Feb 12, 2026 Economic Development

[00:00:01]

LET ME START THAT OVER. QUORUM BEING PRESENT.

[A. Call to Order]

WE ASK YOU TO GIVE US GRACE AND MERCY. WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US GUIDANCE, CONTINUE TO GIVE US PEACE.

AND YOUR SON JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DIRECTOR JONES, FOR THAT WONDERFUL PRAYER. AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, LET ME DO A ROLL CALL HERE.

VICE PRESIDENT FELICIA PEARSON. HERE. SECRETARY TREASURER.

AKILAH. WALLACE. PRESENT. DOCTOR. MICHAELA HERNDON.

DIRECTOR. MARK JONES, PRESENT. DOCTOR. AHMAD GARRETT PRICE.

DIRECTOR JAMES PRUITT. AND I'M MICHAEL BALDWIN.

SO THAT'S IT ALL BEING PRESENT. LET'S PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[C. Consent Agenda]

BUT LET ME READ DOWN, FRANKLY, THE AGENDA. SO TONIGHT WE HAVE CONSENT AGENDA.

WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

WE'RE NOW GOING TO PULL THE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION TONIGHT THAT'S GOING TO BE PULLED.

AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE BOARD AND LIAISON ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPDATES.

AND THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR MEETING. AT THE END OF THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY EVERYONE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. AND LET ME READ THOSE. WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 13TH, 2025 REGULAR BOARD MEETING. CONSIDER APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 9TH AND 10TH, 2026 DDC BOARD RETREAT.

CONSIDER APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 23RD, 2026 SPECIAL CALL BOARD MEETING AND CONSIDER APPROVING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2025. HAVING READ THAT AND EVERYONE HAVING READ THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IF SO, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE MINUTES AND THE AGENDA.

IT'S BEEN MOVED. CAN I GET A SECOND? I SECOND IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS WAS STATED.

AND ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY NAYS? THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. AS WE PROCEED FORWARD, WE MOVE INTO OUR NEW BUSINESS ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION.

[D.1. Finance Status Report for November & December 202]

AND. GOOD EVENING BOARD. I'M SORRY. MR. SUTTON, OUR INTERIM DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FINANCIAL SERVICES WILL SHARE THAT WITH US.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SO LET ME SAY BEAR WITH US. THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME SITTING IN THIS POSITION.

SO IT'S A LEARNING PROCESS AS WELL. SURE THING.

ARE WE READY? YES. OKAY. WELL, FIRST WE HAVE YOUR DECEMBER 2025 FINANCIAL REPORT.

AS WE KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF OUR REVENUE IS GOING TO BE THROUGH SALES TAX FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.

THOSE SALES TAX ACTUALLY WENT BACK TO FISCAL YEAR 25 AS THEY DO NORMALLY.

YOUR WELL, EVERY YEAR YOUR SALES TAX REVENUE IS GOING TO START COMING IN IN DECEMBER.

SO FOR THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE DDC, REVENUE IS $3,006,250.

AS OF THE END OF NOVEMBER, WE HAD COLLECTED THOUSAND $166.

SO WE WERE AT 2% COLLECTION ON OUR REVENUE, COMPARED TO 1.9% THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

[00:05:02]

YOU HAVE YOUR PERSONNEL COSTS THERE, AS WELL AS REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS FOR DDC.

OUR EXPENDITURES BUDGETED FOR THE YEAR WERE $5,304,001.

AS OF THE END OF NOVEMBER, THE ACTUAL WAS $123,571.

SO WE WERE AT 2.3% ON OUR EXPENDITURES. SO STARTING OUT SLOW THERE COMPARED TO 4.4% LAST NOVEMBER.

YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER.

I'M SORRY, AS OF NOVEMBER 30TH. THERE WE TRACK YOUR ASSETS, YOUR LIABILITIES AND YOUR FUND BALANCE FOR THE CURRENT PERIOD, AS WELL AS THE ACCOUNT BALANCE. IN TOTALITY. YOUR TOTAL FUND BALANCE $11,096,056.12 AS OF THE END OF NOVEMBER. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ON NOVEMBER, I CAN MOVE INTO DECEMBER.

I HAVE A QUESTION. SURE. GOING BACK TO THE I'LL JUST CALL IT, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, PERSONNEL, THE ACTUAL CURRENT YEAR TO DATE VERSUS THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

SO IT WAS 123, 751 VERSUS THE 84 574 LAST YEAR.

NO, IT'S COVERING THE SAME PERIOD. OR AM I MIXING APPLES AND ORANGES? OH, NO. SO FOR THAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT THE THE PRIOR YEAR MONTH ACTUAL.

SO FOR THE MONTH. OH, JUST FOR THE MONTH. OKAY.

SO FOR ONE YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IS THE YEAR TO DATE.

SO FOR THIS YEAR YEAR TO DATE IS 123,000 VERSUS LAST YEAR VERSUS THE 130.

THAT'S WHY YOU SAID SLOW. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU.

SURE. WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS DO WE HAVE FOR NOVEMBER? THANK YOU. OKAY. SO WE MOVE INTO THE DECEMBER FINANCIALS.

AND THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE MORE OF OUR REVENUE START TO COME IN.

AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE RECEIVED OUR FIRST MONTH OF SALES TAX IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

ALSO, THE MONTH OF DECEMBER MARKS OUR FIRST QUARTER.

SO WE'RE 25% INTO THE FISCAL YEAR AT THIS POINT.

THE BUDGET OF THE $3,006,250. AND OF THAT, WE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED $418,251. THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS FROM THE SALES TAX THAT WE GOT FOR FOR IN FOR DECEMBER, AS WELL AS YEAR TO DATE, $85,000 WORTH OF INTEREST REVENUE.

SO WE'RE STILL VERY PLEASED WITH INTEREST REVENUES RIGHT NOW TOO.

AS WE KNOW, THE FEDS HAVE LOWERED RATES A COUPLE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR, BUT WE STILL CONTINUE TO INVEST DOLLARS IN LATTER INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS CDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE'RE STILL PLEASED WITH WITH WHAT WE HAVE SO FAR.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT 85,001 75 PUTS US AT 34% ON INTEREST ALREADY THIS EARLY IN THE FISCAL YEAR, COMPARED TO 52% THIS TIME LAST YEAR. THAT'S NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE CHANGE IN THE RATES.

SO WE ARE STILL INVESTING IN LADDERING THOSE CDS FOR YOU GUYS.

SO TOTAL ON REVENUE, WE HAVE 13.9% COMPARED TO 12.4% LAST YEAR.

SO THAT'S LOOKING REALLY GOOD ON OUR PERSONNEL.

THOSE CATEGORIES ARE LISTED. THERE ARE SALARIES INSURANCE, THINGS LIKE THAT FOR EXPENDITURES.

ALL OF THOSE ARE LISTED RIGHT THERE UP TOP. AND THEN UNDER THAT, OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS EXPENSES.

TOTAL EXPENDITURES BUDGETED 5.3 MILLION. AND YEAR TO DATE.

AT THE END OF DECEMBER, WE SPENT 205,000. WE WERE ONLY AT 3.9% OF OUR EXPENDITURES IN THE MONTH OF IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, COMPARED TO 13.6% THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

LOOKS LIKE THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE THERE IS IN PERSONNEL.

PERSONNEL EXPENSE THIS TIME LAST YEAR WAS 94,880 ON SALARIES ALONE, WHEREAS THIS YEAR WE WERE SOMEWHAT LOWER THAN THAT. SO WE WERE AT 15.2% COMPARED TO 18.9%.

AND YOU CAN SEE IF YOU LOOK AT THE VERY LAST COLUMN THERE THAT GIVES YOU THE PERCENTAGE ON EACH ONE OF THOSE AREAS.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR, AND THEN THE CURRENT PERCENTAGE TWO COLUMNS OVER.

SO YOU CAN DO A COMPARISON THERE TO SEE WHAT CATEGORIES WERE LOWER THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

[00:10:08]

OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES. THIS TIME LAST YEAR WE'RE ALREADY AT 23%.

WHEREAS THIS THIS SO FAR INTO THIS YEAR WE'RE WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR THAT AS WELL AS YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME THINGS ARE COMING FORWARD TO BE PAID AT INTERVALS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE PAID UPFRONT, WHEREAS SOMETIMES WE'RE BILLED A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE YEAR.

SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON THERE WITH CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.

BUT AGAIN, YOUR CATEGORIES ARE LISTED THERE FOR YOUR FOR YOUR VIEWING.

WELL, IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY, WE HAD A GRANT LAST YEAR FOR 187 FIVE.

IS THAT MAKING A DIFFERENCE HERE TO ARE YOU LOOKING AT GRANTS AND SPONSORSHIPS OR BUSINESS GRANTS? BUSINESS GRANTS? YES. CORRECT. YES. SO YEAR TO DATE WILL BUDGETED 335,000.

PRIOR YEAR. MONTH. YEAH. PRIOR YEAR 187,000. AND SO, YOU KNOW, 0% COMPARED TO 14.6%.

YOU KNOW, THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE CUMULATIVE PERCENTAGE AS WELL.

SO YEAH, I THINK I THINK THESE ARE NORMAL THE MOST OF THESE LIKE I SAID, I THINK THEY HAVE TO DO WITH A LITTLE BIT OF PERSONNEL AND THEN A LITTLE BIT OF THE TIMING OF THE INVOICING THAT WE RECEIVE.

I HAD A QUESTION IF WE POSSIBLY EVEN KNOW. JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE.

IT SEEMS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT BUDGET LINE ITEM HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT FOR THE YEAR, SO I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S TIED TO JUST THE TIMING OF THE BILLING.

THIS YEAR, I KNOW THAT FOR A LOT OF OUR COMPUTER SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE, THEY DID BUILD US IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR.

SO AS THE YEAR GOES ON, YOU KNOW, SO SINCE WE'VE SPENT THE MAJORITY OF THAT EARLY IN THE YEAR, IT'LL IT'LL EVEN OUT AS WE GO OUT THE FISCAL YEAR BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY SPENT A BIG CHUNK OF IT ALREADY.

AND THOSE THOSE ARE ANNUAL ONE TIME COSTS. SO SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND THAT EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME.

OKAY. YES, ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE EVEN WITH ON THIS CITY FINANCIALS AS WELL.

TYLER MUNIS THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT WE UTILIZE, THEY BUILD THE CITY AS WELL IN OCTOBER.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ALSO INCLUDED FOR YOU HERE IS THE DPD FINANCIALS.

INCLUDE THOSE FOR YOU GUYS EVERY MONTH AS WELL.

AGAIN DECEMBER WAS THE FIRST MONTH THAT WE RECEIVED THE SALES TAX FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 THERE.

THAT'S LOOKING GOOD AS WELL. 11% ON THAT COMPARED TO 10.2% THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

AND ALSO YOUR BALANCE SHEET. SO YOUR BALANCE SHEET HAS ALL YOUR ASSETS LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCE LISTED THERE AS WELL.

AS OF THE END OF DECEMBER, YOUR FUND BALANCE WAS $9,541,977.

SO THE DDC IS IN VERY GOOD FINANCIAL SHAPE. WE'RE PLEASED WITH WHERE WE ARE SO FAR.

I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. SO IF WE GO BACK TO THE PNL SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE OUR SALES TAX ARE INCREASING.

DO WE KNOW WHY THAT'S A BIG JUMP? WELL THAT'S JUST A PERCENTAGE THAT WE RECEIVED.

SO FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, THESE ARE SALES TAX FROM SEPTEMBER AT THIS POINT.

AND SO D.C. GETS THEIR QUARTER PORTION OF WHAT THE CITY RECEIVES.

SO THAT IS THAT IS WHAT WE RECEIVE FOR THE MONTH.

OKAY. AND THEN WITH THE BALANCE SHEET. SO IT'S THE BALANCE SHEET HAS BEEN REDUCED BY 2 MILLION OR A LITTLE OVER 2 MILLION.

LET'S SEE. LET ME PULL UP NOVEMBER AGAIN.

SO FOR NOVEMBER YES YOU'RE CORRECT. AND THE DIFFERENCE THERE IS IN THE LIABILITIES.

WE DO HAVE THE WAY OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM IS SET UP WHEN WE DO ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, IT ALL GOES THROUGH THE CITY, RIGHT? SO IT ALL GOES THROUGH THE CITY BANK ACCOUNT.

BUT ON THE BACK END, WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE DDC BECAUSE IT'S ITS OWN ENTITY.

SO IF YOU LOOK IN THAT SECTION, THERE IS A LINE ITEM THAT SAYS DUE TO DDC.

THAT MEANS DUE TO DUE FROM THE GENERAL FUND. SO WE'RE WE'RE EXCHANGING MONEY AS WE NEED TO WHEN OUR BANK, WHEN OUR BANK IN THE CITY PAYS DDC BILLS, DDC HAS TO RECOUP THAT TO THE CITY.

[00:15:03]

YEAH. SO AND THAT'S THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT BECAUSE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL BE LISTED THERE EVERY MONTH.

SO THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO LOOK AT. YOU HAVE DUE TO DPD TO THE, THE PARKS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND THEN YOU HAVE A LINE THAT'S DUE TO, DUE FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

SO WHERE IT HAS FOR THE NET CHANGE FOR THE PERIOD AND WE HAVE ZERO THERE.

WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE TERM OF THAT PERIOD? IS THAT 30 DAYS? IS THAT 60 DAYS? WHAT IS THAT? THAT IS FOR THAT CURRENT MONTH.

THAT CURRENT MONTH. OKAY. THANK YOU. YES. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS.

THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY.

AS WE PROGRESS FORWARD NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN UPDATE OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION.

[D.2. Parks and Recreation Board Updates]

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING. APPRECIATE YOU.

AND LET ME JUST SAY, THIS IS A AN ONGOING COLLABORATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. AND AS WE ALIGN OUR PROCESS OF OF GROWTH AND WORKING COLLABORATIVELY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

THAT'S TO ENHANCE THAT COLLABORATION. THANKS FOR THE INVITATION.

I APPRECIATE IT, MICHAEL. COMING TO OUR MEETING LAST WEEK AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL CONTINUE THAT PROCESS.

OBVIOUSLY, THE BIG PROJECT FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS THE THE PARK AND RECREATION CENTER.

THAT'S ALMOST IT'S GOING TO BE READY TO GO ON TIME IN APRIL.

WE ARE THE BIG THING PUSH RIGHT NOW IS TO GET BOTH MARKETING AND PROGRAMING TOGETHER FOR THAT CENTER.

SO WE NEED EVERYBODY ALL HANDS ON DECK PUSHING TO MAKE SURE THAT'S A SUCCESS.

WE'VE LAUNCHED A WEBSITE AT DESOTO, TEXAS GOVERNING BODY AND IF YOU DO THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY, ANY OF YOU GUYS GONE TO THAT SITE. ALL RIGHT, WELL, IF YOU GO TO IT, IT TAKES YOU RIGHT TO THE THE ASK.

IT SETS FORTH, SHOWS YOU THAT IT HAS THE LIST FOR HOW TO JOIN.

THE THING ABOUT EXPLAINS WHAT THE ARC IS ABOUT.

GIVES YOU A LITTLE OVERVIEW. YOU CAN TOUR THE ARC RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE TOURS SET UP, SO GO TO THAT SITE. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SET UP A TOUR FOR YOURSELF TO GO AND SEE THAT IT'S A TRULY FIRST CLASS FACILITY, AND WE REALLY NEED TO BE PUSHING IT. EVERYBODY IN DESOTO NEEDS TO BE PUSHING IT BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG, BIG TAXPAYER EXPENSE. SO THE OTHER THINGS WE'VE BEEN ARE GETTING READY TO DO IS WE'RE LAUNCHING COMMERCIALS.

THEY'RE GOING TO LAUNCH A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CLEAR CHANNEL DIGITAL BILLBOARDS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE ADS AT THE BB MOVIE THEATER WITH BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER MOVIES.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY POP UP EVENTS AND WE'LL DO SOME TV STREAMING.

WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT GOING ON 25% OFF THE REGULAR RATES.

AND THE RATES ARE VERY REASONABLE IF YOU ACTUALLY GO AND CHECK THEM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE THEY'RE ACTUALLY NOT BAD FROM IF YOU HAVE TO EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO PAY THE FULL RATE. BUT IT'S VERY REASONABLE IF YOU GET A 25% OFF.

AND WE'RE THERE IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOLS, SPORTING EVENTS, LEAGUES, HEALTHCARE AND WELLNESS GROUPS, CORPORATE WELLNESS PROGRAMS, TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS, REGIONAL SWIM PROGRAMS AND EVENT ORGANIZERS. OF COURSE, WHAT WE WOULD NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH IS TRYING TO GET BUILD UP IN BOTH INTERIM AND LONG TERM AROUND THE AQUATIC CENTER. WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING PEOPLE THERE.

WE NEED SOMETHING FOR THEM TO, YOU KNOW, EATING AND OTHER THINGS.

SO WHATEVER YOU GUYS CAN DO TO ASSIST US IN BUILDING UP THAT AREA.

THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, REALLY THE BIG THE BIG ASK FOR US IS FROM THE PARKS, FROM THE PARKS BOARD. SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME.

YEAH. I'D LIKE TO ASK, DO YOU HAVE A FORMAL RIBBON CUTTING OR GRAND OPENING SCHEDULED? IT'S IT'S TENTATIVELY SET FOR APRIL. EITHER 10TH OR 11TH.

[00:20:02]

IT'S ACTUALLY APRIL 11TH. OKAY. THANK YOU. SIR.

I HAVE A QUESTION. HOW MANY JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR THAT FACILITY? IS IT NEW JOBS, OR ARE WE GOING TO MOVE PEOPLE FROM ONE? WHAT'S WHAT'S THE PLAN THERE? WELL, I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION.

I THINK A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE MOVING FROM THE LOCAL FROM DOWN HERE, UP THERE.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO THEY ALSO NEED NEW STAFF AND I.

I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS ON THAT, BUT THERE WILL BE NEW STAFF.

DEFINITELY. YOU HAVE ROUGHLY? YEAH, ROUGHLY. ORIGINALLY IT WAS ABOUT 44 POSITIONS.

I THINK WE'RE UP TO ABOUT 53 POSITIONS, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE MOVING FROM EXISTING POSITIONS.

SO WHAT? WE CAN GET YOU THAT NUMBER TO BE EXACT.

THANK YOU. AND FULL TIME. PART TIME? YES. THAT MAKES PEOPLE WILL BE RECEIVING BENEFITS.

IT'S A COMBINATION. YES. THANKS. OKAY. AND IF YOU ASK ME TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK, I'LL.

I WILL CHECK ON THAT FIGURE FOR YOU AS WELL. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? OKAY. SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, IF I MAY PLEASE, SIR.

SO AS WE TALK ABOUT THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE TWO AND REALIZING THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE MILESTONES THAT WILL COME INTO PLAY THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS SO THAT WE LOOK AT WHAT'S SURROUNDING THE AQUATIC CENTER AND IN A TIMELY FASHION.

WE PROBABLY NEED TO BE THINKING MORE COHESIVELY HOW WE, AS WE'RE WORKING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN BOTH BOARDS THAT WE PLAN OUR MISSION, OUR VISITS, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE LIKE SOONER THAN LATER.

SO THAT, I MEAN, SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF CUT TO THE CHASE ON THAT, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A GREAT NEED, CERTAINLY WHEN PEOPLE START UTILIZING IT. TO YOUR POINT, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AMENITIES SURROUNDING IT, WE JUST NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE STRATEGIZE MORE EFFECTIVELY AND BRINGING TIME TO MARKET TO TO FRUITION, FRANKLY. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO WORK AND WORK WITH CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND WITH I THINK COUNCILMAN, WATERS HAD TALKED ABOUT, AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT TAKING A TOUR, A PLANNING TOUR, AND DETERMINING WHAT OUR PROS AND CONS ARE AND HOW WE BEGIN TO NAVIGATE SOONER THAN LATER NOW.

YEAH, THAT'LL BE A GREAT IDEA. IF WE CAN GET, GET, GET TOGETHER AND START WORKING ON ON PUTTING TOGETHER A TIME WHEN THAT COULD OCCUR, RIGHT, SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO US, WHAT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO US, AND WHAT THE PATHWAY NEEDS TO BECOME TO MAKE THIS A HOLISTIC APPROACH. SO YEAH. SO THANK YOU. OKAY. YES, SIR.

MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY ADD THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT.

I THINK FOR FOR YOU AND THE PARK BOARD PRESIDENT, I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MEET WITH ALSO THE COUNCIL LIAISON, COUNCIL MEMBER BIRD, AS WELL AS THE MAYOR. THERE HAS BEEN OPPORTUNITIES.

SEVERAL ENTITIES HAVE REACHED OUT TO US. SO WE'RE ACTUALLY SETTING UP A MEETING WITH YOU.

THE, THE PARKS CHAIR, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER BIRD AND AND THE MAYOR AS AN INITIAL MEETING TO, TO LOOK AT REALLY THE IDEA OF A COMPREHENSIVE MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN, NOT NOT A PLANNING DOCUMENT, BUT AN ACTUAL MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL BE SETTING UP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR US TO DISCUSS.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE DIFFERENT BOARDS AND OF COURSE, THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THAT.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO START.

AND I THINK CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IS ARRANGING FOR THAT MEETING.

YEAH. MR. CITY MANAGER HOW MUCH OF THIS IS GOING TO BE COVERED IN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING THAT'S COMING UP SHORTLY? OVERALL, OVERALL IS IS IT'S GOING TO COVER KIND OF THE 50,000 FOOT LEVEL.

IT'S NOT GOING TO GO INTO ANY DETAILS UNTIL WE ACTUALLY MEET AND THEN BRING IT TO THE DIFFERENT BOARDS.

I THINK THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS GOING TO GIVE YOU THE GOAL OR THE OBJECTIVE OR THE STRATEGY ITSELF, BUT THEN ON ON THE INTRICACIES OR THE DETAILS, IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PARK BOARD, THE, THE DDC BOARD, AS WELL AS THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO I'D LIKE TO ADD WITH MICHAEL AND THE CHAIR AND THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN BYRD, WHILE THIS

[00:25:05]

WE'RE WE'RE ON THE BACK DOOR OF GLENN HEIGHTS.

WHY WOULDN'T WE INVOLVE THEM IN THE PLANNING OF.

WE'RE ON THE EDGE OF SUMMER SCHOOL WILL BE OUT IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS.

THE EXPEDITIOUSNESS OF TIME IS NOT ON YOUR ON YOUR SIDE SO THAT THOSE MEETINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN PRETTY QUICKLY, DON'T YOU THINK? IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN APRIL, APRIL 11TH IS THE THE RIBBON CUTTING? IS THAT WHAT I HEARD? CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. AND SO YOU'RE STILL WORKING ON PROGRAMING WHILE YOU ARE SOLICITING PEOPLE TO TO JOIN AND BECOME MEMBERS.

CORRECT. THAT'S WHAT I HEARD ALSO. AND THERE'S DISCOUNTS AND ALL THAT.

THE CAMPAIGN OF SAYING THAT WE'RE NOW HERE. AND WHILE THIS END OF THE SOTO WE'LL HEAR ABOUT IT.

WE SHOULD BE BROADCASTING IT ABOUT 20 MILES ON EACH SIDE OF IT.

YEAH. I MEAN, THERE ARE GOING TO BE I KNOW ON THE BOOKS IS TO DO BILLBOARDS ON 35 AND 67.

SO THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICE ON BOARD.

BUT I CAN'T DISAGREE WITH YOU THAT WE WE NEED TO DO MORE MARKETING.

AND WE'RE, WE'RE DISCUSSING THAT WITH, WITH THE, WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEHIND A LITTLE BIT ON THE MARKETING, SO WE NEED TO GET CATCH UP WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE ARE. THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS MOVE FORWARD FROM THIS POINT FORWARD.

AND I'M SURE THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS HAS TOLD ME THEY'RE GOING TO HELP US AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR ASSISTANCE. CHAIR, IF I CAN ADD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MARKETING STRATEGY.

YES, MA'AM. SO ONCE THE COUNCIL GAVE DIRECTION TO THE CITY THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THE ARC, WE MOVE FORWARD ON OCTOBER 22ND AND WE STARTED THE MARKETING.

SO THE BILLBOARDS THAT THE CHAIR IS REFERENCING, THEY ARE LIVE AND THEY ARE ON HIGHWAY 20 AND 45 AND THE STREAMING FOR THE FOR THE VIDEO AT THE MOVIE THEATER.

IT'S GOING TO START ON THE 23RD. WE HAVE ENGAGED SEVERAL OF THE OF THE SCHOOLS AND STAKEHOLDERS.

SO WE HAVE BEEN MEETING THE ACTUAL PROGRAMING IS IN PLACE.

WE ARE GOING TO BE OFFERING ABOUT 60 DIFFERENT CLASSES THROUGHOUT THE THE YEAR IT'S GOING TO CHANGE.

WHAT I CAN DO, I CAN ACTUALLY SEND A WEBSITE WHERE WE HAVE ALL THE MEMOS THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

IT ACTUALLY SHOWS EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE OCTOBER 22ND, SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN GET AN IDEA OF NOT ONLY THE MARKETING, BUT THE MAINTENANCE, THE RFP THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, THE HIRING FAIR THAT WE HAD, AND THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE HIRED.

THAT WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED BECAUSE AS MUCH COMMUNICATION AS WE CAN HAVE, AS WE'RE THINKING STRATEGICALLY, ALSO IN ALIGNMENT, IT ALLOWS US TO BROADEN OUR THOUGHT PROCESS.

SO SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WHEN WE HAVE THE RIBBON CUTTING APRIL 11TH, THAT WE'RE THINKING BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND, SOME OF THOSE POTENTIAL DEVELOPERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE REACHING OUT TO, THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT MOMENT AND INVITE EVERYONE SO THAT THEY CAN SEE AND THEY CAN START THINKING.

THEY CAN SEE THE PROGRESSION THAT'S HAPPENING.

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? NOW WE'RE CREATING THAT PARALLEL PATH OF DISCUSSION.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE US ALL TO RALLY AROUND THAT FRANKLY.

ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OBSERVATIONS. I JUST WANT TO ADD A POINT OF OF REALLY PRIVILEGE FOR US.

THE MAYOR IS GOING TO MEET WITH FIFA REPRESENTATIVES TOMORROW.

FIFA IS VERY INTERESTED IN DOING A MINI PITCH, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE A, ALMOST LIKE A MINIATURE SOCCER FIELDS.

AND THE ARC IS ONE OF THE AREAS AS WELL AS GRIMES PARK IS ANOTHER AREA THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

AND THAT'S THAT'S TRUE AGAIN THROUGH FIFA. FIFA WANTS TO NOT ONLY PARTICIPATE, BUT WANTED TO INVEST IN THE ARC AND IN THE CITY.

SO WE'LL SEE WHERE WHERE THAT LEADS US TOMORROW.

AND HOPEFULLY IT'S IT'S WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FIFA ORGANIZING COMMITTEE.

SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT US VERY SERIOUSLY RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. CITY MANAGER. THAT'S THAT'S EXCITING NEWS BECAUSE SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS.

AND SO WHEN YOU START HAVING ONE LOOK AT IT, THEN EVERYONE ELSE WANTS TO LOOK AT IT.

AND TO THAT VERY OBSERVATION, I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT WE THINK ABOUT COLLECTIVELY, SOME OF THE TYPES OF CONCEPTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SURROUNDING THE AQUATIC CENTER, WHAT TYPE OF RETAIL,

[00:30:05]

NOTHING ELSE, JUST TO SEE. AND I THINK THAT'S THAT SHOULD BE A PART OF OUR STRATEGY PLANNING, IF YOU WILL. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE FOR MR. COLE? ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE APPRECIATE IT. GREAT UPDATE.

OKAY. WE'VE PULLED THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE.

[D.3. Status update following the January DDC Board Retrea]

IT'S NOT UP THERE. OKAY, SO AS EVERYONE KNOWS, WE HAD OUR DDC BOARD RETREAT JANUARY THE 9TH AND 10TH OF THIS YEAR. AND IN THAT RETREAT, THAT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT ENTAILED THE CITY MANAGER AND AND AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THE MAYOR AND THE. ALL OF THE COUNCIL JOINED US.

AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL RETREAT. AND AS AN END RESULT, THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THAT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT PROGRESSING FORWARD WITH. SO SLIGHT CHANGE IN OUR TIMELINE.

I WANT TO KIND OF TALK TO THAT WITH THE FACT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT BRINGING ON A NEW DIRECTOR FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE MET, I SHOULD SAY THAT CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MET WITH STRATEGIES WHO ACTUALLY LED THE SESSIONS FOR US AND TALKED ABOUT HOW WE NOT BACK UP TO GET AHEAD, BUT SLOW PACE JUST A MINUTE UNTIL WE FINISH ALL OF OUR INTERVIEWING PROCESSES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO GO FORWARD WITH THE REPLACEMENT THE DIRECTOR'S POSITION, SO STAFFING TRANSITIONS DIRECTOR INTERVIEWS ARE SCHEDULED FOR THE WEEK OF THE 16TH.

IT STARTS MONDAY, AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS INTERVIEWS WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK TO FILL.

THAT'S A TYPO THAT SAYS LIAISON ROLE SHOULD SAY MANAGER'S ROLE OR DIRECTOR'S ROLE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.

NEXT ONBOARDING APPROACH THE PLAN TO INVOLVE THE FINALIST OR NEW DIRECTOR IN A BRIEFING WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, DDC CHAIR AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE CONTINUITY.

SO THAT WILL BE THE GROUP THAT WILL BE MEETING WITH THE INTERVIEWEES, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE POSITION.

NEXT WE HAVE OUR STRATEGIC FOCUS AND AND LET ME BACK UP TO THAT OTHER ONE.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FIVE CANDIDATES THAT HAVE TAKEN A CLOSE LOOK AT THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND IT LOOKS VERY PROMISING FROM THEIR STANDPOINT.

AND WE THINK FROM OUR STANDPOINT WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD CANDIDATES TO CONSIDER IN THE PROCESS.

NEXT, THE STRATEGIC FOCUS REFINEMENTS THERE'S A STRONG EMPHASIS ON I-35 CORRIDOR OPPORTUNITIES, OF WHICH WE JUST KIND OF DISCUSSED, AND LARGELY INDUSTRY PROSPECTS, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN MEDICAL AND HEALTH SECTOR CLUSTERS AS WELL, IF YOU WILL. SO AS WE LOOK AT THE I-35 CORRIDOR, AS WE LOOK AT THE AQUATIC CENTER, AS WE LOOK AT THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD DURING THE RETREAT, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AREA BEING SUCH A PROMINENT AREA FOR US.

SO MORE STRATEGIC FOCUS WILL COME IN THAT FORMAT TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE ATTACK THAT OPPORTUNITY.

NEXT WE HAVE THE POLICY AND INCENTIVES THAT THEY WILL PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY WITH EMBEDDED IN INCENTIVE GUIDELINES, RATHER THAN A STAND ALONE DOCUMENT, NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED.

SO THAT DISCUSSION HAS HAPPENED. AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON BRINGING THAT TO THE TABLE SO THAT WE'RE CLEARLY, CLEARLY ALIGNED WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US.

EXCUSE ME. IN OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, OUR COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING DIRECTOR JONES IS KIND OF REFERENCED THAT AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS PLAN IS NEEDED SEPARATE FROM CITYWIDE EFFORTS IMPROVING REPORTING PROCESSES TO THE COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME DURING THE RETREAT DISCUSSING THAT SUBJECT MATTER, SO THAT WE'LL BE A GREAT DEAL OF FOCUS ON THAT THAT WE BRING THAT TO

[00:35:07]

AND THEN WE HAVE DELIVERY DELIVERABLE TIMELINES.

THE TEAM WILL PREPARE CONCISE FRAMING, ONE PAGER AND SUPPORTING SLIDES BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK TO ASSIST WITH INTERVIEWS AND ONBOARDING.

SO THIS INTERVIEW PROCESS IS GOING TO BE PRETTY INTENSE.

WE'VE GOT OUR CONSULTANT TIPS, STRATEGIES AND ENGAGE IN HAVING SOME DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THIS TO ENSURE THAT WITH THEIR EXPERTISE OF FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE DOTTING EVERY I, CROSSING EVERY T.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, THAT ENGAGEMENT.

AND THEN THE ACTION ITEMS THAT WE HAVE THESE ARE THIS WILL TALK ABOUT THE TIMING AND THE OWNERS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO FINALIZE DIRECTOR INTERVIEWS AND SELECT FINALIST.

THAT'S ON THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE THE WEEK OF THE 16TH.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. THEN AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CARRY THIS OUT OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

WE'RE GOING TO START OUR MEETINGS MONDAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO NARROW DOWN TO THE FRONT RUNNERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND CUT TO THE CHASE, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. WE KNOW WHAT WHAT OPPORTUNITIES PREVAIL FOR US AND WHAT THOSE CANDIDATES SHOULD BE ABLE TO BRING TO THE TABLE.

SO TIMING IS GOING TO BE VERY CRITICAL FOR US.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO CONDUCT MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS ANALYST INTERVIEWS WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE NEXT WEEK.

WE'RE GOING TO PREPARE THE ONE PAGE FRAMING DOCUMENT.

AND THAT'S TIP STRATEGIES THAT WILL PREPARE THAT.

WE WILL RECEIVE THAT TOMORROW THE 13TH. THEN THE DRAFT INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE DIRECTOR FINALISTS.

WE WILL RECEIVE THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FROM TIP STRATEGIES.

WE'LL RECEIVE THAT TOMORROW AS WELL. AND THEN WE WILL ARRANGE MEET AND GREET ONBOARDING SESSION, HAVE AN ONBOARDING SESSION WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, DDC CHAIR, AND THAT WILL TARGET THE WEEKS FOLLOWING THE SELECTION.

FINALLY, WE'RE GOING TO PROPOSE DATES FOR A JOINT MEETING WITH TIP STRATEGIES TARGETING THE SECOND WEEK OF MARCH.

SO WE'VE GOT A GAME PLAN, GAME PLAN LAID OUT TO TO MOVE THIS AS EFFECTIVELY FORWARD AS WE POSSIBLY CAN IN THE MOST EFFICIENT MANNER. ANY QUESTIONS TO THIS? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION.

OKAY. SO WILL THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD BE ENGAGED IN ANY PART OF THIS PROCESS? THAT'S TO BE DISCUSSED. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE PLAN WAS FOR THE CITY MANAGER, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THE BOARD CHAIR TO TO INTERACT WITH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS AND WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT, TO BE HONEST. BUT I THINK I'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT THAT PROCESS. SO. DULY NOTED.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THAT'S WILL PROGRESS FORWARD. AND NEXT WE'LL HAVE THE BOARD AND LIAISON ANNOUNCEMENTS.

AND UPDATES FROM OUR CITY COUNCIL LIAISON. DOCTOR BIRD, IF YOU WILL.

COUNCILMAN BIRD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.

MR. PRESIDENT, AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE 79 DAYS AND FIVE HOURS REMAINING ON MY TERM, AND WE ARE VERY SADDENED BY THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.

JUST A COUPLE OF JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. YOU YOU PROBABLY ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE IN AN ELECTION SEASON.

WE HAVE TWO SEATS THAT ARE THAT WILL THAT WILL BE UP FOR FOR, FOR FOR ELECTION PLACE TWO AND PLACE FOR YOU KNOW THAT EVERY YEAR THIS CITY PROBABLY WILL ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE UP FOR, FOR REELECTION OR FOR A TOTAL NEW GAMUT NEXT YEAR.

NEXT YEAR, THIS TIME YOU WILL HAVE TWO NEW BODIES BECAUSE PLACE SIX AND SEVEN WILL BE UP AT THAT TIME.

[00:40:04]

WHO'S INTERESTED IN RUNNING IN THE ELECTION DAY WILL BE MAY THE 2ND.

THAT'S THE THAT'S THE BIG NEWS THAT'S HAPPENING, I GUESS, FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.

WE ALSO WOULD PROBABLY YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING THAT ON FEBRUARY THE 19TH AND 20 20TH, WE WILL GO INTO OUR WINTER RETREAT. THE STRATEGIC PLANNING WILL BE ON THE 19TH ALL DAY.

AND BECAUSE OF THE SNOW DAYS WE'VE TAKEN A TWO DAY PROGRAM AND CONDENSED IT DOWN TO ONE DAY.

AND THEN ON THAT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY THE 20TH WILL BE A 730 TO ABOUT FIVE WINTER RETREAT.

THOSE THOSE EVENTS ARE OPEN TO YOU SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO COME AND LISTEN IN AND BE A PART OF IT.

I WOULD I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IF YOUR SCHEDULE SO ALLOW YOU TO COME, IT KIND OF LET YOU IN BEHIND THE CURTAINS BEHIND THE VEIL OF WHAT CITY COUNCIL IS TALKING ABOUT. I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL THAT IS DAUNTING.

I THOUGHT RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW ALREADY THAT THERE WAS AN RFP PUT OUT FOR AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL INITIATED. WE DID HAVE WE HAD THE OPENING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

BUT WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COUNCIL WILL LATER ON.

BUT THAT IS JUST SOME SOME HIGH END INFORMATION AT THIS POINT.

OKAY. THAT'S ALL THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE, MISTER CHAIR.

I'M OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMAN? YOU SAID THE 19TH AND 20TH, 19TH AND 20TH HERE OR.

YES, MA'AM. IT WILL PROBABLY BE OVER IN THE IN THE IN THE ROOM.

YES. OH. I'M SORRY. CAN I I'M. I'M SORRY. I'LL TAKE ANOTHER QUESTION THEN I, I, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TODAY. ALL OF YOU GUYS WERE THERE, BUT. GRANER.

COUNCILMAN. YES. TODAY WE HAD WHAT I WOULD SUM UP AS AS A VERY SUCCESSFUL.

YES. STATE OF THE CITY, HOSTED BY OUR OWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. IT WAS VERY WELL DONE.

THE MAYOR DID A STELLAR JOB VERY INFORMATIVE ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITH STAFF AND, AND JUST SOME OF THE DIRECTIONS THAT THAT WE ARE HEADED IN.

I THINK THAT I REMEMBER YOU GUYS SITTING THERE.

SO I THOUGHT, WELL, IT'S STUPID FOR ME TO TELL THEM BECAUSE ALL OF THEM ARE THERE. WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE.

I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME THAT THE THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD WAS PRESENT.

AND I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND I WOULD DARE SAY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

WE EVEN ENJOYED THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO, ENJOYED YOUR RETREAT IN JANUARY.

IT KIND OF HELPED US SEE WHERE WE WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

SOME OF YOUR TRIGGERS AND AND HOW DO WE SMOOTH THAT OUT? DID I SAY THAT OUT LOUD? I DID BUT, YOU KNOW, TRANSPARENCY IS GOOD, RIGHT? YES, I HAVE A FEW. YES. YEAH. AND I PUT HERE IN MY NOTE THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN I AM OFF OF COUNCIL THE MAYOR WILL SELECT ANOTHER, LIAISON AT THAT TIME.

SO YOU WILL HAVE ME UP UNTIL THE, THE UNTIL MAY THE 2ND OR UNTIL THE NEW PERSON IS SWORN IN.

SO WE WE SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF, OF OF, YOU KNOW OF THE NEW, NEWLY ELECTED.

AND WE I WILL TELL YOU, IT'S BEEN A PURE HONOR TO BE THE LIAISON FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

IT HAS BEEN EYE OPENING IN A REAL BLESSING OF SHOULD TO LEARN SO MUCH.

THE CSC AND THOSE THOSE THOSE CONFERENCES THE CONFERENCES, THE CONFERENCE THAT HAPPENED EVERY NOVEMBER.

I WILL GO AHEAD AND THANK PUBLICLY, MELBA AND SOLELY AND MATT, WHO IS NO LONGER HERE FOR FOR FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSTOOD THE CHALLENGES THAT FACE DESOTO OUR CITY MANAGER IN THE OFFICE.

[00:45:01]

SO THAT MEANS THAT IF THERE IS ANY INFORMATION WE HAVE TO SHARE, IT IS READILY AVAILABLE.

SO THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU, BOARD.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BIRD. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

AND LET ME JUST SAY BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO YOU, SIR THAT WE HAVE APPRECIATED HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT 79 DAYS REMAINING. WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND STRETCH THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE IT A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW. SO BECAUSE WE'VE GOT JUST THAT CAMARADERIE THAT WE'VE APPRECIATED, WE'RE GOING TO MISS IT. AND WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME OUR NEW LIAISON.

FRANKLY SEVEN MORE YEARS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE CONSTANTLY WE WANT TO CONSISTENTLY REMAIN WITH.

SO THANK YOU. AND TODAY WAS A PHENOMENAL DAY.

I FELT I FELT THE SYNERGIES IN THE ROOM PERSONALLY REALLY RESONATED WITH PROGRESS.

IT RESONATED WITH HISTORICAL VIEW, BUT YET WHERE WE'RE HEADING.

AND SO JUST TO COMMEND, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WEREN'T TRAVELING THAT COULD BE HERE.

AND THE OTHERS WOULD HAVE BEEN TODAY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN TRAVELING AND, AND OR ONE OTHER SITUATION THAT DID NOT ALLOW THEM TO ATTEND. BUT WE'RE COMMITTED AND WE APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT OF THE TEAM AS A HOLISTIC TEAM.

AND IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO HAVE A LEADER LIKE OUR MAYOR, WHO HAS THE VISION AND THE TENACITY AND THE WHEREWITHAL TO PROGRESS FORWARD AND TO BRING US ALONG WITH HER. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE.

I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD PERSONALLY. DIRECTOR JONES? YES, SIR. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, MELBA MADE ME COME TODAY, AND I ATTENDED BECAUSE MELBA MADE ME, AND THAT'S OKAY.

SHE'S THE BOSS. SO 79 MORE DAYS, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND YOUR TIME.

CAN I GET A SECOND? WE WE'VE WE'VE ENJOYED IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF DESOTO.

YOU'VE PROVEN YOURSELF TO BE COMMITTED. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR SERVICE, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A SERVICE WE SERVE AT THE LIBERTY OF THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL. AND SO THANK YOU FOR LEADING IN TOUGH SPOTS.

IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT. IT'S NOT EASY. AND WHOEVER THE REPLACEMENT IS, MAKE SURE YOU ASSURE THEM THAT IT'S NOT EASY.

THIS IS A VERY DAUNTING, UNSUNG OPPORTUNITY. MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT.

MANY TIMES YOU'RE NOT APPLAUDED UNTIL MANY, MANY YEARS LATER.

BUT THIS WHOLE EFFORT TO TO NOW THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS ARC THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO PARTAKE, THAT YOU HAD TO VOTE FOR AND SUPPORT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE THAT YOU REPRESENTED AND STOOD UP FOR.

SO WE WANT TO SALUTE YOU FOR TAKING THE STANCE THAT YOU'VE TAKEN FOR MAKING A BETTER DESOTO.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT PERSONALLY FOR YOU AND PUBLICLY.

AND I THINK THE ENTIRE BOARD WOULD SAY DITTO TO THAT.

THAT SAID, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, OBSERVATIONS THERE.

OKAY, SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT. I DO HAVE AN OBSERVATION.

OKAY. AND I'M GOING TO STICK AS CLOSELY AS I CAN TO THE AGENDA.

SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS NEW PERSON THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING ON BOARD, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME GOOD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WHAT AND WHAT COULD BE AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON.

AND I HOPE WE DON'T LOSE THAT MOMENTUM. A LOT OF THE MEMBERS ON THE BOARD HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF THEIR TIME, IN ADDITION TO THESE MEETINGS, REALLY FOCUSING ON AROUND HEALTH AND AROUND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES HERE, AND I HOPE THAT WE DON'T LOSE THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T. IT WOULD BE I THINK IT WOULD BE TERRIBLE TO HAVE TO START OVER AGAIN.

YES. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, FOR THAT. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE COMMITMENT OF OF OF, IF I MAY TAKE SOME LIBERTIES TO SPEAK WHAT I WOULD THINK SHE WOULD SAY.

[00:50:02]

I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES.

I WOULD I WOULD PERSONALLY INVITE THAT WHOMEVER YOU GUYS CHOOSE AS YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THAT YOU YOU TAKE THE TIME, AT LEAST ONE OF YOU GO TO ICC, GO TO THOSE THOSE AND EDUCATE YOURSELF SO THAT YOU CAN HELP GIVE SUPPORT TO THOSE. AND THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRIED TO DO AS A LIAISON IS TO GIVE SUPPORT TO, TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THERE ARE SOME THINGS JUST KEEP IN MIND FOR FOR MANY YEARS DESOTO WAS NOT EVEN AT THE TABLE. AND NOW AS WE LEAVE AND AND AS MR. COLSON LEAVES US, THEY KNOW OUR NAME. THERE ARE SOME ANSWERS.

WE'RE NO LONGER WONDERING WHAT WE NEED, WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE, OR WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

THOSE ANSWERS HAVE BEEN THOSE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.

AND SO PRAYERFULLY, WE LEAVE YOU IN A BETTER POSITION TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT COULD HAPPEN, WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN. AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARIES OF DESOTO.

NO. DESOTO. AND THAT THE IN LAS VEGAS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE.

BUT TO GO, YOU MUST BE PREPARED FOR IT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I, I CAN ALMOST ASSURE IN MY DEBRIEF WITH THE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GIVEN HER AND WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE HER OUR OPINION ON ON HOW WE CAN BEST SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE WORK THAT THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND OUR DDC OFFICE WILL DO, HOW WE CAN BEST SUPPORT THAT.

BECAUSE YOU ARE THE FACE AND THE LEADERS. IT IS OUR JOB TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL, YOU KIND OF THAT THERE IS A EASY BRIDGE THERE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION AND THE COMMENTS, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, COUNCILMAN. AND YES, AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, FOR YOUR SERVICE.

HAS BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU. DURING MY MY TERM MY ASK CHALLENGE CHARGE TO YOU AND YOUR FINAL WINTER RETREAT WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES AND OTHER FELLOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IS TO LEAN INTO A LOT OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE DDC RETREAT AND REALLY PUSH TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S A CLEAR VISION FOR WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO GO AND HOW THAT IS GOING TO BE INFORMED AND DRIVEN BY WHAT NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING AND CALLING FOR, BUT LIKE THAT HELPS TO SET A VERY CLEAR FOUNDATION FOR THE BOARD, FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO REALLY LEAN INTO WHAT EVERYONE DESIRES FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO.

WILL WE, YOU KNOW, HEARD IN THE RETREAT, YOU KNOW, IS VERY CLEAR THAT WE'RE LOOKING WELL, THERE WAS LIKE A SOME IMBALANCE OF WHO WHO LEADS, YOU KNOW WHAT? BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU SET THE VISION AND A VERY CLEAR PATH THROUGH THAT STRATEGIC PLAN THAT IS IN DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT AND THAT THERE'S SOME VERY CLEAR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THAT WE CAN.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S VERY CLEAR. NOT DOTTED LINE, BUT A VERY CLEAR LINE.

TO WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'VE BEEN TASKED TO, TO DO.

AND AS WE CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, TRY TO MOVE FORWARD IN OUR EFFORTS AS A, AS A BOARD AND IN COLLABORATION WITH YOU KNOW, THE CITY MANAGER AND ALL OF THE STAFF AND THE AMAZING DDC TEAM WHOEVER THAT NEW PERSON YOU KNOW, MAY BE I, I'M HOPING THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO WALK IN WITH A VERY CLEAR, LIKE, BOOM, THIS IS WHAT THE CITY IS EXPECTING.

THIS IS HOW WE ENVISION THE CITY OF DESOTO TO LOOK, TO FEEL FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT FOLKS ARE EXPERIENCING.

AND ULTIMATELY JUST EVEN BASED ON TODAY'S STATE OF THE CITY WE PRIORITIZE THE NEXT GENERATION AND YOUTH AND THEIR PERSPECTIVES AND THEIR VOICE AND HOW THAT SHOWS UP.

SO FOR ME, I'M THINKING NOT JUST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO LIVE HERE TODAY AND THOSE WHO'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR I DON'T CARE HOW MANY YEARS YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN HERE, I AM THINKING ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO BE HERE 20, 30, 50 YEARS FROM TODAY AND HOW THAT SHOWS UP AND WHAT THE VISION IS.

BECAUSE HOW HOW MANY YEARS IS THIS NEXT STRATEGIC PORT STRATEGIC REPORT FOUR.

[00:55:02]

THANK YOU. SO TEN YEARS FROM NOW THE WORLD IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT.

HECK IT'S GOING TO BE LOOKING DIFFERENT PROBABLY BY THE END OF 2026.

AND SO I'M JUST CHARGING YOU AND CHALLENGING YOU IN THAT MOMENT TO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY BE A VERY STRONG ADVOCATE FOR, FOR US AND WHAT WE CONVEYED IN THAT SPACE. AND SO I'M EXCITED AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT COMES OUT OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN THAT RENTAL RETREAT, THE STRATEGIC PLANS, THE CITY STAFF, AND ULTIMATELY SO THAT WE'RE SETTING UP THIS NEW EDITOR FOR SUCCESS.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WALLACE. AND I'LL NEVER FORGET, THERE WAS A MOMENT AT OUR RETREAT WHERE I BELIEVE DIRECTOR, LOOKED AND SAID, AND YOU AND YOU. AND SHE WAS VERY POINTED.

AND I THINK THAT ONE PART OF LEADERSHIP IS NOT BEING AFRAID TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AND THE QUESTION OR THE, THE QUESTION THAT I WILL TAKE WITH ME AND I WILL TAKE BACK WITH THEM, EVEN AFTER I'M ALL FOR COUNCIL, WHO OWNS IT. THAT WAS THE QUESTION.

WHO OWNS IT? BECAUSE AS I SAID HERE, AND I THINK I LOOK AT GRAND PRAIRIE, WHO WE WERE, WE ONE OF MY PREDECESSORS TALKED TO TIFFANY DERRY YEARS AGO AND, AND AND AND AND THEY'VE OPENED UP 2 OR 3 LOCATIONS AND THEY'RE STILL NOT HERE.

BECAUSE WHO OWNED IT? AND SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE THERE ARE SOME LEGITIMACY IN, IN, IN, IN IDENTIFYING WHO OWNS IT AND WHO WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SEEING IT THROUGH.

BECAUSE WE CAN NEVER GET BETTER IF WE DON'T TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT.

SO I ABSOLUTELY. THAT IS EXACTLY. AND THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US.

AS I, AS I GO ON MY EXIT TOUR, I'M MEETING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY CAN SUPPORT DESOTO WHERE WE NEED THEIR STRENGTH, WHERE WE NEED THEIR VOICE. AND I'M LOOKING EVEN AT MY OWN PERFORMANCE AND SAY, WHERE IS MY BEST EXIT STRATEGY? HOW DO WE LEAVE IT BETTER THAN WHAT? WE FOUND IT. I GET IN TROUBLE FOR HAVING IDEAS, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT YOU SHOULD EVER ELECT ANYBODY WHO DON'T COME WITH IDEAS OF WHAT THEY WANT DESOTO TO BE. AND IF I.

I IF HAVING AN IDEA IS A CRIME, THEN I AM A CRIMINAL.

AND YOU SHOULD WANT PEOPLE WITH IDEAS THAT WILL SET A STANDARD THAT WILL HAVE AN EXPECTATION OF WHAT THEY BRING TO THIS CHAIR AND WHAT THEY BRING TO THIS CITY. SO I ACCEPT YOUR CHALLENGE HUMBLY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO NOT ONLY COMPLETING MY 88, 79 DAYS AND NOW FOUR HOURS TO LOOK, I LOOK FORWARD TO COMPLETING THAT. AND BUT NOT WALKING AWAY FROM THE CITY THAT I HAVE CALLED HOME FOR 26 YEARS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BERGEN.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WALLACE. BUT THANK EVERYONE NOW FOR YOUR SENTIMENTS THAT SPEAK TO COMMITMENT.

I THINK WE'VE ALL MADE A COMMITMENT. AND OUR RETREAT KIND OF SPOKE TO WHAT THE NEXT LEVEL LOOKS LIKE.

SO TO YOUR POINT, ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE STATED.

SO SPOT ON. ONE. I THINK WE'VE GOT A NEW REJUVENATED MINDSET.

THE PARADIGM IS ABOUT WINNING AND WILL WIN. AND I KNOW THAT I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD, THE DDC BOARD. YOU GOT TOTAL COMMITMENT HERE, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STAFF.

YOU GOT MELBA AND SOLEY HERE. THEY HAVE NOT MISSED A BEAT, AND THEY'VE TAKEN UP THE TORCH.

AND WE TALKED DAILY. WHAT? WE DON'T KNOW. WE FIGURE IT OUT.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR KEEPING US AFLOAT.

WE KNOW THAT THERE MAY BE SOME TOUGH TIMES FOR US RIGHT NOW, BUT SKILLED SAILORS ARE NEVER DEVELOPED ON SMOOTH SEAS.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SKILLED SAILORS, WE'RE GOING TO RIDE THE WAVES.

WE'LL BE ALRIGHT. SO, YEAH, MEL WAS MY BOSS. OH, THERE'S YOUR BOSS.

OKAY, I THOUGHT SO. THAT SAID, ANY OTHER OBSERVATIONS?

[F. Board and Liaison Announcements/Updates]

OKAY. SO WE WE HAVE A FRAMEWORK IN TERMS OF WHAT'S NEEDED IN THE

[01:00:04]

I'M SORRY. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON THE AGENDA ANYMORE. SO MAYBE LET'S GET BACK TO.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHERE WE ARE, SO I'M UNDER THE ACTION ITEMS. ACTION ITEMS OF WHAT? DDC BOARD RETREAT. WE'VE MOVED PAST THAT AGENDA ITEM LONG AGO.

LIAISON. NELSON. I'M GOING BACK SO I CAN'T GO BACK.

YEAH, BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO CLOSE, AND THAT'S WHY.

I MEAN, I SUPPOSE THAT'S UP TO THE CHAIR, BUT I'M STILL NOT QUITE SURE WHERE WE ARE.

SO WE'RE UNDER THE THE BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ANY MEETINGS, CHARITABLE EVENTS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

SO. YEAH, F2. BUT THEN THE NEXT THING IS, IS BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS.

OH I THOUGHT THERE WEREN'T ANY MORE. NO. OKAY.

SO I KNOW YOUR CONCERNS ARE OKAY. LET ME JUST KIND OF BRING US TO CLOSURE, IF I MAY.

RESPECTFULLY I WAS INTEGRAL IN THE OBSERVATION OF, OF THE, THE SCRIPTURES DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS.

SO TO YOUR QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED EARLIER AND FORGIVE US HERE FOR GOING BACK, BUT TO YOUR QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED EARLIER I SAID I WOULD GET WITH CITY MANAGEMENT OFFICE. AND I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE DO EMBRACE THE BOARD HAVING HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO.

SO WE'LL GET TO COVER THAT. ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT? VICE PRESIDENT? GOOD WITH THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

SO THAT SAID, LET US THERE ARE NO MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS, I THINK.

OKAY. I HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT HERE. GO AHEAD.

I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT AS PART OF JUST BEING A WONDERFUL LOVER OF THE CITY OF DESOTO.

BUT ALSO IN THE WORK THAT I DO FOR NECESSARILY CHARITABLE EVENTS.

BUT I'VE BEEN HOSTING OR TESTED OUT WITH, I'M HOSTING A SERIES OF EVENTS AT THE GREENHOUSE LOUNGE AND WELLNESS CENTER ON THE THIRD WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH THAT IS TARGETED TO SUPPORTING NONPROFIT LEADERS PROFESSIONALS AND THOSE WHO SERVE IN THE HUMAN SERVICES INDUSTRY. WHETHER THAT'S, YOU KNOW, VOCATIONAL OR JUST IN GENERAL, YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE IT'S CALLED JOYFUL HOUR.

AND IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO JUST COME TOGETHER AND JUST TO BE AS MANY SERVANT LEADERS ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE WORKING ALL DAY. BUT THEN FOR MANY FOLKS, YOU'RE SERVING AS A VOLUNTEER IN SOME CAPACITY.

AND SO IT WAS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

THERE'S THERE'S NO AGENDA. THERE'S NO PURPOSE THERE OTHER THAN JUST FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AS INDUSTRY OR INDUSTRY PEOPLE AND PEERS IN THIS SPACE. BUT AS WELL AS IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO WHERE I'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING DIFFERENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE CITY OF DESOTO AND SURROUNDING AREAS. SO I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THAT THE FIRST ONE THE OFFICIAL IN THE MONTHLY CADENCE THAT I DID A TEST, SOME PILOT ONES IN DECEMBER WILL BE OFFICIALLY ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18TH.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S AT THE GREENHOUSE LOUNGE AND WELLNESS CENTER HERE IN THE CITY OF DESOTO AT THE CORNER OF BELTLINE.

AND IS THAT COCKER HILL, I BELIEVE? YES, RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE FITNESS CENTER.

SO I INVITE THOSE WHO ARE SERVANT LEADERS TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND JUST CONVENE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH ONE ANOTHER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WALLACE, FOR THAT INFORMATION.

ANY ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY, THAT BEING SAID, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR SHARING YOUR TIME THIS EVENING AND YOUR YOUR SENTIMENTS, YOUR OBSERVATIONS, AND JUST YOUR SPIRIT ABOUT WINNING.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS WELL AS THAT SAID, THERE BEING NO ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS TONIGHT THEREFORE THE DDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS NOW OR NOW THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.

AND IT IS 7:04 P.M.. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYONE.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.