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GOOD[A. REGULAR SESSION AGENDA - CALL TO ORDER]
EVENING EVERYONE.IT IS 6:00 PM I AM MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR, AND I WANNA WELCOME YOU TO OUR TUESDAY, MARCH 19TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, WE WILL GET STARTED WITH A ROLL CALL, MS. THOMAS.
COUNCIL MEMBER NICOLE RAPHAEL.
COUNCIL MEMBER DIANA MARKS HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL CHISHOLM HERE.
WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
FIRST, WE'LL HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY PASTOR LARRY WILLIAMS WITH DALLAS FIRST CHURCH OF NAZARENE DESOTO, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY STUDENT KAITLYN GIDDINGS WITH THE MEADOWS ELEMENTARY.
YES, MAYOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRAY.
THANK YOU FOR STARTING THESE MEETINGS WITH PRAYER.
FATHER, WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO CALL UPON YOUR NAME AND KNOW THAT YOU HEAR US.
UH, WHAT AN AWESOME THOUGHT IT IS TO REALIZE THAT THE GOD OF ALL CREATION IS HEARING OUR VOICE.
WE ASK YOU TO HELP US TONIGHT.
WE ASK YOU TO BLESS US WITH YOUR PRESENCE.
WE ASK YOU TO GUIDE OUR THOUGHTS.
WE ASK YOU TO GIVE US WISDOM AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND COURAGE.
AND LORD, MAY EVERYTHING WE DO TONIGHT BE DONE IN A WAY THAT PLEASES YOU.
MAY WE CONDUCT OURSELVES IN A WAY THAT PLEASES YOU.
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR YOUR BLESSINGS UPON OUR CITY THESE 75 YEARS.
I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THAT THE MAYOR OF THE COUNCIL, THE, THE STAFF, AND OUR GREAT CITY.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS I PRAY, AMEN.
PLEASE JOIN US, BUT PLEASE JOIN ME IN A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOLLOWED BY THE TEXAS PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER A GOD IN IVIS WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL THE TEXAS, THE TEXAS PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLAG, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG I PAGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER A GUY WHEN IVIS.
THANK YOU MS. GIDDINGS FOR LEADING US IN OUR PLEDGE.
AND THANK YOU PASTOR WILLIAMS FOR, UH, LEADING US IN PRAYER.
WE'RE, UM, GLAD TO HAVE YOU IN OUR MEETING TONIGHT TO BE ABLE TO OPEN US UP WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL PRAYER.
CAN WE GIVE MS, UH, GIDDINGS AND PASTOR WILLIAMS A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP.
TONIGHT I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE WE HAVE OUR STUDENT AMBASSADOR FOR THE EVENING, MS. KAITLYN GIDDINGS, AND SHE HAILS FROM THE MEADOWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND I BELIEVE, UH, PRINCIPAL, UH, JAMER IS ALSO HERE.
UH, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRINCIPAL? JAMER, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I'M GONNA READ JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MS. GIDDINGS.
UH, KAILYN IS A FIFTH GRADE STUDENT AT THE MEADOWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SHE IS ALSO SCHOOL CLASS PRESIDENT.
KAILYN IS THE SECOND OLDEST OF FIVE CHILDREN.
SHE LOVES TO DANCE AND PLAY WITH HER SIBLINGS AND FRIENDS.
IN HER SPARE TIME, CAITLYN DESIRES TO ATTEND HOWARD UNIVERSITY AND WORK IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY AS A LABOR AND DELIVERY NURSE.
LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE HAND, ONE MORE TIME FOR MS. GIDDINGS.
MS. GIDDINGS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT BODY OF THE MEDALS? I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR ME BEING HERE.
CERTAINLY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA, YOU MAY DO SO.
HOWEVER, WE ASK THAT YOU FILL OUT A CARD AND SO MS. GIDDINGS IS GOING TO ASSIST YOU, UM, RIGHT WHERE, UH, BRANDON IS SITTING THERE AT THE TABLE THERE AT THE FRONT.
AND YOU CAN PICK UP A CARD, FILL IT OUT, AND THEN IT'LL BE TURNED INTO OUR CITY SECRETARY AND YOU'LL BE CALLED ON AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
I'M GONNA COME DOWN AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME PHOTOS.
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ALL RIGHT.UM, AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
NEXT WE MOVE INTO OUR PRESENTATIONS.
[1. Presentation of proclamation honoring National Athletic Training Month ]
PROCLAMATION HONORING NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINING MONTH.MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS MAYOR PROCTOR RECEIVING OUR MEMBERS OF THE DESOTO ISD SPORTS MEDICINE PROGRAM.
UM, UM, WE HAVE A KIND OF A FULL HOUSE TONIGHT.
WE DON'T GET A LOT OF
I'M GONNA ASK IS, UH, THERE'S DOC YOUNG, IF YOU ALL COULD COME ON UP AND WE'LL DO THIS PRESENTATION FOR YOU ALL IN HONOR OF NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINING MONTH.
THIS WAS, UM, AN EXCITING ADDITION TO OUR PRESENTATIONS.
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS HERE, AND I'M GONNA LET DOC YOUNG HAVE A FEW COMMENTS AFTER WE READ THE PROCLAMATION JUST TO TELL US ABOUT WHO HE HAS HERE WITH HIM TODAY.
LET'S GIVE OUR STUDENTS A HAND CLAP AS THEY COME.
DON'T THEY LOOK GREAT? YES, THEY DO.
I AM GONNA READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR YOUR HEARING, AND THEN WE HAVE COPIES OF THE PROCLAMATION FOR EACH OF YOU TONIGHT.
WHEREAS THE DESOTO SPORTS MEDICINE PROGRAM WAS FOUNDED IN 1986 AS AN ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO THE EDUCATION OF ITS MEMBERS AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE PROFESSION OF ATHLETIC TRAINING, CREATING BETTER HEALTHCARE FOR THE POPULATION IT SERVES.
AND WHEREAS ATHLETIC TRAINERS FROM PROFESSIONAL, COLLEGIATE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS, PHYSICIANS OFFICES, REHABILITATION CLINICS, AND EVERY BRANCH OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE AND PRACTICE THE PROFESSION OF ATHLETIC TRAINING IN DESOTO, TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS ATHLETIC TRAINERS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING QUALITY HEALTHCARE FOR ATHLETES AND PERSONS ENGAGED IN REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
AND WHEREAS ATHLETIC TRAINERS ARE HIGHLY SKILLED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WHO SPECIALIZE IN IMMEDIATE ACUTE AND EMERGENCY CARE EXAMINATIONS, ASSESSMENTS AND DIAGNOSIS, INJURY PREVENTION, RISK MANAGEMENT, THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION, AND REHABILITATION OF INJURY AND ILLNESS.
WHEREAS THE NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINERS ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS AND SUPPORTS MORE THAN 45,000 MEMBERS OF THE ATHLETIC TRAINING PROFESSION, INCLUDING MORE THAN 3,800 ATHLETIC TRAINERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS LEADING ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED WITH ATHLETIC TRAINING AND HEALTHCARE HAVE UNITED IN A COMMON COMMITMENT TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROFESSION OF ATHLETIC TRAINING AND THE ROLE OF ATHLETIC TRAINERS IN THE PROVISION OF QUALITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
AND WHEREAS IT IS THE DESIRE OF DESOTO TEXAS TO PROMOTE IMPROVED HEALTHCARE FOR ATHLETES AND ALL OF THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I RACHEL O PROCTOR BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, DALLAS COUNTY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH, 2024 AS NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINING MONTH IN THE CITY OF DESOTO AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING ATHLETIC TRAINERS FOR THEIR HONORABLE WORK IN KEEPING THE COMMUNITY HEALTHY.
AN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION WHEREOF, I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 19TH DAY OF MARCH, 2024.
SIGNED RACHEL O PROCTOR MAYOR ATTESTED TO BY ALICIA THOMAS, CITY SECRETARY.
I THINK THEY WANNA GET SOME PHOTOS FIRST AND YOU CAN HAVE SOME WORK THIS.
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SO FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK MAYOR PROCTOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR, UH, THIS DAY AND RECOGNIZING OUR STUDENT TRAINERS.UH, THIS IS MY SECOND STINT IN DESOTO, UH, WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BUT, UH, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, UM, HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN HELPING BE THE TEAM, UH, THAT KEEPS OUR ATHLETES HEALTHY.
UM, THEY'RE A PART OF OUR EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS, THEY'RE FIRST AID AND CPR CERTIFIED.
SO, UH, ANY EMERGENCY SITUATION, WE, WE GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THAT.
AND, UH, RIGHT NOW I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT THAT HAVE ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND ARE NOW PROFESSIONALS, ONE OF WHICH IS DOC HURT NAJA HURT, WHO GRADUATED IN 2018, AND, UH, NOW IT'S COME BACK AND, UH, HELPING OUT WITH THIS PROGRAM NOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING, BEING HERE.
WE'RE VERY PROUD AND EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU YOUNG LADY.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[3. Presentation of Senate Bill 2 impacts on property tax revenue by Linebarger Attorneys at Law ]
MOVE TO ITEM B THREE, PRESENTATION OF SENATE BILL TWO IMPACTS ON PROPERTY TAX, REVENUE REVENUE BY LINEBARGER ATTORNEYS AT LAW.MAKING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PRESENTER IS NIKITA SUTTON, INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
THIS EVENING I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU MS. LAURIE MANN FROM LINEBARGER ATTORNEYS AT LAW.
SHE'S HERE TODAY TO GIVE A COUNSEL AN UPDATE AND OVERVIEW OVER SENATE BILL TOO.
UM, BETTER KNOWN AS THE PROPERTY TAX REFORM AND TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2019.
WE THOUGHT IT'D BE FITTING, UM, NOW THAT WE'RE INTO THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET, UH, PROCESS TO BRING LINEBARGER FORWARD TO EDUCATE US A BIT MORE ON THAT SUBJECT.
SO I'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD MS. MANN AT THIS TIME.
CAN YOU GO? OKAY, IS IT I PUSH BUTTONS.
ALL RIGHT, LET SHE, LIKE SHE SAID, MY NAME'S LORI MANN.
I'M A TRUTH AND TAXATION SPECIALIST AT LINEBARGER.
UH, TRUTH IN TAXATION IS JUST A BROAD TERM FOR THE RULES, THE LAWS THAT, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO SET THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
SO IT WAS ALREADY MENTIONED THAT SB TWO CAME IN AND PUT MORE RULES AND REQUIREMENTS ON, UH, THE TAX RATE SETTING PROCESS.
UM, BEFORE THAT IT WAS ALWAYS TRUE THAT, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COULD ONLY INCREASE THEIR M AND O REVENUE BY A CERTAIN AMOUNT BY 8% EACH YEAR.
SB TWO CAME IN AND LOWERED THAT DOWN FOR, UH, LARGER CITIES DOWN TO THREE AND A HALF PERCENT.
SO THAT WAS QUITE A DIFFERENCE.
UM, BUT THEY ALSO WANTED TO PUT IN A, UM, REWARD FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT DIDN'T GO UP TO THEIR LIMITING RATE EACH YEAR.
SO WHAT IS THE LIMITING RATE? ONE OF THE KEY FEATURES OF TRUTH AND TAXATION IS NOT, UH, ABLE TO ADOPT A TAX RATE HIGHER, UH, BY A CERTAIN RATE THAN WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL.
SO YOU CAN'T GO HIGHER THAN A CERTAIN RATE WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL.
UM, IT'S ALSO CALLED THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE.
I'M SURE SOME OF Y'ALL HAVE HEARD THAT TERM BEFORE.
SO, VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE, UM, ALSO HAS SOMETHING CALLED UNUSED INCREMENT IN IT.
SO IF YOU DON'T GO UP TO YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IN A PRIOR YEAR, YOU LEAVE PENNIES ON THE TABLE.
DON'T ADOPT A PROPERTY TAX RATE UP TO THE HIGHEST RATE.
AND THOSE EXTRA PENNIES YOU GET TO KEEP THOSE AND USE THOSE IN A FUTURE YEAR.
ALRIGHT, NOW, SOME LUCKY TAXI UNITS STILL GET THE 8% HOSPITAL
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DISTRICTS, JUNIOR COLLEGES, UM, AND THEN THOSE WITH THE LOW M AND O TAX RATE.SO, AND THEN SOME SMALLER CITIES, THOSE WITH A POPULATION OF UNDER 30,000, NOT Y'ALL, UM, ALSO GET TO POTENTIALLY HAVE ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE RATE OF, UM, EXTRA $500,000, UH, THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, ANOTHER BIG THING THAT CHANGED WITH SB TWO IS INSTEAD OF, IF YOU GO OVER THAT LIMITING RATE, UM, IT USED TO BE A PETITION PROCESS.
SO YOU WOULD GO OVER THE RATE AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE, UH, YOUR TAXPAYERS, UM, SIGN ENOUGH PETITIONS AND THEN CALL AN ELECTION FOR IT.
IF YOU GO OVER THAT VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE, YOU'RE CALLING AN AUTOMATIC ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT'S EFFECTIVE IN 2020.
SO WE ARE NOW UNDER FIVE YEARS OF THE, THE NEW KIND OF SYSTEM THAT WE ARE UNDER.
UM, SO 2024 IS THE FIFTH YEAR.
UH, ONE OF THE OTHER BIG THINGS IS THE COMPTROLLER HAS A REALLY BIG SAY IN THE PROCESS.
NOW, BEFORE THEY WOULD HAVE MODEL CALCULATION WORKSHEETS SHOULD TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR LIMITING RATE IS.
UM, NOW YOU HAVE TO USE THE COMPTROLLER WORKSHEET.
SO THAT MEANS EVEN IF THERE'S NOT A LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IF THE COMPTROLLER MAKES CHANGES, WE WON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL LATER IN THE YEAR.
UM, AND THEN THERE ALSO CAN BE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES WITHOUT A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE HAPPENING.
UM, AND THERE'S ALSO ADDITIONAL NOTICE AND POSTING REQUIREMENTS, ESPECIALLY ADDITIONAL WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS THAT TAX UNITS HAVE TO FOLLOW.
SO I TALKED ABOUT A LIMITING RATE.
WE ALSO KIND OF CALL THOSE BENCHMARK TAX RATES AS A SIGNAL TO TAXPAYERS WHAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING.
SO IF YOU'RE GONNA GO ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THEN IN THE LEGISLATURE'S MIND, YOU ARE INCREASING TAXES FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
ALL RIGHT? BUT THE WORD NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS KIND OF A MISNOMER BECAUSE, UM, WHAT THEY WANNA DO IN THE CALCULATION IS LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S LEVY AND PROPERTY TAX COMPARED TO CURRENT YEAR VALUE.
HOW MUCH, WHAT WOULD THE RATE WOULD NEED TO BE FOR YOU TO BRING IN YOUR REVENUE THAT YOU DID LAST YEAR USING CURRENT YEAR VALUES? ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
IT'S M AND O MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AND DEBT TOGETHER DIVIDED BY THE CURRENT YEAR.
BUT THE THING IS, THEY WANT TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES.
SO WE WANNA LOOK AT THE SAME AMOUNT OF SAME PROPERTIES AS LAST YEAR AS THIS YEAR.
SO IF THE, SOMETHING WAS TAXABLE LAST YEAR AND NOT TAXABLE THIS YEAR, THAT'S CALLED LOST PROPERTY.
IF SOMETHING WASN'T TAXABLE THIS YEAR AND IS TAXABLE THIS YEAR, THAT'S CALLED NEW PROPERTY.
SO SOMETHING WAS NOT, SAY YOU HAVE AN OFFICE COMPLEX THAT WAS BEING BUILT LAST YEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, IT DIDN'T GET ON THE ROLL FOR 2023.
IT IS NOW ON THE ROLL FOR 2024, THAT'S CONSIDERED NEW PROPERTY.
AND THAT'S OFTEN POINTED TO BY POLICY MAKERS AS, YEAH, YOU GET 3.5%, BUT YOU ALSO GET NEW PROPERTY, RIGHT? THE BENEFIT OF THE NEW PROPERTY.
SO LET'S LOOK ABOUT THAT, THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SO FRACTIONS, RIGHT? SO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS JUST ONE BIG FRACTION.
YOU HAVE LAST YEAR'S LEVY ON TOP AND THE CURRENT YEAR VALUE ON THE BOTTOM.
ALL RIGHT? NOW, IF YOU HAVE A FRACTION IN YOUR DENOMINATOR GETS SMALLER, THEN YOUR RATE GETS BIGGER.
AND I THINK ABOUT THE VERY SIMPLE FRACTION OF ONE FIFTH VERSUS ONE FOURTH.
YOU CAN KIND OF LOOK AT THOSE TWO FRACTIONS.
SEE, THE ONE WITH A SMALLER DENOMINATOR IS BIGGER, RIGHT? WE KNOW ONE FOURTH IS BIGGER THAN ONE FIFTH, KIND OF LIKE INTUITIVELY.
BUT AN EXAMPLE OF THIS AND HOW IT WORKS WITH CURRENT YEAR VALUE IS UP ON THE SCREEN.
SO IN THIS EXAMPLE, WE HAVE $5.1 MILLION IN LEVY LAST YEAR.
WE'RE GONNA DIVIDE IT BY THE CURRENT YEAR VALUE OF $1.1 BILLION, RIGHT? FOR A NO NEW REVENUE RATE OF POINT OF, OF 46 CENTS.
BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE OUT THAT NEW PROPERTY.
SO SAY WE HAVE A PROPERTY, NEW PROPERTY VALUE OF A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, THAT'S GONNA LOWER DOWN OUR DENOMINATOR AND GIVE US A RATE OF 51 CENTS.
SO THAT'S HOW YOUR NEW PROPERTY VALUE INCREASES YOUR RATE.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, AND IT'S A SIGNAL IN THE LEGISLATOR'S MIND THAT YOU'RE INCREASING, UH, REVENUE.
IF YOU GO OVER THAT RATE, THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IS AN INDICATOR TO TAXPAYERS THAT IF YOU GO OVER THAT RATE, THEN THEY HAVE SOME SAY IN THE PROCESS THAT YOU ARE NOW GONNA HAVE TO CALL AN ELECTION AND THEY CAN APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE YOUR RATE, RIGHT? SO VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IS SIMILAR TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, BUT WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT NO NEW REVENUE PURPOSES FOR M AND O ONLY, RIGHT? SO NO NEW REVENUE FOR M AND O ONLY THEN THEY'RE GONNA GIVE YOU SOME GROWTH AND THEN WHATEVER YOUR DEBT RATE IS, AND THE DEBT RATE'S GONNA BE, WHATEVER THE RATE NEEDS TO BE TO COVER YOUR DEBT.
SO IT'S NOT, DOES NOT HAVE A LIMIT ON IT.
ALL RIGHT? SO WE TALKED ABOUT HOW YOUR GROWTH IS 3.5%, RIGHT? SO A LARGER CITY, IF YOU GO OVER THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE, YOU WILL CALL AN AUTOMATIC ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, NOT A PETITION.
AND THAT YOUR GROWTH IS THREE POINT HALF PERCENT FROM THE M AND O REVENUE AS LAST YEAR,
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PLUS ANY UNUSED INCREMENT THAT YOU HAVE ACCRUED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.ALRIGHT? AND WE'LL GO OVER YOUR PARTICULAR WORKSHEET TO LOOK AT THE UNUSED INCREMENT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN USING OVER THE LAST YEAR, UH, LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.
SO, UNUSED INCREMENT, UH, THAT GETS VERY CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IS THE RULES KEEP CHANGING EVERY YEAR ON IT.
IT'S EITHER THE COMPTROLLER CHANGING THE RULES OR THE LEGISLATURE CHANGING THE RULES.
BUT THE CONCEPT AGAIN, IS TRYING TO REWARD TAX UNITS NOT GOING UP TO THAT LIMITING RATE EACH YEAR IN THE PAST, RIGHT? UM, SO IT ONLY CAN ACCRUE FOR YEARS STARTING 2020 AND AFTER.
SO WHEN SB TWO FIRST CAME IN, UM, AND THEN IT MUST BE PART OF VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE CALCULATION.
WHAT IS OPTIONAL, OF COURSE, IS UP TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IS WHAT TAX PROPERTY TAX RATE YOU ADOPT, RIGHT? UM, AND THEN IT'S, IT HAS A PRETTY CONFUSING CALCULATION, BUT IT'S GONNA BE LOOKING AT YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATES IN A PRIOR YEAR AND THEN MINUSING OUT THE UNUSED INCREMENT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2023, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT YOUR 2023 VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE, TAKE OUT ANY UNUSED INCREMENT THAT WAS TACKED ONTO IT, AND THEN MINUS YOUR 2023 ACTUAL TAX RATE.
SO THAT WOULD BE YOUR UNUSED PENNIES FOR 2023.
AND THEN YOU DO THE SAME PROCESS FOR EACH OF THE PRIOR YEARS.
ALL RIGHT? SO VOTER APPROVAL, TAX RATE MINUS THE UNUSED INCREMENT, MINUS THE ACTUAL RATE.
BUT THEN THE LEGISLATURE CAME IN LAST YEAR AND MADE IT MORE COMPLICATED.
UH, THE BIGGER CONCEPT OF THIS CHANGE WAS THEY SAW, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, UH, HAVING THESE ADDITIONAL PENNIES AND THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, IF YOU EARNED A PENNY IN 2020, THAT PENNY'S GONNA BE WORTH MORE REVENUE IN 2024 BECAUSE VALUES ARE INCREASING AND THEY DIDN'T WANT THAT HAPPENING ANYMORE.
SO INSTEAD OF JUST ADDING UP YOUR UNUSED PENNIES FOR THE PRIOR THREE YEAR, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN, AND THIS, AND THIS IS JUST A GENERIC EXAMPLE.
THIS IS NOT, UH, FOR YOUR CITY, UM, THAT'S NINE PENNIES IN 2024, RIGHT? SO UNUSED PENNIES IN 2021, 4 CENTS, 20, 22, 2 CENTS, 20, 23 3 CENTS, UNUSED PENNIES, TOTAL 9 CENTS.
BUT WHAT NOW THEY WANT, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DO IS FIGURE OUT WHAT THE FOREGONE REVENUE IS FOR EACH YEAR.
SO IN 2021, WE HAD 4 CENTS LEFT ON THE TABLE IN THIS EXAMPLE, AND THEN WE TIMES IT BY THE TAXABLE VALUE DIVIDED BY A HUNDRED.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO FOR A PROPERTY TAX.
AND YOU GET FOREGONE REVENUE OF $400,000, AND YOU HAVE TO DO THAT PROCESS FOR EACH OF THE THREE PRIOR YEARS AND THEN ADD UP YOUR FOREGONE REVENUE FOR 21, 22 AND 23 TO GET THAT HIGHLIGHTED YELLOW NUMBER, RIGHT? THAT'S OUR TOTAL FOREGONE REVENUE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
AND THEN ON THE BOTTOM BOX, WE'RE TAKING THAT FOREGONE REVENUE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND DIVIDING IT BY THE CURRENT TAXABLE VALUE FOR 2024.
SO, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT'S GONNA BE 0.06.
SO WHAT IT DID THIS NEW CALCULATION WAS DOING, AND THIS JUST A RANDOM EXAMPLE, IS TAKING 9 CENTS AND BRINGING IT DOWN TO 6 CENTS.
SO IT'S WATERING DOWN, DECREASING THOSE UNUSED INCREMENT PENNIES, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT, THIS IS YOUR ACTUAL TRUTH AND TAXATION WORKSHEET FOR 2023 FOR YOUR CITY.
UM, AND IT'S THE WAY THE WORKSHEET'S LAID OUT, IT'S KIND OF CONFUSING.
SO I LIKE TO START AT THE BOTTOM BECAUSE IT, THAT STARTS WITH THE, THE, THE, UH, FURTHEST YEAR AWAY.
SO WE'RE ON ROW 65 ON LETTER E, AND THAT YEAR, IN 2020, YOU EARNED, UH, FOUR PENNIES AND A BIT FOR UNUSED INCREMENT.
ALL RIGHT? AND THEN IF YOU GO UP A ROAD TO 64 AND LOOK AT 64 E, YOU SPENT THREE OF THOSE PENNIES, AND THEN YOU GO UP A FURTHER DOWN, UH, FURTHER UP ON LINE, UH, 63 E, THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER NEGATIVE 1 CENT.
ALL RIGHT? SO BASICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU, YOU'VE WENT AHEAD AND SPENT ALL YOUR UNUSED INCREMENT UP, SO THERE'S NO UNUSED INCREMENT FOR 2024, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT, SO THAT WAS UNUSED INCREMENT.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO SALES AND USE TAX.
ALL RIGHT? SO PROPERTY TAX HAS THIS THING IN THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE WHERE IT CAN GET ADJUSTED BY SALES TAX.
Y'ALL'S TAX, A SALES TAX RATE IS 2 CENTS.
UM, PART OF THAT, THAT 0.005 IS ADDITIONAL SALES TAX FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
SO THE CONCEPT IS, UM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SALES TAX INCREASE A BIT SO WE CAN DECREASE OUR PROPERTY TAX, RIGHT? AND DOING THAT IS ADJUSTING OUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE.
THAT'S HOW THEY ACCOMPLISH THAT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
UM, SO 25% OF YOUR TOTAL SALES TAX RATE IS SALES TAX FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, 25%.
SO WHEN YOU'RE SEEING YOUR SALES TAX REVENUE COME IN, 25% OF THAT IS FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PURPOSES.
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YOU GUYS HAVE ONGOING RELIEF BECAUSE YOUR SALES TAX FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF WAS VOTED IN QUITE A WHILE AGO.UM, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU HAVE THREE PARTS IN THE CALCULATION WHERE THERE ARE ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE OF THAT.
ONE IS THEY'RE GONNA LOOK AT HOW MUCH OF YOUR SALES TAX FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF REVENUE DID YOU SPEND ON M AND O EXPENDITURES LAST YEAR, RIGHT? THEY'RE GONNA ASK IF YOU'RE GONNA PLAN ON SPENDING ANY OF THAT PARTICULAR REVENUE ON ANY DEBT NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS VERY UNCOMMON, UH, TO HAVE HAPPEN.
AND YOU GUYS DIDN'T DO IT LAST YEAR.
UM, AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO PREDICT WHAT WAS YOUR FUTURE SALES TAX FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF REVENUE BY LOOKING AT THE PAST FOUR QUARTERS OF REVENUE.
SO LOOK AT, LET'S LOOK AT YOUR ACTUAL WORKSHEET.
THIS IS YOUR ACTUAL WORKSHEET FROM 2023 FILLED OUT.
UM, IT HAS ONLINE 40 A, HOW MUCH SALES TAX FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF REVENUE, UM, WAS ACCOUNTED FOR LAST YEAR THAT YOU ACTUALLY SPENT ON M AND O EXPENDITURES.
SO, UM, AND THEN IT TAKES THAT NUMBER, THAT REVENUE, AND TURNS IT INTO A RATE.
SO, AND THAT RATE WAS THE, THE GROUP, THE ONE THAT'S LINED IN GREEN, THAT 0.0 5, 2 4 3 9, AND YOU CAN SEE THE LINE AFTER THAT.
UM, LINE 41, WE'RE APPLYING OUR 3.5% GROWTH.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAVE THAT ADJUSTMENT FOR SALES TAX, FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, AND THEN THAT GROWTH GETS ADDED TO IT.
SO IT'S NOT JUST 0.0 5 2 4 3 9, IT'S 0.0 5 2 4 3 9 TIMES 3.5%, SEE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE.
SO REALLY AT THIS POINT, YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IS BEING INCREASED AT THIS PART OF THE FORM BY 0.0 5 4 2 7 4.
SO IT'S INCREASING AT THIS PART OF THE FORM.
ALRIGHT, LET'S SEE WHERE IT'S GONNA DECREASE ON THE FORM.
SO THIS IS PART OF THE FORM WHERE IT'S TRYING TO PREDICT HOW MUCH SALES TAX FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF IS GONNA BE, UH, COMING IN THE FUTURE BY LOOKING AT THE PAST FOUR QUARTERS.
SO IT LOOKS AT THE PAST FOUR QUARTERS OF SALES TAX REVENUE AND THEN DIVIDES IT BY VALUE TO GET A RATE.
AND THAT RATE IS 0.05876 THAT'S LINED UP WITH THE, THE RED BOX THERE.
AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT, IF YOU LOOK AT LINE 57, THAT'S YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE.
AND THEN UNDER THAT IS YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE ADJUSTED FOR SALES TAX, FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
SO IT HAS GONE DOWN, YOU KNOW, BY THAT 5 CENTS.
BUT LET'S LOOK AT OUR TOTAL POSITIVES AND OUR TOTAL NEGATIVES, RIGHT? WE LOOK AT THAT, WE HAVE A DECREASE IN THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE BY 0.0 5 0 8 7 6, BUT WE INCREASED IT EARLIER ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE BY 0.0 5 4 2 7 4.
SO WHAT ACTUALLY HAS ENDED UP HAPPENING IS SALES TAX FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF HAS INCREASED YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE FOR THE 2023 BY 0.03398.
SO IT'S KIND OF DOING THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE POLICY IS, WAS JUST TRYING TO LOWER YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE DOWN.
UM, I THINK IT'S JUST A, A FUNCTION OF, UM, WHAT YOUR NEW PROPERTY VALUE IS.
THE MORE NEW PROPERTY VALUE YOU HAVE, THAT'S MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN.
IT'S A FUNCTION OF, UM, YOU SPINNING, UM, UP TO ALL YOUR SALES TAX REVENUE FOR PROPER TAX RELIEF YOU HAVE ON M AND O EXPENSES.
SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO SPIN THAT PARTICULAR REVENUE ON THE M AND O EXPENSES.
UM, AND JUST ONE NOTE HERE, YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAPPENS TO.
IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS QUITE A BIT WITH PEOPLE WITH THE CITIES THAT HAVE, UM, A LOT OF NEW PROPERTY VALUE COMING IN.
WILL THIS BE A CONTINUATION NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT? WELL, THAT DEPENDS ON THE FACTORS THAT I TALKED ABOUT, WHAT YOUR NEW PROPERTY VALUE IS, HOW MUCH YOU ACTUALLY SPEND ON M AND O EXPENDITURES USING THIS PARTICULAR REVENUE.
UM, AND THEN WHAT YOUR QUARTER SALES ARE FOR YOUR SALES TAX REVENUE.
SO IT COULD BE A DIFFERENT TREND NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT.
BUT FOR AT LEAST LAST YEAR, IT SALES TAX FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ADDED TO YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE.
ALL IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ANY CHANGES TO YOUR SALES TAX FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, UM, THIS IS JUST SOME, UH, GOOD RESOURCES FOR YOU.
AND JUST FOR FRIENDLY REMINDERS, UM, IT IS VOTER APPROVED, RIGHT? SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ELECTION, UM, AND THERE'S VERY SPECIFIC TIMING AND ELECTION REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN.
UM, THE COMPTROLLER HAS SOME PRETTY GOOD, UM, UH, RESOURCES ON IT, AND OF COURSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE OVER SALES TAX.
SO I WOULD, IF YOU PLAN ON MAKING ANY CHANGES, THOSE ARE THE BEST PEOPLE TO CALL AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH.
UM, AUTOMATIC ELECTIONS, IF YOU GUYS DO GO OVER YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE, UM, THEN YOU HAVE TO ADOPT THAT RATE SO YOU CAN ORDER YOUR ELECTION BY AUGUST 19TH.
SO IT KIND OF BRINGS THINGS FORWARD REALLY,
[00:30:01]
REALLY QUICKLY.SO I ALWAYS TELL MY TAXI UNITS, PLEASE HAVE IN MIND WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GONNA GO OVER THAT RATE THIS YEAR.
IF YOU PLAN ON GOING TO THE VOTERS.
UM, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT'S A UNIFORM ELECTION DATE NOVEMBER, AND THEN OF COURSE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS THE BEST PERSON TO TALK TO ABOUT, UM, ELECTIONS AND HOW COMPLEX THEY ARE, RIGHT? UM, THE ONE THING THE TAX CODE DOES KIND OF GO OVER IS THE, UM, BALLOT LANGUAGE.
SO THIS IS THE MODEL FORM FROM THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
SO IF THE, THE TAXPAYERS SAY YES, THEY'RE APPROVING YOUR ADOPTED RATE, IF THEY SAY NO, UM, THEN YOU CANNOT KEEP THAT ADOPTED RATE.
AND THE, THE REQUIRED BALLOT LANGUAGE IS ON HERE, AND IT, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE ADOPTIVE RATE ON THERE LAST YEAR'S RATE.
UM, AND THEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ADOPTIVE RATE AND THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE ON THERE.
SO IT'S VERY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.
SO IF THEY DISAPPROVE A RATE, UH, IT GOES BACK TO YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE.
USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE ELECTION, A LOT OF MY CLIENTS, THE TAX OFFICES WILL HOLD THOSE TAX BILLS INSTEAD OF SENDING OUT, UM, TAX BILLS BEFORE THE ELECTION.
UM, THAT WAY YOU CAN, UM, AVOID HAVING TO DO REFUNDS AND CAUSE CONFUSION WITH THE TAXPAYER.
UM, BUT IF THEY DO DECIDE TO GO AHEAD AND SEND OUT THE TAX BILLS, THEN YOU DO HAVE TO SEND OUT CORRECTED ONES IF THEY DISAPPROVE THE RATE, UM, AND THEN DO REFUNDS, WHICH POTENTIALLY CAN HAVE INTEREST AFTER 60 DAYS.
UM, AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPLY FOR IT IF IT'S UNDER A DOLLAR.
SO THEY MADE SOME ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO TRUTH AND TAXATION LAST YEAR.
WE TALKED ABOUT ONE ALREADY, BUT ANOTHER ONE IS, UM, IN AUGUST APPRAISAL DISTRICTS HAVE TO SEND OUT THE POSTCARD TO TAXPAYERS, GIVING THEM THE EURO LINK TO THEIR ESTIMATED TAXES USING THE PROPOSED RATE, AND THEN NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
WELL, THE POSTCARDS ARE NO LONGER HERE.
INSTEAD, APPRAISAL DISTRICTS HAVE TO DO A NEWSPAPER AD AND THEN PUT THE NOTICE ON THEIR WEBSITE.
AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT IS TAXING US.
ALSO HAVE TO PUT THIS NOTICE OF ESTIMATED TAXES ON THEIR WEBSITE TOO.
SO IT'S EVEN MORE WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS THAN USUAL.
SO THAT'S A NEW ONE FOR 2024, AND THAT'S OUR HELP EMAIL THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO ME AND A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE, UH, WHO DABBLE IN TRUTH IN TAXATION.
SO, UM, ALWAYS ENCOURAGE EVERY ANYBODY TO ASK ME QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU MS. MANN, FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
UM, I, UM, I DO BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
LET ME SCAN THE DAYS REAL QUICK.
I'M GONNA ASK MR. FEER, IF YOU WOULD GET OUR TIMER READY JUST SO WE CAN ALLOW FOR QUESTIONS FROM EVERYBODY AND MAINTAIN EFFICIENCY OF THE FLOW OF THE MEETING.
UM, I SAW YOUR LIGHT COUNCILMAN BUR, UH, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
MY FIRST QUESTION, DO YOU HAVE AN ELEMENTARY CLASS? FOR THOSE OF US WHO DID NOT QUITE GET IT? UM, I, I, I THINK I, I COMPREHENDED SOME OF IT, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
YOU, YOU MADE A STATEMENT THAT THE, UM, IT WAS DEALING WITH THE SLIDE THAT, UH, TALKED ABOUT THAT WE ADDED TO THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, RIGHT? UH, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE CALCULATIONS, UH, BECAUSE OF HOW WE USE OUR SALES TAX, YES.
HOW WE ADDED TO THAT VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
NOW, FOR, FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE WATCHING, AND THOSE OF US WHO JUST DON'T KNOW, IS THAT A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING, DOES THAT TRIGGER OVER THE 3.5%? SO WHEN WE ADDED TO IT, THAT PUT US OVER WHAT, WHAT'S SENATE THE BILL ALLOWED.
SO IT, IT DOESN'T TRIGGER, UH, IT DOESN'T GO OVER THE RATE.
WHAT IT IS, IS IT'S INCREASING YOUR RATE.
SO YOU HAVE THAT, UM, THREE AND A HALF PERCENT GROWTH HAS TO BE APPLIED TO A BASE NUMBER, RIGHT? AND NUMBER, AND THAT NUMBER HAS ALL THESE ADJUSTMENTS ON IT.
AND ONE OF THE ADJUSTMENTS IS ADDING A, A ADDITIONAL, UH, RATE PENNIES BECAUSE OF THE SALES TAX THAT YOU'VE SPENT, UM, FOR M AND O EXPENDITURES.
OKAY? SO THAT'S INCREASING YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE.
OKAY? SO WE, INSTEAD OF DOING THE 3.5, WE CAN DO THE 3.53, WHATEVER, WE CAN GO OVER THAT NUMBER.
UH, IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE YOUR, YOUR NO NEW REVENUE M AND O, RIGHT? SO WHATEVER YOUR RATE IS TO GET THE SAME M AND O AS LAST YEAR, RIGHT? AND THEN THAT M NO NEW REVENUE, M AND O GETS ADJUSTMENTS TO IT BEFORE YOU APPLY GROWTH.
AND ONE OF THOSE ADJUSTMENTS IS ADDING THE RATE FOR THE SALES TAX.
AND ONE LAST QUESTION, THE EXAMPLE OF THE FOREGONE REVENUE, UH, AND, AND I GOT THAT ADJUSTMENT, THAT WAS A WONDERFUL SLIDE.
BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE CALCULATION, UH, WHEN, WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THE CALCULATION THAT TALKED ABOUT THE, THE, UH, ADDITIONAL, UH, TAX CREDIT THAT WE'RE USING, IS THAT THE
[00:35:01]
ADJUSTED THE, IS THAT BEFORE OR AFTER THE, THE, UM, THE NEW, UH, TAXABLE, UH, UNITS? THAT'S AFTER.COUNCILMAN BUR, COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, I SAW THE AUGUST 19TH DATE, AND I'M, I'M A DATE DRIVEN PERSON.
SO BASED ON THAT, YOU'RE SAYING, IF I'M HEARING YOU CORRECTLY, THAT, UM, THE BUDGET WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE 19TH FOR YOU TO, TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE EITHER OVER OR UNDER THAT, RIGHT? AND I KNOW DIFFERENT TAX UNITS HAVE DIFFERENT TIMELINES.
Y'ALL ADOPT THE BUDGET BEFORE THE TAX RATE, IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, NO.
WE NORMALLY DO IT IN SEPTEMBER, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS RIGHT, IF I'M HEARING THIS DATE CORRECTLY, THAT'S A WHOLE MONTH OF AHEAD OF THE ACTUAL ADOPTION, RIGHT? SO YOU, IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CALL AN ELECTION, THEN YOU ARE GONNA HAVE TO ADOPT THAT TAX RATE BY AUGUST 19TH, AND USUALLY THE BUDGETS COME BEFORE THAT, RIGHT BEFORE THE TAX RATE ADOPTION.
UM, IS THAT RIGHT, MR. YES, MA'AM.
AND THE OTHER THING I WAS GONNA ASK, SOME CITIES KNOW THAT THEY INTEND TO EXCEED THAT VOTER APPROVAL RATE AND KNOW THAT THEY WANT TO CALL FOR AN ELECTION, BUT THAT'S WHERE THAT COMES FROM.
THEY DON'T, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY WHEN YOU GET TO THAT POINT.
SOME CITIES ALREADY KNOW IN ADVANCE, WE WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME PROJECTS AND THINGS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CHIS, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE UNUSED PENNIES.
UM, AS YOUR ILLUSTRATION SHOWED, UH, YEAR OVER YEAR, HOW WE ONCE CALCULATED, UH, THE UNUSED PENNIES, AND, UM, FROM YOUR, YOUR ILLUSTRATION FOR DESOTO FOR 2023, IT SHOWED THE, UM, WE MAXED OUT OF THE UNUSED PENNIES BASED ON, UM, 2000, 2001, 2002.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THAT FOR A CITY, FOR, SO FOR GOING INTO THE NEXT, UH, FISCAL YEAR AS WE'RE PLANNING, WHEN DOES THAT, WHEN DO WE RESET FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE? OR WILL WE EVER SEE ANY UNUSED PENNIES AGAIN TO HELP BALANCE OUT WHAT WE WERE USING AS A BENEFIT, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
SO YOU CAN, FOR 2024, CREATE UNUSED INCREMENT, UNUSED PENNIES, UM, IF YOU ADOPT A PROPERTY TAX RATE THAT IS LOWER THAN YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE WITHOUT THE UNUSED INCREMENT ON IT, WHICH IS ZERO.
SO BASICALLY, IF YOU GO UNDER YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE NEXT THIS, THIS YEAR, YOU'LL EARN PENNIES.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA? HEARING NONE.
THANK YOU AGAIN, MS. MANN, FOR THE THANK WE APPRECIATE IT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE, WHAT WAS IT, THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL YES.
[2. Presentation of proclamation honoring National Vietnam War Veterans Day]
THIS TIME, MS. THOMAS, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE.NEXT WE'LL GO TO B TWO PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION HONORING NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY.
MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM RECEIVING IS KAYLA BOLDEN COMMUNITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR ON BEHALF OF THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, GOOD EVENING, DESOTO.
I AM, UH, TRULY THANKFUL AND EXCITED TO, UH, GIVE THIS PROCLAMATION.
I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO OUR MAYOR FOR ALWAYS SEEING VETERANS, FOR ALWAYS MAKING ROOM FOR VETERANS HERE IN DESOTO.
UM, AND PARTICULARLY, UH, THIS, UH, WAR AS WE KNOW, UM, VIETNAM WAR WAS DEVASTATING TO OUR COUNTRY, AND MANY OF THOSE SOLDIERS WHO CAME BACK HOME DID NOT COME BACK HOME TO A WARM WELCOME.
AND SO IN DESOTO, WE DEFINITELY MAKE IT A POINT TO THANK NOT ONLY THEIR FAMILIES, UM, BUT ALSO THOSE WHO HAVE GONE AND PASSED ON, AND THOSE WHO WERE STILL HERE.
I RUN INTO VIETNAM, VETERANS IN DESOTO ALL THE TIME.
UM, AND DESOTO IS HOME TO OVER 4,000, UM, VETERANS, UM, HERE IN THE CITY.
SO, UM, I WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A PROCLAMATION AND THANK YOU ALSO TO OUR COMMUNITY MANAGER, UH, CALEB, UH, BOLDEN, WHO WILL BE ACCEPTING AS WELL.
UM, THIS PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY IS OBSERVED ON MARCH 29TH OF EACH YEAR AS A WAY TO THANK AND HONOR OUR NATION'S VIETNAM VETERAN FAMILIES AND THEIR
[00:40:01]
SACRIFICE AND SERVICE.THIS DATE IS ALSO SYMBOLIC BECAUSE IN 1973, ON THE SAME DAY, THE LAST US COMBAT TROUPE DEPARTED VIETNAM.
AND WHEREAS THE PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION FOR THE VIETNAM WAR VETERANS RECOGNITION ACT OF 2017 WAS SIGNED INTO LAW TO ENSURE THE SACRIFICE OF 9 MILLION HEROES WHO SERVED DURING THIS DIFFICULT CHAPTER OF OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY ARE REMEMBERED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
AND WHEREAS IN 2012, OUR NATION LAUNCHED A 13 YEAR COMMEMORATION OF 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR.
TO WARRANT THAT EVERY VETERAN, FAMILY CAREGIVER AND SURVIVOR OBSTRUCTED BY THE DIFFICULT YEARS IN VIETNAM, FILLS OUR NATION'S GRATITUDE FOR THEIR SACRIFICE.
EVERY SERVICE MEMBER OF THE VIETNAM GENERATION SHOULD KNOW THAT THEIR SACRIFICES MATTER AND THAT THEIR SERVICE MADE A DIFFERENCE.
AND WHEREAS THIS COM COMM
NOW, THEREFORE, I RACHEL L PROCTOR BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR CITY OF DESOTO, DALLAS COUNTY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 29TH, 2024, AS NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR, VETERANS DAY IN THE CITY OF DESOTO, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO HONOR OUR VIETNAM VETERANS BOTH PAST AND PRESENT IN THEIR FAMILIES FOR THEIR SACRIFICE AND SERVICE.
IN THE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION WHEREOF, I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 19TH DAY OF MARCH 20TH, 2004.
RACHEL L PROCTOR, MAYOR ATTEST, ALICIA THOMAS, CITY SECRETARY.
DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? TAKE YOUR WORD.
I JUST WANNA TAKE THIS TIME OUT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR PROCTOR FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND ALSO NEXT THURSDAY, IT IS GONNA BE THE VIETNAM OBSERVER EVENT THAT WE'RE HAVING HERE AT THE CORON THEATER.
IT'S FREE LUNCH, IT'S A FREE EVENT.
SO JUST COME OUT AND IT SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR, UH, THAT PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, COUNCILWOMAN CHISHOLM.
[C. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.NEXT WE 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 MAY, IF I MAY, THE CITY OF DESOTO WILL HOLD THEIR GENERAL ELECTION ON SATURDAY, MAY 4TH, 2024.
FOR COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE SIX AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE SEVEN.
EARLY VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN MONDAY, APRIL 22ND AND TUESDAY, APRIL 30TH AT DISCIPLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY CHURCH, LOCATED AT 9 0 1 NORTH POLK STREET, HERE IN DESOTO.
ADDITIONAL VOTE CENTER LOCATIONS FOR ELECTION DAY ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE@WWW.DESOTOTEXAS.GOV.
IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ELECTION, YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED VOTER.
THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE MAY ELECTION IS APRIL 4TH.
IF YOU'RE UNSURE OF YOUR VOTER STATUS, YOU CAN VISIT VOTE TEXAS.GOV.
VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS ARE AVAILABLE HERE AT TOWN CENTER'S ACTION CENTER, THE DESOTO LIBRARY, DESOTO REC CENTER SENIOR CENTER, AND MUST BE MAILED OR DELIVERED TO DALLAS COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS AT 1520 ROUND TABLE DRIVE, DALLAS, TEXAS 7 5 2 4 7.
FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 9 7 2 2 3 0 9 6 6 4.
OR YOU MAY REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO DALLAS COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT AT WWW.DALLASCOUNTYVOTES.ORG OR BY PHONE AT (214) 819-6389.
COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? YES, COUNCILMAN BYRD.
I WANT TO SAY, UM, UH, OUR MAYOR OFTEN SAY THAT, UM, THE ISD AND THE CITY HAS THE SAME LAST NAME, AND WE WANT TO SEND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DESOTO
[00:45:01]
HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR, WHICH WILL BE PERFORMING THIS WEEK AT THE LINCOLN CENTER, UH, PERFORMANCE CENTER IN THE GREAT CITY OF, UH, NEW YORK STATE.IT IS A WONDERFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. PAM DAWSON AND OUR HIGH HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR.
DESOTO TEAM COUNCIL PRESENTS TEENS UNPLUGGED.
WELL STILL HAVE ANOTHER WEEK, BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH FAIR.
SATURDAY, MARCH 30TH FROM 90 3:00 PM AT THE DESOTO CIVIC CENTER.
TERRENCE, PLEASE GET YOUR TEENS THERE, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT YOURS.
WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THEM NEED DIRECTION.
THERE'LL BE BREAKOUT SESSIONS ON BUILDING HEALTHY HABITS, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION RELIEF, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP ADVICE, POSITIVE PARENTAL CONVERSATIONS, AND UNPLUGGED WITH MILLENNIALS.
THEN ON APRIL 6TH, DON'T FORGET, THAT'S OUR ANNUAL KEEP DESOTO BEAUTIFUL TRASH PICKUP DATE.
AND THAT WILL BE FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM WE HAVE FOUR LOCATIONS, 1501 NORTH BECKLEY, 1304 WEST BELTLINE, 9 0 1 NORTH POLK, AND 1 0 8 WEST PARKVILLE.
THERE WILL BE $5 T-SHIRTS FOR SALE.
AND LASTLY, DON'T FORGET TO MARK YOUR DATES FOR THE STATE OF THE DISTRICT ADDRESS SPONSORED BY DESOTO AREA CHAMBER, AND THAT IS MAY 2ND AT 11:00 AM IN THE BLUE BONNET ROOM AT THE DESOTO CIVIC CENTER.
UM, I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT THEY HAVE GOING ON, BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN YOUR GLASSES YET, IT IS TIME.
THE ACTUAL SOLAR ECLIPSE IS COMING.
APRIL THE EIGHTH, FIND YOU A SPOT TO SEE THE SUN AND SHINE BRIGHT.
UH, JUST WANTED TO, UM, SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT MY TARDINESS TODAY WAS, 'CAUSE I WAS AT A PUBLIC MEETING BY T DOT, THEY WERE IN DALLAS AND SOUTH DALLAS PRESENTING ON I 3 45.
MOST OF US DON'T KNOW, 3 45, WE KNOW 45.
SO IF YOU WORK IN DALLAS, UM, FOR, AND YOU LIVE HERE IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR IN DESOTO AND ANY OTHER CITIES, UM, JUST KNOW THAT THAT IS A ROAD OR A SEGMENT OF THE ROAD THAT IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR RECONSTRUCTION.
AND SO RIGHT NOW IT IS IN THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN STAGE.
NEXT IT WILL GO TO THE SCHEMATIC STAGE.
AND SO IT LOOKS LIKE THIS THING IS MOVING.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS RELATED TO I 3 45, UM, YOU NEED TO CONTACT TAX DOT WITH THAT.
AND WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING TO DO AND IS UP TO THE CITY OF DALLAS TO DECIDE, UM, HOW THEY WANT IT, UM, CONSTRUCTED.
UM, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SINKING THE FREEWAY BELOW GRADE TO, TO UNIFY THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I DID ASK A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, 90% OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, UH, WORK UP NORTH.
SO THEY'VE NOT GOTTEN TO THAT POINT YET.
SO THE POINT, MY POINT IN TELLING YOU ABOUT THIS IS THAT TEX DOT NEEDS TO HEAR FROM US IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, THOSE OF US, UM, SOUTH OF 30, YOU CAN EMAIL 3, 4, 5 CONNECTS@TXDOT.GOV.
THAT'S 3 4 5 CONNECTS@TXDOT.GOV.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, UM, 'CAUSE MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT, MANY OF OUR CITIES IN THIS AREA DOES NOT HAVE PUBLIC TRANSIT.
AND JUST IMAGINE IF 3 45 OR 45 AS WE KNOW IT, 20 TO 45, GET YOU ON DOWNTOWN.
THAT LITTLE SEGMENT THAT CONNECTS THE TWO IS 3 45.
SO MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU LET YOUR REPRESENTATIVES KNOW AT THE STATE LEVEL.
UM, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, UM, CONTACT T DOT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE WE GO AHEAD? UH, MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I DO HAVE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS TO GO FORTH THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, DESOTO PARKS AND RECREATION PRESENTS OLD SCHOOL GOSPEL CONCERT PRESENTED BY SNOOP ROBINSON.
THE COST IS GONNA BE $20, AND OF COURSE IT WILL BE HELD AT DESOTO CORNER THEATER.
WE WANT YOU TO GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.
AND OF COURSE, THOSE TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED@DESOTOEVENTS.EVENTS BRIGHT.COM.
NOW, THE FEATURED GUEST, OR CC BOL RICK JAMES AND TOMMY YOUNG WEST.
IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD THESE PERFORMERS, PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY OVER TO THE DESOTO CORNER THEATER.
THAT'S GONNA BE ON MARCH 23RD, UH, THIRD, AND OF COURSE IT WILL START PROMPTLY AT 7:00 PM THE LAST ONE TO GO FORTH THIS EVENING IS THERE'S GOING TO BE AN EASTER EGG EXTRAVAGANZA.
THERE WILL BE PRIZES, FACE PAINTING, MUSIC, AND SNOW CONES.
[00:50:01]
IT WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 23RD AS WELL.THE EVENT TIME IS 10 UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK.
THE EGG HUNT WILL START PROMPTLY AT 11:00 AM DON'T MISS OUT.
WE WANT YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY.
UH, EGG HUNT AGE GROUPS ARE AGE FIVE AND UNDER AGES SIX TO EIGHT, AND THEN OF COURSE, AGES NINE AND UP.
THIS WILL BE HELD OVER AT ZYGER PARK, LOCATED AT 4 0 5 EAGLE DRIVE HERE IN THE ALL AMERICA CITY OF DESOTO.
ALSO, PLEASE, UM, PRE-REGISTER IF YOU CAN, ONLINE@DESOTOTEXAS.GOV SLASH REGISTER.
MADAM MAYOR, ARE YOU BACK? THANK YOU, DR. MARKS COUNCILMAN CHISHOLM.
UM, I WANT TO REPEAT MS. BOLDIN.
SHE TOLD US ABOUT THE VIETNAM EVENT THAT'S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK, BUT I DO WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT.
UM, AND I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION.
UM, I WILL BE HOSTING A PROPERTY TAX ONE-ON-ONE SPECIAL TOWN HALL MEETING.
I'LL HAVE THE, UH, DALLAS COUNTY, UH, TAX ASSESSOR, UH, JOHN AMES, WHO WAS JUST HERE THIS EVENING, AS WELL AS OUR CHIEF, UH, A CHIEF APPRAISER FOR DC AD, UH, SHANE DORY.
UM, THEY WILL BE JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT THE TAX, THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM, THE APPRAISAL APPEAL PROCESS, AND PROPERTY TAX DEADLINES FOR YOU, UM, UM, RESIDENTS WHO NEED TO KNOW WHEN YOU NEED TO APPEAL IN THAT PROCESS.
AND, AND SO THAT WILL HAPPEN ON THURSDAY, THIS THURSDAY THE 21ST AT 6:00 PM UM, AT DC THREE.
DC THREE IS ALSO KNOWN AS DISCIPLE CENTRAL.
IT'S LOCATED AT 9 0 1 NORTH, UH, PO POLK STREET.
WE ALREADY HAVE OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE REGISTERED.
IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED, I SUGGEST YOU REGISTER.
UM, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA TURN ANYONE AROUND.
THE CHURCH HAS PLENTY OF ROOM, BUT IT'S NICE TO KNOW FOR SNACKS AND PURPOSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, I HAVE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE WE, UH, MOVE FORWARD.
UH, I WANTED TO JUST SEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE PARKS AND REC TEAM FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL MOVE WITH THE MAYOR EVENT.
UM, IT IS AN EVENT THAT WE HAVE STARTED HOSTING.
UM, AND THIS WAS OUR FIFTH ONE.
WE'VE HAD, UH, MOVE WITH THE MAYOR, OUR SENIOR EDITION, AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL THAT HIGHLIGHTED ALL OF THE AMENITIES AND THE CLASSES AND ALL OF THE BENEFITS OF, UH, OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.
AND SO THAT WAS AN, A VERY AWESOME EVENT.
SO WE WANNA GIVE OUR PARKS AND REC STAFF ANOTHER GREAT BIG HAND CLAP.
WE HAD EVERYTHING THAT RESIDENTS COULD TRY OUT FROM YOGA TO HI CLASSES TO LINE DANCING AND EVEN PICKLEBALL.
AND I TRIED MY HAND AT IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SO I'M THINKING ABOUT, UH, ENROLLING IN THOSE CLASSES EACH WEEK.
BUT, UH, WE WANNA THANK AGAIN, OUR PARKS AND REC FOR MAKING, UH, THAT, FOR MAKING, UH, THAT A GREAT EVENT AND, AND JUST EXPOSING OUR RESIDENTS TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER OVER THERE.
THE LAST ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I WANT TO, UH, SHARE IS THE CW SOTO IS CELEBRATING OUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY.
AND OF COURSE, THAT IS THE 75TH YEAR FROM INCORPORATION.
I GET ASKED THAT QUESTION ALL THE TIME 'CAUSE WE'RE CONSIDERABLY OLDER IN TERMS OF WHEN DESOTO WAS SETTLED.
HOWEVER, OUR INCORPORATION DATE, WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY, WHICH IS 75.
AND SO WE'RE CELEBRATING THAT WITH A WONDERFUL GALA THAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING ON APRIL 5TH.
UM, THE DOORS OPEN AT SIX 30 AND THE EVENT STARTS AT 7:00 PM IT'S GONNA BE RIGHT HERE AT THE DESOTO CIVIC CENTER IN THE BLUE BODY ROOMS. AND SO IT'S GONNA BE A BLACK TIE EVENT.
UM, AND WE STILL HAVE SPACE FOR YOU IF YOU WANNA COME OR IF YOU WANNA GET A TABLE.
UH, WE'LL BE CELEBRATING, UH, RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND OUR HOMECOMING KING AND QUEEN.
ALL OF THAT WILL BE CELEBRATED THAT NIGHT.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A SPECTACULAR EVENING.
YOU CAN ALWAYS GO TO THE WEBSITE, DESOTO TEXAS.GOV TO GET TICKET INFORMATION, OR YOU CAN CALL IF YOU WANNA DO A TABLE RESERVATION, 9 7 2 2 3 0 7 3 2 3.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE AT THIS TIME, MS. THOMAS, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
NEXT WE MOVE TO OUR CITIZEN APPEARANCES.
THE CITY COUNCIL INVITES CITIZENS TO 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
[00:55:01]
OF AN AGENDA ITEM.HOWEVER, COMMENT CARDS RELATED TO THE CITIZEN APPEARANCES PORTION OF THE AGENDA MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE AMBASSADOR'S TABLE PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING.
AND MAY I DO NOT HAVE ANY, SO I'LL MOVE INTO
[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. ]
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 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 RECOGNITION OF PROCLAMATION HONORING MARCH FOR MEALS MONTH CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT OF DARREN DANIEL TO PLACE ONE FOR THE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, CONSIDER THE PRELIMINARY PLAT OF DESOTO COMMONS, WENDY'S EDITION LOTS ONE AND TWO.
CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO THE WESTMORELAND PUMP STATION, A RPA EMERGENCY POWER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH GARVER LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,216, AND ESTABLISHING A NEW PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BUDGET, $94,706.
CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE FOR ADDITIONAL INSPECTION SERVICES WITH GARVER LLC FOR HAMPTON ROAD PUMP STATION REHABILITATION PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,728 AND ESTABLISHING A NEW PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BUDGET OF $1,555,538.
AND CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITIES OF LANCASTER, CEDAR HILL AND DUNCANVILLE FOR THE HISPANIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL.
AT THIS TIME, UM, COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SIR? UH, REGARDING THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES, MS. UH, CHISHOLM.
UM, ONE, I NOTICED THAT WE, WE HAVE, UH, EXECUTED A FEW AMENDMENTS FOR THE, UM, WATER PUMP STATION OF, AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS, AFTER ATTENDING, UM, UM, A WATER, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, WORKSHOP, EPA WAS IN THAT WORKSHOP AND THEY TALKED HEAVILY ABOUT GRANTS OPPORTUNITY AND HOW, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST DOLLARS ON THE TABLE.
AND I GAVE THEM SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE HAD AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS, ARE WE LOOKING AT ANY GRANT FUNDING FOR ANY OF THIS OUTSIDE OF TAPPING INTO THE BUDGET FOR IT? SO THESE TWO PROJECTS ARE ACTUALLY FUNDED BY THE ARPA GRANT.
UH, SO, BUT YEAH, WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR, UH, GRANT FUNDS WHEN, WHEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU CAN COMBINE THEM, RIGHT? UH, I BELIEVE SO.
BUT THESE ARE, THESE TWO ARE REALLY FULLY FUNDED, FULLY FUNDED WITH ARPA ALREADY.
AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS THAT I WAS READING THE CONTRACT FOR THE INTERLOCAL THANK YOU MR. BRANDY
I WAS READING THE INTER THE AGREEMENT FOR THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR THE, UM, HISPANIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL.
AND I SAW THE, UH, LINE FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE.
AND I JUST HAD A QUESTION REGARDING THAT, BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE IS WRITTEN NOT NECESSARILY TO SAY, LIKE IT SAYS ALONG THE LINES OF THE, UM, IF ADEQUATE, EACH CITY WOULD, NON HOSING CITY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS THAT WILL BE DEEMED OR JUST PROVIDED AT AS NEEDED.
AND WHEN I THINK BACK ON MOST OF THESE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE, I NEVER, I DON'T REALLY SEE THE OTHER CITY REPRESENTATION.
MAYBE I'M JUST MISSING IT, BUT IT IS, WHY ISN'T IT, WHY AREN'T WE PUTTING EXACT 'CAUSE WE KNOW WHAT WE'LL NEED, RIGHT? BASED ON OVERTIME THAT WE'VE DONE THE YEARS BEFORE.
I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S IN THAT IT KIND OF LEAVES A LOOPHOLE FOR A CITY NOT TO BALANCE.
SO WITH THE EVENTS THAT WE PARTNER WITH, THERE'S A OPERATIONS PLAN THAT'S REQUIRED ONCE THAT OPERA OPERATIONS PLAN IS MADE, THEN THE PUBLIC SAFETY, THEY GET TOGETHER AND DECIDE ON THOSE OFFICERS.
BUT THERE ARE OFFICERS FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES.
AND IS THEIR PAY, IS THAT GOING INTO THE, UM, THE FUNDING FOR THAT OF THE $10,000 EACH CITY IS DOING? OR IS THAT OVERTIME PAID? SO I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE OTHER CITIES, BUT NORMALLY IT'S BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WHERE IT DOESN'T IMPACT AT LEAST PARKS AND RECREATION BUDGET.
AND THE ONLY REASON WHY I'M ASKING IS, 'CAUSE YESTERDAY, AS WE DISCUSSED THIS, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE $10,000 EACH AND WITH EO YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T, I WAS JUST CURIOUS, IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE ADDED INTO THAT? 'CAUSE IT'S ALSO A, A CLAUSE FOR SECURITY, WHICH ON CERTAIN OFFICIALS, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S THE ENTERTAINMENT PEOPLE CORRECT.
THE THE $10,000 DOES NOT INCLUDE SECURITY.
AND GENERALLY EACH CITY TAKES CARE OF THEIR OWN SECURITY.
UM, OCCASIONALLY YOU'LL HAVE SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON ON THE SAME DAY IN A CITY AND WHICH WILL REQUIRE MORE OFFICERS IN THAT CITY.
AND IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN THAT CITY MAY REQUEST
[01:00:01]
SOME HELP FROM THE OTHER CITIES TO, TO MAN THAT PROJECT.BUT VERY SELDOM DOES THAT HAPPEN.
THAT'S WHY IT'S KIND OF WRITTEN VAGUE LIKE THAT.
UH, IT'S JUST IN THE EVENT THAT SOMETHING ELSE IS GOING ON DURING THAT TIME.
BUT AGAIN, VERY SELDOM DOES THAT HAPPEN.
IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT.
SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY.
SECOND, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
UH, COUNSEL ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, WE HAVE A CONFIRMATION OF MR. DARREN DANIEL TO PLACE ONE OF THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
IS MR. DANIEL HERE TONIGHT? I DON'T THINK I SEE HIM.
HOWEVER, WE WANNA THANK HIM FOR, UH, HIS SERVICE TO THAT BOARD.
WE ALWAYS APPLAUD OUR RESIDENTS, UH, FOR STEPPING UP TO FILL THESE, TO FILL THESE VITAL SPOTS, UH, TO SERVE ON THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
SO IF WE COULD GIVE HIM A HAND CLAP, HE MAY BE WATCHING ONLINE.
AT THIS TIME, MS. THOMAS, WE'LL TAKE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE.
HAVING NO PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE MOVE INTO OUR
[1. Consider authorizing the Interim City Manager to negotiate and execute Mowing Service Agreements with Good Earth Corporation, Harwell Mowing, and Urban Landscaping and Irrigation in the amount of $801,335 for Groups 1,2 and 3 for Parks, Municipal Buildings, Medians and Rights-of-Way.]
REGULAR AGENDA FIRST, WE HAVE CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE MOWING SERVICE AGREEMENTS WITH GOOD EARTH CORPORATION, HARWELL MOWING AND URBAN LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $801,335 FOR GROUPS ONE, TWO, AND THREE FOR PARKS, MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, MEDIANS, AND RIGHT RIGHTS OF WAY.MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS NATHAN BUSBY PARK SUPERINTENDENT.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, COUNCIL CITY STAFF.
THE MOWING SERVICE AGREEMENT IS A MAJOR MEDIUM FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE CITY COUNCIL'S GOAL.
TO MAINTAIN DESOTO IS A SAFE, CLEAN, AND ACT, UH, ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITY.
THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO AWARD AN AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC GROUND MAINTENANCE IN AT BOULEVARD'S, MEDIANS AND OTHER CITY PROPERTIES AS REQUIRED BY THE ESTABLISHED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES.
UH, A PRE-BID MEETING WAS HELD IN JANUARY, AND UH, THE BIDS WERE ACTUALLY OPENED ON JANUARY 21ST.
UH, AND THERE WAS SEVEN SEALED BIDS FOR GROUP ONE, TWO, AND THREE.
AND THE EVALUATION TEAM REVIEWED THE BIDS, UH, BASED ON CURRENT EXPERIENCE AND COST OF SERVICES.
UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE MOWING SERVICES AGREEMENTS WITH, UH, GOOD EARTH CORPORATION WHO IS OVERSEEING, UH, GROUP ONE.
AND THEY ARE A SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, UH, AND THEY OVERSEE THE PARKS AND MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS.
GROUP TWO IS URBAN LANDSCAPING.
UH, THEY ARE A MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE AND THEY WOULD BE OVERSEEING THE MEDIANS AND RIGHT OF WAYS.
AND GROUP THREE IS HARWELL MOWING AND THEY WOULD BE OVERSEEING THE WATER WASTEWATER SITES, FIRE STATIONS, CITY OWNED PROPERTIES, AND THEY'RE GROUP THREE.
WE AREN'T COMING TO YOU, UH, ASKING FOR A BUDGET AMENDMENT TODAY.
UH, 'CAUSE WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH THE BUDGET YEAR.
UM, SO I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, BUT WE WILL BE DOING A SUPPLEMENTAL FOR NEXT YEAR.
UM, SO I WILL OPEN UP TO ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, AT THIS TIME, COUNSEL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO QUESTIONS MATTER.
MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND.
WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
COUNSEL, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS? AND IF SO, WE'LL, WE'LL DO ROUNDS.
MR. FETT, IF WE COULD DO, UM, TWO MINUTES PER COUNCILPERSON.
I THINK WE HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR, UH, BRINGING THIS BEFORE US.
AND I REMEMBER, UM, HOW THESE WERE SPLIT UP SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO GIVE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO THOSE, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE IN AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I APPRECIATE, UM, THE CONTINUANCE OF THAT.
BUT JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION RELATED TO, I GUESS, IN TERMS OF THE SERVICES BEING RECEIVED.
SO JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO I WAS TAKING A LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WERE SMALLER, TWO ACRES 0.25 ACRES.
AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE COST, YOU KNOW, ALL OVER A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
UH, LET'S SEE, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THE 1 0 8, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT IS, IS IT'S POINT, IT'S A QUARTER ACRE.
SO FOR THAT 1 44, IS IT CUTTING AND EDGING AND TRASH PICKUP OR WHAT, WHAT, WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEY DOING? CUTTING, EDGING, AND, OR THAT'S IT.
UH, GROUP ONE, TWO AND THREE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, THE LITTER PICKUP BEFORE THEY CUT, ALSO THE CUTTING, BLOWING, AND ALSO TRIMMING.
AND THEN JUST, JUST IN DOING YOUR CHECKS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, THOSE PRICES
[01:05:01]
ARE COMMENSURATE WITH WHAT THE MARKET IS RIGHT NOW.AND WE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO SOME OF THE VENDORS TO KIND OF EXPLAIN TO US WHY THE COSTS HAD GONE UP SO MUCH.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEEN FOUR AND A HALF YEARS ALMOST SINCE WE LAST DID THIS.
UM, BUT WITH INFLATION RISING COSTS, THEY WERE, THEY WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT RISING COSTS IN EMPLOYEES.
UM, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT $16 AN EMPLOYEE BACK WHEN WE STARTED.
THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET MY TIME STARTED OVER.
UH, THANK YOU TOM
EVERY SECOND IS PRECIOUS OUT EVERY EVERY, EVERY MINUTE COUNTS.
UM, I, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOUR STAFF FOR, I SAW PAUL DRYER'S, UH, NATURE PRESERVE IS ADDED TO THIS, WHICH IS AMAZING.
UM, AND THEN ALSO I HAD A QUESTION I DID NOT, AS I WAS LOOKING AT THE, UM, DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVICES THEY, THEY WERE PROVIDING, I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING REGARDING LIKE THE LAND ACTUAL LANDSCAPING.
AND I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OUR MEDIAS.
UM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR AN ADDITIONAL BUDGET AMENDMENT LATER ON OR SO? UH, INTERNALLY, WE HAVE CHALLENGED STAFF, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LITTER CREW, UM, TO COME UP WITH A FIVE YEAR PLAN, UM, WITH THE MEDIAS, UH, HOPEFULLY THIS WEEK IN THE, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, YOU'RE GONNA SEE A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT.
UH, THEY STARTED AT THE MEADOWS TODAY.
I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN WORKING THEIR WAY AROUND THE COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT THESE SPECIFIC VENDORS, UNLESS WE NEEDED SOME ASSISTANCE WITH SOMEONE WHO HAD SOME IRRIGATION OR SOME TYPE OF, UH, NEED THAT WE HAD, UH, WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT WITH, UH, A DIFFERENT CONTRACTOR.
BUT AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE ENOUGH, UH, FOR THE BUDGET.
I JUST LIKE TO SAY THIS, THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE EQUITY IN THE AESTHETICS, UH, AS IT RELATES TO WHAT YOU SEE ON WESTMORELAND AND PLEASANT RUN VERSUS POLK AND, UM, BELTLINE.
UM, I THINK THAT WE, WE HAVE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY IN JUST BEING CONSISTENT ACROSS THE CITY FROM THAT STANDPOINT AS OUR MEDIANS AND HOW THEY AESTHETICALLY LOOK.
I APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK AND WHILE I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND HOPEFULLY SOME OF THE CITIZENS ARE, ARE WATCHING, UM, WE HAVE HAD A BIG ISSUE WITH THEFT, UH, NEW PLANS GOING IN THE GROUND AND LEAVING THAT NIGHT, NEW TREES GOING IN THE GROUND.
SO IF YOU SEE ANYTHING, PLEASE REPORT IT.
UM, THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM HERE IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
SO I DID WANT TO KIND OF BRING THE 10, BRING IT DOWN.
BUT, UH, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF S CITIZENS THAT ARE INVOLVED, SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU REACH OUT TO US IF YOU SEE ANYTHING, UM, UM, BECAUSE THAT IS A NEED THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, THAT'S REALLY SADDENING TO HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE STEALING THINGS THAT, UM, HELP TO BEAUTIFY US.
UM, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE TREES.
I THINK I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, UM, WITH, UH, DIRECTOR GLOVER AS WELL.
UM, THE TREES ALONG THE THOROUGHFARES, THE MOWING, THE EDGING AND ALL THAT.
AS PART OF THIS CONTRACT, IS THE TREES ALSO A PART OF THIS CONTRACT? NO, MA'AM.
WE USUALLY UTILIZE A TREE COMPANY SPECIFICALLY TO DO THAT.
UH, AND WE HAVE A MAINTENANCE PLAN.
UM, SO THESE VENDORS WOULD NOT BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
WHEN THEY DO THOSE SORT OF THINGS, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT TREES, ONCE THE TREES ARE DONE, IF A MOWING COMPANY COMES BEHIND THEM, THEN IT'S KIND OF A, YOU DO EVERYTHING AT THE TOP CLEAN AT THE BOTTOM.
BUT IF THE MOWING COMPANY COMES FIRST, WHO TAKES CARE OF MAKING CERTAIN THAT ANY TREES LEFT OVER ANY DEBRIS, THAT SORT OF THING.
IS IT THE TREE COMPANY THAT DOES THAT? OR IS THE MOWING COMPANY THEN CALLED BACK OUT FOR A SPECIAL MOW TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ALL CLEARED OUT? SO, UM, WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH, WE, EACH ONE OF THESE VENDORS, UH, IF THEY SEE SOMETHING OUT OF PLACE OR ANYTHING GOING ON THAT WE MIGHT NOT CATCH, UH, LITTER CREW IS OUT AND ABOUT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN HANDLE INTERNALLY, UH, WE'LL HANDLE.
BUT I KNOW THAT THE VENDOR WHO MAINTAINS THE RIGHT OF WAYS DOESN'T HAVE A PROBLEM PUTTING IN SOME ADDITIONAL EFFORT TO CLEAR THAT SPACE BEFORE THEY LOAN.
AND MY LAST THING IS, AND I GOT 20 SECONDS
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO INTO, GO REQUEST, TAKE A PICTURE SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE CUSTOMER OR THE CITIZEN IS
[01:10:01]
TALKING ABOUT.UH, AND DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT AND CONTACT ME DIRECTLY.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THOSE AREAS THAT, THAT ITEMS ARE BEING REMOVED.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO PUT CAMERAS OUT THERE? I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S A STRETCH, BUT, UM, FLOOD LIGHT, HOPEFULLY.
UM, COUNCIL HAS, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BY ACADEMY WAY, I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO BY ACADEMY WAY.
UM, OUR GOAL AS A STAFF WAS WE'RE GOING GOING TO BREAK GROUND IN MAY WITH THE NEW, UM, AQUATICS AND REC CENTER.
BUT I CHALLENGED OUR STAFF THIS YEAR TO, UM, GO THROUGH IT THERE AND BEAUTIFY THE AREA SO THAT THINGS ARE ALREADY GROWN.
AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF NEW GROWTH STARTING IN 2025 WHENEVER WE OPENED THE FACILITY.
SO WE ACTUALLY PUT IN 30 TREES DOWN ACADEMY AWAY LAST WEEK.
ONE OF 'EM GOT SOLD, UM, THE, THE NIGHT AFTER WE INSTALLED 'EM.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY THE AREAS THAT IT'S HAPPENING, UM, WE DON'T HAVE A A CAMERA SYSTEM.
UM, BUT FOR SURE POLICE, EVERYBODY'S ON BOARD CODE, EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT.
UM, SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF FINDING THEM AND CATCHING ANYTHING.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
I DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL LIGHTS.
WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.
UM, COUNSEL AT THIS TIME, UH, PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PADS.
MR. GRITA, IF YOU COULD ASSIST US.
THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[2. Consider authorizing the Interim City Manager to negotiate and execute Change Order #2 with SmithGroup Architectural Firm to modify the scope of service for the design of the McCowan Aquatics and Recreation Center to include Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, (LEED) Certification]
HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE.NEXT, WE HAVE CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO WITH SMITH GROUP ARCHITECTURAL FIRM TO MODIFY THE SCOPE OF SERVICE FOR THE DESIGN OF THE MACALLAN AQUATICS AND RECREATION CENTER TO INCLUDE LEADERSHIP AND ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.
MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS CHRIS GLOVER, PARKS DIRECTOR, EVENING MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
UM, ALICIA, THANKS FOR NOT CONFUSING US.
UM, THIS, UH, LEAD CERTIFICATION, WHICH IS OUR LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN CERTIFICATION.
WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE SMITH GROUP FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND THIS MONEY IS ALREADY FUNDED THAT WE ARE REQUESTING.
UH, BUT WE'RE WAITING UNTIL THIS TIME BECAUSE WE KEPT DOING REDESIGNS, WHICH WOULD'VE, WHICH WOULD IMPACT, UH, THE COST OF IT.
SO WE NEVER REALLY FORMALLY CAME BACK AND PUT IT IN THE SCOPE OF SERVICES FOR THE SMITH GROUP.
SO OUR DESIRE TONIGHT IS TO GET, GET APPROVAL FROM YOU ALL TO PUT IT INTO THE SCOPE.
AND AGAIN, THE, THE, IT IS NOT ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
THE FUNDING, UH, WAS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, UM, TO, TO DO IT.
BUT WE JUST KEPT MASSAGING THE FACILITY SO WE COULDN'T REALLY NAIL DOWN, UH, SPECIFIC COSTS UNTIL AFTER OUR 50%, UH, CONSTRUCTION DESIGN.
BUT, UH, GOING BACK TO, UH, OUR CONSTRUCTION COSTS, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT YESTERDAY, THE CONSTRUCTION COST WAS $43,138,669.
AND THEN THE SOFT COST WAS $9,857,663.
AND, UH, WITHIN THAT SOFT COST, WHICH IS WHERE THE LEAD CERTIFICATION IS, UM, THAT, UH, WITHIN THE DESIGN COST IS WHERE WE HAD THE MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THE LEAD CERTIFICATION AND THE DESIGN COST, WE HAD, UH, FOUR MILLION SIX HUNDRED AND FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND SO MY, MY, UH, PURPOSE FOR BRINGING THAT UP WAS JUST TO SHOW, UM, UH, HOW MUCH FUNDING WAS AVAILABLE IN THE DESIGN COST AND LEAD CERTIFICATION WILL BE ALMOST A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH WE'LL GET TO THE EXACT COST.
BUT, UH, FOR THOSE THAT ARE WONDERING, WELL LEAD CERTIFICATION, WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT? FIRST OF ALL, UH, IT REALLY KIND OF SETS A PRESENCE PRECEDENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, WHEN WE'RE BUILDING BUILDINGS TO, UH, TO HAVE THAT STANDARD AND THE GENERATIONS TO COME WILL BENEFIT A LOT FROM WHAT, UH, THE DECISIONS THAT Y'ALL ARE MAKING AS FAR AS LEAD CERTIFICATION IS, IS CONCERNED.
UM, ONE OF THE, SOME OF THE BIGGEST BENEFITS OF IT IS IT REDUCES ENERGY USAGE, WHICH A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT'S REALLY BIG.
IT IMPROVES INDOOR AIR QUALITY.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU GO INTO FACILITIES, THEY'RE KIND OF STUFFY AND THIS AND THAT.
AND, UH, WITH AQUATICS BEING IN THE FACILITY AS WELL, THAT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A CENTRAL PART, KEEPING THE AIR QUALITY, UM, SOUND, AND
[01:15:01]
THEN IT PROTECTS NATURAL, UH, ECOSYSTEMS. AND SO IT'S REAL ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY.SO THOSE ARE THE BENEFITS OR SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF ACTUALLY GETTING LEED CERTIFIED.
UH, LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE? UM, THE FINANCIAL IMPACT.
UH, BASICALLY NOT, BASICALLY THE COST FOR, UH, GETTING THE AQUATICS AND RECREATION CENTER, UH, LEED CERTIFIED IS $99,985.
AND A LOT OF TIMES IN MY MIND, I LIKE TO ROUND UP TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
BUT I GUESS, UH, THE TOTAL, IT TOTALED OUT TO THAT.
ALSO, UH, BEFORE I GO TO THE ACTUAL RECOMMENDATION, UH, WE DO HAVE RANDALL WITH THE SMITH GROUP, OUR ARCHITECTURAL FIRM.
THERE'S RANDALL AND SYLVIA AND QUENTIN AS ALWAYS, WITH OUR IPS WHO ARE OUR, UH, OWNER'S, REPRESENTATIVES.
THEY WILL BE THE PROJECT MANAGERS FOR, UH, FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND SO I GUESS, UH, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION.
AUTHORIZING, OH, WHERE AM I MODIFYING THE SMITH GROUP ARCHITECTURAL FIRM SCOPE OF SERVICES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MCOWEN AQUATIC AND RECREATION CENTER TO INCLUDE, UH, LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN CERTIFICATION.
UM, AT THIS TIME, COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, COUNCIL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, PLEASE.
MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE, UH, THIS REQUEST AS PRESENTED.
COUNCIL, WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IS THAT YOUR, IS IS THAT A QUESTION OR WAS THAT FOR YOUR MOTION? IT WAS A QUESTION.
UM, JUST, WE JUST GOT BACK FROM NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION ALL, ALL THE, ALL THE TIME AS IT RELATES TO GRANTS.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS BUILDING BEING A, A RESILIENT BUILDING.
AND SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR HEARING THAT FROM, FROM EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND STEERING COMMITTEE ESPECIALLY, BUT WANTED TO UNDERSTAND AT WHAT POINT DO WE START LOOKING AT, UM, FUNDING, FEDERAL FUNDING THAT'S OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW, EPA HAS A LOT OF MONEY AS IT RELATES TO RESILIENCY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO I KNOW THIS IS FOR APPROVING THE PERSON WHO'S GONNA, THE, THE TEAM THAT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE SEE THIS.
BUT ARE THERE, ARE THERE PLACES WHERE, UH, IS IT US, IS IT THEM THAT SEEKS OUT THIS FUNDING AS WE CONTINUE TO GO, AS IT RELATES TO THIS, UH, RESILIENCY AS IT RELATES TO SOLAR AND SUCH? AND SO THAT'S MY QUESTION.
I'M THINKING THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE INTERNAL.
UH, I GUESS, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
YEAH, I, I THINK THEIR SCOPE OF SERVICES JUST WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FACILITY IS LEAD CERTIFIED.
BUT ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR GRANTS THAT COME IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT STAFF WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
AND THEN I GUESS THEN MY DIRECT QUESTION TO CITY MANAGER, INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
SO WHAT DOES THAT LIVE IN TERMS OF SEEKING OUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS AS RELATES TO RESILIENCY? USUALLY FOR PARTICULAR FOR PROJECTS, OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE A GRANT MANAGER OR ADMINISTRATOR IN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT SO USUALLY WITH PROJECTS IT'S USUALLY THE DEPARTMENT THAT, UH, LOOKS TO IDENTIFY GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, AND, AND I, I'M NOT SURE IF OUR CONSULTANT CAN HELP US WITH THAT OR NOT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FLUSH OUT A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW WE WORK RIGHT NOW, ABSENT A CENTRALIZED PERSON THAT TAKES CARE OF GRANTS FOR THE ENTIRE, UH, ORGANIZATION.
COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BEFORE WE CALL FOR A VOTE? WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
UH, COUNSEL, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO USE YOUR VOTING PADS.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER, THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[3. Discussion of the City Council Ad Hoc Committee's recommendation regarding a Council member's request for Council to receive agenda packet information 7 days in advance]
THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE FINAL ITEM ON OUR REGULAR AGENDA.NEXT WE HAVE DISCUSSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AD HOC COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION REGARDING A COUNCIL MEMBER'S REQUEST FOR COUNCIL TO RECEIVE AGENDA PACKET INFORMATION SEVEN DAYS IN ADVANCE.
MAKING THE INTRODUCTION IS IAM CAMERON, INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
SO COUNCIL, YOU REMEMBER A FEW MEETINGS AGO, WE, WE, UH, HAD AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA WHERE WE DISCUSSED, UH, COUNCIL, I THINK IT WAS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN RAPHAEL'S REQUEST, UH, FOR, UH, FOR COUNCIL TO RECEIVE AGENDA, UH, PACKET INFORMATION SEVEN DAYS IN ADVANCE, AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS IN ADVANCE.
AND SO, UM, AS A PART OF THAT DISCUSSION, UH, WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TYPES OF DOCUMENTS THAT ARE A PART OF THE AGENDA PACKET THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY GET IN ADVANCE.
AND SO IN ORDER TO KIND OF FLUSH THAT OUT, THE MAYORS, UH, UH, DEVELOPED, CREATED AN,
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UH, AD HOC COMMITTEE.AND THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE WAS, UH, CONSISTS OF THE MAYOR HERSELF, UH, AND THEN, UH, COUNCILMAN BYRD AND, UH, COUNCILWOMAN PARKER.
AND THE, THE COMMITTEE MET ON MARCH THE SIXTH TO KIND OF JUST START HAVING DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THIS, UH, THIS QUESTION.
AND DURING THAT DISCUSSION, THE QUESTION WAS RAISED AS TO WHETHER OR NOT, UH, THIS ITEM SHOULD POTENTIALLY BE TABLED UNTIL AFTER A NEW CITY MANAGER IS HIRED.
AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT IS REALLY THE QUESTION THAT WE WERE ASKING COUNCIL TO CONSIDER TONIGHT AT JUST NO VOTE IS REQUIRED ON THAT.
IT'S JUST LOOKING FOR COUNCIL'S CONSENSUS ON THAT.
AND SO WHAT I'LL DO NOW IS I'LL, UH, ALLOW ANY, YOU KNOW, ANYONE FROM THE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS THE, UH, QUESTION IF THEY, IF THEY SO DESIRE.
UH, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, MR. CAMERON.
UH, WE BELIEVE, UH, THAT, UH, EVERY REQUEST OF A COUNCIL PERSON IS, IS LEGITIMATE.
AND SO WE, BUT TO BE FAIR TO STAFF AND TO THE INCOMING CITY MANAGER, WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE PRUDENT TO, UM, TO LEAVE THIS, UM, THIS QUESTION UNANSWERED UNTIL THE, THE HEAD OF THE HELM IS, IS ACTUALLY HIRED.
UH, BECAUSE WE COULD NOT ACTUALLY, THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS THAT WE CAN SEE WHERE THE POSSIBILITIES MIGHT HAPPEN, BUT, UH, BUT, BUT BECAUSE THE AGENDA IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT AND IT REQUIRES STAFF TIME AND, AND PROFESSIONALISM, THAT'S WHY WE, WE, UM, I BELIEVE WE CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA NOT TO DELAY IT, BUT JUST UNTIL WE HIRE THAT PERSON THAT WILL BE AT THE HELM.
UM, AND NOT TO, BECAUSE ANY INTERIM, AND I'LL SAY THIS, ANY INTERIM PERSON IS REALLY THERE JUST TO KIND OF KEEP US, UM, STABLE
TO KINDA KEEP US AFLOAT WITHOUT, UH, CHANGING ANYTHING.
AND, AND THIS WOULD BE, UH, IN, IN, IN SOME SUMMATION, A MAJOR CHANGE, UH, TO REQUIRE AN EXTRA PRESSURE.
SO, UM, NOT TO, UH, DENY IT, BUT JUST TO SAY, LET'S, CAN WE REVISIT IT AFTER WE HAVE HIRED THE CITY MANAGER IS THE REQUEST.
UM, COUNSEL, I'M GONNA DEVIATE JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THIS ONE, UH, TO ALLOW FOR ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION BEFORE WE CALL FOR A MOTION, UH, ON THIS ONE.
AND THE, UH, THE MOTION WOULD BE TO ACCEPT, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION REGARDING, UH, THE, THE TABLING OF THE, UH, THIS ITEM UNTIL THE CITY, THE NEW CITY MANAGER IS HIRED.
THANK YOU TO THE AHA COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERING THIS MATTER AND, UH, BRING THIS BACK FORWARD FOR, UH, FULL DISCUSSION.
UH, I THINK WHAT I'M, WHAT I NEED TO, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IS, SO THE REQUEST IS TO TABLE IT UNTIL STAFF IS, WE HAVE THE CITY MANAGER INVOLVED.
UM, BUT IN TERMS OF WHO'S AT THE HELM, IT'S THE COUNCIL, AND IN TERMS OF THE, LIKE, WHERE'S THE BALANCE IN IT? LIKE I 100% SEE, UM, THE, THE RATIONALE AS IT RELATES TO WE'RE IN THIS INTERIM SEASON, UM, BUT IF IT IS THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL TO, TO RECEIVE THE PACKET INFORMATION, NOT THE AGENDA, THE PACKET, NOT THE LEGAL DOCUMENT, WHILE IT IS THE LEGAL DOCUMENT ONCE PUBLISHED, IS THE PACKET INFORMATION.
UM, THAT'S REALLY THE REQUEST, UM, AT EARLIER TIME.
BUT, UM, IN TERMS OF, OF EXECUTING AND IMPLEMENTING, I DEFINITELY CAN SEE, UM, THE NEW CITY MANAGER BEING INVOLVED IN THE EXECUTING AND IMPLEMENTING ONCE THEY'VE SEEN THE LAY OF THE LAND AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE AND UNDERSTAND WHO WE NEED AND, YOU KNOW, IF THEY SEE ANY DEFICIENCIES IN OUR CURRENT, UM, UH, STAFFING.
BUT BEYOND THAT, I GUESS I'M STRUGGLING TO, UM, SEE IT, UH, PAST THAT, PAST THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE.
UM, CAN I ASK FOR A CLAR CLARIFYING QUESTION? AND I UNDERSTAND, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING, UH, OPEN TO IT.
UH, ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US THEN TO GO BACK AND RECONSIDERING, UH, SO THAT WHEN THE NEW PERSON IS HIRED, BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY DRIVEN BY STAFF AND STAFF ACTUALLY REPORTS TO THE CITY MANAGER.
SO IF YOU'RE ASKING US TO PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE SO THAT WHEN THE NEW CITY MANAGER IS HIRED, HE ALREADY HAVE A MANDATE OR, OR, OR IN WHICH, UH, I, I WOULD ARGUE WOULD KINDA CIRCUMVENT HIS AUTHORITY AND POWER BECAUSE SINCE STAFF REPORTS TO HIM, WE CAN'T REALLY ASSESS STAFF'S CAPABILITY TO PERFORM THAT TASK AND TO PUT LIMITATIONS OR EXPECTATIONS ON STAFF WITHOUT, UH, WITHOUT THE, FOR WITH ALL KNOWING THE BACKDROP OF ALL OF THESE THINGS.
UM, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT MIGHT BE, UH, PREMATURE.
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SO I'M, I GUESS I'M ASKING FOR CLARITY.ARE YOU ASKING US TO MAKE A DECISION NOW SO THAT WE CAN SET IT UP WHEN THE NEW PERSON IS HIRED OR, UH, AND, AND I THINK OUR REQUEST IS, UH, CAN WE LET THE NEW PERSON HIRE AND SAY THAT WE WANT TO VISIT THIS AND MAYBE CONTINUE THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AT THAT POINT WHEN WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT IT HAPPENS? YOU SAID A LOT.
UM, I THINK WHAT I WAS JUST ASKING WAS YES.
UM, SO IF THIS IS A NEW PROCEDURE, UM, ASKING US TO CONSIDER THIS PROCEDURE AND ALLOW THE, THE NEW CITY MANAGER, UM, TO IMPLEMENT IT, UM, WHEN THEY DEEM THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY HAVE ALL THE STAFFING INVOLVED AND, AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE REQUEST, THAT'S IT.
AND I, I, I GUESS OUR, NOT REALLY REBUTTAL, BUT OUR DEAL IS IF WE GIVE HIM A MANDATE, IF WE SAY FOUR DAYS, WE, WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT IT CAN BE DONE.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE, WE, WE HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO, TO ASCERTAIN THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THE WORKLOAD AND OR THE WORKFLOW FLOW OF EVERY PERSON THAT'S RESPONSIBLE.
SO
'CAUSE YOU KEEP SAYING HIM, BUT, UM, AS FAR AS THE PACKET BEING BROUGHT BACK, IT WAS MY, UM, IT WAS MY THOUGHT THAT IT STILL, YOU KNOW, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE THE PERSON IS IN PLACE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND HAVING THAT INFORMATION NOW, BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT EARLIER THAN WE GET IT, UH, IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING.
IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S JUST MY OPINION, BUT, UH, I SAY THAT AS A PART OF OUR MEETING AS WELL.
I, I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE A WORTHY CAUSE TO HAVE THAT PUT IN PLACE NOW.
I, WE RECEIVED SOME INFORMATION, UM, I BELIEVE AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL TO HAVE, UH, TO TAKE A LOOK OF WHAT OTHER CITIES COMPARABLE TO DESOTO AND JUST SURROUNDING EVEN THE CITY OF DALLAS, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY DO.
UM, AND TWO OF THE COLUMNS, ONE COLUMN STATED WHEN THEY POST THEIR ITEMS. THE OTHER COLUMN STATED WHEN COUNCIL RECEIVES THEIR INFORMATION, I DID NOT SEE, I THINK OUT OF MAYBE 10 CITIES, ANYONE THAT POSTED ANYTHING MORE THAN FOUR DAYS.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I'M, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, I TOOK THAT AS MAYBE THAT'S THE STANDARD FOR THE REASONS OF CAPABILITY.
UM, POSSIBLY BECAUSE IF, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TAKING A NOD FROM WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
I DIDN'T SEE ANY CITY THAT DID IT PRIOR TO, YOU KNOW, FOUR DAYS.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, AGAIN, JUST AGAIN, AN EXAMPLE OF THE FACT THAT MAYBE IT, AND I WON'T SAY IT CAN'T BE DONE, BUT, BUT IT PRO IT PROPOSES A CHALLENGE TO DO SOMETHING MORE THAN ANY MORE THAN FOUR DAYS IN TERMS OF POSTING AS WELL AS GIVING COUNSEL INFORMATION IN ADVANCE.
AND SO I'M OF THE MIND, MIND FRAME OF, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, BECAUSE IN MY OPINION, IT IS A MATERIAL CHANGE.
UM, AND WHEN WE HAVE AN INTERIM TO MAKE A MATERIAL CHANGE TO THE, TO ESSENTIALLY THE STRUCTURE OF HOW WE DO THINGS, AGAIN, I, I SEE, I SEE IT BEING MORE PRUDENT TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE THAT PERSON IN PLACE AGAIN TO KIND OF HAVE THINGS MORE IN LINE WITH THE AUTHORITY OF AN INTERIM VERSUS SOMETHING THAT A, THAT THE PERMANENT CITY MANAGER WOULD, WOULD DO.
DR. MARKS, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A, A, A POINT OF CLARIFICATION AND OR INFORMATION, UM, FROM THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE, UM, WE DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT PIECE OF IT.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT? THE, THE REQUEST? YES, THE REQUEST UHHUH
IT'S NOT TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN DO IT OR NOT TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION OVERALL UNTIL WE GET A PERMANENT CITY MANAGER IN PLACE, UM, FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED ALREADY.
BUT THAT IS THE ASK OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE IS TO JUST TABLE IT, NOT TO DO AWAY WITH IT, NOT TO DISMISS IT, NOT TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT WE THINK IT CAN BE DONE OR NOT, BUT JUST TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION OF IT, UM, IN GENERAL UNTIL THAT PERSON HAS BEEN HIRED.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR TAKING TIME ABOVE OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS TO MEET AND DELIBERATE ON THIS TOPIC.
I THINK THAT, UM, CONSIDERING WE'RE ALL VERY BUSY, ANY INFORMATION EARLY IS ALWAYS A NICE THING, RIGHT? I REALLY LIKE THE DATA THAT THE CITY PROVIDED, AND I THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
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TIME OUT TO DO THAT AS WELL BECAUSE THAT PROVIDED ME WITH A HUGE INSIGHT THAT FOR THE CITIZENS THAT SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR THEIR CITIES TO SERVE, THAT THEY'RE IN THE SAME BOAT AS WE ARE EVERY OTHER WEEK AS WHEN THEY GET INFORMATION.UM, WHILE I WOULD, I THINK THAT AS, WHAT I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF IN THIS SITUATION IS THAT WE'RE GOVERNANCE AND WE TOLD A FINE LINE IN MOVING INTO OPERATIONAL WHEN WE GIVE DIRECTIVES TO STAFF TO DO SOMETHING ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THEIR DAY TO DAY IS.
AND SO FOR THAT MANAGEMENT PIECE, I, I THINK THAT IT WOULD, IT, FOR A NEW CITY MANAGER COMING IN, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE, UH, ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US TO BRING THEM TO THE TABLE AS A PARTNER IN THAT PROCESS AND NOT TO BE MORE, UM, AS A DIRECTIVE TO THEM SO THAT WE CAN COLLABORATE TOGETHER FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.
SO I WOULD SUPPORT TABLING IT UNTIL WE GET A CITY MANAGER AND THEN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION JUST WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID THUS FAR.
TIM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
I'M ALSO IN AGREEMENT THAT WE SHOULD ALLOW THE NEW CITY MANAGER TO TAKE THIS DIRECTIVE.
WE'LL JUST KIND OF, WE'LL GO DOWN THIS WAY TO GET A, TO GET EVERYONE'S, UH, CAN I MAKE ANOTHER COMMENT? CAN I DO ANOTHER ROUND OF COMMENTS? YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMENT AND THEN WE'LL GET EVERYBODY'S CONSENSUS.
LET ME SAY THANK YOU, ALICIA, FOR GETTING THE INFORMATION AND FOR MAKING THOSE PHONE CALLS.
AND WHAT I DID ASK WAS THAT WE GET INFORMATION FOR, FOR ALL THE CITIES IN, I CREATED A GRID FOR THE CITIES IN DALLAS COUNTY AND A FEW IN, UM, COLLIN COUNTY JUST TO SEE WHAT THE OTHER CITIES WERE DOING.
AND SO DEFINITELY DESOTO WOULD BE A FORERUNNER AS IT RELATES TO GETTING INFORMATION EARLY, BUT DESOTO IS ALREADY A FOR RUN IN GETTING INFORMATION EARLY.
UH, PART OF WHAT HAS MADE OUR SCHOOL BOARD A BETTER SCHOOL BOARD IN THEIR GOVERNANCE IS THEY DO RECEIVE THEIR PACKET SEVEN DAYS AHEAD OF TIME.
THEY ASK THEIR QUESTIONS, SUBMIT THOSE QUESTIONS, AND THEN THEY GET, GET THOSE RESPONSES BACK.
AND SO IT MAKES FOR A MORE PRODUCTIVE, UM, UH, BOARD MEETING, UM, FOR OUR TRUSTEES.
AND, AND IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN ANY MEETINGS FROM FIVE YEARS AGO SINCE TODAY, THEY'RE VERY EFFICIENT IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESSES HAVE BEEN BETTER.
AND SO THIS REALLY KIND OF STEMMED FROM THAT, CONSIDERING THAT WE ARE A PART-TIME BOARD, MEANING, UM, THIS IS NOT OUR REGULAR JOB.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE THIS STEMS FROM.
UM, BECAUSE THIS IS ON THE REGULAR AGENDA, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE WORK SESSION, UM, BUT AT THIS POINT, DO WE JUST NEED TO VOTE IT UP, VOTE IT DOWN, ARE WE PULLING IT OFF? AND I GUESS THAT'S A QUESTION DIRECTED AT THE CITY ATTORNEY.
YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IT, YOU CURRENTLY HAVE THIS LISTED AS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
SO REALLY WHAT'S ON THE TABLE NOW IS DISCUSSING WHETHER OR NOT Y'ALL WANT TO TABLE HAVE THE AD HOC, DIRECT THE AD HOC COMMITTEE JUST TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION UNTIL THERE'S A CITY MANAGER, NOT WHETHER OR NOT TO, TO DECIDE WHETHER TO GO FORWARD OR NOT, JUST WHETHER THEY'RE GONNA TABLE IT.
SO IS THAT A VOTE OR ARE WE GONNA DO ROUND? WE HAVE CONSENSUS.
DR. MARKS, I'M SORRY, DON'T WE NEED TO VOTE? I'M SORRY, POINT OF ORDER IN TERMS OF HOW WE VOTE? IT IS NOT, IT'S NOT AN ACTION ITEM, BUT YOU CAN JUST THROUGH THE DISCUSSION, YOU CAN, UH, GET A CONSENSUS WITH THE AD HOC, GET A CONSENSUS ON WHETHER OR NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE COMING BACK WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION OR JUST TABLING IT UNTIL THERE'S A CITY MANAGER IN PLACE.
I GUESS I, OKAY, I'M GETTING CONFUSED ON WHEN WE USE OUR BUTTONS AND WHEN WE JUST VOICE OUR VOTE.
NO BUTTON WILL BE USED FOR THIS ONE.
SO WE LING OR THOUGHT WE'RE JUST VOTING WHETHER TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION TILL WE GET A CITY MANAGER IN PLACE.
SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET CONSENSUS IS, IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE IN AGREEMENT WITH TABLING THE DISCUSSION UNTIL THE CITY MANAGER IS IN PLACE.
AND SO WE ARE, WE'RE AT YOU, DR. MARKS.
WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN CONSENSUS, UH, THEIR THOUGHTS WITH, UH, PLACE SIX AND PLACE SEVEN.
I, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH TABLING.
UH, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH TABLING COUNCILMAN BY, UH, I'M IN FAVOR OF TAB.
RAFAEL? NO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER? NO, THANK YOU.
UM, WE HAVE CONSENSUS TO TABLE IT UNTIL A CITY MANAGER HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE.
AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WILL THEN TAKE UP THE DISCUSSION UP AGAIN, BRINGING THE RECOMMENDATION BACK TO CITY COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION.
UH, THANK AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL FOR WITH A BUTTON
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL FOR, UH, YOUR THOUGHTS AROUND THIS, THIS TOPIC.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR FINAL AGENDA ON OUR FINAL ITEM ON OUR REGULAR AGENDA.
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AT THIS TIME, MS. THOMAS[H. EXECUTIVE SESSION AND RESULTING POTENTIAL ACTION ]
WILL HAVE THE ITEM FOR OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5, 1 0.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, AND DUTIES OF THE CITY MANAGER, AND ANY ACTION AS A RESULT.
AT THIS TIME IT IS 7:35 PM AND WE WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7 45.