ALL RIGHT. THE TIMES 9:09 A.M.. I NOW CALL THIS MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER,
[00:00:07]
AND WE ARE GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR COLLEAGUE, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MAXIE JOHNSON, WHO IS ALSO A PASTOR AT THE NEW MORNING STAR[Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance Special Presentations Open Microphone Speakers]
MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. WE'LL HAVE OUR INVOCATION THEN OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG.THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CAN WE ALL PLEASE STAND? GLORY TO GOD. LET US BOW OUR HEADS. FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU THIS MORNING.
WE THANK YOU, GOD, BECAUSE YOU LET US SEE ANOTHER DAY THAT WASN'T PROMISED TO US. GOD, NOT ONLY DID YOU WAKE US UP, BUT YOU WOKE US UP CLOTHING OUR RIGHT MIND WITH ACTIVITIES OF OUR LIMBS.
YOU LOOK BEYOND ALL OUR FAULTS AND YOU SAW OUR NEEDS. AND GOD, WE THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT GOD. EVEN WHEN WE HAVE BAD DAYS, YOU'RE STILL A GOOD GOD. AND SO GOD, THIS MORNING WE COME TO GIVE YOU GLORY.
GOD SAID YOU THAT YOU BLESS OUR COMMUNITY, BLESS OUR CITIZENS, BLESS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BLESS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS, THOSE THAT PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY FOR OUR FREEDOM.
WE ASK THAT YOU LOOK AFTER THEM AND BLESS THEM AND THEIR FAMILY. NOW GOD IN THE WORLD THAT SEEM LIKE IT'S FULL OF HATE, WE ASK THAT YOU BRING LOVE RIGHT NOW. WE GOD, WE CALL ON YOU BECAUSE WE NEED YOU.
THERE'S NO ONE THAT CAN BRING US TOGETHER BUT YOU.
AND SO, GOD, WE LIFT YOU UP RIGHT NOW. WE ASK THAT YOU LET YOUR WILL BE DONE.
NOT OUR WILL GOD, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE. AND GOD, WE SING THAT SONG, THAT HYMN THAT SAYS, FATHER, I STRETCH MY HANDS TO THEE. NO OTHER HELP I KNOW IF THOU WITHDRAW THYSELF FROM US, WHERE SHALL WE GO? SO WE CALL ON YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ANSWER.
GOD, YOU'RE SO AWESOME AND WE LOVE YOU THIS MORNING AND WE PRAISE YOU.
DESPITE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH, WE STILL MAGNIFY YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE ANSWER.
CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN US NOW AND BLESS US, AND WE GIVE YOU GLORY AND PRAISE.
IT'S IN YOUR SON WE PRAY. LET EVERYONE SAY AMEN.
EVERYONE, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS.
ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU EVERYONE.
YOU MAY BE SEATED. WE DO HAVE SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MORNING, SO BEAR WITH ME FOR JUST A MOMENT.
WE WILL START WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO KIMBERLY TOLBERT. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. TO THE CITY COUNCIL. I'D FIRST LIKE TO START WITH THE RECOGNITION OF A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES WHOSE PROFESSIONALISM, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT TO SERVICE WERE ON FULL DISPLAY FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC APARTMENT EXPLOSION THAT OCCURRED ON MAY THE 28TH IN OAK CLIFF.
CAN YOU ALL PLEASE COME OUT? WHAT BEGAN AS A ROUTINE DAY.
THIS WEBINAR IS BEING TRANSCRIBED AND SUMMARIZED.
WHAT BEGAN AS A ROUTINE DAY QUICKLY TURNED INTO A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY.
THE EXPLOSION CLAIMED LIVES, INJURED RESIDENTS, DISPLACED FAMILIES, AND LEFT AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS TRAGEDY. IN MOMENTS LIKE THESE, DALLAS RESIDENTS LOOK TO THEIR CITY GOVERNMENT FOR HELP.
THEY LOOK FOR LEADERSHIP, COORDINATION, COMPASSION AND ACTION.
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY RECEIVED. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE DALLAS FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL, WHO WERE THE FIRST TO ARRIVE ON SCENE, AND WHO IMMEDIATELY ENTERED INTO AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT TO SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS, EXTINGUISH FIRES AND SECURE THE AREA. THEIR RESPONSE REQUIRED TREMENDOUS BRAVERY, TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, AND AN UNWAVERING DEDICATION UNDER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DALLAS WATER UTILITIES.
THE CREWS WORKED ALONGSIDE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO ASSESS AND SECURE CRITICAL UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE, SUPPORT SAFETY OPERATIONS AND HELP STABILIZE THE SITE.
[00:05:04]
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS STAFF.THEY PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN SECURING THE SURROUNDING AREAS, SUPPORTING TRAFFIC CONTROL, MAINTAINING ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND ASSISTING WITH SITE SITE SAFETY AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS. THEIR WORK BEHIND THE SCENES HELPED ENSURE THAT FIRST RESPONDERS COULD FOCUS ON LIFE SAVING EFFORTS WHILE PROTECTING THE BROADER COMMUNITY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS RESPONSE.
THEY COORDINATED RESOURCES ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND PARTNER AGENCIES, HELPING ENSURE THAT COMMUNICATIONS, LOGISTICS AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS REMAINED ORGANIZED DURING A RAPIDLY EVOLVING SITUATION.
AND FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.
IN THE WAKE OF THE EXPLOSION, MANY RESIDENTS FACED UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHERE THEY WOULD SLEEP, HOW THEY WOULD ACCESS SERVICES AND JUST WHAT WOULD COME NEXT.
THIS TEAM STEPPED FORWARD TO CONNECT IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH SHELTER RESOURCES, SUPPORT SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE DURING ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT MOMENTS OF THEIR LIVES.
THEIR COMPASSION REFLECTED THE VERY BEST OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
THE RESPONSE TO THIS TRAGEDY DEMONSTRATED WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS COME TOGETHER WITH A SHARED COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING LIVES AND SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY. THEIR BRAVERY, THEIR PROFESSIONALISM WAS DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THAT ENTIRE SITUATION.
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, WE'RE TAKING THE TIME THIS MORNING TO THANK YOU ALL.
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE JOIN ME THIS MORNING IN RECOGNIZING THESE OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES FROM DALLAS FIRE RESCUE, DALLAS WATER UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS, THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SOLUTIONS AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN TAKING CARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH [APPLAUSE].
CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND JUST ASK THAT EVERYBODY STAYS THERE SO WE CAN GET ONE PICTURE TOGETHER.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE BEAUTIFUL WORDS. CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THE LIVES LOST AND THE DEVASTATING EXPLOSION AND FIRE AT THE CLYDE APARTMENTS IN NORTH OAK CLIFF.
OUR HEARTS REMAIN WITH THE FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES, THOSE WHO WERE INJURED, AND EVERY RESIDENT WHOSE LIFE WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BY THIS TRAGEDY. THREE PEOPLE, INCLUDING AN INFANT, LOST THEIR LIVES AND MANY OTHERS LOST THEIR HOMES AND THEIR BELONGINGS.
IN THE FACE OF UNIMAGINABLE LOSS, WE ALSO WITNESSED THE VERY BEST OF OAK CLIFF AND DALLAS.
FROM THE EARLIEST MOMENTS AFTER THE EXPLOSION, THEY OPENED THEIR DOORS, RAISED FUNDING SUPPORT, ORGANIZED SUPPORT, CONNECTED FAMILIES WITH RESOURCES, AND HELPED ENSURE DISPLACED RESIDENTS WERE NOT FACING THIS CRISIS ALONE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK AUSTIN HOMES OF DOMINION AND BARRETT LINDBERGH OF SAVOY EQUITIES FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND GENEROSITY IN HELPING SECURE HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS WHO SUDDENLY FOUND THEMSELVES WITHOUT A HOME. THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ACT QUICKLY MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR FAMILIES TRYING TO REBUILD AND FIND STABILITY.
[00:10:02]
SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST AMONG THE COMMUNITY HEROES THAT DESERVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION TODAY IS RODNEY BROWN.I HAVE A SPECIAL REC FOR RODNEY THAT I'M GOING TO READ.
CAN WE BRING HIM FORWARD, PLEASE? WHEREAS RODNEY BROWN HAS PROUDLY CALLED OAK CLIFF HOME SINCE 1982, EMBODYING THE RESILIENCE, COMPASSION AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT THAT DEFINED THIS HISTORIC AND VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WHEREAS ON THE AFTERNOON OF MAY 28TH, 2026, WHILE SITTING OUTSIDE HIS HOME, RODNEY BROWN HEARD AND FELT A POWERFUL EXPLOSION AT A NEARBY RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 409 EAST NINTH STREET.
AND WHEREAS, WITHOUT HESITATION AND WITH COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR HIS OWN SAFETY, RODNEY RUSHED TO THE SCENE WHERE HE SAW A YOUNG GIRL DESPERATELY ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE THE BURNING STRUCTURE THROUGH A WINDOW, AND WHERE, AS GUIDED BY INSTINCT, COURAGE AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT FOR HELPING OTHERS, RODNEY REACHED THE YOUNG GIRL, PULLED HER TO SAFETY AND MOVED AWAY FROM THE HOME MERE MOMENTS BEFORE A SECOND EXPLOSION ROCKED THE PROPERTY.
AND WHEREAS RODNEY BROWN'S EXTRAORDINARY BRAVERY, QUICK THINKING AND SELFLESS ACTIONS HELPED AVERT A DEVASTATING TRAGEDY AND EXEMPLIFY THE VERY BEST QUALITIES OF A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND COMMUNITY HERO.
AND WHEREAS IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS THAT FOLLOWED, RODNEY MAINTAINED A MEANINGFUL CONNECTION WITH THE YOUNG GIRL AND HER FATHER, CREATING A LASTING BOND FORGED THROUGH AN ACT OF COURAGE AND COMPASSION THAT HAS INSPIRED RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY OF DALLAS.
MR. BROWN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT YOU CERTAINLY ARE WELCOME TO.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING.
WELL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK EVERYBODY FOR BRINGING ME HERE THIS DAY.
SEE ANOTHER DAY LIVING. BECAUSE I KNOW AT THE TIME I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE.
BUT GOD HAD HIS HANDS ON ME. SO I'M HERE TODAY TO SHOW EVERYBODY THAT IT DON'T MATTER WHO YOU WAS, I'M THERE FOR YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
CHAIRMAN WEST. DID YOU WANT TO HAVE ONE PHOTOGRAPH WITH EVERYONE? COME INSIDE THE RAIL. I'M GOING TO COME DOWN.
[00:17:08]
OKAY, AS YOU ALL MAKE YOUR WAY BACK TO YOUR SEATS, OUR GUESTS AND OUR MEMBERS AS WELL.I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE IF YOU'RE READY. CHAIRMAN GRACEY, FOR OUR LAST ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MORNING.
THESE TYPE OF INTERNS. SO TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY A TRULY SPECIAL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT I, ALONG WITH CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, YOU, MAYOR AND FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE.
THESE STUDENTS HAVE TRAVELED NEAR AND FAR TO SPEND THEIR SUMMER, LENDING THEIR TALENTS AND ENERGY TO THE CITY OF DALLAS, ALL WHILE DEVELOPING SKILLS THAT WILL SHAPE THEIR FUTURES AS PROFESSIONALS AND LEADERS.
THIS YEAR, I AM PROUD TO SAY WE HAVE OUR LARGEST COHORT TO DATE.
31 INTERNS REPRESENTING DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO OUR SUMMER INTERNS.
WE ARE SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE WITH US TODAY. THESE INTERNS HAVE BEEN HIRED ACROSS VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS FOR A TOTAL OF NINE WEEKS, AND THEY ARE READY, ALREADY MAKING AN IMPACT.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO SERVICE FIRST, NOW RESULTS.
IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THE SKILLS YOU BUILD THIS SUMMER, IN THIS CITY, IN THESE HALLS, WILL GO WITH YOU BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITIES, IN YOUR CLASSROOMS, AND THAT YOU WILL CARRY DALLAS MISSION FORWARD WHEREVER YOUR PATHS MAY LEAD.
AND AS A PERSONAL NOTE, Y'ALL GOING TO GET A LOT OF INFORMATION.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING, BUT JUST KNOW THAT YOU'LL RECALL IT WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYONE. IT'S IN OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM HERE AT THE CITY.
[00:20:44]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYONE. ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS, AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY BACK TO YOUR SEATS. AND THANK YOU, INTERNS FOR YOUR HARD WORK.IT'S 9:30 A.M., AND THIS MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL IS NOW AT RECESS UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF OUR SPECIAL CALLED MEETING, WHICH WE WILL BEGIN AGAIN. NOW, WE'LL RECONVENE THE SPECIAL MEETING.
I KNOW WE NEED TO SWITCH OVER TO WEBEX SO EVERYONE WILL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.