[00:00:01] YOU'RE WATCHING THE MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL. THIS WEBINAR IS BEING TRANSCRIBED AND SUMMARIZED. MAYOR PRO TEM JAIME RESENDEZ, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MAXEY JOHNSON. THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. CHAD WEST, JESSE MORENO ZARIN D GRACEY. LAURA. CADENA, ADAM. BAZALDUA, LORI. BLAIR. PAULA. BLACKMON. CATHY STEWART. WILLIAM. ROTH CARA MENDELSOHN. GAY DONNELL WILLIS. PAUL E RIDLEY, CITY MANAGER. KIMBERLY BIZOR TOLBERT. CITY SECRETARY BILLY RAY JOHNSON AND INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY BERT VAN DEN BERG. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A QUORUM. GOOD MORNING. TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH, MY MOTHER'S 80TH BIRTHDAY. [Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance Special Presentations Open Microphone Speakers] OH, YEAH. 2026 AND THE TIMES, 9:35 A.M.. AND I NOW CALL THIS MEETING THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. GOSH. TODAY'S INVOCATION, SPEAKER, IS GOING TO BE OUR DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. THERE HE IS. PASTOR MAXIE JOHNSON, REPRESENTING DISTRICT FOUR. HE'S THE PASTOR AT THE NEW MORNING STAR MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN WEST DALLAS. AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HIM FOR OUR INVOCATION AND THEN OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES AND TEXAS FLAGS. PASTOR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. LET US ALL STAND, PLEASE. LET'S 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. YOU WOKE US UP THIS MORNING, CLOSING OUR RIGHT MIND WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF OUR LIMBS. AND FOR THAT, WE'RE GRATEFUL. GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE AND BRING AWARENESS TO BREAST CANCER. THANK YOU FOR THE LIVES THAT YOU HAVE SAVED THROUGH YOUR GRACE AND THROUGH YOUR MERCY. GOD, WE PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES, THOSE THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO BREAST CANCER. BUT GOD, WE GIVE YOU GLORY BECAUSE EVEN IN OUR SADNESS, YOU STILL BEING A GOOD GOD. GOD, YOU'RE A WONDERFUL SAVIOR AND WE GIVE YOU GLORY THIS MORNING. GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS OUR LEADERS, OUR CITY LEADERS, OUR CITY COUNCIL. BLESS US GOD, AND HELP US TO MAKE DECISIONS. GOD, THAT'S IN YOUR WILL. LET US DO YOUR WILL. GOD NOT OUR WILL, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE. GOD, WE PRAY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. WE PRAY FOR OUR OUR YOUTH. WE PRAY FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS. WE PRAY FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS. WE PRAY FOR OUR FAMILIES. GOD TOUCH EVERY FAMILY HERE THIS MORNING. GOD. LORD, WE ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU BLESSED THE MARY'S MOM. THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER BIRTHDAY THAT YOU BLESSED US, BLESSED HER TO HAVE. WE GIVE YOU GLORY, GOD, AND WE GIVE YOU PRAISE. NOW LORD, AS WE END THIS PRAYER, WE PRAISE YOUR NAME. WE GIVE YOU GLORY BECAUSE IT'S IN YOU. WE MOVE IN YOU WE LIVE AND IN YOU AND YOU WE HAVE OUR BEING. WE COULDN'T DO NONE OF THIS WITHOUT YOU. THIS IS THE ASSIGNMENT THAT YOU BLESSED US WITH. AND FOR THAT, WE SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE SAY, GLORY TO YOUR NAME AND WE PRAISE YOU NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. GOD, WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN HEAVEN AND YOU'RE ON THE THRONE AND YOU SEE EVERYTHING. NOTHING CATCHES YOU BY SURPRISE. SO FOR THAT WE TRUST YOU EVEN WHEN WE CAN'T TRACE YOU. LORD, WE TRUST YOU. AND WE CLOSE WITH HIM THAT SAYS AMAZING GRACE. HOW SWEET THE SOUND THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE US WAS. ONCE WAS LOST BUT NOW AM FOUND. WAS BLIND. BUT NOW WE SEE. AND WE GIVE YOU GLORY AND HONOR. IT'S IN YOUR SON WE PRAY, THANK GOD. AMEN. THANK YOU PASTOR. LET'S HAVE OUR PLEDGES NOW. 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. OKAY, LET'S SEE WHAT WE HAVE THIS MORNING. BY WAY OF ANNOUNCEMENT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A FEW. SO SETTLE IN EVERYONE. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER FIRST TO DO HER RECOGNITIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBER SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS. SO MADAM CITY MANAGER, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO START WITH OUR FIRST RECOGNITION AND ASK FOR OUR SERGEANT WANDA WEST. AND THE TEAM BEHIND THE BLUE GOES PINK TO PLEASE COME FORWARD. THIS SATURDAY MARKS THE FOURTH ANNUAL BLUE GHOST PINK FIVE K CANCER AWARENESS WALK AND COMMUNITY SAFETY FAIR, BRINGING MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER AROUND A CAUSE THAT TOUCHES SO MANY OF US. WHAT BEGAN WITH A FOCUS ON BREAST CANCER AWARENESS HAS GROWN INTO AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IMPACTED BY ALL FORMS OF CANCER. AND ALL OF US THINK AND WE UNDERSTAND WHY THIS MATTERS. [00:05:01] CANCER DOES NOT JUST AFFECT THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES THE DIAGNOSIS. IT TOUCHES FAMILIES, FRIENDS, COWORKERS, AND ENTIRE COMMUNITIES. MOST OF US KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS FOUGHT THE FIGHT. MOST OF US KNOW SOMEONE THAT WE'VE HAD TO SUPPORT THROUGH THIS JOURNEY. THAT IS WHAT MAKES BLUE GOES PINK ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN A WALK. I'M THE DAUGHTER OF A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR, AND SO THIS WALK IS PERSONAL FOR ME. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US ALL TO CELEBRATE SURVIVORS LIKE MY MOTHER. ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE STILL FIGHTING AND HONOR THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US. AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, IT BRINGS OUR OFFICERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY ACROSS MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR CITY TO COME TOGETHER AND STAND ALONGSIDE THE FAMILIES [VOTING AGENDA] AND THE LOVED ONES WHO HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY CANCER. SERGEANT WANDA WEST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEART AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMITMENT OF THIS ENTIRE TEAM FOR SUPPORTING YOUR VISION. WE KNOW THAT THIS TEAM EXTENDS BEYOND THOSE THAT ARE STANDING HERE TODAY. AND SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU AND WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND LEADING THE WAY FORWARD. YOU HAVE TAKEN SOMETHING DEEPLY PERSONAL TO SO MANY PEOPLE AND CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT WALKING THROUGH THIS ALONE, AND THAT IS WHAT SERVICE LOOKS LIKE, AND THAT IS HOW WE SHOULD SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. SO TO EVERYONE WHO WILL BE OUT THERE THIS SATURDAY TO MAKE THIS FOURTH YEAR POSSIBLE, THANK YOU. AND TO EVERY SURVIVOR, FAMILY MEMBER AND LOVED ONE WHO WILL JOIN THIS SATURDAY, KNOW THAT THIS TEAM AND THIS CITY STANDS WITH YOU, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING SERGEANT WANDA WEST AND THE ENTIRE BLUE GOES PINK TEAM FOR THE DIFFERENCE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. MADAM CITY MANAGER, IS IT OKAY IF I SAY A FEW WORDS? YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. BLUE GHOST PINK IS LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORTING THE CANCER COMMUNITY? IT'S NOT THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORTING THE CANCER COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DON'T JUST TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET YOU KNOW SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STANDING HERE. THAT IS NOT FROM THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO IF I CAN TAKE A MOMENT TO DO THAT, I WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT. SO WE HAVE DALLAS COLLEGE HERE WITH US TODAY. WE HAVE CHIEF LOZANO, CHIEF BRAXTON, CHIEF SMITH, AND THERE ARE DALLAS COLLEGE TEAM WITH US THAT HELPS SUPPORT BLUE GHOST PINK. WE ALSO HAVE SERGEANT HARDIN WITH SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY AND HER TEAM HERE TODAY. WE HAVE OFFICER CRAIG WITH DART. THEY HAVE THEIR TEAM HERE TODAY AND WE HAVE LIEUTENANT JOHNSON WITH THE ISD. SO I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK THEM AND THANK YOU. THANK OUR COMMAND STAFF. WE CANNOT DO THE THINGS THAT WE DO WITHOUT LEADERSHIP. LEADERSHIP MATTERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF WE COULD COME DOWN FOR A PHOTO, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE YOU ALL COME INSIDE THE RAIL AND ARRANGE YOURSELVES. THIS IS THE CENTER, AND IF YOU'LL FAN OUT FROM THERE, WE'LL GET A NICE PHOTO. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. [00:10:20] ALL RIGHT, MADAM. CITY MANAGER. YOU GOT IT. MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT NOW TO BRING UP ONE OF OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS. DEV RASTOGI. AND ON THE NEXT ONE. TELL HER ON THE NEXT ONE. THAT GROUP RIGHT THERE. MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TODAY WE ARE PAUSING TO RECOGNIZE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DAVE RASTOGI FOR AN OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT. DAVE HAS BEEN SELECTED TO RECEIVE THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, TEXAS SECTION'S 2026 GOVERNMENT CIVIL ENGINEERING AWARD, RECOGNIZING HER CONTRIBUTIONS AND LEADERSHIP IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC SERVICE. THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES DEV'S CONTRIBUTIONS AND LEADERSHIP IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC SERVICE, AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE MORE DESERVING OF TODAY'S RECOGNITION. THOSE OF US WHO'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH DEV, WE KNOW THAT THE THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE, THE DISCIPLINE AND THE COMMITMENT AND THE SMILE THAT SHE BRINGS TO THIS ORGANIZATION EVERY DAY. SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE WORK THAT WE DO IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT SERVING PEOPLE. AND SHE HAS HELPED US MOVE FORWARD SOME OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY ALWAYS IN MIND. DEB WILL OFFICIALLY RECEIVE THE AWARD TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER THE 16TH, DURING THE TEXAS CIVIL ENGINEERING CONFERENCE GALA IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, WHERE SHE WILL BE RECOGNIZED ALONGSIDE HER OTHER PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. DEB, WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR TEAM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP EVERY DAY AND CONTINUING TO SMILE. MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING DEB RASTOGI ON THIS INCREDIBLE, WELL-DESERVED HONOR. GOD BLESS YOU, DEB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DEV. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? I WOULD, SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND OUR WONDERFUL CITY MANAGER. IT IS AN HONOR TO RECEIVE THIS ASC AWARD. BUT THE RECOGNITION REALLY BELONGS TO THE CITY OF DALLAS. IT BELONGS TO THE DEPARTMENTS, SOME OF WHICH I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF OVERSEEING. IT BELONGS TO DALLAS WATER UTILITIES. IT BELONGS TO THE BOND AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OFFICE. IT BELONGS TO TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS. THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. IT BELONGS TO AVIATION. PARKS AND RECREATION. CONVENTION AND EVENT SERVICES. THEIR ENGINEERS, PROJECT MANAGERS, FIELD AND SUPPORT TEAMS DELIVER SYSTEMS FOR RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND EMPLOYEES THAT WE RELY ON EVERY DAY. RELIABLE WATER, SAFE STREETS, AIRPORTS, PARKS AND HUNDREDS OF PUBLIC FACILITIES, FROM WORLD CLASS ART VENUES TO FIRE STATIONS TO A NEW CONVENTION CENTER AND, OF COURSE, A NEW POLICE ACADEMY. MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT I CAME TO THE CITY AFTER MANY YEARS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS A CONSULTANT. SO OVER THE PAST 26 MONTHS, I'VE BEEN LEARNING AND I'VE LEARNED THAT THE WORK IS AROUND THE CLOCK. IT'S 24 OVER SEVEN. THE PROJECTS ARE COMPLEX AND PARTICULARLY POIGNANT. TODAY, THE FUNDING IS LIMITED, SCRUTINY IS HIGH, AND THE COLLABORATION MATTERS WITHIN THE CITY, ACROSS OUR PARTNER AGENCIES AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SO REGARDLESS OF THE PROJECT, OUR STANDARD IS CLEAR. GET IT RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND VISIT IN OUR GREAT CITY. SO I AM SO PROUD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE COLLEAGUES WHO MEET THIS HIGH STANDARD EVERY DAY. SO I WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR TREATING THE INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AS A PRIORITY. I HAVE TO THANK OUR WONDERFUL CITY MANAGER FOR HER TRUST IN ME. [00:15:02] AND THESE TEAMS. AND TOGETHER WE WILL BUILD A LASTING INFRASTRUCTURE LEGACY FOR DALLAS, ONE THAT IS RESILIENT, SUSTAINABLE AND FUTURE READY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO SAY A FEW WORDS. AND AGAIN, I'M HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS RECOGNITION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. DID YOU BOTHER TO TIE THAT TIE? SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL COME ON DOWN HERE AND GET A PHOTOGRAPH. ALL RIGHTY. FOR STILL YOURS. MADAM CITY MANAGER. MR. MAYOR, I HAVE ONE FINAL RECOGNITION FOR TODAY. WE'D LIKE TO BRING OUT PAUL RAMONE, OUR DIRECTOR OF DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES. MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, TODAY, WE ARE RECOGNIZING PAUL RAMONE AS HE PREPARES TO LEAVE THE CITY OF DALLAS AFTER 23 YEARS OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT PAUL'S CAREER, I THINK IT TELLS A REMARKABLE STORY ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE HERE IN OUR CITY. PAUL BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS 20 YEARS, 23 YEARS AGO AS AN INSPECTOR, GRADE ONE. HE SHOWED UP, HE WORKED HARD, AND HE CONTINUED TO LEARN AND TOOK ON GREATER RESPONSIBILITIES ALONG THE WAY. AND TODAY, HE IS ENDING HIS CAREER AS THE DIRECTOR OF DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES. THAT JOURNEY ALONE IS SOMETHING WORTH CELEBRATING. PAUL SPENT HIS FIRST 19 YEARS WITH CODE COMPLIANCE, SERVING IN LEADERSHIP ROLES ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS, CODE OPERATIONS, NUISANCE ABATEMENT, DEMOLITIONS, CONSUMER PROTECTION, AND SEVERAL OTHER CRITICAL AREAS WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT. DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, HE ALSO HELPED OUR ORGANIZATION NAVIGATE CONSTANTLY CHANGING REQUIREMENTS WHILE CONTINUING TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND FOUR YEARS AGO, PAUL STEPPED UP EVEN GREATER AND TOOK ON THE NEW CHALLENGE OF BECOMING THE DIRECTOR OF DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES ONCE AGAIN GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. HE HAS HELPED STRENGTHEN THE WAY WE INVESTIGATE SUSPECTED ANIMAL CRUELTY. HE'S PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN UPDATING CHAPTER SEVEN OF OUR DALLAS CITY CODE AND IMPROVING OUR DANGEROUS DOG AND AGGRESSIVE DOG PROCESSES. HE'S HELPED REDUCE THE AVERAGE INVESTIGATION PERIOD FROM MORE THAN 85 DAYS TO LESS THAN 30 DAYS TODAY. AS HIS LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES GREW, SO DID THE RESULTS. PAUL HELPED REDUCE THE DEPARTMENT'S VACANCY RATE FROM MORE THAN 30% TO APPROXIMATELY 9%, WHILE STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND HELPING INCREASE LIVE RELEASE RATES FOR DOGS AND CATS FROM APPROXIMATELY 74% TO 84%. AND UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, PAUL WAS RECOGNIZED IN 2025 AS THE NUMBER ONE MUNICIPAL ADOPTION SHELTER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND NUMBER FOUR IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. THOSE ARE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PAUL, THAT WE ARE PROUD OF BECAUSE OF YOU. BUT AFTER 23 YEARS, I KNOW HIS IMPACT CANNOT SIMPLY BE MEASURED BY THOSE STATS THAT I READ OUT OR THE PROGRAMS OR THE PROJECTS, BUT IT CAN BE SEEN IN THE EMPLOYEES HE HAS LED AND DEVELOPED AND THE RESIDENTS THAT HE HAS SERVED, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT HE HAS BUILT, AND THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF ANIMALS WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE WORK OF DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES. AND SO, PAUL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT YOU STARTED STRONG AND YOU'RE ENDING STRONG. YOU EARNED GREATER RESPONSIBILITY THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER. [00:20:02] YOU STEPPED UP WHEN YOU WERE CALLED UPON, AND YOU'VE CONTINUED TO SERVE WITH A CHEERFUL SPIRIT AND WITH A SMILE. THAT LEGACY IS WORTH CELEBRATING. AND TODAY WE HONOR YOU, AND WE ASK THAT GOD WILL BE WITH YOU IN THIS NEW CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE. CONGRATULATIONS. MAY GOD BLESS YOU. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL, MADAM CITY MANAGER TO MY COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, COWORKERS AND STAFF. TO MY WIFE, WHOSE GRACE AND MERCY HAS HELPED ME THROUGH THIS PROCESS FOR OVER 23 YEARS. I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, MADAM CITY MANAGER, TO MY AC AND MOLINA, WHO'S BEEN WITH ME THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND HAD THE FAITH AND THE CONFIDENCE TO GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY. I HAVE SERVED IN LEADERSHIP ROLES FOR OVER THREE AND A HALF DECADES BEFORE I HAD SOME TIME BEFORE I CAME TO THE CITY. AS A YOUNG MAN GROWING UP IN SOUTHEAST DALLAS, I FELT I NEEDED TO SERVE MY CITY AND I GAVE UP MY RETAIL MANAGEMENT CAREER TO BE AN INSPECTOR, ONE WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS. WITHIN TWO YEARS, MANAGEMENT APPROACHED AND ASKED FOR ME TO STEP UP. SO I DID. FOR THOSE 21 YEARS, I'VE HAD THE LUXURY AND THE BENEFIT OF WORKING WITH AN AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS WHO HAVE ENGAGED WITH ME, WORKED WITH ME, AND HELPED ME THROUGH THE PROCESS. TO YOU ALL, I SAY THANK YOU TO THE LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU READ OFF. THEY ARE NOT MINE. THEY BELONG TO THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THOSE WHO ARE IN THIS HORSESHOE TODAY AND IN THIS CHAMBER IN EXECUTIVE POSITIONS TODAY. THAT STARTED OFF WITH ME IN THE LOWER LEVELS, WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN OUR OPERATIONS. TO THE STAFF, I HOPE I'VE MADE AN IMPACT IN YOUR LIVES, AS SO MANY HAVE MADE AN IMPACT IN MINE, AND TODAY I WILL SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY WITH YOU ALL. TO, TO, TO FINALIZE THIS BUDGET PROCESS, BUT TO ALSO HAND THE BATON OFF TO A GROUP OF FOLKS THAT I KNOW THAT ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE. SO WITH THAT, I SAY THANK YOU. I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE. AND TO THOSE YOUNG FOLKS WHO ARE OUT THERE LISTENING, THE ONLY BARRIERS IN LIFE ARE THE ONES THAT WE PUT IN FRONT OF US. MOVE THEM OUT OF THE WAY AND MOVE FORWARD. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE PRAISE AND GLORY TO MY LORD AND SAVIOR, WHOSE GRACE AND MERCY HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR THESE THREE AND A HALF DECADES OF LEADERSHIP. SO THANK YOU. PAUL. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND COMING INSIDE THE RAIL FOR A PHOTOGRAPH TO. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE DECADES OF SERVICE TO THE CITY. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE A HOMEBOY TO. YEAH. GET YOUR FAMILY IN HERE. ALL RIGHT. AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY BACK TO YOUR SEATS. MEMBERS. WE ARE DONE, I BELIEVE, WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THIS MORNING. SO I'M GOING TO PREPARE TO RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TEM DEPUTY MAYOR. OH. THE DEPUTY. OKAY, SO THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM IS GOING TO GIVE US A SPECIAL PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS ANNUAL NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY IS THE NATION'S LARGEST REGIONAL, COMMUNITY WIDE ONLINE GIVING EVENT THAT EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER AND RAISE CRITICAL FUNDS FOR THE NONPROFITS THAT MAKE NORTH TEXAS STRONG. [00:25:01] AND WHEREAS COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS 18TH ANNUAL NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY WILL TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER THE 17TH, 2026, WITH OVER 3300 LOCAL NONPROFITS PARTICIPATING. AND WHEREAS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2009, NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY HAS RAISED MORE THAN $712 MILLION FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. IN 2025, THE INITIATIVE RAISED MORE THAN $78 MILLION. AND WHEREAS NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY IS ONE OF THE MANY WAYS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TEXAS SEEKS TO GROW COMMUNITY GIVING AND PROMOTE PHILANTHROPY THROUGHOUT NORTH TEXAS. AS THE LARGEST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IN TEXAS AND ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE NATION, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TEXAS WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, COMPANIES TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF CHARITABLE, CHARITABLE FUNDS, INITIATIVES, AND PARTNERSHIPS. AND WHEREAS DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO MORE THAN 3300 VERIFIED LOCAL NONPROFITS ACROSS 20 COUNTIES AT NORTH TEXAS, GIVING DAY.ORG. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DALLAS IS THANKFUL TO COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS FOR ORGANIZING THIS INSPIRING REGIONAL EVENT AND ENCOURAGES ALL DALLAS RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFIT ON NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY. NOW, THEREFORE, MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON, CITY MAYOR OF DALLAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2026 AS NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY IN DALLAS, TEXAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO, WAYNE WHITE, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THE COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS BOARD OF TRUSTEES. I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THE CITY OF DALLAS MAYOR JOHNSON, CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR CONTINUING TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN UPLIFTING AND RAISING AWARENESS FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS. NOW, NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY IS OFFICIALLY TOMORROW, BUT GIVING HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR WEEKS AND ALREADY. AS OF THIS MORNING, MORE THAN 45,000 PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MADE DONATIONS TO PARTICIPATING NONPROFITS. NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY IS THE LARGEST REGION WIDE PHILANTHROPIC EVENT IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT HERE IN DALLAS, FORT WORTH. WE CAN BE SO PROUD OF THAT. AND THIS YEAR, THERE ARE 3300 NONPROFITS PARTICIPATING. EVERY GIFT MAKES A WORLD OF A DIFFERENCE RIGHT HERE IN OUR CORNER OF THE WORLD. SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE YOUR DISTRICT RESIDENTS TO DONATE. NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL. 100% OF DONATIONS GOES DIRECTLY TO THE NONPROFITS. THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS AND PARTNERS WHO COVER THOSE TRANSACTION FEES, I WANT TO SHOUT OUT OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR, AMAZON, AND SO MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND SHOWING UP FOR NONPROFITS. AND TOMORROW NIGHT, YOU WILL SEE OUR BEAUTIFUL DALLAS SKYLINE LIT UP IN OUR GIVING DAY, BLUE AND GREEN. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR REUNION TOWER, OMNI DALLAS HUNT, CONSOLIDATED BANK OF AMERICA AND THE AT&T BUILDINGS FOR LIGHTING UP OUR SKYLINE TO. DO GOOD. Y'ALL. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. COME ON DOWN. WE'RE GOING TO DO ONE MORE PHOTO. I THINK ONE WELL, WE MAY HAVE ONE MORE AFTER THAT. WE'LL SEE. ALL RIGHT. 45,000 ALREADY YOU SAID. WOW. OH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE HERE, AND I'M CHAIRMAN CHAD WEST FOR ONE MORE SPECIAL PRESENTATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. THIS MORNING, WE GET TO CELEBRATE THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF THE ROSEMONT ELEMENTARY CHILDHOOD PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION. ORIGINALLY FOUNDED IN 1926 AS THE ROSEMONT PRESCHOOL ASSOCIATION, THIS ORGANIZATION IS THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL PTA IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AS MANY AS MY. AS MANY OF MY FELLOW PARENTS AROUND THE HORSESHOE KNOW, RAISING KIDS TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY. THAT FACT MAKES THESE PARENTS COMMITMENT TO THIS ORGANIZATION EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE. [00:30:05] ON TOP OF TAKING CARE OF THEIR OWN KIDS, THEY VOLUNTEERED COUNTLESS HOURS TO THE ROSEMONT, TO ROSEMONT TO SUPPORT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THIS ORGANIZATION HAS NOT ONLY SURVIVED, BUT THRIVED BECAUSE OF THE MANY PARENTS WHO HAVE STEPPED UP GENERATION AFTER GENERATION ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR. I AM GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION BEFORE WE HAND OUT SOME SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS AND TAKE A PHOTO. HERE ARE SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIVES AND FORMER PRESIDENTS HERE TODAY. MARY JANE ANDERSON, CARLA BOSS, LINDSEY HANO, ALYSSA MCCARTHY, LYNN MERLINO, AMY TOWILL, WENDY WALKER, STEPHANIE WICK, AND HANNAH YERGIN. I'M GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION NOW. WHEREAS FOR 100 YEARS, THE ROSEMONT ELEMENTARY ROSEMONT EARLY CHILDHOOD PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION HAS SERVED DALLAS FAMILIES TO STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOODS, ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS, AND FOSTERED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. AND WHEREAS I'M GOING TO ABBREVIATE BY SAYING RECEPTA RECEPTA HAS STRENGTHENED THE OAK CLIFF COMMUNITY, ENCOURAGED VOLUNTEERISM, SUPPORTED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AND BUILT LASTING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NEIGHBORS. IT HAS WELCOMED THOUSANDS OF YOUNG FAMILIES INTO THE ROSEMONT COMMUNITY WITH FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT. AND WHEREAS MEMBERS HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARY CIVIC LEADERSHIP WITH VOLUNTEERS SERVING SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS AND CIVIC INSTITUTIONS ACROSS DALLAS WHILE FOSTERING A TRADITION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT CONTINUES TODAY. AND WHEREAS THE RECEPTA HAS CAREFULLY PRESERVED ITS 100 YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHS, NEWSPAPERS, AND HISTORICAL RECORDS DOCUMENTING THE EVOLVING STORY OF FAMILIES, EDUCATION, AND NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE IN OAK CLIFF. AND WHEREAS, IN CELEBRATION OF ITS CENTENNIAL, RECEPTA HAS SHARED TREASURES, TREASURED STORIES AND TRADITIONS THROUGH ITS 100 YEARS OF MEMORY MEMORIES SERIES, RECOGNIZING THE FAMILIES AND VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ITS LEGACY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DALLAS RECOGNIZES THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ROSEMONT EARLY CHILDHOOD PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION AND ITS COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, WHICH HAS STRENGTHENED FAMILIES, BUILT STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS, AND FOSTERED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY FOR 100 YEARS. NOW, THEREFORE, I, ERIC JOHNSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2026, AS ROSEMONT EARLY CHILDHOOD PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION CENTENNIAL IN DALLAS, TEXAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIRMAN. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? I WOULD THINK THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MARY JANE ANDERSON. I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF ROSEMONT EARLY CHILDHOOD PTA, AND I'M SO INCREDIBLY PROUD KNOWING THAT OAK CLIFF IS HOME TO THE OLDEST EARLY CHILDHOOD PTA IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. OUR MISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN SIMPLE SUPPORT PARENTS AND CREATE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR OUR CHILDREN. A CENTURY LATER, THAT MISSION REMAINS AS STRONG AS EVER. WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR CONNECTION AS WE NAVIGATE THESE EARLY YEARS OF RAISING OUR CHILDREN. WE'RE JOINED TODAY BY GENERATIONS OF RECEPTA ALUMNI, INCLUDING MANY PAST PRESIDENTS AND BOARD MEMBERS WHOSE DEDICATED LEADERSHIP SPANS DECADES. THESE WOMEN ARE THE HANDS THAT BUILT OUR PLAYGROUPS. THEY HAVE SUPPORTED AND ADVOCATED FOR ROSEMONT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, AND THEY'VE CREATED A WELCOMING FRONT DOOR THAT HAS GREETED YOUNG FAMILIES IN OAK CLIFF FOR 100 YEARS. YOU ALL ARE THE REASON THAT OUR LEGACY REMAINS SO STRONG. ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF OUR ORGANIZATION IS THAT THE CHILDREN WHO ONCE PARTICIPATED IN OUR PROGRAMS DECADES AGO, THEY'VE NOW RETURNED WITH THEIR OWN CHILDREN AND THEIR OWN GRANDCHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE THAT SAME CONNECTION. WE WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON, AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL CITY OFFICIALS HERE TODAY FOR HONORING AND CELEBRATING OUR CENTENNIAL AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO MAKING DALLAS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY. INVESTING IN OUR YOUNGEST RESIDENTS IS THE BEST INVESTMENT THAT WE CAN MAKE IN OUR CITY'S FUTURE. SO AS WE STEP INTO OUR NEXT 100 YEARS, RECEPTOR REMAINS COMMITTED TO UPLIFTING OUR FAMILIES AND BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. COME ON DOWN FOR A PHOTOGRAPH. MY SISTERS ARE ROSEMONT ALUM. WHEN WE. YEAH. WHEN WE MOVED OUT OF WEST DALLAS TO OAK CLIFF, WE MOVED RIGHT TO AN AREA CALLED 12 HILLS. AT THE TIME. 12. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, RIGHT NEXT DOOR. AND SO MY SISTER WENT THERE. YEP. SHE'S AN ALUM. I JUST TEXTED HER AND SAID, HEY, I SAID, THEY'RE RECOGNIZING ROSEMONT RIGHT NOW. SO SHE'S EXCITED. I. [00:35:49] ALL RIGHT. AS EVERYONE MAKES THEIR WAY BACK TO THEIR SEATS. MADAM SECRETARY, WE CAN GO ON WITH OUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW HEAR ITS FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS. I WILL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES. SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY, DECORUM AND GOOD CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL, IMPERTINENT, PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS, OR WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM. FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN PERSON FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION. INDIVIDUALS WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK FOR THOSE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. YOU WILL NOTICE THE TIME ON THE MONITOR AT THE PODIUM WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE STOP. AND FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. ALSO, SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFER TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME AND TO ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR JOHNSON. ONLY YOUR FIRST SPEAKER. JANUARY. FOX. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED CITY BUDGET. MY NAME IS JANUARY FOX, AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY WITH PRISM HEALTH, NORTH TEXAS. WE ARE A SYSTEM OF NONPROFIT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS WITH FIVE MEDICAL CLINICS, TWO DENTAL CLINICS AND THREE PHARMACIES ACROSS DALLAS, INCLUDING OAK CLIFF, SOUTH DALLAS, OAK LAWN, OLD EAST DALLAS AND FARMERS BRANCH. THIS YEAR, WE ARE CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF SERVING NORTH TEXANS. I AM ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARIES. TODAY, I'M ASKING THAT YOU FULLY FUND THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM. WE ARE PLEASED THAT NO BRANCHES ARE BEING CUT, BUT DISAPPOINTED THAT 35 LIBRARY STAFF MAY LOSE THE JOBS THEY LOVE. AT PRISM HEALTH, NORTH TEXAS. WE BELIEVE THAT LIBRARIES ARE INTEGRAL TO TO BUILDING HEALTHIER, THRIVING COMMUNITIES. STUDIES SHOW THAT LOW LITERACY RATES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH POOR PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES. 126 2016 STUDY SHOWED THAT BOOK READERS LIVE AN AVERAGE OF 23 MONTHS LONGER THAN NONREADERS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON ZONING AND HOW TO CREATE A HEALTHIER, MORE ACCESSIBLE CITY. MANY OF OUR CLIENTS USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, SO WALKABILITY MATTERS. OUR OAK CLIFF CLINIC IS ONE BLOCK FROM THE NORTH OAK CLIFF LIBRARY BRANCH, AND THIS AUGUST THEY JOINED US AT OUR FIRST BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR, PROVIDING STORYTIME WHILE THE KIDS WAITED FOR PHYSICAL AND DENTAL SCREENINGS. THESE CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS BUILD HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT. WE WANT TO SEE THAT GROW. LIBRARIES PROVIDE MORE THAN JUST BOOKS. THESE GET PEOPLE IN THE DOOR. THE BOOKS DO. ONCE THERE, THE LIBRARY OFFERS PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE LIFE CHANGING, SUCH AS COMPUTER ASSISTANCE, JOB SEEKER SUPPORT GROUPS, AND EVEN DIY HOMECOMING MOMS. EACH OF THESE FILLS A GAP FOR LIBRARY PATRONS THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIND ELSEWHERE, AND CERTAINLY NOT FOR FREE. MR. ROGERS ALWAYS URGED US TO LOOK FOR THE HELPERS, AND LIBRARIANS ARE HELPERS, AND LIBRARIES ARE SAFE SPACES WORTH INVESTING IN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT BEST SERVES EVERYONE INVOLVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. LINDA NEWLAND. GOOD DAY. MAYOR LINDA NOLAN FROM DISTRICT SEVEN. [00:40:07] THE FUNNY GUY ALEX STEIN, SPOKE ON SEPTEMBER 2ND. AND AS YOU KNOW, HE MENTIONED TO YOU, MAYOR, THAT YOUR WIFE CAUGHT YOU WITH SOMEONE ELSE IN THE RING DOORBELL. I HEARD SOMEONE ON THE HORSESHOE SAY THAT THAT WAS PERSONAL AND SPEAKER COULD NOT SAY, I HAVE READ THE SPEAKER RULES MANY TIMES, AND I DON'T SEE THAT IN THE RULES. CAN THAT PERSON THAT SAID THAT SHOW ME WHERE IT SAYS IN THE RULES. THAT REMINDS ME OF TIMES WHEN EVERYONE KEPT SAYING WE COULD NOT HAVE POSTERS, WHEN IN FACT I READ IN THE RULES. IT DOES NOT SAY SPEAKERS CANNOT HAVE POSTERS. OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. YOU FOLKS ON THE HORSESHOE SHOULD BE KNOWING ALL THE RULES. STOP. FLUORIDATION IS ANOTHER ITEM YOU GUYS AND GALS OF THE HORSESHOE DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT, DESPITE WHAT THE CITIZENS COME AND TELL YOU HERE IN THE OFFICE. I MYSELF HAVE SPOKE OF THE CITIZENS WITH LOW KIDNEY FUNCTION. CANNOT EXCRETE THAT FLUORIDE FROM THEIR BODIES LIKE THE REST OF THE CITIZENS CAN. LOW KIDNEY FUNCTION IS ONE OF THE SILENT KILLERS SO CITIZENS WOULD NOT KNOW THEY HAVE KIDNEY ISSUES UNLESS TESTED. AND ANOTHER REASON TO STOP FLUORIDATION IS Y'ALL NEED TO FIND WAYS TO SAVE MONEY IN THE BUDGET. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE COST OF FLUORIDATION. WILL DEFINITELY SAVE MONEY. THE SUPPLIES IN PEOPLE HIRED FOR THAT TOXIN. IN THE FUTURE, IF THE FLUORIDATION SPILL OCCURS, THERE WILL BE LOTS OF COSTS. EACH PERSON ON THE HORSESHOE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A HANDOUT ABOUT FLUORIDATION SPILLS. IF Y'ALL DON'T WANT TO CHANGE TO NO FLUORIDATION, THEN SIN. EACH CITIZEN. A POLL OF YES OR NO FOR FLUORIDATION. AND THEN Y'ALL WILL BE OFF THE HOOK, SO TO SPEAK. I STILL GET CAVITIES. DRINKING FLUORIDATED WATER. SO IF THEY CAN'T STOP ALL THE CAVITIES, DON'T PUT IT IN OUR WATER. I ALSO DID NOT GIVE INFORMED CONSENT FOR PLACING THAT POISON INTO MY BODY VIA THE WATER. STOP FOR A DONATION. YOU GUYS AND GALS. IT'S NOT GOOD FOR OUR BODIES. THANK YOU. MANY BOOKS. THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. STORM ALONE. STORM ALONE IS NOT ONLINE. NOT IN PERSON. NOT PRESENT. NICOLE PAQUETTE. PAQUETTE. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS NICOLE PAQUETTE. I AM A TESTAMENT TO HOW LIBRARIES CHANGE LIVES, AND I NOW SERVE AS THE VOLUNTEER BOARD CHAIR OF THE FRIENDS OF THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY. WE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO TO SURVEY DALLAS RESIDENTS ABOUT THE LIBRARY. OVER 4000 RESIDENTS RESPONDED IN UNDER TWO WEEKS. 97% OF THOSE RESIDENTS SAID THAT LIBRARY FUNDING SHOULD BE MAINTAINED OR INCREASED, NOT CUT. THESE ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS ASKING YOU TO BE THEIR VOICE AND TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM. YET WHEN THE BUDGET CAME OUT, THE LIBRARY HAD SIGNIFICANT FUNDING CUTS, INCLUDING THE BULK OF THE REDUCTION IN FORCE ACROSS THE CITY. AS YOU MAKE YOUR FINAL BUDGET DECISIONS TODAY, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT DALLAS RESIDENTS DO NOT GET TO VOTE DIRECTLY ON AN AMENDMENT TO RESTORE THE $3.3 MILLION CUTS TO THE LIBRARY BUDGET TODAY, BUT THE COUNCIL DOES. PLEASE MAKE OUR DALLAS RESIDENTS PROUD AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY. WORK TOGETHER TO RESTORE THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET WHILE SUPPORTING THE IMPORTANT AND INNOVATIVE FLAGSHIP MODEL. THIS MODEL ALLOWS OUR LIBRARIES TO BE OPEN WHEN OUR RESIDENTS NEED THEM. THE FLAGSHIP MODEL IS A REALLY THOUGHTFUL ONE AND IT DESERVES YOUR SUPPORT. NOW, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF COMMENTS FROM THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS, FROM EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS THAT WERE ASKING FOR SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARIES. SO I'M JUST GOING TO READ A COUPLE OF THEM WITH THE TIME THAT I HAVE LEFT. SO THESE ARE ALL FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICTS. ACCESS TO LIBRARIES AND BOOKS HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE IN WAYS I CAN'T EVEN ARTICULATE. PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLKS THAT NEED THE LIBRARY THE MOST. THOSE WITH LOWER INCOMES, THOSE WITH TRANSPORTATION ISSUES. [00:45:01] CHILDREN. THOSE THAT NEED A SAFE SPACE. CITY LEADERS SHOULD CONSIDER THAT LIBRARIES ARE NOT SIMPLY AN AMENITY. THEY ARE ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE. EXCELLENT LIBRARIES ARE A BASELINE FOR THIS CITY THAT REGARDS ITSELF AS EVERYTHING DALLAS WANTS AND IMAGINES ITSELF TO BE. THE LIBRARY SHOULD BE A NON-NEGOTIABLE. I WOULD LIKE CITY LEADERS TO CONSIDER HOW MUCH VALUE THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM ADDS TO OUR CITY AS A WHOLE, HOW MANY GAPS THE SYSTEM THE LIBRARY FILLS. THE LIBRARY HELPED ME WITH MY JOB SEARCH AND MY RESUME. THE LIBRARY CHANGED MY LIFE. ACCESS AND JOBS ARE SO IMPORTANT. PLEASE DON'T CUT THAT. ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND SAFE SPACES IMPACTS OUR ABILITY TO THRIVE HERE IN DALLAS. REDUCTION IN FUNDING OR BRANCHES AFFECTS HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE FEWEST ALTERNATIVES. PLEASE FUND THE LIBRARY. OUR FAMILY RELIES ON THE LIBRARY AND USES IT WEEKLY. THE LIBRARY DESERVES FUNDING. THE LIBRARY SUPPORT IS INTEGRAL TO OUR EDUCATED WORKFORCE AND OUR CITY'S SAFETY. LIBRARIES ARE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CITIZENS OF ALL AGES, CLASSES, BACKGROUNDS. IT IS A CORE OF OUR COMMUNITY. GIVES PEOPLE A PLACE TO LEARN, EXPLORE AND ACCESS RESOURCES. PLEASE CONSIDER THE LIBRARY AS CRITICAL LIFEBLOOD OF THIS COMMUNITY. LIBRARIES AND ACCESS TO THE KNOWLEDGE THEY PROVIDE SHOULD BE A RIGHT, AND CUTTING FUNDING IS AN AFFRONT TO THAT. OUR LIBRARIES ARE IMPORTANT. PLEASE FUND THEM TO FIND WAYS TO CONTINUE OPERATING. THIS IS JUST A SMALL REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS SAMPLE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO FULLY FUND THE LIBRARY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MICHAEL SIMMONS. MICHAEL SIMMONS. IT'S NOT PRESENT. DENISE MCGOVERN. GOOD MORNING. I AM DENISE MCGOVERN. I AM A PROUD DALLAS RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 11. I'M ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OF THE FRIENDS OF THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY. DALLAS LOVES ITS LIBRARIES. YOU'VE SEEN THAT IN SURVEYS, STICKERS, SIGNS, EMAILS, POSTCARDS, RED SHIRTS, APPEARANCES AT TOWN HALLS. THEY WANT TO SEE THEM OPEN, AVAILABLE AND FUNDED. DALLAS LIBRARIES ARE FACING A $3.3 MILLION CUT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. THIS IS AFTER A $1.9 MILLION CUT IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. EACH YEAR, THE LIBRARY HAS TO FIND WAYS TO DO MORE WITH LESS. AND EACH YEAR THEY DO. EVEN WITH THIS $3.3 MILLION CUT, THE LIBRARY HAS PROPOSED AN INNOVATIVE MODEL THAT PROVIDES SEVEN DAY A WEEK SERVICE TO FIVE BRANCHES AND COMPLIMENTARY NEIGHBORHOOD BRANCHES THAT ARE OPEN WHEN PEOPLE NEED THEM. THIS IS A CREATIVE SOLUTION TO A BUDGET WITH LESS, BUT EVEN WITH THAT, INNOVATION POSITIONS ARE LOST AND THOSE ARE STAFF THAT CONNECT WITH NEIGHBORS AND HELP PEOPLE FIND SERVICES. IT'S ONLY FIVE DAYS A WEEK FOR NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES AND NOT THE SIX THAT HAVE BEEN THE NORM. SO WE ASK THAT AS YOU CONSIDER THIS FINAL PUSH FOR THE BUDGET, YOU LOOK TO THE FUTURE TO PLEASE RESTORE THE FUNDING TO THE LIBRARY IN A RECURRING WAY THAT PROVIDES STABILITY, CLARITY, AND TIME. THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM CAN BE A MODEL FOR EFFICIENT, MODERN AND IMPACTFUL SERVICE, BUT THEY CAN'T DO IT WHEN EACH YEAR IS A NEW FUNDING ADVENTURE. THEY CAN'T DELIVER A NEW VISION AND A CLEAR VISION WHEN THE GROUND SHIFTS BENEATH THEM. LIBRARIES CHANGE LIVES. INVEST IN THEM. IN THIS NEW MODEL FOR THE FUTURE. AND DALLAS LIBRARY SYSTEM CAN BE A SHINING STAR IN WHAT DALLAS DOES AND HOW IT BUILDS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. HONORABLE PHILIP KINGSTON. HI, Y'ALL. PHILIP KINGSTON, 3701 TURTLE CREEK. I SENT YOU AN EMAIL YESTERDAY. LET'S SEE IF I CAN PULL THAT UP REAL QUICK. THE YOU ALL HAVE AN ISSUE IN FRONT OF YOU THAT HAS RECEIVED SOME ATTENTION, BUT IN MY OPINION, NOT QUITE ENOUGH. AND THAT'S DATA CENTERS. THE THE SPECIFIC ISSUE YOU ARE GOING TO ADDRESS SOON BECAUSE FIVE OF YOU SIGNED A FIVE SIGNATURE MEMO TO PUT IT ON THE COUNCIL'S AGENDA. AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY GREAT. THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT IN THE INTERIM STAFF IS ISSUING CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY FOR DATA AI DATA CENTERS. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTEDLY IN THE WORKS. THE PROBLEM COMES DOWN TO WE DON'T HAVE AI DATA CENTER AS AN ALLOWED USE IN THE ZONING CODE. WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T AT LEAST WITHOUT SOME GUARDRAILS, BUT CERTAINLY NOT PUTTING THEM ALL OVER THE PLACE AS STAFF'S INTERPRETATION HAS ALLOWED. [00:50:04] AS YOU CAN SEE, THE DEFINITION IS COMMUNICATION EXCHANGE FACILITY. AND YES, IT'S WRITTEN THAT WAY IN THE CODE. THAT'S NOT A TYPO. AND IT MEANS A FACILITY FOR CENTRALIZED PLACEMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT USED TO STORE STOREHOUSE ROUTE, VOICE AND DATA TRANSMISSIONS AMONG COMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ANTHROPIC IS, AND GIVEN THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY MONEY, I'M NOT SURE IT DOES EITHER. BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT A COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY. THIS IS NOT REALLY A CLOSE QUESTION. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WHERE WHEN STAFF NEEDS TO MAKE AN INTERPRETATION OF SOMETHING THAT'S NOT CLEAR UNDER THE CODE BY ORDINANCE, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BUILDING OFFICIAL SIGN AN INTERPRETATION MEMO. I DON'T THINK THAT HAS OCCURRED AT ALL WITH REGARD TO DATA CENTERS. BUT EVEN IF IT HAS, IT'S ILLEGAL BECAUSE THAT IS A DELEGATION OF YOUR LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY TO AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WHICH IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AS I EXPLAINED IN THE THE EMAIL. WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO DO IS MAKE AN EXPRESSION THAT THE COUNCIL DISAPPROVES OF WHATEVER STAFF INTERPRETATION IS LEADING TO THESE CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY. THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO GIVE THEM DIRECTION. YOU COULD DO IT IN A RESOLUTION IF YOU WANTED TO, BUT IT'S NOT TOTALLY NECESSARY. THE THING ABOUT THESE IS THAT IN AN URBAN CONTEXT, DATA CENTER IS IN REAL ESTATE, KIND OF A TOTAL GIVE UP. IT'S SOMETHING WHERE SOMEBODY ALREADY OWNS THE PROPERTY AND JUST DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. AND SO I DON'T THINK WE ULTIMATELY ARE GOING TO HAVE A BUNCH OF THESE. BUT IF WE ARE, WE NEED TO HAVE A CONTEMPLATIVE PROCESS WHERE YOU GUYS TELL US WHAT THE RULES ARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES THE FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS. THE REMAINING SPEAKERS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE CONCLUSION OF ITS CITY BUSINESS. MR. MAYOR. MR. MAYOR. YES. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? YES. IS IT OKAY IF WE HEAR THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS? IF YOU MAKE A MOTION, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE HEAR THE REMAINDER. THE SPEAKER IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? MR. MAYOR, I WOULD EXCLUDE THE NON DALLAS SPEAKERS. WOULD YOU ACCEPT THAT AS AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION? SURE. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. MADAM SECRETARY, THE DALLAS REMAINING SPEAKERS, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, JEREMY. BOSS. HELLO, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. I CAME UP HERE. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. I'VE BEEN SICK FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS. SOME OF YOU ALL KNOW ME FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, ACTUALLY. I'VE WATCHED SOME OF Y'ALL RUN AND SUPPORTED SOME OF YOU GUYS. I'VE BEEN IN THE ANIMAL WELFARE AND RESCUE IN DALLAS FOR 22 YEARS. JUST LIKE AS LONG AS PAUL'S BEEN HERE. I WANT TO SAY THAT I DON'T GET PAID. WHEN I CAME BACK TO DALLAS, DISTRICT ONE WAS OVERWHELMED WITH STRAY. I DON'T TAKE THAT BACK LOOSE ON DOGS. IN THE LAST 22 YEARS, I HAVE SATURATED MYSELF IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF LEARNING DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES, KNOWING THE STATE LAWS, THE CITY CODES, AND I CONSIDER MYSELF AN EXPERT WITH ALL I'VE GONE THROUGH. I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LISTENING TO ME. I'VE BEEN WANTING TO BE ON THE ANIMAL COMMISSION FOR YEARS. I AM ALSO THE CREATOR OF THE DOWDY FERRY ANIMAL COMMISSION. I'M PRESIDENT. WE STOPPED 99% OF THE DUMPING THAT'S GONE OUT THERE. WE GOT CAMERAS OUT THERE. WE'VE MADE AN ENORMOUS FOOTPRINT IN DALLAS. WE PUSH FOR AN ANIMAL CRUELTY UNIT. NOW WE GOT FIVE. WE STARTED WITH TWO. MOST Y'ALL WASN'T HERE WHEN WE PUSHED FOR THAT. I WAS FINALLY APPOINTED AS AN ANIMAL COMMISSIONER FOR ONE OF THE DISTRICTS. I'M GOING TO SAY IT. DISTRICT EIGHT. DOWDY FERRY, WHERE I'VE SPENT 12 YEARS OF MY LIFE DEDICATING MYSELF TO DEALING WITH THE DUMPING OF LIVE AND DEAD DOGS. I WAS TOLD AFTER I WAS APPOINTED AND I WENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM, I ACTUALLY RAN FOR, I RAN. I RAN AGAINST MR. WEST FOR THE FIRST TIME. I WAS APPROVED FOR THAT I WAS CLEARED. I WAS TOLD ONE DAY. THAT I WOULDN'T GET THE VOTES AROUND THE HORSESHOE. 22 YEARS I'VE DEDICATED MYSELF TO ANIMAL WELFARE. THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD, NO, I. THAT WASN'T THE CASE. [00:55:01] I WAS, I WAS, I WAS ARRESTED FOR DWI. NOW JANUARY THE 1ST, IT'LL BE TEN YEARS. THE NEXT TIME I SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN, I WAS TOLD NO, I NEVER SAID THAT. YEAH, IT'S. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE DWI. NINE AND A HALF YEARS AGO. NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULDN'T APPROVE SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN DEDICATING THEMSELVES TO SOUTH DALLAS AND OAK CLIFF FOR 22 FREAKING YEARS. 12 YEARS WITH A DOWDY FERRY ANIMAL COMMISSION I WORK ALONGSIDE OF DPD ANIMAL CRUELTY, BUT I CAN'T GET ON THE COMMISSION. THAT'S WHY ANIMAL ANIMAL RESCUERS THINK ANIMAL. YOUR TIME IS A JOKE. THANK YOU. RONNIE MAESTAS. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR RONNIE MRS, 3215 ROAD STREET, WEST DALLAS, TEXAS. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO PARKS AND REC AND ALSO TO THE CULTURE DEPARTMENT. ARTS AND CULTURE. MISS MARTIN, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S STILL HERE, BUT FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A VETERANS PROJECT IN WEST DALLAS, AND IT'S FINALLY GOING TO HAPPEN. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY A HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS. THEY'VE REALLY HELPED US WITH THIS PROJECT, AND THEY'VE ALSO HELPED US WITH OUR VETERANS PICNIC ANNUAL PICNIC IN WEST DALLAS, BECAUSE WE WANT TO STAY FOCUSED IN WEST DALLAS. IT'S JUST A GREAT TRIBUTE TO MISS DRUMMER CHAVEZ. SHE WORKS WITH WITH MISS MARTIN AND THE CULTURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT. SHE STUCK THERE WITH US FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS. AT LEAST TEN YEARS. I KIND OF FORGET HOW MANY EXACTLY, BUT I KNOW IT'S BEEN TEN. SO THAT'S THE GOOD SIDE. SO HOW DO YOU TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET? YOU KNOW, CULTURE, ARTS PARKS, DEPARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE FIGHTING. YOU KNOW, THIS IS LIKE THE HUNGER GAMES WHERE EVERYBODY'S FIGHTING FOR THEIR MONEY. BUT I CAME TO AN EVENT HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO OR A WEEK AGO. WE WERE OUT IN FRONT OF THE PLAZA AND WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE BUILDING AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS, IT RAINED. AND I'M SITTING THERE, YOU KNOW, AND I IT FELT GOOD. I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO GET UP, YOU KNOW, SO I JUST SAT THERE AND I GOT DRENCHED, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT WAS NICE, BUT I STARTED POURING A LITTLE BIT HARDER. SO I WENT UNDERNEATH THE JUST THE OVERHANG OF THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING. YOU DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO COME INSIDE THE BUILDING. THE BUILDING IS PROTECTING YOU. THIS BUILDING IS BUILT HERE TO PROTECT PEOPLE. IT'S NOT HERE. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST ANOTHER OLD BUILDING. AND FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I JUST SEEN SOMEBODY GET AN AWARD FOR ENGINEERING THAT I ASSUME WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS SHE'S BEEN HERE 2 OR 3 YEARS. AND THIS THIS COUNCIL, JUST THIS PEOPLE AND A COUPLE OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE IGNORED PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 40, 50 YEARS IN THIS BUILDING WHEN IT WAS FIRST BUILT. AND YOU'RE IGNORING THEM. YOU'RE IGNORING WHAT THEIR INFORMATION OR THEIR EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S TOTALLY BEEN IGNORED. AND HOW CAN YOU GIVE SOMEONE AN AWARD FOR, FOR THAT PARTICULAR FOR THIS BUILDING AND THEN JUST IGNORE EVERYBODY ELSE? SO I JUST, IT'S A CONFLICT AND YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT THIS THIS NOVEMBER OR WE'RE BOTH, WE'RE ALL GOING TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, JUST HOW PEOPLE REALLY FEEL ABOUT THIS BUDGET THAT'S COMING UP. BUT, YOU KNOW, GOD BLESS YOU BECAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL. Y'ALL, MOST OF YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS CAN BEING KICKED DOWN THE ROAD. BUT YOU'VE BEEN HERE AND YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING IT FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS BEING KICKED. SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU. THANK YOU. TERESITA DELGADO. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS TERESITA DELGADO, AND I'M AT 2434 SEARCY DRIVE. 75211. I'M HERE TO ASK NOT TO CLOSE OUR POOLS. I ATTEND THE MARTIN LEWIS POOL. IT'S A FABULOUS POOL. IT IS OLYMPIC SIZE AND SO FORTH. THE ELDERLY IN DALLAS. THE POPULATION GROWS AT FIVE TIMES THE RATE OF THE REST OF THE CITY'S POPULATION. APPROXIMATELY 42,500 SENIORS IN DALLAS LIVE BY THEMSELVES, INCREASING THE RISK OF ISOLATION AND NO SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND HEALTH RISKS. SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP THE POOLS OPEN FOR THEM SO THEY CAN THEM FOR US SO WE CAN HAVE A MORE PRODUCTIVE LIFE AND STAY [01:00:06] ACTIVE AND SOCIALIZE WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO US. ALSO, THE LAST NOTE I HAVE IS THAT I JUST JUST A GENTLE REMINDER. 84% OF THE SENIORS VOTE, AND IT'S GOING UP BECAUSE WE GO DOOR TO DOOR TO ASK PEOPLE TO VOTE. SO PLEASE CONSIDER TO KEEP OUR POLLS OPEN. AND IF NOT, I GUESS THE NEXT NEW CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE A HEART OPEN TO HELP US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MICHAELA WATKINS. MICHAELA WATKINS. IT'S NOT ONLINE. NOT IN THE AUDIENCE. IT'S NOT PRESENT. THIS CONCLUDES YOUR CITY OF DALLAS REGISTER SPEAKERS. THE REMAINING SPEAKERS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE CONCLUSION OF ITS CITY BUSINESS. MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR VOTING AGENDA. ARE YOU GONNA LET HIM SPEAK, GUYS? SORRY. WE DON'T. WE DON'T DO AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION. LET'S HELP HIM. LET'S HELP HIM FIND THE DOOR. JUST BECAUSE I DID NOT LISTEN. THANK YOU FOR VIOLATING MY FIRST AMENDMENT. PLEASE SHOW HIM THE DOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE TO YOUR VOTING AGENDA ITEMS, YOU DO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS. RUDY KARIMI. DON'T TOUCH ME! MOVE OUT OF MY WAY! DO NOT TOUCH ME! DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO. YOU'RE NOT MY BOSS. YOU WORK FOR ME. THIS IS ALL I REMEMBER. MY NAME. MR. KARIMI, BEFORE YOU SPEAK. IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITY COUNCIL RULES AND PROCEDURES. YOU WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS, AND I WILL ASK THAT YOU SPEAK TO THOSE TOPICS THAT THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA. OKAY. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS RUDY KARIMI COUNCIL, DISTRICT 14. I SPENT A LOT OF MY TIME THIS YEAR LOOKING AT OUR CITY'S OPEN SPENDING WEBSITE. THIS IS WHERE RESIDENTS CAN TRACK EVERY DOLLAR OF EVERY PAYMENT MADE WITH OUR PUBLIC FUNDS. YOU CAN VIEW THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS ALONG WITH THE GENERAL FUND. I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME DIGGING THROUGH PAYMENTS MADE FROM THE GENERAL FUND, AND I FOUND SOME REALLY INTERESTING THINGS. SO FAR IN FISCAL YEAR 26, WE'VE SPENT $6.5 MILLION MORE IN CONSULTANTS THAN WE DID IN ALL OF FISCAL YEAR 25. AND THE CITY MANAGER HAS THAT BUCKET GROWING UNCHALLENGED BY ANOTHER $6 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 SPENDING IN THE OTHER MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES AND REIMBURSEMENTS CATEGORY. YES, THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT IT'S CALLED INCREASED BY $700,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 26 AS COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR 25. THAT'S NOT A BIG NUMBER, BUT THAT IS A 4,000% INCREASE FROM 2025 IN THAT CATEGORY. THESE ARE JUST TWO CATEGORIES. I COUNTED 17 CATEGORIES FROM THE GENERAL FUND THAT DOUBLED, TRIPLED, QUADRUPLED, AND A COUPLE THAT INCREASED BY TEN X OR MORE. THESE DOLLARS ADD UP TO MILLIONS, AND MOST COULD HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED AND COMPLETELY INVISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. BUT HERE IS WHAT'S NOT INVISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH. INSTEAD. EMPLOYEE FURLOUGHS, REDUCED LIBRARY HOURS, FEWER MOWINGS IN OUR PARKS, NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR ANIMAL SHELTERS, NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR EVICTION SUPPORT. YOU CHOSE TO MAKE US SUFFER BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T CONTROL YOUR SPENDING. THEN YOU HAD THE NERVE TO CALL US TOXIC FOR HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE. YOU MADE US TOXIC BECAUSE YOU'RE TOXIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DOLORES. PHILLIPS. DOLORES. PHILLIPS. MISS PHILLIPS, YOU'LL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON ALL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. I WILL ASK THAT YOU STAY ON TOPIC TO THE ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED ON THE AGENDA. DOLORES PHILLIPS, I BELIEVE THIS IS ON TOPIC. YOU DO HAVE HANDOUTS. I DON'T KNOW IF MR. MARTINEZ GAVE THEM TO YOU OR NOT. WHEN I WAS HERE, SEPTEMBER THE 2ND, IN THE POINT OF ORDER, YOU STOLE MY NOTES. CONCERNING. OKAY. SORRY. IT'S OKAY. JUST STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER. THE SPEAKING IS SUPPOSED TO BE GERMANE TO AGENDA TOPICS, AND IT'S ALREADY STARTING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. ALL RIGHT. MISS PHILLIPS, I'M GOING TO SUSTAIN THAT POINT OF ORDER AND ASK THAT YOU LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TODAY TO THE AGENDA ITEMS YOU SIGNED UP FOR. OKAY. I'M SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM TWO CONCERNING BOARD AND COMMISSIONS AND THEIR DUTIES. AND I WANTED TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT THEY'LL BE UP AGAINST. I'M NOT GOING TO BE BULLIED. I'M NOT GOING TO BE INTIMIDATED. [01:05:02] I NOW KNOW THAT I HAVE A FABRICATED POLICE REPORT OUTSIDE OF DPD 02732918 OCTOBER 25TH, 2013. THERE IS NOW ONE FROM ERVIN, ONE FROM GRAND PRAIRIE. YOU ALSO RECEIVED DOCUMENTS FROM MY COMPLAINT FILED WITH OCPD FOR GERALD BROOKS HAVING TWO COMPLAINTS AND HONORABLE JUDGE NASH, COURT JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT. ONE PLACE ONE WHEN IT'S REALLY ONLY ONE CASE, MISS PHILLIPS, YOU'RE NOT. THIS IS THIS IS FIVE FACADE FILE BUILDING, AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK DURING OPEN MIC. THANK YOU, HONORABLE JOHNSON. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO YOUR FIRST VOTING ITEM. AGENDA. ITEM ONE IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. I HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. MINUTES ARE ADOPTED. NEXT ITEM. AGENDA ITEM TWO IS CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THIS MORNING. YOU ONLY HAVE ONE NOMINEE FOR FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENT. YOUR NOMINEE FOR FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENT, LARRY MCGREGOR, IS BEING NOMINATED TO THE TRINITY RIVER WEST MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA. THIS IS YOUR NOMINEE? IS THERE A MOTION? SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION IN A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE NOMINEE IS APPROVED. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AGENDA ITEM THREE. [PUBLIC HEARINGS AND RELATED ACTIONS] AGENDA ITEM THREE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS ON A $0.6978 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR THE 2020 627 FISCAL YEAR. AS DISCUSSED ON AUGUST 25TH, 2026, CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON A WILL VOTE TO ADOPT A TAX RATE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2026 AT DALLAS CITY HALL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. YOU DO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, MARY LOU PEREZ. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARY LOU PEREZ. I RESIDE AT 2703 KINGSTON STREET IN DALLAS. I AM HERE TODAY TO JUST TO BECAUSE THE TAXES ARE HIGH AS IT IS FOR RESIDENTS AND THAT I HOPE THAT YOU INCLUDE ITEMS LIKE THE SWIMMING POOLS AND THE LIBRARIES FOR SENIORS AND FOR THE SENIORS TO HAVE THAT THOSE AMENITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM. I AM A MEMBER OF THE MARTIN LEWIS REC CENTER, AND I PARTICIPATE IN THE ASAP PROGRAM AT MARTIN LEWIS POOL AND WHICH I SENT A LETTER OUT TO ALL THE COUNCIL, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO SUMMARIZE MARTIN LEWIS POOL, OF COURSE, IS NESTLED IN WEST OAK CLIFF COMMUNITY, AND IT'S EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND WALKABLE BY SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILIES. MARTIN LEWIS REC CENTER AND POOL SERVES AS A HUB OF WEST OAK CLIFF. THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS THIS POOL TO REMAIN OPEN IF IT. EVEN IF IT IS FOR ONE MORE YEAR, OUR WEST DALLAS NEIGHBORS WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM HAVING THIS POOL STAY OPEN FOR ONE MORE YEAR WHILE THEIR AQUATIC CENTER IS COMPLETED. SO YOU SEE, THIS WILL BENEFIT A LARGER POPULATION, ALL OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM HAVING SOME CONTINUATION OF POOL RECREATION DURING THE HOT SUMMERS. SPEAKING FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS A SENIOR CITIZEN, THAT ONE MORE YEAR IS PACKED WITH SO MANY BENEFITS THAT WILL SADLY LOSE IF IT IS CLOSED THROUGH ASAP. THE AQUATIC WATER FITNESS PROGRAM AT MARTIN LEWIS POOL WAS TRULY MAGICAL THIS SUMMER FOR OUR SENIORS, INCLUDING MYSELF. WE HAD ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 30 SENIOR PARTICIPANTS IN ANY GIVEN DAY CLASS. OUR TEAM ENJOYED STRONG SENSE OF CAMARADERIE DURING OUR CLASSES. NEW FRIENDSHIPS WERE FORMED, FORMED, AND NURTURED. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS? WELL, WITH WATER FITNESS EXERCISES, WE GET THE WHOLE ENCHILADA. I MEAN, IT ENCOMPASSES HELPS AND HELPS THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL. OF COURSE, THE MIND RELIEVES WITH EXERCISE. IT RELIEVES STRESS. WE GET BETTER SLEEP BODY PHYSICALLY. WE'RE MORE WE FEEL MORE ENERGETIC AND IT HELPS RELIEVE JOINT PAIN. OUR SENIORS ARE HEALTHIER BECAUSE OF THIS TYPE OF PROGRAMS AND AVAILABILITY. WATER PROGRAMS LIKE THIS HELP OUR SENIORS STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY, AS IT IS A PLACE WHERE WE COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. PLEASE, I IMPLORE THAT I IMPLORE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS IN YOUR BUDGET TO KEEP OUR MARTIN LEWIS POOL AND OUR LIBRARIES WITH SENIOR [01:10:05] ACTIVITIES IN OUR LIBRARY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO USE THESE AMENITIES. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS AFTER THAT ONE YEAR, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW. PLEASE INCLUDE MARTIN LEWIS AND THE LIBRARIES IN YOUR BUDGET AND GIVE US ONE MORE YEAR OF SWIMMING. UN MAS ANO, POR FAVOR. GRACIAS. THANK YOU. YOUR NEXT SPEAKER ON AGENDA ITEM THREE, KEY WEST. KEY WEST DISTRICT SIX ON ITEM THREE. BECAUSE THIS TAX RATE IS NOT JUST A NUMBER. IT IS A DECLARATION OF WHAT THIS CITY CHOOSES TO PROTECT. IT MUST NOT HARM THE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE ALREADY CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF THIS CITY'S FAILURES. THIS LEADERSHIP IN THIS ROOM HAS ALREADY SHOWN US THAT PRIORITIES. WHEN A BLACK CHILD DIES IN A SPECIFIC LEADER CAN SHOW UP. SARCASTIC TO MY CHILDREN FELL A GROSS ATTEMPT AT GROOMING AND PUBLICLY ALIGN HIMSELF WITH A CONVICTED RACIST RAPIST, A BABY EATER, A GENOCIDAL ACTOR THAT TELLS THIS COMMUNITY EXACTLY WHERE THIS COUNCIL STAND. THOSE CHOICES ARE PUBLIC RECORD AND THAT MATTER. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS CITY FUNDS AND WHO THIS CITY PROTECTS, DON'T ADDRESS MY CHILDREN EVER AGAIN. THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL IS FUNDED THROUGH ITEM THREE, AND ITS MANDATE IS CLEAR. THE OIG IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT OF CITY PROCESSES, LEGAL COMPLIANCES, INVESTIGATIVE INTEGRITY, ETC. THAT INCLUDES OVERSIGHT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S, COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAWS AND THE CITY'S OWN MUNICIPAL CODE. BUT THAT OVERSIGHT FAILED UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551041 AND 551045. THE CITY IS LEGALLY REQUIRED TO PROPERLY POST ALL AGENDA ITEMS, INCLUDING EMERGENCY SUBMISSIONS FROM THE PUBLIC EYE. SUBMIT AN EMERGENCY AGENDA ITEM IN JULY REGARDING DANIEL'S DEATH, AND THE CITY DID NOT POST IT, DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT, AND DID NOT FORMALLY REJECT IT. THAT IS A DIRECT VIOLATION OF STATE LAW. IT IS ALSO A VIOLATION OF DALLAS CITY CODE CHAPTER TWO, ARTICLE ONE, WHICH REQUIRES THE CITY TO MAINTAIN TRANSPARENCY, PROPER RECORD HANDLING AND FULL COMPLIANCE WITH STATE OPEN MEETING LAWS THAT CITY. THIS CITY BROKE ITS OWN CODE IN THE OIG, THE BODY FUNDED BY ITEM THREE, DID NOT INTERVENE, DID NOT INVESTIGATE BECAUSE THE OIG FAILED TO PERFORM ITS STATUTORY DUTIES AND BECAUSE THE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE VIOLATED BOTH STATE LAW AND DALLAS CITY CODE. THIS MEETING IS NOT PROCEDURALLY COMPLIANT, AND WHEN A MEETING IS NOT COMPLIANT WITH STATE AND MUNICIPAL LAW, THE COUNCIL CANNOT LEGALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH ADOPTING A TAX RATE. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE, DALLAS, WE ARE HERE BECAUSE DALLAS FAMILIES DESERVE A TAX RATE AND A BUDGET THAT DOES NOT HARM US. AND WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WHEN LEADERSHIP ALIGNS ITSELF WITH HARMFUL INDIVIDUALS AND THE CITY LAWYERS VIOLATE STATE AND CITY LAW, THE PEOPLE MUST SHOW UP. DANIEL IRVIN DEATH IN ROWLETT IS CONNECTED TO THIS BECAUSE DALLAS IS THE ANCHOR CITY. DALLAS SET THE STANDARDS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS THE REGION. WHEN DALLAS IGNORES EMERGENCY AGENDA ITEMS SUBMITTED BY RESIDENTS, THE ENTIRE REGION SEES IT. AND TODAY ON ITEM THREE, YOU WILL NOT IGNORE US OR THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR CHOICES AND YOUR VIOLATION. A TAX RATE CANNOT BE ADOPTED WHEN THE OVERSIGHT SYSTEM FUNDED BY THE TAX RATE IS FAILING. A TAX RATE CANNOT BE ADOPTED WHEN THE PUBLIC IS LEGALLY SUBMITTED, AGENDA ITEMS ARE SUPPRESSED. ITEM THREE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD TODAY BECAUSE THIS PROCESS ITSELF IS UNLAWFUL. THANK YOU. ON THIS ITEM, AGENDA ITEM THREE. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL? NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. LOOKING FOR A MOTION? I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A SECOND AND. ALL RIGHT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? BRIEFLY. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. AGENDA ITEM THREE. THANK YOU. MAYOR. JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, THIS IS A. THIS VOTE REQUIRES A MAJORITY, AND IT IS THE TAX RATE THAT THE CITY MANAGER ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, WHICH IN PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS, COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED. THANK YOU. CAN I GET A POINT OF CLARIFICATION? YES. GO AHEAD. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS JUST A PUBLIC HEARING. WE'RE NOT PASSING THE TAX RATE RIGHT NOW. IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE MOTION ON AGENDA ITEM THREE IS A RECORD REQUIRED OR NO SIMPLE MAJORITY AND NO RECORD REQUIRED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. BRIEFING A MUST BE HEARD BEFORE YOUR REMAINING AGENDA ITEMS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR THAT. [01:15:01] THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING AGAIN TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. AFTER MONTHS OF WORK, WE HAVE MADE IT TO THE FINAL DAY TO DEVELOP AND APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET. I WANTED TO START THIS BRIEFING BY THANKING THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE ENGAGEMENT AND THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS WHO'VE PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMUNITY SURVEY THIS YEAR, WHO'VE HELPED US UNDERSTAND OUR PRIORITIES AS WELL AS THOSE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE ENGAGED WITH US THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE TOWN HALL AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS. AND LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR OVERALL CITY STAFF. THIS IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS, AND STAFF FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT HAVE WORKED WITH US TO BRING THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET TO THIS POINT. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE BUDGET THAT WE DELIVERED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST THE 11TH. IT DELIVERS ON KEY RESIDENT PRIORITIES, INCLUDING INVESTMENTS IN STREET INFRASTRUCTURE AND POLICE SERVICES. AND BEYOND THAT, WE ALSO DELIVERED A BUDGET THAT IS BALANCED THE PRIORITIES OF THE COMMUNITY WITH A MODEST TAX RATE DECREASE OF 0.1 $0.00 PER $100 VALUATION, MAKING THIS THE 11TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR WITH THE TAX RATE REDUCTION. WE HAVE STREAMLINED OPERATIONS, IMPROVED ACCOUNTABILITY, AND BETTER ALIGNED OUR PRIORITIES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THE DEMANDS OF WHAT OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT. WE DO KNOW THAT THERE IS MORE HARD WORK AHEAD FOR THE FUTURE. AS OF FOR TODAY, YOU HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WE KNOW YOU WILL CONSIDER. THE FIRST ONE WILL BE BRIEF AND AYE. WE HAVE PREPARED A DOCUMENT THAT WILL WALK YOU THROUGH ONE ADDITIONAL BUDGET REVISION THAT I KNOW THAT MY TEAM WILL BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS. AND THEN AFTERWARDS, MR. MAYOR, THE COUNCIL THEN WOULD SIT AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. AYE AFTER COMPLETING THE AMENDMENT DISCUSSIONS, WE WILL THEN ASK FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE AGENDA ITEMS FOUR THROUGH TEN, WHICH INCLUDE THE BUDGET ORDINANCE, THE TAX RATE ORDINANCE AND OTHER BUDGET RELATED AGENDA ITEMS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IF YOU APPROVE THE BUDGET, BUT THEN CHANGE THE TAX RATE OR DO NOT APPROVE THE FEE ORDINANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, THEN COUNCIL WILL NEED TO GO BACK AND REBALANCE THE BUDGET AGAIN. ITEMS SUCH AS THE TAX RATE AND THE FEE ORDINANCE MUST BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE APPROVED BUDGET, OR WE ARE OUT OF BALANCE. WE WILL ASSIST AND WORK WITH YOU AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING STAYS BALANCED. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MR. JACK IRELAND AND DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES JEANETTE WEEDEN TO WALK YOU THROUGH BRIEFING ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. POINT OF INFORMATION PLEASE STATE YOUR POINT OF INFORMATION. I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE IN THIS PROCESS. IS IT CORRECT THAT THE MANAGER AND STAFF HAVE PRESENTED US WITH A BUDGET, AND THAT NOW THIS IS THE BUDGET OF THE BODY TO DEBATE? IS THAT CORRECT? I'LL LET THE CITY ATTORNEY GIVE YOU THE THE STATE LAW LEGAL MUMBO JUMBO. THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR. AT THIS TIME, THIS IS MERELY THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO CONSIDER THE AMENDMENTS. THIS IS. YOU GUYS ARE YOU GUYS, WE'RE NOT ACTING. YOU GUYS WILL BE ACTING IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE PURSUANT TO THE CHARTER. AND AFTER THIS, THE NEXT ACT WILL BE TO ACTUALLY WORK ON THE BUDGET. AND SO WHO? POINT OF ORDER. POINT OF INFORMATION. OKAY. KEEP GOING. COULD YOU DELINEATE WHO EXACTLY IS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. WE'RE NOT IN ONE YET, SO IT'S NOT IT'S NOT APPLICABLE. BUT HE WAS JUST SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO THAT. AND SO MY QUESTION IS IF YOU COULD SPECIFY IT'S JUST NOT TIMELY. WELL, I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE PROCESS WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT. BUT WE'RE STILL ON THE CITY MANAGER'S BRIEFING RIGHT NOW. SO MY POINT OF INFORMATION FOR THE FIRST QUESTION IS REALLY UNDERSTANDING FOR THE DELIBERATIVE PROCESS WHERE WE'RE AT IN THIS MEETING AND WITH THE BUDGET ITSELF, MEANING IS IT FOR US ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DEBATE, OR IS IT A CITY WIDE DISCUSSION? IS IT A DOES THAT INCLUDE STAFF IN DEBATING BUDGET ITEMS? DO YOU FOLLOW THE QUESTION? I'M NOT SURE I THINK I DO, SIR. OKAY. GO AHEAD. THE. OF COURSE IT'S THE INDIVIDUAL. IT'S THE MEMBERS. HOWEVER, IF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. IT'S THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHARTER, THE CITY MANAGER IS ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT A MEETING. SHE'S ALLOWED TO TAKE PART IN DISCUSSIONS. SO SHE WOULD BE PART OF IT. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? NO, I OF COURSE YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE QUESTION IS EITHER, BUT IF IT'S NOT, WE'RE ON THE BRIEFING RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE IN THAT PART OF THE AGENDA. SO WE NEED TO ACTUALLY CONDUCT THE BRIEFING. AND WHEN WE CAN CONCLUDE THE BRIEFING THOUGH. YEAH, THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS I THINK WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AT THAT TIME. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU, MISS TOLBERT. [01:20:03] JEANETTE WEEDEN, BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES JOINING ME THIS MORNING. JACK IRELAND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AND SUZANNE ZEMAN AND DAN BINTLIFF FROM BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES. SO I'LL GO DIRECTLY TO SLIDE NUMBER TWO OF THE PRESENTATION. AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS 5.66 BILLION. THAT INCLUDES ALL FUNDS. ENTERPRISE FUNDS, CAPITAL DEBT AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. THE GENERAL FUND PORTION OF THE BUDGET IS 2 BILLION, AND THE GENERAL FUND PORTION IS BALANCED WITH NO DEFICIT. JUST TO RECAP WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS ON SLIDE THREE. TODAY IS OUR LAST DAY OF FINALIZING THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET. IF YOU RECALL, ON AUGUST 26TH, WE INTRODUCED A NEW PROCESS THIS YEAR AS THE CITY MANAGER. REVISIONS WERE DISCUSSED. ON SEPTEMBER 2ND, CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSED PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET THROUGH THE STRAW, STRAW STRAW VOTE PROCESS. CITY COUNCIL APPROVED SIX REVISIONS BY MAJORITY SUPPORT, AND THOSE REVISIONS WERE INCORPORATED IN THE FIRST READING OF THE BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 2ND. TODAY COUNCIL WILL COMPLETE THE BUDGET PROCESS. LAST WEEK. FRIDAY WHEN THIS ITEM WAS POSTED, THE CITY MANAGER PROPOSED A REVISION. THIS REVISION HAS NOW BEEN WITHDRAWN, SO WE WILL MOVE FORWARD TO SLIDE NUMBER SIX. ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH, WE RECEIVED ONE AMENDMENT FROM CITY COUNCIL. AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST, AMENDMENTS MUST BE BALANCED WITH A SOURCE OF FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE USE. AND SO SIMILAR TO THE APPROACH, ON SEPTEMBER 2ND, WE HAVE PROVIDED A MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO THIS CITY COUNCIL AMENDMENT THAT WE RECEIVED. SO THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU SEE HERE ON SLIDE SEVEN CITY COUNCIL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE PROPOSES A REDUCTION TO THE YOUTH COMMISSION TRAVEL BUDGET, AND THIS IS TO RESTORE FUNDING TO THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. THE FISCAL YEAR 27 PROPOSED TRAVEL BUDGET FOR THE YOUTH YOUTH COMMISSION IS 23,000. AND THIS AMENDMENT REDUCES THAT FUNDING DOWN TO 6000. OUR NEXT STEPS ARE LISTED HERE ON SLIDE EIGHT. TODAY, CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE CITY COUNCIL AMENDMENT THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON FRIDAY AND ANY ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT YOU PROPOSE TODAY. AS MENTIONED, THE CITY MANAGER HAS WITHDRAWN THE REVISION. AND SO OUR ADDITIONAL STEPS TODAY INCLUDE ADOPTING THE BUDGET ON FINAL READING, APPROVING THE TAX RATE AND APPROVING OTHER BUDGET RELATED ITEMS. THIS CONCLUDES OUR PREPARED REMARKS, AND I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MEMBERS. MAYOR. I SAW MR. WEST LIGHT, BUT I HEARD YOUR VOICE. SO ARE YOU. WERE YOU TRYING TO GET IN? I HAVE A POINT OF INFORMATION, MAYOR. OKAY, STATE YOUR POINT OF INFORMATION, THEN. I'M GOING TO GO TO YOU, MR. BAZALDUA. IF WE HAVE GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE BUDGET, LIKE I HAVE AN OPENING STATEMENT, JUST THANKING STAFF AND EVERYTHING, IS THAT APPROPRIATE TO DO NOW, OR WOULD YOU PREFER TO OR IS IT APPROPRIATE TO DO IT AFTER THE COMMITTEE? THE HOLE'S OPENED. YEAH. WE'RE NOT IT'S NOT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY PREFERENCE. IT HAS TO DO WITH WHATEVER IS IN ORDER HERE. SO I'M JUST CONSULTING WITH THE PARLIAMENTARIAN ABOUT EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING. AT SOME POINT STATE LAW STARTS TO KICK IN AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. BUT FOR NOW WE ARE IN THIS BRIEFING AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE WE'RE NOT IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE YET. AND I WANT TO KNOW AT THIS POINT, WE'RE IT'S OUR NORMAL BRIEFING PROTOCOL. IT'S 531 AND IT'S QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR WHATEVER. AND THEN IF THERE'S A MOTION TO GO INTO THE COMMITTEE, WE'LL DO THAT. AND WE CAN ANSWER PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES ABOUT THAT TOO. SO DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO BE A PART OF THE RECORD AS PART OF THE FIVE, THREE, ONE QUESTION FOR THE PANEL. YES. OR THEN YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. WE'RE ON BRIEFING ITEM A FROM TODAY'S BRIEFINGS FOR THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WANT TO START BY THANKING CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, OUR CFO, JACK IRELAND, BUDGET DIRECTOR JEANETTE WEEDEN, AND THE MANY ANY INDIVIDUALS ON THEIR TEAMS WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD, OFTEN WELL INTO THE EVENING AND ON WEEKENDS ON THIS BUDGET OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. THIS BUDGET IS NOT PERFECT. NO BUDGET EVER IS. BUT GIVEN THE VERY SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS THAT WE ARE FACING, I THINK YOU ALL DID A FANTASTIC JOB. PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS TO BALANCE ITS BUDGET EVERY YEAR. WE DON'T HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO SPEND BEYOND OUR REVENUES. THAT IS A GOOD THING FOR US. I DON'T THINK ANY ENTITY SHOULD HAVE THAT ABILITY, BUT IT'S ALSO A CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET EVERY YEAR. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CITY IS ALSO CONSTRAINED BY DECISIONS MADE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND BY VOTER APPROVED REQUIREMENTS. WE HAVE DEDICATED A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, AS WELL AS A LOT OF OUR SALES TAX REVENUE TO PUBLIC SAFETY. AND FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF PROPOSITIONS S AND D, YOU, THE CITY MANAGER, HAS REQUIREMENTS FOR HOW CERTAIN NEW REVENUE MUST BE ALLOCATED, [01:25:06] INCLUDING DIRECTING HALF TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY. THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE IMPORTANT COMMITMENTS, BUT THEY ALSO REDUCE THE FLEXIBILITY WE OTHERWISE MIGHT HAVE TO SHIFT FUNDING TOWARDS OTHER PRIORITIES IN YEARS WHEN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS MIGHT BE LOWER. SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AS A POSITIVE OUTCOME OF THE SUCCESSFUL WORK OF OUR POLICE CHIEF AND OFFICERS IN REDUCING CRIME. I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE FOCUSING ON THE CITY'S CORE PRIORITIES OF PUBLIC SAFETY, SAFE STREETS, SANITATION, PICKUP AND PARKS. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT PROVIDING LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY POOLS, PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES WHERE RESIDENTS MAY HAVE FEWER ALTERNATIVES, IS A CORE FUNCTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT JUST AS IMPORTANT AS OUR OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CHALLENGES WE FACED THIS YEAR ARE NOT A ONE OFF SITUATION. DALLAS WILL CONTINUE TO FACE SIGNIFICANT BUDGET PRESSURES IN THE COMING YEARS, AND THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING TO JUST GET MORE DIFFICULT. THAT MEANS THAT IN ADDITION TO BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF OUR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS, WE NEED TO LOOK FOR NEW WAYS TO BRING IN REVENUE. ENCOURAGE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. PARTNER WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE THE CITY CAN HAND OFF NON-CORE SERVICES TO EXTERNAL PARTNERS. NONE OF THIS IS GOING TO BE EASY. THE COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO FACE DIFFICULT CHOICES IN THE YEARS AHEAD. I HOPE WE ALL REMEMBER THIS FISCAL CHALLENGE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND MAKE DECISIONS IN LINE WITH THESE NEW CONSTRAINTS. THANK YOU. MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I ACTUALLY HAVE A NUMBER OF BUDGET QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO ON FURTHER. AND THEY'RE STARTING WITH OUR FUND BALANCE. I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN TO US ABOUT THE EXPRESS BUSINESS CENTER WHO IS EXPECTED. WELL, THE BEGINNING AND ENDING FUND BALANCE GOING FROM OVER 8 MILLION TO 2.5 MILLION. SO THE EXPRESS CENTER OF FUND BALANCE, IF YOU'LL NOTICE, IN THE FISCAL YEAR 26 FORECAST, HAS A PROJECTED ENDING BALANCE OF ABOUT 7.8 MILLION. THE FISCAL YEAR 27 AND 28 BUDGET SPENDS DOWN THAT FUND BALANCE. IT ALLOCATES ONE TIME FUNDING TO THE GENERAL FUND. THE FUND BALANCE IS REALLY A RESULT OF A PRIMARILY AUTO AUCTION REVENUE THAT COMES IN AS A RESULT OF SALES OF SURPLUS VEHICLES. AND SO WE DID A CALCULATION TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH OF THAT FUND BALANCE WAS DUE BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND BASED ON THE SALE OF THOSE ASSETS. AND HOW MANY YEARS HAS THAT BEEN ACCUMULATING? IF YOU LOOK AT OUR SALES WERE NOT ONE YEAR. CORRECT. IT WAS MORE IT WAS OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL YEARS. SO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL SUMMARIES IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT. IN FISCAL YEAR 24, THE ACTUAL ENDING BALANCE WAS 7.3 MILLION. AND THEN IN FISCAL YEAR 25, IT WAS 7.7 MILLION. SO STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 27, WE STARTED TO SPEND DOWN THAT FUND BALANCE. AND THEN CAN YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES IN THE FUND BALANCE FOR THE OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT? YOU'RE SHOWING BEGINNING BALANCE FOR 27 TO BE 25 MILLION IN ENDING BALANCE 11 MILLION. SO THE OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT, THAT FUND BALANCE INCLUDES THREE THREE PRIMARY AREAS ASSOCIATED WITH RISK MANAGEMENT. SO THERE'S THE LIABILITY FUND WORKER'S COMP AND INSURANCE. AND SO ANY CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO LIABILITY. SO WE MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHEN CASES WILL BE SETTLED AND ADJUDICATED. AND DEPENDING ON THE STATUS OF THE CASE, THE CASE IS EITHER MOVED TO A FUTURE YEAR. AND SO THE FUND BALANCE IS RECALCULATED AND THEN REAPPLIED TO EXPENSES. AND DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE COUNCIL IS AWARE OF ALL OF THE CASES THAT YOU MIGHT BE ACCRUING FOR? SO I THINK THERE WAS A CONVERSATION AT THE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY MEETING TO, I THINK, CREATE A REPORT TO SHED LIGHT ON THAT AWARENESS. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE OF THEIR PROCESS OF NOTIFYING CITY COUNCIL, BUT IN TERMS OF OUR NOTIFICATION. SO WE HAVE A BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT. WE SHARE THE FINANCIALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RISK MANAGEMENT TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE EVERY MONTH. BUT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL CASE ADJUDICATION, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE PROCESS IS. AND THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE CITY ATTORNEYS TO DETERMINE HOW THEY COMMUNICATE ABOUT CASES THAT HAVE BEEN FILED. [01:30:01] WELL, FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, WE WE CERTAINLY ACCRUED FOR THE GAS DRILLING CASE OVER MANY YEARS. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST BE BRIEFED ON DOLLARS THAT YOU ARE ACCRUING FOR, FOR VARIOUS CASES. AS, AS SOME SORT OF CONTINGENCY. MY NEXT QUESTION FOR YOU IS FROM BUDGET PAGE 487, WHERE YOUR PLANNED GENERAL FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 28 IS 2.112 MILLION. AND I'M WONDERING WHY, WHY DO YOU GO WITH A PLANNED REVENUE THAT'S SO AGGRESSIVE? BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE YEAR THE HEADLINES ARE, OH NO, THERE'S A BUDGET SHORTFALL AND THERE'S NOT A SHORTFALL. IT'S THAT YOU PLAN TO OPTIMISTICALLY AND THEN THE REVENUE ISN'T COMING IN THAT WAY. AND SO WHY WOULDN'T WE PLAN TO JUST HAVE THE SAME REVENUE? AND THEN INSTEAD, THE HEADLINE IS, WOW, THE CITY HAS 80 MILLION NEW DOLLARS IN THE GENERAL FUND. WELL, I DISAGREE THAT WE FORECAST IN A WAY THAT'S LEAVING US WITH A DEFICIT ON THE REVENUES. WE ARE FORECASTING PROPERTY TAX GROWTH. AND WE'RE ASSUMING 3.5% GROWTH ON REAPPRAISAL. AND WE MAKE AN ASSUMPTION ON WHAT GROWTH WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION. SO WE DO ASSUME THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE GROWTH IN PROPERTY TAX. WE WORK WITH OUR EXTERNAL ECONOMISTS TO FORECAST WHAT IS THE FUTURE SALES TAX. AND THOSE TWO REVENUES TOGETHER MAKE UP 75 PLUS PERCENT OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE. SO I REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN WE STARTED THE BUDGET PROCESS TALKING ABOUT WELL OVER $100 MILLION DEFICITS. AND THAT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE NOT FORECASTING REVENUE. SO WE DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN AT FORECASTING FORWARD WHAT REVENUES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COVER, WHAT EXPENSES WE'RE ANTICIPATING. OKAY. MY NEXT QUESTION FOR YOU IS ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE $6 MILLION THAT YOU ARE PUTTING INTO A FUND BALANCE? YES, THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FUND. SO OUR PLAN HERE IS ON A CALENDAR YEAR AND OUR FISCAL YEAR. WE HAVE TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHERE WE WILL END THE CALENDAR YEAR, MONTHS OF OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER ON THE CURRENT PLAN. SO WE HAVE BUILT IN A FORECAST ASSUMPTION RELATED TO WHERE WE THINK WE'LL END THE CURRENT HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN. AND THEN ON JANUARY 1ST OF 2027. THE NEW PLAN BECOMES EFFECTIVE. SO WE HAD ALMOST 7,000,000 IN 2024. AND THEN YOU'RE EXPECTING FOR THE CURRENT YEAR TO END WITH ZERO. IS THAT RIGHT? SO WE HAVE MADE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING WHERE WE'LL END FISCAL YEAR 2026. SO ON THE END OF YEAR REPORT THAT YOU'LL APPROVE OR END OF YEAR BUDGET ORDINANCE THAT YOU WILL APPROVE NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE NEXT NEXT WEEK. SORRY. WE HAVE MADE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHERE WE WILL END FISCAL YEAR 26. HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S THE IMPACT OF THE REMAINDER OF THE 2026 PLAN THAT WILL OCCUR IN FISCAL YEAR 27. AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT'S SET ASIDE IN FUND BALANCE. OKAY. SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT. THIS IS ON PAGE 496. SO FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE ACTUAL ENDING FUND BALANCE WAS 39 MILLION. AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE AMENDED FOR THIS IS GOING TO BE 19 WELL, ALMOST 20 MILLION. SO THAT'S A THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ABOUT HALF. AND THEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY ANTICIPATING THAT WE'LL GO DOWN TO 11 MILLION. AND THEN ACTUALLY FOR YOUR FORECAST FOR 28, ONLY 415,000. SO WHAT'S CAN CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE? SO I'LL START AND THEN JEANETTE CAN FINISH UP I GUESS. WE WORK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SPECIFICALLY ON THE LIABILITY FUND TO IDENTIFY WHAT COSTS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. AND SO THAT DEPENDS ON WHAT CASES ARE BEING WORKED ON, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PROJECTING OR FORECASTING WHAT CASES WILL NEED SETTLEMENT FUNDS IN WHICH YEAR. SO IF A CASE WAS PLANNED, IF WE THOUGHT IF IT WAS PROJECTED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEYS THAT A CASE WAS GOING TO SETTLE IN FISCAL YEAR 24, [01:35:09] AND THAT DID NOT HAPPEN, THEN THOSE FUNDS WOULD HAVE ROLLED OVER TO FISCAL YEAR 25. AND SO WITH IT BEING A MULTI-YEAR FUND, WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT WHAT IS THE FORECAST FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON CASES TO SETTLE AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE FUND RIGHT NOW. AND WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH YEAR THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE FUND AND WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT THAT, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY IN THE FUND TO COVER THE CASES. AND AGAIN, A LOT OF CASES DO ROLL OUT. AND THAT'S THE THE LEGAL WORLD THAT THE ATTORNEYS OFFICE ARE DEALING WITH. OKAY. SO WE'RE NOT EXPECTING AS MANY CASES. SIGNIFICANTLY LESS. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? TO HAVE JUDGMENTS OR SETTLEMENTS? YEAH. SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING YES, MA'AM. THAT THE THAT WE WILL SPEND DOWN THE FUND BALANCE AND THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO USE FUND BALANCE TO COVER THE CASES BEFORE WE NEED TO START PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THE FUND. OKAY. WELL, I JUST HOPE MY COLLEAGUES ARE HEARING LIKE, AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS SECTION, YOU CAN SEE WE'RE SPENDING DOWN QUITE A FEW THINGS OTHER THAN THE BENEFITS WHERE WE'RE ADDING TO. THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT SEEMS TO BE THAT WAY. SO CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT DEBT SERVICE ON 497? IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE REALLY INCREASING THESE TOTAL EXPENDITURES FROM 405 MILLION IN ACTUAL FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 TO THE BUDGET FOR 27,525 MILLION. SO 125 MILLION MORE. I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN TALK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT. YES, MA'AM. THE EXPENDITURES OUT OF THIS FUND ARE BASICALLY TWO THINGS. IT IS THE DEBT SERVICE PORTION OF THE TIF PAYMENT. IT IS SPLIT BETWEEN THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS A NON-DEPARTMENTAL, AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUND. THAT IS ONE OF THE EXPENSES OUT OF THIS FUND. THE OF COURSE, THE MUCH LARGER MOST SIGNIFICANT IS THE PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON DEBT THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED. AGAIN, DEBT IS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. WE COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL BEFORE WE ISSUE THE DEBT. THE DEBT IS ISSUED. ONCE THE DEBT IS ISSUED, WE HAVE TO PAY ON PAGE 501 WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT YOU'RE USING ARPA REDEVELOPMENT FUND FOR OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND PROCUREMENT SERVICES. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS? YES. ONE OF THE EXPENSES RELATED TO PROCUREMENT IS ACTUALLY THE ONE SECOND. IT'S THE DAP PROGRAM. AND FOR PROCUREMENT. AND THEN LET ME LOOK UP THE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS THAT ACRONYM. IT STANDS FOR THE DALLAS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM. SO THAT'S NOT ONE TIME FUNDING, RIGHT. THAT'S AN ONGOING PROGRAM. IT'S ONE TIME FUNDING. WE'RE NEVER GOING TO FUND THAT AGAIN. THE PLAN IS TO RAMP DOWN THE PROGRAM. AND SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST FUNDING THAT'S ALLOCATED TO THAT PROGRAM. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE USING ARPA. SO. COUNCIL MEMBERS $500,000. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. THAT'S $500,000 OF ARPA FUNDS FOR THE DAP PROGRAM. THAT COULD, OF COURSE, BE USED SOMEWHERE ELSE. THERE'S ALSO 400 000 UNDER OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT ARPA FUNDS? YES. ONE MOMENT. THAT'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT'S ALLOCATED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE 311 SYSTEM. SO WHY AREN'T WE TAKING CARE OF OUR 311 SYSTEM FROM OUR GENERAL FUND? SO WE ARE THERE'S FUNDING IN MULTIPLE PLACES. SO THERE'S FUNDING IN THE IT DATA SERVICES FUND. THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS ONE TIME TO ADDRESS ADDITIONAL NEEDS. SO AGAIN. COUNCIL. MEMBERS. THIS IS ARPA FUNDS AND I BELIEVE THERE'S 12, 15, $18 MILLION IN THE IT FUND. IS THAT RIGHT? I MEAN, I'M NOT I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I THINK IT'S MORE THAN DOUBLE DIGITS OF MILLIONS. IS THAT RIGHT? WHICH ITY FUND ARE YOU REFERENCING? THE ONE THAT COULD BE COVERING 311. SERVICES. [01:40:17] SO THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET FOR THE DATA SERVICES FUND IS 140 MILLION. RIGHT. BUT WHAT'S THE FUND BALANCE. JUST UNDER 11 MILLION. 11 MILLION. YES, MA'AM. YEAH. SO IT COULD COME OUT OF THERE INSTEAD OF OUT OF ARPA. CORRECT. SO IT'S ONE TIME FUNDING EITHER OR. SO YOU CAN TAKE IT FROM THIS POCKET OR THE OTHER POCKET. OKAY. WELL, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING THE IT FUND WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO THINGS LIKE 311 WHERE ARPA IS AT THIS POINT UNRESTRICTED BECAUSE WE TRANSFER THE DOLLARS. THE LAST ITEM THAT WOULD BE YOUR TIME FOR THIS ROUND. OKAY. CHAIRMAN MORENO RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. JACK, THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS REFLECTS THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED. YET WE HAVEN'T APPROVED THOSE CHANGES. SO IF WE APPROVE THE BUDGET AND DECIDE TO REVERSE OR CHANGE THOSE HEALTH CARE PLANS, WOULD WE HAVE TO GO BACK INTO THE BUDGET? YES, SIR. IF YOU FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU DON'T PASS THE TAX RATE AFTER YOU PASS THE BUDGET, THEN YOU'RE OUT OF BALANCE. IF YOU DON'T APPROVE THE FEES, YOU'RE OUT OF BALANCE. IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO FUND THE EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO ADD $10 MILLION, YOU'RE OUT OF BALANCE. YOU NEED TO RECONSIDER THE BUDGET. OKAY. AND SO I GUESS, MADAM CITY MANAGER TRYING TO GO THE PROCESS AND THE ORDER THAT WE'RE TAKING THESE ITEMS UP. IS THERE A REASON THAT WE ARE TAKING UP THE BUDGET FIRST AND THEN THE HEALTH CARE PLAN? OR IS THAT JUST IS IT JUST DONE IN THAT ORDER? THE APPROVAL OF THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IS PART OF THE BIGGER PIECE. AND SO THEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD, THEN THE BENEFITS PROGRAM AS A PART OF THAT SEPARATE ITEM. BUT THE FUNDING FOR THE BENEFITS PROGRAM IS A PART OF THE BIGGER BUDGET. AND WHAT MR. IRELAND IS SPEAKING OF IS THAT IF COUNCIL MAKES ANY OF THOSE CHANGES, THAT WOULD BE FUNDING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND FIND AND REBALANCE THE BUDGET. OKAY. AND SOME OF THE ITEMS ARE IN A SPECIFIC ORDER RELATED TO STATE LAW, HAVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET BEFORE YOU APPROVE THE TAX RATE SEEMS BACKWARDS, BUT THAT'S THE WAY THE STATE LAW SAYS. THANK YOU FOR THAT, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. MAYOR. MR. ROTH RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE IN IN ANSWERING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN POSING AND, AND APPRECIATE THE, THE DILIGENCE IN TRYING TO GET THE ANSWERS FOR US IN THE SIXTH SET OF, OF ANSWERS THAT WE RECEIVED SEPTEMBER 11TH. I JUST HAD A COUPLE REALLY QUESTIONS ON AN UNDERSTANDING THE RESPONSE TO ITEM EIGHT, WHICH WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF MISCELLANEOUS SPECIAL SERVICES LINE ITEM, AND I JUST NEEDED A CLARIFICATION ON A COUPLE OF THE EXPENDITURES THAT THAT WERE IDENTIFIED. IN PARTICULAR, I WAS, I WAS WANTING SORT OF A, AN TO UNDERSTAND THE JAIL CONTRACT LINE ITEM OF $10 MILLION, THE NON-DEPARTMENTAL $3.3 MILLION OF CIVILIAN MERIT INCREASE, AND THEN THE PARK AND RECREATION $7.9 MILLION FAIR PARK TRANSFER. IF YOU COULD SORT OF GIVE ME AN UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE EXPENSES, AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY REIMBURSABLES OR, OR OFFSETTING INCOME LINE ITEMS THAT WOULD OFFSET THOSE NUMBERS. SO FOR NON-DEPARTMENTAL THIS YEAR AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND TRYING TO BALANCE WE MADE A DECISION LATER IN THE PROCESS TO ADD CIVILIAN MERIT. SO INSTEAD OF ADDING IT LIKE WE TRADITIONALLY DO IN EACH OF THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, WE PUT IT IN NON-DEPARTMENTAL TO BE ALLOCATED AT MID-YEAR IN FISCAL YEAR 27. SO IT WAS A TIMING ISSUE. SO THAT'S WHY IT APPEARS THIS YEAR. AND NON-DEPARTMENTAL. THE JAIL CONTRACT IS THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH DALLAS COUNTY FOR HOUSING OF, OF PRISONERS. AND SO THAT'S A MOU THAT WE HAVE WITH DALLAS COUNTY. THE PARK AND RECREATION TRANSFER IS ACTUALLY THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION FROM PARK AND RECREATION TO FAIR PARK. AND SO WITH REGARD TO THOSE THREE ITEMS ON THE, THE JAIL CONTRACT, IS THAT A, IS THERE ANY REIMBURSEMENT FROM ANY PLACE ELSE OR IS THAT [01:45:08] OUR OBLIGATION TO THE COUNTY FOR THOSE SERVICES? THAT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO THE COUNTY FOR THOSE SERVICES. OKAY. AND WITH REGARD TO THE MERIT OF RAYS ESTIMATION IS IS THERE SOME KIND OF WAS THERE SOME KIND OF A FORMULA OR A DESIGNATION OF, NUMBERS OF THE CIVILIAN. HOW IS THAT CALCULATED? SO IT ASSUMES A 2% MERIT. EFFECTIVE APRIL OF 2027. AND SO TYPICALLY WE TAKE AN AVERAGE OF THE FIELD POSITIONS. AND THAT'S THE CALCULATION. AND THEN ON THE FAIR PARK 7.9 MILLION TRANSFER IS THAT IT'S GOING FROM THE PARK'S BUDGET INTO A FAIR PARK LINE ITEM. AND IS, IS THAT AN ALLOCATED AMOUNT THAT WAS THAT'S BEEN, IS THAT A TRADITIONAL ALLOCATED AMOUNT? IS THAT A PROCESS SITUATION OR IS THAT A SPECIAL ONE TIME OR SPECIAL ALLOCATION OR EXPENSE? SO IF YOU RECALL, LAST YEAR WE, WHEN THE CITY RETAINED OWNERSHIP OF FAIR PARK, WE CREATED A FAIR PARK SPECIAL REVENUE FUND. AND SO THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFER REFLECTS THE HISTORICAL AMOUNT THAT WE'VE TRANSFERRED OVER TO FAIR PARK. BUT IT ALSO INCLUDED A RAMP UP PERIOD. AND SO WE ARE. LAST YEAR WE ARE SLOWLY REDUCING THAT AMOUNT BY, I BELIEVE 500,000. EACH YEAR AS FAIR PARK SUSTAINS THEIR OPERATIONS. OKAY. AND NOW THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT, WE'VE TAKEN BACK OVER THAT. IS THERE ANY CHANGE IN THAT PROCESSING OR ANYTHING OR IS IT. IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, EXCEPT THEY WERE REDUCING THE BUDGET A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF EFFICIENCIES THAT MAYBE WE CAN ACHIEVE. WELL, WE'RE REDUCING THE AMOUNT BY 500,000 BECAUSE THE GOAL IS TO IS FOR FAIR PARK TO BE TRULY A SELF-SUFFICIENT SPECIAL REVENUE FUND WHERE THEIR REVENUES COVER THEIR EXPENSES. OKAY. THANK YOU. MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. ON PAGE 517, YOU'RE COVERING DEBT SERVICE. AND I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. THE TAX SUPPORTED DEBT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAX, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. AND SO THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE ON THAT IS 3.6 BILLION. RIGHT. AND THEN TOTAL REVENUE BONDS IS 4.4 BILLION. AND I SEE CONVENTION CENTER FOR VENUE PROJECT DEBT. YOU'VE GOT SOME FOOTNOTES. AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S FAIR PARK AND CONVENTION CENTER AND DWU AS WELL AS THE CONVENTION CENTER ITSELF. I DIDN'T SEE THE OMNI IN THERE. IS THAT MISSING SOMEWHERE? SO THE THE OMNI IS NOT A DIRECT OBLIGATION OF THE CITY. IT'S IT'S ACCOUNTED FOR SEPARATELY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE OMNI DEBT WORKS? SO REVENUES GENERATED THROUGH OMNI ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE DEBT. BUT ISN'T IT GUARANTEED BY THE CITY? THERE THERE IS A A LEVEL OF GUARANTEE. BUT IT IS NOT A DIRECT OBLIGATION OF THE CITY. SO IF IT DIDN'T GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE FOR DEBT SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, WOULDN'T THE CITY BE LIABLE? YEAH. WE PROBABLY SHOULD PAY THE DEBT AND NOT LET IT GO INTO DEFAULT. BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S A DIRECT LEGAL. BUT BECAUSE IT'S A SEPARATE CORPORATION. IS THAT WHY. YES. BUT I CAN GET YOU MORE DETAIL ON IT SEPARATELY. AND DO WE RECEIVE REPORTING ON THAT DEBT? GO AHEAD. WAIT, YOU'RE STILL USING MY TIME? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. ROSA FLEMING, DIRECTOR OF CONVENTION AND EVENT SERVICES. WE DO RECEIVE REPORTING ON A MONTHLY BASIS. OKAY. NOT YOU. WE COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE DON'T. DO WE RECEIVE REPORTING? I HAVEN'T SEEN A REPORT IN A VERY LONG TIME. LAST I SAW, IT WAS 400 MILLION. YES, THE REPORTING GOES TO THE LGC. THAT IS PART OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE HOTEL. SO IS IT NOTED ANYWHERE TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE? OR WE CAN DO A BRIEFING AND AN UPDATE TO YOU. WE CAN'T DO THAT. OKAY. WELL, I THINK I HAD DONE THAT WHEN I WAS CHAIR. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT SOMEBODY KEEP AN EYE ON THAT FOR PAGE 518 FOR THE CREDIT RATINGS. [01:50:01] HOW DOES THIS CREDIT RATING COMPARE WITH THE OTHER TEXAS LARGE CITIES? SO I DON'T I DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE LARGE CITIES, BUT THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT DO HAVE A HIGHER BOND RATING THAN WE DO. AS IT TURNS OUT, WE ARE THE LOWEST OF THE FIVE LARGEST CITIES IN TEXAS FOR THE CREDIT RATINGS. HOW WILL IT IMPACT US SHOULD THE NOVEMBER BOND PASS? AS WE ISSUE BONDS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED BY VOTERS AND THAT ARE APPROVED THEN BY THE CITY COUNCIL, IT WILL INCREASE OUR TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT. ON PAGE 524 IS 750 MILLION. THE AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE THAT THE VOTERS HAVE AUTHORIZED, BUT WE HAVE NOT YET ISSUED. YES, MA'AM. 250 MILLION OF THAT 750 IS INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 CAPITAL BUDGET. AND THEN WE WILL BE THREE YEARS INTO THE FIVE YEAR ISSUANCE PLAN. SO BUT WE HAVE NOT ISSUED THAT 250 MILLION. THAT IS CORRECT. AT THIS POINT IT'S 500. BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS. LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE AGENDA ITEM FOR US TO BEGIN PREPARATIONS FOR THE ISSUANCE. GREAT. THANK YOU. WELL, AT THIS POINT, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS. ONE THERE'S A NOTIFICATION WILL BE CONSIDERING LATER THAT SHOULD THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS NOT CHANGE THIS BUDGET IS A TAX INCREASE OF 2.64%. THERE'S A QUESTION YOU ANSWERED OF COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND AND THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE. AND IT SHOWED THAT WE COULD SAVE OVER $1 BILLION IF WE LOWERED THAT INCREASE. THIS IS A COMPOUNDING NUMBER EVERY TIME WE GIVE A COLA. AND I'M JUST GOING TO REMIND YOU, OUR POLICE FIRE PENSION FUND, THOSE RETIREES ARE RECEIVING NO COLA. ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW, AND WE REALLY OUGHT TO CONSIDER MOVING THIS PROBABLY TO LIKE A 1%. IT IS FAR BEYOND WHAT SOCIAL SECURITY EVEN GETS, AND IT IS BANKRUPTING US. IT IS NOT GIVING UP ANY KIND OF COMMITMENT TO THE RETIREES FOR US TO MAKE THAT KIND OF AN ADJUSTMENT. SO I HOPE THAT WE WILL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION THROUGH THE YEAR AND THAT THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR NEXT BUDGET, BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO FIX THIS BUDGET. IT IS STRUCTURALLY UNBALANCED BASED ON BENEFITS. THANK YOU. AND IF I COULD ADD JUST ONE THING TO THAT, AND TO MAKE A CHANGE FOR ERF WOULD REQUIRE A VOTER APPROVAL. AND SO IT WOULD REQUIRE CALLING THE ELECTION AND KIND OF THINKING AHEAD THAT WAY. MAY 27TH, GUYS. MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. AND I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO ASK MY NEXT QUESTION. SO, AGAIN, THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL QUESTION ALSO FROM THE SEPTEMBER 11TH MEMO WITH REGARD TO ITEM TWO ON THE THE ITEMS THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE REIMBURSED BY THE ENTERPRISES. IT APPEARS THAT WE'VE GOT ABOUT $20 MILLION OF, OF ITEMS THAT WE'RE PASSING ON FOR OVERHEAD FROM THE COST ALLOCATION PLAN. IN, BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A AWFULLY LOW AMOUNT. IT REPRESENTS MAYBE 1% OF THE TOTAL ENTERPRISE BUDGETS. AND I WAS WONDERING HOW THAT CAP WAS, WAS SORT OF IDENTIFIED. I'M, I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR, FOR MAKING THE, THE ADJUSTMENT AND TRYING TO PASS ON THOSE OVERHEAD COSTS FROM THE GENERAL FUND INTO THE ENTERPRISES. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A 1% TRANSFER IS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ENOUGH. AND I'M WONDERING IF IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS ON SOME OF THOSE GENERAL FUND, SOME ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND MANAGEMENT AND OVERHEAD COSTS TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WHERE IT MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR EXPENDITURES FROM THAT THOSE GROUPS RATHER THAN FROM THE GENERAL FUND. SO THE COST ALLOCATION PLAN IS UPDATED ANNUALLY. AND SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY BASED ON A PERCENT OF THE ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGET. IT'S A REPRESENTATION OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE INTERNAL SERVICES AND THERE'S METHODOLOGIES THAT TAKE PLACE. SO FOR EXAMPLE WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF AUDITS, THE NUMBER OF GENERAL COUNSEL SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED. [01:55:01] WE ALSO LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS IN ACCOUNTS PAYABLE. THERE'S THE NUMBER OF 311 SERVICE REQUESTS. SO THERE'S A METHODOLOGY ASSOCIATED WITH HOW WE ALLOCATE THE COST. SO IT'S NOT STRICTLY BASED ON THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THOSE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. IS THERE A IS THERE A AN OVERHEAD OR A IS THERE SOME KIND OF A OF A REGULATION THAT REQUIRES US TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT? OR IS THERE A CEILING? IS THERE SOME KIND OF A RESTRICTION ON HOW WE HOW I WANT IT TO BE DONE IN A PROPER WAY, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAPTURING AS MUCH OVERHEAD AND DIRECTING IT TO THE TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN TO FREE UP FUNDS FOR OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, IF WE CAN DO THAT. SO SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE METHODOLOGY THAT'S GENERALLY YOU'VE EXPLAINED IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT COULD YOU BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED? THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME. SURE. SO THERE IS NO MAXIMUM AMOUNT. BUT AGAIN, IT'S BASED ON A CALCULATION. SO IF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PROVIDES THE NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS THAT THEY FACILITATE FOR ENTERPRISE AND INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, THEN THEIR COST IS ALLOCATED BASED ON THOSE TRANSACTIONS. SO WE DON'T JUST SAY THAT IT'S BECAUSE THE ENTERPRISE FUND IS A LARGE ORGANIZATION. ALSO WATER AVIATION, THOSE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THEY HAVE TO VERIFY THAT THE AMOUNTS THAT WE'RE CHARGING THEM ARE IN LINE WITH A FORMULA OR AN ALLOCATION. AND SO THERE'S A JOINT PROCESS THAT TAKES PLACE. WE PREPARE THE STUDY THE COST ALLOCATION. THE PLAN IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU ALL TO, TO VIEW THE, THE, THE ALLOCATION METHODOLOGY THAT'S USED IS AVAILABLE. AND SO WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE INTERNAL ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS EACH YEAR, AND THAT INCLUDES DIRECT COSTS AS WELL AS INDIRECT COSTS. POTENTIALLY CORRECT. SO THE COSTS THAT ARE CAPTURED IN THE MEMO THAT YOU REFERENCED ARE PRIMARILY THE OVERHEAD THAT ADMINISTRATIVE. THERE'S ALSO COSTS THAT ARE MORE DIRECT COSTS THAT ARE CAPTURED OUTSIDE OF THAT. SO FOR EXAMPLE AVIATION REIMBURSES FOR A FIRE STATION THAT IS ON, ON SITE OR A POLICE WHO PROVIDE SECURITY. SO WHERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO CHARGE FOR DIRECT SERVICES. WE DO THAT AS WELL. WE ALSO CHARGE SANITATION AND WATER AS IF THEY WERE A PRIVATE UTILITY AND THEY PAY A FRANCHISE FEE. SO THERE'S ANOTHER MECHANISM THAT WE USE. SO WE HAVE TRIED TO FOLLOW WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS APPROPRIATE TO DO. AND WE WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS AS WELL BECAUSE THE STATE HAS GIVEN INDICATION THAT THEY DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO SEE WHERE YOU'RE CHARGING WATER FOR YOUR GENERAL FUND PURPOSES, AS AN EXAMPLE. AND SO WE TRY TO HAVE OUR METHODOLOGY AND THOSE CALCULATIONS THAT CAN BE SUPPORTED. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR MAKE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT BRIEFING ITEM AYE. MR. BAZALDUA RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. MAYOR, I DON'T NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED ON THE BRIEFING. I ACTUALLY JUST HAVE A MOTION. I WAS WAITING FOR THE QUEUE TO BE CLEAR. YEP. YOU MIGHT BE UP. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THERE'S NO ONE ELSE. OKAY. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES REQUIRING ONE SECOND FOR AN AMENDMENT, AND INSTEAD REQUIRE THREE SECONDS FOR ALL AMENDMENTS PRESENTED DURING THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. I'M GOING TO ASK THE PARLIAMENTARIAN TODAY FOR EVERYTHING, JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS COMFORTABLE THAT EVERYTHING'S PROCEEDING ACCORDING TO THE RULES AND. AND WE'LL ALSO GET PERIODIC UPDATES TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND PROCESS TODAY, SINCE WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT EARLIER ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. THIS IS NOT A DEBATABLE MOTION. SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. THERE IS NO DISCUSSION. STATE YOUR INQUIRY. ARE THERE OTHER INSTANCES WHERE WE HAVE THREE SECONDS? THAT'S WHY IT'S A SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. TO MY KNOWLEDGE. MR. MAYOR, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I KNOW THAT IN OUR THE DALLAS CITY CODE, THERE'S AT LEAST ONE TIME WHERE WE REQUIRE TWO SECONDS FOR ALCOHOL VARIANCES. I OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DON'T KNOW ANY THREES. THANK YOU. I'M ALSO UNFAMILIAR WITH THREE SECONDS. OKAY. THEN WE'LL PROCEED TO A VOTE. IF THERE'S NO RECORD VOTES BEEN REQUESTED. [02:00:07] SO, MADAM SECRETARY, GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WANT TO MAKE SURE HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON BEFORE, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY REDOS. THIS IS ON THE MOTION TO REQUIRE THREE SECONDS FOR ANY AMENDMENTS. PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY. STATE YOUR INQUIRY. WHAT IS THE VOTE THRESHOLD FOR THIS? NO. IT'S TEN. IT IS A TWO THIRDS VOTE. AND WITH 15 MEMBERS PRESENT, THAT WOULD BE TEN. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY. GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. MORENO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACEY. COUNCIL MEMBER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ. YES. MAYOR JOHNSON. YES. AND GO AHEAD AND HAVE HER REMOVED NOW. PLEASE HAVE HER REMOVED NOW. WITH 13 VOTING IN FAVOR TO OPPOSE THE MOTION PASSES, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL RECOGNIZE ANY MOTIONS NOW. MAYOR, YOU HAVE A MOTION. I MOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GO INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. IS THERE A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SECOND, SECOND, SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. SO WE'LL GO INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. AND AS USUAL, LET ME REMIND YOU ALL OF THE PROCEDURE FOR THAT. AND HOPEFULLY WE HAVE SOME CITY STAFF HANDING OUT OUR CITY SEALS. THAT'S CORRECT, MR. MAYOR. GREAT. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE NOW IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. AND AS YOU WILL RECALL, WHEN WE'RE IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE US VOTES ON THESE AMENDMENTS ARE NOT CONSIDERED FINAL ACTIONS BECAUSE WE'RE IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. THE MOTIONS THAT ARE PROPER IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ARE AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING REMOVING OR STRIKING SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS, POINTS OF ORDER APPEALS AND PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES. ROLL CALL VOTES AND BALLOT VOTES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. WE'RE GOING TO USE THE CITY SEALS. YOU SHOULD ALL BE GETTING ONE OF THOSE TO INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR AN AMENDMENT. AND ALTHOUGH A FORMAL VOTE WILL NOT BE TAKEN WHILE WE'RE IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, THE CITY SECRETARY WILL RECORD THE NAMES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SHOW THEIR SEALS IN SUPPORT OF A PARTICULAR MOTION, AND WILL FOLLOW OUR USUAL 531 FORMAT. SO WE ARE IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. THE MOTION TO REQUIRE THREE SECONDS WAS SUCCESSFUL, SO THAT WILL BE APPLICABLE 531 DEBATE FORMAT ALSO APPLICABLE. AND I'LL JUST REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS NOT A PARTICIPATORY PROCESS FROM THE PUBLIC. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DISRUPTIONS DEALT WITH WITH REMOVAL. OKAY, SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PROCEED. CHAIRWOMAN WILLIS, ARE YOU READY? YES. ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I MOVE THAT $17,000 BE MOVED FROM THE YOUTH COMMISSION TRAVEL FUNDS TO THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR MODERN INVESTIGATIVE PLATFORMS, PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT SHIFT OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE INTO AN INVESTIGATIVE ROLE. SECOND, YOU GOTTA COUNT THE SECONDS. MADAM SECRETARY, I ONLY COUNTED TWO. MR. MAYOR. OKAY, SO. MOTION BY CHAIRWOMAN WILLIS, SECOND BY. WHO ONLY COUNTED GRACEY AND WEST. SO WE HAVE A SECOND BY. [02:05:01] AND. MORENO. GRACEY WEST. MORENO. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO IT'S IN ORDER NOW TO PROCEED. THANK YOU. DESCRIBE YOUR AMENDMENT. SO I KNOW WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME DISCUSSING THIS USE OF FUNDS BEFORE. AND SO I LOOKED INTO IT FURTHER TO UNDERSTAND OUR, OUR YOUTH COMMISSION'S BUDGET AND THEIR TRAVEL. AND THEY CURRENTLY ATTEND TWO CONFERENCES A YEAR. AND JUST LOOKING AT OUR NEW NORMAL OF A SUPER TIGHT BELT AROUND OUR CITY FINANCES. AND WHEN WE'RE LAYING OFF STAFF AND CUTTING THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF OUR OWN STAFF MEMBERS WHO SERVE THE PUBLIC. IT JUST SEEMED A LITTLE OUT OF LINE WITH OUR AUSTERE APPROACH. I'M A BELIEVER IN THE YOUTH COMMISSION. I APPRECIATE THE WAY THEY'VE ELEVATED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ALL AROUND THE CITY. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL THAT'S INDEPENDENT. IT IS SHOWING MARKED PROGRESS IN IDENTIFYING FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE. AND SOME OF THESE FUNDS ARE RECOVERABLE AND WILL PUT MONEY BACK INTO THE CITY'S BANK. SO WE CAN CONTINUE INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH COMMISSION BY SENDING THEM TO ONE CONFERENCE AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHERE THEY CAN CONNECT WITH OTHER KIDS FROM AROUND TEXAS AND DIRECT THE REMAINING OUT OF STATE FUNDS TO AN OFFICE THAT GENERATES A TANGIBLE RETURN FOR ALL DALLAS RESIDENTS AND SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE TO TAXPAYERS ABOUT RUNNING A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT. SO I ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN FURTHER ELIMINATING FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE IN CITY GOVERNMENT BY SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN GRACEY, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT. NO. CHAIRWOMAN STEWART RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT. MICROPHONE. SORRY, I WAS LOOKING FOR THIS AND I SHOULD HAVE FOUND THIS BEFORE I CAME THIS MORNING, SO I APOLOGIZE, BUT MR. IRELAND, CAN YOU REMIND US WHAT FUNDS WE DID RESTORE TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S BUDGET? PERHAPS IT WAS THE LAST TIME WE WERE DISCUSSING, BECAUSE I DO FEEL LIKE IT'S IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. MUCH PROGRESS IS BEING MADE THERE. AND BUT I THINK WE DID RESTORE SOME OF THAT FUNDING, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. MR. IRELAND, DO YOU HAVE IT? BECAUSE IF NOT, I HAVE IT. DO YOU HAVE IT? YES. IT'S RESTORATION OF $91,000 TO THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL THAT WAS TAKING $35,000 BY ELIMINATING THE ZEN CITY CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE AND TAKING $56,000 FROM A REDUCTION IN THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND 56 AND 35 MADE THE 90 AND 91. AND SO WHAT WE LEFT WHAT WE DID THOUGH IS SUPPORT THE CUT TO RESTORE THE FUNDS TO THE YOUTH COMMISSION IN OUR LAST DISCUSSION ON THE YOUTH COMMISSION WAS NOT REDUCED IN THE LAST CONVERSATION. RIGHT. SO SO THOSE. OKAY. BUT ANYWAY, I THINK WE, WE WERE ABLE TO RESTORE SOME FUNDS, I GUESS IS MY POINT ON THIS. AND SO I AGAIN, AS ALWAYS, I SEE THIS AS A BALANCE AND I THINK IN INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH AND THEIR EXPOSURE TO STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS A VERY VALUABLE INVESTMENT AND NOT A SIGNIFICANT ONE. I MEAN, WE'RE NOT TALKING MILLIONS AND BILLIONS AT THIS POINT. WE ARE DOWN TO THE THOUSANDS. SO THIS IS A SMALL AMOUNT. I THINK IT'S A WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE EXPERIENCE OF THE YOUTH WHO ARE ON THIS COMMISSION. AND I THINK IT'S WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTORE SOME OF THE CUT TO THE BUDGET. AND I DO WANT TO SUPPORT THAT. I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS ON THIS. WE NEED TO SUPPORT THAT OFFICE AND ITS WORK. AND THEY ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT STRIDES AND, AND DOING VERY GOOD WORK. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. JACK, WHAT WAS THE YOUTH COMMISSION BUDGET PRIOR TO THIS AMENDMENT? SO THE YOUTH COMMISSION'S TOTAL BUDGET IS 2500023000 OF THAT WAS FOR TRAVEL. AND SO THIS REDUCTION REDUCES 17000 OF THE 23000. AND IT LEAVES 6000 FOR THE T ML YOUTH SUMMIT. THANK YOU. SO I'M A GREAT BELIEVER IN OUR YOUTH COMMISSION. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON YOUTH COMMISSION. SEEMS LIKE YEARS AND YEARS, MAYBE DECADES AGO. AND SO I SAW THE, THE BENEFIT THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS WE DIDN'T DO TRAVELING BACK THEN, BUT I DO THINK THAT [02:10:10] TRAVEL IS IMPORTANT TO EXPOSE THESE YOUTH TO SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE. BUT I THINK THAT THOSE TRAVELS CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO OUR OFFICE BUDGET OR THROUGH GOING OUT TO OUR PHILANTHROPY TO GET THOSE EXPENSES COVERED. AND SO MOVING THESE DOLLARS TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING AND SOMETHING THAT WILL YIELD A BENEFIT AS WELL FINANCIALLY. AND SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I WILL BE SUPPORTING CHAIR WILLIS'S MOTION AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. MAYOR. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK DO WE PAY TRAVEL? IS THERE A BUDGET FOR TRAVEL FOR PARK BOARD? LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOMEONE FROM PARKS AND RECREATION AND WHY WE FIND THAT. DO WE ALSO PAY TRAVEL? IS THERE A BUDGET FOR CPC? FOR TRAVEL? WE'LL GET AN ANSWER FOR YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR ANY OTHER COMMISSION? SORRY. WE'RE HAVING TO GET SOMEONE. WHO? OH, NO PROBLEM WITH US, I APOLOGIZE. GOT TIME? YEAH. EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW THE QUESTION. QUESTION WAS, DO WE PAY TRAVEL FOR PARK BOARD? FOR THE NATIONAL RECREATION PARK ASSOCIATION? YES. AND THEN THE TEXAS PARKS AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION. YES. THOSE TWO. HOW MUCH IS IT? WELL, ON AVERAGE IS ONLY PROBABLY ABOUT 4 OR 5 BOARD MEMBERS THAT MAY GO EACH YEAR. SO YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT BETWEEN THE TWO CONFERENCES, PROBABLY LIKE 20 K. HOW MUCH IS IN THE BUDGET? HOW MUCH IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT? THAT'S ABOUT 30 K. 30,000. YEAH. WHAT IS CPC? THANK YOU, MR. JENKINS. I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER. WAITING TO SEE IF WE COULD GET A RESPONSE FROM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? TAKE THEM ALL OUT. EMILY, THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. I HEARD ABOUT THE QUESTION. CPC TRAVEL BUDGET. WE DO HAVE CPC TRAVEL BUDGET, BUT IT'S OUT OF ENTERPRISE FUND. AND LAST YEAR WE SENT TWO COMMISSIONERS TO A CONFERENCE. WE SPEND ABOUT $4,200. 42. WHAT'S THE BUDGET? I'M SORRY. WHICH CONFERENCE? NO. WHAT'S THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE FOR THAT? WHAT? CPC TRAVEL THE BUDGET. 25,000. WE SPENT 4200. SO WE HAVE A BUDGET OF 25,000 AND IT'S OUT OF ENTERPRISE FUND. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY POINT IS WE HAVE A BUDGET FOR CPC. WE HAVE A BUDGET FOR PARK BOARD. WE CAN TAKE IT OUT OF THERE. I DON'T SUPPORT TAKING MONEY FROM KIDS. MY SON SERVED ON THE YOUTH COMMISSION. MY DAUGHTER SERVED ON THE YOUTH COMMISSION. AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAD WAS WAS MONUMENTAL. AND SO AS A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE, AS A FORMER EDUCATOR, AND KNOWING THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR KIDS GETTING THESE RESOURCES AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY WILL GAIN AND KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY WILL GAIN. I CANNOT SUPPORT TAKING MONEY FROM YOUTH WHEN WE CAN TAKE MONEY FROM OTHER CONDITIONS. OUR YOUTH NEED EVERY RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN GET. THEY NEED EVERY EXPERIENCE THAT WILL ENHANCE THEIR LIVES PRIOR TO GOING TO COLLEGE. THOSE THAT CHOOSE TO GO DO SO. SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY CHAIRWOMAN WILLIS. [02:15:03] THANK YOU MAYOR. I SECONDED THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE SPIRIT OF IT, OF TRYING TO FIND CUTS WHERE WE CAN AND WHERE, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY TO SEND ANYONE ELSE WHO'S NOT A CITY EMPLOYEE TO TRAVEL WHEN OUR OWN CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN TOLD, WE'RE NOT TRAVELING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF BUDGET CONSTRAINTS. I DO APPRECIATE WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING ABOUT THE YOUTH AS WELL. BUT LET'S LET'S BE REAL. THIS IS A LOW AMOUNT OF MONEY, $17,000. WE'RE SPENDING FIVE TIMES THAT ON STAFF TIME JUST SITTING HERE WHILE WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS CONVERSATION TAKES PLACE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO MAKE CUTS EVERYWHERE POSSIBLE. AND I DO AGREE WITH WHAT CHAIR MORENO SAID WE CAN, I THINK WE COULD COME OUT OF OUR OWN BUDGETS AND OUR IN MCPS FOR THIS TO HELP OUR YOUTH OR HELP FUNDRAISE FOR THAT. SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. I DO AND I DO. JUST A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER IF IF THEY DON'T GO ON THIS TRIP TO DC OR, YOU KNOW, THE COST MORE MONEY. ARE THERE OTHER TYPES OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT? THE YOUTH COULD DO MORE LOCALLY. AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. CHAIR WEST, I THINK THAT THIS IS A MATTER OF HOW DO WE AGAIN, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT LOOKING AT THE WAY WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, THIS COULD BE A SITUATION WHERE WE RECAST WHAT THE YOUTH COMMISSION IS DOING. AND MAYBE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A TRAVEL COMPONENT, MAYBE IT'S MORE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. BUT THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I THINK FROM A POLICY DISCUSSION THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF COUNCIL WANTS US TO RELOOK AT THE ACTUAL COMMISSION ITSELF AND HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT THE PROGRAMING IS IT'S ENRICHMENT, BUT IT ALSO CREATES THAT LEVEL UP, MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS COME BACK TO BECOME CITY EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE WE WANT TO BUILD A VERY STRONG PIPELINE. BUT I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF COUNCIL POLICY, AS I MENTIONED TO TO MANY OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY, THE TRAVEL BAN THAT WE HAD IN THE SPRING WAS ON PURPOSE BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED TO BE LOOKING AT ARE WE TRAVELING FOR CERTIFICATIONS? IS THERE TRAVELING THAT WE COULD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT COULD BE DONE LOCALLY? ARE THERE WEBINARS WE KNOW THAT THE WORLD HAS CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU NECESSARILY DID NOT NEED TO GO TO A CONFERENCE AND YOU CAN STILL DO THINGS HERE AND STILL KEEP UP WITH CERTIFICATIONS. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION, AND I JUST WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR OIG FOR A $17,000 AMOUNT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, AND HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THAT WITHIN OUR EXISTING BUDGET. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. THANK YOU. MISS BLAIR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I, I PERSONALLY KNOW A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS WHO WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL. IT WAS NOT UNFORTUNATELY, HE WASN'T MY YOUTH COMMISSIONER. HE WAS ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS YOUTH COMMISSIONER. I WATCHED HIM GROW. I MET HIM WHEN I WAS AT CPC, AT A CONVENTION, A CONFERENCE. SO AS A COMMISSIONER, I WAS ABLE TO GO AND LEARN. AND I FOUND THE VALUE OF THAT. IT WAS IMPRESSIVE TO SEE OUR YOUTH, SOME OF OUR YOUTH COMMISSIONERS ALSO AT THE SAME CONFERENCES THAT I WAS AT, AND I WATCHED THEM MATURE. I WATCHED HIM MATURE. I WATCHED HIM EXCEL. HE IS NOW IN COLLEGE AND HE'S AN EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG MAN. HIS MOTHER WAS A FORMER EMPLOYEE HERE. SO I SAW, I SAW THE BENEFIT OF OUR CHILDREN GOING TO THESE CONFERENCES. AND I, I'M STRUGGLING TO SAY THAT'S A PLACE WE SHOULD CUT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KEEP SAYING WE NEED THE YOUTH TO BE PREPARED TO TAKE OUR PLACE AND DO BETTER THAN WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO IN THIS SPOT THAT WE'RE SITTING IN. AND THE ONLY WAY I SEE THAT THAT HAPPENS IS IF WE GIVE THEM THE EXPOSURE. WHAT NOW? WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN MONEY OUT OF OUR BUDGETS. THE. SO I DON'T SEE ASKING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TAKE MORE MONEY WHEN WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR WHOLE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND OUR STAFF AND WHAT WE DO OUT OF OUR BUDGETS. IT'S. IT'S THIS IS, BUT I DO, BUT I SEE THE VALUE OF TRYING TO FIND MONEY WHERE WE CAN. I THINK WE HAVE DONE THAT. I KNOW I'VE HAD LONG CONVERSATIONS WITH WITH OUR CITY MANAGER WHEN I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE SOME CUTS TO FIND OUT THAT SHE [02:20:09] WAS, SHE HAD THE APP. IT HAD ALREADY BEEN CUT TO THE BONE. YOU CAN'T KEEP CUTTING AND EXPECT TO GROW AND I, I SEE THAT I CAN DO SOMETHING, MAYBE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT FROM KIDS. AND I'M HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THAT ONE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SUPPORT THAT. I UNDERSTAND THE SPIRIT IN WHICH IT IS TRYING TO DO, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR CHILDREN HAVE ALL THE VALUE AND HAVE ALL THE ABILITY TO GROW AND REPLACE US. THANK YOU, MISS CADENA. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON. I MEAN, I SUPPORTED RESTORING SOME OF THE FUNDS TO THE IG. IT'S AN IMPORTANT DEPARTMENT THAT'S DOING IMPORTANT WORK, BUT OUR YOUTH COMMISSION IS ALSO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. I KNOW THE YOUTH COMMISSIONERS FOR DISTRICT SIX IN THE PAST HAVE NOW GONE TO HAVE GONE ON TO COLLEGE AND WERE ABLE TO LEARN ON THE TRIPS THAT THEY WENT ON. AND THEY ARE COMMUNITY LEADERS IN DISTRICT SIX AND ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN GIVING BACK. AND I CREDIT THAT WITH THE YOUTH COMMISSION TEACHING THEM AND EXPOSING THEM TO THINGS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO. SO I KNOW WE'VE SEEN, I'VE SEEN THAT SOME OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS, I MEAN, WE PROBABLY EVEN HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS AROUND HERE THAT HAVE SERVED ON THE YOUTH COMMISSION AS WELL. SO I CANNOT SUPPORT THE SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR THIS PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. WELL, I WOULD WONDER IF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO SEND OUR YOUTH COMMISSION TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL. THIS WOULD OPEN THEIR EYES TO SO MANY NEW EXPERIENCES. AND IN FACT, MAYBE WE SHOULD OPEN UP TO ALL THE CHILDREN OF DALLAS TO TRAVEL BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL THING. THAT'S WHAT THIS CONVERSATION IS SAYING. PLEASE RECOGNIZE THIS IS NOT A FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT. IT IS NOT OUR ROLE TO SEND CHILDREN ON TRIPS. I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHY WE HAVE A YOUTH COMMISSION IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH. IN SEVEN YEARS, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY PROPOSAL THAT HAS COME TO THIS COUNCIL FROM THE YOUTH COMMISSION THAT HAS IMPACTED ANY KIND OF POLICY. SO IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS AN INTEREST IN DEVELOPING STUDENTS AND THEY FIND THIS TO BE IMPORTANT, THEY SHOULD DO IT. THIS IS NOT A CORE SERVICE. CITY MANAGER ARE YOU ABLE TO ANSWER ON OUR RESIDENT SURVEY ABOUT WHAT PRIORITIES ARE FOR OUR TAX DOLLARS? DID ANYBODY SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TRAVEL FOR THE YOUTH COMMISSION? NO, MA'AM. IN SEVEN YEARS, I'LL SAY 30 DIFFERENT BUDGET MEETINGS WITH MY RESIDENTS. NOT ONE PERSON HAS EVER SAID, GOSH, COULD YOU SEND SOME MORE KIDS ON A TRIP? NOT ONCE. SO I. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE ALL THE TRAVEL AWAY. I THINK IT'S LOVELY TO SEND THEM TO TML THAT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT ANY COMMISSIONER SHOULD EXPECT. NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, RESTORING MONEY FOR FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE. I DO HEAR ABOUT THAT. AND NOT ONLY DO I HEAR ABOUT IT AT MY MEETINGS, I SEE IT ONLINE ALL THE TIME AND SOMETIMES I SEE IT RIGHT HERE AT THE HORSESHOE. SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT $17,000. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE BACK TO YOU, CHAIRWOMAN WILLIS, FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU MAYOR. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE IN PRACTICE, THE CITY MANAGER HAS DONE IS LOOK AT OTHER ENTITIES THAT COULD REHOME SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AND TO THE POINT JUST MADE ON OUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ON THE JUNIOR WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT AVENUES OUT THERE FOR YOUTH TO PURSUE WHO. AND THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR OUR COORDINATOR OF THIS YOUTH COMMISSION TO EXPOSE THEM TO. SO I THINK THIS IS REALLY A MATTER OF JUST SAYING, JUST AS WE'VE DONE WITH DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES AND REHOMING SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS TO OTHER NON-PROFITS, THIS IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, HEY, I'M FORTUNATE. I'M ONE OF 15 THAT GETS TO GO TO A STATEWIDE CONFERENCE, AND IF I WANT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE, I CAN FIND A RESOURCE THROUGH MY SCHOOL DISTRICT OR ANOTHER RESOURCE OR OUT OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS BUDGET, IT WOULD BE ABOUT $1,100. THAT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS. IF WE'RE SO SCHEME OF THINGS, IF WE'RE SO DEDICATED TO IT. SO WE TALK ABOUT 15 KIDS AND I'M A BELIEVER IN THE YOUTH COMMISSION, BUT THERE ARE 82,000 KIDS THAT ARE I THINK 14 OR 15 [02:25:04] TO 18 YEARS OLD. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE ENGAGEMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO HELP BROADEN THE EFFECT AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THESE 15 TO TOUCH MORE OF THOSE THOUSANDS OF KIDS LIVES. THAT SEEMS LIKE A MUCH BETTER INVESTMENT. OF THE 4000 FOR TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AND THE 2000 THEY HAVE FOR THEIR BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE OUTREACH AT THAT LOCAL LEVEL, TO ENGAGE MORE KIDS AND GIVE MORE OF THOSE KIDS THE EXPOSURE. SO LET'S ALSO FLIP THIS BACK OVER TO WHAT THE USE OF FUNDS IS. DON'T WE WANT OUR TOP TWO OFFICIALS IN THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL TO BE ABLE TO GET OR BECOME CERTIFIED FRAUD INSPECTORS? THAT WOULD MAKE AN EXPONENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN WHAT THAT OFFICE CAN DO. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK OUR TAXPAYERS WOULD SUPPORT. SO I KNOW THIS IS TOUGH, BUT I FEEL LIKE IN THIS YEAR OF OUR CITY, WE REALLY NEED TO BE THINKING MORE ABOUT OUR PURSE STRINGS INSTEAD OF OUR HEARTSTRINGS. AND THEY'RE STILL GETTING ONE CONFERENCE THAT'S STILL A LOT MORE THAN OTHER KIDS GET. BUT WE REALLY NEED TO EQUIP OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL WITH THAT $114,000 GAP THAT HE ASKED FOR TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL, SO HE CLOSED IT BY 91,000. THIS WILL CLOSE IT A LITTLE MORE AND STILL LEAVE A $6,000 GAP. SO I WOULD STILL ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN DOING SOMETHING THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE CITY AS A WHOLE, AS A WHOLE, AND ALL OF OUR TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN GRACEY RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I AGAIN, I CAN APPRECIATE EVERYTHING ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID EXPOSURE, EXPOSURE, EXPOSURE IS EVERYTHING. FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, EXPOSURE LITERALLY CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF MY LIFE. HOWEVER, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $1,100. WHETHER THIS PASSES OR NOT, I AM GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO ENSURE THAT MY APPOINTEE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TRAVELING AND CONTINUING PARTICIPATING. I RAN THE MATH ON IT. IT IS ABOUT $1,100, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE. BUT YOU CONSIDER THE TRAVEL THAT WE DO. I DON'T MIND GIVING UP AND SHARING A LITTLE BIT OF MINE. SO AGAIN, WHICHEVER WAY THIS GOES, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN, IN INTO MY APPOINTEE. SO THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. AS WE'VE SAID, THIS IS A BALANCE. SO MANY OF OUR DECISIONS ARE BALANCING NEEDS, BALANCING INVESTMENTS. I THINK INVESTING IN THE YOUTH AND THEIR FUTURE IS A VERY VALUABLE INVESTMENT. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND THAT WE SPEND IN THIS CITY, YOU KNOW, $20,000 IS JUST A TINY SMALL AMOUNT. CHAIR. GRACEY. I WOULD ALSO CONTRIBUTE $1,100 TOWARDS THIS. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK OUT. AND MADAM CITY MANAGER, IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT, IF, IF SOME OF US CAN PUT IN SOME MONEY AND WE CAN POTENTIALLY POSTPONE A HIGHER FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, BUT WE HAVE $90,000 WE CAN USE IMMEDIATELY, I WOULD THINK, TO CERTIFY THE FRAUD INVESTIGATORS. SO LET'S GET THAT DONE. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EQUIPPING THE IG'S OFFICE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE EXPECT IT TO DO AND AND THAT IT HAS BEEN DOING, BUT JUST TO BE ABLE TO, TO BUMP IT UP TO THAT NEXT LEVEL. BUT ANYWAY, MADAM CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU HELP US FIGURE OUT THESE NUMBERS? BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO THE NICKELS AND DIMES. I WOULD BE HONORED TO DO THAT SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT WHAT THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I THINK, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT POSITION IS ABLE TO BE BROUGHT BACK FULLY INTO THE DEPARTMENT. AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT CAN BE DONE. REGARDLESS OF THIS AMENDMENT TODAY, I THINK WE ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, AS WE'VE LOOKED AT THE ORGANIZATION, TO ALSO RECAST WHAT OUR YOUTH COMMISSION WHAT'S THE FOCUS AND WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR? AND I WOULD WELCOME TO HAVE THAT AS A DEEPER CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE WAYS THAT WE SUPPORT THEM EVEN LOCALLY AND DO THAT IN COLLABORATION AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS BODY. SO I THINK THAT IF CHAIR WILLIS WOULD LIKE FOR US TO WORK THROUGH THIS, WE CAN, AND WE CAN DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. WE DO KNOW THAT THERE'S A VACANCY IN THAT DEPARTMENT. NOW, THIS IS NOT A POSITION THAT WOULD BE ON BOARD OCTOBER 1ST. AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE UP THE 17,000. SO THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION. SO MAYBE WE CAN HAVE BOTH. I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH LOOKING AT THE YOUTH COMMISSION AND LET'S PROBABLY WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT IN A WHILE TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT ROLE SHOULD BE. [02:30:04] AND, AND PART OF THAT WOULD LOOK AT THE TRAVEL AND JUST DETERMINE WHAT PIECE OF THAT IS SIGNIFICANT TO THE PROGRAMING. SO I WOULD, IT SOUNDS LIKE IF WE DO NOT APPROVE THIS AMENDMENT, WE CAN STILL HAVE BOTH. RIGHT. AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? IT SEEMS LIKE A DOUBLE NEGATIVE. THAT IS MY POINT. I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF JUST JUST TELLING ME WHAT YOU WANT. OKAY. WE WANT WE WANT ALL OF IT. WE WANT TO SEND OUR YOUTH WE WANT OUR YOUTH TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL AND WE WANT TO FILL THIS POSITION FOR THE IG'S OFFICE. IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE BODY, THE MAJORITY, WE WILL COMPLY. OKAY. AND JUST ONE MORE. I'M SORRY. I'M LOSING MY VOICE HERE. ONE MORE CLARIFICATION. BY VOTING NO ON THE AMENDMENT, WE HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM YOU THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO BOTH. THAT IS MY COMMITMENT. THANK YOU. MR. BLACKMON, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. YEAH, WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION OVER $17,000. SO THE QUESTION I HAVE IS NOW IS HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE SURE? HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE ASSURED THAT THAT WILL BE DONE AT THE TIME THAT OUR INTERIM IG NEEDS IT DONE? WE WILL WORK HAND IN HAND, LIKE WE DO WITH ALL OF THE OTHER CITY APPOINTED OFFICERS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HELPING THEM ACHIEVE THAT. AND MY POINT IS, IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THIS BUDGET GOES INTO EFFECT ON OCTOBER 1ST. THERE'S A RECRUITMENT PROCESS THAT WE NEED TO GO INTO PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT POSITION IS READY TO GO. AND WE WOULD WORK WITH THE OIG WITH THE INSPECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HONORING THE CITY COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT. OKAY. AND I AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THAT TOO. YOU WILL SHARE THAT? YES, MA'AM. I LEFT THAT OUT. SO WE DON'T NEED TO DO ANY ACTION THAT ASSURES THAT WE HAVE YOUR WORD IN AN OPEN FORUM. OKAY. THE NEXT THING IS, I GUESS MY WHOLE THING IS IF WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE TRAVEL, IT SHOULD BE REDUCED IN ALL THE OTHER BUDGETS AS WELL. I MEAN, I GUESS MY NOTE LEFT THE BUT IT WAS LIKE 30. IS IT 3000 IN PARKS THAT HAD TRAVEL BUDGET. WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING AT 25 FOR CPC. RIGHT. BUT WE DIDN'T TOUCH THOSE. WE ONLY WENT AFTER THE YOUTH COMMISSION AND WE ALMOST GUTTED IT BECAUSE I THINK NOW IS ONLY 6000 TO GO TO AYE. SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUDGET, WE LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE OBJECT CODE ACROSS EVERY PROGRAM, ACROSS EVERY DEPARTMENT, AND I TOOK REDUCTIONS IN EVERYTHING FROM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPLIES TO SUBSCRIPTIONS. WE DID THAT AS PART OF THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, SO WE DID IMPACT TRAVEL ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION, NOT JUST WITHIN THE AMENDMENT THAT IS BEFORE YOU. AND SO IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKS, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ANSWER HOW WE ADDRESS THE TRAVEL IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. SO PARKS IS AT 30 OR WAS IT 30? AND I GUESS GIVE ME WHAT IT IS, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR AND WHAT'S IT GOING TO NEXT FISCAL YEAR? AND ALSO WITH THE SAME WITH THE YOUTH COMMISSION AND CPC. SO WE'LL NEED TO BRING PARK AND RECREATION AND PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BACK TO RESPOND TO THOSE QUESTIONS. AND THEN WHAT ABOUT YOUTH? BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE IT AT 23. BUT WHAT WAS IT? SO THE THE YOUTH COMMISSION BUDGET, AS I MENTIONED, FOR FISCAL YEAR 27, IS 25,000, 23,000 OF THAT WAS ALLOCATED TO TRAVEL IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR HISTORICAL EXPENSES. SO IN FISCAL YEAR 25, THEY SPENT 16,700. AND THEN FISCAL YEAR 26, WE HAD A TRAVEL FREEZE. BUT UP TO THE FREEZE THEY SPENT 11,300. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. THE NUMBER I GAVE WAS THE 30 K BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THEY'VE BEEN TRENDING FOR THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS HAS ONLY BEEN ABOUT 5 OR 6 BOARD MEMBERS GOING TO THOSE TWO CONFERENCES, IF AT ALL. SO IT IS AVERAGING ABOUT 20 AND UP TO ABOUT 30 K. RIGHT. BUT I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, IS WHAT IS IT THIS YEAR AND WHAT IS IT PROPOSED FOR NEXT YEAR? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING. SO YOU'RE KEEPING IT ACTUALLY. YES. SO THERE WASN'T ANY CHANGE IN THAT NUMBER. YEAH. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE 30 K FOR. SO IT'S 30 K NOW AND IT'S 30 K THIS YEAR. WE BUDGETED FOR NEXT YEAR. YOUTH COMMISSION CAME DOWN TO K. YOU KEPT YOURS FLAT. CPC. SEE, I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S NOT JUST TRAVEL. WE CALL IT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. SO THAT MONEY IS FOR TRAVEL INCLUDED, BUT ALSO OTHER LIKE IN-HOUSE TRAINING OR IN-TOWN TRAINING, LIKE WHEN WE HAVE A CONFERENCE HERE LOCALLY. SO THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT'S NOT JUST FOR TRAVEL, [02:35:07] THAT INCLUDING OTHER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. SO THIS PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR IS ACTUALLY 275. OKAY. 275 AND WHAT WAS IT? WHAT IS IT IN THIS CURRENT YEAR THAT WE'RE JUST FINISHING THE CURRENT YEAR, WE TOOK A 10% REDUCTION FROM THE LIKE ACROSS THE BOARD. SO, SO WAS IT 30? YEAH, APPROXIMATELY 30. WE TOOK A 10% CUT. AND THIS CURRENT PROPOSED IS 275. OKAY. SO CPC CAME DOWN 10%. PARKS STAYED FLAT AND 3000 IS WHAT YOUTH COMMISSION CAME DOWN. SO FROM ACTUALS, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT I'M LOOKING AT BUDGETED. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET. ACTUALS IS 11. SO FOR THE BUDGET AMOUNT FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 I'LL NEED A LITTLE HELP FROM HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. HI. THOR ERIKSEN DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. THE YOUTH COMMISSION BUDGET LINE ITEM FOR TRAVEL HAS NOT CHANGED. WHAT CHANGES ARE FLIGHT COSTS, HOTEL COSTS, THE DURATION. AND SO WE TYPICALLY WHEN WE COME UNDER BUDGET AND ONE OF THOSE GENERAL FUND LINE ITEMS, WE USE THAT TO RECOVER COSTS ON ANOTHER. SO MY QUESTION IS ABOUT BUDGET. LIKE WHAT. NOT ABOUT COST YOU? IT WAS 23 THIS YEAR AND IT'S 23 GOING INTO YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO SO I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS AND BASICALLY FROM PARK REDUCE THEIR TRAVEL BUDGET BY 5000 CPC FROM TO 7000 AND LEAVE YOUTH AT 4000. SO EVERYBODY IS GETTING A REDUCTION. AND I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT YOU SHOULD REDUCE ONE THE MOTION. SORRY. YES. I MADE THAT MOTION. I NEED THREE. I NEED THREE. YEAH. I HAVE EVERYBODY IN THERE. SO IF I MAY MAKE A CLARIFICATION. SO THE TRAVEL BUDGET FOR THE CPC COMES OUT OF THEIR ENTERPRISE FUND, NOT THE GENERAL FUND. SO IT CAN'T MOVE OVER. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. THEN I WITHDRAW THAT. YEAH. GO AHEAD. YEAH THAT'S FINE. OKAY, I GIVE UP? THANK YOU. I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY THE GAME TODAY. I AIN'T MAD AT YOU AT ALL, MISS BLACKMON AT ALL. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO. I FEEL LIKE SOMEONE DROPPED OUT OF THE KEY THAT WAS IN THERE. OKAY, MISS CHAIRWOMAN WILLS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. THEN THAT'S IT. ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU. SO I APPRECIATE CITY MANAGER. YOU SAYING YOU WOULD LOOK FOR OTHER FUNDS? IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT POACHING AROUND WITHIN THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, BECAUSE THERE WAS STILL A GAP THERE. AND THAT SHOWS A TANGIBLE RETURN FOR OUR TAXPAYERS. SO DO NOT GO SHOPPING IN THAT CATEGORY. I DON'T LIKE TAKING FROM OUR PLAN COMMISSION OUR LAWS CHANGE, AND THAT GROUP COMES IN AND THEY NEED TO BE VERSED AND TRAINED ON. AND I GUESS WE JUST RULED THAT OUT. MISS WHEDON, DID YOU JUST SAY THAT'S NOT EVEN POSSIBLE? OKAY. THAT'S CORRECT. THE THE TRAVEL COMES FROM THEIR ENTERPRISE FUND. I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT OUR TOP TWO OFFICIALS CAN BECOME CERTIFIED FRAUD INSPECTORS, THAT WE GET A CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WILL HELP TAKE THIS OFFICE TO THE NEXT LEVEL SO THAT WE NOT ONLY ARE RECOVERING FUNDS, BUT WE ARE BLUNTING ACTIVITY THAT IS AGAINST THE INTEGRITY AND PRACTICE OF WHAT WE EXPECT FOR OUR TAXPAYERS. THANK YOU. WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT BY SHOWING YOUR CITY SEAL. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBER. MORENO. WEST. MENDELSOHN. RIDLEY. GRACEY AND WILLIS. WITH SIX SEALS ONLY BEING RAISED IN FAVOR. THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. I'M LOOKING FOR MOTIONS. I'M LOOKING FOR MOTION. CHAD, YOU GOT ONE. GO AHEAD AND. MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION. WELL, FIRST PARLIAMENTARY, I THINK THERE WAS A RECOUNT OF THE VOTES. THAT WAS I'M TOLD COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH RAISED HIS SEAL IN FAVOR. I DIDN'T SEE THAT. OKAY, SO I'LL NOTE THAT SEVEN SEALS WERE RAISED IN FAVOR ON THAT AMENDMENT. STILL FAILS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. MISS MENDELSOHN, FOR YOU TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION. YES, PLEASE. THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY AMENDMENT. [02:40:05] AND THE SOURCE OF FUNDS IS THIS AMENDMENT FIVE. MY STAFF CAN PASS OUT. THIS IS TO ELIMINATE THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL INSPECTION PROGRAM. I GENERALLY MAKE THIS MOTION EVERY YEAR. IT'S 500 000. AND THE FUNDS WOULD GO TO A POOL TO BE CREATED FOR MEET AND CONFER FOR THE MANAGER TO BE ABLE TO USE AS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE. I'M LOOKING FOR THREE SECONDS. SECOND, RIDLEY BLACKMON POINT OF INFORMATION. I'M STILL LOOKING FOR SECONDS REALLY QUICKLY JUST TO MAKE SURE. I'LL SECOND IT. JUST GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR POINT OF INFORMATION AND THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. MISS MENDELSOHN, FOR FIVE MINUTES. I'LL JUST ASK IT DURING THE 531. THANK YOU. MAYOR. OKAY, MISS MILLS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. THE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL PROGRAM TO ME IS, FRANKLY, JUST GOVERNMENT OVERREACH. IF A PERSON WISHES TO RENT A PROPERTY, THEY CAN ENTER INTO A CONTRACT TO DO SO. IF THEY DON'T WISH TO DO IT, THEY DON'T HAVE TO. BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY NO REASON FOR GOVERNMENT TO DO THIS SORT OF RENTAL INSPECTION. AND I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. THIS IS AN ITEM. I WILL SAY THAT WHEN THIS CHANGE OCCURRED, I WAS NOT ON COUNCIL, BUT I WAS ON THE CITY'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE, AND I WAS RUNNING A NONPROFIT THAT DID FREE HOME REPAIR FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS, VETERANS, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AND FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE STANDARDS AT THE CITY THAT REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE A MICROWAVE. WELL, SOME PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE A MICROWAVE, BUT THE LANDLORD IS HAVING TO PROVIDE THAT. WE HAVE STANDARDS THAT INCLUDE THINGS LIKE AIR CONDITIONING. NOW, I DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN A PLACE WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT CHOOSE TO DO SO. AND SOME OF OUR OLDER HOUSING STOCK WAS ACTUALLY BUILT TO NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING, AND TO HAVE IT ACTUALLY BREEZES THROUGH THE WALLS. WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE, IT IS UP TO THE TENANT TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO SIGN THAT CONTRACT. AND INSTEAD WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S UNNECESSARY BECAUSE YOU MUST BE AN ADULT TO RENT A PROPERTY. AND WE NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH CONFIDENCE IN PEOPLE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO RENT IT OR NOT. THE USE OF FUNDS, THE MEET AND CONFER FUNDING POOL IS WHAT I'M CALLING IT. AND THERE'S SEVERAL AMENDMENTS THAT I'M GOING TO BRING FORWARD. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF WE PASS THIS BUDGET TODAY, WE'VE ESSENTIALLY ENDED MEET AND CONFER BECAUSE ALL THE DOLLARS THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE MANAGER TO OFFER FOR A CONTRACT WOULD ALREADY BE SET. THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE TO GO. IF THERE IS ANOTHER PLACE TO GO, IF THE MANAGER IS AWARE OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING WITHIN THE BUDGET, I THINK WE SHOULD BE TOLD THAT LIKE, HEY, I DO ACTUALLY HAVE THIS FLEXIBILITY OVER HERE. BUT I HAVE A SERIES OF BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY INTENDED TO PROVIDE A POOL TO HER SO THAT AS THESE NEGOTIATIONS HAPPEN, THERE'S ACTUAL FLEXIBILITY. CITY OF DALLAS IS NOT PAYING POLICE AND FIRE OFFICERS AS DICTATED BY PROP YOU NOR COMPETITIVE IN THE DFW MARKET. THE ARGUMENT THAT POLICE AND FIRE TAKE UP SO MUCH OF OUR BUDGET. WELL GUESS WHAT? EVERY OTHER MUNICIPAL BUDGET ALSO SPENDS THE MAJORITY OF THEIR FUNDS ON PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S EXPENSIVE, BUT IT'S ALSO THE MOST IMPORTANT SERVICE WE PROVIDE. IT'S ACTUALLY WHY MANY LOCALES BECOME A CITY BECAUSE THEY NEED PUBLIC SAFETY. AND IF WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE DON'T HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OUR POPULATION WILL LEAVE AND OUR BUSINESSES WILL LEAVE. AND THE BUDGET ISSUES WE FACE TODAY WILL BE THREEFOLD. WE HAVE LOWERED VIOLENT CRIME YEAR OVER YEAR AND WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF. BUT ALSO, WE HAVE A HIGHER CRIME RATE THAN MOST LARGE CITIES. I BELIEVE WE'RE NINTH IN AMERICA, NOT JUST IN OUR POPULATION SIZE, BUT ALSO IN OUR CRIME RATE. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS GET A LOT OF NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT THE CRIME IN YOUR AREA. RIGHT NOW, MOST DISTRICTS HAVE AN INCREASE IN CRIME YEAR OVER YEAR. [02:45:01] SO WE'RE MAKING HEADWAY. WE'RE DOING GREAT WORK ON THAT. HOWEVER, IT'S NOT ENOUGH. AND TO KEEP OUR OFFICERS WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PAYING COMPETITIVELY ON YOUR VERY WORST DAY. YOU DO WANT TO HAVE A DALLAS POLICE OFFICER SHOW UP, BUT YOU ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT THEIR FIRST DAY OUT OF THE ACADEMY. YOU WANT A FIVE YEAR, TEN YEAR, 20 YEAR OFFICER INVESTIGATING THE MURDER OF YOUR NEIGHBOR, AND IT COSTS MONEY, AND WE'VE GOT TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS. WE CAN'T HAVE OUR MAYOR STANDING ON THE NATIONAL STAGE SAYING, PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE, AND THEN WE DON'T FUND IT. SO I'VE GOT A SERIES OF AMENDMENTS. I HOPE THAT YOU'LL SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY. I HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT BALANCING OUR BUDGET FOR OUR ACTUAL MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY, WHICH IS PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU. MR. BAZALDUA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WOULD JUST SAY, I THINK THAT THIS IS TRULY TIPTOEING ON A LINE THAT VIOLATES CHAPTER 174 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE THAT EXPRESSLY GIVES THE RIGHT TO NEGOTIATIONS TO OUR CITY MANAGER WITHIN THE JURISDICTIONS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. COUNCIL'S ROLE IS MEANT TO RATIFY THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE THERE. I WOULD ARGUE THAT REGARDING THE LEGALITY OF THIS, IT MAY BE TIPTOEING ON, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY GETTING INVOLVED IN WHAT I WOULD WOULD SAY IS A GRAY AREA OF OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT COMES TO EQUIPPING OUR CITY MANAGER WITH THE MOST LEVERAGE THAT SHE NEEDS IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST DURING THESE NEGOTIATIONS. I THINK THAT THIS IS IS OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDS OF WHAT OUR CHARTER PRESCRIBES AS A COUNCIL'S ROLE, AND THAT IF WE WERE TO ESPECIALLY WITHIN SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY MY COLLEAGUE IN LAYING THIS OUT, SPECIFYING INCREASE IN PAY, SPECIFYING HOW THIS COULD BE USED. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY INSERTING YOURSELF INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS. AND NOT ONLY IS A VIOLATION OF LOCAL CODE, BUT IT WOULD ALSO BE BE ONE THAT I BELIEVE IS A HINDRANCE TO OUR CITY MANAGER BEING ABLE TO HAVE AN UPPER HAND IN THE NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH SHE SHOULD. AND THAT SHOULD BE WHERE OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY LIES. I THINK THAT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ONE THAT WE SHOULD DENY AS A COUNCIL. AND I THINK PHILOSOPHICALLY, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE AND FIRE THROUGH MANY MEANS, INCLUDING OUR OWN BULLY PULPITS AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT ALSO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE WORK THAT OUR MAYOR HAS ASSIGNED US TO TAKE THESE DECISIONS UP IN, BUT USING A BUDGET AMENDMENT PROCESS TO TRY TO CIRCUMVENT MEET AND CONFER PROCESS THAT'S LAID OUT PRETTY CLEAR IN STATE STATUTE IS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE IN MY EYES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY STATE YOUR INQUIRY. WELL MY COLLEAGUE, WHO I'M NOT SURE OF HIS LEGAL BACKGROUND IS INSINUATING THAT THE MOTION MIGHT NOT BE. IN ORDER TO CREATE A FUND THAT IS DESIGNATED FOR MEET AND CONFER, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE USED AT THE WILL. POINT OF ORDER. MAYOR. IS THIS DISCUSSION OR A POINT OF ORDER? I WAS I WAS GETTING AROUND TO. SO THE QUESTION IS, IS THE MOTION A POINT OF ORDER I WANT TO HEAR IN ORDER. I WILL ACTUALLY INQUIRE. THE PARLIAMENTARY PARLIAMENTARIAN AT THIS POINT WHETHER OR NOT YOU, IN LIGHT OF STATE LAW, BELIEVE THAT THE MOTION ITSELF IS IN ORDER. WE BELIEVE THE. I BELIEVE THE MOTION IS IN ORDER. WITH THE CAVEAT THAT I DO THINK THERE IS IT IS SORT OF CLOSE TO THE LINE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT THEN, MR. ROFF, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR FIVE MINUTES. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN FOR RAISING THIS ISSUE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT WE WANT TO GIVE THE RESOURCES TO THE CITY MANAGER TO BE ABLE TO TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY IN WHATEVER HER NEGOTIATIONS ARE. I THINK THAT MOVING SOME OF THESE FUNDS INTO A FUND THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE IS SMART. I THINK IT'S IT'S A IT'S THE RIGHT APPROACH. I THINK IT RATIFIES OUR SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. AND I THINK THAT IT'S A IT'S THE CORRECT VISION IN, IN TRYING TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR PRIORITIES ARE. LIE. SO I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS MOTION. [02:50:05] YEAH. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER THE SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR THIS AMENDMENT. IN LIGHT OF THAT, I WOULD ASK THAT THE HOUSING DIRECTOR COME FORWARD TO ADDRESS SOME QUESTIONS I HAVE. SO IT'S ACTUALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF CODE COMPLIANCE. WELL, I'M NOT SURE THEY CAN ADDRESS THE VALUE OF THIS PROGRAM. THAT'S MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THIS SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL INSPECTION PROGRAM IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING DECENT HOUSING FOR RENTERS? I THINK THE VALUE IS TREMENDOUS. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER RIDLEY. CHRIS CHRISTIAN, DIRECTOR OF CODE COMPLIANCE SERVICES. THIS PROGRAM, WE REGISTER 9944 UNITS ANNUALLY INTO THIS RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAM. OUR GOAL, AS IT IS IN ALL OF OUR RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAMS IS TENANT SAFETY, HABITABILITY, QUALITY OF LIFE STANDARDS WITHIN THE PROPERTY. SO MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS. WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANY RENTER IN THE CITY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT AMOUNT YOU PAY RENT, SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE IN SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS. AND SO THAT'S OUR GOAL. THAT'S OUR PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE PROPERTY TYPES. IT COST US $931,000 ANNUALLY TO RUN THIS PROGRAM. IT BRINGS IN $661,000 IN REVENUE. IT'S ABOUT 71% COST RECOVERY RIGHT NOW. WITH THE ENHANCEMENT ON, TOLD ME THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS YEAR, WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE OPERATING THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF DALLAS RIGHT NOW. AT A $74 FEE FOR REGISTRATION, WE HOPE TO INCREASE THAT REVENUE BY AT LEAST TWO 300,000 IN THE NEXT 24 MONTHS. WE HOPE TO BE AT 100% COST RECOVERY IN TWO YEARS WITH THIS PROGRAM. AND IF I MAY, SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER, I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT CHRIS HAD SAID. AND BECAUSE THE EXPENSES ARE $930,000 OR SO, AND BECAUSE THERE'S 70% OR SO REIMBURSED, THERE'S REALLY ONLY ABOUT $171,000 THAT'S AVAILABLE OF GENERAL FUND THAT'S GOING TO THIS. BECAUSE IF YOU TAKE THE EXPENSE AWAY, THE REVENUE GOES AWAY AS WELL. AND SO THE NET IS ONLY ABOUT 171 OR 172,000. SO IN OTHER WORDS, JACK, WE CAN'T FUND THIS AMENDMENT AT THE LEVEL OF 500,000 FROM THIS SOURCE. NOT AT THE LEVEL. IT'S ABOUT 172,000. IS THE DIFFERENCE IN REVENUE AND EXPENSES. OKAY. AND IS THERE NOT ALSO A SPILLOVER EFFECT FROM THIS PROGRAM IN THAT IT NOT ONLY MAINTAINS THE STRUCTURES THAT THE RENTERS OCCUPY, BUT IT ALSO MAINTAINS THE APPEARANCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH THOSE HOUSES ARE LOCATED. YES, SIR. ABSOLUTELY. I LIKE TO THINK OF CODE COMPLIANCE AS A CITY OF DALLAS CITYWIDE HOA PROGRAM PROTECTS THE ECONOMIC VITALITY IN NEIGHBORHOODS, THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR NEIGHBORS. A LOT OF WE'VE RESPONDED TO 3200 SERVICE REQUESTS AT THESE TYPE OF PROPERTIES OVER THE PAST FISCAL YEAR. A LOT OF THE TIME, THOSE REQUESTS ARE COMING FROM NEIGHBORS TO THESE PROPERTIES, WHERE THE TENANTS WHO LIVE IN THESE PROPERTIES MAY OR MAY NOT BE MAINTAINING THE PROPERTY TO THE APPROPRIATE STANDARD. AND THEN AGAIN, WE GET REQUESTS FROM TENANTS WHO MAY BE SUBJECTED TO SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS WHO ARE LIVING IN THESE PROPERTIES, AND LANDLORDS ARE REFUSING TO WORK ON THE AC OR FIX THE LEAK IN THE ROOF, OR REGULARLY MAINTAIN THE PLUMBING AND AIR CONDITIONING STANDARDS. AND SO IT'S TWOFOLD HOW WE ADDRESS ISSUES IN THESE PROPERTY TYPES, BUT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF THOSE TENANTS, AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS. AND IS THIS NOT ONE OF THE CITY'S CHIEF TOOLS TO ADDRESS SLUMLORDS WHO DON'T MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING IN AN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION? THIS IS ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR TOOL BELT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THESE OFFICERS THAT OPERATE IN THIS PROGRAM, THERE'S EIGHT OF THEM. THEY'RE SPECIALIZED IN THIS FIELD. LANDLORD IDENTIFICATION, LOCATING LANDLORDS. SOMETIMES THESE ARE ABSENTEE OWNERS OUT OF STATE OWNERS. THEY SPECIALIZE IN BEING ABLE TO FIND THESE PROPERTY OWNERS, GET THEM ENGAGED IN OUR PROCESS THROUGH OUR REGISTRATION PROGRAM. WE CHARGE A SMALL FEE TO DO THAT. AND THE PROGRAM IS ALMOST COST RECOVERY. SO I THINK IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, WHAT YOU WOULD BE LOSING BY PULLING THE $172,000 WOULD BE MUCH MORE IMPACTFUL AND A NEGATIVE [02:55:02] FOR THE CITY THAN WHAT YOU WOULD BE GAINING. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, PRINCIPALLY BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF THE SOURCE IS JUST NOT AVAILABLE. MOVE TO AMEND THE MOTION. WHAT? WHAT JUST HAPPENED? I'M MOVING TO AMEND THE MOTION TO 171,000 INSTEAD OF 500 000. GIVEN THE INFORMATION FROM OUR CFO, DO YOU HAVE THREE SECONDS FOR THAT SECOND? THAT'S ONE. I'M LOOKING FOR TWO MORE. SECOND. THAT'S TWO. THIRD. SECOND. GOING ONCE. MAYOR. PERHAPS YOU'D LIKE TO BE THE THIRD. THIRD, SECOND. GOING TWICE. I DON'T SECOND THESE THINGS. I DON'T DO THAT. YOU KNOW THAT. YOU'RE ALLOWED TO. I'D LIKE TO WITHDRAW. IT'S VERY RARE. THE PRESIDING OFFICER VERY RARELY, VERY RARELY PARTICIPATES IN THOSE. BUT PUBLIC SAFETY IS YOUR NUMBER ONE, SO I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT. IT IS. OKAY. I DON'T SEE A THIRD. WELL, THEN I'LL LEAVE IT AT 500,000. THANK YOU. FAIR ENOUGH. AND I CAN'T WITHDRAW MINE. ALL RIGHT. CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE MR. RIDLEY FLESHING OUT A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD AND DID IT VERY THOROUGHLY. MY CONCERN WITH THIS, I THINK THE THE USE IS GREAT. AND, BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT THE, THE SOURCE WAS NOT VETTED CLEARLY. AND THAT'S WHY I DON'T LIKE DOING POLICY WORK THROUGH BUDGET AMENDMENTS. THAT'S WHY I PULLED MY SANITATION AI CAMERAS ISSUE, WHICH IS GOING TO QUALITY OF LIFE, BECAUSE THIS IS THE KIND OF THING WE NEED TO BE VETTING OUT IN QUALITY OF LIFE OR HOUSING COMMITTEE TO SEE IF THIS PROGRAM IS WORKING WELL. I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD A BRIEFING ON THIS IN 3 OR 4 YEARS. MAYBE IT'S BEEN MORE RECENT, BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T REMEMBER IT. SO DEFINITELY NOT SUPPORTING THIS. THANK YOU. I COMING BACK TO YOU, MISS MENDELSOHN, FOR THREE MINUTES. IF THERE'S NO THANK YOU, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE. AND CAN YOU GO THROUGH THE SCHEDULE FOR US ON WHAT IT COSTS FOR THE FEES? YES, MA'AM. LAST YEAR, THE FEE FOR RENTAL REGISTRATION FOR SINGLE FAMILY WAS $64. IT WENT UP AS A RESULT OF OUR LAST FEE STUDY TO $74. AND SO IT'S $74 TO REGISTER AND IT'S EVERY YEAR. CORRECT. IT'S IT'S ANNUAL REGISTRATION. THAT IS CORRECT. AND THERE'S ALSO A REINSPECTION FEE FOR REINSPECTION CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH. AND WHAT IS THE REGISTRATION FEE? I DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT IN FRONT OF, I THINK IT'S 114 OR 112. AND WHEN YOU HAVE A REINSPECTION YOU DO THAT PLUS THE 74, THE 74 IS THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE. THE REINSPECTION FEE IS ONE TIME FOR THAT REINSPECTION ON TOP OF THAT. YEAH. AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU, IF THERE'S A REINSPECTION NECESSARY, HOW OFTEN DO YOU REINSPECT. I'M NOT 100% SURE RIGHT NOW HOW MANY OF THESE SERVICE REQUESTS RESULTED IN REINSPECTION, BUT I COULD GET YOU THAT INFORMATION. I KNOW IT'LL PROBABLY BE AFTER TODAY, BUT. OR LATER ON IN THE DAY. SO AFTER THIS MOTION. I'M SORRY. SO I'LL NOTE THAT THE 500,000 CAME FROM A PRIOR BUDGET AMENDMENT I HAD. THAT WAS THE NUMBER THAT WE HAD CONSIDERED IN A PRIOR YEAR. WE'RE NOT ABLE TO FIND QUICKLY THE REINSPECTION FEE. I'M SORRY. WELL, I'M GOING TO GUESS IT'S LIKE $150. I THINK IT'S 114, ACTUALLY, 114. IT'S SOMEWHERE IN THAT BALLPARK. SO IN THOSE YEARS THE LANDLORD'S PAYING ABOUT $200. I'M SORRY. THAT'S MULTIFAMILY FOR SINGLE FAMILY. IT'S $43. 43 FOR REINSPECTION, 43 FOR REINSPECTION, AND 74 A YEAR FOR JUST THE REGISTRATION. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO SOMETIMES IT'S $74 A YEAR AND SOMETIMES IT'S OVER $100 A YEAR. AND ALL OF THOSE COSTS ARE THEN SENT TO THE RENT TO THE RENTER. SO IT'S ONLY $74 A YEAR. UNLESS YOU HAVE ISSUES AT YOUR PROPERTY THAT YOU DON'T ADDRESS WITHIN YOUR VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE DUE PROCESS PERIOD. AND THEN SO IT'S NO FEE. THERE'S NO REGISTRATION FEE WHEN WE GO OUT TO A PROPERTY, [03:00:05] IF WE'RE THERE WORKING WITH A PROPERTY OWNER AND HE'S WORKING WITH US, IF THERE'S ISSUES OR CONCERNS THAT WE BRING TO THEIR ATTENTION AND THEY'RE WILLING TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT AND GET THEM RESOLVED, THEN WE WILL NOT CHARGE A REINSPECTION FEE AND WE WILL CLOSE UP THOSE ITEMS. SO YOU WON'T DO THE REINSPECTION FEE, BUT THEY'RE STILL HAVING TO PAY THE 74 REGISTRATION FEE, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO THE POINT IS ONLY THAT THESE COSTS ARE PASSED ON TO THE RENTERS. AND THESE FEES ARE FOR ANY KIND OF PROPERTY. SO IF IT'S A $5,000 A MONTH PROPERTY OR IT'S A $500 A MONTH PROPERTY, THEY'RE STILL PAYING THE $74 TO REGISTER, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. THAT'S RIGHT. SO I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A SCHEDULE BASED ON EITHER THE STANDARD OR THERE USED TO BE BASED ON THE STANDARDS. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT YOU DON'T END UP RE INSPECTING PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN GOOD REPAIR? IS THAT CORRECT? SO OUR STANDARD IS PUBLIC IS MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS, CHAPTER 27 OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE. AS LONG AS YOU'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS, THEN YOU WILL HAVE NO REINSPECTION FEES OR ASSESSMENTS CHARGED AGAINST YOUR PROPERTY. BUT EVERY RENTER IS, IN THE END PAYING FOR THAT $74 FEE. AND THIS IS HOW WE ARTIFICIALLY ARE INCREASING THE COST OF HOUSING IN DALLAS FOR A FUNCTION THAT IS FRANKLY NOT NECESSARY. AGAIN, AN ADULT CAN ENTER INTO A CONTRACT ON THEIR OWN FOR THEIR OWN HOUSING WITHOUT CITY GOVERNMENT BEING PART OF IT. SO AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS JUST COMPLETELY GOVERNMENT OVERREACH AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDIRECT FUNDS TO WHAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE SAID IS A TOP PRIORITY, WHICH IS PUBLIC SAFETY ALONG WITH ROADS. THANK YOU. IS THERE NO ONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY MISS MENDELSOHN SEEING NONE. YOU KNOW HOW TO INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT. IT'S THE SHOWING OF THE SEALS. WE NEED TO SEE THOSE NOW. PLEASE. SO THE CITY SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR CAN MAKE NOTE. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN. WITH ONLY TWO SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, I'M STILL LOOKING FOR MOTIONS, MR. MAYOR. MR. BAZALDUA, FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT WITH A SOURCE OF FUNDS, THE LIABILITY RISK FUND. OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR PERSONAL INJURY OF $165,837, AS WELL AS THE REMAINING NON DEPARTMENTAL SAVINGS FROM THE OVER FORECAST OF THE DOWNTOWN DALLAS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT OF $22,279. THE USE OF FUNDS TO RESTORE THREE POSITIONS IN A PUBLIC ART TEAM IS FOR TWO POSITIONS, AND AN ADMIN SPECIALIST OF ONE POSITION, FOR A TOTAL OF $188,116. SECOND, THE WHOLE THING OR JUST THE PART HE GOT IN BEFORE HE USED IT. JUST OKAY, WE GOT ONE. WE GOT BLACKMON RIDLEY. SECOND. JOHNSON. SO WE HAVE THREE SECONDS. THE FLOOR IS YOURS FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK JACK IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE LIABILITY RISK FUND. WE ALREADY KIND OF TOUCHED ON IT DURING THE BRIEFING, BUT I IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE A HIGH LEVEL BEFORE I LAY OUT MORE DETAILS OF THE AMENDMENT. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. SO THE LIABILITY FUND IS A FUND THAT IS MANAGED BY THE OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. IT IS A FUND WHERE WE SET ASIDE DOLLARS FOR DIFFERENT LITIGATION THAT IS GOING ON CLAIMS FILED AGAINST THE CITY WHERE WE ANTICIPATE HAVING TO MAKE SOME TYPE OF SETTLEMENT OUT OF THE FUND. WE ALSO THE CITY ATTORNEYS, WHEN THEY ARE USING OUTSIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT ONE OF THOSE CASES, WILL HAVE USE THAT FUND FOR PAYING THOSE OUTSIDE LEGAL EXPENSES. WE EACH YEAR FUND THE AMOUNT THAT WE BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO NEED IN THAT UPCOMING YEAR. SO WE LOOK AT HOW MUCH CASH IS IN THE FUND WHAT EXPENSES OUT OF THE FUND WE ANTICIPATE AND THEN DETERMINE WHAT WE NEED TO ADD INTO THE BUDGET. WE LOOK AT THIS OVER MULTIPLE YEARS AT ONE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT OVER THE BIENNIAL THAT WE DON'T GO NEGATIVE. AND SO RIGHT NOW, BASED UPON WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE 27 BUDGET, AS WELL AS WHAT WE HAVE IN THE 28 PLANNED BUDGET, WE WOULD END THE TWO YEAR PERIOD WITH ABOUT $400,000 OF FUND BALANCE LEFT. IF EVERYTHING GOES ACCORDING TO THE PLANS OF CASES, LEGAL FEES. ET CETERA. THANK YOU FOR THAT. CITY ATTORNEY, IF YOU OR ANYONE ON YOUR STAFF COULD EXPLAIN TO ME, [03:05:06] I QUESTIONED SOME VACANCIES WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE THE BUDGET. AND I BELIEVE THE RESPONSE THAT I GOT WAS SPECIFIC TO HOPEFULLY IN-HOUSE BEING ABLE TO TAKE ON SOME OF THESE PERSONAL INJURY LIABILITY CASES. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE VACANCIES OR SOMEONE ON YOUR TEAM, PLEASE? MR. MAYOR, I WILL I'LL TRY TO ANSWER THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S QUESTION, THOUGH. I POWERS WILL FILL IN WHEN I MISS SOMETHING. WE CURRENTLY HAVE, I BELIEVE, THREE VACANCIES IN OUR PERSONAL INJURY OR TORTS SECTION. WE HAVE ATTORNEYS IN THE TORTS SECTION RIGHT NOW WHO HAVE, WHO HAVE THE 51 CASES, 60 CASES. THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN USING THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING IN OF COURSE, FILL THOSE VACANCIES AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY IN THE MARKET THAT WE HAVE. WE BUT THAT BEING SAID, IF IF IT IS THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL, WE WILL WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT. AND IF WE HAVE TO MOVE PEOPLE FROM AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION THERE TO FILL IN THE BLANK, WE WILL. THANK YOU. BURT, I ALSO WAS JUST CURIOUS IF WE WERE TO. BE ASKED, I MEAN, IN THEORY, FILLING THESE VACANCIES WOULD ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE INCREASE IN THE, THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL. IN THEORY THAT THAT IS CORRECT IN THEORY. HOWEVER, TORTS OR TORTS SECTION, ALONG WITH MOST OF THE SECTIONS IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE LITIGATION SIDE ARE REACTIVE. SO WE CAN'T PREDICT THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT ARE GOING TO COME IN. WE COULD SUDDENLY BE FLOODED WITH CASES, AND THAT WOULD CHANGE THE THE DYNAMICS PRETTY QUICKLY. ABSOLUTELY. AND WOULD YOU SAY THAT IF I WAS LOOKING AT THIS, AND I'M NOT ACCUSING YOU OF PUTTING IT IN A BUDGET TO BE DUPLICATIVE, BUT IF IN THEORY WE WERE TO FILL THESE VACANCIES AND NOT HAVE THE NEED FOR THE INCREASE IN OUTSIDE COUNSEL. THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT THIS TO BEING DUPLICATIVE. IF YOU WERE TO NOT FILL YOUR VACANCIES, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO THEN MAKE AN AUDIBLE, IF YOU WILL, AT MIDYEAR AND APPROPRIATE THE FUNDS THAT WOULD GO TO VACANT POSITIONS THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FILL AND SUPPLEMENT FOR AN INCREASE IN YOUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL LINE ITEM? IN SHORT, YES, I BELIEVE SO. OKAY. THE REASON I LAID THIS OUT, COLLEAGUES, IS BECAUSE IN NO WAY AM I TRYING TO TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT THE INTENT IS OF THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND I THINK IN A BEST CASE SCENARIO, THEY ARE FILLING THESE POSITIONS AND THEN THEY DON'T HAVE THE NEED FOR THE INCREASE IN THE OUTSIDE COUNCIL LINE ITEM OF THE LIABILITY RISK FUND. IF THEY WERE TO NOT BE ABLE TO FILL THESE THREE VACANCIES WITHIN C, CAO TO HANDLE THESE CASES IN HOUSE THEN THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO UTILIZE THE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE VACANT POSITIONS AND MOVE IT OVER TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL. SO THEY CAN STILL HAVE BOTH IF THAT MAKES SENSE. WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS FIND A SOURCE THAT DOESN'T HINDER THE, THE DEPARTMENT THAT WE ARE FINDING FROM, BUT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A PRIORITY IN THE CUTS THAT WE SAW WITH THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE. I KNOW THAT HARD DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE ACROSS THE BOARD. THIS IS A PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT THAT I BELIEVE TRULY ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN, IN MANY RESPECTS. AND A LOT OF TIMES IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR CITY. QUITE FRANKLY, SOME OF THE PUBLIC ART PROJECTS THAT WE'VE HAD IN DISTRICT SEVEN HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE BIGGEST, MOST TANGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS AND AREAS. AND IT'S ONE THAT I WOULD REALLY NOT LIKE TO SEE BE CUT AT THE AT THE KNEES. SO I'M HOPING TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE THE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A SOURCE OF FUNDS THAT WOULD BE MINIMAL IMPACT. SO I HOPE I CAN COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK FOR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA? SEEING NONE. INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR CITY SEALS, PLEASE. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR BAZALDUA BLACKMON, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY GRACEY AND WILLIS, WITH ONLY SEVEN SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT, FAILS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. WE'RE LOOKING FOR MORE AMENDMENTS, MAYOR. YES, SIR. I'D LIKE TO LAY AN AMENDMENT OUT WITH A SOURCE OF FUNDS FROM THE PARKS MULTI-YEAR FUND OF $460,000. AND USE OF FUNDS TO RESTORE RECREATION HOURS OF $460,000 TOTAL. [03:10:02] I'M LOOKING FOR THREE SECONDS. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT YOU HEAR. THE THREE, MR. MAYOR. IT'S AMAZING. YOU CAN DO IT BY VOICE. THAT'S AMAZING. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MOVE TO AMEND THE MOTION. I HAVEN'T EVEN RECOGNIZED THE MOVER YET, BUT WOULD YOU LIKE FIVE MINUTES ON? YES, SIR. I'M GOING TO LET YOU GO AHEAD AND THANK YOU. SO ONE THING THAT I TALK ABOUT EVERY BUDGET SEASON IS PARKS, ARTS AND LIBRARIES. AND OFTEN THOSE ARE LIFELINES TO MANY COMMUNITIES, BUT MORE OFTEN THEY ARE LOW HANGING FRUIT FOR BALANCING BUDGET IN TOUGH YEARS. AND ONE THING THAT I WANT TO TRY TO DO IS MINIMIZE THE IMPACT TO THE DEPARTMENTS THAT I BELIEVE ARE LIFELINES FOR MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES. AND RECREATION CENTERS ARE SOMETHING WE'VE ALREADY SEEN A HIT TO, BUT IT'S IT'S A LIFELINE FOR THE YOUTH IN A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS IS WHERE SOME KIDS HAVE SOME OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL ADULT INTERACTIONS IN THE CITY. THIS IS WHERE SOME OF OUR KIDS HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO HOMEWORK AND HAVE ASSISTANCE FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS AND MENTORS AND USE WI FI. THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE THE ABILITY FOR KIDS TO BE IN A SAFE PLACE, OFTENTIMES WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE ADULT SUPERVISION AT HOME, FOR INSTANCE, OR THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE FOR THEM TO BE OUT ON THE STREETS AND POTENTIALLY GETTING IN IN SITUATIONS THAT THEY SHOULDN'T. SO I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A HUGE BENEFIT TO OUR PARKS AND REC AMENITIES, BUT SPECIFICALLY OUR REC CENTERS AND THE AMAZING STAFF THAT WE HAVE RUNNING THESE CENTERS AND WHAT THEY DO FOR OUR YOUTH SPECIFICALLY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US PRIORITIZE GETTING BACK TO WHERE WE'VE SEEN CUTS, WHICH I BELIEVE THE LAST CUT WAS 2024 THAT WE WOULD BE ATTEMPTING TO GET THE HOURS BACK TO. SO I HOPE I CAN GET YOUR SUPPORT. AND I WAS GOING TO SEE IF IF RYAN, I GUESS, OR. YEAH. RYAN. IF. RYAN, IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO WHAT THIS WOULD DO, I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE MULTI YEAR FUND AND IN NO WAY AM I TRYING TO HURT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. BUT THIS WAS A USE WITHIN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT I WAS HOPING THAT. I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOU BACK THERE, JOHN. YEAH. I APOLOGIZE. AND SO I KNOW THAT THERE WERE THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO TALK ABOUT THE MULTI YEAR FUND A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO. AND I REMEMBER ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT YOU CAME BACK WITH BASED ON SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WAS GIVEN ABOUT SPECIFIC POOLS, WAS $700,000 TO KEEP ALL OF THE POOLS OPEN. I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT US TO HAVE TO GO DOWN THAT ROUTE RIGHT NOW. IN A POLITICAL OR A POLICY DISCUSSION. BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY THE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPACTFUL USE OF THOSE DOLLARS. AND SO IDEALLY WE CAN GET THIS DONE. BUT THE REASON I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THIS FORWARD IS IF YOU WERE WILLING TO USE SOME OF THE MULTI YEAR FUNDS FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING AGAINST THE PLAN THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT IN PLACE. I WAS GOING TO SEE IF WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE USE OF THEM COMING FOR THE INCREASE IN RECREATION HOURS. YEAH, WELL, JUST TO BE SHORT AND BRIEF DIANE SAYS, YES, I CAN SUPPORT USING 450 OR 460 K TO EXPAND THE REC CENTER HOURS FROM THIS PARTICULAR FUND. ONLY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF, AS YOU ALL HEARD ME MENTION, YOU AND I CAME HERE AT THE LAST MEETING THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE TOOK CARE OF THOSE HVAC SYSTEMS OUT OF THIS FUND. AND THAT WAS $1.8 MILLION, BECAUSE THAT FUND HAS 2.964 LEFT IN IT. IN OTHER WORDS, 2.2 MILLION $964,000. THOSE HVAC ARE FAILING, SO THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. SO THAT'S DONE. AND THEN IF WE USE THE 460 BECAUSE WE HAVE A BIGGER REVENUE OBLIGATION NEXT YEAR, WE NEED TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUES. HAVING THE ADDITIONAL HOURS I LOOK AT ME USING THE 454 60 IS MORE OF A STARTUP TO GET US THROUGH THIS YEAR TO GET US TO THAT OPTIMUM LEVEL WHICH IS BACK TO ABOUT ABOUT IT'D BE IT USED TO BE ABOUT 59 HOURS PER WEEK AT THE LARGER CENTERS. THEY HAD A LOT OF ACTIVITY. THIS WOULD PROBABLY GET US TO 5657. SO IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT I CAN SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I CAN USE THE FUNDS TO GET US THROUGH THIS YEAR TO GET THOSE REC CENTERS UP TO THE PARTICIPATION AND PROGRAMING THAT THEY NEED. AND IT'LL STILL LEAVE ME WITH A RESERVE THAT I NEED FOR. IT'S NOT GOING TO CUT TOO FAR TO. OKAY. AND THEN AND WE WERE, WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE INCREASING THE HOURS, [03:15:01] WHICH IN YOUR, TO YOUR POINT, THERE ARE REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THAT AN INCREASE IN HOURS WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE HOURS IN SOME RESPECTS. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. COLLEAGUES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE WE ALL HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO FIND THE MINIMUM AS MINIMAL OF AN IMPACT AS POSSIBLE IN THE COMMUNITIES. IT'S A HUGE RESOURCE. IT'S ONE THAT THE FUNDING SOURCE IS CLEARLY NOT CONTENTIOUS. IF THE DEPARTMENT IS SAYING IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HURT THEM, AND IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD GET BEHIND THE USE OF. SO FOR THAT REASON, I WOULD HOPE THAT I COULD GET YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS AMENDMENT. YEAH, AND I DO GOT TO CLARIFY ONE THING. IT IS A ONE TIME USE OF FUNDS. AND THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED USING THIS AS A START UP. IT'S A START UP. CORRECT. AND WITH THE INTENT OF THE DEPARTMENT GENERATING MORE REVENUE, THE HOPE IS THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE NEAR THE DEMAND ON GENERAL FUND IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, BECAUSE WE'VE FOUND SOME ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES AS WELL. YEAH, THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. DIRECTOR JENKINS, I NEEDED TO HEAR THAT FROM YOU, THAT THIS IS A GOOD USE OF THESE FUNDS, BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE CHARACTERIZING THESE FUNDS AS FUNDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, REPAIR, MAINTENANCE, THAT TYPE OF COST AND EXPENDITURE. AND THIS IS THIS IS MORE JUST PROGRAMING. OPERATIONAL PROGRAMING. YEAH. THAT. NO, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I SAID LAST TIME IS THAT WE WANT TO CULTIVATE THESE FUNDS. SO THEY REALLY ARE TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE HAVE ANY TYPE. ONE OF THE DISCUSSION AT THE LAST MEETING WAS TO CONCERN THAT THESE RESERVES AND SOME OF THEM ARE GOT SO LARGE. AND THAT'S WHY I KNOW I ONLY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS ONE BECAUSE IS THAT 2.964. THEY BRING IN ABOUT 200 TO 250 K, DEPENDING ON IF THEY'RE HAVING A GOOD YEAR THAT GOES INTO THAT MULTI-YEAR FUND. WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP A RESERVE THAT KEEPS US AROUND 500, 700 K. BUT IF I DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF THAT 1.8 ON THE HVAC, I WILL BE WITHOUT ANY HESITATION TELLING YOU ALL THE ANSWER IS NO, BECAUSE I WON'T HAVE A RESERVE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE HVAC OF $1.8 MILLION THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. OKAY, SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR HVAC. YES. AND WE CAN. I THINK WE WERE GOING TO SPEND MONEY ON THE AQUATIC ON THE POOLS. YEAH, THAT'S AN AQUATICS FUND. THAT ONE HAS ABOUT $1 MILLION. OKAY. OKAY. YES. OKAY. I'M JUST. I THINK I'M GOING TO NEED A CHART SOMEDAY WITH ALL OF THE FUNDS, BECAUSE AS WE MOVE TOWARDS, AS YOU ALL MENTIONED, IT'S NOT THE TIME FOR A POLICY DISCUSSION, BUT ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE WOULD TAKE THEM DOWN TO A CERTAIN RESERVE, YOU KNOW? OKAY. SO THERE WOULD BE, I THINK WE I DO REMEMBER THAT THERE WOULD BE A CAP ON HOW MUCH SITS IN THESE RESERVE FUNDS. THAT'S CORRECT. AND THIS ONE WILL BE IN LINE WHERE I'M LIKE, I FEEL COMFORTABLE KNOWING THAT IF I GET A GM FOR SALE, I GOT ABOUT WHAT THE 500 PLUS THAT WILL BE LEFT PLUS THE 2 OR 250 THAT COMES IN. I WOULD BE AT 750 K. YES, YES. I WAS JUST IN THE WILLOUGHBY JOHNSON REC CENTER LAST NIGHT AND THEY WERE REMINDING ME ABOUT THE GYM FLOOR. JUST GOING TO SAY OKAY, WELL, I CAN SUPPORT THIS. I MEAN, HAVING OUR REC CENTERS OPEN MORE HOURS IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING. FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. GOOD FOR THE CHILDREN, GOOD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS, GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITIES, GOOD FOR THE JUST THE BUILDINGS TO BE USED. MORE, MORE HOURS EVERY WEEK. SO WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL GO WITH IT AT THIS POINT, BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD AND I KNOW YOU'LL WORK THIS OUT THROUGH PARK BOARD AND THROUGH TW WE'LL START WORKING ON WHAT THESE FUNDS ARE CALLED, WHAT THEY'RE DESIGNATED, WHAT GOES INTO THEM, WHAT THE CAP IS JUST KIND OF A HOLISTIC POLICY FOR, FOR THE RESERVE FUNDS. THAT'S CORRECT. AND MANY OF YOU ALL AROUND THIS HORSESHOE HAS EXPRESSED TO ME AND MY TEAM SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT CERTAIN REC CENTERS NEED EXTENDED HOURS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN MORENO RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. SO THE USE OF FUNDS WITH REC CENTERS, OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE A LIFELINE FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR OUR KIDS. THE BUILDINGS ARE ALREADY THERE. BUT I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. WHAT WILL THIS DO TO THE FUND BALANCE? YEAH, IT WOULD TAKE IT DOWN TO LIKE I SAID, THAT FUND HAS $964,000. GOING TO ASK MY STAFF TO COME ON. THEY CAN WITHOUT ME EVEN. YEAH. IT'LL TAKE IT DOWN TO 640 K. SO EVIDENTLY THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUES ON K MAYOR AND FEEL FREE, I WANT TO THIS IS LAKISHA RANDALL. SHE'S THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OVER ALL OUR RECREATION CENTERS. [03:20:03] YOU ALL. I'M GONNA ASK HER TO JOIN ME AT THE TABLE BECAUSE SHE'S THE EXPERT ON ANY TYPE OF OPERATIONAL. OKAY, JOHN. SO 640 K. THIS FUND IS TYPICALLY USED FOR FOR MAINTENANCE, NOT NECESSARILY OPERATIONAL. SO IF A PLAYGROUND BURNS, IF THERE'S A PLAYGROUND THAT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE AT OUR REC CENTER THAT'S OUTSIDE OF OTHER O&M. THIS IS OUR GO TO. THIS IS OUR RESERVE. YEAH. I LEFT MY FOLDER IN THE BACK, BUT I, I KNOW MY MEMORY. SO THERE ARE, THERE'S ABOUT TEN DIFFERENT FUNDS THAT'S IN THIS WHERE YOU ALL, WE HAD THE DISCUSSION ABOUT $15 MILLION. SO THE ONE YOU'RE SPEAKING OF WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTENANCE, I WANT TO SAY THAT FUND HAS ABOUT ONE. IT'S ABOUT 1.8 OR $2 MILLION. SO THAT FUND WILL BE USED TO GO TOWARDS LIKE WE GET SOME ISSUES GOING ON ON THE PARKS. YOU MAY HAVE TO FEEL REPLACEMENT. WE GET IRRIGATION FAILURE. THAT'S THE, IN THAT PART OF THE, THE MAINTENANCE FUND IN THE RECREATION FUND, WHICH IS 0395. THE ONE I'M SPEAKING OF TODAY, THAT IS THE ONE THAT HAS A BALANCE OF 2,964,000. EVIDENTLY THEY MUST HAVE GOT SOME MORE REVENUES IN, BECAUSE MR. RANDALL TOLD ME THAT IF WE USE THE 460 K, THEN WE WILL HAVE A BALANCE OF 640 K. OKAY. AND WHAT WILL THIS DO FOR EXPANDED HOURS? ARE WE TALKING ONE HOUR AT EACH REC CENTER OR ARE WE TALKING TWO HOURS? ONE TIME A WEEK. HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS WILL ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH. SO CURRENTLY, THE RECREATION CENTERS OPERATE AT 54 AND 49 HOURS. WE WILL BE BACK TO A MORE OPTIMAL SCHEDULE OF TAKING THEM BACK UP TO 54 AND 59 HOURS, WHICH WILL ALLOW SOME OF THE FACILITIES HAVE TO HAVE SATURDAY OPERATION HOURS AND TO INCREASE OUR FRIDAY MORNING HOURS THAT WERE REDUCED IN THE LAST CYCLE. OKAY. I'M SORRY. SO I HEARD IT'S GIVING IT ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL FIVE HOURS, FIVE HOURS AT EVERY REC CENTER. YES, SIR. WHERE WOULD IT BE? FAVORITE REC CENTER? BECAUSE REMEMBER, WE DID THE OPTIMAL. WE LOOKED AT EVERY REC CENTER WHEN WE REDUCED THAT BUDGET A YEAR AGO BECAUSE WE FELT LIKE, NO, CERTAIN REC CENTERS DON'T GET A LOT OF USAGE. SOME DO. AND WE'RE LIKE, HERE'S THE FORMULA THAT WORKS. BECAUSE ONE THING, THESE REC CENTERS SHOULD BE OPEN 70 HOURS. THEY USED TO BE 60 EVERY SINGLE REC CENTER. AND NO, THEY WEREN'T FULL. AND STAFF WENT BACK AND DID THE NECESSARY ANALYSIS THAT SAID, NO, THESE ARE THE MAXIMUM HOURS WHERE WE GET THE MOST PARTICIPATION AT THESE REC CENTERS. AND EVEN AFTER THAT AMENDMENT LAST YEAR, SOME OF Y'ALL CAME BACK AND EXPRESSED CERTAIN REC CENTERS STILL NEEDED SOME ADJUSTMENTS, AND WE MADE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS. OKAY. SO SO JOHN, YOU KNOW, I'M HEARING UP TO FIVE HOURS AT SOME REC CENTERS, MAYBE NOT ALL. WHAT DOES THAT DO? DOES THAT MEAN FIVE HOURS OVER TWO DAYS? OVER ONE WEEK? HAVE WE DECIDED HOW THAT'S GOING TO ROLL OUT? AND THEN IS STAFF PREPARED TO, AT THE REC CENTERS PREPARE TO BE ABLE TO COVER THOSE ADDITIONAL HOURS? SO IN REGARDS TO THE OPERATIONS OF THE REC CENTER, SO THESE HOURS TOOK EFFECT ON NOVEMBER. THE CURRENT HOURS TOOK EFFECT NOVEMBER 2025. SO WE WILL REVERT TO A SIMILAR SCHEDULE FROM THOSE LOCATIONS. SO WHERE WE HAD SATURDAY OPERATIONAL HOURS OR WE HAD FRIDAY OPERATIONAL HOURS, THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD ACTUALLY GO BACK INTO THOSE BECAUSE THE MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY HOURS DID NOT CHANGE THIS CURRENT YEAR. THEY WERE ALL AFFECTED ON THE FRIDAYS OR SATURDAYS. SO WE WOULD GO BACK AND ADD THOSE ADDITIONAL HOURS AT THOSE LOCATIONS TO OPTIMIZE THERE. OKAY. AND THEN WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT YEAR FOR THAT FRIDAY? YEAH. I MEAN, IF, IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUES TO COVER THIS 460 K DELTA, THEN WE WILL WE WILL HAVE TO ADJUST HOURS, BUT WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT AT LEAST I CAN'T SPEAK FOR MISS RANDALL. I JUST KNOW THAT I'M THE ONE THAT SAID, HERE'S THE GOALS WE NEED TO MEET. I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT MY TEAM CAN, AT A MINIMUM, PROBABLY GET THE 300 EDITION. 300 K THEY CAN MAKE UP OR. BUT MY GOAL IS THEY NEED TO MAKE UP THE WHOLE 460. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. MISS MIDDLETON, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO AMEND THE SOURCE OF FUNDS TO ONLY RETAIN 60,000 OUT OF THE MULTI-YEAR FUND AND TO USE 400,000 FROM THE ARPA REDEVELOPMENT FUND UNDER MANAGEMENT SERVICES. AND INSTEAD, FOR THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ITEM, USE THE 311 FUND. ARE THERE THREE SECONDS FOR THAT SECOND? THAT'S ONE SECOND. THAT'S TWO. THAT'S THREE ROTH RIDLEY [03:25:09] WILLIS. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT. MISS MENDELSOHN, THANK YOU. THE ARPA FUNDS IN QUESTION. HAVE ANOTHER WAY TO BE USED. MEANING THERE'S ALREADY A DEDICATED MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FUND THAT'S SPECIFIC TO 311. SO THIS CAN BE. SO 311 SHOULD USE THE 311 ACCOUNT. THE ARPA FUNDS THE 400 WOULD BE A WONDERFUL WAY TO BRIDGE THE HOURS. WE DO NEED MORE HOURS AT THE REC CENTERS. FRANKLY, OUR TAXPAYERS HAVE INVESTED SO HEAVILY IN BUILDING AND MAINTAINING THESE BUILDINGS. TO ONLY USE THEM 24 HOURS A WEEK IS CRAZY. AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO BE OPEN MUCH MORE THAN EVEN JUST THE ADDITIONAL FIVE HOURS. SO I THINK BECAUSE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS DEVELOPED A PLAN TO INCREASE REVENUE. AND I THINK WE CAN FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL. THIS WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF FOR NEXT YEAR. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE A WHOLE YEAR WHERE WE'VE GOT KIDS, TEENAGERS, ESPECIALLY ON FRIDAY NIGHTS, WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE A PLACE TO BE, SOMEWHERE TO BE ON SATURDAY. AND I MEAN, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, I THINK OF THIS AS A CRIME PREVENTION. I THINK OF THIS AS A SOCIALIZATION. SO MANY OF OUR TEENAGERS HAVE BECOME ISOLATED, WHETHER IT'S SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE OF COVID. WHO KNOWS. BUT THIS IS A PLACE THEY COME TOGETHER AND HAVE FUN. AND I, I WANT TO SUPPORT THAT, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY THAT MULTI FUND. AND I THINK WE HAVE ALL LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS ABOUT MAKING SURE WE HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THE UNEXPECTED. SO WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, ROOF REPAIRS, THERE'S A FIRE, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SOME SOME WATER INTRUSION OR WATER ISSUES. OTHER HVACS THAT YOU HAVEN'T YET CONSIDERED THAT BREAK. YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT VERY EXTREME HEAT RIGHT NOW. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW THAT TOMORROW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THREE OTHER AC'S THAT GO OUT. SO I JUST THINK IT'S NOT PRUDENT TO REDUCE THE THE BULK OF THE DOLLARS ON THIS MULTI YEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE THE ARPA DOLLARS SITTING THERE. AND THOSE ARPA DOLLARS CAN BE REPLACED BY A FUND THAT'S LITERALLY MEANT TO ACCOMPLISH THE THING. SO IT'S MEANT TO FUND 311 CAPITAL EXPENSES. OR UPDATES. SO ALL THAT SAID, THAT'S THE CHANGE IN THE MOTION. AND IF YOU SUPPORT THIS, THEN WE WILL ALL BENEFIT FROM HAVING ADDITIONAL REC CENTER HOURS. THANK YOU. IF YOU WERE IN THE QUEUE ORIGINALLY AND YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. STAY IN. OTHERWISE, DROP OUT AND I'LL COME. I'LL GET YOU BACK WHEN WE GET TO THE ORIGINAL, IF WE DO. OKAY, CHAIRWOMAN WILLIS, YOU WANT TO SPEAK FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT? THANK YOU. WELL, I JOINED THE SECONDS BECAUSE I WANTED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT 311 BECAUSE, I MEAN, I'M SITTING OVER HERE WITH AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT OUT AT WALNUT HILL REC CENTER THAT'S PREVENTING SOME CAMPS AND AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES FROM HAPPENING WHILE WE WAIT ON THAT TO BE REPAIRED. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH 311, WHICH IS OUR TAXPAYER FUNDED TOOL TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO REPORT VIOLATIONS AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND GIVE THEM AN OUTLET TO REPORT POTHOLES AND COYOTES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, VERSUS WHAT'S IN THAT FUND. AND IF THERE'S A GAP THAT WILL HELP GET US TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE. SO I'M NOT ALL BOUGHT IN ON THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE SURE I UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH IS IN THAT TILL FOR THREE, ONE, 311. AND WHETHER THAT'S ENOUGH. SO THE THE THE FUND BALANCE THAT I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN IS REFERRING TO IS THE FUND BALANCE IN THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DATA SERVICES FUND. SO IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION EARLIER THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE. THE FUND BALANCE IS ABOUT $11 MILLION, BUT IT'S NOT JUST FOR 311. SO KEEP IN MIND IT'S FOR ALL OF OUR DATA NEEDS ACROSS THE CITY. I THINK THE MOTION REPLACES THE USE OF PARKS MULTI-YEAR FUND WITH ITS DATA SERVICES FUND. IS THAT CORRECT? ALL RIGHT. WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE OUR NEED IN THAT CATEGORY IS PRETTY VOLUMINOUS. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, LIKE, MAYBE THIS IS NOT A PLACE THAT YOU LOOK FOR THIS, OR MAYBE IT DOES HAVE ROOM. HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT. SO I'LL LET 311 SPEAK TO THE NEED FOR THE PROJECT. AND THEN I'LL INVITE ITS TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT OVERALL DATA SERVICES NEEDS FOR THE CITY. ALL RIGHT. ALSO KNOWN AS DAISY FAST. YES. THANK YOU. [03:30:02] DAISY FAST, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, WHICH INCLUDES 311 THIS FUNDING AND THE IN THE IT'S FUND IS INTENDED TO UPGRADE THE CITY OF DALLAS CUSTOMER. THE CRM SYSTEM, WHICH IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE 311 SYSTEM. SO THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT LEVERAGE SERVICE REQUESTS USE IN ORDER TO MANAGE FROM THE INTAKE TO COMPLETION OF SERVICE REQUESTS. OUR CURRENT SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2018, AND I THINK MANY OF YOU CAN RELATE TO COMPLAINTS THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING. I THINK INCREASINGLY REGARDING THE MOBILE APP, IT'S ALL CONNECTED. SO THIS UPGRADE IS GOING TO INCREASE THE MOBILE UPGRADE THE MOBILE APP AND IMPROVE FUNCTIONALITY AS IT RELATES TO GIS LOCATION FEATURES IN THE MOBILE APP, AS WELL AS ENHANCE OUR INTERNAL SYSTEM THAT WE USE CITYWIDE TO WORK THE SERVICE REQUESTS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE RESIDENTS. AND IS THE WHOLE OF THAT UPGRADE COMING FROM THIS FUND? I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION? IS THAT WHOLE UPGRADE BEING FUNDED BY THIS THIS IT'S AND DATA FUND? YES. YES. AND THEN THE OTHER PORTION. I'M SORRY. PART OF THE THE UPGRADE IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE ARPA FUND, NOT THE FUND. RIGHT. SO THERE'S IT'S FUND. AND THEN SOME OF THIS ARPA MONEY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO GO TOWARD THIS. SO NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING THAT AWAY TO FUND REC CENTER OPERATIONS. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE IS THERE A GAP? ARE WE BEING LEFT WITH A GAP? AND IF SO, WHERE IS THAT GOING TO COME FROM? BECAUSE I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE IN AN EIGHT YEAR OLD SYSTEM BEING UPGRADED AND ADDING ALL THE THINGS THAT OUR RESIDENTS FIND MORE CONVENIENT WHEN MAKING REPORTS. SO I DON'T HAVE THE AMENDMENT, BUT WHAT I THINK WAS DONE IN THE AMENDMENT WAS TO USE THE ARPA FUNDS TO PAY FOR REC CENTERS. RIGHT. AND THEN TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE 311 IMPROVEMENT OUT OF THE BTS FUND. AND SO THAT REDUCES THE BTS FUND BALANCE. IT'S ABOUT, AS JEANETTE JUST MENTIONED, IT'S ABOUT $11 MILLION. IT IS NOT JUST THE 311 FUND. IT IS IT'S FUND RELATED TO ALL DATA SERVICES. SO WE'VE GOT THE DIRECTOR OF IT. SO HOW MUCH WILL THIS CUT INTO THAT FUND THAT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO OTHER PROJECTS THAT YOU NEED TO ACCOMPLISH? YEAH. SO JEFFREY STOVALL THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. SO THE DATA FUND THAT WE HAVE, THE BALANCE THAT WE HAVE FOR SERVICES, THE ENTIRE INTERNAL SERVICES. SO EVERYTHING THAT IS MANAGED WITHIN SIGHT OF THE INTERNAL SERVICES COULD POTENTIALLY USE PARTS OF THIS FUND. SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION RELATIVE TO THE FUND, WE COULD PULL FROM THAT FUND, BUT IT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD BE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE THIS BECOMES THE FUND THAT WE USE TO DEAL WITH ANY TYPES OF CHANGES OR UNEXPECTED ACTIVITIES THAT OCCURRED DURING THE YEAR THAT NEED TO BE BALANCED WITH THE INSIDE OF OUR BUDGET, WITH INSIDE OF OUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUND. SO WHEN YOU HEARD THIS AMENDMENT, WHAT DID YOU THINK? I DID NOT SEE A NEED FOR THIS PARTICULAR CHANGE OF FUNDING AS WE HAVE PRESENTED A BALANCED BUDGET THAT HAS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED THE GOALS THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO ASSESS. OKAY. SO. ALL RIGHT. SO. ALL RIGHT. NEVER MIND. THANK YOU. MR. ROTH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. I WANT TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. I'M REAL, REAL CONCERNED ABOUT US MAKING DECISIONS OF RAIDING OUR RESERVE FUNDS. AND THIS IS I TO TO TAKE RESERVE FUNDS AND PUT THEM INTO OPERATING BUDGET IS A BAD, BAD POLICY. AND WE WE'RE. AND TO GET OUR RESERVE FUNDS DOWN, ESPECIALLY IN THIS PARKS DEPARTMENT. WE'VE ALREADY GONE GONE AFTER THAT RESERVE FUND THREE TIMES. AND THIS IS SENDING A BAD, BAD PRECEDENT FOR US. I WANT TO SUPPORT I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN HAS COME UP WITH THE PERFECT SOLUTION HERE TO ALLOW THE SERVICE CENTERS TO BE [03:35:05] OPEN TO PROVIDE SOME ALTERNATIVE LOCATION OF THOSE FUNDS AND TO PRESERVE THE RESERVE FUNDS IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THIS IS A WIN FOR BOTH SIDES. I THINK IT ALLOWS US TO TAKE CARE OF THE PARKS. IT ALLOWS US TO FIND FUNDS FROM A BUDGET LINE ITEM THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER, THAT MAYBE COULD STOMACH THE, THE MOVEMENT OF THESE FUNDS FOR THE TIME BEING AND PRESERVE THE, THE INTEGRITY OF THE PARKS RESERVE FUNDS. BUT I'M TELLING YOU, I THINK WE NEED TO BE REAL CAREFUL ABOUT FINDING OPERATING FUNDS IN RESERVE FUND POCKETS AND BUCKETS. SO I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT WE APPROVE THIS, THIS BUDGET, IF IF THIS IS OUR OUR WILL TO PROVIDE EXTRA OPERATING HOURS IN THESE REC CENTERS. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN MORENO RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBERS. MENDELSOHN SOURCE OF FUNDS. AS COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH STATED, I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS A BETTER SOURCE, LESS IMPACTFUL COMING FROM RATHER THAN THE MULTI FUND FROM THE PARKS WHERE WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN SO MUCH FROM THERE. AND SO I DO WANT TO KEEP OUR REC CENTERS OPEN LONGER. AS STATED, THOSE BUILDINGS ARE ALREADY THERE. AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I'LL BE SUPPORTING COUNCIL MEMBERS MENDELSOHN AMENDMENT. THANK YOU, MISS CADENA, YOU YOU WRITE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT? YES. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT DISTRICT SIX AND OUR REC CENTERS. YES, MA'AM. WELL, SO THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS THE THE HOURS WOULD BE GOING UP AT AT ANITA MARTINEZ, JC AND AND BACHMANN FOR, FOR THE FOR ONE YEAR AT LEAST. AND SO WITH THAT, THAT MINIMUM OF FIVE, FIVE HOURS. IS THAT WHAT. SO AS MISS RANDALL SAID EARLIER, WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO RESTORE THE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY HOURS THAT WERE TAKEN AWAY THROUGH THE LAST BUDGET PROCESS. AND SO WHAT WOULD THOSE HOURS BE? HOURS ON SATURDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SATURDAYS, 9 TO 2 AND 9 TO 7 ON FRIDAY. AND THEN WHAT? SO THAT WOULD BE WITH THE RESTORATION. YES, MA'AM. AND THEN WHAT ARE WE PROPOSING FOR THEM TO BE NOW, IF WE DON'T IF THIS DOESN'T PASS. I'M SORRY I DIDN'T HEAR THAT PART OF THE. WHAT WOULD THIS BE? IF THIS DOES. IF THIS FAILS, THEY WOULD THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE AT THE CURRENT HOURS, WHICH ARE 54 FOR 25 SENATORS AND 49 AT THE OTHER 15. THE CURRENT STATUS QUO. YOU KNOW, I YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MULTI YEAR FUND IS STILL BEING SUGGESTED. AND I DEFINITELY HAVE PAUSE WITH TAKING SO MUCH MONEY OUT OF THAT. I KNOW IN DISTRICT SIX, I HAVE PLAYGROUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN BURNED. THEY'VE BEEN MISSING FOR A WHILE. SOME THAT ARE COMPLETELY MISSING A PLAYGROUND. I HAVE BASKETBALL COURTS THAT NEED REPAIRS. AND SO I THINK DRAINING THAT FUND IS DEFINITELY A HUGE CONCERN FOR ME. EVEN THOUGH I, I CAN SEE THE VALUE OF HAVING EXPANDED HOURS AS WELL. BUT I THINK HAVING QUALITY AMENITIES AT OUR PARKS ARE DEFINITELY ALSO NEEDED IF WE ARE KEEPING OUR RECREATION AND OUR PARKS OPEN AS WELL. SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE LISTENING TO THIS DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. WE GET FOCUSED ON SNACKS AND PASSING THEM BACK AND FORTH. SORRY. JUST GOT DISTRACTED BY SNACKS. ALL RIGHT. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, AND I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT IF IF WE GO WITH THIS AMENDMENT, THEN WE WILL NOT HAVE THE FUNDS FOR THE 311 AND UPGRADE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE. IS THAT CORRECT? CAN SOMEBODY CONFIRM THAT? THAT'S NOT MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE AMENDMENT. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE AMENDMENT IS TO TAKE $400,000 OF ARPA THAT WAS DEDICATED TO THE 311 SYSTEM AND USE THAT FOR THE PARK RECREATION CENTER HOURS, AND THEN USE ITS FUND BALANCE TO TAKE CARE OF THE 311 SYSTEM. AND DID I IS IT 400,000 EVEN? OKAY, OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. AND TAKING THAT MONEY OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE COULD, WHAT WAS THE ANSWER WE GOT ON THAT? [03:40:03] I JUST NEED TO BE CLEAR THAT THAT DOESN'T, ISN'T A DETRIMENTAL HIT TO THAT DEPARTMENT. YES. THE PRIMARY EXPECTATION IN TERMS OF WHAT THE POTENTIAL COULD BE IS THAT IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, THAT MAY ALSO BE UNANTICIPATED OR NOT FULLY ESTIMATED, SUCH AS THE COST THAT WE HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR DATA CENTER MOVE. THOSE ARE THE FUNDS THAT WE WOULD GO TO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT ANTICIPATED DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. SO WHAT IT DOES, IT REPRESENTS AN INCREASED RISK THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COVER THOSE COSTS WITH INSIDE OF OUR FUND, WOULD HAVE TO SEEK OTHER FORMS TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING. SO IT WAS INCREASED. SO THOSE FUNDS. SO SIR LET'S APOLOGIZE. THAT'S OKAY. IT GETS VERY CONFUSING AROUND HERE, ESPECIALLY IN IN THIS MOMENT. SO THE SO YOU HAVE LIKE A CONTINGENCY FUND, RIGHT? THIS IS A FUND THAT YOU HAVE IN CASE SOMETHING SHOULD MALFUNCTION. UNEXPECTED EXPENSE. SO YOU WERE TAKING OUT OF WHAT MIGHT BE YOUR RESERVE FUND. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS A RESERVE FUND. IT'S A IT'S A FUND BALANCE THAT WE APPLY TO OTHER THINGS THAT COME ALONG, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER RESERVE FUND THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THAT WE WOULD APPLY AS A FUND BALANCE TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THOSE THINGS AT THE TIME OF THE PROBLEM. AND IN YOUR EXPERIENCE DO YOU FIND THAT IT'S A FAIRLY TYPICAL EXPERIENCE THAT DURING A BUDGET YEAR, YOU WOULD NEED TO DIP INTO THE RESERVE FUND, YOU WOULD NEED THOSE FUNDS FOR SOMETHING. YES. IT'S PRETTY TYPICAL THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO, TO USE A RESERVE FUND FOR THE RESERVE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE OR FUND BALANCE THAT WE HAVE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE SOMETHING THAT COMES ALONG THAT IS NOT ATYPICAL. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS CLEAR. MADAM CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY CLARIFICATION ON THE MOVEMENT OF THESE FUNDS? IS THIS LINING UP? ARE WE DEPLETING A FUND THAT WE UNNECESSARILY OR. I MEAN, WE ARE DEPLETING A FUND IN ORDER TO KEEP THE THE REC CENTER, THE REC CENTERS OPEN MORE HOURS. AND I THINK SO MANY OF US SUPPORT THAT. SO IT'S IT'S A, IT'S AN IMPORTANT ITEM TO FIND SOME FUNDING FOR, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT YOU KNOW, TAKING OUT OF THE, BASICALLY THE RESERVE FUND FOR PARKS AND, AND SPENDING THOSE DOLLARS OR WE'RE NOW WE'RE COMING OVER TO A RESERVE FUND FOR IT. SO WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING FOR RESERVE FUNDS IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF OPERATIONS. AND I FULLY SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS, BUT I WANT US TO REALLY THINK THROUGH WHICH RESERVE FUND TAKES THE HIT. SO DO YOU HAVE ANY WISDOM ON THAT? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION. CHAIR STEWART, I THINK THAT AS YOU ALL KNOW, BUDGETING IS NOT AN EASY EXERCISE. IT IS A BALANCING OF PRIORITIES AS WELL AS WHAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING. AND IT'S A PLAN. AND SO AS WE LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE PARKS AND THE MULTIYEAR FUNDS, I THINK WHAT I HEARD, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, IS THAT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE CREATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THE SYSTEM, THE PARK SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. I KNOW MR. JENKINS AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT WAYS TO INCREASE THAT LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST OTHER ATTEMPTS FOR REVENUE GENERATION, AND WE ARE STILL KIND OF COMING SHORT. SO I DO BELIEVE THAT WHAT I HEAR MR. JENKINS SAYING IS THAT HAVING THE ADDITIONAL HOURS WOULD GIVE HIM THE ABILITY TO HOPEFULLY EXPAND SOME OF THE PROGRAMING IN ORDER TO DO THAT. SO IT KIND OF PUTS THE ACCOUNTABILITY AS WELL AS THE SOURCE, OR IT'S WORKING TOGETHER WITHIN THAT ONE DEPARTMENT AND WITHIN THE FUNDS THAT HE CURRENTLY HAS. WE DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND. COUNCIL. YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE A DECISION AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH FUND. I PERSONALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE, THE FUND THAT I KNOW THAT MR.. STOVALL IS TALKING ABOUT, WE NEVER, EVER, EVER KNOW ALSO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE ITS SIDE. AND SO IT MAKES IT AGAIN WHERE IT'S LIKE YOU PULL FROM ONE FOR THIS IMPACT. AND THEN YOU COULD STILL HAVE THE IMPACT. AND AGAIN, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MORE ABOUT WHAT ARE WE REALLY TRYING TO AFFECT. AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO CREATE A PARK SYSTEM WHERE THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE'S REVENUE GENERATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE PARK AND REC HOURS OPEN AT THE TIME THAT OUR RESIDENTS NEED THAT. AND SO I BELIEVE THAT DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY COUNCIL GOES, WE WILL ALWAYS LEAN AND WOULD NOT LEAN. [03:45:02] WE WILL EXECUTE BASED ON COUNCIL'S DECISION. TO ME, IT CREATES A GREATER LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BASED ON WHAT I HEARD MR. JENKINS SPEAK TO. BUT AGAIN, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH COUNCIL'S POLICY DIRECTION. THANK YOU. AND I AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK THERE IS WISDOM IN KEEPING THIS IN THE DEPARTMENT, RIGHT. SO THE THE MONEY THAT'S BEING EXPENDED TO KEEP THE REC CENTERS OPEN IS COMING OUT OF A PARKS DEPARTMENT RESERVE FUND. AND SO IT DOES KEEP SOME ACCOUNTABILITY THERE AND THEN TIES IT TO THE, THE GROWTH IN REVENUE. AND THAT IS THE ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF KEEPING THE HOURS OPEN AS WELL. SO I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO KEEP ALL OF THAT HAPPENING WITHIN THAT ONE DEPARTMENT AND NOT EXPANDING THE IMPACT OF THAT DECISION INTO SOME OF THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND, AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. SO THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. ALL RIGHT. MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. JACK, CAN YOU CONFIRM WHAT IS THE EXPECTED FUND BALANCE FOR THIS IT ACCOUNT AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 27? JUST UNDER $11 MILLION, $11 MILLION. AND SO MY AMENDMENT REMOVES 400,000 OF THE $11 MILLION. IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ARPA FUNDS. HOW WOULD YOU PAY FOR THESE THREE? ONE. ONE. THE 311 PROJECT, WE WOULD HAVE WORKED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS TO IDENTIFY A FUNDING SOURCE. WOULD YOU USE THIS FUNDING SOURCE? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. YOU'RE ASKING ME TO SPECULATE ON SOMETHING FROM THE PAST, I DON'T KNOW. SO WHEN I ASKED YOU ABOUT THIS FUNDING SOURCE EARLIER IN THIS MEETING, IT AND 311 WAS ACTUALLY MENTIONED FOR THAT ITEM. LIKE IT IS TYPICALLY USED FOR 311. CORRECT. IT IS AN ELIGIBLE USE. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING FOR YOU ALL TO KNOW. OKAY. SO HE JUST SAID WE'RE EXPECTING TO HAVE 11 MILLION AFTER THIS BUDGET IN FISCAL YEAR 20. THE ENDING BALANCE FOR THIS ACCOUNT WAS 4.5 MILLION. WE'RE NOW EXPECTED TO HAVE 11 FISCAL YEAR 21, THE ENDING BALANCE 4.9 MILLION. FISCAL YEAR 22 7.6 MILLION. FISCAL YEAR 23 7.9 MILLION. FISCAL YEAR 24 9.1 MILLION. FISCAL YEAR 25 10.1 MILLION. THIS IS A LOT MORE THAN WE'VE EVER HAD IN THIS ACCOUNT. SO EVEN EVEN IN THE DOCUMENT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THEY'RE STARTING WITH 11.8 MILLION MOVING TO TEN POINT. MOVING TO 11 MILLION. SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MOVEMENT EXPECTED. AND YOU'RE REALLY ONLY TAKING $400,000 OF AN 11 MILLION ACCOUNT LESS THAN A 22ND OF OF THAT ACCOUNT. SO IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT. AND THERE'S THE PLAY. IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ARPA, THIS IS PROBABLY WHERE IT WOULD COME FROM. SO YOU'RE REALLY JUST USING ARPA FOR CONTINUATION OF REC SERVICES, AND YOU'RE NOT LEAVING A RISK TO THE REC, TO THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT. AND YOU'RE ALSO NOT LEAVING A RISK TO THIS FUND, WHICH HAS MORE THAN DOUBLE ALL THESE PRIOR YEARS. WELL, SOME OF THE PRIOR YEARS, BUT A LOT MORE THAN OTHER YEARS. SO. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS LIKE INTENTIONAL TO PUT PARKS AT RISK. I THINK THAT'S A TERRIBLE STRATEGY BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY PROPERTIES THAT SO MANY THINGS COULD GO WRONG AT. AND A LOT OF OUR PROPERTIES ARE OLDER. SO I HOPE THAT YOU'LL SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. SORRY, MR. ROTH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN MENTIONED SEVERAL THINGS THAT I WAS GOING TO BRING UP, BUT I WANT TO REITERATE THEM. NUMBER ONE, PARKS AND RECREATION RESERVE. BUDGET IS FOR BUILDINGS. IT'S FOR AIR CONDITIONING'S. IT'S FOR THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY IMMEDIATELY TO, TO LET THAT BALANCE AND THAT FUND BUDGET TO GO DOWN TO 5 OR $600,000 IS RIDICULOUS. THE PARKS BUDGET, THEY HAVE THE MOST REAL ESTATE, THEY HAVE THE MOST NEEDS FOR, FOR HAVING CAPITAL RESERVES AND TO, TO STRIP THOSE AMOUNTS OUT OF THAT BUDGET IS, IS IRRESPONSIBLE. THE, THE IT BUDGET, IT'S NOT A REFLECTION ON THE NEED FOR IT, BUT IT BUDGET. YOU HAVE $11 MILLION THERE. AND THAT'S REALLY STUFF THAT MAY BE ABLE TO BE ALLOCATED IN DIFFERENT WAYS. [03:50:04] AND I THINK YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF FUNDS THERE. I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT IS THE SAME MODE OF CONTINGENCY AND RESERVE FUND AS A CAPITAL BUDGET FOR BUILDINGS. I DO GET I DO UNDERSTAND IT. IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE. IT'S PART OF OUR DNA HERE. AND WE GOT TO HAVE IT. BUT IT'S I CHARACTERIZING IT AS A RESERVE FUND IS, I THINK, A MISNOMER. AND I THINK IT'S AVAILABLE, I THINK IT'S BEING BUILT UP SO THAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE A FUTURE NEEDS SO THAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY, ETC., AS OPPOSED TO FIXING CAPITAL ITEMS AND TAKING CARE OF, OF EMERGENCIES WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE ADVERSELY AFFECTED IMMEDIATELY. AND TO REDUCE OUR PARKS BUDGET IN THIS RESERVE FUNDING CATEGORY TO THE LEVELS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S BAD, BAD BUDGETING, IT'S BAD BUSINESS AND IT'S BAD. IT'S A BAD PRECEDENT. SO I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT WE DON'T CONFUSE AIR CONDITIONING'S AND THINGS AND, AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS AND CAPITAL ITEMS THAT AFFECT PEOPLE WITH SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH FUTURE TECHNOLOGY NEEDS. THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I TOO, WILL SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. IT'S APPARENT TO ME THAT IF WE TAKE THIS MONEY OUT OF THE PARKS RESERVE, WE'LL BE DEPLETING A FUND THAT HAS DEFINITE DEMANDS ON IT FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS, LIKE THE AIR CONDITIONING REPLACEMENT. WHEREAS IF WE TAKE IT INSTEAD FROM THE IT'S DATA FUND, THAT'S A FUND THAT IS, WELL, OVERSUBSCRIBED, ONLY 800,000 OF THAT FUND WAS USED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, AND YET WE'RE RESERVING $11 MILLION NOT FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS, BUT JUST FOR POSSIBLE CONTINGENCIES. AS THE RECORD OF THE GROWTH, THE YEAR TO YEAR CARRYOVER OF THAT FUND, AS MISS MENDELSOHN DESCRIBED, INDICATES TO ME THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT FUNDS IN THAT ACCOUNT BECAUSE WE'RE CARRYING SO MUCH FORWARD FROM YEAR TO YEAR. I THINK THAT'S THE IDEAL PLACE TO TAKE THIS FUNDING FROM. I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE. SO PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT BY RAISING YOUR SEAL. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBER. ROTH. CADENA MORENO. MENDELSOHN. RIDLEY AND GRACEY. WITH ONLY SIX SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, WE'RE BACK ON THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT. DISTRICT SEVEN, TEN AND TWO HAVE SPOKEN ON IT ALREADY. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AN AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA? MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION. I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST IT. I'M GOING TO SPEAK AGAINST IT. I THINK THAT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY BEING IRRESPONSIBLE BY TAKING FUNDS OUT OF THIS PARK RESERVE AND, AND, AND THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION ON THE NEED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE, TO THE REC CENTERS. THIS IS BAD, BAD BUSINESS PRACTICE AND WE'RE SETTING A TERRIBLE PRECEDENT. AND I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMICS HERE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PHILOSOPHY HERE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IN THE, THE, THE, THE FACT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE RESPONSIBLE IN PROTECTING THE, THE PHYSICAL CAPITAL STRUCTURES THAT WE HAVE IN ONE OF OUR BIGGEST DEPARTMENTS. AND WE'RE ALLOWING THIS BODY TO, THIS BODY IS TAKING A POSITION TO, TO TAKE THOSE FUNDS AND, AND WHEN WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITY, I'M, I'M, I'M OPPOSED TO THIS. ABSOLUTELY. AND I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY CONSIDER OUR POSITIONS ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE OUR RESERVES AND OUR CONTINGENCY IN THE FUTURE. AND THIS SHOULD BE WHERE WE STARTED TO BRING A FUND DOWN TO 5 OR $600,000. THAT WAS $15 MILLION BEFORE IS IS IS RIDICULOUS. I DON'T I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. SO ANYWAY, I'M OPPOSED TO THIS, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD SEND A MESSAGE TO OUR TO OUR CONSTITUENCY THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND, AND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO, TO HANDLE OUR MONEY, THEIR MONEY, OUR CONSTITUENTS MONEY RESPONSIBLY. [03:55:07] THANK YOU, MISS MENDELSOHN. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA. THANK YOU. WELL, COUNCILMEMBER ROTH, YOU ACTUALLY SAID WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT LOGICALLY, YOU CAN'T SUPPORT THIS MOTION WITHOUT FUNDING SOURCE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, WE DON'T DO LOGIC, WE DO POLITICS. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS, SO THAT FOLKS CAN HAVE A WIN. AND THE WIN COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF THE RISK TO THE SYSTEM. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S EXACTLY HOW WE'VE ENDED UP IN THIS SITUATION. IT'S HOW WE'VE ENDED UP WITH A BUDGET THAT HAS GROWN SO ENORMOUSLY OVER THESE YEARS. IT'S WHY WE HAVE THE LARGEST TAX RATE. IT'S BECAUSE EXACTLY THIS KIND OF MOTION THAT TAKES AWAY OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS URGENT NEEDS FOR OUR PARKS AND REC CENTER AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS ONLY ONE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS ITS OWN GOVERNANCE AND ITS PARKS, AND IT'S HUGE AND IT'S ESSENTIAL, AND IT'S SO ESSENTIAL THAT OUR FOREFATHERS THOUGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT? DON'T PUT THIS UNDER A CITY MANAGER. PUT IT SEPARATE. AND IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PUT THAT DEPARTMENT SO AT RISK THAT IT ENDS UP BACK UNDER THE FOLD OF A CITY MANAGER, WHICH WOULD BE A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE MISTAKE. SO I, I REALLY AM SADDENED THAT THE BODY DID NOT SEE FIT TO CHANGE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS THAT WERE REALLY BEEN SITTING THERE WITH ARPA. AND IF YOU DIDN'T DO THAT, I HOPE YOU ASK YOURSELF WHY YOU DIDN'T DO THAT. DID YOU NOT DO THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID THERE'S A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S GOING TO COME YELL IN YOUR FACE? OR DID YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU REALLY THINK THAT'S THE BEST THING FOR THE CITY? AND I THINK WE ARE SADLY MAKING POLITICAL DECISIONS INSTEAD OF THINGS THAT ARE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA? SEEING NONE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT BY RAISING YOUR CITY. SEALS, PLEASE. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART BAZALDUA BLACKMON DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON, MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ COUNCIL MEMBER WEST AND COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY. WITH SEVEN SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO TO RECESS FOR LUNCH HERE. AND I'M TOLD WE HAVE NO EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO YOU ALL I'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE AT 2:00. HOW ABOUT THAT, 2:00? OKAY. I'M TOLD WE HAVE A QUORUM BACK AND IT'S 223, MADAM SECRETARY. SO WE'RE BACK IN IN OUR BRIEFING, AND I'M ENTERTAINING MOTIONS. WHEN YOU TELL ME I'M CLEAR. I'M GOOD TO GO. MADAM, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. MR. MAYOR, YOU'RE CLEAR. I'M ENTERTAIN MOTIONS. MAYOR. I HAVE A MOTION. WHO IS THAT? CHAIRMAN GRACEY. YES, YES. AS SOON AS I CAN GET IN MY COMPUTER. GIVE ME A SECOND HERE. THAT THAT MISSED IT. NO, I WAS TRYING TO GET IN MY COMPUTER. OKAY, HERE IT IS. I HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE SOURCE OF FUNDS WOULD BE THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT FIRST. SPEAK. LORD, I HEAR YOU. DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT FIRST OFFENDERS PROGRAM. IT IS THE SOURCE. IT'D BE $427,927. AND THE USE OF FUNDS WOULD BE PARKS. THE TEEN CONNECT PROGRAM, $64 IN THE LIBRARY TO HELP MODERNIZE FLAGSHIP LOCATIONS WOULD BE $213,963. SECOND, IS THAT THE MOTION? THAT IS THE MOTION I HEARD ONE SECOND, I HEARD TWO. THERE'S THREE. ALL RIGHT. CHAIRMAN GRACEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND WE WERE INITIALLY WE FOUND THESE DOLLARS OR THE CITY MANAGER FOUND THESE DOLLARS TO TO REALLY HELP TRY TO RESTORE SOME LIBRARY EFFORTS. AND THEN AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A BETTER USE FOR IT. THE SAME SOURCE IS COMING FROM THERE. THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE COUNTY. AND JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY AND PURE CLARITY. THIS IS NOT THE SAME PROGRAM THAT THE DALLAS COUNTY HAS, BUT THEY ARE CURRENTLY STARTING TO TAKE IN THIS PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING PROGRAM. THEY HAVE ONE PROGRAM IS PREVENTION, ANOTHER ONE IS REHAB. THIS IS PREVENTION. AND AFTER TALKING TO THE CHIEF, HE SAID. BASICALLY, THE STUDENT, THE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE IN THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW, THEY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE GRADUATE GRADUATION PROGRAM. [04:00:01] AND ALL OF THE NEW REFERRALS HAVE ALREADY STARTED BEING REFERRED TO THE COUNTY FOR THAT. SO THIS THESE FUNDS ARE ESSENTIALLY AVAILABLE TO BE USED. AND RATHER THAN TAKE THEM COMPLETELY FROM DPD, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE BEING UTILIZED FOR SOMETHING THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY. SO THERE'S PARKS, TEENS CONNECT PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP WITH OUR YOUTH. AND IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE CRIME STATS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THE AGE RANGE FOR THE SUSPECTS IS REALLY BETWEEN 14 AND 11 AND REALLY 39. BUT IF YOU GO FROM THE AGES 11 TO AGE 19, THERE ARE 27 PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMMITTED MURDER, RIGHT? OR SOME FORM OF VIOLENT CRIME. AND THESE PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP THIS, USE THESE DOLLARS IN A WAY THAT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE YOUTH IN THE CITY. SO I'LL STOP THERE. MISS KENNEDY ASKED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY CHAIRMAN GRACEY. IS SOMEBODY FROM DPD AVAILABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE DALLAS POLICE FIRST OFFENDERS PROGRAM? NO. I KNOW. SO CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT HOW MANY YOUTH ARE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND WHAT THE STRUCTURE IS, IF IT INVOLVES THE PARENTS? AND IF IT'S CURRENTLY OPERATING. I CAN'T I'M SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU IF YOU CAN. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES. OKAY. MAJOR PHILLIPS NOBLES, COMMANDER FOR YOUTH OPERATIONS. GOOD AFTERNOON. SO THE FOP PROGRAM. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 12 STUDENTS STILL GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM. THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO GRADUATE. SIX WILL GRADUATE ON SEPTEMBER THE 24TH. THE OTHER SIX WILL GRADUATE ON OCTOBER 28TH. AND THE PROGRAM ENTAILS INVOLVEMENT OF THE STUDENTS, THE COUNSELORS AND THE PARENTS. IT'S A SIX WEEK PROGRAM. THE PARENTS HAVE TO BE HAVE TO ATTEND MEETINGS WITH THE STUDENTS, AND THEN THEY OFFER COUNSELING AND THEY MAKE SURE THEY CONTACT THE CASEWORKERS, CONTACT THE SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS ARE IN SCHOOL AND THEY'RE MAINTAINING THEIR GRADES. BUT RIGHT NOW, AT THIS POINT, WE JUST HAVE ONE MANAGER. THEY'RE ALL OUR CASEWORKERS HAVE RETIRED FROM THE FROM THE CITY AT THIS POINT. SO WE HAVE ONE PERSON STILL TRYING TO MANAGE THE PROGRAM. AND WHAT OTHER YOUTH PROGRAMS DOES DPD HAVE THAT FALLS UNDER IT BESIDES THIS PROGRAM? WE JUST HAVE WE HAVE ONE FOP, BUT THEY HAVE OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE UNDER THE PALS PROGRAM, WHICH IS NOT UNDER FOP. OKAY. AND THEN WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM? IS IT STUDENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MAYBE TO JUVENILE HAVE WHAT I MEAN, WHAT HOW DID THEY END UP IN THIS PROGRAM? OKAY. SO THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO HAVE FIRST OFFENDERS. THESE STUDENTS ARE ARRESTEES HAVE ONLY BEEN INVOLVED IN LIKE ONE OFFENSE AND THEY'RE NOT VIOLENT OFFENSES. SO THEY'RE LIKE AUTO THEFTS CRIMINAL MISCHIEF AND STUFF LIKE THAT. WE PUT THEM IN THE PROGRAM SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT REOFFEND. WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT THEM FROM, FROM RE-OFFENDING. OKAY. CAN I, CAN I ADD SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT TO THAT AS WELL? SO I THINK THE PROGRAM ALSO IS TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM. OH, I'M SORRY, I'M DETECTIVE. I MEAN, DEPUTY CHIEF WILLIAM GRIFFITH COMMANDER OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION GROUP. SORRY. BUT THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS USED TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM THROUGH EDUCATION. AND ALSO IT'S TO IMPROVE THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AS WELL AND MAKING SURE THE KIDS ARE DOING, GOING, ATTENDING SCHOOL, KEEPING THEIR GRADES UP AND ALL THAT. BECAUSE USUALLY THE KIDS WHO ARE ENTERED TO THIS PROGRAM THE FIRST TIME ARE USUALLY HAVING ISSUES AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME. SO IT'S TRYING TO TRAIN THEM TO BE BETTER, BETTER KIDS, RIGHT AS THEY GROW UP. AND HOW MANY YOUTH HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM? RIGHT NOW WE'VE HAD 37 STARTING FROM JANUARY TO NOW. WE'VE HAD 14 HAVE GRADUATED WITH THE DPD WE HAVE FOUR THAT HAVE GRADUATED WITH DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE ALSO HAD SOME FAILURES WHERE THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT TO COMPLY WITH THE PROGRAM. AND IT HAS BEEN SEVEN. AND WHEN DID THE PROGRAM START? THE PROGRAM WAS ORIGINATED IN 1974, THE PROGRAM ITSELF. AND SO IT'S BEEN ONGOING SINCE THAT TIME. OKAY. AND IF THESE FUNDS ARE MOVED TO ANOTHER SOURCE, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PROGRAM THEN THE PROGRAM WILL THOSE THE PROGRAM WILL THEN END AT THAT POINT. AND WHEN WOULD THAT BE? IT WOULD BE A BUDGET. SO WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE FOR ENDING THE PROGRAM. SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THEY'LL BE DIVERTED TO THE JUVENILE COUNTY PROBATION OFFICE, AND WE'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO THEM. SO. SO IF STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FOR THE DIVERSION PROGRAM, THEN THEY'LL GO INTO THE PROGRAM THROUGH THE DALLAS COUNTY PROBATION OFFICE. [04:05:09] ALSO, AS PART OF THE FOP PROGRAM, WE DID HAVE A RUNAWAY CONCEPT AS AS PART OF THAT AS WELL. WELL, LEE TODD HAS A PROGRAM TO ASSIST FAMILIES WITH WHEN CHILDREN WHO HAVE RUNAWAYS AS WELL. SO BOTH PARTS OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE DIVERTED TO THE COUNTY. SO THAT'S ALREADY BEEN WORKED THROUGH. IS THERE AN IL AYE THAT IS IN PLACE FOR THAT? YES, YES. THE COUNTY ALREADY HAS A HAS A PROGRAM IN PLACE CURRENTLY AS WELL. THERE'S ONLY TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY THAT HAS A FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM. THAT IS IRVING, THAT IS OURSELVES. YEAH. SO WHEN I CALLED OVER THE COUNTY, THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM, BUT IT WAS PEOPLE THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN IN THE SYSTEM, AND IT WAS THROUGH THE DA'S OFFICE AND FEDERALLY FUNDED. I'M NOT AWARE THAT THEY DO HAVE A DIVERSION PROGRAM THROUGH THE PROBATION OFFICE IN THE COUNTY, THROUGH THE COUNTY. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR THE FOP PROGRAM HERE IS PRE JUDICIAL INTERVENTION. SO THAT MEANS THE KIDS ARE PUT INTO THE PROGRAM BEFORE THE THE CASE THAT THEY WERE ORIGINALLY ARRESTED ON GOES TO THE JUVENILE COURTS. THE COUNTY'S IS IS DIFFERENT. IT IT THEY ARE ENTERED INTO THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM THEN. AND IF THEY PASS, THEY GO THROUGH THAT DIVERSION PROGRAM, THEN THEIR RECORD IS EXPUNGED FROM THAT POINT. THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THAT OURS IS TRYING TO KEEP THE YOUTH FROM GETTING INTO THE SYSTEM. AND THAT THE COUNTY'S IS ONCE SOMEBODY IN THE SYSTEM, THEN THERE ARE SERVICES FOR THEM. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW. MR. BAZALDUA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF YOU COULD REPEAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT, BECAUSE THAT SCREEN IS A LITTLE. IS IT FOR 27? I CAN'T SEE THE LAST THREE NUMBERS. NO. IT'S GREEN. GREEN, BLUE. FOUR. TWO SEVEN. NINE. TWO SEVEN. OKAY. I WILL MOVE TO AMEND THIS MOTION. FROM THE SOURCE OF FUNDS. GOING TO POLICE OVERTIME. A $427,927. I'M LOOKING FOR THAT'S THREE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR FIVE MINUTES, MR. BAZALDUA. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I DEFINITELY SEE THE SIGNIFICANCE IN THIS PROGRAM. I MEAN, IN THE USE OF THE FUNDS. AND I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT OF WHAT THIS IS FOR. I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH US GOING CART BEFORE THE HORSE. I DON'T I DON'T AGREE WITH US GOING CART BEFORE THE HORSE AND ELIMINATING A PROGRAM BEFORE. WE HAVE A DEFINITIVE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW IT'S GOING TO BE REPLACED AND SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY. I THINK THAT THERE'S A HOPE AND A PLAN FOR THERE TO BE A COMPARABLE PROGRAM, BUT THERE'S NOTHING IN MOTION RIGHT NOW. AND FOR THAT, I THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE A GAP WHEN WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO. I WILL TELL YOU, WE TALK OFTEN ABOUT THE OVERTIME. AND I WILL SAY THAT WHAT, WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM THE CHIEF AND FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE SAT HERE IN FRONT OF US IS NOT ONLY WAS THERE ALREADY A CUT MADE, BUT THERE'S ALREADY A COMMITMENT TO REDUCING THAT EVEN FURTHER. AND THERE'S BEEN DEFINITIVE STATEMENTS MADE BY THE CHIEF AND OTHER COMMAND STAFF HERE AT THE HORSESHOE THAT THEY ARE CONFIDENT WITH SOME OF THE CONTROLS THAT THEY'LL PUT IN PLACE, THAT WE WON'T EVEN NEED THE FULL 41 MILLION THAT HAS BEEN PUT OUT THERE. SO THIS IS A TOTAL OF A HALF OF $1 MILLION. IT DOESN'T REALLY IMPACT A BUDGET OF 41 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS OF OVERTIME. AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS SPEAKS EXACTLY TO THAT. THIS IS PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS IS KIND OF A WASH AS FAR AS WHAT THE USE OF THE THE FUNDS WOULD GO TOWARDS. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, JUST AS WHENEVER WE WERE TALKING ABOUT USING PARK FUNDS FOR PARK FUNDS, ETC., THAT WE FIND OUT A WAY TO BETTER LEVERAGE THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE ALREADY ALLOCATING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR PROGRAMS THAT WILL IN TURN ALSO BENEFIT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. MAYOR. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA. THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. CHIEF COMEAUX, COULD YOU COMMENT ON WHAT COUNCILMAN BAZALDUA JUST AMENDED ABOUT THE MONEY COMING FROM THE OVERTIME THAT POSSIBLY DID? YOU SAID THAT YOU HAVE NO. I WANT TO SAY NO NEED FOR IT. I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT LIKE THAT. BUT YEAH, DUE TO THE BUDGET ALREADY, WE'VE ELIMINATED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALREADY FROM OUR OVERTIME. [04:10:03] SO. AND I'VE REALLY PUSHED THE ENVELOPE. I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER IN FRONT, BUT HOW MANY MILLIONS ARE WE LESS? IT'S WE'RE GOING TO BE REDUCING BY. YEAH, WE'VE ALREADY REDUCED 5 MILLION. AND AS I WAS ASKED TO GIVE SOME MORE CUTS, THIS WAS ONE AREA THAT WE WE LOOKED AT. AND BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COUNTY AND GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE COUNTY, WE FELT LIKE THIS IS ONE THAT WE CAN DO NOW. THE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW ALSO ON THIS PROGRAM AND RIGHT NOW AND WHY IT CAME TO THE TOP WAS ALL OF. WE HAD NO MORE EMPLOYEES. ALL THE EMPLOYEES HAD HAD LEFT FOR THE COUNTY. SO WE HAD ZERO EMPLOYEES. AND WE HAD ONE SUPERVISOR. SO WE HAD NO EMPLOYEES TO RUN THE PROGRAM. AND AT THAT POINT, WE HAVE THIS MONEY SITTING HERE. SO WE CAME BACK AND SAID, HEY CITY MANAGER FOR THE COUNCIL TO KNOW. WE HAVE NO EMPLOYEES HERE ON THE PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY IS ALSO RUNNING. SO THIS IS ONE WHERE WE CAN GIVE BACK THESE SALARIES, AND WE ONLY HAVE TO TAKE ONE SALARY AWAY, WHICH IS A SUPERVISOR SALARY. AND IT'S A SUPERVISOR THAT HAS NO ONE WORKING UNDER HER. SO THIS WAS A PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND SAY, HEY, WE'VE ALSO TALKED TO THE COUNTY AND THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH US ON A ON A PROGRAM. SO WE ACTUALLY THOUGHT WE WERE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MONEY. THANK YOU. SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE OVERALL OVERTIME, WHAT. COUNCILMAN BAZALDUA HAS A RECOMMENDED. YOU'RE SAYING THAT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN. SO PRETTY MUCH THERE'S NOTHING LEFT IN THAT REGARD TO PULL FROM. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YEAH. I WOULD BE REALLY AFRAID TO CUT MORE THAN 5 MILLION. 5 MILLION IS A BIG CUT. OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. MAYOR, CAN I JUST MAKE A COMMENT? GO AHEAD. I WANT TO BE CLEAR. 4.5 MILLION, SO I APOLOGIZE. IT'S 4.5 MILLION, NOT 5 MILLION. I THINK WHAT THE CHIEF IS REFERRING TO. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS MOTION IS. IT'S NOT THAT NUMBER. THAT'S JUST THE OVERALL AMOUNT THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT ADJUSTING IN THE BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED. BUT THIS AMENDMENT DOES NOT CUT THAT NUMBER. MISS BLAIR, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO I YOU YOU GUYS HAVE YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY STARTED SPEAKING WITH THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO MIGRATE THIS PROGRAM FROM THE CITY TO THE COUNTY. AND THE ONLY THING IS THAT THE COUNTY WORKS BEHIND. AND YOU GUYS TRY TO KEEP IT IN FRONT OF. IS THAT NOT CORRECT? YES. SO YES, MA'AM, THAT IS CORRECT. SO YOU NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THERE'S A THERE'S A STATUTE SO THAT THAT HAVE A DIVERSION PROGRAM AND AN FOP PROGRAM. WHAT THE CITY IS DOING IS, IS ELIMINATING OUR FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM UNDER THE STATUTE ON THE WAY IT'S SET UP. AND BASICALLY THE COUNTY WOULD TAKE OVER THAT DIVERSION PROCESS AND PROGRAM INSTEAD OF THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO YOU HAVE A FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM THAT MEANS THEY'VE ALREADY OFFENDED. CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. IT'S THEIR FIRST OFFENSE, BASICALLY. YES. SO BUT THAT MEANS THEY HAVE OFFENDED. YES. AND THE COUNTY. WELL, SO BY THAT TIME, THEY'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS. THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THIS SYSTEM AND THEY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS SOMEONE WHO NEEDS ADDITIONAL HELP. NO, MA'AM. SO THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME BEING ARRESTED THROUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT ON SPECIFIC. I'M SAYING THE SAME THING. I'M SAYING THE SAME THING. YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT'S BEEN ARRESTED. THEY IF THEY'RE ARRESTED, THEY GO THEY GO TO SOME SORT OF COUNTY FACILITY AND THEY ARE IDENTIFIED AS ARRESTEE. THEY HAVE THAT THEY HAVE OFFENDED. THEY'VE MADE THEY HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG THAT SAYS THEY HAVE LOOKED THAT THE POLICE ARE NOW LOOKING AT THEM IN SOME ASPECTS. SO IF THEY'RE ARRESTED FOR A SPECIFIC TYPE OF OFFENSE THEN THEY ARE IN OUR SYSTEM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SYSTEM THERE ENTERED INTO THE PROGRAM, AND ONCE THEY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY, THE CLASSES, THEY CONTINUE TO GO TO SCHOOL. THEIR ATTENDANCE IS GOOD AND THEY PASS THE PROGRAM. THEN THAT SPECIFIC ARREST IS PURGED FROM THE RECORDS. OKAY. THANK YOU. FINGERPRINTS. THE OFFENSE ITSELF, EVERYTHING LIKE IT DID NOT HAPPEN. SO IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THROUGH THE COUNTY, THROUGH THE NEGOTIATION WITH THE COUNTY, THAT THAT TOO IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD EXIST FROM A COUNTY PERSPECTIVE AS OPPOSED TO FROM A POLICE PERSPECTIVE? NO, MA'AM. THEIR PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT. SO THEY'RE WORKING UNDER A DIFFERENT STATUTE WITH REGARDS TO A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM. [04:15:04] WE'RE WORKING OVER A SEPARATE STATUTE FOR A FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM, WHICH IS DIFFERENT. I GET IT, I GET IT. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION AND THE UNDERSTANDING. I GET IT. SO WITH THIS, WITH WHAT YOU'RE WHAT YOU'RE WHAT THE WHAT THIS IS LOOKING FOR IS YOU'RE SAYING, CHIEF, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY EMPLOYEES TO DO THE WORK? NO. SO EVEN IF WE WANTED EVEN IF YOU WANTED TO, YOU'D HAVE TO REHIRE AND RE AND TO IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN THIS. THIS IS NOT A PROGRAM THAT YOU YOU CAN SUSTAIN AS OF TODAY. CORRECT. CORRECT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M DOING, I'M TRYING TO GO OVER ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND SEE WHERE THERE'S OTHER AREAS THAT THE COUNTY AND US KIND OF MIRROR THAT WE CAN TRY TO BRING OUR BUDGET DOWN. SO. AND THIS IS ONE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY. THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE CLARIFICATION. I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING I HOPE THAT THERE WERE OTHERS THAT NEEDED THAT CLARIFICATION AS WELL. BUT IN THE PROGRAM, YOU GUYS THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH, HOW MANY DID YOU SAY HAVE DROPPED OUT OF THE PROGRAM? THEY DROPPED OUT OF THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR. WE'VE HAD WE HAD SEVEN THAT ACTUALLY WENT INTO THE PROGRAM AND FAILED THE PROGRAM. WE ALSO HAD ADDITIONAL EIGHT, EIGHT AND TEN THAT WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM THAT DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR BEING BECAUSE IT HAD ALREADY BEEN IN THE SYSTEM BEFORE. PRIOR TO THIS, MOST UNFORTUNATE, MOST UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS KIND OF STUFF WITH OUR CHILDREN. AND I DO KNOW THAT THAT YOU GUYS WORK CLOSELY WITH ALL AREAS IN ORDER TO, TO FACILITATE. CHANGING THE BEHAVIOR BEFORE THE BEHAVIOR HAS TO CHANGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CLARIFICATIONS. ABSOLUTELY. CHAIRWOMAN WILL IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, PLEASE. I'M SORRY, COULD YOU RESTATE THE AMENDMENT? THE ONE THAT'S ON THE FLOOR. WAS THAT. THE AMENDMENT WAS ONLY THE SOURCE OF FUNDS. IT'S EXACTLY A SOURCE OF FUNDS FROM OVERTIME. TWO OVERTIME, TWO OVERTIME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DO YOU DO YOU HAVE. NO YOU HAVE NO DISCUSSION. OKAY. STILL COUNTS. MISS BLACKMON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO WHAT IS YOUR OVERTIME BUDGET FOR THIS FOR THIS FISCAL. OKAY. FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE IN AND WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING FOR THE NEXT FISCAL FISCAL YEAR. THIS IS MARTIN RIOJAS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO OUR OVERTIME BUDGET THIS YEAR IS 47.1. AND WE'RE ESTIMATING TO BE AROUND 49.8. SO YOU WENT OVER WHAT WE'RE FORECASTING OVER IN OVERTIME RIGHT NOW ABOUT 3 MILLION. YEAH A LITTLE A LITTLE BIT. 2.7. BUT BUT THAT WE BELIEVE THAT NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE OUR BUDGET AND IT'S GOING DOWN NEXT YEAR, OUR BUDGET IS GOING DOWN TO 42.6. SO 42.6. AND YOU THINK YOU MAY COME IN RIGHT AT 42.6, THAT'S ABOUT WHERE WE BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO BE. AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR ACTUALS THIS YEAR AND OUR BUDGET NEXT YEAR. IT'S A $7.2 MILLION CHANGE. OKAY. I GUESS, CHIEF, YOU SAID YOU TALKED TO THE COUNTY AND WILLING TO WORK WITH US. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS? BECAUSE TO ME, THAT MEANS THAT Y'ALL REALLY HAVEN'T INKED IN IOLA IN AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THIS WORKS. BUT THERE'S BEEN A, I GUESS, A, A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. YES. HI. YES, HI. I MET WITH THE COUNTY THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND WE DISCUSSED THE PROGRAM. AND WHAT IT IS, IS WE, THE ONES THAT GOES OVER TO THE COUNTY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE VIOLENT OFFENDERS. AND SO WE TALK TO THEM AND IT'S THE SAME PROCESS AS WE HAVE IN PLACE NOW. IT'S NOTHING DIFFERENT. THE ONLY THING DIFFERENT IS THE MINOR OFFENDERS THAT OFFENDED FOR THE FIRST TIME. SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL GIVE THEM THAT INFORMATION THROUGH TEXT SHARE, AND WE'LL SEND IT OVER TO THE COUNTY SO THEY CAN OFFER THEM SOME RESOURCES. SO WILL WE BE ADMINISTERING ANY PART OF A A FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM HERE? IT'LL ALL BE TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE COUNTY. NO. THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM WILL GO AWAY. THE COUNTY ALREADY HAS A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM, AND THEY ALREADY OFFER A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE OFFERING WITH DPD. WHEN I TALKED TO THEM DURING THE COURSE OF OUR MEETING. THESE ARE THE OFFERS THAT WILL INCIDENT THAT THEY OFFER FOR THE KIDS. THEY HAVE THE ESTEEMED PROGRAM TO HELP THE YOUNG GIRLS. THEY HAVE A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM FOR MALES. THEY HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS PROGRAM. [04:20:02] THEY HAVE A DRUG DIVERSION PROGRAM. THEY HAVE YOUTH OFFENDERS PROGRAM. THEY HAVE A FAMILY VIOLENCE SECTION THAT WILL HELP THE YOUTH. AND THEY ALSO HAVE ONE FOR THE FAMILY. SO THAT'S WHAT THE COUNTY IS OFFERING. AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT WITH DPD, WITH OUR ONE WORKER THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE NOW. AND SO IF THIS PROGRAM WAS GOING AWAY OR TRANSITIONING OUT, WHY IS IT IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR? I'LL START WITH THAT. AS WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS THIS SUMMER AND WE STARTED LOOKING AGAIN BACK TO THE WHOLE PRIORITY BASED BUDGETING EXERCISE, IT REQUIRES YOU TO START LOOKING AT YOUR PROGRAMS, YOUR OUTPUT, THE INVESTMENT, AND THE RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT. WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS A PROGRAM THAT WE NEEDED TO BEGIN TO TRANSITION. WE WERE GOING TO GIVE THE DEPARTMENT ABOUT A YEAR TO DO IT. THIS TEAM, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ALREADY. THEY WERE ABLE TO ACCELERATE IT. SO THAT'S WHY IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY BRINGING THIS MUCH SOONER THAN WHAT I HAD ANTICIPATED, BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO GIVE THEM A FULL YEAR TO DO IT. BUT I GUESS I'M STILL IF THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, WHY DIDN'T THEY ELIMINATE IT OR MOVE IT OVER INTO OVERTIME? AND DO YOU KNOW, 43 MILLION? I'M JUST CURIOUS OF HOW MANY OTHER PROGRAMS ARE STILL LISTED LIKE THAT OR THAT ARE TRANSITIONING OUT, THAT IT CAN ADD UP. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PROGRAM SUMMARY THAT'S A PART OF THE BUDGET, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE ACTUAL EXHIBIT IS, BUT YOU WILL NOTICE THAT ON MANY OF THOSE PROGRAMS WE TALK ABOUT, AND WE SHOW WHERE WE'RE REDUCING SOME OF THE FUNDING FROM THOSE PROGRAMS. MUCH OF THAT IS TO GIVE US TIME TO DO THE TRANSITION. AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM OVER THE SUMMER, WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW QUICKLY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BEGIN TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND TO BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD DO GOING FORWARD. THEY ADVANCED THOSE CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND AS WE GOT INTO LAST WEEK, THE CHIEF REACHED OUT AND SAID, BASED ON THE, THE, THE, THE EFFORT AND THE WILLINGNESS FOR THE COUNTY TO BEGIN TO WORK WITH US ON THIS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO A LOT SOONER THAN WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED. BUT THERE WILL BE OTHER PROGRAMS, EVEN SOME MIGHT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE JUST CAN'T 100% SAY THE DATE CERTAIN EVEN LIKE WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER PARTNERSHIPS AND COUNCIL SAID, WELL, WHAT DAY WOULD THAT PARTNERSHIP BE IN PLACE? WE TALKED ABOUT ADULT LEARNING. WE TALKED ABOUT DE ISD WITH ARCADIA. WE WERE GOING TO GIVE OURSELVES TIME TO EVEN DO THE RAMP UP OR THE RAMP UP OF THE TRANSITION. SO THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE ONES WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IT MUCH QUICKER. SO IS IT 100% GUARANTEE THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO TAKE IT OVER, OR IS THERE STILL SOME OPPORTUNITY THAT THE DETAILS MAY GET LOST? OKAY. THE COUNTY ALREADY HAS THE PROGRAM, BUT IT'S NOT THE QUESTION. THE QUESTION IS, IS IT 100% SURE THAT IT'S GOING OVER? I KNOW THE COUNTY HAS THE PROGRAM, BUT AGAIN, TALK TO THE COUNTY AND WILLING TO WORK WITH US. DOESN'T SAY WE'VE GOT A DEAL AND IT'S MOVING OVER. AND SO I'M TRYING TO GAUGE IF I WAS A BETTING GIRL AND WENT TO VEGAS, WHAT WOULD MY ODDS BE? I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT THIS TIME. I CAN GO BACK AND REVISIT WITH THE COUNTY. BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THEM TAKING THE LESSER OFFENDERS OVER. IT'S NOT GUARANTEED THAT THEY WILL DO THAT. WE JUST HAVE DISCUSSIONS. AND DISCUSSIONS WENT WELL, AND WE MET WITH THEM LATE YESTERDAY BECAUSE I THINK LAST YEAR WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SPAYED AND NEUTERED, AND WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET A GRANT AND WE DIDN'T. AND SO WE HAD TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS WHEN WHAT THE ODDS ARE ABOUT THIS ACTUALLY GOING AWAY, BECAUSE TO ME, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE KEPT THE MONEY HERE IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THE TRANSITION. BUT IN CASE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, YOU STILL HAVE SOME SOME FUNDS TO WORK WITH CERTAIN DEGREES OF THIS PROGRAM. THANK YOU. MISS CADENA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. YEAH. I MEAN, ONE OF MY CONCERNS AND I BRING IT UP EVERY MONTH, THE PUBLIC SAFETY IS THAT THIS AGE GROUP THAT THIS PROGRAM HELPS IS EXACTLY THE GROUP WHERE OUR HIGH HIGHEST STATISTICS ARE FOR VIOLENT CRIME. AND CUTTING THIS PROGRAM AWAY BEFORE WE HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE, AND ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE SYSTEM TO ALLOW THEM TO WORK TOWARDS NOT HAVING A RECORD. AND I DON'T HEAR THAT ON THE COUNTY SIDE. THAT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE MONTH I SEE THAT NUMBER AND IT'S NOT GOING DOWN. IT'S GOING UP. AND SO. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN A VALUABLE PROGRAM. I'VE SPOKEN TO SOME OTHER PD OFFICERS. YOU KNOW, I'M CONCERNED THAT IT'S IT'S WINDING DOWN. AND WITH NOTHING IN PLACE TO, TO TIDE US OVER. AND SO, YOU KNOW, NEXT MONTH, THE PUBLIC SAFETY, I'M SURE THE STATS ARE GOING TO BE IN THERE AGAIN. AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION AGAIN. AND, AND THIS WAS A RESOURCE TO POSSIBLY HELP WITH THAT. [04:25:03] AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE FUNDS COULD HAVE BEEN SENT TO POWELL OR TO ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH YOUTH WITHIN TPD. BUT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MOVING IT OUT OF DPD. IF WE HAVE OTHER YOU KNOW, SOURCES THAT CAN BE USED FOR THIS. THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. I WANT TO FOCUS ON WHERE THE MONEY IN THIS AMENDMENT IS GOING TO. SO, CHAIR GRACEY, COULD YOU JUST WALK ME THROUGH THAT AGAIN? WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT NOW. TWO SOURCES OF FUNDS POTENTIALLY. BUT WHERE WHERE ARE THE. AND I KNOW I THINK ONE IS LIBRARIES AND ONE IS ANOTHER PROGRAM. IF YOU COULD JUST ELABORATE ON THAT. YES. AND IF PARKS DEPARTMENT IS IS AROUND, I'LL HAVE THEM COME UP AND TALK ABOUT IT. BUT IT'S HALF OF IT. WE'RE SPLITTING THAT UP. HALF OF IT IS GOING 213,000 964,000 IS GOING TO THE TEEN CONNECT PROGRAM, WHICH THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED GEARING UP TOWARDS AND ALREADY HAVE AN RFP PREPARED TO GO OUT. THIS WOULD JUST GIVE THEM AN ADDITIONAL $200,000 TO HELP ENHANCE THE SERVICES THAT WOULD BE PROVIDED THROUGH THAT PARTICULAR CONTRACT. AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS TO HELP MODERNIZE THE FLAGSHIP LOCATIONS FOR THE LIBRARIES. OKAY. I THINK WE NEED MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT TEAMCONNECT IS, BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT A GAP POTENTIALLY IN BEING ABLE TO SERVE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND, AND GET THEM THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH AND, YOU KNOW, BACK ON A PATH OF HEALTHY LIVING AND HEALTHY DECISIONS. SO TEEN CONNECT DIRECTOR JENKINS HERE AND I'M LOOKING, ARE YOU THE ONE OR MISS KEISHA RANDALL AND, AND SHAWN JOHNSON WITH ME? YES. SO YOU GUYS JUST JUMP IN AND GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW YOU IDENTIFY THE KIDS WHO ARE IN THIS PROGRAM. WHAT IS THE PROGRAMING? WHAT'S THE FOCUS? WHAT'S THE GOAL? AND THEN HOW WIDESPREAD, WHERE ARE WE OFFERING THIS AND HOW WHAT DISTRICTS MAYBE ARE IT'S BEEN BEING FOCUSED ON. YEAH. SO I'M GOING TO GIVE A A BRIEF SUMMARY. THEN I'M ALLOWED THE EXPERT NEXT TO ME, MISS RANDALL, WHO THIS SHE'S THE ARCHITECT OF THIS PROGRAM. YOU KNOW, WE WAS GOING TO ROLL THIS PROGRAM OUT IN THE FALL. AND THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO STRICTLY BE FOCUSED ON TEENAGERS, YOU KNOW, THAT TEND TO GET IN TROUBLE OR THEY'RE ON THE PATH OF GETTING IN TROUBLE. BUT THESE TEENAGERS ARE NOT COMING THROUGH OUR RECREATION CENTER DOORS. AND SO WE NEEDED TO DESIGN A PROGRAM, SOMETHING DEAR TO ME. I GREW UP IN THE HOUSING PROJECT. AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION, HAVING PROGRAMS FOR FOLKS THAT WEREN'T GOING TO COME THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE REC CENTER. BUT YOU CAN PULL ME IN. SHE HAS TAKEN THE CONCEPT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BECAUSE WE NEED THOSE TEAMS TO GET OFF THE STREETS. LET ME ASK YOU ONE QUESTION. WE NEED THEM FOCUSED ON A CONSTRUCTIVE PROGRAM. DIRECTOR JENKINS, HOW DO WE FIND THOSE KIDS? YES. AND THAT'S THAT'S WHERE YOU TELL YOU. OKAY, SO THE TEEN CONNECT PROGRAM IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OBVIOUSLY, THE PARK DEPARTMENT HAS INFRASTRUCTURE, WE HAVE FACILITIES, WE HAVE STAFF, BUT WE ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS. AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM TO HELP TO IDENTIFY THOSE. WE'VE ALSO USED THE DPD STATISTICS THAT THEY'VE PROVIDED FOR US WORKING WITH THE PALS PROGRAM. AND SO WHILE IT'S A CITYWIDE PROGRAM, THERE ARE 11 FOCUS ZIP CODES AND A VERY DATA DRIVEN PROGRAM AND APPROACH THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE RECREATION, WE HAVE SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY, ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT WE CAN DO. BUT WE ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH D, I, S, D AND SOME OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS THAT ARE ABLE TO BRING THE TEAMS TO US. AND WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO GO TO THEM TO PROVIDE SERVICES SO THEY WON'T ALL NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAPPEN ON OUR CAMPUSES ARE ON OUR SITES, BUT WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO CONNECT IN THESE WAYS. WOULD THE TEENS WHO HAVE PERHAPS HAD A HAVE HAVE OFFENDED IN SOME WAY? THEY HAVE A RECORD. THEY'VE JUST HAD THEIR FIRST SERIOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH WITH DPD WILL BE BROUGHT UP. ARE THOSE KIDS I MEAN, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE'RE REPLACING, RIGHT? I WANT TO I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS IF WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE SOMETHING, ARE WE REPLACING IT WITH SOMETHING SIMILAR ENOUGH? BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT KIDS TO FALL BETWEEN THESE TWO PROGRAMS AND NOT GET THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEED. AND I THINK WE'RE FEELING LIKE THE COUNTY PROGRAM IS NOT LINING UP NECESSARILY WITH WHAT THE CITY DPD PROGRAM HAS BEEN. AND SO IS IT Y'ALL'S PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT HERE THAT WE ARE GOING TO REPLICATE THAT PIECE? WELL, LET ME JUST SAY THIS BECAUSE I'M NOT 100% FAMILIAR WITH THE COUNTY PROGRAM, BECAUSE THIS AMENDMENT IS BEING MADE TODAY. IT'S JUST PERFECT TIMING BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT TO GET READY TO ROLL OUT A PROGRAM THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE ONE THAT YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT ELIMINATING TODAY, [04:30:06] THAT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS EXPAND OUR PROGRAM TO NOW GO REACH THE 18 TO 24 AGE GROUP, BECAUSE WE WAS ALREADY STARTING WITH THE 13 TO 18. AND THEN WE WOULD JUST FOCUS ON BRINGING SOME ADDITIONAL PARTNERS THAT FOCUS ON THOSE MORE OLDER AGE GROUPS. OKAY. I'M NOT SURE IT IS THE OLDER AGE GROUP WE'RE LOOKING FOR. BUT I KNOW IT'S THE FOP. IT'S THE FIRST OFFENDER. THAT PROGRAM THAT WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT. AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO GET THE CLARIFICATION ON AGE AT THIS POINT, BUT I GUESS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE IS THAT YOU ALL ARE WILLING TO LOOK AT THE AGE RANGE THAT WE WERE SERVING UNDER FOP AND POTENTIALLY TAKE THAT AGE RANGE AND BRING IT INTO THE PROGRAMING THAT YOU'RE PUTTING TOGETHER. CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. SO YOU'LL HELP US FILL THE GAP? YES. OKAY. I JUST NEED YES. I NEED A PROMISE THAT. YES. SO THE THE ORIGINAL. SO AGAIN THE TEAM PROGRAM IN IN PARK AND RECREATION ALREADY EXISTS. SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ON THAT PROGRAM. AND AGAIN THE FOCUS WAS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 18. AND AS WE EXPAND NOW INTO THE YOUNG ADULT REALM. SO THAT'S WHEN WE'RE BRINGING BACK THE LATE NIGHT OPPORTUNITIES, MORE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT FOCUS ON THOSE AGE GROUPS. SO THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT WE WILL BE WORKING WITH TO HELP TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM FOR THIS PARTICULAR SEGMENT. OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. SO YOU WOULD GET SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THIS THROUGH THIS AMENDMENT. AND THAT'S WHAT WILL ENABLE THIS PROGRAM TO EXPAND TO BE ABLE TO ABSORB THIS, THIS DEMOGRAPHIC, THIS, THIS KIDDO. YES, YES. OKAY. OKAY. I THINK THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW. THANK YOU. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. ROUND TWO. IT LOOKS LIKE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. JOHN, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH ME THIS MORNING. I KNOW IT WAS KIND OF EARLY. I'M RETURNING MY PHONE CALL IN OUR DISCUSSION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH THOSE YOUTH, THOSE CBI PROGRAMS. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BECAUSE I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE CBI PROGRAMS, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO HELP OUR YOUTH. I SPOKE WITH COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN JESSE MORENO, AND WE, WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION NUMEROUS OF TIMES ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN DEEP ELLUM AND SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE YOUTH THAT'S DOWN THERE ACTUALLY COME FROM MY DISTRICT SEVEN, FIVE, TWO, ONE SIX AND THAT'S CAUSED SOME CHALLENGES THERE. SO WITH THE CBI PROGRAM AND I, AND I'VE ASKED TO SEE IF WE CAN PLACE THIS UNDERNEATH THE PARKS BECAUSE NOT ONLY WILL IT HELP DOWNTOWN AND DEEP ELLUM, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR PARKS ARE SAFER AND THAT THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD, ALL 15 COUNCIL MEMBERS MAKING SURE I COMMUNICATE. OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE AND MAKING SURE EVEN EXTEND TO SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IN UNHOUSED WHEN SOME OF THOSE THINGS HAPPEN TO THE PARKS OR EVEN ON THE STREETS AND THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THEY REALLY BRING TO THE TABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW IT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR SIX PLUS YEARS, EVEN AS A SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE AND BEYOND. SO CAN YOU CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, HOW THIS WILL REALLY AFFECT THE CBI PROGRAM, BRINGING THAT UNDERNEATH THE PARKS AND, AND YOUR YOUR PROGRAM, MANAGING THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S EFFECTIVE IN ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ACROSS THE CITY OF DALLAS, PLEASE. YEAH. LIKE MISS RONDA MENTIONED EARLIER, WE WOULD WE WOULD EXPAND OUR PROGRAM AND LIKE THE CBI, WHAT THEIR FOCUS IS, THEY WILL BE UP UNDER OUR UMBRELLA. WE WILL SET VERY SPECIFIC METRICS BECAUSE WE'RE USING DATA. AS SHE MENTIONED, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IN THESE HIGHEST ZIP CODES WHERE THE HIGHEST TEEN VIOLENCE IS, ARE WE MAKING A DIFFERENCE? AND WE WANT DATA TO TELL US THAT. AND AND ALSO I KNOW THAT THE. THE CBI ALSO LOOKED AT OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE MAY BE ISSUES. AND SO NO, THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO FOCUS ON SOME OF THOSE AREAS. BUT IT WILL BE A CITY WIDE PROGRAM. AND THE GOAL IS TO REALLY FOCUS ON GETTING THE BEING A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE, SOMETHING WE USED TO DO MANY YEARS AGO IN THE PARK SYSTEM WHEN WE HAD THE GANG PREVENTION PROGRAM UP UNDER US. I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DUPLICATE, BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE, NO, THE PARK DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE IN THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING. WE SHOULD BE THE CONDUIT WORKING WITH NON-PROFITS, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, IDENTIFY THESE KIDS AND MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING YOUTH AND OUR REC CENTERS. WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKING SURE WE'RE BEING THAT CONDUIT SO WE CAN REACH ALL OF THESE KIDS THROUGHOUT THIS CITY. THANK. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WHEN WE SPOKE THIS MORNING, AND I DEFINITELY SUPPORT IT BEING UNDERNEATH THE PARKS WITH THE MANAGEMENT, LOOKING INTO IT AND OVERSEEING IT AND MAKING SURE WE GET REAL RESULTS WITH THE FUNDING. AND I BELIEVE WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT IT, EVEN YOU HAD I ASKED FOR ONE FIGURE BUT YOU EVEN SAID THAT YOU, YOU'RE WILLING TO INVEST ABOUT $100,000. OH, YEAH. [04:35:03] BECAUSE IT'S PART OF ME BEING ABLE TO SPAN A PROGRAM TO REACH MORE TEENAGERS. AND THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT UP THE OLDER ADULTS BECAUSE WE WERE FOCUSED ON THEM AS WELL. SO $100,000 ON TOP OF WHAT COUNCILMAN GRACEY GRACEY IS DOING IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN SUPPORT. AND I WANT TO THANK. COUNCILMAN. GRACEY. BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION PLENTY OF TIMES MYSELF AND EVEN. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILWOMAN. BLACKMON. AND A LOT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT'S IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, HOW IMPORTANT THESE PROGRAMS IS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFE. AND IT IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT THAT'S ONE OF MY MAIN PRIORITIES IS PUBLIC SAFETY. SO I'LL DEFINITELY BE SUPPORTING MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS DONE CORRECTLY. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO SOLVE A LOT OF THE CONCERN THAT WE'RE HAVING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY SEEING REAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND THAT MONEY GOING TO AN ORGANIZATION, BUT ACTUALLY GOING TO REAL WORK THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING COUNCILMAN. GRACEY. I KNOW WE ON THE AMENDMENT HERE, BUT THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. IS IT CORRECT THE SOURCE OF FUNDS IS DPD OVERTIME? NONE. IS THAT IN THE AMENDMENT THAT THE AMENDMENT. OKAY. YEAH. THAT'S CORRECT. AND THEN CAN YOU TELL ME I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ACTUALLY YOU. PERHAPS IT'S. JACK HOW MUCH MONEY WENT INTO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS FOR CRIME INTERVENTION? VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION. HI DIRECTOR, HOUSING COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. FOR THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE 300 ZERO ZERO $0 COMMITTED TO THE YOUTH VIOLENCE INTERRUPTER PROGRAM. GREAT. AND WAS IT ALL EXPENDED? DIDN'T WE ADD IT LAST YEAR? IT WAS ADDED LAST YEAR. 26. THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S A NEW PROGRAM FUNDED UNDER CDBG CONTRACT WAS JUST EXECUTED IN JULY WITH LONE STAR JUSTICE ALLIANCE. WE'RE IN THE FIRST MONTH OF SERVICE DELIVERY. OKAY. WELL, THAT'S ITS OWN EDITORIAL ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES THINGS TO HAPPEN AT THE CITY. BUT I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE FUNDING FOR THIS EXACT SERVICE AND IT'S A HARD NO TO TAKE AWAY POLICE OVERTIME. AND I'LL JUST SAY ANYBODY WHO VOTES FOR IT, I HOPE THAT THE POLICE OVERTIME GOES TO THE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT SUPPORT TAKING MONEY FROM POLICE OVERTIME. WAS THAT OKAY? THEN WE'RE TO SECOND ROUND FOR MR. BAZALDUA. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. SO I GUESS. SORRY, BUT CAN I GO TO MR. CHAIR? I'M SORRY TO DO THAT TO YOU. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY WAS TRYING TO GET IN. IT WAS FLAT. HE HADN'T SPOKEN YET. SORRY. I KNOW YOU'RE IN YOUR FLOW, BUT HE HASN'T SPOKEN AT ALL. SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FOR FIVE MINUTES. I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE LIBRARY STAFF. SO WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THIS USE OF FUNDS IN THIS. WELL, ACTUALLY THIS IS NOT PERTINENT TO THE AMENDMENT. MR. BAZALDUA RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY. STATE YOUR INQUIRY. WHO WERE THE THREE PEOPLE THAT SECONDED THIS MOTION? WELL, WE'LL GET TO THAT INFORMATION IN A MINUTE. THANK YOU. I ENCOURAGE OUR COLLEAGUES TO TALK TO OUR CITY SECRETARY AND THEIR STAFF. INSTEAD OF CALLING POINT OF INFORMATION ON SIMPLE QUESTIONS THAT CAN BE ANSWERED. GO AHEAD. I WOULD ASK THAT WE TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTER PROGRAMS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. I'M ABSOLUTELY A FAN OF IT. I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS GOING TO LEAVE US WITH WHAT WE HAVE. AS FAR AS THE THE CURRENT FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM, I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A PATH FORWARD, BUT THERE'S SOME VARIABLES THERE. BUT AS FAR AS THE USE OF FUNDS, CAN YOU EXPLAIN CITY MANAGER ON THE USE OF FUNDS, HOW IT'S DUPLICATIVE IN WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY APPROVED FROM THE CDBG FUNDS. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, AND I KNOW THAT STAFF WORKED WITH THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR AS WE WERE DEVELOPING THE I THINK IT WAS EARLIER IN THE SPRING, EXCUSE ME, THE CDBG BUDGET. AND I THINK WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE COUNCIL IS THAT YOU VALUE THOSE PROGRAMS AND YOU UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS IN SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH. BUT YOU WANTED US TO LEVERAGE THE FEDERAL DOLLARS WHERE WE COULD DO A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT COMMUNITY WORK OUTSIDE OF THE GENERAL FUND FOR THOSE TYPES OF [04:40:04] PROGRAMS. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE MOVED FORWARD WITH. MR.. THORN MENTIONED THE THE CURRENT CONTRACT. SO WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED. AND SO WHAT I THINK I'M HEARING THAT IF THIS IS DONE, THAT PROGRAM CURRENTLY RESIDES UNDER THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. BASED ON THE MOTION, IT WOULD MOVE THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING OVER TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE PROGRAMING AND PARKS AND REC, AND ATTACH IT TO SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT I KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH THE BARBERSHOP TALKS, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING TO REALLY WORK WITH TEENS ACROSS THE CITY, AND THAT WOULD THEN BE PRETTY MUCH ALLOWING US TO BOLSTER AND ENHANCE THOSE PROGRAMS THROUGH PARKS AND REC. SO THE ACTUAL CDBG BUDGET AND THAT PROGRAM THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS IS CURRENTLY SITTING OVER IN A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT. SO THERE COULD BE SOME OVERLAP. LET ME BE VERY HONEST, BECAUSE WE WOULD NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT PARKS WOULD BE DOING ASIDE FROM WHAT LONE STAR JUSTICE IS DOING. AND I DON'T THINK I HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW IN MY HEAD, BUT WE COULD DEFINITELY COME BACK IF COUNCIL MOVES IN THIS DIRECTION AND TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FILLING A GAP AND WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING. AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A VERY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION FOR US TO HAVE. YOU'VE ASKED US TO LOOK AT SERVICES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING. AND I WOULD SAY THAT WHATEVER WE'RE DOING ACTUALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS A NEED THAT IS CURRENTLY NOT BEING MET. AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S ALREADY AN RFP THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO ISSUING. CAN YOU SPEAK MORE TO THAT? YES. SO WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH MR. JENKINS IS THAT A LOT OF WHAT THEY DO AROUND SOME OF THE PROGRAMING THAT'S OFFERED THROUGH THE REC CENTERS IS THEY WILL ENGAGE THIRD PARTIES WHERE THAT IS A CORE SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE. THEY'RE PLANNING THROUGH THEIR CURRENT DOLLARS, THROUGH THE BUDGET THAT WE'VE ALREADY PROPOSED, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE AN RFP THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THEM TO BRING SOME ADDITIONAL PROGRAMING TO SUPPORT THAT SEGMENT OF OUR YOUTH POPULATION, AND THAT WE COULD WORK WITH PARKS AND THAT FUNDING TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THESE GAPS THAT I THINK ARE BEING DISCUSSED HERE TODAY, THAT THAT RFP COULD ACTUALLY EXPAND TO ADDRESS THOSE AS WELL. SO WE DO HAVE AN EXISTING RFP THAT WAS PLANNED, AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S SPEAKING OF. AND THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT COUNCIL IS THINKING ABOUT NOW WITH WHAT HE'S PLANNING TO PUT ON THE STREET HERE VERY SOON. I KNOW WE USE AN RFP, BUT WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT WAS GOING TO ROLL OUT, BUT IT ALSO IT INVOLVES US HIRING, YOU KNOW, THROUGH A CONTRACT PROCESS, SOME ADDITIONAL VENDORS TO HELP DELIVER THE PROGRAM. SO THIS WOULD NOT BE DONE IN A CLOSED COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS. MOST OF THESE WOULD BE NON-PROFITS THAT WE WOULD BE WORKING WITH, BUT THEY WOULD BE COMPETING FOR. WE DON'T HAVE NON-PROFITS THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAND THE PROGRAM OVER TO. THEY WOULD COMPETE FOR IT. IT WOULD BE A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS. YES, WE CAN MAKE SURE THE PROCESS IS COMPETITIVE. YES. OKAY. WELL, I'M I'M JUST CONCERNED BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT IT SEEMS AS IF WE'RE DOING WE'RE GETTING RID OF A PROBLEM WITH NOT A SOLUTION ON HOW TO FILL THE GAP OF A, OF A, OF A, A GOOD PROBLEM AS THE FUNDING SOURCE. AND WE'RE USING IT AS A FUNDING USE TO HAVE SOME OVERLAP AND DUPLICATE AND HAVE EVEN MORE FUNDING IN AN AREA THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IT. SO IT SEEMS SOMEWHAT COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. I WOULD WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE WOULD HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE SO THAT WE DON'T SEE A GAP IN SERVICE WHEN IT COMES TO A PROGRAM AS, AS IMPACTFUL AS THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM. CAN YOU SPEAK TO JOHN ON YOUR, THE PLAN THAT YOU HAVE WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM AND HOW IT, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU'RE FRAMING IT AS IT BEING A REPLACEMENT, BUT IT'S BEING FRAMED THAT WAY HERE TODAY FOR US TO CONSIDER TAKING FUNDS FROM ANOTHER PROGRAM. WHAT? TO WHAT EXTENT WOULD YOU BE. DUPLICATING WHAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS NOW THAT COULD BE DISSOLVED WITH THIS FUNDING SOURCE? I'M SORRY, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT? HOW WOULD YOU BE DUPLICATING THE PROGRAM AS A WHOLE? YEAH. AS I MENTIONED, I DON'T KNOW THE FULL EXTENT OF THE PROGRAM REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THIS AMENDMENT IS HAPPENING THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT THE ONE THAT'S THAT WE'RE USING THE FUNDING SOURCE FROM HERE, NOT THE COUNTY ONE THAT YOU WERE ASKED ABOUT. [04:45:03] THE ONE THAT USING THE FUNDING SOURCE THE FIRST OFFENDER AND YOUR PROGRAM. I THINK YOU'RE OUT OF TIME. WELL, YOU WERE. NO. YOU'RE NOT. NO. IT'S OKAY. GOTCHA. HOW WILL WE BE USING THE 213,000 OR REPLACING THIS PROGRAM? NO. YEAH. NOT HOW YOU WOULD USE IT IF IF WE ARE WANTING TO KNOW THAT THIS PROGRAM IS, IN THEORY, GOING TO CONTINUE JUST THROUGH A DIFFERENT PROGRAM. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE, THE TOUCH POINTS THAT WOULD BE DUPLICATED? OKAY. FOR INSTANCE, EXPUNGEMENT OF RECORDS IS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT EQUIPPED TO TAKE ON THAT ROLE? THAT'S A PART OF THE, THE EXISTING PROGRAM IN A VERY CRITICAL PIECE TO THE PROGRAM. THE ANSWER IS NO. OKAY. SO THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE APPLES TO APPLES, GUYS. WE'RE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO LOSE A LARGE BENEFIT AND IT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR YOUTH. A FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES AN EXPUNGEMENT PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET RID OF COMPLETELY TO SUPPLEMENT FOR ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T DO THE SAME IS NOT APPLES TO APPLES. AND FOR THAT, I CANNOT SUPPORT GOING FORWARD WITH KNOWING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PROGRAM IN PLACE. IS THAT THE REAL. OKAY. CAN'T TELL. THAT'S THE REAL TIME. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO CHAIRWOMAN STEWART FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. SO THAT'S REALLY THE POINT. THE STICKING POINT FOR ME AS WELL IS WHAT IT CAN AND WHAT MAYBE MAJOR NOBLES, I KNOW THAT. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE GET THAT EXPUNGEMENT PIECE BACK? HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE SET THAT RECORD STRAIGHT FOR OUR YOUTH WHO'VE JUST HAD THIS ONE INFRACTION THAT AND WE DON'T WANT THAT TO STICK WITH THEM FOR THE REST OF IT. WELL, IT'S A TEAM EFFORT. YES, MA'AM. WITH THE COUNTY THAT THE EXPUNGEMENT PROCESS IS IN PLACE. AND I THINK IF ONCE THEY WE FIND A PROGRAM, IF, IF THIS ONE GOES AWAY, THAT THEY CAN ALSO APPLY FOR EXPUNGEMENT PROGRAM, THE PARENTS CAN APPLY FOR THAT. THAT'S ON COUNTY RECORDS AND THE COUNTY HAS THE PROGRAM AND THEY HAVE THE EXPUNGEMENT PROCESS WITH THEIRS AS WELL. SO BUT HOW DO HOW DO WE DO IT AS A CITY OF DALLAS? HOW DOES THAT FUNCTION? WHAT, WHERE, WHERE ARE WE AUTHORIZED TO MAKE THAT EXPUNGEMENT HAPPEN? SO WE'RE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM. AND SO WE HAVE A DEDICATED PERSON WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE ITS STATUTES IN THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS ONCE THE THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM SUPERVISOR NOTIFIES THE YOUTH DIVISION THAT THIS PERSON HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM. THEN THEY GO IN THERE AND THEY EXPUNGE THE FINGERPRINTS AND THE ARREST RECORD, THAT INCIDENT THAT THEY WERE PUT IN TO THE PROGRAM. SO CAN WE DUPLICATE THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WITH SOME TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DPD AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, SO THAT YOU COULD A SIMILAR FUNCTION COULD BE SERVED. I DO NOT DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. I DO NOT. OKAY. HAVE WE ANYBODY EVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN WHERE WE'VE. I MEAN, WE'RE STILL THE ENTITY CITY OF DALLAS. THESE ARE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE ENTITY OF THE CITY OF DALLAS. I UNDERSTAND THE SUPERVISION OF DPD MAY BRING. BUT MY HUNCH IS THERE'S SOME MARKERS THAT THIS FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM HAS TO MEET. RIGHT. THERE ARE THERE ARE MARKERS THAT THE THAT THE KIDDOS HAVE TO MEET. AND IF WE COULD PARTNER SO THAT THAT COULD BE DONE UNDER THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THEN THEN THEN WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THE SERVICE. AND THAT'S, THAT WAS REALLY MY QUESTION EARLIER. AND IF WE DON'T GET THE THE EXPUNGEMENT, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT I MEAN. YES. THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER VALUABLE PIECES TO IT, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE. YES. SO WHAT I'D PROBABLY HAVE TO PROBABLY THE LEGAL TEAM WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS, THE STATUTE MORE THAN LIKELY, AND THEN WE'D HAVE THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY JUVENILE BOARD. SO WE'D HAVE TO TALK WITH THEM AS WELL, OR THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO TALK WITH THEM AS WELL. RIGHT. BUT THE ARGUMENT TO THEM COULD BE, SINCE YOU'RE NOT PROVIDING A PROGRAM FOR FIRST OFFENDERS, AND WE, AS THE CITY OF DALLAS SEE A LOT OF VALUE THERE, CAN'T WE ALL GET OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND FIGURE THIS OUT, HOW WE CAN CONTINUE THAT PROGRAM, BUT JUST NOT. IT'S JUST NOT HOUSED UNDER DPD. IT'S HOUSED UNDER PARKS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM IS IS RAN BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THAT'S THE ISSUE. THAT'S PART OF THE STATUTE IN TEXAS FAMILY CODE. OKAY. AND WE CAN'T A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS WOULD NULLIFY THAT. [04:50:06] I MEAN, IF YOU ALL HAD A STAFF PERSON WHO WAS WHO WAS WORKING WITH PARKS ON IT, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. I KNOW I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT. I DIDN'T NECESSARILY EXPECT YOU TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER. SORRY. THESE ARE HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS. AND AND I'M JUST TRYING TO PUSH US TO FIGURE THIS OUT BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR, FOR NUMBERS OF KIDS THAT WE SEE IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. WE SEE IN THE REPORT AND AND I WANT IT TO BE A MEANINGFUL CHANGE FOR THEM, A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE. BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN HOLD UP THIS PROGRAM CONTINUING TO HOLD UP THIS PROGRAM WITHIN D.P.D. SO WHAT'S OUR ALTERNATIVE? AND THAT'S WHY I'D ASK YOU TO. CITY MANAGER. AND IF WE COULD, I KNOW THE CHIEF'S LOOKING AT YOU LIKE, I DON'T THINK I WANT TO TACKLE THAT ONE. SO I'LL START AND I'LL START WITH A VERY SIMPLE ANSWER. WE HAVE TO BE MORE WILLING TO COLLABORATE AND PARTNER. WE SAID THAT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT WITH THE ONGOING NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AS AN ORGANIZATION AND WITH THE FACT THAT OUR CITY IS GROWING, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL THING, BUT THAT ALSO REQUIRES FOR US TO BE MORE AND MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE INVESTING IN. AND I KNOW I'VE HEARD THE COMMENTS ABOUT OUR YOUTH, WHICH WE ALSO KNOW WE THAT IS, THAT'S THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. BUT WE'RE ALSO BEING CHALLENGED TO LOOK AT WAYS TO DELIVER SERVICES THAT MAY NOT BE THE TRADITIONAL WAY THAT WE'VE DONE IT. AND SO I SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS IDENTIFYING NEW WAYS AND STRATEGIES. AND SOMETIMES THAT MIGHT MEAN WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE OUR MODELS. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE COMPLETELY LET THAT NEED AND THAT SERVICE BE VOID, BUT WE SHOULD BE CHALLENGING OURSELVES TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN STILL MAKE SURE THOSE SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ASKED FOR OUR ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION. THAT IS THE WAY WE HAVE TO THINK. AND SO I DO, I KNOW THEY'RE OUT HERE AND I WANT TO THANK THEM BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SUPPORT OUR YOUTH. AND I THINK THE, THE MERE FACT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT FUTURE FOCUSED WAYS THAT WE CAN CREATE SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS THAT TRULY ARE DELIVERING IMPACT AND VALUE. AND THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL SHOULD BE CHALLENGING US TO DO. SO THIS COULD BE A SITUATION WHERE DEPENDING ON WHAT DIRECTION YOU GO WITH THIS AMENDMENT THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK IN THAT DIRECTION. WE DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW THAT WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS GRADUATE. WE'VE GOT THE ONE POSITION AND THERE COULD BE MAYBE WAYS THAT THAT POSITION COULD CONTINUE TO DO SOME OF THAT INITIAL LEGWORK. AND WE DO IT STILL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, BUT I WOULD SAY NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR US TO NOT BE CREATIVE. THAT IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED GOING FORWARD. AND WE WILL WORK WITH THIS COUNCIL, WITH PARTNERS AND WHOEVER ELSE YOU ALL WANT US TO. BUT THAT IS THE WAY THAT WE'VE GOT TO BE THINKING TO CREATE THE SUSTAINABLE PATHWAY THAT I THINK YOU GUYS ARE ASKING US TO DO. AND IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT ONE THING IS NOT IMPORTANT OVER ANOTHER. IT'S WE'VE GOT TO BE LOOKING AT THINGS A LOT DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY MANAGER FOR THAT RESPONSE. I COMPLETELY AGREE. WE'VE GOT TO BE CREATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE. AND AND I FULLY HAVE THE TRUST. I TRUST YOU ALL TO, TO FIND THOSE NEW WAYS OF LOOKING AT THIS AND FINDING THOSE YOUTH A SPOT WHERE THEY CAN GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM YEAH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WELL, I, I DO SUPPORT THE CVI. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING TAKING THIS OUT OF THE OVERTIME BUDGET. I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE AMENDMENT THAT'S ON THE FLOOR. I WILL SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. AND WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE LONG START PROGRAM WITH THE 300,000 THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, WHEN WE WENT BACK INTO MY OFFICE AND SPOKE ABOUT THE BREAKDOWN OF THAT $300,000 FOR THE CVI PROGRAM, ONLY 15 TO $20,000 WAS ACTUALLY GOING TOWARD THE RAW WORK BOOTS ON THE GROUND. THE REST OF THAT MONEY WAS ADMINISTRATIVE FEES AND OTHER THINGS. SO THE FACT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT GOING TO BE OVER THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WORKING WITH MR. JENKINS, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO SEE REAL RESULTS, REAL DOLLARS, GOING TO BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND GET REAL RESULTS, NOT ADMINISTRATIVE FEES OR OTHER FEES, BUT REAL RESULTS. AND SO THAT'S WHY I WAS SUPPORTING IT. BUT I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE I CANNOT TAKE MONEY FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THAT REGARD. [04:55:02] THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO I'D LIKE TO GET SOMETHING CLEAR IN MY OWN MIND, AND THAT IS THE DIFFERENCES OR SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE CURRENT FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM AND THE COUNTY'S PROGRAM. DO THEY DEAL WITH THE SAME POPULATION THAT HAS OFFENDED AGAINST OUR CRIMINAL LAWS? YES. THE COUNTY. AND DO THEY PROVIDE SIMILAR SERVICES IN TERMS OF COUNSELING, ETC.. YES, THE COUNTY DOES. WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL OR YOUTH IS ARRESTED, WE PROCESS THEM THROUGH THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE FINGERPRINT THEM. WE DO THE REPORTS, WE PUT IT IN TEXTURE, AND THEN WE SEND THEM OVER TO THE COUNTY OFFICES, TRANSPORT THEM TO THE COUNTY, AT THAT COUNTY. AT THAT TIME, THE COUNTY DOES AN ASSESSMENT OF THEM THROUGH THEIR PROCESS TO SEE WHAT PROGRAMS THAT INDIVIDUAL FALL UNDER. SO WE JUST DO THE INTAKE BECAUSE WE'RE THE ARRESTING BODY. AND THEN WE AFTER WE BOOK THEM, WE TAKE THEM TO THE COUNTY IF THEY'RE WITHIN THIS AGE POPULATION. CORRECT. SO. WHAT EXACTLY WOULD WE BE ELIMINATING IN THIS $427 BUDGET SAVINGS FROM THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM? I THOUGHT WE WERE OFFERING THOSE KINDS OF COUNSELING PROGRAMS, BUT THAT'S JUST BEING DONE BY THE COUNTY. YES. THE PROGRAMS, OUR FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAMS, WE HAD THREE COUNSELORS, BUT THEY'RE CASEWORKERS, BUT THEY'RE NO LONGER THERE. WHAT THEY DO IS THEY GIVE THEY TALK TO THE FAMILY. THEY ASSESS THE FAMILY NEEDS. THEY TALK TO THE CHILDREN, AND THEN THEY SET UP GUIDELINES OR POINTS WHERE THE KIDS DO NOT GET IN TROUBLE WHEN THEY GO TO SCHOOL. THEY CHECK WITH THE SCHOOL, THEY CHECK WITH THEIR ATTENDANCE, AND THEN THEY PUT THEM THROUGH PARENTING CLASSES AND THEY COME TO THE. THEY COME TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY SIT DOWN WITH THE COUNSELORS, AND THEN THEY HAVE EXERCISES THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER TO MAKE THEM BETTER. IT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING ON OUR SIDE. BUT DOES THE COUNTY DO THOSE SAME KINDS OF FUNCTIONS? THE COUNTY HAS FUNCTIONS IN PLACE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THEIR THEIR PROGRAMS, BUT THEY DO HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS IN PLACE. WELL, CITY MANAGER, YOU MUST HAVE CONCLUDED IN A COMPARISON OF THESE PROGRAMS, THAT THERE WAS OVERLAP BETWEEN DPD'S PROGRAM AND THE COUNTY'S TO SUPPORT THE USE OF THESE FUNDS FOR ALTERNATIVE PURPOSES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER. REALLY, WHAT I HAVE FOUND IN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND WE HAVE A VERY. I KNOW I HAVE A VERY CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS THAT WE HAVE WORKED IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SUPPORT THAT WE NEED FROM THE COUNTY AND THE WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THINGS BETTER TOGETHER, THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND SO THAT'S WHY I TALK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO MAYBE LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, UTILIZING THAT PARTNERSHIP TO SAY, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU WILLING TO ADD MORE IN ORDER TO SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE HAVE THAT HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE SEPARATED JUST FOR THE CITY? AND SO THAT'S THE WAY WE HAVE BEGUN TO THINK WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR NEEDS ARE GROWING. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE COULD BE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEVERAGE OTHER RESOURCES. AND SO THIS WOULD BE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE WOULD BE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY GAPS THAT IF THERE IS A WAY FOR THOSE GAPS TO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, THEN THAT'S WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD EXPECT FOR US TO DO. SO WE WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE TO SAY THAT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE COULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, BUT STILL MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED, AND I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE THE MODEL ALL BUILT AND ITS PERFECTED, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD BE ASKING FOR US TO DO AND BRING THAT BACK TO THE COUNCIL. BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE WORKING. OR THAT YOU. THAT'S THE CONCEPT THAT YOU. THAT IS THE CONCEPT. THAT IS THE CONCEPT. AND THAT IS THE INTENT. YES, SIR. AND THEY WERE RECEPTIVE TO THAT. YES, SIR. SO YOU DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR THIS $427,000 IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET TO CARRY ON OUR PROGRAM IF WE'RE GOING TO BE COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNTY. WE PROPOSE THIS BECAUSE WE THINK IT IS, AGAIN, AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT SERVICE A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, AND BE ABLE TO WORK TOWARD A PARTNERSHIP THAT ADDRESSES THOSE NEEDS. IF WE DETERMINE THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, AS IT RELATES TO THESE SERVICES DOES NOT COME TO FULL FRUITION, WE WOULD COME BACK AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITHIN THE BUDGET, AND IT WOULD THEN BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CONTINUES. SO THAT WOULD HAPPEN THOUGH, AFTER WE ADOPT THIS BUDGET, WHETHER OR NOT THIS 427,000 IS IN THE BUDGET. [05:00:01] THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MR. BAZALDUA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE ON YOUR AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. MAYOR. CHIEF, YOU SAID THAT Y'ALL HAVE LOWERED YOUR OVERTIME SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE LAST TIME WE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT OVERTIME, YOU TOLD US THAT YOU ACTUALLY ANTICIPATE NOT EVEN USING WHAT IS THERE. CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT? BECAUSE TODAY IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU'VE CUT AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. AND I'M JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE IN RESPONSES. IF I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE ASKING. SO WE WERE TRENDING PROBABLY, I WOULD SAY THREE MONTHS AGO, WE WERE TRENDING THAT OUR OVERTIME WAS GOING TO BE EVEN HIGHER THAN WHAT IT'S GOING TO END THIS FISCAL YEAR. WE STARTED MAKING SOME SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES BECAUSE WE SAW SOME AREAS THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, WE COULD DO BETTER. SO WE STARTED DOING IT BETTER. AND EVEN WITH THAT, WE'RE STILL GOING TO GO, I THINK, CLOSE TO 2 MILLION OVER THIS THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. BUT AS I'VE SAID IN PAST MEETINGS, I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HIT OUR MARK, WHICH WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $7 MILLION LESS THAN WE SPENT THIS YEAR. AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THE NUMBERS, I WANT TO. OKAY. SO WE WOULD WE'RE GOING TO COME IN ON BUDGET $7 MILLION LESS THAN WE SPENT FROM THIS YEAR. AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HIT THAT MARK AND STAY AT IT FROM SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE ALREADY NOTICED AND IDENTIFIED, THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NEXT YEAR. OKAY. SO YOU SAID SEVEN. I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT IT WAS 42.6 THIS YEAR, AND 42.6 IS ALSO WHAT'S BEING S BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. SO THIS IS MARTIN ROJAS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR. SO NEXT YEAR THE BUDGET AMOUNT IS 42.6. THAT'S THE BUDGET AMOUNT THIS YEAR. YES. AND THIS YEAR WE WERE LOOKING AT 49.8. AND THAT DIFFERENCE IS $7.2 MILLION LESS. SO THE THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HIT THIS YEAR, THE ACTUAL. AND THEN YOU COMPARE IT TO NEXT YEAR'S DOLLAR AMOUNT, THAT'S $7.2 MILLION DIFFERENCE. AND SO THAT'S WHERE THAT COMES FROM. OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION. I WAS TRYING TO HELP FIND ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE AND FIND SOMETHING I HONESTLY WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR, YOUR EFFORT. I JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS ALSO A FUNDING SOURCE. I THINK THAT MADAM CITY MANAGER GAVE A GOOD EXPLANATION. THAT GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT BETTER FEELING ON THE USE OF FUNDS. I MEAN, THE SOURCE OF FUNDS, BUT NOT THE USE FOR, FOR THIS PARTICULAR TIME. I WOULD PREFER TO USE THESE IN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, SO I'LL WITHDRAW MY MOTION. PERFECT. OKAY, WE'RE BACK TO THE AMENDMENT BY CHAIRMAN GRACEY. NO AMENDMENT. DISTRICTS THREE, SIX, AND SEVEN ARE ON THE RECORD AS HAVING SPOKEN ALREADY. I'LL GO TO CHAIRMAN RIDLEY FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT. SO NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIBRARY USE. THERE YOU GO. APPARENTLY WAS ANTICIPATED. THAT WAS IN THE AMENDMENT THAT I WITHDREW. SO EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN YOU FIRST CAME UP WITH THE FLAGSHIP LIBRARY IDEA, AND WE EXPLORED THAT, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO BE BUILDING NEW BUILDINGS. YOU WEREN'T GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. YOU WERE JUST GOING TO INCREASE THE HOURS TO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AT THE FLAGSHIP. SO WHY WOULD YOU NEED THIS 213 000 FOR REMODELING EXPENSES? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. MONA SHAW, LIBRARY DIRECTOR YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, WE DID HAVE THAT CONVERSATION EARLIER IN THE YEAR. WE ARE NOT BUILDING FLAGSHIPS. WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT IN A SITUATION WHERE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO. SO WE ARE TAKING EXISTING BUILDINGS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED FOR THEIR SIZE, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR ACCESS, THEIR PARKING LOTS, THEIR, WHETHER THEY HAVE A BLACK BOX. AND WE ARE TURNING THEM INTO FLAGSHIPS WHICH HAVE EXTENDED HOURS AND DAYS. HOWEVER, I CAN'T IGNORE THE FACT THAT ASIDE FROM THE VICTORY PARK LIBRARY, ALL OF THE FLAGSHIPS ARE APPROXIMATELY 20 YEARS OLD, AND SO THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MODERNIZE THEM IN WAYS THAT WOULD BE REALLY NICE FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO I'LL GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES. HAMPTON, ILLINOIS. IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE, HAS, I WOULD SAY PAINT THAT IS CHIPPING WALLS THAT ARE. THE PAINT IS COMING OFF THE. THE PAINT COLOR IS A LITTLE OLD FASHIONED. WE COULD USE SOME NEW FLOORING. THE BLACK BOXES HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED. THE AUDIO AND THE LIGHTS SINCE THEY WERE BUILT. [05:05:02] WE COULD USE MORE MODERN LIBRARY. I'LL CALL FIXTURES SUCH AS PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO, TO STUDY TO RUN THEIR BUSINESSES. WE ARE A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SEATING IN SOME OF THE OLDER LIBRARIES. FRETZ PARK IS A GREAT EXAMPLE WHERE IT HAS SUCH HIGH USE THAT THE FURNITURE IS LITERALLY FALLING APART, AND WE DO NOT HAVE A BUDGET FOR FURNITURE. SO IT WOULD BE FOR THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S NOT A CAPITAL PROJECT, IT'S NOT A RENOVATION. IT IS FOR THINGS LIKE FURNITURE AND PAINT AND FIXES TO FLOORING. SO IS THAT A HIGHER PRIORITY FOR YOU AND THE LIBRARY SYSTEM THAN INCREASING HOURS AT THE NON-FLAGSHIP LIBRARIES? THOSE TWO THINGS CAN'T BE COMPARED BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH DIFFERENT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 200, APPROXIMATELY $200,000 FOR SOME NEW FURNITURE AND PAINT. WHEREAS IN ORDER TO BRING OURS BACK TO THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, WE'RE TALKING IN THE REALM OF $2.8 MILLION. SO TO ME, IT'S NOT A PRIORITY QUESTION. IT'S IT'S A IT'S, IT'S WHAT I'M ABLE TO ACHIEVE WITH THE DIFFERENT POTS OF FUNDING. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN GRACEY. ACTUALLY I'M SORRY. I'M GOING TO GO TO MISS WILLIS FOR FIVE MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS AS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW WE PRACTICE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. ANYWAY, AND KIND OF AS WEED AND SEED, I SEE BOTH OF THESE USE OF FUNDS AS PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO WE TALK ABOUT THE SOURCE OF FUNDS AS THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THINK OF THIS AS GOING FROM FIRST OFFENDER TO POTENTIALLY NEVER OFFENDER BY USING SOMETHING WE'VE ALREADY HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT TONIGHT, ABOUT REC CENTER HOURS AND WHY THAT'S SO VALUABLE. AND THE NUMBERS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH REGARD TO OUR YOUTH AND THE, I BELIEVE I BROUGHT UP EARLIER OUR TEENS, 82,000 OF THEM, THE THOUGHT OF ACTIVATING OUR REC CENTERS FOR THE TEEN NIGHT PROGRAMS AND THE TEEN CONNECT PROGRAM AND BARBERSHOP TALKS AND THAT SORT OF THING THAT'S GETTING US WHERE WE NEED TO GO SO THAT NO ONE HAS TO OFFEND TO GET INTO A PROGRAM. INSTEAD, WE'RE CATCHING THEM AT THE BEGINNING AND ENGAGING THEM AND ENRICHING THEIR LIFE. ONE THING I REALLY LOVE, TOO, IS THAT THE PARK DEPARTMENT HAS SOMETHING READY TO HIT THE STREET, AND SO LOTS OF TIMES AROUND HERE, WE'LL APPROVE SOMETHING AND IT'LL TAKE MONTHS TO GET IT ON THE STREET AND THEN INTO THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE WILL SEE FLOW IN AND START MAKING A DIFFERENCE MORE QUICKLY, BUT I APPRECIATE DIRECTOR MONA SHORES COMMENTS AROUND THE FLAGSHIPS. THEY'RE GOING TO BE FLAGSHIPS KIND OF IN HOURS ONLY, AND SOME OF THEM ARE OLDER AND THEY NEED A LITTLE BIT OF A GLOW UP. AND SO I KNOW AT HAMPTON YOU'VE GOT SOME CRUMBLING WALLS. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING PEOPLE TO THESE LOCATIONS, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE FURNITURE AT FREDA'S WAS FALLING APART. SO WE CAN'T REALLY DRIVE PEOPLE THERE AND NOT GIVE THEM A PLACE TO ACTUALLY USE THE LIBRARY. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS PROUD TO, TO BE PART OF THIS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY. AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO GO TO CHAIRMAN MORENO FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD DPD CORRECTLY, THAT THIS PROGRAM, THERE IS NO PLANS TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. AGAIN, I'M DEPUTY CHIEF WILLIAM GRIFFITH. WHAT? CAN SOMEONE REPEAT THE QUESTION? SURE. THE QUESTION IS, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT DPD DOES NOT PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM? NO, SIR. OKAY. IS THERE OTHER FUNDING SOURCE OR OTHER PROGRAMS WITHIN DPD THAT THESE FUNDS COULD BE USED FOR? I BELIEVE SO. WE COULD USE IT FOR THE POW POW PROGRAM AND OTHER PROGRAMS. THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS FOR THE YOUTH AS WELL THAT WE COULD USE THAT MONEY FOR. OKAY. AND WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO EXPAND THE POW PROGRAM TO OVERLAP WITH THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM? NO, I DO NOT BELIEVE SO. I BELIEVE THE FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROGRAM THAN A POW PROGRAM IS. [05:10:04] OKAY. SO I THINK IF I MAY ADD ON THAT, IF WE WERE TO UTILIZE SOME OF THE FUNDS FOR THE POW PROGRAM, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD NEED ALL OF THE FUNDS, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY ENHANCE THE PROGRAMS. IF THE COUNCIL WOULD SAY, HEY, WE WANT YOU TO DO MORE WITH YOUTH. BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME OFFICERS THAT COME OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS TO HELP FUND THAT PROGRAM. OKAY. I MEAN, I DEFINITELY SEE SOME OF THE OVERLAP WITH PUBLIC SAFETY WITH WITH OUR YOUTH. WHETHER IT STAYS INTERNALLY WITH DPD OR WITH PARKS. SO KIND OF PLAYING THAT THROUGH MY HEAD RIGHT NOW. BUT CHIEF, ANY OTHER AREAS THAT ADDITIONAL DOLLARS COULD BE EXPENSED WITHIN DPD, EVEN IF IT WAS OUTSIDE YOUTH PROGRAMS. I'M GIVING YOU SOME SIGN LANGUAGES. OH, SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST NIGHT. MA'AM. I'M OLD. WE TALKED ABOUT LAST NIGHT. YOU KNOW HOW LONG WE WORKED LAST NIGHT? I WAS AT STRONG ARM BAPTIST CHURCH. YOU WERE YOU WERE. SO A LOT OF THE CONCERNS AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CONTINUE TO HEAR IS ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE HAD AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THEM. SO I WANTED YOU TO JUST FOCUS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EXPLORER PROGRAMS AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE STILL DOING, THAT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND THOSE, SOME OF THE EXISTING ONES. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT TWO OF THE YOUTH PROGRAMS. ONE IS BEING PAL AND ONE IS THE EXPLORER PROGRAM. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE EXPLORERS PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE. MATTER OF FACT, WE HAD OUR FIRST YOUNG FEMALE EXPLORER THAT WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND ACTUALLY JUST GRADUATED FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, AND I'D LOVE TO SEE US EXPAND THAT IN DEALING WITH THE YOUTH. AND ALSO THE, THE PALS PROGRAM WHERE I KNOW A LOT OF OFFICERS ACTUALLY TAKE SOME OF THEIR OWN MONEY TO HELP SOME OF THESE, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN THE PALS PROGRAM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE, I THINK FOUR BOXES THAT ARE RANKED IN THE NATION FROM DALLAS THAT'S GOING THROUGH OUR PALS PROGRAM RIGHT NOW. SO THAT WOULD BE EXCITING TO, TO WORK WITH THE YOUTH IN THAT WAY. OUR OFFICERS ARE REALLY COMING UP WITH MORE PLANS TO, TO WORK WITH OUR YOUTH ALSO. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH THE YOUTH. SO WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO TURN OUR BACK ON THE YOUTH BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. AND I ALWAYS SAY, IF YOU CROSS THE LINE, WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU IN JAIL. BUT I BELIEVE PART OF OUR JOB IS EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ALSO. AND IF WE CAN GIVE THAT EDUCATION AWARENESS TO STOP YOU FROM GOING TO JAIL, IT'S IMPORTANT. SO I WOULD WOULDN'T MIND UTILIZING SOME OF THE MONEY, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS FOR THIS COUNCIL. AND AFTER SITTING HERE FOR 18 MONTHS REALIZING EVERY SINGLE PENNY MATTERS. AND THIS IS AN AREA THAT WHEN WE REALLY STARTED LOOKING AT THE DEPARTMENT, LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, I'M TRYING TO FIND SOME THINGS THAT OVERLAPS WITH SOME OF THE COUNTY AND MAYBE EVEN STATE OR FEDERAL, WHERE WE'RE PULLING BACK SOME OF THE FUNDS TO READJUST. THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY EMPLOYEES HERE. WE ONLY HAVE A SUPERVISOR, WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT WE WENT FROM AND FORGIVE ME ON THE EXACT NUMBERS, BUT WE WENT FROM 100 TO 50 TO 30 OR 20. LIKE THAT WAS THE NUMBER IN EACH YEAR. SO THE PROGRAM'S BEEN DECLINING. SO WITH THAT, YOU KIND OF LOOK AT IT AND YOU SAY, HEY, THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE WE CAN GIVE BACK ON SOME FUNDS AND WE CAN WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO TRY TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN IN THIS SPACE. THANK YOU, CHIEF AND CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT WE DO. WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO LEAN ON OUR PARTNERS TO TAKE SOME OF THESE RESPONSIBILITIES OFF THIS CITY. IF I CAN GET THE PARK DEPARTMENT TO COME BACK UP, PLEASE. AND SO. HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW WE WOULD. I HEARD THAT WE WOULD PROCURE THIS OPERATION THROUGH THE PARK DEPARTMENT. IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL BE HANDLED IN HOUSE, CORRECT? SHAWN JOHNSON DEPUTY DIRECTOR WE HAVE AN EXISTING PROGRAM, AS MOST OF YOU ARE AWARE OF, WHAT WE CALL ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS, WHERE WE DO ONE YEAR AGREEMENTS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO PROVIDE PROPOSALS TO OFFER LIKE SERVICES THAT AUGMENT THE SERVICES THAT WE ALREADY OFFER. OKAY. YEAH. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IF WE THAT I'M HEARING, IF WE EXPAND IN THESE OTHER AREAS, THAT IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE BOARD, I MEAN, OF THE COUNCIL THAT YOU WANT US TO HAVE A COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR SELECTING THESE ADDITIONAL VENDORS. YEAH. SO, I MEAN, I CAN DEFINITELY SEE THE PROS OF NOT HAVING NECESSARILY UNIFORMED OFFICERS ENGAGING WITH OUR [05:15:02] YOUTH. I THINK THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE BE A PLUS. JUST BECAUSE WE WANT THAT COMFORT LEVEL, MAKING SURE OUR YOUTH FEEL THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH SOMEONE WHO THEY'RE CONNECTING WITH. DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH WOULD IT BE ADMINISTERED FOR STAFF VERSUS ACTUAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND. IN REGARDS TO STAFF, SO WE ARE INTERNALLY USING THE STAFF THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM FROM THE TEAM PERSPECTIVE. THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING WOULD HELP US TO PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAY BE ABLE TO COME IN TO OFFER SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE NEEDING. BUT AS WE'VE DEVELOPED THE PROGRAM OVER THE PAST AND AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND, IT WILL BE SOME INTERNAL WORKS. AND I THINK DIRECTOR JENKINS, LIKE HE SPOKE, THERE'S SOME FUNDING THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED INTERNALLY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FROM A STAFFING PERSPECTIVE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. I TOLD MR. BAZALDUA HASN'T SPOKEN ON THIS. SO FIVE MINUTES, MR. BAZALDUA. THANK YOU. MADAM CITY MANAGER. CAN YOU SPEAK TO. I WAS GOING TO TALK TO YOU ALL AS WELL, SO DON'T GO TOO FAR. TO THE CDBG FUNDING PLAN. AND WHEN THE NEXT TIME IS THAT WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY. AND IF WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY, IF WE WERE TO GET SOMETHING STARTED WITH PARKS TO KIND OF SPLIT THE FUNDING SOURCE FROM THE TRADITIONAL CVI PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, AND ALSO TO SUPPORT THE PARKS EFFORTS HERE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND I THINK WHAT WE HEARD DURING THE CDBG CONVERSATION IS MAKING SURE THAT MORE OF THE COMMUNITY FOCUSED PROGRAMS THAT REALLY DO TOUCH JUST KIND OF THE EVERYDAY SITUATIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THROUGH THOSE FUNDS THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO REEVALUATE AND USE THOSE AT THE TIME THAT WE BRING THE CDBG BUDGET, THE COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY I THINK THAT THERE'S BUCKETS THAT ARE SEPARATED UP BY THE DIFFERENT TYPES THAT WE CAN USE IT FOR. YOU GUYS COULD MAKE THAT DECISION. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT TERM OF THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH THE LONE STAR JUSTICE. IF SOMEBODY COULD JUST TELL ME, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A TWO YEAR OR IF IT'S A IS IT A ONE YEAR? IT'S A ONE YEAR WITH A ONE YEAR RENEWAL. SO WE KNOW THAT WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED. AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT ARE INCLUDED WITH THAT CONTRACT. SO COUNCIL MAY BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE COME BACK AND YOU DECIDE THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT ONE YEAR, OR THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AND YOU CONTINUE IT. AND THEN AT THAT POINT, WE WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WITHIN THE CDBG BUDGET IF YOU WANTED TO ADD ANY MORE, BUT I'M GOING TO POINT TO JEANETTE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT PROCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE. SURE. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY MANAGER. SO THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR CDBG WILL KICK OFF IN THE SPRING. WE WILL PROVIDE A BRIEFING TO YOU MARCH, APRIL AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO WHAT IS PROPOSED. KEEP IN MIND, THE FUNDING FOR THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS PROGRAM IS IN PUBLIC SERVICES. IT IS A CAPPED CATEGORY, SO ANY PROPOSED CHANGES THAT YOU MAKE, YOU WILL HAVE TO REALLOCATE FUNDING FROM ONE OF THE EXISTING PROJECTS. AND WE COULD DEFINITELY PROVIDE A LIST OF WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN THAT PUBLIC SERVICE COMPONENT. SO YOU WOULD KNOW WHAT THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS CURRENTLY ARE. THANK YOU. AND JOHN, YOU HAVE A PLAN TO ROLL THIS OUT REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS AMENDMENT, RIGHT, Y'ALL. THERE'S A PLAN WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE OUT THIS BID. THAT'S CORRECT. AND DO YOU HAVE AN ANTICIPATED TIMELINE AND FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH IT ON WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE FROM NOW UNTIL WE WOULD HAVE THE DISCUSSION ON CDBG FUNDS IN SPRING NEXT YEAR? YEAH. I MEAN, WHEN I SAY ROLLOUT IS THE ROLLOUT, THE COMPONENT IS JUST STRICTLY WHAT WE WAS LOOKING AT WITH THE, THE TEENAGERS, OUR ORIGINAL PROGRAM, TEEN CONNECT. MISS RANDY, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT STAFFING, FUNDING, ROLLOUT TIMELINE? SO THE ROLLOUT TIMELINE FOR TEEN CONNECT IS ACTUALLY OCTOBER 1ST. SO IT ENCOMPASSES WHAT WE'VE ALREADY STARTED IN THESE PRIOR YEARS. WE ALSO WITH THE TEEN ALL ACCESS PASS THAT WAS ROLLED OUT THIS SUMMER. SO WE'LL ACTUALLY BE REENGAGING HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS ENGAGED FOR THEIR STATE FAIR PASSES WHEN THEY'RE ENROLLING IN THE PROGRAM. AND THEN AS FAR AS WITH OUR PARTNERS AND THE DIFFERENT PIECES THAT WE'VE ALREADY PLANNED OUT FROM OUR TECH PARTNERS AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS THAT WE'VE PLANNED OUT, THOSE PROGRAMS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FALL HERE. SO WE'LL START ROLLING THOSE OUT OCTOBER 1ST. AND THEN THERE'S A PLAN SCHEDULE THAT GOES THROUGH FIRST QUARTER. SO IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT IF FUNDS DID NOT GET ALLOCATED TO THE TEEN CONNECT PROGRAM TODAY FROM AN AMENDMENT [05:20:09] IT WOULD STILL BE A WELCOMED TIMELINE FOR US TO REVISIT THIS AT THE CDBG DISCUSSION. AND FOR THIS TO BE COUPLED WITH THE OTHER EFFORTS THAT WE'RE ALREADY INVESTING IN. I WOULD SAY IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL. I'M WONDERING TIME WISE, THOUGH, I MEAN, WOULD IT WOULD THAT HINDER Y'ALL FROM WHAT Y'ALL WERE ALREADY PLANNING? I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO IMPACT SOMETHING IF WE DON'T PASS THIS. AND WE STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADD TO THE FUNDS AS IT AS IT RELATES TO THE AMENDMENT, OUR PROGRAM WAS ALREADY GOING TO ROLL OUT. BUT IF YOU WANT US TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM, THEN YES, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DELIVER THOSE COMPONENTS. AND DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SCALE TO THAT LEVEL ON OCTOBER 1ST ANYWAY, IF WE WERE TO ADD THEM. YES, YES. OKAY. WELL, I WOULD I, I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT WE DON'T DUPLICATE THE EFFORTS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THIS, I REMEMBER A PRETTY ROBUST POLICY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, THIS PRIORITY BEING HOUSED IN THE CDBG FUNDING SOURCE. NOW WE'RE KIND OF GOING BACK ON THAT POLICY DISCUSSION BY WAY OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT. AND I DON'T LOVE THAT. AND SO I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE, THE FUNDING SOURCE THAT IS BEING SUGGESTED IS ALSO A SUGGESTED FUNDING SOURCE FOR ANOTHER POTENTIAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD RESTORE THE LIBRARIES. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S HELPFUL CONTEXT TO HAVE HOLISTICALLY IN FRONT OF YOU. BECAUSE IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THIS, IT WOULD TAKE AWAY A VERY VIABLE FUNDING SOURCE TO HELP RESTORE OUR LIBRARY HOURS, WHICH SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR US AND HAS PROVEN TO BE SEVERAL TIMES IN THESE DISCUSSIONS. SO I WOULD PREFER FOR US TO HOLD OFF ON THE USE OF THESE, THE SOURCE OF THESE FUNDS, SO THAT WE COULD TRY TO RESTORE SOME LIBRARY HOURS. AND WE STILL HAVE THE ABILITY WITHIN OUR CDBG PLAN AND WHAT THE POLICY DIRECTION THIS COUNCIL HAS GIVEN THE CITY MANAGER TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH THE CDBG PLAN IN THE FALL. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU JOHN. I'M SORRY. CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY? THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF CONFUSION ABOUT ALL OF THIS. YOU'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH YOUR PROGRAM NO MATTER WHAT. YOU ALREADY HAVE IT FUNDED IN YOUR BUDGET. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. SO WHY IS THIS AMENDMENT TRYING TO GIVE YOU MORE MONEY? IF YOU WANT TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO, TO EXPAND TO OTHER SPECIFICS AND EVEN EXPAND TO EVEN A BIGGER AGE GROUP. SO YOU'RE DOING A PROGRAM, THE COUNTY HAS A PROGRAM ALREADY IN PLACE, DPD. WELL, THEN CDBG HAS A PROGRAM. I MEAN, THAT'S THREE. MAYOR JOHNSON, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT DUPLICATION IN GOVERNMENT. YOU SET UP A WHOLE CODE COMMITTEE. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON, YOU HAVE SPOKEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN ABOUT DUPLICATION. THAT'S THREE. THAT'S THREE. SO I'M NOT SURE WHY WE'RE EVEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. LET'S MOVE ON. VOTE THIS DOWN AND AND JUST KEEP GOING. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I THOUGHT THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IT SAID DUPLICATION. THE CHALLENGE THAT I'M HAVING WITH THAT COMMENT ABOUT DUPLICATION, I HAVE I HAVE ADVOCATED TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE NOT DUPLICATED. HOWEVER, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT WE GOT OUT OF CBD. CBD, CBD, CBDG FUND, $300,000. AND OUT OF THE $300,000, ONLY 15 TO $20,000 GO TOWARD THE WORK, THE REAL WORK ON BOOTS ON THE GROUND. THAT'S NOT DUPLICATION. AND WHEN IT WAS SAID A YEAR AGO, RIGHT ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I BROUGHT THIS OUT. AND THEN WE LEFT THE HORSESHOE, WENT TO MY OFFICE AND GOT MORE INFORMATION THAT I WAS CORRECT, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS WORK AND THIS WORK IS TOO IMPORTANT FOR US TO JUST BE GIVING $300,000, AND ONLY 15 TO $20,000 IS GOING ONLY GOING TO THE WORK. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND BY IT BEING UNDERNEATH THE PARKS AND WORKING WITH DIRECTOR JENKINS AND HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH HIM TO EXPAND THIS PROJECT OR THIS, THIS, THIS PROGRAM THAT IS SO VITAL AND NEEDED IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. WE WILL SEE REAL WORK GOING ON ON THE GROUND, NOT ADMINISTRATIVE FEES, NOT PUTTING MONEY TOWARD THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING, [05:25:02] WHICH WAS SAID IN, IN, IN MY OFFICE, BUT REAL WORK BEING DONE ON THE GROUND, THE SAME WORK THAT WE SEE IN DEEP ELLUM WITH THE GENTLEMAN THAT'S WORKING THE SAME WAY WE SAW WITH THESE WITH, WITH THIS PROGRAM WHEN WE HAD REAL MONEY ON THE GROUND AND GUYS WORKING IT. SO THAT'S NOT DUPLICATION TO ME. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DEFINE DUPLICATION, BUT THAT'S NOT DUPLICATION TO ME. WE NEED REAL. WE NEED REAL RESOURCES ON THE GROUND, NOT 15 TO $20,000 OUT OF A $300,000 BUDGET. NOW, THAT WAS SAID TO ME IN MY OFFICE WITH MY STAFF. SO THE REASON WHY I'M ADVOCATING FOR IT TO GO UNDERNEATH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, NUMBER ONE, THEY ALREADY SAID, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS. WE GOT A PROGRAM THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. THIS EXPANDS THE PROGRAM AND MAKES SURE THAT OUR PARKS EVEN SAFE, MORE SAFE. WE GOT MORE RESOURCES IN EVERY COMMUNITY. ALSO CONTINUE TO GET THOSE RESOURCES DOWNTOWN. IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR DISTRICT. SO THAT'S WHY I'M ADVOCATING AND SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT, BECAUSE WE HAVE REAL WORK GOING ON ON THE GROUND. AND SO THAT THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. I SEE. THOUGHT YOU WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. I WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT THE OPPORTUNITY. MAYBE SAY WITHOUT SOME THAT I SAID, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL KNOWS THAT OF THE 300 000, THE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER PART OF THE SERVICES. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WORK BEING DONE. THAT'S RIGHT. SO THE WORK IN GENERAL GOES TO CASE MANAGEMENT. IT GOES TO PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER TRAINING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, LIFE AND SKILLS TRAINING AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMING. THE GROUP HAS WORKED ON CREATING AN ECOSYSTEM OF AGENCIES AND PARTNERSHIPS AROUND THE CITY. THEY PARTNER WITH YOUTH 180 SOUTH DALLAS DRIVING ACADEMY. EUROPE. DALLAS LEADERSHIP. FOUNDATION A S. LITERACY. INSTITUTE FOR OAK CLIFF. BIG THOUGHT YOUTH WITH FACES. T.R. HOOVER, CDC. YOUTH. GUIDANCE. LEARN. WITH. TRAIN. OAK. CLIFF. EMPOWERMENT. CENTER. NATIONAL. RE-ENGAGEMENT. INITIATIVE. AND. ELEVATE. NORTH TEXAS. AND SO WHILE THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND GETTING IT TO THE ZIP CODES THAT WE KNOW FACE BOTH USE VIOLENCE. THIS ORGANIZATION IS CREATING THAT ECOSYSTEM OF PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY TO DELIVER SERVICES AND HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. WHEN YOU SAY IMPROVE PARTNERSHIP, HERE'S WHAT WE SAID IN MY OFFICE. A LOT OF THOSE GOING TOWARD THE FEES WHEN YOU NAME IT FOR CLIFF, WHO I'VE WORKED WITH FOR FOR OVER DECADES, I'M VERY CLOSE WITH TAYLOR TORRANCE, AND I KNOW THE REAL WORK THAT HE DOES AND SOME OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT I KNOW, THE REAL WORK THAT THEY DO. BUT WHEN WE WAS ON WHEN WE WAS IN MY OFFICE AND WE TALKED ABOUT DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, WHAT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY GO INTO THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND FOR THESE FOR THESE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT CAME OUT WAS 15 TO $20,000, WHICH WILL ONLY COVER 90 DAYS. NOW, THAT WAS SAID IN MY OFFICE TO MY ENTIRE STAFF AND TO ME. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CLARITY ON EXACTLY WHAT THEY DO IN TERMS OF THE CONTRACT FOR ADMINISTRATION. WE'RE CAPPED AT 10%. SO ALL OF THE OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED IN THIS CONTRACT GO TO THE DIRECT DELIVERY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT I'VE MENTIONED. AND THERE ARE SOME ELEMENTS OF STIPENDS THAT GO TO THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS FOR PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. BUT AS WE AS WE JUST STATED, THE CONTRACT IS JUST GETTING UP AND RUNNING. WE PREPARED THE FIRST 30 DAY PLAN TO YOUR STAFF. WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE UPDATES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY IN THEM. THIS IS ONE AVENUE FOR THIS WORK. IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT OUR FRIENDS OVER IN PARKS IS DOING OR DPD, BUT IT'S ONE AVENUE TO SUPPORT THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM AROUND YOUTH SAFETY. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR ADVOCACY RIGHT NOW. I DO. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. BUT YOU'RE TALKING TO A GUY THAT'S DONE THIS WORK AND SAW THIS WORK DONE FOR OVER A DECADE. AND WHEN A PERSON SITTING IN MY OFFICE AND TELL ME WHAT THE MONEY IS ACTUALLY GOING TOWARD IN FRONT OF MULTIPLE PEOPLE, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR YOU TO COME OUT HERE AND SAY SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT. YEAH, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON. THAT'S NOT HOW I WORK. WHEN SOMEONE TELLS ME SOMETHING AND THEY TELL ME THIS, HOW THIS HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO BE, THEN I TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD. SO THE MONEY THAT WAS BROKEN DOWN TO ME CAME TO BE 15 TO $20,000. AND THAT WORK WILL ONLY LAST THREE MONTHS. AND IT'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO GET THE REAL JOB DONE. THAT WAS THE CONVERSATION IN MY OFFICE THAT WAS SAID. SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THAT. BUT I KNOW THIS WORK AND I KNOW THE THE MONEY THAT IT TAKES TO GET THE WORK DONE. WE NEED REAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND, NOT ADMINISTRATIVE FEES, NOT PAYING FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM. THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND. WE NEED REAL RESULTS. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR REAL RESULTS, NOT MONEY GOING TO OUR OTHER FEES THAT DON'T DON'T. [05:30:02] THAT DOES NOT MAKE THAT DOES NOT MAKE SURE WE HAVE REAL RESULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. MAYOR, I'D JUST LIKE TO JUMP IN FOR JUST A SECOND AND THANK DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM FOR HIS COMMENTS. AND SO I THINK WHAT WE WOULD WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO, BECAUSE USING CDBG FOR THIS PARTICULAR SERVICE IS SOMETHING NEW. I THINK WE NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTRACT AND DEFINITELY COME BACK AND REPORT OUT ON THE PROGRESS, EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND BE ABLE TO SHOW THROUGH THIS EXISTING ENGAGEMENT IF IT'S TRULY DELIVERING RESULTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE DATA. I WASN'T IN THE ROOM ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT IF MY TEAM GAVE YOU INFORMATION THAT IS CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU'RE HEARING TODAY, THEN THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO ADDRESS. HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE THAT SINCE WE HAVE A CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENT IN PLACE NOW, I WOULD ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO HAVE US BRING BACK WITHIN THIS FIRST QUARTER. I THINK THE CONTRACT WAS JUST APPROVED. SO WE'RE PROBABLY LESS THAN ABOUT 60 DAYS GETTING EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING. AND THROUGH THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT THOR HAS MENTIONED, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND TALK MORE DIRECTLY ABOUT ACTUALLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING. AND THEN AS COUNCIL MOVES INTO THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE CDBG BUDGET GOING INTO THE SPRING, YOU CAN DEFINITELY COME BACK AND TELL US IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THAT PROGRAM IS DELIVERING BASED ON OUR EXPECTATIONS. YOU ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPLEMENT, AND YOU ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT. SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AT LEAST MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DIRECTION THAT WE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED. AND IF COUNCIL DECIDES TODAY TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO BOLSTER THAT PROGRAM AND ENHANCE ANY. THE FURTHER, WE WILL ALSO IMPLEMENT WHAT COUNCIL DETERMINES FROM A POLICY DIRECTION TODAY. BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, AND JUST TO ASK THAT YOU GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST COME BACK AND SHOW HOW THAT PROGRAM IS MOVING FORWARD. MR. MAYOR, MAY I RESPOND TO HER? I THINK DID HE HAVE 30S? YEP. YOU GOT 30S. THANK YOU. AND THE YOUNG LADY THAT DOES THIS WORK DOES GREAT WORK IN HER FIELD. SHE DOES ABSOLUTELY GREAT WORK. AND MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE WORKED WITH HER, INCLUDING MY STAFF IN THE PAST. HOWEVER, WHEN WE CAME TO THIS PARTICULAR WORK, IT WAS IT WAS ACTUALLY SAID THAT THIS IS HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE GOING TO BE. IT'S GOING TO GO TOWARD THE ACTUAL WORK THAT'S BEING DONE. SO THAT CAME FROM HER, AND IT CAME FROM MEMBERS OF THE STAFF. AND THAT'S WHERE I'M THAT'S WHERE MY CONCERN IS WITH IT BEING UNDERNEATH THE PARKS. WE DON'T HAVE ALL THOSE FEES. WE HAVE REAL WORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE. SO THAT'S WHY I'M ADVOCATING FOR IT. SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU OFFLINE, BUT THEY CAN'T SAY THINGS IN MY OFFICE. THEN GET OUT HERE AND TRY TO SWITCH UP THE CONVERSATION. THAT DON'T WORK FOR ME, NOT FOR ME, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO CALL IT OUT EVERY TIME. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, MR. JENKINS, FOR YOUR SUPPORT. MR. BAZALDUA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. JENKINS. I WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOU DIDN'T GET TOO FAR. SO MY COLLEAGUE JUST MENTIONED A I THINK A LOT ABOUT OUR VIOLENCE INTERRUPTER PROGRAMS. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE STARTING? BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE'RE HAVING TWO DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS. AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT, I KEPT QUESTIONING AND ASKING, THIS ISN'T GOING TO ENHANCE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND THAT HE'S JUST MENTIONING. THIS IS CREATING A PROGRAM WITHIN OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT. AND IT'S A PROACTIVE PROGRAM THAT'S MEETING KIDS WHERE THEY ARE. CORRECT. ONCE AGAIN, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR CURRENT PROGRAM VERSUS THE EXPANSION, THE CURRENT PROGRAM IS, AS RANDALL MENTIONED, IS VERY SPECIFIC FOCUS. IF WE WANT TO INTRODUCE THIS EXPANSION THAT INCLUDES THE INTERRUPTERS PROGRAM, THOSE COMPONENTS ARE REACHING FOLKS WITH CERTAIN CERTAIN EXPERTISE EXPERTISE TO REACH CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION, THE TEEN POPULATION, OLDER TEENAGERS, LIKE 1920, THEN THEY WILL BE A GOOD FIT FOR THIS PROGRAM. AND MADAM CITY MANAGER, IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT WHAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS WANTING TO IMPLEMENT IS NOT A DUPLICATION OF WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE ON THE BOOKS? SURELY Y'ALL ARE NOT SUGGESTING DUAL FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT ARE COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER. SO I'M CURIOUS IF THIS AMENDMENT RIGHT HERE IS SAYING THAT IT'S GOING TO PARK AND RECREATION TEEN CONNECT PROGRAM, AND WE'VE TALKED WITH THEM EXTENSIVELY. WE'VE ALSO HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS. IF THE INTENT IN SUPPORTING THIS IS TO ENHANCE THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS PROGRAM, AS MY COLLEAGUE WAS JUST MENTIONING, [05:35:06] THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THESE ARE THE SAME THING. THESE ARE INTERCHANGEABLE. IS IS THIS A DUPLICATIVE SERVICE THAT IS BEING STARTED WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT? SO THE ONE COMMENT THAT I MADE EARLIER, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S BACK TO UNDERSTANDING FULLY WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS, EVEN WITH WHAT MR. JENKINS IS PLANNING. AND HE AND I HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION THIS MORNING. AND SO WHAT MY HOPE WOULD BE IS THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT ARE THERE GAPS IN WHAT MR. JENKINS WAS PLANNING FOR? AND IF ANY OF THOSE GAPS CAN BE ADDRESSED. THEN WE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT THEN WHAT? THAT FUNDING WOULD THEN GET UTILIZED. BUT IN MY OPINION, IT SHOULD NOT BE TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING OR DUPLICATE SOME OF THE EXISTING SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH CDBG, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING THROUGH THE PAL PROGRAM AND THE EXPLORERS PROGRAM. WE ARE CONSISTENTLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING A NEED, NOT JUST ADDING FUNDING, TO BE ADDING FUNDING. SO WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE. WHAT PROBLEM ARE WE SOLVING FOR? AND SO MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT WHATEVER ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT MIGHT BE PROVIDED, IF THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL DECIDES TO DO, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE SOLVING FOR A PROBLEM THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY NOT SOLVING FOR. WITH WHAT MR. JENKINS IS PREPARING. AND THEN WE COULD LINK THEM TOGETHER AND HAVE IT BE A PART OF THE TEEN, CONNECT THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR THE SAME THING. SO THAT WOULD BE MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE WAY IF COUNCIL MOVES IN THIS DIRECTION, THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS. IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BEING PROVIDED THROUGH THE CURRENT CONTRACT WITH LONGSHORE JUSTICE AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE DELIVERING THROUGH ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT THOR LISTED, THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE THEN SUPPLEMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS BEING ADDRESSED. SO IN MY OPINION, WE KNOW WE SHOULD WE HAVE WORKED TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATION. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD FOR US TO CONTINUE TO BE FOCUSED ON HOW WE'RE NOT ADDING BACK, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT ADDRESSING A NEED AND SOLVING FOR A PROBLEM THAT OTHERWISE WE ARE NOT ADDRESSING WITHIN OUR RESOURCES. AND THOR, DO YOU MIND COMING BACK? SO IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A CONVERSATION YOU HAD WITH DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM AND THAT THERE WAS SOME DATA THAT SUPPORTED THE FACT THAT WE ONLY HAVE, I GUESS, BOTTOM LINE, 15 TO 20 000. IS THERE A NEED FOR MORE FUNDING WITHIN OUR CURRENT VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS PROGRAM TO HAVE MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. IN OUR CURRENT APPROVED BUDGET WE ARE THE BUDGET WE HAVE IS WHAT WE INTEND TO CARRY OUT THE PROGRAM DELIVERY. IN TERMS OF NEED, THE CITY CONTINUES TO ADDRESS DIFFERENT NEEDS THAT EXIST. AND RESOURCES ARE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSED AT LIKE WHERE, WHERE DO TO, TO DEPLOY THEM? GIVEN OUR GRANT FUNDING AND THE PUBLIC SERVICES CAP THE AMOUNT APPROVED BY COUNCIL WAS THE $300,000 FOR THIS YEAR. CORRECT. AND WHAT I'M ASKING THOUGH, IS THAT IF IT SEEMS AS IF FROM MY CALLING, MY COLLEAGUES PERSPECTIVE AND HIS DEBATE POINTS THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN ENHANCED PROGRAM OF THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES. AND SO I'M ASKING LIKE, WOULD THIS BE A BETTER USE OF FUNDS TO GO TOWARDS OUR VIOLENCE INTERRUPTER PROGRAM? IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ABSORB TO, TO SCALE, TO BASICALLY DOUBLING THE BUDGET? I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, BECAUSE A VOTE FOR THIS DOES NOT HELP THE CONCERN THAT MY COLLEAGUE WAS JUST RAISING, WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE ENHANCEMENT IN THESE PROGRAMS. BUT THIS ISN'T ACCOMPLISHING THAT. YEAH. THANK YOU. IN TERMS OF CAPACITY, AS WE MOVE TO ADMINISTERING MORE PROGRAMS THROUGH SUBRECIPIENTS, IT'S AT THE WILL OF THE CAPACITY OF THE NONPROFIT SECTOR WHO WOULD ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM? DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BRINGS UP EXCELLENT POINTS IN TERMS OF PART OF THE WORK IS DIFFERENT IN WHAT HE IS ADVOCATING FOR. THIS MODEL SHIFTS AWAY FROM SOME OF THE HISTORICAL WORK THAT WAS MORE FOCUSED ON THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND WORK AND BRINGS IN A WHOLE ECOSYSTEM OF SERVICES TO YOUTH SAFETY. SO AS WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS, THERE'S AMPLE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND FOR FUNDING THE MANY DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT GO INTO YOUTH SAFETY WORK. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THOSE RESPONSES. I THINK THAT THIS IS A WELL-INTENDED AMENDMENT, BUT I THINK IT DOESN'T HIT THE MARK THAT IT'S INTENDED TO DO. SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING IT. I THINK IT WOULD RESULT IN DUPLICATIVE SERVICES. [05:40:02] AND ALSO IT WOULD DILUTE SOME OF THE SERVICES WE'VE ALREADY BEEN INVESTED IN. SO THANK YOU. MAYOR CHAIRMAN GRACEY, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'M PROCESSING ALL OF THIS TOO, AND I JUST AND AGAIN, MISS RANDALL, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER FROM THAT. AND I JUST WANT TO KIND OF CREATE SOME, SOME CLARITY IN THIS BECAUSE WE KEEP GOING CVI AND DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS. HERE'S THE WAY THAT I SEE THIS. I SEE THERE'S A BEFORE, RIGHT? THIS IS WHEN BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GET IN TROUBLE. THEN THERE IS A DURING. THIS IS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN ARRESTED. WHAT TYPE OF OPTIONS DO THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T GET IN FURTHER TROUBLE? AND THEN THERE'S AN. AFTER. WHAT I AM PROPOSING IS REALLY MEANT TO HELP IN THE BEFORE SECTION. WE ALREADY HAVE. SO IT'S NOT A NECESSARILY A DUPLICATE. THERE IS THE BEFORE. THERE'S THE DURING. THERE IS THE AFTER. THIS IS A BEFORE PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THESE TEAMS BEFORE THEY MAKE THESE BAD DECISIONS. AND QUITE HONESTLY, THE PIECE THAT'S MISSING FROM ALL OF THIS THAT MY COLLEAGUES SPOKE TO ARE THE TRUE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. YOU CAN YOU CAN PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS ALL DAY, BUT SOME OF THESE YOUTH MAY OR MAY NOT BE CONNECTED TO THEM. BUT IF WE HAVE TRUE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THAT WILL COME AND DRIVE THEM INTO THE REC CENTERS, GET THEM THERE, HAVE SMALL GROUPS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO HELP MANAGE THESE RELATIONSHIPS, PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN TRULY IDENTIFY WITH, NOT JUST POLICE OFFICERS APPRECIATE THEM BEING THERE, NOT JUST EMPLOYEE STAFF, EMPLOYEES AT THE REC CENTER, BUT TRUE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCES BEING ABLE TO MANAGE THEM AND REDIRECT THEM. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE AS FAR AS DUPLICATION I THINK I HEARD THE OFFICER SAY THAT MOST OF THOSE EMPLOYEES HAVE ALREADY GONE TO THE COUNTY. SO WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT TRANSITIONING ONE PROGRAM, WE'RE STILL ACCOMPLISHING THAT. WE'RE MOVING ONE PROGRAM AND MOVING IT INTO THE COUNTY, WHICH IS WHAT WE SAID WE WANTED TO DO. THESE DOLLARS ARE JUST A WAY TO SPLIT IT UP SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE DURING SIDE OF IT. WE ALREADY HAVE THE COUNTY AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP, AND THE EMPLOYEES THAT USED TO WORK HERE KNOW HOW TO TRANSITION INTO WHAT IT NEEDS TO BECOME. BUT THE OTHER THING IS, IF WE DECIDE AS A BODY THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THIS SERVICE ANYMORE, WE DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO TELL ANOTHER ORGANIZATION HOW TO DO THAT PROGRAM. WE HAVE TO TRUST BECAUSE WE JUST TOOK IT OUT OF OUR HANDS. SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE STILL HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER HOW WE ADDRESS THE YOUTH AND GET AND ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES IN HOUSE THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. I TALKED TO DPD, I'VE TALKED TO KEVIN ODEN'S GROUP. I'VE TALKED TO ALL THESE FOLKS. THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO IN ORDER TO CONTINUE SERVING OUR YOUTH IN A WAY THAT'S TANGIBLE, IN A WAY THAT'S MEANINGFUL, AND NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT DUPLICATE SERVICES WITHOUT HAVING ANY REAL IDEA OF WHAT THAT MEANS, WITHOUT HAVING ANY REAL IDEA OF WHO IT'S IMPACTING. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE. JUST LAST NIGHT I WENT TO THE GYM, I GO TO THE GYM LATE, WENT TO THE GYM AT 10:00. THERE'S A 16 YEAR OLD OUT THERE SELLING CANDY. THERE IS A 13 OR 14 YEAR OLD GIRL OUT THERE, HIS SISTER AND 210 YEAR OLD BOYS OUTSIDE SELLING CANDY. THIS WAS LAST NIGHT AND I HAD TO CALL KEVIN, THEN THIS IS THE REALITY. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THAT REALITY, YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO THESE KIDS. LONG STORY SHORT, THEY RAN AWAY AND THEY TRYING TO GET MONEY FOR A HOTEL, A MOTEL. SO THESE ARE THINGS. AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THOSE KIDS DIDN'T HAVE A RECORD, BUT THEY AT RISK. THESE ARE THE TYPE OF PROGRAMS THAT CAN DO THAT. AND IT TURNS OUT THEY RAN AWAY, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THEM RECONNECTED TO THE TO THEIR MOM. BUT AGAIN, THESE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS WHERE THEY CAN NOW BE CONNECTED. I NEED Y'ALL TO SEE THIS BIGGER PICTURE AND STOP LOOKING AT, IS THIS JUST A DOLLAR AMOUNT OR IS THIS DUPLICATIVE? AND ALL THESE THINGS, THESE ARE REAL LIVES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. SO AGAIN, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SET THIS UP SO THAT ALL OF THESE DOLLARS CAN GO TO, TO THE LIBRARIES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MISS KENNEDY, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. JOHN, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. WOULD THIS EXPANSION NEED TO GO TO THE PARK BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION, AND NO. ONE I'VE ONE BECAUSE THE COUNCIL DECIDES FOR ITS OWN APPROPRIATION, AND IF THE COUNCIL APPROPRIATED FOR THIS PROGRAM, THEN NO, I DON'T HAVE TO GO TO COUNCIL. TO THE BOARD. I WOULD JUST LET THEM KNOW TO DO THE UPDATE ON THE BUDGET THAT THE COUNCIL HAS APPROPRIATED FUNDING TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM. SO HAVE YOU ALL EVER SPOKEN ABOUT THIS TYPE OF EXPANSION? YEAH, I'VE SPOKEN TO NOT ABOUT THE EXPANSION, BUT ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT. AND I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GIVE THEM THE IN DEPTH BRIEFING, BUT WE HAVE TALKED AT RETREATS AND EVERYTHING ABOUT I HAVE TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT FOCUS [05:45:03] ON. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY REALLY SUMMED IT UP WELL. I MEAN, WHAT WE'RE MISSING IN THE PARK SYSTEM IS I GOT TO TARGET THESE TEENAGERS BEFORE THEY EVEN GET A RECORD FOR THEY EVER GET ARRESTED. THERE'S TOO MANY, TOO MANY OF THEM OUT THERE. AND NO. DO I HAVE THE TEAM MEMBERS WHO HAVE THE EXPERTISE THAT, AS MR. GRACEY MENTIONED, WHERE YOU YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SEEING THESE TEENAGERS HANG OUT AT 11:00 AT NIGHT, DURING THE WEEKDAY. THEY'RE 13 YEAR OLDS. THEY'RE 14 YEAR OLDS. NO, THEY DON'T HAVE A RECORD. BUT I GOTTA HAVE SOME FOLKS WITH EXPERTISE THAT KNOW HOW TO REACH THOSE KIDS ON THE STREETS. THEY KNOW HOW TO BRING THEM AND GET THEM TO OUR REC CENTER. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THIS PROCESS WORK OUT. THE PARK DEPARTMENT HAS TO HAVE A PROGRAM TO FOCUS ON THOSE KIDS. YEAH. AND I AGREE WITH YOU. WE HAVE DEDRICK TUBBS WHO IS OVER AT NASH DAVIS AND DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH THE YOUTH. HE'S NOT A PARKS EMPLOYEE. HE'S A VOLUNTEER THAT HAS A NONPROFIT AND DOES A LOT OF THIS WORK ALREADY IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. SO I DEFINITELY SEE THE VALUE OF THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. THOR, I HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION FOR YOU. SO I KNOW IN THE PAST WE HAD THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS PROGRAM AND WE CHANGED TO A NEW MODEL. WHY DID WE DO THAT? I MIGHT ASK KEVIN ODIN TO JOIN ME IN THIS. KEVIN RAN THIS WORK FOR MANY YEARS AND CAN SPEAK TO THE HISTORY MUCH BETTER THAN I. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, KEVIN. ODIN. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS RESPONSE. THE. AS I'M. AS I'M LISTENING. I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION. SO THE THE ANSWER THAT WE WOULD RUN INTO ON THIS PROGRAM IN THE PAST IS THE SAME PROBLEM I RUN INTO WITH OUR OUR HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM WITH MY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESPONSE TEAMS. AND WHEN WE'RE RESPONDING TO NATURAL DISASTERS OR LARGE SCALE EVENTS, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PLACES TO TAKE SOMEONE TO. THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT CAN MOVE A PERSON FROM POINT A TO POINT B, CONNECT WITH THAT PERSON, TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT PERSON'S NEEDS ARE. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PLACES TO TAKE THEM TO. AND SO AS I'M LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION, I'M TAKEN BACK TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2122 TIME FRAME WHEN WE FIRST DABBLED IN THIS. WE LIKE MANY BIG CITIES, WE'RE KIND OF ALL COPYING EACH OTHER'S HOMEWORK. AND WE HIRED FOLKS THAT WERE PRIMARILY ASSIGNED TO HIGH CRIME MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES TO CONNECT WITH INDIVIDUALS AND TRY TO MEDIATE ISSUES BETWEEN GROUPS. THE CHALLENGE THAT WE RAN INTO THAT I SAW MY PEER. BIG CITY COLLEAGUES RUN INTO WAS HOW DO WE SHOW THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT? HOW DO WE SHOW THAT IT'S MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE? AND TO THIS DAY, AS I STILL READ THROUGH SOME OF THE LITERATURE AND STUDIES THAT ARE IN THAT FORM OF VIOLENCE INTERVENTION, THE EVIDENCE JUST ISN'T AS BAKED AS IT IS AS HAVING SET CURRICULUM, SET PROGRAMS, SET PLACES YOU CAN TAKE PEOPLE TO PRIOR TO HAVING AN OFFENSE ON THEIR RECORD WHERE THEY CAN BE MADE WHOLE IN THOSE SETTINGS. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE SWITCHED TO THE THE BECOMING A MAN WORKING ON WOMANHOOD MODEL. BAM. AND WOW, THAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE ON SAFER COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE IT CREATED THAT TYPE OF SPACE WHERE OUR FIELD STAFF THAT WERE ENGAGING WITH THIS POPULATION COULD MAKE THAT FIRST CONNECTION AND THEN MOVE THEM THERE. SO I APOLOGIZE IF THAT WAS LONG WINDED. THERE'S A LOT OF PAST HISTORY AND A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS AREA THAT HAVE GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH, AND CERTAINLY HAPPY TO OPINE ON, ON ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. YEAH. AND THOR, I KNOW, I GUESS WE JUST SWITCHED TO THIS NEW PROGRAM BECAUSE I REMEMBER, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO AND I WERE CONCERNED ABOUT DEEP ELLUM. I'D GONE ON SOME RIDE ALONGS WITH HIM. YOU KNOW, TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE YOUTH THERE ALSO WERE GETTING SERVICES. BUT, BUT WE HAD CHANGED OUR MODEL, I THINK. AND SO I, I'M ASSUMING THAT WE'RE COLLECTING DATA TO SEE HOW IT GOES THIS YEAR. YES. YEAH. WE ARE. IN FACT, THIS IS A VERY PERFORMANCE DRIVEN PROGRAM. TRACKING EVERYTHING FROM HOW MANY SESSIONS DID THEY ATTEND, THE OUTCOME AND THE FOLLOW UP POST POST SESSIONS. THIS NEW CONTRACT AND SERVICE PROVIDES MORE OF THAT WRAPAROUND MODEL. IT PERFORMS THE WARM HANDOFFS WITH THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES BASED UPON THAT USE NEED, NOT ASSUMING THAT THERE'S ONE AGENCY THAT CAN HANDLE THAT USE PARTICULAR, [05:50:07] YOU KNOW, SITUATION. THERE'S MULTIPLE AGENCIES THAT ARE ON THIS ECOSYSTEM TO PROVIDE THE DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE WILL NEED. YEAH. THANK YOU. I THINK THE CITY MANAGER'S LEFT, BUT I THINK ONE THING I HEAR AROUND THE HORSESHOE IS THAT EVERYBODY CARES ABOUT THE YOUTH IN OUR CITY, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT SERVICES ARE HAPPENING IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. WHERE I GET UNCOMFORTABLE IS TRYING TO BUILD PROGRAMS HERE AT THE HORSESHOE WITHOUT HAVING MORE INFORMATION. YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR I VOTED FOR THE FLAGSHIP MODEL. AND THEN I FOUND OUT THAT MY, ONE OF MY LIBRARIES WAS GONE OR MY SWIMMING POOL GOT CLOSED EARLIER THAN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. AND SO WHILE I WANT TO TRUST, I DON'T. AND SO IT, IT DOES MAKE ME NERVOUS TO YOU KNOW, NOT TO HAVE MORE FACTS AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. BUT I HOPE THAT NEXT YEAR LISA CITY MANAGER TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THAT FOR ALL OF US, IT SOUNDS LIKE OUR YOUTH ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO GET AN ASSESSMENT OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE HAPPENING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING. MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO ASSESS THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE STRETCHING THOSE DOLLARS AS FAR AS WE CAN. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MISS BLAIR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. WELL, I GOT TOTALLY CONFUSED, BUT. SO I DID SOME RESEARCH. AND YES, WE ALL ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR YOUTH. PRCHAL FOP, DALLAS COUNTY, DALLAS COUNTY, DEFERRED PROSECUTION, COUNTY JUVENILE COURTS, PROBATION, ALL THESE THINGS HAVE THINGS THAT THAT KIND OF SORTA DO, SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT HERE AND NOW. CAN I HAVE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, PLEASE? AND. I HAVE TO SAY THIS. I AND GOING TO MY PARKS DEPARTMENT. TOMMY ALLEN AND SINGING HILLS. I SEE YOUR RESOURCES, YOUR STAFF INTERACTING WITH CHILDREN THAT ARE CHALLENGING. AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT THEY COULD, THEY COULD WORK UNDER TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW TO DEAL WITH CHILDREN THAT ARE CHALLENGING. YOU HAVE, YOU HAD AND YOU HAVE GOOD RESOURCES, BUT THEY NEED MORE. SO PLEASE, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WOULD YOUR PROGRAM WITH THIS, THIS WORK, WITH THIS NEW ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING? SO, MISS RANDALL? I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? HOW ABOUT THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING? IF THIS 213 $900,000 GETS APPROVED TODAY HOW COULD AS FAR AS THIS ENHANCED SERVICE? AND I THINK WE STILL HAVE TO START WITH THE BASIC. AND HERE'S THE LAYER THAT WILL BE ADDED. BUT I WANT TO SAY THIS FOR SHE START IS THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE WOULD NEED ALL THE RESOURCES, ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP PROVIDE THIS, THIS, THIS, THE EXPERTISE TO REACH THIS SEGMENT OF TEENS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A SEGMENT THAT'S HARD TO REACH. IT'S A SEGMENT THAT'S HARD TO GET IN OUR DOORS, BUT WE GOT TO HAVE THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL HELP GET THESE KIDS TO COME THROUGH OUR DOORS. CORRECT. AND SO THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING. SO SO JUST FOR CLARITY, THE TEEN CONNECT PROGRAM STARTS FROM THE AGES OF 13 TO 17. WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING. WE'RE ABLE TO EXPAND THAT FOR A LARGER SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION FROM 18 TO 24, WHICH IS THE TARGET OF THIS PARTICULAR FUNDING WHEN WE EXPAND THIS PROGRAM. AND AGAIN, THE PREMISE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO CONNECT THE TEENS TO THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY, WITH THE PARK DEPARTMENT BEING THE CONDUIT FOR THAT. SO THESE FUNDS WILL HELP US TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THAT OUR STAFF ARE PROPERLY TRAINED TO DELIVER THESE SERVICES, WHETHER THEY BE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, WHETHER THEY BE HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS IN GENERAL, RECREATIONAL TYPE PROGRAMS. WE'RE WORKING WITH COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, SO WE'RE DEVELOPING ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS. SO THESE FUNDS WOULD HELP TO EXPAND NOT ONLY THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE ALREADY IMPLEMENTING, BUT FOR THAT ADDITIONAL AGE GROUP WHERE WE HAVE JOB PREPAREDNESS, [05:55:01] COLLEGE READINESS, AND THINGS THAT THEY MAY BE MISSING THAT THE PARK DEPARTMENT DOES NOT ALREADY OFFER. AND TO ADD ON, BUT REMEMBER, YOU GOT TO KIND OF THROW A NET OUT THERE OR SOMETHING TO CATCH THEM BECAUSE YOU GOT TO. OUR OVERALL GOAL IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE AIN'T DUPLICATING SERVICES. AT SOME POINT YOU'RE GOING TO DUPLICATE SOME JUST TO GET THEM THROUGH THE DOOR. OUR GOAL IS TO GET THEM THROUGH THE DOOR AND, AND KEEP THEM IN, IN, IN CONSTRUCTIVE PROGRAMING THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO NOT WANT TO GO OUT AND GET IN TROUBLE. AND EVERYBODY KNOWS AN IDLE CHILD, AN IDLE TEENAGER CAN BE THE WORST NIGHTMARE. AND WE GOTTA GET THESE TEENAGERS ENGAGED IN CONSTRUCTIVE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. AND AS I TALKED TO THESE OTHER NONPROFITS, THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, JOHN, Y'ALL NEED TO KIND OF REDEFINE EXACTLY WHAT IS RECREATIONAL FOR THESE TEENAGERS. YEAH. IT'S ONE THING TO PUT THEM IN SOME BASKETBALL. IT'S ONE THING TO PUT THEM IN LEADERSHIP IS ANOTHER THING TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PUTTING THE THE CARROT OUT THERE TO GET SOME IN THE DOOR. IF THAT MEANS THAT WE GOT TO DESIGN SOME PROGRAMS THAT, THAT THAT IS LIKE LITTLE, SMALL LITTLE CONCERTS FOR THEM TO GET THEM ATTRACTED TO COME TO THAT REC CENTER. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. BUT THEY'RE NOT COMING THROUGH THE DOORS. THE ONE WHO WE NEED TO REACH, THE ONES WHO ARE ON THE PATH OF ABOUT TO GET IN TROUBLE. THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO MORE TEEN VIOLENCE. AND I'M BIG ON BEING INTO PREVENTION. AND I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT REACHING THIS POPULATION AND WE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB. AND WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE. THANK YOU. DON'T LEAVE. CAN I ALSO HAVE THE MISS SHAW? NO, NO, DON'T YOU LEAVE. YES, MA'AM. SIT DOWN. SHE'S ON HER WAY. IS SHE ON HER SIDE? THERE'S A SEAT OVER TO THE SIDE. MISS SHAW. IF. OKAY, SO IF THEY'RE NOT IN THE PARKS, THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO THE LIBRARY. SO CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU WOULD BE DOING IN THE LIBRARY TO, FOR THIS, THIS FUNDING THAT THAT'S BEING SENT YOUR WAY? SO THIS FUNDING IS FOR WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY'S QUESTION. THIS IS REALLY TO MODERNIZE THE FLAGSHIP LIBRARIES, THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES. SO THIS IS TO FOR FURNITURE REPLACEMENT, BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A BUDGET FOR FURNITURE AND WE HAVE FURNITURE THAT'S FALLING APART. IT WOULD BE TO MODERNIZE PAINT COLORS. IT WOULD BE TO FIX WALLS, NEW FLOORING. THANK YOU. SO BASICALLY WHAT FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, YOU'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. PARKS DEPARTMENT. I MEAN, THE LIBRARY IS TO TAKE CARE OF SOME MODERNIZATION OF THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR. THANK YOU. SO, CITY MANAGER, I UNDERSTAND THE THE NEEDS IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I SEE IT FIRSTHAND WHEN I GO TO MY MY MY PARKS AND I SEE WHAT THE STAFF HAS TO HAS TO DEAL WITH AND HOW THEY ARE TRYING TO MANAGE TO TEENAGERS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO WANT THEY WANDER INTO THE PARKS AND REC CENTER ANYHOW, BUT THEY NEED THE TOOLS AND THEY NEED THE RESOURCES TO GET THE WORK DONE. SO I GET IT. AND I ALL OF MY MY REC CENTERS, I REALLY GET IT IN MY PARKS. IN MY LIBRARIES. YES, I HAVE LIBRARIES THAT NEED THE REPAIRS, SO I GET IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY AND SPENDING ALL THIS TIME FOR ME TO GET IT. SO I WILL SUPPORT THE THE AMENDMENT, ESPECIALLY TO HAVE THE THE FUNDING THAT YOU NEED IN THE PARK AND REC DEPARTMENT TO EXPAND THE SERVICES THAT YOUR STAFF IS ALREADY TRYING TO DO. AND BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS NOR THE TRAINING NOR THE, THE OTHER PARTNERSHIP TO DO. BECAUSE WE ASK A WHOLE LOT OF YOU OUT IN MY DEPARTMENT, IN MY MY DISTRICT, AND YOU GUYS SERVICE IT EVEN, EVEN AT NIGHT WHERE THEY COME TOGETHER, I SHARE IT WITH WITH WITH DEPUTY DIRECTOR JOHNSON. THEY COME TOGETHER ON SATURDAY NIGHTS, THEY CLEAN UP THE PARKS. AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING ALREADY, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE TRAINING TO DO. [06:00:06] THEY COME TOGETHER ANYHOW JUST TO GET THINGS DONE. THIS WOULD GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE SERVICE. SO I FINALLY I GET IT AND I JUST HOPE YOU THE REST OF YOU GUYS GET IT. IT'S YOU. YOU'RE EXPANDING. WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE POLICE ARE NO LONGER GOING TO DO AND MISS. SURE. YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE LIBRARIES. THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. BAZALDUA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU. MAYOR. JOHN, WHY DID YOU BUDGET THE AMOUNT THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE ROLLING OUT? FOR THE TEEN TECH PROGRAM? I MEAN, THE CONNECT PROGRAM. YEAH, AS I MENTIONED, THE EXISTING RESOURCES. AND THEN IF WE DO THE EXPANSION BECAUSE LIKE I SEE THE VALUE OF TRYING TO GET MORE PARTNERS ON BOARD. I'M LIKE, NO, WE NEED TO DEDICATE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND IT ON TOP OF IT. WHY WASN'T IT PROPOSED AS SUCH IS WHAT I'M ASKING. THIS IS THIS IS THE START OF A PROGRAM AND IT'S STARTING AT AT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT YOU HAVE ALLOCATED FOR IT FOR THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR BUDGET. THIS AMENDMENT HAS COME FORWARD, AND I APPRECIATE THE CONFIDENCE OF BEING ABLE TO SCALE AND GROW IT RAPIDLY. YOU KNOW, BEFORE ITS INCEPTION. BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK FOR MORE FUNDING? IF YOU ARE SO CONFIDENT AND BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE FUNDING IN A PROGRAM. YEAH. I MEAN, JUST LIKE ANY PROGRAM, UNLESS THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING. WE, WE WAS GOING TO, WE WAS GOING TO START AT THIS SCALE AND THEN SCALE UP LATER, EXPAND THE PROGRAM AT SOME POINT. WELL, THAT MAKES SENSE. THAT'S WHAT WE USUALLY DO BECAUSE THEN WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE INVESTING IN AND WE KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN TO, TO, TO CORRECT IT. SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE WILLING TO DO, LIKE WE DO WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT EXIST. THIS IS A POLICY DISCUSSION THAT SHOULD GO THROUGH MULTIPLE COMMITTEES. THIS IS ONE THAT HEARING THE PARK BOARD WEIGH IN ON. I THINK THAT OVERALL, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. I JUST DON'T SEE THE, THE REASON WHY WE WOULD BE ENHANCING THE FUNDING FOR A PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE YET TO SEE EVEN SUCCESS OR ANY METRICS FOR AT ALL. SO ALL FOR IT, BUT I THINK THAT THE, THE INCREASE IN FUNDING CAN WAIT UNTIL MID-YEAR REVIEW. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE CHAIRMAN GRACIE'S AMENDMENT. IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WILL SHOW SUPPORT WITH THE USUAL WAY. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS BLAIR STEWART DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON, MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ COUNCIL MEMBERS MORENO WEST GRACEY AND WILLIS, WITH EIGHT VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT, MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. I'M LOOKING FOR MORE AMENDMENTS. I SUPPOSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT YOU CAN. MORE AMENDMENTS GOING ONCE, MAYOR. YES. I MOVE TO AMEND THE BUDGET WITH A SOURCE OF FUNDS OF MULTI YEAR PARK FUNDS OF $230,000. I T ARPA FUNDS OF $230,000, FOR A TOTAL OF $460,000 OF A USE OF RESTORING RECREATION HOURS. SECOND. THAT'S ONE. YOU HAVE TWO. THAT'S TWO. THAT'S THREE. ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT, MR. BAZALDUA. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT WE ALREADY CONSIDERED. I THINK THAT A SEVEN EIGHT VOTE USUALLY BEGS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE. AND IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE THAT WAS PUT ON THE FLOOR BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN WITH THE I T ARPA DOLLARS. THIS IS BASICALLY SPLITTING THE BABY AND HAVING EVEN USE OF EITHER OR BOTH SOURCES OF FUNDS, 230 000 FROM THE MULTI-YEAR FUND. WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT THAT WOULD NOT HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT, AND THAT THEY AGREED WITH IT BEING USED FOR THIS PURPOSE. AND THEY ALSO SAW VALUE IN RESTORING THE RECREATION HOURS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE I T ARPA FUNDS WE'VE ALREADY TALKED AT AT NAUSEAM WITH THOSE. I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE 230,000 FROM AN 11 PLUS MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET LINE AND NOT SEE AN IMPACT. AND JUST AS WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IN THE LAST AMENDMENT IT'S, IT'S KIND OF FUNNY THAT WE WOULD [06:05:05] TURN DOWN INCREASING OUR RECREATION HOURS, BUT WE'RE WILLING TO PUT IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR PROGRAMING AT OUR REC CENTERS THAT WE'RE CLOSING EARLY. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN KEEP OUR REC CENTERS OPEN AND EXPAND THE HOURS BACK TO THE 2024 THRESHOLD. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA? SEEING NONE. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT. OH. I'M SORRY. SORRY. HOLD ON, MR. ROTH. MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. I'M AGAIN GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING I SAID BEFORE. I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN IN TAKING MULTIYEAR FUNDS FOR THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS WITH IT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PARKS BUDGET ALREADY BEING REDUCED DOWN TO A SIGNIFICANT UNDER $1 MILLION, IT'S RIDICULOUS FOR US TO DO THAT. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE THE CONCEPT OF THE IDEA, BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY SUGGEST THAT WE VOTE AGAINST THIS. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT? OKAY. INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR SEALS, PLEASE. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA BAZALDUA BLACKMON. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON. MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ COUNCIL MEMBERS WEST RIDLEY GRACEY AND WILLIS. WITH NINE VOTING AND NINE SEALS RAISED, THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. LOOKING FOR MORE AMENDMENTS? MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE BUDGET WITH A FUNDING SOURCE OF $488 FROM LIABILITY RISK FUND. OUTSIDE COUNSEL PERSONAL INJURY. IN ADDITION TO NON-DEPARTMENTAL SAVINGS FROM THE D LINE ITEM OF THE OVER FORECAST OF 22,279 FOR A USE OF FUNDS TO RESTORE THE TWO PUBLIC ART POSITIONS IN OAC THAT WERE ELIMINATED FOR A TOTAL OF $132,767. THAT'S ONE. YOU CAN'T SAY IT TWICE. I'M JUST KIDDING. I'M JUST KIDDING. I'M JUST KIDDING. I HEARD TWO. THERE'S TWO. THERE'S TWO. THREE. OKAY, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES, SIR. THANK YOU. ALSO VERY SIMILAR TO THE LAST ONE. WE REDUCED THE AMOUNT THAT WOULD COME FROM THE LIABILITY RISK FUND, WHICH LEAVES A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION TO THE OAC. I MEAN, YEAH, THE, THE OATH THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. BECAUSE OF THEIR INCREASE, IT STILL LEAVES AN INCREASE. THEY'RE JUST NOT AS MUCH. THE NON-DEPARTMENTAL SAVINGS AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THAT WAS AN OVERAGE OF FORECAST FROM THE VALUATION WITHIN D. THEY'RE STILL FULLY COVERED 100% ON WHAT WE'VE AGREED TO WITH OUR ASSESSMENTS. AND THAT THIS WOULD RESTORE THIS THIS, THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS FROM THE LAST TIME I PUT FORWARD WAS NOT ONLY THE AMOUNT OF THE SOURCE OF FUNDS FROM LIABILITY RISK, BUT ALSO REDUCED THE USE OF FUNDS FROM THREE POSITIONS WITH OAC NOW TO JUST TWO SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THE TWO POSITIONS THAT WERE ELIMINATED FROM THE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM WITHIN OAC. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT? SEEING NONE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR CITY. SEALS. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. BLAIR CADENA BAZALDUA BLACKMON DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON, MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ COUNCIL MEMBERS RIDLEY GRACEY AND WILLIS. WITH NINE SEALS BEING RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. LOOKING FOR AMENDMENTS, MR. MAYOR? MR. RIDLEY, FOR WHAT PURPOSE? FOR A MOTION. YOU GOT IT. GO FOR IT. SO I MOVE THAT WE AMEND THE BUDGET TO RESTORE FUNDING IN THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT TO RETAIN SIX DAY A WEEK OPERATIONS AT EACH OF THE NON-FLAGSHIP LIBRARIES. ONE. TWO. THREE. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. MR.. POINT OF ORDER. OKAY. POINT OF ORDER. I THINK THE THE LAYOUT OF THE MOTION IS SUPPOSED TO INCLUDE A SOURCE AND A USE. TRUE. I'M ABOUT TO GIVE THAT. WELL, YOU NEEDED TO GIVE IT. FIRST, I KIND OF JUST DID. WELL, OKAY. THE SECONDS CAME IN BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT. THEY WERE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU DOING A MOTION TODAY. OKAY, LET'S HOLD OFF ON THE SECONDS UNTIL WE HEAR THE SOURCES. AND SO THE SOURCES ARE SEVERAL. THE PRIMARY SOURCE IS $1 MILLION FROM THE LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT PAY BUDGET. $170,000 FROM OBJECT CODE 27. TEN FOR FURNITURE FOR DPD90 [06:10:06] 2000 FROM OBJECT CODE 3361. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCES AND TRAVEL ACROSS VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. OBJECT CODE 2110 IN THE AMOUNT OF ABOUT 73,000 FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES. OBJECT CODE 2710 FOR FURNITURE ACROSS NINE DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF 78,000 AND MISCELLANEOUS SPECIAL SERVICES. OBJECT CODE 3099 184,000. SERVICE PINS 10,000 AND METER POSTAGE FUND 100,000 TOTALING $1,807,703. I'M ON THE MIC. I'M SORRY. LET ME TURN MY MIC ON. IT'S BEEN SECOND THREE TIMES. YOU NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY THANK YOU. SO I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR BRANCH LIBRARIES. WE HAVE ADOPTED OR WE'RE ABOUT TO, I THINK, ADOPT A BUDGET THAT CREATES A SYSTEM OF FLAGSHIP LIBRARIES THAT HAVE EXTENDED SEVEN DAY A WEEK HOURS, BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE IGNORING OUR OTHER BRANCH LIBRARIES, WHICH WILL BE CUT BACK TO ONLY FIVE DAYS A WEEK UNDER THE CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET. THIS WOULD ENABLE US TO RESTORE OVER 25 POSITIONS FROM THOSE LIBRARIANS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE LAID OFF, AND INCREASE THE LIBRARY HOURS AT THE NON-FLAGSHIP LIBRARIES BACK TO SIX DAYS A WEEK. AND IT IS DOING THAT WITH SOURCES OF FUNDS FROM DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT ALL OF THEM ARE BUDGET ITEMS THAT WERE NOT FULLY EXPENDED IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR. OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, SO THAT THESE ARE NOT ABSOLUTE CUTS FROM WHAT WE ACTUALLY SPENT THIS YEAR. THEY'RE ACTUALLY STILL INCREASES, AT LEAST IN MOST CASES, FROM WHAT WE SPENT THIS YEAR. AND SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT SACRIFICIAL SOURCES. AND WHEN WE CONSIDER THE IMPORTANCE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES OF HAVING THE LIBRARIES OPEN SIX DAYS A WEEK FOR GREATER ACCESS, I THINK THAT THIS IS A AN AMENDMENT THAT IS HAS MERIT. AND I COMMEND TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION. MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE SOURCES. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WILL ACTUALLY TAKE FROM A FUTURE AMENDMENT I HAVE FOR SOME OF THEM, BUT I ALSO HAD AN AMENDMENT FOR LIBRARY AND WE SORT OF COMBINED SOURCES. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY IN OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE BUDGETED $1.5 MILLION, BUT WE ONLY SPENT $345,000. SO THIS 1 MILLION USE OF FUNDS WOULD STILL ACTUALLY INCREASE BY 200,000, THE AMOUNT THAT WAS ACTUALLY SPENT THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR. SO WHILE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S TAKING A LOT. THE REALITY IS THIS IS MONEY THAT WAS NOT EVER SPENT. THE SECOND ONE FOR THE POSTAGE METER. WE HAD BUDGETED 583,000. WE ACTUALLY SPENT MORE THAN THAT. AND THEN THE BUDGET IS GOING UP EVEN MORE. AND SO THIS IS FRANKLY A RIDICULOUS USE OF THIS TAKES IT BACK DOWN TO MORE THAN WHAT WE BUDGETED LAST YEAR, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS WHAT WAS SPENT. THE SERVICE PINS, WE BUDGETED $13,000 LAST YEAR, BUT THEY SPENT 24,000 AND NOW THEY'RE BUDGETING 31,000. SO THIS IS JUST TAKING $10,000 FROM THERE, WHICH AGAIN, WOULD STILL BE ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT WAS BUDGETED LAST YEAR. SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ITEM. I THINK WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER HOW IMPORTANT THE LIBRARIES ARE TO OUR FOLKS. I WAS AT FRETS TWO WEEKS AGO. I WILL SAY I SAT ON FURNITURE. I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS BROKEN. I'LL GO CHECK THAT OUT. I'M SURE BILL WILL AS WELL. I HOPE THAT WE HAVE LIBRARY FURNITURE AND PAINT THAT KIND OF MAINTENANCE ALREADY BUILT INTO THE BUDGET, NOT NEEDING A SPECIAL AMENDMENT, BUT WE FOR SURE NEED THE LIBRARY TO BE OPEN. [06:15:06] SO WE'RE INVESTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OUR COLLECTIONS THAT GO IN EVERY LIBRARY, EVERY YEAR THAT WE BUILD, THAT WE BUDGET, WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE. AIR CONDITIONING. MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY. SECURITY. EXTERMINATION FOR FOR PEST CONTROL, LIKE ALL THIS STUFF IS INVESTED AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE THE DOORS OPEN AND THAT JUST DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE. SO I KNOW LAST WEEK I WAS AT RUNNER FRANKFORT. I PULLED UP, THERE'S LIKE 45 CARS. IT WAS 7:00 IN THE EVENING AND THE LIBRARY WAS HOPPING. AND, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY ROOM WAS IN USE. THE COMPUTERS WERE IN USE. THE THE SMALL STUDY ROOMS. THIS IS A PLACE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO AND THEY'RE USING IT. AND THIS IS WHAT THEY EXPECT TO HAVE HAPPEN WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS, ALONG WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND STREETS. SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL AS WELL. CHAIR MORENO, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU MAYOR. SO THE SOURCE IS THAT COMING FROM THE LANGUAGE SKILL ASSESSMENT PAY. ASSIGNMENT PAY. THAT IS WHAT I ASSUME TO BE CORRECT IF WE'RE REFERRING TO EXPENSE OBJECT. 1242 AND THAT'S PRIMARILY USED BY THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO YOU WOULD, IN EFFECT BE REDUCING THEM BY $1 MILLION. OKAY. AND SO I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS FOR DPD OR FOR HR, BUT TALKING ABOUT OUR STAFF THAT IS PROVIDING LANGUAGE, ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGES TO OUR COMMUNITIES. I THINK THIS IS CRITICAL. IT'S IMPORTANT. WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR RESIDENTS. I JUST WANT TO SEE THE IMPACT FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT NEXT YEAR. CITY MANAGER. YES. LET ME LET ME START WITH SO SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AS WE LOOKED AT THE LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY PROGRAM, WE WANTED TO PUT SOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WHERE THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE RECEIVING THIS ADDITIONAL PAY. THIS IS ON TOP OF THEIR BASE SALARY. IF THEY PASS THE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY EXAMS AND THEY'RE USING IT AS PART OF THEIR DAY TO DAY JOBS, THEY GET AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT IN THEIR PAYCHECKS. AND THE MAJORITY OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE UTILIZING AND WHO HAVE PASSED THAT PROFICIENCY IS ACTUALLY IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE CAN BREAK DOWN THOSE NUMBERS FOR YOU. I THINK WHEN I LOOKED AT IT OVER A YEAR OR SO AGO, I THINK MORE THAN 60% OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GETTING THAT ADDITIONAL PAY ARE IN DPD. SO IF THEY'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY IF THEY ARE WORKING WITHIN CERTAIN SITUATIONS AND THEY ENCOUNTER SOMEONE THAT SPEAKING A LANGUAGE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY THEN TO UTILIZE THAT PROFICIENCY IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE STANDARDIZED IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. WE WE UPGRADED THE TYPE OF TESTING THAT WE'RE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY BEING UTILIZED. AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE REQUESTED THAT A LOT OF YOUR TOWN HALL MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THERE THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT AND SPEAK THOSE LANGUAGES. SO THIS IS A THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT TRULY BENEFITS THE COMMITTEE. I MEAN THE COMMUNITY BY MAKING SURE THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE INTERACTING WITH THE PUBLIC AND OFTEN THAT THEY'RE BEING PAID FOR THAT ADDITIONAL THOSE ADDITIONAL SERVICES. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THAT BREAKDOWN. BUT I THINK WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE SAW THAT THE IMPACT WOULD PRIMARILY BE ON OUR POLICE OFFICERS. SO I DON'T HAVE A TOTAL BREAKDOWN, BUT I'LL GIVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES. SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS MISS TOLBERT MENTIONED, HAS 1,085,000, IS THE LARGEST OF THE GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS. AND THEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMS HAS 345,000. SO THOSE ARE THE TWO LARGEST GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS WITH LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY. AND I DO NOTICE AND I SPOKE TO MARTIN RIOS FOR JUST A SECOND. IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT SHOWS THAT IN THE CURRENT YEAR WE HAVE A FORECAST OF ZERO. BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THAT GOT PAID OUT THROUGH ONE OF THE OTHER OBJECT CODES BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY'VE HAD ASSIGNMENT PAY. AND SO I THINK THAT'S AN INACCURATE REPRESENTATION ON THAT PAGE OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENT. ALL RIGHT. AGAIN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO BE ABLE TO FUND OUR LIBRARIES. BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT ESL PROGRAMS IN OUR LIBRARIES, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT OUR, OUR OWN EMPLOYEES CAN COMMUNICATE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS USEFUL. IT'S A TOOL AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST GIVEN OUT. OUR CITY STAFF HAS TO TAKE RIGOROUS TESTS TO BE ABLE TO PROVE THEIR PROFICIENCY. [06:20:02] AND SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MR. BAZALDUA YOU DULY RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. CAN MR. RIDLEY GIVE ME THE TOTAL AMOUNT AGAIN? I'M TRYING TO WORK OFF OF JUST HEARING $1,807,703. SO IS THE 1 MILLION FROM THE LANGUAGES. AND THEN THE OTHER SOURCES ARE 27, 1033, 61, 21, TEN, 27, TEN AND 30, 99. CORRECT. PLUS 7200 FOR THE 10,000 FROM SERVICE PINS AND 2250 THAT WAS 2204 AND THEN 2252 THE POSTAGE METER FUND. AND CAN YOU GIVE ME THE DOLLAR AMOUNT ON 7204 AND 2252 YES. 2204 IS 10,000 2204 OKAY. 2264 EXCUSE ME. AND THEN. 2252 THE POSTAGE METER. 100,000. 100,000. YES. OKAY. NOW, CAN WE TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THESE CODES, MADAM CITY MANAGER? ONE IN PARTICULAR. 22. 52. THE METER. IS THIS FOR LIKE NOTICES WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS? SPECIFIC NOTICES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR CODE AMENDMENTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. YES. IT'S ABOUT THE NOTICES THAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE HAVE TO CERTIFY THAT THOSE NOTICES WERE RECEIVED. SO IT'S THE ONES THAT REALLY REQUIRE A CERTIFIED RECEIPT BACK TO THE CITY. OKAY. AND HOW DO YOU FORECAST THAT BUDGET? I THINK THERE'S HISTORICAL INFORMATION, BUT WE ALSO KNOW BASED ON SOME OF THE PLANNED HEARINGS THAT ARE COMING UP, THE DEPARTMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SHOW HOW THOSE PROGRAMS OR WHATEVER THEY'RE TRYING TO SEND OUT. THERE'S TYPICALLY A FORECAST THAT TELLS US WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED IN THE UPCOMING YEAR. SOME MIGHT COME UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF, BUT IT'S REALLY BASED ON WHAT WE CURRENTLY KNOW THAT WE HAVE IN THE PIPELINE. SOME OF THE NOTICES THAT WE HAVE TO DO, WHETHER IT'S CASES WITHIN OUR ZONING, IT'S IT'S A COMBINATION. SO IT'S DONE DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT. WE, WE ALSO WENT IN AND MADE REDUCTIONS. I WANT TO SAY THIS IN EVERY ONE OF THE OBJECT CODES THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED HERE, THOSE OBJECT CODES WERE ALREADY REDUCED BEFORE WE DEVELOP THIS PROPOSED BUDGET. OKAY. ON CAN YOU JACK, GIVE ME SOME MORE INFORMATION ON WHERE 2252 WAS BUDGETED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND WHAT WE'RE FORECASTING IT TO COME IN AT THE END OF. AS AN EXAMPLE, I'M LOOKING AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGETED 166,500, AND THEY'RE FORECAST TO SPEND 165 482. SO LESS $1,008 LESS THAN BUDGET. AND THEY ARE PROPOSING A 172 NEXT YEAR. DO WE HAVE ANY HISTORICAL DATA THAT HAS SHOWN A YEAR OVER YEAR DELTA THAT A SUBSTANTIAL DELTA THAT WOULD RESULT IN US TAKING AWAY FROM THIS LINE ITEM? NOT THAT WE WOULD HAVE RIGHT HERE. I WILL SAY, MR. RIDLEY, I SUPPORT THE OF COURSE, THE USE OF FUNDS. I'M TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF ALL OF THE OTHER SOURCES. THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR KIND OF GETS ME. BECAUSE OF NOT ONLY WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE MEANT TO DO, BUT LIKE WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO BY LAW. BUT USING SNAIL MAIL MEANS TO REACH THE RESIDENTS IS A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY. I KNOW IN MY DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY, AND SO I WOULD I'VE ACTUALLY TRIED IN PREVIOUS BUDGET YEARS TO INCREASE THIS LINE ITEM WHEN TC WAS HERE, BECAUSE I WANTED OUR ABILITY AT MCC TO BE ABLE TO MAIL OUT. THAT DIDN'T GO OVER, BUT I, I KNOW THAT THERE'S VALUE IN THAT. AND SO THIS ONE GIVES ME A LITTLE HEARTBURN. AND IF I MAY, THE TWO LARGEST ARE MUNICIPAL COURTS IS 247,000 AND CODE COMPLIANCE 120. THOSE ARE THE TWO LARGEST DEPARTMENTS FOR THAT OBJECT CODE. AND THAT AND I GUESS COURTS COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT IS. BUT I'M ASSUMING IN ADDITION TO LIKE NOTICES OF OF PARKING TICKETS, CITATIONS AND STUFF, IS THIS ALSO IS THERE ANY JURY DUTY COMPONENT? WHAT IS HOW MUCH OF THIS IS SPECIFIC? LIKE IS A REQUIRED. YES. THANK THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I'M SORRY. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURTS. [06:25:01] PRETTY MUCH THAT BUDGET THAT WE USE FOR COURT NOTIFICATIONS. SO WE HAVE TO NOTIFY THE INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN A CITATION. SO WE HAVE TO HAVE PROOF OF NOTICE TO THE INDIVIDUAL, LETTING THEM KNOW THEY GOT A CITATION BEFORE IT CAN PROCEED FOR ANY WARRANTS OR ANY OTHER DEFAULTS ON THEIR CASE. WE ALSO DO COURT APPEARANCE NOTICES TO THEM WHENEVER THEY APPLY BY MAIL OR IN PERSON OR ONLINE. WE DO PROVIDE THEM CORRESPONDENCE AS WELL. OKAY. AND THEN THE 2264. CAN YOU, JACK, TELL ME MORE ABOUT OBJECT CODE 2264. WE'RE TRYING TO FIND SOME EXAMPLES OF 2264. SERVICE PINS. YES. 2264. BEING SERVICE PINS. THE TWO DEPARTMENTS THAT WE SHOW HAVE A BUDGET. IN THAT LINE ITEM IS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND THE SERVICE PLANS ARE SERVICE PINS. SERVICE. SO ONCE THEY REACH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS OF SERVICE, THEY ARE AWARDED THEIR SERVICE PINS THAT THEY INCLUDE AS PART OF THEIR UNIFORMS. GOT IT. OKAY. WELL, DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT AWAY, BUT I'D LOVE FOR US TO SEE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LEVERAGING SOME OF OUR PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS TO GET SOME OF THESE. LUXURY LINE ITEMS, IF YOU WILL. I DEFINITELY WANT TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE SERVICES, BUT I DON'T IS THERE ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT THAT HAS A LINE ITEM OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TENURE OF THEIR DEPARTMENT. NOT FOR SERVICE PINS? NO, SIR. NO. IT WAS A A AN END BUDGET IMPACT. SOME YEARS AGO. AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER WARDS THAT WE DO FOR EMPLOYEES WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED, WHETHER IT'S FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS, 20 YEARS, WE DON'T HAVE WE DON'T HAVE GIFTS THAT WE GIVE TO THEM. AND SO THE SERVICE PINS WERE SOMETHING THAT SOME YEARS AGO, WE HAD TO LOOK AT IT FROM A BUDGETARY IMPACT. BUT WE KNOW THAT THROUGH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS THAT'S HOW THEY GET THEIR ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW RANKS THAT THEY PUT ALSO ON THEIR, ON THEIR UNIFORMS. SO WE DID NOT IMPACT THOSE. AT SOME, AT ONE POINT IN TIME, WE HAD A LINE ITEM IN THE HR DEPARTMENT THAT ALLOWED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GIVE OUT OUR CIVILIAN PINS, BUT THAT BUDGET WAS ALSO CUT BY THE CITY COUNCIL. YEAH. OKAY. THAT ONE DOESN'T GIVE ME THIS HEARTBURN AS MUCH. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE IMPACT OF WHAT $1 MILLION WOULD DO TO LANGUAGES? I'M CURIOUS BECAUSE I DEFINITELY THINK THAT THIS IS A MUCH NEEDED LINE. BUT I'M CONFUSED ON, I THINK SOME OF THE, THE RESPONSES THAT WAS GIVEN WAS THAT IT WAS OVER BUDGET. IT WAS COMING IN OVER BUDGET. DID I HEAR THAT CORRECT? I DIDN'T MAKE THAT STATEMENT. YOU DID NOT. SO I THINK WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO SHARE IS THAT WE USED TO HAVE ALL OF THE LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY SITTING IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO WHERE WE WERE MANAGING IT, AND WE WERE ALSO MANAGING A CONTRACT THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT IN OUR MEET AND CONFER. WE HAVE SPECIAL PAY, WHICH IS CONSIDERED THE NON PENSION BENEFITS AND IT'S BUILT IN. SO IF WE RECRUIT, IF WE EXCUSE ME, IF WE RECRUIT AN OFFICER AND THEY PASSED THAT LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY THAT IS INCLUDED THEN AS PART OF THEIR SPECIAL PAY AND THAT. BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY NEGOTIATED IN THERE. YES. WE'VE RAISED THE AMOUNTS FOR THEY GET A SPECIAL PAY FOR EDUCATION IF THEY HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, A MASTER'S DEGREE, I THINK WE ADDED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND THEN WE ALSO ADD THAT LANGUAGE PIECE. SO IT'S IN THE ACTUAL NON PENSION BENEFIT PORTION. AND THEN IT GETS ADDED IN. AND THE REASON WHY WE MENTION THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE LOOKED AT. I MEAN AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN BALANCING AND IDENTIFYING WAYS TO GET TO A BALANCED BUDGET. AND SO LANGUAGE PAY WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DID NOT REVIEW, BUT WHAT WE REALIZED IS THAT IT WOULD DEEPLY IMPACT THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE USING THAT SERVICE AS THEY'RE COMMUNICATING WITH OUR RESIDENTS. AND WE KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE RECEIVING THAT PAY FALL WITHIN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, BOTH POLICE AND FIRE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN [06:30:03] THE PUBLIC ART POSITIONS. THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT I THINK HAVE PASSED. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION TO STRIKE OBJECT CODES 2252 OF $100,000 FOR THE POSTAGE. IN ADDITION TO OBJECT CODE 1242 LANGUAGES, LANGUAGE SERVICES OF $1 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BRING THE AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR TO A TOTAL OF $707,000 TO GO TO RESTORING THE POSITIONS FOR THE LIBRARY HOURS. LOOKING FOR A SECOND? I MEAN, I'M NOT HUNGRY. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LET'S SEE HERE. YEAH. ONE. ALL RIGHT. I HEARD LIKE AT LEAST THREE. SO YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT, MR. BAZALDUA. THANK YOU MAYOR. I AGAIN REALLY APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT OF THE USE OF FUNDS. I HAVE SOME ISSUE WITH CUTTING OUT THE THE POSTAGE METER FOR THE REASONS THAT I'VE LAID OUT. I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT. I THINK THERE ARE MANY CASES. IT'S A LINE ITEM THAT IS IS REALLY WE'RE OBLIGATED TO HAVE FUNDING LAID OUT FOR THE LANGUAGE SERVICES. I MEAN, IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO INCENTIVIZE EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE ORGANIZATION TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS WITH NO LANGUAGE BARRIERS. SO I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT WANT TO IMPACT THAT. IF YOU ALL CAME AND SAID THAT THERE WAS A CONSISTENCY OF AN OVER BUDGET. AND WE WEREN'T UTILIZING THAT BECAUSE THE, THE, IT WASN'T BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, THEN THAT'S ONE THING. BUT WHEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS, BOTH POLICE AND FIRE, ARE THE MOST THAT UTILIZE THIS BENEFIT, AND IT IS WORKED OUT AS A CLAUSE WITHIN THE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT. I THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE A NOT A VERY GOOD ITEM TO TOUCH FOR, FOR MULTIPLE REASONS. SO IT JUST REDUCES DOWN WHAT MR. RIDLEY'S ORIGINAL MOTION LAID OUT FROM ONE POINT. 8 TO $707,000. NOW I GUESS WHAT I WOULD ASK NOW IS FOR AND IT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT ON THE FLY, BUT IF MONICA COULD. CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION BEFORE, WOULD IT BE FEASIBLE TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT WHAT WE WOULD DO WITH THE 707,000 IF THAT MOVED FORWARD, AND WHAT THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR US TO DO AT THE BRANCHES? AND LET US CALCULATE, IF THAT'S A QUESTION THAT YOU WANT TO ASK, I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT EFFECTIVELY. YES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION BEFORE WE VOTE. OKAY. DO YOU MIND IF WE DO THAT? AND, MR. MAYOR, JUST GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONFER ON WHAT THAT WOULD BE SO WE CAN COME BACK WITH AN ACTUAL EFFECTIVE ANSWER, AND THEN WE'RE NOT ANSWERING ON THE FLY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY CAPTURE WHAT THAT WOULD DO. SO WE CAN LOOK AT THE BRANCHES, WHAT THAT WOULD DO TO THE HOURS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. AND I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THE FLAGSHIPS AND THE OTHER AMENDMENT. CORRECT. THE FLAGSHIPS ARE ALREADY THERE. OKAY. ARE YOU OKAY? WE NEED ABOUT MAYBE LESS THAN TEN MINUTES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. ARE YOU OKAY? IF IF WE HOLD YOUR TIME WHERE IT IS AND LET OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, IF THEY WANT TO STAY IN THE QUEUE AND GO AHEAD AND GO TAKE THEIR TURNS. YES. CAN I JUST BEFORE WE PAUSE IT, HAVE ONE QUESTION TO MR. RIDLEY IF HE'S GOING TO ANSWER. YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. RIDLEY. THE SPIRIT OF YOUR ORIGINAL MOTION BEFORE ADDING THESE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES DOES THE INVESTMENT THAT WE HAD THAT PASSED IN MR. GRACEY AMENDMENT FOR THE FLAGSHIP LIBRARY, DOES THAT TAKE CARE OF THAT ISSUE IN THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE MOTION OF YOUR MOTION? THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE INTENT OF MY ORIGINAL MOTION. MY ORIGINAL MOTION WAS SIMPLY TO RESTORE THE 20 HOURS TO SIX DAYS A WEEK AND THE LIBRARIAN POSITIONS, NOT TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR RENOVATION OF LIBRARIES. OKAY. OKAY, SO THEN I GUESS I'LL JUST WAIT FOR THE ANSWER, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO 248 WE'LL NOTE HIS TIME THERE, AND WE'LL GO TO MISS MENDELSOHN FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY. CAN STAFF EXPLAIN HOW MUCH DID WE AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR OF 26? HOW MUCH WOULD HAVE BEEN SPENT FOR LANGUAGE PAY? WHAT IS YOUR ESTIMATION? POINT OF ORDER. MAYOR. STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER. THE LANGUAGE PAY HAS BEEN REMOVED. IS NO LONGER A PART OF THE AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR. IS THAT TRUE? THAT WAS THE AMENDMENT. OH, YEAH. SUSTAIN. WELL. [06:35:02] HIS MOTION. OKAY. CAN I GIVE MY REASON? I'VE ALREADY RULED ON IT, BUT GO AHEAD. WELL, THE REASON YOU CAN ARGUE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ROLL THE CLOCK. HE'S TAKING IT OUT IS BECAUSE HE THINKS IT'S VALUABLE. AND I AGREE, BUT I'M NOT SURE HE HAS ALL THE FACTS. OKAY, THAT'S A DEBATE POINT. GO AHEAD. OKAY, SO I WOULD LIKE FOR STAFF TO CONFIRM WHAT I'M SAYING, WHICH IS IN THE FORECAST THAT I SAW. IT SAID THAT YOU'RE EXPECTING $345,000 FOR LANGUAGE PAY. MAYOR FISCAL POINT OF ORDER. STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A DESIRE TO DEBATE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THAT TIME ALREADY PASSED WHEN WE'VE ALREADY VOTED UP OR DOWN, REMOVING THIS FROM THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR. I'M SUSTAINING THAT. SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DEBATE THE WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON HIS MOTION. WE'RE DEBATING HIS MOTION. RIGHT. BUT NOT WITH THAT NOT NOT WITH THAT PROVISION IN IT ANYMORE. IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THE HE WAS SPEAKING TO HIS MOTION. IT HASN'T BEEN VOTED ON. I'M SPEAKING TO WHAT HE'S DOING. I NEED TO CONFIRM WITH THE PARLIAMENTARIAN THAT THAT HE'S REMOVING AN ITEM. IS IT IN THERE OR NOT. SO DO YOU HAVE A TOTAL DO YOU HAVE A TOTAL OF AN OBJECT OF EXPENDITURE. IS THAT IN THE ADDED TO THE BUDGET DOCUMENT. HAVE THE FACTS. IT DOESN'T HAVE THE CURRENT YEAR'S. OKAY. WELL ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS THERE'S A. I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE GOT THE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE GOT. THERE'S 1.2 MILLION LEFT UNLESS SHE TOOK IT AND HAD IT ALONE. ALL RIGHT. HE SAYS YOU CAN PROCEED DOWN THAT PATH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO. HI, JACK. WHAT I'M SEEING FOR THAT OBJECT, CODE LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY IS THAT YOU WERE EXPECTING APPROXIMATELY $345,000 TO BE SPENT OF A $1.5 MILLION ITEM. IS THAT ACCURATE OR IS SOMETHING CHANGED? SO AS I MENTIONED A FEW MINUTES AGO TO ANOTHER QUESTION IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON PAGE 224 OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENT FOR LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY, THEY HAVE A BUDGET IN THE CURRENT YEAR OF 1,085,380. THEIR FORECAST SHOWS ZERO. SO THEY USE THAT OBJECT CODE. IT'S JUST THAT IT FOR REFLECTIVE PURPOSES HERE IT WAS IN THEIR THEIR SALARIES OR ONE OF THEIR OTHER PAY CODES. IT DID NOT GET EXPENSED AGAINST THE LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY, WHICH IS WHERE THEY HAVE THE BUDGETED DOLLARS. SO I CAN'T TELL YOU ACCURATELY HOW MUCH OF THE MILLION 85, BUT I KNOW THEY'VE SPENT SOME OF IT. SO YOUR NUMBER MAY BE OVERSTATED. OKAY. SO THE SPREADSHEET THAT'S ON THE CITY WEBSITE WITH THE OBJECT CODES YOU'RE SAYING IS NOT CORRECT. I'M I'M SAYING YES, MA'AM. I'M SAYING THAT THE THE EXPENDITURES FOR LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY UNDERSTATES BECAUSE PART OF THAT PAY IS SHOWN IN THEIR REGULAR SALARIES. SO IT IS UNDERSTATED IN THE INFORMATION THAT IS ONLINE. SO PERHAPS MARTIN HAS INFORMATION. YES. THIS IS MARTIN RIOJAS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE WE DO WE DO HAVE A BUDGET OF OF LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY. AND THEN WHEN THE WORKDAY REPORT COMES OUT AND WE GET PAID AND THE OFFICERS GET PAID, IT GETS EXPENSED IN THE NON-COMPUTATIONAL. SO OUR COST IS ABOUT 9000 A MONTH. SO IN A YEAR'S TIME IT'S ABOUT $1.1 MILLION. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE FORECASTING FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. YES, MA'AM. AND ALSO SO MARTIN INDICATES THAT IT'S BEING EXPENSED AGAINST OBJECT CODE 11129 COMPUTATION. AND THAT ONE YOU CAN SEE IS OVER BUDGET IN THE CURRENT YEAR TO OFFSET THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE PAY LINE BEING UNDER BUDGET IN THE CURRENT YEAR. OKAY. AND HOW MUCH IS THAT OVER BUDGET. THAT LINE ITEM. 1.1 ROUGHLY 242. SO IT'S HIS ACTUAL. AND ARE YOU JUST DOING IT THAT WAY BECAUSE OF PENSION CALCULATIONS? WELL. THE, THE, THE ANSWER IS THAT THAT'S IN THE PROGRAMING. AND WHEN THE SALARIES HIT AND WORK DAY CODES IT THAT WAY THAT'S WHERE IT GETS EXPENSED. WE WE STILL. BECAUSE THERE IS AN OBJECT CODE FOR LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY, WE STILL PUT OUR BUDGET THERE, BUT IT GETS EXPENSED IN THAT OTHER OBJECT CODE. OKAY. SO IN THAT CASE THAT OBJECT CODE WOULD STILL BE ABOUT 200 000 UNDER BUDGET. IS THAT CORRECT, JACK? NO, IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OVER BUDGET. THERE'S ONE 1,085,000 IN THE BUDGET AND ABOUT 1.1. [06:40:01] SO IT'S ROUGHLY THE SAME 1.1, 1.1. I DON'T MEAN JUST FOR THAT DEPARTMENT. OH I APOLOGIZE. I'M LOOKING AT THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET FOR THAT OBJECT. CODE IS 1,551,870. OR IS THAT RIGHT? NO, I TRUST YOU ON THAT. OKAY. THE NEXT BIGGEST DEPARTMENT WAS FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH HAS 345. SO 1.1 AND 345. SO 1.4 MILLION OF IT IS BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THERE WAS PROBABLY SOME FIRE DEPARTMENTS ALSO NOT ATTRIBUTING IT TO THAT OBJECT. NO, THERE'S IS RECORDED IN THE RIGHT OBJECT CODE ACCORDING TO THE 345. THEIR BUDGET IS 322 800 IN THE CURRENT YEAR. THAT IS THEIR FORECAST FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. AND IT GOES UP A LITTLE BIT TO 345 NEXT YEAR. OKAY. SO THAT TO ME LOOKS LIKE IT'S $100,000 UNDER BUDGET. THEN THAT OBJECT CODE FOR THE YEAR, IF YOU ADD IN THE D, P, D TO THE EXISTING 345 OF FIRE THAT YOU'D COME UP TO 1.445 OF A 1.551 BUDGET ITEM. IS THAT RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. THAT'S TRACKS. OKAY. SO. THE OTHER 110,000 IS IN THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT. SO THE 345 IS NOT ALL FIRE. NO, THE 345 IS FIRE. SO THERE'S ANOTHER DEPARTMENT THAT'S NOT IN THAT OBJECT CODE. I'M DOUBLE CHECKING. INCORRECT. THEY HAVE 110,000 BUDGETED. AND THEY'RE SHOWING ZERO IN THAT LINE ITEM FOR THEIR FORECAST. SO EITHER AND YOU MAY BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHETHER THAT'S GETTING CHARGED SOMEWHERE ELSE OR THEY'RE NOT SPENDING IT. ARE YOU ABLE TO ANSWER. REGARDING LIBRARY LANGUAGE PAY. SORRY MISS MENDELSOHN. WE ARE USING LANGUAGE. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. WE USE LANGUAGE PAY EXTENSIVELY ACROSS THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE WE HAVE A MANDARIN SPEAKER AT FRED'S PARK. WE HAVE LOTS OF SPANISH SPEAKERS ACROSS THE CITY. I THINK WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 79. LIKE 1 IN 4 OF OUR STAFF RECEIVE LANGUAGE PAY. OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT SOURCE OF FUNDS WAS IDENTIFIED BECAUSE OF THE REPORTING, RIGHT? SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT A REPORT AND IT SAYS THAT ONLY 345,000 OF A $1.5 MILLION BUDGET ITEM WAS USED, IT BECOMES AN EASY SOURCE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THINGS ARE JUST NOT CODED AS EXPECTED. SO THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND THAT NOW. I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION TO INCLUDE $50,000 AS A SOURCE OF FUNDS OBJECT CODE 2220, WHICH IS LAUNDRY CLEANING SUPPLIES. SECOND. SECOND. OKAY, SO THERE ARE THREE SECONDS. MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. WOW. OKAY. WELL THIS ONE IS SORT OF SIMILAR. THE BUDGET IS SHOWING 909,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, BUT 839,000 AS YOUR FORECAST. SO ONE COULD EASILY REDUCE IT BY 50,000. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENED FOR FISCAL YEAR 27. IT'S AT 899. SO TAKING 50,000 FROM THAT WOULD MAINTAIN THE SAME LEVEL OF EXPENDITURE. I WAS LOOKING UP THAT OBJECT CODE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY VARIANCE. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT I'M SEEING. OKAY. DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU'RE EXPLAINING. SO WOULD YOUR NUMBERS VERIFY THAT THERE WERE MORE THAN $50,000 REMAINING THAT HAD BEEN BUDGETED AND NOT EXPENDED FOR FISCAL YEAR 26? I APOLOGIZE. I MEAN, YOU'RE ASKING A VERY, VERY DETAILED QUESTION THAT I JUST DON'T HAVE ALL THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME TO ANSWER THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL. I WILL TRUST YOU ON THAT. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO THAT'S JUST ANOTHER 5000. WHAT IS IT FOR? MR. MAYOR, I HATE TO DO THIS AGAIN, BUT BECAUSE SOME OF THESE OBJECT CODES, WE DON'T HAVE THE DETAIL SITTING IN FRONT OF US, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVEN IF THERE IS AN IMPACT, [06:45:02] I DON'T WANT TO BE SILENCED ON IT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BEING TRANSPARENT. AND I DO KNOW THAT DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE A LAUNDRY LINE ITEM ARE TYPICALLY THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES TO HAVE A UNIFORM, AND IT'S CLEANED AT A CERTAIN LEVEL. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ANSWERING WHAT THOSE IMPACTS ARE CORRECTLY. AND I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO GO AS FAST AS WE CAN TO DO IT. SO JEANETTE AND JACK, DO Y'ALL NEED A FEW MINUTES? SO WE DO BECAUSE WE CAN TELL YOU WHAT'S BUDGETED, BUT THE IMPACT TO THE DEPARTMENT. WE WOULD NEED A LITTLE TIME TO CONFER. SO FOR 2220 LAUNDRY AND CLEANING EQUIPMENT. FIRE HAS 257, 58,000 BUDGETED FACILITIES, HAS 269,000 BUDGETED AND PARK AND RECREATION HAS 251,000 BUDGETED. THOSE ARE THE THREE LARGEST DEPARTMENTS. THEY HAVE UNIFORMS. THEY HAVE UNIFORM CLEANING SERVICES. SO WE'D HAVE TO CONFER WITH THEM TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE BEING TRANSPARENT. SO I GUESS IF THERE'S A WAY FOR YOU TO VERIFY YOU'RE THE YEAR TO DATE SPENDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE NOT SPENT WHAT HAD BEEN BUDGETED. OBVIOUSLY, THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS TO YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T WANT US TO SAY, OH, WELL, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SERVICE AND THEREFORE NOTHING CAN EVER BE CUT WHEN WE PERHAPS HAVE OVERESTIMATED THE NEED. SO FOR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT LOOKING AT IN THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM. SO FOR FIRE, THEIR BUDGET WAS 257 OR 58,000. THEY'VE SPENT 314,000. SO AT THE TIME OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENT THE FORECAST WAS THROUGH MAY. SO THESE ACTUALS ARE THROUGH ON TODAY. FOR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT THEIR BUDGET WAS 276,000. AND THEY'VE SPENT 267 000. SO SAVINGS OF ABOUT 8000 FOR PARK AND RECREATION. THEIR BUDGET WAS 249,000. AND THEY'VE SPENT 336,000 OVER BY 88,000. SO HAS THAT CHANGED? I MEAN, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE TOTALITY OF THE BUDGET ITEM. SO ARE YOU EXPECTING TO BE OVER BUDGET IN THAT LINE ITEM. SO TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS. DEPARTMENTS REALIZE THAT IF THEY ARE OVER IN CERTAIN EXPENSE OBJECTS, THEY TRY TO GENERATE SAVINGS AND OTHER EXPENSE OBJECTS. THE REMAINING DEPARTMENTS IN THIS PARTICULAR CATEGORY, THEY'RE SMALLER AMOUNTS. SO IN PUBLIC WORKS THEIR BUDGET WAS 33,000. ANIMAL SERVICES THEIR BUDGET WAS 81,000. SO IF YOU GIVE US A SECOND, I CAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH THEY'VE SPENT THROUGH TODAY. SO ANIMAL SERVICES IS OVER BUDGET BY 103,000. THEIR BUDGET WAS 81,500. AND PUBLIC WORKS THEIR BUDGET WAS 32,000. AND THEY'VE SPENT 13,000. SO THEY'RE UNDER BUDGET BY 18,000. OKAY. WELL IT'S PRETTY DIFFICULT TO DO THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS WHEN THE DOCUMENTS DON'T HAVE THE UP TO DATE NUMBERS. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT NUMBERS ARE ALWAYS CHANGING UNTIL YOU CLOSE OUT THE YEAR. BUT THAT'S PRETTY BIG DIFFERENCE. IT IS. AND AS I MENTIONED, WHEN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT IS PREPARED, THE FORECASTS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS A FORECAST AS OF MAY. WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY AND AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE UPDATED INFORMATION REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THE MOST ACCURATE INFORMATION. WELL, I'LL JUST SAY THIS SINCE I HAVE THREE MINUTES LEFT. MAYOR. IN THE PAST, I HAVE READILY AVAILED MYSELF OF THAT SERVICE. BUT HONESTLY, THERE'S A CULTURE RIGHT NOW WHERE IF YOU DO THAT, THEN THERE'S STRATEGIES AGAINST YOUR BUDGET AMENDMENT. AND THAT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO DEAL WITH. AND IT CREATES FRICTION AND SILOS AND STOPS PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE STAFF AND MANAGEMENT PRESENT THE BUDGET TO US THAT THEY BELIEVE IS THEIR BEST FAITH EFFORT, AND THEN ALLOW THE POLITICIANS TO DO THEIR JOB INSTEAD OF TRYING TO THWART AMENDMENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE'S PRIORITIES. AT THE END OF OUR BUDGET SEASON, OUR BUDGET ADOPTION LAST YEAR, CITY MANAGER, YOU LOOKED RIGHT AT ME AND SAID I HAD $20 MILLION YOU COULD HAVE USED. [06:50:09] YOU DIDN'T ASK ME ABOUT IT. AND I SAID, WE DID ASK. AND IF YOU KNEW WHERE IT WAS, WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT TOO. AND SO THIS IS THIS IS THE PROBLEMATIC ASPECT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY. AND, YOU KNOW, I FIND MYSELF TO BE VERY FREE TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF DYSFUNCTION AROUND HERE. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION, AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE STAFF HELPING US ACHIEVE OUR GOALS, EVEN IF IT'S NOT YOUR GOAL OR MANAGEMENT'S GOAL. I WAS GOING TO SEE IF YOU WERE GOING TO GET MORE TO THE AMENDMENT, TO THE AMENDMENT, TO THE AMENDMENT. I BELIEVE I'M DONE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO GO TO CHAIRMAN RIDLEY NOW FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. SO I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE POSTAGE METER CONTRIBUTION TO THIS AMENDMENT. THIS IS OBJECT CODE 2252. IN THE AMOUNT OF 100,000. THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET IS $583,503. THE FORECAST IS TO SPEND 646,000, AND THE NEW BUDGET IS AT 705,000. ABOUT 60,000 OVER THE FORECAST. DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATED FORECAST FOR EXPENDITURES IN THIS FISCAL YEAR? THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD JUSTIFY THE INCREASE IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. ONE MOMENT. SO I'LL START WITH QUARTZ AND USE THEM AS AN EXAMPLE. SO THE FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET FOR NOT INTERESTED IN PARSING OUT EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT USES POSTAGE. I'D LIKE TO GET A TOTAL FIGURE. CAN YOU ADD THAT UP? OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE ALL NIGHT. SO IF WE COULD TAKE THAT BREAK THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND IF YOU COULD GIVE US THE EXPENSE OBJECTS THAT YOU ARE WANTING TOTALS FOR, WE CAN TOTAL THOSE AND THEN PROVIDE THEM. 2252 IS THAT THE ONLY ONE? AT THIS TIME? YES. OKAY, I'LL TAKE A BREAK. OKAY. WELL, HOW ABOUT WE STAND AT RECESS UNTIL 545? HOW ABOUT THAT? THAT'S LIKE 27 MINUTES. I LIKE THAT. YEAH. OKAY. IF THE BROADCAST IS READY TO GO, IT'S 6:00 AND WE ARE BACK IN TO OUR BRIEFING. AND I THINK WHO WHO HAD THE FLOOR? WAS IT MR. RIDLEY WHO HAD IT OR DID YOU HAVE IT LAST, MR. RIDLEY? YES, I WAS WAITING FOR INFORMATION FROM STAFF. OKAY. MR. RIDLEY, THE FLOOR IS YOURS AGAIN. SO, JEANETTE, DO YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION I WAS LOOKING FOR? YES, SIR. AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE RECESS. SO THE FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET WAS 601,000. THROUGH TODAY, ACTUALS ARE JUST FOR CONTEXT, WHICH LINE ITEM ITEM IS THIS? THE POSTAGE. YES. I'M SORRY. YES. THIS IS POSTAGE. EXPENSES THROUGH TODAY 590,000. SO APPROXIMATELY 11000 UNDER BUDGET. THE FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGET WAS INCREASED FROM 601,000 TO 723,000, AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 122,000. THAT INCREASE WAS PRIMARILY IN COURTS. THEIR BUDGET INCREASED BY 110,000 AND A BIG PART OF THAT INCREASE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT TAKING OVER PATROL OF THE HIGHWAYS AND THE TOLL ROAD. AND SO WE DID BUDGET FOR AN INCREASE IN REVENUE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. AND SO THEY ANTICIPATE INCREASES IN REQUIRED NOTICES THAT NEED TO GO OUT AS A RESULT OF THE INCREASED CITATIONS. SO I SHOW THE BUDGET AS BEING 705. BUT YOU'RE SAYING IT'S 723,000 NOW. [06:55:01] YES. OKAY. AND THAT INCREASE IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO ANTICIPATED TICKET VOLUME FOR PATROLLING THE HIGHWAYS. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO THAT'S AN INCREASE OF 18,000 IN THE BUDGET TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT. THAT FIGURE IS STILL 120,000 OVER WHAT WAS SPENT THIS YEAR. SO CAN YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE ADDITIONAL 100,000 INCREASE. SO THE INCREASE IS 100 122,000. AND COURTS INCREASE THEIR BUDGET BY 110,000. AND IS THAT SOLELY BASED UPON ANTICIPATED TICKET VOLUME ON HIGHWAY PATROLS. SO I'LL LET THEM ELABORATE. I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. MARQUEZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURT. SO IT'S IN ANTICIPATION OF ADDITIONAL CITATIONS AND FILINGS AS WELL AS WHAT OUR CURRENT OPERATIONS ARE. SO ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHERE WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN CORRESPONDENCE IS ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT'S BEING ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO LOSE STREET BY DPD. THEY'RE BEING RELEASED ON CLASS C MISDEMEANORS. SO WE HAVE TO SEND A NOTICE TO THEM TO THE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS THAT WE HAVE ON FILE, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A CLASS C CITATION, AND THEY NEED TO COME TO THE COURT TO TAKE CARE OF IT. WE ALSO DO WARRANT POSTCARDS TO THEM WHEN ANYBODY GOES PAST THEIR TIME FRAME TO HANDLE THEM, WE SEND POSTCARDS. NOW WE HAVE LEVERAGED SOME OF THIS COST TO OUR COLLECTION AGENCY, OUR THIRD PARTY COLLECTION AGENCY, TO ASSIST US WITH DOING CORRESPONDENCE ON BEHALF OF THE COURT. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'VE TAKEN OVER THE DISMISSAL NOTICE FOR THE DEFERREDS. SO ANY TIME A DEFENDANT IS ON A DEFERRED PROGRAM AND THEY COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS OF THE COURT ORDER, THEN THEY GET A NOTICE SAYING YOUR CASE HAS BEEN DISMISSED. AND SO THOSE NOTICES HAVE BEEN GENERATED BY THE COLLECTION AGENCY, WHICH IS A NO COST TO THE CITY. SO WE HAVE LEVERAGED SOME OF THE COSTS. OTHERWISE OUR BUDGET FOR THIS EXPENSE LINE WOULD BE HIGHER. SO WHY DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE BUDGET NEEDS TO BE HIGHER FOR THE POSTCARD NOTICES AND THE CLASS C MISDEMEANOR NOTICES? DON'T YOU DO THAT NOW. WE DO THAT NOW. AND SO THE 21 DAY LETTER, WHAT WE CALL 21 DAY LETTER IS IF YOU GET A CITATION, IT'S FILED WITH THE COURT TODAY. THE NEXT MORNING, THAT NOTICE IS BEING SENT OUT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU GOT A CITATION. THIS IS YOUR TIME FRAME. THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF THE CITATION. I UNDERSTAND MORE CITATIONS INCREASE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE CORRESPONDENCE BEING SENT OUT. SO WHY DO YOU ANTICIPATE MORE CITATIONS. SO WE DO HAVE DPD DID DO AN ANALYSIS REGARDING THE HIGHWAY PATROL. AND SO THEY DO ANTICIPATE ADDITIONAL CITATIONS. SO THEY DO WE DO ANTICIPATE A CONTRIBUTED 2.5 ADDITIONAL IN REVENUE FOR THOSE CITATIONS THAT THEY'LL BE ISSUING FOR ENFORCEMENT. SO DID YOU GO TO THE COUNTY TO ASK HOW MANY CITATIONS THEY WERE ISSUING WHEN PATROLLING THE HIGHWAYS AS A BASIS FOR YOUR CALCULATIONS? I BELIEVE DPD DID THAT RESEARCH, AND THAT'S HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO PROJECT HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL REVENUE WE WOULD GET FROM THAT. WE DID CONSIDER A COLLECTION RATE. SO AS THE REVENUE COVERING THE ADDITIONAL COST OF SENDING THESE NOTICES. CAN YOU CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR QUESTION? WELL, YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE ANTICIPATING, I THINK IT WAS 250, 000 ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM CITATIONS FOR PATROLLING HIGHWAYS. IS THAT NOT DEFRAYING THE COST OF SENDING OUT THE NOTICES? SO IT'S THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS, OF HAVING THE FILING OF THE CITATION. SO AN INCREASE IN CITATIONS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN INCREASE IN POSTAGE THAT WE SEND OUT. AND WELL THAT'S NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTION. MY QUESTION WAS A NUMERICAL ONE. DOES THE INCOME GENERATED BY THOSE CITATIONS, COVER THE COST. THE INCREASED COST OF THE POSTAGE? YES, MORE THAN I BELIEVE YOU SAID. IT'S $2.5 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE. 2.5 MILLION ADDITIONAL REVENUE BY PETROLEUM. 2.5 MILLION. YES. YES. SO WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING? IT GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND, THE SAME AS ALL MUNICIPAL COURT REVENUES GO TO THE GENERAL FUND, AND THEY PAY FOR POLICE AND FIRE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO. OKAY. THANK YOU. MISS KENNEDY RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT BY MISS MENDELSOHN. YES. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE LANGUAGE PACE. SO WHAT DOES AN EMPLOYEE DO TO GET THE LANGUAGE PAY? IN SIMPLE TERMS. THEY HAVE TO TEST FOR THE DIFFERENT LEVEL. THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF LANGUAGE PAY. AND BASED UPON THEIR LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY THEY GET A DIFFERENT STIPEND BASED UPON THAT AND THEY HAVE TO RECERTIFY, I BELIEVE, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. I MAY BE WRONG ON THE RECERTIFICATION, BUT I THINK IT'S ONE YEAR. AND IF THEY PASS IT AND GET THE CERTIFICATION, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY TRANSLATE DOCUMENTS OR IS IT ONLY FOR A CONVERSATIONAL LANGUAGE? [07:00:05] WHAT IS THE LEVEL. MOSTLY CONVERSATIONAL. NOW I'LL ASK MONIA, DID YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC SITUATION? MOSTLY. SO POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR EMS. SO IT'S INTERACTIONS WITH RESIDENTS THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO INTERACT WITH AND FROM POLICE AND FIRE, BUT NOT SURE I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ON BEHALF OF LIBRARY. IT IS. YES, MOSTLY CONVERSATION SERVING THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE DO ASK STAFF TO TRANSLATE FOR FOR FLIERS. THEY ALSO HELP RESIDENTS WHO NEED TRANSLATION. IF THEY BRING IN A DOCUMENT THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND, WE CAN HELP TRANSLATE IT. SO IT IS BOTH VERBAL AND WRITTEN AND SO DOES THE TESTING. ALSO COVER FOR WRITTEN LANGUAGE TRANSLATION BECAUSE THOSE ARE DIFFERENT SKILLS. THE ANSWER IS YES, THE PROFICIENCY IS FOR BOTH. OKAY. AND THEN HOW DO EMPLOYEES LEARN ABOUT THE LANGUAGE PAY OPPORTUNITIES. YEAH. WELL EVERYONE'S AWARE OF IT. IT'S A WELL KNOWN PROGRAM. AND SO WITHIN DEPARTMENTS, THERE'S DECISIONS MADE BY MANAGEMENT TO DETERMINE WHO THEY WANT TO WHICH POSITIONS MAY NEED THAT. AND SO JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE SPEAKS A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, THEY MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR IT. IF THEY DON'T NEED TO USE THAT LANGUAGE AS PART OF THEIR ROUTINE JOB. SO IF, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, BUT WE BANK IN A, IN THE US AND ENGLISH IS IS SUFFICIENT. SO WE DON'T GIVE LANGUAGE PAY FOR THOSE SITUATIONS. AND HOW MANY LANGUAGES DO WE HAVE CERTIFICATIONS FOR? IS IT ONLY SPANISH OR. IT'S PRIMARILY SPANISH? BUT I THINK MUNYA ANSWERED EARLIER THAT SHE HAS OTHERS BESIDES SPANISH IN THE LIBRARY. SO YEAH, GO AHEAD. MUNYA. MAYOR. POINT OF ORDER. STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER. I BELIEVE THE ONLY AMENDMENT WAS ABOUT THE LAUNDRY. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS GERMANE. PARLIAMENTARIAN AGREES WITH YOU. SUSTAINED. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO? I WAS WAITING FOR MANIA. SORRY. SURE. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER. THE LIBRARY HAS PRIMARILY SPANISH, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT. BUT WE ALSO HAVE A MANDARIN SPEAKER AT FRED'S PARK. WE HAVE GERMAN AND FRENCH. WE SERVE SOME AFRICAN COMMUNITIES THAT SPEAK FRENCH, SO WE DO HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO SPEAK THOSE LANGUAGES. OKAY. THAT'S GREAT. AND THEN HOW WOULD THIS IMPACT EMPLOYEES THAT RECEIVE THIS PAY IF THIS PASSES? THEY WOULD HAVE A REDUCTION IN THEIR NET PAY. IF WE NO LONGER PROVIDE THIS AND SOMEONE HAS BEEN RECEIVING IT, WE WOULD TAKE IT AWAY. OKAY. SO PEOPLE'S PAY WOULD BE IMPACTED. YOU KNOW. THIS SOURCE OF FUNDING IS, IS PROBLEMATIC IN THAT I KNOW MANY TIMES I GO TO COMMUNITY EVENTS AND AND I'M EVEN ASKED TO TRANSLATE. POINT OF ORDER MAYOR. DID YOU SUSTAIN MY. MY POINT? MY LAST POINT OF ORDER. I DID. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I'LL WAIT. SO IT'S ONLY THE LAUNDRY ITEM, RIGHT? YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. OKAY. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR. OKAY. I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE. SO THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT BY MISS MENDELSOHN IS WHAT'S ON THE FLOOR. SO IF YOU SUPPORT IT, PLEASE INDICATE THAT WITH A SHOW OF YOUR SEALS. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBER. ROTH. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN AND RIDLEY. WITH ONLY FOUR SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, WE'RE BACK ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA. ANYONE IN THE QUEUE? DON'T SEE ANYONE. SO IF YOU SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ADD? I THINK THAT I WAS STILL WAITING TO GET BACK TO MY TIME. OH, YES, $700,000. BUY IT. YEAH. YES. TWO. OH, YEAH. OKAY, SO YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES AND 48 SECONDS. [07:05:01] THANK YOU SIR. WELL, I THINK THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE SPECIFICALLY TO REMOVING THE LANGUAGE FROM THIS MOTION. YEAH. IS. WHAT THIS IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE BOUND TO WITHIN MEET AND CONFER. RIGHT. AND IT IS A, A PAY COMPONENT WITHIN MEET AND CONFER. YES, SIR. AND IT'S AN OFFERED BENEFIT FOR THOSE THAT MEET AND CONFER DOESN'T COVER. SO IT'S CONSIDERED NOT A PART OF THE BASE PAY. IT'S IN THE NON PENSION BENEFIT. SO IT'S ONE OF THE SPECIAL PAYS THAT THEN GETS ADDED IN AS PART OF THE MEETING CONFER. SO IT'S SO IT'S IT'S BUILT IN BUT IT'S IN A SEPARATE. SO IT'S IN WE GOT THE BASE AND THEN WE HAVE THE NON PENSION BENEFITS. AND SO IT'S IN THAT BUCKET. AND IF THIS WERE TO BE REMOVED OR IF IT WAS TO GO DOWN IN WHAT'S BEEN BUDGETED ACROSS ALL LINE ITEMS, IT'S STILL A BENEFIT THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS. AND THERE'S A LARGE PORTION OF IT THAT IS REQUIRED WITHIN MEET AND CONFER. SO WHAT WOULD Y'ALL DO? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THE OPTION IS TO NOT PAY IT. WELL, I THINK THAT'S WHY WE SHOULDN'T DO THINGS THAT ARE A PART OF OUR MEETING CONFIRMED NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FLOOR. WE WOULD HAVE TO GO IN AND ACTUALLY EITHER REDUCE IT BASED ON WHERE THIS ENDS UP. AND BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF IT IS IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA THAT'S ON STARTING PAY WITH THAT NON PENSION, BUT ANYBODY THAT'S CURRENTLY RECEIVING IT IN THE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT'S ALREADY BUILT IN AND THEY'VE BEEN RECEIVING IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT AWAY. WOULD YOU SEE LEGAL ISSUES WITH EMPLOYMENT CONCERNS WITH CIVIL SERVICE AND OR ASSOCIATION. I MEAN ISN'T THAT US BREACHING OUR OWN AGREEMENT WITH OUR EMPLOYEES. IT'S BEEN A PART OF OUR SPECIAL PAY. AND IF COUNCIL CHOOSES FOR IT TO NO LONGER BE, WE WOULD HAVE TO, AS PART OF OUR MEETING, CONFER, RENEGOTIATE THAT WHERE IT'S OFF THE TABLE, WHERE IT'S NOT BEING INCLUDED. BUT AGAIN, IF IT'S IN THE EXISTING EMPLOYEE OR OFFICER SALARY RIGHT NOW, WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO REMOVE THAT SO THEY WOULD GET A REDUCTION IF THEY'RE RECEIVING IT. OKAY. AND YOU KNOW, LAWSUITS HAPPEN. JUST BASIC STUFF. SO WE WOULD, WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO AGAIN, LOOK AT IT ACROSS THE BOARD BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS ARE PRIMARILY THE LARGEST USERS. WE DO HAVE OTHER DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY PARK AND REC LIBRARIES WHERE INDIVIDUALS ARE ALSO RECEIVING THAT PAY. THE MEETING CONFIRMED ONE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE BECAUSE IT'S BUILT INTO THE SPECIAL PAY. AND IS THAT SPECIAL PAY CODIFIED FROM ANY POLICY FROM THIS BODY OR IS IT UNILATERALLY DONE THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION? NO, IT'S A PART OF OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH OUR MEETING CONFIRMED. I'M NOT TALKING SPECIAL PAY COMPONENT. OH. SO WE ACTUALLY, AS PART OF OUR LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY PROGRAM, WHICH IS ALSO IDENTIFIED IN OUR PERSONNEL RULES, COUNCIL APPROVES THOSE PERSONNEL RULES. SO IT'S A PART OF OUR ADOPTED CURRENT PERSONNEL RULES THAT IF AN EMPLOYEE IS UTILIZING THE LANGUAGE AND THEY'VE MET THE PROFICIENCY THAT THERE IS A PAY. SO IT WOULD REQUIRE US TO, TO CHANGE THE PERSONNEL RULES. YES, WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO BRING YOU THAT CHANGE IN THE EXISTING PERSONNEL RULES. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR. MISS BLACKMON, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE SEVEN A LITTLE NORTH OF $700,000 TO TO, TO LIBRARIES. CAN I GET A CLARIFICATION OF WHAT THIS WILL BUY US IN OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM? YES. AND THAT WAS WHAT WE WENT TO WORK ON. SO WE'RE EXACTLY. YES, MA'AM. HE BURIED THE HEADLINE. I DIDN'T WANT HER TO DO A MEET AND CONFER QUESTIONS. YEAH. GIVE ME THE RUNDOWN OF WHAT 700 000 WILL GET US. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE TIME TO FIGURE THAT OUT, SO WE COULD OPEN SEVEN NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES ON MONDAYS FROM 10 TO 5. SO SEVEN HOURS FOR SEVEN LIBRARIES? YES. AS A REMINDER, IN THE NEW YEAR, 21 LOCATIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE CLOSED SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS. SO THIS WOULD OPEN SEVEN OF THE 21. [07:10:03] SO IF WE. AND OKAY, CAN I, CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING ONE AS WELL? OKAY. SO THE 1.8 WOULD GIVE US DOUBLE THAT. BASICALLY THAT WAS FOR THE 11 IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. NO IT WAS NOT FOR THE FULL 21. IT WASN'T. IT'S NOT FOR THE FULL. 21 OKAY. NO, I BELIEVE IT WAS FOR 11 LOCATIONS TO BE OPEN. I'M SORRY, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE CONFUSING. I UNDERSTAND. I'M CONFUSED TOO. IT'S JUST LIKE WE'RE. IT'S FOR $700,000, AND IT'S A THIRD OF THE LIBRARY'S FOR ONE DAY, FOR SEVEN HOURS. I MEAN, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO. HOW MANY? WE TALKED ABOUT THE REC CENTERS. WE NEED PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND IT'S LIKE, I, I JUST WOULD, I WAS HOPING THAT MAYBE Y'ALL WOULD FIND THAT RABBIT THAT WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT WITH T.C., AND YOU WOULD FIND THE FULL AMOUNT TO PUT TO KEEPING ALL OF THESE LIBRARIES OPEN. BUT I GUESS THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, RIGHT? NO. T.C. USED ALL THE RABBITS. HE USED ALL THE RABBITS. ALL THE RABBITS ARE GONE. OH, BECAUSE I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE CONFUSING WITH ONLY A THIRD OF THEM, AND IT'S NOT ALL OF THEM. AND THEN IT BECOMES A BATTLE. WHICH THIRD? RIGHT. AND I MEAN, AND IT'S LIKE. AND IT'S NOT EVEN. IT'S 10 TO 5. AND MOST OF THE FAMILIES LIKE MISS MENDELSOHN SAID, THEY'RE THERE AT SEVEN. AND I MEAN, IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU COULD DO NOON TO SEVEN OR EVEN NOON TO EIGHT? SQUEEZE OUT ANOTHER HOUR. SURE. OKAY. WE CAN ABSOLUTELY CHANGE THE HOURS ON MONDAY. I WILL REMIND THE BODY THAT WE ARE ALSO STANDING UP THE FIVE FLAGSHIPS, AND THOSE WILL BE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. SO THOSE FIVE WILL BE OPEN FROM 10 TO 8 ON MONDAYS. DALLAS IS A BIG CITY THOUGH, AND PEOPLE ARE USED TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY. NOT ALL LIBRARIES ARE OPEN ON MONDAYS CURRENTLY, BUT I HEAR YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND MR. MAYOR, I ALSO WANT TO JUST ADD ONE THING. AS WE TALKED AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, I THINK ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WE REALLY APPROACHED THIS WITH THE GUIDANCE THAT WE GOT. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE NOT CLOSING BRANCHES AS IT RELATES TO DISCONTINUING ANY SERVICES. AND WE WERE ALSO TRYING TO STABILIZE THE SYSTEM GOING FORWARD TO WHERE EVERY YEAR AS WE'RE DEVELOPING THE BUDGET. IT'S NOT A GAME AROUND SHIFTING THE HOURS. THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS. SO THE WHOLE FLAGSHIP MODEL WAS TO REALLY BEGIN TO MOVE US IN THAT DIRECTION AND ADD MORE FLAGSHIPS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIVE AND 27. BUT THAT'S NOT THE THAT'S NOT THE END OF THE FLAGSHIP MODEL, IS TO CONTINUE TO PROGRESS IN THAT DIRECTION TO WHERE WE'RE HAVING MULTIPLE SERVICES, EXPANDED HOURS, AND WE'RE CREATING THAT ACROSS THE CITY. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THE CITY IS BIG, BUT WE'RE ALSO USING DATA TO KIND OF HELP DRIVE WHICH ONES WE START WITH IN 2027. BUT THE GOAL WAS NEVER TO JUST DO THOSE FIVE FLAGSHIPS AND WE HAVE NO MORE. THE GOAL IS TO ADD ADDITIONAL ONES. AND SO AGAIN, THIS HAS REALLY BEEN A BALANCING ACT, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT WHEN ARE OUR RESIDENTS ACCESSING THE LIBRARY AND DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT STAFFING MODEL? SO WHEN OUR LIBRARIES NEED TO BE OPEN FOR US TO BE OPEN AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE STAFFING MODEL THAT WE NEED. SO THAT'S THE THAT'S THE GOAL OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING BASED ON THE GUIDANCE AND THE POLICY DIRECTION. AS WE BRIEFED THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS. BUT THE GOAL WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE STABILIZING THE SYSTEM AND CREATING A SUSTAINABLE PATHWAY FORWARD, UTILIZING THE FLAGSHIP BRAND STRATEGY. AND I, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I'M AFRAID THAT AS THE YEARS COME BY, THIS IS GOING TO BE WHERE WE KEEP CUTTING. AND BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE MADE A STATEMENT THAT WE'RE NOT CUTTING PARKS AND IT'S GOING TO BE LIBRARIES, AND THEN IT'S GOING TO BE ARTS. AND THEN, I MEAN, BECAUSE WE. IT'S JUST GOING TO THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE PRESSURES TO THE BUDGET. AND I, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A TOUGH JUGGLE, I GET IT, BUT IT'S ALMOST LIKE, IS IT WORTH THE SQUEEZE TO HAVE IT OPEN ONE MORE DAY OF THE WEEK FOR ONLY A THIRD OF THE LIBRARIES. AND YOU KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DO THE MATH AND YOU'RE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE THREE HOURS, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THIS ONE THING. AND IT'S LIKE, REALLY FOR SEVEN HOURS FOR, FOR 52 DAYS. THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET. AND IT'S AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KEEPING POOLS OPEN BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED THE PLACE TO GO, KEEPING REC CENTERS BECAUSE KIDS ARE OUT. IT'S LIKE, WELL, THESE ARE ACTUALLY PLACES WHERE PEOPLE GO AS WELL. AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN STAGGER THEM AND LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, OUR REC CENTERS OPEN HERE AND THEN MAYBE LIBRARIES BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT SOME RECS AND LIBRARIES CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, AND THAT WAY THERE IS A PLACE FOR THEM TO GO CONSISTENTLY AND NOT JUST, OH, WAIT, NOW I'VE GOT TO CHOOSE WHICH ONE. AND THEN TOMORROW I HAVE NEITHER ONE. AND SO I THINK A COORDINATION EFFORT THAT'S MORE COMMUNITY BASED, LOOKING AT WHAT THE WHAT THE MARKET WANTS INSTEAD OF JUST WHAT'S CONVENIENT FOR US. [07:15:02] I THINK THAT MAKES TOTAL SENSE. AND AS WE LOOK AT WHAT THOSE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ARE, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT LIBRARIES DON'T NECESSARILY MEAN BRICK AND MORTAR. HOW ARE WE ENSURING THAT WHENEVER OUR RESIDENTS WANT ACCESS TO LIBRARY MATERIAL, CAN THEY STILL DO IT? AND THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL WAYS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH SOME DIGITAL PROGRAMS, SOME RETAIL PROGRAMS. SO I THINK THE MODEL HAS TO EVOLVE TO BE MORE THAN JUST WALKING INTO THE FRONT DOOR OF A LIBRARY. AND I THINK YOU'VE YOU'VE HELPED US SEE THAT THROUGH THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD BEFORE ABOUT LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN CREATE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS TO WHERE PEOPLE CAN STILL ACCESS BOOKS AND THOSE SERVICES. SO I KNOW THAT THIS TEAM IS COMMITTED TO DOING IT. I THINK, AGAIN, THIS YEAR IS A YEAR FOR US TO REALLY START REFRAMING THAT MODEL. AND OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE BUDGET, WE'RE NOT GOING IN AND TALKING ABOUT CUTTING HOURS, BUT HOW DO WE STABILIZE THE SYSTEM AND CREATE THE CONSISTENCY, WHICH RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT HAVE, AND THEN DO THAT GOING FORWARD? AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S THE WAY THAT DIRECTOR SHAW AND THE TEAM IS ACTUALLY THINKING. SO WE HEAR YOU AND WE UNDERSTAND IT, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS MODEL AS WE GO THROUGH EVEN THE YEAR, ONCE THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. THANK YOU. MISS CADENA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. SO TO GO BACK TO THE LANGUAGE ACCESS SO IF WE'RE IN NEED OF LANGUAGE SKILLS AND THE LANGUAGE PAY IS TAKEN AWAY, THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES? SO ARE WE LEGALLY ABLE TO ASK OUR EMPLOYEES STILL TO TRANSLATE IF YOU ARE. WELL, THAT'S BEEN THE THAT'S BEEN THE CONCERN IS THAT YOU ARE NOW ASKING FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT MAYBE THAT BASE PAY IS. I THINK THAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE LANGUAGE ASSIGNMENT PAY PROGRAM WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED. AND WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WAS TO CREATE THIS BALANCE IN THE PAST. WE SPENT A LOT MORE MONEY ON LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES THROUGH A THIRD PARTY. AND SO WHAT WE REALIZED IS THAT IF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE THEIR PROFICIENCY, THEN THAT'S LESS MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO GO AND PAY A THIRD PARTY, WHICH OFTENTIMES COST US MORE. WE HAD TO SCHEDULE IT. WE HAD TO WAIT. IF WE'RE ON THE PHONE TALKING TO A RESIDENT, WE NEEDED TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT. THEN WE HAD TO WAIT AND GET THE CONTRACTUAL PEACE CALL AND THEN ADD THEM TO THE CALL. THAT'S JUST NOT A REAL EFFICIENT WAY TO DO IT. SO WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I KNOW THAT IN 2022, WE STARTED MAKING SURE THAT THAT PROFICIENCY WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE I THINK MR. IRELAND MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY SAID, HEY, I SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE. I WANTED TO GET PAID FOR IT. SO WE HAD TO START A VERY ROBUST TESTING, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAD THE LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY THAT WAS NEEDED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE PAY. SO WE'VE KIND OF TRANSFORMED THE WHOLE LANGUAGE PAY PROGRAM OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO MAKE IT BE TRULY ABOUT THOSE POSITIONS WHERE IT'S REQUIRED. AND WE ADVERTISE FOR THOSE POSITIONS WITH IT BUILT IN. SO THEN IT'S BUILT INTO THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE THROUGH THAT POSITION. SO WE'VE MADE A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE PROGRAM OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. I MEAN, MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD INCREASE THIS FUND IN THE FUTURE. I KNOW FOR ME, I, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT LANGUAGE PAY UNTIL PROBABLY FIVE YEARS AFTER I WAS EMPLOYED. YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW THAT MY DEPARTMENT SOME OF MY COWORKERS TRANSLATED MANY, MANY DOCUMENTS, NOT JUST FOR MY OFFICE, BUT THEY, THEY TRANSLATE ALL THE DOCUMENTS THEY TRANSLATE FOR COM SOMETIMES THEY CATCH ERRORS. AND I THINK BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE PUT INTO PLACE THE QUALITY OF OUR SPANISH OR OUR DIFFERENT TRANSLATION, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST SPANISH. I THINK DURING COVID, WE HAD KOREAN AND THERE WERE PROBABLY LIKE 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THAT WE HAD TO MAKE SURE TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT. SO THIS IS A HARD ONE BECAUSE WEST DALLAS WAS DEFINITELY HIT HARD WITH THE LIBRARIES. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT. I MEAN, I, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT AS WE LOOK AT THE FLAGSHIPS, THAT WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT METRICS FOR CHECKOUT. YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE USE IT, USE THE LIBRARIES FOR SEARCHING FOR JOBS, THEIR VOTING LOCATIONS. IN MY DISTRICT, IT'S THE ONLY CITY CITY CENTER. AND ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES, THERE'S NO OTHER MEETING PLACE FOR THEM TO GO THAT'S AVAILABLE BESIDES THE CITY FACILITY. SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A DIFFICULT VOTE, BUT I THINK OUR, OUR RESIDENTS ALSO DESERVE TO HAVE QUALITY LANGUAGE ACCESS. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT MORE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS HIRE MORE PEOPLE THAT SPEAK SPANISH. BECAUSE I THINK AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, SOMETIMES I'M EVEN ASKED TO TRANSLATE. I'M WAY MORE COMFORTABLE WITH JUST CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH THAN A PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATOR. [07:20:03] I HAVE FRIENDS THAT DO THAT. AND THAT'S DEFINITELY A SKILL THAT DESERVES TO BE PAID AND REIMBURSED FOR THAT SKILL. TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY. SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. I JUST WANT TO SAY COUNCILWOMAN CARDENAS POINTS ARE REALLY EXACTLY MIRROR MINE ON THIS. AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE REALLY WELL SAID. I THINK THERE WILL BE IMPLICATIONS ACROSS THE CITY THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW. IF WE CUT OUR SPANISH SPANISH LANGUAGE PAY. I CAN SPEAK FROM MY OWN OFFICE THAT TRYING TO MEET THE SALARY REQUIREMENTS TO LURE GOOD TALENT IN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HELPED ME PIECE TOGETHER, MEETING THE SALARY REQUIREMENT. AND AND AS A RESULT, WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK FOR TRANSLATION HELP ANYMORE IN MY OFFICE. SO I DON'T LIKE THE SAUCE ON THIS. AND I THINK EVEN WITH THIS AMENDMENT, IT'S STILL A WIN FOR THE LIBRARIES. I MEAN, IT'S STILL WE ARE STILL PUTTING $707,000 BACK INTO THE LIBRARIES IN SOME WAY THAT WILL BENEFIT THE PUBLIC. SO FOR ME, THIS IS A PRESERVES THE LANGUAGE PAY THAT WE HAVE THAT I THINK IS VERY MUCH NEEDED ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY. AND IT STILL PROVIDES THE FUNDING TO THE LIBRARY TO SUPPORT WHAT I BELIEVE IS A CORE CITY SERVICE. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA? I DON'T SEE ANYONE. SO PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR SEAL. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. BLACKMON. MORENO. WEST. MENDELSOHN. RIDLEY. GRACEY AND WILLIS AND RESENDEZ RESENDEZ IN FAVOR. WITH TEN SEALS AND HAD BEEN RAISED IN FAVOR. THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? MR. RIDLEY? THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY, FOR AN AMENDMENT TO MY MOTION. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT PURPOSE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I MOVE TO AMEND THE FLOOR MOTION TO ADD $418,000 AS AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF FUNDS FROM THE ITS DATA SERVICES FUND AS THE SOURCE. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I WANT TO MAKE SURE ON SOMETHING. SO WE JUST ADOPTED THE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT WAS WAS YOURS. ARE YOU NOW AMENDING THAT AMENDMENT? I AM. OKAY. SO THIS IS ANOTHER AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. OKAY. GO AHEAD. WE NEED THREE SECONDS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. I SEE ONE TWO, THREE. OKAY, WE GOT THREE. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. YOUR AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. SO THE EFFECT OF THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE TO RESTORE THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT OF MY AMENDMENT, WHICH WAS $1,000, WHICH WOULD KEEP 11 BRANCHES OPEN AND RESTORE 25 POSITIONS TO THE LIBRARY STAFF THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE LAID OFF. ITS SOURCE. ITS ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF 418,000 WOULD BE FROM THE ITS DATA SERVICES FUND, WHICH CAN WELL AFFORD A SMALL DEDUCTION OUT OF THE 11 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS IN THAT FUND, WITH NO DEFINITE PLANS FOR THE USE OF THAT FUND AND FOR AN ESCALATION OF THAT FUND OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, FROM 490,000 FOR 04,900,000, 4,500,000, ALL THE WAY UP TO 12.4 MILLION FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR. IT'S NOT GOING TO MISS $400,000. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT? SEEING NONE. INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR SEAL. MR. RESENDEZ HAS HIS COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ HAS HIS HAND RAISED IN FAVOR. CELES RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBER. CADENA. STEWART. BAZALDUA. BLACKMON. MORENO. WEST. MENDELSOHN. RIDLEY AND GRACEY. WITH TEN VOTING IN FAVOR. THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. ANY MORE AMENDMENTS? MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR AN AMENDMENT OR A MOTION RELATED TO AN AMENDMENT, I ASSUME? NO, IT JUST PASSED. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THIS IS AN AMENDMENT WHERE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS IS TO REDUCE MAAC SUPPORT PER COUNCIL MEMBER TO TWO STAFF MEMBERS, [07:25:01] WHICH WOULD BE A REDUCTION OF 1.5 MILLION, AND MOVE THAT 1.5 MILLION TO A MEET AND CONFER FUNDING POOL. HOLD ON ONE SECOND TO I WANT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE JUST TO MAKE SURE. TECHNICALLY, I BUTTONED UP THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT BY MR. RIDLEY. THAT WAS TECHNICALLY AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. ALSO THAT YOU WE JUST VOTED. SO YOUR AMENDMENT NOW HAS BEEN AMENDED. AS SUCH, WE TECHNICALLY OUGHT TO HAVE A SHOW OF PLACARDS FOR THE FINALLY AMENDED AMENDMENT JUST TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. SO IF YOU SUPPORT MR. RIDLEY'S AMENDMENT, AS IT'S BEEN AMENDED TWICE NOW GO AHEAD AND SHOW YOUR. YEAH. MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ HAS HIS HANDS IN FAVOR. SEALS IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH STEWART BAZALDUA BLAIR BLACKMON DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON, MORENO COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO WEST MENDELSOHN RIDLEY GRACEY AND COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS. WITH 14 SEALS BEING RAISED IN FAVOR, MR. MAYOR. WELL, 14 IN FAVOR. THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD. IT'S GOT TO FEEL GOOD TO. MR.. I KNEW YOU WANTED THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU GOT YOUR EMOTION OUT THERE ON THE FLOOR. WE NEED THREE SECONDS FOR IT. NOW. THIS IS THE ONE YOU JUST PASSED OUT. SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU JUST SAID. I SAID WE NEED TO GET THREE SECONDS FOR YOUR AMENDMENT. DID YOU LAY OUT THIS ONE? THIS IS THE ONE WE HAVE IN OUR HANDS. THIS THE ONE YOU LAID OUT? SURE. OKAY. I'M SAYING I NEED TO GET THREE SECONDS FOR IT. SECOND. THAT'S ONE I THOUGHT YOU WERE SAYING TIMING OF NO, NO, NO. I'M SORRY. THREE SECONDS. ACCORDING TO THE RULE. I HEARD ONE SECOND. THAT'S TWO. GOING ONCE. COME ON, MAYOR, YOU COULD BE IT. GOING. I DON'T DO IT, I DON'T DO. I'VE NEVER DONE. I DON'T DO IT. GOING TWICE. SOLD. OKAY. AMENDMENT THREE FAILS FOR LACK OF A THREE SECONDS. OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE? I DO, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. SOURCE OF FUNDS IS TO CLOSE ALL POOLS PRESCRIBED BY THE DALLAS AQUATICS MASTER PLAN FOR SAVINGS OF 700 000. AND MOVE THAT FUNDING TO THE MEET AND CONFER FUNDING POOL. I NEED THREE SECONDS. SECOND ONE. SECOND. THAT'S TWO. GOING ONCE. COME ON. MAYOR. IT'S NOT PROPER. GOING TWICE. SOLD FAILS FOR LACK OF THREE SECONDS. OKAY. OKAY. THIS WOULD BE AMENDMENT ONE IF MY STAFF WOULD LIKE TO PASS THIS ONE OUT. IT'S GOT MORE LINES ON IT. THE SOURCE OF THIS, THIS IS AN AMENDMENT FOR 14,775,000. THE FUNDING USE OF FUNDS IS THE MEET AND CONFER FUNDING POOL. AND HERE ARE THE SOURCES OF FUNDS. CIVILIAN ONE TIME PAY 125,000. CIVILIAN OVERTIME 2 MILLION TEMPORARY HELP. REGULAR 1 MILLION. OFFICE SUPPLIES. 200,000. OTHER SUPPLIES. 2 MILLION. FURNITURE AND FIXTURES. 500,000 SOFTWARE SOFTWARE PURCHASES UNDER 1000 150,000. RADIO AND COMMUNICATION 500,000. MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT 500,000. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. 2 MILLION. CONTRACTOR SERVICE FEES 2 MILLION. ARTISTIC SERVICES 1 MILLION. CUSTODIAL SERVICES, 1 MILLION DAY LABOR HALF MILLION ADVERTISING, 400,000 SUBSCRIPTIONS 100,000. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONFERENCES, 500,000. MOBILE PHONE SERVICES 200,000. AND FINALLY OUTSIDE TEMPS AND STAFFING 100,000. WE NEED SECONDS. WE NEED THREE OF THEM. SECOND. THAT'S ONE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. GOING ONCE. GOING TWICE. OH, NO. IT'S OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THE AMENDMENT FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND. SECOND OF THREE. NEXT. NO. THOSE ARE ALL MY MOTIONS. AND HOW VERY SAD THAT WE HAD TO PUT IN ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS IS NEEDED, BUT THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MORE AMENDMENTS. ANY MORE? I HAVE AN AMENDMENT. YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THAT PURPOSE. THANK YOU. FUNDING SOURCE. POLICE. OVERTIME. $800,000 FUNDING USE OR USE OF FUNDS IS TO [07:30:08] RESTORE THE SOBERING. CENTER NEEDS THREE SECONDS. THAT'S ONE. THERE WAS TWO. YOU CAN'T SAY IT TWICE. I WAS JOKING. I SAID IT WITH A DEEPER VOICE. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. REALLY? HOW MANY ARE THERE? REALLY? OKAY. I DID. THAT'S ONE. OH, GOSH. SECOND. SECOND. GOING TWICE. I TRIED. SECOND. SECOND. EXPIRED. OKAY. IT FAILS FOR A LACK OF A SECOND. SECOND OF THREE. THIRD. SECOND. YEAH. GO AHEAD. I HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND THE BUDGET WITH FUNDING SOURCE OF ITS FUNDING, $800,000 TO RESTORE THE SOBERING CENTER AND ITS THREE SECONDS, FOLKS. IT NEEDS A THREE SECONDS. GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. NO DICE. OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE? I CAN IF YOU WANT ME TO. MAYOR. I DON'T GET TO CHOOSE WHETHER YOU DO IT OR NOT. IT'S NOT WHAT I WANT. IT'S WHAT YOU WANT. ANYONE ELSE HAVE AMENDMENTS? OH, OKAY. WELL, THEN WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO ASK MY PARLIAMENTARIAN, WHAT DO WE DO NOW TO CLOSE THIS TO CLOSE DOWN THE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE WHOLE. ALL IT WILL TAKE IS TO READ IN THE NEXT ITEM AND MOVE FORWARD. THE MOTION WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. DID YOU HEAR THAT? ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS THE NEXT ITEM READ AND THAT WOULD END THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. SO, MADAM SECRETARY, GO AHEAD AND DO THAT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AGENDA ITEM FOR. FINAL READING AND ADOPTION OF THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE. [ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION] APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE FY 2020 627. CITY OF DALLAS OPERATING CAPITAL GRANT AND TRUST BUDGETS NOT TO EXCEED $5,972,586,745. YOU DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM FOUR MAYOR. WE HAVE SPEAKERS, RIGHT? FIRST, DO YOU HAVE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? A MOTION BEFORE WE HAVE THE SPEAKERS? YES. OKAY. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULE REQUIRING ONE SECOND FOR AN AMENDMENT AND INSTEAD REQUIRING THREE SECONDS FOR ALL AMENDMENTS PRESENTED DURING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. BUT CAN YOU YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO EXPLAIN THE MOTION. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A DEBATABLE MOTION. IT'S A SUSPENSION OF RULES. I JUST WAS I'M BASICALLY DUPLICATING THE MOTION THAT I DID IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SO THAT THERE'S NOT A BYPASS TO WHAT WE ALREADY DID. AND THEN THERE'S A SECOND BITE AT THE APPLE TO BRING IN AMENDMENTS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT WITH THE THIRD. UNDERSTOOD. BUT HOW MANY SECONDS? I DIDN'T CATCH THREE. THREE. IT'S THREE AGAIN. OKAY. YES. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. DO YOU WANT A RECORD VOTE ON IT OR DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOOD? I KNOW THAT TWO COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN VOTING NO. OKAY, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE AYES HAVE THAT. IT NEEDS TO BE. WHAT'S THE WHAT WAS THE THRESHOLD FOR THAT? 15. TEN. YEP. OKAY. I THINK THAT WAS MET. ALL RIGHT. SO HOLD ON ONE SECOND BEFORE WE GET TO THESE SPEAKERS. I JUST WANT TO CONSULT THE PARLIAMENTARIAN FOR A SECOND. GO AHEAD, MR. IRELAND. YEAH. SO IF THERE WERE FIVE SPEAKERS, THAT'LL GIVE US TIME TO RECALCULATE THE NUMBERS. THERE ARE THREE SPEAKERS THAT'LL GIVE US A FEW MINUTES TO STEP ASIDE AND RECALCULATE THE NUMBER BASED ON, I THINK THERE ARE THREE SPEAKERS. AND YEAH, SO WE'LL TAKE THOSE. AND IF YOU NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME, WE'LL JUST STAND AT EASE FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. BUT THANK YOU. OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE SPEAKERS. WE'RE SETTING UP THE THE STAND, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOUR FIRST SPEAKER IS STEPHANIE. [07:35:12] GOOD EVENING, STEPHANIE DRINKA. DISTRICT TWO. OVER THE PAST MONTHS, RESIDENTS HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD US COUNCIL WHAT WE WANT OUR TAX DOLLARS TO FUND HOUSING, LIBRARIES, THE ARTS, PARKS, SAVING CITY HALL AND MANY OF US HAVE STATED VERY CLEARLY WE DO NOT WANT DALLAS OPERATING A MASS SURVEILLANCE NETWORK. YET A VAST MAJORITY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS REJECTED A PROPOSED AMENDMENT THAT WOULD HAVE ENDED OUR CONTRACT WITH FLOC AND FREED $1.5 MILLION OF OUR CITY FUNDING FOR BETTER USE. A NEW INVESTIGATION BY 404 MEDIA AND WIRED PUBLISHED TODAY, EXAMINED SOFTWARE EXTRACTED FROM AN ACTUAL FLOCK CAMERA. WHAT THEY FOUND IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EXPANSIVE THAN SIMPLY DOCUMENTING LICENSE PLATES. THE CAMERA TAKES A RAPID SERIES OF PHOTOS WHEN SOMETHING COMES INTO VIEW, USING DIFFERENT EXPOSURES TO CAPTURE THE PLATE AND SURROUNDING SCENE. IT EXPLICITLY DETECTS PEOPLE, VEHICLES, BICYCLES, EVEN BUMPER STICKERS AND AND GRAPHICS. A TYPICAL PASSING CAR GENERATES ABOUT 28 IMAGES, SOME UP TO 101 CAMERA PRODUCED ROUGHLY 1.6 MILLION IMAGES OVER ABOUT THREE WEEKS, RECORDING APPROXIMATELY 50,000 VEHICLES FOR FLOCK'S SEARCHABLE DATABASE, ACCORDING TO RESEARCH BY THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION. POLICE OFFICERS HAVE SEARCHED THOUSANDS OF FLOCK CAMERAS, LISTING REASONS SUCH AS LMAO HEHEH IDIOT AND WEIRD KID. A FLOCK NETWORK AUDIT PROVIDED THROUGH AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST SHOWED THAT IN MARCH 2025, A DALLAS PD USER CONDUCTED 16 FLOCK SEARCHES WITH ICE PLUS ERO ENTERED AS THE REASON ERO. AS IN ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL OPERATIONS. TEXAS OFFICERS ALSO USED FOX NETWORK TO SEARCH FOR A WOMAN WHOM THEY CLAIMED HAD SELF-ADMINISTERED AN ABORTION. I UNDERSTAND WANTING CLOSURE FOR VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES, BUT FLOCKS EXPANSIVE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM RAISES SERIOUS FOURTH AMENDMENT QUESTIONS AND AN OVER AND AN OVERRELIANCE ON ALPR TECHNOLOGY TO SOLVE CASES MAY ULTIMATELY PUT THE LEGAL OUTCOME AT RISK IF THE EVIDENCE IS LATER CHALLENGED AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. REGARDLESS OF YOUR POSITION ON MASS SURVEILLANCE, I HOPE THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS HAS SHOWN THAT DALLAS RESIDENTS ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHERE OUR MONEY GOES, WHOSE CONCERNS GET HEARD, AND WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT, LIKE FLOCK. WE WILL BE WATCHING CLOSELY, DOCUMENTING EVERYTHING AND REMEMBERING WHEN IT'S TIME TO CAST OUR VOTES IN 2027. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SIOBAHN. O'CASEY. HELLO. IT'S SIOBHAN. THANK YOU. SIOBHAN. O'CASEY. YES. YOUR VIDEO, MR. O'CASEY. YOUR VIDEO IS NOT DISPLAYING. OKAY. DO I NEED TO? YES. OKAY. HELLO? TARGETED. TARGETED INVESTMENT SEEMS TO TRANSLATE TO BUDGET CUTS TO FUNDING. I'M CONCERNED THAT WHAT WE'RE DECIDING TO DIVEST IN IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WE'RE INDICATING BY OUR ACTIONS. I'VE SPOKEN HERE BEFORE ON THE DEFENSE OF KEEPING ALL OUR LIBRARIES OPEN. OAKLAWN SCROUNGED UP PRIVATE MONEY, AND WE HAVE COMPROMISED WITH LESS OPEN DAYS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES. EFFICIENCY IS NOT A LACK OF FUNDING PATCHED UP BY CONTORTIONS AND PHYSICIAN CUTS. HOW CAN WE RECOGNIZE THE ECONOMIC STRUGGLES OF SOME PUBLIC SERVANTS WHILE LAYOFFS OCCUR WITHIN THE SAME SYSTEM? YOU'RE CUTTING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY MAKING IT HAPPEN. THIS FEELS IN. THIS FEELS SHORTSIGHTED AS FUNDS GO DOWN YEAR BY YEAR. WE ARE CUTTING FUNDING FOR THE ARTS. I WENT TO THE ART MAGNET PROGRAM AT RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE BENEFITED FROM SO MUCH FREE AVAILABLE ART HERE IN DALLAS. I WENT ON TO STUDY ARCHITECTURE. I MEAN, WE'RE THERE GIVING A REAL ESTATE ITS OWN DEPARTMENT, WHILE DEFUNDING THE VERY THINGS AND THE CREATIVITY THAT ACTUALLY GIVE IT VALUE. I WANT THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT WHAT I THINK MAKES DALLAS A DYNAMIC CITY WITH A VIBRANT ECONOMY. WE TALK ABOUT PROTECTING SOMETHING, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED SOMETHING VIBRANT TO BE PROTECTING. ARE WE NOT TRYING TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER CITIES IN THOSE AREAS AS WELL? I JUST THINK THAT THE CONTINUED SOLUTION OF SACRIFICIAL LAMBS FOR THE QUOTE UNQUOTE, GREATER GOOD IS MISGUIDED AND SHORTSIGHTED. ARTS ARE NOT SLIVERS. THEY AREN'T EXTRAS. CREATIVITY IN ALL SECTORS AND BUSINESS IS THE ENGINE. I MEAN, ARE WE TALKING? WE TALK ABOUT CREATIVITY WITH THE BUDGET, BUT DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DOTS CONNECT THE DOTS OF HOW THAT IS IMPACTED BY THE [07:40:06] ARTS AND WHAT WE CHOOSE TO INVEST IN. I MEAN, FOR THE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH AND CREATIVITY THAT GOES INTO WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, IT SEEMS INTERESTING TO DO THE VERY INSTITUTIONS THAT ENCOURAGE THAT FOR EVERYBODY AS SOMETHING EXTRA TO GO DOWN YEAR BY YEAR. I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT SAFETY IS THE ONLY THING WE SEEM TO EVER REALLY TALK ABOUT REALLY INVESTING IN, AND THE AMOUNT THAT SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO GO UP SEEMS LIMITLESS. I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW WE HAVE AN INCREASED BUDGET AND DECREASING THE THINGS THAT I THINK ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MIRANDA ALFARO. MIRANDA ALFARO IS NOT PRESENT. NOT ONLINE. NOT IN THE AUDIENCE. MR. MAYOR, THIS CONCLUDES YOUR REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM. AND THIS ITEM WILL REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE. CHAIRMAN WEST, FOR WHAT PURPOSE OR MOTION? OH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT PURPOSE. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM WITH THE CHANGES. ACTUALLY, MAYOR, I'M GOING TO HOLD OFF FOR A SECOND. I THINK WE'RE STILL WAITING ON A TOTAL. STILL WAITING. OKAY, WE'LL STAND AT EASE THEN FOR. WE'LL CALL IT FIVE MINUTES. OKAY. WE'RE BACK AND I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE CHAIRMAN WEST FOR A MOTION. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM WITH THE CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY CITY COUNCIL IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,974,342,745. HOW MANY SECONDS DO WE NEED? JUST ONE. RIGHT? SEVEN. ONE FOR THIS. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. IT'S BEEN SECONDED, CHAIRMAN WEST. YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN YOUR MOTION? I WILL. MAYOR. FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. THERE IS AN INCREASE IN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED BY 1.756 MILLION. THE EXPLANATION FROM STAFF WAS THAT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT INCLUDED APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PARKS MULTI MULTI YEAR FUND. THIS WAS NOT CONTEMPLATED IN THE BUDGET. IT'S TAKING MONEY OUT OF A RESERVE FUND TO PUT INTO THE ACTUAL BUDGET SO THAT MONEY IS BEING APPROPRIATED, ADDED TO THE OVERALL BUDGET AMOUNT, AND THAT IS WHY THE AMOUNT WENT UP. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AGENDA ITEM FOUR? MR. BAZALDUA RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THIS. IS THE PASSING OF THE BUDGET AND THEN THE NEXT IS A SEPARATE ITEM SPECIFIC TO THE TAX RATE. WELL, MR. MAYOR AND MY COLLEAGUES, I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS BUDGET. WE ARE BEING ASKED TO ADOPT A $5 BILLION SPENDING PLAN, AND OUT OF $5 BILLION, WE COULD NOT FIND THE ROOM TO FUND MERIT INCREASES FOR OUR VERY EMPLOYEES TO KEEP THIS CITY RUNNING. THE PEOPLE WHO FIX OUR STREETS ANSWER OUR 911 CALLS AND STAFF. OUR FRONT COUNTERS GOT NICKELED AND DIMED WHILE WE FOUND MONEY FOR EVERYTHING ELSE. THE STATUS QUO WANTED FUNDED. WE UNDERFUNDED OUR LIBRARIES. WE UNDERFUNDED OUR ARTS PROGRAMS. WE UNDERFUNDED OUR PARKS. THESE ARE NOT LUXURIES. THEY ARE WHERE OUR KIDS GO AFTER SCHOOL, WHERE OUR SENIORS FIND COMMUNITY AND WHERE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BREATHE. WHEN WE SHORTCHANGE THEM, WE ARE TELLING RESIDENTS EXACTLY WHERE THEY RANK IN OUR PRIORITIES. WE SHORTCHANGED EVICTION ADVOCACY IN A CITY WHERE FAMILIES ARE ONE MISSED PAYCHECK AWAY FROM LOSING THEIR HOMES. WE FAILED TO ADEQUATELY FUND ANIMAL SERVICES. AND AFTER EVERYTHING THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS YEAR, WE DID NOT PUT A SINGLE DOLLAR OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FUNDING TOWARDS CITY HALL. THE VERY BUILDING WE WERE TOLD WAS TOO DANGEROUS AND TOO COSTLY TO KEEP. YET SOMEHOW NOT WORTH THE BASIC UPKEEP THAT WOULD PROVE OR DISPROVE THAT CLAIM. A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT. IT IS SUPPOSED TO TELL THE STORY OF WHAT WE VALUE AS A CITY. THIS BUDGET TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY. IT TELLS OUR WORKFORCE THAT THEY COME LAST. IT TELLS OUR LIBRARIES, OUR ARTS, OUR PARKS, AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TO GO AROUND. WHILE SOMEHOW THERE WAS ALWAYS ENOUGH FOR THE PRIORITIES OF THE STATUS QUO. I WANT A BUDGET THAT MAKES HARD CHOICES TO INVEST IN PEOPLE. THIS. THIS BUDGET MAKES EASY CHOICES THAT CUT PEOPLE TO PROTECT THE COMFORT OF THE STATUS QUO. [07:45:07] THAT IS BACKWARDS. AND I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR IT. THANK YOU. MAYOR. MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. AGENDA ITEM FOUR. THANK YOU. I ALSO WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR THIS BUDGET BECAUSE WOW, ANOTHER RECORD BREAKING BUDGET, FOLKS. WE SHOULDN'T BE PROUD OF THAT. WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T MAKE ANY OF THE HARD DECISIONS WHEN WE VOTED A WHILE BACK TO TO DEFER THE REAL PAIN THAT'S COMING OUR WAY FOR THE PENSION DECISIONS BY NOT ACCEPTING THE ACTUARIALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION IN YEAR ONE AND INSTEAD KICKING IT DOWN FIVE YEARS WHERE MOST OF US WON'T EVEN BE HERE. AND I MEAN THAT BOTH STAFF AND ELECTED. AND THE REALITY OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN IS UPON A BRAND NEW COUNCIL. THE WHOLE CITY WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT. BUT IT'S BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO MAKE THE VERY HARD DECISIONS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN AND INSTEAD WE HAVE DONE THE MOST. THE MOST DAMAGE WE CAN BY TRYING TO DO SOMETHING NICE, TRYING TO KEEP A POOL OPEN BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE PERSON IT WILL IMPACT. BUT ACTUALLY, YOU'RE HARMING OUR CITY YEAR AFTER YEAR BECAUSE THAT WAS NEVER INTENDED EVEN TO BE OPEN TEN YEARS LATER. AND SO NOT HAVING THAT COURAGE, NOT REDUCING THE BUREAUCRACY, NOT CAUSING THE THE CONSTRAINT OF REVENUE TO MAKE EFFICIENCY HAPPEN, CHOICES HAPPEN. WE ASKED OUR RESIDENTS LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE, BUT THOSE AREN'T REALLY THE THINGS WE FUNDED. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT. YES, A LOT OF OUR BUDGET IS GOING TO PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT WE ARE NOT COMPETITIVE IN OUR MARKET. AND WE WILL WE WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT THROUGH TURNOVER, THROUGH TOUGHER TIMES IN RECRUITING. POSSIBLY NOT HIRING THE QUALITY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE. AND THESE WILL COME BACK TO BITE US. AND SO SHAME ON US. WE HAVE THE DATA OF WHAT THE OTHER CITIES ARE PAYING, AND OUR POLICE AND FIRE DESERVE IT. SO THERE'S LOTS OF CONVERSATION ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY RIGHT NOW, BUT I'LL JUST TELL YOU, THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THEY HAVE IS THEIR PAYCHECK. AFTER SERVING THE PEOPLE. SO WE DID NOT MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THIS BUDGET DID NOT MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND THAT IS REALLY A SHAME HOW THAT FITS INTO PROP U. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE WE'LL FIND OUT LEGALLY, BUT THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS TOLD US WITH THEIR VOTE THAT THEY WANTED TO HAVE THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY PAID IN A COMPETITIVE MANNER. AND WE DIDN'T JUST DO THAT. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND IN FACT, Y'ALL ARTIFICIALLY PUT IN THREE SECONDS. I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THAT, NOT EVEN ONCE, SO THAT WE COULDN'T EVEN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE THE HARD VOTE. WELL, THIS IS THE HARD VOTE BECAUSE IF YOU APPROVE THIS BUDGET RIGHT NOW, THAT MEANS YOU DID NOT CARE ENOUGH TO EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD MEAN TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE DOLLARS IF THEY WERE NEEDED FOR MEET AND CONFER IF THEY WEREN'T NEEDED. GUESS WHAT? WE NOW HAVE A BUILDING MAINTENANCE FUND. WE HAVE MONEY TO PUT INTO RESERVES, BUT YOU DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. THIS IS NOTHING NEW FOR ME. SEVEN YEARS OF HAVING PEOPLE WHO REALLY FUNDAMENTALLY SEE THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT DIFFERENTLY. EXCEPT SOME PEOPLE DON'T SEE IT DIFFERENTLY, BUT DIDN'T STAND UP FOR THIS. AND THAT'S VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTING. SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT I'M NOT EVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR BECAUSE I'M ASHAMED OF WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT MR. BAZALDUA SPOKE OF THAT I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE FUNDED AND WE DIDN'T. AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE FUNDED AND OVERFUNDED THAT THERE'S JUST ABSOLUTELY NO EXPLANATION. AND IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO HOLD STAFF ACCOUNTABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY SAY TO US, HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE, AND WE ARE NOT EVEN WILLING TO DO THAT, HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A PERFORMANCE REVIEW FOR OUR CITY MANAGER IN THIS ENTIRE TIME. [07:50:01] I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU EXPECT TO HAPPEN IN THIS CITY WITHOUT ANY KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT YOU ARE ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN AND I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR IT. CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. ITEM FOUR. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS BUDGET. IT'S NOT PERFECT. I DID NOT SUPPORT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WE'VE JUST HAD MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF BUDGET AMENDMENTS. SOME WERE APPROVED, SOME WERE OPPOSED. WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THAT PROCESS? MADAM CITY MANAGER, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WAS PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT BUDGET THE CITY HAS EVER SEEN. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE, YOUR WORK AROUND THE CLOCK. AGAIN, NOT A PERFECT BUDGET. POOL HOURS WHERE POOLS SHOULD PROBABLY BE CLOSED OR INCLUDED. NOT EXCITED ABOUT CONTINUING THOSE OPERATIONS. WE SHOULD BE REALLY INVESTING IN NEW POOLS WHEN IT COMES TO TO THOSE BUT WHAT WE DID DO IS ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY. WE INCREASED FUNDING FOR OUR PARKS AND OUR LIBRARIES, AND WE INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE AND OUR EMPLOYEES, ENSURING THAT THEY CONTINUE WITH THEIR LANGUAGE PAY. AND SO, COLLEAGUES, I HOPE THAT YOU JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. THANK YOU. MAYOR. MR. ROTH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. ITEM FOUR. THANK YOU. I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THE BUDGET. IT'S TO ME, IT'S IT'S A STATEMENT OF WE STARTED OUT AT 5.2 BILLION LAST YEAR. WE'RE NOW AT 5.9 $700 MILLION INCREASE. THAT'S EVEN UP FROM OUR PROPOSED 5.7 MILLION, $1 BILLION BUDGET THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT. I DON'T FAULT ANYBODY IN THEIR EFFORTS TO TRY TO CREATE THE BUDGET I DO. OUR OUR OURSELVES FOR NOT TAKING HARD DECISIONS IN REALLY TRYING TO DRILL DOWN INTO THE, THE BIG ITEMS THAT REALLY ARE CAUSING US TO CREATE A, AN AMOUNT OF OBLIGATIONS THAT COULD BE UNSUSTAINABLE IN THE FAR FUTURE. AND IT SETS A BEGINNING, A BEGINNING WHAT IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO, TO WORK BACKWARDS FROM IN THE FUTURE. I HOPE AND MY, MY REQUEST, AND I HOPE THAT A BUDGET IS A ROADMAP. IT IS A ESTIMATE, IT IS A, AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO PROJECT COST. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THIS NEXT YEAR THAT OUR MANAGEMENT AND OUR AND OUR COUNCIL LOOK VERY CLOSELY AT THE OPPORTUNITIES DURING THIS YEAR TO TRY TO SAVE MONEY, TO TRY TO NOT SPEND THE MONEY THAT IS BUDGETED TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THE, THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE IN A MORE FIDUCIARY, RESPONSIBLE, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CITIZENS. THESE ARE BIG NUMBERS. IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION. THE TIMES ARE DIFFICULT, BUT MY PLEA TO THE, TO OUR STAFF, TO OUR COUNCIL AND TO OUR CONSTITUENTS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THE BEST OVER THE NEXT YEAR, TO TRY TO NOT SPEND ALL THE MONEY THAT WE'RE ALLOCATING HERE, AND TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE, THAT WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY AFTER WE GET THIS BUDGET ESTABLISHED, TO SHOW THEM THAT WE CAN RESPONSIBLY MANAGE THIS BUDGET AND TRY TO SAVE FUNDS DURING THE COURSE OF THIS NEXT YEAR. THAT'S THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY. CHAIRWOMAN WILLIS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM FOUR. THANK YOU. MAYOR. WELL, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID THAT I JUST DON'T THINK I CAN LET STAND. ONE OF THOSE IS THAT OUR EMPLOYEES AREN'T GETTING A MERIT INCREASE. THEY ARE DIRECTORS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, AND LEADERSHIP, THE LEADERSHIP WHO DIRECT THOSE EMPLOYEES, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T GOING TO GET A MERIT INCREASE. THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE A HIT THIS YEAR AND NOT GET MAYBE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHERE THEY GET AN INCREASE, BUT THE RANK AND FILE, THE FOLKS WHO ARE OUT THERE DOING THE WORK ARE GETTING A MERIT INCREASE. SO I WANT TO BE SURE THAT'S CLARIFIED. AND THEN ON SEPTEMBER 1ST WE RECEIVED A MEMO ANSWERING QUESTIONS, I THINK REALLY AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE PASSED PROPOSITION YOU THE IN THE CITY. [07:55:06] AND SO WE HAVE TO DO A. 17 CITY COMPARISON, I BELIEVE. AND RIGHT NOW DALLAS POLICE OFFICER SALARY MINIMUM. PLUS NON PENSION BENEFIT PUTS AN OFFICER AT $94,123, WHICH IS SECOND OUT OF THOSE 17 CITIES. NUMBER ONE IS ALLEN POPULATION OF 111,000 AND 149 OFFICERS, WHICH IS ABOUT LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT WE INTEND TO HIRE THIS YEAR. SO I WOULDN'T REALLY SAY THAT THAT'S APPLES TO APPLES. SO I JUST I WANT OUR RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT WE DO CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY TO THE TUNE OF FUNDING IT WITH 63% OF OUR BUDGET, BUT THAT'S STARTING PAY. PLUS THE NON PENSION BENEFIT AT $94,000 IS LINING UP ON THIS CHART. IT'S NOT NUMBER ONE, BUT IT'S NUMBER TWO. SO I DON'T LIKE QUIBBLING OVER ALL OF THESE NICKELS AND DIMES. AND IF YOU THINK THIS YEAR WAS HARD, IT'S GOING TO GET HARDER NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER. OUR PROPERTY VALUE GROWTH HAS SLOWED. SALES TAX GROWTH HAS SLOWED. WE CAN ALL LOOK RIGHT OVER THERE AND SEE THE KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON CONVENTION CENTER THAT'S OFFLINE, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE GENERATING SALES TAX FOR US UNTIL 2030. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS. OR WE CAN ALSO HAVE A MINDSET OF PROSPERITY. WE MAKE DECISIONS EVERY OTHER WEEK HERE WHEN PROJECTS ARE BROUGHT TO US. AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND THE IMPLICATIONS. LET'S ALWAYS LOOK BACK TO TODAY. AND ALL OF THESE ARGUMENTS WE'VE HAD AND ALL OF THESE HARD DECISIONS AND SAYING THAT WE HAVEN'T MADE HARD DECISIONS YET. SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL ADVOCATING FOR SOME OF THOSE THINGS. SO IT'S A LITTLE HYPOCRITICAL. BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK THROUGH A NEW LENS WHEN WE HAVE PROJECTS AND THINK, WHAT IS THE OVERALL BENEFIT TO OUR CITY THAT CAN MO PARKS AND KEEP LIBRARIES OPEN AND PAY OUR POLICE AND FIRE AND PAVE OUR STREETS AND FILL POTHOLES AND MAKE ALLEYS SMOOTHER? SO I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST LIVING IN A CUT MENTALITY, BUT WE CAN ALSO LIVE IN A GROWTH MENTALITY BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE OUR CITY STRONG FOR THE NEAR TERM AND THE LONG TERM. THANK YOU MAYOR. CHAIRMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM FOUR. THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. I'LL MAKE THIS BRIEF. WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER THE PAST SEVERAL, SEVERAL WEEKS ON THIS BUDGET. AND I BELIEVE WE'VE WORKED HARD TO STRIKE A BALANCE TO UNDERSTAND THE COMPETING NEEDS OF OUR CITY. WE NEED A STRONG PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORT. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS. I MEAN, THERE'S JUST SO MANY THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE BALANCED, AND WE'VE MADE VERY DIFFICULT CHOICES AS WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT ALL OF THE COMPETING PRIORITIES AND MAKING THOSE DETERMINATIONS. SO IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD. I THINK IT'S BEEN. THOROUGH IN IN MANY WAYS. WE HAVE CERTAINLY ASKED OUR STAFF HUNDREDS OF QUESTIONS, HELP US UNDERSTAND THIS, HELP US UNDERSTAND THAT. WHY DID YOU COME TO THIS CONCLUSION? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? MAKE THIS CHOICE OVER THIS OTHER CHOICE? OUR THE STAFF HAS BEEN RIGHT THERE WITH US IN IT IN THE PROCESS BEING VERY WILLING AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT HOW THEY REACH THESE DECISIONS AND HOW THEY CAME TO THESE CONCLUSIONS. SO I AM GRATEFUL FOR OUR CITY MANAGER AND HER LEADERSHIP. I APPRECIATE ALL THAT HER STAFF HAS DONE TO BRING US TO THIS POINT. I APPRECIATE OUR CFO, JACK IRELAND AND JEANETTE. AND ALL OF THE ALL OF THE STAFF THAT HAS WORKED ON THIS BUDGET. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF HOURS, DAYS, NIGHTS THAT YOU HAVE OF WORK AND EFFORT THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS. IT'S APPRECIATED. IT'S RECOGNIZED. WE RECOGNIZE YOUR WORK, WE RECOGNIZE YOUR EFFORTS. SO THANK YOU. AND I THINK WE MOVE FORWARD WE WILL LIVE WITH THIS BUDGET. WE WILL LEARN TO LOVE PARTS OF IT AND MAYBE HATE OTHER PARTS OF IT. BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. IT'S A PROCESS, RIGHT? WE, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO DO THIS PERFECTLY. I THINK WHEN YOU GET TO BE 68 YEARS OLD, YOU REALIZE THERE REALLY IS NO PERFECT. BUT LEARNING FROM WHAT YOU'VE JUST BEEN THROUGH. TAKING THOSE LESSONS AND TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A DEEPER, BETTER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT A PROCESS IS WHERE I THINK WE SHOULD BE. [08:00:04] AND WE'LL GET THERE. AND I WILL SAY I RESPECT THE JUDGMENT AND THE PROCESSING OF EVERY SINGLE MEMBER AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. I MAY NOT AGREE. WE MAY NOT COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSIONS. BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY TOOK THIS LIGHTLY. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DIDN'T PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS PROCESS. I THINK YOU ALL LISTENED TO YOUR RESIDENTS, AND I THINK YOU PROCESSED IT THROUGH YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON HOW CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE RUN. AND THE BEAUTY OF THAT IS THERE ARE A LARGE GROUP OF US WHO COME TOGETHER AND TRY TO THEN FIGURE OUT, HOW DO WE TAKE ALL OF THOSE PERSPECTIVES AND MAKE THESE DECISIONS? AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. DIFFICULT. FRUSTRATING. TIRING. PROBABLY A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF WHERE WE COULD HAVE DONE THINGS JUST A TAD BETTER, BUT WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO IT AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY. SO ANYWAY THAT'S YOUR ENCOURAGING LITTLE SPEECH FOR THE DAY AND EVERYBODY, I HOPE, WILL GO HOME AND GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP AND WE WILL TACKLE THE NEXT ISSUES AS THEY COME. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MISS BLACKMON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM FOUR. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR REALLY WORKING ON THIS. I MEAN, FROM THE FOLKS WHO ACTUALLY CRUNCH THE NUMBERS TO THE ONES WHO PUT THE BINDER TOGETHER. IT'S A LOT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. AND THEN ALL THE DIRECTORS I KNOW MEETING AND GOING OVER IT IS TOUGH. SO THANK YOU. AND I MEAN JACK. THIS MAY BE THE LAST TIME WE SEE YOUR SWEET FACE SITTING RIGHT THERE. AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN AT CITY HALL QUITE A BIT. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE. AND I'M SURE ALL YOUR BINDERS WILL FOLLOW YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE AS WELL. SO ANYWAY, I'M, I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING ON THIS AND HOPEFULLY GETTING OUT OF HERE BEFORE MIDNIGHT. THANK YOU. MISS BLAIR. RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM FOUR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH US. IT'S DIFFICULT TO HAVE 2 OR 3 PEOPLE COME TO CONSENSUS, BUT TO HAVE 14 OF US TRY TO COME TO THE SAME CONSENSUS AND SEE THINGS THE SAME WAY IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK THE CITY MANAGER BECAUSE SHE TAKES A LOT OF HEAT. SHE TAKES A LOT OF ABUSE. SHE TAKES FROM US UNNECESSARY ABUSE THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY CALLED FOR. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF WHO, WHEN WE GO HOME AND SIT DOWN AND WITH OUR FAMILIES, THEY'RE STILL HERE WHEN WE'RE AT HOME CHILLING. THEY'RE STILL HERE DURING BUDGET SEASON, TRYING TO CRUNCH NUMBERS AND MAKE IT WORK SO THAT THEY CAN BRING US A BALANCED BUDGET THAT WE TEAR APART. WE LIKE LITTLE BAD KIDS WHO HAVE A TOY THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SHARE WITH EACH OTHER, AND WE PULL IT APART UNTIL WE BREAK IT. IT'S INSULTING FOR YOU. AND WITH THAT, I APOLOGIZE. BUT THANK YOU FOR DOING THE HARD WORK, THE HEAVY LIFTING, SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST PUT FORTH OUR VIEW OF WHAT OUR OUR RESIDENTS NEED AND WANT. EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE THE SAME THING, ANOTHER CITY, ANOTHER DISTRICT MAY NEED AND WANT, BUT TRY TO MAKE IT WORK. SO FOR THAT I SAY THANK YOU. I WILL BE VOTING FOR THIS BUDGET. BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST THAT WE CAN GET WITHOUT IT BEING PERFECT. IT GIVES A REPRESENTATION OF ALL OF US WITHOUT IT BEING WITH ANY ONE OF US ACTUALLY WANT FOR THEMSELVES. THAT'S CALLED MEDIATION. IT'S CALLED COLLABORATION AND IT AND IT'S CALLED DEMOCRACY. SO FOR THAT, THANK YOU. OKAY. I WAS JUST CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY ONLINE BEFORE I GO TO ROUND TWO. I'M GOING TO GO, MR. MAYOR. I'LL GO AHEAD AND CHIME IN. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. OKAY. I NEED YOU TO TURN YOUR VIDEO ON REAL QUICK. MAYOR PRO TEM, AND YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. ONCE YOU DO. IT SAYS IT ALL NOW. NO, SIR. WHAT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I CAN. IT'S GOT TO BE ON RIGHT. I SEE MYSELF ON THE. THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO. OKAY. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. GO AHEAD. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I ALSO WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING STAFF. THIS HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT BUDGET. [08:05:06] AND I ALSO AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT. COUNCILWOMAN BLAIR MENTIONED IN TERMS OF THE DIFFICULT JOB YOU HAVE. AND, AND THE YOU KNOW, OFTEN THE DISRESPECT THAT THAT STAFF GETS FROM, FROM FOLKS. YOU KNOW, AROUND THE HORSESHOE AND IN THE PUBLIC. BUT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN THIS BUDGET THAT I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO FUND AT A HIGHER LEVEL. THERE ARE THINGS THAT I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED NOT TO CUT, AND THERE ARE DECISIONS IN HERE THAT I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE MADE DIFFERENTLY IF I WERE MAKING THEM ALONE. BUT BUT THAT'S NOT HOW A CITY BUDGET WORKS. WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND COMPETING PRIORITIES, AND AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS. WE HAVE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO AND WHAT WE CAN RESPONSIBLY AFFORD TO DO. I THINK IT'S TELLING THAT SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY, WHO OFTEN APPROACH POLICY AND SPENDING FROM VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, HAVE FOUND REASONS NOT TO SUPPORT THIS BUDGET. TO ME, THAT ILLUSTRATES JUST HOW DIFFICULT THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN. THERE WAS NO IDEOLOGICAL PATH THROUGH THIS BUDGET THAT ALLOWED US TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY. WE MADE SOME CUTS, WE PROTECTED SOME PRIORITIES, WE MADE COMPROMISES, AND NONE OF US GOT EVERYTHING WE WANTED. I THINK THAT A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET ISN'T NECESSARILY ONE WHERE EVERYONE WALKS AWAY HAPPY. SOMETIMES IT'S ONE WHERE THE DIFFICULT CHOICES ARE NECESSARY TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THE SERVICES OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT WHILE RECOGNIZING THE FINANCIAL REALITIES IN FRONT OF US. I DON'T DISAGREE WITH EVERY DECISION REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET. BUT TAKEN AS A WHOLE, I BELIEVE IT REPRESENTS A RESPONSIBLE WAY FORWARD UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND FOR THAT REASON I WILL SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. NOW I BELIEVE WE ARE ON TO ROUND TWO. SO I'LL GO BACK TO CHAIRMAN WEST FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I WON'T REPEAT WHAT I SAID WHEN WE OPENED, BUT I, I DO WANT TO JUST POINT OUT SOME SOME SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WEREN'T RECOGNIZED THAT STAFF HAS DONE. THE HUNDREDS OF QUESTIONS THAT WE SENT YOU THAT WERE VERY DETAILED, QUITE A FEW OF WHICH WERE MINE. THANK YOU FOR GETTING BACK TO US ON THOSE. WE ASKED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO FOR STAFF TO DO MEETINGS EARLIER IN THE SPRING SO THAT WHEN RESIDENTS SAW THE BUDGET FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT DIDN'T SEEM ALREADY BAKED FOR THEM. AND STAFF STARTED DOING THAT BECAUSE COUNCIL ASKED FOR IT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS UNDER YOU, KIM, OR IF TK STARTED THAT, BUT IT HAS HELPED TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF RESIDENTS EARLIER IN THE SPRING AND AND THE RESIDENTS, AT LEAST IN MY DISTRICT LIKE IT, THE SURVEYS ARE GREAT. THEY HELP US KNOW WHAT OUR DISTRICTS PRIORITIZE AND THE EARLY OUTREACH. IN AUGUST, I KNOW IT DIDN'T COMPLETELY FEND OFF THE ALL THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS, BUT I THINK IT CERTAINLY HELPED. IT DID FOR ME. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND I BELIEVE MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE WHO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE YOU KNOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE EIGHT OF US THAT ARE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM THAT WILL GET THIS BUDGET PASSED SO THAT WE CAN WE CAN SUPPORT CITY SERVICES, WE CAN SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY, WE CAN KEEP OUR PARKS OPEN, WE CAN KEEP THE LIGHTS ON IN THIS BUILDING. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR MAKING THE DECISION, EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT FIND THIS BUDGET PERFECT THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT IT. IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT IT'S ALSO NOT DOOM AND GLOOM. WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER WHAT THE BUDGET WILL DO. DESPITE THE DIFFICULT PRESSURES WE'RE FACING AS CHAIR, WILLIS SAID, WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR POLICE AND FIRE. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE COMPETING. WHEREAS WE WEREN'T COMPETING A FEW YEARS AGO ON POLICE AND FIRE SALARIES IN THE REGION, WE REALLY ARE NOW. WE'RE BETTER ON RETENTION. WE'RE BETTER ON RECRUITMENT. THE BUDGET WILL FUND SAFE STREETS. IT WILL FUND OUR INCREDIBLE PARKS, OUR LIBRARIES, TRASH PICKUP AND CLEAN WATER. WE WILL KEEP THE CITY RUNNING EVERY SINGLE DAY. THOUSANDS OF DALLAS CITY EMPLOYEES DO CRITICAL WORK THAT WILL MAKE OUR RESIDENTS LIVES BETTER. AS FINANCE CHAIR, I'LL CONTINUE TO PUSH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SEE NOT JUST WHAT WE CAN CUT, BUT HOW WE CAN GROW THE CITY TO REDUCE TAX BURDEN AND MAINTAIN OUR CRITICAL CITY SERVICES. THANK YOU. MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. JACK, CAN YOU TELL US HOW MUCH NEW REVENUE THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE? GIVE ME JUST ONE MINUTE. I'M SORRY, MR. MENDELSOHN. WHERE IS HE? YES, MA'AM. I'M SORRY FOR THE DELAY. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF REVENUE IS $55.5 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND AND $20.8 MILLION IN THE DEBT [08:10:09] SERVICE FUND. I'M SORRY. CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? 55.5 GENERAL FUND MILLION AND 20.8 MILLION DEBT SERVICE. AND I'M SO SORRY FOR THE TOTAL FUND. YOU SAID 20.8 DEBT SERVICE FUND FOR DEBT. I'M SORRY. GOT IT. SO THE TOTAL 76 MILLION, ROUGHLY. OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO SAY NO, I DON'T THINK THAT THE COUNCIL PUT IN THE HARD WORK. IT'S NOT HARD TO SAY. YES, I WANT HIGH SCHOOLERS TO TRAVEL. IT'S NOT HARD TO GIVE ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS TO DATA ANALYTICS, ESPECIALLY WHEN NOT ALL OUR LIBRARIES WILL EVEN BE OPEN FOR SIX DAYS. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD IF WE HAD WORKED TO ACTUALLY MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER TRYING TO JUSTIFY THE SALARIES FOR POLICE AND FIRE, AND USING THE MEET AND CONFER NUMBER, WHERE YOU LOOK AT 17 CITIES ACROSS THE STATE. WE ARE NOT COMPETING WITH HOUSTON AND AUSTIN FOR PAY. WE'RE COMPETING IN DFW, AND PROP U DOES NOT ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THE PAY RATES ACROSS THE STATE. IT SAYS DFW AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING IN THE TOP TEN FOR DFW. AND WE ARE NOT. WE'RE NOT EVEN PAYING IN THE TOP TEN FOR LAST YEAR OF DFW. SO WHEN WE HEAR THESE PAY COMPARISONS, REMEMBER YOU HAVE TO COMPARE BASE TO BASE BECAUSE THE MEMO WE GOT INCLUDED ITEMS THAT SOME OFFICERS ARE SIMPLY NOT EVEN ELIGIBLE FOR. YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE LANGUAGE PAY THAT WE JUST HAD A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT, OR PERHAPS A DEGREE WHERE THEY GET EXTRA PAY. SO THESE ARE NOT APPLES TO APPLES. AND TO TRY TO USE THAT KIND OF A COMPARISON FOR A LOOMING BAD ZONING CASE IS REALLY OUTRAGEOUS. IT IS NOT THE ADULT IN THE ROOM BECAUSE YOU VOTE YES AND YOU ACQUIESCE ON A BUDGET THAT IS NOT BEING THE ADULT IN THE ROOM. ACTUALLY, THE ADULT IN THE ROOM IS THE PERSON WHO HAS THE COURAGE TO SAY, THIS IS NOT OKAY, BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU, THIS BUBBLE OF CITY HALL MIGHT THINK IT'S OKAY. OUR RESIDENTS, NOT SO MUCH. AND WHEN THEY ARE ADDING THIS ADDITIONAL TAX BURDEN ON, THAT IS A HARDSHIP TO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS, BUT MORE SO TO THE BUSINESSES WHO DON'T HAVE A HOMESTEAD AND HAVE A MUCH, MUCH LOWER TAX RATE AT ALL THE SURROUNDING CITIES. AND WE HAVE NOT MADE IT MORE COMPETITIVE TO STAY HERE. SO NO, THIS IS NOT THE HARD WORK. MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE'LL DO THE HARD WORK AND WE'LL ACTUALLY CUT THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO AND FOCUS ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY ESSENTIAL IN GOVERNMENT. BUT THERE'S NO UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE CAN END UP WITH A TAX RATE THAT'S $0.69 PLUS, WHEN OUR SURROUNDING CITIES HAVE A MUCH, MUCH LOWER RATE. THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM FOUR? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THIS WAS NOT AN EASY PROCESS, BUT I BELIEVE WE WORKED TOGETHER TO PRODUCE A BUDGET THAT CONTINUES TO INVEST IN THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE OUR CITY AND THE RESIDENTS WHO DEPEND ON US. OUR EMPLOYEES RECEIVED A MERIT INCREASE. WE CONTINUED OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, PROTECTED ESSENTIAL CORE SERVICES, AND PROVIDED NEEDED RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITIES. MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR RESIDENTS WERE ENGAGED AND HEARD THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. THE ADMINISTRATION LISTENED TO THE COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THE ADMINISTRATION LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY. THE CITY MANAGER AND HER TEAM FACED A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET SHORTFALL, AND WERE STILL TASKED WITH PRESENTING A BALANCED BUDGET THAT REQUIRED DIFFICULT DECISIONS, DISCIPLINE, COLLABORATION AND A WILLINGNESS FROM EVERYONE INVOLVED TO FIND SOLUTIONS. AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, MY RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER, THE CFO, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND CITY STAFF TO HELP CARRY OUT MAYOR JOHNSON'S VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY COMMITTEE, IDENTIFYING DUPLICATION, EXAMINING INEFFICIENCIES, ASKING DIFFICULT QUESTIONS, AND LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE CITY GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. GOVERNMENT WAS NEVER ABOUT SIMPLY CUTTING FOR THE SAKE OF CUTTING. IT WAS ABOUT MAKING SURE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS ARE BEING USED RESPONSIBLY WHILE MAINTAINING THE SERVICES OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT AND DESERVE. [08:15:04] WE MAY NOT HAVE AGREED ON EVERY DECISION THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, BUT WE WORKED AS A TEAM. I APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGER, CFO, CITY EMPLOYEES AND MY COLLEAGUES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR RESIDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED AND MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD DURING THIS PROCESS. EVEN THROUGH A DIFFICULT BUDGET PROCESS, WE ARE STILL ABLE TO PROVIDE NEEDED RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT THIS BUDGET. I WANT TO THANK MAYOR JOHNSON FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHAIR THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY. THIS IS A BIG PART OF HIS VISION. IT WAS NOT EASY. BUT YOUR GUIDANCE AND WORKING WITH ME, HAVING CONVERSATIONS, MEETING WITH ME AND THE CFO, JACK IRELAND, MADE THIS PROCESS A LOT SMOOTHER. I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER FOR HER UNWAVERING SUPPORT, MAKING SURE THAT WHEN I ASK THE TOUGH, TOUGH QUESTIONS, SHE PROVIDED ANSWERS. I REMEMBER CALLING ONE PARTICULAR TIME, AND IT WAS SO DIFFICULT LISTENING TO WHAT YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH IN THE COMMUNITY BEING BLASTED IN THE MEDIA, BUT YET HAVING TO KEEP A SMILE ON YOUR FACE DURING DIFFICULT MOMENTS. I REMEMBER ONE PARTICULAR SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH I ASKED YOU, COULD I COME PRAY FOR YOUR STAFF AND YOU ALLOW ME TO COME UP HERE AND PRAY FOR YOUR STAFF THAT GOD WILL GUIDE US THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO SO. THANK YOU. JACK GARLAND. I KNOW WE JUST MET, BUT I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU'LL BE HERE, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENCOURAGING WORDS. YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD AND SAYING THIS IS TOUGH, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS. HE WAS OPTIMISTIC DURING A DIFFICULT SEASON, AND SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE YOU INCLUDED THE COMMUNITY. YOU LISTENED TO THE COUNCIL. YOU LISTEN TO THE HEARTBEAT OF DISTRICT FOUR AND EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT HERE ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE. AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AGENDA ITEM FOUR? I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE. I THINK A RECORD VOTE IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ONE, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S A STATE LAW REQUIREMENT UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, RIGHT? OKAY. I'LL JUST SAY VERY BRIEFLY THAT YOU KNOW, THIS IS A THIS IS AN ODD YEAR FOR ME AT LEAST. WITH RESPECT TO THE BUDGET, I DON'T HAVE ANY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A PREPARED SPEECH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I, I'VE JUST BEEN. LISTENING AND TRYING TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE HEAD OF THIS COUNCIL IS A COLLECTIVE. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK I THINK FOR ME, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT I DON'T THINK THAT THE CITY MANAGER AT LEAST I CAN'T SEE HOW SHE COULD HAVE DONE MUCH BETTER THAN SHE DID IN TRYING TO WEIGH THE VERY REAL POLITICAL DIFFERENCE, POLITICAL DIFFERENCES ON THIS COUNCIL AND TURNING THAT INTO SOUND PUBLIC POLICY. I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH POLITICAL THEATER THAT GOES ON AROUND HERE SOMETIMES THAT YOU FORGET YOU'RE EVEN ENGAGING IN IT. BUT IF YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU DID A GOOD JOB ON A ON A BUDGET, JUST KNOW THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET MR. BAZALDUA AND MISS MENDELSOHN TO BOTH OPPOSE YOUR BUDGET, YOU PROBABLY NAILED IT. BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF THIS DEAL. I MEAN, I'M LISTENING TO TWO PEOPLE TELL US BOTH WITH A LOT OF PASSION AND A LOT OF ELOQUENCE, AND I RESPECT THEM BOTH FOR THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE BALANCING THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF THE WORKING CLASS. AND WE ARE, YOU KNOW, NOT TAKING CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. AND WE'RE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE CRUELLA DIVINE ON, YOU KNOW, DE VILLE ON ONE HAND. AND THEN ON THE OTHER HAND YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T CUT ANYTHING. WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW BOTH OF THOSE THINGS CAN POSSIBLY BE TRUE. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN BOTH BE SO CRUEL OR CUTTING TO THE BONE, BALANCING THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF THE WORKING, [08:20:01] ALL THE STUFF I'VE BEEN HEARING AND ALSO NOT CUTTING ANYTHING. I THINK YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE REALITY, WHICH IS, I'LL TELL YOU, I DON'T THINK THERE ARE THE VOTES ON THIS COUNCIL TO CUT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN WHAT YOU PROPOSED. I THINK MOST OF THE THINGS YOU DID PROPOSE TO CUT GOT PUT BACK. I'M NOT HERE TO JUDGE ANYBODY'S MORALITY, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT. I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY LIKE, TRYING NOT TO GET THE UNDERSTAND THE MOVIE YOU'RE WATCHING TO SIT AND SEE A CITY COUNCIL ON THE LAST DAY DEBATE FOR AN HOUR. A $17,000 TRAVEL LINE ITEM FOR FOR KIDS. I MEAN, THIS IS A THIS IS A COUNCIL THAT'S TELLING YOU, AT LEAST IN, YOU KNOW, A FAR MORE THAN THE SIMPLE MAJORITY, PROBABLY THAT THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT IDEA. AND I HOPE THAT THEY COME ALONG BECAUSE I DON'T SHARE THAT OPINION. AND I DON'T THINK MISS MENDELSOHN SHARES THAT OPINION. THEY DON'T THINK THERE'S A WHOLE LOT THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AS A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING. THEY WANT TO FIND MORE CREATIVE WAYS TO DO IT. THEY WANT TO FIND MORE EFFICIENT WAYS TO DO IT, BUT THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING FOR LINES OF WORK TO GET OUT OF. AND WE ARE, AS MENDELSOHN I ARE. BUT TO PRETEND MISS MENDELSOHN AND OTHERS, LIKE IN THE MEDIA, WHO'S LISTENING LIKE WE HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR THAT TYPE OF CONSENSUS ON THIS COUNCIL IS NOT IT'S JUST NOT REALITY. IT'S POLITICAL THEATER. AND SO I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE THE LUXURY OF DEALING WITH POLITICAL THEATER. YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY RUN A CITY AND COME UP WITH A BUDGET THAT WILL ACTUALLY GET ADOPTED. ON THIS DAY, IT'S ON THE CALENDAR. IT HAS TO GET PASSED TODAY. AND I THINK YOU DID ABOUT AS GOOD AS YOU WERE GOING TO DO WITH THIS CAST OF CHARACTERS, UNTIL I CAN WORK ON THEM SOME MORE. SO I'M GOING TO WORK ON YOU GUYS SOME MORE BECAUSE I GOT ONE MORE COMING. AND I'M GOING TO HOPE THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WORK THROUGH CUTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND TALK MORE ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ABOUT WHAT CAN BE CUT. BUT NO, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSOHN YOU HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE TO RESPOND IF YOU WANT TO TO THIS, I DON'T RECOMMEND YOU DO IT, BUT YOU CAN. I'M JUST SAYING THAT I DON'T THINK THAT I WOULD WANT TO ON THE LAST DAY OR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO CUT 40 MILLION MORE DOLLARS OUT OF THIS BUDGET. THAT'S NOT GOOD POLICY MAKING, AND I'VE WRITTEN MORE BUDGETS THAN ANYONE AROUND HERE AND FAR LARGER ONES, AND IT'S JUST NOT THE WAY IT'S DONE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SIT AROUND HERE AND THROUGH SEAT OF YOUR PANTS AMENDMENTS, GET 40 MILLION MORE DOLLARS OUT OF THIS BUDGET. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING IT. I SAID THAT BEFORE. AND SO WHILE I AGREE WITH YOU PHILOSOPHICALLY, THERE IS MORE TO BE CUT FROM THIS BUDGET, I BELIEVE THAT. BUT THIS ISN'T DOING IT BY THE SEAT OF YOUR PANTS IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT. AND SO I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS DONE AN ADMIRABLE JOB. I FEEL LIKE IF ANYTHING, SHE WAS THE MOST POWERFUL, YOU KNOW, COACH PERSON IN THE CITY. AND IN SOME WAYS WE FAILED HER ON THAT. BUT NEXT YEAR, LET'S TRY TO HAVE A MORE SERIOUS CONVERSATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ABOUT WHERE WE CAN CUT SOME THINGS. BUT I'M TELLING YOU FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, TO PRETEND IN EITHER DIRECTION, LIKE WE COULD HAVE DONE A LOT MORE CUTTING THAT, YOU KNOW HERE RESPONSIBLY. I DON'T THINK SO. AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE WERE CRUEL EITHER. SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE BUDGET, AND I THINK IT COULD BE A LESSON FOR THE NEXT TIME. BUT I THINK I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR TRYING SOMETHING NEW IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS TO TRY TO MAKE THIS MORE EFFICIENT. I GUESS WE GOT HERE A COUPLE HOURS EARLIER THAN WE NORMALLY DO, BUT BUT THAT'S IT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORT. I'M ALSO NOT A HUGE PERSON. AND, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU AND YOUR STAFF PUT IN, BUT I DON'T GO OVERBOARD IN PRAISING PEOPLE FOR DOING THEIR JOB. IT'S YOUR JOB. YOU DO IT WELL. YOUR STAFF, THEY'RE PROFESSIONALS. THEY'RE GROWN MEN AND WOMEN. THEY CAN HANDLE BEING ASKED TOUGH QUESTIONS. YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T THINK ANYBODY AROUND HERE IS REGULARLY ENGAGING IN ABUSIVE STAFF OR THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I DON'T WANT TO SIGN OFF ON THAT EITHER. I THINK YOU ALL WORK REAL HARD AND I APPRECIATE THAT WORK, BUT I THINK COUNCIL MEMBERS GENERALLY ARE ARE DOING THEIR JOBS AND ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS. AND SO THAT'S REALLY MY $0.02. AND SO I'LL GO TO CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN FOR ACTUALLY, I GUESS I GOTTA GO TO MR. [08:25:03] BAZALDUA FIRST FOR THREE MINUTES, AND THEN I'LL COME TO YOU FOR A MINUTE. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MAYOR, BUT I'D LIKE TO CORRECT JUST YOU SPECULATING ON SOMEONE'S INTENT, WHICH WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO. AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT EVERYTHING THAT I SAID WAS ACCURATE. THERE WERE THINGS WE FAILED TO INVEST IN. YOU TAKE THAT PERSONAL. THEN I APOLOGIZE FOR YOU. BUT I DID NOT MAKE A PERSONAL STATEMENT. AND I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A PERSONAL STATEMENT BECAUSE THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE IS NOT MEANT TO BE PERSONAL. BUT I STAND BY WHAT I SAID AND WHY I BELIEVE THAT THIS BUDGET DOES NOT REFLECT THE BUDGET PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR RESIDENTS. I BELIEVE THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER IN INVESTING IN CERTAIN AREAS. AND REGARDLESS OF HOW THAT MADE YOU FEEL, IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY LESS TRUE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MISS MIDDLETON, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, OUR RESIDENTS TOLD US WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES WERE, AND THEY WERE STREETS, PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELESSNESS. I'M NOT EVEN SURE WE SAID THE WORD HOMELESSNESS OR STREETS TODAY. IF WE'RE GOING TO BE REAL ABOUT IT. MAYOR, I WILL APPLAUD YOU FOR HAVING PUT TOGETHER THAT COURAGE COMMITTEE, THE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE AND DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM FOR HAVING RUN IT. WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES, NOT NOT TO OVERLOOK FLEET, AN AMENDMENT I WAS GOING TO BRING LAST YEAR. IT WAS COMPLICATED. SO I PULLED BACK BECAUSE THIS WAS COMING. WE TALKED ABOUT FLEET EXTENSIVELY, BUT STILL TODAY, NOT REALLY MANY CHANGES. THERE WERE SOME THAT THE MANAGER MADE, BUT WE HAVE WAY TOO MANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT BEING DRIVEN, THAT ARE NOT BEING UTILIZED PROPERLY, AND OUR TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR THAT. I WILL SAY, MAYOR, YOU JUST SAID YOU WANT TO WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SET A MEETING INDIVIDUALLY WITH EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER. I HAVE NOT MET WITH YOU THIS YEAR AT ALL. NOT ONCE. I WOULD SAY TO YOU THAT WE NEED A PROCESS TO PUT FORWARD BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THIS ROUND, BUT YOU CAN ROPE IT INTO SOMETHING ELSE. I'M SURE YOU'LL FIND SOMETHING. WELL, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE YOUR AMENDMENTS COME FORWARD. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR BEFORE WE HAVE A RECORD VOTE REQUIRED BY LAW? ALL RIGHT. MADAM SECRETARY, I DON'T SEE ANYONE, SO LET'S CALL THE ROLL. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE SAY YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCILMEMBER WEST. YES. COUNCILMEMBER MORENO. YES. COUNCILMEMBER GRACEY. YES. COUNCILMEMBER CADENA. YES. COUNCILMEMBER BAZALDUA. NO. COUNCILMEMBER BLAIR. YES. COUNCILMEMBER BLACKMON. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. YES. COUNCILMEMBER ROTH NO. COUNCILMEMBER MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY. DEPUTY MAYOR. PRO TEM JOHNSON. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ. YES. MAYOR. JOHNSON. YES. WITH TEN VOTING IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED. THE ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. WHAT'S OUR NEXT ITEM, MADAM SECRETARY? AGENDA ITEM FIVE. AGENDA ITEM FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE TAX RATE AT $0.6978 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION, WHICH INCLUDES $0.5075 FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND $0.1903 FOR THE DEBT SERVICE FUND AND LEVYING AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, TEXAS, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 627. THIS ITEM WILL REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE. MR. MAYOR, THIS IS YOUR ITEM. AND NINE VOTES IN FAVOR FOR ADOPTION. ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, YOU HEARD THAT. IS THERE A MOTION, MR. MAYOR? YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THAT PURPOSE? THANK YOU. I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.6978 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 5.4% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT. SO MOVED. SECOND. CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? FIVE MINUTES IF YOU DO. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THIS LANGUAGE IS ALWAYS A LITTLE TRICKY BECAUSE IT IT INDICATES THAT THIS IS AN INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS A REQUIREMENT BY STATE LAW. AND I WANTED TO GIVE CITY STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN WHAT THIS LANGUAGE IS AND WHAT IN FACT, WE ARE DOING WITH THIS AMENDMENT. SO COUNCIL MEMBER WEST IS CORRECT. THIS YEAR'S LEVY TO FUND THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION EXPENDITURES EXCEEDS LAST YEAR'S MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS TAX LEVY. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE PROPOSED TAX LEVY EXCEEDS THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX LEVY. [08:30:03] AND SO THEREFORE, THE ORDINANCE SETTING THE. THIS YEAR'S TAX RATE REQUIRES THE STATEMENT ABOUT A TAX INCREASE THAT IS REQUIRED IN THE PROPERTY TAX CODE. EVEN THOUGH THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 TAX RATE OF 0.6978 IS LESS THAN THE CURRENT TAX RATE OF 0.6988. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. MR. BAZALDUA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. ITEM FIVE. THANK YOU. I FIRST DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE BOTH JACK AND JEANETTE. I KNOW I BUGGED Y'ALL QUITE A BIT DURING THIS PROCESS AND HAVE FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL PUT IN. DISAGREEING WITH THE BUDGET HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WORK THAT YOU ALL PUT IN. TO GET US TO THIS PLACE. I WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS TAX RATE AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS PRUDENT. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. FRANKLY, I BELIEVE IT'S INSULTING TO THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SHOWED UP, TESTIFIED AND ADVOCATED FOR PRIORITIES. WE INTENTIONALLY LEFT UNFUNDED, WHILE WE SIMULTANEOUSLY FAILED TO PROPERLY INVEST IN THE VERY WORKFORCE THAT KEEPS THIS CITY RUNNING. YES, AS COLLEAGUES MENTIONED, THEY ARE GETTING A MERIT INCREASE OF 2% INSTEAD OF THREE. AND IN APRIL INSTEAD OF OCTOBER, THAT RATE CUT WAS MONEY, REAL MONEY SITTING ON THE TABLE, MONEY THAT COULD HAVE FUNDED MERIT PAY INCREASES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. MONEY THAT COULD HAVE FULLY FUNDED OUR LIBRARIES. MONEY THAT COULD HAVE STARTED THE MOST CRITICAL REPAIRS AT CITY HALL INSTEAD OF DEFERRING THEM YET AGAIN, MONEY THAT COULD HAVE GONE TOWARDS OUR POLICE AND FIRE PENSION OBLIGATION, LIGHTNING, THE BURDEN THAT WE KNOW IS COMING IN FUTURE BUDGETS INSTEAD OF LEAVING IT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO SOLVE. INSTEAD, WE CHOSE THE HEADLINE OVER THE HARD DECISION. WE CHOSE THE PRESS RELEASE OVER PRUDENCE. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN POLITICS WINS, MR. MAYOR, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS OUTWEIGHS REAL COURAGE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT COSTS THE PEOPLE WE SERVE, THE. AND REGARDLESS OF HOW ANY OF US THINK IT PLAYS IN OUR NEXT ELECTION. I DID NOT RUN FOR THIS SEAT TO CHASE HEADLINES. I RAN TO MAKE THE HARD, SOMETIMES UNPOPULAR CALLS THAT ACTUALLY MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. THIS TAX RATE DOES NOT DO THAT AND I CANNOT SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AGENDA ITEM FIVE? MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO BE VOTING AGAINST THIS TAX RATE, WHICH IS NOT DISSIMILAR FROM THE CURRENT YEAR'S TAX RATE, WHICH I ALSO VOTED NO ON, BECAUSE IT'S AN OBSCENE TAX RATE. AND THE FACT IS THAT I HAD MORE THAN $45 MILLION WORTH OF AMENDMENTS EASILY, EASILY FOUND. NOT EVEN SUPER HARD TO FIND, EASILY FOUND. BUT THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT. LET'S MAKE SURE SHE CAN'T EVEN DO IT SO THAT WE DON'T TAKE A BAD VOTE ON PUBLIC SAFETY. WE'LL TAKE A BAD VOTE ON A PROCEDURAL MOVE FOR THREE SECONDS. I TRULY HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THAT IN EVERY ORGANIZATION I'VE BEEN PART OF. WHEN I SAT FOR THE PARLIAMENTARIAN TEST, THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENTARIAN TEST, NEVER HEARD OF THREE SECONDS. BUT THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO GET ME TO NOT SHOW ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS WE COULD HAVE CUT THAT BUDGET AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE COULD HAVE DONE WITH IT. NOW, MY INTEREST WAS IN MAKING SURE THAT THERE WAS A POT OF MONEY FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, SO THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE MEET AND CONFER HAPPEN, IF MANAGEMENT NEEDS THAT MONEY, IT'S THERE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS. TODAY, THE BUDGET BECOMES ADOPTED. WHERE'S THAT MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? WELL, I AM AWARE OF TENS OF THOUSANDS, TENS OF MILLIONS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR THIS, COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN USED FOR SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA SAID, MAYBE OTHER THINGS. MAYBE LOWERING OUR TAX RATE, FOLKS, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN. AND THIS SYMBOLIC 10TH OF A PENNY. I MEAN, I GUESS IT IS THE HEADLINE. I GUESS IT LETS YOU SAY, WELL, WE HAVE THIS MANY CONSECUTIVE YEARS. BUT THE REALITY IS WE'RE COLLECTING A LOT MORE TAX REVENUE. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WRITE A BIGGER CHECK. ON THE WHOLE, NOT EVERY SINGLE PERSON, BUT ON THE WHOLE, [08:35:06] PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WRITE A BIGGER CHECK AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET LESS. THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW UP AT THEIR LIBRARY AND IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSED. AND THIS IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT THEY ASKED FOR WHEN THEY'RE DRIVING, WHEREVER THEY'RE GOING TO REMEMBER. YOU KNOW WHAT I SAID? STREETS WERE NUMBER ONE. STREETS REALLY AREN'T GOING TO BE FIXED. SO WE HAVE 800 LANE MILES, 800. GREAT. THIS IS THIS IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR WHAT OUR CITY NEEDS. AND AGAIN, JUST TRYING TO, TO PAWN IT OFF ON. WELL, THEREFORE WE MUST ACCEPT BAD ZONING CASES IS JUST THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING I'VE HEARD. WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED TO DO IS TRULY STUDY THESE NUMBERS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE JOB OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS. IT IS NOT TO SOLVE THE WORLD'S PROBLEM ON A MUNICIPAL BUDGET. AND IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN SOLVING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT OUR COUNTY OR STATE OR FEDERAL, YOU SHOULD RUN FOR THAT OFFICE. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES IN THE NEWS THAT I DO THINK WE LOOK AT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE COULD MAYBE SOLVE IT. WE HAVE THIS GIANT BUDGET, BUT IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO SOLVE. WE'RE NOT EVEN DOING THE THINGS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO. VERY WELL. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR STREETS. THEY'RE NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, DON'T YOU THINK? DON'T YOU THINK WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CLEAR THEM AND CARE FOR PEOPLE? WE'RE NOT DOING A VERY GOOD JOB AT THAT. I DON'T CARE HOW MANY TIMES PEOPLE WANT TO COME BEFORE US AND TELL US THERE'S NOT HOMELESS PEOPLE ANYMORE, BECAUSE YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T DRIVE AROUND THE CITY AND YOUR RESIDENTS MAYBE DON'T TELL YOU, BUT I DO. AND FRANKLY, SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEY PUT THEM UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THEY TAG US. SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD THE COURAGE WE NEED TO DO THE WORK TO LOWER THIS TAX RATE SO THAT WE COULD BE MORE COMPETITIVE. WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SET A CEILING AT $0.68. GUESS WHAT? THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN $40 MILLION OF CUTS. I HAVE THEM SITTING HERE. BUT YOU NEVER EVEN GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU. YOU COULD HAVE VOTED THEM DOWN AFTER YOU HEARD IT, BUT I GUESS IT'S TOO DIFFICULT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT VERY DIFFICULT VOTE AGAINST PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU. MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I AM ALSO A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED THAT OUR TAX RATE IS IS TOO HIGH. I THINK THAT WE DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS TO CONSIDER A REDUCED TAX RATE TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR CITIZENS. AS A REFERENDUM TO FORCE US TO TAKE HARDER LOOKS AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE CREATING A, A, A VISION AND A MESSAGE TO OUR CITIZENS THAT WE WANT TO HELP THEM SAVE MONEY. AND THAT WE NEED TO BE STEWARDS OF OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. THIS IS NOT A REFERENDUM ON THE WORK OF OUR STAFF, OF OUR MANAGER. I THINK IT'S THIS IS A THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH DISCUSSION. I THINK THAT EVERYBODY HAS COME TO THE TABLE TO ADVOCATE, TO TO ARGUE, TO COME TO THE CONCLUSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD IN AN HONEST APPROACH. HOWEVER, I THINK WE, WE COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY DONE A BETTER JOB IN TRYING TO LOOK AT THESE MATTERS A LITTLE BIT MORE DISPASSIONATELY AND A LITTLE BIT MORE FISCALLY, RESPONSIBLY. I'M AGAIN HOPEFUL THAT OUR, OUR NEXT THIS NEXT YEAR WILL BRING US SOME DIRECT ATTENTION BY ALL OF US TO WATCH OUR POLICY MAKING TO HELP STEWARD OUR FUNDS MORE, MORE STRATEGICALLY TO LOOK WHERE WE CAN SAVE MONEY. I WOULD ASK OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO LOOK AT THESE FUNDS IN THEIR DEPARTMENTS AS IF IT WAS THEIR OWN MONEY FOR THEIR OWN HOMES. I WOULD LIKE TO, I'D LIKE PEOPLE TO, IN, IN OUR, IN OUR ASSOCIATION HERE TO LOOK AT THIS AS IF THIS WAS OUR MONEY AND WE WERE DEALING WITH OUR OWN PERSONAL FINANCIAL SITUATION. AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL GENERATE SOME SAVINGS, SOME, [08:40:03] SOME BENEFITS NOT ONLY TO OURSELVES, BUT ALSO TO THE MESSAGES TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. AGAIN, I'M, I AM DISTRESSED THAT WE'RE AT THIS LEVEL OF, OF TAX RATE, WHICH IS WAY ABOVE OUR, OUR NEIGHBORS AND OTHER STATE AND OTHER CITIES AND BUT AND I'M DISTRESSED THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO REDUCE IT. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST IT, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT THE NEXT YEAR WILL BRING US OPPORTUNITIES TO CORRECT AND AND REPOSITION OURSELVES MORE, MORE RESPONSIBLY AND STRATEGICALLY FOR OUR FUTURE BUDGET DEBATES AND BUDGET PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING IN THE UPCOMING YEARS. THANK YOU. MR.. DOES ANYBODY DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ON FOR AGAINST ITEM FIVE? I'M ON THE FENCE. I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING SO BADLY I'M NOT GOING TO. I'M GONNA LET EVERYBODY GO HOME, GET DINNER. ALL RIGHT. WE NEED A RECORD VOTE, MADAM SECRETARY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE SAY YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. MORENO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACEY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CADENA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY. NO. DEPUTY MAYOR. PRO TEM JOHNSON. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ. YES. MAYOR JOHNSON. YES. WITH NINE VOTING IN FAVOR, TEN OPPOSE THE ITEM PASSES. MR. MAYOR, DID YOU SAY WHAT? SAY THAT AGAIN. SIX. WHAT? WHAT WAS IT WITH? NINE VOTING IN FAVOR? SIX. OPPOSED? SIX. OKAY. I'M SORRY. WITH NINE VOTING IN FAVOR. SIX OPPOSED. THE ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. I THOUGHT YOU SAID 9 TO 10. OKAY. I'M LIKE YOU SAID, TEN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. 9 TO 6 AND IT PASSES. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM. OH. I'M SORRY. OKAY. AGENDA ITEM SIX IS A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE INCREASE IN TOTAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUES REFLECTED IN THE FY 2020 627 BUDGET. THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR. IT DOES REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE. CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE A MOTION? YES, MAYOR. I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. SECOND. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE SEEING NONE. WE NEED A RECORD VOTE FOR THIS. SO, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. MORENO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACEY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CADENA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. ROTH. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ. YES. MAYOR JOHNSON. YES. WITH NINE VOTING IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSED. THE ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM PLEASE. AGENDA ITEM SEVEN. IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS 277A8A12, 17. 18. 28. 27. 38. AYE. 42. 43. AYE. 48. B. 49. 50. 51. A AND 52 OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE AND SECTION ONE OF ORDINANCE 19860. AS PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 1988. ONE AMENDING FEES, CHARGES AND RATES RELATING TO STORMWATER DRAINAGE. TWO AMENDING FEES FOR ANIMAL ADOPTION AND DANGEROUS AND AGGRESSIVE DOG REGISTRATION. THREE AMENDING EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE FEES FOR AMENDING FEES FOR FIRE CODE PERMITS, REGISTRATION, [08:45:01] INSPECTION AND RE-INSPECTIONS FIVE AMENDING SANITATION CHARGES AND DEFINITIONS SIX. AMENDING LANDFILL AND TRANSFER FEES SEVEN. AMENDING MIXED INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENT BONUS FEES EIGHT. AMENDING WHOLESALE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE SERVICE RATES. NINE AMENDING WATER TREATMENT FEES. TEN AMENDING UNTREATED WATER RATES. 11 AMENDING BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE INSPECTION AND TESTING FEES. 12 AMENDING WATER SERVICE CONNECTION FEES. 13 AMENDING EVALUATED COST TABLES FOR OVERSIZE SITE OR OFF SITE FACILITIES. 14 AMENDING LIQUID WASTE TRANSPORTER REGISTRATION AND DISPOSAL FEES. 15 AMENDING SERVICE CONNECTION PERMIT PROCESSING FEES. 16 AMENDING FIRE FLOW TEST FEES. 17 AMENDING COMPLIANCE SAMPLING FEES. 18 AMENDING CONVENIENCE FEES FOR CREDIT AND DEBIT CARD TRANSACTIONS. 19 AMENDING THE RATES FOR 911 LAND LINES FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. 20 PROVIDING A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $2,000. 21, PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE. 22 PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. AND 23 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS IS YOUR ITEM. MR. MAYOR, AND IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE. GREAT. CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU HAVE A MOTION? YES. I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SORRY. WHAT? GOOD. ALL RIGHT. SO DO YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? DO YOU HAVE ANYONE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? RECORD VOTES BEEN REQUESTED. SO, MADAM SECRETARY, GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE. YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU'RE OPPOSED. COUNCIL MEMBER. WEST. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. MORENO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACEY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CADENA. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. ROTH. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY. NO. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ. YES. MAYOR JOHNSON. YES. WITH TEN VOTING IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED. THE ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT, LET'S KEEP ROLLING. AGENDA ITEM EIGHT. IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER TWO ADMINISTRATION OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE BY AMENDING SECTIONS 2-432-442-139.12-139.2, AND 2-1421. CHANGING THE NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT TO DEPARTMENT OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT TO CREATING THE OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE THREE TRANSFERRING REAL ESTATE DUTIES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT TO THE OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE FOR MAKING THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, A DIVISION OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, BY PROVIDING A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $500. SIX. PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE. SEVEN PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. AND EIGHT PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. YOU DO HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. ALEX SCOTT. YOU WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND I DO ASK THAT YOU STAY ON TOPIC. THANK YOU. YES, I WILL STAY ON TOPIC. I APPRECIATE THAT BILIERAE. HEY Y'ALL. ALEX SCOTT 6472 TRAMMEL DRIVE. I'M YOUR NEIGHBOR IN DISTRICT NINE. WE ARE ALMOST AT THE END, YOU GUYS. HOWEVER, I'M COMING UP HERE TODAY TO RECOMMEND THAT Y'ALL DEFER THIS ITEM AND THAT IF YOU DON'T DEFER IT, YOU VOTE AGAINST IT. AND THE REASON WHY I SAY THIS IS IN CASE Y'ALL DON'T KNOW THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENTS, PER THE CITY OF DALLAS RULES OF PROCEDURE REQUIRES THREE FOURTHS VOTES OF ALL MEMBERS. ORDINANCES CREATING OR MAKING ANY CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT REQUIRE APPROVAL OF THREE FOURTHS OF ALL MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. AND SO IF YOU WANT TO, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES FOR A SECOND AND TELL ME IF YOU CAN VISUALIZE THIS. SO THE OFFICE OF BUILDING SERVICES WAS ORIGINALLY WHAT REAL ESTATE WAS BEFORE WE HAVE A NEW CITY MANAGER. AND THEN THAT GOT CHANGED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO. NOW WE'RE RENAMING IT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FACILITIES AND MANAGEMENT, CREATING THE OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE, TRANSFERRING FOR DUTIES, AND MAKING THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT UNDERNEATH THE CITY MANAGER. [08:50:04] WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR EYES, I HOPE THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE AS OUR ORG CHART. BECAUSE WHEN I, AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, GO TO PRINT OFF THE ORG CHART. THIS IS WHAT I GET YOU GUYS. THIS IS WHAT I GET. AND SO I REALLY BELIEVE THAT OUR CITY MANAGER SHOULD COME UP HERE AND DO A FULL PRESENTATION ON THIS NEW ORG CHART THAT SHE'S PROPOSING, BECAUSE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. AND THE REASON WHY I SAY THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL ATTACK. IT'S A VERY SERIOUS ATTACK BECAUSE TODAY WE TALKED ABOUT GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, RIGHT? AND MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHERE MONEY IS GOING, WHERE IT'S BEING ALLOCATED AND WHAT ALL IS GOING INTO IT. IT IS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CREATE A NEW DEPARTMENT AND NOT SPEND ANY MONEY. AND SO WHEN IT SAYS IN THERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS ORDINANCE THAT THERE'S NO COST CONSIDERATION TO THE CITY, THAT'S THAT'S FACTUALLY INCORRECT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO CHANGE ALL THE HIERARCHIES WITHIN YOUR CRM. YOU HAVE A NEW ORG CHART THAT YOU'RE BUILDING. YOU HAVE NEW POLICIES THAT YOU'RE CREATING. THAT IS ALL A COST CONSIDERATION THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF. AND BY THE WAY, SINCE THIS MANAGER HAS COME INTO PLACE, THERE HAS BEEN A DESIRE TO GET RID OF THIS BUILDING. AND THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGES WITHIN OUR BUILDING AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND A LOT OF ARPA MONEY. NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO BE BROUGHT IN FRONT OF YOU ALL FOR $3.8 MILLION FOR A FACILITY CONDITION ASSESSMENT IN THE COMPANY THAT OUR CITY MANAGER IS BRINGING FORWARD. JUST GOT HIT WITH A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FALSE CLAIM ACT. FOR HUNTER'S BAY IN SAN FRANCISCO, WHERE TETRA TECH FALSIFIED 15 CONTRACTS OF SOIL SAMPLES. AND THAT IS WHO THE DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE AND OUR CITY MANAGER WANTS TO BRING FORWARD TO DO OUR FCA. AND SO I RECOMMEND THAT YOU PULL THIS, YOU MOVE IT AND YOU DO A FULL PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM, MR. MAYOR, AND IT WILL REQUIRE THREE FOURTHS VOTE FOR ADOPTION. CHAIRMAN WEST, DO YOU RECOGNIZE FOR A MOTION? THANK YOU. I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. SECOND IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION, CHAIRMAN WEST? YES, MAYOR. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I WANTED TO GIVE THE CITY MANAGER HER TEAM AN OPPORTUNITY, SINCE IT IS A THREE FOURTHS THRESHOLD ON THIS TO JUST EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THE TEAM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. EARLIER THIS YEAR, WITH THE RETIREMENT OF OUR ONE OF OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, DENZEL GIBSON, I SENT OUT A MEMO TO THE CITY COUNCIL EXPLAINING THAT WE WERE GOING TO TAKE A LASER FOCUS ON HOW WE BEGIN TO ADDRESS OUR REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO. WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE COUNCIL, AND WHAT WE HAD BEFORE WAS A COMBINATION OF TRYING TO DO THE DAY TO DAY FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, AND THEN THE REAL ESTATE PIECES WERE NOT BEING ELEVATED AT THE LEVEL THAT WE NEEDED. SO AT THAT TIME, I SHARED WITH THE COUNCIL THAT I WOULD TAKE THE POSITION THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY AS AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND WE WOULD BE FOCUSING ON CREATING A POSITION THAT GAVE US A MORE DAY TO DAY FOCUS ON HOW WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT REAL ESTATE. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. I KNOW THAT MR. JOHNSON IS WORKING NOW TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT BODY OF WORK FORWARD. SO WHAT THIS ITEM DOES IS IT'S ACTUALLY THREE THINGS. THE FIRST THING IS IT WILL ALLOW FOR US TO CREATE THAT SEPARATION TO WHERE THE PURE REAL ESTATE FUNCTIONS ARE NOT COMBINED UNDER THE FACILITIES UMBRELLA. AND THAT WOULD GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ALL THOSE DUTIES CENTRALIZED IN THAT OFFICE. THE CHIEF OF REAL ESTATE IS A DIRECT REPORT DOWN TO THE CITY MANAGER AND IS NOT REPORTING UNDER ANOTHER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. IT'S A DIRECT REPORT TO ME. THAT WAY WE CAN INCREASE THE LEVEL OF FOCUS ON IT AS WELL AS ACCOUNTABILITY. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. THE SECOND ITEM THAT IS HERE IS ABOUT THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. AS YOU WILL RECALL, WE TOOK FOUR DEPARTMENTS LAST YEAR AND WE COMBINED THEM TOGETHER TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. THIS ITEM ALLOWS FOR US TO NOW ADDRESS THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS NOT A STANDALONE DEPARTMENT. WE USED TO HAVE THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS, THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE. EXCUSE ME. WE HAD THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AS WELL AND WE AND THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE, THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING. AND WE TOOK ALL OF THOSE AND BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER. WHENEVER WE'VE CREATED OFFICES OF OR THEY'RE TRULY A DIVISION OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. SO THIS IS HOW WE TYPICALLY HANDLE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE OFFICES OF IT'S A PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AS A SUPPORTED FUNCTION. SO THAT'S WHAT THE ITEMS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU IN THIS ITEM TODAY WILL ALLOW FOR US TO, TO ADDRESS. I DO WANT TO ALSO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE TAKEN THE NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS, THE NUMBER OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISIONS AND WE HAVE BEEN SHRINKING THE ORGANIZATION WHEN IT COMES TO THE NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS THAT WE HAD [08:55:07] PREVIOUSLY. AND THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE WAY WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FOUNDATIONAL STRUCTURE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE I CAME INTO THE ROLE IN 2024. WE HAVE CONDENSED, WE HAVE CONSOLIDATED, AND WE'VE ALSO ELIMINATED SOME DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TRUE UP THE WAY WE'RE OPERATING AND CREATE OVERALL EFFICIENCIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN ITEM NUMBER A, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND SO THIS ITEM, JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT DETAILED EXPLANATION. TO BE VERY CLEAR, THIS ITEM IS HELPING TO BUILD MORE EFFICIENCIES AND HELP US WITH OUR REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO AND ALSO KIND OF FOLLOW COUNCIL'S GUIDANCE IN STREAMLINING THE BUREAUCRACY AND MAKING THE CITY MORE EFFICIENT. EXACTLY. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND SO THIS OFFICE, THE REASON WHY I BROUGHT UP THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, WE ACTUALLY DID THE CONSOLIDATION, BUT WE NEVER CAME IN AND CREATED IT AS THE DIVISION THAT IT IS NOW AS AN OFFICE. SO IT'S NO LONGER CALLED THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. IT WAS THAT WAY BEFORE WE COMBINED THE OTHER OFFICES TOGETHER. SO THIS IS THE WAY THE STRUCTURE CURRENTLY IS IN PLACE. THANK YOU. DEPUTY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CITY MANAGER. I'M A LITTLE KIND OF CONFUSED A LITTLE BIT. AND IF YOU COULD HELP ME OUT THE OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE, I GUESS. REAL REAL ESTATE. GO UNDER HOUSING? NO, SIR. NO, SIR. IT'S TWO SEPARATE THINGS. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT. AND THE REAL ESTATE COMPONENT IS A IS A GROUP THAT DOES JUST PURE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS EMBEDDED IN FACILITIES. THIS ITEM WOULD TAKE THE REAL ESTATE PIECES OUT UNDER MR. JOHN JOHNSON, WHO'S NOW THE CHIEF OF REAL ESTATE, AND HAVE THAT AS AN OFFICE THAT REPORTS DIRECTLY TO MR. JOHNSON. AND MR. JOHNSON REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE CITY MANAGER. AND THEN WE HAVE THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, WHICH IS AN OFFICE NOW OF THE CITY MANAGER. SO REAL ESTATE IS NOT MOVING UNDER THAT OFFICE. IT'S TWO DIFFERENT. WE'RE ACTUALLY ADDRESSING TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS WITHIN THIS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. BUT BOTH DEPARTMENTS ARE REPORTING TO YOU DIRECTLY. THE OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE IS A DIRECT REPORT TO THE CITY MANAGER UNDER THE CHIEF OF REAL ESTATE, JOHN JOHNSON. THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT WILL CONTINUE TO REPORT UNDER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER LIZ SEDILLO PEREZ. OKAY, THAT DOES NOT CHANGE. THANK YOU. MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. CAN YOU COULD YOU CLARIFY FOR ME? IS IT TRUE THAT IF IT'S AN OFFICE OF IT IS NOT PART OF CIVIL SERVICE? I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE PREVIOUSLY FOR ME BEING IN THIS ROLE, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT WORKS. THE DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISIONS THAT ARE CONSIDERED OFFICES OF ARE NOT SUBJECTED TO CIVIL SERVICE. BUT I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TEAM AND MAKE SURE THAT I'M SAYING THAT CORRECTLY. I THINK THAT I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT ANSWER. YES, MA'AM. THAT WAS THE CORRECT ANSWER. AND SO CURRENTLY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS PART OF CIVIL SERVICE. AND THIS I'M SORRY. WELL, I WILL USE THAT EXAMPLE. I'LL JUST CONTINUE. IT'S NOT MOVING. IT'S NOT BECOMING OFFICE OF. SO HOUSING IS PART OF CIVIL SERVICE, CORRECT? I DON'T SEE THE CIVIL SERVICE DIRECTOR. JANET, DO YOU HAVE THAT DIRECT ANSWER? BECAUSE THE CONSOLIDATION OF THESE DEPARTMENTS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THE CURRENT YEAR IN 25. 26. SO THIS ACTION WILL MAKE THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT NON CIVIL SERVICE. BUT TODAY IT IS. THAT'S CORRECT. TODAY IT IS CIVIL SERVICE. SO HOW COME THAT WASN'T EXPLAINED. SO I THINK MAKING IT A DIVISION OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WAS IS THE LANGUAGE ASSOCIATED WITH MAKING. NO. BUT IF I DIDN'T HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT, WOULD THIS COUNCIL KNOW THAT WE'RE REMOVING CIVIL SERVICE FROM HOUSING? LIKE WE JUST HAD A WHOLE EXPLANATION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. BUT NOBODY SAID, OH, AND BY THE WAY, HERE'S THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS CHANGE. SO I THINK YOU HAD THAT THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, YOU HAD THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE. AND SO MERGING ALL OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS INTO THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT AND MAKING THEM A DIVISION OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. THAT WAS THE EFFECT OF THE CHANGE. WELL, WE JUST HEARD ABOUT EFFICIENCY, BUT WE DIDN'T HEAR THAT. [09:00:04] OH, AND ALSO IT WILL REMOVE CIVIL SERVICE FROM THIS DEPARTMENT. UNDERSTOOD. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD CHANGE WITH THIS? HI. THORAXCENTER DIRECTOR, HOUSING COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. NO, AND ACTUALLY WE FOLLOW MOST OF THE PROCEDURES OF CIVIL SERVICE ALREADY. AND WE WOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS AN OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER. AND JUST POINT OF CLARIFICATION, LAST YEAR WHEN THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT FORWARD, THE FLOOR AMENDMENT AT THE END OF COUNCIL, THE DISCUSSION WAS TO RENAME IT AS THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY LISTED AS DEPARTMENT. THAT FLOOR MOTION PASSED. HOWEVER, THAT MOTION DID NOT INCLUDE A DIVISION OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE SPECIFICALLY TO CODIFY THAT CHANGE. AND SO THIS ITEM TODAY HELPS CLARIFY THE INTENT OF COUNCIL'S LAST YEAR'S DECISION AND RENAMING AND MERGING THE OFFICE UNDER THE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER. WELL, I'M PRETTY SURE I VOTED AGAINST IT BECAUSE I HAVE STILL NOT GOTTEN A DEFINITION OF WHAT IS COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT EVEN MEAN. SO COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT CONTINUES TO MEAN IT'S OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES, IT'S OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS. IT'S THE PROGRAMS WE ADMINISTER THROUGH GRANT FUNDING OF COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. IT'S NOT WHAT'S ENCOMPASSED IN THE DEPARTMENT. I'M SAYING, WHAT DOES THAT PHRASE MEAN? I MEAN, THE PHRASE CONTINUES TO MEAN THE SERVICES THAT BRING FORWARD SERVICES TO EMPOWER THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT, OFTENTIMES TO EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, WE CAN GO ON FOR DEBATES ABOUT THAT, BUT WE KNOW THAT COMMUNITIES THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES DEFINITELY DO NOT ALWAYS FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE DECISION MAKING, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO ACCESS THE SERVICES AND THROUGH WORK OF EMPOWERMENT. IT CHANGES THAT AND MAKES SURE THAT RESIDENTS HAVE A VOICE IN HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE POLICY DECISIONS. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT, AND I DON'T THINK OUR JOB IS TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE BECAUSE ACTUALLY THEY LITERALLY DON'T. LIKE LITERALLY, WE ARE THE ONES VOTING ON IT. AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE WE TREAT THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME AND SPEAK TO US VERY NICELY. SO I DON'T AGREE AND I STILL DON'T AGREE. I MEAN, EVEN THE PILLARS, LIKE I CHALLENGE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT DEPARTMENTS AND WHAT PILLAR AND WHAT THE PILLAR MEANS. WE'RE THAT'S ME. YES. WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS OUTSIDE OF THE TWO REFERENCED HERE AND TALKING ABOUT THE PILLARS, WHICH HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS ITEM. WELL, IT'S ABOUT THE ORG CHART. AND SO THAT'S FINE. GO AHEAD. GREAT. NARROW NARROW IT A LITTLE BIT. WELL THAT'S OKAY. I'M GOING TO VOTE NO BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE HOW THIS IS BEING ORGANIZED. AND I THINK THAT WE'VE TAKEN THINGS THAT ARE PLAIN LANGUAGE. EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS. BUT THEN YOU START ADDING OTHER TITLES. NOBODY KNOWS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANYMORE. AND THERE'S A LOT OF FLOWERY FLOWER, FLOWERY LANGUAGE ALL THROUGHOUT THIS THAT OBSCURES THE ACTUAL MEANING AND WOULD MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO OUR RESIDENTS. SO THAT COULD BE EMPOWERING. NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS. THANK YOU. MR. ROTH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ALL FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF REAL ESTATE IN OUR PORTFOLIO, IN OUR BUDGET, IN OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION, AND THAT AN IDENTIFYING THAT AS A TARGETED IMPORTANT PART OF OUR, OF OUR OPERATION. MY QUESTIONS ARE NOT TO BE CRITICAL. MY QUESTIONS ARE REALLY PROCESSING IS THERE IN DOING, CREATING THIS OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE, IS THERE GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT COMMITTEE STRUCTURE? IS THERE GOING, WHO IS THIS DEPARTMENT GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE? I KNOW IT'S ACCOUNTABLE TO THE MANAGER'S OFFICE, BUT WHAT WOULD IS THERE GOING TO BE A SEPARATE REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE? IS THERE GOING TO BE OTHER COMMISSIONS? ARE THERE GOING TO BE IS THERE IS THERE GOING TO BE A WHO IS GOING TO BE SORT OF THE LIAISON COMMITTEE WITHIN OUR, OUR CITY COUNCIL TO REVIEW, DISCUSS, BE INTERACTIVE WITH AND AGAIN, I'M ASKING QUESTIONS THAT IN MULTIPLE QUESTIONS, BUT OR IS IT GOING TO BE A GENERAL. OFFICE THAT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY COMMISSION. I'M JUST SORT OF CURIOUS, HOW DOES HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK WITHIN OUR COMMITTEE SYSTEMS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH, FOR THE QUESTION. [09:05:03] BECAUSE THAT DEPARTMENT WILL THAT OFFICE HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT CORE COMPONENTS. THERE'S THE NORMAL EASEMENT ABANDONMENT. I THINK MOST OF THAT WORK IS DONE THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE. WHETHER IT'S THROUGH SOMETIMES COMING INTO A KIND OF A, IF IT'S RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION. SO WE WILL BE WORKING TO DETERMINE WHAT EXACTLY THAT'S COMING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE APPROPRIATE CHAIR. IF IT'S A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION THAT IS A SIMPLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEAL, THEN IT'S GOING TO GO TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. IF IT'S ABOUT THE MONETIZATION OF SOME OF OUR ASSETS, WE WOULD BE WORKING TO SEE IF THAT'S GOING TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. SO IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY BASED ON WHAT WE'RE BRINGING TO DETERMINE WHICH WOULD BE THE REFLECTIVE COMMITTEE. I DON'T ESTABLISH THE COMMITTEES. BUT DEFINITELY WE LIKE TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ALIGNMENT OF THE WORK IS WITHIN THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE THAT IS SET BY THE MAYOR, AND THAT WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THOSE COMMITTEE CHAIRS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ITEMS ARE SENT TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE. I KNOW THAT YOU'VE GIVEN A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK TO US, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME OF THE REAL ESTATE COMPONENTS, THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, AND WE'LL JUST KEEP WORKING THROUGH IT TOGETHER AND CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE HEADED. BUT RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD BE WITHIN THE EXISTING COMMITTEE STRUCTURE THAT HAS BEEN SET BY THE MAYOR. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR THE, THE IDENTIFICATION OF REAL ESTATE AS A SERIOUS COMPONENT OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND, AND THE, AND THE FOCUS ON THAT I THINK WILL ALSO INFORM US POSITIVELY IN THE FUTURE IF WE CAN GET A HANDLE ON, ON THIS PART OF OUR, OUR ASSET BASE. AND AND I REALLY THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON SERIOUSLY THIS NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST AGENDA ITEM EIGHT? SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY. RECORD VOTES REQUIRED. SO LET'S CALL THE ROLL. OR A RECORD VOTE IS NOT REQUIRED. IT'S NOT REQUIRED. BUT WE'LL HAVE ONE SO WE CAN CALCULATE THE MATH EASIER. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACEY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CADENA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY. NO. DEPUTY MAYOR. PRO TEM JOHNSON. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ. YES. MAYOR JOHNSON. YES. WITH TEN VOTING IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED. THE ITEM FAILS, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM. AGENDA ITEM NINE. AUTHORIZE ONE POSITION CHANGES TO APPROVAL OF CIVILIAN AND UNIFORM SALARY SCHEDULES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 627. THREE. MERIT PAY INCREASES FOR CIVILIAN NON EXECUTIVE STAFF EFFECTIVE APRIL 14TH, 2027. THE EIGHTH CIVILIAN PAY PERIOD OF THE CALENDAR YEAR FOR ADDING PROPOSED PAY SCHEDULES FOR UNIFORMED FIRE AND POLICE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 13TH, 2027, PAYABLE. THE FIRST UNIFORMED PAY PERIOD OF THE CALENDAR YEAR FIVE ADDING PROPOSED PAY SCHEDULES FOR UNIFORMED FIRE AND POLICE EXECUTIVES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 13TH, 2027, PAYABLE. THE FIRST UNIFORMED PAY PERIOD OF THE CALENDAR YEAR AND SIX ADDING NEW PAY SCHEDULE FOR MISCELLANEOUS EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026. THE FIRST CIVILIAN PAY PERIOD OF THE 2020 627 FISCAL YEAR. THIS ITEM DOES HAVE A CLARIFICATION, CLARIFYING THAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE IS OCTOBER 1ST, 2026, AND IT BECOMES PAYABLE ON THE FIRST UNIFORM PAY PERIOD OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? YES. OKAY. OKAY. I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY? CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. ITEM NINE. FIRST I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT THAT'S DISCUSSED IN THE [09:10:04] BACKGROUND OF THIS ITEM. IT SAYS THE FISCAL YEAR 2627 BUDGET INCLUDES ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FIRE AND POLICE PAY SCHEDULES BASED ON THE MARKET BASED PAY PHILOSOPHY UTILIZED SINCE THE 2019 MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT. AND IS THAT MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT STILL UNDER CONTRACT? WE'RE STILL UNDER THE EXISTING CONTRACT. I THINK IT EXPIRES ON SEPTEMBER 30TH. AND THEN I THINK THERE'S A GREEN PERIOD THAT RUNS THROUGH, I BELIEVE IT'S MARCH OF 2027, BUT I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE IF. CHIEF ARDIES, CAN YOU HELP ME, PLEASE, WITH THAT ANSWER? AND DID THIS CONTRACT EXPIRE? AND THEN WE JUST EXTENDED IT ANOTHER YEAR. IS THAT CORRECT? CHIEF ARTIST IS COMING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. IF YOU'LL JUST GIVE US JUST A MINUTE, PLEASE. CHIEF DOMINIQUE ARTIS, COULD YOU ASK THE QUESTION ONE MORE TIME? WHEN DID THE MEET AND CONFER ORIGINAL MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT EXPIRE? IT EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 30TH OF LAST YEAR. NO. THIS YEAR, THE ONE WE'RE CURRENTLY UNDER. IT DOESN'T EXPIRE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH. THIS YEAR DIDN'T EXPIRE AND THEN WE EXTENDED IT ONE YEAR? YES. OKAY, SO IT EXPIRED. WE EXTENDED IT A YEAR. AND THIS EXTENSION WILL END AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO AN EVERGREEN PERIOD THAT THE CONTRACT IS STILL IN PLACE UNTIL THE END OF MARCH. RIGHT. SO MY MY ISSUE WITH THIS ITEM IS THAT, NUMBER ONE, I DON'T AGREE THAT WE ARE CALCULATING THE PAY PROPERLY BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T EVEN MENTION PROP YOU IN HERE. WHY AREN'T WE CALCULATING THE PAY FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS. THAT'S THE ONLY PART THAT'S COVERED UNDER PROP YOU. WHY ISN'T IT. WHY ISN'T IT MENTIONED IN THE BACKGROUND? THE PAY SCALE DOESN'T CHANGE. IT STAYS THE SAME. THERE WILL BE NO MARKET INCREASE OR MERIT INCREASES AFTER SEPTEMBER 30TH. WHY DOESN'T THE BACKGROUND INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT PROP YOU IN TERMS OF PAY FOR POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE OF THE CONTRACT. THE CONTRACT ACTUALLY GOES OUT SEPTEMBER 30TH AND THERE IS NO CONTRACT. WE'RE UNDER AN EVERGREEN PERIOD AT THAT TIME, AND SO THE CURRENT PAY SCALE THAT WE'RE UNDER CONTINUES ON. DO YOU NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE ANY OBLIGATION UNDER PROP YOU FOR PAY? I BELIEVE WE MEET ALL THE OBLIGATIONS OF PROP YOU BY WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING AS A CITY. SO DON'T YOU THINK THAT BECAUSE PROP YOU IS PART OF OUR CHARTER, THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN THIS INFORMATION ITEM? THIS INFORMATION SHEET, WE'RE WE'RE STILL UNDER THE CURRENT AGREEMENT. AND AND THE SAME LANGUAGE THAT WE USE ON THE LAST ONE IS THE SAME LANGUAGE WE USE FOR THIS ONE. WELL, I THINK LIKE FOR NEXT YEAR, YOU SHOULD INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT PROP YOU. IF WE'RE STILL UNDER PROP YOU. BECAUSE THAT SHOULD WEIGH INTO INFORMATION THAT WE'RE PROVIDED AND CONSIDERING THIS ITEM. AND I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'RE PAYING OUR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS PROPERLY. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE THREE FOURTHS EIGHT. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST ITEM NINE? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE I GUESS WE'LL HAVE RECORD VOTES FOR EVERYTHING. PLEASE. YEAH. WE'LL HAVE RECORD VOTES FOR EVERYTHING EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT REQUIRED. GO AHEAD, MADAM SECRETARY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND I CALL YOUR NAME. PLEASE STATE. YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACEY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CADENA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH NO. COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY NO. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ. YES. MAYOR JOHNSON. YES. WITH NINE VOTING IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSE. THE ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU. AGENDA ITEM TEN. AGENDA ITEM TEN. AUTHORIZE ONE APPROVAL OF THE 2027 EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS PROPOSED PLAN DESIGN, [09:15:08] EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2027. AND TWO APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED HEALTH COVERAGE PLANS FOR EMPLOYEES. RETIREES AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING THE DISCONTINUATION OF THE BLUE CHOICE COPAY PREFERRED PROVIDER ORGANIZATION PLAN. FOR TEXAS BASED ACTIVE EMPLOYEES AND PRE 65 RETIREES. THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR. LOOKING FOR A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALRIGHT. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION, CHAIRMAN WEST? NO. ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE. MISS MENDELSOHN RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. AGENDA ITEM NINE. THANK YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, TEN. TEN. TEN. TEN. YES. TEN. ABOUT BENEFITS. TEN. TEN. I HOPE THAT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE HEARD THE OUTCRY THAT I HAVE FROM OUR EMPLOYEES ABOUT THIS CHANGE. THAT HAS ONLY BEEN CHARACTERIZED IN A NEGATIVE WAY BY THE EMPLOYEES. I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE ALLOW OUR SWORN OFFICERS TO NOT ACCEPT HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH THE CITY, BUT INSTEAD ACCEPT IT THROUGH THEIR OWN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE CITY CONTRIBUTION THE SAME AS IF THEY HAD BEEN COVERED BY THE CITY. ALLOW THOSE DEDUCTIONS TO COME FROM THEIR PAYCHECK. SORRY. ALLOW THE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE CITY TO GO INTO THEIR PAYCHECK MONTHLY, BUT FOR THEM TO PAY THEIR PREMIUM INDEPENDENTLY, NOT THROUGH THE CITY. NO ADMINISTRATION. THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE PROPER HEALTH INSURANCE FOR BOTH OUR ACTIVE AND RETIREES IN THIS SPACE IS SO CRITICAL FOR RECRUITING AND RETENTION, AND THERE'S REALLY NO DOWNSIDE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME DOLLARS, WHETHER IT'S OUR PLAN OR NOT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT THIS ITEM BE AMENDED TO ALLOW THAT SITUATION TO HAPPEN. THAT'S A MOTION. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR FIVE MINUTES TO EXPLAIN YOUR AMENDMENT. SO SPECIFICALLY FOR THE ACT OF SWORN EMPLOYEES, THE POLICY WOULD PROVIDE FOR ELIGIBILITY. A SWORN OFFICER WOULD BECOME ELIGIBLE IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE ON THE HEALTH PLAN. THEY WOULD BE OFFERED THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION THAT THEY MAY ELECT THAT COVERAGE IN LIEU OF ENROLLMENT IN A CITY SPONSORED HEALTH PLAN. THE EMPLOYEE WOULD ENROLL DIRECTLY, AND THEY WOULD PAY THE PREMIUMS DIRECTLY TO THAT HEALTH PLAN THROUGH THEIR ASSOCIATION, THE CITY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENROLLING THE EMPLOYEE. ADMINISTERING THE ASSOCIATION PLAN OR MAKING THE PREMIUM PAYMENTS TO THE ASSOCIATION. THE CITY CONTRIBUTION WOULD WORK LIKE THIS. AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE WHO ELECTS QUALIFYING ASSOCIATION COVERAGE AND DECLINES THE CITY SPONSORED HEALTH COVERAGE WOULD RECEIVE THE CITY CONTRIBUTION EQUAL TO THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION FOR THE HMO PLAN FOR THAT YEAR AT THE CORRESPONDING COVERAGE LEVEL, INCLUDING EMPLOYEE ONLY, EMPLOYEE PLUS SPOUSE, EMPLOYEE PLUS CHILD OR CHILDREN FAMILY COVERAGE AS APPLICABLE. PAYMENT. FOLLOWING VERIFICATION OF QUALIFYING COVERAGE, THE CITY CONTRIBUTION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE EMPLOYEE THROUGH AN APPROPRIATE NON WAGE PAYMENT MECHANISM DETERMINED BY THE CITY, MEANING THE CITY MAY CHOOSE TO ACTUALLY MAKE THAT PAYMENT TO THE PENSION PLAN AND HAVE THEM DISBURSE IT. SHOULD. OR THEY MAY DO IT THEMSELVES. THE EMPLOYEES ELECTING THIS OPTION MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF QUALIFYING ASSOCIATION HEALTH COVERAGE AT ENROLLMENT, AND AS SUCH, REASONABLE INTERVALS THAT THE CITY MAY REQUIRE. THERE CAN BE NO DUPLICATE CONTRIBUTION, SO AN EMPLOYEE CANNOT SIMULTANEOUSLY RECEIVE THE CITY CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS A CITY SPONSORED HEALTH PLAN AND THE ASSOCIATION PLAN. THE POLICY. THIS PLAN SHOULD ALSO PROVIDE A COMPARABLE OPTION FOR OUR RETIRED SWORN EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A CITY RETIREE HEALTH PLAN CONTRIBUTION, AND WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO OBTAIN HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION WITH THEIR SWORN SERVICE. A RETIREE WHO IS A SWORN EMPLOYEE AND ELECTS THAT QUALIFYING NATIONAL ASSOCIATION HEALTH COVERAGE IN LIEU OF THE CITY SPONSORED HEALTH [09:20:03] HEALTH COVERAGE SHOULD REMAIN ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE SAME CITY RETIREE HEALTH PLAN CONTRIBUTION FOR WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN ELIGIBLE UNDER THE CITY'S RETIREE HEALTH BENEFIT PROGRAM. I THINK THAT OUTLINES HOW IT WORKS AND THE PURPOSE OF IT, AND I HOPE THAT AT NO COST TO THE CITY, YOU WILL MAKE THIS AVAILABLE TO OUR SWORN OFFICERS, WHO DESPERATELY ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO CONTINUE TO SAY YES TO DALLAS. THANK YOU, CHAIR WALLACE. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. WELL, THIS IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY AVAILABLE TO ANYONE JUST BECAUSE THEY WEAR A UNIFORM. YOU HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF ONE OF TWO ORGANIZATIONS. AND NOT EVERYONE IS. AND SO I THINK TO TREAT SOMETHING LIKE HEALTH INSURANCE AS AN. OH, BY THE WAY, LET'S TRY THIS OUT. IS NOT REALLY THE BEST APPROACH. WHEN MEETING WITH THE ASSOCIATIONS WE DID TALK ABOUT THIS OPTION. I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD CERTAINLY EXPLORE AND TAKE A LOOK AT MAYBE IN TANDEM WITH FINANCE, BECAUSE IT'S GOT FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS AS WELL AS IMPLICATIONS TO OUR MEMBERS OF OUR POLICE AND FIRE. SO I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS A BIG DECISION THAT MERITS VERY CAREFUL STUDY. AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK ON THAT. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL. OH, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY AND COUNCIL MEMBER, WE DID SAY IN OUR PRESENTATION ON AUGUST THE 11TH THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE DOING IN THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, THAT THIS WOULD BE A TRANSITION YEAR BECAUSE WE REALIZE WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS. BUT THESE ARE DIFFICULT DECISIONS, AND THEY NEED TO BE WORKED THROUGH CAREFULLY. I CANNOT SAY THAT THE WHAT WAS LAID OUT DOESN'T HAVE ADDITIONAL COST. I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE THIS IS 10,000 OF THE 20,000 LIVES THAT ARE IN THE SYSTEM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS ACTUARIALLY WHEN YOU CHANGE HALF OF THE THE LIVES THAT ARE INSURED. AND I THINK THAT WE WOULD WANT TO STUDY THAT CAREFULLY BEFORE WE GET INTO IT. SAY NO COST IMPACT. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT TODAY. AGREED. CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. YEAH. OF ALL THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED TODAY, THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF IT, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT IT IMPACTS, AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN LIKE, DIG INTO THIS. THIS IS CLEARLY SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S ADDRESSED IN COMMITTEE. I'M WILLING TO DO IT. I KNOW A LOT OF PRETTY MUCH ALL MY COLLEAGUES WOULD PROBABLY LOVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT. BUT AT 835 AT NIGHT, ON THE LAST ITEM OF THE EVENING TO, TO BRING UP AN ITEM OF THE, WITH THIS MAGNITUDE THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THOUSANDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES AND FAMILY MEMBERS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING TO ME. SO I THINK WE, WORK ON IT THIS NEXT YEAR. WE GET IT RIGHT. WE PUT THE TIME IN THAT'S NECESSARY TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE. AND WE DON'T MAKE AN OFF THE CUFF ON THE FLY DECISION TODAY. CHAIRMAN MORENO RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU MAYOR. I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER MIDDLETON FOR BRINGING THIS UP. I THINK WE DO NEED MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS. I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON IT, AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE PREPARED OR NOT. BUT THE CURRENT HEALTH BENEFITS THAT WE PROVIDE ARE BASED ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE OFFER INSURANCE TO. IF WE WERE TO SUBTRACT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, HOW WOULD THAT AFFECT THE EMPLOYEES THAT CONTINUE GETTING COVERAGE WITH THE CITY? IF YOU HAVE FEWER COVERAGE EMPLOYEES. YES. NINA ARIAS, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. TYPICALLY WHENEVER YOU AS CFO, IRELAND WAS SAYING ANY TIME THAT YOU REDUCE A POPULATION DRASTICALLY IN A HEALTH INSURANCE, YOU KNOW, GROUP OR POOL THE, THE, YOUR, YOUR PRICING TYPICALLY GOES UP. SO THE MORE LIVES TYPICALLY WHENEVER THERE IS, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAVE A HIGH IMPACT CLAIM, LET'S SAY PREEMIE BABY AND YOU ARE SPREADING THAT IN A POPULATION THAT IS 20,000 IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN IF YOU'RE SPREADING THAT IN A POPULATION THAT IS 10,000. SO IF AGAIN, IF INSURANCE IS A MATTER OF RISK, SO IT WILL BE AN ACTUARIAL DETERMINATION THAT BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE AND THE SIZE OF THE POPULATION WILL DETERMINE WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE COVERAGE BUDGET WISE. [09:25:03] THANK YOU. CHAIR WEST, I HOPE THAT THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE CAN LOOK AT FURTHER AND LOOK AT WHO'S PUTTING IN BENEFITS MATCHING THOSE, THE OFFICERS BENEFITS IF THEY'RE GOING INTO A SEPARATE OUTSIDE INSURANCE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE JUST CROSSING OUR EYES AND DOTTING OUR EYES. IT'S TIRED. I'M SLEEPY. DOTTING OUR I'S AND CROSSING OUR T'S. THERE WE GO. BUT I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NEED TO, TO EVALUATE AND, AND OFFER DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. SO I HOPE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TAKE A DEEPER LOOK INTO. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN GRACEY YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES. THIS IS AN INTERESTING ONE, BUT THE PART THAT CONCERNS ME IS IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES. AND IF THEY LOSE, THEY HAVE SOME OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS AS WELL. SO I'M STRUGGLING WITH IT. I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT IN FINANCE COMMITTEE. BUT RIGHT NOW I'M STRUGGLING BECAUSE IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. CHAIR. GRACEY. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ASK. DOES THIS DOES THIS APPLY TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES? THE WAY THE AMENDMENT WAS DESCRIBED, IT APPLIES TO POLICE AND FIRE ONLY IF I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY. OKAY, SO I COME BACK MAYOR AND ASK MY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MISS MENDELSOHN. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I ACTUALLY WOULD BE OPEN IF THERE WERE OTHER ASSOCIATIONS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS THAT OUR EMPLOYEES WERE MEMBERS OF, WHETHER THAT'S A LABOR UNION OR THAT'S SOME OTHER GROUP. YOU KNOW, JACK, YOU COULD BE PART OF A GOVERNMENT FINANCE ASSOCIATION IF THEY OFFERED A QUALIFYING PLAN. THAT THE KEY REALLY IS THAT THEY ARE PART OF A LARGER POOL THAN THE CITY. AND THIS IS NOT OFF THE CUFF. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS. IF YOU HAVEN'T, YOU SHOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH MORE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS. AND CERTAINLY MANAGEMENT HAS HEARD ABOUT THIS LONGER THAN A YEAR. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST YEAR IT'S EVEN BEEN TALKED ABOUT. IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT PUBLICLY, BUT THERE'S NO WAY I MEAN, I'VE PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT THIS FOR FIVE YEARS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. SO THERE'S NO WAY CERTAINLY IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT WITH MEET AND CONFER, I'M SURE. SO THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE FOR MANAGEMENT AND FOR STAFF. AGAIN, IF YOU'RE A NEWER COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW, I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE END OF THE TABLE HERE SAID THAT SHE KNEW. SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S NEVER BEEN BROUGHT UP OR THOUGHT OF. TO SAY THAT WE WOULDN'T CONSIDER THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. I'LL JUST GO BACK TO THE COLA. WE HAVE A COLA THAT CAN BE UP TO 4% FOR ALL OF OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. AND THERE'S ZERO COLA FOR POLICE AND FIRE. WE DON'T TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES ALL THE SAME. THAT IS TRUE. WE'RE GIVING A MUCH LARGER INCREASE TO POLICE AND FIRE THAN WE ARE TO OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE MARKET DEMANDS. SO AGAIN, WE SAY PUBLIC SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE OVER AND OVER. AND THEN WHEN THE VOTE COMES, IT'S NOT THERE. SO AT SOME POINT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY START VOTING WHAT THEY SAY, INSTEAD OF JUST GETTING UP AND MAKING A GREAT SPEECH, LIKE, PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND LET'S SHOW OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ACTUALLY, THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM AND THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH. DEALING WITH THIS FOR THE NEXT OPEN ENROLLMENT IS NOT GOING TO BE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF RETENTION AND RECRUITING. AND I GUESS IF IF WE DON'T ALLOW THIS TO BE PART OF THIS AMENDMENT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MEASURE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS OVER THE NEXT YEAR. AND I WILL NOT ENJOY SAYING I TOLD YOU SO. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT TO ITEM TEN BY MISS MENDELSOHN SEEING NONE A RECORD VOTE IS GOING TO BE HAD ON THIS. I'M SURE FOR EVERYTHING I SAID. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO IT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU OPPOSE PRELIMINARY INQUIRY. VOTE IS ONLY FOR MY AMENDMENT. THAT'S CORRECT. IS THAT CORRECT? THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. WEST. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. MORENO. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACEY. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. [09:30:05] BLACKMON. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. NO. COUNCILMEMBER ROTH. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIS. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. RIDLEY. NO. DEPUTY MAYOR. PRO TEM. JOHNSON. NO. MAYOR. PRO TEM. RESENDEZ. NO. MAYOR JOHNSON. NO. WITH ONE VOTING IN FAVOR, 14. OPPOSED. THE MOTION FAILS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, SO WE'RE BACK ON AGENDA ITEM TEN. ONLY PERSON WHO SPOKE IS DISTRICT 12. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ITEM TEN? DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM TEN. THANK YOU. JUST A QUICK QUESTION. THIS IS CONCERNING, JACK. I KNOW WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION OR ABOUT THE PPO. AM I CORRECT? YES, SIR. I NOTICE THAT TOUGH DECISION HERE. DID DID WE WHAT DID WE DO TO SPEAK WITH THE EMPLOYEES FOR CONCERNING THE OPTIONS OF WHAT THEY MAY HAVE IF, IF THEY WANT TO KEEP THE PPO OR IF THEY DIDN'T, WHAT, WHAT WAS THEIR OPTIONS? SO AS YOU MAY RECALL FROM OUR PRESENTATION A FEW WEEKS AGO THE MANAGERS RECOMMENDED BUDGET INCLUDES ELIMINATION OF THE PPO AND MAINTAINING JUST THE HMO AND THE HSA TWO PLANS. I'LL ASK NINA TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON ABOUT THE CHANGES AND WHAT THOSE IMPACTS ARE. SO IF NINA, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT? ABSOLUTELY. NINA ADA IS THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND YES, SIR. WE HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE CHANGES. WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS THAT THEY HAVE IN THE NEW PLANS THAT ARE BEING OR NOT, OR THE PLANS THAT ARE BEING THE ONES THAT CONTINUE? WHAT CHANGES ARE THERE FOR THE NEXT YEAR? I THINK FOR OVER A MONTH WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH EMPLOYEES. ALSO CITY MANAGER HAS BEEN MEETING WITH THE ASSOCIATIONS WITH EMPLOYEES ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY, EXPLAINING THE REASONS WHY THE CHANGE WAS MADE, BUT ALSO THE OPTIONS THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE FOR NEXT YEAR AND THE PLANS BEYOND. AS WE ARE EXPLORING EVERY OPTION AND OPPORTUNITY, EVERY LEVER THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO USE TO KEEP THE COST UNDER CONTROL, BE ABLE TO OFFER SOMETHING THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND AT THE SAME TIME OFFERS QUALITY CARE AND A SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN CONCERN CURRENTLY. SO I BELIEVE IF WE KEEP THIS OPPORTUNITY OR KEEP THE PPO CHIEF ARLEN, I THINK IT WOULD BE, WHAT, A $10,000,000.10. CAN YOU GIVE ME THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN? I'M SORRY. YES, SIR. THAT IS CORRECT. IF THE CITY IS GOING TO PICK UP THE ADDITIONAL COST RELATED TO THE PPO, IT WAS RIGHT AT $10 MILLION. IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE WANTED TO PASS ALL OF THE COSTS ON TO THE EMPLOYEE, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD GO UP BETWEEN, I BELIEVE IT WAS 40 AND 70% OF WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY PAYING. AND SO THOSE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN CONTRIBUTIONS RATES IS WHAT REALLY CAUSED US TO START LOOKING AT COMING UP WITH A THIS TRANSITION YEAR TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET TO A POINT THAT'S MORE SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE EMPLOYEES CANNOT HAVE 40, 50, 60% INCREASES IN THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. SO BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I'M SORRY I RATTLED A LITTLE BIT, BUT $10 MILLION FOR THE CITY TO TAKE IT BACK AND PAY THE THE COST. HOW LONG? WHEN WE WAS LOOKING AT THIS HOW LONG DID WE GIVE THE EMPLOYEES? HOW MUCH TIME DO WE GIVE THE EMPLOYEES TO REALLY PONDER ON THIS AND KIND OF THINK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON? WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THEIR POSSIBLY LOSING THEIR PPO. YES, WE STARTED MEETING WITH EMPLOYEES AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST. SO THEY, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ALL THROUGHOUT AUGUST AND THEN THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER. AND. BUT I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE PPO PLAN WAS NOT A CITY PLAN UNTIL 2019, I BELIEVE 2018, 2018. SO IT'S NOT BEEN A LONG TERM PLAN THAT WE HAD. WE BROUGHT IT IN IN 2018. AND THERE HAS BEEN COMMUNICATION LAST YEAR THAT THIS WAS A DIRECTION THAT WE WOULD END UP HAVING TO MOVE. NOW, I THINK EVERYBODY FORGOT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A WAS CONVERSATION A YEAR AGO, BUT THERE HAS BEEN SOME COMMUNICATION WITH EMPLOYEES THAT WE WOULD NEED TO BE MOVING AWAY FROM THE PPO PLAN. IT'S THE MORE EXPENSIVE PLAN. OKAY, SO LAST YEAR YOU GUYS MET WITH THE EMPLOYEES AND SAID, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO POSSIBLY HAPPEN. YES. AT THAT TIME DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT, WE SPOKE ABOUT THE COST OF THE PPO COMPARED TO THE OTHER PLANS. [09:35:01] AND WE PASS ON TO ACTUALLY WE STARTED RIGHTSIZING THE COST OF PPO LAST YEAR. THE PPO IS TWICE AS COSTLY AS THE OTHER TWO PLANS FOR THE CITY AND ALSO FOR THE EMPLOYEE, ACTUALLY FOR THE EMPLOYEE MORE. SO. HOWEVER, WE WERE NOT PASSING ON THE FULL COST TO EMPLOYEES. AND IN FACT, THE THERE'S THEIR PREMIUMS WERE BEING SUBSIDIZED BY THE OTHER TWO PLAN. AND WE HAVE MOST OF OUR LOW INCOME EMPLOYEES IN THE OTHER TWO PLANS. SO IF WE WERE TO ACTUALLY ASSESS THE REAL COST OF PPO SO THAT EMPLOYEES WILL PAY THE REAL COST OF PPO. AND THE REASON WHY PPO IS SO EXPENSIVE AND SO UNPREDICTABLE IS BECAUSE BASICALLY THERE ARE NO LEVERS OR CONTROLS OVER IT. ANYBODY CAN GO TO ANY DOCTOR AT ANY TIME, ALL OVER THE NATION TO TAKE ANY LABS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO GUIDANCE. SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THAT RESULTS ON SOMETHING THAT IS EXTREMELY COSTLY, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY BUT ALSO FOR THE EMPLOYEE. SO THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR, WE ACTUALLY TRIED TO STIR EMPLOYEES AWAY FROM THE PPO SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE HIKES IN PREMIUMS THAT WE WERE ANTICIPATING. AND UNFORTUNATELY, EMPLOYEES DID NOT MOVE AWAY. SO THAT WAS OUR FIRST STEP. IT WAS TRYING TO MOVE THEM AWAY. THE RESPONSE WAS NOT WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING. SO THIS YEAR WE HAD NOT ONLY THE COST WAS REALLY HIGH TO BEGIN WITH, BUT ALSO WE HAD AT THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, WE HAD TO ADJUST THE BUDGET BECAUSE ACTUALLY WE'RE SPENDING AT A RATE MUCH HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED. THE COST OF INFLATION. MEDICAL INFLATION IS THROUGH THE ROOF, JUST AS INFLATION FOR EVERYTHING ELSE. SO THIS THE PPO PLAN IS NOT SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM FOR THE CITY. IT'S NOT NOT WITHOUT RESTRAINTS OF SOME SORT, NOT A FREE FOR ALL AS IT IS RIGHT NOW. WHEN WE ORIGINALLY BROUGHT IN THE PPO PLAN, IT WAS A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT. THE CITY WAS NOT IN. THE ECONOMIC DIRE SITUATION IS NOW, AND MEDICAL INFLATION WAS NOT THROUGH THE ROOF AS IT IS NOW. SO AT THAT TIME IT MADE SENSE. BUT GOING FORWARD, IF WE WANT A SUSTAINABLE PLAN, THAT IS NOT A PLAN THAT WE CAN RECOMMEND. THANK YOU. I JUST BECAUSE IT WAS IT WAS A LITTLE DISTURBING WHEN YOU SAID THAT AUGUST INTO SEPTEMBER NOW. AND SO THIS IS FOR ME, IT'S A STRUGGLE, JUST TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. I UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING, BUT I UNDERSTAND I'M LOOKING AT THE HEALTH CHALLENGES OF SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES. AND AS YOU SAID, THAT YOU TRY TO STEER THEM AWAY FROM THIS, BUT SOME DIDN'T OR MAYBE A FEW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DID NOT DO IT BECAUSE OF THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE PPO AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO GO TO THE DOCTORS THAT THEY NEED. THAT MAY BE NOT WITHIN THEIR I GUESS AT THE HMO PROGRAM. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING AT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT TO BRING MORE RESOURCES OR MORE OPPORTUNITY TO OUR EMPLOYEES TO OFFSET THE FACT THAT THEY MAY LOSE, THAT THEY'RE LOSING THEIR PPO OR POSSIBLY LOSING THEIR PPO. WHAT WHAT ARE WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON CURRENTLY TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES? BECAUSE AGAIN, THEIR HEALTH IS YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR MAIN PRIORITY. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THAT? THE FIRST THING WE'RE DOING IS PROVIDING AS MUCH SUPPORT AND EDUCATION AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE SOME OF THE FEARS AROUND THE PLANS, THE EXISTING PLANS, THE EXISTING PLANS MAY BE DUE TO LACK OF INFORMATION. A LOT OF EMPLOYEES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR DOCTORS, SO WE HAVE TOOLS TO HELP THEM. MODEL IS MY DOCTOR IN THERE? IS MY MEDICATION GOING TO BE IN THE NEW PLAN? AND WE HAVE ABOUT 99% COVERAGE. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE WILL BE VERY FEW EMPLOYEES THAT THEIR DOCTORS ARE NOT IN THE NEW NETWORK AND THEIR DOCTORS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THEM AS BEFORE. ALSO, THERE ARE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO ACCESS MY DOCTOR? IS I GOING TO BE DIFFICULT? AM I GOING TO HAVE A GATEKEEPER. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE HMO OF THE 90S IS NOT THE SAME AS THE HMO TODAY. TODAY, THERE'S A LOT MORE REGULATIONS THAT. ACTUALLY ENSURE THAT PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS PROVIDE THE CARE NEEDED AND FACILITATE THAT CARE INSTEAD OF BLOCKING IT. SO EDUCATING EMPLOYEES IN TERMS OF GIVING THEM THE INFORMATION SO THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE NEW PLANS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING NOW. GOING FORWARD, WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY VENDOR, EVERY MODEL, EVERY LEVERAGE, INCLUDING SOME THAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT FOR A WHILE. [09:40:02] AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING, YOU KNOW, IN FUTURE YEARS, THERE MAY BE NEW MODELS THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO SEE HOW THEY TESTED OUT IN REAL LIFE FOR GOVERNMENT. AND NOW THAT WE SEE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW THAT WILL WORK, WE ARE READY TO ENSURE THAT THEY WILL BECOME PART OF THAT MENU AVAILABLE FOR NEXT YEAR. BUT AGAIN, BRINGING BACK THE PPO, ALTHOUGH IT'S A POSSIBILITY IF MEDICAL INFLATION GOES DOWN, IF THE CITY'S ECONOMIC SITUATION IMPROVES, IF EMPLOYEES ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR MORE. BUT RIGHT NOW, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE. FIRST OF ALL, APPROACH TO HEALTHCARE AND MANY ORGANIZATIONS ARE GOING IN THAT DIRECTION. THE STATE OF TEXAS DOES NOT OFFER A PPO, AND IT'S THE LARGEST GOVERNMENT EMPLOYER THAT WE HAVE AS A REFERENCE. WHAT ABOUT THE DEPENDENT CARE FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN OUT OF STATE, ATTENDED COLLEGE? ARE THEY HOW ARE THEY COVERED? YES, THERE IS A SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR THEM. SO THEY ACTUALLY ARE ENROLLED IN A PROGRAM IN THE LOCATION THEY'RE IN. AND WE HAVE BEEN THAT IS PART OF SOME OF THE FEARS THAT, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN EXPRESSING. SO THERE IS A PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR SOMEONE WHO IS AWAY FROM HOME, LIKE ON COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, OR SOMETHING THAT TAKES THEM AWAY. THEY ARE ELIGIBLE. MAYBE IT'S EVEN A, YOU KNOW, 25 YEAR OLD OR 21 YEAR OLD WHO'S WORKING AND IS COVERED BUT IS WORKING OUT OF STATE. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE DOCTOR, A PERSON THAT HAS A CONDITION AND THEIR DOCTOR IS NOT WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR HMO NETWORK, THEN WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS BUILT TRUST WITH THAT DOCTOR? HOW WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO OPERATE? THERE ARE THERE IS A CASE BY CASE REVIEW THAT IS DONE FOR SPECIAL CASES, BUT IT HAS TO BE SOMEONE THAT IS NOT ABOUT A PREFERENCE BUT IS ABOUT A MEDICAL NEED. SO IF SOMEONE IS UNDER CARE FOR A PARTICULAR SITUATION, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EXCEPTIONS ON A CASE TO CASE, CASE BY CASE BASIS. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. CADENA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. NINA, I YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME TO MEET WITH ME. EARLIER THIS WEEK. AND SO ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS WHEN THE CONTRACT IS DUE FOR THE PERSON WHO HELPS US NEGOTIATE. BECAUSE I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO LOOK AT SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO NEGOTIATE SOME BETTER. I DON'T KNOW RATES BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER CITIES LIKE AUSTIN THAT HAS A SIMILAR POPULATION. AND I KNOW IT'S BASED ON OUR YOU KNOW, POPULATION AND, AND THAT, AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL WOULD CONSIDER LOOKING AT AS WELL AS WE TRY TO MOVE FORWARD. ABSOLUTELY. AND WE LOOK AT NOT ONLY THE VENDOR, BUT ALSO OUR PLANS EVERY 2 TO 3 YEARS WE'RE DOING THAT AND WE DID THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. SO NEXT YEAR WILL BE A GOOD YEAR FOR US TO LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS. AGAIN WE ARE WE NEED A GOOD PARTNER AND WE WANT TO CONTRACT THE BEST POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULT. AND WILL THERE BE EMPLOYEE SURVEYS IF THIS DOES PASS? TO GET FEEDBACK ON HOW THE PLAN IS WORKING AND IF CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE? BECAUSE I DO REMEMBER BEFORE, WAS IT 2017, 18 BEFORE WE HAD THE PPO AND WE HAD THERE WERE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE INSURANCE. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM OUR EMPLOYEES ON HOW IT'S WORKING FOR THEM. ABSOLUTELY. AND AS WE, OUR PLAN IS TO HAVE PULSE SURVEYS SO THAT WE CAN SEE HOW IT'S WORKING AND WE CAN GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE AS WE PLAN FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A SHORT RUNWAY, SO WE START LOOKING AT THIS INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH. AND AROUND THAT TIME, WE HAVE TO START PUTTING TOGETHER THE PLAN FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO THE BUDGET. SO IT'S A SHORT RUNWAY. SO WE NEED TO START SPEAKING WITH EMPLOYEES, SEEING WHAT THE EXPERIENCE IS, WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT WORKING, AND OF THE OF ALL OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, WHICH ONES WILL BE THE ONES THAT WILL BE MORE APPEALING TO THEM AND MORE HELPFUL? YEAH. AND YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, I DO RECALL THERE BEING EMPLOYEE MEETINGS. I RECALL THEM LIKE MAYBE CLOSER TO THE END OF AUGUST AND THERE WAS A LOT OF FEAR. AND SO IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES AND YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE COULD BE SOME COMING, I FEEL LIKE WE AT LEAST NEED TO GAUGE WHERE EMPLOYEES ARE ON WHAT THOSE MIGHT BE. SO THAT THEY CAN PREPARE AS WELL BECAUSE IT, IT'S NOT JUST THEIR INSURANCE CHANGING, BUT IT COULD ALSO HAVE A FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THEM. [09:45:01] AND ALSO WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH SOME OF THE OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES THAT ARE IN OUR AREA AS WELL. SO YOU KNOW, I DO APPRECIATE YOU TAKING SOME TIME AND TAKING MY, YOU KNOW, FEEDBACK INTO CONSIDERATION. I CONSIDERATION. I THINK I GAVE YOU SOME QUESTIONS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO HELP US AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ITEM TEN? SEEING NONE. RECORD VOTE HAS BEEN REQUESTED FOR ALL THESE ITEMS, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT, MADAM SECRETARY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACEY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CADENA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. ROTH. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN. NOPE. COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. RIDLEY. DEPUTY MAYOR. PRO TEM. JOHNSON. YES. MAYOR. PRO TEM RESENDEZ. YES. MAYOR JOHNSON. YES. WITH NINE VOTING IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSED. THE ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. MR. MAYOR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER WEST WOULD LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED ON ITEM FOUR. OKAY. THANK YOU. JOE WEST, FOR WHAT PURPOSE? THANK YOU. TO MAKE A MOTION. OKAY, LET'S HEAR IT. I MOVE TO RECONSIDER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. DEBATABLE. IT IS A DEEPER QUESTION. IS IT IS ANYTHING, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY ON THIS ITEM? PRELIMINARY INQUIRY. STATE YOUR INQUIRY. I DON'T BELIEVE A RECONSIDERATION MOTION IS IN ORDER WHEN THE PERSON HAS VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. I'M SORRY. WHEN THE PERSON HAS VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY CAN MAKE A RECONSIDERATION MOTION. THEY HAVE TO BE ON THE PREVAILING SIDE. I BELIEVE THE PREVAILING SIDE WAS THE AFFIRMATIVE. SO IT'S OVERRULED. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. YES. MAYOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. SINCE ITEM EIGHT FAILED, I WAS INFORMED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY AND MR. IRELAND, THAT WE NEED TO AMEND THE ITEM FOUR IN ORDER FOR THE BUDGET TO REFLECT THE FACT THAT THE DEPARTMENTS WILL BE STAYING HOW THEY CURRENTLY ARE CONFIGURED. IF, JACK, DO YOU WANT TO CLARIFY IF I MISSTATED THAT IN ANY WAY? YOU GOT THAT CORRECT, SIR. SO THE CHANGES WOULD BE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND THE OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE WOULD BE PUT BACK TOGETHER FOR FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT. THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT WOULD BE RESTYLED BACK TO DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. AND WE WOULD OFFER SOME MANAGEMENT SERVICES. CURRENTLY HAS REAL ESTATE AS A DIVISION OF. HOWEVER, IT WILL MOVE BACK INTO FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT. SO THE BOTTOM LINE THAT YOU APPROVED EARLIER DOES NOT CHANGE. IT IS JUST THE LINE ITEMS IN SECTION ONE OF THE OPERATING APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT THE FACT THAT ITEM NUMBER EIGHT DID NOT PASS. IF. AND SO MY NEXT MOTION MAYOR IF THIS ONE PASSES, WOULD BE TO DO EVERYTHING JACK JUST SAID. WHAT IS THE RE THE IMPLICATION IF THE RECONSIDERATION FAILED IN THIS CASE, WHAT WOULD HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT THE BUDGET. HAVING THE DISCREPANCIES IN ITEM EIGHT AND ITEM FOUR, I MAY HAVE TO ALLOW THE ATTORNEYS TO ANSWER THAT. WE WE HAVE AN APPROVED ORDINANCE. BUT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE NAME CHANGES AND REORGANIZATION THAT WE HAD REQUESTED. OKAY, I THINK THAT SUFFICES. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER? THAT'S ALL WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW. OKAY LET'S HAVE A RECORD VOTE, MADAM SECRETARY. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE. YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY. NO. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ MAYOR JOHNSON. [09:50:08] YES. ONE SECOND, MR. MAYOR. WITH NINE VOTING IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSED. THE MOTION PASSES. MR. MAYOR. THE RECONSIDERATION MOVES FORWARD. CHAIR WEST, FOR WHAT PURPOSE? ANOTHER MOTION. OKAY, LET'S HEAR IT. I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM WITH THE CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,974,342,745. AND WITH THE ADDITIONAL FOLLOWING CHANGE, MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES BASED ON THE ACTION TAKEN ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. DISCUSSION. CHAIRMAN. WEST. MR. MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO AMEND THE BUDGET, AND I WOULD REQUEST THE CITY MANAGER TO OFFER A DOLLAR AMOUNT TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR OUR LIBRARIES TO ALL BE OPEN SIX DAYS A WEEK. THAT'S TWO. THERE'S NOTHING. THERE WAS NO TIME LIMIT ON THAT. ON THAT RULE. YEAH. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THREE TIMES. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR FIVE MINUTES TO EXPLAIN YOUR AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE IS THE ABILITY OF THE MINORITY TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD. WE'VE SEEN THAT STIFLED IN SOME CASES HERE TODAY. BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A MINORITY THAT HAS A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW ABOUT THE BUDGET AND ABOUT THE SERVICES WE SHOULD BE PROVIDING. AND THE KEY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE RESOLVED IS SIX DAYS A WEEK FOR THE LIBRARY. I BELIEVE THE CITY MANAGER IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF IDENTIFYING THE NECESSARY FUNDING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND I WOULD REQUEST MAYOR THAT YOU PROVIDE A SHORT RECESS FOR HER TO CONFER WITH HER TEAM, TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THE SPECIFICS OF THE REST OF THAT MOTION SO THAT WE COULD VOTE AND APPROVE THAT. AND YOU CAN SEE AN APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. POINT OF ORDER. STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET AMENDMENT IS IN ORDER. I BELIEVE IT'S IN VIOLATION OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION AND ALSO OUR OWN FPPC RULES BY NOT IDENTIFYING A REVENUE SOURCE NOT PROVIDING FOR A BALANCED BUDGET. THE PARTICULAR PARTICULARLY STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT NO DEBT SHALL EVER BE CREATED UNLESS, AT THE SAME TIME, A PROVISION IS MADE TO ASSESS AND COLLECT A SUFFICIENT SUM TO PAY THAT DEBT. SECTION FIVE, ARTICLE 11. SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER SUSTAINING THIS. WE WILL STAND AT EASE AND LET THE PARLIAMENTARIAN CHEW ON THAT FOR A MOMENT. SO WE'LL I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD IN THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO STAND AT EASE FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE WE'RE BACK. AND THE PARLIAMENTARIAN HAS A HAS LOOKED INTO THE MATTER. AND THE POINT OF ORDER BY CHAIRMAN WEST IS SUSTAINED. SUSTAINED. OKAY. SO. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY CHAIRMAN WEST, AND YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO SPEAK ON THAT FOR FIVE MINUTES IF YOU'D LIKE. THANK YOU MAYOR. ON THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, WHICH IS MY MOTION, I BELIEVE I MOVE TO CALL THE QUESTION INFORMATION. CAN WE RESTATE THE THE MOTION? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A CONSIDERATION. AND JUST TO GET IT CLEAR, OUR CONSIDERATION PAST WHERE THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR AS I MOVED TO APPROVE THIS ITEM WITH THE CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,974,342,745. WITH THE ADDITIONAL CHANGE CONFIRMING CHANGES BASED ON THE ACTION TAKEN IN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. AND THAT IS BASICALLY KEEPS THE OFFICES IN PLACE. SO NOW THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, THE NEW ONE IS TO CALL THE QUESTION PRELIMINARY INQUIRY STATE YOUR INQUIRY. THAT WAS NOT THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR. THE MOTION WAS MY AMENDED MOTION. IT WAS IT WAS JUST IT WAS A POINT OF ORDER RAISED. AND I JUST SUSTAINED THE POINT OF ORDER BASED ON THE PARLIAMENTARIAN. I JUST. DID YOU NOT HEAR THAT? NO, I DID NOT HEAR THAT. [09:55:01] WELL, I JUST SAID IT AGAIN. SORRY. I SUSTAINED THE POINT OF ORDER. THAT'S WHAT WE WENT INTO RECESS OVER. AND SO NOW YOU'RE RECOGNIZING HIM TO CALL THE QUESTION. I ACTUALLY WE WENT BACK TO HIS MOTION, WHICH WAS THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR BEFORE YOU RAISED A SECOND MOTION, WHICH WAS RULED OUT OF ORDER. POINT OF ORDER, MR. SPEAKER. POINT OF ORDER. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS OUT OF ORDER. I BELIEVE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER, PER OUR DALLAS CITY COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE REQUIRE A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE. AND THERE WAS ONLY A NINE VOTE IN FAVOR. OF ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER SAYS MAJORITY AND IS ABSENT ON A SIMPLE OR A SUPER. AND IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS DEPENDING ON THE RULES OF THE ORGANIZATION. I'LL LET THE PARLIAMENTARIAN SPEAK TO THAT. I ALWAYS CONSULT HIM. MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION. BUT HIS OBJECTIONS ABOUT THE RECONSIDERATION. SO WE HAD A VOTE ON RECONSIDERATION. THAT'S WHAT HE'S SAYING. I DON'T I DON'T RECALL THAT NUMBER. SHOULD WE CONSIDER REQUIRE A SUPERMAJORITY. SO THAT POINT OF ORDER IS ALSO OVERRULED. THE. THE QUESTION HAS BEEN CALLED, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S NOT DEBATABLE OR IT IS. TELL ME. WE ALL KNOW THAT. GIVE ME A QUESTION. NOT DEBATABLE. NOT DEBATABLE. AND WE WILL DO A RECORD VOTE SINCE IT REQUIRES TWO THIRDS. SO WE CAN CALCULATE THE MATH EASILY. MADAM SECRETARY, GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL. THIS IS ON. THIS IS ON THE MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION ON MR. WEST. MOTION ON ITEM FOUR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE SAY YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCILMEMBER WEST. YES. COUNCILMEMBER MORENO. YES. COUNCILMEMBER GRACEY. YES. COUNCILMEMBER CADENA NO. COUNCILMEMBER BAZALDUA. NO. COUNCILMEMBER BLAIR. YES. COUNCILMEMBER BLACKMON. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY. NO. DEPUTY MAYOR. PRO TEM JOHNSON. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM RESENDEZ. YES. MAYOR JOHNSON. YES. WITH NINE VOTING IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSE. THE CALL FAILED, MR. MAYOR. WE'RE BACK ON THE MOTION ON ITEM FOUR BY MR. WEST. I'D LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED, PLEASE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? TO MAKE A MOTION. STATE YOUR MOTION. I MOVE TO AMEND THE MOTION TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT FOR LIBRARY SERVICES BY 1.5 MILLION. AND THE SOURCE OF FUNDS BE THE IT FUND BALANCE. THAT'S ONE. THAT'S TWO. THREE. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. WELL, IT'S 922. I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. AND THE VOTES ARE THERE TO HOLD THIS UP. WE WOULD LIKE THE LIBRARIES TO BE OPEN SIX DAYS A WEEK. I THINK YOU'D LIKE YOUR LIBRARIES TO BE OPEN SIX DAYS A WEEK. SO LET'S TAKE THE OUT OF BALANCE FUND BALANCE FOR IT, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN IN YEARS PAST. AND LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND APPROVE IT, APPROVE THE BUDGET AND MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. JOHN WESLEY, YOU'RE YOU'RE IN THE QUEUE STILL. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT? I'LL COMMENT ON THAT. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I MEAN, HALF THE TIME WE CAN'T EVEN GET OUR WI-FI WORKING UP HERE. SO I'M KIND OF CURIOUS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE COMPLETELY DEFUND THIS IT BALANCE. I MEAN, YEAH, I WANT TO FUND THE LIBRARIES, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST MAKING CUTS ON THE WHIM AT THIS POINT. SO CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE BUDGET IMPLICATIONS ARE TO THIS DEPARTMENT? IN ALL OF OUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THE GENERAL FUND, WE MAINTAIN A FUND BALANCE, [10:00:02] AN END OF YEAR BALANCE. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THIS FUND IS $11.8 MILLION. NEXT YEAR IT'S GOING DOWN TO $11 MILLION. IN FISCAL YEAR 28, IT IS GOING DOWN TO 9.7. SO THIS ITEM PLUS THE OTHER TWO USES, YOU'RE NOW TAKING $2.15 MILLION OUT OF FUND BALANCE. THAT IS GOING TO BRING IT DOWN TO SEVEN. $7.5 MILLION. WE USE THAT FUND BALANCE TO HELP MITIGATE COST INCREASES IN FUTURE YEARS. WE USE THAT FUND BALANCE TO ADDRESS ANY IT NEEDS THAT COME UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS OUR. IT. THE DEBT THAT WE HAVE. OUR DIGITAL DEBT RELATED TO IT. AND. YOU'RE USING A ONE TIME SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR AN ONGOING COST. ALL THREE OF THESE HAVE BEEN ONE TIME SOURCE FOR ONGOING COST. THANK YOU. MISS BLACKMON, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THIS IS ON THE AMENDMENT BY MISS MENDELSOHN ITEM FOR. THANK YOU. IS ARE THESE ARPA DOLLARS THAT ARE SITTING THERE? NO. SO IT IS GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. NO, IT'S IT'S INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES DATA FUND. THE DATA FUND IS AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND. OKAY. AND ALL OF THE USERS OF IT IN THE CITY PAY FOR THOSE SERVICES. SO DALLAS WATER UTILITIES PAYS FOR THEM. AVIATION PAYS FOR THEM CONVENTION CENTER, GENERAL FUND ETC.. SO THE FUND BALANCE HAS BEEN A COMBINATION OF BUILDING UP OVER TIME FROM ALL OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS PAYING INTO IT, AND NOW WE'RE TAKING $2 MILLION OUT TO. OF ONE TIME MONEY FOR ONGOING COSTS. HOW MUCH WAS IT LAST YEAR? 12.5. SO WE ONLY USE 1 MILLION OUT OF IT EACH YEAR. THAT'S THE ENDING BALANCE. SO THERE'S REVENUE COMING INTO THE FUND EACH YEAR AND THERE'S EXPENSES GOING OUT EACH YEAR. AND WHAT DO YOU END AT. AT SEPTEMBER 30TH OF EACH FISCAL YEAR. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT IN FISCAL YEAR 25, THE ADOPTED BUDGET WAS TO END AT 12.5. WE ANTICIPATE ENDING AT 11.8. NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO END AT 10.9. THE NEXT YEAR 9.7. OKAY. I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, IS HOW MUCH DOES COME IN EACH YEAR AND HOW MUCH GOES OUT. SO WHAT COMES IN EACH YEAR IS DETERMINED BY WHAT THE IT SERVICES BUDGET IS GOING TO BE. SO WE LOOK AT THEIR EXPENSES. WE MEET WITH THEM THROUGH BUDGET DEVELOPMENT. ANALYZE WHAT COSTS NEED TO BE PAID FOR IN THE IT BUDGET. AND SO WE LOOK AT THIS FUND BALANCE, AND WE USUALLY SPIN DOWN A LITTLE BIT OF IT AND THEN CHARGE DEPARTMENTS FOR THE REST. SO OVER TIME WE SPEND IT DOWN. BUT IF YOU TAKE IT ALL, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO USE IT. AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO INCREASE THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS. AND YOU SAY, TAKE IT ALL. AND THAT'S $10 MILLION AS A BALANCE RIGHT NOW. OKAY, TAKE 2 MILLION OF. DO WE HAVE ANY CRITERIA THAT SAYS THAT IT NEEDS TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN BALANCE? NO, MA'AM. AND SO I GET WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. IF IT'S A BATHTUB IS LOTS OF WATER COMING IN AND DRAINING OUT. LIKE IS IT MAINTAINING A $12 MILLION EVERY YEAR FUND BALANCE? SO IN PRIOR YEARS, WE LOOKED BACK TO FISCAL YEAR 24 IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT. IT HAD BEEN AT 26, THEN 21, THEN 12. AND THAT WAS A YEAR THAT WE SPENT A LOT OF IT DOWN WHEN WE WENT FROM 26 TO 12 AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO 11. AND WHAT IS THE WORK PLAN AROUND THIS LINE ITEM? SO THE WORK PLAN AROUND THE LINE ITEM, NOT WHAT IT'S NOT WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO. BUT WHAT DO WE HAVE READY TO GO THAT'S GOING TO BE TAKING FROM THIS. IF WE TAKE THE MONEY AWAY BECAUSE YOU SAY MONEY'S COMING IN AND THEN IT'S GOING OUT. SO THAT SHOULD BE A WASH. AND IF WE TAKE DOWN THE 1.7, THEN I'M LIKE SAYING, OKAY, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO GIVE UP IF WE DON'T DO IF WE TAKE THE 1.7. SO THE REVENUE COMING IN WILL COVER THE PROJECTED EXPENSES. BUT IT IS IT TAKES AWAY OUR ABILITY TO USE THIS TO MITIGATE FUTURE INCREASES IN COSTS. AND IT TAKES AWAY FROM ITS ABILITY TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING THAT COMES UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I MEAN, DO WE HAVE A $10 MILLION WORK PLAN, I GUESS, IS WHAT, IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER THEIR CURRENT WHATEVER'S GOING TO BE? NO, THERE'S NOT A PLAN TO SPEND THE $11 MILLION. WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE $11 MILLION. SO IT'S WE'VE TALKED ABOUT RESERVES A LOT, AND THIS IS A FUN BALANCE AND IT IS ACCUMULATED OVER MULTIPLE YEARS. IT IS AVAILABLE FOR IT IF NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE CAD SYSTEM OR THE MIS SYSTEM, OUR COURTS OR THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. SO IT'S AVAILABLE ON THE WORK PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR. I'M JUST GIVING THOSE AS EXAMPLES OF LARGE COSTLY SYSTEMS THAT I, T AND I. AND SO I GUESS WHAT IS ON THE WORK PLAN THAT IS GOING TO EAT UP ANY OF THE 10 MILLION, NOT WHAT IS PROJECTED TO COME IN AND GO OUT, [10:05:07] BUT I'M LOOKING AT THAT CORE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT. YEAH, I WOULD THIS IS JEFF STOVALL'S CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER. I WOULD LOOK AT THAT CORE AMOUNT AS A BALANCE THAT'S USED AGAINST OUR WORKING CAPITAL. SO THINK OF THAT IN TERMS OF BEST PRINCIPLES, BEST PRINCIPLES THAT WE COULD SEE WITH OTHER CITIES, OTHER PLACES OF OUR OF OUR SIZE IS ROUGHLY 10% OF YOUR BUDGET. AND NOW IF WE WERE TO TRANSLATE THAT INTO THE WAY THAT WE LOOK AT OUR GENERAL FUND, WHERE OUR CRITERIA IS 50 TO 70 TO ACE. WE'RE AT APPROXIMATELY 28 DAYS, APPROXIMATELY 28 DAYS. OKAY. RELATIVE TO WHAT WE LOOK AT FOR OUR GENERAL FUND CRITERIA OF 50 TO 70. WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER CITIES. AND WE DID TAKE A LOOK THIS AFTERNOON. EXCUSE ME. WE LOOKED THIS AFTERNOON AT FORT WORTH THERE AT ROUGHLY 10%. SO FOR TEN WE'RE NOT AT THE SAME LEVEL AS WHAT WE SEE AS SOME OF OUR PEER CITIES. WE DID NOT DO A FULL COMPARISON ACROSS MULTIPLE CITIES. SO WE TOOK A SAMPLE JUST BASED OFF OF WHAT WE WERE ASKED ABOUT EARLIER TODAY. SO THE REAL QUESTION, I THINK, IS THAT IT'S A WORKING, IT WORKS. IT WORKS WITH OUR WORKING CAPITAL. IF WE FIND THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT COMES UP DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, AS IT WAS EXPLAINED BEFORE. THAT'S HOW WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES IN THE MOMENT AT THE TIME, RATHER THAN HAVING TO GO BACK TO ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS AND THEN SAY, WE NEED TO HAVE BASICALLY AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT THAT COMES FROM THE DEPARTMENT IN THE MID-YEAR IN ORDER TO COVER SOMETHING THAT IS FOR THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUND, BECAUSE IT IS A FUND THAT SERVICES ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS. AND SO WHAT CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU DID LAST YEAR THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED? AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE DID. ONE OF THE THINGS WAS A BIG EXPENSE THAT YOU PURCHASED USING THAT SCENARIO THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED. WELL, PART OF WHAT WE'RE USING THIS FUND FOR IS FOR THE DATA CENTER. AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, THE DATA CENTER THAT WE'RE MOVING FROM, THE DATA CENTER, WE'RE MOVING FROM CITY HALL. OKAY. SO WE DID GO IN AND USE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS COMING FROM IN ORDER TO EVEN OUT THE FUNDS. SO WE DIDN'T HAVE A BIG SPIKE THAT WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE REDISTRIBUTED BACK TO DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU. MISS MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. YOU ACTUALLY GAVE YOU RATTLED OFF A LIST OF END BALANCES, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT YEAR THOSE CAME FROM, BUT WHEN I LOOK UP PRIOR BUDGETS, FISCAL YEAR 20 HAD AN END BALANCE FOR THIS IT FUND OF 4.5 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 20 AND 21. IT WAS 4.9 MILLION IN 22, 7.6 MILLION 237.9. WE'RE NOW SITTING ON 11 MILLION, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING OUT 1.5 FOR LIBRARIES. WE'RE ACTUALLY I MEAN, SINCE SINCE WE'VE ALL BEEN ON COUNCIL, THIS IS BY FAR THE LARGEST FUND BALANCE WE'VE EVER HAD, AND WE WENT THROUGH A VERY CRITICAL, HORRIBLE DATA LOSS AND A CYBER ATTACK. SO IT'S NOT TRUE THAT THIS IS THAT BUDGET. I'M SORRY. IT'S NOT TRUE THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE LARGEST. THE LARGEST THAT I SEE IS FISCAL YEAR 24. IT WAS $26 MILLION. YOUR BUDGET DOCUMENT ON THE WEBSITE SAYS THAT OUR END BALANCE WOULD BE 9.1. OKAY, WE'LL DOUBLE CHECK THAT. I MEAN, I LITERALLY SAT THERE LOOKING IT UP. SO, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, PLEASE, PLEASE DO CORRECT ME AND PERHAPS THE DOCUMENTS INCORRECT. BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY LARGE AMOUNT FOR US TO HAVE THE IT BUDGET FOR DATA. IS THIS NOT LIKE 142,000,140.5? YES. 144 MILLION. NO. 140.5 YES. OKAY. SO IT'S A VERY ROBUST BUDGET AND GOD FORBID SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED. THERE'S FLEXIBILITY IN THERE. THERE'S PROJECTS YOU CAN PULL BACK, THERE'S PROJECTS YOU CAN PUSH FORWARD. AND WE SEE THAT WITH THE TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT. AS THINGS STALL SOMETIMES AND AS THINGS MOVE FORWARD, I THINK ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW OF THOSE PROJECTS HAVE NOT MET THEIR DEADLINES FOR WHATEVER REASONS. BUT THIS IS TO ME A VERY APPROPRIATE USE OF THOSE FUNDS. AND LET'S DO IT AND GET IT DONE. OR IF YOU GUYS HATE THIS SOURCE OF FUNDS, I'M HAPPY TO PROPOSE SOME OTHERS. [10:10:08] THANK YOU. MR. BAZALDUA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WILL SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. I THINK THAT WE MADE IT REALLY CLEAR AS A COUNCIL TO TRY TO MAKE A MINIMAL IMPACT AS POSSIBLE TO OUR LIBRARY SYSTEMS. WE'VE HEARD IT FROM OUR RESIDENTS TIME AND TIME AGAIN. THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT. AND I BELIEVE AGAIN, THIS, EVEN WITH THE EXPLANATION THAT WE HAVE, IS YET ANOTHER POT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE JUST SITTING THERE ON THE TABLE WE'RE CHOOSING NOT TO USE. SO I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OUR GENERAL PUBLIC, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF WHAT THIS BUDGET WOULD DO TO OUR LIBRARY SYSTEMS. WE'LL JUST SEE HOW THE VOTE GOES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MISS CADENA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. I JUST POINT OF CLARIFICATION, WHAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT WITH THE AMOUNT THAT WE PASSED PREVIOUSLY? MAY I ANSWER? ARE YOU ASKING ME? YEAH. SO THE AMOUNT WE WERE TOLD THAT WE NEEDED FOR KEEPING ALL THE LIBRARIES OPEN WAS 2.6 MILLION FOR THAT SIXTH DAY. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY MADE AN AMENDMENT THAT PASSED FOR 1.125 MILLION. THERE WAS ANOTHER AMENDMENT ABOUT FLAGSHIPS AND MAINTENANCE THAT IS NOT, I THINK, RELEVANT. SO THAT'S WHY THE AMENDMENT THAT I MADE IS FOR 1.5 MILLION. SO IF TO INCLUDE ARCADIA, IT'S ACTUALLY 2.8 MILLION THAT'S NEEDED. I JUST WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE MEMOS THAT WERE PROVIDED BY THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. WELL, YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO AMEND THE MOTION TO 1.7 MILLION. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S THE THERE'S THE THIRD ONE. ALL RIGHT. SO AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT BY MISS CADENA. NOW YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR FIVE MINUTES IF YOU WANT IT TO EXPLAIN YOUR AMENDMENT. YES. SO WHEN WE THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION BECAUSE YES, TO RESTORE FUNDING IS 2.6, BUT TO INCLUDE ARCADIA PARK AND RESTORE IT HAS BEEN 2.8. AND FOR SOME REASON IT'S BEEN LEFT OUT. TIME AND AGAIN. AND SO COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY AND I MET WITH THE COMMUNITY A COUPLE, I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK. AND SO THEY HAVE NOT EVEN HAD ENOUGH TIME TO PROCESS ALL OF THIS. AND SO I THINK HAVING ANOTHER YEAR WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THEM SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK THAT OUT. THANK YOU. ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT BY MISS CADENA? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SOUNDS LIKE THE AYES HAVE IT. CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE NAME? OH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS OKAY, WE'RE NOW ON THE MENDELSOHN AMENDMENT, AS AMENDED. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON, FOR OR AGAINST? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. SO NOW WE ARE ON THE WEST. MOTION ON ITEM FOUR, AS AMENDED BY MISS MENDELSOHN. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ITEM FOUR? SEEING NONE, RECORD VOTE IS REQUIRED AND WE'LL CALL THE ROLL. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER WEST, WITH THAT AMENDMENT PASSING, WE HAVE TO RECALCULATE THE TOTAL FOR THE BUDGET THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO VOTE ON AGAIN. JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES. I DON'T NEED TO GO ANYWHERE. SO IT'S ADDING 1.7 TO THE LIBRARY. ARCADIA HAS 176405. [10:15:26] SO IT'S ANOTHER $3.4 MILLION IN APPROPRIATIONS. 1.7 NIT. YEP. MAYOR. I THINK WE'RE READY WHEN YOU ARE. ALL RIGHT THEN, WE'RE BACK. YEAH. I STOOD AT EASE. I DIDN'T ACTUALLY RECESS OR ANYTHING. SO WE'RE BACK. IT'S 940 AND WE'RE BACK. MADAM SECRETARY, WE'RE BACK WITH A VENGEANCE. DIE HARDER! THAT'S RIGHT. LET'S GO. MAYOR, WOULD YOU MIND RESTATING THE MOTION, PLEASE? I CAN'T DO THAT FOR YOU, BUT IT'S THE AMENDED ITEM FOUR. WELL, AND I NEED TO ASK A QUESTION TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. WELL, POINT OF INQUIRY, I GUESS. POINT OF INFORMATION. SO HOW DO I, I GUESS, CAN I AMEND MY OWN MOTION THEN TO CHANGE THIS NUMBER ON THE FLOOR LIKE THIS. YOU CAN. OR IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, YOU COULD JUST STATE THE NEW NUMBER. OKAY. WITHOUT READING IT ALL AGAIN. OKAY. SO THE NEW NUMBER, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, MAYOR IS 05,977,695,000 AND $555. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO HIM MAKING THAT CHANGE TO THE NUMBER TO MAKE IT ACCURATE TO REFLECT THE AMENDMENT? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. SO THAT'S THE THAT'S THE MOTION THAT'S BEFORE YOU. AND WE'LL HAVE THAT RECORD VOTE. ARE YOU JACK? CORRECT. OKAY. MADAM SECRETARY, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL NOW. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE SAY YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. MORENO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACEY. COUNCIL MEMBER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. I'M SORRY. YES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY NO. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. JOHNSON YES. MAYOR PRO TEM. RESENDEZ. MAYOR JOHNSON. YES. WITH TEN VOTING IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED. THE ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY WHAT'S NEXT, MADAM SECRETARY? WHAT DO WE HAVE? MR. MAYOR, THIS CONCLUDES YOUR ACTION ITEM ITEMS FOR THIS MEETING. HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS. OKAY, OKAY, LET'S GO ON. THANK YOU. I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES. SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY, DECORUM AND GOOD CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. [10:20:05] ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL AND PERTINENT, PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS, OR WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM. FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN PERSON, FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, YOU WILL BE. YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION. INDIVIDUALS BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. THERE WILL BE TIME ON THE MONITOR AT THE PODIUM. WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE STOP. FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS. I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. ALSO, SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFER TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME AND TO ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR JOHNSON ONLY. YOUR FIRST SPEAKER. NICOLE. MICAH. NICOLE. MAJKA IS VIRTUAL. MISS MAJKA, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? I'M HERE. YES. YOU MAY. YOU MAY BEGIN. PERFECT. ALL RIGHT. WELL, OKAY. SO. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU, THIS COUNCIL, TO STOP DELAYING AND PASS A COMPLETE BAN ON HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES. THE FENDERS FOR THIS INDUSTRY CALL THE TRADITION. BUT TRUE TRADITION ADAPTS TO MODERN ETHICS FOCUS, FORCING AN ANIMAL TO HAUL HEAVY LOADS THROUGH CONGESTION. URBAN TRAFFIC IS NOT AN ASSET TO DALLAS IS A LIABILITY TO OUR CITY'S CHARACTER, THE CITY'S CHARACTER. THE PRIMARY ARGUMENT AGAINST A BAN IS THAT THE CITY'S PERMANENT OPERATES HAS A CLEAN SAFETY RECORD. WHILE. WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE COMPLIANCE. A LACK OF RECENT DISASTER IS NOT A PROOF OF SAFETY. IS THIS A BORROWED TIME? MIXING 100 500 POUND ANIMAL WITH DISTRACTED MISS MICAH? I'M SORRY, YOUR VIDEO IS NOT DISPLAYING. SORRY. YES. THE PRIMARY ARGUMENT AGAINST BANNING IS THAT THE CITY'S PERMANENT OPERATION HAS A CLEAN SAFETY RECORD. WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE COMPLIANCE, A LACK OF RECENT DISASTER IS NOT PROOF OF SAFETY. IT IS JUST BORROWED TIME. AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, THIS ANIMAL IS DISTRACTING THE DRIVER. AN AGGRESSIVE DOWNTIME. TRAFFIC IS FUNDAMENTALLY UNSAFE. PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP MEANS ELIMINATING A KNOWN RISK BEFORE IT BECOMES TRAGEDY. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE TEXAS AIR TEMPERATURE HITS 98 DEGREES. SO FORCING THESE ANIMALS TO CONTINUE TO WALK IN THE SCORCHING PAVEMENT IS JUST ONE DEGREE SHY OF ILLEGAL LIMITS. IS IT? WELFARE IS A LOOPHOLE. AN ANIMAL'S PURPOSE SHOULD NEVER BE TO INHALE, EXHALE, AND NAVIGATE CHAOTIC PAYMENT FOR ENTERTAINMENT. OTHER MAJOR CITIES HAVE ALREADY RECOGNIZED THAT HORSES DO NOT BELONG ON MODERN STREETS. DALLAS VIEWS ITSELF AS A PROGRESSIVE, WORLD CLASS CITY, AND WORLD CLASS CITIES DO NOT BUILD ENTERTAINMENT AND BACK OF ANIMAL SUFFERING. I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO LOOK PAST THE EMPTY DEFENSE OF CLEAN RECORD AND RECOGNIZE THE INHERENT RISK OF THIS INDUSTRY. PLEASE ACT TODAY TO BAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD TO BAN HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES IN DALLAS. I KNOW YOU GUYS. I'D LIKE TO ADD ON. I KNOW YOU GUYS KEEP TALKING ABOUT SAFETY. THIS IS DEFINITELY ON THE BACKBONE OF WHAT YOU GUYS WOULD TALK ABOUT WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR BASICALLY YOUR, YOUR BUDGETING AND ABOUT SAFETY. THIS DEFINITELY GOES ON THAT AS WELL, THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A RISK AND IS ALSO CONSIDERED IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR ABOUT SAFETY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GLORIA CARBAJAL. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. ONCE AGAIN, I'M I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE. I KNOW THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT I, I REALLY DO ENJOY COMING UP HERE. SO I WANTED TO JUST IT'S GOING TO BE SHORT AND SWEET. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, I KNOW. I WANTED TO JUST REMIND YOU, THIS IS MY NINTH, 10TH, 19TH TIME COMING UP HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU REGARDING THE HORSE CARRIAGES IN DALLAS, DOWNTOWN DALLAS. I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF THE DANGERS INVOLVING HORSE CARRIAGES. SO WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER. THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 2ND, A WOMAN IS DEAD AND TWO CHILDREN WERE AIRLIFTED AFTER A HORSE CARRIAGE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE IN OHIO. THE VEHICLE, A GMC SEDONA, CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE CARRIAGE. IT IS DESCRIBED. IT WAS DESCRIBED AS A HORSE. HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE VERSUS VEHICLE CRASH. THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 5TH, 2026, SEVEN PEOPLE WERE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND A HORSE WITH USE WITH EUTHANISED AFTER A JEEP SUV HIT A HORSE [10:25:04] DRAWN BUGGY FROM BEHIND. IN KANSAS, A MOTHER, A FATHER AND FOUR CHILDREN. A FAMILY OF SIX MEMBERS TOTAL MOTHER SUFFERED TRAUMATIC INJURIES AND WAS AIRLIFTED TO A HOSPITAL BY HELICOPTER. THE FATHER AND FOUR CHILDREN TAKEN TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENTS. THE DRIVER DRIVING THE JEEP WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE HORSE SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES IN THE COLLISION AND WAS EUTHANISED ON THE SCENE. THESE TRAGEDIES ARE A REMINDER THAT FORCING HORSES TO PULL CARRIAGES PUTS BOTH THE HORSES AND THE HUMANS IN DANGER. FINALLY, I WANT I WANT TO AGAIN REMIND YOU THAT WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE AND NOT REACTIVE BEFORE DALLAS HAS A SIMILAR HEADLINE. THANK YOU AGAIN, AND I AM. I DO FEEL HUMBLED TO BE HERE. I DO SEE THIS AS A A BLESSING THAT I AM ABLE TO COME HERE AND SPEAK BEFORE YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH. THANK YOU. BARRETT JOHNSON IS NOT ONLINE. NOT IN THE AUDIENCE, NOT PRESENT. MARTY WEST IS NOT PRESENT. MR. HOLLOWELL IS NOT PRESENT. MUHAMMAD ABDULLAH IS NOT PRESENT. MR. MAYOR, THIS INCLUDES YOUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES YOUR AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY. THE TIME BEING, 9:50 P.M.. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. CONGRATULATIONS. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.