[A. CALL TO ORDER AND CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
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P.M. IT'S TUESDAY, MARCH 3RD. I'M MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR AND WELCOME EACH OF YOU TO OUR THE MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL. TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CITY SECRETARY IF SHE WOULD START US OFF WITH THE ROLL CALL. PLEASE. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR HERE, MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISHOLM HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KEN WATERS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD, SENIOR HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA HUGHES HERE. I'M SORRY. IT'S IT'S LATE IN THE DAY. WE KIND OF ACT A LITTLE STRANGE. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. FIRST, WE WILL HAVE OUR SAFETY PROTOCOL STATEMENT BY FIRE CHIEF BRIAN SOUTHARD. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. COUNCIL, SINCE WE HAVE NO CITIZENS PRESENT, I'LL SAVE THE BIG TALK FOR 6:00 AT THE REGULAR SESSION. YOU GUYS KNOW YOUR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY, AND WE HAVE NO BAD WEATHER EXPECTED TONIGHT. SO WE WILL GO MORE IN DEPTH AT SIX. THANK YOU. CHIEF, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENT CARDS FOR OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION? MADAM CITY SECRETARY, WE DO NOT. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. THE CITY WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.072 TO DELIBERATE THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY AS IT RELATES TO 825 WEST WINTERGREEN ROAD, THORN TREE GOLF CLUB AND RFP. 2025027. THANK YOU. IT IS 5:01 P.M. AND WE WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE WILL RETUR GOOD EVEG EVERYBODY. IT IS 5:59 P.M. IN THE DESOTO CITY COUNCIL
[B. REGULAR SESSION AGENDA - CALL TO ORDER]
CONVENED OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THERE IS ACTION COUNCIL. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH WITH SM PARTNERS AND SAM YOUNG PARK COMPANY REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATIONS AND INVESTMENT FOR THORN TREE GOLF CLUB? SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES AS STATED. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES SIX ONE. THANK YOU.COUNCIL IT IS. AND LET ME LET THE RECORD REFLECT. WE CONVENED OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 5:36 P.M. I BELIEVE IS WHAT OUR AGENDA STATES IS 5:36 P.M. SO THANK YOU COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME IT IS 6 P.M. AND I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE DESOTO CITY COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CITY SECRETARY IF SHE WOULD GIVE US A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
MAYOR RACHEL L PROCTOR HERE, MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISHOLM HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KEN WATERS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD, SENIOR HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA HUGHES HERE. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY SECRETARY.
WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL NOW HAVE THE SAFETY PROTOCOL STATEMENT BY BY CHIEF BRIAN SOUTHERN. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING. IN THE EVENT OF BAD WEATHER, WE WOULD SHELTER IN THIS BUILDING, BUT WE'RE NOT EXPECTING ANY BAD WEATHER THIS EVENING IN THE EVENT OF THE EMERGENCE OF AN EMERGENCY. AND WE ASK YOU TO EXIT. WE HAVE EXITS LOCATED TO MY RIGHT OR YOUR LEFT, OR YOU CAN GO BACK OUT THE DOORS AND TO YOUR RIGHT JUST THE SAME WAY YOU CAME IN. IF YOU LEAVE THE BUILDING, WE ASK THAT YOU FIND A SAFE PLACE OUTSIDE AND WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO RETURN INSIDE THE BUILDING. LET'S HAVE A GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU CHIEF, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. WE WILL NOW HAVE INVOCATION BY PASTOR ED JOHNSON OF HARVEST FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH. GOOD EVENING. LET'S PRAY. FATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS GATHERING TONIGHT. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE CITY OFFICIALS AND STAFF WHO WILL CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF OUR CITY TONIGHT. WE PRAY, GOD, YOU WILL GIVE THEM THE WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE, COMPASSION, INTEGRITY, HUMILITY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS ALL THE CITIZENS OF DESOTO FOR YOUR GLORY. WE PRAY THIS IN CHRIST'S NAME. AMEN. AMEN. AT THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE LED BY STUDENT AMBASSADOR CHRISTIAN CHRIS CRIMSON STONE OF AMBER TERRACE EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER. IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE STAND. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO
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THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS WAY. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG ONE. ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS UNDER THE UNDER GOD. INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU, PASTOR JOHNSON, FOR RENDERING OUR PRAYER ON THIS EVENING. AND I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR STUDENT AMBASSADOR TONIGHT.AND THAT IS MISS CRIMSON STONE OF AMBER TERRACE EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING FACILITY.
CAN WE GIVE HER A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP? SHE DID AN AMAZING JOB. EVERYBODY. I'M GOING TO READ YOU HER BIO SO YOU'LL KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR AMBASSADOR FOR THIS EVENING.
BORN ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2020, IN DESOTO, TEXAS, CRIMSON IS A BRIGHT, OUTGOING, AND KIND HEARTED LITTLE STAR. SHE LOVES THE BEACH, BARBIES, BOOKS AND ROLE PLAYING, AND ADORES GYMNASTICS, DANCE, VIOLIN AND MARTIAL ARTS. KNOWN FOR HER BOLD STYLE FROM PURPLE LIPS TO GREEN EYESHADOW AND PINK PONYTAILS, CRIMSON IS BOTH A PRINCESS AND A FUTURE ENGINEER WHO PLANS TO DO MAKEUP, HAIR, AND STYLE THE WORLD UNAPOLOGETICALLY. THAT GIRL, SHE SIGNS WITH CONFIDENCE, CHERISHES HER BIG BROTHER KINGSTON, AND IS THE SECOND HEARTBEAT OF HER PARENTS, KEITH AND VERNA STONE. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR OUR STUDENT AMBASSADOR TONIGHT, MISS CRIMSON STONE, REPRESENTING AMBER TERRACE THIS EVENING. MISS STONE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT BODY AT AMBER TERRACE TONIGHT? NO, NO, NO. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WE APPRECIATE YOU. I TOLD HER HER MOM AND DAD, THIS IS BY FAR THE FANCIEST BIO I'VE EVER RECEIVED. OUT OF ALL THE STUDENT AMBASSADORS WE'VE HAD TONIGHT. SO HER PERSONALITY SHINES DEFINITELY THROUGH, THROUGH AND THROUGH. IF YOU HAVE IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT, YOU CAN DO SO. CRIMSON WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU AT OUR STUDENT AMBASSADOR TABLE THERE. CHIEF, CAN YOU HOLD UP A CARD? YOU JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU FILL THAT CARD OUT AND TURN IT IN TO THE APPROPRIATE PARTY.
MISS CRIMSON, PLEASE STAY RIGHT THERE. I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME PHOTOS. I HAVE A GIFT FOR YOU AS WELL. OKAY. WE HAVE AMBER TERRACE IN THE HOUSE TODAY, DON'T WE? YES. OKAY. AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU ALL AS WELL. MOM AND DAD, YOU ALL CAN WAVE YOUR HANDS FOR US AS.
[C. PRESENTATIONS]
RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. AT THIS TIME, MADAM SECRETARY, WE HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. WE WILL NOW HAVE PRESENTATION AND RECOGNITION OF THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, JUDGE, POLICE CHIEF AND FIRE CHIEF FOR A DAY. STUDENTS. AND I BELIEVE I AM FIRST. I DON'T SEE MISS NANCE HERE. I THINK MISS DURAN IS GOING TO BE REPRESENTING FOR HER TODAY SO SHE CAN COME ON UP.WE DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR HER AS WELL.
GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. OH NOW, NOW NOW LOOK, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO A COUNCIL MEETING, I HAVE TO DO A LITTLE CHECK TO KIND OF KEEP MY PULSE ON THE ROOM AND MIND.
RIGHT. CITY. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. GOOD EVENING. THERE YOU GO. THAT'S MUCH BETTER.
AGAIN. I'M MAYOR PROCTOR AND I'M JUST EXCITED. I AM ALWAYS EXCITED FOR THIS EVENT BECAUSE IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY EXPOSE OUR STUDENTS TO THE SIDE OF WHAT WE DO. AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF HOSTING MISS MAYOR FOR A DAY, SHANNON NANCE. AND ACTUALLY, SHE HAD A
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SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE SHE WAS WITH ME ON MY STATE OF THE CITY DAY. SO SHE GOT A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS. WE ACTUALLY WENT AROUND TO MANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS BEFORE, AS WE WERE PREPARING FOR THE STATE OF THE CITY. IT WAS A VERY BUSY DAY, SO SHE JUST FELL RIGHT IN LINE.SHE KEPT ME IN LINE. SHE KEPT MY NERVES DOWN. ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON THAT DAY. WE ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT THE AQUATIC CENTER AND SHE GOT TO ASK QUESTIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TOOK BACK THAT SHE WAS MOST EXCITED ABOUT, ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE, WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO SEE THE AQUATIC CENTER, AND SHE SAID, I COULD TOTALLY SEE ME AND MY LITTLE BROTHER AND ALL OUR FRIENDS HANGING OUT HERE EVERY WEEKEND. SO WE'RE EXCITED. SO PARKS AND REC TEAM DESOTO TEAM, GIVE YOURSELF A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP, BECAUSE OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR YOUTH ARE DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT THE FACILITY. AND SO I'M GOING TO READ HER PROCLAMATION. AND MISS DURAN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANY REMARKS, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE END. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WHEREAS SONNY NANCE IS A SENIOR AT DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL WHO DEMONSTRATES A STRONG COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND CONSISTENTLY PRIORITIZES HER EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS. AND WHEREAS SHE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN FINE ARTS WITH A PARTICULAR TALENT AND PASSION FOR THEATER, REFLECTING HER CREATIVITY, CONFIDENCE AND DEDICATION TO PERSONAL GROWTH. AND WHEREAS, SENI ASPIRES TO PURSUE A DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON, MY ALMA MATER, WITH THE GOAL OF BECOMING A COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGIST AND NURTURING THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS, DURING HER EXPERIENCE FOR MAYOR FOR A DAY, SONNY NANCE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THE 2026 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO, GAINING FIRST HAND INSIGHT INTO MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. AND WHEREAS HER LEADERSHIP, POTENTIAL, PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMITMENT TO SERVING OTHERS EXEMPLIFY THE BRIGHT FUTURE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RACHEL PROCTOR, BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, DALLAS COUNTY, AND MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE SONNY NANCE AS MAYOR FOR THE DAY IN THE CITY OF DESOTO AND ASK THAT YOU JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING SONNY ON HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ENCOURAGE HER TO CONTINUE HER GREAT WORK ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY. IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION WHEREOF, I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS THIRD DAY OF MARCH, 2026, SIGNED MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR, ATTESTED TO BY SOPHIE LEWIS, AUBREY CITY SECRETARY. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO MISS DURAN HAS SOME SEVERAL JOBS TONIGHT.
SO SHE SAYS SHE'S GOING TO HOLD HER COMMENTS UNTIL UNTIL ALL THE STUDENTS ARE ACKNOWLEDGED AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT STUDENT. WE WILL NOW HAVE THE PRESENTATION BY CITY MANAGER GODFREY.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M NOT GOING TO MIMIC THE MAYOR. I'M. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE ACTUALLY TO. WORK WITH CADEN ROBERTS FOR A DAY, AND MY OFFICE AND AND I REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED HIS YOUTH, HIS HIS ENERGY, HIS HIS THOUGHT PROCESS. AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER. SO HE'S HE'S PRETTY AMAZING. AND WHEN I TOLD HIM, LOOK, I HAVE FEW REPORTS. I NEED YOU TO READ ONE OF THEM. HE GOES, NO, I'M THE YOUNG CITY MANAGER. I GO TO MEETINGS, YOU GO READ THE REPORT. SO. I HAVE A GREAT PROCLAMATION FOR HIM.
AND I AGAIN, I INVITED HIM AGAIN TO MY OFFICE, AND I TOLD HIM, YOU CAN BE A CITY MANAGER FOR A WHOLE WEEK IF YOU WANT. LET ME TAKE A VACATION. THE PROCLAMATION IS. WHEREAS CADEN ROBERTS IS A SENIOR AT DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL AND SERVES WITH DISTINCTION AS THE CLASS OF 2026 SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT AND PRINCIPAL STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AND WHEREAS, IN THESE LEADERSHIP ROLES, HE WORKS CLOSELY WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND SCHOOL LEADERS AND STUDENT LEADERS TO ADVOCATE FOR STUDENT VOICE, STRENGTHEN CAMPUS CULTURE, AND LEAD MAJOR SCHOOL INITIATIVES AND EVENTS. AND WHEREAS, CADEN FURTHER DEMONSTRATES EXEMPLARY
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LEADERSHIP BY SERVING AS A STUDENT ADVOCATE TO THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, RESPONDING, REPRESENTING STUDENT PERSPECTIVES AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AND FOSTERING MEANINGFUL DIALOG BETWEEN STUDENTS AND DISTRICT LEADERSHIP. AND WHEREAS. CADEN IS THE FOUNDER OF CADEN PRODUCTIONS, A MEDIA COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT, SHOWCASING HIS ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, CREATIVITY, AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. AND WHEREAS, HE PLANS TO PURSUE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN MARKETING AND LATER EARN A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS IN DENTON, GO, MEAN GREEN, TEXAS. CONTINUING HIS DEDICATION TO LEADERSHIP, PUBLIC SERVICE, AND MEDIA PRODUCTION, AND WHERE WHEREAS DURING HIS TIME AS CITY MANAGER FOR A DAY, CADEN ROBERTS DEMONSTRATES PROFESSIONALISM, CURIOSITY AND A STRONG INTEREST IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, REFLECTING THE PROMISING FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE CITY OF DESOTO. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RACHEL L PROCTOR, BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, DALLAS COUNTY AND MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE CADEN ROBERTS AS CITY MANAGER FOR A DAY IN THE CITY OF DESOTO AND ASK THAT YOU JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING CADEN ON HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ENCOURAGE HIM TO CONTINUE HIS GREAT WORK ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY. IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION WHEREOF, I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED. THIS THIRD DAY OF MARCH, 2026, SIGNED BY MAYOR RACHEL L PROCTOR AND ATTESTED BY SOPHIE AND LOUIS AUBRY, OUR CITY SECRETARY.THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL HAVE CHIEF SOUTHARD.
THANK YOU. IS RYAN HERE? YEP. THERE HE IS. COME ON, RYAN, YOU COME UP HERE WITH ME. SO I HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING RYAN WORK WITH ME FOR A DAY. AND I'LL TELL YOU, OUR ADMINISTRATION IQ WENT WAY UP WHILE RYAN WAS THERE, AND AND FUNNY, THE MAYOR SAID THIS EARLIER. YOU KNOW, HE COMES TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, RIGHT? AND WE'RE GOING TO GO SEE THE FIRE STATION, THE FIRE TRUCK. WHERE'S THE FIRST PLACE WE GO AFTER OUR FIRST MEETING? WE WENT TO THE ARC. GOOD JOB PARKS. EVERYBODY'S EXCITED ABOUT THE ARC, RIGHT? WE HAD TO GO TOUR THE ARC. SO ANYWAYS, RYAN, I GOT THIS PROCLAMATION I'M GOING TO READ FOR YOU. WHEREAS RYAN MITCHELL IS A DEDICATED AND DRIVEN STUDENT LEADER WHO CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES A COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE. AND WHEREAS, AS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, HE EXEMPLIFIES OUTSTANDING SCHOLARSHIP, LEADERSHIP, CHARACTER AND A PASSION FOR GIVING BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, WHILE SERVING AS A HISTORIAN FOR THE STUDENT COUNCIL, RYAN PLAYS AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN DOCUMENTING EVENTS, PRESERVING SCHOOL HISTORY, AND HIGHLIGHTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS, DEMONSTRATING RESPONSIBILITY, CREATIVITY, AND LEADERSHIP. AND WHEREAS RYAN PLANS TO ATTEND PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY OR SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE IN BATON ROUGE, WHERE HE INTENDS TO MAJOR IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND CONTINUE DEVELOPING HIS SKILLS AND DEDICATION TO INNOVATION AND SERVICE. AND WHEREAS, DURING HIS EXPERIENCE AS FIRE CHIEF FOR RYAN, MITCHELL DEMONSTRATED ENTHUSIASM, PROFESSIONALISM AND A SINCERE INTEREST IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RACHEL L PROCTOR, BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, DALLAS COUNTY, AND MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE RYAN MITCHELL AS FIRE CHIEF FOR THE DAY IN THE CITY OF DESOTO AND ASK THAT YOU JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING RYAN ON HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ENCOURAGE HIM TO CONTINUE HIS GREAT WORK ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY, AN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION WHEREOF I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, TO BE AFFIXED. THIS THIRD DAY OF MARCH, 2026. SIGNED RACHEL L PROCTOR, MAYOR AND ATTESTED SO FINE. LEWIS AUBREY, CITY SECRETARY. YES, SIR. YES, SIR. WE WILL NOW HAVE CHIEF JESELNIK. ALL RIGHT. SHE'S ALREADY UP HERE. EVERYONE, MEET LAUREN GARNER. SHE'S THE
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YOUNG LADY THAT ON FEBRUARY 10TH, WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HOSTING AT THE DESOTO POLICE DEPARTMENT. AS CHIEF OF CHIEF FOR THE DAY. AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S PART OF DESOTO'S 2026 STUDENT SHADOW PROGRAM. AND SO THE DAY ITSELF IS VERY FAST PACED. WE STARTED OFF WITH A MEET AND GREET AND FOLLOWED UP BY ATTENDING THE TUESDAY MORNING CITY STAFF MEETING, WHERE THE MANAGING DIRECTORS OF EACH OF THE CITY'S DEPARTMENTS GET TOGETHER ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO DISCUSS CITY BUSINESS. AND THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A GUIDED TOUR OF THE VERY IMPRESSIVE ARC, THE CITY'S NEW AQUATICS RECREATION CENTER. AND LAUREN THEN MET WITH THE CAPTAIN OF SUPPORT SERVICES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT DIVISION OF OUR DEPARTMENT, CAPTAIN TERRY BAKER.THANK YOU, CAPTAIN, AND THEN RECEIVED A TOUR OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WENT ON A BRIEF RIDE ALONG WITH ONE OF OUR OFFICERS. SO LAUREN WAS EASILY THE MOST INQUISITIVE STUDENT THAT I RECALL FROM THE SHADOW PROGRAM THAT WE'VE HOSTED AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS. LAUREN WAS VERY UP FRONT ABOUT THE FACT THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WASN'T NECESSARILY A CAREER FIELD THAT PIQUED HER INTEREST. I BELIEVE IT WAS SPEECH AND COMMUNICATIONS AND A CAREER IN SPEECH PATHOLOGY. IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT? OKAY, I GOT THAT RIGHT. SO THIS LED DIRECTLY TO HER EXPLAINING HER LIFE PHILOSOPHY, WHICH I'M A HUGE FAN OF, BY THE WAY, I'M PARAPHRASING HERE. BROADEN YOUR OWN HORIZONS BY SEEING, DOING AND EXPERIENCING. RIGHT. SO LAUREN ASKED INSIGHTFUL QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND THAT LED TO A LOT OF GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREERS. AND SO ULTIMATELY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I ASKED HER ABOUT HER FAVORITE PART OF THE EXPERIENCE AND, YOU KNOW, FULLY EXPECTING THE ARK TOUR, PERHAPS THE RIDE ALONG I'VE HEARD BEFORE IN THE PAST LUNCH. RIGHT. AND SHE SHE RESPONDED WITH THE CITY STAFF MEETING, WHICH SHOWS ME THAT NO SOONER WAS SHE INVITED TO TAG ALONG, THAT SHE'S INTERESTED IN WHO'S RUNNING THE SHOW. RIGHT? SO I'M SURE THAT WITH HER PHILOSOPHY AND MINDSET, SHE'LL BE A LEADER IN WHATEVER CAREER SHE CHOOSES. BUT I WANTED TO THANK LAUREN AND YOUR FAMILY FOR BEING WILLING TO ALLOW HER TO SHARE SOME TIME WITH US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE DESOTO POLICE DEPARTMENT, LAUREN. ALSO, THANK YOU TO THE ISD AND THE CITY OF DESOTO FOR ALLOWING THE DEPARTMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SHADOWING PROGRAM. WE'VE REALLY ENJOYED IT. NOT ONLY DOES IT GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE PERHAPS THE CITY'S NEXT LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS, BUT IT ALLOWS US TO TO SHARE OUR OWN STORY IN A UNIQUE AND A MEANINGFUL WAY. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. AND, LAUREN, LET ME READ THIS PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS LAUREN GARNER IS A SENIOR AT DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL WHO WILL GRADUATE IN MAY 2026 AND IS COMMITTED TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE TO HER COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, ORIGINALLY FROM HOUSTON AND HAVING RETURNED TO HER HOMETOWN OF DALLAS, LAUREN CONTINUES TO GROW ACADEMICALLY, ATHLETICALLY AND PERSONALLY WHILE POSITIVELY REPRESENTING THE YOUTH OF HER COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL, SHE HAS COMPETED AS A VARSITY TRACK ATHLETE, DEMONSTRATING DISCIPLINE, RESILIENCE AND DEDICATION, AND WHEREAS SHE IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF HEALTH OCCUPATIONS STUDENTS OF AMERICA, CULTIVATING HER INTEREST IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, AND IN 2023 WAS RECOGNIZED AS A REGIONAL FINALIST IN BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS OF AMERICA, REFLECTING HER ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEREAS, AS THE OLDEST OF TWO SIBLINGS, LAUREN EXEMPLIFIES RESPONSIBILITY, MENTORSHIP, AND LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE. SHE PLANS TO PURSUE A DEGREE IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS ON THE SPEECH PATHOLOGY TRACK, WITH THE GOAL OF SERVING CHILDREN AND INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING SPEECH AND LANGUAGE CHALLENGES. AND WHEREAS, DURING HER TIME AS POLICE CHIEF FOR A DAY, LAUREN GARNER DEMONSTRATED CURIOSITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND A STRONG INTEREST IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND
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CIVIC LEADERSHIP. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RACHEL L PROCTOR, BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, DALLAS COUNTY AND MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE LAUREN GARNER AS POLICE CHIEF FOR THE DAY IN THE CITY OF DESOTO AND ASK THAT YOU JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING LAUREN ON HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ENCOURAGE HER TO CONTINUE HER GREAT WORK ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY. IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION WHEREOF, I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED. ON THIS THIRD DAY OF MARCH 2026, SIGNED RACHEL L PROCTOR, MAYOR AND ATTESTED BY SOPHIE LEWIS, AUBREY, CITY SECRETARY. CONGRATULATIONS, LAUREN. AWESOME JOB. THANK YOU.THERE YOU GO. AND DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS? LAUREN. YES, I DO ACTUALLY FEEL FREE. OH, I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO GET THE CHANCE TO COME UP HERE AND SAY ANYTHING, BUT WHEN I GOT UP THERE, I MADE IT CLEAR THAT I DID NOT WANT TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, BUT MY WHOLE IDEA WAS TO JUST GET MY FOOT IN THE DOOR AND TO SHOW MY FACE, AND TO LET THE AUDIENCE KNOW THAT THIS PROBABLY WON'T BE THE LAST TIME YOU'LL SEE ME OR HEAR OF MY NAME. EVER SINCE I CAME BACK TO DALLAS, I KNEW I WAS CALLED HERE BY GOD TO DO SOMETHING, AND NOW I'M DOING IT. DESOTO HAS GIVEN ME MORE OPPORTUNITY THAN ANY SCHOOL I'VE EVER BEEN TO IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND I'M JUST FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES AND BLESSINGS THAT I HAVE TODAY. THANK YOU.
WELL SAID. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW HAVE JUDGE HENRY CAMPBELL.
THIS EVENING. MAYOR, COUNCIL STAFF AND CITIZENS OF DESOTO. IS KAELAN LADD SYKES HERE? WHY IS HE NOT HERE? COME ON UP. COME ON UP. OKAY. I DON'T WANT TO BRAG ON THIS, YOUNG MAN. I'M KIND OF DISAPPOINTED HE'S NOT HERE. OKAY, BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO. I'M KIND OF DISAPPOINTED HE'S NOT HERE. I HAD KAELAN CAME AND SPENT THE DAY WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURT, AND HE WAS THERE FOR BOTH OUR MORNING DOCKET WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY. AND THEN ALSO HE CAME THE AFTERNOON FOR OUR AFTERNOON DOCKET. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THIS YOUNG MAN. AGAIN. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU COULD SEE THE PICTURE, PUT HIM IN THE ROBE AND LET HIM KIND OF COMMUNICATE WITH THE WITH THE CITIZENS AND STUFF. AND AGAIN, I WAS IMPRESSED. I DID GIVE HIM THE SAME SPEECH I GIVE WITH MOST GRADUATING SENIORS AND ASK HIM, WHAT DO THEY PLAN ON DOING WITH THEIR ONCE THEY GRADUATE? AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH HIS PLAN. ALSO, I DID TELL HIM THAT THAT HE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT HE APPLIES FOR EVERY SCHOLARSHIP, THAT HE HAS, TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS PARENTS DON'T HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET, TOLD HIM TO APPLY. I THINK HE WAS ON THE HE'S ON THE FLAG TEAM WITH THE WITH DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL. I TOLD HIM IF THEY HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS, I THINK HE'S GOING TO TEXAS STATE. IS THAT CORRECT? I TOLD HIM HE NEEDED TO APPLY, SO I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH HIM. BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED HE'S NOT HERE TODAY. I UNDERSTAND I'M WORKING TO, BUT AGAIN, I WANTED TO SHOW HIM I WAS VERY I WAS VERY IMPRESSED. AND AGAIN, CITY COUNCIL, MAYBE TEN, 15 YEARS FROM NOW WHEN HE COMES FOR YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS WILL REMEMBER HIM AND MAYBE HE CAN BE MY REPLACEMENT. SO AGAIN, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HIM. SO AGAIN, HE'S NOT HERE TODAY AND YOU'RE HERE ON HIS BEHALF. BUT I STILL WOULD LIKE TO READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR HIM. WHEREAS KIMAN LADD SIKES IS A DEDICATED STUDENT WITH A STRONG INTEREST IN PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATING A COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND CONTINUOUS GROWTH. AND WHEREAS, HE EXEMPLIFIES LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER BY STRIVING TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN THE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY, SERVING AS A ROLE MODEL TO HIS PEERS. AND WHEREAS KIMAN TAKES PRIDE IN MAINTAINING PROFESSIONALISM, DEMONSTRATING RESPECT FOR OTHERS, AND REPRESENTING HIS FAMILY AND SCHOOL WITH INTEGRITY AND HONOR, AND WHEREAS, DURING HIS EXPERIENCE AS JUDGE FOR A DAY, KIMAN SIKES GAINED VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO THE JUDICIAL PROCESS AND DEMONSTRATED THOUGHTFUL ENGAGEMENT, MATURITY, AND GENUINE INTEREST IN THE RULE OF LAW. AND WHEREAS, FOLLOWING GRADUATION, HE PLANS TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION IN PSYCHOLOGY AND SUBSEQUENTLY ATTEND LAW SCHOOL WITH THE GOAL OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS AND SERVING HIS COMMUNITY THROUGH THE LEGAL PROFESSION. NOW, THEREFORE, I, IN RECOGNITION AND COMMENDATION OF WILLIAM CARDIN, THE THIRD, EDUCATION AND CIVIC
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CONTRIBUTIONS. GIVE ME ONE. WE'LL FIX THAT. THE CITY OF DESOTO. OUR RACHEL L PROCTOR, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE KIMAN LAST SIKES AS JUDGE FOR THE DAY FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO, AND ASK THAT YOU JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING KIMAN ON HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND ENCOURAGE HIM TO CONTINUE HIS GREAT WORK ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY. IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION WHEREOF, I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, BE AFFIXED. ON THIS THIRD DAY OF MARCH 2026, SIGNED BY MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. MAYOR ATTEST SOFTEN LOUIS AUBREY, CITY SECRETARY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE MISS DURAN TO MAKE A BRIEF CLOSING REMARK ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS. YES. GOOD EVENING TO THE CITY COUNCIL HERE IN THE CITY, THE GREAT CITY, THE WONDERFUL CITY, THE MAGNANIMOUS CITY OF DESOTO, RIGHT TO THE COMMUNITY OF DESOTO. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF DESOTO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR ALLOWING OUR STUDENTS ONCE AGAIN TO COME AND TO SHADOW TO SEE WHAT THIS WORK IS ALL ABOUT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY CARE, COMMUNITY BELONGING, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. JUST TO JUDGE, I WILL SAY THAT C'MON. HE BRAGGED ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE, OKAY? HE BRAGGED ABOUT IT. HE ENJOYED IT.ALL OF THE STUDENTS DID. I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT. I WILL QUICKLY CLOSE AND I WANT TO, AS I DO EACH TIME, THAT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND IN THIS CAPACITY, I WANT TO CHARGE THE COMMUNITY AND TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION. A STUDENT'S POST-SECONDARY JOURNEY IS NOT JUST ABOUT A DEGREE. IT IS A LAUNCHPAD TO CRAFT HIS OR HER OWN FUTURE THROUGH INTENTIONAL DAILY EFFORT. THEY HAVE TO EMBRACE CHALLENGES AS GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. THEY HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED ON THEIR GOALS, AND KNOW THAT THEIR PAST DOES NOT DICTATE THEIR POTENTIAL. SUCCESS IS BUILT ON RESILIENCE, PERSEVERANCE, AND THE DECISION TO ACT. AND THANK YOU, DESOTO, FOR DOING JUST THAT. ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU, STUDENTS FOR DOING THAT ON BEHALF OF YOUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE TEAM. MISS DURAN IS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW. ANYTIME SHE GETS UP TO SPEAK, SHE COMMANDS THE ROOM. BUT WE THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING FOR THE STUDENTS AND WE THANK ALL THE STUDENTS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT AND ALL THE STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED.
CAN WE GIVE OUR CAN WE GIVE THEM ANOTHER BIG HAND CLAP? THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA PLEASE. WE WILL NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MAYOR RACHEL L PROCTOR AND CITY MANAGER MAJID AL GODFREY FOR THE PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION OF THE MONTH OF RAMADAN.
IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO WELCOME MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF PEACE MOSQUE AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE GATHERED WITH US TODAY, AS WE WELL AS WE RECOGNIZE THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN AND THE UPCOMING CELEBRATION OF EID AL-FITR AND RAMADAN, WE KNOW IS A TIME THAT REMINDS US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF DISCIPLINE, GENEROSITY, AND SERVICE VALUES THAT NOT ONLY STRENGTHEN FAITH COMMUNITIES, BUT THE FABRIC OF OUR ENTIRE CITY. AND AGAIN, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO THOSE MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF PEACE AND HOW THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF DE SOTO, BECAUSE YOUR COMMITMENT TO FAITH, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ENRICHES OUR CITY AND REFLECTS THE SPIRIT OF UNITY AND MUTUAL RESPECT THAT WE STRIVE TO UPHOLD. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER. HE'S GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST TONIGHT, AND WE'LL READ OUR PROCLAMATION AS WELL. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE IMAM, IMAM MAJID TYPEKIT, IF YOU DON'T MIND. SHOULD SHOULD I COME OVER OR COME? ALSO, THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSE OF THE DESOTO HOUSE OF PEACE IS MOHAMMED SHAMI, AS WELL AS THE
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SECRETARY OF THE BOARD, MR. RASHID HALLAK.GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL TONIGHT. PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS RAMADAN IS THE NINTH MONTH OF THE ISLAMIC LUNAR CALENDAR AND IS OBSERVED BY MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD AS A SACRED TIME DEVOTED TO PRAYER, FASTING, SPIRITUAL REFLECTION AND ACTS OF CHARITY. AND WHEREAS, DURING RAMADAN, MEMBERS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY ABSTAIN FROM FOOD AND DRINK UNTIL FROM DAWN UNTIL SUNSET, DEDICATE ADDITIONAL TIME TO WORSHIP AND SERVICE, AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH GENEROSITY AND COMPASSION. AND WHEREAS, THE OBSERVANCE OF RAMADAN IN 2026 BEGAN ON THE EVENING OF FEBRUARY 17TH AND CONTINUES APPROXIMATELY THROUGH MARCH 18TH IN ACCORDANCE WITH ISLAMIC TRADITION. AND WHEREAS, THE CELEBRATION OF EID AL-FITR, WHICH MARKS THE CONCLUSION OF RAMADAN, IS ANTICIPATED TO OCCUR AROUND MARCH 19TH, 2026, SERVING AS A JOYFUL TIME FOR MUSLIMS TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE, SHARE MEALS WITH LOVED ONES, AND CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF A MONTH OF FASTING AND DEVOTION. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DESOTO RECOGNIZES THE VALUES, THE CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS, AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY OF ITS RESIDENTS AND APPRECIATES THE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY TO THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND CIVIC LIFE OF DALLAS COUNTY. AND WHEREAS, THE OBSERVANCE OF RAMADAN AND THE CELEBRATION OF EID AL-FITR REFLECT ENDURING PRINCIPLES OF KINDNESS, EMPATHY, SERVICE TO OTHERS, AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AMONG PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RACHEL PROCTOR, BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, DALLAS COUNTY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE PERIOD SURROUNDING FEBRUARY 17TH THROUGH MARCH 19TH, 2026, AS THE MONTH OF RAMADAN AND THE OBSERVANCE OF EID AL-FITR IN THE CITY OF DESOTO, AND RECOGNIZED ITS SIGNIFICANCE AS A TIME OF CELEBRATION AND UNITY. THIS PROCLAMATION SERVES AS AN EXPRESSION OF THE CITY OF DESOTO'S COMMITMENT TO HONORING AND SUPPORTING THE CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES OF ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED. THIS THIRD DAY OF MARCH, 2026, SIGNED MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR, ATTESTED TO BY SOPHIE AND LOUIS AUBRY, CITY SECRETARY. THANK YOU. WHICH? BISMILLAH. ALHAMDULILLAH. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR WELCOMING US OVER HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOMETHING. BEFORE I LEFT MY OFFICE, I SET UP MY GPS, MY HEART, WHERE TO GO AND HERE I AM. CAN I ASK YOU TO SET UP YOUR HEART TO TAKE ME BACK? SET UP YOUR HEART TO BE YOUR GPS AND VISIT ME FIVE, THREE, ONE BELT LINE. BE MY GUEST. THE MONTH OF RAMADAN WILL END SOON, BUT YOU ARE VERY WELCOME TO SHARE A NEW CAFE.
HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE ON ME, HAVE A DESSERT, HAVE WHATEVER YOU WANT. YOU ARE VERY WELCOME.
PLEASE PAY ME BACK AND SET UP YOUR HEART TO BE YOUR GPS. 531 BELTLINE. THANK YOU. ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I'M SO PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU SIR. IF YOU DON'T.
I'M SORRY. TO. RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL NOW HAVE RECOGNITION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PROMOTIONS FOR LIEUTENANT WARREN SUMMERS, SERGEANT PATRICK KRECKEL AND CORPORAL ERIC JOHNSON. PRESENTING THE PRESENTATION IS POLICE CHIEF JOE COSTA. THANK YOU. THE SECRETARY. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL, MADAM MAYOR, CITY MANAGER AND ALL OF YOU THAT ARE HERE. ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT THAT I HAVE TO DO IN MY DUTIES AS A POLICE CHIEF IS ALWAYS TO PROMOTE THOSE OFFICERS THAT ARE GOING UP IN RANK, THAT ARE GOING TO BE THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THIS DEPARTMENT AND OF THIS
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COMMUNITY. AND THEREFORE, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THREE PROMOTIONS. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR FIRST ONE, WHICH IS CORPORAL ERIC JOHNSON. OFFICER ERIC JOHNSON HAS BEEN PROMOTED. COME ON UP WITH YOUR WIFE BEING PROMOTED FROM OFFICER TO CORPORAL. HE'S BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT SINCE 2017. AND HIS WIFE, COURTNEY JOHNSON, IS GOING TO PIN ON HIS BADGE. I TOLD YOU, YOU CAN STICK THEM AS HARD AS YOU WANT. YEAH, SHE DID SAY THAT. SHE GOT THEM. THEY'LL BE A LITTLE BLOOD THERE LATER. VERY GOOD. HERE YOU GO. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.STAY RIGHT HERE. CONGRATULATIONS, CORPORAL. NEXT WE HAVE PATRICK KRECKEL BEING PROMOTED FROM CORPORAL TO SERGEANT. COME ON UP WITH YOUR WIFE, EVELYN KRECKEL. AND HE'S BEEN AN OFFICER WITH US SINCE 2015. COME ON UP. COME ON. WHO ELSE DO WE HAVE? THIS IS MY DAUGHTER, ANILINE. ANILINE DAUGHTER ANILINE. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD WIFE WILL PIN ON HIS BADGE.
YOU CAN STAB HIM AS HARD AS YOU WANT TO. HE DOESN'T HAVE A BODY ARMOR. NOW'S THE TIME. YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH IT. SHE'S COMING UP NEXT. VERY GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IS WARREN SUMMERS. COME ON UP. WOULD YOUR WIFE, VERONICA SUMMERS. WARREN. SOME HAS BEEN PROMOTED FROM SERGEANT TO LIEUTENANT. HE'S BEEN WITH US SINCE 2012. SAME YEAR I CAME HERE, HE BEAT ME BY A COUPLE OF MONTHS, I THINK. RIGHT. JANUARY.
THERE YOU GO. VERY GOOD. GOOD JOB. CONGRATULATIONS. SIR. WITHOUT THAT. YES, SIR, I WILL PHOTOSHOPPING OUT. THANK YOU. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THREE. AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT I GET TO DO AS CHIEF OF POLICE TO PROMOTE THOSE NEXT LEADERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS FOR THE SETUP THAT THEY HAD OUTSIDE, LITTLE CAKE AND AND SOME GOODIES, AND ALSO THANK THE OFFICERS AND STAFF THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT TO WITNESS THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I TURN IT BACK OVER. THANK YOU CHIEF.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. SUCH BEAUTIFUL FAMILIES. DON'T YOU ALL AGREE? YES, YES. VERY
[D. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
BEAUTIFUL. AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. PLEASE. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST PURSUANT TO TEXAS 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. REMINDER ABOUT UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL EVENTS, INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS INVOLVING IMMINENT THREATS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AS WELL AS ANY LIAISON UPDATES.THANK YOU. COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? YES, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
I DO HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE FIRST ONE IS THAT WHILE WE WERE IN WHILE WE'VE STARTED THIS MEETING, DALLAS COUNTY HAS DONE AN INJUNCTION TO EXTEND VOTING TIME TO 9 P.M. BECAUSE OF ALL THE ISSUES EVERYONE'S BEEN HAVING. SO IF YOU'RE LISTENING TO THIS OR YOU KNOW SOMEBODY THAT'S HAD TROUBLE WITH VOTING OR DIDN'T GET TO VOTE TODAY, THEY HAVE TO 9 P.M.
TONIGHT. IT ALSO MEANS WE'LL BE UP LATE WATCHING NUMBERS. SO YAY! MY SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT IS I DO HAVE THE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF BEING THE COUNCIL'S LIAISON FOR THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. WE THEY WILL BE HOSTING OUR ANNUAL VIETNAM VETERANS DAY EVENT THAT WILL BE FRIDAY, MARCH 27TH AT 10 A.M. THAT'S IN THE DESOTO CIVIC CENTER IN THE PECAN ROOM. THE
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CIVIC CENTER IS RIGHT BEHIND US IN THE REC AREA. MY SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT IS ACTUALLY SOME KUDOS I WANT TO GIVE OUT. OF COURSE, IT'S MARCH, SO IT'S WOMEN'S MONTH, AND I JUST SO HAPPEN TO HAVE QUITE A FEW LITTLE WOMEN THAT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE. THE FIRST ONE IS AUBREY J. AUBREY J IS A DESOTO DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT, AND SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF DOING A PROJECT AT HER SCHOOL. SHE WAS ASSIGNED A NOTABLE AFRICAN AMERICAN PERSON, MISTY COPELAND, FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH. WELL, SHE NOT ONLY DID HER RESEARCH, SHE DID A VIDEO AND SHE MADE A SHOE BOX. DIORAMA. DIORAMA, THANK YOU DIORAMA. AND JUST SO HAPPENED THAT MISTY COPELAND WAS IN THE DALLAS AREA AND WAS A SPEAKER AT A AT THE SAINT PHILIP'S DESTINY AWARDS LUNCHEON, AND SO AUBREY J HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HER AS A PART OF HER PROJECT AND NOT ONLY MEET HER, BUT INTERVIEW HER. AUBREY IS FOUR YEARS OLD IN PRE-K, AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS SUPER AMAZING FOR HER. ANOTHER RESIDENT I'D LIKE TO CALL OUT IS KAYLA GLOVER. SHE WAS A 2021 GRADUATE OF DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL. SHE WAS THE STARTER OF STARTING POINT GUARD.SHE IS A SENIOR AT TWU AND HER BASKETBALL TEAM BECAUSE SHE STARTS ON THE BASKETBALL TEAM AS WELL, IS A FOUR TIME CHAMPION FOR THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP. BECAUSE I DON'T YOU KNOW, I DON'T DO SPORTS LIKE THIS, BUT THEY THE LHS REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS IS BACK TO BACK FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS. SHE ALSO HAS SEVERAL ACCOLADES. SHE'S A SALUTATORIAN OR SHE WAS A SALUTATORIAN FOR DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL. BUT SHE IS THE 2024 NCAA NATIONAL FINALIST, TWO TIME LSC TOURNAMENT CHAMPION, FOUR TIMES ELLE CONFERENCE CHAMPION, NINE TIMES COMMISSIONER'S HONOR ROLL. AND SHE IS GRADUATING THIS YEAR. AND SHE GRADUATED, OF COURSE, WITH BYRON MURPHY, WHO IS THE SUPER BOWL CHAMPION. AND THEN LASTLY IS GOING TO BE OUR CURRENT GRADUATE OF 2026. HER NAME IS KELLY HAMILTON, AND SHE IS DOING A REMARKABLE JOB.
SHE'S GOING TO BE A SENIOR CLASS RANK OF RANKING OF 18. SHE HAS A 4.9 GPA BECAUSE SHE'S PARTICIPATING IN OUR DUAL PROGRAM OF COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL. SHE ALSO HAS A 3.89 GPA FOR HER COLLEGE AS WELL. SHE'S ON THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, THE SPANISH HONOR SOCIETY, MATH HONOR SOCIETY. YIKES. SHE IS THE SIGMA KAPPA DELTA NATIONAL ENGLISH HONOR SOCIETY, NATIONAL, THE PSI BETA, THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF LEADERSHIP AND SUCCESS. SHE'S AT SHE'S SHE'S GOING TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS IN DENTON. SHE WANTS TO BE AN ECONOMIST. I JUST WANT TO CALL HER OUT. SHE'S A CLASS OF 2026 TREASURER. SHE'S ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. SHE'S A CHEERLEADER AND A LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DO IN LIFE, BUT SHE'S ALREADY CREATED A LEGACY AND A TRUE TRAILBLAZER FOR DESOTO. SO, MISS HAMILTON, I WANT TO ALSO SHOUT YOU OUT AS WELL. AND MAYOR, I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM. COUNCILMAN WARD. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I HAVE THREE EVENTS. ANNOUNCED IT BEFORE, BUT WE WANT TO KEEP THIS ON THE TOP OF YOUR MIND. THE FIRST EVENT IS A TOUR OF THE ARK AQUATIC RECREATIONAL CENTER, YOUR COMMUNITY REIMAGINED. GET A SNEAK PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR, A TOUR OF THE NEW AQUATIC AND RECREATION CENTER BEFORE THE GRAND OPENING, SO THE DATES THAT ARE REMAINING ARE MARCH 6TH AND SEVENTH, MARCH 13TH, MARCH 20TH, AND MARCH 21ST. THERE BE A 9 A.M. TO 10 A.M. AND ALSO A 10 A.M. TO 11 A.M.
SO TO SIGN UP, GO TO DESOTO, TEXAS.GOV/ARK. ALL RIGHT. NEXT EVENT IS THE SHAMROCK SHAKE FIVE K FUN RUN AND WALK. IT'S GOING TO BE SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH, 8 A.M. TO 11 A.M. ENTRY FEE IS $20. IT'S GOING TO BE HELD AT TIGER PARK, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 405 EAGLE DRIVE, DESOTO, TEXAS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A FAMILY FRIENDLY FIVE K EVENT WITH FUN MUSIC AND PRIZES.
SO THE FIRST 100 PEOPLE TO SIGN UP, YOU GET A FREE T SHIRT. SO SIGN UP TODAY. NOW TO SIGN UP, YOU CAN REGISTER AT DESOTO EVENTS DOT EVENTBRITE.COM. THAT'S EVENTBRITE.COM. CHECK IN IS AT 8 A.M. WARM UP AND STRETCHES ARE 845, AND THE START OF THE RACE IS 9 A.M. SO
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YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE WALKERS, RUNNERS, AND PET OWNERS COME ON OUT. GET YOUR FREE T SHIRT, GOING TO HAVE A LIVE DJ AND AWARDS. ALL RIGHT. ALSO NEXT EVENT IS EASTER EGG STRAVAGANZA.IT'S GOING TO HAVE PRIZES, FACE PAINTING, FOOD, BOUNCE HOUSES AND MORE. IT'S GOING TO BE SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH. THAT'S GOING TO BE AT CHECK IN AT 8 A.M. ACTIVITIES BEGIN AT 815.
EGG HUNT 9 A.M. TO 11 A.M. AGE GROUPS GOING TO BE FIVE AND UNDER, 6 TO 8, 9 TO 12. THIS WILL BE THE THREE AGE GROUPS. IT'S GOING TO BE A FREE EVENT COMING OUT. ZEIGLER PARK AS WELL. 405 EAGLE DRIVE. TO PRE-REGISTER, GO ONLINE AT DESOTO TEXAS.GOV/REGISTER. SO COME ON OUT TO THAT Y'ALL. AND THAT ENDS MY ANNOUNCEMENTS SO I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WATERS COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TO SOTO. I WANT TO GIVE TWO SHOUTS OUT. THE FIRST SHOUT OUT I WANT TO GIVE TO THOSE WHO CAME OUT TO THE GAME ON FEBRUARY 22ND. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS GAME WAS MORE THAN JUST ROLLING DICE AND MAKING MOVES. THIS WAS ABOUT CELEBRATING CULTURE, FOSTERING CONNECTIONS, AND HAVING FUN TOGETHER. AND WE EVEN GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A TREAT. ONE OF THE CO-CREATORS OF THIS GAME ACTUALLY CAME ON BOARD AND HAD A FEW WORDS WITH US, TOLD US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THIS GAME IS PLAYED, AND HE ACTUALLY PUT A DISCOUNT CODE ON. SO I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU GUYS A DISCOUNT CODE SO THAT YOU CAN GET OUT THERE AND GET THAT GAME AS WELL. IT'S CALLED MONOPOLY. YOU GO TO EBONY.COM AND YOU GET YOUR 15% OFF. IF YOU PUT IN PLACE TWO, THAT'S THE ONE. SHOUT OUT. THE SECOND SHOUT OUT I WANT TO GIVE. AND AGAIN THIS IS ABOUT COMMUNITY FOSTERING BUILDING COMMUNITY. THE NEXT ONE I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO IS DON AND AND DIALOG. THIS PAST WEEKEND WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HAVE A MEAL AND A CONVERSATION. AND SOMETIMES ALL IT TAKES IS ONE MEAL TO BUILD COMMUNITY. SO I HOPE THAT IF YOU DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO COME, YOU MISSED BOTH TREATS, BUT YOU CAN STILL PARTAKE. I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DON AND A DIALOG FOR SOMEBODY TO COME. AND IF YOU DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GO TO THE FIRST ONE, DON'T FRET. IT'S COMING BACK. SOMEBODY'S GOING TO DO ONE SOON AND YOU'LL GET IN ON THAT ONE.
MAKE SURE YOU GET AHOLD OF THOSE REGISTRATIONS SO THAT WE CAN ALL HAVE A MEAL TOGETHER.
BECAUSE IT ALL STARTS WITH ONE MEAL. I, I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BYRD. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR THAT WE ARE BLESSED TO GIVE AWAY MONEY. MISTER CHARLES WILLIAMS AND HIS LOVELY WIFE, KEISHA WILLIAMS OF TAX TO GO, AS WELL AS. ANNUALLY GIVE AWAY $50,000 A YEAR TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. AND IT'S VERY EASY TO APPLY FOR THEIR BUSINESSES ARE LOCATED HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF DESOTO. SO IF YOU ARE A HIGH SCHOOL, GRADUATE PRIVATE SCHOOL OR FROM DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL AND YOU WANT TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP, THE MINIMUM SCHOLARSHIP IS $1,000 AND THEY GO UP TO $5,000, $5,000. IF YOU GO TO E DOT E U M E DOT O G. S U M E DOT O R G. THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL APRIL THE 1ST OF 2026 AT 11:59 P.M. SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR A RELATIVELY EASY SCHOLARSHIP TO GET IF YOU'RE GOING OFF TO COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL, GO TO E DOT. WE WANT TO THANK MR. WILLIAMS AND HIS LOVELY WIFE FOR BEING SO GENEROUS DURING THIS TIME OF, OF OF GRADUATIONS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY. HEARING NONE, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE A FEW THINGS. THEY'RE A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER IN TERMS OF DATES, BUT WE HAVE A PROPERTY TAX ONE ON ONE WORKSHOP THAT'S COMING UP. YOUR VALUE, YOUR HOME. YOU'RE GOING TO BE LEARNING HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM, HOW TO PROTEST YOUR PROPERTY VALUATION WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND KEY PROPERTY TAX DEADLINES AND AVAILABLE EXEMPTIONS. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENTED BY JOHN AMES, WHO IS OUR TAX ASSESSOR, AS WELL AS PATRICIA NIXON, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING ON MONDAY, APRIL 6TH. AGAIN, THAT'S MONDAY, APRIL 6TH, FROM 5:30 P.M. TO 7 P.M. RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 211 EAST PLEASANT RUN ROAD. AGAIN, THAT DATE IS MONDAY, APRIL 6TH FROM 5:30 P.M. TO 7 P.M. THIS WILL NOT BE A VIRTUAL EVENT, SO THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS INFORMATION IS TO ATTEND HERE IN PERSON, AND YOU CAN DO SO BY
[00:55:03]
THERE IS NOT A REGISTRATION. SO YOU CAN JUST SHOW UP ON THAT DAY AGAIN TO GET THE INFORMATION. ALSO, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THE THE CITY'S 77TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND, AND WE WILL BE CROWNING A NEW KING AND QUEEN IN COURT. AND WE HAVE SO MANY AMAZING THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING. WE HAVE SO MANY GIVEAWAYS. WE'VE HAD SOME INCREDIBLE SPONSORS THIS YEAR. I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE RAFFLING OFF A 77 INCH TELEVISION THAT DAY. THEY'RE GOING TO BE GIVING FREE FIVE MINUTE MASSAGES THROUGH A LOCAL, LOCAL DESOTO BUSINESS. WHO'S GOING TO BE DOING THAT FOR US? THERE'S GOING TO BE REFRESHMENTS, ALL SORTS OF THINGS, TRIVIA. AND OBVIOUSLY WE WILL GET TO CELEBRATE OUR CITY THAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE. THERE IS A CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT. AGAIN. THIS IS A FREE EVENT, BUT THEY ARE ASKING THAT YOU REGISTER SO WE CAN BEST SERVE YOU ON THAT DAY.AND THAT EVENT IS ON EVENTBRITE. OR YOU CAN GO TO THE CITY OF DESOTO FACEBOOK PAGE AND FIND THE FLIER, WHICH IS THE DESOTO 77TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FLIER. THAT'S REALLY COLORFUL, SO YOU CAN'T MISS IT. AND YOU CAN REGISTER SO THAT WE CAN MAKE PLANS TO SERVE YOU ON THIS COMING SATURDAY. AGAIN, THE EVENT IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING ON SATURDAY. LET ME FIND THE DATE. I SHOULD KNOW IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH, 2026. AND IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF DESOTO CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 211 EAST PLEASANT RUN ROAD, AND IT'S GOING TO START AT 9 A.M. TO 11 A.M. AND SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. I HAVE ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT. LET'S SEE. HOLD ON. I WANT TO ANNOUNCE WE'RE ALWAYS VERY DELIGHTED AND VERY EXCITED WHEN OUR COLLEAGUES ARE MAKING WAVES BEYOND JUST WHAT THEY DO HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL. AND I THINK IT SPEAKS VOLUMES WHEN A PERSON CAN NOT ONLY BE RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT THEY DO HERE, BUT WHAT THEY WHAT THEY DO IN THEIR INDUSTRY. AND SO I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA HUGHES OF THE HUGHES GROUP REAL ESTATE, WHO WAS NAMED DRUM ROLL, PLEASE. THE METRO TECH'S BROKER MANAGER OF THE YEAR. THAT'S AMAZING.
THROUGH HER SERVICE TO METRO TECH'S AND HER LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC OFFICE, INCLUDING THE DESOTO CITY COUNCIL AND PRESIDENT OF THE WOMEN'S COUNCIL OF REALTORS SOUTH DALLAS NETWORK, SHE EXEMPLIFIES DEDICATION, INFLUENCE AND IMPACT BEYOND JUST HER INDUSTRY, BUT ALL AROUND. AND SO IT WAS A WELL-DESERVED HONOR AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, I THINK YOU'RE IN. WHAT IS IT, 28 YEARS, 28 YEARS? THAT'S INCREDIBLE. AND SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CITY KNEW ABOUT THE BIG THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS THAT YOU'RE HAVING ALL THROUGHOUT THE METROPLEX. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. AT
[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. ]
THIS TIME, MISS LEWIS WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEMS ARE LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BY THE CITY MANAGER AND ARE RECOMMENDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR SINGLE VOTE APPROVAL. ANY ITEMS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE VOTE AT THE REQUEST OF A COUNCIL MEMBER, THE MAYOR OR THE CITY MANAGER.FIRST, WE WILL HAVE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 16TH, 2026.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY THE 17TH, 2026 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY THE 19TH, 2026 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 20TH, 2026, AS
[F. Consent - Other Items]
WELL AS RECOGNITION OF THE PROCLAMATION HONORING AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH. RECOGNITION OF A PROCLAMATION HONORING NATIONAL RED. READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY. RECOGNITION OF A PROCLAMATION HONORING NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY RECOGNITION OF A PROCLAMATION HONORING WORLD ENGINEERING DAY. RECOGNITION OF A PROCLAMATION HONORING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.CONSIDER RATIFYING THE EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT OF WATER MAIN REPAIR SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $76,357.13 FROM TEXAS STANDARD CONSTRUCTION FOR THE EMERGENCY REPAIR OF A 12 INCH WATER LINE ON HAMPTON ROAD, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PAY THE CORRESPONDING INVOICE PURCHASE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL ARE THERE? I SEE YOUR LIGHT. MAYOR PRO TEM, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA? I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT FOR ITEM SIX. WHAT IS THAT? F6 AND I JUST YOU. WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE. BUT ON JANUARY THE 23RD, THAT WAS THE DAY WE HAD THAT HORRIBLE ICE STORM. SO I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE PUBLIC UTILITIES BECAUSE WHEN THAT EMAIL CAME THROUGH, IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. AND THIS IS JUST A RECEIPT FOR THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO FIXING AND REPAIRING THAT WATER LINE. THAT LEFT A FEW RESIDENTS
[01:00:03]
WITHOUT WATER. BUT EVEN WITH THAT, Y'ALL, WE, THE CITY MADE SURE THAT THEY HAD WATER SUPPLY AS WELL. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL ARE THERE IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT. SO MOVED. SECOND IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM CHISM. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL.ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[1. Consider approval of a Resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application by the DeSoto Police Department to the Office of the Governor for the purpose of resiliency, wellness, peer support and mental health training and counseling for first responders in the amount of $37,700.00]
THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL NOW HAVE THE REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION BY THE DESOTO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR FOR PURPOSE OF RESILIENCY, WELLNESS, PEER SUPPORT, AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AND COUNSELING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $37,700. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH RUSH TRUCK CENTER, NOT TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF 457 $59,956.31 FOR THE PURCHASE OF A CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION INSPECTOR VAN FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, UTILIZING THE SOURCEWELL CONTRACT NUMBER 032824 DASH RTG. MADAM SECRETARY, WE'LL TAKE ONE ITEM AT A TIME. SO WE'LL GO TO H1 AND I'M GOING TO ASK CHIEF COSTA. HE WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION OR CHIEF IS GOING TO MAKE OUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL, I DON'T HAVE A VISUAL PRESENTATION. THIS IS IN REGARDS TO A A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION. IF IF YOU THINK BACK ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WE HAD A RESOLUTION FOR SHOTSPOTTER. THIS IS THE SAME PROGRAM. THIS IS THE SAME GRANT PROGRAM. THE STATE OF TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM GRANT. AND IN THIS CASE, WE'RE ASKING FOR 1 TO 3 YEARS OF OF FUNDING AT $37,700 A YEAR, DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF APPROVAL FOR FUNDING FOR RESILIENCY, WELLNESS, PEER SUPPORT AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AND COUNSELING. AND SO REALLY THINK OF IT, IT'S KIND OF AA2 PART THING. ON ONE HAND, YOU HAVE TRAINING, PEER SUPPORT TRAINING. SUICIDE AWARENESS TRAINING, CRISIS CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT TRAINING. AND THEN ON THE OTHER HALF YOU HAVE COUNSELING, WHICH IS IN THIS CASE COUNSELING THAT IS SPECIFIC TO TO MEMBERS OF THE FIRST RESPONDER COMMUNITY.WE HAVE ACTUALLY SUBMITTED A DRAFT RESOLUTION. WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO THAT BY THE STATE AS THE THE GRANT DEADLINE WAS FEBRUARY 11TH. AS AS WITH THE PREVIOUS SHOTSPOTTER GRANT. AND THEY ALLOWED TO COME ALLOWED US TO COME TO YOU LATER. AND SO THIS IS PENDING APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, CHIEF COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ITEM BEFORE WE CALL FOR A MOTION? HEARING? NONE. COUNCIL WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND. THANK YOU. THAT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMAN BIRD. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. COUNSEL, PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PAD. EXCUSE ME. YES, MA'AM. IS IT READY, JOE? VOTE SO. HOLD A COUNCIL. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK
[2. Consider authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Rush Truck Center in the not-to-exceed amount of $459,956.31 for the purchase of a Closed Circuit Television inspection van for the Public Utilities Department, utilizing the Sourcewell Contract #032824-RTG]
YOU. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CHIEF. THANK YOU. WE HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH RUSH TRUCK CENTER AND THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $459,956.31 FOR THE PURCHASE OF A CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION INSPECTION VAN FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, UTILIZING THE SOURCEWELL CONTRACT NUMBER 032824 DASH RTG. ALL RIGHT.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH RUSH TRUCK CENTER FOR A CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION
[01:05:05]
INSPECTION VEHICLE OR CCTV VEHICLE. CCTV VEHICLES CONTAIN HIGH RESOLUTION CAMERAS THAT ALLOW STAFF TO VIEW UNDERGROUND SEWER LINES AND THE SANITARY SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ISSUES, BLOCKAGES OR CRACKS WITHOUT HAVING TO PERFORM COSTLY EXCAVATIONS THAT DISRUPT TRAFFIC PATTERNS OR DISRUPT LAND. ADDING THIS EQUIPMENT TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES FLEET WILL ENABLE THE STAFF TO PERFORM PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE BY MAKING REPAIRS AND IDENTIFYING OTHER POTENTIAL MAINTENANCE ISSUES BEFORE SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS OR PIPE FAILURES OCCUR. LIKEWISE, THIS EQUIPMENT WILL ALLOW FOR STAFF TO MAKE MORE INFORMED DECISIONS REGARDING CAPITAL REPLACEMENT OF AGING AND COMPROMISED INFRASTRUCTURE. THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT RECEIVED THREE QUOTES RELATED TO THIS PROJECT, AND STAFF HAS DEEMED THAT THE QUOTE RECEIVED FROM RUSH TRUCK CENTER FOR $459,936.31 TO BE THE BEST OVERALL VALUE FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO. RUSH TRUCK WILL UTILIZE EQUIPMENT COMPANY TO OUTFIT THIS VEHICLE. CLS IS A LOCAL VENDOR. THEY'RE LOCATED IN RICHARDSON, TEXAS. THEREFORE, THEY WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT FROM THE RICHARDSON, TEXAS OFFICE BY WAY OF PROVIDING THREE DAYS OF STAFF TRAINING ONCE THE EQUIPMENT IS PURCHASED, AS WELL AS ONGOING TRAINING IN THE EVENT OF EMPLOYEE ATTRITION. ALSO, CLS DOES KEEP LOANER EQUIPMENT THAT THEY WILL LOAN THE CITY FREE OF CHARGE. IF OUR EQUIPMENT IS EVER MALFUNCTIONING OR IN NEED OF PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. AS A REMINDER TO THE COUNCIL, THIS EXPENSE WAS INCLUDED IN THE FY 26 BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $475,000 IN FUND 504, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC UTILITIES VEHICLE FUND. SO THIS PROJECT HAS COME IN UNDER BUDGET FROM STAFF PROJECTIONS. SHOULD YOU APPROVE THIS EVENING, THE TOTAL COST OF THIS VEHICLE WILL BE $459,956.31, AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PURCHASE CONTRACT. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE OF ME, AND ALSO HAVE MR. PAUL BARNEY HERE WITH CLS EQUIPMENT, IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY REALLY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MR. LACEY. COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE CALL FOR A MOTION HEARING? NONE. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MAYOR. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM CHISM. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED COUNCIL. PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PAD. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.[3. Consider authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Professional Services Agreement with Garver, LLC in the amount of $197,183 and establish a total project budget of $216,901.30 (including a 10% contingency) to update the Water Distribution System Master Plan]
THANK YOU. COUNCIL. THANK YOU, MR. LACEY. THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT AND FINAL ITEM ON OUR REGULAR AGENDA. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH GARVER, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $197,183 AND ESTABLISH A TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET OF $216,901.30, INCLUDING A 10% CONTINGENCY TO UPDATE THE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM MASTER PLAN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU IS TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH GARVER, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $216,901.30 TO UPDATE THE CITY OF DESOTO'S CURRENT WATER DISTRIBUTION MASTER PLAN. JUST TO GIVE A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF HOW WE ARRIVED AT THIS DESTINATION THIS EVENING. BACK IN 2018, THE CITY THE CITY COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY APPROVED THE CITY MANAGER TO AUTHORIZE GARVER LLC, WHO IS OUR CONSULTANT OF RECORD, TO UPDATE THE CITY'S WATER DISTRIBUTION MASTER PLAN. THE WATER MASTER PLAN IS A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE CITY'S OF DESOTO'S WATER STORAGE, SUPPLY, PUMPING AND CONVEYANCE SYSTEMS. THE PURPOSE OF COMPLETING A MASTER PLAN IS TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY OF DESOTO INFRASTRUCTURE WILL NOT ONLY MEET CURRENT DEMANDS, BUT ALSO FUTURE DEMANDS, AS WELL AS MEET AND EXCEED THE REGULATORY CRITERIA THAT IS SET FORTH BY THE STATE OF TEXAS REGULATORY AUTHORITY, THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. THE CITY'S CURRENT MASTER PLAN WAS COMPLETED IN 2021, AND FROM THAT PLAN YIELDED 27 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROJECTS OVER A 25 YEAR LIFESPAN. I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS, THE HAMPTON ROAD PUMP STATION, BACK IN 2024, THE LARGEST PUMP STATION IN THE WESTMORLAND PUMP STATION WILL BE COMPLETED IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, AND WE ARE ACTIVELY IN DESIGN FOR THE BOLTON BOONE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH WILL SERVE THE NORTHERNMOST PORTION OF THE CITY FOR YEARS TO COME, AS IT HAS BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THE RECENT UPDATE, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT OUR CONSULTANT TAKE A RELOOK AT OUR CURRENT PLAN TO ACCOUNT FOR PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED OR MAY NOT LONGER BE NECESSARY, AS WELL AS UPDATE THE CITY OF DESOTO WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS CAPITAL PROJECT LIST THAT REFLECT THE OPINION OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COSTS IN $2,026. ONCE AGAIN, AS A REMINDER TO THE COUNCIL, THIS WAS INCLUDED IN OUR 2025 BOND SALE IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000. SO THIS IS
[01:10:02]
ANOTHER PROJECT THAT HAS COME UNDER STAFF PROJECTIONS, AND AS SUCH, FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN FUND 508 OF THE WATER AND SEWER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. I DO HAVE MISS MARK BROWN WITH GARVER, WHO'S A FAMILIAR FACE TO ALL OF US. SHE IS OUR PROJECT MANAGER WITH GARVER.I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL AS SHE WILL BE AS WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE CALL FOR A MOTION? SEEING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BYRD TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED COUNCIL.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. NO. OPPOSED. I'M SORRY. WHAT DID I SAY? I CALLED FOR A VOTE. JUST VOTE, DID I? YEAH. JUST DO WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO. COUNCIL. I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE. I'M SORRY. OKAY. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL.
[I. CITIZEN APPEARANCES]
AT THIS TIME, MADAM CITY SECRETARY, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL NOW HAVE CITIZEN APPEARANCES. THE CITY COUNCIL INVITE CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON ANY TOPIC NOT ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING. CITIZENS WISHING TO SPEAK SHOULD COMPLETE A CITIZEN COMMENT CARD AND PRESENT IT TO THE CITY SECRETARY, OR RETURN IT TO THE AMBASSADORS TABLE TO THE START OF MEETING. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS PUBLIC OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE CITY COUNCIL CANNOT TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA. HOWEVER, YOUR CONCERNS MAY BE ADDRESSED BY CITY STAFF PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA OR RESPONDED TO BY SOME OTHER COURSE. FOR ATTENDEES WANTING TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM LISTED ON THE AGENDA, THE COMMENT CARDS RELATED TO THE SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ARE TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY SECRETARY.PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THAT AGENDA ITEM, THE STANDARD TIME LIMIT IS THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER, AND MAY BE MODIFIED AT THE MAYOR'S DISCRETION. TO MAINTAIN AN EFFICIENT FLOW OF THE MEETING. PLEASE NOTE COMMENTS ARE TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL AND NOT TO INDIVIDUAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OR STAFF. CITIZENS SHALL REFRAIN FROM MAKING PERSONAL AND PERTINENT, PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS, OR BECOMING BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL. IF SUCH CONDUCT OCCURS AND IS NOT CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY, THE CITY MAY CITIZEN MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM FOR THE REMAINING SESSION OF THE MEETING, AND THE CITIZEN SHALL BE BARRED FROM APPEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THAT SESSION. CITIZENS SHALL OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY, DECORUM, AND GOOD CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST CARD. WE WILL NOW HAVE COMMENTS BY HOPE STEPHENS.
GOOD EVENING, MISS STEPHENS. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE ONLY. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. GOOD EVENING, HOPE STEPHENS, CITY OF DESOTO. I AM COMING BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN EMAILING YOU AND I SAID I WOULD COME FORWARD. SO HERE I AM.
YOU'LL SEE ME A COUPLE OF TIMES. I AM COMING DIRECTLY TO MY CITY LEADERSHIP ASKING FOR DETAILS.
AS YOU CAN PERMIT. I UNDERSTAND WITH THE DISMISSAL OF CHRIS GLOVER. I DO UNDERSTAND BY LAW YOU CANNOT GIVE ME SPECIFIC HR DETAILS. HOWEVER, TO HAVE SOMEONE OF SUCH TENURE HERE FOR 26 YEARS WHO, BASED ON THE DATA FROM THE CITY, FROM THE CITY WEBSITE, IT SAID THAT WITH MUCH OF HIS WORK WITH YOUTH PROGRAMS, HE BROUGHT IN AN EXCESS OF $5 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR US TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO WAS HIRED JANUARY 7TH, 2002, TO BE DISMISSED IN A WAY THAT IS NOT HONORABLE. TO HAVE HIM WALKED OUT IS NOT RESPECTFUL, IN MY HONEST OPINION. NOW, WHILE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DETAILS ARE, I WOULD HOPE AND PRAY THAT WITH ANY ORGANIZATION THAT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED AND CREATED SUCH EXTRAORDINARY OUTCOMES AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THIS CITY FOR DECADES, THAT THERE WOULD, IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY ISSUES, THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PROPER PROTOCOL OF HAVING A A PERFORMANCE PLAN, OF HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, HAVING EXPECTATION DATE AND HAVING THAT PERFORMANCE PLAN TO WHERE IF THESE THINGS RIGHT HERE ARE NOT MET, THEN WE ARE LEADING THEN TO A DISMISSAL. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT TEXAS IS AN AT WILL STATE, BUT FOR SOMEONE OF THAT TENURE, THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT IN MY HONEST TO GOD OPINION. SO I CHOSE TO GO TO AI AND JUST LOOK UP WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ATTRIBUTES THAT AI WOULD SAY ABOUT A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY? NOT PUTTING CHRIS'S NAME, JUST WHAT AI WOULD GIVE, AND SOME OF THE ATTRIBUTES THAT IT COMES WITH IS CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY, RELATIONAL STRENGTH, SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTION, INFLUENCE AND LEADERSHIP. THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN EASILY DESCRIBE CHRIS GLOVER FOR HIS TENURE HERE IN THE CITY OF DESOTO. I HAVE BEEN HERE 16 YEARS. I HAVE KNOWN CHRIS AT LEAST 14 OF THOSE YEARS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN SERVICE IN SOME
[01:15:04]
WAY OR ANOTHER, AND I HAVE NEVER ONCE PERSONALLY. AND THIS IS NOT TO SAY NOBODY IS PERFECT.BY NO MEANS. NO ONE IS PERFECT. AS LONG AS WE ARE HUMAN, WE ARE WRAPPED IN INIQUITY. WE ARE GOING TO SCREW UP SOMEWHERE. HOWEVER, WITH THE TENURE OF THAT NATURE, THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT MY CITY LEADERSHIP PUTS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO EXPLAIN WHY WE HAVE SEPARATED FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD SUCH ASTUTE RECORD IN THIS CITY FOR DECADES. WE HAVE AN ACCREDITED PARKS AND REC FOR DECADES, AND SO I WILL BE HERE ASKING AND ASKING AND ASKING, AND I WILL BE SUBMITTING OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE BREADCRUMBS THAT ARE GOING TO GET SOME SORT OF DATA. AND I'M HOPING TO GET RESPONSE FROM Y'ALL INSTEAD OF CHRIS STEVENS. THAT CONCLUDES YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW HAVE MR. RAVENEL. MR. RAVENEL, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. GARY RAVENEL, DESOTO, TEXAS. HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I SPOKE WITH YOU FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES IN 25, SHARING CONCERNING OBSERVATIONS BASED ON LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE. I SUGGESTED INCREASING ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT OF YOUR DIRECT REPORT, AND I FURTHER PROVIDED DETAILS OF WHY. AND I PAINTED A CLEAR PICTURE WHY YOU SHOULD MOVE TOWARD A SEPARATION AGREEMENT. INCOMPETENT LEADERSHIP IS MARKED BY ONE TOXIC AND DYSFUNCTIONAL WORK ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS SEEN WITH HIGH TURNOVER OF CITY STAFF, LOW MORALE, AND ONE'S FAILURE TO ADDRESS OR TO FIRE INCOMPETENT LEADERSHIP. HEADS. NUMBER TWO PRIORITIZING IMAGE OVER SUBSTANCE AND THREE, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. AND THEY ALL LEAD TO CITIZENS DISTRUST. IN THE OCTOBER 25TH ISSUE OF STATE'S TOP LEADING NEWS, THEY SHARED WITH FAILED LEADERSHIP. ACCOUNTABILITY IS A PROBLEM AND THERE IS A LACK OF TRUST. SO HOW CAN YOU REVERSE THE EROSION OF CITIZEN TRUST? THE DECEMBER 22ND, 2025 ISSUE OF NEWS FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT STATES. NUMBER ONE, COMMUNICATE WITH CLARITY, CANDOR AND HUMANITY. HELP RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THE WHY AND THE VALUE PROPOSITIONS BEHIND DECISIONS. NUMBER TWO MODEL CIVILITY, ETHICS AND INTEGRITY IN ALL YOUR INTERACTIONS. TRUST IS SHAPED BY YOUR BEHAVIOR AND IT SETS THE TONE FOR OUR CITY. THE WAY YOU ENGAGE WITH OUR RESIDENTS, IT REALLY MATTERS. WHILE THERE MAY BE SOME GOOD OCCURRING HERE, THE ARC, THE POTENTIAL OF A TRANSFORMATION OF THORN TREE COUNTRY CLUB, MAYBE EVEN A CRICKET STADIUM, BUT IT'S ALL BEING OVERSHADOWED BY THE LACK OF TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY SEEN WITH THIS COUNCIL. WE VOTED FOR YOU ALL TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CITY AND TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS. A REAL LEADER NEEDS TO STAND UP AND TAKE CHARGE. IT BEGINS WITH YOU MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS AND THE WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT FEEDBACK AND TO MAKE THE NEEDED CHANGE, AND TO LISTEN TO YOUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. IS THAT THE FINAL CARD ON THE. THAT IS THE FINAL CARD. OKAY. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD TO ADJOURN COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. IT'S 7:16
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.