[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:07]
GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.
KAREN. KAREN. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I'M MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR, AND I WANT TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE DE SOTO CITY COUNCIL. IT IS MONDAY, MAY 19TH, AND IT IS NOW 6 P.M. I'M GOING TO ASK IF OUR CITY SECRETARY, MISS ALICIA THOMAS, WILL CONDUCT A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. YES, MA'AM. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER NICOLE RAPHAEL HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD. 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, PLEASE. YES, MA'AM. FIRST WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY PASTOR RON BIVINS WITH THE MOUNT ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. THANK YOU.
AS BROUGHT US ALONG THE WAY. ETERNAL GOD, WE COME HERE ON THIS GRAND DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE, AND WE SHO'NUFF GOING TO REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. YOU'RE SUCH AN AWESOME, POWERFUL GOD. YOU KNOW EVERYTHING BEFORE WE EVEN THINK SO. LORD, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. THANK YOU FOR THIS OCCASION. THANK YOU FOR THIS PRIVILEGE OF MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR HAVING A CHANCE TO GO OUT AND WALK THE COMMUNITY AND TALK WITH THE PEOPLE AND LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT SHE WAS HERE TO DO THE JOB, MY GOD. NOW, LORD, I PRAY FOR HER STRENGTH. I PRAY FOR HER WISDOM. LORD, I PRAY FOR HER UNDERSTANDING THAT AS SHE LEADS THIS CITY TO HIGHER HEIGHTS, MY GOD, I PRAY NOT ONLY FOR HER LORD, BUT YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. I PRAY THAT WE BE FOLLOWERS. HELP LIFT HER UP AND LET THIS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, BE DONE IN THIS GREAT CITY OF DESOTO. SO AGAIN, LORD, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HAVE YOUR WAY. OH, GOD. SHE'S IN YOUR HAND AND WE ARE IN YOUR HANDS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.
THANK YOU, PASTOR BIVINS, FOR THAT. THAT POWERFUL PRAYER FOR US TONIGHT. AT THIS TIME, YOU
[a. Consider an Ordinance ordering and providing notice of a Special Run-Off Election for the City of DeSoto, Texas, to be held on June 7, 2025, for the purpose of electing a City Councilmember for Place 3 and a City Councilmember for Place 5; providing for Early Voting by personal appearance; providing for the establishment of a polling place; providing contracts for Election Services; and resolving other matters incident and related to such election; providing for conflicting provisions; providing a severability clause; and, an effective date]
ALL MAY BE SEATED AND WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, PLEASE. YES, MA'AM. FIRST, WE HAVE CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ORDERING AND PROVIDING NOTICE OF A SPECIAL RUNOFF ELECTION FOR THE CITY OF CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, TO BE HELD ON JUNE 7TH, 2025 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR PLACE THREE AND A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR PLACE FIVE, PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE, PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLLING PLACE, PROVIDING CONTRACTS FOR ELECTION SERVICES AND RESOLVING OTHER MATTERS. INCIDENT AND RELATED TO SUCH ELECTION. PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTING PROVISIONS, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THE CITY OF DESOTO CHARTER. ARTICLE TWO. CITY COUNCIL SECTION ONE STATES THE GOVERNING, GOVERNING AND LAW MAKING BODY OF THE CITY OF DESOTO SHALL CONSIST OF A MAYOR AND SIX COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND SAID BODY SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO. THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO SHALL BE THE ONLY ELECTED OFFICERS TO THE CITY OF THE CITY. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL RUN FOR OFFICE BY PLACE, ELECTED AT LARGE BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE ENTIRE CITY, AND SHALL ACCEPT THE MAYOR. RESIDE IN CORRESPONDINGLY NUMBERED GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRICTS OF THE CITY, ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE BASED ON EQUALITY OF POPULATION. GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS WERE HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 3RD, 2025 FOR THE POSITIONS OF COUNCILMEMBER, COUNCILMEMBER PLACE THREE AND COUNCILMEMBER PLACE FIVE. BASED ON THOSE ELECTION RESULTS, A SPECIAL RUNOFF ELECTION FOR COUNCILMEMBER PLACE THREE AND COUNCILMEMBER PLACE FIVE HAS BEEN TRIGGERED. THE TOP CANDIDATES FOR PLACE THREE ARE MR. EVERETT JACKSON WITH 1908 VOTES, 34.12%, AND MR. KEN WATERS WITH 1656 VOTES, 29.61% AND FOR PLACE FIVE, WE HAVE DEBORAH NORTH WITH 1867 VOTES, 33.21% AND MR. WILLIE ADAMS JUNIOR WITH 1436 VOTES, 25.55%, ACCORDING TO OUR CITY CHARTER,[00:05:05]
ARTICLE THREE, SECTION SIX STATES IN THE EVENT NO CANDIDATE RECEIVES A MAJORITY OF ALL VOTES CAST FOR ALL OF THE CANDIDATES FOR AN OFFICE AT SUCH ELECTION, THE COUNCIL SHALL, ON THE FIRST DAY FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE OFFICIAL COUNTING OF THE BALLOTS CAST AT SAID FIRST ELECTION ISSUE. A CALL FOR SECOND ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY AS PROVIDED BY STATE LAW, AS WHICH SAID SECOND ELECTION. THE TWO CANDIDATES RECEIVING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES FOR ANY SUCH OFFICE IN THE FIRST ELECTION SHALL BE AGAIN VOTED FOR IN THE EVENT OF A TIE BETWEEN TWO CANDIDATES FOR ANY OFFICE THAT SAID SECOND ELECTION, THEY SHALL CAST LOTS TO DETERMINE WHO SHALL BE ELECTED TO SUCH OFFICE. THE RESULTS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION WERE CANVASED AT A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON MAY 12TH, 2025. SINCE NONE OF THE CANDIDATES FOR PLACE THREE AND FOR PLACE FIVE RECEIVED A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES, A RUNOFF ELECTION FOR THE TOP CANDIDATES IN EACH PLACE IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 7TH, 2025. THE ATTACHED ORDINANCE PROVIDES A SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD FOR THE RUNOFF ELECTION AS PROVIDED BY DALLAS COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT. IT IS BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY OF DESOTO TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATION IN A RUNOFF ELECTION WITH DALLAS COUNTY FOR CONVENIENCE AND COST SAVINGS, SO STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE ORDINANCE ORDERING AND PROVIDING NOTICE OF A RUNOFF ELECTION FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, TO BE HELD ON JUNE 7TH, 2025, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR PLACE THREE AND A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR PLACE FIVE, PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING BY BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE. PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLLING PLACE, PROVIDING CONTRACTS FOR ELECTION SERVICES AND RESOLVING OTHER MATTERS.INCIDENT TO AND RELATED TO SUCH ELECTION. THAT IS ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. MISS THOMAS, DO WE NEED TO DO THIS BY MOTION OR BY MOTION? IN ROLL CALL? THANK YOU. COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION? MAYOR? I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM. I'LL GIVE THAT SECOND TO DOCTOR MARKS. COUNCIL. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ITEM BEFORE WE CALL FOR A VOTE? YES. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR, I HAD A QUICK QUESTION AS IT RELATES TO THE POLLING LOCATIONS. AND SO COULD YOU PROVIDE CLARITY AS IT RELATES TO THE EXCLUSION? AND YOU KNOW, WHERE WE CAN VOTE AND WHERE WE CANNOT VOTE? I WASN'T CLEAR BECAUSE I ONLY SAW TWO LISTED. YES. SO FOR THERE'S ONLY ONE INCLUSION BY CONTRACT, WE ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE SAME VOTE CENTERS THAT WE USE FOR THE MAY ELECTION. AND SO DESOTO HOUSE OF PEACE ACTUALLY DECLINED. THEY HAD A CONFLICT SCHEDULE, SO THEY WERE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE AT THIS TIME. OKAY, I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE? OKAY. HEARING NONE, MISS THOMAS, WE'RE DOING AN INDIVIDUAL ROLL CALL. YES, MA'AM. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.
NICOLE. RAPHAEL. YES. MAYOR. RACHEL. PROCTOR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. DIANA. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CRYSTAL CHISHOLM. YES. COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. MISS THOMAS WILL HAVE
[a. Presentation and updates on the progress of the Nance Farm project]
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. YES, MA'AM. NEXT WE MOVE INTO OUR PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE PRESENTATION AND UPDATES ON THE PROGRESS OF THE NANCE FARM PROJECT, MAKING THAT PRESENTATION OR INTRODUCTION IS ROLANDA. BRIGHAM ARTS CULTURAL AND HERITAGE MANAGER. GOOD EVENING, MISS BRIGHAM. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND HONORABLE COUNCIL, I BRING TO YOU MR. TYLER SWANSON FROM ROGERS PARTNERS ARCHITECTS, AND WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE YOU ON THE NANCE FARM PROJECT. MADAM MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THIS UPDATE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY OF DESOTO NOW FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND THE WORK THAT'S AHEAD. SO WE BEGAN WITH A MASTER PLAN UPDATE. SO THERE HAD BEEN A PREVIOUS MASTER PLAN FOR THE PROPERTY. WE DID A MASTER PLAN EFFORT WORKING WITH CITY STAFF. IT INVOLVED REVIEWING EXISTING DOCUMENTS, GOING OUT ON SITE, CATALOGING CONDITIONS OF THE SITE, BUT CRITICALLY MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO THERE WAS A COMMUNITY MEETING TO UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE WANTED TO USE THIS, THIS, THIS CITY PROPERTY AND THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THAT PROPERTY. FOLLOWING THE ENGAGEMENT, WE ISSUED AN UPDATED MASTER PLAN AND THERE WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY TO GET FURTHER FEEDBACK. PART OF THE MASTER PLAN WAS A OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE STUDY. SO LOOKING AT POTENTIAL REVENUE FROM THE SITE, BUT ALSO WHAT IT WOULD COST TO MAINTAIN THE SITE, WHICH INVOLVED A SERIES OF POTENTIAL EVENTS THAT COULD HAPPEN ON THE SITE. THERE WAS SOME INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY ON THIS AND SOME PUSHBACK ON ON SOME OF THE SOME OF THOSE POTENTIAL EVENTS. SO THE MASTER PLAN WAS THEN FURTHER UPDATED TO FOLD IN THAT[00:10:02]
COMMUNITY INPUT TO RIGHTSIZE THE KIND OF EVENTS THAT WOULD HAPPEN HERE LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE ON THE SITE, THINK ABOUT PARKING, MAKING SURE THAT PARKING WASN'T IMPACTED WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO THEN THE MASTER PLAN WAS UPDATED. AND IN THE MASTER PLAN, THERE WAS AN AMPHITHEATER. IT WAS REVISED TO BE A TERRACED PICNIC AREA. SO NO, THERE WON'T BE ANY AMPLIFIED SOUND OUT THERE. IT'S MORE OF A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER UNDER SOME TREES IN THE SHADE SO SCHOOL SCHOOL GROUPS COULD COME THERE A QUIET PLACE, AND THEN FINALLY THERE WILL BE A MASONRY WALL SURROUNDING THE SITE TO FURTHER CONTAIN ANY NOISE OR ACTIVITY THAT MIGHT HAPPEN ON THE SITE. THE PROJECT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION, WHICH INVOLVED A SERIES OF FEATURES THAT WERE. NOTED AS AS CONTRIBUTING TO THE HISTORIC STATUS OR LANDMARK STATUS OF THE SITE. THESE WILL BE RETAINED, SO THE MAIN HOUSE WILL BE RESTORED. THE VIEW FROM THE STREET WILL REMAIN LARGELY THE SAME AS IT IS TODAY, AND THERE ARE OTHER ELEMENTS LISTED HERE THAT WILL BE PRESERVED AND RESTORED ON SITE. SO WE'RE CURRENTLY TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE NOW. WE'VE FINISHED DESIGN AND DOCUMENTATION. THE PROJECT IS FULLY DESIGNED. THE DETAILS ARE THERE. WE'RE WE'RE WORKING WITH CITY STAFF TO GO THROUGH PERMITTING AND APPROVAL RIGHT NOW. ONCE THAT'S COMPLETE, VERY SOON THE PROJECT WILL BE READY TO GO OUT TO BID. AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT WILL BE CONSTRUCTION. THIS IS A COST ESTIMATE THAT WE PREPARED WITH A CONSULTANT. OBVIOUSLY, THE PROJECT WILL GO OUT TO BID AND THAT THAT WILL BE THE TRUE COST.BUT THIS IS A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE ON WHAT THE PROJECT COSTS ARE FORECAST TO BE. SO THE PROJECT HAS BEEN DEFINED IN BASICALLY TWO PHASES. THE FIRST PHASE IS FOCUSED ON PREPARING THE SITE DEMOLITION, PUTTING UP THAT MASONRY WALL TO KIND OF LIMIT THE IMPACT TO THE NEIGHBORS, BUILD THE NEW ARTS BUILDING, WHICH AS A REMINDER, IS A SPACE FOR CLASSES FOR COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY MENTORS, FOR CHILDREN, FOR SENIORS. IT'S ALSO A PLACE FOR ARTISTS STUDIOS FOR, FOR, FOR PEOPLE WITHIN THE ARTS COMMUNITY TO CREATE ART, EXHIBIT ART, AND HAVE PERFORMANCES OF ART. AND THEN THE MAIN HOUSE WILL BE RESTORED AS PART OF THIS FIRST PHASE AS WELL. THE SECOND PHASE IS THE LANDSCAPE THAT SURROUNDS IT, AND THAT'S KIND OF THE CURRENT PLAN FOR PHASING THE PROJECT. AND THAT'S THAT'S THE PRESENTATION FOR TONIGHT. IT'S A QUICK UPDATE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR UPDATE. ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU. COUNCIL. ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR MR. SWANSON OR THE TEAM. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAFAEL THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MY QUESTION IS AROUND ENGAGEMENT. ONCE CONSTRUCTION MOVES FORWARD AND SO WILL THERE BE AN ENGAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY SURROUNDING. ONCE THE CONSTRUCTION STARTS, MACHINES START COMING IN. AND NOW JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER RAFAEL. WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AS WE SPEAK. YES, THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. THAT WAS A PART OF THE OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES WHEN THE COMMUNITY CAME IN AND SAID, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED. AND THE CITY SAID, OKAY, OKAY, THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS JUST RELATED TO COST. AND SO THE COST PROJECTIONS THAT WE HAVE, THESE ARE TODAY'S NUMBERS OR THESE NUMBERS ALSO PROJECTING POSSIBLE INCREASES. SO THE NUMBERS PRESENTED TONIGHT INCLUDE CONTINGENCIES. SO THERE ARE CONTINGENCIES FOR THINGS THAT WE DESIGN AS MUCH AS WE CAN. BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT COULD COME UP. SO THERE'S CONTINGENCY BUILT IN. THERE'S ALSO ESCALATION BUILT IN UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD THIS TOMORROW. SO I THINK THE CURRENT ESTIMATES ARE HAVE ABOUT SIX MONTHS OUT TO GIVE YOU TIME TO PROCURE TO PROCURE THAT BID. SO THEY'RE FORECAST OUT SIX MONTHS OKAY. THANK YOU. MR. SWANSON, DO YOU KNOW OFFHAND WHAT PERCENT OF THESE NUMBERS IS CONTINGENCY, THOUGH? I THINK WE HAD A CONTINGENCY. WAS IT 7%? 7% CONTINGENCY AND THEN 2.5% FOR ESCALATION? THANK YOU, DOCTOR MARK. THANK YOU. I WANT TO GO BACK TO OPERATIONAL. AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE YOU, MISS BRIGHAM.
[00:15:01]
I KNOW THAT WE'VE PROBABLY TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. HOWEVER, FOR THE SAKE OF THE COMMUNITY, WHAT IS WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES TO EVEN BE ABLE TO, AS A RESIDENT, TO EVEN BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMETHING OR AN EVENT AT THAT PARTICULAR SITE. IF YOU COULD JUST BRING US UP TO DATE ON THAT, IS IT STILL THE SAME? AND IF SO, IF YOU COULD JUST BRIEFLY GO OVER THAT FOR US, PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DOCTOR MARKS, FOR THAT QUESTION. THE OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES HAVE NOT CHANGED. THE COMMUNITY DECIDED WHAT DAYS THE SITE WOULD BE OPEN, WHAT TIME THE SITE WOULD BE RUN. THEY INSISTED ON HAVING A CALENDAR OF WHAT EVENTS WERE COMING IN TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE'RE HAVING FOUR MAJOR EVENTS, BUT ALL OF THE OTHER EVENTS. THERE WILL NEVER BE MORE THAN 75 PEOPLE ON SITE AT ONE TIME. THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY INSISTED ON. AND THE CITY SAID, OKAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE 42 PARKING SPOTS ON SITE, PLUS TEN IN FRONT, AND THAT WAY WE WOULD NOT IMPACT THE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR PEOPLE PARKING, YOU KNOW, IN FRONT OF PEOPLE'S HOMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO NONE OF THAT HAS CHANGED WHAT THE COMMUNITY PUT FORTH AS THE OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES ARE. WE'RE STAYING TOUGH AND HANGING TOUGH WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAID THEY WANTED. AND WHAT TIMES WERE THESE? WHAT ARE THE OPERATIONAL HOURS? OH, THE OPERATIONAL HOURS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, THEY SAID 9 TO 8. SATURDAY. I THINK IT'S AND IF I'M WRONG, I WILL GET YOU THE CORRECTED ONE ON SATURDAYS. NINE TO EIGHT AND ON SUNDAYS 1 TO 5. YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CHISHOLM I BELIEVE. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. YOU KNOW, I SLEPT SINCE THE LAST TIME WE'VE HAD THIS PRESENTATION. AND SO I WAS JUST THINKING, I DON'T RECALL WHAT THE FUNDING SOURCE WAS FOR THIS PROJECT. COULD YOU REMIND US HOW THIS PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO WILL BE FUNDED? IS IT THROUGH OUR CITY FUNDS GRANTS? HOW IS I? THROUGH THE COMMISSION? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION. I'M GOING TO DEFER TO OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MR. CAMERON, ON THAT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, FOR THE QUESTION. SO FOR YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY WE HAVE IF YOU REFER BACK TO THE SHEET IN THE PRESENTATION FOR PHASE ONE, A $3.7 MILLION, WE ALREADY HAVE THAT THAT FUNDING IN THE COFFERS THROUGH THROUGH HOT FUNDS THAT WE DEDICATED. AND THEN WITH THE CURRENT DEBT ISSUANCE THAT WE JUST APPROVED A FEW COUNCIL MEETINGS, WE ALLOTTED A SMALL AMOUNT TO GO TOWARD NANCE FARM TO GET TO $4 MILLION. SO WE'LL HAVE THAT AVAILABLE FOR PHASE ONE. AND THEN WHAT WE WHAT WE ANTICIPATE DOING IS WHEN WE BID OUT PHASE ONE, WE'LL INCLUDE THE ALTERNATES THAT YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. WE INCLUDE THOSE AS ALTERNATES. AND SO DEPENDING ON HOW THOSE BIDS COME IN FOR PHASE ONE, IF WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO DO THE ALTERNATES, WE'LL INCLUDE THOSE AS WELL. BUT IF WE DON'T, THEN WHAT? WE'LL INCLUDE THEM IN IN PHASE TWO WHEN WE WHEN WE GO OUT, WE FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO FINANCE PHASE TWO.OKAY. SO WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS THAT PHASE ONE IS SECURED. PHASE TWO, WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR YET. OKAY. AND THEN DO WE? I KNOW THAT WE WENT THROUGH THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL. THANK THANKFUL FOR THAT. DO WE INTEND TO REACH BACK OUT TO THEM FOR ANY ASSISTANCE WITH JUST THE PRESERVATION OF THIS PROPERTY, CONSIDERING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT, OR ANY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THEY MAY HAVE AVAILABLE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. WE ARE CURRENTLY THE CITY MYSELF. WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION. I HAVE MEETINGS WITH THEM NEXT WEEK, AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH ME ON FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHASE TWO. AND CULTURAL DISTRICTS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT, AND GRANTS. AND I'M WORKING VERY HARD WITH THEM, AND THEY'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY, BECAUSE THE CITY OF DESOTO, WE GOT AUTHORIZATION FOR PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO, THE FIRST GO AROUND, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND REDO BECAUSE I'M OBEDIENT. WOW. I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS BINGHAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM, GIVE ME ONE MOMENT. LET ME JUST DO A MATTER OF MAYOR WADDLE, YOU CAN COME. PLEASE HAVE A SEAT ON THE FRONT ROW. PLEASE. SIR, THIS IS ONE OF OUR FORMER MAYORS HERE. WE WANT YOU TO COME, PASTOR PHILLIPS.
YOU AS WELL. IF YOU COULD COME. COME HERE. THERE'S SOME SEATS ON THE FRONT FOR YOU ALL. PASTOR PHILLIPS, PASTOR PHILLIPS, COME ON UP TO THE FRONT, PLEASE. THERE'S SOME SEATS HERE FOR YOU.
MAYOR, WE WANT YOU TO HAVE A SEAT HERE WITH US AT THE FRONT AS WELL. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO
[00:20:04]
TEM. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE UPDATES AND THE PRESENTATION. COULD YOU PLEASE SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE IMPENDING TOWN HALL THAT WE HAVE REGARDING THIS FORMS? YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR PRO TEM, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LADIES, MAY I TURN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE TALK INTO THE MIKE. MISS ROLANDO, FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAY 22ND. THIS THURSDAY NIGHT, WE WILL BE HAVING A COMMUNITY MEETING FROM 6 TO 8 P.M. TO GO OVER NANCE FARM, 360 DEGREES. I WILL BE THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. I WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION FOR YOU TO LOOK AT. ALL THE DESIGNS THAT WE'VE. ROGERS PARTNERS HAS COME UP WITH AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED.WE WANT YOU TO BE THERE BECAUSE YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT TO US. YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY AND WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE. WE WILL CONCLUDE THIS PRESENTATION. THERE'S NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. THIS IS STRICTLY FOR COUNCIL'S INFORMATION AND FOR UPDATE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
MR. SWANSON, I SEE YOU BROUGHT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY OUT FOR THIS PRESENTATION. SO THANK YOU FOR
[b. Presentation of Financial Report April 2025 ]
THAT. AT THIS TIME, MISS THOMAS WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. YES, MA'AM. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE PRESENTATION OF THE FINANCIAL REPORT. THAT ITEM HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL MOVE TO[a. Presentation of Certificate of Election to re-elect Mayor, Place 1 per the Texas Election Code ]
THE JUNE 17TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO OUR ELECTION PROTOCOL. FIRST WE HAVE PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION TO REELECT MAYOR PLACE ONE PER THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE. MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES.THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, DE SOTO. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT ARE ONLINE. AND AGAIN, I AM HERE TO PRESENT THE CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION TO REELECT MAYOR PLACE ONE. PER THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE. IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN MAYOR. THANK YOU. THE CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DE SOTO. THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT AT THE GENERAL ELECTION HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 3RD, 2025, RACHEL L PROCTOR, HAVING RECEIVED 54.47% OF THE VOTES, FOR A TOTAL. FOR A TOTAL OF 3164 VOTES, THAT BEING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES CAST AS SAID ELECTION FOR ANY CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE HEREIN NAMED WAS DULY ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF DE SOTO FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR. PLACE ONE. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I. LETICIA HUGHES, MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, STATE OF TEXAS, HAVE HERE ON TO SUBSCRIBE MY NAME AND CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, TO BE AFFIXED TO THIS CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION ON THE 19TH DAY OF MAY, 2025. LETICIA HUGHES, MAYOR PRO TEM ATTEST ALICIA THOMAS, CITY SECRETARY, AND I WILL NOW SIGN IT. YAY! RIGHT. WE CLAP ABOUT IT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE SOME WORDS? OF COURSE NOT QUITE YET.
I TAKE MY OATH FIRST. GIVE ME A MINUTE. Y'ALL BE MAKING ME NERVOUS. Y'ALL GOT TO TAKE MY
[b. Conduct Oath of Office for re-elected Mayor, Place 1 per the Texas Constitution ]
OATH FIRST. NEXT, WE'LL HAVE OATH OF OFFICE FOR REELECTED MAYOR. PLACE ONE PER THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION. MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS DALLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT THREE, THE HONORABLE JOHN WILEY PRICE. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY. MADAM MAYOR. MISTER MANAGER, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, CITIZENS OF DESOTO, TO ALL THE REST OF YOU WHO HAVE ASSEMBLED, WHO ARE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, DECLARES THE LORD, PLANS TO[00:25:03]
PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE. AND WHILE JEREMIAH PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE DESOTO IN MIND. HIS SON A VESSEL. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT. AS YOU CELEBRATE, I WANT TO THANK DEMOCRACY WHO BOX MISS AND SOME OTHERS WHO HIT THE GROUND. THE CITIZENS OF DESOTO HAVE SPOKEN, AND SO I JOIN WITH THEM TONIGHT.MADAM MAYOR. MA'AM, AS YOU GRABBED THE BIBLE AND ALLOW HER TO PLACE HER LEFT HAND ON IT, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. I'M GOING TO SWITCH PLACES WITH YOU. OKAY? THERE WE GO. THIS WAY. IT'S NOTHING LIKE DIRECTING. REPEAT AFTER ME. I YOUR NAME. I, RACHEL L PROCTOR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF MAYOR OF DESOTO PLACE ONE. MAYOR OF DESOTO PLACE ONE AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THIS STATE AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS.
MADAM SECRETARY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. TO COMMISSIONER, I THINK WE NEED YOU ONE MORE TIME.
Y'ALL MAKING ME NERVOUS. NOW, Y'ALL KNOW I PRETTY MUCH TALK FOR A LIVING, BUT MOMENTS LIKE THIS WORDS ESCAPE ME. SO I HAVE WRITTEN MY WORDS DOWN FOR THIS EVENING. I AM JUST OVERWHELMED.
OH MY GOSH, I AM JUST OVERWHELMED. AND AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING LIKE A CLICHE, TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU. TRULY HUMBLE, TRULY GRATEFUL, AND TRULY FEELING LIKE SOMEBODY WHO IS DEEPLY LOVED. AND I COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY. I COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER TRIBE. I COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER SUPPORT SYSTEM. I COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER FAMILY.
THANK YOU. I'M TRULY HUMBLED. IN THIS MOMENT IS KIND OF BITTERSWEET, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT. BECAUSE I JUST TOOK MY FINAL OATH OF OFFICE AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DESOTO.
AND SO THIS IS MY LAST TERM THAT I'M GOING INTO. SO I'M GOING TO TAKE MY TIME AND I'M GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS, HOPEFULLY WITHOUT CRYING, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS MY SIXTH SWEARING IN, THIS ONE FEELS VERY DIFFERENT. THIS IS MORE OF LIKE A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR ME BECAUSE MY FIRST OATH OF OFFICE, I TOOK IN THESE VERY COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON TUESDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2013 AND A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN SINCE THAT DAY OVER A DECADE AGO, WHEN I FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE COMMISSIONER PRICE, MY DAD WAS VERY HESITANT, TO SAY THE LEAST. I'M GOING TO PUT IT NICELY THAT WAY, AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS BECAUSE HE DID NOT BELIEVE IN ME, BECAUSE
[00:30:03]
MY DAD ALWAYS LET ME KNOW HE BELIEVED IN ME. BUT I THINK POLITICS WAS VERY UNFAMILIAR IN PASTOR. HE WAS A BUSINESSMAN. WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT POLITICS AS MUCH AS I KNEW JESUS WAS OUR PRESIDENT. THAT'S WHERE THE CONVERSATION WENT IN OUR HOUSE. YOU KNOW, WE WERE PEOPLE, PEOPLE. WE WERE MINISTRY. WE DID THOSE THINGS. AND MAYBE HE SENSED THAT THIS PARTICULAR PATH, WITH THE KIND OF SCRUTINY AND PRESSURE THAT OFTENTIMES COME WITH IT AND THE COMPLEXITIES, IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE WORLD THAT I GREW UP IN. AND MAYBE DEEP DOWN, HE WAS TRYING TO PROTECT ME FROM A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD COME WITH IT. BUT WHEN I STOOD HERE AND TOOK MY OATH OF OFFICE AND THESE VERY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, MY DAD WAS SITTING RIGHT THERE A FEW FEET AWAY FROM THIS PODIUM WHERE I'M STANDING RIGHT NOW, PROUD, SUPPORTIVE, AND WITH A BIG SMILE THAT EARNED HIM. AND IF YOU KNEW MY DAD WITH THAT BIG SMILE THAT EARNED HIM THE TITLE AND THE NICKNAME OF THE HAPPIEST PASTOR IN THE WORLD. AND IN 2015, HE BECAME A PART OF THAT GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES THAT THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT. AND ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT GET TO SEE MANY OF THE MILESTONES THAT I ACCOMPLISHED ON THIS JOURNEY, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT I HAD THE COURAGE TO PURSUE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM BECAUSE OF HIM. HE GAVE ME MY ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, HE GAVE ME MY WORK ETHIC, AND HE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED US TO HAVE OUR HEARTS BENT TOWARDS HELPING OTHER PEOPLE. AND THERE ARE SO MANY DAYS THAT I STILL WISH HEAVEN HAD VISITING HOURS SO I COULD CALL HIM FOR ADVICE. OR WE COULD GO AND SIT AT HIS FAVORITE SPOT, WHICH WAS LUBY'S. IF YOU KNEW HIM, YOU KNOW THE CIRCLE AT LUBY'S AND TALK THROUGH WHATEVER DECISIONS I HAD IN FRONT OF ME. AND I'LL EVEN ADMIT THAT WHEN I STEPPED ON THIS COUNCIL, I CAME ON WITH ROSE COLORED GLASSES ON, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE GREAT BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE. I DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE WEIGHT OF WHAT IT MEANT TO SIT IN THESE SEATS. WHO ARE WE KIDDING, RIGHT? AND I REMEMBER MY FIRST CITY COUNCIL RETREAT IN 2013. ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE TIME, I REMEMBER HE PULLED ME TO THE SIDE AND HE TOLD ME HE GAVE ME MY FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE AND HE SAID, RACHEL, THE DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU'RE MAKING HERE HAVE LONG TERM IMPLICATIONS ON PEOPLE'S LIVES. SO TAKE IT SERIOUS AND DO NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY. AND THAT REMINDER HELPED ME STAY ROOTED IN WHAT I WAS HERE TO DO IN THIS ROLE THAT WE CALL PUBLIC SERVICE. AND THEN CAME FEBRUARY 11TH, 2021. THAT WAS WHEN I RAISED MY RIGHT HAND TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE AS MAYOR OF THIS CITY. AND I HAD NO IDEA THAT LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, I'D BE CALLED TO LEAD DESOTO THROUGH ONE OF THE WORST NATURAL DISASTERS IN RECENT MEMORY, WINTER STORM URI. I HADN'T EVEN GOT MY FEET UNDERNEATH ME YET, AND THERE WAS NO TIME FOR CELEBRATION BECAUSE WE HAD TO GET TO WORK. OUR CITY, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, WAS PARALYZED. FAMILIES WERE WITHOUT HEAT, WITHOUT WATER, WITHOUT POWER. AND IT'S NOT THE INTRODUCTION THAT MOST PEOPLE WANT TO THIS ROLE, BUT IT WAS THE KIND OF MOMENT THAT CLARIFIES WHO YOU ARE AS A LEADER. AND I'VE LEARNED THROUGH THAT TIME THAT STORMS DON'T ALWAYS COME TO BREAK YOU. SOMETIMES THEY REVEAL HOW ROOTED YOU REALLY ARE. AND I COULD NOT WAIT. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDED COORDINATION, RESOURCES, AND MOST OF ALL, OUR COMMUNITY NEEDED HOPE. SO I GOT TO WORK AND IN THOSE FIRST FEW DAYS, I FORMED WHAT WOULD BE KNOWN AS THE CODE, WHICH IS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTER. IT WAS OUR CITY'S FIRST EFFORT TO BRING NONPROFITS, CHURCHES, BUSINESSES AND VOLUNTEERS TOGETHER TO SERVE OUR PEOPLE IN TIMES OF CRISIS. MANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CODE ARE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW. WE DISTRIBUTED FOOD, WATER, BLANKETS, ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES TO SENIORS AND VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. AND THE CODE WAS NOT JUST A REACTION, BUT IT BECAME OUR BLUEPRINT. IT BECAME OUR FRAMEWORK ON HOW WE LEAD AS A CITY WITH COMPASSION, COORDINATION, PREPAREDNESS IN THE FACE OF UNCERTAINTY. BECAUSE REAL LEADERSHIP IS NOT BUILT IN THE SPOTLIGHT. IT IS BUILT IN THE TRENCHES. AND THAT MOMENT SHAPED HOW I'VE LED EVER SINCE WITH INTENTION, WITH URGENCY, AND WITH UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE. NOW, FOUR YEARS LATER, AFTER ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE RACES IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY WITH FIVE CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT, YOU HAVE TRUSTED ME ONCE AGAIN TO SERVE YOU WITH OVER 54% OF THE VOTE AND NO NEED FOR A RUNOFF ELECTION WE EARNED. WE EARNED A DECISIVE VICTORY. AND FOR THAT I SAY THANK YOU, DESOTO. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN CONSISTENT, STEADY LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR[00:35:02]
BELIEVING IN CONTINUITY OF VISION. THANK YOU FOR SEEING THE WORK AND NOT JUST THE WORDS.THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT PROGRESS MOVES AT THE SPEED OF RELATIONSHIPS, AND THAT REAL CHANGE HAPPENS WHEN WE ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND WORK TOGETHER. NOW THERE'S AN AGE OLD SAYING THAT SAYS, IF YOU SEE A TURTLE ON A FENCE POST, KNOW THAT IT DID NOT GET THERE BY ITSELF. AND I WILL BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK COMMISSIONER JOHN WILEY PRICE FOR GRACIOUSLY ADMINISTERING MY OATH OF OFFICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DECADES OF SERVICE. I THINK WE CAN CLAP RIGHT THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO BE OUR MAN DOWNTOWN. YES, YOUR PRESENCE TONIGHT IS BOTH AN HONOR AND ANOTHER REMINDER OF THE SHOULDERS THAT WE STAND ON. NOW, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MY INCREDIBLE CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, PEOPLE WHO STRATEGIZED YOU MADE CALLS, YOU KNOCKED ON DOORS, YOU WORKED THE POLLS. MOST OF ALL, YOU PRAYED WITH ME. YOU REMINDED ME TO EAT WHEN I HAVE FORGOTTEN TO EAT.
YOU CARRIED ME THROUGH WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH BETWEEN WORK, MY MAYORAL DUTIES.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE FORGET. JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A CANDIDATE, YOU STILL GOT TO BE THE MAYOR TOO. SO I HAD THAT. I HAD FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES. YOU HELD UP MY ARMS AND REMINDED ME THAT I WAS NOT IN THIS ALONE. TO EVERY VOLUNTEER WHO SHOWED UP, THANK YOU TO EVERY DONOR WHO GAVE. GOD BLESS YOUR HEART IF YOU DONATED ANYTHING, WE APPRECIATE YOU. CAMPAIGNS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE, SO THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO FORM PRAYER GROUPS. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SENT DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT BY TEXT MESSAGE. THANK YOU. I MAY HAVE BEEN THE CANDIDATE, BUT THIS VICTORY BELONGS TO ALL OF US. TO MY MOTHER, MOLLY PROCTOR, YOU ARE LOVE IN MOTION. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY ANCHOR TO MY FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR THE GRACE THAT YOU GIVE ME, YOUR SACRIFICE AND YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT. OFTENTIMES, THIS WORK HAS DEMANDED MORE THAN MY PRESENCE COULD GIVE. YOU SHARED ME WITH AN ENTIRE CITY AND YOU'VE DONE IT WITHOUT COMPLAINT. COVERING RESPONSIBILITIES AT HOME, HOLDING SPACE FOR MY EXHAUSTION, AND CONSTANTLY REMINDING ME OF WHO I AM WHEN THE WEIGHT OF LEADERSHIP FELT HEAVY. I DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. AND YOU'VE NEVER MADE ME FEEL HARD TO LOVE. I LOVE YOU DEEPLY AND THANK YOU. THERE YOU GO. YOU CAN CLAP RIGHT THERE TOO. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M NOT JUST A PUBLIC SERVANT. I'M ALSO AN ENTREPRENEUR AND A BUSINESS OWNER. SO I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SEPARATELY THANK MY PERSONAL TEAM, THE DEDICATED STAFF AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHRISTIAN LEARNING CENTER OF DALLAS AND SALATA.
SOME OF THEM ARE HERE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY PERSONAL ASSISTANT, LEANNE, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE TO HELP KEEP THINGS RUNNING BEHIND THE SCENES TO MY TEAM AND STAFF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSISTENCY AND YOUR PATIENCE. YOU HAVE MANAGED SHIFTING PRIORITIES, UNEXPECTED CURVEBALLS, AND THE PRESSURE OF SUPPORTING A BOSS WHO WEARS MANY HATS. YOU'VE SHOWN UP WITH EXCELLENCE. EVEN WHEN MY ATTENTION WAS SPLIT BETWEEN BUSINESSES, CAMPAIGNS AND COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS, THIS WORK WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR DEDICATION, AND I AM TRULY GRATEFUL. THROUGHOUT MY JOURNEY, I FOCUSED ON BUILDING INITIATIVES THAT DON'T JUST FILL GAPS, BUT THEY CREATE LASTING SOLUTIONS. WE'VE WORKED TO BRING NEW IDEAS TO THE TABLE, ELEVATED OVERLOOKED VOICES, AND LAUNCHED PROGRAMS THAT REFLECT THE REAL NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WHETHER IT'S ADVOCATING FOR STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE CITY AND OUR SCHOOLS, ACCESSING RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES, OR LEADING WITH TRANSPARENCY IN TIMES OF CRISIS. MY GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME TO SERVE WITH INTEGRITY AND TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT LEAD TO SUSTAINABLE PROGRESS FOR EVERYONE. YOU DON'T BUILD FROM THE TOP DOWN, BUT YOU BUILD FROM THE GROUND UP. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE DONE IN DESOTO. WE HAVE LAID STRONG FOUNDATIONS ROOTED IN COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND OPPORTUNITIES. ONE OF THE CLEAREST SIGNS OF THAT VISION COMING TO LIFE IS OUR UPCOMING AQUATIC AND RECREATION CENTER AT MCCOWAN PARK. SET TO OPEN IN 2026. IT IS MORE THAN JUST A FACILITY, BUT IT WILL BE A STATE LEVEL DISTINCTION AN INTERGENERATIONAL SPACE WHERE EXCELLENCE MEETS ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL AGES. A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE HAD THE DISTINCT HONOR OF WELCOMING LEE MESHAD, PRESIDENT OF THE USA DIVING AND FORMER ALL-AMERICAN DIVER, FOR A TOUR OF THE PROJECT. HIS WORDS STILL RESONATE WITH ME, HE SAID. THE ENERGY AND PASSION IN DESOTO IS EVIDENT. THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE JUST A LOCAL FACILITY. ATHLETES FROM ALL ACROSS THE METROPLEX AND BEYOND WILL WANT TO BE A PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. IT'S INSPIRING TO SEE A CITY MAKE THIS KIND OF BOLD INVESTMENT IN HEALTH, WELLNESS AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE. AND IT'S THE SAME VISION THAT LED ME
[00:40:01]
TO LAUNCH DESOTO'S FIRST EVER PAID INTERNSHIP FOR BOTH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, AN INITIATIVE I CREATED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR JOBS, BUT FOR LEADERSHIP AND LONG TERM IMPACT. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY, WE ARE OFFERING STUDENTS REAL INCOME, HANDS ON GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE AND THE MENTORSHIP TO SHAPE THEIR FUTURE. THESE ARE NOT JUST INTERNSHIPS, BUT THEY ARE EARLY INVESTMENTS IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF PUBLIC SERVANTS, PROFESSIONALS, AND PURPOSE DRIVEN LEADERS. WE'VE BEEN ABLE YOU CAN CLAP RIGHT THERE. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE OVER 56 STUDENTS THROUGH THE PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2022, SOME OF WHICH HAVE RETURNED TO BECOME EMPLOYEES FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO. AGAIN, THIS IS MORE THAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. IT IS LIFE DEVELOPMENT. SO TONIGHT I RECOMMIT TO THIS CITY, THE SAME FIRE I HAD THE FIRST TIME I STEPPED INTO THIS ROLE. BUT NOW WITH MORE WISDOM, MORE CLARITY AND MORE CONVICTION, I AM PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE BUILT TOGETHER.BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED. THE OTHER DAY I WAS GOING THROUGH MY PHONE TRYING TO FIND TEN CITY PICTURES RELATED TO A PROJECT THAT I'M WORKING ON. JUST TEN NOW Y'ALL.
BUT BEFORE I KNEW IT, I HAD BEEN SITTING FOR HOURS AND I HAD SCROLLED THROUGH THOUSANDS OF PICTURES, PHOTOS FROM RIBBON CUTTINGS, COMMUNITY CLEANUPS, SCHOOL VISITS, COUNCIL MEETINGS, RETREATS, RESIDENT BIRTHDAY PARTIES, FESTIVALS, CONFERENCES, AWARDS, BANQUETS, GALAS, FOOTBALL GAMES, BASKETBALL GAMES, AND EVEN SOME QUIET MOMENTS IN BETWEEN EVENTS THAT I COULD NOT EVEN HONESTLY REMEMBER WHAT THEY WERE. BUT I REMEMBER THE FEELING. I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE I WAS CRYING UNTIL I SAW A TEAR HIT MY PHONE SCREEN, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE PICTURES CAPTURED ME AT MY BEST, AND SOME OF THOSE PICTURES. I HAD TO FORCE A SMILE BECAUSE I HAD JUST GOTTEN NEWS THAT SHOOK ME TO MY CORE. BUT I SHOWED UP. AND MANY TIMES YOU ARE RESIDENTS, AND EVEN OUR STAFF HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS CARRYING ON THE INSIDE. BUT THAT'S THE WEIGHT OF LEADERSHIP. IT'S NOT ALWAYS VISIBLE, BUT IT'S ALWAYS PRESENT. AND I'D BE LYING IF I SAID I NEVER ASKED MYSELF, DOES ANY OF THIS REALLY MATTER? ARE WE ACTUALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE? BUT IN THAT MOMENT, I WAS REMINDED, YES, IT DOES MATTER. IT MATTERS TO THE GRANDMOTHER THAT'S RAISING HER GRANDKIDS. IT MATTERS TO THE YOUNG MAN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HIS PLACE IN THE WORLD. IT MATTERS TO THE BUSINESS OWNER PRAYING THAT THEY CAN MAKE PAYROLL THIS WEEK. IT MATTERS TO THE SENIOR CITIZEN WHO DEPENDS ON OUR CITY SERVICES AND DESERVES TO AGE IN DIGNITY.
IT MATTERS TO THE FAMILY THAT MOVED HERE LOOKING FOR SAFETY, QUALITY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY.
IT MATTERS TO THE VOLUNTEER WHO SHOWS UP TO EVERY CLEANUP EVENT AND BELIEVES THAT THEIR SMALL PART PLAYS A BIG DIFFERENCE. IT MATTERED TO THE RESIDENT WHO WANTED A STREETLIGHT FIXED AND SAW IT HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY SPOKE UP. IT MATTERS TO THE CHILD WHO SAW THEIR MAYOR AT THEIR SCHOOL EVENT AND REALIZED THAT LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE THEM TO. YOU ARE NOT A POPULATION COUNT.
TO ME. YOU ARE REAL PEOPLE WITH REAL HOPES, REAL FEARS AND REAL DREAMS. AND IF SHOWING UP FOR THE LAST DECADE OF MY LIFE, DAY AFTER DAY HELPED LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD EVEN JUST A LITTLE, THEN EVERY LATE NIGHT, EVERY HARD DECISION, EVERY MOMENT OF DOUBT WAS WORTH IT. AND I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN BECAUSE I GOT TO TAKE THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU, TEAM DESOTO.
THIS IS MY FINAL TERM, BUT THE WORK CONTINUES, THE LOVE CONTINUES, AND MY COMMITMENT TO THE CITY, THE CITY THAT RAISED ME, THE SHY, INTROVERTED THIRD GRADER AT NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY THAT CONTINUES TO. AND I REMAIN COMMITTED TO LEADING WITH THE SAME URGENCY, CLARITY AND COMPASSION I HAD IN MY VERY FIRST WEEK AS MAYOR BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 2021. SO WITH THIS OATH ONE LAST TIME, KNOW THIS YOU STILL HAVE ALL OF ME AND I WILL BE HERE WORKING BESIDE YOU TO BUILD THE CITY THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF. I AM NOT TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, AS A MATTER OF FACT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE ARE GETTING READY TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE WORK. BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT A POINT TO PROVE. DESOTO. AND BEFORE I CLOSE, I WANT TO SAY THIS. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT TOOK THE TIME TO BE HERE. THIS ROOM IS FULL, MY HEART IS FULL. AND I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO ME. AND YOU MAY NOT GET A CHANCE TO HUG ME OR SEE ME, BECAUSE THERE'S SO
[00:45:04]
MANY OF YOU ALL TONIGHT. BUT I WANT TO PERSONALLY SEE YOU IF I CAN. SO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO RUSH RIGHT OUT ONCE THIS IS OVER, I PROMISE YOU, AS SOON AS I'M DONE, WE ARE DONE AND WE WILL GET TO THE RECEPTION AND ALL THE ALL THE FESTIVITIES. BUT IF I DON'T GET TO SEE YOU HERE TONIGHT, PLEASE TAG ME IN YOUR PHOTOS OR SOMETHING. LET ME KNOW YOU WERE HERE. BUT IF YOU ARE ABLE TO STAY FOR A MOMENT, I WOULD LOVE TO CONNECT, EVEN IF IT'S VERY BRIEFLY. SO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS THE CITY OF DESOTO. THANK YOU.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.