[A. REGULAR SESSION AGENDA - CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.IT IS 6:00 PM I'M MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR, AND I WANNA CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESOTA CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
I'M GONNA ASK OUR CITY SECRETARY, MS. ALICIA THOMAS, TO START US OFF WITH A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER NICOLE RAPHAEL.
COUNCIL MEMBER DYNA MARKS PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL CHISHOLM HERE.
AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE, BY LED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY CARSON AVERY WITH RUBY YOUNG, PERSONALIZED STEAM ENEMY.
IF EVERYONE CAN PLEASE STAND AND COUNCILMAN BY IS NOT HERE FOR THE NIGHT, GO DOWN.
WOULD YOU MIND LEADING US? THANK YOU.
YOUR HEADS, PLEASE, FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR LIVES, OUR HEALTH, AND OUR STRENGTH.
WE NEVER WANT TO TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.
WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE AND BEING ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.
WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THIS MEETING AND BLESS OUR LEADERS AND WATCH OVER US ALL CARE CAREFULLY AFTER THIS MEETING AS WE RETURN TO OUR HOMES, AS WE LEFT THEM.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE TEXAS PLEDGE, OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THIS FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE.
WE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ANOTHER PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD ONE.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TE, FOR LEADING US IN OUR OPENING PRAYER.
AND CAN WE GIVE A GREAT ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR STUDENT AMBASSADOR FOR THIS EVENING? MR. CASON AVERY FROM RUBY YOUNG, PERSONALIZED STEAM ACADEMY AND CASON WAS BORN.
I'M GONNA READ JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, ABOUT HIM.
UH, CASON WAS BORN IN LONGVIEW, TEXAS AND RAISED IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
HE IS THE OLDEST OF TWO CHILDREN AND LIVES WITH HIS STEPDAD, MOM AND SISTER.
HE IS AN OUTGOING, ATHLETIC, AND INTELLIGENT 13-YEAR-OLD.
CASON IS A REMARKABLE EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT ATHLETE, A RUBY YOUNG PERSONALIZED STEAM ACADEMY.
HE IS AN AB HONOR ROLL STUDENT, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT COUNCIL, MEMBER OF THE SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT BOARD, AND AN EIGHTH GRADE AMBASSADOR FOR GEAR UP IN 2023.
CASON WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS PENDING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND AWARDED FOR EARNING THE THIRD HIGHEST GPA IN THE SEVENTH GRADE.
THAT'S IMPRESSIVE INITIALLY, CASE AND DREAM TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE, BUT NOW HE ENVISIONS HIMSELF AS A FUTURE REAL ESTATE BROKER OR A BIOLOGIST.
HE ASPIRE, HE ALSO ASPIRES TO ATTEND THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY HOME OF THE BUCKEYES.
AS A TOP STUDENT ATHLETE IN 2023, CASON EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION THAT KEPT HIM IN THE HOSPITAL FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
SOON AFTER HE SURVIVED A MAJOR CAR ACCIDENT FROM WHICH HE WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, REMARKABLY CASON WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY WITHOUT INJURY.
CASON WAS NOT ONLY IS NOT ONLY A BRIGHT AND GIFTED YOUNG MAN, BUT ALSO SOMEONE WHO POSSESSES A RESILIENT SPIRIT.
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES HE HAS FACED, HE REMAINS DETERMINED AND FOCUSED ON HIS GOALS.
CASON ATTRIBUTES HIS SUCCESS TO THE LOVE, SUPPORT, AND CARE HE RECEIVES FROM HIS FAMILY, WHICH PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN HIS ACHIEVEMENTS.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR OUR STUDENT AMBASSADOR ONE MORE TIME.
MR. AVERY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS AT RUBY YOUNG? UM, ON BEHALF OF MY STU OF MY FELLOW STUDENTS AT RUBY YOUNG, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ALLOWING ME TO AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.
[00:05:01]
TO SAY ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR OUR MEETING, HOWEVER, YOU WILL NEED TO FILL OUT A CARD, SO CASON WILL ASSIST YOU WITH FILLING OUT THAT CARD.MR. GLOVER, CAN YOU WAVE YOUR HAND OVER THERE AT OUR, YOU CAN GO AND GET THAT CARD AND FILL IT OUT AND THEY'LL RETURN IT TO OUR CITY SECRETARY AND THEY WILL CALL YOU AT THE, AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
I DO SEE PRINCIPAL SMITH HERE AS WELL FROM, UH, RUBY YOUNG AND PARENTS ARE ALSO HERE.
PARENTS, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU AS WELL? ALRIGHT.
AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA COME DOWN, WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO AND WE HAVE SOME GOODIES FOR YOU AS WELL.
LET'S GIVE IT ONE MORE HAND CLAP.
AT THIS TIME, MS. THOMAS, WE'LL TAKE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[1. Presentation of proclamation honoring Black History Month]
NEXT WE MOVE INTO OUR PRESENTATIONS.FIRST WE HAVE PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS MAYOR PROTI LETITIA HUGHES, RECEIVING OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TRI-CITIES NAACP.
WE HAVE TANJA FLEMING, PRESIDENT DEMETRA DONALDSON, FIRST VP ALYSSA JONES, EDUCATION CHAIR.
AND, UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP MR. FLEMING? I AM GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
OH, ANY, ANYBODY ELSE WITH YOU? IS ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO COME BY? THANK YOU ALL.
AND IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I WILL READ THIS PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS DURING BLACK BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF BLACK AMERICANS WHOSE POWER TO LEAD, TO OVERCOME AND TO EXPAND.
THE MEANING AND PRACTICE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY HAS HELPED OUR NATION BECOME A MORE FAIR AND JUST SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S THEME, BLACK AMERICANS AND THE ARTS CELEBRATES THE PROFOUND AND EVOLVING IMPACT ON BLACK ARTISTRY ON OUR CULTURE.
NATIONAL IDENTITY AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS THAT HAVE SPANNED THE WORLD OVER THROUGH LITERATURE, MUSIC, ARCHITECTURE, DANCE, FILM, AND EVERY CONCEIVABLE MEDIUM IN BETWEEN.
BLACK ARTISTS AND INTELLECTUALS HAVE USED THEIR TALENTS TO HONOR THEIR HERITAGE, EDUCATE AND INSPIRE AND OPEN MINDS AND HEARTS.
AND WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH RECOGNIZES THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS BLACK AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO THE RICH CULTURAL HISTORY OF OUR NATION.
MORE SO WE PAVE TRIBUTE FOR THE VISION AND ENDURANCE OF THE COURAGEOUS BLACK AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN WHO BATTLED IT, PREJUDICE, SEGREGATION, AND SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM.
AND WHEREAS THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF BLACK AMERICANS IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR SOCIETY CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REACH AS, AS FAR AS THEIR DREAMS MAY TAKE THEM, WORKING TOGETHER WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS WILL CONTINUE TO FOSTER HOPE AND BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN.
NOW, THEREFORE, I RACHEL L PROCTOR BY THE POWER OF VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS DALLAS COUNTY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY, 2024 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN DESOTO AND DO HEREBY URGE ALL CITIZENS AND THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO OBSERVE THIS MONTH WITH APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT HONOR THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS BLACK AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO OUR NATION.
AN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION WHEREOF, I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024.
RACHEL L PROCTOR, MAYOR ATTEST.
ALICIA THOMAS, CITY SECRETARY.
I JUST WANNA SAY MAYOR PRO TEM.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PROCTOR
[00:10:01]
AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
TRI CITIES, UH, N-A-A-C-P IS WORKING VERY HARD TO SUPPORT, SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.
WE REPRESENT THE TRI-CITIES, WHICH ARE CEDAR HILL, DESOTO, AND DUNCANVILLE.
WE MEET EVERY THURSDAY THE, I'M SORRY, THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH.
AND WE ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO TUNE IN AND IT'S VIRTUAL.
UM, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE, TRI-CITIES NA ACP.ORG.
UH, AND IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE CAN HELP YOU, UH, SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO US.
I WILL ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF TRI-CITIES, N-A-A-C-P, AS WELL AS, UH, MY FELLOW, UH, EXECUTIVE MEMBERS.
I, I DON'T DO THIS ALONE, AND WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH, AT THIS TIME, MADAM CITY SECRETARY WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[2. Presentation of proclamation honoring National Engineers Week ]
HAVE PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION HONORING NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK.MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS COUNCIL MEMBER DYNA MARKS RECEIVING OUR ENGINEERS FROM OUR DESOTO STAFF.
IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS ENGINEERS USE THEIR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE OF SKILLS TO CREATE INNOVATIVE WAYS TO FULFILL SOCIETY'S NEEDS.
THIS YEAR'S THEME IS WELCOME TO THE FUTURE, CELEBRATING TODAY'S ACHIEVEMENTS AND PAVING THE WAY FOR A BRIGHTER AND MORE DIVERSE FUTURE IN THE DISCIPLINE.
AND WHEREAS ENGINEERS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING MATH, SCIENCE, ART, AND TECHNICAL SKILLS TO THE GENERAL POPULATION, ENSURING A DIVERSE AND WELL EDUCATED WORKFORCE BY HIGHLIGHTING ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY CAREERS.
AND WHEREAS ENGINEERING IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF INNOVATION AND IS INSTRUMENTAL IN DESIGNING AND CREATING SOLUTIONS THAT WILL SHAPE THE WORLD OF TOMORROW.
FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNET AND SMARTPHONE TO SPACE EXPLORATION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS, ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF PROGRESS, MAKING OUR LIVES MORE EFFICIENT, COMFORTABLE, AND CONNECTED.
AND WHEREAS ENGINEERS FACE TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF OUR TIMES FROM REBUILDING CITIES DEVASTATED BY NATURAL DISASTER, CLEANING UP THE ENVIRONMENT AND FINDING SAFE, CLEAN AND EFFICIENT SOURCES OF ENERGY TO DESIGNING INFORMATION SYSTEMS THAT WILL BENEFIT COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I RACHEL L PROCTOR BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE ALL AMERICA CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 18TH, 2024 TO FEBRUARY 24TH, 2024, AS NATIONAL ENGINEER WEEK IN THE ALL AMERICA CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS.
AND WE DO URGE ALL MEMBERS AND CITIZENS TO JOIN IN SHOWING THEIR GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION OF THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF ALL ENGINEERS WITHIN
[00:15:01]
OUR COMMUNITIES.IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION, WHEREOF, I HAVE CAUSED THE SEAL OF DESOTO TO BE A AFFIXED THIS 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024.
SIGNED BY OUR HONORABLE MAYOR, RACHEL L PROCTOR, ATTESTED BY OUR CITY SECRETARY, MS. ALICIA THOMAS.
AND AGAIN, I AM THE HONORABLE DR.
DIANA BARKS, THE READER ACCEPTING MR. BREWER.
THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS.
IT STARTED THE CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK IN 1951 IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY BECAUSE PRESIDENT WASHINGTON, GEORGE WASHINGTON IS CONSIDERED AN ENGINEER BECAUSE OF HIS SURVEYING WORK AND KNOWLEDGE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING.
SINCE THEN, ENGINEER'S WEEK HAS BECOME THE LARGEST SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH RELATED EVENT OF THE YARD IN THE UNITED STATES IN THIS WEEK.
UM, THE, SO ENGINEERS COMMUNITIES CELEBRATE HOW ENGINEERS IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR WORLD FOR THE CIVILIZATION, AND ADD OUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NEED FOR ENGINEERS, TECHNICIANS, AND TECHNOLOGISTS.
AND ALSO ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENT THAT TAKE PLACE DEFINED ENGINEERING COMMUNI, UM, COMPANIES AND ENGINEERING ORGANIZATION ACTUALLY GOES TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AND GET ENGAGED WITH THE STUDENTS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO CHOOSE ENGINEERING PROFESSION.
AND THEY DEMONSTRATE DEFINED ENGINEERING, UH, EXPERIMENTS AND KNOWLEDGE.
SO THIS IS, UH, THE THEME OF ENGINEERS WEEK IS WELCOME TO THE FUTURE.
THIS THEME CENTERS THE ON CELEBRATING TODAY'S ASSESSMENTS AND PAVING THE WAY FOR A BRIGHTER AND MORE DIVERSE FUTURE IN ENGINEERING.
AND UDA ENGINEERING DIVISION AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, THANKS OUR CITY COUNCIL FOR APPRECIATING US AND CELEBRATING THE ENGINEERS WEEK AND FOR THIS BOOK PROMOTION.
AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
[3. Presentation of January 2024 Financial Report]
NEXT WE HAVE PRESENTATION OF THE JANUARY, 2024 FINANCIAL REPORT.MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS LAKITA SUTTON, INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
OKAY, ON OUR JANUARY 20, 24 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR, WE ARE ABOUT 30 INTO THE, UM, INTO THE BUDGET YEAR.
THE FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT IS OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
SO AT 33% INTO THE BUDGET YEAR, WE ARE ALREADY AT 62.7% ON OUR REVENUE COMPARED TO 54.6% LAST YEAR.
UM, SEE THE VA, VARIOUS REVENUE CATEGORIES ARE LISTED.
PROPERTY TAXES ARE, UM, LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE AND IT IS AT 87% AS OF THE END OF JANUARY, WHICH WAS EXPECTED, UM, TO BE HIGH, UM, DUE TO PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS BEING DUE.
UM, IN JANUARY, SALES TAX IS NEXT.
UM, THE NEXT LARGEST, UH, REVENUE SOURCE THAT WE HAVE IS AT 18.9% COMPARED TO 16.2% LAST YEAR.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE VARIOUS OTHER CATEGORIES LISTED THERE AS WELL AS WE MOVE INTO OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, THIS CATEGORY IS LISTED BY DEPARTMENT.
SO, UM, YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET, ANY BUDGET REVISIONS.
AND THE GRAY COLUMN, OF COURSE, HAS OUR YEAR TO DATE ACTUAL NUMBERS OUT OF ALL CATEGORIES.
WE ARE AT 29.6% ON OUR GENERAL FUND
[00:20:01]
EXPENDITURES COMPARED TO 27.2% LAST YEAR.MOVING INTO OUR PUBLIC UTILITY FUND, 33% INTO THE YEAR, WE ARE AT 29.1% ON OUR REVENUE.
UM, ALSO HAVE OUR COUPLE OF MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES ARE GONNA BE, OF COURSE, OUR WATER SALES AND OUR SEWER ACTUAL SALES.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE OUR, UM, WATER SERVICE AND SEWER SERVICE, UH, REVENUE, WHICH INCLUDES, UM, UH, VARIOUS, UH, SERVICES SUCH AS RECONNECT FEES, UM, AFTER OUR SERVICES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
OUR INTEREST REVENUE IS UP AS WELL AT 123.9% COMPARED TO 140% LAST YEAR.
SO STILL DOING REALLY GOOD ON THAT.
UM, BUT YEAH, OVERALL WE'RE AT 29.1% ON OUR PUBLIC UTILITY REVENUE.
OUR PUBLIC UTILITY EXPENDITURE IS TRACKING, UH, A LITTLE BIT ABOVE LAST YEAR.
UM, WE HAD, UM, 21.7% PROP PUBLIC UTILITY ADMINISTRATION.
THIS IS ALSO THE FUND THAT WE PAY OUR DALLAS WATER UTILITY BILLS OUT OF.
UM, AS WELL AS ANY, UM, LARGE EQUIPMENT, LEGAL FEES AND GENERAL FUND REIMBURSEMENT COMES OUT OF HERE AS WELL.
SO 27.8% AS OF THE END OF JANUARY FOR SANITATION.
OUR VARIOUS REVENUE SOURCES ARE LISTED HERE.
THEY'RE ABOUT RIGHT WHERE WE EXPECTED THEM TO BE.
UM, AT THE END OF JANUARY, 29.1% ON OUR REVENUE, THE CORRESPONDING EXPENDITURES FOR THE SANITATION FUND ARE AT 20.2%.
AND OF COURSE, THIS, UM, SECTION IS WHERE WE PAY OUR, UH, WASTE COLLECTION FEES OUT OF HERE.
OUR NEXT SECTION IS OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDS.
YOU CAN SEE OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET, ANY BUDGET REVISIONS, AND ALSO THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN IS OUR YEAR TO DATE ACTUALS.
THE FIRST SECTION IS OF COURSE, OUR REVENUES.
AND THE BOTTOM CATEGORY IS GOING TO BE OUR EXPENDITURES FOR THOSE FUNDS.
UM, AS FAR AS, UM, EXPENDITURES, IT'S GONNA BE BASED ON BASICALLY TIMING AND, UM, HOW IT CORRESPONDS TO OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN.
THE LAST SECTION OF FUNDS IS GONNA BE ALL OF OUR OTHER FUNDS.
UM, THIS PAGE LISTS ALL OF THE REVENUES THAT HAVE BEEN BUDGETED, AND THEN ON THE FAR RIGHT SIDE, YOU'LL SEE ALL OF THE, UM, THE ACTUAL REVENUE YEAR TO DATE.
AND THEN THE CORRESPONDING EXPENDITURES ARE ON THE LISTED.
ON THE NEXT PAGE, WE'VE INCLUDED OUR PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS REPORT AS OF THE END OF JANUARY.
WE WERE AT 87.36% AGAIN ON OUR PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION.
AND WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED OUR HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS SPENDING REPORT AS OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY, WE WERE AT 6.1%.
THAT BRINGS OUR YEAR TO DATE TOTAL.
ACTUALLY, THAT, THAT 3.9, I'LL HAVE TO CORRECT THAT ACTUALLY.
OUR YEAR TO DATE TOTAL IS 4.3% FOR THE MONTH, UH, FOR THE, UH, FISCAL YEAR, YEAR TO DATE.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
COUNSELOR, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE JANUARY, 2024 FINANCIAL REPORT? COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM.
THANK YOU MS. SUTTON FOR YOUR REPORT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR THOROUGHNESS AND COMING BACK THE NEXT DAY AND DOING IT ALL OVER AGAIN.
SO I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING YOUR REPORTS THIS MONTH AND I COULDN'T HELP BUT TO NOTICE THAT THE HOT TAX EXPENSES HAVE, UM, THERE'S BEEN THIS JUST HUGE INCREASE JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN.
SO I WAS LOOKING AT THE DECEMBERS, UH, AND IT WAS AROUND 10,000, TEN, TEN FIVE, THEN JANUARY, YESTERDAY THAT YOU GAVE US, JUMPED UP TO 33, WHICH IS A $22,000 DIFFERENCE.
AND THEN TODAY IT IS AT 46,000, WHICH IS A 13,000 DIFFERENCE.
IT'S NOT THE SAME MONTH OVER MONTH.
SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS UNDER HOT TAX EXPENSES, I WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH AND BRING AND BRING THAT BACK TO YOU.
I DO KNOW THAT THAT IS A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND AND ONLY CERTAIN EXPENSES CAN COME OUT OF THAT, BUT I WILL HAVE TO BRING THAT BACK
[00:25:01]
TO YOU.I DON'T HAVE THAT DETAIL TONIGHT.
AND WHEN YOU SAY BRING BACK IS, ARE YOU SAYING THE NEXT TIME YOU REPORT YOU'LL PROVIDE A I'LL ACTUALLY JUST PUT IT ON A, A REPORT OKAY.
AND SUBMIT IT TO CITY MANAGER SO THAT HE CAN FORWARD IT TO YOU ALL.
AND THANK YOU MS. SUTTON FOR, UH, YOUR PRESENTATION.
MY QUESTION IS IN REFERENCE TO MY FAVORITE SUBJECT IS THAT HUD VENDOR, UM, LAST NIGHT, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I GUESS THAT WAS THROUGH DECEMBER WAS 5.3.
AND TODAY IT IS WHAT, SIX 6.1.
SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT? WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO DIFFERENTLY? BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S MY INTEREST.
WE DIDN'T, I MEAN, EVERYTHING THAT WE DID IN THE MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, WE DID FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, I WOULD THINK THE ONLY VARIANCE WOULD BE, WOULD BE THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES THAT OCCURRED THAT MONTH.
AS FAR AS OUR EFFORTS, OUR EFFORTS, I CAN'T SAY THAT THEY CHANGED BETWEEN, UM, DECEMBER AND JANUARY.
SO ALL OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE DISCUSSED LAST EVENING WILL BE THE ONES THAT WE WILL HAVE, UH, IMPLEMENTED ON THIS ONE AS WELL.
I'M JUST, UH, AS YOU KNOW, I'M INTERESTED IN, IN SEEING THE PENDULUM BETWEEN TO THE RIGHT.
SO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU DO.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION AROUND THE, UH, PUBLIC UTILITY FUND.
UM, SO WE'RE, I WAS REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY.
IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE'RE SEEING ANY REAL INCREASES IN THE ACTUAL REVENUE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE IS NOT SUPPOSED.
'CAUSE THERE'S SO MANY OF THEM.
BRANDON, YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT ONE? WELL, I, I, I JUST KNOW THAT OVERALL I, SO OVERALL WATER CELLS AND SEWER CELLS THEMSELVES, THOSE ARE THE MAJOR LINE ITEMS, RIGHT.
NORMALLY THEY DON'T HIT THEIR LEVEL AS TO WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE BUDGET UNTIL THE SUMMER MONTHS.
BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN THERE'S MORE WATER USAGE.
SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT YEAR OVER YEAR.
SO YOU'LL SEE THOSE SUMMER MONTHS IS WHEN IT WILL, WE WILL JUMP UP HIGHER.
AND RIGHT NOW IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE LOWER.
I MEAN, THEY LITERALLY ARE LOWER THAN WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR AT THIS SAME DATE.
THAT'S REALLY WHERE I THINK I WAS KIND OF GOING.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER, TO YOUR, UM, QUESTION.
LIKE MS. SUTTON SAID IT TYPICALLY CATCHES UP DURING THE SUMMERTIME.
YOU KNOW, THIS PAST, UM, YOU KNOW, FALL EARLY FISCAL YEAR AND, UH, LATE WINTER, WE HAVE HAD SEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE RAIN THAN WE SAW LAST YEAR.
AND THAT'S GONNA ALSO IMPACT WATER CELLS.
YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY SPEAKING, WE TYPICALLY SEE, UM, SPRINKLER OR SPRINKLER USAGE KIND OF DROP OFF KIND OF IN THAT LATE FALL, KIND OF EARLY WINTER TIME SPAN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR PEOPLE USUALLY CONTINUE TO WATER, UH, INTO THE, INTO THE LATE FALL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR, OBVIOUSLY WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT MORE AROUND RAIN, SO THAT DOES IMPACT OUR WATER CELLS.
AND SO WHEN DO YOU NORMALLY SEE IT? YOU SAID THE SUMMER, JUNE, JULY.
SO TYPICALLY AFTER THE SPRINGTIME, WE START TO SEE A PICKUP IN OUR DEMAND.
SO USUALLY, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE, YOU KNOW, THE APRIL RAINS AND IT STARTS GETTING, YOU KNOW, WE START SEEING THOSE 90 DEGREE TEMPERATURES IN THE RIGHT EXTENDED HEAT, YOU KNOW, DURING THE SUMMER.
THAT'S WHEN WE SEE OUR REVENUE TYPICALLY PICK BACK UP.
SO IT'S NOTHING UNUSUAL FOR US TO BE, YOU KNOW, LAGGING BEHIND IN THE EARLY PART OF THE YEAR.
AND IF THERE IS AN UNUSUAL PIECE, YOU'LL LET US KNOW.
OR MS. SAID, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.
UM, COUNSELOR, IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
[C. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
MOVE INTO OUR ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.0415.THE CITY COUNCIL MAY REPORT ON THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, EXPRESSION OF THANKS, CONGRATULATIONS OR CONDOLENCES INFORMATION ABOUT HOLIDAY SCHEDULES, RECOGNITION OF INDIVIDUALS, REMINDERS ABOUT UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL EVENTS, INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS INVOLVING IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AS WELL AS ANY LIAISON UPDATES.
AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, JUST A QUICK FRIENDLY REMINDER TODAY, FEBRUARY 20TH IS THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING FOR THE MARCH 5TH PRIMARY ELECTION WITH THE LAST DAY TO APPLY FOR A BALLOT BY MAIL BEING THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD.
THE LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING WILL BE MARCH 1ST.
THE LAST DAY TO RECEIVE A BALLOT BY MAIL, UM, IS THE DAY OF THE ELECTION, WHICH IS MARCH 5TH.
EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE AT DISCIPLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY CHURCH THAT'S LOCATED AT 9 0 1 NORTH POLK STREET IN THE YOUTH ROOM.
PLEASE VISIT DALLAS COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WEBSITE AT WWW.DALLASCOUNTYVOTES.ORG
[00:30:01]
FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING ADDITIONAL POLLING LOCATIONS AND TIMES.ONE IS THE DESOTO VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO THANK AND HONOR VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM WAR, INCLUDING PERSONNEL WHO WERE HELD AS PRISONERS OF WAR EN LISTED AS MISSION MISSING IN ACTION FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THANK AND HONOR THEIR FAMILIES OF THESE VETERANS.
THIS OBSERV OBSERVANCE WILL HAPPEN ON THURSDAY, MARCH 28TH, UM, AT NOON INVITES THE LOCAL VETS TO JOIN THEM AT THE CORNER THEATER NEAR THE FLAG POLES THAT'S RIGHT BEHIND US, UM, BETWEEN THE GYM AND CITY HALL, UM, THE, WHICH IS TWO 11 EAST PLEASANT RUN.
AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE OUR, UH, VIETNAM WAR VETS.
UH, AS YOU MAY KNOW, A PART OF OUR HISTORY IS THAT, UM, AND BEING A COMBAT VET, ONE THING THAT I REMEMBER IS COMING HOME IS BEING THANKED FOR MY SERVICE.
WELL, VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DIDN'T GET THAT HONOR.
AND SO AS MUCH AS WE CAN SAY THANK YOU, WE DO, IF YOU ARE A FAMILY MEMBER OF A VIETNAM WAR VET, WE WELCOME YOU TO, UH, COME OUT.
AND THIS WILL BE IN YOUR WATER BILL.
UH, YOU CAN CALL 9 7 2 2 3 0 9 6 4 8 FOR MORE INFORMATION.
UM, ON A MORE SOMBER NOTE, UH, ONE OF MY PLACE SIX, UH, SEND PRAYERS TO, UH, THE BORNER FAMILY.
UH, CORY BORNER, WHO AS WE ALL KNOW IS ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY CELEBRITIES, UH, MY PLACE SIX SUPERHERO, UH, LOST HIS FATHER.
UM, HE WILL, UH, BE, UM, HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE THIS FRIDAY NOON AT PILGRIM REST CHURCH.
UM, AND IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN NORMAL INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME.
BUT LET'S KEEP THAT BORNER FAMILY IN OUR PRAYERS.
A COUPLE OF QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE HAVE SNOOP ROBINSON PRESENTS BACK TO, TO OUR ROOTS TOUR.
UH, THERE'S AN EARLY BIRD, $25 SPECIAL.
IT WILL FEATURE MUSIC, DANCE, AND POETRY FROM VARIOUS VARIOUS ARTISTS.
IT WILL BE FEBRUARY 24TH AT 7:00 PM AT OUR DESOTO CORNER THEATER.
GET TICKETS ON DESOTO EVENTS@EVENTBRITE.COM.
OUR DESOTO TEEN COUNCIL PRESENTS TEENS UNPLUGGED.
IT WILL, UM, THEY WILL HAVE AN ALL DAY AFFAIR FOR EMOTIONAL AND HEALTH FAIR, AND THERE WILL BE FROM NINE TO THREE AT OUR CIVIC CENTER.
AND THERE WILL BE A KICKBACK PARTY FROM THREE TO 6:00 PM AND THAT WILL BE $7.
THEY'LL HAVE BREAKOUT SESSIONS INCLUDING BUIL, BUILDING HEALTHY HABITS, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION RELIEF, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP ADVICE, POSITIVE PARENTAL CONVERSATIONS, UNPLUGGED WITH MILLENNIALS.
I BELIEVE THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT.
LET'S GET ALL OF OUR TEENS THERE.
AND THEN, UM, SAVE THE DATE, THE DATE APRIL 6TH.
OUR TRASH PICKUP DATE, WHICH WILL BE FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM UM, WE'LL HAVE VARIOUS LOCATIONS, $5 T-SHIRT SALE, SPONSORED BY OUR DHS, UM, UH, I'M SORRY, HIGH SCHOOL PTS.
A REGISTER ONLINE, DESOTO EVENTS.EVENTBRITE.COM.
AND THEN FINALLY, UH, SAVE THE DATE FOR MAY, MAY 2ND, 11:00 AM IN THE BLUEBONNET ROOM.
THE DESOTO AREA CHAMBER WILL HOST THE STATE OF THE DISTRICT FOR THE DESOTO ISD SCHOOL DISTRICT.
JUST A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS TO GO FORTH.
UH, THE DESOTO PARK RECREATION CENTER PROBABLY PRESENTS THE 5K SHAMROCK SHAKE.
OUR WALK IS WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 16TH FROM EIGHT UNTIL 12 NOON.
REGISTER NOW, AND YOU MAY DO SO AT DESOTO EVENTS DOT EVENT BRIGHT.COM.
ALL WALKERS, RUNNERS AND PET OWNERS ARE WELCOME.
YOU WILL RECEIVE A FREE T-SHIRT LIVE.
AND OF COURSE, THERE WILL BE AWARDS PRESENTED.
AGAIN, THAT WILL BE ON MARCH 16TH FROM EIGHT UNTIL 12 NOON.
AND OF COURSE, THAT WILL BE HELD AT TWO 11 EAST PLEASANT RUN ROAD WHERE WE SIT RIGHT NOW HERE IN DESOTO, TEXAS.
ALSO, THE PARKS AND RECREATION CENTER, UM, PROUDLY PRESENTS THE EASTER EGG EXTRAVAGANZA PRIZES FACE PAINTING, MUSIC, AND SNOW CONES TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 23RD.
UH, 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM THE EGG HUNT STARTS AT 11.
WE WANT YOU TO PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARRIVE EARLY AGE, UH, GROUPS FOR EGG HUNT,
[00:35:01]
AGES FIVE AND UNDER, UH, AGES SIX THROUGH EIGHT, AND THEN OF COURSE, AGES NINE AND UP THAT WILL BE HELD AT ZIEGER PARK, LOCATED AT 4 0 5 EAGLE DRIVE HERE IN THE ALL AMERICA CITY OF DESOTO.AND YOU MAY REGISTER ONLINE@DESOTOTEXAS.GOV SLASH REGISTER.
AND OF COURSE, MY LAST ANNOUNCEMENT, UM, JUST A MOMENT HERE IS A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.
IT'S A KIDS' GYM, AND THAT WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, AT 11:00 AM PLEASE JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE.
WE ROCK THE SPECTRUM SOUTHWEST DALLAS, WITH A SPECIAL RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.
IT WILL BE HELD AT 9 0 1 NORTH POLK STREET, UM, SUITE NUMBER THREE 70 HERE IN THE ALL AMERICA CITY OF DESOTO.
YOU MAY CALL 2 1 4 4 7 6 0 8 9 4.
AND OF COURSE, IF YOU MISS THOSE NUMBERS, CERTAINLY YOU CAN GET WITH ME AFTER OUR MEETING.
MAD, UH, MADAM MAYOR, I YIELD BACK.
UH, AND SO WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
THERE'S SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS GOING ON IN THE LIBRARY.
IT'S STILL THE LOVERS OF THE LIBRARY MONTH.
IT'S STILL NINE DAYS LEFT FOR YOU TO PUT YOUR LOVE LETTER IN AT THE DESOTO LIBRARY.
UH, AND IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY ACTUALLY HAD THE ACHIEVEMENT OF LIBRARY EXCELLENCE AWARD THAT WAS AWARDED TO THEM JUST RECENTLY.
SO I SAY THANK YOU TO THE LIBRARY AND ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS ARE AWAITING YOU GO AND EXPLORE I A YEAR BACK.
RAPHAEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY.
UM, I HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS.
AND I, I DON'T THINK THEY GOT ANNOUNCED.
I THINK WE WERE INTENDING TO ANNOUNCE THEM AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
BUT WE HAD TWO NLC APPOINTMENTS AMONGST COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS WERE BOTH APPOINTED TO, AND I BELIEVE YOURS WAS A REAPPOINTMENT CORRECT COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL REAPPOINTED TO THE, UM, COUNCIL ON YOUTH EDUCATION AND FAMILY.
SO WE WANNA GIVE THEM A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP FOR, UH, REPRESENTING US THERE AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES LEVEL.
UM, ALSO I WANTED TO SHARE ABOUT THE, SOMETHING THAT'S COMING UP NEXT MONTH IN A FEW WEEKS, UH, MOVE WITH THE MAYOR.
SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT, UM, IN CONJUNCTION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR, UH, PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, UM, AND THE NATIONAL FORUM FOR HEART DISEASE AND STROKE PREVENTION.
AND THAT WILL BE MARCH 16TH FROM ONE TO 3:00 PM IT'S GOING TO BE FEATURING FITNESS BY NORI CHERYL'S STUDIO, ZUMBA FITNESS AND GROUP EXERCISE.
SO YOU, WE WANNA INVITE YOU OUT TO JOIN US FOR A FREE CARDIO AND LIGHTWEIGHT TRAINING INSTRUCTED BY CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINERS FOR ALL LEVELS, ARTS CRAFTS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN AGES SIX AND UP.
AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY REGISTER FOR THAT.
AND I BELIEVE YOU CAN PRE-SELECT YOUR CLASSES AND EVERYTHING YOU WANNA SIGN UP FOR AT DESOTO EVENTS WITH AN S.EVENTBRITE.COM.
AND ALL OF THAT WILL BE HELD AT OUR RECREATION CENTER HERE IN THIS COMPLEX AT TWO 11 EAST PLEASANT RUN ROAD.
AND AGAIN, THAT DATE IS MARCH 16TH FROM ONE TO 3:00 PM ALSO, I WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THE, UH, 75TH GALA FOR THE CITY.
THE, UH, WE'RE COUNTING DOWN TO THE DAYS WHERE THE CITY OF DESOTO TURNS 75 YEARS OLD.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING OUR DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY WITH A HUGE GALA.
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING ON FRIDAY, APRIL 5TH.
AND THE DOORS WILL OPEN AT 6:30 PM AND IT STARTS AT 7:00 PM AND IT'S GOING TO BE HERE IN THE BLUE BONNET ROOMS. AND AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA BE CELEBRATING OUR DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY.
YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT AND GET TICKETS.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE SAYING TICKETS ARE ALREADY, UM, TICKETS ARE ALREADY GOING.
SO PLEASE DON'T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE TO SIGN UP, UM, BECAUSE WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT EVENT WILL SELL OUT.
SO YOU CAN VISIT DESOTO TEXAS.GOV TO FIND, UH, YOUR WAY TO GET TICKETS FOR THAT PARTICULAR EVENT.
UM, THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO SHARE, AND I DON'T SEE, DO I SEE HER? I DON'T SEE HER.
I, SHE'S SITTING IN THE BACK LIKE A SPECTATOR NOW.
I WANNA ASK KATHY JONES TO COME UP.
UM, TODAY IS KATHY'S LAST MEETING YOU ALL, AND IT MAKES ME VERY SAD.
UM, AND SHE FILLED OUT A CARD.
I WAS LIKE, WHY DO WE HAVE A CARD FROM KATHY JONES? WHO IS THAT? BECAUSE I HAVE AN IMPORTANT, UM, PERSON TO INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO.
THIS IS MY, MY, UH, REPLACEMENT.
SHE KEEPS SAYING, I, I NEED TO MEET THE COUNCIL.
WHEN CAN I MEET THE COUNCIL? I'M LIKE, I'LL INTRODUCE YOU,
SO SHE, SHE'S BEEN WITH US TWO, THIS IS HER SECOND WEEK NOW, THIRD WEEK, THIRD WEEK NOW.
AND, UM, SHE'S PICKING THINGS UP REALLY GOOD.
AND SHE'S, SHE'S GONNA TRY TO, UM,
[00:40:01]
KEEP US GOING FORWARD.SHE'S WORKING ON THAT 75TH BIRTHDAY PARTY AND THE VETERANS, UM, VIETNAM VETERANS EVENT.
SO SHE'S, SHE'S GONNA KEEP THE BALL ROLLING FOR US WITH COMMUNITY RELATIONS.
KATHY, WE, WE JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU AND I DON'T KNOW, COUNCIL, I, IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANY, ANY WORDS TO KATHY, THE JEWEL OF DESOTO.
UM, I, I'M, I'M GONNA SAVE MY COMMENTS, UH, FOR HER PARTY, BUT I DID WANNA ANNOUNCE THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY, UM, WE WILL BE HAVING A BIG RETIREMENT PARTY FOR, UH, MS. JONES ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29TH, FROM TWO TO 4:00 PM OVER IN THE BLUE BONNIE ROOM.
SO IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE, PLEASE COME OUT THAT DAY TO SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR OUR JEWEL, MS. KATHY JONES.
WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU SO MUCH, KATHY, COUNCIL, IF Y'ALL WANNA HAVE ANY QUICK REMARKS, PLEASE FEEL FREE.
AND SO MY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO MS. KATHY JONES WAS, SO WHERE THE CHIEF IS SITTING BACK THERE, THERE USED TO BE THIS LARGE TRIPOD IN A CAMERA
AND SO THAT WAS MY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO KATHY.
BUT THEN YOU WOULD SEE KATHY SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND THEN YOU WOULD SEE CA YOU WOULD SEE KATHY AT THE LIBRARY.
YOU WOULD SEE KATHY OVER AT THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
YOU WOULD SEE KATHY, YOU KNOW, WITH WITH, I DON'T KNOW, A BASKET OVER HER HEAD.
YOU WOULD SEE KATHY JUST DOING EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE IN THIS CITY.
AND IT WAS LIKE, HOW DOES THIS LADY DO? HOW DOES SHE DO ONE THING? AND SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE ARTS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, CARRYING IT FORWARD, CARRYING OUR ORAL HISTORY FORWARD.
UM, SO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CITY OF DESOTO FROM THE BOOK, THE ENCYCLOPEDIA, TALK TO MISS KATHY BEFORE SHE GETS OUTTA HERE.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, GIVE YOU YOUR FLOWERS HERE NOW, THEN LATER AS WELL.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THIS CITY.
AND, AND, AND SHE, SHE, SHE'S FROM HERE, LIKE FROM WAY BACK WHEN TO LIKE, RIGHT NOW TO SODA HIGH SCHOOL.
1932 IS AMAZING TO SEE AGE MYSELF.
SO THANK YOU BIG HUGS FROM LIKE RIGHT HERE, LIKE RIGHT NOW.
BUT YOU KNOW, THAT MIDNIGHT COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT, THAT WAS, THAT REMINDED ME WHY I NEED TO RETIRE.
I'LL BE WATCHING YOU AND I'LL COME AND VOLUNTEER WHENEVER I CAN.
COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM HAD SOMETHING TO SAY TO YOU.
KATHY, I'M SORRY I WON'T TAKE LONG BECAUSE WE'RE NEIGHBORS.
I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR BEING ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVOCATE FOR DESOTO VETERANS THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.
LIKE EVERY DESOTO VETERAN EVENT, THE REASON WHY IT'S SO SUCCESSFUL, I DON'T KNOW WHO ALL WENT TO THAT BALL LAST YEAR, BUT, OR JUST ANYTHING.
UM, IT IS BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF THE GREATNESS AND THE HARD WORK OF KATHY JONES, YOU ARE AMAZING.
EVEN WITH DYNAMIC DESOTO, I MEAN, UH, DIANE AND DIALOGUE, YOU ARE AMAZING.
AND, UM, YOU, YOUR PRESENCE WILL BE THERE.
WELL, I'M KAYLA'S ALREADY WORKING ON, UM, OUR, UH, VIETNAM VETS DAY ON THE 28TH.
WE'RE NOT GONNA LET THE BALL DROP.
WAIT, MAYOR PRO TIM HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.
HEY, I, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
I CAN'T EVEN SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BEEN TO DE SOTO.
WE APPRECIATE YOU GETTING YOUR REPLACEMENT.
BUT WHAT ELSE I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO DO IS WRITE THAT BOOK.
'CAUSE ALL THAT KNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE, WE NEED YOU TO SHARE THAT AND PASS THAT ON WITH US.
YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE A WEALTH OF EVERYTHING ABOUT DESOTO THAT WE NEED TO CAPTURE.
SO WHEN YOU GET TIRED AND YOU, I MEAN, WHEN YOU TIRED OF RESTING, YOU KNOW, PUT SOME NOTES TOGETHER SO WE CAN, WE CAN THANK YOU.
I I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE THAT HAS ANY DESOTO HISTORY IN IT IS THAT DESOTO HISTORY BOOK.
AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW ACTUALLY WORKED ON THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE MY PICTURE IN IT A JILL TIMES BECAUSE SHE STUCK IT IN THERE.
BUT SHE, SHE KIND OF FOSTERED MY LOVE FOR OUR HISTORY, SO THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
KIND OF CARRYING ON HER FOOTSTEPS.
AT THIS TIME WE HAVE NO OTHER ITEMS OF THE COMMUNITY.
MAYOR MADAM MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO INTERJECT SOMETHING, AND I HATE TO COME IN AT THE END LIKE THIS, BUT I KNOW THAT, UM, LAST NIGHT THAT, UM, THE, UH, COUNCILMAN BYRD, MYSELF AND COUNCILWOMAN CHISHOLM AS WELL AS YOURSELF, WE WERE, UH, RECOGNIZED AS RECEIVING OUR CERTIFICATION FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICER.
SO I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO BRING THAT FORTH AGAIN.
UH, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BEING CERTIFIED.
AT THIS TIME, MS. THOMAS, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[D. CITIZEN APPEARANCES]
MOVING TO OUR CITIZEN APPEARANCES, THE CITY COUNCIL INVITES CITIZENS TO[00:45:01]
ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON ANY TOPIC NOT ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING.CITIZENS WISHING TO SPEAK SHOULD COMPLETE A CITIZEN COMMENT CARD AND PRESENT IT TO THE CITY SECRETARY OR RETURN TO THE AMBASSADOR TABLE PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE CITY COUNCIL CANNOT TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
HOWEVER, YOUR CONCERNS MAY BE ADDRESSED BY CITY STAFF PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA OR RESPONDED TO BY SOME OTHER COURSE.
ATTENDEES MAY SPEAK ON ANY ITEM LISTED ON THE AGENDA DURING THAT PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
HOWEVER, FOR TOPICS NOT SCHEDULED, ATTENDEES WILL SPEAK DURING CITIZEN APPEARANCES.
THE STANDARD TIME LIMIT IS THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER AND MAY BE MODIFIED AT THE MAYOR'S DISCRETION TO MAINTAIN AN EFFICIENT FLOW OF THE MEETING.
COMMENT CARDS RELATED TO SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ARE DUE PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF AN AGENDA ITEM.
HOWEVER, COMMENT CARDS RELATED TO THE CITIZEN APPEARANCES PORTION OF THE AGENDA MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE AMBASSADOR TABLE PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING.
AND I DO HAVE ONE, MR. SCOTT MCDONALD.
MR. MCDONALD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE ONLY FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
SCOTT MCDONALD, CITY OF DESOTO.
I'M BACK TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE CHARACTER CODE.
LAST MEETING I TALKED ABOUT THE NONCONFORMING USES THAT WILL OCCUR WHEN THIS CODE IS IMPOSED ON OVER 400 PROPERTIES.
TONIGHT I WANNA SPEAK ABOUT DENSITY.
MULTIFAMILY, HIGH DENSITY MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS ARE ALLOWED IN FOUR OF THE FIVE ZONES UNDER THIS CHARACTER CODE.
NOW, GIVEN THE DEMAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE VIBRANCY OF THE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING MARKET AND THE SHORTAGE OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IN DESOTO, IT IS PREDICTABLE THAT MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS WILL BE RIGHT OUT OF THE BLOCK IF, IF AND WHEN THIS IS IMPOSED.
IN ADDITION, POPULATION DENSITY IS NECESSARY FOR ANY OF THE RETAIL OR OTHER USES.
THE CHARACTER CODE DOES NOT SPECIFY ANY DENSITY REQUIREMENTS OR LIMITATIONS, NONE WHATSOEVER.
CURRENTLY, DESOTO PERMITS NOT MORE THAN 18 UNITS TO THE ACRE IN MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS UNDER THE CHARACTER CODE, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT YOU COULD SEE 90 UNITS TO THE ACRE IF THEY CAN GET IT ON A SITE.
THE ONLY LIMITATION ON DENSITY WILL BE PARKING.
HOW MANY PARKING SPACES CAN THEY PUT IN THE ONSITE GARAGE? SO WHILE 90 UNITS TO THE ACRE IS PROBABLY NOT LIKELY, 60 IS VERY LIKELY.
THE CHARACTER CODE SAYS NOTHING AT ALL ABOUT THE SIZE OF UNITS.
THEY COULD BE AS SMALL AS THE DEVELOPER WANTS AND UNITS ARE GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER IN THE INDUSTRY.
YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS.
IF YOU THINK YOU WILL GET QUALITY LUXURY PRODUCT FROM THIS, YOU'RE FOOLING YOURSELF.
THE CODE ONLY REQUIRES ONE PARKING SPACE PER DWELLING UNIT, NOT ONE SPACE PER BEDROOM.
THIS MAY RESULT IN A SHORTAGE OF PARKING.
IF THERE'S DWELLING UNITS THAT ARE OCCUPIED BY MORE THAN ONE PERSON, WHERE WILL THE PARKING BE FOR ADDITIONAL RESIDENTS AND GUESTS? KEEP IN MIND, MULTI-FAMILY USE IS GENERALLY YOUR NET USERS OF CITY SERVICES AND DO NOT YIELD ANY NET SAVINGS TO THE CITY.
IF WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL WANTS IS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A VERY SMALL AREA, THIS IS THE WAY TO GO.
AND ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL CARDS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK? THERE ARE, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, GEORGETTE PERRY FLANAGAN, I HAVE LISTED CODE ENFORCEMENT AND I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, IS THAT FOR, UH, ISSUE OR THE CHARACTER CODE SEPARATE.
GEORGETTE PERRY FLANAGAN? YES, MA'AM.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE FOR THE RECORD.
AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
GEORGETTE PERRY FLANAGAN, CITY OF DESOTO.
UM, MY CONCERN IS THE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
UM, RECENTLY I RECEIVED A CITATION FOR NOT HAVING MY HOUSE NUMBERS LISTED ON MY PROPERTY.
UM, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T KNOW, UH, WOULD RESULT IN RECEIVING A FINE FOR IT.
I'VE BEEN IN MY HOME FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I RECEIVED SUCH CITATION WHEN I CAME TO COURT TO ADDRESS IT WITH THE ATTORNEY, UH, TO MY, UM, NOT KNOWING
[00:50:01]
THAT I WAS ONLY GONNA BE GIVEN 30 DAYS.I DID ADVISE THE ATTORNEY AT THAT TIME THAT I NEEDED MORE TIME TO PAY THAT FINE.
AND 30 DAYS DUE TO MY SITUATION OF JUST RETIRING, NOT HAVING MY BENEFITS IN THAT IT PUT ME IN A BIND.
AND RIGHT NOW I CAME DOWN AND PAID IT, BUT STILL NOW RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTIFICATION TO COME TO COURT AGAIN TO PAY THE REMAINING BALANCE.
AND IT SEEMS AS IF A PERSON HAS BEEN IN THEIR HOME FOR OVER 20 YEARS, THAT THERE WOULD'VE BEEN SOME LENIENCY, UH, BY THE ATTORNEY TO GIVE ME MORE THAN JUST 30 DAYS TO PAY $280.
SO AS A RECENT SENIOR, THE HARDSHIP THAT THIS COULD PLACE ON AN INDIVIDUAL SEEMS THAT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT UNFAIR, A LITTLE BIT NOT, UH, CONSIDERING THE TIME THAT I ASKED FOR, UM, TO PAY THE FINE.
AND I KNOW IF IT'S IMPACTED ME AS IT DID WITH A HARDSHIP, THEN I'M JUST CONCERNED WITH OTHER SENIORS THAT MIGHT EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING WHO'S BEEN IN THEIR HOME FOR THAT MANY YEARS AND NOT RECEIVING ANY CITATIONS OF ANY KIND REGARDING MY LOAN OR, UM, MY ADDRESS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO, UM, TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOUR FINANCES ARE IN ORDER, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT WAS REALLY UNFAIR.
BERNADINE HARRISON, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED.
I THOUGHT IT USED TO BE FIVE MINUTES.
NOW YOU, NO MA'AM, IT'S THREE.
DID IT NOT? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS BERNADINE HARRISON.
I LIVE AT 10 30 NORTH WESTMORELAND ROAD HERE IN DESOTO.
MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.
I'M GONNA, I I'VE WRITTEN IT OUT SO I CAN SAY WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME.
I THOUGHT IT WAS FIVE I NINE FIVES, THREE.
I COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE APATHETIC AND VERY CAVALIER MANNER IN WHICH THE SODA CO CODE ENFORCEMENTS HANDLES DISAGREEMENTS.
I'M EXCEEDINGLY TIRED OF BEING NICKLED AND DIME TO DEATH.
I HAVE SIX PROPERTIES OUT HERE AND IT COSTS ME A PRETTY GOOD DIME JUST TO PAY THE TAXES.
WE HAVE THE HIGHEST TAXES IN THE AREA.
OKAY? MONEY, A MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE'RE UNDER CONSERVATIVE SHIP.
WHAT I'VE NOTICED, NOTHING SEEMS TO IMPROVE IN DESOTO.
WHEN I WENT TO THE POLLS, I ALWAYS GO, THERE'VE BEEN BLACK PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT RIGHT? I ALWAYS GO, PEOPLE DON'T GO.
THEY FIGURED OUT THEY'RE NOT, THERE'RE NOT GONNA BE ANY CHANGES.
SO MAKING A LONG STORY SHORT, I RECEIVED A CITATION.
I TRIED TO CORRECT THE MATTER.
LATER I RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICE SAYING THAT THE, THEY'VE GONNA FILE A LIEN AGAINST MY PROPERTY.
THE NOTICE WAS VERY UNCLEAR, VERY AMBIGUOUS.
IT DIDN'T SAY EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS THAT THEY NEEDED TAKEN CARE OF.
I HAD A HANDYMAN GO OUT AND CUT DOWN THE TREE.
THE ISSUE THAT I THOUGHT WAS AT HAND, THAT WAS NOT WHAT THEY WERE WANTING.
SO I WENT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE LADY TOLD ME, OKAY, WELL MA'AM, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA CUT AWAY THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
BUT THE, UM, WHO IS IT? THE GENTLEMAN THAT CUT DOWN THE TREE.
I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, WHAT ABOUT THE $125 THAT I PAID? I TRIED TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH.
I DID WHAT YOU ASKED ME TO DO.
YOUR NOTICES ARE CONCE EXCEEDINGLY UNCLEAR.
WHAT YOU DID IS YOU TRIED TO CHARGE HIM FOR, UH, WHAT IS IT, A SECURITY SYSTEM.
HE TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR SOME ITEM THAT WAS FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
SOMEONE IS NOT DOING THEIR HOMEWORK IN TERMS OF CODE, CODE ENFORCEMENT.
AND I'M GETTING A LITTLE TIRED OF IT.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO, ONE LADY SENT ME A NOTICE IN THE MAIL SAYING THAT WANTED TO START A PETITION.
SHE SENT IT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT SHE DOESN'T REALIZE PEOPLE ARE TIRED.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA START ANOTHER PETITION TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMEONE TO SERIOUSLY ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF CORRECTING WHAT GOES ON IN CODE ENFORCEMENT.
NOW I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO DOWN AND PAY THAT.
I WANNA REFINANCE ONE OF THESE PLACES IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE? THIS MATTER SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE HEARD BY AN INDEPENDENT TRIBU TRIBUNAL.
YOU CAN'T JUST GO PUTTING LIENS ON PEOPLE'S PROPERTY BASED ON WHAT YOU THINK.
I HAVE THE RIGHT TO FACE MY ACCUSER.
I PAID WHAT I THOUGHT I SHOULD PAY.
IF YOU NOTICE, MS. HARRISON, THAT CONCLUDES YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL CARDS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK.
UH, WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE
[E. CONSENT AGENDA Items are listed on the Consent Agenda by the City Manager and are recommended to the City Council for single vote approval. An item( s) may be removed from the Consent Agenda for separate vote at the request of a Councilmember, the Mayor, or the City Manager. ]
AGENDA.NEXT WE MOVE INTO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[00:55:01]
ITEMS ARE LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BY THE CITY MANAGER AND ARE RECOMMENDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR SINGLE VOTE APPROVAL.AN ITEM MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE VOTE AT THE REQUEST OF A COUNCIL MEMBER, THE MAYOR, OR THE CITY MANAGER.
FIRST, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR JANUARY 16TH, 2024, CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT OF ARTHUR HOBBS TO VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
RECOGNITION OF PROCLAMATION HONORING NATIONAL CAREGIVER DAY.
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION AND AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.
CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A FACADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT AGREEMENT FOR TWO 30 EAST BELTLINE ROAD WITH MIMA OILS LLC IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DESOTO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD.
CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH ELLIOT ELECTRIC ELECTRIC SUPPLY, INC.
IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $973,294 AND 12 CENTS FOR THE PRE-PURCHASE OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE WESTMORELAND PUMP STATION REHABILITATION PROJECT.
AND CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH MECHANICAL PARTNERS INC.
FOR THE REPAIR OF THE EAST TOWN CENTER RESTROOMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,622.
UTILIZING CHOICE PARTNERS CONTRACT NUMBER TWO THREE SLASH 0 3 9 MR DASH ZERO SIX.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM G HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE AGENDA AND WILL COME BACK AT A LATER DATE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY ITEMS REQUESTED BE PULLED? MM-HMM.
WELL JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND ITEM C RELATED TO ATMOS ENERGY.
SO COULD YOU JUST KIND OF GIVE A HIGH LEVEL OF THAT? GO AHEAD.
RAPHAEL, LET'S ASK YOU A GOOD QUESTION.
SO YOU, YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT WE, UH, COUNCIL APPROVED THIS ITEM A FEW MONTHS AGO.
AND AS A PART OF THAT PROCESS, UH, THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO PU PUBLISH A NOTICE IN THE FOLKS DAILY NEWSPAPER, UH, FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THAT NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED, BUT IT WAS PUBLISHED SUBSEQUENT TO THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
SO BASED ON CONVERSATION WITH MS. NEELY FROM ATMOS, THE THOUGHT WAS TO, TO MAKE THIS RIGHT.
SINCE THE, SINCE THE NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED AND ADVERTISED FOR THE C FOR THE PROPER AMOUNT OF TIME, THEY REQUESTED THAT COUNSEL JUST REAPPROVED THE, UH, REAPPROVE THE ORDINANCE, REAPPROVE THE AGREEMENT AGAIN.
SO AND SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING, REAPPROVE THE AGREEMENT SO THAT THEY CAN BE FILED WITH, UH, PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.
AND, AND COULD YOU JUST DO A LITTLE HIGH LEVEL OF WHAT THE AGREEMENT IS ON SURE.
THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT? SURE.
SO THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT IS BASICALLY AGREEMENT, UH, THAT, UH, WE HAVE WITH ENCORE, NOT THAT'S NOT ENCORE, BUT ATMOS AND OTHER FRANCHISE UTILITIES LIKE ATMOS AND ENCORE, WHEREBY THEY UTILIZE OUR, UH, RIGHT OF WAY TO INSTALL THEIR EQUIPMENT, WHETHER IT BE, UH, THEIR LINE, THEIR GAS LINES, THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEIR MAINS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT.
AND SO IN RETURN FOR UTILIZING OUR, UH, RIGHT OF WAY, THEY PAY US A FRANCHISE FEE.
AND THAT FRANCHISE FEE IS, UH, NORMALLY 5% OF THEIR GROSS REVENUES.
AND SO WE RECEIVE THAT IN THE FORM OF A CHECK, UH, PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, UM, REGARDING OUR CONSENT AGENDA, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION MATTER MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED, PULLING ITEM G COMING BACK TO US AT A LATER DATE.
IT'S BEEN MOVED TO APPROVE WITH ITEM G PULLED AND PROPERLY SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TIM.
THERE IS AN ORDINANCE TO BE READ.
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING THE ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION, A TEXAS AND VIRGINIA CORPORATION.
ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE PIPELINES AND EQUIPMENT IN THE CITY OF DESOTO, DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS, FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DELIVERY, SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF GAS IN, OUT OF AND THROUGH SAID CITY FOR ALL PURPOSES, PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF A FEE OR CHARGE FOR THE USE OF THE PUBLIC'S RIGHTS OF WAIVES.
AND PROVIDING THAT THE SUCH FEE SHALL BE IN LIEU OF OTHER FEES AND CHARGES ACCEPTING AT VALIUM TAXES, AND REPEALING ALL PREVIOUS GAS FRANCHISE ORDINANCES.
ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
UM, I WANTED TO SEE IF MR. ARTHUR HOBBES WAS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
WE JUST APPROVED THE CONFIRMATION OF HIS APPOINTMENT TO OUR VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
WE WANNA STILL GIVE HIM, UM, JUST RECOGNIZE HIM AND THANK HIM FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THAT COMMISSION.
AT THIS TIME, MS. THOMAS WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[01:00:01]
HEARING ITEMS,[1. Consider ordering the Planning and Zoning Commission to consider the rezoning of all properties within the proposed Hampton Road Character Code zoning area (generally located along Hampton Road between Belt Line and Pleasant Run Roads) to the proposed Hampton Road Character Code zoning districts (i.e. Urban Center (UC), Urban General (UG), Neighborhood Services (NS), Urban Neighborhood (UN) and Neighborhood Transition (NT))]
WE MOVE TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA.FIRST, WE HAVE CONSIDER ORDERING THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION TO CONSIDER THE REZONING OF ALL PROPERTIES WITHIN THE PROPOSED HAMPTON ROAD CHARACTER CODE ZONING AREA, GENERALLY LOCATED ALONG HAMPTON ROAD, BETWEEN BELTLINE AND PLEASANT RUN ROADS TO THE PROPOSED HAMPTON ROAD CHARACTER CODE ZONING DISTRICTS IE URBAN CENTER, URBAN GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES, URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSITION.
MAKING THE PRESENTATION IS CHARLES BREWER, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR, MAYOR, AND COUNSEL ON FEBRUARY 13TH, 2024.
A PUBLIC HEARING WAS CONDUCTED BEFORE THE CITY'S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION IN ORDER TO CONSIDER MAKING A RECOMMENDATION ON THE PROPOSED HAMPTON ROAD CHARACTER CODE ZONING REGULATIONS FOLLOWING THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
A MOTION PREVAILED BY A VOTE OF FIVE TO ONE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL TO YOUR COUNCIL.
DURING LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL'S WORKSHOP MEETING THE CITY'S CONSULTANTS SUBMITTED THE PROPOSED HAMPTON ROAD CHARACTER CODE REGULATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION.
ON MARCH THE FIFTH, A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR THE CITY COUNCIL IN ORDER TO FORMALLY CONSIDER AMENDING THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE TO ADD THE NEW HAMPTON ROAD CHARACTER CODE ZONING REGULATIONS.
IN ORDER TO MOVE THE CITY CLOSEST TO ITS DESIRE TO CREATE A MIXED USE DESTINATION LOCATION WITHIN THE CITY.
A FORMAL ACTION IS NOW REQUIRED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE IS WHERE AS SECTION 10 OF THE CITY'S ZONING ORDINANCE STATES.
THE CITY COUNCIL FROM TIME TO TIME AFTER RECEIVING A FINAL REPORT THEREOF BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND AFTER PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED BY LAW, AMEND, SUPPLEMENT, OR CHANGED THE REGULATIONS HEREIN PROVIDED ARE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE ZONING DISTRICT SPECIFIED ON THE ZONING MAP.
ANY ORDINANCE, REGULATIONS OR ZONING DISTRICT BOUNDARY AMENDED MAY BE ONE ORDERED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OR TWO BE INITIATED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
R THREE BE REQUESTED BY THE OWNER OF THE REAL PROPERTY OR THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THAT PROPERTY IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH OFFICIALLY ORDERING FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF REZONING ALL PROPERTIES WITHIN THE PROPOSED HAMPTON ROAD CHARACTER CODE ZONING AREA.
AN AGENDA ITEM HAS BEEN PLACED ON YOUR MEETING AGENDA TONIGHT.
STAFF WILL BEGIN THE PUBLIC HEARING NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT AND ASSOCIATION WITH THIS ZONING CHANGE PROCESS.
A NOTICE WILL BE PUBLICIZED IN THE CITY'S PAPER GENERAL, SO WILL BE PUBLICIZED IN THE PAPERS, THE CITY'S PAPER, GENERAL CIRCULATION FOCUSED DAILY NEWS.
AND WE'LL BEGIN THE PROCESS TO MAIL OUT OVER 1,131 NOTICES.
AND FOUR OF THOSE NOTICES WILL BE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THIS CHARACTER BASE ZONE AREA.
AND THE OTHER 727 WILL BE WITHIN THAT 200 AND 400 FOOT DISTANCE.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL BY MOTION ORDER FOR THE CONSIDERATION THE REZONING OF ALL PROPERTIES WITHIN THE PROPOSED HAMPTON ROAD CHARACTER CODE ZONING AREA.
IF THE AGENDA ITEMS IS APPROVED, THE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WILL BE CONDUCTED ON MARCH 26TH, 2024, AND THE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND THE CONSIDERATION OF THE REQUIRED ORDINANCE WILL COULD BE CONDUCTED ON APRIL THE SECOND.
BEFORE YOUR COUNCIL, I'LL ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE.
COUNSEL, ARE THERE QUESTIONS? YES.
SO DURING THE CITIZEN COMMENTS, UM, THE COMMENTS WERE FOCUSED ON DIRECTED TOWARDS PARKING.
AND SO, UH, THE LACK OF, THE LACK OF SPECIFIC SPECIFICITY RELATED TO PARKING.
AND SO COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT AS IT RELATES TO THE, THE CHARACTER CODE AS PRESENTED? I CAN, THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
OKAY, THEN LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION SINCE WE'RE JUST ORDERING THIS.
SO TONIGHT WE'RE SAYING, YES, WE WANT TO, WE BRING US FORWARD AS A, AS A PUBLIC HEARING VERSUS NOT.
AND SO WHERE, WHERE DO I HAVE SOME, ANY LEEWAY TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING IS NOTHING.
'CAUSE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE BASICALLY ORDERING THE CITY THE, UM, PLANNING AND ZONING TO, TO GET TO CONSIDER IT.
AND THEN THE PLANNING AND ZONING WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU, YOU KNOW, FOR OR AGAINST.
SO REALLY, YOUR, YOUR CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE AROUND WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT'S BEEN PRESENTED OR, OR NOT.
WHEN, WHEN? 'CAUSE 'CAUSE NORMALLY WHAT YOU SEE IS A REZONING BY AN APPLICANT.
THIS IS A SELF-INITIATED REZONING BY
[01:05:01]
WE'RE THE APPLICANT.SO YOU'RE, WE'RE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR EVER A YEAR, A MONTH, BUT WE'VE NEVER HAD THE OFFICIAL ACTION AND THERE'S NO SENSE TAKING THE ACTION UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY GET THE CHARACTER CODE IN FRONT OF YOU, WHICH YOU WERE PRESENTED WITH LAST NIGHT.
I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS AND, AND, AND NOTE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THOSE REGULATIONS COME TO YOU MARCH THE FIFTH.
YOU CAN ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU WANT ON MARCH THE FIFTH.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, THANK YOU MAYOR.
UM, AT THIS POINT, I KNOW WHAT THEY JUST SAID AND THAT'S GOOD.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT PART 'CAUSE I WAS GONNA ASK SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT.
BUT I DO WANT TO KNOW THE THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY SAID LAST NIGHT TO BRING BACK THOSE WON'T BE BROUGHT BACK UNTIL MARCH 5TH.
AND THEN THE 26TH IS ACTUALLY P AND Z.
IF YOU GIVE THE ORDER TO PROCEED FORWARD, WE WILL START WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.
AND THAT FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THAT MASSIVE REZONING.
FIRST LEVEL IS BEFORE THE PNZ, WHICH IS THE MARCH 26TH.
AND, UH, BEFORE, UH, OUR, OUR PRIOR CITY MANAGER LEFT, UH, WE HAD BEEN DIRECTED TO BRING IT TO YOU ON APRIL THE SECOND.
BUT TRULY YOU CAN CONTROL ALL OF THE DATES.
AND OUR PLAN TO BRING IT FORWARD IS MARCH 26TH FOR PNZ, APRIL THE SECOND.
SO, BUT WHAT WAS THE MARCH 5TH DATE? I'M SORRY? THE CHARACTER CODE, YOU WERE GIVEN IT LAST NIGHT FOR DISCUSSION IN ADVANCE REVIEW.
PRIOR TO JUST SEEING IT ON AGENDA FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE YOUR COMMISSION IS ON MARCH THE FIFTH.
IT'S ALREADY GONE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, AT WHICH TIME THEY APPROVED MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU BY FIVE TO ONE VOTE.
SO EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID LAST NIGHT AS FAR AS WHAT WAS NEEDED TO COME BACK, WE'LL COME BACK ON MARCH 5TH.
AND SO, JUST TO CLARIFY, AND I DO SEE YOUR LIGHT COUNCILWOMAN CHISHOLM, JUST TO CLARIFY, WE'RE DEALING WITH TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS. SO WE HAVE THE CHARACTER BASED CODE, THE TEXT AMENDMENT CORRECT IS CORRECT.
AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? AND THEN WE HAVE THE ACTUAL ZONING.
SO WE'RE DEALING WITH TWO DIFFERENT PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT ARE GOING BACK AND FORTH IT.
AND THE, THEY TYPICALLY, HOW OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS GO, RIGHT.
WE SEE IT AND THEN IT GOES TO P AND Z AND THEN IT, THEY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
WE ARE JUST BATTING THAT BALL BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THE CHARACTER BASED CODE THAT HAS TO BE IN PLACE AND THE ZONING.
SO THAT'S WHY IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING.
'CAUSE WE'RE WORKING WITH TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT ARE KIND OF GOING BACK AND FORTH IN A, IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
SO IN THE, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
SO THIS IS TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL CURRENT CODE? MM-HMM.
NOW THIS, THIS, AGAIN, THIS, THIS SLIDE IS PROBABLY MISLEADING.
IT'S, WELL, IT'S, IT'S THE TRUTH.
HOWEVER, THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING REGARDING THE TEXT AMENDMENT AND THE REZONING OKAY.
AROUND THE CHARACTER BASED CODE
AND COUNCILMAN PARKER, I'M SORRY, JUST TO GIVE SOME A LITTLE CLARITY.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER PARK OF SOME CITIES RUN THIS PARALLEL.
SO THE CHICKEN AND THE EGG SITUATION.
MAYOR, YOU, YOU, YOU CLARIFIED WHAT I WAS ASKED GOING TO ASK.
COUNCIL, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BEFORE WE CALL FOR, IS THERE A, IS THERE A, OR THERE'S NO ORDINANCE HERE.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE CALL FOR A VOTE? YES.
SO, UM, I KNOW WE'VE HAD SO MANY MEETINGS AND I KNOW THE MOST RECENT ONE INVOLVED A LOT OF OUR BUSINESS OWNERS ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
SO THIS IS MY QUESTION RELATED, RELATED TO, TO, TO, TO WHAT WE SAW LAST NIGHT, WHAT WE WERE PRESENTED LAST NIGHT, WHICH IS THE CHARACTER BASED CODE, CHARACTER BASED REGULATIONS, ZONING, REGULATIONS.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE THE, HAS THAT BEEN IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY AS IT'S AS THIS DRAFT, FINAL DRAFT VERSION? WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ANSWER? YES, SIR.
IT'S, REMEMBER YOU HAD, YOU'VE HAD JOINT WORKSHOPS WITH THE PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION TO WHERE, UH, HALF BROUGHT YOU A PRESENTATION.
YOU, WE'VE HAD THOSE THREE MEETINGS ON FEBRUARY 1ST, SECOND, AND THIRD WHEN THE DRAFT DOCUMENT REALLY GOT GENERATED.
WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH WE ADVERTISED IN THE PAPERS, CITY'S, UH, GENERAL PAPER, UH, BEFORE THE PNZ ON, ON MARCH THE 19TH, EXCUSE ME, FEBRUARY THE 13TH.
[01:10:01]
IT LAST NIGHT.IT WAS ADVERTISED, NOT ADVERTISED.
IT WAS PLACED ON THE AGENDA TO BE DISCUSSED.
THE NEXT TIME IT'S GONNA COME UP AGAIN IS GOING TO BE, UM, MARCH THE FIFTH.
WE'RE KEEPING POSTER BOARDS OUT IN THE LOBBY.
UH, I DID NOTICE IF YOU NOTICE THOSE WHEN YOU CAME IN.
BUT THOSE WILL REMAIN THERE UP UNTIL THE TIME, UM, THE PROCESS IS COMPLETED OR ENDED.
I WAS JUST GONNA, THAT'S, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTERJECT? I WAS, I WAS JUST GONNA ADD TO THAT, UM, AS THE, UM, LIAISON FOR, FOR PNZ, I DO KNOW IN ADDITION TO THAT, MR. UM, BREWER THAT HALF AN ASSOCIATES ACTUALLY CAME UP HERE AND SAT TWO OR THREE DAYS AND THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 80 PEOPLE, RESIDENTS THAT CAME IN AND GAVE THEIR INPUT INTO THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION.
THAT WAS THE, YEAH, FEBRUARY 1ST, SECOND, THIRD, THAT WEEKEND ON FEBRUARY 2ND, THIRD MM-HMM.
WELL, TO THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE, THAT QUARTER AREA 200 AND 400.
UNDERSTANDING OUR ENGAGEMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
CAN I, CAN I GO? I HAVE MY, SO I JUST WANTED TO, I'M SORRY.
I, I, I'VE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY.
I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE I GOT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE GREEN CARD THAT WENT OUT.
I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 10 DAYS IN BETWEEN THE TIME OF THE EVENT AND, AND THIS, SO FOR THE NEXT PLANNING AND ZONING, WILL THERE BE MORE TIME LAG TO GO? WILL THERE BE ANOTHER NOTIFICATION THAT GO OUT TO THOSE SAME RESIDENTS, LET'S SAY THAT, OR THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS, THOSE THAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF TOWN OR GOT THE CARD LATE AND, AND COULDN'T HAVE, AND COULDN'T MAKE THE THREE DAYS THAT HALF WAS HERE, WHICH WAS ALSO DURING THE DAY, NOT THAT CONVENIENT FOR A BUSINESS OWNER WHO'S TRYING TO RUN A BUSINESS.
SO I JUST WANNA KNOW, LIKE FOR THE NEXT PLANNING AND ZONING CASE, WILL THERE BE A NOTIFICATION AND WILL IT BE, WILL IT GO OUT IN A REASONABLE, MORE, MORE REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME? RIGHT.
AND THEN THE SECOND PART TO THAT IS, WILL THERE BE SIGNS IN THE STREETS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE, THE ZONING CASE OR ANYTHING? ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN WHAT YOU'VE DONE TODAY? IF YOU APPROVE THIS ORDER TO PROCEED, MY STAFF IS READY AT THIS POINT TO PROPERLY HAVE THE REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES AT THE POST OFFICE NEXT WEEK.
AGAIN, THAT'S THE REQUIREMENT BY THE LETTER.
WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT PUBLICIZING IN THE PAPER TWO TO THREE TIMES, DEPENDING ON THE COST.
NO, THIS REQUIREMENT, SINCE IT'S A TEXT AMENDMENT, DOES NOT REQUIRE US POSTING OF SIGNS ON INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES.
AND THUS, NO, WE DON'T HAVE THE PLAN RIGHT NOW TO PUT A BANNER UP OR ANYTHING TO GIVE NOTICE OF A TEXT AMENDMENT.
I JUST HAD ONE OTHER QUICK QUESTION.
UM, THAT COUNTS ABOUT, IF I COUNTED IT CORRECTLY.
THERE'S ABOUT FIVE OR SIX MEETINGS, UM, ROUGHLY, UM, IN EACH OF THOSE, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE PLANNING AND ZONING HAD SOME, UH, OPPOSITION, UH, WILL WE ACTUALLY GET TO SEE THOSE 60 OR 80 PEOPLE'S COMMENTS OR FEEDBACK? WILL WE GET THAT INFORMATION AT SOME POINT BEFORE MARCH 5TH? WHAT WENT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING? GETTING OFF THE TOPIC, BUT I'LL GO AND TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THERE WAS ONLY TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT ATTENDED THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
ONE WAS A RESIDENT OF DUNCANVILLE, THE OTHER WAS A, A RESIDENT WHO, A LADY WHO DIDN'T LIVE IN THE CITY, BUT SHE OWNED A, A, A HOUSE.
WE HAD NOT GOTTEN ANY, UH, WE HAVEN'T FORMALLY, WE SENT OUT THE LETTERS.
WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY LETTERS BACK IN SUPPORT OF, OR IN OPPOSITION OF, SO AS FAR AS THE P AND Z, THERE WAS NOT A, IT WAS A FIVE TO ONE VOTE.
IT WASN'T NEGATIVE ON WHAT WAS PRESENTED.
I'M SAYING YOU SAID THAT AT THE THREE MEETINGS FEBRUARY 1ST, SECOND, AND THIRD, THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE.
THEY HAD COMMENTS, THEY HAD FEEDBACK.
THE PEOPLE THAT WERE AT THESE DIFFERENT VARIOUS MEETINGS, WILL WE GET THAT COMMENT? WILL WE GET THAT FEEDBACK, IS REALLY WHAT I'M ASKING? NO, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE CONSULTANTS, UH, IT WAS NOT A RECORDED MEETING.
UM, THEY RECEIVED THE INPUT THAT WAS SPOKEN TO THEM.
UH, I DO KNOW I ATTENDED THE ONE ON SATURDAY.
UH, UH, A LOT OF THE INPUT WAS REALLY ABOUT THE ROADWAY DESIGN, TAKING IT FROM A TWO LANE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS TO A ONE LANE, NOT ABOUT THE CHARACTER BASED ZONE ITSELF.
SO, UM, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN.
I I AM, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH, JUST LIKE WITH OTHER ZONING CASES OR
[01:15:01]
THINGS THAT GO OUT, THEY HAVE SIGNAGE ON THE STREET THAT LET PEOPLE KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING COMING, SOME PUBLIC HEARING COMING.WILL THAT OCCUR FOR THIS? SINCE IT IS THE WHOLE ENTIRE STREET? THAT'S WHAT HE'S MENTIONING.
THAT'S FOR THE CHARACTER BASED CODE.
IT IS NOT A LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO PUT THE SIGNAGE ON THE STREET.
BUT FOR THE CHARACTER BASED CODE, WHICH IS THE ITEM ON THE TABLE TONIGHT.
AND WE'LL BRING US BACK THERE, THERE IS NOT A LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR STAFF, THE CITY OR ANYONE TO PUT SIGNAGE ON THE STREET FOR THAT, BUT FOR THE ZONING, YES.
WELL COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD THAT IT'S NOT A LEGAL REQUIREMENT, BUT JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT LEGAL, IT'S NOT MEAN, IT'S NOT PRUDENT.
SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WHAT WE'LL BE DOING FIRST IS BASICALLY A AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE THE CHARACTER CODES IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
NO, WHEN, WHEN WE COME BACK, THAT'S COME TONIGHT.
SO THAT THIS, THE ZONING, YEAH.
WE'RE NOT REZONING ANYTHING AT THAT POINT.
WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO ACTUALLY REZONING THE PROPERTIES, I THINK THAT'S THE POINT WHERE WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE DO FOR NOTIFICATION.
AND, AND, AND, AND, BUT THE FIRST STEP IS NOT THE ACTUAL REZONING, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST APPLYING THE NEW CODE TO CARE OF THE CODE TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
IT'S ADDING THE VERBIAGE INTO WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
SO IF I OPEN UP THE DOCUMENT NOW, THE VERBIAGE THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING IS NOT IN THERE.
THE A TEXT AMENDMENT MEANS WE'RE AMENDING THE DOCUMENT TO ADD THAT TEXT.
SO TO PUT A SIGN ON THE STREET, WHAT WOULD IT SAY? RIGHT.
THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S THE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING IN TERMS OF IT NOT BEING A REQUIREMENT BECAUSE IT'S, WE'RE JUST AMENDING THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT.
THEN ONCE WE DO THAT, THEN WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE STEPS THAT WOULD REQUIRE US AND WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE PRUDENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SIGNAGE ON THE STREET.
THERE'S AWARENESS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
BECAUSE THE ZONING, THE ZONING IS WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE.
I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCILWOMAN, RAPHAEL? YES.
UM, I KNOW, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE NOTIFICATION AND EVERYTHING, AND I THINK THIS IS MORE SO TO INTERIM CITY MANAGER CAMERON, IF WE HAVE SOME TYPE OF COMMUNICATION ABOUT THIS, I KNOW WE HAVE, SO THAT IT'S NOT CONVOLUTED AS WE'RE GOING STEP, STEP BY STEP, JUST MAKING CERTAIN, I KNOW WE HAVE A WEBSITE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A STORY PUBLISHED OR PR, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT IF WE CAN JUST BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ROBUST IN HOW WE COMMUNICATE THIS, COMMUNICATE THE STEPS.
MY NERVOUSNESS IS JUST ABOUT HOW CONVOLUTED IT IS IT FEELS RIGHT NOW.
ALTHOUGH WE KNOW WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS, BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEARER AND SIMPLER.
AND I THINK THE REQUEST, DR. MARKS, I DO SEE YOUR LIGHTING, YOU'LL BE OUR LAST COMMENT BEFORE WE CALL FOR A, UH, BEFORE WE CALL FOR A MOTION.
UM, I DO THINK, I, I AGREE WITH YOU COUNCILWOMAN RAPHAEL IS IF THERE'S A WAY FOR US, BECAUSE A AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE HERE AND SEE THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION ALL THE TIME AND WE, IT STILL CAN SOMETIMES GO OVER OUR HEADS.
SO A LOT OF TIMES TO LAYMAN IS MM-HMM.
I DO THINK IF WE MAYBE HAVE MORE OF A PICTURESQUE TIMELINE FOR US AND THE COMMUNITY TO FOLLOW MAYBE SOMEWHERE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE, JUST EVEN, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A, A PRETTY SHORT WINDOW IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS IN TERMS OF HOW, HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE HAMPTON ROAD REDEVELOPMENT.
I DO THINK THAT THAT MAY BE, UM, THAT THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT COULD ENHANCE, UH, AND JUST WE CAN USE AS A TOOL AS WE ARE TALKING TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AND THE TIME THAT IT'S HAPPENING IN, I DON'T KNOW WHO, WHO WOULD DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, I'M JUST KIND OF THROWING THAT IDEA OUT THERE, MR. CAMERON.
UM, BUT IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING, WE HAVE SOME ARTISTS, I'M NOT GONNA
WE DO HAVE SOME IN-HOUSE ARTISTS HERE THAT MAYBE COULD HELP US OUT, BUT I WON'T PUT ANYBODY ON THE SPOT.
BUT, UM, JUST GETTING SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP US FURTHER EXPLAIN THE TIMELINE AND WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE TWO THINGS AS THEY'RE KIND OF WORKING IN TANDEM.
I I DO AGREE THAT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, THROUGH YOU TO, UM, COUNCILWOMAN PARKER.
JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UH, ABOUT THE, UH, COMMENTS.
IF YOU WOULD GO TO, UM, THE WEBSITE AND LOOK AT THE PNZ LAST MEETING, YOU'LL BE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PULL THOSE, JUST THOSE TWO.
HOWEVER, THE 75 TO 80 THAT HE SPOKE OF, PERHAPS WHAT WE COULD DO, MR. BREWER, IF YOU'D BE SO KIND, IS TO GO BACK TO HALF AN ASSOCIATES TO ASK IF THEY HAVE ANY TYPE OF DOCUMENTATION AS TO WHAT THOSE PEOPLE SAID AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNSEL.
YEAH, THEY HAVE A, I WOULD IMAGINE THEY HAVE SOMETHING SUMMARIZED, UH, FROM THAT MEETING.
AT THIS TIME, COUNSEL, THANK YOU.
I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION MATTER.
MAY I MAKE A MOTION THAT, UH, WE APPROVE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION TO CONSIDER THE REZONING OF ALL PROPERTIES WITHIN THE PROPOSED HAMPTON ROAD CHARACTER CODE ZONING AREA, GENERALLY LOCATED ALONG HAMPTON ROAD, BETWEEN BELTLINE AND PLEASANT RUN ROADS TWO PROPOSED HAMPTON ROAD CHARACTER CODE ZONING DISTRICTS, THAT'S URBAN CENTER, URBAN GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSITION.
SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY DR.
MARK SECOND BY MAYOR PRO, TIM HUGHES, UH, TO APPROVE AS, AS PRESENTED.
UM, COUNSEL, PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PAD.
[01:20:07]
THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE LAST ITEM ON OUR REGULAR AGENDA.
[2. Consider authorizing the Economic Development Director to negotiate and execute a professional service agreement in the not-to-exceed amount of $85,000 with the Dallas Entrepreneur Center as recommended by the DeSoto Development Corporation]
CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT IN THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $85,000.BUT THE DALLAS ENTREPRENEUR CENTER AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DESOTO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, MAKING THAT PRESENTATION, IS MATT CARLSON, EDC DIRECTOR.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
TOM, IF YOU'LL BRING UP THE, UH, PRESENTATION FOR ME.
WELL, YOU GUYS JUST IMAGINE
UM, WE'RE COMING THROUGH YOU BEFORE, BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
UM, RE RE, UH, REDISCUSSING, IF YOU WILL, A PRESENTATION THAT WAS MADE TO YOU IN NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER 7TH, SPECIFICALLY.
UM, WHEN WE BROUGHT FORWARD A AGREEMENT WITH THE, THE DALLAS ENTREPRENEUR CENTER, UM, IT WAS AT THAT MEETING, A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED AND A REQUEST WAS MADE.
A MOTION WAS MADE TO TABLE THAT UNTIL TONIGHT.
SO, JUST BY WAY OF RECAP, UM, THIS, THIS ITEM CAME FORWARD, UH, AS A PART OF YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE COUNCIL'S STRATEGIC PLAN UNDER THE THRIVING ECONOMY, UH, LEG OF THAT STRATEGIC PLAN.
UH, THIS IS ABSTRACTED FROM YOUR 2021 WINTER RETREAT, BUT IT'S BEEN THAT WAY EVER SINCE.
OBJECTIVE FOUR ASKS FOR US TO CREATE AN ENTREPRENEURIAL FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT, UM, AND FOR THE SUCCESS OF SMALL, MINORITY OWNED, WOMEN OWNED AND HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES.
THE KEY INITIATIVE ON THAT WAS TO INITIATE OR TO PARTNER WITH THE DALLAS ENTREPRENEUR CENTER TO CREATE A VIABLE OPTIONS FOR STARTUPS AND IEG MENTORSHIP.
UM, YOU REMEMBER, ORIGINALLY THESE SERVICES, OR GENERALLY THESE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED AT THE GRO DESOTO MARKETPLACE UNDER A CONTRACT WITH MS. TERRY TOOMEY.
UM, AS WE RE RETHOUGHT OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE GRO DESOTO MARKETPLACE AND LOOK FOR A WAY TO BROADEN OUR OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP ALL SMALL BUSINESSES, NOT JUST THOSE IN THE MARKETPLACE, THE DECK WAS, WAS UNIQUELY POSITIONED, UH, TO HELP US WITH THAT.
THAT CONTRACT WAS TERMINATED IN SEPTEMBER.
UH, WE'D HAD NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS FOR FOUR TO SIX MONTHS WITH THE DECK PRIOR TO THAT.
IN SEPTEMBER, WE BROUGHT, UH, A SERVICE CONTRACT FORWARD TO THE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
THEY ASKED FOR SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE DEVELOP, WITH THE FOLKS FROM THE DECK.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, MR. JEN TONIGHT HERE, UH, AND TARSHA HEARNS, WHO WAS, UH, WITH HIM AS WELL, CAME AND VISITED WITH OUR BOARD, UM, THOROUGHLY VETTED THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THE SERVICES THEY WOULD O OFFER THE SCOPE OF SERVICES, IF YOU WILL, UM, AND APPROVED THAT CONTRACT FOR SERVICES.
THEN AT OUR SEPTEMBER 14TH MEETING, UH, WHICH THEN WE BROUGHT FORWARD TO YOU ON NOVEMBER 7TH, I'VE ASKED, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD AS A, A TRIAD, IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE DESOTO ENTREPRENEUR CENTER AND THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
I'VE ASKED REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL THREE OF THOSE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
SO IF YOU HAVE A QUESTIONS AS TO WHY, WHY THE DECK, OR WHY ARE WE ENTERING INTO THAT, OR WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES THEY ARE, THEY'RE HERE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS IN ADDITION TO ANYTHING THAT I MIGHT OFFER.
IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, AND I'VE WATCHED THE, THE VIDEO FROM THE NOVEMBER, UM, THERE WERE BASICALLY THREE QUESTIONS THAT WERE BEING ASKED.
ONE OF THOSE WAS THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE CONTRACT, UM, THAT WE WERE ENTERING INTO SECOND OF THOSE WITH THE BREADTH OF SERVICES THAT WERE GONNA BE OFFERED.
AND THE LAST ONE WAS, WHO THE DECK SERVICES, WHO DO WE SUPPORT? WHO ARE WE ACTUALLY ENGAGING? UM, I WANT TO RUN THROUGH THE PROPOSED SUMMARY, UH, OR A SUMMARY, IF YOU WILL, OF THE STRUCTURE.
UM, IT IS AN ANNUAL CONTRACT OF $85,000 THAT'S DELIVERED IN SIX MONTH WINDOWS.
EITHER PARTY CAN WITHDRAW FROM THAT CONTRACT ON A SIX MONTH NOTICE AT ANY POINT IN THAT, IN THAT, IN THAT CONTRACT.
UM, IT DOES PROVIDE FOR DEDICATED PERSONNEL.
IT SHARES ACCESS WITH, IT PROVIDES SHARED ACCESS FROM BOTH DESOTO AND THE REDBIRD CENTER FOR THE DECK SERVICES.
UM, THAT PLACE, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED HERE, WILL BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
SO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WILL BECOME OUR OUTREACH PARTNER,
[01:25:01]
UM, ONE LEG OF THAT STOOL, IF YOU WILL.AND THEY'LL BE, AND THE DECK WILL BE HOUSED WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SO THAT THOSE SERVICES ARE OFFERED THERE.
IDEALLY, WE HOPE THAT OUR, OUR BUSINESSES WILL SEE THAT THE CHAMBER IS MUCH MORE THAN MAYBE THEY EVER THOUGHT.
THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO GET TO KNOW THE CHAMBER FOLKS AND OUR CHAMBER GROWS AND IS STRONGER AS A RESULT OF THIS, OF THIS ASSOCIATION.
UM, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK THAN ANYTHING, WE CHOSE THE DECK BECAUSE WHAT WE FACED WITH THE GROW DESOTO MARKETPLACE WAS A SCALABILITY ISSUE.
WE SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH DEMAND FOR THE SERVICES THAT WERE BEING OFFERED AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME TO MAKE SENSE.
OUT OF THE DALLAS, DALLAS COLLEGE COMING AND TEACHING A-A-A-A-A SET OF BUSINESS CLASSES, UH, LET ME, LET ME BREAK THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
IN THOSE 40 BUSINESSES THAT WERE IN THE GO DE SOTO MARKETPLACE, AT ANY POINT IN TIME, ONE OR TWO OF THEM MIGHT NEED WORK ON QUICKBOOKS AND THEIR FINANCIALS.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR THE DALLAS, THE DALLAS COLLEGE TO COME AND TRY TO TEACH A CLASS FOR TWO PEOPLE.
BUSINESS PLAN, SAME ISSUE, MARKETING, SAME ISSUE, SOCIAL MEDIA, SAME ISSUE.
WE SIMPLY COULDN'T AGGREGATE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF USING THOSE SERVICES.
IT'S REALLY WHERE THE DECK IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED BECAUSE THEY SERVE A MUCH BROADER POPULATION AND THEY SERVE MULTIPLE AREAS.
THEY'RE ABLE TO AGGREGATE THOSE NEEDS AND THEN BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A COHORT OF SERVICES THAT DIRECT THAT, THAT AFFECT THEM DIRECTLY.
THAT'S THAT SCALABILITY ISSUE THAT I TALKED ABOUT.
UM, I THINK THEIR RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES ATTACHED TO YOUR, UH, OF YOUR PACKET TONIGHT WAS THEIR MOST RECENT IMPACT REPORT.
UM, I TEED THAT UP HERE TONIGHT FOR, FOR MR. CHEN TO COME AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, 'CAUSE I THINK IT, IT'S WORTHY OF RUNNING THROUGH WHO THEY'RE, WHO THEY'RE SERVING, HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY'RE SERVING, AND THE RESULTS THAT THEY'RE ACHIEVING.
SO IF I MIGHT INVITE MR. CHEN TO THE, THE MIC HERE FOR A MINUTE.
UM, AND TOM, IF YOU'LL TEE UP THE, THE DECKS MOST RECENT IMPACT REPORT, IT'S IN YOUR FOLDER.
UM, SO WE WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THE PARTNERSHIP WE'RE GONNA HAVE WITH THE CHAMBER AND THE CITY OF DESOTA.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT QUITE SOME TIME.
UM, THE INTENT, AND THIS IS AN IMPACT REPORT, BUT THAT'S A GREAT THEME FOR US.
WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE AN IMPACT IN DESOTO, AND AS, AS WE MENTIONED, SCALE COUNTS.
SO WE, WE LIKE TO BRING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN.
UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING HERE FOR 11 YEARS.
WE HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF MENTORS.
WE HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITY HERE IN DESOTO.
BUT WE HAVE THIS WIDE BREADTH OF RESOURCES THAT WE CAN SPECIFICALLY TAILOR TO THIS MARKETPLACE.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE ABOUT SIX MILES DOWN THE I'M OFFICE ABOUT SIX MILES DOWN THE ROAD.
UH, WE HAVE A DE DEDICATED RESOURCE CARER CAME WITH US THIS EVENING, UH, WHO WILL BE RUNNING SAYS TARSHA HEARNS.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY SHE COULDN'T MAKE TONIGHT BECAUSE SHE HAD A PERSONAL MATTER.
UM, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL MANCHESTER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR VISITING US.
SHE SPENT A LITTLE TIME WITH TARSA TO GET TO KNOW HER AND, AND DID SOME GREAT DUE DILIGENCE THERE.
THE, THE IMPACT REPORT WE'RE OBVIOUSLY A 5 0 1 3 C WE, OUR NINE NINETIES, UH, A PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
UM, BUT AS WE SCROLL THROUGH, IF I CAN, UM, WE, WE PUT OUT OUR NUMBERS, I THINK, IN A VERY PUBLIC FORMAT, UH, EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
AND, AND WE RUN DOWN THE NUMBERS EXACTLY HOW THE MONEY SPENT, UH, AND EXACTLY THE IMPACT THAT WE'VE MADE.
HOW MANY JOBS WE'VE CREATED, HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN INVESTED IN BUSINESSES, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HELPED, UH, AND VERY SPECIFICALLY HOW MANY MENTORS, WHICH IS A BIG PART OF OUR PROGRAM.
AS YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THAT IS OUR BRAND NEW FACILITY IN FORT WORTH.
THERE ARE TWO OPPORTUNITY ZIP CODES IN THE CITY OF FORT WORTH.
WE'VE OPENED IN ONE OF THOSE ZIP CODES.
UH, AND AGAIN, HAVING THAT BREADTH OF DIFFERENT FOLKS FROM ALL FDFW MAKES US ALL STRONGER, AND THAT COLLABORATION REALLY HELPS.
UH, THAT CENTER OPENED JUST ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO WITH THE CITY OF FORT WORTH.
UH, I THINK IF YOU TALK TO YOUR COUNTERPARTS IN FORT WORTH, THEY'VE BEEN REALLY PLEASED WITH THAT PARTNERSHIP.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE ALWAYS RUN DOWN EXACTLY HOW THE MONEY'S SPENT, WHAT THE IMPACT IS AND WHO WE SERVE.
AND, UH, WE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR AND FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS.
WHILE FRANKLY, WE LOVE ALL ENTREPRENEURS, UM, WE HAVE A REAL PASSION AROUND SERVING THOSE WHO FRANKLY HAVE NOT GOT TO SERVE, BEEN SERVED IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN, UH, FOR MANY DECADES.
SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 11 YEARS.
UM, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE PARTNERS WITH DESOTO.
THEY'VE BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO DEAL WITH.
UH, WE NEED TO LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT THE ENTREPRENEURS HERE IN DESOTO IN ORDER TO TAILOR MAKE A PROGRAM.
UM, BUT WE'VE DONE THAT, AS WE'VE
[01:30:01]
SAID IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, I THINK WITH SOME REALLY POSITIVE RESULTS.UH, SO, YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE SOME TESTIMONIALS FROM FOLKS WE'VE WORKED WITH THAT IS OUR STAFF, OUR CHAIRMAN, TIM HILL, UM, IS REALLY SO MANY KIND OF GUIDES OUR ENTIRE OPERATION.
WE HAVE A BOARD, IN FACT, ON OUR BOARD, WE HAVE SEVERAL DESOTO RESIDENTS.
SO WE FEEL, FEEL PRETTY CLOSE TO THE COMMUNITY ALREADY.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL, I'LL STOP.
AND IS IT OKAY IF I TAKE QUESTIONS? ABSOLUTELY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, WE DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
I WAS CURIOUS FOR THE $85,000 THAT, UH, IS UP FOR DISCUSSION TODAY, HOW WOULD THAT MONEY BE APPROPRIATED, UM, WHEN IT GOES BACK TO YOUR OFFICE? SO IN, IN TERMS OF WHAT WOULD THAT MONEY BE SPENT? YES, SPECIFICALLY.
SO WE HAVE A DEDICATED RESOURCE.
WE HAVE AN ALL IN EMPLOYEE AND ALL THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE BRING A LOT MORE RESOURCES TO IT.
TARSHA HEARNS IS MANAGING THE PROJECT.
SHE'S A VERY EXPERIENCED, UH, ENTREPRENEUR.
SHE STARTED THE FIRST WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER HERE IN THE DFW, UH, MARKETPLACE.
UH, SO SHE'LL BE PART OF THAT.
UM, AND SO WHAT SOMETIMES YOU, AND THIS IS PERHAPS A BAD ANALOGY.
UH, MOST OF THE TIME YOU NEED AN, A REALLY GOOD, AMAZING ACCOUNTANT.
SOMETIMES YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO'S A CFO, AND SOMETIMES YOU NEED AN AUDITOR.
UM, AND SO WE GIVE THAT ABILITY RATHER THAN JUST HAVING ONE PERSON WE CAN TAILOR MAKE, UH, WHICH PAYROLL MAKES THE BEST SENSE FOR IT.
SO REALLY, 85,000, ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE SOME COSTS, WILL PROVIDE IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, FACILITATING MENTORSHIP AND HOUSING, ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS, UH, A LOT OF TIME WE'LL BE JUST SPENT IN THE CHAMBER.
SO YOUR STAFFING THAT YOU HAVE YES, MA'AM.
AND HOW, HOW MUCH OF THE SERVICES THAT YOU OFFER WILL BE OUTSOURCED? WHERE SHE, UH, HER NAME IS TARSHA.
HOW MUCH OF IT WILL BE OUTSOURCED WHERE SHE CANNOT PRETTY MUCH SERVICE VERY LITTLE.
I MEAN, IN THIS, YOU COULD ARGUE THAT SOME OF, UH, WE HAVE A, A LOT OF MENTORS WHO ARE VOLUNTEERS.
AND SO IT, I, I DON'T REALLY CONSIDER THAT OUTSOURCING BECAUSE THEY'RE VOLUNTEERS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE DECK NETWORK.
MOST HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A DECADE.
UM, BUT YOU, THEY DON'T WORK FOR US.
UH, BUT THEY'RE VETTED, THEY'RE AMAZING VOLUNTEERS WITH A MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT BUSINESS, UH, EXPERIENCES.
SO YOU MIGHT CONSIDER THEM AS, AS AN OUTSIDE RESOURCE.
MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION.
HOW, HOW IS THE PERFORM AND CONTRACTUALLY, HOW WILL WE MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM? RIGHT? SO, UM, I SAW A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SERVICES OFFERED, BUT IF IT'S JUST A FEEL GOOD MOMENT AND THEY WALK AWAY, HOW DO YOU, UH, TRANSLATE THAT IN A FORM OF SUCCESS? LIKE SOMEONE ACTUALLY BUSINESS PROGRESSES 'CAUSE OF AND IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SERVICES THAT YOU'RE OFFERING? THAT, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK IN OUR WORLD, THE CURRENCY IS JOB CREATION.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, HOW MANY JOBS ARE CREATING, AND WE CAN DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF MEASURING THAT.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S MONEY INVESTED IN BUSINESSES.
UM, SO WE, A A LOT OF WHAT WE DO IS WE CONNECT FOLKS TO, UM, TO CAPITAL.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY A, A LARGE PART OF THIS IS SO MANY WONDERFUL BUSINESSES THAT CAN DO SO MUCH MORE IF THEY WERE CONNECTED TO THE RIGHT CAPITAL SOURCE.
SO WE REALLY TRACK VERY CAREFULLY WHAT CAPITAL SOURCES WE BRING TO THE TABLE, TO THESE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES.
AND, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY SIX MILES FROM NOW, WE HOUSE NUMEROUS CAPITAL SOURCES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE NORTH, UH, ANGEL NETWORK IS THE LARGEST ANGEL NETWORK IN THE DFW AREA.
THEY'RE HOUSED SIX MILES FROM NOW IN OUR CENTER.
AND THAT TERMINOLOGY GETS A LITTLE MUDDY IN THE NONPROFIT WORLD.
UH, AND WE BRING VENTURE CAPITALISTS TO THE TABLE.
SO WE TRACK JOB CREATION PRIMARILY.
WE TRY TRACK HOW MUCH IS INVESTED IN BUSINESSES, AND WE'LL DO THAT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS HERE.
AS YOU'VE SEEN IN THIS REPORT, ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS WILL, WE, WILL, HOW MANY MENTOR HOURS ARE THERE? HOW MANY CURRICULUM HOURS? HOW MANY CLASSROOM HOURS? HOW MANY GUEST SPEAKERS DO WE BRING? I SEE CARE'S.
DID YOU, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT? UM, YEAH, SO BASICALLY PART OF THE AGREEMENT IS POST PROGRAM REPORTING AS WELL, WHICH IS WHAT I WOULD BE DOING.
I'D BE THE ONE WHO'S DOING, LIKE ACTUALLY RUNNING THE PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, AND SO WE DO HAVE A LIST OF METRICS THAT WE TRACK, WHICH, LIKE IF YOU ACTUALLY SAW ON THE, UM, IMPACT REPORT, IT TRACKS LIKE GENDER, UM, INCOME, THAT KIND OF THING.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE POST PROGRAM SURVEYS THAT WE SEND OUT.
SO WE TYPICALLY HAVE THEM FILL ONE OUT AS SOON AS THEY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM.
WHERE ARE YOU AT RIGHT NOW? WHAT DID THE PROGRAM HELP YOU WITH? UM, AND THEN WE'LL SEND ONE OUT SIX MONTHS POST-PROGRAM JUST TO KINDA GET A GAUGE OF, UM, KIND OF HOW THEIR GROWTH HAS, UM, BEEN EXCEEDED BY THE PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE USUALLY SEND ANOTHER
[01:35:01]
FOLLOW UP A YEAR OUT JUST TO KIND OF TRY TO GAUGE WHERE EVERYBODY'S AT.WE WANNA KEEP TRACK OF THAT GROWTH BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THAT, UM, GRANT MONEY THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM THE PITCH PROGRAMS AT THE END CAN OFTEN KIND OF SNOW HAVE A SNOWBALL EFFECT FOR THEIR BUSINESS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I, UH, DID WANT TO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, THE MONIES BEING TAKEN OUT OF DEC.
IT SAYS IN THE, UH, DOCUMENTATION THAT THE UH, AMOUNT THAT'S BEING CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEC, I'M SORRY, THE DAC, SORRY, DESOTO AREA CHAMBER IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE OFFSET BY THIS PARTICULAR, IF THIS GOES FORWARD.
UM, WHATEVER MONIES WAS BEING GIVEN TO THE DAC WOULD NO LONGER BE GIVEN TO THEM.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS, WELL, MY QUESTIONS, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS, UH, HOW WILL THEIR ROLE, BECAUSE I HEAR DEC, BUT I DON'T SEE DAC, SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT ALL WILL WORK.
AND THEN SECONDLY, UM, WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT, UH, I SAW SOME GOOD NUMBERS THERE, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
'CAUSE I KNOW I ASKED THAT LAST TIME.
UM, I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT, UM, YOUR OFFICE IN FORT WORTH.
HOW LONG HAS THAT OFFICE BEEN OPEN? AND, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THAT METRICS THAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE REPORTING, HAVE YOU GOTTEN TO THAT REPORT? AND THEN HAS THAT BEEN PROVIDED? YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
AND THEN HOW MANY, HOW MANY OF THE PERCENTAGES OF THOSE FEMALES, I MEAN, 'CAUSE I SEE A LOT OF FEMALES ON THAT LIST.
HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE WMB? UM, ME, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY.
SO, UM, THAT'S THE OTHER, I KNOW I ASKED THREE QUESTIONS.
SO LET ME, LET ME GO BACK TO THE METRICS FOR JUST A SECOND.
UM, ONE OF THE, THE PARTS OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE DECK, THERE'S ABOUT A DOZEN DIFFERENT METRICS THAT'LL BE REPORTED ON, ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
WE HAD MUCH THE SAME QUESTIONS.
WE WANT TO KNOW IF WE'RE MAKING AN INVESTMENT, WHAT'S THE RETURN? AND THAT'S, IF WE DON'T MEASURE IT, YOU DON'T KNOW, UM, WE'LL BE PART OF THEIR, THEIR OVERALL METRICS OF COURSE, BUT THEY'LL BE MEASURING THOSE ON A DESOTO SPECIFIC BASIS.
UH, AND KIRA WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SORT OF FINALIZE THAT METRICS QUESTION THERE.
UM, YOU'RE PROBABLY BEST ABLE TO ADDRESS IN TERMS OF WHAT NUMBER OF FOLKS ARE, ARE, ARE MINORITY, HOW MANY ARE WOMEN, UM, MAYBE ADDRESS THAT.
AND THEN WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CHAMBER.
SO I KNOW YOUR QUESTION WAS SPECIFICALLY AROUND HOW MANY OF THEM ARE CERTIFIED, UM, WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NECESSARILY TRACK THAT INFORMATION, BUT WE DO, WELL, LET ME CLARIFY.
UM, AS FAR AS LIKE OUR WHOLE ORGANIZATION, WE DON'T TRACK THAT.
UM, BUT WITH OUR COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR PROGRAM THAT WE WERE RUNNING LAST YEAR, THAT WAS MY ROLE.
UM, IT WAS FUNDED THROUGH THE SBA, WE HAD SIX, UM, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS OUT TO, AND 75% OF OUR, UM, CLIENT BASE WAS CERTIFIED WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.
SO I THINK ROUGHLY, I HAVE THE PAPER, I HAVE LIKE OUR LITTLE SHEET AS WELL.
SO IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LIKE THOSE NUMBERS, I CAN BRING THAT OUT AS WELL.
SO YES, I THINK THE OTHER PIECE, BILL, IF YOU WILL, YOU YOU'D SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE, THE NEW OPPORTUNITY THAT'S IN FORT WORTH.
THEIR OFFICES ARE ACTUALLY AT REDBIRD, AND THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR SOME TIME.
THAT'S PROBABLY A BETTER INDICATOR IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
IS THE, THE MOST OF THE METRICS THAT YOU SEE THERE ARE COMING FROM THAT OPPORTUNITY AS OPPOSED TO ONE THAT'S BEEN OPEN FOR 60 DAYS IN, IN FORT WORTH.
WE WENT TO 20,000 SQUARE FOOT.
WE WERE IN 7,000 SQUARE FOOT IN REDBIRD.
UH, AND, AND PART OF THAT WAS THE SUCCESS.
AND WE WERE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS WE NEEDED.
HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO COME IN AND RENT THE OFFICES.
IT'S A NOMINAL FEAT TO RENT, AND WE JUST COULDN'T HOUSE 'EM ANYMORE.
SO WE WENT TO THAT 20,000 SQUARE FOOT.
AND I THINK THAT IN, IN THE, YOU KNOW, THE EXISTENCE OF THE ORGANIZATION, 11 YEARS, SIX YEARS BEING IN, IN REDBIRD, UH, MALL, UM, WE CERTAINLY HAVE DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO'VE GONE ON TO EXITS IPOS.
THERE'S BEEN SOME INCREDIBLE SUCCESS STORIES.
AND AS, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS DOCUMENT, WE MEASURED JUST 2023.
UM, WE LOOKED WITH 450 JOBS CREATED, UH, AND 2033 SUSTAINED, 85% OF THAT WOULD BE IN THAT RED BIRD AREA.
AND THAT'S WHY WE WENT FROM 7,000 SQUARE FOOT TO 20,000 SQUARE FOOT IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MA'AM? IT DID.
UM, THE LAST PIECE THAT, AND, AND EUGENE WALKER HERE, WHO'S THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHAMBER THIS YEAR, UH, IS WITH US.
AND HE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, OUR PARTNERSHIP IN THIS WITH THE CHAMBER.
UM, IN THE PAST WE HAD MADE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UM, IT WAS PRIOR TO MY TIME AND WHEN I CAME, IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR, OUR FRIENDS, UH, AT
[01:40:01]
OUR LAW FIRM HELPED US TO UNDERSTAND IS THE, THE STATE STATUTES DON'T ALLOW US TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT FROM THE DDC, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT WAS HAPPENING.IT IS NOT BEEN ALLOWED UNDER THE STATUTE INVESTMENT.
SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT WAYS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS THAT WEREN'T NECESSARILY THE CHAMBER.
THIS WAS THE IDEAL MARRIAGE, IF YOU WILL, OF AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE COULD CREATE THOSE SERVICES.
WE COULD PARTNER WITH THE CHAMBER TO HOST THEM AND SUPPORT THEM, EVEN THOUGH WE AREN'T MAKING A DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE CHAMBER.
OUR CHAMBER INVESTMENTS WERE ABOUT $20,000 A YEAR, I THINK MAYBE IT WAS 21,000.
UM, BUT WHEN WE PAIRED THAT WITH THE, THE FUNDS THAT WE WERE PROVIDING SMALL BUSINESS EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THOSE TWO CAME OUT TO A LITTLE, THIS IS A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT ONLY BY ABOUT THREE OR $4,000.
THIS IS WELL IN LINE WITH WHAT THE STATUTE ALLOWS US TO INVEST IN.
IT OFFERS A MUCH BROADER SET OF SERVICES TO A MUCH BROADER NUMBER OF COMPANIES.
IT'S ALL COMPANIES THAT ARE IN DESOTO.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER.
IF YOU'RE IN DESOTO, YOU'RE ELIGIBLE TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THESE SERVICES.
THERE'S NOT A COST TO ANY OF OUR ENTREPRENEURS.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I THINK WE FACE IS OUTREACH.
AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK THIS TRIAD IS, IS, IS REALLY STRONG BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS THE DECK DOING OUTREACH, NOT ONLY ARE WE DOING OUTREACH THROUGH OUR, OUR BUSINESS RETENTION EXPANSION PROGRAM, BUT THE CHAMBER IS UTILIZING THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT AND OFFER THESE SERVICES TO THEM AS WELL.
EUGENE, ANY THOUGHTS? THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
UM, PAINFUL PILL TO SWALLOW BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE CHAMBER NEEDS REVENUE.
UM, SO, UH, I UNDERSTAND THE LEGALITY ASSOCIATED WITH, WITH THE REQUEST AND THE ASK.
UH, THE OTHER THING IS THAT AS THE CHAIR OF THE CHAMBER, ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS I REALIZED IS THAT WE HAVE A, A HUGE NEED IN TERMS OF BUILDING LOCAL CAPACITY, IN PARTICULAR WITH OUR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE, BUT THEY'RE JUST NOT COMING OUT.
WHAT WE NEED IS NOT ONLY, UH, THE PRESENCE, BUT ALSO THE FOOT TRAFFIC.
UM, WE JUST HELD A REALLY, UH, NICE EVENT THE OTHER DAY WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AND WE JUST, WE JUST DID NOT GET ENOUGH, IN MY OPINION, PERSONNEL OUT, PEOPLE OUT BUSINESSES OUT TO REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
SO THIS WILL GIVE US AN ALSO A, ANOTHER ARM IN TERMS OF MARKETING, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER MEMBER AND ITS BUSINESSES, UH, TO OFFER UP ALL OF THE POTENTIAL SERVICES THAT EXIST.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY IS THE 1 0 1, HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS.
THE OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO RAISE THE HOOD, GET UNDERNEATH WHAT'S GOING ON, AND PROVIDE THE REAL TIME, UH, NEEDED, YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONAL FEEDBACK TO BE ABLE TO HELP THESE BUSINESSES GROW.
CAPACITY IS SO, UH, I'M ON BOARD THE CHAMBER'S ON BOARD TO, TO REALLY GET BEHIND THIS INITIATIVE.
UH, AGAIN, THE HOPE FOR, FOR ME IS TO, TO BUILD UP THAT CAPACITY SO THAT WE CAN INCREASE SOME OF THESE NUMBERS IN PARTICULAR, UH, DR. MARKS AS IT RELATES TO THE HUB UTILIZATION.
WE NEED TO GET THOSE NUMBERS UP.
SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED BACK IN NOVEMBER.
IF THERE ARE LINGERING QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS, HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN THOSE.
UM, COUNSEL, WE, WE WE'RE NOT DOING TIMED ROUNDS, HOWEVER, WE WERE DOING ROUNDS.
I'M GONNA ASK, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? CAN YOU YIELD YOUR TIME TO ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS? OKAY.
I DID HAVE, UM, A QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS IS A VERY NEEDED RESOURCE FOR OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT FOR, FOR VISIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY, I WANTED TO KNOW, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE'S AN ANNUAL REPORTING, BUT HOWEVER, IS THERE NOT, UM, A WAY TO HAVE A REPORTER PLAN THAT KIND OF DETAILS OUT THE EXPECTED OUTCOME IN SHOWING THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS, MAYBE IN A MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY BASIS THAT THE COUNCIL COULD BE GIVEN, SO THAT WE CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH YOU, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE ALSO EAGERLY EXCITED AND WAITING 12 MONTHS TO HEAR ABOUT THE GREAT NEWS.
JUST SEEMS LIKE A REALLY LONG TIME.
UM, SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY, BILL, I, IF I REMEMBER OUR, OUR CONVERSATIONS EARLY ON, THE, THE INTENT WAS TO HAVE A QUARTERLY REPORT FROM Y'ALL, AND THAT WAS THE CADENCE FOR THOSE METRICS.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A QUARTERLY REPORT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO INCLUDE IT AS PART OF OUR, OUR QUARTERLY REPORTS TO THE BOARD.
UM, I'LL YIELD MY TIME TO YOU.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS,
[01:45:01]
THE, THE ADDITIONAL DETAILS.UM, I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO VISIT IN PERSON AND, UH, JUST TO ASK SOME OF THE QUESTIONS.
UM, I WAS ACTUALLY VISITING DALLAS COLLEGE AND THEN JUST HAPPENED IN AND HAD OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH MS. HERNS, MEET YOU AND MEET, UH, ONE OF YOUR NAVIGATORS AS, AS WELL AS YOU KNOW, YOU AS WELL.
AND SO, UM, I REALLY DID APPRECIATE THAT AND YOU ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS.
AND I THINK WHAT REALLY HELPED ME, UH, FRAME WHAT YOU DO WAS JUST THAT NAVIGATOR PIECE THAT OF CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, JUST EXACTLY WHAT YOU DO, HOW YOU DO CURRICULUM AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT UNDER, AND SO, UM, I'M JUST LOOKING OVER THE CONTRACT AND JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND IT.
AND THEN THERE WAS A STATEMENT, THE, THE DECK WILL BE HOUSED WITH THE CHAMBER.
SO I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT THAT RELATIONSHIP WOULD LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF BEING HOUSED WITH THE CHAMBER.
AND THEN THE OTHER, UH, WAS JUST RELATED TO RECRUITMENT, UH, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
AND SO WHAT DOES RECRUITMENT TYPICALLY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU? UM, AND UM, THERE WAS JUST A SERIES OF THINGS, WHICH THERE ARE A LOT OF EVENTS KIND OF MOVED IN.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUALLY USING YOUR FACILITIES, UM, WILL OUR RE OUR BUSINESS OWNERS BE ABLE TO USE YOUR FACILITIES AS YOUR CURRENT, UM, MEMBERS USE THE FACILITIES OR WILL THERE BE ANY LIMITATIONS? SURE.
SO A LOT OF QUESTIONS, SO I'LL TRY TO TACKLE THEM ONE BY ONE.
UM, THE LAST QUESTION WAS IF THE, UM, COHORT PARTICIPANTS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO NORMAL MEMBERS? UM, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
UM, AS PART OF OUR COHORTS, WE USUALLY OFFER, UM, LIKE A CERTAIN STINT OF FREE COWORKING.
SINCE THEY'RE A PART OF OUR COHORT, WE WANT THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SPACE AND BE ABLE TO BOUNCE IDEAS OFF OF EACH OTHER AND EVERYTHING.
SO WE DO WANT THEM TO BE THERE.
UM, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, I KNOW YOU GOT TO SEE THE SPACE, BUT SOME OF YOU GUYS DIDN'T.
UM, A LOT OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, UM, AT THE DECK NETWORK, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UM, A RESOURCE LIBRARY PUT IN FOR CAPITAL ACCESS.
SO THAT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHEN THAT'S UP.
UM, WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT SPACES THAT THEY CAN RESERVE.
SO WE HAVE, UM, OUR TRAINING ROOM, WHICH CAN HOST UP TO 60 PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE WELCOME TO RUN OUT AND UTILIZE FOR THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, COWORKING MEMBERSHIPS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN I MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SPACE.
WE HAVE HOT DESKING WHERE YOU CAN COME BRING YOUR STUFF, YOU KIND OF FIND A DESK THAT'S OPEN, YOU GET TO WORK THERE FROM THE DAY.
SO THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO.
UM, THEY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO OUR, UM, SIX CONFERENCE ROOMS THAT WE HAVE.
THEY COULD RENT ONE OF THOSE OUT IF THEY WANT TO KIND OF PREPARE FOR THEIR COURSES OR WHATEVER.
UM, WE HAVE A EVENT CENTER THAT CAN HOST, I THINK IT'S UP TO 200 PEOPLE, I THINK
SO, UM, THEY CAN ALSO UTILIZE THAT, RENT THAT OUT.
SO LOTS OF DIFFERENT SPACES FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT BECAUSE AS YOU GUYS KNOW, SOUTHERN DALLAS IS A MEETING DESERT.
AND SO THAT GIVES THEM ACCESS TO, UM, THAT RESOURCE.
UM, ANOTHER THING THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO IS ALL OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HOST THERE AT THE DECK NETWORK.
OF COURSE, PART OF THE AGREEMENT IS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE HOSTING EVENTS HERE IN DESOTO, BUT WE DO LOTS OF REALLY GREAT EVENTS IN REDBIRD, WHICH IS JUST UP THE STREET.
SO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THOSE REALLY GREAT EVENTS.
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF LIKE LUNCH AND LEARNS AND THINGS THAT ARE CENTERED AROUND LIKE FINANCIAL READINESS.
SO ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES THAT WE PUT ON FOR OUR MEMBERS WOULD ALSO BE, UM, AVAILABLE FOR THE MEMBERS HERE.
AND SORT OF, AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND JUST WANTED TO GET TO THE RECRUITMENT OF, UH, RECRUITMENT OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
AND THIS IS RELATED TO THE HYBRID BUSINESS ACCELERATOR, WHICH DIDN'T KIND OF SPECIFY, BUT WHEN I WAS THERE IN PERSON IT WAS SPECIFIC TO RESTAURANTS.
IS THAT STILL THE SAME OR IS THAT DIFFERENT? YEAH, SO WE HAVEN'T EXACTLY FINALIZED WHAT THOSE COHORTS WILL LOOK LIKE BECAUSE OF COURSE THIS HASN'T BEEN PASSED.
SO WE'RE STILL IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT IN OUR PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS, WE ARE CONSIDERING DOING A, UM, FOOD AND BEVERAGE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY TO KIND OF CATER TOWARDS THE GROW, UM, DESOTO MARKETPLACE.
UM, THE OTHER ACCELERATOR PROGRAM, 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'RE DOING TWO WILL PROBABLY BE A VERY GENERALIZED TWO DAY BOOTCAMP SO THAT THEY CAN, UM, COME GET TO ALL THE TOPICS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT OF LIKE MARKETING FINANCIALS, JUST KIND OF LIKE AN ALL AT ONCE.
HERE'S EVERYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW.
UM, SO THOSE ARE THE TWO PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING.
UM, AS FAR AS PROGRAM, UM, PARTICIPANTS, TYPICALLY WE SEND IT OUT IN OUR NEWSLETTER.
UM, WE HAVE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE POST TO.
UM, OF COURSE WE'LL UTILIZE ALL THE RESOURCES HERE IN DESOTO.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL JUST KIND OF MAKE IT A, UM, REQUIREMENT THAT YOU'RE IN ONE OF THE DESOTO ZIP CODES.
AND THEN, UM, MY VERY, VERY LAST QUESTION, IT WAS JUST RELATED TO HOUSED BEING.
SO WHAT DOES THE HOUSING LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU'RE CONNECTED WITH, WITH OUR ECONOMIC, I MEAN, UH, OUR CHAMBER? YOU PROBABLY BEST QUICK TO DO THAT.
YES, I WILL TOSS IT OVER TO HIM.
WELL, RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE LOGISTICS OF HOW THAT LOCATE WOULD, WOULD PLAY OUT.
[01:50:01]
UM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND CLEARLY WHAT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE BECAUSE, UH, MY APPROACH AND MY PHILOSOPHY IS MORE OF AN INCUBATOR SPACE.AN INCUBATOR SPACE WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY DO WHAT I DESCRIBED EARLIER WHERE WE CAN DO THAT HANDS-ON PRACTICAL ASPECT OF IT.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING THROUGH THAT.
BUT THE INTENT IS FOR, UH, THEM TO RESIDE WITHIN THE FOOTPRINT OF THE CHAMBER.
AND AND THAT'S THE DEDICATED PERSON? MM-HMM.
OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, DR. MARKS WILL BE OUR LAST, UH, COMMENT.
I BELIEVE EVERYBODY SAID THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.
I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UH, EDUCATIONAL PIECE OF IT IS, IS WHAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN, AND I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE TABLE, YOU WILL CONSIDER CUSTOMER SERVICE, PUT IT AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S DESPERATELY NEEDED HERE IN, UH, OUR CITY OF DESOTO.
UH, AND THE REST OF YOU, BECAUSE THIS WILL OF COURSE, UM, ASSIST US WITH THOSE NUMBERS, WITH THAT MWBE.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL IS 20% AND WE'RE KIND OF BEHIND.
MADAM MAYOR, ARE YOU BACK? YES.
AND MADAM MAYOR, I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MR. LONG.
I DIDN'T SEE HIM UP HERE, BUT HAD OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HIM AND, AND GO IN DEPTH.
SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR HIS, HIS EFFORTS ON THIS PROJECT TOO.
UH, THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR ENTERTAINING OUR QUESTIONS.
UH, WE DEFINITELY, ABSOLUTELY SHOULD THIS PASS.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE PARTNERSHIP AND WHAT THAT, UH, WHAT THAT BRINGS FOR OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I THINK IT WILL BE A VERY POWERFUL, UM, SHIFT IN THE WAY THAT WE EMPOWER, UH, OUR BUSINESS OWNERS.
COUNSEL, AT THIS TIME, IS THERE A MOTION? MAYOR, MAYOR, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE BEST PRESENTED.
SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARK SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES TO APPROVE HIS PRESENTING COUNCIL, PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PADS.
THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
UM, THAT CONCLUDES OUR REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS. MS. THOMAS,
[H. EXECUTIVE SESSION AND RESULTING POTENTIAL ACTION ]
WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.COULD YOU PLEASE READ THAT FOR US? YES, MA'AM.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5, 1 0.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FOR THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND ANY ACTION AS A RESULT.
IT IS 7:52 PM COUNSEL AND WE WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, WE ARE NOW, UM, ADJOURNED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IT'S 9:19 PM COUNSEL, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? THERE IS NO ACTION AS A RESULT OF OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED TO ADJOURN.
COUNSEL ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE'RE NOW ADJOURNED AT 9:19 PM COUNSEL, YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.