBOL OF PERVER PRES, PERSEVERANT PRESERVER AND BLACK EXCELLENCE IN DALLAS HISTORY.
IT'S A HISTORICAL MARKER UNVEILING.
IT'S THE HONORING THE DALLAS GOLF PIONEERS.
UM, IT'S A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION.
IT'S 10:00 AM JUNE 13TH, SATURDAY.
ANY MORE VAS LIAISON REPORTS? I WANNA, I WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS, THIS, THIS SATURDAY IS THE BIG SOCCER IN DALLAS MAPLE AVENUE WHERE, UH, DALLAS COLLEGE, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND MINI PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, INCLUDING THE CITY OFFICE MANAGER'S.
OFFICE DPD IS HOLDING A BIG CLINIC.
STARTED AT 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM AT MOUNT VIEW COLLEGE AND IT'S FREE FOR ALL TO COME AND JOIN.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE DALLAS PARK SYSTEM.
UH, A AMONG A LOT, A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER AND PUT THIS EVENT TOGETHER.
SO IF YOU, IF YOU OUT OUT HERE, OAK CLIFF, COME ON BY FOR THAT FROM NINE TO THREE ON SATURDAY.
UM, WE HAVE ANY STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS? THAT ONE, THAT WAS ONE OF THEM? YES.
WE HAVE ABOUT 700 KIDS REGISTERED.
700 PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR THOSE CLINICS ON SATURDAY.
700 KIDS REGISTERED AND THAT'S DOESN'T EVEN CLOSE YET.
WE, WE, WE HAD OH, YOU SHUT DOWN.
ALRIGHT, SO NOBODY ELSE CAN SIGN UP.
UM, NO OTHER STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS.
UH, THE NEXT PARK BOARD MEETING IS THURSDAY, JUNE 18TH, 2026 AT 10:00 AM THIS IS GONNA BE OUR LAST ONE BEFORE THE SUMMER SESSION.
UH, ANY ANY NEW ITEMS TO DISCUSS? UH, I'M GONNA SAY I WILL BE OUTTA THE OFFICE STARTING ON FRIDAY WHEN NOT RETURN TO FALL.
I NOW JOINED THE PARK BOARD MEETING AT 3:09 PM THANK YOU EVERYBODY.