[A. CALL TO ORDER AND CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION] [00:00:06] GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. IT'S 5:00 PM. TODAY IS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD, AND I'M MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. AND I WANT TO WELCOME EACH OF YOU TO THE DESOTO CITY COUNCIL MEETING. AT THIS TIME, WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONVENE INTO. SO I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CITY SECRETARY IF SHE WOULD READ OUR FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, PLEASE. MAY I DO A ROLL CALL? YES, PLEASE. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER NICOLE RAPHAEL. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DIANA MARKS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CRISTAL CHISHOLM HERE. THANK YOU. FIRST WE HAVE. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551 .07 FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS TO DELIBERATE THE DUTIES, EMPLOYMENT AND EVALUATION OF THE CITY MANAGER AND ANY ACTION. AS A RESULT. THANK YOU, MISS THOMAS. AT THIS TIME, IT IS 5 P.M. AND SO WE WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME [B. REGULAR SESSION AGENDA - CALL TO ORDER (immediately following Executive Session)] IS MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. IT IS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD, AND I WANT TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO OUR REGULAR THE DESOTO CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO OUR REGULAR SESSION. IT IS 6:11 P.M. I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CITY SECRETARY IF SHE WOULD BEGIN US WITH US WITH THE ROLL CALL. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR HERE, MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER NICOLE RAPHAEL, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD, PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER DIANA MARX HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL CHISHOLM HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS THOMAS. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. FIRST, WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND JEREMIAH AUSTIN WITH COMMUNITY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY STUDENT AMBASSADOR DIANA WOODARD. DIANA WOODARD, COCKRELL HILL ELEMENTARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IF EVERYONE CAN PLEASE STAND. YES. THANK YOU. LET US PRAY. LORD, WE WANT TO THANK YOU ON TONIGHT FOR ASSEMBLING ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF THIS CITY. LORD, I PRAY RIGHT NOW THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO TOUCH EACH OF THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS. GOD, WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED GOD TO GOVERN THIS CITY. GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM THE WISDOM AND THE ACUMEN THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THIS A CITY THAT IS PLEASING TO YOU. LORD, I PRAY RIGHT NOW FOR EACH AND EVERY PERSON IN THIS ROOM THAT AS WE DISCUSS MATTERS TONIGHT, GOD, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US A SPIRIT OF UNITY AND HARMONY. GOD, I PRAY AGAINST ANY SPIRIT OF DIVISION IN THIS ROOM. LORD, LET EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE ON TONIGHT AND DISCUSSED ON THIS AGENDA BRING GLORY TO YOUR NAME. WE LOVE YOU, WE PRAISE YOU, WE GIVE YOU GLORY AND HONOR. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. SO. OH. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD. ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. EXCUSE ME, EVERYONE, IF I COULD GET YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE. I WANT TO I WANT TO THANK REVEREND JEREMIAH AUSTIN FROM COMMUNITY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH FOR LEADING US IN OUR INVOCATION THIS EVENING. AND I ALSO WANT TO GIVE SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO OUR EXCELLENT STUDENT AMBASSADOR FOR THIS EVENING. IS IT DIANA? DIANA EONNI. EXCUSE ME. I STAND CORRECTED, JOHNNY DYANI DYANI. THERE YOU ARE. THANK YOU, MISS. THANK YOU, MISS LOWE. DYANI WOODARD. AND I'M GOING TO READ JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER TONIGHT. SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WHO WE HAVE AMONG US TONIGHT. WE HAVE DYANI. SHE'S A SECOND GRADE STUDENT AT COCKRELL HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHERE HER FAVORITE SUBJECTS ARE READING, SCIENCE, ART AND GYM. IN HER FREE TIME, SHE ENJOYS GYMNASTICS AS WELL AS THE ARTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY, MUSIC, AND DANCE. DYANI LOVES READING THE BIBLE, PLAYING ROBLOX, AND SPENDING TIME WITH HER FRIENDS AND HER FAMILY. DYANI IS AN ENTERTAINER AT HEART, BUT WHEN SHE GROWS UP, SHE WANTS TO [00:05:04] BECOME A PEDIATRICIAN BECAUSE SHE WANTS ALL CHILDREN TO BE HEALTHY AND FEEL GOOD. LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR MISS DYANI WOODARD. DYANI WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT BODY OF COCKRELL HILL ELEMENTARY? YES. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO LET ME COME, ESPECIALLY MY PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL, MISS LOWE. GREAT. EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT. VERY WELL SPOKEN AND GOOD TO SEE YOU, MISS LOWE. SHE IS A DESOTO ISD LEGEND IN HER OWN RIGHT. AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AS WELL. AND ALSO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, YOU MAY DO SO BY FILLING OUT A CARD AND SO DYANI WILL ASSIST AT OUR AMBASSADOR TABLE WITH THAT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM ON OUR AGENDA DYANI, PLEASE STAY RIGHT THERE. I'M GOING TO COME DOWN. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHOTO AND WE HAVE SOME GOODIES FOR YOU AS WELL. OKAY. IS MOMMY HERE? [C. PRESENTATIONS] AT THIS TIME, MISS THOMAS WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. YES, MA'AM. WE MOVE INTO OUR PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE PRESENTATION OF MAYORAL COMMENDATION TO ANTWAN LONG IN RECOGNITION OF HIS NATIONAL TOP 50 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HONOR MAKING. THAT PRESENTATION IS COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD AND CDC DIRECTOR MATT CARLSON. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MATT CARLSON, AND I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF LEADING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS HERE IN DESOTO. BUT TONIGHT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A COLLEAGUE. I WANT TO READ FROM A PRESS RELEASE THAT CONSULTANT CONNECT DID A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO TODAY. CONSULTANT CONNECT, A CONSULTING AGENCY DESIGNED TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS AND SITE CONSULTANTS, ANNOUNCED ITS 2024 LIST OF NORTH AMERICA'S TOP 50 ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS SELECTED FOR THIS LIST WERE NOMINATED BY THEIR COLLEAGUES IN BOTH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SITE SELECTION LOCATION BUSINESS FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRACTICE AND INNOVATION, AND SUCCESS IN BUILDING THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. WE DEAL EVERY DAY WITH SITE SELECTORS, AND I'M TELLING YOU, THEY'RE NOT EASY PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH. THEY'RE A VERY DEMANDING BUNCH AND THEY EXPECT, IN FACT, THEY DEMAND THE VERY MOST FROM US AS INDIVIDUALS, FROM US AS PROFESSIONALS AND FROM US AS EXPERTS IN OUR FIELD. IMPRESSING THESE FOLKS IS NO SMALL FEAT. AND WHEN THEY PUT THAT LIST TOGETHER, THEN THEY ASK FOLKS LIKE ME WHO HAVE BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR A LONG TIME TO REVIEW THAT THOSE NOMINEES AND ASK US, WHO HAVE WE WORKED WITH, WHO HAVE WE HEARD ABOUT? AND WE START TO WHITTLE IT DOWN, BUT IT'S STILL HUNDREDS. AND FROM THAT THEY PICK 50, THEY PICK 50. WHO ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST? I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD THAN TO RECOGNIZE ANTOINE TONIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN FRONT OF HIS PEERS AND IN FRONT OF HIS FAMILY. KATRINA ANTHONY QAMAR, WOULD YOU STAND UP? COME ON DOWN, ANTOINE. THIS MAN'S ACUMEN, HIS KNOWLEDGE, HIS PERSONAL SKILLS, THEY'RE SECOND TO NONE. THIS IS AN HONOR THAT WILL FOLLOW HIM FOR MANY YEARS AND IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS BEING ONE OF THE BEST OF THE BEST IN OUR FIELD. COUNCILMAN [00:10:05] BIRD, THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR TONIGHT. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR RECOGNITION OF ANTOINE TONIGHT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY COLLEAGUE, MY FRIEND ANTOINE LONG. AND TO OUR HONORABLE MAYOR, TO OUR ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES, OUR COUNCIL, AND TO YOU, THE CITIZENS OF DESOTO. LEAVE IT TO DEACON TO TRY TO TAKE THE PREACHER'S SERMON. THIS IS THE MAYORAL. MAYORAL COMMENDATIONS PRESENTED TO MISTER ANTOINE LONG ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF THE CITY, ON BEHALF OF THE DESOTO CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF DESOTO. I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR RECENT RECOGNITION AS ONE OF THE TOP 50 ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS IN THE COUNTRY. AS ANNOUNCED IN THE CONSULTANTS CONNECTIONS NORTH AMERICA TOP 50 ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS IN 2024, THIS RECOGNITION IS AWARDED TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION AND SUCCESS IN DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE REGION. YOUR DEDICATION TO FOSTERING ECONOMIC PROGRESS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES IS TRULY COMMENDABLE, AND WE ARE PROUD TO SEE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS. CELEBRATE. CELEBRATED ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, THE DESOTO CITY COUNCIL ALSO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND TO YOUR EFFORTS TO ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY. YOUR WORK IS LEAVING A LASTING IMPACT. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE POSITIVE INFLUENCE YOU BRING TO OUR CITY. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON THIS REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT AND WE WILL WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. ON BEHALF OF THE DESOTO CITY COUNCIL, DECEMBER THIRD, 2024. OUR GREAT MAYOR, RACHEL L PROCTOR AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU. ANTOINE. THANK YOU FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BIRD. THANK YOU, MATT, FOR THAT AMAZING RECOGNITION. THANK YOU ALL. ALL FOR COMING OUT AS WELL, FOR THIS AMAZING AWARD. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING OUT. BUT HONESTLY, MY NAME IS ANTOINE LONG. I SERVE AS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO. DESOTO IS MY HOMETOW. I GREW UP HERE SINCE THE AGE OF NINE, GRADUATED FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL. SO REALLY WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF TO KIND OF BRING SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO THE CITY. YOUR PAINS ARE MY PAINS. YOUR OPPORTUNITIES ARE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. WE'RE WORKING ON SOME AMAZING PROJECTS FOR THE FUTURE OF DESOTO, AND I'M EXTREMELY THANKFUL FOR THIS RECOGNITION FROM MY PEERS. I WAS ONE OF ONE OF THREE TEXAS RECIPIENTS FOR THIS, ONE OF TWO AFRICAN AMERICANS RECIPIENTS FOR THIS. SO THIS IS VERY HUGE HONOR. THANKFUL AGAIN FOR MY FAMILY, FOR MY TEAM, FOR THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I DO THIS EACH AND EVERY DAY WITH THE PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM TO MOVE DESOTO FORWARD TO REPRESENT 7.5115. SO THIS AWARD TRULY IS FOR ALL OF YOU, ALL IN THE WORK THAT IS TO COME, MORE TO COME. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THIS EVENING. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, MR. LONG AT THIS TIME MISS THOMAS WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. YES, MA'AM. NEXT WE HAVE PRESENTATION OF THE MAYORAL COMMENDATION TO THE DESOTO. FIRST RESPONDERS. MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. ON NOVEMBER 23RD, 2020, FOR THREE YEAR OLD TODDLER KALIYAH WENT MISSING FROM HER HOME. KALIYAH GOT UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, UNLOCKED HER FRONT DOOR AND WENT OUTSIDE LOOKING FOR HER DAD AFTER HE HAD LEFT FOR WORK, DESOTO POLICE AND FIRE TIRELESSLY SEARCHED DOOR TO DOOR FOR OVER AN HOUR AND FINALLY FOUND HER. DESOTO PARAMEDICS CHECKED HER OUT AND RETURNED HER SAFELY TO HER MOTHER, MISS ASHLEY COLLINS. AUDIENCE. IT'S WITH IMMENSE PRIDE THAT WE SHARE OUR GRATITUDE TONIGHT AS I STAND BEFORE YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK OF OUR FIRST [00:15:04] RESPONDERS. AND SO TONIGHT, I STAND TO BESTOW A MAYORAL COMMENDATION TO THESE BRAVE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE WITHOUT THEIR UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND THE GRACE OF GOD, WHAT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN A VERY TRAGIC SITUATION ENDED UP WITH THEM LOCATING THIS CHILD AND RETURNING HER HOME. AND SO, THROUGH TIRELESS WORK AND DEDICATION, I WANT TO CALL UP A FEW INDIVIDUALS HERE TONIGHT. AND THAT IS THE EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS. KANEESHA DIXON, YAMILET ROJAS, SETH THOMPSON, ALSO WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHITLEY FAGAN, CORNELIUS HENDERSON AND WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER, VICTOR GONZALEZ, OFFICER KEITH RATLIFF, RAMALHO ROBERTSON, OFFICER JOEL HERNANDEZ, AND OFFICER JOSHUA BUSH. PLEASE, LET'S PUT OUR HANDS TOGETHER AND GIVE THEM A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE. I'M GOING TO ASK IF MISS THOMAS WOULD HELP ME TO PASS THESE OUT. DO WE HAVE THE FAMILY HERE TONIGHT WITH US AS WELL? I'M GOING TO ALSO RECOGNIZE OUR POLICE. OUR POLICE CHIEF, AS WELL AS OUR FIRE CHIEF, CHIEF SOUTHARD. WE SEE YOU THERE. IF EITHER OF YOU. CHIEF, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME HAVE ANY WORDS ON BEHALF OF YOUR DEPARTMENT? THANK YOU. I THINK I CAUGHT HIM OFF GUARD. CHIEF. SHANNON. THANK YOU. I HAD TO ASK HIM IF ONE OF THEM WANTED TO TALK, AND THEY BOTH LOOKED AT ME LIKE I'D LOST MY MIND. SO NO, THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR RECOGNIZING OUR DISPATCHERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS. OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T DO THIS FOR THE RECOGNITION. WHEN I CALLED THE FIREFIGHTERS AND ASKED THEM TO COME, THEY KIND OF GAVE ME THE THEY DO IT BECAUSE THEY LOVE SERVING PEOPLE. OUR DISPATCHERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS. THAT'S YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A HEART TO SERVE AND A HEART TO DO THIS. AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL THAT THIS HAD A VERY HAPPY ENDING. AND OUTCOME FOR THE FAMILY AND FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. LET'S PUT OUR HANDS TOGETHER ONE MORE TIME FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN THEIR ACT OF BRAVERY. AT THIS TIME, MISS THOMAS WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. NEXT WE HAVE PRESENTATION OF THE LIGHT UP DESOTO AWARDS 2024. SO I'LL GIVE JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW AS TOM IS BRINGING UP THE SLIDE, DESOTO RESIDENTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO KEEP THEIR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON FROM 6 P.M. TO 9 P.M. OVER THE PAST WEEKEND. THAT'S THIS PAST FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TOURED THEIR ASSIGNED NEIGHBORHOODS TO SELECT THE BRIGHTEST AND MOST FESTIVE DISPLAYS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIGHT UP DESOTO CONTEST. MEANWHILE, MAYOR PROCTOR EVALUATED HOA ENTRYWAYS TO DETERMINE THE BEST ONE. TONIGHT, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL PRESENT A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THEIR TOP THREE CHOICES AND ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS. EACH WINNER WILL RECEIVE A YARD SIGN PROCLAIMING THEM AS A LIGHT UP DESOTO CHAMPION, TO BE DISPLAYED PROUDLY THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON. AFTER THE MEETING, THE DESIGNATED COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL PERSONALLY DELIVER THE SIGNS TO THE WINNERS AND TO KICK THINGS OFF, WE'LL START WITH MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES. ACTUALLY, WE WILL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY PARKER. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHTY. WELL, PLACE TWO IS ALWAYS LIT. OKAY. THIS THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CHRISTMAS. SO I CHOSE THREE OF THEM AND I DID IT MY NORMAL WAY. I HAD SO MANY THAT I HAVE A PICKER. AND I ACTUALLY POSTED MINE TO FACEBOOK. SO IF YOU SEE MY FACEBOOK POST, YOU'LL SEE ALL THE OTHER DISPLAYS. BUT OF THE THREE I USED THE PICKER. THE FIRST PLACE WAS RAINIER AND THAT'S 4 TO 25 RAINIER. AND IT JUST WAS. IT WAS A BUNCH OF BEAUTIFUL DISPLAYS OUT. AND THEN MY SECOND CHOICE WAS 605 SPOONER ROAD. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE GONE DOWN THAT LONG LITTLE ROAD, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF LIGHTS THAT THESE FOLKS PUT OUT. AND THEN THE THIRD CHOICE IS ACTUALLY 400 RAINIER. AND I JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM ALL. I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOY ALL THE DISPLAYS THAT ARE OUT. I'M SORRY, DID I GO TOO FAST? ALL RIGHT, LIGHT IT UP. DESOTO. ALL RIGHT. AND SO [00:20:07] PLACE THREE. THERE WERE LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS. AND SO WHAT I WANTED TO DISPLAY AS IT RELATED TO. OKAY, SO LET ME TELL YOU WHY. SO NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER TWO. SO FROM THE BOTTOM AND IN THE MIDDLE. SO IT WAS THE OUTLINE FOR ME. SO ANYBODY WHO CAN GET ON THEIR HOUSE AND OUTLINE IT LIKE THAT'S LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO STILL DO THAT. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. SO THOSE BEAUTIFUL DISPLAYS THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE WAS WAS PARTICULARLY BEAUTIFUL IN A VERY KIND OF SIMPLISTIC WAY. AND SO I REALLY LIKE THAT ONE. BUT THE NUMBER ONE WAS AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE ADDRESS WAS 604 HEATHER KNOLL DRIVE. SO IF YOU HAVE LITTLE ONES YOU WANT TO GO THERE. I'M SORRY THAT MY CAMERA DIDN'T CAPTURE WHAT YOU REALLY NEEDED TO SEE, BUT EVERY SINGLE ICON OF CHRISTMAS FROM 1972 IS IN THAT YARD. AND SO IF YOU KNOW FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, THE GRINCH, EVERY SINGLE THING IS THERE WITH MUSIC IN SYNCHRONIZATION. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO DO A VISIT TO 604 HEATHER KNOLL. HELLO, DESOTO, MY CHOICES WERE NOT EASY THIS YEAR, BUT NORMALLY IN THE IN ONE COMMUNITY WE HAVE SNOW. WE HAVE TREE LIGHTING, WE HAVE IT JUST ALL DECKED OUT AND SO THIS YEAR THEY DIDN'T GET IT ALL OUT. BUT WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE WINNERS AND I'LL START FROM THIS YEAR. I WENT WITH WHIMSICAL AND THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER. THE WHOLE PEANUT GALLERY IS THERE. SO CHARLIE BROWN AND ALL THAT'S ON. OH GOD. BLUFFVIEW THAT'S ON BLUFF BLUFF VIEW LANE. BEAUTIFUL RENDERING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS. AND YOU CAN'T HAVE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT WITHOUT THE PEANUT GALLERY. AND THEN THE SECOND IS ON PLACE. LOUIS. AND MY PICTURE DID NOT D, DO DO IT JUSTICE. BUT ACTUALLY IT TAKES THE HILL UP FROM THE LAKE UP TO THE FRONT DOOR. IT IS A JUST A BEAUTIFUL RENDERING OF WHAT CHRISTMAS MEAN I IN MY HEAD ON EVERY LEVEL. IT WAS JUST AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS JOB THAT HOUSE IS ON PLACE LOUIS AND BUT THE WINNER IS ON THORN TREE DRIVE AND THIS HOUSE IS THE WINNER. IT'S, I BELIEVE, 16. OH EIGHT THORN TREE DRIVE BECAUSE THE FRONT, THE SIDE, THE BACK YARD, EVERYTHING WITH THE SURFACE HAS SOMETHING CHRISTMASSY. AND I DIDN'T STOP BY THE HOUSE BECAUSE I'M SURE THEY WOULD HAVE PUT A WREATH ON ME. SO CONGRATULATIONS. 1608 THORN TREE DRIVE. PLACE NUMBER FIVE IS ALWAYS LIVE WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE PARTICULAR LIGHTS. AS YOU CAN TELL, I DID GO BY AND GET THREE WONDERFUL PICTURES OF RESIDENTS AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CHOOSE THIS YEAR BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS JUST, JUST ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT PARTICIPATED IN PLACE FIVE. I WISH WE COULD HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE IT WAS RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T, OF COURSE, HAVE THEIR LIGHTS OUT. BUT I WANT YOU TO GO AHEAD AND PUT OUR WINNER UP FOR A PLACE. FIVE TOM, PLEAS. 423 PARKER DRIVE HERE IN DESOTO. THAT'S LOCATED IN PARKER PARKERVILLE MEADOWS, AND I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY RECEIVED A WINNER FROM FROM PARKER MEADOWS. SO I'M REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL THAT THEY CAME THROUGH THIS YEAR. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. I YIELD BACK. HI EVERYONE. I'M CRYSTAL CHISHOLM AND I REPRESENT PLACE SIX. IT'S ON THE WEST SIDE. AND YES, IT IS THE BEST SIDE. SO I HAD A NEW WINNER THIS YEAR AND I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT IT BECAUSE I HAD TO DO SOMETHING UNORTHODOX. I HAD TO WAIT FOR A CAR TO OPEN THE GATE SO THAT I COULD GET THROUGH THE GATE, BECAUSE IT'S A GATED COMMUNITY. SO UNFORTUNATELY YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO JUST ROLL THROUGH THERE TO SEE IT, BUT NONETHELESS, I HAVE VIDEO AND PICTURES ON MY FACEBOOK IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SEEING THEM. THE WINNER IS FROM WINDMILL HILL. WINDMILL HILL IS 1808 WINDMILL HILL LANE. AND THIS, THIS THIS HOME BELONGS TO THE SCOTTS. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT THE MOST IS THAT THAT THAT IT'S A RED BOW AND IT'S ALL LIGHTS AND. AND IT HAS RED LIGHTS ALL THE WAY AROUND. JUST AMAZING. SO THAT WAS THE WINNER FOR PLACE SIX. AND THEN THE RUNNER UP. IS THE JOHNSONS MR. JOHNSON IS AT 405 GOLD POND. AND IF YOU DRIVE DOWN LAKEVIEW YOU. THIS IS A MUST SEE BECAUSE IT'S VERY [00:25:07] THEATRICAL. THE LIGHTS THEY ALL I LOVE THE DRAMA AND THE EXTREME GRAND ENTRANCE. IT'S THE MIDDLE PICTURE. I DON'T. TOM. IS IT GOING TO MOVE ON ITS OWN? OH NO. OKAY OKAY OKAY. SO THAT IS THE MIDDLE ONE. AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS A NEW HOME THAT IS JOINING THE LIST. AND AGAIN IT'S THE GRAND ENTRANCE FOR ME BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO WALK THROUGH A BULB EVERY DAY AND, AND BE ABLE TO ENTER MY HOME THAT WAY. THANK YOU. WELL GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. AND NOT TO STEAL ANYBODY'S THUNDER, BUT THEY DID SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST, RIGHT? SO NUMBER ONE, THE WINNER WAS 1448. COUNTRY RIDGE. AND LIKE. AND I'M SORRY THAT IT WAS DARK, BUT OH MY GOD IF YOU HAD SEEN IT, IT IS AMAZING. AND LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER RAFAEL PLACED THREE SAID THEY WENT BACK AND PULLED OUT ALL THE OLD SCHOOL ORNAMENTS AND CHRISTMAS PEOPLE AND FEATURES. I WISH WE COULD HAVE PLAYED THE VIDEO BECAUSE I WENT FROM END TO END AND I TURNED AROUND DOWN THE STREET AND WENT BACK, AND I REALLY WANTED TO GO RING THE DOORBELL AND HAVE A CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SO INVITING AND WARM AND LOVING. AND Y'ALL GO BY THERE. IF YOU GET A CHANCE. AND THEN THE SECOND ONE WAS IN REGENCY PARK, A GATED COMMUNITY. BUT IT MADE ME FEEL HOLLYWOOD STYLE. AND I WAS THERE FOR A MINUTE AND SOMEBODY CAME OUT AND THEY SAID, DO YOU WANT ME TO BRING MY MOM OUT? I WAS LIKE, NO, I DON'T WANT TO DISTURB HER. I JUST NEED YOU TO KNOW WHY I'M HERE. BUT IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. AND THEN PLACE THREE IS IN MANTLE BROOK. AND I MEAN, I'M SORRY. YES. PLACE THREE. AND SO THERE WERE A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL DECORATIONS. IF YOU GET A CHANCE, GO OUT. AND IF YOU CAN NEXT YEAR JOIN US. WE'D LOVE TO COME BY AND TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SPOT. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. OH, IT'S ON ME. IT IS ON ME NOW. I DON'T HAVE A CATCHY PHRASE. NORMALLY I'M PRETTY QUICK WITH IT, BUT I THINK THAT I LET MY COLLEAGUES TAKE THE PRIZE HOME TONIGHT ON THE QUICK WIT TONIGHT. BUT THIS IS ALWAYS JUST SUCH AN EXCITING TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND JUST TO SEE THE CREATIVITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY, JUST TO BE ABLE TO STROLL DOWN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT I GOT TO DO, WHICH EACH YEAR I GET TO SELECT THE ENTRYWAYS OR MY FAVORITE ENTRYWAY TO AN HOA OR TO A NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO IT WAS OBVIOUSLY AS AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, IT WAS NOT AN EASY CHOICE. I HAD THE HONOR OF DRIVING AROUND THE ENTIRE CITY LOOKING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR SUBDIVISIONS AND SO IT WAS NOT AN EASY CHOICE. SILVER CREEK CAME IN AT A CLOSE. I SAY HONORABLE MENTION. THEY THEY REALLY DO IT UP EVERY YEAR. AND WHAT I FIND MOST IMPRESSIVE ABOUT MANY OF THESE SUBDIVISIONS IS THEY MANY OF THEM HAVE MORE THAN ONE ENTRYWAY. AND SO THEY WILL DECORATE ALL OF THEIR ENTRYWAYS. AND SO ALSO FROST FARMS. NUMBER ONE AND TWO WAS GREAT. AND THERE WERE JUST SO MANY. BUT I HAD TO MAKE THE TOUGH CHOICE. AND WHAT I REALLY LOVED ABOUT THIS ONE THIS YEAR, CANDLE MEADOW TOOK PLACE FIVE PLAYS, FIVE PLAYS, FIVE PLAYS, FIVE. WE'LL GIVE IT TO YOU, DOCTOR MARKS. WE'LL BE CO-WINNERS ON THIS ONE. SINCE IT WAS IN PLACE FIVE AND KINSDALE FARMS ALSO PLAYS FIVE PLAYS FIVE FIVE, WHICH WAS RIGHT AROUND THE WAY IT WAS. AGAIN, IT WAS A VERY TOUGH CHOICE, BUT WHAT I REALLY LOVED ABOUT CANDLE MEADOW, OBVIOUSLY THEY HAD SEVERAL ENTRYWAYS TO THEIR SUBDIVISION, BUT I LOVE THE SIMPLICITY OF IT. AND DOCTOR MARKS, I WANT YOU TO STAY SILENT ON THIS NEXT PART. I LOVE THE COLORS, WHICH ARE THE CANDY CANE, WHICH ARE WHAT? THE COLOR OF A CANDY CANE. SHE WANTS ME TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE. IT'S RED AND WHITE, BUT IT'S A CANDY VERY MUCH. SHE WANTS ME TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT HER, ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATIONS. BUT I WON'T. I DIGRESS, BUT IT WAS VERY SIMPLE, BUT YET VERY BEAUTIFUL, VERY EYE CATCHING. SO LET'S GIVE ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR, A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO OUR WINNERS, THE HOMES AS WELL AS THE SUBDIVISIONS THAT WON WILL RECEIVE A SIGN AND THEY WILL HAVE THE HONOR AND THE PLEASURE OF THAT SIGN BEING DISPLAYED FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF DECEMBER AND THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS. I BELIEVE SO AGAIN, LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR ALL OF OUR WINNERS. AT THIS TIME, MISS THOMAS WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. AND BEFORE YOU DO THAT, I WANT TO SAY, BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF CARDS AND THE NUMBER OF ITEMS WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA AND THIS IS OUR ONLY MEETING FOR THE MONTH OF THIS IS OUR ONLY OFFICIAL COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. I'M GOING TO MODIFY THE TIME FOR OUR SPEAKERS ON ALL OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS. AND SO INSTEAD OF THE CUSTOMARY THREE MINUTES, I'M GOING TO LIMIT THAT TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER FOR OUR ITEMS OF ITEMS OF WELL, I SKIPPED OVER, SKIPPED OVER ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST AND WENT [00:30:06] TO OUR CITIZENS APPEARANCES. BUT IT STILL GOES WITH SAYING FOR CITIZENS APPEARANCES AS WELL AS ANY OF OUR AGENDIZED ITEMS, THAT SPEAKER LIMIT WILL BE TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER. THANK YOU. [D. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST] NOW, MISS THOMAS WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. THANK YOU MAYOR, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SHOUT OUT GERALDINE SARMIENTO, WHO WORKED WITH EACH OF YOU TO PUT THAT PRESENTATION TOGETHER. SO YES, THANK YOU. IS SHE IN THE MEETING TONIGHT IS NOT SHE IS NOT. YES SHE DID. SHE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET OUR ITEMS IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND BE ABLE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER. SO A BIG SHOUT OUT TO HER AS WELL. ABSOLUTELY. NEXT WE MOVE INTO OUR ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.0415, 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, THE CITY OF DESOTO WILL HOLD A GENERAL ELECTION ON SATURDAY, MAY 3RD, 2025 FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS. MAYOR PLACE ONE, COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE THREE AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE FIVE. CANDIDATE PACKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING THURSDAY, JANUARY 2ND, 2025. THE APPLICATION FILING PERIOD IS JANUARY 15TH, 2025 THROUGH FEBRUARY 14TH. THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THOSE APPLICATIONS WILL BE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH AT 5 P.M. THE FIRST DATE TO FILE FOR A BALLOT BY MAIL IS JANUARY 1ST, 2025. REMEMBER, IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ELECTION, YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO VOTE. PLEASE NOTE THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS ALWAYS 30 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION. YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN. IN THIS CASE, APRIL 3RD, 2025 WILL BE THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE TO CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS, PLEASE VISIT DALLAS COUNTY VOTES.ORG OR VOTE TEXAS DOT GOV. PLEASE VISIT OUR CITY'S WEBSITE FOR QUALIFICATION INFORMATION AND FOR MORE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE, YOU MAY CONTACT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 9722309. EXCUSE ME. 9664. AGAIN, THAT'S (972) 230-9664. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS THOMAS. ALSO, BEFORE WE HEAR FROM OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS COUNCIL, IF YOU WOULD GET ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT YOU HAVE GET THOSE READY. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR TEEN COUNCIL. WHERE TEEN COUNCIL. WHERE ARE YOU? THERE THEY ARE IN THE BACK. THEY ARE HERE TONIGHT TO OBSERVE OUR COUNCIL MEETING. WE CAN CLAP FOR THEM. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THEY ARE HERE TONIGHT OBSERVING OUR COUNCIL MEETING. AND SO IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HERE WITH US IN OUR MEETINGS. COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? I'M NOT SURE WHO HAD THEIR LIGHT ON FIRST NPT. THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR. SO WHAT WE DO, OUR MAYOR NORMALLY RECOGNIZES BIRTHDAYS, AND SINCE SHE HAS A BIRTHDAY THIS MONTH, WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ACKNOWLEDGE HER BIRTHDAY. SURPRISE. HER SURPRISE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JESUS. SO WE SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY. AND IF YOU ALL WILL, PLEASE JOIN US. SHE WANTS THE TRADITIONAL VERSION. YOU GET THE PEANUT BUTTER. WHERE AM I? SOPRANOS ONE? IF YOU HEAR ANYBODY OFF KEY, IT CAME FROM PLACE SIX. WHAT? ON THREE, EVERYBODY. THREE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MAYOR. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. AND PLACE THREE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH I APPRECIATE IT. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR. I THINK BIRTHDAYS ARE ALWAYS A BLESSING. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT. THANK YOU. AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A FEW QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS. WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE DESOTO EAGLES. THEY DO HAVE A PLAYOFF GAME THIS SATURDAY AT MCLANE STADIUM. THAT'S DECEMBER 7TH AT 3 P.M. THEY WILL BE PLAYING THE LONGVIEW LOBOS. AND IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, PLEASE GO AND SUPPORT THEM. IF YOU WANT TO GET DOLLED UP BEFORE YOU GO DOWN THERE. DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL IS HOSTING COSMETOLOGY SALON DAY FROM 1030 TO 2:30 P.M. THEN ON BEHALF OF THE DESOTO AREA CHAMBER, THEY ARE HOSTING A WINTER NIGHT IN PARIS THAT'S GOING TO BE AT THE NEW ARTIST EVENT CENTER LOCATED AT 160 SEAHAWK DRIVE. THEY DO STILL HAVE TICKETS AVAILABLE. IT'S THEIR GALA AND AWARDS NIGHT AND THAT IS THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6TH. THEN ON BEHALF OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, HOPEFULLY YOU ALL SAW THE ICE SKATING RINK. PLEASE BE SURE TO GET OUT THERE. IT IS OPEN UNTIL JANUARY 7TH. VARIOUS TIMES SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. AND [00:35:03] THEN ALSO WE WILL HAVE OUR CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING BLOCK PARTY TOMORROW NIGHT RIGHT HERE BEHIND US. AND THAT WILL BE FROM 6 TO 9 P.M. SO PLEASE COME OUT AND JOIN US ALSO. ONE LAST THING. THERE'S A CHRISTMAS MUSICAL ON DECEMBER 28TH AT 7 P.M. PLEASE REGISTER AT EVENTBRITE. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. HELLO. DE SOTO. ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE EVENTS HAPPENING AT THE LIBRARY, SO THIS SATURDAY THEY HAVE GO LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS. AND IT'S ABOUT SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL AUTHORS. YOU DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THERE WERE SO MANY AUTHORS THAT SIT RIGHT IN THE CITY OF DESOTO, BUT THEY NEED YOU TO COME OUT. IT'S AT THE LIBRARY DECEMBER 7TH, 12 TO 5 P.M. COME OUT AND ENJOY. DISCOVER THE NEXT GREAT HOLIDAY. READ WITH THE DESOTO LIBRARY TEAM THEY ARE INVOLVED IN. SO MUCH. AND THEN ALSO ON DECEMBER 14TH, THEY HAVE THE DESOTO. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY PALOOZA AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, ALL I CAN SAY IS COME OUT, GET YOU SOME COOKIES, MILK, TALK WITH SANTA, BE WITH THE LIBRARY. THEY HAVE LOTS OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO ENJOY CHRISTMAS AT THE HOLIDAY PALOOZA, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE ON DECEMBER 14TH. I'M TRYING TO GET IT UP. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I SHOULD HAVE HAD IT ALREADY GOING NOON TO 2 P.M. AND YOU CAN JUST TAKE A FEW MINUTES OUT OF YOUR DAY TO COME AND ENJOY SOME OF THAT. AND THEN ONCE WE HIT JANUARY, WE HAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD COLLABORATION. I KNOW, I KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN OUR POSTS EVERY LAST COUNCIL MEMBER HAS POSTED. ARE YOU REGISTERED YET? I'M REGISTERED. ARE YOU? BUT AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME, IF YOU LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERYBODY HAS A NEIGHBOR. IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY, AND THE CITY COLLABORATE WITH YOU. THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO COME OUT AND GET SOME INFORMATION AND BE A PART OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE ALL A PART OF. AND THEN ON JANUARY 10TH, NOW, I'M SORRY, THE COLLABORATION IS JANUARY THE 11TH AT 9 A.M. TO NOON ON JANUARY 10TH. MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER NICOLE RAPHAEL, WE ARE GOING TO BE HOSTING A SHOPS AT THE SHOPS OF GRAU DE SOTO, AND WE'RE HERE. WE WANT TO HAVE A LISTENING EAR. WE'RE HERE TO HEAR YOU. WE WANT YOU TO COME OUT. WE WANT YOU TO BRING YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR SHARE, YOUR IDEAS. WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE SOME UPDATES ON SOME THINGS, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. SO I SAY AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME, THE YEAR IS SET. IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR. AND I HOPE YOU DO IT TONIGHT. HAVE A GOOD ONE. DE SOTO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CHISHOLM. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYO. GOOD EVENING AGAIN. MYSELF AND COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD ARE JOINING FORCES. YAY TO DO A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION. WE BOTH BEEN WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF A LOT OF INQUIRIES REGARDING PERMITS. I KNOW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IS A TIME WHERE YOU TRY TO START NEW PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WELL, BEFORE YOU GO BUILD AN ACCESSORY BUILDING OR OR SOMETHING THAT COULD BE SEEN OR DEEMED OUT OF ORDINANCE, WE WANT TO HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL SESSION. SO, YOU KNOW HOW THE CITY APPROACHES THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE YOUR PERMITS IN PLACE AND YOU DON'T RUN INTO ANY TROUBLE WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT OR OUR BUILDING AND INSPECTIONS. AND ALONG WITH THAT CONVERSATION, JANUARY, WE WILL HAVE NEW RATES AS IT RELATES TO OUR WATER AND SEWER. AND OTHER UTILITIES. SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROACTIVE IN EDUCATING YOU ON WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE ON YOUR BILL. THAT IS GOING TO BE JANUARY THE 25TH RIGHT HERE IN DESOTO. DESOTO LIBRARY, IN THE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM. AND THAT'S FROM 830 TO 1030. MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CHISHOLM, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR. AND MY COLLEAGUES ARE ALREADY IN JANUARY. I'M STILL IN DECEMBER, AND CHRISTMAS HAPPENED TO BE A WONDERFUL TIME. IF YOU WANT TO GET IN THE MOOD FOR CHRISTMAS, NOTHING. NOTHING WOULD PUT YOU IN THE MOOD LIKE GOOD GOSPEL SINGING AND YOU. IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD OUR SENIORS SING AT OUR SENIOR CITIZENS CELEBRATION DECEMBER THE 13TH FROM 9:00 UNTIL 10 A.M. IS WHEN THE NEW GOLDEN VOICES CHOIR WILL BE SINGING. I WILL NOT BE SINGING. I'M PART OF THE OLD GOLDEN VOICES. BUT YEAH, YOU'RE WELCOME. BUT THE NEW GOLDEN VOICES WILL BE SINGING AGAIN. THAT'S FRIDAY, DECEMBER THE 13TH FROM 9 TO 10. PLEASE COME OUT AND HEAR THIS WONDERFUL CHOIR AND GET IN THE MOOD FOR CHRISTMAS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DOCTOR MARTIN. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. IT IS BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS. EVERYWHERE [00:40:06] YOU GO YOU SEE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. YOU SEE ALL OF THESE STORES THAT HAVE ALL OF THESE TOYS. AND I WANT TO CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR TOY DRIVE THIS YEAR. WE HAVE ACTUALLY PARTNERED WITH LEGACY TOYOTA, FORMERLY CALLED SOUTH TOYOTA. AND OF COURSE IT'S LOCATED AT 39 960 LBJ FREEWAY JUST TO BRING IT HOME. IT'S LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF HAMPTON ROAD AND 20. IT'S CALLED A PHILIPS TUNDRA, WHICH MEANS THAT WE FILL THE BEDS OF TUNDRA TRUCKS LAST YEAR, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO FILL 13.5 TRUCKS TO BLESS OUR CHILDREN HERE IN DESOTO. OUR GOAL ONLY THIS YEAR IS ONLY TEN TRUCKS. BUT I KNOW THAT AS I SEE SEVERAL PASTORS IN THE ROOM, I KNOW THAT WHEN WE ASK, WE CAN RECEIVE. ALL RIGHT. SO, PASTOR EPPS, I SEE YOU OVER THERE. I LOOK FOR A TRUCK OF TOYS COMING FROM YOUR CONGREGATION. NOW, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL DROP OFF LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY. MORE SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE ONE HERE AT CITY HALL. WE DO HAVE THEM IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS. WE DO HAVE IT AT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. MOST OF OUR CHURCHES HAVE THEM, AND CERTAINLY A LOT OF OUR BUSINESSES HAVE DROP BOXES AS WELL. SO PLEASE FEEL FREE. PURCHASE A TOY, BRING IT AND DROP IT AT ONE OF THOSE LOCATIONS. IF YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT RIGHT AWAY, MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET IT IN NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 14TH, WHICH IS WHEN WE WILL HAVE A CULMINATING EVENT OVER AT LEGACY TOYOTA PROMPTLY AT 10:00 AM, AFTER WHICH WE WILL DO A CARAVAN FROM SOUTH TOYOTA OVER TO THE DISTRIBUTION SITE, WHICH WILL BE THE VILLAGE CHURCH, WHICH IS LOCATED ON WINTERGREEN ROAD HERE IN DESOTO. THOSE THOSE TOYS WILL BE HOUSED THERE FOR A WEEK. AND OF COURSE, DURING THAT WEEK WE WILL BE ORGANIZING, GETTING IT READY FOR OUR PARENTS TO COME IN AND ACTUALLY DO SHOPPING FOR THEIR CHILDREN. ON DECEMBER 21ST, STARTING AT 8:00 UNTIL 12 NOON, OR UNTIL ALL OF THE TOYS HAVE BEEN GIVEN AWAY. I AM IN SEARCH OF TOYS. I AM IN SEARCH OF VOLUNTEERS. WE DO HAVE FLIERS THAT ARE LOCATED ON THE TABLE OUT FRONT. IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU PICK ONE UP PRIOR TO YOUR EXIT ON TODAY. MY SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT IS A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION, AND CERTAINLY ALL OF US SEEM TO BE DOING COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE, WELL AWARE AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IN OUR CITY. I HAVE PARTNERED WITH COUNCILWOMAN RAPHAEL. WE WILL HAVE TWO SESSIONS AROUND THE CITY. ONE WILL BE HELD ON DECEMBER 12TH. THAT WILL BE HELD OVER AT THE LIFE CENTER UNITED CHURCH, LOCATED AT 220 SOUTH COCKRELL HILL ROAD AND OF COURSE, IT WILL START AT 630 ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE AQUATIC CENTER THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION AS WE SPEAK. GENERAL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IN 2025. WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT AS WELL AS ROAD AND STREET REPAIRS. AND OF COURSE, THE HAMPTON ROAD REDEVELOPMENT. TALKING ABOUT THOSE CHARACTER CODES AND OF COURSE, WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. THE SECOND SESSION WILL BE HELD ON DECEMBER 16TH, WITH COUNCILWOMAN RAPHAEL STARTING AT 630, AND IT WILL BE HELD OVER AT THE KOINONIA FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. AND OF COURSE, THAT'S LOCATED AT 600 EAST BELTLINE ROAD. HERE IN DE SOTO. MADAM MAYOR, THAT SEEMS TO BE ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME. I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU. DOCTOR MARX, COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. SO AS YOU ALL HEARD, CONNECT, ENGAGE AND GO SO WE'RE ALL DOING THAT HERE IN OUR CITY. AND I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL THING. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN EACH OF THE PLACES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR CITY, BUT SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH PUBLIC ART AND THE VARIOUS ART PROJECTS IN DESOTO, THERE IS A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE VETERANS MEMORIAL SCULPTURE PIECE. IT HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH DECEMBER 13TH AT 5 P.M, SO YOU CAN FIND THE SUBMISSION INFORMATION ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE UNDER COMMUNITY PUBLIC ART AND ALL ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT. YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR SUBMITTING. YOU CAN SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY OR YOU CAN SUBMIT. I'M SORRY. YEAH, YOU CAN SUBMIT ON OUR PURCHASING WEBSITE AS WELL AS YOU CAN MAIL IN YOUR APPLICATION TO THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT HERE AT 211 EAST PLEASANT RUN ROAD. SO IF YOU KNOW ANY AMAZING ARTISTS WHO ARE READY TO DISPLAY THEIR WORK, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH OUR CITY FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS RFQ, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE PROCUREMENT AT DESOTO, TEXAS.GOV. NOW THE DESOTO ARTIST LABS VERY OWN ARTIST, JENNIFER KINNARD HAS COMPLETED HER STUNNING PORTRAIT OF THE FORMER MAYOR MCCOWN CURTIS MCCOWN. SHE'S ALSO FINISHED HER MOSAIC [00:45:02] MURAL CALLED WIN SONATINA. I HOPE I SAID THAT CORRECTLY, AND IT'S INSPIRED BY SOUNDS AND WIND INSTRUMENTS, HUMMINGBIRDS AND TRUMPETS. THE TITLE REFLECTS THE MURALS ELEGANT AND HARMONIOUS DESIGN, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT RIGHT IN THE BACK AS YOU ENTER FROM THE BACK SIDE OF THIS COMPLEX IS A BEAUTIFUL MURAL. AS YOU GO INTO THE RECREATION CENTER, AS WELL AS IF YOU ARE AN ARTIST. WE ARE HAVING OUR FOURTH ANNUAL DESOTO ARTIST LAB RESIDENCY PROGRAM. KICKOFF APPLICATIONS OPEN DECEMBER 16TH THROUGH JANUARY 13TH, SO STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. ABOUT ARTS IN DESOTO. SO AGAIN, IF YOU ARE THAT ARTIST AND YOU WANT TO DISPLAY YOUR ART WORK, OR RATHER SHARE YOUR CRAFT WITH OUR COMMUNITY, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE APPLICATIONS. AND THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL FOR THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR ALL OF YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS. I WANTED TO RE UNDERSCORE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR OUR BIG CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING EVENT AND OUR BLOCK PARTY THAT IS TAKING PLACE TOMORROW EVENING AT 6 P.M. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF SPECIAL THINGS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING ON THAT EVENING, SUCH AS FEATURING THE DESOTO ISD, A CAPPELLA CHOIR, PERFORMING ARTS AND DANCE COMPANIES, THE JUNIOR ROTC, CAROLYN'S DANCE LAND. THERE'LL BE FOOD TRUCKS, BOUNCE HOUSES, FACE PAINTING, LIVE MUSIC, AND MOST OF ALL, WE WILL BE CUTTING THE RIBBON ON DESOTO ON ICE. OUR ICE SKATING RINK WILL BE OPENING OFFICIALLY TOMORROW, SO WE'RE ASKING YOU ALL TO COME OUT AND JOIN US FOR THIS EVENT AGAIN. IT STARTS HERE AT TOWN CENTER AT 6 P.M. AND YOU CAN. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SKATE TOMORROW, RIGHT? MR. GLOVER, IF YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SKATE TOMORROW EVENING AS WELL. AND SO IT WILL BE A GREAT EVENING. IT HAS BEEN SUCH AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE TO EVEN JUST SEE AND LOOK BACK ON LAST YEAR WHEN WE WHEN IT BEGAN TO THIS YEAR AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE SPARKED FROM THAT. AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT [E. CITIZEN APPEARANCES] TOMORROW'S BLOCK PARTY AND CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY AT THIS TIME, MISS THOMAS WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. NEXT WE MOVE INTO 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 AMBASSADORS 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 AMBASSADORS TABLE PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. AND MAYOR, I HAVE SEVERAL PAM SMITH. HI BILL SMITH, IF YOU COULD PRESS THE BUTTON SO WE CAN CUT YOUR MICROPHONE ON RIGHT THERE AT THE MICROPHONE. YES, MA'AM. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE ONLY. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. PAM SMITH, DESOTO, TEXAS I'M SPEAKING TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF THE THORN TREE GOLF CLUB. IT'S NOT JUST A NICE IDEA. IT'S SOMETHING THAT DESOTO REALLY NEEDS TO DO RIGHT NOW. THE CURRENT OWNERS DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY PLANS BEYOND COLLECTING GREEN FEES AND WAITING FOR THE CLUBHOUSE TO FALL APART, AND THE GOLF COURSE TO BECOME UNUSABLE. IF THAT HAPPENS, DESOTO WOULD LOSE A HUGE ASSET AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WOULD FEEL THE IMPACT. JUST LIKE SOME OF YOU HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM A REAL ESTATE AGENT WHO LIVES AND WORKS IN DESOTO, AND I KNOW, LIKE ME, YOU'VE SEEN HOW MUCH THORN TREE MATTERS TO OUR COMMUNITY. A GREAT GOLF COURSE ADDS VALUE TO OUR PROPERTY TAX BASE, AND MAKES DESOTO A MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO LIVE. BUT WHEN A GOLF COURSE CLOSES, HOME VALUES IN THE AREA CAN DROP BY AS MUCH AS 25 TO 50%, AND THE COURSE ITSELF LOSES VALUE, TOO. THAT WOULD MEAN A BIG HIT TO THE PROPERTY TAX BASE REVENUE FOR DESOTO, AND IT WOULD HURT FUNDING FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR ROADS, OUR LIBRARY, OUR PARKS, AND OUR OTHER SERVICES. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO THAT WAY BECAUSE WE HAVE AN EXCITING CHANCE TO TURN AROUND. THIS PROBLEM. THE RUSSELL GLENN COMPANY WANTS TO REDEVELOP THORN TREE AND BRING IT BACK TO LIFE. AND THIS WOULD MAKE THORN TREE AN ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY ASSET AGAIN. IT WOULD ATTRACT VISITORS, BOOST LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CREATE MORE TAX REVENUE THAT CAN BE REINVESTED [00:50:04] IN THE CITY. THE RUSSELL GLENN COMPANY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THEY'VE DONE THEIR HOMEWORK AND THEY HAVE A GREAT TRACK RECORD. BY SUPPORTING THEIR VISION, THE CITY COUNCIL CAN SHOW THAT IT IS SERIOUS ABOUT PROTECTING AND IMPROVING DESOTO'S ASSETS. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SAVING A GOLF COURSE, IT'S ABOUT INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY, KEEPING OUR PROPERTY VALUES STRONG AND SHOWING THE DFW AREA THAT DESOTO IS A VIBRANT AND FORWARD THINKING COMMUNITY. AND IT WOULD BE A WIN FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. KEISHA NIXON, KEISHA NIXON. GOOD EVENING, MISS NIXON. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. NIXON, CAN YOU CUT YOUR MICROPHONE ON FOR US, PLEASE? IS IT ON? OKAY, KEISHA NIXON, DESOTO, TEXAS. YES, I AM HERE AGAIN TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT I'VE HAD WITH THE CITY AND WITH SPECIFICALLY JOSEPH COSTA AS THE POLICE CHIEF. I AM DEEPLY TROUBLED THAT DESOTO CITY LEADERSHIP APPEARS TO PERMIT CHIEF DECOSTA'S CONDUCT UNCHECKED. DESPITE THESE REPEATED ABUSES OF AUTHORITY AND POLICY CONCERNS, THIS LACK OF OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE THESE SERIOUS CLAIMS OF HARASSMENT, MISHANDLING OF POLICE RESOURCES AND BIAS. I ALSO REQUEST A WRITTEN RESPONSE DETAILING HOW THE COUNCIL PLANS TO ADDRESS THESE INCIDENTS AND PREVENT FURTHER MISCONDUCT, AS WELL AS SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO RESTORE TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. WITH JOSEPH AS THE HEAD OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AS A TAXPAYING CITIZEN OF DESOT, I DESERVE TO KNOW THAT MY CONCERNS WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND ADDRESSED. I KNOW A LOT OF YOU SAY THAT MY CONCERNS ARE PERSONAL. I DON'T KNOW HIM PERSONALLY. THIS IS NOT HIS HOUSE. THIS IS THE WHAT? CITY HALL WHERE I'M COMING TO ADDRESS AN EMPLOYEE'S CONDUCT AND THEIR BEHAVIOR, WHICH IS PROVEN TO BE PROBLEMATIC OVER THE YEARS BY LAWSUITS AND OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY CITIZENS OF THIS CITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO A PROMPT RESPONSE AND AN OUTLINE OF CORRECTIVE MEASURES THAT WILL ENSURE THE SAFETY, FAIRNESS AND PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. MY FAMILY AND I WILL NOT TOLERATE FURTHER MISTREATMENT, NOR WILL WE ACCEPT CONTINUED DISREGARD FROM OFFICIALS CHARGED WITH PROTECTING AND SERVING ALL RESIDENTS OF DESOTO. WHETHER YOU LIKE ME OR NOT, WHETHER I'M CALLING FOR A RECALL OR NOT, I PAY TAXES. I'M A CITIZEN HERE AND I DEMAND RESPECT. AND SOME ACTION BEFORE SOMEBODY IN MY HOUSEHOLD ENDS UP DEAD. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MARY BONAPARTE. GOOD EVENING, MISS BONAPARTE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. AND GOOD EVENING, MARY BONAPARTE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE DESOTO POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE HAD AN INCIDENT ON THE FIRST WHERE ANOTHER POSSIBLE HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL WAS CAUGHT IN A NEIGHBOR'S YARD OR RESIDENCE YARD. DESOTO POLICE. THEY WERE ABLE TO APPREHEND HIM BY UTILIZATION OF A DRONE IN ADDITION, I THINK AS WE PLAN OUR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WE NEED TO FACTOR IN THE ADDITION OF ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS. THAT SHOULD BE PART OF OUR PLANNING FOR THIS CITY. ALSO FOR CITY LEADERS, IT BEHOOVES ME THAT WE HAVE RESORTED TO NON-TRANSPARENCY AS A 35 YEAR RESIDENT AND A CITIZEN OF DESOTO, I THINK EVERY CITIZEN IN DESOTO HAVE A RIGHT TO QUESTION THE INTEGRITY AND ETHICS OF CITY POLICIES. I THINK WE SHOULD BECOME AND BE BETTER WITH COMMUNICATIONS, WITH THE CITY, WITH THE CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS. WE HAVE TO BE MORE PROACTIVE VERSUS REACTIVE AS IT RELATES TO CITY POLICIES AND PLANS. I'M [00:55:01] ASKING THAT YOU DO THAT. IT'S VITAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BONAPARTE. MITCHELL. MITCHELL. CHEETHAM. MITCHELL. CHEATHAM. CHEATHAM. GOOD EVENING, MR. CHEATHAM. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. MAYOR, FELLOW COUNCILMAN, THE WHOLE HOUSEHOLD. I JUST STOPPED BY MITCHELL CHEATHAM. I LIVE AT 13, 17 HARVEST HILL LANE IN THE CITY OF LANCASTER, TEXAS. I'M ACTUALLY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF LANCASTER. SO I SIT ON THE COUNCIL AS WELL AS YOU GUYS STOP BY JUST TO TELL YOU GUYS HOW PROUD I AM OF WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING ON THIS SIDE OF 35. I ATTEND SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH YOU GUYS. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU GUYS GIVE YOU AN ENCOURAGING WORDS TO KEEP BEING INNOVATIVE. AS YOU GUYS ARE. WE'RE WATCHING YOU FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF 35. AND WE'RE JUST JUST WANT TO KNOW I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE DON'T REALIZE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST PLAYING CHECKERS WITH THIS THING. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AFFECTED BY IT. AND I SEE THIS COUNCIL PLAYING CHESS. YOU'RE MAKING MOVES FOR THE FUTURE OF NOT ONLY DESOTO, BUT YOU'RE MAKING MOVES FOR FUTURE FOR THIS REGION BECAUSE WE'RE ALL A PART OF THE BEST SOUTHWEST. AND WHAT THAT IS, IS THAT'S A GROUP OF US IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF TOWN THAT ARE TRYING TO BRING GROWTH AND INSPIRE THIS SIDE. THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF TOWN, TO BECOME WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE NORTH TO DO SOME THINGS. SO WE JUST WE JUST WANT TO KNOW. AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS ARE PARTNERING WITH US AGAIN. I SEE YOU GUYS AT SEVERAL MEETINGS, BUT I JUST STOPPED BY TO PAT YOU ON THE BACK AND SAY, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. OSCAR EPPS. HEY, MIKE. HEY, MAN. YES, SIR. YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN CHEATHAM, I STARTED TO MESS WITH YOU WHEN YOU STARTED TALKING AND WELCOME YOU OVER FROM EAST DESOTO. HOLD ON. GOOD EVENING. I AIN'T STARTED YET. WOW. YOU ALL PASSED TO EPPS. NOW, DO I NEED TO WARN YOU BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. ONLY YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCY. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. SKIP. CEDAR HILL, TEXAS, THE MAN LEFT 30S. I DON'T SEE WHY I CAN'T HAVE IT. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT I AM SEEING. FINALLY START TO TAKE PLACE IN THIS CITY. WE'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT 30 YEARS. I STARTED THIS THIS RACE WITH MICHAEL HURT AND JIM BARR SITTING DOWN TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS CITY IS AND WHERE THE CITY NEEDS TO GO AND WHAT THE CITY WAS DESIGNED FOR AND TO BE, TO JUST BE TRANSPARENT. I WAS TOLD BY PEOPLE I LOVE, TRUST AND ARE WHITE GUYS THAT THIS CITY WAS DESIGNED TO BE HIGHLAND PARK OF THE SOUTH OF THE TRINITY. THAT'S WHY WE'VE NEVER HAD PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THAT'S WHY THERE WAS A FIGHT TO KEEP CERTAIN ETHNIC GROUPS. AND WE WERE THE ONES THAT WERE TALKING ABOUT. BUT THINGS ARE DIFFERENT AND PROGRESS IS BEING MADE. AND I AM SO PROUD OF THE MEN AND WOMEN ON THIS COUNCIL TO SEE HOW WE ARE FINALLY MOVING FORWARD, TO BRING ABOUT A CHANGE. WE'VE WATCHED CHANGE AS YOU SAY, IN EAST DESOTO. WE'VE SEEN A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE IN WEST DESOTO. AND NOW IN THE CITY OF DESOTO. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THIS COUNCIL THAT IS PUTTING TOGETHER SOME HARD EFFORTS TO MOVE SOME THINGS, EVEN IN SPITE OF OPPOSITIONS STAY LEADERS, STAY TRUE TO YOUR CALL. STAY TRUE TO WHAT YOU KNOW THAT WE DON'T. BECAUSE ON THE END, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE PRIVY TO INFORMATION WE DON'T HAVE. SO USE THE KNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE. DON'T THINK WITH YOUR HEARTS, THINK WITH YOUR HEADS. AND LET'S MAKE THIS CITY THE VERY BEST SHE CAN BE. THANK YOU ALL. ROOSEVELT. BAKER, ROOSEVELT. BAKER. ROOSEVELT. BAKER. COME ON UP. WELL, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MR. BAKER. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE, FOR THE RECORD. AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS ROOSEVELT BAKER, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DESOTO, TEXAS. EXCUSE ME. DADDY. OKAY. WHY? YOU PUT ME BEHIND MY PASTOR OVER THERE? YOU KNOW, HE'S A HARD GUY TO FOLLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE [01:00:06] LIVED IN DESOTO FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS, AND I'VE SEEN MANY, MANY CHANGES IN THIS CITY AND MOST OF IT I CAN ACCOUNT ATTRIBUTE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM. AND WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. AND I WANT YOU TO CONTINUE THAT PROGRESS AND REACH OUT, REACH OUT AND HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESIDENTS AND LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU. BECAUSE WITHOUT OUR SUPPORT, YOU CAN DO NOTHING AND WE NEED WE NEED TO STAND BEHIND YOU AND APPEASE YOUR AGENDA AND GIVE YOU SUPPORT. AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. ANDRE, ANDRE. JOSEPH. YES, SIR. MR. JOSEPH, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. ANDRE GOES TO DESOTO, TEXAS, AND I'M A CITIZEN OF DESOTO. FOR SOME 28 YEARS. I THINK WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS GREAT. THE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, MOVING DESOTO IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION. I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN HERE 28 YEARS AND I HAVEN'T WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU GUYS ARE PLANNING. I THINK IT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. I'VE WATCHED CEDAR HILL DEVELOP, LANCASTER DEVELOP EVEN DUNCANVILLE, AND WE WANT THAT IN DESOTO. WE DESERVE IT. WE PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR OUR HOMES. I THINK WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS GREAT. CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK. THE PROPERTY THAT THE CITY IS WANTING TO PURCHASE. I THINK IS GREAT. I THINK WE NEED FIVE STAR HOTELS. I THINK WE NEED FIVE STAR RESTAURANTS. I THINK WE NEED THE SHOPPING CENTERS, THE SHOPPING STRIPS. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE DESOTO TO PURCHASE THINGS THAT WE NEED. WE SHOULDN'T. WE DESERVE THAT RIGHT HERE. AND I SEE YOU HAVE US ON THAT PATH. WE HAVE A GREAT CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. I EVEN WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THAT THEY DO. THEY TAKE CARE OF US NOT JUST IN THE COMMUNITY BUT AT OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME. TANYA COLE, TANYA COLE, TANYA COLE. GOOD EVENING, MISS COLE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. TANYA COLE, DESOTO, TEXAS. REALLY? THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE FOR ME TO SAY OTHER THAN WHAT MY NEIGHBOR PAM SMITH SAID. I ECHO EVERY SENTIMENT THAT SHE SAID AS FAR AS THE SUPPORT OF THE THORN TREE GOLF COURSE, NOT ONLY IS IT BENEFICIAL FOR THE COMMUNITIES AROUND IT, BUT IT'S BENEFICIAL FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF DESOTO. SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT SHE SAYS AND HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD TAKE THAT UNDER STRONG CONSIDERATION. I'VE ONLY BEEN IN DESOTO FOR TEN YEARS. I CAME TO DESOTO KICKING AND SCREAMING BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER WHERE I WANTED TO LIVE. AND NOW THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE. OTHER THAN DESOTO. I THANK THE CITY COUNCIL, DOES A GREAT JOB. I SEE THE GROWTH HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, WITH GOD'S GRACE, I PLAN TO STAY HERE AND SEE THE CITY FLOURISH AND GROW EVEN MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS COLE. STEVE JACKSON, STEVE JACKSON. MR. JACKSON, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. STEVEN JACKSON. GOOD AFTERNOON. DESOTO, TEXAS. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL. MADAM MAYOR, I GIVE GLORY TO GOD TO BE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING. THANKING YOU FOR HAVING ME. I'VE BEEN A CITIZEN OF DESOTO FOR 20 PLUS YEARS. MY CHILDREN ATTENDED THE DESOTO ISD, AND FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES WE'VE SEEN MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN OUR CITY. BUT MOST RECENTLY, THE LAST 3 TO 4 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT. AND THAT IMPROVEMENT COMES FROM THE LEADERSHIP THAT STAND THAT I [01:05:01] STAND. BEFORE YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB IN MOVING OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD. AND WE ASSESS THAT. THAT'S AS A RESULT OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, RELATIONSHIPS THAT EXTEND OUTSIDE OF THESE WALLS. YOU'RE TOUCHING THE LIVES OF CITIZENS, AND YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. SO WE ARE PLEASED AT WHAT WE SEE. AND AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, I SAY THIS JUST CONTINUE TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CITIZENS OF DESOTO. MADAM MAYOR, COUNCIL, YOUR AGENDA WILL MOVE FORWARD. YOUR AGENDA WILL MOVE FORWARD. CONTINUE BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO GOD TO BE PART OF THIS ALL-AMERICAN CITY. GOD BLESS YOU. DON OR DAN WISE. HE'S HE'S DECLINING TO SPEAK. CAN YOU TELL US CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE CARD WAS ABOUT, MISS THOMAS? YES, IT WAS REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THORN TREE. THAT'S THE ONLY COMMENT THERE. BOB BENJAMIN. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. GRANT. THORN TREE. PATRICIA DAVIS. POINT OF ORDER. I'M SORRY. POINT OF INFORMATION. JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, YOU SAID A NAME I DIDN'T. CAN WE CAN REPEAT IT? YES. CAN YOU REPEAT THE LAST TWO CARDS THAT DON WISE OR DAN WISE AND BOB BENJAMIN? IF YES, IF THERE ARE, ARE THEY IN SUPPORT OR IN OPPOSITION TO THE. IF WE CAN ASK FOR DON WISE, IS IT ARE YOU IN SUPPORT OF THAT OR IN OPPOSITION IN SUPPORT? OKAY. THE SECOND NAME IS THOMAS. BOB BENJAMIN IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HELLO. MISS DAVIS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS PATRICIA DAVIS, DESOTO, TEXAS. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN HERE OVER 20 YEARS IN DESOTO, AND WE TOO ARE VERY PROUD TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF DESOTO. I HAVE GROWN TO MEET AND KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE. WHEN WE MOVED HERE FROM DUNCANVILLE, IT WAS REALLY AN INVESTMENT AND WE WEREN'T PLANNING ON STAYING LONG, BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR US TO MEET OUR NEIGHBORS TO START WORKING IN THIS CITY, TO SEE THE SUPPORT, TO SEE THE LOVE, TO BE A PART OF A LOT OF THE GROWTH. BUT WE ARE VERY PROUD TO LIVE IN THORN TREE. SO I'M GOING TO SELFISHLY SAY THAT I AM CERTAINLY IN SUPPORT OF THE CIT, PROVIDING THE SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED TO HELP REVITALIZE THE CLUB AT THORN TREE, NOT ONLY FOR OUR PROPERTY VALUES, BUT FOR THE VALUE OF THE CITY, FOR THE RESIDENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE PLAN, THAT I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE ALL WORKING HARD ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ANTOINE, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. I KNEW YOU WHEN. OKAY? AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HERE. WE STAND BEHIND YOU, WE ARE READY. AND I TOO, WANT TO PUT MY PERSONAL SUPPORT BEHIND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF OUR CITY LEADERS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON OUR BEHALF AND WHETHER WE AGREE OR WE DISAGREE, YOU ARE THERE TO LISTEN TO US AND WORK WITH US. SO I, I CAME REPRESENTING I HAVE BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOA FOR AT LEAST TWO CONSECUTIVE ROUNDS, AND SO I KNOW WHAT YOU DO. I KNOW YOU REACH OUT TO US WHEN WE DON'T REACH OUT TO YOU. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. AND PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SUPPORT AND HELP US BRING BACK THE VALUE OF THORN TREE COUNTRY CLUB BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN OCCUR AT THAT CLUB. THANK YOU. JOE DUARTE JOE DUART. HELLO. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. JOE DECKARD DESOTO. I WON'T NEED TWO MINUTES. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE. AND I AGREE THAT THIS GRANT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR THORN TREE COUNTRY CLUB IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. IT'S A WIN WIN. I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF AN HOA FOR A LONG TIME AND PARTICIPATED IN GRANT PROGRAMS, BUT THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE AN ECONOMIC BOOM FOR THE CITY, AND THERE SHOULD BE NO DOUBT IN YOUR MIND THAT WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS. AND I'LL END IT BY SAYING, I HEARD SOME COMMENTS ABOUT CHIEF COSTA TODAY. I KNOW THE MAN [01:10:06] PERSONALLY. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND A BETTER CHIEF FOR THIS DEPARTMENT THAN CHIEF COSTA. OKAY. THANK YOU. FRANK BENEDICT, FRANK BENEDICT. FRANK BENEDICT. MR. BENEDICT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. I WON'T NEED TWO MINUTES. FRANK BENEDICT, DESOTO. UNLIKE MY PREDECESSORS, I'M NEW TO DESOTO. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR JUST OVER THREE YEARS. STILL NEED WAYS TO FIND MY WAY AROUND THE CITY. COMING HERE AFTER SPENDING 40 YEARS IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN, THE COLD WEATHER BROUGHT ME HERE WITH THE HELP OF AND THE URGING OF MY DAUGHTERS WHO NEED WHO NEED HEL. I LIVED IN A IN AN AREA VERY CLOSE TO TWO GOLF COURSES. PALMER WOODS BEING A PUBLIC GOLF COURSE AND THE DETROIT GOLF COURSE BEING A PRIVATE GOLF COURSE. THE PUBLIC GOLF COURSE WENT DOWNHILL. THE CITY COULD NOT AFFORD TO MAINTAIN IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH IT NOW, BUT IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE ROCKET MORTGAGE GOLF CLASSIC THAT WHEN THEY TOOK OVER THE DETROIT GOLF COURSE, THINGS MOVED FORWARD. I'M SURE THAT ONCE THORN TREE GETS BACK ON ITS FEET, LIKEWISE, THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THAT ENDEAVOR AND THROW MY SUPPORT BEHIND IT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PHILIP STRAND. MR. STRAND, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. PHILIP STRAND, DESOTO. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN HERE 38 YEARS. A LITTLE BIT OVER. WE'VE LIVED IN TWO DIFFERENT AREAS IN DESOTO. OUR KIDS GREW UP HERE. WE NOW HAVE BEEN 22 YEARS AT THORN TREE ON THE EAST SIDE, AND WE HAVE STAYED IN DESOTO BECAUSE WE LOVE IT HERE. WE'VE GOT GREAT GOVERNANCE BY THE CITY. WE HAVE, AS YOU CAN HEAR, GREAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD. WE HAVE WONDERFUL PARKS AND REC PROGRAM. THE WHOLE THING HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE FOR US. WE APPRECIATE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, ANDRE BYRD, WHO HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO US AND HE CHAIRED A MEETING WITH MR. MAIDEN, TERRANCE MAIDEN, ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO OVER AT LOVING FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH. MR. MAIDEN WAS THERE AND GAVE A VERY INTERESTING PRESENTATION TO EVERYBODY. AND I WON'T GO INTO ALL THE NEGATIVES BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD THEM, BUT THE POSITIVES ARE SEVERAL. WE HAVE LOTS OF NEW BUILDING GOING ON RIGHT AROUND THORN TREE AND NOT ONLY IS THORN TREE A PART OF DESOTO, WE GOT ALL THE GREAT OR THE BEST SOUTHWEST AROUND HERE. WE GOT THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS, WE GOT CEDAR HILL INVOLVED, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE THIS COUNTRY CLUB BACK TO LIFE. NOW, I THOUGHT ONE THING THAT MR. MAIDEN SAID WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO ME. MY QUESTION TO HIM WAS THE LAST QUESTION OF THE NIGHT. AND I SAID, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THORN TREE? HE SAID, WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD IT UP AND SELL IT. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT. IT'S GOING TO BE A LEGACY PROPERTY FOR US. I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT LEGACY PROPERTY. SO WHEN YOU'RE DEVELOPING, YOU'RE WORKING ON THIS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK OF THAT LEGACY PROPERTY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALICE REYNA ALICE REYNA. TWO MINUTES. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, [01:15:04] YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. SURE. ALICE REYNA, DESOTO, TEXAS I HAVE ONLY LIVED IN DESOTO FOR TEN YEARS, BUT I LIVED SOUTH OF DALLAS FOR 30, ALMOST 40 YEARS. I WENT TO UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS AND WE MOVED TO DESOTO BECAUSE OF THORN TREE GOLF CLUB AND THEN IT WAS, OF COURSE, A COUNTRY CLUB. BUT PERSONALLY, GOLF IS NOT MY THING. I'M A TENNIS PLAYER AND AS YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE BIG CITIES AROUND HAVE BIG TENNIS CENTERS DESOTO, DUNCANVILLE, CEDAR HILL HAVE NOTHING EXCEPT FOR THORN TREE. PRETTY MUCH. SO I AM ALSO COMPLETELY AND ABSOLUTELY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT TO THORN TREE TO KEEP MY TENNIS CLOSE. THANK YOU. TREY COCKRELL, TREY COCKRELL. FIRST OF ALL. HELLO THERE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. HI THERE. I'M TREY COCKRELL. I'M FROM DESOTO. LIKE PEOPLE BEFORE ME. I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE HERE. OVER TEN YEARS AGO, IN FACT, ALMOST EXACTLY TEN YEARS AGO, MY COMPANY AFFORDED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO RELOCATE, AND I WANTED TO COME BACK TO TEXAS. I'M A NATIVE TEXAN. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ABILENE, AND WHEN I STARTED ASKING AROUND AND LOOKING AT COMMUNITIES AROUND THE METROPLEX, EVERYBODY SAID, OH, WHY WOULD YOU GO TO DESOTO? DON'T GO TO DESOTO, DON'T MOVE TO DESOTO. WHY WOULD YOU MOVE THERE? WELL, WE MOVED TO DESOTO AND WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. THERE'S SO MUCH TO LOVE HERE. I LOVE THAT SLOGAN ABOUT OUR CITY. I LOVE OUR VISION TO BE A COMMUNITY FOR AMERICA, A MODEL COMMUNITY FOR AMERICA, AND GIVING FAMILIES AND COMMERCE IN PARTICULAR, THE VISION TO COME AND A REASON TO STAY. FANTASTIC VISION. YOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, I THINK, ARE ALSO FANTASTIC. AND FOUR OF THOSE FOR ME, REALLY RESONATED WITH THE THORN TREE INITIATIVE THAT PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE ME. FIRST, THE IMAGE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD THIS COMMUNITY THORN TREE WILL DO. THE INVESTMENT IN THORN TREE WILL BE A GREAT WAY TO INVEST IN THAT IMAGE TO BUILD A THRIVING ECONOMY. THORN TREE CONTRIBUTES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THIS ECONOMY EVERY YEAR AND ENGAGE IN VIBRANT COMMUNITY. AS PEOPLE HAVE TALKED BEFORE ME, BUILDING THIS COUNTRY CLUB BACK TO ITS FORMER STATURE WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THAT AND TO BEING PART OF A BEAUTIFUL CITY. THE CURRENT OWNERS HAVE NO DESIRE TO INVEST IN DESOTO. THEY HAVE NO REASON TO SUPPORT DESOTO. THEY JUST OWN A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND THAT'S HOW THEY SEE IT. THEY HAVE NOT INVESTED IN IT. AND IF YOU GO BY AND LOOK AT THE PROPERTY TODAY, IF YOU TAKE SOME TIME AND DRIVE AROUND AND COMPARE WHAT'S ON THE VIDEO THAT YOU PUT OUT AROUND YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE CITY TO WHAT'S OUT THERE TODAY, IT'S DEVASTATING AND IT'S EMBARRASSING. AND SO I REALLY, WHOLEHEARTEDLY ASK YOU TO SUPPORT ANYTHING, ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE TO BRING THORN TREE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL GRANDEUR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE. KATHLEEN. HEARTLESS KATHLEEN. HEARTLESS. HELLO THERE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE FOR THE RECORD. AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. YES. KATHLEEN HEARTLESS, DESOTO, TEXAS I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THORN TREE. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED OUR HOME IN THE ENCLAVE ENCLAVE 13 YEARS AGO, THE INTERIOR DESIGNER EMPHASIZED THAT UPON ENTERING OUR DOORWAY TO OUR HOME THAT WE WANT OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO LOOK THROUGH OUR EIGHT FOOT WINDOWS AND ONTO THE 14TH TEE OF THE GOLF COURSE WITH MY HUSBAND'S ILLNESS EXPERIENCING THE VIEW AND ENJOYING THE GOLF RIGHT FROM OUR HOME WAS AND STILL IS A BLESSING. PLEASE RETURN THORNTREE GOLF CLUB BACK TO THE BETTER THAN IT'S IN EVEN ITS ORIGINAL GLORY FOR OUR FAMILY IN DESOTO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ANNE CAVENDAR. ANNE CAVENDAR. HELLO THERE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE FOR THE RECORD. AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. I'M ANNE CAVENDAR FROM DESOTO. MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR SEEING HEARING ALL OF US. I'M GOING TO BE BRIEF AS WELL. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THORN TREE. I REITERATE WHAT MY NEIGHBOR AND FRIEND PAM SMITH SAID VERY WELL, AND THE PASTOR OVER HERE ALSO WAS AN ELOQUENT SPEAKER, NOT ON THORN TREE, BUT WE MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED HERE FROM DALLAS. WE'RE BOTH BORN AND RAISED IN DALLAS. WE MOVED JUST [01:20:05] SOUTH OF HERE IN 82 TO FOR SCHOOLS FOR OUR BOYS. MY HUSBAND PLAYED GOLF. HE WANTED TO JOIN THE CLUB SO HE COULD HAVE A PLACE NEARBY TO PLAY. YEARS LATER, I ALSO TOOK UP GOLF AND I ENJOY IT A LOT. MY REASONS ARE PERSONAL AND SELFISH. WE BUILT A HOUSE IN 2005 ON THE COURSE, SO WE'VE BEEN THERE 19 YEARS. WE WERE IN GLEN HEIGHTS 21 BEFORE THAT. WE DON'T HAVE PLANS TO GO BACK TO DALLAS. WE'LL PROBABLY BE HERE UNTIL THEY MOVE US TO THE OLD FOLKS HOME. BUT WE DO ENJOY OUR HOME THERE. WE HATE TO SEE THAT THE CLUB HAS JUST GONE DOWNHILL FROM WHAT IT WAS WHEN WE JOINED IT IN 93 AS A PRIVATE COUNTRY CLUB. PRIVATE OR NOT, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY JUST RESTORE THE CLUB TO ITS FORMER HALFWAY TO ITS FORMER SELF, GET THE GOLF COURSE BACK IN SHAPE, GET THE CLUBHOUSE BACK IN SHAPE. IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO EAT AND IF THEY OPEN IT TO THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY, PEOPLE WILL COME AND THEY'LL FIND THAT OUT. IT'S SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, ETC. IT WAS ALL IT'S WONDERFUL. WE WANT IT TO BE BACK THAT AGAIN. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING US. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. JAMES CULP. JAMES CULP. I. GOOD EVENING. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE FOR THE RECORD. AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. OKAY. I'M JAMES CULP, DESOTO, TEXAS. I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SUPPORT OF THE THORN TREE COUNTRY CLUB. I, I ECHO THE REMARKS. I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT THEM. THAT PAM TREE, SEVERAL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE FROM THORN TREE AREAS. AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO THAT THIS IS A UNIQUE THIS IS A REALLY GOOD GOLF COURSE. IT'S NOT JUST ANOTHER GOLF COURSE. IF YOU LET IT GET AWAY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY ADDS TO THE VALUE THAT THAT'S WHAT MAKES PRESTON WOOD AND THE BROOKHAVEN'S A NICE PLACE TO LIVE. AND THORN TREE CAN BE THAT IF WE RESTORE IT TO THAT, ITS OLD GLORY. SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT, AND I ALSO ECHO THE PEOPLE WHO MENTIONED THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES A GREAT JOB HERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I MOVED HERE 20 SOME YEARS AGO AND I'VE I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED IT AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YO. SHANE RANSOM SHANE RANSOM. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. SHANE RANSOM DESOTO, TEXAS. I HAVE TO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING. EVERYBODY IS SAYING. AND I THINK ONE THING THAT HAS NOT BEEN SAID ABOUT THORN TREE IS THAT IF WE LET IT GO DOWN, THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO BUY IT. IF IT CLOSES, THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO BRING IT BACK. AND THE 10 MILLION THAT NEEDS TO BE SPENT ON IT. NOW THAT THE CITY WOULDN'T BE PUTTING IN THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO PUT IN AT THAT POINT IN TIME. SO TO LET ANOTHER BUSINESS COME IN AND SAVE IT BEFORE WITH JUST A SMALL CONTRIBUTION IN RETROSPECT, WOULD BE BETTER FISCALLY AND FINANCIALLY FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO THAN IT WOULD BE TO WAIT TILL IT CLOSES. AND THEN THEY HAVE TO REBUILD EVERYTHING. SO I'M IN FAVOR OF IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOALS ARE RANA GULZA, RANA. MADAM MAYOR, MAY I ASK, MAY I ASK JUST FOR THE SAKE OF TIME? WHEN THE SECRETARY CALLS ONE PERSON, IF SHE COULD JUST CALL THE NEXT ONE TO BE GETTING READY SO THAT WE CAN SOMEWHAT CONSERVE SOME TIME, THEY CAN BE ON THEIR WAY. IF YOU DON'T MIND. SO WE CAN CUT A COUPLE OF MINUTES. ANNA WILLIAMS WILL BE NEXT. CAN YOU CALL THE NAME AGAIN? GULZAR. RANA PASS. ARE YOU IN SUPPORT OF. IS THIS. WHAT IS THIS REGARDING? IT'S THORN TREE OF THORN TREE. THANK YOU. LINDA MCAFEE WILL BE AFTER MISS WILLIAMS. ANNA WILLIAMS, DESOTO, TEXAS, 35, SOON TO BE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, 36 YEARS IN DESOTO. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE MEMBERS OF THORN TREE COUNTRY CLUB. THIS IS GOING TO BE, SINCE IT'S PRETTY QUICK FROM BRANDON. BRANDON TALKED ABOUT THE IMAGE OF OUR CITY AND THORN TREE WAS PART OF THAT IMAGE. I WENT BACK OVER TO SEE AND VET HOW HOW MUCH MONEY HAD BEEN SPENT AT THORN TREE. THE FACADE GRANT WE HAD IN [01:25:10] SINCE 2014 THROUGH 2024. WE HAD GRANTS OF $50,000 MATCHING WHAT, $100,000? NOW I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MONEY THAT WAS INVESTED IN THORN TREE WHEN I LISTENED TO 2012, THAT IT WAS WHEN WE HAD THE MEETING. I'M SORRY, NOVEMBER THE 12TH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE ROOF, BUT ON HERE FOR THE 5050, IT WAS TALKING ABOUT AWNING. IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE ENTRANCE OF THORN TREE COUNTRY CLUB, THAT THIS SHOULD BE PART OF THE MONEY THAT WAS THERE TO START. THAT ROOF WAS LEAKING JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. YOU JUST GO BACK AND VET IT, LOOK AT THE FACADE, GRANT, LOOK AT IT AND WE WILL PUT IT ONLINE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN WASTED WHEN ON THE EAST SIDE OF DESOTO, WHERE WE LIVE, TRASH IN THE GUTTERS. WE ALSO HAVE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN IN JUST THE I'M SORRY, BUT ANYWAY, THE HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO, AS YOU KNOW, ARE COMING INTO OUR AREA, THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS CHEAP, COST, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE TRYING TO HELP US. MISS WILLIAMS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MADAM MAYOR. JUST A POINT OF INFORMATION. THERE WAS A FACADE GRANT, BUT THE GRANT WAS NOT RECEIVED OR ACTIVATED BY THE CURRENT OWNER. THE OWNER HAS INVESTED ZERO ZERO MONEY, AND SO THE CITY HAS NOT INVESTED $1 INTO THE THORN TO INVEST IN IT. WELL, THE CITY HAS NOT INVESTED $1 INTO THE THORN TREE COUNTRY CLUB. LINDA MCAFEE. LINDA MCAFE. OKAY. DOES IT STATE WHERE HER CARD IS REGARDING HAMPTON? SHE DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. THAT'S IT. I HAVE ONE MORE CARD THAT WILL BE [F. 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. ] ENTERED INTO RECORD. IT WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE CUT OFF TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, MISS THOMAS WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. NEXT, WE MOVE INTO OUR 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 APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR JULY 20TH FIFTH, SEPTEMBER 6TH, SEPTEMBER 16TH, SEPTEMBER 17TH AND OCTOBER 1ST OF 2024, AS WELL AS CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH ABM BUILDING SOLUTIONS OF IRVING, TEXAS FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 72 $73,282 FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF FOUR ROOFTOP UNITS FOR THE SINGLE SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER LOCATED AT 204 LYON STREET, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH GOT YOU COVERED WORKWEAR AND UNIFORMS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $95,000, UTILIZING BY BOARD CONTRACT NUMBER 67022. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE DEFINING THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF DESOTO'S. CODE OF ORDINANCES, ARTICLE 31.000. HEALTH DEPARTMENT FEES TO ADJUST ANNUAL PERMIT FEES, INCLUDING LATE FEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FOOD ESTABLISHMENT OPERATORS, PERMITS AND BOARDING HOME HEALTH INSPECTIONS. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH CHASTAIN FORD AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $52,977 FOR THE PURCHASE OF A 2024 FORD F-250 REGULAR CAB TRUCK FOR THE CITY'S PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH RARE STEP DBA FLEET FOR A FIVE YEAR TERM AT A COST OF $25,350 FOR YEAR ONE, WHICH INCLUDES THE INITIAL SETUP AND INSTALLATION OF A WEB BASED PLATFORM TO TRACK FUEL MANAGEMENT AND FLEET MAINTENANCE, AND AN ANNUAL FEE OF $23,550 EACH OF THE REMAINING FOUR YEARS. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT AGREEMENT TO INCREASE THE SCOPE OF WORK TO INCLUDE ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS, INCLUDING ARCHITECTURAL AND INTERIOR DESIGN, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, ENGINEERING, AND MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING ENGINEERING FOR FIRE STATION 263 AND THE JOE BROWN DE SOTO FIRE, FIRE TRAINING CENTER [01:30:02] IN THE AMOUNT OF $158,000. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF TWO RADIO CONSOLES FOR SOUTHWEST REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $233,570. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF 2911 TELEPHONE POSITIONS FOR $94,587.73 FOR MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS FOR SOUTHWEST REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS, AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF NEW, UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY EQUIPMENT FOR SOUTHWEST REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM LED ENTERPRISES, INC. FOR $166,531.99. THANK YOU, MISS THOMAS. COUNCIL ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE WE CALL FOR A MOTION? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM, THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR. I DID HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING ITEM. EXCUSE ME. ITEM G THREE FOR CHIEF SOUTHARD. I A PART OF THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH THIS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE SAYING IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT YOU CAN HIRE UP TO FIVE OVER THE BUDGET, RIGHT? CORRECT. YES. OKAY. SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW THIS PAST YEAR WHEN WE DID THIS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THAT WE ACTUALLY WENT OVER BUDGET BECAUSE IT WASN'T ALLOCATED OR ACCOUNTED FOR. AND THEN WE ALSO SAW IT FROM AN OVERTIME PERSPECTIVE. SO WHAT WHAT I YOU KNOW, I'VE SLEPT SINCE WE DID OUR BUDGET. RIGHT. SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND DID WE, DID WE ASSESS FOR THAT OR WILL WE SEE AN AMENDMENT IN LATER DOWN THE LINE ON OUR NEXT FINANCIAL REPORT. SO THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT ASKING FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL. ALL I'M ASKING IS TO RESTRUCTURE MY PERSONNEL AND MY RANK STRUCTURE THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE. SO WE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE WE HAVE 46 FIREFIGHTERS PLUS FIVE OVER HIRES. SO THIS WILL TAKE US TO 45 FIREFIGHTERS PLUS FIVE OVER HIRES. AND IT WILL TAKE MY CAPTAIN'S POSITION FROM NINE CAPTAINS TO TEN CAPTAINS. SO THERE'S NO FINANCIAL COST IN THIS MANEUVER. SO I WON'T BE COMING TO YOU FOR AN AMENDMENT OR ASKING FOR MORE MONEY TO FUND THE CURRENT FIREFIGHTERS THAT I HAVE HAVE HAVE BEEN ALLOTTED FOR THE JOB ALREADY APPROVED. PERFECT. MY SECOND QUESTION FOR YOU IS UNDER THE ITEM G SEVEN WAS I KNOW THAT WHEN THE ENERGY COMPANY CAME AND SPOKE TO US LAST COUNCIL MEETING, THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE ALREADY LOCATIONS OUTLINED AND YOU CHOSE THE TRAIN THAT THEY'RE FIXING THE TRAINING CENTER AND WHICH IS JOE BROWN FIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING CENTER, AND THEN FIRE STATION. 263, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. SO WAS THERE ANY REASON WHY YOU CHOSE THOSE TWO LOCATIONS OR IS THAT. YES. SO STATION THREE WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO BE REMODELED IN 2019, IF YOU REMEMBER, THAT'S THE STATION WAS BUILT IN 1989 AND IT IS AN OPEN DORM ATMOSPHERE. SO I CAN'T STATION ANY OF OUR FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS. AND WE'RE NOW UP TO FIVE FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS, SO THEY HAVE TO WORK AT STATION ONE AND STATION TWO. SO THIS REMODEL IS GOING TO TURN THAT INTO A COED FIRE STATION, WHERE I CAN THEN START STATIONING MY FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS THERE. PLUS, THE STATION HASN'T BEEN TOUCHED SINCE 1989. AND THEN THE TRAINING CENTER ALSO WAS BUILT IN OH FIVE. WE HAVE SOME MINOR ISSUES THERE THAT WE NEED TO CORRECT. SO THAT'S WHY THOSE TWO WERE CHOSEN FOR THE REMODEL THAT WE NEED TO HAVE HAPPEN TO UPDATE EACH OF THOSE BUILDINGS. OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. DOCTOR MARKS. DON'T GO ANYWHERE. YES, MA'AM. COUNCILWOMAN CHISHOLM ACTUALLY ASKED SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I WAS GOING TO ASK. HOWEVER, MY QUESTION IS THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WE ARE APPROVING THEIR. IS IT 76 PLUS THE CHIEF, OR IS IT 77? NO, I HAVE I HAVE 74 TOTAL PERSONNEL. THAT INCLUDES SWORN STAFF AND NON-SWORN STAFF. SO WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANY OF THAT. NONE OF THAT'S BEING CHANGED OF MY LINE PERSONNEL, THE 66 PERSONNEL THAT I HAVE THAT ACTUALLY OPERATE IN THE FIELD ON THE ON THE FIRE ENGINES AND THE AMBULANCES, ALL WE'RE DOING IS CHANGING THE RANK STRUCTURE. THERE WILL STILL BE 66. THAT DOESN'T CHANGE. PLUS THE FIVE HIRES THAT YOU AUTHORIZED, WE'RE JUST GOING TO MAKE TEN CAPTAINS INSTEAD OF NINE. AND THEN THE FIREFIGHTER RANK WILL HAVE 45 INSTEAD OF 46. OKAY. SO THE 66 PLUS FIVE, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. THAT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE. THAT DOESN'T CHANGE. SO THAT'S 71. CORRECT. WELL, SO 66 IS WHAT I'M AUTHORIZED PLUS THE FIVE OVER HIRES. AND THEN PLUS MY PLUS MY ADMIN STAFF. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT BRINGS US TO 74. SO I'VE GOT ME MY I'VE GOT ME MY ASSISTANT CHIEF AND MY EMS CHIEF. OKAY. THAT BRINGS ME UP TO THAT NUMBER. OKAY, OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM TO APPROVE, AS PRESENTED COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. OH, EXCUSE ME. THERE IS AN ORDINANCE TO BE READ, I APOLOGIZE. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, DEFINING THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED POSITIONS WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN EACH CLASSIFICATION, PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A [01:35:02] SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AS WELL AS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS. AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING APPENDIX A TITLED FEE SCHEDULE BY AMENDING ARTICLE 31.000 TITLED HEALTH DEPARTMENT FEES, PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU, MISS THOMAS. THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. COUNCIL MEMBER EXCUSE ME, MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES AND SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER, CHISHOLM COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. THEY OPPOSE THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. [1. Consider authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement and execute the necessary documents for the purchase of and closing on the properties located at 109 N Hampton Road, Lot 3; 109 N Hampton Road, Lot 3.1; 140 Morris Street; 168 Church Street; 231 W Belt Line Road; and 115 W Belt Line Road, for a price not to exceed $6,650,000.00 with Community Baptist Church of DeSoto] THANK YOU. COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME, MISS THOMAS WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. AND I'VE ASKED FOR AN AMENDMENT TO OUR AGENDA. YES, MA'AM. WE'LL GO INTO OUR REGULAR AGENDA. FIRST ITEM, CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND ENTER INTO A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT AND EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF AND CLOSING ON THE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 109 NORTH HAMPTON ROAD, LOT 3109, NORTH HAMPTON ROAD, LOT 3.11 40 MORRIS STREET 168 CHURCH STREET 231 WEST BELTLINE ROAD AND 115 WEST BELTLINE ROAD, FOR A PRICE NOT TO EXCEED $6,650,000, WITH COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH OF DESOTO MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS MAT CARLSON, CDC DIRECTOR AND CITY MANAGER AL GODFREY. MATT, DO YOU WANT ME TO START OR GO AHEAD? I THINK WE'LL TAG TEAM IT. HOW ABOUT THAT, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING. IT'S NICE TO BE UP HERE AGAIN. I WAS CERTAINLY THRILLED TO BE UP HERE FOR MY PRIOR REASON. WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF THE COMMUNITY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT LAST YEAR WE HAD STARTED THIS PROCESS. WE HAD ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT. IT WAS A EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO MARKET AND PURCHASE FOR A YEAR THAT EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER. WE WERE UNABLE THROUGHOUT THAT YEAR TO IDENTIFY A PARTICULAR USER AND, AND CONSUMMATE A SALE. SO WE REGROUPED WITH PASTOR EPPS AND SORT OF TALKED THROUGH THIS AGAIN AND IDENTIFIED A WAY THAT WE COULD GO AHEAD AND MAKE A PURCHASE OF THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY. THE DDC AND THE CITY WILL OWN THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY, AND THAT WILL GIVE US THEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTROL, TO CONTROL THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT PROPERTY. AND THEN WE CAN SPEND THE TIME THAT WE NEED AFTER WE'VE GOTTEN ALL THE PIECES AND PARTS PUT TOGETHER TO GO AHEAD AND IDENTIFY THE END USER WHO CAN DO WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE DONE ON THAT CORNER, THAT GIVES US A LOT, A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY. IT CERTAINLY MEETS THE PASTOR'S NEEDS, ALTHOUGH HE'S HERE TONIGHT AND HAS ASKED THAT HE'D HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU AS WELL AS THE SELLER. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, THE PROPERTY IS OWNED. YOU KNOW, I GET A LITTLE BRIEF PIECE THERE, BUT THOSE SIX PARCELS THAT ARE OWNED BY COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH REPRESENT AND CONSTITUTE THE MAJORITY OF THE NORTHWEST CORNER. THERE'S A FEW PIECES AND PARCELS THAT WILL STILL HAVE TO BE COBBLED TOGETHER, AND THEY REPRESENT THE SIGNIFICANT REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY AT THE SOUTH END OF THE HAMPTON ROAD CORRIDOR. WE'VE ALWAYS VIEWED IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO A SEMINAL PROJECT. WE STILL FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT. IT OFFERS THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THAT PROJECT AND TO CREATE A MORE DENSE A PROJECT OF SUFFICIENT SIZE AND DENSITY TO SUPPORT THE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES THAT WE WANT IN THE IN THE CORRIDOR. THERE AREN'T VERY MANY PLACES THAT SUPPORT THAT. WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DIFFERENT SIZED DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR AND BOTH OF THE ENDS, WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS REFERRED TO AS THE BOOKENDS MAKE UP THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE THESE MORE LARGER, DENSE PROJECTS. THERE REALLY AREN'T VERY MANY OTHER PLACES IN THE CORRIDOR THAT WILL SUPPORT THAT. THE SELLER WILL WILL RETAIN THE USE OF THE PROPERTY FOR TWO YEARS FOLLOWING THE ACTUAL SALE. WE'LL MAKE AN INITIAL PURCHASE PRICE, AND THEN A YEAR LATER THAN THAT, WE'LL MAKE ANOTHER PAYMENT. AND THEN A YEAR LATER THAN THAT, WE'LL MAKE THE FINAL PAYMENT. THEY'LL RETAIN THE USE OF THE BUILDING FOR THOSE TWO YEARS AND MAKE THEIR MOVE EVENTUALLY OVER TO THEIR NEW FACILITY OVER IN, OH, PASTOR EPPS, CEDAR HILL, OR IS IT DUNCANVILLE? THEY'RE AWFUL CLOSE CEDAR HILL. THEY'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE PROPERTY IN ITS CURRENT STATE AND THE COST OF THE UTILITIES, MAINTAINING THE CURRENT LEVEL OF INSURANCE ON THE PROPERTY. WE'RE BOTH TAX FREE ENTITIES, SO IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE TAX SITUATION. REALLY, AT ALL. FINANCIAL IMPACT. THE FIRST PAYMENT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE $2 MILLION, AND THEN TWO SUBSEQUENT PAYMENTS, EACH OF $2,325,000 EACH ONE YEAR APART. AFTER THE SALE, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? JUST JUST WANT TO ADD HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR. COCKRELL AND IN HIS PUBLIC COMMENTS TALKED ABOUT ALIGNING WITH THE [01:40:03] STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY. THIS PROJECT, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE AND DEVELOP IS A CATALYST FOR AN ANCHOR FOR SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NODES OR INTERSECTIONS IN THE CITY OF DESOTO. IT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE AN INCREDIBLE DESTINATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH. AND IT CAN CREATE A TRUE TRANSFORMATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US. SO IT WILL SPUR GROWTH ONCE WE FIND A SUITABLE PARTNER FOR US TO DEVELOP. IT'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO BE A TRANSFORMATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY PURSUE EVEN OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING THE PROPERTY THAT WE OWN TO THE SOUTH, WHICH IS 24 ACRES. SO I THINK IT'S AN INCREDIBLE WIN FOR US. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SAID, LOOK, IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN GUNG HO ON ON LOOKING AT INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US. THANK YOU, MISS THOMAS. DO WE HAVE CARDS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK? YES, MA'AM. MIKE JONES. THANK YOU, MR. CARLSON. MR. FAGAN, IF YOU COULD PULL UP OUR TIME. TIME CLOCK FOR US, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. JUDGE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. YOUR CITY OF CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MIKE JONES, AND I AM ABOUT APPROXIMATELY ABOUT A 30 YEAR RESIDENT HERE. I DON'T LOOK LIKE IT ABOUT A 30 YEAR RESIDENT HERE IN DESOTO. ALSO, I AM A GRADUATE OF DESOTO ISD AND SO I'M COMING TO YOU GUYS AS A COLLEAGUE. SOME YEARS BACK, ROUGHLY ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, I WAS ACTUALLY ON CITY COUNCIL. SO I UNDERSTAND THE DECISION THAT YOU'RE MAKING, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW AND HAVING TO GO AHEAD AND DIVERGE ON SOME THINGS. BACK THEN WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL, WE PURCHASED THE LAND NEXT DOOR TO THE OLD CITY CITY HALL. WE ROUGHLY SPENT. DON'T QUOTE THE NUMBERS ABOUT A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO BUY THAT LAND. AND IF YOU LOOK RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF GLENN HEIGHTS, THEY HAVE A BRAND NEW CLUB, A NEW BUILDING, RIGHT? YOU HAVE A REC CENTER AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE, OF COURSE, FACE OPPOSITION, YOU KNOW, FROM THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER MEMBERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT WE SAW A VISION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT'S A RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WE WANT AND WE KEEP SAYING THESE THINGS ABOUT HOW WE WANT THESE GOOD RESTAURANTS AND THINGS LIKE THA, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR YOUR INVESTMENT SO YOU CAN GET A RETURN ON THAT. AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, DEVELOPERS ARE REALLY HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, KNOCKING ON DE SOTO'S DOOR TO GET THINGS DONE. AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE BIG PURCHASES TO BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN. I THINK MOST EVERYBODY SEE, YOU GOT RED OAK WHERE THAT'S BOOMING WITH B&B THEATERS. YOU HAVE CEDAR HILL UPTOWN, PEOPLE GOING DOWN TO WAXAHACHIE. WE'RE GOING TO SIT AROUND AND KEEP. IF WE KICK THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD, WE'RE GOING TO SIT AROUND HERE AND MISS OUT ON OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET SOMEBODY IN SO WE CAN GET THESE GOOD RESTAURANTS EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT. AND SO WE DID THIS. THIS STUDY HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TEN YEARS. AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO GO AHEAD AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND PUT OUR TEETH TO THE GROUND. AND LET'S GO AHEAD. I'M NOT THAT TEETH ON THE GROUND. SORRY. YOUR FEET TO THE GROUND. LET'S PLANT OURSELVES AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO IT. I DO WANT TO SAY HATS OFF. WE HAVE A NEW CITY MANAGER UNDERSTANDING THOSE HEARTS OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE PRETTY HARD AND A BIG ECONOMIC DRIVER. GREAT RELATIONSHIPS. SO WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE. GIVE HIM THE SUPPORT WE NEED SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU MR. CARLSON, FOR MAKING THAT PRESENTATION. COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? OH, MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YES. AND WE WILL, SINCE WE HAVE MODIFIED TIME FOR THE SAKE OF TIME FOR THIS MEETING, WE'LL ALSO DO THAT WITH COUNCIL. SO IF YOU COUNCIL IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE ARE INSTITUTING TWO MINUTE ROUNDS. SO MR. FAGGART, IF YOU COULD GET YOUR TIME CLOCK JUST IN CASE COUNCIL HAS QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ITEM. COUNCIL WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. ARE THERE COMMENTS? YES. DOCTOR MARX YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, FOR ALLOWING ME MY TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT, MR. CARLSON. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE. YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE DOLLARS, THE AMOUNT THAT IS TO BE PAID. THE OVER THE CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS. I'D LIKE FOR US TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED, AND [01:45:01] I'M SURE THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO KNOW, HOW ARE WE PAYING FOR THIS? SO CAN YOU SHARE THAT JUST TO BE TRANSPARENT AS TO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FROM OUR STANDPOINT AND FROM THE STANDPOINT OF OUR RESIDENTS? SIR. THANK YOU. WANT TO ADDRESS THAT OR DO YOU WANT ME TO? I MEAN, I THINK I THINK IT'S PRUDENT FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO KNOW, IF YOU DON'T MIND, THE MONEY IS COMING FROM I CAN I CAN TAKE THAT QUESTION. SO THE FIRST $2 MILLION, WHICH IS THE FIRST TWO, WHICH IS THE FIRST PAYMENT UPON CLOSING ESCROW, WOULD BE COMING FROM THE 2015 BOND PROGRAM. WE ALREADY HAVE $2 MILLION IN THERE. SO THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST PAYMENT THAT WE HAVE. THE REMAINDER OF THE PAYMENT, WHICH IS THE 4.65, WILL BE SPLIT INTO TWO PAYMENTS, $2.325 MILLION EACH. THAT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT THINGS. WE HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO GET A GRANT FROM THE SENATOR, SENATOR CROCKETT, CONGRESSWOMAN, CONGRESSWOMAN, CONGRESSWOMAN. OH, CONGRESSWOMAN, I'M SORRY. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. SO IT'S $1.66 MILLION. THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE THAT AS WELL FOR THIS. THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO DO REVENUE BONDS AND WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES ALSO. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT IMMEDIATELY. WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY AGGRESSIVE IN PURSUING A DEVELOPER TO BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE THE SITE. SO THERE'S SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD DO THAT. AGAIN, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT AND THANK YOU, MICHAEL, FOR MENTIONING THAT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US IS IF WE DO NOT OWN THE SITE, IF WE DON'T HAVE POSSESSION OF THE SITE, DEVELOPERS WOULD NOT BE INTERESTED. WE'VE TRIED THAT. DEVELOPERS WANT TO KNOW THAT THE CITY OF DESOTO IS VERY, VERY COMMITTED AND VERY INVESTED. AND SO ONCE WE DO THAT AND THEY KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PROPERTY UNDER POSSESSION, THEN THERE'S GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO START PARTNERING WITH MAJOR DEVELOPERS. WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN MEETING WITH A COUPLE OF THEM ALREADY, AND THEY SHOWED SOME SOME SERIOUS INTEREST IN THAT. SO WE BELIEVE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND A SUITABLE PARTNER, A TRUE PARTNER, WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I JUST JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR US TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM, BECAUSE IF I WAS SITTING IN THOSE SEATS, THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD WANT TO ASK. AND THEN, OF COURSE, HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT ME AS A RESIDENT? WOULD IT SEND MY TAXES UP? WOULD I NEED TO PAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT? SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING AND BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT, SIR. THANK YOU. IT'S MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, AGAIN. THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BEFORE WE HEAR FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND CALL FOR A VOTE? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER A POINT OF INFORMATION, BECAUSE IN THE FINANCIAL ASPECT THAT YOU JUST WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT TERS IF I RECALL LAST YEAR, BUT NOT THE YEAR BEFORE WE SET UP TERS FOR HAMPTON ROAD FOR I-35 AND I BELIEVE ONE MORE OTHER AREA AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH TERS, BASICALLY IN THE SIMPLEST FORM POSSIBLE, IT'S A PART A PORTION OF PROPERTY TAX THAT'S MOVED INTO A SEPARATE BUCKET THAT WE HOLD THAT FUNDING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO. SO IT'S LIKE WE'RE SAVING UP FUNDING, PARTICULARLY JUST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE DID NOT TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT IS A DEFINITE, HUGE ECONOMIC DRIVER. AND WHAT PART OF OUR OUR PLANNING FOR THIS PROJECT IS? CITY MANAGER, COULD YOU JUST ELABORATE ON THAT, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY. AT TOURS OR IN OTHER WORDS, A TIF IS USED AS A TOOL TO REALLY ENTICE OR ATTRACT DEVELOPMENT TO THE CITY OF DESOTO. SO IT'S BASICALLY THE DELTA OF THE EXISTING TAXES VERSUS FUTURE TAXES. THAT'S THE DELTA THAT CAN BE USED TO ENTICE DEVELOPERS TO COME IN AND SAY, WE WILL. WE WILL GIVE YOU SOME INCENTIVES, AND IT'S USUALLY NOT AN UPFRONT INCENTIVE. IT'S USUALLY AS A PAYBACK INCENTIVE TO WHETHER IT'S ON TAXES OR WHETHER IT'S ON TAX ABATEMENT OR OTHER OTHER MEANS OF CONTRIBUTING TO THAT PROJECT. SO THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO AS WELL. THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO ASK THAT NOT NOW, BUT IN THE AFTER THIS MEETING, IF THE COUNCIL COULD GET AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT FUNDING IN THAT BUCKET, JUST SO THAT WE KNOW AND HAVE AN AWARENESS, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE DESOTO RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS TOPIC. IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN ONE THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL. IT'S BEEN A [01:50:04] CONVERSATION AND FROM WHAT I FOUND OUT, IT'S BEEN CONVERSATION FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. ONE THING THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS IS THAT WE WANT RESTAURANTS, WE WANT WE EVERYTHING BUT A CHICKEN SHACK, RIGHT? AMEN. AMEN. WE ALSO WE WANT TO SHOP HERE. WE DON'T WANT TO GO OUTSIDE THE CITY. THE AVERAGE AGE IN DESOTO, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, IS 40 YEARS OLD. AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM, YOUR TIME IS CONCLUDED. BUT PLEASE CONCLUDE YOUR THOUGHTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND SO WE ARE ALWAYS BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL. WE WATCHED AN INSURANCE COMPANY PARK RIGHT HERE AND PAINT THE BUILDING YELLOW AND PURPLE. WE'VE WATCHED BUSINESSES COME FAST FOOD AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE AT THE TABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE HAVE A LANDOWNER AT THE TABLE WITH US WANTING TO NEGOTIATE AND DO THE DEAL. SO THAT WE CAN BE IN CONTROL OF THE DEVELOPMENT. AND FOR THAT, I'M THANKFUL FOR YOU, PASTOR EPPS, AS WELL AS I'M THANKFUL FOR THE TEAM FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN AS WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, CHISHOLM COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. YES, THIS DEFINITELY HAS BEEN A POINT OF DISCUSSION FOR YEARS. AND WE'RE FINALLY HERE. SO MY QUESTION TO THIS, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE PURCHASING THIS PROPERTY. PROPERTY I ALWAYS HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT OUR DUE DILIGENCE. AND SO I ASK THIS QUESTION BEFORE I'M GOING TO ASK IT AGAIN. BECAUSE BY NOW I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE. AND SO ON THE CORNER OF AND SO FOR THE FOR THE SAKE OF THIS PRESENTATION, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO HAVE CITIZENS SEE WHERE THESE PARCELS ARE, HOW THEY ARE ASSEMBLED. SO JUST FOR A POINT OF INFORMATION, CITY MANAGER, IF WE COULD JUST HAVE THAT AS A COURSE OF ACTION, ALWAYS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PURCHASING LAND SO WE CAN ORIENT. BUT AS IT RELATES TO THAT PARTICULAR CORNER WHERE THIS CHURCH, WHERE THESE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED, MY CONCERN IS WHAT HAS BEEN THERE, WHICH IS A GAS STATION. IF WE DID OUR ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE, THAT'S ONE QUESTION. WE ARE ACTUALLY CURRENTLY DOING THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AS WE SPEAK. OKAY. SO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT. AND SO FOR ME IS THERE ARE THERE ANY PROVISIONS IN THE AGREEMENT TO ADDRESS ANY UNEXPECTED COSTS. BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE THAT SUCH AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUPS, INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES THAT MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THIS REDEVELOPMENT AND MORE SO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PIECE. SO THAT'S A QUESTION. AS IT RELATES TO HOW WE GOT TO THIS PRICE. JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. HAVE WE HAVE HAVE WE CONSTRUCTED A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS. BECAUSE WHAT I HEAR IS THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. THIS IS A GOOD THING TO DO. WE NEED TO OWN IT. BUT WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 20 YEARS. AND DO WE HAVE SOMETHING CONCRETE ON PAPER SAYING HOW WE'RE GOING TO MARKET THIS PROPERTY, THESE PROPERTIES, AS WELL AS EVERYTHING ELSE ON ON, ON HAMPTON ROAD, ABSENT OF HEARING? WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THE ENTITLEMENTS YET. WE ARE CURRENTLY MARKETING THE PROPERTY AND OTHER PROPERTIES AS WELL. LIKE I SAID, WE'VE WE'VE HAD I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I ONLY HAVE A FEW SECONDS. SO HAVE WE DONE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL? THAT'S A VERY SPECIFIC THING THAT I'M ASKING ABOUT. NOT UNTIL WE OWN THE PROPERTY, NOT UNTIL WE ENTER INTO ESCROW. OKAY. BUT YES, WE HAVE. OKAY. BECAUSE WE ALSO DO HAVE OTHER PROPERTIES ALONG HAMPTON ROAD. AND SO THAT PART FOR ME IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE GO INTO THESE, THIS, THIS PARTICULAR OPPORTUNITY, GIVEN THAT WE'RE DOING THIS IN THREE PAYMENTS AND HAVING A CONCRETE PLAN, HAVING WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WAS THE FIRST WAS ALL THE OPTIONS IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING AND FINANCING. SO FOR ME, SUPPORTING THIS IS HARD WHEN WE BREAK THINGS UP AND WE ONLY SAY WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS. AND THEN WE HADN'T OUTLINED WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE'RE DOING. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES BACK FIVE YEARS FROM NOW. YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION IS WHAT WHAT IS OUR EXIT STRATEGY OF REDEVELOPMENT THAT REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY WE'RE SEEKING DOESN'T MATERIALIZE. THANK YOU. I'M I'M LOOKING IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON THIS. I'M LOOKING AT THIS PROPERTY TO DEVELOP. SO I'M NOT LOOKING AT IF THAT FAILS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES. WE'VE HEARD FROM DEVELOPERS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER WITH YOU WHEN YOU HAVE POSSESSION OF PROPERTIES. AND SO I'M NOT LOOKING AT AT AN EXIT STRATEGY. I'M LOOKING AT THIS PROPERTY TO DEVELOP. I'M LOOKING AT PARTNERS ALREADY. WE ARE GOING TO WE ARE GOING TO CREATE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR FOR REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS. ONCE WE ENTER INTO ESCROW, ONCE WE COMPLETE THE ENVIRONMENTAL. SO THAT'S ALL PART OF THE DUE DILIGENCE. I DON'T WANT TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT MATERIALIZED YET. ONCE WE MATERIALIZE THE POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY, THEN THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO INTO HEAVY, HEAVY WORK. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT PACKAGE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BURKE. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I THINK COUNCILWOMAN RAPHAEL ASKED A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION, AND, [01:55:03] AND THE ANSWER IS, IS SIMPLY THAT FOR US TO CONTROL THE FUTURE OF DESOTO, WE MUST CONTROL THE LAND. IF WE DON'T CONTROL THE LAND, AND IF WE DON'T CONTROL THE ZONING, WE DON'T CONTROL WHAT'S BEING BUILT THERE. MY COLLEAGUE REFERENCED THE WONDERFUL INSURANCE COMPANY THAT'S ON A MAJOR CORNER THAT WAS ALLOWED TO BE PUT THERE WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS TO COLOR AND OR CREED, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ORDINANCES AND ZONING REQUIREMENTS. AND WHEN WE WHEN WE TALK TO DEVELOPERS, TWO THINGS THEY WANT TO KNOW IS DO YOU DO YOU CONTROL THE LAND FIRST OF ALL AND OR ARE THE ZONINGS IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME TO BUILD? SO WITH THAT SAID, AS WE PIVOT FROM THIS AND LOOK AT I-35 AND LOOK AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, THE FIRST, THE FIRST AND FOREMOST THING IS GOING TO BE ZONING AND THEN ACQUISITION OF LAND. AND THAT THAT WAY ONCE AND FOR ALL, WE ARE IN CONTROL OF OUR OWN DESTINY. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYO. THANK YOU COUNCIL, AGAIN. WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, WE DO HAVE A MOTION. THAT MOTION IS TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY. I'M SORRY, MADAM MAYOR. I DO HAVE ONE LAST COMMENT, YOU KNOW, AND I'M ONLY MAKING THIS COMMENT BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO ROLL OFF THIS COUNCIL, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT AS A RESIDENT HERE, THAT WHILE I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN THE MOST POSITIVE WAY, BUT I DO WANT US TO BE EXPECTANT AND FOR US TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE COVER ALL OF OUR BASES AND JUST KNOWING HOW WE DO WHAT WE DO AND WHEN THINGS CHANGE. BECAUSE A LOT OF LIFE CHANGE WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT 2020, WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY THEN IF THAT HADN'T HAPPENED. AND SO I JUST WANT TO ENSURE AND I'M LEAVING THIS ON THE BACKS OF THE STAFF IS THAT WE JUST ENSURE THAT WE COVER ALL OF OUR BASES FOR THE SAKE OF ALL OF US WHEN THINGS CHANGE, BECAUSE THINGS DO CHANGE. BUT WE DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND LIKE WHERE THIS IS WHERE THAT IS, IN ADDITION TO HOW DO WE EXIT IF SOMETHING DRASTIC THAT WE DID NOT COUNT ON DOES DOES HAPPEN. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. THAT CLEAR. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR GIVING ME THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL AGAIN. WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY BEFORE WE VOTE. COUNCIL, THANK YOU AND BASICALLY THE REASON FOR ME SPEAKING TONIGHT IS SEVERAL OF YOU, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, HAVE ASKED ME TO KIND OF ADDRESS AN ISSUE, AN ISSUE AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THIS ITEM CALLED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. SEVERAL, SEVERAL. SEVERAL COMMENTS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? SEVERAL COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE THAT IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT A COUNCIL MEMBER OR CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE MAY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS IT RELATES TO THIS AGENDA ITEM, AND WOULD BE PRECLUDED FROM VOTING ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. SO I JUST WANTED TO BE CERTAIN WHEN WE SIT UP HERE, THIS THIS COUNCIL IS GUIDED BY TWO PRINCIPLES. ONE IS CHAPTER 171 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. THAT'S STATE LAW AS WELL AS OUR OWN, OUR OWN CODE OF ETHICS, OUR OWN CODE OF ETHICS MIRRORS STATE LAW AND IN FACT IS ACTUALLY STRICTER THAN STATE LAW AS IT RELATES WHAT TO CREATE THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. IF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS CREATED, A COUNCIL MEMBER MUST NUMBER ONE NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION, MUST RECUSE THEMSELVES. STEP TO THE BACK, AND ALSO CANNOT VOTE ON A MATTER THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S BEFORE THE COUNCIL. AND WHAT CREATES THAT CONFLICT OF INTEREST? WELL, THERE'S FRIENDSHIPS DON'T CREATE THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST GOING TO THE CHURCH DOESN'T CREATE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. WHAT CREATES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR SPECIFICALLY THREE AREAS WE REFER TO THOSE AS BUSINESS, PROPERTY AND RELATIONSHIPS. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A BUSINESS, IT'S LIKE THE BUSINESS THAT I OWN OR STOCK THAT I OWN. IN A BUSINESS, OR THE PROPERTY THAT I OWN, OR A RELATIONSHIP. DO I HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE APPLICANT OR THE PERSON THAT'S BEFORE ME, AND WILL I DERIVE AN ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM THAT TRANSACTION? SO AS FAR AS WHAT'S BEFORE US TONIGHT, THE QUESTION IS AS FAR AS THE TRANSACTION GOES BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE CITY. WELL, ANYONE UP HERE GAIN ECONOMICALLY, EITHER BECAUSE OF THE BUSINESS THAT THEY OWN OR THE PERSON THAT THE PERSON THAT THEY ARE AND THE RELATIONSHIP. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S NO NO ONE UP HERE HAS A OR THE CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY. NO ONE UP HERE HAS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP IN THAT CONTRACT. NO ONE IS GOING TO GAIN PERSONALLY FROM THE CONTRACT. I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEBODY AT THE CHURCH WHO IS GOING TO GAIN FROM THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY, SO THERE IS NO LEGAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. WHAT'S A LEGAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS IT RELATES TO BEING ABLE TO SIT UP HERE AND VOTE TONIGHT? AND IF THERE IS, THEN YOU ARE REQUIRED TO STEP OFF THE DAIS, ABSTAIN FROM VOTING, AND FILL OUT THE AFFIDAVIT THAT'S REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE FILLED OUT AGAIN. RELATIONSHIPS, BLOOD, RELATIONSHIPS, MARRIAGE CREATES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. FRIENDSHIPS. ALTHOUGH THEY CREATE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, IT'S NOT A LEGAL CONFLICT OF [02:00:03] INTEREST AT TIMES. SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE AS IT RELATES TO THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU COUNSEL. AT THE TIME, AT THIS TIME, AGAIN, WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED COUNCIL. WE WILL USE OUR VOTING PADS IF WE COULD HAVE. I DON'T THINK WE CAN. CAN WE NOT USE OUR VOTING PADS. THERE'S NO ORDINANCE TO BE READ. CORRECT. MISS THOMAS, CAN WE NOT USE THEM? OUR OUR MONITORS? I'M SORRY. OKAY. OH, WE CAN STILL SEE IT THERE. OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. YES, GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNSEL, PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PADS. DO WE HAVE. THERE'S NO ORDINANCE. NO, THERE IS NO ORDINANCE. I KNOW EVERYBODY'S LOOKING AT ME, RIGHT? YES. BECAUSE TIME EXPIRED. NO, NO, I DON'T THINK SO. CAN I ABSTAIN? I DON'T. ABSTENTION WILL BE A NO VOTE. I MEAN, YOUR ABSTENTION WILL BE COUNTED AS A VOTE AGAINST A NO VOTE. SO YOU CAN HIT ABSTAIN AND IT'LL BE COUNTED AS A NO VOTE. AND. YOU. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. MISS. EXCUSE ME. MISS THOMAS WILL GO BACK TO OUR REGULAR ORDER OF AGENDA, PLEASE. YES, MA'AM. WE WILL MOVE BACK TO OUR DISCUSSION TOPICS. WE HAVE DISCUSSION AND REVIEW. EXCUSE ME. WE ARE STILL IN OUR MEETING, SO IF YOU ALL COULD PLEASE EXIT QUIETLY. PLEASE. WHILE WE MAINTAIN OUR MEETING, DISCUSSION AND REVIEW OF RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL RULES AND PROCEDURES. INITIATING THE DISCUSSION IS MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. IF YOU ALL COULD PLEASE REFRAIN FROM SPEAKING AS YOU EXIT, PLEASE, SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN ORDER IN OUR MEETING. MADAM MAYOR, DO WE WANT TO RECESS WHILE THEY LEAVE? NO, I'M GOING TO WAIT WHILE THEY LEAVE. YOU KNOW. WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS. COUNCIL, PLEASE RETURN AT IT IS NINE. EXCUSE ME. IT IS 819. IF I COULD ASK THE COUNCIL TO COME BACK TO THE DAIS SO WE CAN RESUME OUR MEETING, IT IS 819. COUNCIL, IF YOU ALL COULD PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR SEATS SO THAT WE CAN RESUME OUR MEETING. PLEASE, COUNCIL, IF YOU COULD PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR SEATS. THERE YOU GOT A LITTLE NOTE? HEY, COUNCIL, IF YOU ALL COULD PLEASE RESUME RETURN TO YOUR SEATS SO THAT WE CAN RESUME. OUR MEETING IS 8:20 P.M. COUNCIL. COUNCIL, PLEASE. IF WE COULD GET EVERYBODY TO KIND OF GET BACK TO THEIR SEATS [1. Discussion and review of recommended amendments to the City Council Rules and Procedures] SO THAT WE CAN RESUME OUR MEETING. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, MISS THOMAS WILL HAVE THE [02:05:04] NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. GOING BACK TO OUR DISCUSSION TOPICS. YES, MA'AM. DISCUSSION AND REVIEW OF RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL. RULES AND PROCEDURES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL WILL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO KEEP THIS ONE BRIEF. COUNCIL WAS ABLE TO FOCUS ON REVIEWING THE COUNCIL RULES AND PROCEDURES, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE COUNCIL ANNUALLY. AND SO TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION IS GOING TO FOCUS ON REVIEWING THE FEEDBACK PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED TO STAFF, WHICH HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE RED LINE VERSION OF THE DRAFT MANUAL THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU. AND SO A COPY OF THE SUBMITTED FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS HAS ALSO BEEN PLACED AT YOUR SEAT. FOR REFERENCE, THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS INTEGRATED THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS INTO THE DRAFT TO GUIDE OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT. AND SO ADDITIONALLY, THE DRAFT INCLUDES QUESTIONS THAT MAY REQUIRE FURTHER DELIBERATION TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT IF NECESSARY. AND SO COUNCIL AFTER REVIEW. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED THAT WERE NOT INCORPORATED INTO THE RED LINE DOCUMENT THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE NOW? COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL, MADAM MAYOR, FIRST I HAVE SOME HAVE A QUESTION RELATED TO. SO WE HAVE RED LINES. SO THERE ARE SOME DARK BLUE TEXT. SO COULD WE TALK ABOUT THE LEGEND. SO THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF CHANGES GRAFFITI. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ADDRESS PLEASE. SO THE BLUE SO THE BLUE WAS ADDED BY ESTHER. ESTHER ADDED THOSE BACK IN. IT LOOKS LIKE JULY 20TH. THAT COVERS SOME OF THE INITIAL COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE THAT WERE A RESULT OF THE RETREAT. THE RED COMMENTS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ARE MY COMMENTS. AND IF YOU SCROLL OVER, YOU'LL SEE ACTUALLY WHO WHO IS THE AUTHOR OF THOSE WHICH WERE TAKEN FROM THE COMMENTS THAT YOU ALL SENT IN AS WELL AS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE RETREAT RETREAT THAT ESTHER DID NOT DID NOT PUT IN HERE. QUANTUM INFORMATION. WHAT'S BEING DISPLAYED RIGHT NOW? THAT'S THE DRAFT DOCUMENT. THE DRAFT DOCUMENT IS BEING DISPLAYED. THE ONE THAT'S HERE, NOT THE NOT OKAY. AND THEN THE PURPLE IS MY PARALEGAL BECAUSE I MESSED UP THE MARGINS AND SHE WENT BACK AND FIXED IT. SO IT SWITCHED HERS TO PURPLE. OH IS THAT PURPLE? I THINK IT'S PURPLE. YEAH, IT IS PURPLE OKAY. THANK YOU. SO PURPLE AND RED ARE MINE. AND THEN THERE'S TWO COMMENTS OUT TO THE SIDE. YOU'LL SEE ABOUT REQUESTS. AND THOSE ARE ONES THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED I WOULD THINK BEFORE WE ADD THEM TO THE RED LINE. AND I'M SORRY I DO HAVE SOME EXTRA THINGS THAT DIDN'T GET PUT IN THERE. OKAY, SO DO YOU KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT THOSE ARE OR YOU WANT TO SHARE THOSE TONIGHT. THEY SHOULD BE OKAY. AND SO COUNCIL JUST TO GUIDE THE DISCUSSION AND THE FRAMEWORK FOR TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION. WE ARE NOT VOTING ON THIS DOCUMENT TONIGHT. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AGAIN AS YOU MENTIONED, ANYTHING THAT WE WANT TO BE INCORPORATED IS INCORPORATED AND ACKNOWLEDGED TONIGHT. AND THEN THIS WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO US IN JANUARY. CORRECT, MR. GARRIDO? YES, YES, YES. AND THE FINAL DOCUMENT FOR VOTE WILL BE BROUGHT BACK IN JANUARY. SO TONIGHT IS JUST FOR DISCUSSION TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL COMMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE RECEIVED FOR THE FINAL DOCUMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THOSE ADDITIONAL. WELL, YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THOSE AT YOUR DAIS AREA, BUT I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL A LITTLE BIT OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE DOCUMENT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE A TABLE OF CONTENTS. SO IT REALLY NEEDS TO HAVE ONE. AND THEN THE WORD PLACE IS NOT ANYWHERE IN THE DOCUMENT. IT USES DISTRICT AND SO YOU KNOW, IN LOOKING AT THIS DOCUMENT, IF SOMEONE WERE TO LOOK AT THIS, THEY'RE LIKE, WHY DO WE KEEP SAYING DISTRICT EVERYWHERE? WELL AT LEAST I SAID THAT. I THOUGHT THAT. AND SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING IN TERMS OF TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY, WHEN THEY ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR PLACE, AND THEN YOU KIND OF INTERCHANGEABLY SAY DISTRICT, DISTRICT, IT'S LIKE IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING. AND SO MY QUESTION IS, AS A COUNCIL, DO WE WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE DOCUMENT UPHOLDS TO WHAT WE'RE SAYING WHEN WE'RE OUT HERE, OR DOES IT EVEN? I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, SHOULD WE CHANGE IT? YOU KNOW, CHANGE WHAT WE SAY TO DISTRICTS. SO THANK YOU. AND DID THAT CONCLUDE YOUR. OH I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY. ONE MORE THING. GO AHEAD. IT SAYS THERE IS OKAY. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY I WAS ASKING DO WE HAVE ANYTHING. CAN WE ADD ANYTHING THAT WILL. WELL I GUESS THAT'S REALLY KIND OF A LET ME THINK ON THAT ONE BEFORE I BRING THAT ONE UP, BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE TALKING IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN HERE THAT DON'T QUITE JIVE. BUT I'LL I'LL HANG TIGHT ON THAT ONE. BUT THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS ABOUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LEAD TIME FOR COUNCIL INITIATIVES THAT DON'T REQUIRE STAFF TIME, THAT'S NOT IN HERE EITHER. SO WE TALK [02:10:03] ABOUT LEAD TIME FOR, YOU KNOW, INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE THAT STAFF IS REQUIRED, BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE INITIATIVES THAT DON'T REQUIRE STAFF TIME. BUT WE MIGHT WANT TO A FLIER OR A, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT WANT SOMETHING NOT A LOT, BUT YOU KNOW, WELL, THEN THAT WILL REQUIRE STAFF TIME. WELL, STAFF TIME, BUT NOT REALLY. I MEAN, WHEN I SAY STAFF TIME, I'M SAYING THEM BEING AT THE MEETING, I'M SAYING I THINK STAFF TIME. SO AND TO THAT TO YOUR POINT. SO THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP TO THAT POINT. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH IN TERMS OF WHAT CONSTITUTES CONSTITUTES STAFF TIME. SO STAFF WOULD HAVE TO IF STAFF HAS TO FOCUS ON DOING GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR A COUNCIL MEMBERS MEETING, THAT'S STILL CONSTITUTES STAFF'S TIME. AND SO I THINK IT WILL FALL. AND THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, BUT I THINK IT STILL FALLS IN LINE WITH STILL NEEDING STAFF TIME. SO LIKE JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AT A MEETING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT STILL WOULD TAKE, TAKE THEM AWAY FROM THEIR DAY TO DAY DUTIES TO FOCUS ON AN ASSIGNMENT FOR A COUNCIL MEMBERS INITIATIVE. SO TO ME, IN MY OPINION, IT'S STILL CONSTITUTES STAFF TIME. THAT WOULD NEED LEAD TIME BECAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHAT PROJECTS THEY ALREADY HAVE OR WHAT THEY DO DAY TO DAY, HAVING TO STOP THEN TO DO A FLIER STILL WOULD NEED LEAD TIME AND WHAT THEY WOULD NEED TO PLAN FOR THAT. IN MY OPINION. YES. THAT'S WHAT I SAID ON THIS ONE. SO. THIS OKAY. SO IN COUNCIL, THIS IS AGAIN THIS IS OUR DISCUSSION AS COUNCIL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE OUR GUIDING PROCEDURES. AND SO I DON'T KNOW, BUT IN MY OPINION AND I DON'T IF WE WANT TO CHIME IN ON THAT I ALSO DID WANT TO ADDRESS AND I THINK WE CAN KIND OF TAKE IT BACK TO YOUR INITIAL. WE HAVE ALSO DISCUSSED AT LENGTH ABOUT THE USAGE OF PLACE VERSUS DISTRICT, AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN CORRECTED BECAUSE TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I THINK WHERE WE LANDED WITH THAT WAS MAKING IT ALIGN WITH WHAT WAS IN OUR CHARTER, BECAUSE WE SAID IT DOESN'T NEED TO VARY FROM WHAT'S IN THE CHARTER. AND SO I DON'T KNOW, AS OF RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY CAN GET ACCESS TO THE CHARTER REALLY QUICKLY IN TERMS OF WHETHER WE LAND, BECAUSE I BELIEVE, JOE, YOU SAID THERE WAS NO LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS ABOUT US USING ONE OR THE OTHER. IT WAS MORE OF A OF A PREFERENCE FOR SEMANTICS, JUST BEING CONSISTENT WITH WHAT IS IN YOUR CHARTER. SO THE, THE COMMENTS WERE IT NEEDS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT'S IN THE CHARTER. I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY OFFHAND WHAT WE LANDED ON BECAUSE WE JUST DID THE CHARTER UPDATE. SO WHATEVER IS IN THERE IS WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IS IN LINE WITH OUR WITH OUR HANDBOOK COUNCIL. WHAT SAY YOU ON THAT. YES. WHAT'S ON THE WHAT'S ON OUR SIGNS DOWN THERE. WHAT'S THAT. OH ON OUR COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE. PLACE. IS IT PLACE IN THE IN THE CHARTER. NO. SHE WAS ASKING WHAT'S ON OUR ON OUR COUNCIL MEMBER OUR PACKET PLACARDS. IT JUST SAYS COUNCIL MEMBERS. OKAY. JUST YOUR NAME. YEAH. AND COUNCIL MEMBER BUT IN THE CHARTER IT DOES SAY PLACE. AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IT WAS PLACED I THINK DISTRICT WAS JUST MORE OF A, YOU KNOW, JUST SOMETHING THAT WE JUST USED INTERCHANGEABLY, BUT PLACE. AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IT ALIGNS WITH WHATEVER'S IN THE CHARTER, BECAUSE THE CHARTER DOESN'T CHANGE. THE CHARTER IS NOT AS LIQUID RIGHT AS THIS DOCUMENT. SO I WOULD SAY WHATEVER'S IN THERE IS WHAT WE NEED TO USE IN THIS DOCUMENT. SO THIS DOCUMENT WILL NEED TO THIS DOCUMENT WILL NEED TO CHANGE. YES. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PARK YOU HAD ANOTHER. YOU SAID YOU HAD YOU SAID THREE THINGS. IT WAS THIS PLACE AND THEN YOU SAID ABOUT STAFF TIME. AND THEN THERE WAS SOMETHING YOU SAID, I THINK THE FIRST THING YOU SAID, JUST THE TABLE OF CONTENTS. YES. AND WE AGREED. I THINK WE ALL AGREED THAT A TABLE OF CONTENTS WOULD BE NECESSARY AND WOULD BE RELEVANT TO THIS DOCUMENT. SO I THINK WE ALL AT COUNCIL, ARE WE IN AGREEMENT TO ADD THE TABLE OF CONTENTS? YES. SO I SAW ADDITIONAL LIGHTS. IS THAT YOUR LIGHT? MR. GRAFFITI IS THAT DOCTOR MARX? THAT'S YOUR DOCTOR MARX? YES. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD. ONE IS UNDER CITIZEN'S COMMENTS AND MR. GRAFFITI, PERHAPS YOU CAN HELP US WITH THIS. MY THING IS, ACCORDING TO ADA, WE ARE TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR ANY RESIDENT WHO MIGHT HAVE LIMITED ABILITIES, BE IT MORE TIME, BE IT ANOTHER PERSON TO SPEAK FOR THEM, READ IT FOR THEM, OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE THEY ARE RESIDENTS TOO. SO AND MADAM MAYOR, WE HAVE WORKED ON THE DISABILITIES COMMISSION TOGETHER, AND I THINK THAT YOU WOULD PROBABLY CONCUR THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY. SO WITH THAT [02:15:01] BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO BRING TO THE COUNCIL TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WE CAN DO TO ASSIST OUR RESIDENTS WITH LIMITED ABILITIES. CERTAINLY. AND DOCTOR MARX, YOU ALREADY KNOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT. I SUPPORT THIS. I THINK WE NEED TO DEFINE AND THERE MAY BE SOME LEGAL LANGUAGE THAT DEFINES WHAT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS CONSTITUTE AND HOW FAR IN ADVANCE WE NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THE NEED FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS. AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SOME LEGWORK. MAYBE WE CAN HAVE DONE BEFORE THE JANUARY MEETING. BUT COUNCIL, DO WE AGREE THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE. AND THEN THAT WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE REFLECTED ON OUR AGENDAS, CORRECT, MISS THOMAS? YES. AND THEN THE IF THEY THE NEED IF THEY NEED REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AGAIN, I THINK IT IT ALSO WE SHOULD HAVE WHEN THEY NEED TO LET US KNOW THAT THAT THEY NEED THAT. ABSOLUTELY. DOCTOR MARX, WAS THAT YOUR ONLY COMMENT OR DO YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL. I HAVE CAN I MAKE A REMARK TO THAT PARTICULAR COMMENT. OH SURE I GUESS I WANT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW, WHAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE AS IT RELATES TO THAT BECAUSE THE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE HAVE COME TO THE DAIS, YOU KNOW, MOST RECENTLY WAS YOU KNOW, PARENT CHILD, OFTENTIMES WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, IT'S HUSBAND AND WIFE OUT OF SUPPORT. AND SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE WE WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE WITH THAT PARTICULAR WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE. IF PEOPLE HAVE LIMITED ABILITIES, BE IT THEY'RE SLOW IN SPEECH, BE IT. APOLOGIES. MY APOLOGIES. DOCTOR MARX. I WASN'T SPEAKING ABOUT THAT. THERE IS ACTUALLY A PROVISION IN HERE THAT SAYS THAT. I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO. THERE'S A PROVISION FOR IF TWO PEOPLE COME TO THE DAIS THAT. THAT'S WHAT. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU WERE TRYING TO CONNECT. NO, NO, NO. AND ONE THING, LET ME DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO WHAT I TRIED TO CLEAN UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE KIND OF WE KIND OF PUT TOGETHER, IF YOU LOOK AT E IS NOW CITIZEN APPEARANCE PRESENTATIONS, WHICH IS DISTINGUISHED FROM PUBLIC THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION. SO I TRIED TO MAKE A DISTINCTION THERE SO IT WOULD READ A LITTLE BIT SMOOTHER. WE DO HAVE IN THERE RIGHT NOW THAT THE MAYOR MAY ADJUST THE LENGTH OF TIME PER SPEAKER, BUT WHAT I'M HEARING YOU IS YOU WANT TO ALSO PUT IN HERE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL, YOU KNOW, WILL HONOR ALL BASICALLY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS FOR SPEAKERS. JUST JUST A SIMPLE STATEMENT LIKE THAT THAT THEY SHALL CONTACT CONTACT THE CITY SECRETARY FOR ANY ACCOMMODATIONS THAT THEY FEEL NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE IN THE IN THE COUNCIL MEETING. I THINK WE ALSO HOWEVER MR. GARFIELD, I THINK WE NEED TO CLEARLY DEFINE WHAT REASONABLE IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ASK US FOR A LOUDSPEAKER AND A MEGAPHONE, I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, LIKE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DEFINE THAT. AND WHAT I'M TO THAT, YOU KNOW, I SAY THAT IN JEST. HOWEVER, I'M VERY SERIOUS WHEN I SAY I THINK THERE IS LEGAL JARGON IN TERMS OF ADA THINGS OF THAT NATURE, IN TERMS OF WHAT REASONABLE, WHAT CONSTITUTES REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION. BUT THERE'S A LONG LIST, DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT DISABILITY MAY BE. I THINK GOING IN AND TRYING TO CAPTURE THAT ALL IN THIS DOCUMENT, YOU'RE SAYING IT ISN'T GOING TO BE THE PLACE TO DO THAT. WE NEED TO DIRECT THEM TO, WHETHER IT BE TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO MAKE THAT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST AND THEN WE CAN GO FROM THERE. AND WE ALSO HAVE A PROVISION ALSO ON THE ON THE END OF OUR AT THE END OF OUR AGENDAS FOR DEALING WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ALSO. WELL THEN WHAT, WHAT MAY. YEAH. WELL THEN WHAT MAY NEED TO BE WELL DEFINED IS THE TIME THEY NEED TO CONTACT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE REGARDING THAT ACCOMMODATION SO THAT THEY CAN KNOW. SO WE CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW, BE AWARE AND LET THEM KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO OR NOT DO. YES. DOCTOR MARX. NO, I WAS JUST THINKING, JUST ON YOUR LAST STATEMENT. DO NOT DO. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE WHATEVER THEY NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GIVE US THE OR. WE GET THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GIVE US, BE IT BRAILLE, BE IT MORE TIME, BE IT LENSES, BE IT WHATEVER. SO IT MIGHT TAKE US A WHILE AS A CITY TO CATCH UP WITH EVERYTHING, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE DISABILITIES ARE. BUT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THEY ARE RESIDENTS. WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE WHEN KIDS SHOW UP AT SCHOOL, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY NEED UNTIL YOU DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SO IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE DISABILITY IS OR THE LIMITED ABILITY IS. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT POINT. HOWEVER, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I DO. I DO THINK THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REASONABLE AND I AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I'M DEALING WITH A MATTER, YOU KNOW, IN BUSINESS RIGHT NOW WITH IT, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT IF THAT ARE THAT CAN CONSTITUTE AS A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE ASKING FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T EITHER HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS OR IT MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE BEFORE THE MEETING GETS THERE. WE CAN PROVIDE OTHER MEANS FOR THEM TO GET THE INFORMATION TO US, OTHER THAN WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY ASKING FOR. AS LONG AS WE ARE ACCOMMODATING IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE ASKING, RIGHT. TO MAKE SURE THAT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET IS THE INFORMATION RIGHT? AND IF THEY'RE NEED SOME THINGS THAT HELP THEM WITH SPEECH, THEN ACCOMMODATING THEM MAY MEAN HAVING THEM TO PUT IT IN WRITING IN US, DISSEMINATING IT TO THE COUNCIL OR THE CITY SECRETARY READING IT FOR THEM, OR SOMETHING TO THAT DEGREE. BUT I [02:20:03] WOULD NOT SAY TO NO END THAT WE TRY TO ACCOMMODATE, BECAUSE THAT CAN BECOME UNREASONABLE. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE SURE FROM A TIME FRAME THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET THEM WHAT THEY NEED AND IT JUST MAY NOT BE EVEN NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE WANT TO DO IT, IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO DO IT. AND SO THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO ACCOMMODATE A RESIDENT WITH THE END GOAL TO GET THE COMMUNICATION TO THE COUNCIL. AND THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT. AND THAT'S WHY I SAID, I THINK WHAT SHOULD BE WELL DEFINED IS THE TIME THAT THEY NEED TO REQUEST IT IN TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER CAN BE DONE IS DONE, WHETHER THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY READING IT FOR THEM FROM CITY STAFF OR WHATEVER IT IS, PUTTING IT IN WRITING, HOWEVER THAT MAY LOOK. RIGHT? RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK AS TIME PROGRESSES, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER FEEL AS TO WHAT THE ABILITIES ARE. DISABILITIES ARE LIMITED, ABILITIES ARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND I THINK ONCE AGAIN, WE SHOULD ACCOMMODATE THEM, BE IT MORE TIME, BE IT WHATEVER THEY NEED. BUT ANYWAY, MY NEXT COMMENT IS IN REFERENCE TO COUNCIL STAFF RELATIONS UNDER. I THINK IT'S IN OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. AS YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE FOUR EMPLOYEES AND WE ARE NOT TO ACCORDING TO POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, GIVE THEM ANY TYPE OF DIRECTIVE, BE IT IN PUBLIC OR BE IT IN PRIVATE. IN KEEPING WITH THAT ALIGNMENT, WHEN WE RECEIVE REPORTS DIRECTLY FROM DIRECTORS AND NOT OUR CITY MANAGER, WE DO NOT WE DO NOT GOVERN THE STAFF. WE GOVERN. OUR EMPLOYEE IS THE CITY MANAGER. SO I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS, WHEN WE RECEIVE INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM THE DIRECTORS RATHER THAN THE CITY MANAGER, IT COULD PROMPT ME TO ASK THE DIRECTOR QUESTIONS DIRECTLY. YOU KNOW? SO IT KIND OF TAKES IT OUT OF SEQUENCE AS TO HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE OPERATING. IT ALSO SAYS THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO AND I DON'T HAVE IT VERBATIM IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THOSE ARE THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING TO. AND IF WE WANT TO TALK TO STAFF, WE ARE TO GO THROUGH OUR CITY MANAGER. BUT WE RECEIVE INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM THE DIRECTORS. SO IF I RECEIVE SOMETHING FROM A DIRECTOR, I READ IT. I'M GOING TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND I'M GOING TO CALL THE DIRECTOR OR WHATEVER. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SO IT JUST GOES AROUND AND AROUND. NOW. IT'S OKAY THAT WE DO THAT, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO CHANGE THE VERBIAGE TO MEET THAT PARTICULAR GOAL. AS TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT JUST SEEMS IN CONFLICT. OKAY, DOCTOR MARX, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING. ARE YOU SUGGESTING A LANGUAGE CHANGE OR ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT WE GET OUR REPORTS FROM THE PERSON THAT THAT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO REPORT TO US, AND THAT'S OUR CITY MANAGER? CERTAINLY. AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT'S WRITTEN CURRENTLY IN OUR HANDBOOK. I THINK IT JUST MEANS THAT WE SHOULD ADHERE TO WHAT'S BEEN. AND I THINK WHAT I THINK I HEAR YOU SAYING IS WE NEED TO UNDERSCORE ADHERING TO WHAT'S WRITTEN IN OUR HANDBOOK. I DON'T I DON'T SUGGEST WE TRY TO CHANGE THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THEY DON'T REPORT DIRECTLY TO US. AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD CAUSE, CAUSE FURTHER ISSUES. SO I THINK THAT IT'S JUST REMINDING US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T TALK OR, YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY TO STAFF, BUT ANY INFORMATION THAT WE NEED FROM STAFF NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER. SO FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, THERE'S A PROVISION UNDER PRESENTATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL. SO IS THE REQUEST TO ADD THAT ANY ALL DEPARTMENT REPORTS OF WHAT YOU GET IN YOUR WHAT YOU GET IN YOUR PACKETS. RIGHT. THAT THOSE REPORTS ARE SIGNED OFF THERE THEY ARE ALL FROM THE CITY MANAGER, NOT FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD. NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. WE GET WE GET DIRECT EMAILS OF REPORTS FROM OUR DIRECTORS. AT LEAST I DO. LET ME, LET ME LET ME TALK TO DOCTOR MARX. I GET INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM LIKE TODAY I GOT SOMETHING FROM THE LIBRARY. IS THAT PERSON HERE? SHE CAN ATTEST TO THAT. SHE SENT IT OUT TODAY, DID YOU NOT? YES, MA'AM. SO I'M JUST SAYING THAT IF I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT SHE SENT ME, I'M GOING TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND I'M GOING TO CALL HER. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY NOT WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT WHATEVER'S IN THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY WE ONLY HAVE FOUR EMPLOYEES. THE CITY MANAGER IS THE ONE THAT REPORTS TO US. HE SHOULD BE TO ME, SHOULD BE THE ONE THAT'S THAT'S COMMUNICATING WITH US AND NOT THE DIRECTORS BECAUSE IT SAYS WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO. WHENEVER WE NEED SOMETHING, WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER TO GET TO THE DIRECTOR. SO WHY IS IT WHY IS WHY IS IT THAT THEY CAN COME DIRECTLY TO US BUT WE CAN'T GO DIRECTLY TO THEM? I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO DO, WE NEED TO HAVE IT ALIGNED TO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. SO WE'RE GOING TO DO. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. SURE. SO I THINK AND I'M TRYING TO FIND THE PROVISION IN HERE THAT COUNCIL STAFF [02:25:04] RELATIONS. SO COMMUNICATION COUNCIL SHOULD CONTACT CITY EMPLOYEES SHOULD REFRAIN FROM GIVING ORDERS OR DIRECTION. SO I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENTIATOR. IF I ASKED A QUESTION THAT MEANS I CAN'T EVEN GO TO THE LIBRARY AND ASK THE QUESTION WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, I THINK THAT THE SPIRIT OF THIS PARTICULAR ONE, AND I'M READING IT HERE AND I'M GOING TO READ IT OUT LOUD. IT SAYS THE I'M ON PAGE, I DON'T KNOW, THERE ARE NO PAGE NUMBERS. IT'S UNDER SECTION FIVE ONE. WHAT'S THAT. THAT'S A GOOD SIX. YEAH. PAGE NUMBERS. OH YEAH. THEY ADD A PAGE. SO IT SAYS THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD CONTACT CITY EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER. COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM GIVING ORDERS OR DIRECTION TO ANY SUBORDINATE OF THE CITY MANAGER, EITHER PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY. WORK ASSIGNMENTS AND POLICY DIRECTION SHOULD COME FROM THE ELECTED BODY, BODY AS A WHOLE AND NOT FROM INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO LIMIT THE POWER OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO DIRECTLY COMMUNICATE IN WRITING OR VERBALLY WITH THOSE OFFICERS. EMPLOYEES DIRECTLY APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER. ET CETERA. SO, SO THAT VERY FIRST PHRASE OF THAT FIRST STATEMENT THAT YOU'VE MADE SAID THAT WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO CONTACT. SO MAYBE THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED, BECAUSE WHAT I HEAR THIS SAYING IS THAT WE'RE NOT TO GIVE DIRECTIVES TO STAFF, BUT TO ASK STAFF A QUESTION REGARDING SOMETHING THAT WAS SUBMISSION. I DON'T SEE WHERE THAT WOULD POSE AN ISSUE IF TO, BECAUSE TO ME THAT WOULD CREATE A BOTTLENECK. IF I HAVE TO EVERY QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE LIBRARY THIS WEEK, I HAVE TO RUN IT THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER AND THEN RUN IT TO HEATHER. I HEAR THIS SAYING, WE ARE NOT TO GIVE ORDERS OR DIRECTIVES. MAYBE THE FIRST SENTENCE NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO OR TAKEN OUT, BUT THE SPIRIT OF THIS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY GIVING DIRECTIVES TO, TO THE STAFF. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WHY? WHAT IS SO HARD ABOUT THE CITY MANAGER SENDING US WHAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO SEND US BECAUSE HE'S OUR EMPLOYEE, NOT THE STAFF? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? I'M JUST TRYING TO. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET SOME ALIGNMENT HERE. AND I KNOW THEY PROBABLY GET YOUR PERMISSION. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I JUST THINK THAT THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD BE THE ONE COMMUNICATING WITH US AND NOT THE NOT THE DIRECTORS. DOCTOR MARX I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ISSUES, BUT AS THE MAYOR SAID, IF IT'S TRYING TO AVOID CREATING A BOTTLENECK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE I HAVE SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS. IF EACH ONE OF YOU SENDS ME TEN EMAILS, THAT'S 70 EMAILS THAT I HAVE TO NAVIGATE. I THINK SOMETIMES IT'S MUCH EASIER IF YOU NEED INFORMATION TO THE MAYOR'S POINT THAT YOU CONTACT. I ENCOURAGE MY DIRECTORS TO CONTACT YOU DIRECTLY WHEN THEY HAVE INFORMATION TO SHARE, SUCH AS OUR FIRE CHIEF, SUCH AS OUR POLICE CHIEF, SUCH AS OUR UTILITY DIRECTOR AND OTHERS. RIGHT. THAT THAT'S I THINK THAT'S THAT'S OPEN COMMUNICATION. I THINK THE DISTINCTION IS WHETHER YOU'RE GIVEN WHETHER YOU'RE GIVEN OUR OUR TEAM DIRECTIVES VERSUS GIVEN ME A DIRECTIVE. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ISSUES IN COMMUNICATING WITH THE TEAM. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I ENCOURAGE IT BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S THAT THAT ALLOWS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND QUICKER RESPONSE. BUT AS FAR AS THE DIRECTIVE, I THINK I THINK THAT'S THAT'S CLEAR. SO IF THERE'S A NEED TO MAYBE MODIFY THE FIRST SENTENCE TO SAY CITY COUNCIL ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT DIRECTORS, I HAVE NO ISSUES WITH THAT ONE. OKAY. ALL I'M SAYING IS, REGARDLESS OF WHICH WAY WE WANT TO DO IT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VERBIAGE ALIGNS WITH OUR ACTIONS. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. SO IF WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE FIRST PHRASE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO DO, DOCTOR MARX, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VERBIAGE IS ALIGNED. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THE DISCUSSION. SO I THINK WHAT I HEAR YOUR YOUR REQUEST IS TO MAKE SURE THE VERBIAGE IS ALIGNED. AND I THINK ALIGNMENT WOULD MEAN JUST TAKING THAT, POSSIBLY TAKING THAT SENTENCE OUT BECAUSE IT'S TO ME TO PUT A TO PUT A HARD AND FAST RULE ON. TO ME, IT'S AGAIN, IT CREATES CONFUSION BECAUSE I SEE HOW THAT COULD HAVE COULD I SEE HOW READING IT OUT LOUD, IT COULD COME ACROSS AS THOUGH WE ARE TO ONLY CONTACT HIM IN ANY INSTANCE, BUT TO ASK THE CLARIFYING QUESTION, RIGHT? OR TO MERELY TALK TO SOMEONE WITHOUT GIVING DIRECTIVES, WHICH IS WHAT THIS IS SPEAKING AGAINST. I DON'T SEE ANY ISSUE WITH THAT. I DON'T SEE HOW THAT POSES AN ISSUE. AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NEARLY NEITHER HERE NOR THERE. BUT I STILL THINK THAT THOSE REPORTS NEED TO COME FROM OUR PERSON, THAT WE HIRED. HE'S THE ONE THAT SHOULD BE SENDING US THE REPORTS AND NOT THE DIRECTORS DIRECTLY. AND SO THAT'S A FORM OF COMMUNICATION, RIGHT? BUT IT'S NOT A FORM OF DIRECTIVES. WELL, THAT IS THAT IS TRUE. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE READ, THE FIRST SENTENCE THEN LET'S CHANGE IT. DOCTOR MARX WE I'VE READ IT. I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT AGAIN SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ IT AGAIN. [02:30:05] JUST MAKE SURE THAT IT ALIGNS. WELL, THAT'S THE POINT OF TONIGHT. AND SO AS A COUNCIL, AS THE OTHER SENTENCE SAYS THIS, THE LAST SENTENCE OF A1 SAYS WORK ASSIGNMENTS AND POLICY DIRECTIONS SHOULD COME FROM THE ELECTED BODY, BODY AS A WHOLE AND NOT FROM INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS, SO THAT SAID COUNCIL, WHAT SAY YOU ABOUT THIS ITEM? MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY? I THINK IT IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE GIVING DIRECTORS, YOU KNOW, ASSIGNMENTS, BUT I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEND US EMAILS. WE SHOULD HAVE SOME DISCERNMENT. WE KNOW WHEN WE CAN PICK UP THE PHONE FOR A CLARIFYING QUESTION WITHOUT GIVING DIRECTIVES. AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO EMAIL US. MAGIC SHOULDN'T HAVE TO MICROMANAGE. I'M SORRY. OUR CITY MANAGER AND SEND OUT REPORTS TO THEM. THAT'S BASIC AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE OKAY. I MEAN, I'VE NEVER HEARD THEM COMPLAIN ABOUT DOING IT. IT'S JUST A SIMPLE MEASURE AND I THINK WE'RE MAKING A LITTLE BIT MUCH OUT OF A SUGGESTION. CERTAINLY, I HAVE TO SAY THE CITY, THE CITY COUNCIL MAY CONTACT DIRECTORS. HOWEVER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM GIVING ORDERS OR DIRECTION. JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT COUNCIL, WE NEED EVERYBODY'S INPUT ON THIS ONE SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. ARE YOU TAKING OUT? I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. ARE YOU TAKING OUT THAT LAST SENTENCE THAT WE'RE JUST PROPOSING? NO, HE'S JUST PROPOSING TO CHANGE THE FIRST SENTENCE TO ALIGN IT TO WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE WANTING IT TO SAY. THE CITY COUNCIL. I SAY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY CONTACT DIRECTORS AND JUST GET RID OF THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER. HOWEVER, COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM GIVING ORDERS OR DIRECTIONS TO ANY SUBORDINATES OF THE CITY MANAGER, EITHER PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY. WORK ASSIGNMENTS AND POLICY DIRECTIONS SHOULD COME FROM THE ELECTED, ELECTED BODY AS A WHOLE AND NOT FROM THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS COUNCIL. ARE YOU ALL OKAY WITH THAT STATEMENT? I HAVE A COUNCIL. THE QUESTION ON THE FLOOR IS, ARE YOU ALL OKAY WITH THE STATEMENT THAT CITY, CITY ATTORNEY STATED, I'M SORRY, CITY ATTORNEY, COULD YOU REPEAT IT ONE LAST TIME? CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY CONTACT THE RECORD DIRECTORS. HOWEVER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY REFRAIN. SHOULD NOT. MAY SHOULD REFRAIN FROM GIVING ORDERS OR DIRECTIONS TO ANY SUBORDINATE OF THE CITY MANAGER, EITHER PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY. WORK ASSIGNMENTS AND POLICY DIRECTIONS SHOULD COME FROM THE ELECTED BODY AS A WHOLE AND NOT FROM INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS. YEAH, THAT SOUNDS GOOD, BUT HERE'S A CAVEAT TO THAT. SO TO ALL OF IT IS, IF THERE ARE ANY ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE COUNCIL MEMBER FROM A STAFF MEMBER FOR WHATEVER THE ACCUSATION COULD BE, THAT STILL COULD LEAD TO A PROBLEM. SO I UNDERSTAND THE ORIGINAL REQUEST IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE GETTING SOME OF THIS INFORMATION AND SO THERE DOES NEED TO BE SOME TYPE OF DELINEATION, ONE, TO PROTECT THE COUNCIL MEMBER, TWO, TO PROTECT THE STAFF MEMBER, YOU KNOW, AND SO, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT STRONGER, I WELL, JUST JUST IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE GETTING INFORMATION, I THINK IT'S THAT PIECE. AND FOR ME, IT ALSO GETS INTO PROBABLY SOMETHING ELSE THAT I CAN GO INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER. BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE COGNIZANT OF THAT. COUNCIL, THERE'S STILL A QUESTION. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CHISOLM. MAYOR I SUPPORT THE CHANGE. I REACH OUT FREQUENTLY TO STAFF FOR VARIOUS THINGS, BUT I THINK FOR ME, I KNOW THAT I'M NOT WHEN IT GOES TO ACTUALLY WANTING SOMETHING DONE, I KNOW THAT I NEED TO GO TO OUR CITY MANAGER FOR THAT, AND THAT HELPS ME KEEP MOVING. AND THAT'S FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DEALING WITH JOB FAIRS OR PARKS AND TRYING TO GET ROOMS. I JUST OR MOST RECENTLY THE MISSING PERSONS ISSUES I WENT DIRECTLY TO CHIEF FOR THOSE THOSE QUESTIONS, AND I PREFER TO OPERATE LIKE THAT. I THINK THAT TO MY COLLEAGUE'S POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL, IF WE WANT TO JUST SPELL IT OUT AND SAY, YOU MAY GO TO A DIRECTOR AND ASK GENERAL QUESTIONS REGARDING COMMUNITY INTEREST OR CONCERN. HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING DIRECTIVES OR OR OPERATIONAL DECISIONS, YOU NEED TO GO TALK TO THEIR BOSS AT THAT POINT. OKAY, SO COUNCIL TO SO WE CAN KEEP KIND OF MOVING THIS ALONG. I, I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENTS OF COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL AS WELL. I THINK THAT THERE EVEN WITH ASKED AND CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AND GETTING INFORMATION, THERE CAN BE A LINE THAT CAN BE CROSSED. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THE PERFECT LANGUAGE FOR THAT TONIGHT. WHAT I WOULD ASK IF WE COULD CONSIDER THAT POSSIBLY IF COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, THROW THOSE OUT THERE IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU THINK MAY MAKE IT BETTER. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE FOR STAFF TO BRING THAT BACK TO US WHEN WE SEE THIS BACK AGAIN IN JANUARY, TO MAYBE UNDERSTAND WHAT LANGUAGE COULD POSSIBLY WORK THERE. KNOWING, UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. MR. GRAFFITI WITH THIS PARTICULAR THING, WHICH IS TO KEEP STAFF AND COUNCIL OUT OF [02:35:03] ANY GRAY AREAS, EVEN WITH CLARIFYING QUESTIONS WHICH SOMETIMES MAY END DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU SIT, THEY MAY FEEL THE QUESTIONS GO TOO FAR. SO LIKE YOU SAID TO PROTECT BOTH THE INTEREST OF BOTH PARTIES, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME CLARIFICATION. EVEN WITH GOING DIRECTLY TO STAFF, IS THAT IS THAT IS THAT CLEAR WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE? MR. GRAFFITI CRYSTAL. CRYSTAL CLEAR OR CLEAR AS MUD. OKAY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER I JUST WANTED TO AGREE WITH THAT AS WELL. THE SENTIMENT OF THIS, YOU KNOW, THOUGHT PROCESS. WE WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE DO PROTECT THE COUNCIL BECAUSE IT CAN COME ACROSS AS IF YOU'RE GIVING A DIRECTIVE WHEN IN FACT, WHAT YOU'RE REALLY DOING IS JUST ASKING MAYBE A CLARIFYING QUESTION OF SOMETHING. AND, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO, IT MAY NOT COME ACROSS THAT WAY. THEY MAY NOT TAKE IT THAT WAY. YOU MAY NOT EVEN MEAN IT THAT WAY, BUT IT COMES ACROSS THAT WAY. AND THEN SOMETHING OCCURS. SO WE WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE MAKE MAKE SURE THAT OUR RULES HELP US GOVERN OURSELVES AS WELL AS THE STAFF THAT'S GOVERNING THEMSELVES. YOU HAD THAT PREVIOUS LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT YOU CAN CONTACT INDIVIDUALS BUT GO THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, WHETHER THAT'S CCN ON EMAIL. SO THAT CITY MANAGER IS AWARE OF YOU HAVING THAT COMMUNICATION. I THINK THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL INTENT BACK IN THE DAY. YEAH, I AGREE, I THINK THAT WAS THE INTENT. YEAH. NOT NOT REQUIRE THAT. SO IT'S HOW FAR DO YOU WANT TO LET IT GO. YEAH. WELL AS LONG AS IT ALIGNS MAYOR VERBIAGE ALIGNS WITH THE ACTION I'M GREAT. THANK YOU. CITY MANAGER. YES, MAYOR. WHAT'S WRONG WITH WITH WITH CONTACTING THE DIRECTOR AND CC AND THE CITY MANAGER. SO HE'S AWARE IF THERE'S ANY IF THERE'S ANY ANY MATTERS THAT RELATE TO MORE COMPLEX ISSUES OR THINGS THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A DIRECTIVE. I RESPOND TO EVERY SINGLE EMAIL. SO THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SAY, HEY, COUNCIL MEMBER SO-AND-SO, I'LL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH STAFF. THIS, THIS, THIS REQUIRES MORE EFFORT AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. SO IF, IF, IF YOU CAN IF YOU CAN CC ME ON THOSE REQUESTS OR ON ON THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, IT'D BE GREAT. I, I MEAN, WE DO THAT AMONG EACH OTHER AS STAFF. SO I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT. I'M GOING TO SAY THIS SO WE CAN MOVE THIS CONVERSATION ALONG BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A FEW MORE ITEMS IN THE HOURS DRAWING NEAR. I'M GOING TO SAY THAT Y'ALL KNOW ME. I DON'T THINK WE'RE THE FIRST CITY COUNCIL TO POSSIBLY NEED DIRECTION ON HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH STAFF AND OUR THROUGH OUR CITY MANAGER AND SO FORTH. AND SO IF THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO EVALUATE WHAT OTHER COUNCIL'S RULES AND PROCEDURES, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR OTHER CITY COUNCILS GO WITH THEIR RULES AND PROCEDURES, BUT ALSO JUST LOOKING AT OTHER METHODS OF COMMUNICATION. I THINK THAT THIS DOES STAND TO BE DISCUSSED, AND I THINK IT'S A TOPIC THAT DESERVES MORE TIME THAN WE HAVE HERE TONIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO ASK IF STAFF WOULD AGAIN KIND OF CREATE SOME THINGS AND BRING US BACK SOME THINGS WHEN WE SEE THIS IN JANUARY OR POSSIBLY IF WE COULD GET A MAKE AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU GOT YOU TELL ME, MR. GRIFFIN, TO POSSIBLY SOMETHING FOR US TO REVIEW EVEN BEFORE PRIOR TO VOTING ON IT, SO THAT WE CAN KNOW WHAT IS BEING SUGGESTED AND KIND OF HAVE A FINAL CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GET HERE. TO VOTE ON IT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION. THAT CAN BE THE GOAL. YES. OKAY. COUNCIL, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON FROM THIS ITEM? DOCTOR MARX OH, NOT ON THAT ITEM. I HAVE ANOTHER ONE. GO AHEAD. OH OKAY. THANK YOU. THIS IS UNDER PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. IF YOU TOM, IF YOU WOULD. THANK YOU. WAS THAT A DIRECTIVE? TO CONSIDER CHANGING VERY VERY QUICKLY WHILE HE'S TRYING TO BRING US TO THAT POINT. THIS HAS TO DO WITH. A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE. NO NO, NO NO NO, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY. IT'S UNDER CITIZEN'S COMMENTS. AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH IF THERE IS A COMMENT FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED WITH FACTUAL INFORMATION. I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT SAYS SOMETHING LIKE A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CAN REQUEST FOR THAT PERSON TO SPEAK. BUT THEN IT SAYS THAT THE MAYOR AT HIS OR HER DISCRETION, MAY ASK THE [02:40:09] PERSON, SO THIS IS FOR GOD. THAT'S OKAY. I KNOW WHERE. I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE NOW. IT'S REGARDING WORK SESSIONS. SO THAT'S REGARDING SPECIFICALLY FOR WORK SESSIONS. OKAY, OKAY. BUT BUT THE ISSUE IS IF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CAN BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION, THAT THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT MIGHT HAVE PERTINENT INFORMATION ON WHATEVER AGENDA ITEM THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THEN IT'S UP TO YOUR DISCRETION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU ALLOW THAT PERSON TO SPEAK. AND I DON'T THINK I THINK THAT'S KIND OF CONTRARY TO IF I'M THE COUNCIL MEMBER, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME THAT MY PERSON CAN'T SPEAK, YOU KNOW? SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ACTIONS FIT WHATEVER WE'RE TRYING TO PUT OUT THERE. SO IF YOU SCROLL DOWN TO THE PUBLIC, IT'S PUBLIC COMMENT. SEE? OKAY. IS IT PUBLIC COMMENTS? SEE. AND YEAH IT'S SEE I'M SORRY SECTION PUBLIC COMMENT. SEE. AND IT HAS HEARINGS CROSSED OUT. YEAH. GO DOWN TO ONE AND THEN TWO. THIS IS DEALING WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER MAY REQUEST THE MAYOR RECOGNIZE A PERSON TO SPEAK DURING A WORK SESSION. IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER BELIEVES THE PERSON HAS PERTINENT FACTUAL INFORMATION THAT IS DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THE CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION, THE MAYOR, AT HIS HER DISCRETION, SHALL ASK THE PERSON TO SPEAK. SO I CHANGED THAT. SO? SO THAT'S KIND OF CONTRADICTORY BECAUSE IF I, THE COUNCIL MEMBER, HAVE SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT I FEEL HAVE PERTINENT INFORMATION TO WHATEVER AGENDA ITEM THAT I'M SPEAKING ON, THEN IT'S THEN IT'S UP TO YOU AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU WILL ALLOW MY PERSON TO SPEAK. SO WE NEED TO IF THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO OPERATE. WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ALIGNED. SO I THINK AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND I SAY THAT I HAVE A PERSON, I THINK THAT PERSON SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE MAYOR THINKS OR WHOMEVER SITS IN THE SEAT. WELL, THE MAYOR IS THE CHAIR OF THE MEETING, SO I THINK THAT WAS THE INITIAL INTENT OF IT. AND THERE ARE THERE ARE DISCRETIONARY THINGS THAT THE MAYOR HAS. I'M JUST SAYING WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO DO, THE VERBIAGE NEEDS TO ALIGN WITH THAT. AND HERE'S ANOTHER THING I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR EVERY TIME I BRING SOMETHING TO THE COUNCIL, I DON'T NEED TO BE BEAT OVER THE HEAD ABOUT IT, JUST BECAUSE IT'S MY IDEA. WITH THAT SAID, AGAIN, LET'S NOT DO ANY LET'S NOT DO THAT. LET'S NOT DO THAT. ANY OF THE OTHER ITEMS. COUNCIL WILL DECIDE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO DO. IF THERE'S A CHANGE TO BE MADE, IT'S MADE AS A GROUP. REMEMBER THIS SPECIFICALLY DEALS WITH WORK SESSIONS. SO AGAIN THE PUBLIC DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE RIGHT TO A WORK SESSION. SO IT WOULD ONLY BE UPON THAT RECOGNITION BY BY THE CHAIR FOR THAT PERSON TO SPEAK. SO Y'ALL CAN MAKE THAT DECISION. IF IT'S I DON'T THINK, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR, I DON'T THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD WOULD ASK, WOULD EVEN SAY TO THE MAYOR THAT THERE'S A PERSON IF THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DIDN'T THINK THAT THAT PERSON COULD, COULD BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE. BUT ANYWAY, OKAY, BUT THAT'S THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY FINAL COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA? NO THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM. OKAY. WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH AND IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS, GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR COMMENTS. I DON'T KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO SAY BECAUSE PERHAPS IT'S MY MILITARY BACKGROUND. SO I'M I'M REALLY BIG ON ON ON ON LEADERSHIP AND ROLES AND SO AND CHAIN OF COMMAND AND SO FOR ME BEING BEING IN A MAYOR'S SEAT. RIGHT. I THINK IT HAS A HIGHER PRECEDENCE THAN A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO THE POINT YOU ARE THE CHAIR AND PRESIDENT OVER PRESIDING OVER OUR MEETINGS. WHILE I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO ASK FOR SOMEONE TO SPEAK IN THE AUDIENCE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF THE PACE OF THE MEETING AND MY EXPECTATION AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ON THIS DAIS IS THAT YOU CONTROL THE MEETING IN IN THAT RESPECT AND NOT A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND SO THAT WE CAN MOVE THE AGENDA FORWARD. SO I WOULD PREFER TO KEEP IT AS IS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. CHISHOLM, COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER. YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE AGENDA REQUEST ITEM. I KNOW THAT WE HAD IN THERE AT ONE POINT WHEN AN AGENDA REQUEST COMES THROUGH THE CHAIN WITH THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT THERE'S A TIME FRAME THAT THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD RECEIVE SOMETHING TO SAY. THIS IS RECEIVED. DO WE NEED TO PUT THAT IN HERE? BECAUSE I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 48 HOURS. I THOUGHT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 48 HOURS OR NOT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT I DO KNOW THIS WAS IN THIS SHOULD ALREADY BE IN HERE OR THE AGENDA REQUEST RECEIVED. REQUEST BACK. SO REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE REGULAR AGENDA [02:45:02] MUST BE MADE BY AT LEAST TWO COUNCIL MEMBER, TWO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND SUBMITTED TO AN EMAIL DEDICATED FOR SUCH PURPOSE TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE NO LATER THAN NOON ON THE TUESDAY, TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY SECRETARY SHALL ACKNOWLEDGE THE REQUEST OF THE RECEIPT. THERE IS NO TIME FRAME ON ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF REQUEST. SO ARE YOU ASKING? I'M ASKING FOR US TO ADD ONE AT REQUEST OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF REQUEST? YES. OKAY. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD SAY 48 TO 72 HOURS TO SAY WE RECEIVED IT. I WOULD SAY BUSINESS DAYS, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF, WELL, IT'S SAYING NO LATER THAN NOON OF THE TUESDAY, TWO WEEKS. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT IS. HOW THAT IS. I THINK THAT'S I HONESTLY, I'M READING IT KIND OF OUT LOUD NOW. MEMBERS SHOULD BE, SHOULD AT MINIMUM BE PLACED ON THE WORK SESSION FOR DISCUSSION WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR. SHOULD IT SHOULD. BUT SEE IT DOESN'T SAY WILL SO AND ALSO IT SAYS THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY SECRETARY SHALL ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT CITY MANAGER MAY DISCUSS WITH THE REQUESTING COUNCIL MEMBER THE DELAY OF THE AGENDA ITEM. SO THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING TO ALL OF THIS IS, IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THERE'S NO HARD AND FAST RULE TO SAY, OKAY, IN FOUR WEEKS WE'LL SEE IT IN YOU KNOW THIS BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE COULD BE A DELAY FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHICH I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A PROVISION IF IT HAS TO BE LAID BECAUSE EVERYTHING WON'T BE ABLE TO BE SEEN WITHIN THE FOUR WEEKS. I DO THINK TO YOUR POINT FOR BRINGING IT UP, I DO THINK THAT IT COULD STAND SOME WORK. YEAH. IN TERMS OF JUST SHORING UP EXACTLY WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE WITHOUT BACKING OURSELVES INTO A CORNER TO SAY, OKAY, IT'S GOING TO BE SEEN IN THE NEXT FOUR MEETINGS, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S STATING HERE THAT THERE MAY BE THERE'S POSSIBILITIES FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT COULD BE DELAYED. SO I THINK TO PUT, YOU KNOW, TO PUT A STIPULATION AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT I'M AGAINST GIVING IT SOMEWHAT BECAUSE I THINK, AGAIN, LIKE WE'VE TALKED IN, I THINK OUR, OUR COUNCIL USES THE TERM SLOW WALK. RIGHT. SO TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE NOT INTENTIONALLY DELAYED. AND AGAIN, NOBODY UP HERE WOULD EVER DO THAT. HOWEVER, YOU KNOW WHO'S TO SAY SOMEBODY IN THE FUTURE MAY NOT. IT NEEDS TO BE STATED. YOU KNOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TIMELINE. OBVIOUSLY, KEEPING IN MIND THAT THERE WILL BE, FROM TIME TO TIME, AN ANOMALY THAT IT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME. WELL, I THINK AND THANK YOU. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN. BUT I'M NOT NECESSARILY TALKING IN TERMS OF WHEN IT ACTUALLY GOES ON THE AGENDA AS MUCH AS IT IS BEING JUST EXCEEDED BY THE PERSONS WHO ARE GOING TO DO IT. AND THEN SOME WAY OF KNOWING, OKAY, YOU GOT THIS LIST OF AGENDA ITEMS, MAYBE EVEN RESPOND WITH YOUR AGENDA ITEM IS HERE. YOU KNOW, KIND OF IT'S THIS DOWN THERE. I THINK I'VE ACKNOWLEDGED YOU. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL LIKE TO SUBMIT Y'ALL AGENDA ITEMS. I WILL SAY THAT. SO AGAIN, THAT'S WHY I SAID TO SAY IT'S GOING TO BE SEEN IN FOUR WEEKS IS MAY NOT BE MAY NOT. WE TALK ABOUT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS. IT MAY NOT BE REASONABLE. BUT I DO THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS DESERVE A RESPONSE. IF IT'S NOT, LET'S JUST SAY WHY. LET'S GIVE A REASON WHY AND LET'S MOVE ON FROM THERE. I DO AGREE WITH HAVING AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT. I LIKE BUSINESS DAYS BECAUSE I LIKE FOR PEOPLE NOT TO FEEL BEHOLDEN TO THEIR EMAIL OVER THE WEEKEND. SO I LIKE BUSINESS DAYS. HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE COMMUNICATION AROUND WHERE IT IS IN THE QUEUE. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN. OKAY, I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE. COUNCIL AGAIN, YOU'VE HEARD IT. SO THAT'S WHAT SHE'S ASKING TO BE ADDED AS WELL ON THERE. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER RAFAEL, DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY FINAL SUGGESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM? ANY FINAL CLARIFYING QUESTIONS? OKAY, ALL RIGHT COUNCIL WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FROM THAT STAFF. IS ARE YOU ALL CLEAR ON EXACTLY WHAT COUNCIL IS ASKING FOR THESE PARTICULAR ITEMS? I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU WERE JUST SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT I'M IN GENERAL, THIS ITEM IN GENERAL. WE WANT TO MOVE TO OUR FINAL ITEM. SO WE CAN GET EVERYBODY HOME. OKAY. WELL, I HAD A FEW, FEW THINGS. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS. OKAY. ON PAGE NUMBER THREE, ON PAGE NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS THE LETTER D, PUT NUMBERS ON YOUR PAGES. WHICH IS D MAYOR ISSUES PROCLAMATION COMMENDATIONS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS JUST ME, BUT ALL THIS YEAR I'VE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AS MY OTHER COLLEAGUES TO SHARE A CONGRATULATORY OR PROCLAMATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO I THINK WE NEED SOME LANGUAGE JUST TO HAVE SOME EQUITY IN IT. IT'S NOT EVEN ADDRESSED IN HERE, YOU KNOW, BUT JUST AS A MATTER OF PRACTICE, MAYBE EVEN JUST IDENTIFYING WHO THAT IS AHEAD OF TIME. BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT FOR 2024, THAT LANGUAGE AS IT [02:50:04] RELATES TO PAGE NUMBER RIGHT NOW, THIS IS NOT WANTING TO GO AS IT RELATES TO LET ME SEE. WO. NOW THE COMPUTER WANTS TO GET BLURRY ON ME AS IT RELATES TO COMPLAINTS, WHETHER IT'S FROM A RESIDENT OR FROM EMPLOYEE. I DO THINK WE NEED TO INCLUDE THIS DOCUMENT NEEDS TO BE INCLUSIVE OF LANGUAGE AND WHAT THE PROCESS IS. I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PROCESSES AS IT RELATES TO, YOU KNOW, THE CALL LINE AND THE PAST, THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT I THINK WE NEED SOME POINTED SPECIFIC LANGUAGE. WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON? OH, THIS IS AN ADDENDUM OKAY, OKAY. THAT IT HOLD ON. THERE IS A SECTION. LET ME SEE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT PAGE. YOU SAID IT WAS AN ADDENDUM. ARE YOU ASKING FOR THAT TO BE ADDED. YES. YEAH I HAVE A I WOULD LIKE TO ADD LANGUAGE TO THIS GENERAL DOCUMENT IN GENERAL. ALL RIGHT. MY COMPUTER SCREEN JUST WENT TOTALLY BLURRY BECAUSE I ADDED PAGE NUMBERS. DOGGONE IT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, HAVING SOME LANGUAGE AS IT RELATES TO A PROCESS. SO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT PROCESS NEEDS TO BE. I CAN FORWARD YOU SOME LANGUAGE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST TO SEE, BUT JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU SOME IDEAS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE IS A COMPLAINT, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. ANY PERSON WHO FILES A WRITTEN COMPLAINT, YOU KNOW, AGAINST THE CITY OFFICIAL OR RELATED TO THE CITY OFFICIAL, WHETHER IT'S FROM THE COMMUNITY OR WHETHER IT'S RELATED TO INSIDE STAFF HAVING A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT IS CLEAR AND PREDICTABLE, YOU KNOW, ACKNOWLEDGING IT WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, GATHERING INFORMATION, GETTING THE INFORMATION TO THE TO THE PERSON, TO THE, TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, AND THEN THEN HAVING SOME TYPE OF COMPLETION OF IF, IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO GO INTO AN INVESTIGATION OVER SO MANY DAYS. AND SO THAT REALLY IS MY RECOMMENDATION. AND I'M THAT LANGUAGE JUST CAME TO ME, DID A LITTLE DIGGING AROUND, TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING. AND SO I FINALLY DID FIND SOMETHING OF WHAT SOME OTHER CITIES DID. SO I'M HAPPY TO SEND THAT FORWARD FOR Y'ALL'S CONSIDERATION. COUNCIL MEMBER RAFAEL, FOR THAT ITEM. DID WE NOT DO THIS WHEN WE REDID OUR AUDIT AND FINANCE AND WE SEPARATED THOSE FROM THAT AND WE SAID THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE A WHAT IS IT CALLED, A NOTE WHERE IT'S NOTARIZED AND SIGNED AFFIDAVIT OR SWORN AFFIDAVIT. DID WE NOT DO THAT ALREADY? SO THAT WAS RELATED TO AUDIT AND FINANCE AND PEOPLE WHO CALLED INTO COURT IN RELATED TO THE FRAUD LINE. AND THEN WE SEPARATED IT OUT FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO LIKE ANYTHING THAT AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT SITS AND THAT STAFF CAN HELP US OR IF IT EVER WAS ACTUALLY PUT INTO EFFECT. BUT WE DISCUSSED THIS AND WE SAID THAT WE WOULD HAVE SWORN AFFIDAVITS IF THERE'S IF IT'S A COUNCIL MEMBER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT WOULD NOT GO THROUGH AUDITING FINANCE FRAUD LINE. IT NEEDS TO BE A SWORN AFFIDAVIT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT LANGUAGE SITS. BUT WE DISCUSSED THAT BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH IT WITH THE GROUP THAT WE PUT TOGETHER. WE PUT TOGETHER AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THIS. AND I THINK THEY MET FOR A WHILE ABOUT IT. SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT INFORMATION IS AT. OKAY. I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO INCLUDE THAT LANGUAGE INSIDE OF THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT, AND I'M BEING VERY SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES FROM WHETHER IT'S INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL WITH THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE FOR COUNCIL. AND I SEE WOW, OKAY. AND SO WE HAVE A SENSOR POLICY IN HERE. BUT THIS IS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TO COUNCIL MEMBER OR OR IT IS. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ALLEGATION. SO YEAH THE SENSOR POLICY IS JUST IT LOOKS LIKE SPECIFICALLY FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TO COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT WE DEFINITELY HAD DISCUSSION AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS AND MOVED IT FORWARD. THAT'S HOW WE HAVE CITIZENS SITTING ON OUR AUDIT AND FINANCE ALL OF THOSE THINGS. SO RECOMMENDATIONS CAME OUT OF THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE, AM I RIGHT, AM I, AM I CORRECT? CORRECT? YOU'RE CORRECT. I DEFINITELY REMEMBER THAT. BUT IT WAS IT WAS HYPER FOCUSED ON THE AUDIT AND FINANCE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT. AND SO BUT WHEN IT COMES FROM AN EMPLOYEE ABOUT A COUNCIL MEMBER, WHEN IT COMES FROM A COMMUNITY MEMBER, ABOUT A COUNCIL MEMBER, NOT, YOU KNOW, THAT EXTENDS BEYOND JUST THE AUDIT AND FINANCE PIECE BECAUSE EVERYTHING DOESN'T GO INTO THAT HOTLINE. BUT JUST JUST THAT WAS YEAH, JUST MAKING CERTAIN THE PROCESS IS DOCUMENTED IN THIS GUIDE. SURE. AND THAT WAS THE WHOLE THAT WAS THE POINT OF IT. BUT WE'LL FIND IT. AND THEN I AGREE THAT IT SHOULD BE INCORPORATED. WE ALSO HAVE A COMPLAINT PROCESS FOR COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE CAN YOU CUT YOUR MICROPHONE ON PLEASE. WE HAVE A PROCESS IN OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES. IT'S CHAPTER ONE FOR A COMPLAINT AGAINST OFFICERS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT, NOT THE RULES OF PROCEDURE. BUT IT'S PROBABLY THE WORDING THAT YOU'RE THINKING OF IS PROBABLY VERY SIMILAR IF YOU WANT. IF YOU WANT A ACTUAL ABILITY TO FOR SOMEONE TO FILE A COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE [02:55:06] RULES OF PROCEDURE, IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT? ADDED INTO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE AS IT RELATES? YOU SAID, OKAY, YOU'RE BEING VERY SPECIFIC WITH RULES AND PROCEDURES. SO WE HAVE A CODE OF CONDUCT, RIGHT? THE CODE OF CONDUCT HAS A PROCESS FOR IF A PERSON WANTS TO FILE A COMPLAINT THAT A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS VIOLATED THE CODE OF CONDUCT, RIGHT. SO MAYBE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT IN THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT, OKAY, THAT'S FOR THE CODE OF CONDUCT. BUT THEN FOR THE RULES OF PROCEDURE, THE RULES OF PROCEDURE ARE YOUR RULES. SO THERE'S A PROVISION IN THERE. THAT'S CORRECT. AS IT RELATES TO YOU ALL ENFORCING YOUR RULES AMONGST EACH OTHER. IT'S NOT ABOUT A CITIZEN BRINGING A COMPLAINT AGAINST YOU, VIOLATING YOUR OWN RULES. SO IT'S A QUESTION I'M ASKING IS, ARE YOU DO YOU WANT THE ABILITY FOR A CITIZEN TO SAY, HEY, COUNCIL MEMBER, THOSE ARE YOUR OWN RULES YOU'RE VIOLATING? I'M GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST YOU, AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET INVESTIGATED FOR VIOLATING YOUR OWN RULES. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING. SO WHETHER IT'S COMMUNITY MEMBER AND I'M BEING VERY SPECIFIC EMPLOYEE WHO MAY HAVE A HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A COUNCIL MEMBER. SO THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, EVEN IF IT'S THE REFER BACK TO, YOU KNOW, IT JUST NEEDS TO BE DOCUMENTED IN THIS IN THIS GUIDE. OKAY. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE'S SAYING, MR. GARRIDO? I DO, AND IF AN EMPLOYEE IS FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST A COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT PROCESS IS ALREADY OUTLINED IN OUR CODE OF CONDUCT THAT'S ALREADY IN THERE. SO IF YOU WANT THAT ALSO IN THE RULES OF PROCEDURE, WE COULD DO THAT. I JUST DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE THE TWO DOCUMENTS. THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS THAT ADDRESS COMPLETELY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. RIGHT. WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT. BUT I THINK SO THIS IS OUR POLICY PROCEDURES, WHICH IS CLEAR TO UNDERSTAND. AND SO JUST DOCUMENT IT. SO WE HAVE I'M SORRY MY I CANNOT SEE THAT LITTLE TINY WRITING IN MY COMPUTER SCREEN JUST WENT BLACK. BUT JUST WE DO NEED TO OUTLINE THE PROCESS. CAN I AFFORD Y'ALL. I'LL AFFORD YOU SOME LANGUAGE TO MAYBE CLARIFY WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. I DO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING CLEARER, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION AND EXPLANATION. CITY CITY ATTORNEY TO AND COUNCILMAN RAPHAEL TO YOUR INITIAL ABOUT THE ISSUANCE, THE MAYOR'S ISSUANCE OF PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND CONGRATULATORY LETTERS. WHAT WHAT WERE YOU SUGGESTING? MAKE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE. MAKE WHAT? FAIR AND EQUITABLE. SPELL IT. JUST SPELL IT OUT, YOU KNOW. SO IF WE ARE SO AS IT RELATES TO THE AGENDA PIECE. AND SO IF WE ARE INCLUSIVE OF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, JUST ENSURING THAT WE JUST DOCUMENT IT EVEN HERE, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES INCLUSIVE OF THEM. AS FAR AS WHAT OKAY. WELL SO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT INCLUDE OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS JUST JUST MAKING CERTAIN THERE'S A ROTATION FOR ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE. TO READ THEM IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TO BE INCLUSIVE OF THE PROCESS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S CONGRATULATORY PROCESS. AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY ASK TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, BUT THEN USE CITY MANAGER OR WHOEVER YOU KNOW, DECIDES ON WHO GOES FORWARD. SO THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. IT'S JUST DOCUMENTING THAT I WANT ALL YEAR, PROBABLY. I THINK ABOUT CLOSE TO TWO YEARS AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED. AND SO IF THERE'S A PROCESS THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF, I DIDN'T KNOW IT. THERE IS NO PROCESS. AGAIN, JUST MAKING SURE THAT NEW PEOPLE ARE ARE ARE CLEAR ON HOW PROCESS IS HAPPENING. WELL, THERE REALLY ISN'T A PROCESS BECAUSE THESE ARE ISSUED BY ME. IT'S AT REALLY AT MY DISCRETION. AND GENERALLY HOW WE DO IT. IF SOMEBODY READS IT AND BECAUSE FOR, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, I COULD READ EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM AND NOT, NOT ALLOW ANYBODY TO READ THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE ISSUED FROM ME. SO, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE PROCESS, IF YOU WILL, OR THE RULE OF THUMB I HAVE IS IF THERE IS A MAYOR OR ACCOMMODATION, DEPENDING ON WHAT IS ALL ON THE AGENDA, TYPICALLY, WHATEVER IT IS, I WILL BE THE FIRST PERSON TO READ IT BECAUSE IT COMES FROM ME. HOWEVER, SPECIFIC PROCLAMATIONS THAT FALL IN LINE MORE OR LESS WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ORIENTATION, WHETHER THAT'S A BOARD OR COMMISSION, IF IT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IF I DON'T WANT TO READ IT THAT EVENING OR IF I ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO ON THE AGENDA, THEN THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S THE LIAISON TO THAT BOARD WILL TYPICALLY READ IT. AND SO THAT'S GENERALLY HOW IT'S HOW IT'S BEEN, HOW IT'S BEEN HANDLED. OKAY. AND I'M JUST SAYING JUST MAKING CERTAIN THAT WE'RE CLEAR AND EQUITABLE FOR EVERYBODY. SURE. COUNCIL ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL SUGGESTION? YES. COUNCILMAN BYRD I WOULD LIKE TO ADD WE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO IT TONIGHT, BUT THERE SEEM TO BE SOME CLEANUP AND TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY NINE, TEN AND 11, KIND OF CONTRADICT. ONE PART SAYS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE WHO ARE TRAINING, WHO ARE TERMING OUT OF OFFICE MAY NOT REQUEST OR OR COMMIT TO ANY TRAINING OR TRAVEL RELATED RELATED REGISTRATION, RESERVATIONS OR REIMBURSEMENTS FOR EVENTS, CONFERENCES OR [03:00:01] ACTIVITY THAT OCCURS BEYOND THEIR OFFICIAL END DATE OF THEIR TERM IN OFFICE. THE INTENT SAYS. ANY TRAINING OR TRAVEL REQUESTS FOR EVENTS OCCURRING AFTER THE COUNCIL PERSON TERM HAS ENDED MUST BE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S LAST DAY. THOSE TWO TEND TO CONTRADICT EACH OTHER WHO DO WE APPLY? WHO? IF I WAS TERMING OUT WHO DO I GET THE OKAY FROM? AND THEN I THINK THAT SO JUST BRING THAT UP. JUST CLEANING THAT AREA UP MIGHT BE IT NEEDS SOME SOME ATTENTION BECAUSE NINE AND TEN. AND EVEN ONCE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TERMS CONCLUDE, THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR PORT FORFEITS ELIGIBILITY FOR FURTHER TRAINING AND TRAVEL ALLOCATION. EARLY ON IT TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE WERE IN OUR LAST TERM, THEN THE OUR TRAVEL AND TRAINING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WILL BE PRORATED INTO THE AMOUNT. SO WE JUST NEED TO WORK THROUGH AND I'LL GO THROUGH IT AND JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THE AREAS THAT THAT THERE ARE CONTRADICTION. BUT PARTICULARLY 910 SEEM TO CONTRADICT. I THINK THE INTENT NINE WAS IF YOU'RE TURNING OUT OKAY, YOU CAN'T COMMIT TO ANY TRAINING TRAINING. IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE OUT, YOU JUST YOU'RE YOU'RE DONE. YOU CAN'T COMMIT TO ANY TRAINING OR TRAVEL RELATED REGISTRATIONS, RESERVATIONS, REIMBURSEMENTS FOR EVENTS THAT ARE OCCURRING BEYOND THE OFFICIAL END DATE. AND THEN I THINK TEN WAS IF YOU'RE UP, BUT YOU COULD YOU COULD POSSIBLY ARE RUNNING FOR REELECTION. MAYBE THAT WAS THE DISTINCTION THAT WAS TRYING TO BE MADE THERE BETWEEN 9 AND 10. ANY TRAINING REQUEST FOR EVENTS OCCURRING AFTER THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S TERM HAS ENDED SINCE WE'RE USING HAS ENDED VERSUS TURNING OUT MUST BE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S LAST DAY IN OFFICE. SO I THINK IF THAT'S THE INTENT, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE CLEARER. YES. IF YOU'RE TURNING OUT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT STRICTER THAN IF YOU'RE NOT TURNING OUT, YOU'RE GOING TO RUN AGAIN, YOU KNOW, MAY OR MAY NOT BE REELECTED. RIGHT. AND SO TO THAT POINT, JOE, I'M JUST SAYING WE NEED TO CLEAR IT UP TO THAT VERSUS UP FOR REELECTION VERSUS TURNING OUT IT. JUST NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAN AND THEN I THINK THAT WE TALK ABOUT THE PRORATED AMOUNT I DON'T KNOW I DON'T KNOW IF WE DO THAT IF WE'RE PRACTICING THAT OR NOT. IT TALKS ABOUT HOW IN IN THE EVENT THAT A COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBER IS CONCLUDING THEIR TERM DURING A GIVEN BUDGET YEAR, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WILL BE ALLOTTED A PRORATED PORTION OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND TRAVEL. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IS SO THAT THE NEW COUNCIL PERSON MIGHT HAVE AN ALLOCATED AMOUNT. BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE PRACTICING THAT THAT NUMBER SEVEN OR NOT. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL I DON'T SEE ANY MORE LIGHTS. SO THAT CONCLUDES THIS ITEM. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR FINAL THREE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA. WE HAVE ONE MORE DISCUSSION TOPIC. AND THEN WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL AS ONE MORE REGULAR AGENDA ITEM. SO I'M [2. Presentation and discussion of the proposed Compressed Four-Day Work Week Operations Schedule] GOING TO ASK IF WE COULD I'M GOING TO ASK IF OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER CAN READ THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IN OUR DISCUSSION TOPICS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MAYOR. THE NEXT ITEM IS PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE OF THE PROPOSED COMPRESSED FOUR DAY WORK WEEK OPERATIONS SCHEDULE, PROVIDING AN INTRODUCTION TO CITY MANAGER ERIC GODFREY AND MAKING THE PRESENTATION IS DANNY GREENLEE, HR DIRECTOR, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT IN GOING TO MY INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGER ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON GENERATIONAL, THE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS AND WHAT THEIR DESIRE AND WHAT THEY WANT IN TERMS OF EMPLOYEE ATTRACTION AND RETENTION. SO ATTRACTING AND RETENTION, RETAINING FIVE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS WITHIN THE WORKFORCE IS REALLY CHALLENGING. YOU KNOW, SIMPLY PAYING HIGHER WAGE IS NO LONGER ENOUGH TO REALLY ATTRACT AND RETAIN TOP NOTCH EMPLOYEES. SO THE IDEA IS TO CREATE MORE PERKS FOR THE CITY EMPLOYEES. ASIDE FROM JUST ADDING MORE, MORE MONEY TO, TO COMPENSATE THEM. SO ONE OF THE WAYS IS PROMOTING A FOUR DAY WORKWEEK, WHICH HAS POTENTIAL BENEFITS FOR THE EMPLOYEES. THE CITY, AS WELL AS THE CITIZENS, WHICH INCLUDES IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY, ENHANCED EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING, TALENT ATTRACTION AND RETENTION OF COURSE [03:05:01] ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS, AND POSITIVE BUSINESS OUTCOMES. DANNY IS GOING TO GO IN IN MORE DETAILS TO DISCUSS THIS. THIS PROPOSED OPPORTUNITY FOR US, AND WE'LL BE READY FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR QUESTIONS TOWARDS THE END. DANNY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. COUNCIL, ONE OF OUR FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023 KEY BUSINESS PLAN INITIATIVES IDENTIFIED US TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR CITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND ENSURE THAT WE WERE GIVING OUR EMPLOYEES FAIR AND COMPETITIVE WAGES SO WE COMPLETED THAT. WE HAD OUR CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION STUDY JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE COMPENSATING OUR EMPLOYEES AT OR ABOVE MARKET VALUE. UNFORTUNATELY, COMPENSATION IS JUST ONE OF THE COMPONENTS THAT GOES INTO YOUR TOTAL REWARDS PACKAGE FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES. AND WITH FIVE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS IN OUR WORKFORCE, ATTRACTING AND RETAINING TALENT HAS BECOME A CHALLENGE FOR ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. SIMPLY PAYING THEM A HIGHER WAGE IS NOT DOING IT ANYMORE. THIS SLIDE IS FROM THE FORBES WORKPLACE BENEFIT TREND. IT JUST ILLUSTRATES WHAT DIFFERENT GENERATIONS VALUE WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATION. WHAT DIFFERENT BENEFITS THEY VALUE. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, SCHEDULE FLEXIBILITY AND WORK LIFE BALANCE IS STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL GENERATIONS. THAT'S WHAT THEY THEY VALUE. THE MOST. SO WHILE WE ALLOW OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS SOME FLEXIBILITY IN SCHEDULING THEIR EMPLOYEES WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENTS ACCORDING TO THEIR MISSION, OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE SPECIFICALLY BEEN ASKING FOR A FORMALLY DOCUMENTED, POLICY DRIVEN AND APPROVED COMPRESSED WORKWEEK SO THAT THEY CAN ALL PARTICIPATE BECAUSE NOT ALL CAN PARTICIPATE AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME. SO THIS PROPOSED SCHEDULE WOULD SET NEW OPERATING HOURS FOR CITY HALL MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. WE WOULD OPEN AT 7 A.M. TO SERVE CITIZENS AND CUSTOMERS AND CLOSE AT 6 P.M. AND THEN BE CLOSED EVERY FRIDAY. DEPARTMENT LEADERS, WE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIVE ON FRIDAYS, WEEKENDS AND AFTER HOURS, AND OUR ON CALL CREWS WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS NEEDED. THIS SLIDE HERE HR DID A SURVEY OF CITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING ON A FOUR DAY WORKWEEK MODEL. THIS LISTS THE MUNICIPALITIES ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE AND THEN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. WE HAVE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THIS SLIDE ARE THE CITIES THAT RESPONDED THAT THEY CURRENTLY OPERATE UNDER A MODIFIED 980 WORKWEEK. SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF A COMPRESSED SCHEDULE ARE BETTER RECRUITMENT, INCREASED WORK PRODUCTIVITY, REDUCED ABSENTEEISM, BETTER RETENTION, AND INCREASED WORK LIFE BALANCE. DECREASED COMMUNITY COMMUTING EXPENSES AND REDUCED ENERGY, AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARITY IN THE HOUSEHOLD FOR THOSE DOMESTIC RESPONSIBILITIES. THE NEXT SLIDE IS A SWOT ANALYSIS OF GOING TO A FOUR DAY WORKWEEK. WHILE THE STRENGTHS WOULD BE INCREASED ATTRACTION AND RETENTION OF TOP TALENT, REDUCED ABSENTEEISM, SOME WEAKNESSES COULD BE POTENTIAL CHILDCARE ISSUES FOR SOME EMPLOYEES AND ALSO DIFFICULTY IN IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THIS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS. I'M WORKING WITH SOME OF THE DIRECTORS TO SEE HOW WE CAN BE FLEXIBLE AND ALLOW EVERYBODY TO PARTICIPATE. PARTICIPATE. WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT. AND WE'LL I'LL GET TO THAT IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. SOME OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENERGY SAVINGS FOR THE CITY AND EXTENDED HOURS FOR CITIZENS TO COME AND DO BUSINESS, DECREASING THEIR NEED TO TAKE PTO TO COME HANDLE CITY BUSINESS, POSSIBLE THREATS COULD BE EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN EXTENDED WORKDAY AND INCREASED PRESSURE TO MEET DEADLINES, HAVING TO COMPLETE WORK IN FOUR DAYS AS OPPOSED TO FIVE. THIS SLIDE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE. THE FINANCIAL IMPACT I'M PROPOSING A TRIAL PERIOD FROM JANUARY TO APRIL SO THAT THEN I CAN COLLECT DATA REGARDING ENERGY SAVINGS, WATER SAVINGS, AND OTHER OVERHEAD COST ITEMS, AS WELL AS COMPLAINTS AND OVERALL SATISFACTION OF CITIZENS AND EMPLOYEES REGARDING THIS NEW SCHEDULE. SOME OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACT FOR THE CITY WOULD BE REDUCTION IN OPERATING COSTS, LESS ELECTRICITY, LESS COST, AND OVERHEAD ITEMS. HOWEVER, IT COULD INCREASE THE BENEFIT PAYOUTS FOR EMPLOYEES DUE TO THE REDUCTION IN BENEFIT TIME USE EMPLOYEES. REDUCTION IN COSTS FOR THEM, USE OF GAS AND COMMUTING, CHILDCARE, LUNCHES, COFFEE BREAKS, ETC. AND THEN FOR THE COMMUNITY LIKE I SAID BEFORE, IT DECREASES THE NEED TO TAKE LEAVE TO COME TAKE CARE OF CITY BUSINESS. THEY CAN COME IN THE MORNING BEFORE THEY GO TO WORK, OR THEY CAN COME ONCE THEY GET OFF BECAUSE WE'RE OPEN AN HOUR EARLIER AND AN HOUR LATER. THIS IS THE TIMELINE PRESENTING TODAY. WE BEGAN COMMUNICATION. IF APPROVED TOMORROW AND THEN THE NEW HOURS WOULD BEGIN JANUARY 6TH, WITH THE FIRST FRIDAY CLOSURE BEING JANUARY 10TH. ON APRIL 14TH, I WOULD [03:10:04] COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND PRESENT AN UPDATE WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS. THE ENERGY SAVINGS, OVERHEAD, SAVINGS, SO ON AND SO FORTH. AND THEN ON THE 15TH, COUNCIL WOULD VOTE AND THEN ON THE 28TH, THE PERMANENT HOURS OR THE NEW HOURS WOULD BECOME PERMANENT. PART OF THE ALTERNATIVE WORK SCHEDULE JUST REINFORCES OUR CITY CORE VALUES, OUR DEDICATION TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR CITIZENS. DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DO THANK YOU, MISS GREENLEE. YES, WE DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND I'M GOING TO ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS. AND THEN YOU CAN RESPOND BECAUSE I'M I'M THINKING I'M GOING TO HAVE TWO MINUTES. SO MY FIRST QUESTION AND THIS IS NOT A THIS IS NOT A THOUGHT AS TO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. IT'S JUST ME ASKING YOU THE QUESTION, OKAY. WHY HAS THE 980 WORKWEEK NOT BEEN PROPOSED FIRST, AS OPPOSED TO A FOUR DAY COMPLETE, YOU KNOW, SHUTDOWN ON FRIDAYS TYPE OF SITUATION, WHEREAS THE 980 WOULD GIVE IT TWO DAYS, TWO FRIDAYS, NOT FOUR. THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, OKAY, THE 980 WORKWEEK. WHY WAS THAT NOT PROPOSED AS AN OPTION AS OPPOSED TO GOING STRAIGHT TO A FOUR DAY WORKWEEK AND THEN HOW WILL THE CITY MONITOR AND REPORT THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS? AND I'M REALLY SPEAKING IN TERMS OF FOR A FOUR DAY WORKWEEK, SOMEONE WOULD BE WORKING TEN HOURS A DAY AT SOME POINT, OVERTIME IS GOING TO BECOME A QUESTION. HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT OVERTIME AS OPPOSED TO THE WAY THEY HAVE IT NOW? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, DO YOU SEE THAT ACCRUING OR HAPPENING QUICKER WITH THE FOUR DAY WORKWEEK BECAUSE IT'S A TEN HOUR DAY. AND SO BY THE TIME FRIDAY HITS, IF SHOULD THEY NEED TO COME IN. IS THAT OVERTIME. SO THAT'S THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS HAVE YOU HAD AN ACTUAL CONVERSATION WITH ANY OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WHO ARE ON A FOUR DAY WORKWEEK TO GET SOME OF THEIR FEEDBACK? NOT NECESSARILY THE BECAUSE I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH, I'VE LOOKED AROUND AND HEARD SOME STUFF AND SOME GOOD STUFF. BUT I ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND. HAVE YOU ALL HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ANYONE WHO'S ON A FOUR DAY WORKWEEK AND BEING ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THEIR IMPACTS, WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IN THEIR MUNICIPALITIES? THANK YOU. OKAY, SO THE FIRST QUESTION WAS, WHY HASN'T THE 980 BEEN PROPOSED AS AN OPTION THAT WAS PROPOSED? HOWEVER, OUR CITY MANAGER FOUND MORE VALUE IN GOING TO THE FOUR DAY WORKWEEK. SO 980 IS NOT OFF THE TABLE. WE COULD POSSIBLY GO TO THAT. IF THIS DOESN'T WORK FOR OUR MISSION REQUIREMENTS AS A CITY. BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT WAS THE FOUR DAY WORKWEEK WAS MORE APPEALING, AND THAT'S WHAT SPECIFICALLY CITY EMPLOYEES ARE ASKING FOR. THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR THE 980. THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE FOUR DAY WORKWEEK. AND, DANNY, IF I MAY ADD, JUST JUST QUICKLY, THE 980 CAN BE DONE NOW AND CAN BE DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY. I, I FELT THE NEED TO BRING THIS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND SEE IF THERE'S AN APPETITE FOR THE 410 SCHEDULE. SO BUT WE CAN IMPLEMENT BASICALLY THE 980 STARTING NEXT WEEK. THAT WAS NOT THE AGAIN, THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE A REALLY CONSISTENT SCHEDULE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. SO AND HAVE THE BLESSING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WITH OVERTIME. I CAN'T PROJECT IF THAT WILL BE AFFECTED. WE BLESS YOU. WE STILL FLSA OVERTIME MANDATES ANYTHING OVER 40 HOURS IN A SEVEN DAY WORK PERIOD. SO YES, WHETHER WE WORK FIVE DAYS OR FOUR DAYS, IF THEY GO OVER THAT 40 HOURS IN A SEVEN DAY WORK PERIOD, THEN YES, THEY WILL BE AUTHORIZED OVERTIME FOR A NONEXEMPT. SO I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. THAT WOULD SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMETHING WE MONITOR AND PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER CITIES. ABSOLUTELY. I'VE TALKED TO ALL THOSE CITIES. THAT'S HOW I GOT THE INFORMATION FOR THE SLIDE OF WHO'S DOING WHAT AND WHY, AND IT WORKS. WELL, FOR SOME IT DOESN'T WORK WELL FOR OTHERS. AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE OTHER OPTIONS FOR THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAVE COME UP WITH. LIKE RECORDS, OUR RECORDS DEPARTMENT, OTHER CITIES THAT DIDN'T WORK FOR THEM. THEY HAD TO BE OPEN FOR A HALF A DAY ON FRIDAY. SO THEN I TALKED TO CHIEF COSTA ABOUT FLEXING THAT FRIDAY OFF DAY. THAT OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES ARE CLOSED SO THAT THEN THOSE INDIVIDUALS CAN TRADE OFF AND SOME BE OFF ON MONDAY AND SOME BE OFF ON FRIDAY. SAME WITH THE LIBRARY. THE LIBRARY THERE I GOT A DIFFERENT AN ALTERNATIVE SCHEDULE, AND I GAVE IT TO HEATHER AND SAID, WOULD THIS WORK FOR YOU ALL SINCE YOU CAN'T BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY? PARKS AND REC, WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT. OKAY. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT REALLY THAT QUESTION ABOUT THE OVERTIME WAS REALLY ME. I REALLY WANTED TO ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING ABOUT THE PART TIME [03:15:05] PEOPLE. AND HOW MANY PART TIME PEOPLE WE HAVE FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO, BECAUSE THIS WOULD AFFECT THEM. SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN, NOT TONIGHT, IF YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER, THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO KNOW HOW MANY PART TIME PEOPLE WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS. OH, BY NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK ON FRIDAY. WELL, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? NOT JUST NOT WORKING ON FRIDAY. THE TEN HOUR DAYS, ARE THEY, YOU KNOW, IS ALL THEIR WORK GOING TO ENCOMPASS BE ENCOMPASSED? YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE I WAS SAYING ABOUT THE OVERTIME, A REGULAR SALARIED PERSON 40 HOURS A WEEK WOULD BE THEN GOING INTO OVERTIME ON A FRIDAY, IF THEY HAVE TO COME IN, IF THEIR DIRECTOR SAYS, YOU NEED TO COME IN, I GOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THEY'RE NOT IN OVERTIME WITH A PART TIME PERSON. SO THE PART TIME PEOPLE, IT WON'T THIS WON'T AFFECT THEM AT ALL? NO. OUR PART TIME PEOPL, ANYBODY, WHETHER YOU'RE PART TIME OR FULL TIME NONEXEMPT IF YOU GO OVER 40 HOURS, YOU ARE AUTHORIZED OVERTIME. SO IF OUR PART TIME FOLKS ARE WORKING OVERTIME, LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE DURING THE HOLIDAYS THAT WORK A LOT OF HOURS DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND THEY'RE PART TIME. THEY'RE STILL AUTHORIZED OVERTIME, TOO. SO IT WOULDN'T IT DOESN'T. THE PART TIME OR FULL TIME DOESN'T DELINEATE THE OVERTIME OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CHISOLM. THANK YOU. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER, AS WELL AS YOU MISS ME FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO BRING THIS ITEM. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR INCENTIVES THAT DON'T ALWAYS HIT OUR GENERAL BUDGET DIRECTLY TO NOT JUST APPEAL. AND ATTRACT NEW TALENT, BUT ALSO KEEP TALENT. AS A HIRING MANAGER AND A MANAGING DIRECTOR, I ACTUALLY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FIRSTHAND IN GIVING MY DEPARTMENT OF 85 PEOPLE AN EXTRA SDO A DAY, BECAUSE WHAT THAT BREAKS DOWN TO IS THAT YOU GET 52 ADDITIONAL DAYS OFF IN THE YEAR VERSUS PAYING OUT. WHAT WOULD EQUATE TO THAT HERE AS A CITIZEN, HERE ARE MY CONCERNS IS MAKING SURE THAT THE SERVICES THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE ARE NOT HINDERED IN THE PROCESS, RIGHT. SO KNOWING THAT LITTER IS STILL RUNNING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, KNOWING THAT I CAN STILL COME IN AND PAY MY BILL, KNOWING THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T DROP THE BALL, KNOWING THAT ANIMAL CONTROL WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE, KNOWING THAT THE POLICE WON'T BE OFF, THEY'RE GOING TO COME SAVE ME. KNOWING IF MY HOUSE GETS ON FIRE HAS A FIRE THAT I HAVE RIGHT? SO AS A CITIZEN, RIGHT, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT WHAT I WEIGH IN AS A POSITIVE IS THAT THERE ARE EXTENDED HOURS. SO THAT IS ALSO AN INCENTIVE. I DID A LITTLE HOMEWORK OF MY OWN, AND I ACTUALLY THERE'S AN ARTICLE FOR FARMERS BRANCH THAT'S OUT. THAT'S BY FOX NEWS. I'LL FORWARD THAT TO THE DAIS. BUT SECONDLY, I PICKED UP THE PHONE AND I CALLED THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND I TALKED TO THE HIRING, EXCUSE ME, THE HR DIRECTOR, RICHARD JONES. HE PICKED UP THE PHONE VERY FRIENDLY GUY, GAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION, AND I WAS PRETTY FRANK WITH HIM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DID THIS WORK FOR ROWLETT AND WHAT WHAT WERE THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL SAW THAT JUST DIDN'T WORK? WELL, THEY DID IMPLEMENT FOR DAYS AND CLOSE ON A FRIDAY. AND COUNCIL CAME BACK AND TOLD HIM IT WASN'T WORKING AND THEY NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SO WHAT THEY DECIDED TO DO WAS TO HAVE MONDAY AND FRIDAY AS ALTERNATE DAYS. SO SOME PEOPLE TOOK TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND SOME TOOK MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. AND EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR STAFFING. THAT ALSO MEANS DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERTIME, WHICH THEY ARE TODAY. RIGHT. AND WE KNOW THAT FROM A PART TIME PERSPECTIVE, YOU DON'T GAIN OVERTIME BECAUSE YOU'RE NEVER HITTING 40 HOURS PART TIME. YOU ARE WORKING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 20 TO 30 HOURS MAX. SO THAT EXCLUDES THEM. I, I WOULD I, I SUPPORT THE BALANCE OF BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE MAKING YOUR WORK IS WORKING. YOU'RE WORKING HARDER TRYING TO DO SOMETHING INDIVIDUAL FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT VERSUS JUST SAYING TO EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD, HEY, YOU GOT YOU CAN TAKE MONDAY OR YOU CAN TAKE FRIDAY. TELL ME HOW YOU'RE GOING TO STAFF ACCORDINGLY. MY CONCERN WOULD BE GROUPS LIKE CODE THAT HAVE LIMITED BODIES SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE TAKING OFF ON FRIDAY, AND THEN THERE'S A STAFFING DEFICIENCY AND YOU DON'T HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE WORKING ON ONE DAY AND NOT ENOUGH. THEN YOU HAVE AN OVER, BECAUSE EITHER WAY, IF YOU'RE OVER OR YOU'RE UNDER, YOU'RE HURTING YOUR BUDGET AT THE SAME TIME, RIGHT? SO THAT'S MY FEEDBACK. AND RICHARD JONES WAS SO FRIENDLY AND GAVE ME SO, SO MUCH INFORMATION. I IF YOU HAVE NOT TALKED TO HIM, I THINK HE WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET TO JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT PIECE. AND THAT WAS REALLY HE SAID THE HARDEST PART WAS TRYING TO GET THE STAFFING DOWN FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. AND I THINK IT'S JUST YOU DON'T MUDDY IT UP. YOU GIVE THEM TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS. I DON'T THINK THAT JUST SAYING CLOSED FRIDAY IS BEST BECAUSE WE HINDER CERTAIN GROUPS LIKE PARKS, AND THEN IT BECOMES THEM VERSUS US ENVIRONMENT. I THINK [03:20:03] WE GIVE IT MORE FLEXIBILITY, EXTEND THE HOURS SO RESIDENTS FEEL THE BENEFIT OF IT AND THEN WE MOVE FORWARD THAT WAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BIRD. I SEE YOUR LIGHT. HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE SOME COMMON CARDS. DO YOU WANT TO HOLD YOUR COMMENT OR YOU WANT TO GO? YOU WANT TO KIND OF STAY IN THE FLOW OF THE MINE WOULD BE VERY QUICKLY. SURE. WOULD BE VERY QUICKLY. I BELIEVE COUNCILWOMAN CHISOLM HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS. I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE LOOK AT STAGGERING IT RATHER THAN HAVING A DAY OFF. SO I LIKE THE IDEA OF A MONDAY FRIDAY AND A LOT OF COMPANIES THAT ARE DOING IT. THEY'RE USING AI AS CUSTOMER SERVICE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN CAN USE AUTOMATION. SO MAKING SURE THAT WE INCORPORATE AUTOMATION. SO I THINK IT'S PLAUSIBLE. I LIKE I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF GIVING OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES FLEXIBILITY, EVEN WORKING IN A MUNICIPALITY ENVIRONMENT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MAY I ASK WHEN YOU SAY AUTOMATION I DO YOU MEAN ANSWERING SOMEBODY? SOMETHING AVAILABLE TO ANSWER PHONES AND DIRECT CITIZENS AT ALL TIMES? EXACTLY. OKAY. YOU KNOW, AS WE AS WE PROGRESS, AS AI PROGRESSES, I THINK THE USE OF AI ACCORDING TO HTML IS ON THE UPSWING. SO LEARNING HOW TO USE THAT EFFECTIVELY SO THAT THE CITIZENS CAN FEEL THE WON'T FEEL THE EFFECTS OF ANYTHING WE MIGHT DO WITH PHYSICAL BODIES. SO THOSE THAT WOULD BE MY THAT'S MY COMMENT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. IF I MAY, MAYOR. CERTAINLY WE DON'T DON'T FORGET WE HAVE CARDS FOR INDIVIDUALS. YES. THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, FOR MENTIONING THAT. ACTUALLY WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON THE AI AND THE VIRTUAL ASSISTANT TO MAKE SURE. SO TOM, TOM AND TEAM ARE ALREADY LOOKING INTO THE OPTIONS FOR, YOU KNOW, TYLER TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS ACTUALLY UPDATING ALL OF OUR PHONE SYSTEMS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN OUTDATED AND THEY'VE BEEN OUT SINCE QUITE SOME LIKE SO THE VIRTUAL THE VIRTUAL ASSISTANT IS PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, NOT ONLY THE VIRTUAL ASSISTANT BUT PART OF THE DYNAMIC IS GOING TO BE ACTUALLY NOT ONLY RECEIVING A CALL, DIRECTING IT TO THE RIGHT DEPARTMENT SLASH MANAGER AND, AND THE CUSTOMER OR THE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY WILL GET A CALL BACK IF THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. IF THE ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED, THEY WILL STILL GET A CALL BACK. AND THAT'S HOW WE GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T KNOW IF, TOM, YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING. NO, I THINK YOU COVERED IT. WE ARE DUE WELL. IN FACT, WE'RE A COUPLE OF YEARS OVERDUE ON REPLACING OUR PHONE SYSTEM ALREADY, SO WHY WOULD WE NOT GET THE LATEST AND GREATEST, YOU KNOW, AND THAT WILL WE CAN USE THAT NEW PHONE SYSTEM TO HELP ABSORB SOME OF THAT COST, SOME. AND WE'VE BEEN STASHING MONEY AWAY FOR A NEW PHONE SYSTEM AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET IN THE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. SO THERE'S ALREADY MONEY THERE FOR THE PHONE. WE'D LIKE TO PROBABLY SAVE UP ANOTHER YEAR FOR IT, ANOTHER FISCAL YEAR. SO HOPEFULLY BY THAT, BY THE BEGINNING OF 26, WE'LL BE READY TO. YEAH, 26 JANUARY 26TH. WE'LL BE READY TO START MOVING MORE AGGRESSIVELY THAT DIRECTION. OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS THOMAS. WE HAVE CARDS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK. YES, MA'AM. ANNA WILLIAMS. MISS WILLIAMS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. CITY RESIDENTS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. ANNA WILLIAMS, DESOTO, TEXAS, OLD SCHOOL RETIREE A I WILL EVENTUALLY TAKE OVER JOBS. SO WILL THE VIRTUAL. I WON'T DO SELF-SERVICE AT TOM THUMB. THEY ASK ME, WELL, WHY I SAID, ARE YOU GOING TO PAY ME MONEY? I COME IN, I PICK UP MY FOOD, AND THEN I'M GOING TO. YOU GOING TO PAY ME 50, WHAT, $15 FOR WHATEVER IT IS? I JUST THINK FOR THE CITY, NO. AND I'M HONEST WITH YOU ON THAT. YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MANY EMPLOYEES AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE POLICE. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO [03:25:01] WITH THEM? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MANAGE THEM? AND THEN YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE BACK IN THE WATER, BILL. THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMING UP HERE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE TICKED OFF. WHY AREN'T THEY THERE? WELL, THEY ONLY WORK FOUR DAYS A WEEK. LIFE SCHOOL. MY GRANDDAUGHTER ATTENDS THE LIFE SCHOOL. YOU HAVE ON THE SOME OF THE YOUNGER KIDS, THEIR PARENTS, TEACHERS HAVE TO BE THERE BECAUSE SOME PARENTS JUST DON'T ARE NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE TEACHERS OFF FOUR DAYS A WEEK. AND WHERE ARE THE KIDS GOING TO BE? YOUNG KIDS? THAT'S I'M SORRY. I DON'T I DON'T GO WITH THAT. I JUST FEEL LIKE FOUR DAY WORK WEEK. DESOTO IS NOT A LARGE ENOUGH CITY FOR THAT. THANK YOU. MARY BONAPARTE. MISS BONAPARTE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. CITY OF RESIDENTS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. MARY BONAPARTE, DESOTO, TEXAS I AM OPPOSED TO CITY OFFICES BEING CLOSED ON FRIDAYS OR MONDAYS. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO YOUR TEN HOUR WORK SHIFT. AND OF COURSE, A WORK AROUND. ALSO, I KEEP HEARING ABOUT WHAT THE EMPLOYEES ARE ASKING FOR. HAVE WE TALKED TO THE CITIZENS AND THE TAXPAYERS TO SAY, IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT? I THINK THAT'S FAIR. ALSO, YEAH, THAT THAT INPUT OR OUR INPUT WOULD REALLY HELP. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CHISOLM, FOR AT LEAST GOING THE EXTRA MILE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND ALSO, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED WHAT HAPPENS? LET'S SAY SOMEONE'S WATER IS TURNED OFF. AND OR IF I WORK A 7 TO 5 SHIFT OR A 6 TO 5. SO IN OTHER WORDS, CITY HALL IS CLOSED FOR ME AS WELL AS A CITIZEN. THOSE THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BEFORE YOU APPROVE A FOUR DAY WORKWEEK. THANK YOU. AND ALSO, ONE MORE THING. NOW, WHEN CITY SERVICES ARE BROUGHT BACK TO A SATISFACTORY LEVEL, THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD CONSIDER IT. THANKS, YOLANDA. COSIMO. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. CITY OF RESIDENTS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. ORLANDO. COSIMO DESOTO. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I WELCOME THE FOUR DAY WORKWEEK. HOWEVER, I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED ON THE DAIS, BUT IN ADDITION TO THOSE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OVERTIME HOURS, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT OUR PEAK TIME BUSINESS? THE HOLIDAY TIME IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST TIMES FOR US. SO IF YOU GO TO A FOUR DAY WEEKEND, YOUR RECREATION STAFF OR PARKS AND REC HAS TIME OFF EITHER ON MONDAY OR FRIDAY. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS THAT TRANSITION INTO WHEN YOU TAKE THE SALARY OF THE EMPLOYEES NOW AND JUST DO A PROJECTION OF WHAT THAT OVERTIME WILL LOOK LIKE DURING THOSE TIMES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DOING A BETA TEST JANUARY TO APRIL, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT BECAUSE THAT'S THE SLOWEST TIME OF THE YEAR FOR US. I WOULD ACTUALLY ASK YOU ALL TO CONSIDER LOOKING AT THE PEAK TIME OF THE BUSINESS AND DOING THE BETA TEST DURING THAT TIME TO SEE IF THAT TIME, WHAT IMPACT WOULD IT HAVE? YOU WILL GET A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT YOUR BUDGET IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. DOES IT DECREASE OR DOES IT NOT? AND WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT FLEX SCHEDULES, YOU START TALKING ABOUT THE TEN HOUR WORK DAYS. WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT PARKS AND RECREATION. I TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S MOSTLY HOW OUR CITY IS RAN DOING ACTIVITIES. ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM A CONSISTENT SCHEDULE? MOST OF OUR EVENTS HAPPEN ON FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS. SO NOW ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THEM SHIFT OF THE BODIES THAT YOU NEED, THE STAFF THAT YOU NEED, ARE YOU GOING TO MOVE THEM FROM. YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE THEIR SCHEDULE FROM NOW. I'M OFF ON MONDAY, BUT NOW I HAVE TO WORK ON FRIDAY. SO NOW YOU'RE GIVING THEM AN INCONSISTENT SCHEDULE. NOW WE'RE ADDRESSING THE ISSUES OF FAMILY NEEDS. WE'RE ADDRESSING OF CARETAKING AND WE'RE DEALING WITH ISSUES THAT MAY IMPACT THEM WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR DAY TO DAY LIFE. AND WE ARE TRYING TO OFFER WORK LIFE BALANCE AND NOT INCONVENIENCE THEM. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR CARDS. COUNCIL. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A DISCUSSION, NOT AN ITEM WE'RE VOTING ON. WE'LL HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL AND THEN THAT WILL BE OUR FINAL COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARING. AND THEN ONE ADDITIONAL REGULAR AGENDA ITEM LEFT ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT. SURE THING. MY CONCERN WITH THE FOUR DAY WORK WEEK, WELL, IT SOUNDS GREAT. AND CONCEPTUALLY IT DOES, BUT I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH IT FROM A CITY'S PERSPECTIVE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE AS IT RELATES TO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHEN THE WATER, YOU KNOW, STARTED SPEWING OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE GROUND AND I SAW IT AND CONTACTED, YOU KNOW, [03:30:05] CITY, YOU KNOW, TO SAY, HEY, WE GOT WATER SPEWING OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE GROUND AND THE TEAM CAME AND DID THEIR THING OVER THE WEEKEND AND OVER THAT THOSE DAYS. AND THERE WAS A 150. IT WAS $150,000 REPAIR. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS WERE DONE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN TO US LIKE THAT AGAIN. BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THAT, I THINK ALSO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY LAST YEAR, STAFF CAME AND ASKED FOR THE WHAT IS IT, THE PAY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TO ON CALL PAY THAT WE RECENTLY MOVED FORWARD, YOU KNOW, AND RIGHTLY SO, YOU KNOW, BUT FOR ME IT'S I'M THINKING ABOUT THAT ON CALL PAY. YOU KNOW WHAT. WHAT ARE THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THAT. YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE TYPE PEOPLE, YOUR TRAFFIC FOLKS, YOUR WE DEAL WITH WATER. WE DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. AND SO WHAT I WOULD WANT TO UNDERSTAND FROM THESE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED THIS, WHAT DOES THEIR OVERTIME BUDGET LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOW VERSUS THEN. SO WE HAVE JOB SATISFACTION. BUT THEN WHAT WAS THE IMPACT TO THE BUDGET? AND THEN I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IN TERMS OF THE CITY OF DESOTO. SO WHILE THE INITIATIVE TALKED ABOUT OR RATHER STRATEGIC PRIORITY WAS ABOUT PAY, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE DID ADDRESS, I THINK MY BROADER QUESTION, JUST TO EXTEND THAT IS AS IT RELATES TO NOT JUST JOB SATISFACTION, BUT WHY DO PEOPLE LEAVE DESOTO? ARE THEY LEAVING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE FLEXIBILITY, OR ARE THEY LEAVING FOR PAY AND SO IF WE TAKE THOSE THINGS OFF, OR IS IT, YOU KNOW, HAS THERE BEEN A DEEP DIVE ANALYSIS INTERNALLY IN TERMS OF GOVERNANCE AND WHAT DOES MANAGEMENT LOOK LIKE? MANAGEMENT AND STAFF JOB SATISFACTION FROM THAT STANDPOINT? AND THE REASON WHY I RAISED THAT IS BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED WITH THE PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW, THE TEAM HAD BEEN HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE WITHOUT A RAISE, AND THE RAISES AT THAT TIME WAS A 2% RAISE. AND IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO ME JUST, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT TIMES, DIFFERENT PERIODS, HOW PEOPLE RESPOND AND REACT. AND I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS GENERATIONALLY SPEAKING, BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, EVEN IN THOSE GENERATIONS THAT HAVE COME TO WORK FOR THE CITY, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEY CHOSEN NOT TO WORK FOR THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FLEXIBILITY? YOU KNOW, HAS THERE BEEN ANY INTEREST OR EXIT EXIT EXIT INTERVIEWS AS IT RELATES TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT OUR CITY? JUST UNDERSTANDING THOSE THINGS THAT FROM AN ANALYSIS STANDPOINT. SO I UNDERSTAND THE WANTS AND DESIRES FROM THE CURRENT STAFF MEMBERS. BUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT, I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY LEFT. YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD HAVE MADE IT BETTER? I DON'T KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS WE ASK PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, IN THOSE EXIT INTERVIEWS, BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT I THINK WILL BE WILL BE BENEFICIAL BECAUSE I THINK WHAT THE SOLVE IS, IS LIKE, OKAY, SO HERE'S THE BENEFIT. YOU KNOW THIS WE CAN WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE LONGER, YOU KNOW, BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT NEXT GENERATION, THAT NEXT GENERATION, THEY ALSO DON'T STAY ANYWHERE VERY LONG EITHER. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE BENEFITS. IT'S THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE NATURE OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY ARE. AND SO I APPRECIATE WHAT THIS IS TRYING TO SOLVE. BUT FROM AN OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT, JUST UNDERSTANDING EXITS, UNDERSTANDING WHAT OVERTIME LOOK LIKE, WHAT ARE THOSE DEPARTMENTS, THOSE NECESSARY DEPARTMENTS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED WOULD DO THOSE OTHER CITIES SPEND MORE OR LESS OR NOTHING. YOU KNOW, IT'S BALANCED OUT ON, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS WENT OUT ON A FRIDAY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THE, YOU KNOW, WATER POPPED OUT OF THE GROUND ON A FRIDAY. THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. BECAUSE PART OF MY CONCERN IS, WOULD WE START TO STAFF UP SO WE CAN MAKE THESE ACCOMMODATIONS, EVEN IF WE SHIFT IT FROM, FROM A FRIDAY TO A TO A TO A MONDAY, EVEN IF WE DO THOSE SHIFTS, YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF COVERAGE. SO THEN DO THOSE OTHER CITIES HAVE MINIMUM STANDARD COVERAGES. YOU KNOW, IN THESE VARIOUS THINGS. YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE I UNDERSTAND I THAT'S CUSTOMER SERVICE. THAT'S A PHONE CALL. THAT'S A WEBSITE. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, THOSE HARD NOSED THINGS, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS THAT LOOK LIKE FOR THESE OTHER CITIES. AND THEN THE EQUITABLENESS, IN TERMS OF SOME PEOPLE GET THIS OPPORTUNITY DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAREER THEY CHOSE AND OTHER PEOPLE DON'T GET THAT OPPORTUNITY. BUT THEN MORE THAN ANYTHING, RESIDENTS HAVING SOME PREDICTABILITY, I THINK IS IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD WITH THE 9 TO 5 TO, YOU KNOW, GET SOME PLACES, YOU KNOW, AND EVERYBODY'S ON A 9 TO 5 SCHEDULE. EVERYBODY'S ON THESE SAME SCHEDULES. NOW I DEFINITELY GET YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS ARE HARD. BUT JUST UNDERSTANDING FROM A ANALYSIS POINT OF VIEW OF WHAT OTHER CITIES HAVE ENCOUNTERED, ENSURING THAT THOSE COSTS DIDN'T GO UP, THAT THEY HAVE TO HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND, TO CONSIDER THIS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME, MISS THOMAS WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, PLEASE. YES, MA'AM. NEXT WE MOVE TO OUR PUBLIC. I'M SORRY, A POINT OF INFORMATION. SO I KNOW, MAYOR, YOU SAID WE WEREN'T VOTING ON ANYTHING. BUT BASED ON THIS TIMELINE THAT MEANS AFTER WE LEAVE THIS MEETING, THAT IT'S GOING INTO EFFECT JANUARY 6TH OR. OR DID I HEAR THAT WRONG? [03:35:04] NO. THIS IS A POINT OF THIS IS A POINT OF INFORMATION. AND WE'RE SEEKING COUNCIL DIRECTION. IF THE DIRECTION IS WE, WE DO NOT DO THE TEN FOR THEN NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE TEN FOR SCHEDULE. OKAY. SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED THAT POINT OF INFORMATION, BECAUSE WE HADN'T ACTUALLY GAVE ANYTHING. WE HADN'T GIVEN A CONSENSUS. IS THAT NOT AM I, AM I UNCLEAR OKAY. SO COUNCIL SO CERTAINLY LET ME OFFER LET ME OFFER SOMETHING. GIVE US A CHANCE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. WE'VE HEARD ENOUGH I THINK, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME ALTERNATIVES. I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S GREAT INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED THIS EVENING, AND I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REFINE THIS, TO BRING IN A MORE, A, A MORE PLAUSIBLE SCHEDULE TO THE CITY COUNCIL. SO GIVE US GIVE US A CHANCE. AND NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN BETWEEN JANUARY AND APRIL. SO GIVE US A CHANCE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND WE MAY BRING AN ITEM TO YOU. BACK IN JANUARY. YEAH, THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY SUGGESTION IS GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT. AND THEN BECAUSE I'M NOT NECESSARILY FOR IT OR AGAINST IT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DIFFERENT VERSION OF IT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S READY TO BE VOTED ON IN MY OPINION. SO [1. Conduct a Public Hearing and consider Ordinance to amend the City's 2024 Comprehensive Plan to renumber Chapter 8 "Implementation" to Chapter 10 "Implementation" and to add 2 new Chapters to the City's 2024 Comprehensive Plan (Chapter 8 "Streetscape Guidelines" and Chapter 9 "Urban Design Guidelines) as authorized by both Chapter 213, Municipal Comprehensive Plans of the Texas Local Government Code and Section 3, The Master Plan of the City of DeSoto’s Home Rule Charter, Article X, Planning] COUNCIL THAT SAID, WE'LL GO TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA PLEASE. 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 AMBASSADORS TABLE PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. WE HAVE CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY'S 2024 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO RENUMBER CHAPTER EIGHT IMPLEMENTATION, TO CHAPTER TEN IMPLEMENTATION, AND TO ADD TWO NEW CHAPTERS TO THE CITY'S 2024 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. CHAPTER EIGHT STREETSCAPE GUIDELINES AND CHAPTER NINE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES. AS AUTHORIZED BY BOTH CHAPTER 213 MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLANS OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND SECTION THREE, THE MASTER PLAN OF THE CITY OF DE SOTO'S HOME RULE CHARTER. ARTICLE TEN PLANNING. MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS CHARLES BREWER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS PRESENTATION WAS ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE GIVEN BY OUR CONSULTANTS. BUT EARLIER THIS EVENING WE GOT AN EMAIL THAT I CONSULTED, HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE REAR END ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY AND COULDN'T MAKE IT. SO I'M GONNA WING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AS YOU'RE AWARE, YOUR 2020 2025 COMP PLAN INCLUDED A GOAL THAT IDENTIFIED THE NEED AT THAT TIME FOR THE CITY TO UPDATE ITS 2015 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WHEN THE CITY WENT OUT FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS BACK IN 2022, AROUND JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, STAFF AT THAT TIME HAD DECIDED THAT IT WAS GOING TO ONLY TAKE EIGHT OF THE EIGHT OF THE TEN CHAPTERS OUT OF THE 2015 COMP PLAN IN ORDER TO GET THAT UPDATED. ONCE THAT PROCESS GOT STARTED AND AECOM GOT HIRED, WE RECOGNIZED THAT WE COULD NOT JUST SIMPLY PULL CHAPTERS EIGHT AND NINE FROM THE 2015 PLAN. WE NEEDED TO HAVE A NEW TWO NEW CHAPTERS. WE CAME BACK TO YOU. YOU AUTHORIZED US TO MODIFY THE CONTRACT WITH AECOM IN ORDER TO DO THOSE TWO CHAPTERS. NOW, THOSE TWO CHAPTERS ARE A STREETSCAPE GUIDELINES. THE STREETSCAPE GUIDELINE IS ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR EIGHT OF THE CITY'S MAJOR NORTH SOUTH, EAST WEST THOROUGHFARES. THE WINTERGREEN, THE PLEASANT RUN, THE BELTLINE, THE PARKERVILLE, THE COCKER HILL, THE WESTMORELAND, THE HAMPTON ROAD AND THE POLK AND EWELL ROAD. THE DESOTO STREETSCAPE GUIDELINES SEEK TO DEVELOP A STREETSCAPE THAT REINFORCES THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THIS COMMUNITY AND MEETS THE NEED OF THE GROWING POPULATION. IT DOES THAT IN THIS SECTION BY ESTABLISHING THOSE GUIDELINES FOR SIDEWALKS, LIGHTING, PARKS, BENCHES, SIDEWALKS AND ETC. IN DOING THAT, THE CITY ALSO NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THIS SECTION COMPLIED WITH THE NEW REVISED TRANSPORTATION PLAN. THAT'S ANOTHER PROJECT THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS TO UPDATE ITS PAVING MANUAL. SO WE DID ALL OF THAT, AND NOW THIS GUIDELINE IS COMPLETED. THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINE IS INTENDED TO COMPLEMENT THE HAMPTON ROAD CHARACTER CODE PRINCIPLES BY PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF THE HAMPTON ROAD CHARACTER AREA. AS YOU WILL RECALL, THE CITY APPROVED FIVE NEW ZONING [03:40:06] DISTRICTS FOR THE HAMPTON ROAD CORRIDOR. SO IN THIS CHAPTER, IT TAKES TEN LOCATIONS WITHIN THE CITY TO APPLY THOSE FIVE DISTRICTS TO AS APPLICABLE. THERE'S A HEALTH CARE DISTRICT UP ON BOLTON, BOONE, NEAR 67. THERE'S A BOLTON DISTRICT NEAR BOLTON, BOONE AND DANIEL DALE. THERE'S A NORTH HAMPTON CORRIDOR THAT GOES FROM JUST SOUTH OF PLEASANT RUN OFF OF WINTERGREEN NORTH. THERE IS A INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT THAT RUNS NORTH AND SOUTH ALONG POLK STREET. AS ALSO AS WINTERGREEN ROAD. THERE IS A I-35 CORRIDOR ALONG THAT ENTIRE SOUTH BOUND FRONTAGE ROAD. THERE IS A POLK DISTRICT AND MCCOWAN DISTRICT, A SOUTH HAMPTON CORRIDOR, BELTLINE CORRIDOR, AND DUNCANVILLE CORRIDOR, SO A MAP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR GUIDANCE. WHEN DEVELOPMENT COMES THAT UTILIZES THE PRINCIPLES THAT THE CITY ADOPTED WITH ITS COMP PLAN. THE UPDATED COMP PLAN WITH THESE NEW CHAPTERS WERE PRESENTED TO THE CITY'S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION IN NOVEMBER. ON NOVEMBER THE 12TH, AT THAT TIME, THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE PRESENTED TWO NEW CHAPTERS. SO TONIGHT YOU'RE PRESENTED AN ORDINANCE THAT FIRST HAS TO RENUMBER WHAT YOU ADOPTED IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. AT THAT TIME, CHAPTER EIGHT WAS THE IMPLEMENTATION. SO THAT'S BEEN CHANGED TO CHAPTER TEN. AND THESE TWO NEW CHAPTERS EIGHT AND NINE ARE BEING INCLUDED WITHIN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE. WE HAVE GIVEN YOU A COMPLETE UPDATED COMP PLAN WITH ALL TEN CHAPTERS. AND WE FEEL THAT THIS DOCUMENT IS READY TO BE USED AS A GUIDE TO HELP DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THIS CITY. I'LL ADDRESS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, YOU OR CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU, MR. BREWER. AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN, MISS THOMAS, ARE THERE ANY COMMENT CARDS? THERE ARE NO COMMENT CARDS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK. SO AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM HUGH, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I. I. ALL ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I. I'M BACKWARDS ON THAT ONE. THAT'S WHY I WAS LIKE, I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING. ALL IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING COUNCIL, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE, AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY DOCTOR MARKS TO APPROVE. AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES TO SECOND COUNCIL. IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS ITEM? I HAVE A QUESTION. YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AS FAR AS THE NOW THIS IS A SIDE NOTE. THE PART WHERE IT SAYS IN THERE THAT WE HAD A DOCUMENT THAT NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. IS THAT DOCUMENT I SENT AN EMAIL TO ASK FOR THE ALIGNED DOCUMENT. I WANTED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE REASON WE TOOK IT OUT AND DIDN'T APPROVE IT BACK IN FEBRUARY WAS BECAUSE IT NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED TO ANOTHER DOCUMENT. IS THAT DOCUMENT AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WASN'T ONLINE? IT'S ACTUALLY COMING TO IT HASN'T BEEN ADOPTED BY COUNCIL YET. IT'S COMING TO YOU AT YOUR MEETING IN JANUARY. THAT'S WHAT I MENTIONED ABOUT THE REDESIGN OF THE DESIGN PAVING MANUAL. IT'S GOING TO BE THE TRANSPORTATION MANUAL. THAT IS A DOCUMENT THAT REALLY GETS MORE INTO THE DETAILS OF WHAT EVERY ROADWAY SHOULD BE. OKAY, SO THE REASON I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION IS, IS IN IN ADOPTING THIS AND THE FACT THAT THAT DOCUMENT IS NOT ADOPTED YET, ARE WE OUT OF ALIGNMENT AGAIN? NO, MA'AM. THAT OTHER DOCUMENT IS JUST STILL MORE OF A TECHNICAL DOCUMENT. THIS IS THE GUIDELINE. OKAY. THANK YOU. I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU. COUNSEL, ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL. SURE THING. I HAD A QUICK QUESTION RELATED TO TREE TREES. AND SO THIS DOCUMENT, THIS THIS DOCUMENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. AND SO AS IT RELATES TO TREES AND POWER LINES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO MOVING FORWARD, FUTURE DEVELOPMENT CURRENTLY ARE ALL OF OUR UTILITIES BURIED. AND WHERE TREES ARE LOCATED. OKAY OKAY. LET ME SAY IT THIS WAY. MOVING FORWARD, WHEN NEW DEVELOPMENTS COME IN, IS IT A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY BURY UTILITIES. AND SO IF WE HAVE TREES ALONG, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S ALONG THE SIDES RIGHT OF WAY OR IN THE [03:45:06] CENTERS RIGHT OF WAY, IT'S NOT THEY'RE NOT INTERFERING WITH POWER LINES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THAT THAT WAS MY QUESTION. AND I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND IF LET ME LET ME LET ME ANSWER THAT. WHEN YOU HAVE A CONVERSIO, UTILITY CONVERSION WHEN YOU CONVERT ONE MILE OF UTILITY, THAT'S ALMOST 2 TO $3 MILLION. SO IF WE WANT TO DISCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT AS MUCH AS I LOVE TO PARTNER WITH THE UTILITY COMPANIES TO BURY THOSE LINES, THAT'S A MAJOR COST THAT DEVELOPERS TRY TO SHY AWAY FROM. SO IF WE PUT ANOTHER CONSTRAINT, IF YOU WILL, ON THOSE DEVELOPMENTS, THEN THEN WE MAY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPUR MORE DEVELOPMENT. SO THAT'S THE UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THAT I'VE DEALT WITH IN SEVERAL CITIES. NOW. IN ONE CITY, I HAD A PROGRAM WHERE I PARTNERED WITH THE UTILITY COMPANY, BUT THAT MEANS THAT THE CITY OF DESOTO WOULD HAVE TO PUT MONEY OF ITS OWN TO BE ABLE TO BURY SOME OF THE LINES. CASE IN POINT, WHEN WE DID THE AQUATIC CENTER, WE HAD TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE OF THE UTILITY LINES IN THERE THAT THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE DONE FOR US. OKAY. THE ONLY REASON I BROUGHT IT UP, BECAUSE PROBABLY SIX YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A RESIDENT WHO BROUGHT FORTH THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TREES THAT HIT POWER LINES AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. AND SO HE HAD A RECOMMENDATION ON THE TYPE AND KIND OF TREES. AND I SEE THAT THERE'S LIKE A LISTING OF TYPE AND KIND. BUT AS IT RELATES, I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, WELL A BURIED LINE LOOK BETTER THAN HAVING A POWER LINE. BUT I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND AND I'M NOT MAKING THAT RECOMMENDATION. MY QUESTION REALLY ONLY IS WHAT WHAT IS PRESENTED IN HERE. YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE THE GENESIS SPECIES OF WHATEVER THE TREE IS? YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT GOING TO GROW MORE THAN SO MANY FEET OR THINGS LIKE THAT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, THAT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I'M ASKING IS IF THAT WAS A CONSIDERATION FOR WHAT'S PRESENTED IN THIS DOCUMENT. OKAY. TWO THINGS. THIS PARTICULAR CHAPTER THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU TONIGHT IS ONLY ADDRESSING THOSE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE ROADWAYS. SO THIS IS NOT ADDRESSING THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES. AND I WILL GO BACK AND HAVE STAFF TO LOOK. WE HAVE IT WRITTEN. IT'S EITHER IN THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS, BUT WE WILL ADDRESS WHETHER THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS REGULATIONS FOR REQUIRING UNDERGROUND UTILITIES. OKAY. AND ALL I WAS JUST WANTING TO WANTING TO UNDERSTAND IS, IS WAS THAT A THOUGHT FOR US JUST TO ENSURE WE DON'T ENCOUNTER SOME ISSUES LATER WITH TREES GROWING SO TALL, YOU KNOW, JUST THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT THAT WAS REALLY ALL I WAS NOT WITH THE COMP PLAN, BUT LET US LOOK AT OUR SUBDIVISION REGULATION ORDINANCE, SEE WHAT WE HAVE WRITTEN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNSEL, WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. AND THERE IS ORDINANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE READ. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, AMENDING THE 2024 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 23, 73 DASH 24, ON FEBRUARY 6TH OF 2024 BY RENUMBERING CHAPTER EIGHT IMPLEMENTATION TO CHAPTER TEN IMPLEMENTATION, AND BY ADDING A NEW CHAPTER EIGHT STREETSCAPE GUIDELINES AND A NEW CHAPTER NINE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES AS PROVIDED FOR IN EXHIBIT A AND EXHIBIT B, RESPECTFULLY PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU COUNSEL, AT THIS TIME, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOTING PADS. THERE YOU GO. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. IN THE. CLEAR. TO. YOU. YES OR NO COUNCIL. LET'S DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE, SO WE CAN MOVE TO OUR FINAL ITEM. MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL CHISOLM. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DIANA MARKS. YES. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER NICOLE RAPHAEL. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. PERRY [2. Discuss and consider a Resolution adopting the 2025 City Council Meeting dates calendar for regular meetings conducted by the DeSoto City Council ] PARKER. YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCIL MISS THOMA, EXCUSE ME. WILL TAKE THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE DISCUSSED AND CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATES CALENDAR FOR REGULAR MEETINGS CONDUCTED BY THE DESOTO CITY COUNCIL. PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW IS CITY MANAGER AL GODFREY. MAYOR, I KNOW WE HAD THE DISCUSSIONS ON WHETHER TO ADD ANOTHER COUNCIL MEETING OR EXTENDED COUNCIL MEETING IN ON JANUARY OF 21ST, AND THE DECISION OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS TO ADD ADD ONE MORE HOUR, I BELIEVE, TO THE MEETING. CORRECT ME JANUARY 7TH, JANUARY 7TH. I'M [03:50:02] SORRY, DID I SAY 21ST? I'M WAY AHEAD. ANYWAY, I WAS GOING TO I WAS GOING TO MENTION ONE MORE THING. FOR THE SAKE OF NOT ARGUING ABOUT IT, I WANTED TO SAY THAT IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY MOVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO A TUESDAY, ANYTIME WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WE CAN MOVE IT TO A TUESDAY AND START AT 5:00. THIS WAY, THIS WAY, WE GAIN, WE GAIN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY WITH US AND BE ABLE TO START AHEAD OF TIME. SO WE REALLY ARE NOT DELAYING THE REGULAR AGENDA. THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY SUGGESTION. CERTAINLY. SO COUNCIL, WHAT CITY MANAGER GODFREY IS REFERRING TO IS BECAUSE COUNCIL DID RESTRUCTURE OUR MEETING DAYS AND TIMES, AND ONE OF THE REQUESTS WAS TO PUT COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ON MONDAY NIGHT OR ON A NIGHT, AND AT A TIME WHERE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT TIRED AFTER HAVING GONE THROUGH THE ENTIRE MEETING AND THEN HAVING TO MAKE EXECUTIVE SESSION LEVEL DECISIONS AT THE END OF A LONG NIGHT. SO IT HAS WORKED WELL FOR US IN THE PAST TO PUT THOSE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ON THE FRONT END OF OUR MEETING. ALSO FOR STAFF OR FOR DEVELOPERS OR CONSULTANTS OR WHOEVER WE MAY BE SPEAKING WITH, THAT MAY BE A GUEST IN THOSE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. IT ALSO IS JUST MORE PROFESSIONAL, AND IT HAS WORKED BETTER IN THAT WAY. HOWEVER, WHAT I THINK I HEAR YOU, THE ALTERNATIVE THAT HE'S ASKING BECAUSE OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS GENERALLY NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US ON MONDAY NIGHTS DUE TO HIS OBLIGATIONS IN OTHER CITIES. YOU'RE ASKING TO MOVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION NIGHTS TO TUESDAY NIGHTS EARLY ON THE FRONT END, AND OBVIOUSLY COUNCIL. WE DON'T HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS EVERY MEETING. SO IT WOULD NOT BE EVERY MEETING. BUT ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY ASKING FOR THIS, FOR THIS PARTICULAR MEETING, OR ARE YOU ASKING FOR THAT TO BE A ONGOING CHANGE? IT'S AN ONGOING IT'S AN ONGOING CHANGE, MAYOR. AND YOU'RE ON ON THAT SCHEDULE. YOU COULD PUT AN ASTERISK AND SAY, ANYTIME YOU HAVE AN EXECUTIVE, AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MEETING STARTS AT 5:00. SO YOU KNOW YOU'LL KNOW ABOUT IT AHEAD OF TIME. NOT THAT WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. WE MAY HAVE 4 OR 5 EXECUTIVE SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR. SO THE IDEA IS ANYTIME WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, I THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD BECAUSE ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, YOU'VE ASKED ME A QUESTION AND I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY. I COULDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION. AND, YOU KNOW, IT PUTS ME AT A DISADVANTAGE AND NOT GIVING YOU THE FULL INFORMATION. SO THE IDEA IS WITH WITH AN ASTERISK, ANYTIME WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, IT WOULD BE ON A TUESDAY AND IT STARTS AT 5:00. CERTAINLY. NOW, MR. CITY ATTORNEY, THIS DOESN'T PUT US OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, DOES IT? THE QUESTION THAT HE'S ASKING AS FAR AS COUNCIL CHANGING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS TO TUESDAY NIGHT TO TUESDAYS. IT DOESN'T PUT YOU OUT. WELL, IT DOES IF YOU'RE IF YOU CAN GIVE HIM DIRECTION BECAUSE HE REALLY IS LOOKING AT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL MEETING DATES DATES. BUT THAT'S WHAT HE WANTED TO DEAL WITH. WOULD MOVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO THE NEXT DAY. AND THAT WAS PUT IN OUR RULES AND PROCEDURES. CORRECT. THAT'S WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY. IT'S WRITTEN IN OUR RULES AND PROCEDURES. SO THAT WOULD WE WOULD HAVE TO, SINCE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING OUR RULES AND PROCEDURES. COUNCIL, ARE YOU ALL OKAY? THAT'S THE QUESTION. COUNCIL ARE YOU ALL OKAY WITH THAT? WE WE'RE NOT DELIBERATING JUST GIVING DIRECTION IN TERMS OF MOVING THE SESSIONS TO TUESDAY NIGHT SINCE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING OUR COUNCIL RULES AND PROCEDURES, I'M GOING TO START TO MY RIGHT. I AM IN AGREEMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM. YES, DOCTOR MARKS. YES, I'M IN AGREEMENT. COUNCILMAN BYRD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAPHAEL. TUESDAY NIGHTS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER. YES. OKAY, SO THERE WE ARE WITH THAT NOW KIND OF BACK TO THE MATTER AT HAND, WHICH IS OUR COUNCIL MEETING. OUR DATES. COUNCIL. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISSUE OF TIME. SO I TAKE ISSUE WITH TIME. THE 5:00 5:00 DATE STILL WAS A CHALLENGING GETTING HERE. SO IT WAS THE DIFFERENCE OF US. WE HAD THE DISCUSSION OF STARTING OUR BUSINESS MEETINGS AT 5:00, AND SO IT WAS IT'S THAT PIECE. BUT THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS ARE WE SAYING WE'RE ONLY LIMITING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS TO ONE HOUR? AND WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE CASES WHEN THE EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS COULD POSSIBLY GO OVER THAT HOUR, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN THERE WAS THREE ITEMS DISCUSSED IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION? SO, YEAH, WE'RE NOT LIMITED TO ONE HOUR. I KNOW WE'RE NOT LIMITED TO ONE HOUR, BUT TODAY WE LIMITED OURSELVES TO JUST AN HOUR AND A COUPLE OF MINUTES, SO IT STILL FEELS A BIT RUSHED. I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING AS IT RELATES TO HAVING IT AHEAD OF TIME. IF WE'RE GOING [03:55:05] TO DO THIS, JUST ENSURING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT RUSHING THROUGH SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE RUSHED THROUGH, YOU KNOW, NOT BELABORING ANYTHING THAT DOES NEED TO BE LABORED. BUT YEAH, IT'S JUST A CHALLENGE. AND SO I'LL JUST STILL FAVOR SAY THAT. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE WE POSTED IT AS ONE, OUR NEXT TIME WILL BE MUCH MORE COGNIZANT OF, OF LEARNING WHAT THAT SPECIFIC MATTER IS. AND WE'LL SHARE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL BEFORE WE POST. THANK YOU. SO THE QUESTION IS APPROVING THE COUNCIL MEETING DATES FOR REGULAR MEETINGS AS CONDUCTED BY THE CITY. DESOTO CITY COUNCIL. IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? COUNCIL. MADAM. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT AS PRESENTED. OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED TO ACCEPT AS PRESENTED IN SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES COUNCIL. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE CALL FOR A VOTE? YES. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, FOR THE RESOLUTION. I DIDN'T SEE NOW, I WANTED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT DATES. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TIME IN THAT RESOLUTION. IT DOESN'T, BECAUSE THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING ON THE JANUARY 7TH MEETING, MOVING AN HOUR AHEAD OR BACK, WAS BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THE REGULAR MEETING STARTING, NOT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE JANUARY 7TH MEETING. RIGHT? YES. OR HE STATED THAT, YES, HE STARTED HE STARTED HIS CONVERSATION WITH THE RESOLUTION THAT WE CAME TO WAS STARTING ADDING AN HOUR TO THAT MEETING AND THEN HE ADDED ON WHICH MIGHT HAVE WHAT MAYBE WHAT CONVOLUTED THE CONVERSATION JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MOVING THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS TO TUESDAY VERSUS MONDAY, BECAUSE IT PROHIBITS OUR CITY ATTORNEY FROM BEING WITH US WHEN WE HAVE THEM ON MONDAYS. OKAY. SO THE QUESTION I HAVE IS FOR THE RESOLUTION. IT DID NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT TIME. THE RESOLUTION WE WERE APPROVING RIGHT NOW, IT DIDN'T SAY IT DIDN'T NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT TIME. JUST DATES. JUST DATES. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. YEAH. JUST DATES. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PADS. WELL, LET'S JUST. YEAH, LET'S JUST TAKE A COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER. YES? COUNCIL MEMBER NICOLE RAPHAEL. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD. SEE MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. WE I KNEW IT. COUNCIL MEMBER. DONNA MARKS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. CRYSTAL CHISHOLM. YES. THANK YO. MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES BRINGING UP THE REAR. YES. THANK YOU. THAT MOTION PASSES SIX ONE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA. IT IS 10:13 P.M. COUNCIL. SO AT THIS TIME I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. SECOND. MERRY CHRISTMAS, COUNCIL MEMBER. HOLD ON. LET ME GET THE. WAIT A MINUTE. NOW. IT'S NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL I SAY WHAT I GOT TO SAY. THAT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM. AND THEN WHO? SECOND THAT MOTION. MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNING, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY IS 1013. WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.