Sep 16, 2025 City Council Meeting

[00:00:09]

MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. I WANT TO WELCOME EACH OF YOU TO OUR DESOTO CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT. IT IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2025. I'M GOING TO ASK OUR INTERIM CITY SECRETARY IF SHE WOULD START US OFF WITH A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. YES, MA'AM. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR HERE, MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISHOLM HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY PARKER HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER KIM WATERS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD, SENIOR HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH HERE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA HUGHES HERE. THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. FIRST WE HAVE INVOCATION BY PASTOR TERRENCE BURRELL FROM PRAISE TEMPLE CHURCH, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY BENJAMIN YOUNG OF DESOTO WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL. WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE STAND? MISTER MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, FATHER GOD IN JESUS NAME. AS WE BOW OUR HEADS BEFORE YOU, WE PRAY FOR OUR LEADERSHIP. GOD AND WE FOCUS NOW GOD ON A POSITIVE AGENDA. WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH, AND YOU'RE WORKING OUT YOUR WILL FOR OUR LIFE RIGHT NOW. WE PRAY FOR THE CITY OF THE SOUL OF GOD. HAVE YOUR WAY. PRAY YOUR PROTECTION OVER EVERY LEADER HERE. PRAY YOUR PROTECTION OVER EVERY INSTITUTION. GOD, EVERY SCHOOL, GOD IN JESUS NAME. BRING US TOGETHER IN UNITY AND IN LOVE. IN JESUS NAME WE DO PRAY. AMEN, AMEN. 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. NOW FOR THE TEXAS PLEDGE. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. MR. YOUNG, IF YOU COULD COME BACK TO THE PODIUM FOR ONE MOMENT, WE WANT TO THANK OUR PASTOR, PASTOR TERRANCE BURRELL, FROM THE PRAISE TEMPLE CHURCH, FOR LEADING US IN OUR PRAYER, AS WELL AS WE WANT TO PUT OUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR OUR STUDENT AMBASSADOR, MR. BENJAMIN YOUNG FROM DESOTO WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL, FOR LEADING US IN OUR PLEDGES.

I WANT TO READ JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MR. YOUNG. BENJAMIN YOUNG IS AN EXEMPLARY STUDENT AT DESOTO WEST, KNOWN FOR HIS OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND COMMITMENT TO BOTH HIS SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY. HE SERVES AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE BETA CLUB, WHERE HE LEADS WITH INTEGRITY AND A STRONG SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. IN ADDITION, BENJAMIN IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY, DEMONSTRATING HIS DEDICATION TO SCHOLARSHIP, SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND CHARACTER. A WELL-ROUNDED INDIVIDUAL, BENJAMIN IS ALSO A TALENTED STUDENT ATHLETE, ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, AND TRACK TEAMS AT DESOTO WEST. HE HAS ALSO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE MALE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WHERE HE EXEMPLIFIES POSITIVE INFLUENCE, MATURITY, AND A COMMITMENT TO PERSONAL GROWTH. DESPITE HIS EXTENSIVE EXTRACURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT, BENJAMIN CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINS A STRAIGHT-A AVERAGE, SHOWCASING HIS STRONG WORK ETHIC AND TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS. HE IS DEEPLY DEDICATED TO MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT BOTH IN HIS SCHOOL AND HIS COMMUNITY. HE STRIVES TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND REMAINS COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN ALL THAT HE DOES. IF WE COULD PUT OUR HANDS TOGETHER AND GIVE MR. BENJAMIN YOUNG, OUR STUDENT AMBASSADOR FOR THIS EVENING, ANOTHER GREAT BIG HAND CLAP.

MR. YOUNG, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT BODY OF DESOTO WEST? I FEEL THAT YOU'RE VERY DIVERSE AND OPENING FOR LIKE ANY NEW STUDENTS THAT WANT TO COME TO DESOTO WEST, WE GOT MANY OPPORTUNITIES, LIKE WE GOT NEW CLUBS. I'M IN THE CULINARY ARTS CLUB FOR EIGHTH GRADE, BUT WE GOT OTHER CLUBS LIKE YOUNG WOMEN, LEADERSHIP SPORTS CLUB.

WE GOT, I THINK WE GOT GAMING. WE HAVE. COSMETOLOGY AND OTHER CLUBS AS WELL. GREAT. WELL, A SHAMELESS PLUG THERE FOR DESOTO WEST. I'M SURE THEY WILL APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL AS YOUR YOU BEING AN AMBASSADOR FOR DESOTO WEST AS WELL. PLEASE STAY RIGHT THERE. I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME ITEMS FOR YOU, MR. YOUNG, AND WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO. OKAY. OKAY. YOU WANT TO GET A

[00:05:12]

[B. PRESENTATIONS]

MAYOR ATTEST JASON REYNOLDS, INTERIM CITY SECRETARY. MISS CONLEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE WORDS? SURE. THANK YOU. THIS JULY 4TH WILL MARK THE BEGINNING OF A SESQUICENTENNIAL, THE 250TH YEAR. THE FRAMERS STARTED WITH ONE LITTLE DECLARATION THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. IT TOOK SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THAT FOR JAMES MADISON AND FOR THOMAS JEFFERSON, AND FOR THE CONGRESS TO COME UP WITH THE ENTIRE FRAMING OF OUR CONSTITUTION.

UNLESS YOU TRAVEL ABROAD, SOMETIMES WE TAKE WE TAKE ALL OF THIS FOR GRANTED. WE ARE ONE OF THE LUCKIEST PEOPLES ON EARTH TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE OUR FREEDOM. SO THIS YEAR, ON

[00:10:02]

I AM PROUD OF DESOTO. I CAN SAY THAT BECAUSE I RAISED MY FOUR CHILDREN HERE. I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY. WE ARE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE DO FOR THE BEST OF OUR COMMUNITY IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DISCUSS AT YOUR HOMES THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. WE'LL SEE YOU LATER. OKAY. THANK YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. AND THANK YOU, MISS CONLEY, FOR YOUR

[C. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]

NEXT, WE ARE MOVING ON TO 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 LIAISON UPDATES. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WATERS. YES, I WANT TO JUST REMIND EVERYBODY AGAIN ABOUT THE SUBTLE ARTISTS LAB SHOWCASE FESTIVAL IS GOING TO BE THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH, STARTING AT 12:00 NOON OVER HERE AT THE CIVIC CENTER. AND ACTUALLY, THE AMPHITHEATER IN THE BACK IS WHERE IT'S GOING TO START. AND THEN LATER ON IN THE DAY IT'S TILL 7:00 AND IT'S GOING TO IN IN THE CORNER THEATER ANYWAY. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF ARTISTS OVER THERE, VENDORS, FOOD TRUCKS, YOU NAME IT. SO COME ON OUT, BRING THE KIDS. IT'S A FREE EVENT. SO THAT'S THIS SATURDAY FROM 12 TO 7. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I HAVE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS TONIGHT. THE FIRST IS THE SPIRIT NIGHT FUNDRAISER, THE DESOTO CITIZEN FIRE ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IS HOSTING ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 23RD, 2025 FROM 5 P.M. TO 8 P.M. A FUNDRAISER TO SUPPORT OUR VERY OWN FIREFIGHTERS. IT WILL BE HELD AT THE CHICK FIL A, THEIR ALL MOBILE ORDERS. IF YOU ENTER THE CODE DESOTO FIRE AND DONATE A PERCENTAGE, A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR BILL WILL BE DONATED TO THE FIREFIGHTERS. THERE WILL BE A FIRE TRUCK LOCATED AT OUR OWN OUR VERY OWN CHICK FIL A. AND SO IT IS TOUTED TO BE A A FAMILY EVENING, A FAMILY NIGHT OUT. SO PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT OUR OWN FIREFIGHTERS AND THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. ALSO ON SEPTEMBER THE 27TH IS KEEP DESOTO BEAUTIFUL TRASH PICKUP DAY. SO JOIN US. JOIN US IN KEEPING OUR STREETS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS CLEAN. GRAB YOUR GLOVES AND LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER. LET'S MAKE LET'S MAKE OUR CITY CLEANER, STRONGER AND MORE BEAUTIFUL. THIS EVENT IS HAPPENING SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 27TH AT 2025. TIME IS 8 A.M. TO 11 A.M. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PARKER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND HELLO AGAIN TO SOTO. I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE HAVING A WONDERFUL EVENING. I JUST WANT TO IMPART SOME GREAT NEWS. THERE ARE ITEMS HAPPENING ALL OVER DESOTO, BUT I AM THE LIAISON FOR THE LIBRARY, AND THEY HAVE SOME GREAT NEWS FOR US. NEVER STOP READING DAY, WHICH IS OCTOBER 4TH, AND THAT IS ACTUALLY A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND THE ROTARY CLUB THAT'S TAKING PLACE AT THE DESOTO LIBRARY, RIGHT UP THE ROAD HERE WITHIN THIS LITTLE COMPLEX, 10 TO 4 P.M. IT'S GOING TO BE ALL KINDS OF READ OUT LOUD. YOU MAY EVEN SEE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE COUNCIL MEMBERS OUT THERE READING TO THE TO EVERYBODY THAT'S OUT THERE. SO EVERY HOUR THERE WILL BE SOMEBODY READING TO SOMEONE NEVER STOP READING DAY. AND THAT'S HAPPENING OCTOBER 4TH. AND WHILE YOU'RE OUT THERE,

[00:15:01]

AND THAT WILL BE LOCATED AT 200 EAST BELTLINE ROAD HERE IN DESOTO. ALSO BY THE AREA DESOTO AREA CHAMBER BUSINESS AFTER HOURS. THAT IS ALSO THIS THURSDAY BETWEEN 6 AND 8 P.M.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE AT THE GREENHOUSE LOUNGE AND WELLNESS CENTER, LOCATED AT 110 SOUTH COCKRELL HILL. ALSO MAKE PLANS TO MAKE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL HOMECOMING PARADE. AND THAT IS GOING TO BE NEXT WEDNESDAY, THE 24TH, AND IT WILL START AT AMBER TERRACE. THE LINEUP BEGINS BETWEEN 430 AND 5. THE PARADE KICKS OFF AT 6:00 PM. BE SURE AND TELL EVERYBODY TO COME OUT. LINE UP THE STREETS AND LET'S MAKE IT BIGGER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN. THIS SATURDAY, ON BEHALF OF PARKS AND REC, WE HAVE THE MOVIE NIGHT, THE LAST RODEO. I'M SORRY. THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH AT 12:30 P.M. AND THAT WILL BE AT THE DESOTO SENIOR CENTER. PLEASE JOIN SHEILA SILVER SAINTS ON THE MOVE. ON THE MOVE FOR MOVIE NIGHT AND THEN SAVE. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR TWO EVENTS IN OCTOBER. OCTOBER 31ST WE'LL HAVE THE FUN FESTIVAL. MORE MORE DETAILS TO COME. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF FOOD TRUCKS AND ROCK CLIMBING, WALL FACE PAINTING. LOTS OF FUN HERE AT OUR RECREATION CENTER. AND THEN ALSO WE'LL HAVE A MURDER MYSTERY PLAY AT OUR CORNER THEATER, AND THAT WILL BE ON OCTOBER 25TH. SO WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU AT EVERYTHING. AND MY FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOVEMBER 22ND, THE ANNUAL TURKEY TROT, FIVE K RUN AND MORE DETAILS TO COME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY. HEARING NONE I DO HAVE TWO. WE WANT TO SEND OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE CURRY FAMILY IN THE LOSS OF THEIR MATRIARCH, MISS JANICE CURRY, WHO PASSED ON THE WEEK BEFORE LAST. AND SO WE WANT TO SEND OUR CONDOLENCES TO THEM.

HER. SHE RAISED HER FAMILY HERE. CHILDREN CAME UP THROUGH DESOTO ISD AND THEY'RE VERY THEY REMAIN VERY ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY UP UNTIL HER PASSING. SO WE WANT TO SEND CONDOLENCES TO TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY IN THIS SEASON OF BEREAVEMENT FOR THEM. BUT HOWEVER, ON A VERY ON A LIGHTER NOTE, I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE OUR MAYOR PRO TEM, MISS CRYSTAL CHISHOLM. SHE WAS THE BRAVERY BRUNCH BRUNCH 2020 HONOREE FOR THE ENGAGEMENT FUND. SO WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU

[D. CITIZEN APPEARANCES]

[00:20:04]

FURTHER, YOU HAVE STALLED, STONEWALLED AND DENIED LAWFULLY PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS, REFUSED TO SEEK ATTORNEY GENERAL RULINGS AS THE LAW REQUIRES. THESE ARE NOT OVERSIGHTS. THESE ARE NOT MISTAKES. THEY ARE DELIBERATE AND FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS. BUT YOUR MISCONDUCT DOES NOT END THERE. THIS BODY HAS ENGAGED IN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, SELF-DEALING, PROFITEERING THROUGH BACK DOOR AND LEGAL DEALINGS. MAYOR PROCTOR, COUNCILPERSON BYRD AND HUGHES, YOU HAVE MISUSED PUBLIC FUNDS AND MANIPULATED THE PROCESS FOR PRIVATE GAIN. THIS IS MR. GORE. POINT OF ORDER. ORDER! NO! THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER.

POINT OF ORDER. CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER. I HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. POINT OF ORDER. POINT OF ORDER. YOU ARE MAKING SLANDEROUS COMMENTS THAT ARE BASELESS. IF YOU DO NOT REFRAIN FROM DOING SO, WE WILL REMOVE YOU FROM THE. I HAVE A RIGHT TO COUNSEL WHERE WE MOVE POINT OF I HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK. THAT'S MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT POINT OF ORDER. AND THAT'S WHY YOU ARE HAVING THIS POINT OF ORDER. REMOVING CHIEF. ALL RIGHT. MADAM MAYOR, I REQUEST THAT THAT TONIGHT VIDEO BE SAVED FOR LEGAL ACTIONS LATER. THANK YOU. IT'S ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL. NEXT CALLER, PLEASE. NEXT, WE HAVE MISS BERNADINE HARRISON AND FOLLOWING DOCTOR MONICA LEWIS. I'LL RETURN TO MY. THANKS A LOT. STATE YOUR NAME. YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, I'M BERNADINE HARRIS AND I LIVE HERE IN DESOTO. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 30 YEARS, AND I DO NEED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT WHEN I FIRST MOVED IN HERE, MY SON WAS A 10TH GRADER AT DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL. I WAS VERY HAPPY TO MOVE HERE. HERE WAS A CITY WITH BLACK PEOPLE DOING EXTREMELY WELL, BLACK PEOPLE RUNNING A VERY GOOD SCHOOL SYSTEM. ALL THAT'S HISTORY NOW. AND THE OTHER GENTLEMAN THAT JUST LEFT HIM JUST LEFT. I'M IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT HE HAD TO SAY 100%. YOU'RE TRYING TO SILENCE US IN VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION. AND I WANT TO ASK THE MISTER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, DO I NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOICE MY OPINION REGARDING PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO ARE DOING ILL THINGS FOR THIS COMMUNITY? FOR POINT OF CLARIFICATION, AS FAR AS PUBLIC COMMENTS GO, SECTION 551.007 OF THE OF THE

[00:25:03]

PLEASE, MISS REYNOLDS. NEXT WE HAVE DOCTOR MONICA LEWIS. AND FOLLOWING WE HAVE THE HONORABLE NICOLE RAPHAEL. OKAY. MISS LEWIS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. I'M DOCTOR MONICA LEWIS. I'M A DESCENDANT OF THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE. I AM A DESCENDANT OF THE TRIBE OF BEAMY, AND I AM A DESCENDANT OF THE GREAT TRIBE OF MALI. AND I STAND BEFORE YOU HERE TONIGHT IN CONCERN OF RESIDENTS THAT IS CONCERNED, WHO IS DEEPLY DISPLEASED OF THE MISHANDLING OF NANCE PARK FARM AND HIS TRUE HISTORY. IT IS NOT SIMPLY A HISTORICAL LANDMARK. IT IS A SLAVE PLANTATION. AND TO ERASE AND DOWNPLAY THE FACT OF THE LIVES OF THE SUFFERING OF OUR ENSLAVED PEOPLE WHO HAVE BUILT AND MAINTAINED THIS FARM THAT WAS A MILK FARM ALL THE WAY. NANCE HIS SEVEN CHILDREN, NOR HIS WIFE DID NOT MAN THIS FARM. OUR ANCESTORS DID. THE CITIZENS OF DESOTO EXPECT HONESTY, TRANSPARENCY, RESPECT FOR HISTORY, EVEN WHEN THE HISTORY IS UNCOMFORTABLE BY US. BUT OUR CONCERN GOES BEYOND THE HISTORICAL RECOGNITION OF NANCE FARM. I DO WANT TO SAY TO COUNCIL, I WAS VERY PLEASED LAST NIGHT THAT YOU STOOD BEFORE THE PRESENTATION AND YOU WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUNDS THAT HAD BEEN SPENT, HAVE BEEN USED, THE FUNDS THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY TO BE ALLOCATED FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF NANCE FARM, AND THAT YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. SO I DO WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU DO THINGS RIGHT, WE DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE YOU DOING THINGS RIGHT. BUT TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE AN INVESTMENT OF OVER $7 MILLION TO RENOVATE NANCE FARM AND TO REPORT A REPORT OF POSSIBLY ONLY $16,000 RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR A YEAR IS EGREGIOUS. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

THE LEVEL OF SPENDING, WHICH IS MINIMAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY FINANCES, DOES NOT RETURN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR RESIDENTS, EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE COMING FROM HIGH TAXES, WHICH ARE HOTEL TAXES. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, YOUTH PROGRAMS, AND OTHER PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED. WE ARE ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE'RE ASKING FOR THE TRUTH TO BE TOLD. WE ARE ASKING THAT WE AS CITIZENS AND OUR ANCESTORS DO NOT BE WHITEWASHED BECAUSE WE SIMPLY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT. I UNDERSTAND IT'S VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT LOOK LIKE ME, THAT HAVE PREVIOUS AND PAST ANCESTORS THAT HAVE DONE THINGS OF THIS NATURE. HOWEVER, IT'S MORE EGREGIOUS TO US BECAUSE WE DID IT. OUR ANCESTORS TOOK CARE OF IT. WE'RE DEMANDING THAT THE CITY OF DESOTO AND FULL, UNVARNISHED THE HISTORY OF NANCE FARM DO NOT THROW AWAY OUR MONEY. CONTINUE TO BE LEAN

[00:30:02]

DESOTO, TEXAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. GOOD EVENING, DESOTO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS NICOLE RAPHAEL. I LIVE IN DESOTO, TEXAS. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. I APPRECIATE HEARING THE THE ROBUST DISCUSSION AS IT RELATED TO POLICY LAST NIGHT. I APPRECIATE IT SEEING THE VARIOUS TOPICS THAT WAS DISCUSSED DURING THE RETREAT. AND I WANT TO BRING BEFORE YOU OR JUST MAKE PUBLIC ONE OF MY REQUESTS PRIOR TO LEAVING THAT WAS SUBMITTED IN THE APPROPRIATE WAY, GOING USING THE APPROPRIATE METHODS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS AGREED UPON WHEN IT COMES TO BRINGING TOPICS TO THE AGENDA. AND THAT IS A STRONG JOB POSTING POLICY, I BELIEVE A STRONG JOB POSTING POLICY IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO IN PARTICULAR, WE JUST LISTENED TO SOMEONE WHO CRIED OUT AS IT RELATES TO OUR HERITAGE AND AND WHAT HAS NOT BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED HERE IN DESOTO, BUT BECAUSE OF OUR BACKGROUNDS. AND WHEN I SAY OUR I MEAN AFRICAN AMERICANS BEING IN A POSITION OF SEEING THE GOOD OLD BOY SYSTEM, SYSTEMATIC INJUSTICES THAT KEPT PEOPLE OUT OF ROLES BECAUSE THERE WAS SIMPLY NOT OPPORTUNITIES. AND ALL I'M ASKING FOR THIS DESOTO CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER IS A JOB POSTING POLICY. THAT MEANS IF THE JOB IS OPEN, YOU POST THE JOB. NO SOCIAL PROMOTIONS POST THE JOB. QUITE NATURALLY, WE HAVE AMAZING PEOPLE WHO DESERVE TO MOVE UP INTO DIFFERENT ROLES.

AND FOR THOSE VERY BRIGHT AND QUALIFIED PEOPLE, ONCE YOU MOVE THOSE, ONCE THEY APPLY FOR THE JOB, THEY'RE GREAT FOR THE JOB. THEY GET THE JOB. BUT WE SHOULD NOT NOT POST A JOB. WE SHOULD ALWAYS POST THE JOB. THESE ARE PUBLIC FUNDS. AND SO BECAUSE I PAY TAXES IN IN THE CITY OF DESOTO, I WANT TO KNOW THAT MY CITY OF DESOTO IS JUST EQUITABLE. I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WE DO IS BEYOND WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING. DESOTO WAS A FORERUNNER WHEN IT CAME TO HAVING CAMERAS ON OUR POLICE OFFICERS, AND I THINK WE CAN BE A FORERUNNER IN THIS. I KNOW IT'S IN OUR CHARTER THAT THE CITY MANAGER CAN HIRE AND FIRE AS HE WILL, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT. BUT I DO WANT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE JOB THAT'S POSTED IT THAT IS OPEN IS POSTED FOR EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL WHO CHOOSES TO APPLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT CALLER, PLEASE. NEXT WE HAVE ANNA WILLIAMS AND FOLLOWING WE HAVE MR. SCOTT MCDONALD. MISS WILLIAMS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. ANNA WILLIAMS, PLANTATION DRIVE, DESOTO, TEXAS 35, SOON TO BE 36 YEARS ON SATURDAY, I GOT A LETTER, AN EMAIL THAT WAS INFORMING ME OF THE EROSION ON THE CREEK. WHICH I WAS AT AN HBCU COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME. I WISH THAT A PERSON WOULD NOT DO THAT. I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT TO YOU, SO DON'T DO IT TO ME. WE HAVE AN EASEMENT PROBLEM. WELL, IT'S NOT A PROBLEM, BUT WE DO NOT OWN THE EASEMENT ON RAW OR TRAIL ON THE CREEK. IT BELONGS TO THE CITY. THE BRIDGE BELONGS TO THE CITY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO COME THROUGH ROY TRAIL, CROSS THAT BRIDGE. EVEN THOUGH MY HUSBAND'S NAME IS THERE, IT DOESN'T MATTER. MY HUSBAND DID A LOT OF WORK, AND PEOPLE KNOW THAT RENNER ROAD WAS ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT HE TALKED ABOUT. ALSO, I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT. WE HAVE SO MUCH TO LOVE AND THAT'S WOODLAND ON THE CREEK. THAT IS ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE THE SUPERCOLLIDER WAS, AND THAT WE THOUGHT THAT THIS CITY WOULD JUST EXPLODE. BECAUSE OF THAT, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. THE ATOM WAS SENT TO GERMANY AND ALSO WE WERE LOST. BUT WHEN PEOPLE KEEP TELLING ME THAT THAT BRIDGE IS

[00:35:02]

WHEN YOU ASK ME TO PAY THEM. THAT'S WHY I DRIVE AN OLD 2008 TRUCK. BECAUSE I AM ON A FIXED INCOME, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY SHOULD LOOK AT WHAT THEY WERE DOING, AND THAT THIS CITY OWNS THE ROOSEVELT WILLIAMS BRIDGE AND ROY OR TRAIL. ALL OF THAT DOESN'T BELONG TO ME, BECAUSE WHEN I GET A MESSAGE, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. NO I'M NOT. AND THE PEOPLE THAT I LIVE WITH ON WOODLANDS, ON THE CREEK, THEY ARE REALLY. WHAT DO WE DO? WELL, YOU COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU VOTE, YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE. YOU SEE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. SO I'M JUST SAYING, EVERYBODY I'M TRYING TO MAKE SO MUCH TO LOVE TRYING TO DO THAT. THANK YOU.

NEXT CARD PLEASE. THANK YOU, MISS WILLIAMS. NEXT WE HAVE SCOTT MCDONALD. AND THEN THE FINAL COMMENT CARD FOR CITIZEN APPEARANCES. WE HAVE DOCTOR DIANA MARKS. GOOD EVENING, MR. MCDONALD. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. GOOD EVENING. I'M SCOTT MCDONALD. I LIVE IN DESOTO. I REQUESTED AND RECEIVED AN INCOME AND EXPENSE STATEMENT FOR THORNTREE GOLF CLUB FOR THE MONTH OF JULY OF THIS YEAR. ONE THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS WHEN YOU. WHEN YOU BOUGHT THAT CLUB, YOU DECIDED TO RETAIN THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT OPERATED IT BEFOREHAND. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT ANYTHING IS BEING CONCEALED, BUT IF IT IF IT WAS BEING CONCEALED, IT MAKES IT PRETTY EASY TO KEEP THE SAME MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND HAVE THEM DO THAT. NOBODY DOES THAT WHEN THEY BUY A BUSINESS. BUT BUT WE DID THIS LOOKING AT THIS INCOME AND EXPENSE STATEMENT.

THIS IS THE KEY METRIC FOR HOW THAT CLUB IS PERFORMING FINANCIALLY. YOU HAVE SAID THAT THE REASON YOU BOUGHT IT WAS TO FIND A THIRD PARTY TO TAKE OVER THE CLUB. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE DOCUMENT THAT THEY WANT TO LOOK AT FIRST, AND THIS OFFERS JUST ALMOST NOTHING IN THE WAY OF INFORMATION. IT IT'S IT'S ORGANIZED IN A VERY CURIOUS FASHION. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT I'VE LOOKED AT FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS. IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING. IT IS DONE ON AN ACCRUAL BASIS, NOT A CASH BASIS. AND SO WHEN, FOR EXAMPLE, IT SAYS THERE'S $30,000 IN DUES THAT WERE COLLECTED, YOU CAN'T TELL WHETHER THEY ACTUALLY COLLECTED THAT IN CASH WITHOUT A BALANCE SHEET. AND THERE IS NO BALANCE SHEET. THERE'S A THERE'S $50,000 SHOWN IN DEPRECIATION FOR THE LAWN EQUIPMENT. NOW I CAN'T TELL IN ONE PLACE IT SAYS THERE'S 50,000. IN ANOTHER PLACE IT SAYS ZERO. IF THAT'S INCORPORATED INTO THIS FINANCIAL STATEMENT THEN THE CLUB ACTUALLY MADE 48,000 FOR THE MONTH INSTEAD OF LOSING TWO, BECAUSE THAT 50,000 IS NON-CASH EXPENDITURE. BUT YOU CAN'T TELL FROM THIS FINANCIAL STATEMENT IT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE LOOKED AT IT. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER ANYBODY IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HERE AT THE CITY HAS LOOKED AT IT. YOU KNOW, THE CITY DOESN'T NORMALLY PRODUCE A BALANCE SHEET, SO THEY MAY NOT BE USED TO DOING THAT. THE CITY DOESN'T DO ITS ACCOUNTING ON AN ACCRUAL BASIS. THEY MAY NOT BE USED TO LOOKING AT IT THAT WAY. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY IS THIS IS A MESS. IF IF THE MANAGER DID THEIR BOOKS ON QUICKBOOKS, THEY WOULD TURN OUT A BETTER PRODUCT. SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW THE CLUB IS DOING, AND NEITHER DO YOU. THANK YOU. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE.

FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. DOCTOR DIANA MARQUES DE SOTO, THE CITY OF DE SOTO, REGULARLY FUND OFFICIAL TRAVEL FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAFF AND EMPLOYEES FOR CONFERENCES, TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. EACH AIRLINE TICKET OR RELATED

[00:40:03]

[E. CONSENT AGENDA Items are listed on the Consent Agenda by the City Manager and are recommended to the City Council for single vote approval. An item( s) may be removed from the Consent Agenda for separate vote at the request of a Councilmember, the Mayor, or the City Manager. ]

[F. Consent - Other Items]

PLACE SIX CONFIRMATION OF REAPPOINTMENT OF VIRGINIA HALL TO CITIZENS POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. PLACE SEVEN CONFIRMATION OF REAPPOINTMENT OF SHANIKA DAVIS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVISORY COMMISSION. PLACE THREE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ARTICLE 4.22100 FAIR CHANCE HIRING BAN THE BOX OF THE CITY OF DESOTO CODE OF ORDINANCES, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS. AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER FOUR TITLED BUSINESS REGULATIONS BY REPEALING ARTICLE 4.2 THOUSAND 100 TITLED FAIR CHANCE HIRING IN ITS ENTIRETY AND RESERVING ARTICLE 4.2 THOUSAND 100 FOR FUTURE USE.

PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY STEERING COMMITTEE, A CSC, AND ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION TAX DIVISION REGARDING THE COMPANY'S 2025 RATE REVIEW MECHANISM, FILING WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1ST, 2025. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, APPROVING A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE ATMOS CITY CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE, A CSC, AND ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION MID-TEXAS DIVISION, REGARDING THE COMPANY'S 2025 RATE REVIEW MECHANISM FILING DECLARING EXISTING RATES TO BE UNREASONABLE, ADOPTING TARIFFS THAT REFLECT RATE ADJUSTMENTS CONSISTENT WITH THE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT. FINDING THE RATES TO BE SET BY THE ATTACHED SETTLEMENT TARIFFS TO BE JUST AND REASONABLE AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. APPROVING AN ATTACHMENT. ESTABLISHING A BENCHMARK FOR PENSIONS AND RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS. REQUIRING THE COMPANY TO REIMBURSE A REASONABLE RATE. MAKING EXPENSES. DETERMINING THAT THIS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. ADOPTING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND REQUIRING DELIVERY OF THIS ORDINANCE TO

[00:45:04]

COUNCILMEMBER WOULD YOU I'D LIKE TO PULL THAT, PLEASE. THANK YOU. OKAY. THAT'S F FOR.

I KNOW THAT'S ITEM ITEM F4. YEAH. YES. AND AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, PARKER, JUST AS A MATTER OF CLARIFICATION, THOUGH, ON THAT PARTICULAR THING THERE, THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE ON MORE THAN ONE BOARD, AND WE SAID THAT AS LONG AS THE BOARDS DON'T CONFLICT, THAT THEY CAN BE ON TWO BOARDS. THERE WAS NEVER A POLICY OR A RULE IN PLACE TO NOT ALLOW THEM TO SERVE ON TWO BOARDS. YEAH, THERE ARE THERE IS ONE BOARD IN PARTICULAR. I THINK IT IS THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS WHERE IT DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH THE OTHER BOARDS. I KNOW THAT MISS STEVENS HAS DONE THAT IN THE PAST. SO THERE IT IS A POSSIBILITY. BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, NO, THEY CAN ONLY HOLD ONE POSITION. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR IT TO BE PULLED. OKAY. WELL I WOULD LIKE TO. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST HAVE A, A CORRECTION FOR THE MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 2ND. INSIDE THE MINUTES IT ACTUALLY SAYS THAT I PULLED ITEM I, G H OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY I A I JUST WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE CLARIFY THAT NOTE IN THERE. AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS SEPARATELY IS THE THE MOWING. IT'S WHAT LETTER IS THAT? EXCUSE ME F 12. AND AND FURTHER NOT TO BELABOR IT, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE POLICY THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SERVE ON TWO BOARDS. OKAY. ARE YOU ASKING FOR THE MINUTES TO BE PULLED OR JUST WANT TO NOTE THE CORRECTION. OH NO. NO, JUST TO NOTE THE CORRECTION THAT IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. OKAY. SO WE HAVE MAYOR PRO TEM. IS THAT LIGHT FOR ANOTHER QUESTION OKAY. WE HAVE THREE ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PULLED FOR A SEPARATE VOTE. HOWEVER, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE REMAINING ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT WE PULL ITEM FOUR AND FOUR, NINE AND 12 FOR NINE AND 12. IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND? IT'S BEEN PULLED BY COUNSEL. EXCUSE ME. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH THE NOTED MODIFICATIONS. COUNSEL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO WHILE WE ARE HERE TO CONGRATULATE I AND MISS WALLACE IS HERE. MISS CYNTHIA EWING, HOPE STEVENS, VIRGINIA HALL AND SHANIKA DAVIS. IF YOU ARE IN THE ROOM, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE CAN APPLAUD YOU? AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU. WE WILL GO AND

[9. Consider approval of an Ordinance repealing Article 4.2100 Fair Chance Hiring (Ban the Box) of the City of DeSoto Code of Ordinances AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 4 TITLED “BUSINESS REGULATIONS” BY REPEALING ARTICLE 4.2100 TITLED “FAIR CHANCE HIRING” IN ITS ENTIRETY AND RESERVING ARTICLE 4.2100 FOR FUTURE USE; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

[00:50:03]

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

[4. Confirmation of Appointment of Akilah Wallace to Citizens Police Advisory Committee - Place 2]

[00:55:04]

WELL, AND THAT'S THAT'S THAT WAS MY COMMENTS. I DON'T I DON'T FORESEE IT. AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THE INTENT IS TO SERVE ON BOTH SIMULTANEOUSLY. THERE WAS NOT A DESIRE TO RESIGN FROM ONE BOARD OR THE OTHER. CORRECT. AND SHE MADE CLEAR TO ME THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO DO BOTH. SHE ACTUALLY THIS IS WHAT SHE WANTED. SO I WANTED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE WERE DOING THE APPROPRIATE THINGS. AND THAT'S WHY I WENT AND LOOKED TO MAKE CERTAIN. AND SO I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO PUT SOMEONE ON THAT BOARD THAT WANTS TO BE ON THAT BOARD. SURE.

AND I DEFINITELY, AGAIN, APOLOGIZE, MISS WALLACE, BECAUSE I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO HOLD UP HER ABILITY TO SERVE BASED ON OUR OUR INTENT OR DESIRE TO GET CLARIFICATION ON AN ITEM LIKE THIS. SO I'M GOING TO ASK IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM, MADAM MAYOR. OH, I'M SORRY, MADAM MAYOR. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL

[12. Consider the approval of the 1st Amendment to the Agreement with Larry Harwell for mowing and abatement services to increase the contract to $150,000.00, authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute all necessary documents, and ratifying previous additional expenditures made in the amount of $18,855.00]

SO THAT SHOULD COVER ALL THE BILLS FOR LARRY HARWELL. IN THE MEANTIME, WE WE WORKED OUT A NEW CONTRACT WITH ANOTHER COMPANY, AND WE HAVE THAT CONTRACT IN PLACE NOW. OKAY. SO THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, IS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF THIS, DID THIS GO OUT TO BID? THIS ONE DID NOT GO OUT TO BID. THIS WAS A CARRYOVER FROM THE THE OLD CONTRACT THAT WASN'T RE-UPPED. AND SO IT DID GO OUT TO BID. WE DO HAVE A NEW CONTRACT WITH A DIFFERENT COMPANY. BUT IN THE MEANTIME WE HAD TO WE HAD TO HAVE THE THE LAWNS MOWED THAT WE FOUND THAT WERE NUISANCES. AND SO HE CONTINUED, HE LARRY HARWELL, HIS COMPANY CONTINUED TO DO THAT MOWING. THAT'S KIND OF A LITTLE CONFUSING, BUT IT WAS HE WAS CARRYING OVER HIS OLD CONTRACT, WHICH WASN'T IN EXISTENCE ANYMORE. WHILE WE WERE WORKING OUT A NEW CONTRACT WHICH WENT OUT TO BID AND AND THEY AWARDED IT TO THE COMPANY THAT HAS IT NOW KNOW THE NAME OF THAT COMPANY? I'M NOT SURE. AND AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THOSE TWO WERE NOT WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. NO, MA'AM, THEY'RE NOT WORKING THE SAME ONCE. ONCE WE GET THE NEW CONTRACT, ALL THAT WE HAVE TO PAY LARRY HARWELL IS FOR ALL THAT WE OWED HIM UP TO THAT POINT. WHEN THE NEW CONTRACT WENT INTO INTO BID INTO PLAY. OKAY, I YIELD BACK. OKAY. THANK YOU, CHIEF. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PARKER, FOR THOSE CLARIFYING QUESTIONS. WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM F 12. SO MOVED SECOND OKAY. THERE WE GO. YOU SURE? OKAY. WE HAVE THAT MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER PARKER. I BELIEVE THAT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES WHO MADE THAT SECOND COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCIL. THAT CONCLUDES THE ITEMS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE AGAIN PUBLICLY, THOSE THAT ARE GETTING APPOINTED OR REAPPOINTED TO OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AS WELL AS THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR YOUR SERVICE

[1. Conduct a Public Hearing and consider an Ordinance adopting the 2026 Assessment Rate for the Candle Meadow Public Improvement District and the FY 2025-2026 Budget, and levy a Special Assessment AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE SERVICE PLAN, THE ASSESSMENT PLAN; SETTING THE ASSESSMENT RATE; AUTHORIZING THE PROPER OFFICIALS OF THE CITY TO DO AND PERFORM CERTAIN ACTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICE PLAN FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE CANDLE MEADOW PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1; AND PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

[01:00:01]

THEY'RE PROPOSING A 560,000 $560,600 BUDGET FOR FY 2026. SO THAT ASSESSMENT RATE OF 0.30661 WILL GENERATE THE REVENUE NEEDED TO TO COVER THAT BUDGET. SO WE DO BELIEVE THERE MAY BE SOME REPRESENTATION FROM THE IN THE AUDIENCE. THEY GENERALLY ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF WE HAVE ANY, REGARDING THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE PIT ITSELF. THANK YOU, MR. CAMERON. AT THIS TIME I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO MOVED.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CHISHOLM TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

THAT MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. MISS REYNOLDS, DO WE HAVE ANY CARDS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY. HEARING THAT WE HAVE NO CARDS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. PLEASE. SO MOVE. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. COUNCIL. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN DISCUSSION. MADAM MAYOR, PLEASE GO AHEAD. MAYOR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED.

THERE A SECOND. YES, COUNCILMAN BIRD, THAT MOTION WAS MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BIRD TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. EXCUSE ME. WHO IS WHO, COUNCILMAN BIRD, LISTEN, I'M SORRY, MAYOR PRO TEM CHISHOLM MADE THAT THAT MOTION. COUNCILMAN BIRD MADE THAT SECOND. IS THAT CORRECT? COUNCIL? OKAY, I'M TRACKING WITH YOU NOW. OKAY, SO WE WILL ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM IF THERE IS ANY. DID WE HAVE ANYONE FROM THE BOARD THAT WISH TO SPEAK AS WELL? BEFORE WE MOVE ON? DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE HAVE ANYONE. MAYOR. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE HAVE ANY. OKAY, SO WE WILL ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS FROM OUR COUNCIL. OKAY. HEARING NONE. WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR ALREADY. COUNCIL. THERE IS AN ORDINANCE. YES, SIR. MISS REYNOLDS WILL HAVE THE ORDINANCE, PLEASE. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE SERVICE PLAN. THE ASSESSMENT PLAN. SETTING THE ASSESSMENT RATE, AUTHORIZING THE PROPER OFFICIALS OF THE CITY TO DO AND PERFORM CERTAIN ACTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICE PLAN FOR THE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE KENDALL MEADOW PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER ONE, AND PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

[01:05:05]

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KEN WATERS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH. YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA HUGHES. YES. THAT

[2. Conduct a Public Hearing and consider an Ordinance adopting the 2026 Assessment Rate for the Stillwater Canyon Public Improvement District, and the FY 2025-2026 Budget and levy a Special Assessment AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE SERVICE PLAN, THE ASSESSMENT PLAN; SETTING THE ASSESSMENT RATE; AUTHORIZING THE PROPER OFFICIALS OF THE CITY TO DO AND PERFORM CERTAIN ACTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICE PLAN FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE STILLWATER CANYON PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 2; AND PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

PLEASE, BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN DISCUSSION. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES. SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CHISHOLM TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED COUNCIL. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM OR ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS FROM STILLWATER CANYON IN THE AUDIENCE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ARE YOU JUST HERE TO OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU. SO IF YOU NEEDED TO TO SPEAK, WE WANTED TO ALLOW SPACE FOR YOU. OKAY. AT THIS TIME WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. I'M SORRY. WE DO HAVE AN ORDINANCE. I'M MOVING TOO FAST. I DIDN'T SEE IT HERE. I HAVE A CHEAT SHEET RIGHT HERE AND IT'S NOT HERE. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR MOVING PAST THAT COUNCIL. SHE'S GOING TO READ THE ORDINANCE FOR THE RECORD.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE SERVICE PLAN, THE ASSESSMENT PLAN, SETTING THE ASSESSMENT RATE, AUTHORIZING THE PROPER OFFICIALS OF THE CITY TO DO AND PERFORM CERTAIN ACTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICE PLAN FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE STILLWATER CANYON PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER TWO, AND PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

[3. Conduct a Public Hearing on the FY 2026 Budget as required by Article VII of the DeSoto City Charter]

[01:10:05]

OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. THAT'S MISS RAPHAEL. MISS RAPHAEL, AS YOU'RE COMING, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR NICOLE RAPHAEL, DESOTO, TEXAS I SENT AN EMAIL TO YOU ALL THIS MORNING RELATED TO THE UTILITY RATES, THE FUND, AND SO A NICE RECEIVED WOULD HAVE BEEN

[01:15:08]

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CARS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? COUNCIL WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER AND SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY I AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. THERE IS NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM FOR NOW.

[4. Conduct a Public Hearing on the FY 2025-2026 Tax Rate]

THIS ITEM IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2526 TAX RATE. THE PROPOSED TAX RATE WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON AUGUST 19TH, 2025. THE TAX RATE THAT IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO PAY DEBT OBLIGATIONS AND PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF OPERATING SERVICES AS PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET, IS 0.684934 PER $100 OF VALUATION.

THE SAME IS TAX YEAR 2024. THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, COMPRISED OF TWO, COMPRISES THE DEBT SERVICE RATE INS AND THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE, THE DEBT SERVICE RATE BEING PROPOSED IS 0.182542 PER $100 OF VALUATION AND THE NO. I'M SORRY, WHICH IS AN INCREASE IN THE TAX FROM TAX YEAR 2024 OF 1.18100 PER $100 EVALUATION. THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE BEING PROPOSED IS 0.502392, A DECREASE FROM TAX YEAR 2024 FROM THE TAX YEAR 2024. AMOUNT OF 0.503934. FOR THE FINANCIAL IMPACT AGAIN TO FUND THIS BUDGET, 0.684934 NO CHANGE FROM THE PRIOR TAX YEAR.

THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY AN AMOUNT OF $5,093,723, WHICH IS A 10.17% INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY TAX ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL IS $778,901, AND AT THIS TIME THERE WILL BE AN ORDINANCE DURING THE REGULAR AGENDA AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE GO INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU, MISS SUTTON COUNCIL. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM CHISOLM AND SECOND BY. I'M GOING TO GIVE THAT TO COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. THAT'S OKAY TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. MISS REYNOLDS, DO WE HAVE ANY

[01:20:02]

COUNCIL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IT IS MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

[1. Consider and act upon an Ordinance, by record vote to adopt the FY 2025-2026 Annual Operating Budget, Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and City Council Business Plan AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; PROVIDING THAT EXPENDITURES FOR SAID FISCAL YEAR SHALL BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAID BUDGET; APPROPRIATING AND SETTING ASIDE THE NECESSARY FUNDS OUT OF THE GENERAL AND OTHER REVENUES FOR SAID FISCAL YEAR FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND FOR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS OF THE CITY; ADOPTING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND THE 2025-2026 BUSINESS PLAN; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective September 1, 2025, in accordance with Texas Government Code Section 551.043(c), the City of DeSoto Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 is posted at www.desototexas.gov and the Taxpayer Impact Statement for a Median Homestead Value Tax Comparison is posted as follows: Current Tax Rate FY2025 (per $100) 0.684934 No New Revenue FY2026 (per $100) 0.629957 Proposed FY2026 (per $100) 0.684934 Median Homestead Value $328,941.00 $328,941.00 $328,941.00 Yearly Tax $2,253.03 $2,072.19 $2,253.03 Monthly Tax $187.75 $172.68 $187.75 Daily Tax $6.17 $5.68 $6.17]

APPROPRIATING AND SETTING ASIDE THE NECESSARY FUNDS OUT OF THE GENERAL AND OTHER REVENUES FOR SAID FISCAL YEAR. FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, AND FOR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS OF THE CITY. ADOPTING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IN THE 2025 TO 2026 BUSINESS PLAN, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU. MR. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THIS IS THE ITEM THAT WE DISCUSSED DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE BUDGET. WE HAVE LISTED BACKGROUND INFORMATION AS WELL AS THE INFORMATION THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE FINANCIAL IMPACT IS INCLUDED IN WITH YOUR AGENDA PACKETS, THE TOTAL TAX RATE REQUIRED TO FINANCE THIS BUDGET IS 0.684934 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION, WHICH INCLUDES AN ERROR RATE OF 5.2392 AND A DEBT SERVICE RATE OF 0.182542. AGAIN, THE PUBLIC UTILITY FUND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 HAS A PROPOSED A 9% AVERAGE INCREASE IN THE WATER BASE AND VOLUME RATES FROM THE CURRENT BASE RATE OF $11.60 TO $12.64. THE FUND IS PROPOSED A 9% INCREASE IN THE SEWER BASE RATE FROM THE CURRENT RATE OF $14.03 TO $15.29. THE SANITATION FUND BUDGET HAS PROPOSED A $2.83 PER MONTH INCREASE IN THE SANITATION RATE, FROM $31.47 TO $34.30. THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF IS THAT WE APPROVE THE ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2526 BUDGET, AS WELL AS OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. THERE HAS BEEN ONE UPDATE SINCE THE BUDGET WAS SHARED LAST YEAR WITH COUNCIL. AS YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET IS ON OUR WEBSITE. WE HAD OUR LAST DISCUSSION ON SEPTEMBER 2ND. SINCE THESE AGENDA ITEMS HAVE BEEN POSTED, WE DID HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER THE 12TH. DURING THAT MEETING, WE DID ESTABLISH SOME COUNCIL INITIATIVES IN WHICH THE COUNCIL APPROVED. THOSE INITIATIVES CAME OUT TO A DOLLAR AMOUNT OF ABOUT $50,000.

ON MONDAY, THE CITY MANAGER DID SEND OUT A NOTE TO CITY COUNCIL ADVISING THAT WE WILL BE INCREASING EXPENDITURES IN THE GENERAL FUND BY $50,000. SO THE CHANGE WITH THE BUDGET RESULTS FROM GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES GOING FROM $69,531,529 TO $69,581,529. THAT RESULT GETS US 50,000 LESS OF OUR REVENUE OVER FOR FUND BALANCE. OKAY, SO AT THE END OF THE YEAR, ORIGINALLY, WE WERE PROPOSING $409 AND I'M SORRY, $409,412 AS OUR SURPLUS. AS OF THE END OF YEAR FISCAL YEAR 26. NOW THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS 359,000 412,000. AFTER WE ADDED THE $50,000 EXPENSE. THAT CONCLUDES MY ITEM. THANK YOU, MISS SUTTON. THERE HAS BEEN A PRESENTATION AND A RECOMMENDATION MADE. MISS REYNOLDS, ARE THERE ANY CARDS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I BELIEVE I WANT TO GET SOME. MAKE SURE I HAVE SOME CLARIFICATION. MISS REYNOLDS, ON WHAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE APPROVAL ORDER OF THESE ITEMS. CAN WE PLEASE GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT, MISS SUTTON? SURE. SO THE ORDER OF THE ITEMS, I BELIEVE IT WAS ONE OF THE ITEMS WAS CRISSCROSSED ON THE ON THE AGENDA. SO WE NEED TO GO WITH ITEM ONE FIRST, WHICH IS TO ADOPT THE BUDGET. AFTER THAT WE NEED TO RATIFY THE TAX RATE WHICH IS ITEM THREE. AND THEN AFTER THAT WE'LL NEED TO GO BACK TO ITEM TWO, WHICH IS TO

[01:25:03]

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS, COUNCIL, ON THIS? YES, I DO SEE A LIGHT. I KNOW, I KNOW, I'VE BEEN ASKING ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS. I GOT PLENTY AND IT'LL BE WHY MY VOTE IS WHAT IT IS. FIRST, THE ITEM THAT I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT MOSTLY WAS THORNTREE, AND THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE A COMPLETE TO, IN MY OPINION, A COMPLETE FINANCIALS FOR THORNTREE MOVING FORWARD, TO EVEN BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISION OF FUND 560, WHICH HAS TO BE ADOPTED BY THIS COUNCIL. SO I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, MY VOTE WOULD BE DEPEND ON THAT BEING IN THE ACTUAL BUDGET TO BEGIN WITH. AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS, IS WE'RE ASKING, WE'RE ASKING, ASKING. I CAN'T EVEN SAY IT. WE'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE A BUDGET FOR AN ITEM THAT IS ALSO FURTHER DOWN THE LIST ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT FOR THE AQUATIC CENTER. SO THAT, TO ME IS CONTRADICTORY, BECAUSE THE ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA LATER TONIGHT ACTUALLY DOES NOT MAKE SENSE WITH WHAT IS IN THE ACTUAL BUDGET. AND SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD REVIEW OR AT LEAST PULL OUT FUND 560 FOR. BETTER INFORMATION. AS I'VE EXPLAINED, I DID ASK FOR SEVERAL TOWN HALLS WITH THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE COULD MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERYONE KNEW WHAT THAT ALL WAS, AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL AND I, FOR ONE, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, DID NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION. SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I WILL BE A NO VOTE TONIGHT. COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? YES, COUNCILMAN. BURT. MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR YOUR DILIGENCE AND YOUR HARD WORK. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WITH THE LOSS OF OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, THAT IT WAS AN ADDED BURDEN ON EACH OF YOU. SO, MISS SUTTON, THANK YOU FOR GETTING US ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AND FOR THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF YOUR STAFF. WE ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR LABOR. I WILL SAY, I WILL SAY THIS IN GENERAL, EVERY VOTE THAT WE VOTED ON, WE ARE GIVEN ALL THE SAME INFORMATION AND EXECUTIVE SESSION. THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY SHARED TO THE PUBLIC. SO ANY INFORMATION THAT FOR ANY OTHER CAUSE I DON'T I WILL HAVE NO REASON TO TO WITHSTAND MY VOTE OR TO ABSTAIN FROM THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE BEEN PROVIDED. I THINK IT IS MISLEADING WHEN WE SAY THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN INFORMATION, BUT ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT IS PERTINENT TO ANY PURCHASE, EVERY VOTE THAT IS PURCHASED FOR ANY PURCHASE, ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN GATHERED FOR ANY PURCHASE OR ANY CONSTRUCTION IS PROVIDED TO THIS COUNCIL, AND WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK FOR DEEPER CONVERSATION IF NEEDED. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. I'LL I'LL END AGAIN WITH THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS DURING THIS TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE, MISS SUTTON, FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR TAKING ON THE BUDGET. YOU HAVE DONE IT VERY GRACEFULLY. I KNOW THAT WE HAD SOME CHALLENGES VERY EARLY ON, BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE. I. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT CALL OUT SOME, AS I HAVE DONE THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, SOME OF THE MISTRUTHS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED ABOUT OUR

[01:30:01]

THAT EQUATES TO ROUGHLY NINE MONTHS OR MORE. AND YOU USUALLY HEAR THIS IN OUR AUDIT. SO WHEN AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY EDUCATIONAL MOMENT FOR US ALL. AND IT WAS VERY EYE OPENING FOR ME BECAUSE WHERE I THOUGHT WE WERE, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY TEETERING THE FENCE IN SOME AREAS, WE'RE ACTUALLY EXCEEDING WHAT THE CITIES IN OUR AREA AND NOT JUST IN OUR AREA, BECAUSE I WENT A LITTLE FURTHER AND LOOKED FOR CITIES WITH OUR POPULATION. ROWLETT, I COULDN'T FIND ONE THAT HAD THE SAME POLICY AS US AS IT RELATES TO WHAT WE HOLD ON TO FROM A RESERVE BALANCE. AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU IS, AS A CITIZENS HERE, IS THAT WE'RE NOT SPENDING YOUR MONEY FRIVOLOUSLY. WE'RE NOT JUST DOING WHATEVER. WE'RE NOT BROKE, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. THE MONIES THAT WE ARE HOLDING ON TO, THEY'RE BEING USED. BUT I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE'VE GOTTEN CRITICAL FEEDBACK FROM OTHER REGIONAL LEADERS ABOUT HOW WE MANAGE THOSE FUNDS. BECAUSE EVEN WITH YOUR BANK, IF YOU'RE NOT SECURING IT IN INTEREST FUNDING OR YOU'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING WITH IT, AND IT'S JUST SITTING AND YOU HAVE TONS OF MONEY JUST SITTING, IT DOES NOT BENEFIT YOU AS THE RECIPIENT OF IT. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO CALL OUT SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS BUDGET THAT WERE NOT MENTIONED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. WOLF CREEK IS A SUBDIVISION IN THE FAR WEST AREA, HAD A MAJOR FLOOD. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY TEN HOMES. IF YOU WATCHED THE NEWS IT WAS STATED I HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. HOWEVER, WITH THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD WITH CITY MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE THE CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING ANYONE'S HOUSE, THEY HAVE EMINENT DOMAIN WHEN THAT THINGS LIKE THAT, NOT EMINENT DOMAIN, BUT THEY'RE THEY HAVE NO RISK. NO ONE CAN SUE THE CITY WHEN THERE'S A FLOODING. BUT SITTING WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND EXPRESSING THAT HOW RESIDENTS WERE PROCESSING THAT FROM A FLOOD THAT WAS 100 YEAR FLOOD COMING TO THIS COUNCIL AND HAVING A COUNCIL AT THAT TIME THAT UNDERSTOOD THE NEED, EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE OTHER AREAS THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE IN THE SAME POSITION. WE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO FIX THE FLOODING ISSUE ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN THAT'S IN THIS BUDGET. ASPHALT STREETS IS IN THIS BUDGET ALLEY.

RECONSTRUCTION WAY IS IN THIS BUDGET. NEW TRAFFIC LIGHTS IS IN THIS BUDGET. NOT ONLY THAT, THE EXPANSION OF MAJOR ROADS WESTMORLAND, PLEASANT RUN, DANIEL DALE, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MOVING THIS CITY FORWARD AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THERE IN THIS BUDGET, AND ONE THAT I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF IS OUR CARES TEAM. THE COMMUNITY SPOKE REALLY LOUD IN DECEMBER, AND WHILE WE CAN'T BRING BACK ANYBODY, WHAT I AM PROUD OF IS THIS COUNCIL AND THIS CITY SAYING WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND THE MONEY ALLOCATED ASIDE TO IMPROVE OUR CARES TEAM TO PROVIDE A FASTER RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY, IS GOING TO BE GAME CHANGING. IT'S GAME CHANGING BECAUSE THE CITIES AROUND US HAVE NOT PRIORITIZED IT OR INVESTED. IF I CAN JUST BE FRANK WITH YOU. BUT IN THE CITY OF DESOTO AFTER OCTOBER AND AND IT STANDS UP, IF THERE IS A MENTAL HEALTH CALL, THERE WILL BE A LICENSED CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL AND AN EMT PROFESSIONAL THAT WILL GO OUT WITH THE POLICE. THAT WAS

[01:35:06]

MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES, I'LL BE SHORT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. YOU STEPPED IN. I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU SWEAT. YOU DROWNED IT ALL OUT. YOU HANDLED IT. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU WORKING THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. HUGHES. COUNCILMAN WATERS. YES, LAKITA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU'RE DOING GREAT. YOU SURE THAT'S ALL, MR. WATERS? YOU'RE DOING REAL GREAT. I'M JUST BACK TO YOU, MADAM. MADAM MAYOR, I'M JUST GIVING HIM A HARD TIME. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID IT ALL. YOU HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH STAFF. SOME OF THE QUESTIONS BEING NEW TO THE COUNCIL, YOU MADE IT EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW UP WITH THE BUDGET. AND MY COLLEAGUE SAID IT BEST. WE ARE MAKING STRIDES, WE ARE MAKING WINS, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO SO IN ON THE BEHALF OF OUR CITIZENS THAT WE WILL. WE MADE A COMMITMENT AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO STICKING TO MAKING SURE WE MAKE THE WISE DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE THE THAT WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE ON BOTH SIDES, BUT WE'RE DOING THIS TOGETHER AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER. AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES. AND THANK YOU, MISS SUTTON. I KNOW THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU KIND OF RISE TO THE OCCASION AND YOU DID CERTAINLY THAT THANKING ALL OF OUR STAFF. IF WE COULD PUT OUR HANDS TOGETHER, THANK THEM ONE MORE TIME. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE NOT KIND OF AS THEY SAY IN THE IN THE THICK OF IT ALL, YOU, YOU UNDERESTIMATE THE TASK THAT YOU ALL HAVE EACH YEAR PREPARING THIS BUDGET, LOOKING THROUGH ALL THE THINGS, MAKING SACRIFICES, LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN COMPROMISE TO MAKE THESE THINGS WORK. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE WATCHED YOU ALL DO. I LOOKED AT THIS BUDGET TODAY, AND I REALIZED THAT THIS IS MY 11TH BUDGET, THAT I'VE HAD THE HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THIS CITY TO BE ABLE TO APPROVE AND AND FROM THAT, COMING ON AS A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER AND LOOKING AT IT WITH MY EYES NOW, EVERY BUDGET HAS HAD ITS OWN SET OF CHALLENGES. WE KNOW WITH SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WE HAVE THAT WE LOOK AT NOW THAT'S COME DOWN FROM THE STATE. CITIES ARE HAVING TO DO A LOT MORE WITH A LOT LESS. AND SO YOU ALL MAKE IT WORK. AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES.

AND SO WITH THAT WE KNOW COMES COMPROMISE. SITTING IN THESE SEATS MEANS THERE THERE WERE MOMENTS WHERE WE HAVE TO COMPROMISE ON DIFFERENT THINGS. WE MAY NOT SEE ALL THE THINGS WE WANT TO SEE FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, BUT I KNOW THAT BEING ABLE TO COMPROMISE IS WHAT GETS US TO BE ABLE TO DO THE MOST GOOD FOR THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. AND SO WE TRULY APPRECIATE THAT. AND SO I'VE HAD TO LEARN WHAT'S A WIN FOR ME BECAUSE OF SO MANY COMPETING PRIORITIES. IT'S IT CAN BE IT CAN BE EASY TO KIND OF GET DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU DON'T SEE CERTAIN THINGS. BUT I KNOW WHAT'S A WIN FOR ME. AND WHAT I'M MOST PROUD OF IN THIS BUDGET IS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL THAT WE ARE DOING FOR OUR STAFF. YOU ALL ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR CITY. WE DON'T HAVE A CITY WITHOUT OUR STAFF, AND SO I WANT TO JUST APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT OUR TEAM DOES FOR US. I ALWAYS SAY THIS ALL THE TIME. I THINK COUNCIL SOMETIMES GETS CREDIT FOR A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE REALLY THINGS THAT ARE DUE TO THE EXCELLENCE THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR STAFF. AND SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW, AND I WANT TO PUBLICLY STATE IT, AND I CAN'T STATE IT ENOUGH HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU ALL DO.

I KNOW THAT YOUR JOBS ARE TOUGH, YOUR JOBS ARE DEMANDING, YOUR JOBS ARE CHALLENGING, BUT YOU ALL CONTINUE TO SHOW UP FOR NOT ONLY FOR THIS COUNCIL, BUT FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND SO WE TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING. AND SO WITH THAT SAID, I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THIS BUDGET. WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR COUNCIL, AND SO WE WILL TAKE A RECORD VOTE, MEANING A HAND VOTE. SO, MISS REYNOLDS, IF YOU COULD PLEASE ASSIST US WITH THAT, PLEASE, MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. YES, MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISHOLM. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

PARKER. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER KIM WATERS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD. SENIOR. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH. YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA HUGHES. YES. THANK YOU. THAT

[3. Consider and take a separate vote to ratify a property tax revenue increase as reflected in the FY 2025-2026 Annual Operating Budget when compared to the FY 2024-2025 Annual Operating Budget; This budget will raise more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by an amount of $5,093,723, which is 10.17 percent increase from last year’s budget. The property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll is $778,901.]

[01:40:02]

THANK YOU. COUNCIL, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A HAND VOTE FOR THIS ONE AS WELL. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISHOLM. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KIM WATERS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD.

SENIOR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH. YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA HUGHES. YES.

[2. Consider and act upon an Ordinance, by record vote of the City Council of the City of Desoto, Texas, levying and assessing municipal ad valorem taxes for the City of Desoto, for the fiscal year 2025–2026, at $0.502392 for Maintenance and Operations and $0.182542 for Interest and Sinking Funds, for a total of $0.684934, specifically for the purpose for which said taxes may be expended and directing the assessment and collection thereof; repealing conflicting ordinances and resolutions; including a severability clause and establishing an effective date AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, LEVYING AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE YEAR 2025 (FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026) AT A RATE OF $0.684934 PER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100) ASSESSED VALUATION ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF DESOTO AS OF JANUARY 1, 2025, TO PROVIDE REVENUE FOR THE PAYMENT OF CURRENT EXPENSES; PROVIDING FOR AN INTEREST AND SINKING FUND FOR ALL OUTSTANDING DEBT OF THE CITY OF DESOTO; PROVIDING FOR DUE AND DELINQUENT DATES TOGETHER WITH PENALTIES AND INTEREST; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KIM WATERS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE. SINGER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH. YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA HUGHES. YES. THANK YOU. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL HAVE THE NEXT. THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE ITEMS FOR THAT ONE. CORRECT. WE

[4. Consider an Ordinance establishing sanitation service fees effective October 1, 2025 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO APPENDIX A; TITLED “FEE SCHEDULE”; ARTICLE 30.00 SOLID WASTE COLLECTION FEES; B Y A M E N DI NG T HE RE S I DE N T I AL C US T O M E R R A T E E F F E C T I V E O C T O B E R 1, 2025; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

[01:45:03]

THE CAPTION FOR THAT ORDINANCE READS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO APPENDIX A TITLED FEE SCHEDULE ARTICLE 30.00 SOLID WASTE COLLECTION FEES BY AMENDING THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER RATE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING FOR SAVINGS CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. COMING BACK IS INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR LAQUITA SUTTON, MAYOR. WE'VE READ THESE FEES. WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO STATE THE FINANCIAL IMPACT FOR THE SANITATION RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, THE SANITATION FUND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2526 HAS PROPOSED A $2.83 PER MONTH INCREASE IN SANITATION RATE FROM $31.47 TO $34.30. THE INCREASE IS PROPOSED TO COVER THE COST OF THE AFOREMENTIONED SERVICES AND OPERATING EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE CITY. STAFF. DOES RECOMMEND. I'M SORRY. THESE RATES WILL GO INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST, 2025. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SANITATION SERVICE FEES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2025. THANK YOU, MISS SUTTON, AT THIS TIME. COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THIS PRESENTED I SECOND DON'T GIVE IT TO YOU. OKAY? WE'LL GIVE THAT TO COUNCILMAN WATERS. MISS REYNOLDS, I WANTED TO VERIFY. DO WE HAVE ANY CARDS FOR THIS ITEM? OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL, IS THERE ANY ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? OKAY. HEARING NONE. WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AT THIS TIME. I BELIEVE OUR VOTING TABULATION IS STILL NOT ACTIVE. NO, IT'S NOT PULLING UP. WE'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND DO A HAND VOTE. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISHOLM. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KIM WATERS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD. SENIOR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH. YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA HUGHES. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR JUST A POINT OF PRIVILEGE. I, I FAILED TO. RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALLY OUR CITY MANAGER WHO HAS A HAND IN IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS AS WELL. AND I WANTED TO EXTEND THE FLOOR. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANY COMMENTS TO THE PUBLIC OR TO YOUR STAFF AT THIS TIME. HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS THIS HAS BEEN CERTAINLY A CHALLENGING BUDGET PROCESS. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIRECTORS, FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR WORKING REALLY HARD ON THEIR BUDGET AND MAKING SOME TOUGH CHOICES, BRINGING BACK THE BUDGET TO TO ME, AS WELL AS TO THE FINANCE TEAM. OUR TWO DEPUTY CITY MANAGERS WERE REALLY WORKING HARD DURING THAT TIME AS WELL, AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THAT. LOTS OF KUDOS. GO TO OUR INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR, LAQUITA, BUT ALSO TO ASHLEY. DO YOU MIND STANDING UP? ASHLEY? ASHLEY PLEASE STAND. HAVE Y'ALL MET ASHLEY? ASHLEY BLANTON? LOTS OF. SHE IS AMAZING. WE WE'RE MISSING ANOTHER PARTNER IN ANYA. ANYA IS NOT HERE TONIGHT ANYA PINSON IS OUR INTERIM ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR. I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT EITHER ONE OF THEM. SO. SO THEY THEY THEY WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THIS A REALITY FOR US. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE FOR DOING THIS. AND I GET JUST A VERY SMALL PART. EVERYBODY ELSE TAKES ALL THE CREDIT. SO GREAT.

[5. Consider an Ordinance establishing water and sewer service fees effective October 1, 2025 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO APPENDIX A “FEE SCHEDULE” BY AMENDING ARTICLE 19.00 WATER SERVICES CHARGES, SECTION 19.200(a)(1) “BASE RATE” FOR WATER SERVICE AND SECTION 19.200(a)(3) “VOLUME RATE”; APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 20.00 SEWER SERVICE CHARGES BASE RATE AND VOLUME CHARGE FOR SEWER SERVICE; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

[01:50:05]

COUNCIL MEMBER KEN WATERS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD. SENIOR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH. YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA HUGHES. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT MOTION

[6. Consider approval of an Ordinance defining the number of authorized Civil Service positions within the Fire Department 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 SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW IS FIRE CHIEF BRIAN SUTTER. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL CHIEF.

SO ANYTIME WE MAKE A CHANGE IN POSITIONS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, PER CIVIL SERVICE, IT HAS TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL BY ORDINANCE AND YOU HAVE TO APPROVE IT. AND THIS IS TAKING OUR FIVE OVER HIRES, AND THIS IS ROLLING THIS INTO ACTUALLY FUNDED POSITIONS GOING INTO THIS NEW FISCAL YEAR 26. THIS WAS BUDGETED FOR, THIS WAS PLACED IN THE BUDGET FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS DOES. SO THIS WILL ADD FIVE ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS.

WE'VE ALREADY GOT THEM IN PLACE. THEY'RE JUST NOT FUNDED BECAUSE THEY WERE THE HIRES. NOW THEY WILL BECOME FUNDED GOING INTO THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THANK YOU. CHIEF. MISS REYNOLDS, DO WE HAVE ANY CARDS ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM CHISHOLM.

SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER HUGHES TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL SEEING NO LIGHTS. MISS REYNOLDS, PLEASE HELP US CONDUCT A HAND VOTE.

MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISHOLM. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KEN WATERS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD. SENIOR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH. YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA HUGHES. YES. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

[7. Consider authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a three-year contract with the option to extend for two one-year renewal periods with On-Duty Health, at an amount not to exceed $57,525 for the first three years for Firefighter Cancer screening and physicals ]

[01:55:04]

AT THIS TIME COUNCIL, WE THERE ARE NO CARDS ON THIS ITEM. CORRECT. MISS REYNOLDS, WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL.

MISS REYNOLDS, PLEASE ASSIST US WITH THE ROLL CALL. VOTE, PLEASE. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR.

YES. MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISHOLM. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KIM WATERS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD. SENIOR COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH. YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA HUGHES. YES. THANK YOU. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL TAKE

[8. Consider authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute an initial five-year Agreement with two five-year options with Sports Facilities Management LLC to provide facility management services for the Aquatics and Recreation Center at McCowan Park]

AND AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS A $55 MILLION FACILITY. THIS IS THE THE JEWEL OF OF WHAT WE OWN AS AS A CITY OF DESOTO. AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THEM TO ENGAGE WITH US FROM THE EARLY GOING AND, AND BE BE COMMITTED TO PARTNERING WITH US TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE THIS, THIS FACILITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT TO JIM. WONDERFUL. AND THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION. MY NAME IS JIM ARNOLD. I'M A PARTNER WITH SPORTS FACILITIES COMPANIES.

WE'RE LOCATED IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA. I'M FROM ATLANTA, GEORGIA. SO MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY. WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS TAKE YOU THROUGH A QUICK PRESENTATION, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US, ABOUT THE APPROACH, AND THEN LEAVE SOME TIME FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND GO FROM THERE IF THAT WOULD WORK.

SO SPORTS FACILITIES, COMPANIES, WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 22 YEARS AND SINCE DAY ONE WE WERE BUILT THE COMPANY AROUND A SINGULAR MISSION OF IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH IS A REALLY EASY ONE TO ASSOCIATE WITH RECREATION FACILITIES. BUT WE'RE ALSO FOCUSED ON SPIRITUAL HEALTH, SOCIAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO INTO MAKING COMMUNITIES BETTER AND THE LESSONS AND LIFE LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES. OVER THE PAST 22 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WORK WITH OVER 3000 COMMUNITIES. THE THREE OF US GET TO BE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING OVER 4000 TEAM MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING OVER 400 TEAM MEMBERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE CURRENTLY MANAGE OVER 90 VENUES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT RANGE FROM SOME OF THE LARGEST SPORTS TOURISM VENUES TO FACILITIES, JUST LIKE WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE TODAY IN DESOTO, ALL THE WAY

[02:00:01]

WE SPENT TIME WITH YOUR RESIDENTS. SO JD, IF YOU'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

YES. PERFECT. MAYOR COUNCIL. THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN, AS JIM SAID FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, I DO WANT TO ADD, AS THE MAYOR WAS ASKING, WHEN PEOPLE WOULD COME UP, I WOULD SAY JD WOULD WAXAHACHIE, TEXAS, JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM YOU GUYS. SO DEFINITELY EXCITED. AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR A LITTLE OVER TEN MONTHS AND ASSISTING THE PARKS RECREATION DEPARTMENT FROM A RE ACCREDITATION PROCESS, HAD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CITIZENS AND WITH THE COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT PROGRAM THEY'RE ENJOYING, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, HOW TO BE THAT ADVOCATE ALONG WITH PARKS AND RECREATION AND BE THAT UNITY AND THAT VOICE TO ASSIST THEM IN WHATEVER THEY THEY NEED AS AN ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND IN THAT PROCESS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS OVER THOSE TEN MONTHS, NOT ONLY FROM THE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUT ALSO FROM WHO WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THROUGH THIS PROCESS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CONCRETE ASPECT OF OPERATING THIS, THIS VENUE. IN THIS PROCESS OF, AGAIN, WE MENTIONED EARLIER THE 791 CO-OP. SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE BID PROCESS AND ITEMS THAT WE ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS THROUGH THE 791 CO-OP AND THEN THE CENTRAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS TO GET THE APPROVAL AND GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS. I AM HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WE ARE THE ONLY ENTITY FOR ADVISORY, DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT THAT IS APPROVED FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS IN THESE OPS AND HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS VERY TIMELY AND RIGOROUSLY. TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL IS SOMETHING WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN. I KNOW DESOTO IS A MEMBER OF THE 791 CO-OP AS WELL, SO IT ALLOWS US TO WORK TOGETHER ON THESE PROJECTS. SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE HAVE GOT TO THIS POINT. SO I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE OPERATIONALLY GETTING READY TO IF WE'RE GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY, WHAT'S THE NEXT STEPS. SO I WANTED TO PASS OVER TO MARCUS TO DISCUSS THOSE ITEMS. THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING. THE GOAL OF PRE-OPENING, WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, IS YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING RIGHT AWAY. AND IN ORDER TO DO SO, YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR YOUR PROGRAMS IN PLACE. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THE FACILITY IS BOOKED. YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE STAFF IN PLACE TO DO THAT. AND THE GOAL, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE STAFF WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. I AM FROM THE GULFPORT AREA. ALL MY LEADERSHIP STAFF IS FROM GULFPORT AND THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. THAT'S THE SOURCE BEHIND WHY WE ARE SUCCESSFUL AT OUR FACILITY AND JUST KIND OF GOING INTO THE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE IN ORDER FOR MY STAFF TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT'S NOT JUST OUR STAFF AT THE FACILITY, BUT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE COMPANY. THE SPORTS INDUSTRY IS EVER CHANGING. IT LOOKS DIFFERENT YEAR TO YEAR. BUT WHEN WE WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE RESOURCES AROUND THE COUNTRY, MY STAFF IS IMMEDIATELY STRONGER. WE HOST MONTHLY CALLS WITH IN IN OPERATIONS, FOOD AND BEVERAGE

[02:05:04]

ONE OF THE THINGS WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE STARTED WITH IS WE MANAGE THOSE VENUES ON BEHALF OF THOSE PUBLIC PARTNERS, OUR PUBLIC PARTNERS AND THE CITY OF DESOTO. YOU MAINTAIN CONTROL OF YOUR VENUE. YOU MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER ALL DECISIONS IN THAT VENUE. YOU GET FULL TRANSPARENCY AND OPERATIONS. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE CONTINUALLY WORKING WITH YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE FROM A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE, FROM AN ECONOMIC IMPACT PERSPECTIVE, AS WELL AS FROM A FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE PERSPECTIVE. AND SO WE WORK WITH YOU. THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IN THAT PROCESS. THIS IS THE PRO FORMA WE'VE BEEN BUILDING OVER THE PAST 3 TO 4 MONTHS TO TRY TO FINALIZE, TO GET TO THIS POINT FROM THIS PRO FORMA, WE THEN GO INTO BUDGET AND WE BUILD A BUDGET, AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT BUDGET UNTIL THOSE BUCKETS THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT MEET THE GOALS. AND SO KIND OF THE STRUCTURE WE HAVE IS WE'LL CREATE THAT BUDGET UP UNTIL THE POINT WHERE YOU FINALIZE IT, AND THEN YOU GET TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE TO THIS BUDGET. WE NEVER SPEND A DOLLAR OUTSIDE OF IT, AND WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACHIEVING THAT AND USAGE. SO WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, WE TEND TO AT THE PRO FORMA STAGE, BUILD CONSERVATIVELY. WE WANT TO BUILD CONSERVATIVELY. SO WE ALL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN, WHAT COULD HAPPEN, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT LONG TERM WHAT THE UPSIDE IS. AND SO FROM A CONSERVATIVE NATURE WE LOOK AND SEE THIS BEING OPERATIONALLY SUSTAINABLE SOMETIME AT SOME POINT IN YEAR TWO. OUR GOAL INTERNALLY AND I'LL SHOW HERE IN A SECOND SOME PERFORMANCE THAT'S FOLLOWED, THAT OUR GOAL IS TO BE OPERATIONALLY SUSTAINABLE IN YEAR ONE. WE WANT TO BE THERE WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT, AGAIN, ACCESSIBILITY IS THERE AND THE PRICE POINTS ARE RIGHT TO ACHIEVE THOSE OTHER GOALS.

SO MARCUS TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PRE OPENING. AND THIS WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. PRE-OPENING IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. AND THIS IS THE EXCITING THINGS LIKE MARKETING AND LOGOS AND WEBSITES AND CREATING MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURES.

BUT IT'S ALSO KIND OF THE DETAILED STUFF. IT'S CREATING THE BUDGET. IT'S CREATING STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. IT'S PUTTING TOGETHER THE STAFF STRUCTURES AND PACKAGES AND HIRING AND TRAINING. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLY IN THIS PROCESS WAS THE CITY HAD A BUDGET OF ABOUT $250,000 THAT THEY HAD PUT FOR KIND OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL YEAR ZERO WHEN WE RAN THE NUMBERS IN ORDER TO DO IT CORRECTLY, WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THAT. AND SO AS PART OF OUR PROPOSAL, WE PUT IN IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS LEADING UP TO OPENING DAY, WE'VE MADE THE COMMITMENT TO INVEST UP TO $200,000 AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN HIRE THE STAFF EARLIER, THAT WE CAN DO THE MARKETING EARLIER, AND WE CAN HAVE THE THE COMMUNICATION WITH NOT ONLY EVENT RIGHT HOLDERS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS. EARLIER, IN ORDER TO EDUCATE, INFORM AND ENGAGE THE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN THIS VENUE LONG TERM. SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING UP

[02:10:03]

TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIND OF THE CONSERVATIVE GOAL TO BREAK EVEN AT SOME POINT IN YEAR TWO OF OPERATIONS. BUT WHAT I WANT TO SHOW IS TWO SIMILAR VENUES THAT WE OPENED WITH SIMILAR SIMILAR SCOPE, SIMILAR PROGRAMING, HAVING AQUATIC SPACE, HAVING COURT SPACE, BUT REALLY BASED AROUND COMMUNITY CENTERS. AND SO THIS IS MORRISTOWN, TENNESSEE. THE PUNCHLINE HERE WAS WE DELIVERED YEAR THREE MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS AND YEAR THREE FINANCIAL RESULTS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATIONS, BASED ON THE SUCCESS THAT WE HAD THROUGH MEMBERSHIP SALES DURING THE PRE-OPENING TIME. AND SAME RESULTS IN SAND MOUNTAIN PARK AND AMPHITHEATER IN ALABAMA. YEAR THREE RESULTS IN YEAR ONE. THIS WAS AN INDOOR OUTDOOR AQUATIC FACILITY, AS WELL AS INCLUDED AMPHITHEATER AND SOME OF THE OUTDOOR ASSETS. SO MUCH BIGGER VISION. BUT I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, WITH THE VISION TO EXPAND AND GROW THE RECREATIONAL ASSETS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. SO I KNOW WE'VE HIT A LOT THERE IN A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND KIND OF WENT KIND OF BACK AND FORTH IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT STAGES.

BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHO WE ARE, WHAT OUR HEARTBEAT IS, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DIRECTLY FOR US AND THE RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND TRAVELING TO, TO TO SHARE WITH US TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO SEE IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN A MOTION WHILE YOU ALL ARE HERE AT THE PODIUM. YES, MR. WATERS, SO Y'ALL Y'ALL BEEN WORKING WITH US ALREADY? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES, SIR. TO GET TO THIS POINT. OKAY, NOW I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. SO THIS CENTER HAS. NO, OF COURSE, THE AQUATIC, BUT ALSO THE BASKETBALL COURTS, RIGHT? YES. AND THE CITY, YOU KNOW, THEY WE HAVE A LOT OF TOURNAMENTS HERE.

SO NOW, IF YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS, CAN YOU NAME ME EVEN ONE TOURNAMENT THAT WE DO HERE? I AM NOT AWARE, JD SPIN. YEAH YOU HAVE I THINK IT'S TASSO THAT I THINK YOU HAVE SOME REPRESENTATION HERE AND THEN ALSO. SO YOU'RE HERE LOCAL THEN? YES SIR. Y'ALL TWO ARE NOT. SO IT'S YOU. YES, SIR. DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY FACILITIES THAT Y'ALL ARE MANAGING HERE IN THE DFW AREA NOW? LIKE, SIMILAR TO AQUATIC CENTERS OR RECREATIONAL? YES, SIR. WELL, NOT IN DFW SPECIFICALLY, BUT WE HAVE PELICAN BAY JUST JUST OVER THE BORDER IN OKLAHOMA. WE HAVE LEGENDS EVENT CENTER IN BRYAN, TEXAS. AND THEN WE HAVE AN OUTDOOR BASEBALL VENUE IN PORTLAND, TEXAS. WE HAVE SIX VENUES TOTAL IN TEXAS. RECREATIONALLY, ALL THOSE VENUES HAVE RECREATION AND TOURISM ASSETS AND USAGES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. OKAY.

BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY IS IN MY DISTRICT. SO OF COURSE MY RESPONSIBILITY IS WHAT'S BEST FOR THIS DISTRICT. I'M OVER THE COLD PLACES HERE, SIR. SO IN MY MY THING IS THIS I WANT DESOTO ECONOMICS FIRST. OKAY, SO I KNOW FOR A FACT PARKS AND REC IS GOING TO HIRE LOCALLY. BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU ALL? I KNOW PARKS AND REC. I DON'T KNOW YOU. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING.

YEAH, I CAN ANSWER THAT. AND WHAT WE WOULD DO IS. SO HISTORICALLY, IF YOU LOOK AROUND OUR ENTIRE NETWORK FROM THE SENIOR, FROM THE LEAD POSITION, A GENERAL MANAGER POSITION, TYPICALLY WHAT WE SEE AND AGAIN, I WANT TO PREFACE THIS WITH IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT YOU GUYS WANT IN THAT SELECTION. SO IF YOU TOLD US IT HAS TO BE LOCAL, IT WILL BE LOCAL.

TRADITIONALLY WHAT WE FOUND AT THE GM POSITION, BECAUSE IT IS A VERY SPECIALIZED POSITION IN TERMS OF LOCAL USE, BUT ALSO DRIVING THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT IN EVENTS. ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME WE LIKE TO DO A NATIONAL SEARCH 80% OF THE TIME THAT STAFF MAY COME FROM OUT OF MARKET. NOW, AS WE GO TO ALL OF THE OTHER FULL TIME STAFF THAT FLIPS ON ITS HEAD, 80% OF THE REST OF THE STAFF COMES LOCAL. AND ALL OF OBVIOUSLY THE PART TIME AND HOURLY STAFF COMES LOCAL AS WELL. WE HAVE HAD COMMUNITIES AND PARTNERS WHO HAVE GIVEN US PERCENTAGES OR SAID, NO, WE WANT TO HIRE LOCAL, AND THAT'S A DECISION AT YOUR LEVEL THAT YOU GET TO MAKE. WE NEVER HIRE ANY FULL TIME PERSON WITHOUT THE CITY'S BUY OFF AND SIGN OFF ON THAT PERSON. OKAY. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCIL MEMBER PARK. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBERS, IT WAS JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE SEE IN OUR PACKET. IS THAT, I MEAN, I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED. CAN YOU GO BACK TO YOUR NUMBERS? YEAH. FINANCIAL NUMBERS. YES. YES, MA'AM. AND MY WHOLE GOAL WOULD BE TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE THE ASK IS A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT.

YES, MA'AM. SO TOTALITY HOW MUCH IS THAT FIVE YEAR FOR TOTALITY FOR OUR FEES OR FOR SO OUR FEES. WE ARE AT $24,500 A MONTH RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT ALSO INCLUDES TWO THINGS WE WANT. SO WE STARTED AT 18,500 PER MONTH. WE PROVIDED A CITY KIND OF A MATRIX OF A FIXED FEE VERSUS INCENTIVE FEES. WE SETTLED ON AN 18 FIVE PER MONTH. AND THEN AS WE STARTED LOOKING THROUGH THE FINANCIALS, SOME OF THE COSTS, WE MADE THE DECISION COLLECTIVELY. ONE OF THOSE IS ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE. VERY IMPORTANT FOR A FACILITY LIKE THIS. WE ARE GOING TO STAFF

[02:15:01]

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE THAT. IS THAT WHAT YOU IS THAT WHAT WERE YOU CALCULATING THE NUMBER THAT. AND THEN WHEN WE'RE TALKING IN TERMS OF THE EMPLOYMENT, THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD BE HIRING, YOU SAID THAT THAT WOULD BE THE DECISION OF THE CITY. SO YOU GUYS WOULD THEN JUST. WHO I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. NO. SO SO FOR A HIRING STANDPOINT, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO FIRST OFF BUILD THE THE STAFF STRUCTURE PLAN AND WE'RE GOING TO BUILD. SO AS PART OF THIS PROFORMA WE HAVE ALL THE POSITIONS LISTED. WE HAVE WHAT WE ANTICIPATE THEIR SALARY RANGE TO BE. THEN OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO GO OUT AND ACTUALLY RECRUIT AND AND BRING IN THE CANDIDATES. SO FOR A GM, WE MAY DO A NATIONAL SEARCH AND WE MAY HAVE WE MAY SHORTLIST IT TO THREE CANDIDATES. WE THEN INTERVIEW THOSE CANDIDATES AND BRING OUR TOP PICK OR TOP 2 OR 3 SELECTIONS TO THE CITY, PROVIDE THOSE CANDIDATES TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, HERE'S WHO WE'RE LEANING FOR. BOOM. BUT WE WOULD WAIT FOR YOUR APPROVAL FOR THAT STAFFER. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND HIRE WITHOUT INCLUDING YOU IN THE PROCESS.

NOW WE DO. ONCE WE MAKE THAT DECISION, WHO IS GOING TO BE? WE HIRE THEM, WE TRAIN THEM.

THEY BECOME OUR W2 EMPLOYEES. SO IT'S A LARGE COST SAVINGS FOR THE CITY AS WELL AS FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES WE HIRE HERE LOCALLY, OFFERS THEM A MUCH HIGHER CAREER PATH IN TERMS OF BEING THE OVERALL NETWORK. SO WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE BENEFITS ALL 401 BENEFITS, W2, EVERYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES. BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE DO IN A VACUUM. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WHERE WE GO OUT AND MAKE THOSE TYPE OF LARGE SCALE DECISIONS FOR THIS VENUE WITHOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN IT. AND SO AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL LIABILITY OR INSURANCE THAT FALLS BACK ON THE CITY, NO, THAT'S ON US.

IT'S ON YOU GUYS. YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, I THINK THAT IN TALKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS SENT OUT FOR Y'ALL DID FRIDAY WAS NOT THE ONE THAT WE WERE INITIALLY GOT. SO A LOT OF MY NOTES ARE FROM THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE CONTRACT. ARE WE ON A ON A TIME FRAME? BECAUSE I, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME READING THE AGREEMENT AND I JUST I'M TRYING TO GATHER MYSELF HERE. ARE WE ON A TIME FRAME RIGHT NOW FOR FOR FOR THIS BECAUSE. I, I STILL WE STILL WE DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL CONTRACT. THAT WAS FROM FRIDAY. WE CAN CERTAINLY BRING IT BACK TO YOU ON OCTOBER 7TH. I MEAN, THE SOONER THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, THE BETTER IT IS. BUT YEAH, WE CAN DEFINITELY BRING YOU THE FINAL CONTRACT ON THE SEVENTH. OKAY. AND ON OCTOBER 7TH. AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER SOME BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE ONLY CHANGES IN THE AGREEMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN MASSIVE AGREEMENTS WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN THE FEE CHANGE, IF I'M CORRECT. SO THERE MAY BE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE THAT IF YOU ASK, WE COULD WE COULD TRY TO ANSWER TONIGHT AS WELL, EVEN IF IT MOVES JUST TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER WHILE WE'RE HERE. OKAY.

WELL SO THE. I HAVE OKAY. SO FROM THE I APOLOGIZE I'M TRYING TO GET MYSELF TOGETHER IN YOUR IN YOUR, IN THIS IT SAYS THAT THERE'S A 30% OR 30,000 INCENTIVE FEE IF POSSIBLE. BUT THERE'S BENCHMARKS FOR THE CONTRACT, FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE, FOR THE

[02:20:01]

OR IS THERE SOME TYPE OF PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR US FROM A TRANSPARENCY TO KNOW HOW THAT IS MEASURING. SO WE ARE FULLY REPORTING FINANCIALLY EVERY ASPECT OF EVERY DOLLAR AND EVERY DOLLAR OUT ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO THE COUNCIL. AND SO WE DO THIS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS. SOME PUBLIC ENTITIES SAY THEY GIVE US A PROJECT MANAGER, AND THAT PROJECT MANAGER WHO'S REVIEWING AND THEY'RE PROVIDING A REPORT TO THE COUNCIL. WE HAVE OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES WE WORK WITH THAT WANT US TO ACTUALLY PRESENT ON A MONTHLY BASIS. AND SO NOT ONLY IS THERE A FINANCIAL DASHBOARD, BUT YOU'RE GETTING FULL FINANCIAL REPORTS ON A ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AS WELL AS REFORECAST ON A MONTHLY BASIS. OKAY. I THINK THAT'S GOOD. I THINK IT'S NO DENYING THAT YOU ALL BRING SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN AS IT RELATES TO YOUR BREADTH OF PORTFOLIO HERE THAT YOU'VE SHOWN US OF JUST YOUR CREDENTIALS AND VARIOUS CITIES. I THINK THAT THAT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE. AS A RESIDENT HERE AND A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY, ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS FROM THE HIRING PERSPECTIVE AS WELL, AS WELL AS THE CONTROL THE CITY HAS. AND SO AND IN RESPECT TO THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS, YOU ALL WOULD CONTROL THAT THE HIRING, THE MARKETING, ALL THAT WHERE MY CONCERN LIES ARE THINGS THAT I THINK OUR RESIDENTS HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO, LIKE DISCOUNTS THAT WE OFFER WITH OUR CURRENT REC CENTER. DOES THAT APPLY CURRENTLY AT YOUR AT IF YOU'RE MANAGING IT, DO WE HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THAT? THERE'S BEEN COUNCIL MEETINGS WHERE WE'VE, YOU KNOW, VOTED TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE DISCOUNTS TO VETERANS OR GIVE DISCOUNTS TO SENIORS. AND I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW HOW DOES THAT PLAY A FACTOR. WE HAVE HOA'S THAT USE OUR REC CENTERS. I IMAGINE THIS NICE FACILITY THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO TAKE PART IN THAT AS WELL.

DOES ARE WE SAYING WE SHIFT OUR MINDSET FROM WHERE WE ONCE WERE NOW WITH YOUR CONTROL? BECAUSE THE THE WAY THE CONTRACT WAS WRITTEN, IT WAS MORE SO THAT THOSE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS LIE IN YOUR HANDS AND NOT THE, THE CITY. AND AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CITY ONLY APPROVES THE MANAGEMENT, THE MANAGEMENT LEVEL HIRES. WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY OTHER OPPORTUNITY, IS THAT YOU SAID THAT WE COULD PUT IN THE CONTRACT A PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE LOCAL. I REALLY STRONGLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT IN ANY AGREEMENT THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT BECAUSE YOU ALL MAY HAVE, YOU KNOW, WIN THE LOTTO ONE DAY IN GEORGIA AND DECIDE THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE. AND WHOEVER COMES AND REPLACE YOU AND DECIDES, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M JUST GOING TO BRING EVERYBODY FROM GEORGIA HERE, AND THEY MAY NOT LIKE TEXAS LIKE THAT. SOME OF US FROM TEXAS DON'T LIKE TEXAS LIKE THAT, SO I DON'T I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS EMBEDDED IN THE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT THAT THERE IS A PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE HIRED. WOULD THERE BE ANY ISSUE WITH THAT? NO. NONE WHATSOEVER.

AND SOME OF THAT IN THE HIRING TOO, I KNOW THERE'S THERE'S A CALL OUT OF CERTAIN POSITIONS OF WHAT THE APPROVAL IS. AND A LOT OF IT'S LEADERSHIP. WE CAN CHANGE THE TERMS ON THAT TO BE TO BE ANY FULL TIME. BUT YOU GUYS HAVE I THINK THE THE TAKEAWAY I WANT YOU GUYS TO LEAVE WITH AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S CLEAR ON IS ALL OF THAT, INCLUDING YOUR EARLY QUESTIONS OF, HEY, WHAT IF WE WANT TO PUT DISCOUNTS IN? WHAT IF WE WANT TO PUT FREE PROGRAMING IN? ALL OF THAT IS YOUR DECISION. SO WE ARE MANAGING THAT. AND THAT'S THE BIG DIFFERENCE. WE'RE NOT COMING IN TO TAKE CONTROL OR PRIVATIZE THIS VENUE. WE'RE COMING IN AND WE MANAGE THE VENUES ON BEHALF OF OUR PUBLIC PARTNERS. SO EVERY DECISION IN THIS VENUE, ULTIMATELY THE CITY AND UNDER THE WAY THIS CONTRACT IS STRUCTURED, EVERY DECISION

[02:25:01]

AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO PUT THE FEE STRUCTURE IN A WAY THAT PROVIDES THE MOST ACCESS POSSIBLE. IT HITS THE BOTTOM LINE FINANCIALS THAT YOU HAVE TO HIT FROM A CITY TO PROTECT THE FINANCIALS OF THE CITY. BUT THEN LET'S GET CREATIVE AROUND WAYS TO ACCESS THE FACILITY FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD THOSE DOLLARS. SO WE HAVE WE HAVE A PROGRAM IN-HOUSE THAT WE PUT INTO OUR FACILITIES WHERE WE USE SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS, AND THAT'S ANOTHER SERVICE WE BRING TO THE TABLE. WE DO AS PART OF OUR MANAGEMENT FEE. THERE'S NO EXTRA COST. WE ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER THE SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE. WE HAVE AN ENTIRE CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP TEAM, AND WE GO OUT TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. AND WHEN WE BRING IN THE LOCAL SPONSORS, WE USE PERCENTAGE OF THAT SPONSORSHIP TO CREATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTS WHO CAN'T AFFORD THE FACILITY, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET IN HERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO AN AQUATIC FACILITY. IT'S ONE THING ABOUT HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT YOU HAVE A FACILITY THAT'S TRULY GOING TO SAVE LIVES IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO THAT. SO THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS WE WORK THROUGH WITH YOU AS PART OF THIS OVERALL PROCESS. THIS IS A PRO FORMA THE NEXT STAGE HERE AND WE AND WHAT WE WANT TO GET STARTED ON REALLY QUICKLY WITH SIX MONTHS AWAY, IS THE ACTUAL BUDGET BROKEN DOWN ON A MONTHLY BASIS WITH THE REAL TERMS, WITH THE REAL FEES? TO GET THIS TO A POINT WHERE EVERYBODY SITS AROUND AND SAYS, HEY, THIS IS MEETING THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE COMPLEX, AND WE'RE ALSO MEETING THE GOALS ALONG THE WAY WITH STAFFING AND WITH ALL THE OTHER ITEMS. GOTCHA. THANK YOU, MR. ARNOLD. I'M GOING TO ASK TO TAKE A PAUSE FROM COUNCIL COMMENTS. WE DO HAVE CARDS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK.

IF YOU ALL WANT TO TAKE A SEAT SOMEWHERE NEARBY, WE'LL CALL YOU BACK UP ONCE WE HEAR FROM THOSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS. FIRST WE HAVE DOCTOR MONICA LEWIS AND FOLLOWING MISS DENISE VALENTINE.

HELLO AGAIN. GOOD EVENING. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. DOCTOR MONICA LEWIS, DESOTO, TEXAS. IF YOU CAN JUST EMAIL ME. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE TIME UP. NOW. I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE KIND OF LIKE, I'M JUST TRYING TO PROCESS IT IN MY MIND THAT WE ARE HIRING OR CONSIDERING HIRING A STAFFING AGENCY TO MANAGE OUR ARC. AND MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MANAGING OUR RECREATION CENTER NOW? AND THE THING IS, IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO DIVERSITY AND THE CIRCULATION OF OUR OF THE DOLLAR, LEAVING OUR COMMUNITY ASIAN AMERICANS IS 28 DAYS, JEWISH AMERICANS 20 DAYS. WHITE NON-HISPANIC AMERICAN, 17 DAYS LATINO HISPANIC AMERICAN, SEVEN DAYS. AFRICAN AMERICANS SIX HOURS. AND I THINK THE KEY POINTS HERE IS THAT CAPITAL AND OWNERSHIP RATES DIRECTLY AFFECT CIRCULATION. THE COMMUNITIES WITH MORE ETHNICALLY OWNED BANKS, SHOPS, SERVICES KEEP THEIR DOLLARS A LOT LONGER.

AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES OFTEN EXPERIENCE THE FASTEST LEAKAGE DUE TO STRUCTURAL BARRIERS AND BUSINESS LENDING, AND FEWER LOCAL OWNER ENTERPRISES POLICY AND INVESTMENT STRATEGIES SUPPORTING MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, LOCAL PROCUREMENT POLICIES, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG WHEN YOU EMAIL ME BACK OR IF YOU DO THAT, THAT THE SPORTS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND $70 MILLION OVER 15 YEARS. AND MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COST IF OUR PARKS AND REC MANAGEMENT TEAM MANAGE IT NOW VERSUS BRINGING IN THE SPORTS MANAGEMENT TEAM? SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT OUT. AND IF YOU CAN TRY TO CLARIFY SOME

[02:30:06]

THIS HAS WE HAVE ALREADY HAD QUITE AN IMPACT WITH THIS CENTER. THE MWB COMMITMENT HAS WAS 21 MILLION OF 45 MILLION OF MONEY SPENT AT THE ARK. SO TO CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS, I WANT TO SAY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED RECREATION DEPARTMENT, HIGHLY CERTIFIED STAFF. WE HAVE STRONG REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS, AND WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN OUR PRESENT STAFF, MANAGEMENT AND STAFF. I THINK WE SHOULD USE OUR OWN PEOPLE. THANK YOU. MR. ELLENBECKER. GOOD EVENING, MR. BECKER. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS ALAN BECKER AND I'M A VISITING GUEST FROM DENVER, COLORADO. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES. MY NAME IS ALAN BECKER. I'M FROM A COMPANY CALLED POWER WELLNESS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE EVALUATING MANAGEMENT FOR THE NEW FACILITY, AND WE APPRECIATE THE CAREFUL THOUGHT GOING INTO THIS IMPORTANT COMMUNITY DECISION. POWER WELLNESS CURRENTLY MANAGES 30 LARGE COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTERS NATIONWIDE, SERVING OVER 10,000 100,000 MEMBERS DAILY. OUR CENTERS TYPICALLY EXCEED INDUSTRY BENCHMARKS BY 25 TO 40% IN BOTH MEMBERSHIP AND REVENUE. WE WERE ASKED TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL FOR THE CONSULTING SERVICES RFP THAT YOU REQUESTED EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND WE WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES TO YOU IN PERSON. OUR CORE EXPERTISE IS FULL FACILITY MANAGEMENT FOR EXACTLY THIS TYPE OF CENTER, PARTICULARLY THE FITNESS AND WELLNESS COMPONENTS THAT WILL MAKE UP MUCH OF YOUR FACILITY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT TONIGHT YOU'RE CONSIDERING A DIRECT AWARD FOR

[02:35:02]

THANK YOU. WE'VE WE'VE I'M GETTING TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HAD COMMENTS AT ALL. OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. YOU'RE WELCOME. I DO HAVE A QUESTION. YES, MA'AM.

OKAY. I WAS JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW, BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH WORKING WITH US, US SWIM.

COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AND WALK US THROUGH THE POOL CERTIFICATION.

BECAUSE PART OF THE ARC, WE DO HAVE THE EIGHT LANE OLYMPIC COMPETITION. SO I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL, COMPLIMENT OUR CURRENT PARKS AND RECS FOR THE CERTIFICATIONS WE DO HAVE, EVEN NATIONALLY. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE COULD LOOK LIKE AS WE FOCUS ON HOW TO HOW AS F-M WILL BRING THAT NATIONAL COMPONENT TO OUR AREA. YES, MA'AM. SO WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE GOVERNING BODIES WHEN IT COMES TO HOSTING THOSE EVENTS AND CONFERENCES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE WITHIN THE SF NETWORK AT ALL OF OUR VENUES. RIGHT. SO WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT THE HOSPITALITY THEY SEE, THE LEVEL OF OPERATIONS SUPPORT, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR BRINGING BRINGING THOSE EVENTS TO A VENUE THAT WE ARE PARTNERED WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ON. SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO THE ACCREDITATION WE HAVE DONE AT OTHER OF OUR VENUES FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, SO WE KNOW WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE A LITTLE BIT HOLISTICALLY FROM S.F.C. BUT ALSO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MY BACKGROUND OUTSIDE OF PARKS AND RECREATION. I ALSO WORK FOR THE DALLAS SPORTS COMMISSION.

SO IN THAT MY JOB WAS TO BRING IN ARTISTIC SWIMMING, WATER POLO, SWIMMING AND DIVING, THOSE KIND OF EVENTS. AND SO I KNOW FROM THAT EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS FROM SFC AS A COMPANY, THAT THERE IS LACKING THE AVAILABILITY OF POOLS LIKE THIS IN THE METROPLEX. YES, OUR OUR POOLS. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ACTIVITIES AND I GUESS DATES AVAILABLE, THERE IS A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL AVENUES AND ACCESS TO VENUES LIKE THIS. SO WE HAVE ALREADY HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND AND CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE ENTITIES ABOUT BRINGING IT, AS WELL AS WITH THE SPORTS COMMISSION, LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING IN THOSE EVENTS AT THIS VENUE. AND I YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT YOU SAID IS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A GREAT PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.

YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THEM IN THE CERTIFICATION THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE. A LOT OF COMMUNITIES AREN'T ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT. YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR COMMUNITY SCORES IN YOUR IN YOUR COMMUNITY SURVEYS, I MEAN, I THINK IT WAS LIKE 55 OR 60% OF RESIDENTS ARE APPROVE OF PARK AND REC. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS TO NOTE, THOUGH, IS 62% OF YOUR RESIDENTS WERE LOOKING FOR MORE PROGRAMS. AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE YOUR PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DOESN'T WANT TO DO THOSE PROGRAMS. BUT THERE DOES COME A POINT WHERE YOUR RESOURCES OR YOUR TIME, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE ONE OF THE OTHER HIGH SCORES WAS MAINTENANCE OF FACILITIES. SO YOUR RESOURCES AND YOUR TIME AND THOSE THINGS GET SPREAD THIN. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE BRING TO THE TABLE.

IT'S NOT TO REPLACE ANY STAFF. IT'S NOT TO COME IN AND TAKE OVER THESE PLACES. WE COME IN, WE WANT TO POUR GASOLINE ON THE FIRE. WE WANT TO PUT HORSEPOWER BEHIND WHAT YOU'RE DOING SO WE CAN BRING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. SO AT THE HIGH LEVEL, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL OF BRINGING IN THESE EVENTS AND ATTRACTING THAT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, BRINGING OUR CORPORATE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT AND ALL OF THE LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED AND THE TAXES WE'VE PAID OVER TIME, BUILDING THESE PROGRAMS AT OTHER VENUES TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEM HERE, TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THIS, TO ALLOW THE ARC TO LEAN ON THE OTHER VENUES THAT WE MANAGE TO LEARN AND TO PULL THOSE RESOURCES TO RUN. WHETHER IT'S SOCCER, I KNOW DANCE WAS A BIG ITEM THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WERE LOOKING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS, SENIOR PROGRAMS. THOSE ARE

[02:40:04]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY. PLEASE. THE MAYOR HAS STEPPED OUT, SO I WILL RESUME THE MEETING. I BELIEVE THAT OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER TO SPEAK WOULD BE COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. YOU TALKED ABOUT A STAND ALONE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. AND AND THIS IS FOR STAFF. HOW WOULD WE INTEGRATE THEIR INFORMATION INTO OURS? WOULD HAVE WE WORKED THROUGH THAT? HOW WE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT? I'M SURE AT SOME POINT WE WE WE WOULD WORK THROUGH SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS, WITH THIS, WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE INTEGRATION OF ACCOUNTING AND OR THE AVAILABILITY OF AUDITS, BECAUSE WE ARE REQUIRED AND WE WE WE HAVE UNMODIFIED AUDITS AND WE PAY FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION TO CHANGE THAT FOR US. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. YES, WE WOULD WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE COMPANY. AND MAINLY WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WORK WITH OUR CURRENT AUDIT FIRM. OUR AUDIT FIRM IS CONTRACTED TO AUDIT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FUNDS IN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FACILITIES. FOR US. I MEAN, THIS THIS FACILITY WILL ADD ADDITIONAL ASSETS. IT'S A WHOLE OTHER FACILITY. SO WE WILL BE REVISITING OUR CONTRACT WITH OUR AUDIT FIRM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING APPROPRIATELY ACCOUNTED FOR ON THE BOOKS. THE EXPENSE AND THE REVENUE WILL COURSE WILL SIT IN OUR GENERAL FUND. YEAH, BUT THERE THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT WE WILL WORK THROUGH WITH OUR WITH OUR AUDIT FIRM TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS REPORTED CORRECTLY. GREAT. THANK YOU.

AND THEN MY SECOND AND LAST QUESTION WOULD BE THE HIERARCHY OF REPORTING. SO AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL HAVE DISCRETION ON WHO'S HIRED AND AND WHERE. BUT WHAT WOULD BE THE INTERNAL REPORTING. BECAUSE CURRENTLY STAFF REPORTS TO A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL. BUT IF WE GO OUT, IF WE VENTURE OUT, WHAT WOULD BE THE THE HIERARCHY OF REPORTING WE WILL HAVE WE WILL HAVE A PROJECT MANAGER THAT WORKS CLOSELY WITH THEM. AND THEY WOULD BE REPORTING DIRECTLY BACK TO THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECS. SO YOU WOULD HAVE OKAY. SO THERE WOULD BE A ANOTHER LAYER. THERE WOULD BE SOMEONE IN BETWEEN THAT WILL REPORT TO OUR DIRECTOR. THAT WOULD BE CORRECT. OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND ONE THING I WOULD LIKE WOULD JUST LIKE TO LAYER IN OUR FINANCING AS. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. OUR FINANCE TEAM WOULD COME INTO MARKET AS PART OF THE KICKOFF. OUR ENTIRE TEAM COMES IN TO MARKET. SO EVERYTHING FROM MARKETING TO FINANCE, HUMAN RESOURCES, EVERYBODY COMES IN TO TO KICK THIS PROJECT OFF, WE WOULD WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE UTILIZING WHATEVER SYSTEM YOU USE. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE ONE WHERE WE'VE GOT TO TAKE OUR SYSTEM AND GO TO YOURS. WE'LL IMPLEMENT OUR REPORTING DIRECTLY INTO YOURS. SO IT IS SEAMLESS. AND AND IT'S AGAIN REPORTED ON A MONTHLY BASIS. BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR YOU. AND ONE LAST QUESTION. YOU TALKED ABOUT MARKETING THAT IN THIS AGREEMENT THERE IS A MARKETING COMPONENT TO IT. IS THERE ANY SPACE FOR PHILANTHROPY LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WE'RE ASKING FOR, IS THERE A DO YOU HAVE A MODEL THAT WILL HELP FINDING NAMING RIGHTS AND HELPING THOSE PEOPLE? YOU TALKED ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS, BUT DO YOU HAVE THAT COMPONENT AS WELL? YES, WE HAVE AN ENTIRE SO TWOFOLD ANSWER TO THAT. WE HAVE AN ENTIRE MARKETING AGENCY IN-HOUSE THAT COMES AND SUPPORTS THE VENUE. SO AND THAT IS EVERYTHING FROM GOING AFTER THE LARGER EVENTS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CREATING THE PACKAGES FOR MEMBERSHIPS AND THE WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE NOT ONLY THE SEO, BUT NOW THE AI IN ORDER TO PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER IN THE PACKAGE TOGETHER. SO THAT MARKETING AGENCY COMES WITH US, THEY'RE ALL IN-HOUSE. AND THEN FROM A SPONSORSHIP, WE HAVE A SEPARATE DIVISION THAT'S A CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP AND NAMING RIGHTS DIVISION. AND SO THAT DIVISION, THEY COME IN, THEY'RE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER ALL OF THE ASSETS, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE THAT ARE ABLE TO BE SOLD. WE'RE GOING TO START PUTTING PRICING BEHIND THOSE. WE'RE GOING TO PUT PACKAGES TOGETHER. THEY SUPPORT THAT. NOT ONLY DO THEY COME IN TO MARKET AND SELL THAT, BUT THEY ALSO SUPPORT THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THE STAFF OR ANY OF THE LOCAL SALES OR POTENTIAL LOCAL PHILANTHROPY OFFERS AS

[02:45:04]

THANK YOU. MAYOR, CAN I ADD TO TO THIS? THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WENT OUT TO DO AN RFP FOR MARKETING AND SPONSORSHIPS, AND THE PRICES THAT WE GOT WERE IN EXCESS OF $120,000 A YEAR, PLUS PLUS A COMMISSION ON THAT ONE WITH THIS. THIS IS NOT EVEN INCLUDED IN, IN FIGURING OUT ALL THE NUMBERS. BUT IF WE HAD IF IF WE WERE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE OTHER THAN WORKING WITH SFC, THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $120,000 PLUS FOR SPONSORSHIPS, WHETHER THEY BRING US THE SPONSORSHIPS OR NOT, WHAT WE'VE AGREED, WHAT WE'VE AGREED WITH THEM ON THE DISCUSSIONS IS THE ITEMS THAT THEY BRING IN FOR SPONSORSHIPS. THEY HAVE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO SHARE WITH US THE THINGS THAT WE BRING IN FOR SPONSORSHIPS. THEY DON'T. SO THAT'S ANOTHER AGAIN ADDED, ADDED BENEFIT TO US, THE CITY, TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY THEY'RE VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH THEIR SPONSORSHIPS, BUT IT'S DONE ALL INCLUSIVE AND IT SAVES US $120,000 PLUS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I DID HAVE SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. MY MY QUESTION WAS NOW I SEE THAT THERE'S A FIVE YEAR PIECE ON THERE. AND I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU HAVE PARTS OR A LA CARTE, IS THERE SUCH THING? HAVE YOU EVER GIVEN THAT AS AN OPTION AS OPPOSED TO FIVE FULL YEARS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY THIS IS THE PRIDE OF DESOTO AND THE DESOTO RESIDENTS HAVE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF DOLLARS ON THIS FACILITY AND TO JUST AUTOMATICALLY GIVE IT OUT FOR FIVE FULL YEARS IS IS NOT ONLY A COMMITMENT. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE'RE SAYING DESOTO CAN'T DO IT. AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I WAS GOING WHEN I WAS TALKING EARLIER, WHEN I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE TOTALITY OF THE CONTRACT. WE DO HAVE A SUPERB PARKS AND REC TEAM, AND TO HAVE AN ACTUAL COMPANY COME IN AND TO SUPPORT THEM WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN TO TAKE OVER. AND I DON'T MEAN THAT TO SOUND HARSH LIKE THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, AS OPPOSED TO PROVIDING SUPPORT OPTIONS, NOT A TOTALITY OF FIVE FULL YEARS IN A FACILITY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN IN BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE OPEN. IT WILL BE OPEN BY SOMEBODY ELSE. YEAH.

AND IN TERMS OF THAT, WE HAVE WE'VE LOOKED IN THE PAST AT POTENTIAL, WHAT WE WOULD CALL ADVISORY MANAGEMENT SERVICES. AND REALLY WHAT WE FOUND IS THE VALUE AND PERFORMANCE ISN'T THERE. AND SO THE REASON WE LOOK FOR FIVE YEARS WHEN WE COME INTO AGREEMENTS LIKE THIS IS WE WANT TO COMMIT TO YOUR COMMUNITY THE SAME WAY YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE PEOPLE HERE COMMITTED. WE WANT TO BRING WE WANT TO PACK FOR THE WHOLE TRIP. WE'RE WE'RE HIRING AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL. WE'RE BRINGING IN. AND WE'RE ALSO WHETHER IT'S LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO ARE TAKING THOSE JOBS OR PEOPLE COMING IN FROM OUT OF TOWN, WE'RE MAKING COMMITMENTS TO THEM. AND SO A LOT OF TIMES, WE MAY EVEN HAVE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WHO COME OVER AS A W-2 EMPLOYEE BECAUSE THEY SEE, HEY, I'VE GOT I'VE GOT MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH IN MY CAREER. I CAN GO UP WITHIN THEIR NETWORK TO GO FROM BEING A DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS TO BEING A GM, TO ULTIMATELY BEING A VICE PRESIDENT, WHICH WE HAVE BASICALLY ALMOST EVERY ACCOUNT VICE PRESIDENT. WE HAVE CAME UP THROUGH THE RANKS OF OUR VENUES. AND SO WHEN WE DO THAT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT FIVE YEAR COMMITMENT ALLOWS US TO MAKE THAT FINANCIAL COMMITMENT, AS WELL AS GO OUT AND CREATE REAL CAREER PATHS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE DO BRING IN. SO THAT IS FIVE YEARS IS REALLY THE MINIMUM WE DO IN THOSE, JUST BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO GO IN AND DELIVER THE TYPE OF RESULTS THAT WE SEE AGAIN, COMMUNITY AFTER COMMUNITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION OR NOT. IT DID. I MEAN, AND JUST AS ALL OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVERYBODY HAS CONCERNS, EVERYBODY HAS THOUGHTS. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS REACH OUT TO US, AND I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW THAT A LOT OF THAT WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE'RE THINKING IN TERMS OF A FACILITY COMING IN ON TOP OF THIS FACILITY, THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME AND ASKED ME, WHY WOULD THIS EVEN BE ON THE WHY ARE WE DOING THIS TONIGHT, THAT TYPE OF THING. SO EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN THOUGHTS, BUT FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S BEEN IN THIS CITY FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, I DIDN'T GROW UP HERE, BUT IT'S HOME AND I'VE BEEN HERE QUITE A FEW YEARS, AND I JUST KNOW THAT THIS FACILITY, IT IS A BIG MOVE, A BIG PUSH FOR DESOTO. IT JUST FEELS LIKE IT WOULD BE GOING

[02:50:02]

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE. IT'S LIKE THEY HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE IT OUT BEFORE. IT'S ALREADY PROVEN OR GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE. IT'S THE REASON WHY I'M EVEN. THAT'S WHERE I SIT. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE, BUT THAT WAS MY CONCERN. THANK YOU. NO, I APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, FOR YOUR TRAVEL, YOUR TIME, AND ALSO THE OTHER GENTLEMAN THAT CAME. I'M THE LIAISON TO THE PARK BOARD AND I JUST HAD A QUESTION. HAVE YOU ALL HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH THEM AT ALL AND GET ANY INPUT ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT YOU BEING THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY FOR THE FACILITY? ME WITH YOU. I'M SORRY I MISSED THE PARK BOARD. THE PARK BOARD? NO, WE'VE NOT MET WITH THE PARK BOARD INDIVIDUALLY AT THIS POINT. WE MET WITH PARKS AND RECREATION AND THE CITY, BUT NOT THE PARK BOARD MEMBERS. NO, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN WATERS. WELL, FIRST OFF, IT'S A FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT, BUT IT'S TWO RE-UPS. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE, 15 YEARS HERE. BUT ANYWAY, YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT, 15 YEAR POTENTIAL.

BUT ANYWAY, YOU BRING A GOOD POINT. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THIS, YOU KNOW, WELL, LET ME BACK UP TO YOUR POINT. PARKS AND REC, OKAY. THEY BIRTHED THIS IDEA, WHAT, 15 YEARS AGO OR WHATEVER. IT'S BEEN LIKE A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING HERE. OKAY? A LOT OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS. IT'S NOW. NOW YOU'RE UP TO THE FINISH LINE HERE. IT'S ALMOST OPEN. RIGHT. SO THEY SPENT ALL THIS ENERGY, RIGHT, FOR THIS NEW FACILITY. OKAY. AND THEN YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT. AND AT THE VERY FINISH LINE, WE'RE GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO SOMEBODY ELSE. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO HAVE HEAD TO HEAD. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE PARKS AND REC NUMBERS ARE. YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE ME YOUR NUMBERS. WE GOT THESE NUMBERS. BUT WHERE'S THE PARKS AND REC? WE NEED WE NEED A HEAD TO HEAD. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE PARKS AND REC CAN DO. WHAT YOU CAN DO. GIVE ME THE NUMBERS SO WE CAN HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION HERE. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY I SEE IT. THE OTHER GUY THAT DID THE COMMENT, OKAY, HE WANTED TO GIVE HIS LITTLE INPUT AS WELL. THAT'S FINE TOO. BUT YOU'RE GIVING US ONE SIDE HERE. I MEAN, I NEED SOME MORE NUMBERS. OKAY. REMEMBER, THIS IS MY DISTRICT, SIR. I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR PLACE THREE. OKAY? SO I NEED THIS THING TO WORK, AND I NEED THIS THING TO CIRCULATE OUR MONEY HERE IN DESOTO. SIR. YOU UNDERSTAND ME? YES, SIR. OKAY, BACK TO YOU, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL, PLEASE BE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS COMPANY IS COMING AT THE REQUEST OF OUR STAFF. SO IF WE GET EXTRA NUMBERS, IT WON'T BE FROM THEM. IT WOULD BE FROM STAFF. SO DIRECT OUR COMMENTS TO OUR STAFF WITH ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION, OKAY.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO GET IT FROM. RIGHT? THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER BIRD.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME SOME AND THIS IS NOT TOWARDS YOU GUYS. IT'S JUST A QUESTION WITH WITH THE WITH THE CURRENT CONTRACT NOT BEING UPLOADED.

AND I BELIEVE THAT COUNCILWOMAN, EVERYONE HAVE BROUGHT UP VALID POINTS. I THINK THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO HAVE A SEPARATE MEETING TO TO FLESH OUT. AGAIN TO COUNCILMAN WATERS PASSIONATE PLEA. I DON'T KNOW WHAT NUMBERS PARKS AND RECS HAVE PRESENTED. I DON'T KNOW THAT I KNOW THIS COMPANY. I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH ON YOU, AND YOUR REPUTATION PRECEDES YOU. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE THE DRIVE HERE. BUT I WOULD I DO KNOW THE THE INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE MADE AS A CITY. AND I THINK TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, WE MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK. I BELIEVE COUNCILWOMAN HUGHES HAD A WONDERFUL POINT THAT MAYBE THE PARKS BOARD SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE DISCUSSION, BUT DEFINITELY WE SHOULD KNOW WHAT WHAT OUR STAFF. AND I WOULD THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE SINCE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR TWO YEARS, I WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD ALREADY HAVE NUMBERS, AND THE NUMBERS SHOULD ALREADY BE TWEAKED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW. TO YOUR POINT. IT'S NOT SOMETHING NEW TO THEM.

SO I WOULD I WOULD WANT TO SEE IF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO TO TABLE THIS ITEM. MADAM MAYOR, IF, IF THAT'S OKAY. SECOND. WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION. I'M SORRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. THIS IS JUST A RECOMMENDATION. AND THAT WILL BE UP TO THE COUNCIL IF THEY WANT TO ENTERTAIN THAT. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR WATERS HAD HIS LIGHT ON? WELL, YOU YOU BASICALLY ANSWERED WHAT I WAS OR REITERATE WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, BUT GO AHEAD, I'LL YIELD TO YOU. COUNCIL ON THE FLOOR. WE HAVE CONSIDERATION TO

[02:55:05]

IN A MORE APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL. IT'S BEEN ASKED FOR TO BE CONSIDERED TO TABLE THIS TO TABLE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM I NEED TO GET CONSENSUS. IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL IS WILLING TO ENTERTAIN. IF IT IS WE NEED A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. SO I'M GOING TO START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN. BUT FOR THE RECORD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR STAFF AND MANAGEMENT MANAGE THE FACILITY. BUT IF THE CONSENSUS IS TO TABLE IT, I'M GOOD WITH THAT. THANK YOU. YES YES YES YES. NO. AND I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES I'M A NO AS WELL. I DON'T I DON'T I DON'T NEED TO. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER LET ME LET ME CLARIFY WHAT WE'RE GETTING CONSENSUS ON.

WE'RE GETTING CONSENSUS ON IF THE COUNCIL WISHES TO ENTERTAIN TABLING THE MOTION. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE VOTING NO ON? THAT'S WHAT I'M VOTING NO ON. OKAY, COUNCILMAN WATERS, ARE YOU VOTING NO TO NOT ENTERTAIN TABLING IT TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY, SO WE DO HAVE CONSENSUS TO TABLE IT, SO WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, PLEASE. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE TABLE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM SO THAT WE COULD HEAR FROM OUR PARKS AND REC BOARD TO A DATE CERTAIN. YES. LET'S SAY LET'S JUST GENERALIZE IT AND MAKE IT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BECAUSE YOU'RE LIMITING IT TO ONLY THE PARKS AND REC BOARD. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE THIS IN ORDER TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMAN BYRD. AND THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND ENTERTAINING OUR QUESTIONS AND INDULGING US IN OUR CONVERSATION. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMAN BYRD, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CHISHOLM TO TABLE THIS ITEM TO REQUEST FURTHER INFORMATION FROM STAFF ON THIS AGENDA ITEM COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCIL. YES. OKAY. I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY. OKAY. THAT MOTION PASSES SIX ONE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER. YEAH, I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM AT SFC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DO HAVE MAYOR. I DO HAVE THE NUMBERS FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF IN TERMS OF THE EXPENDITURES, I DON'T HAVE THE REVENUE PROFORMA. SO WE WILL ASK THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE US SO WE CAN COMPARE APPLES WITH APPLES. THE NUMBERS THAT I HAVE OVER THE FOUR YEARS OR THE FIVE YEARS, DON'T, YOU KNOW, DON'T COMPARE. SO I WANT TO I WANT TO LOOK AT A FULL PROFORMA FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. AND MAYOR, MAY I CLARIFY ONE ITEM AND NOT TO THE PARKS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, JUST RESPONDING TO THE OTHER GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS. THE SEVEN NINE CO-OP PROCESS WAS A RIGOROUSLY, COMPETITIVELY BID PROCESS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT WAS OPEN TO ALL BIDDERS FOR RESPONSE, AND WE BID. WE WENT THROUGH THAT AND WERE SELECTED. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD THAT PROCESS WAS VERY COMPETITIVE AND COMPLIANT WITH TEXAS, AS WELL AS STATE LAW AROUND THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU. DULY NOTED.

[9. Consider authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with BLAKBAD for the execution of an artistic mural at the Aquatics and Recreation Center (ARC) at McCowan Park in an amount not to exceed $70,000.00]

HELLO, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL. YEAH, THIS IS REALLY AWKWARD, BUT I AM HERE ABOUT THE MURAL.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT I AM GOING TO FOCUS ON. WE STARTED THE PROCESS. ONE THING WE DID WITH THIS MURAL IS WE WORK WITH THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION. AND I THINK THERE WAS LIKE 237 K THAT WE TOOK FROM THE THIS PROJECT'S BUDGET SPECIFICALLY FOR ART, FOR, FOR ART AT THE, AT THE, AT THE ARC. AND SO WE DID THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT. AND SO, SO THAT WAS THERE. SO

[03:00:03]

BLACK BAD FOR THE EXECUTION OF AN ARTISTIC MURAL AT THE AQUATICS AND RECREATION CENTER AT MCALLEN PARK. OKAY. THAT'S IT. QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY CARDS ON THIS ITEM? NO.

OKAY. COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? YES. MR. WATERS, SO I HAVE A QUESTION. HOW BIG IS THIS? LIKE SIZE WISE? YOU HAVE THIS 26 BY 12. SO 26FT HIGH, 12FT. YES. THAT'S A THAT'S EXCELLENT I MEAN THAT'S BIG. SO WE'RE GETTING THAT FOR $70,000. YES SIR. DOES THAT INCLUDE INSTALLATION. IT'S 26 BY 18 OH 26 BY 18. EVEN BETTER. WE'LL COME UP. TOMORROW. IS THE ACTUAL ARTIST. YEAH. AND THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON PANELS.

SO IT'S NOT GOING TO ACTUALLY BE ON THE WALL. IT'S GOING TO BE ON ON PANELS OKAY. SO WE CAN MOVE IT IF NEED BE. OKAY I'M DOING ALL RIGHT. GOOD TO SEE YOU. I'M JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. MY MY QUESTION WAS THE SIZE OF IT. OH YEAH. YEAH. TELL ME AGAIN THE SIZE OF THE THE PAINTING. I'M SORRY SIR, CAN YOU TELL ME AGAIN THE SIZE OF THE PAINTING? ACCORDING TO CITY MANAGER, 26 OR 28 BY 18, I THINK YOU SAID LAST I SAW, I THINK THE WALL SIZE WAS LIKE 28 BY 18. BUT THE ACTUAL PAINTING SIZE IS A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, AND THAT INCLUDES INSTALLATION EVERYTHING. IS THAT RIGHT? THE PRICE THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE THE ARCHITECTS OF THE TEAM AND THE MANAGER TO FACILITATE. YEAH. APPLYING THE MATERIAL AND ACTUALLY PRE ASSEMBLING THE MATERIAL. RIGHT. SO THAT I CAN THEN DISASSEMBLE IT, TAKE IT TO A SITE, COMPLETE THE PAINTING AND BRING IT BACK AND REASSEMBLE IT. I MEAN THAT'S A GREAT PRICE, $30,000. YOU, YOU SHOWED US THAT OTHER THING TOO. THAT'S NOT THE GREEN IN THE DUNKIN. ALL THAT YOU, DUNCAN, THAT THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN WHAT THE $70,000 IS.

RIGHT. THAT WAS JUST THAT WAS A PART OF THE DESIGN FOR THE FACILITY. RIGHT. SO YES, IT IS

[03:05:01]

SO WE'RE KIND OF PAYING HIM MORE SO ON THE BACK END INITIALLY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO THAT'S SO SO BECAUSE IT KIND OF LOOKED LIKE HIS FIRST PAYMENT WAS LATE. THAT'S WHY BECAUSE HE'S DONE A MAJORITY. HE'S DONE MAJORITY OF HIS WORK. AND SO YOU SPOKE ABOUT BENCHMARKS AND METRICS THAT'LL GO THROUGH ME. I'LL BE MANAGING AND WORKING WITH HIM AS WELL AS THE CMAA WILL BE WORKING WITH HIM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER. THANK YOU. THE MURAL IS INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR BEING HERE AND FOR DOING. I HAVE A QUESTION, THOUGH. YOU SAID THAT YOU ENGAGED MEMBERS OF THE CULTURAL ARTS BOARD AND THE PARKS BOARD, AND WE JUST HAD. AND THE REASON THE ONLY REASON I'M ASKING IS, IS BECAUSE WE JUST HAD THAT THAT MEETING YESTERDAY THAT TALKED ABOUT PROCESSES AND, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M GOING TO HINGE ON PROCESS THAT. YEAH.

WELL, THERE'S A NEW DAY. AND SO BUT THE PROCESS THE PROCESS I WOULD THINK THAT ANYTIME WE'RE DOING PUBLIC ART WITHIN THE CITY OF DESOTO, LIKE WE DID THE MURAL OUTSIDE THE WALL, THERE WAS A WHOLE PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH. WAS IT WAS IT THE PRICE POINT THAT THIS ONE WAS DID NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THOSE PRICE POINT? I MEAN, THAT PROCESS IT. I DON'T KNOW IF WHEN I READ, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS THAT THE CULTURAL ARTS BOARD DID IT, AND THEN IT THEN WENT ON TO THE PARK BOARD. OR IF YOU JUST PICKED CERTAIN PEOPLE, WHAT WAS THE PROCESS? I GUESS IT'S PROBABLY A BETTER QUESTION. WAS, WAS THERE A BOARD THAT THE CULTURAL ARTS BOARD SAY, YES, THIS IS GREAT. AND THEN IT WENT TO THE PARK BOARD AND THEN THEY SECONDED.

OR DID YOU HAVE A HYBRID BOARD? YEAH. SO WE HAD A HYBRID BOARD. THE PROCESS LOOKED LIKE WE OUR PARTNER SMITHGROUP, AND I PUT OUT A SOLICITATION ON ART CAFE THAT WAS OUT FOR ABOUT 11 WEEKS.

AGAIN, HE STATED THAT THERE WERE 21 PEOPLE OR 21 ARTISTS THAT SUBMITTED FOR IT. WE WENT THROUGH AN INTERVIEW PROCESS TO PICK THE BIG THREE IS WHAT WE COINED THEM AS THE BIG THREE SUBMITTED ARTWORK TO US, THE BOARD LOOKED LIKE MEMBERS FROM THE. I'M GOING TO FUDGE THE NAME. I'M SORRY, IT'S THE ART COUNCIL. WE HAVE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO HAD SMITHGROUP AND KAI BECAUSE OF COURSE THEY'RE THE ARCHITECTS OF THE TEAM. AND THEN MYSELF WAS A PART OF THE PROCESS. AND THE ONLY PART THAT'S MISSING IS THE COUNCIL. SO. YEAH. AND CAN I, CAN I JUMP IN REAL QUICK NOW, NOW WE DID HAVE MISS NICOLE RAPHAEL. SHE WAS A PART OF IT WHEN SHE WAS ON, ON, ON CITY COUNCIL. AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT THAT THIS PIECE OF IT WAS ACTUALLY IN THE SCOPE OF SERVICE FOR THE ARCHITECTS. AND SO THAT'S THAT, THAT MADE IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. WE BUDGETED THE MONEY IN THE PROJECT, BUT WE MADE IT A PART OF THE ARCHITECT'S SCOPE OF SERVICE TO, TO TO PERFORM THIS ACTUAL SERVICE. RIGHT. AND I AND I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I'M NOT QUESTIONING ANY OF THAT. I JUST, I'M JUST I'M TALKING ABOUT PROCESSES IN THE WAY THAT WE'VE DONE THINGS IN THE PAST AND HOW MAYBE WE NEED TO EARMARK HOW WE

[03:10:02]

COUNCILMEMBER NORTH. YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWING US SUCH A ARTISTIC VISION HERE. MY QUESTION IS YOU MENTIONED THIS IS ON PANELS THAT ARE THAT WOULD BE INTERCHANGEABLE OR HOW HOW IS THAT WORK AS FAR AS THE INSTALLATION, PERHAPS YOU CAN SPEAK TO THE INSTALLATION. I'LL SPEAK SOMEWHAT TO THE INSTALLATION. THERE WAS A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD, BUT I POSED THE QUESTION IN IN THE EVENT, AND I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, I'VE DONE IT FOR A COUPLE MUNICIPALITIES. SO IT'S NOT NEW WORK FOR ME. BUT THE CHALLENGE IS IN THE EVENT THAT PERHAPS THE CITY WANTS TO PUT A NEW PIECE OF ARTWORK IN THE FUTURE, OR YOU NEED TO ACCESS SOMETHING IN THE WALL, AND YOU NEED TO REMOVE THE ARTWORK, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO DESTROY IT.

AND PENALIZING IT ALLOWS. IT ALLOWS YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO KEEP THE ARTWORK FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME AND ADJUST TO ANY NEEDS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. AS YOU KNOW, FOR THE FACILITY. AND SO THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR THE PANELING. AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. IT DOES. AND I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT, BECAUSE THE EASE OF IT BEING ON A PANEL AND THE ANTICIPATION OF FUTURE WORK. I'M CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED TO TAKE A LOOK AT MORE PIECES THAT SHOW MORE INCLUSIVE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, SO THAT THAT CAN ALSO BE DISPLAYED HERE IN THE ARC. YES, SIR. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF REALLY SHOWING THE SPINE OF THIS WALL. AND THAT'S WHERE WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE BASICALLY. AND THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR SOME DIVERSITY TO GO ALONG IN THE SPINE, THAT SPINE AREA THAT WE SEE RIGHT THERE. THANK YOU.

OKAY. DID I ANSWER IT? NO. OKAY. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER. HUGHES, I JUST WANT TO

[03:15:09]

COUNCILMAN WATERS, I JUST. BROOKS WRIGHT, YOUR LAST NAME? BROOKS. MAURA. MAURA. MAURA.

OKAY, SO WHEN YOU SAY PANELS, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT WHERE YOU HAVE, LIKE, LET'S SAY FOUR PANELS TO MAKE A BIG HOW MANY PANELS IS IT GOING TO BE AGAIN? IT'S GOING TO BE I THINK I THINK WE HAVE IT AT EIGHT PANELS EIGHT, 8 TO 12. I THINK IT'S 12 ACTUALLY 12 PANELS.

OKAY I GOTCHA OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU COUNCIL. AND THANK YOU, MR. MORROW. THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM HERE. I DO LOVE I DO LOVE THE ARTWORK. HOWEVER I HAVE A I'M I'M CHALLENGED HONESTLY WITH THE ENTIRE PROCESS AND RECEIVING THIS ITEM TONIGHT AND I'M GOING TO SHARE WHY WE JUST WRAPPED UP AN AGENDA ITEM WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WHEN WE'RE DECIDING THINGS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE, THAT ALL THE VOICES ARE AT THE TABLE. SO I HONESTLY FEEL LIKE BECAUSE WORK HAS BEEN DONE, FUNDS HAVE BEEN PAID, IT WAS EMBEDDED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WORK, WHICH I UNDERSTAND THAT NOW. HOWEVER, I WISH, I WISH THOSE ITEMS WOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND AGAIN, THAT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO TO SEARCH OUT THOSE DETAILS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS NOT EVEN AWARE UNTIL, YOU KNOW, JUST RECENTLY THAT THERE WAS EVEN GOING TO BE A MURAL INSIDE THE INSIDE OF THE ARC. AND SO TO NOT HAVE ANY INPUT ON THAT OTHER THAN TO VOTE ON IT TONIGHT, IT FEELS LIKE A MOOT POINT TO ME BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY DONE. I DON'T SEE US BACKTRACKING. WE'VE ALREADY PAID. HE'S ALREADY DONE WORK. SO HONESTLY, VOTING ON THIS TONIGHT HONESTLY FEELS LIKE A MOOT POINT. WHETHER I LIKED IT OR NOT. WE WE'RE WE'RE PRETTY FAR DOWN THE ROAD TO TO TRY TO MAKE A TURN AT THIS JUNCTURE. AND I THINK IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT WITH ANY OF THESE PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY WITH DESOTO IN THE RECENT YEARS, YOU KNOW, REALLY EMBRACING PUBLIC ART, THAT THE COMMUNITY, THE VOICES ARE AT THE TABLE WHEN WE'RE DECIDING WHAT THESE THINGS LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN THE ARC AND FEEL LIKE I HAD A HAND IN THE ARTWORK THAT'S IN THERE, ALONG WITH OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ALONG WITH THE PARKS BOARD AND THESE OTHER BOARDS, BUT ESPECIALLY THE COUNCIL, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE DECISION LIES WITH US HERE TONIGHT, AND IT JUST FEELS LIKE IT'S REALLY A MUTE POINT. AND THERE WERE JUST, YOU KNOW, BEING ASKED TO RUBBER STAMP SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY DOWN. AND I WOULD I, I, I JUST PERSONALLY WOULDN'T REQUEST AND ASK FOR US TO PIVOT BASED ON THAT. I'M JUST ASKING MOVING FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION. I DO TAKE SOLACE IN THE FACT THAT IT IS PANELS. SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE INTERCHANGEABLE. THAT WAS MY FEAR IS THAT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING MORE PERMANENT THAT WOULD MAKE MAKE CHANGING THE ARTWORK OUT MORE DIFFICULT. SO I DO TAKE SOLACE IN THAT. AND AGAIN, I LOVE THE ARTWORK. I THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S SPECTACULAR. I JUST WANT US AGAIN TO CONSIDER, SINCE WE'RE IN THE VEIN OF PROCESSES, TO TAKE THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION, SO THAT, AGAIN, WE ALL CONTINUE TO HAVE A VOICE IN SHAPING IT. CONSIDERING THE PASSION THAT WE'VE EXHIBITED HERE TONIGHT ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FEELS HEARD AND INCLUDED IN WHAT HAPPENS SPECIFICALLY HERE WITH THE ARC. AND SO WITH THAT SAID COUNCIL, I DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL LIGHTS. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER. THANK YOU, MISS JOHNSON. ALL OF YOU, ALL MR. DOCTOR, YOU KNOW YOU KNOW I KNOW YOUR NAME IS WITH BLAKE. HE KNOWS I KNOW HIS NAME. YES, DOCTOR. BUFORD. AND TO AGAIN TO THE ARTIST AND ALL OF THOSE AGAIN WHO WHO'VE WORKED SO HARD TO GET US TO THIS POINT. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. I THINK IT'S A LEGACY PROJECT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT AS MUCH AS WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL AND TO MAKE IT VERY UNIQUE WITH SUCH ARTWORK AS THIS, I THINK IS GREAT. SO AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMAN BYRD, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME

[I. EXECUTIVE SESSION AND RESULTING POTENTIAL ACTION (AS NEEDED) a. The City Council will convene into executive session pursuant to Section 551.071(2) of the Texas Government Code for the purpose of seeking confidential legal advice from the City Attorney regarding the Citizen Appearances portion of the Agenda. b. Reconvene into Regular Session c. Take any action as a result of Executive Session.]

[03:20:03]

IS THAT ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE TABLE OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION TO THE NEXT.

LET'S BRING IT BACK. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING. SO AT THIS TIME COUNCIL I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. SECOND IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. SECOND BY COUNCIL. EXCUSE ME MAYOR PRO TEM CHISM TO ADJOURN COUNCIL.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YO

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.