[00:00:02] GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. IT IS TUESDAY, MAY 5TH. [A. CALL TO ORDER AND CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION] IT'S 4 P.M.. I'M MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR MEETING OF THE DESOTO CITY COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CITY SECRETARY IF SHE WOULD GIVE US THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. DO YOU WANT TO DO A ROLL CALL, MAYOR? YES. OKAY. FIRST, WE WILL HAVE A ROLL CALL. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISM HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. COUNCIL MEMBER KEN WATERS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD, SENIOR COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER LATISHA HUGHES. AND DO YOU HAVE THE REFLECT WHO IS ON ZOOM, I BELIEVE, RIGHT. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY. THERE IS ACTUALLY IN THE BACK. OH, OKAY. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO HAVE THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. YES, MA'AM. WE WILL NOW HAVE THE SAFETY PROTOCOL BY FIRE CHIEF BRIAN SOUTHARD. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. COUNCIL. Y'ALL KNOW WHERE TO GO IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY. HOWEVER, WE ARE MONITORING THE WEATHER. WE DO HAVE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SOME ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING STARTING ABOUT 6:00 TO MIDNIGHT. SO WHILE WE'RE HERE, IN THE EVENT THAT THE WEATHER DOES GET BAD, YOU ALL WILL RETREAT BACK TO YOUR NOT TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, BUT TO EITHER THE HALLWAY IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OR TO YOUR KITCHEN AREA. AND THAT'S WHERE Y'ALL WILL SHELTER IN PLACE. AND THEN THIS EVENING, WHEN THE PUBLIC GETS HERE, WE'LL GIVE THEM THEIR SHELTERING IN PLACE INSTRUCTIONS, JUST IN CASE THE WEATHER TURNS. BUT WE'LL BE MONITORING THROUGHOUT THE MEETING TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF. WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION FIVE FIVE, 1.07 FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT AND EVALUATION OF THE JUDGE AND CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.072 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT REAL PROPERTY REGARDING THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE OR LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY AS IT RELATES TO NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF HAMPTON ROAD AND RFQ DASH 2026-002 HAMPTON ROAD CORRIDOR REDEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE. THE CITY WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.072. REAL ESTATE DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TO DELIBERATE THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY CARDS FOR THIS ITEM OR EITHER OF THESE ITEMS? WE DO NOT. OKAY. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME IT IS 4:02 P.M.. WE WILL NOW CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE WILL RETURN WITH ANY ACTION SHOULD THERE BE AS A RESULT. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I'M MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. [B. REGULAR SESSION AGENDA - CALL TO ORDER] IF WE COULD PLEASE TAKE OUR SEATS. AND WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN OUR REGULAR MEETING TONIGHT. THE COUNCIL DID HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION PRIOR TO THIS. WE CONCLUDED AT 5:48 P.M. AND THERE WAS NO ACTION AS A RESULT CHECK STATUS. SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CITY SECRETARY TO CONDUCT A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR HERE, MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISM HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. 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. AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA. FIRST, WE WILL HAVE OUR SAFETY PROTOCOL STATEMENT BY FIRE CHIEF BRIAN SUTTER. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, WE HAVE TWO EMERGENCY EXITS. ONE IS TO MY RIGHT OR YOUR LEFT, AND ONE IS BACK OUT THE DOOR AS YOU CAME IN AND TO THE RIGHT. IF WE ASK YOU TO LEAVE THE BUILDING, PLEASE REMAIN OUTSIDE UNTIL WE DIRECT YOU TO RETURN. WE ARE IN A ISOLATED, SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT THIS EVENING FROM NOW TILL MIDNIGHT OR SO. IN THE EVENT SEVERE STORMS COME IN, WE WILL SHELTER IN PLACE INSIDE TOWN HALL. WE WILL ACTUALLY BE GOING OUT THIS DOOR AND TO THE LEFT TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HR OFFICES. YOU CAN FOLLOW ANY OF THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE SEATED UP HERE IN THE FRONT TWO ROWS, OR LOOK FOR ME OR CHIEF COSTA IN UNIFORM, AND WE WILL DIRECT YOU ON WHERE TO GO IN THE EVENT THAT WE NEED SHELTER, WE WILL BE MONITORING THE WEATHER FOR THE EVENING. OTHER THAN THAT, LET'S HAVE A GOOD MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHIEF. MADAM CITY SECRETARY, WE HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND OSSIE HOGAN OF UMC CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLE, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY STUDENT AMBASSADOR LEWIS BROWN OF KATHERINE JOHNSON TECHNOLOGY MAGNET ACADEMY. WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE STAND? [00:05:12] SHALL WE PRAY? HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. FATHER GOD, WE PRAY. WE THANK YOU FIRST OF ALL FOR ALL OUR CITY LEADERS, THE FIRST RESPONDERS. WE THANK YOU, GOD, THAT. WE CAN COME TOGETHER WITH THE AGENDA TO DISCUSS THE WELL-BEING OF THIS CITY. SO FATHER GOD, I PRAY THAT THERE BE PEACE. THERE WOULD BE INTEGRITY, AND THERE BE UNITY IN THIS MEETING TONIGHT. SO WHATEVER IS ON THE AGENDA WE ASK YOU TO BLESS. IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LEWIS BROWN AND I'M HERE TO SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. UNITED UNITED STATES PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU, REVEREND HOGAN, FOR LEADING US IN OUR PRAYER THIS EVENING. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND RENDERING THAT BEAUTIFUL PRAYER. AND CAN WE GIVE IT UP FOR OUR STUDENT AMBASSADOR LEWIS BROWN FROM CATHERINE JOHNSON TECHNOLOGY MAGNET ACADEMY? THANK YOU. I THINK WE HAVE SOME FANS OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO READ JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR STUDENT AMBASSADOR, IF YOU ALL WOULD BEAR WITH ME. OUR STUDENT AMBASSADOR TONIGHT IS LEWIS BROWN, AND HE IS AN ENERGETIC AND COMPASSIONATE 11 YEAR OLD WITH A NATURAL GIFT FOR BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER. BORN ON JANUARY 9TH, 2015 IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, LEWIS IS THE YOUNGEST OF SIX CHILDREN GROWING UP WITH FOUR OLDER BROTHERS AND ONE OLDER SISTER WHO HAVE HELPED SHAPE HIS CHARACTER AND OUTLOOK ON LIFE FROM AN EARLY AGE. HE HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR HIS CHEERFUL PERSONALITY, WARM SPIRIT AND GENUINE KINDNESS TOWARDS OTHERS. NOW AS A FIFTH GRADE STUDENT AT KATHERINE JOHNSON TECHNOLOGY MAGNET ACADEMY, LEWIS HAS ALREADY TAKEN ON MEANINGFUL RESPONSIBILITY AS A STUDENT PEER MEDIATOR. IN THIS ROLE, HE HELPS CLASSMATES RESOLVE CONFLICTS PEACEFULLY, SOMETHING THAT ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH HIS PERSONALITY AS HE STRONGLY VALUES HARMONY AND ENJOYS SEEING PEOPLE GET ALONG. HIS DISLIKE FOR CONFLICT, PAIRED WITH HIS ABILITY TO LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND OTHERS, MAKES HIM ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE IN THIS POSITION. LEWIS HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN SPORTS. HE IS A FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYER WHO PROUDLY PLAYED FOR THE DESOTO FALCONS, WHERE HE DEVELOPED DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK AND PERSEVERANCE. CURRENTLY, HE CHANNELS HIS ATHLETIC ENERGY INTO SOCCER, PLAYING FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO. OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, HE HAS GROWN INTO A DEDICATED AND SKILLED PLAYER, SHOWING COMMITMENT AND ENTHUSIASM ON THE FIELD. IN ADDITION TO HIS SCHOOL AND ATHLETIC INVOLVEMENT, LEWIS IS A MEMBER OF CONCORD CHURCH IN DALLAS, TEXAS, WHERE HE CONTINUES TO BUILD HIS CHARACTER AND FAITH WITHIN HIS COMMUNITY. OUTSIDE OF HIS RESPONSIBILITIES, LEWIS ENJOYS SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH HIS FAMILY. HE LOVES PLAYING VIDEO GAMES AND BOARD GAMES, OFTEN BRINGING LAUGHTER AND FRIENDLY COMPETITION INTO THEIR HOME. WHETHER AT SCHOOL, ON THE FIELD OR WITH LOVED ONES, LEWIS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES A JOYFUL SPIRIT AND A HEART FOR UNITY, MAKING HIM A POSITIVE INFLUENCE WHEREVER HE GOES. LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR OUR STUDENT, AMBASSADOR, LEWIS BROWN. MR. BROWN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT BODY AT KATHERINE JOHNSON? I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO MY PARENTS AND MY GRANDMA AND MY SISTER, BECAUSE THEY HELPED ME THROUGH A LOT. GREAT. THANK YOU. ARE THEY HERE TONIGHT? YES, MA'AM. PLEASE STAND. THERE THEY ARE. GREAT. GREAT. WELL, LEWIS IS GOING TO ASSIST WITH OUR CARS TONIGHT. SO IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA, YOU MAY DO SO. HOWEVER, WE REQUEST THAT YOU FILL OUT A CARD AND SO THEY WILL ASSIST YOU AT OUR AMBASSADOR TABLE. LEWIS I'M GOING TO COME DOWN AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME PICTURES. AND I HAVE SOME GOODIES FOR YOU. IS THAT OKAY? YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. [00:10:16] ONE. TWO. THREE. ONE. TWO. THREE. AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. [C. PRESENTATIONS] AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR MAKE A RECOGNITION OF THE TOP 20 DESOTO ISD GRADUATES. MAYOR. TRUSTEES. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I AM, I AM I ON THE RIGHT CITY NOW. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. THAT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER. I AM SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS AND RECOGNIZING OUR TOP 20 GRADUATES. WE STARTED THIS TRADITION A FEW YEARS AGO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREATNESS THAT'S IN OUR COMMUNITY. PEOPLE CAN SAY A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT DE SOTO, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY CANNOT DENY IS THE GREATNESS THAT COMES FROM OUR FROM OUR COMMUNITY. THERE YOU GO. YOU CAN CLAP RIGHT THERE. AND AS A PROUD DE SOTO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE MYSELF, IT IS DEFINITELY AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. WE HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR DE SOTO ISD FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE WE HAVE SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT, BUT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR BOARD MEMBERS. OUR BOARD PRESIDENT, CHASIDY MCKISSICK, IS WITH US TONIGHT. MISS MCKISSICK, IF YOU ALL WANT TO COME UP. YES. AND WE HAVE TRUSTEE JAMES DURHAM IS IN THE HOUSE TONIGHT. YOU WANT TO COME UP, MR. DURHAM? I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE MORE. WHERE'S MISS LACY? KAREN LACY IS IN IS WITH US. DO YOU WANT TO COME ON UP? COME ON. AND THEN WE HAVE. TRUSTEE MCNAIRY IS WITH US AS WELL. AM I MISSING ANYBODY? OKAY, SO WE WILL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, MADAM PRESIDENT? YOU KNOW, I WILL PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. YES. GO AHEAD. SHE'S PUTTING ME ON THE SPOT, SO I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PREPARED WORDS. BUT IT IS EXTREME HONOR TO BE HERE TONIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR CITIZENS, TO RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK THAT OUR STUDENTS EXHIBIT AND OUTPUT IN REPRESENTATION OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO IT IS AN HONOR TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER AND HAVE THIS COLLABORATION WITH OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOU. ALL'S MEETING TO RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK OF OUR TOP 20 SCHOLARS, AS WELL AS OUR EDUCATORS. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP. WE DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENGAGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, SCHOOLS, WHATEVER THAT FORM LOOKS LIKE. IF IT'S READING STUDENTS MENTORING, I'M JUST COMING TO VISIT BE A LUNCH BUDDY. WHATEVER IS WITHIN YOUR COMFORT ZONE. I PROMISE YOU, WE HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU IN DESOTO ISD. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO OUR CITY COUNCIL. SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR MEETING TO RECOGNIZE OUR SCHOLARS. THANK YOU. BEFORE THEY COME UP, I'M GOING TO READ TO YOU WHAT THE COMMENDATION READS, AND THEY ALL READ THE SAME ON BEHALF OF THE DE SOTO CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF DE SOTO AND ALL OF ITS CITIZENS, I'M HONORED TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT AS A TOP 20 GRADUATE OF THE DE SOTO HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2026. THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT REFLECTS YOUR DEDICATION, PERSEVERANCE, AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. YOU HAVE SHOWN RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES AND A COMMITMENT TO REACHING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS. YOUR SUCCESS IS A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY, YOUR SCHOOL, AND THE ENTIRE DE SOTO COMMUNITY. WE RECOGNIZE THE EFFORT, FOCUS AND DETERMINATION IT TAKES TO EARN SUCH A DISTINCTION, AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT YOUR FUTURE WILL BE FILLED WITH CONTINUED ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MEANINGFUL IMPACT. THE DE SOTO CITY COUNCIL PROUDLY JOINS ME IN CELEBRATING THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE, AND WE WISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD INTO HIGHER EDUCATION AND BEYOND. CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS WELL DESERVED HONOR. AND WITH THAT SAID, I'M GOING TO CALL UP OUR FIRST GRADUATE. MISS SOPHIA VILLACORTA. DESIREE MUNGUIA. SAMANTHA BALLARD. HEY. AND THEY CAN STAND UP HERE. EVERYBODY CALLED TAYLOR HENDERSON. [00:15:11] SIMEON. BERRYMAN. JUNIOR. ZARIAH. DANIELS. KATHERINE. SEEKINGS. LAURIE ANN COLEMAN. HEY, THERE WE GO. MIGUEL. DIAZ. DESTINY. HYNES. ISABELLA. BOOKER. MALLORY. WILEY. ISAIAH. CAMPBELL. LAUREN. BEDE. IS MY MIC. HAS IT BEEN OFF THIS WHOLE TIME? OH. OH. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE DESIREE HOWARD, ESTEBAN PEREZ. EMMANUELLA AND. JOSHUA. CAMERON. BENJAMIN. IGWE. AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, ONE SOLACE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR ATTENTION. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHOTO. I'M GOING TO ASK IF OUR COUNCIL WILL STAND BEHIND US AS WELL WHILE WE TAKE THIS PHOTO. CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS. NICE TO MEET YOU. NICE TO MEET. YOU. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE HERE. ONE. TWO. THREE. GIVE HIM. ONE, TWO. AND, DOCTOR DARDEN, I DID NOT RECOGNIZE. I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE HERE TONIGHT. CAN WE. CAN WE GIVE A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP FOR DOCTOR DARDEN. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT. WE WILL NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MISS ANDREA BRYANT ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE DESOTO ISD STUDENT GROUPS AND PROGRAMS. HELLO, HELLO, GOOD. HELLO. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. AS I MENTIONED, MY NAME IS KELLY ANDREA BRYANT. I AM COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST FOR DESOTO ISD. I AM SO ELATED TO PRESENT OUR ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOLADES REPORT FOR THE DISTRICT TONIGHT. WE ARE PROUD TO HIGHLIGHT THE ATHLETIC, ACADEMIC, AND ART SUCCESSES OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF AND ALSO OUR CAMPUSES. SO AS A DISTRICT LEVEL, WE CONTINUE TO SEE STRONG PERFORMANCE ACROSS FINE ARTS AND ATHLETICS. AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE JUST WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR OUR FOOTBALL TEAM. BUT NOT ONLY ARE WE GREAT IN ATHLETICS, BUT WE ARE ALSO GREAT IN ARTS AS WELL. A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE JUST WON SUPERIOR RATINGS IN BAND AND CHOIR AND DANCE AND THE VISUAL ARTS. SO OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING GREAT THINGS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [00:20:01] SO IN TERMS OF OUR ACADEMIC SUCCESSES ACADEMICALLY, DESOTO ISD CONTINUES TO PRIORITIZE GROWTH, ACHIEVEMENT AND COLLEGE READINESS. ACROSS THE DISTRICT, STUDENTS ARE DEMONSTRATING MEASURABLE PROGRESS AND WITH STRONG PERFORMANCE IN EARLY LITERACY AND CONTINUED EXPANSION OF ADVANCED ACADEMIC PATHWAYS AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL. OUR STUDENTS ARE EXCELLING IN DUAL CREDIT IN EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAMS, EARNING COLLEGE HOURS AND DEGREES WHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. THESE EFFORTS REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO PREPARING EVERY STUDENT FOR SUCCESS BEYOND GRADUATION. OUR FINE ARTS PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO THRIVE, EARNING RECOGNITION AT BOTH THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. STUDENTS IN BAND, CHOIR, DANCE, AND VISUAL ARTS CONSISTENTLY RECEIVE TOP U.I.L. RATINGS AND SUPERIOR DISTINCTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, DESOTO ISD HAS BEEN NAMED AND RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSIC MERCHANTS FOUNDATION AS ONE OF THE BEST COMMUNITIES FOR MUSIC EDUCATION FOR THE SEVENTH TIME IN A ROW. ROSE. THIS HONOR REFLECTS THE STRENGTH, ACCESS AND QUALITY OF OUR DISTRICT WIDE FINE ARTS PROGRAMING. ATHLETICS REMAINS A STRONG POINT OF PRIDE FOR DESOTO ISD, AS THE MAJORITY OF YOU KNOW, WITH MORE THAN 23 STATE TITLES TO THE DISTRICT'S CREDIT, AN INCREDIBLE DEMONSTRATION OF THE QUALITY AND COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR PROGRAMS. OUR STUDENT ATHLETES CONTINUE TO PERFORM AT AN ELITE LEVEL, HIGHLIGHTED BY SIX A DIVISION TWO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN FOOTBALL. WE ALSO CELEBRATE 16 STUDENT ATHLETES WHO HAVE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE THEIR CAREER AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL, EARNING OVER $1.4 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS. THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS REFLECT NOT ONLY TALENT, BUT ALSO DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK, AND DEDICATION. DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL CONTINUES TO LEAD IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND COLLEGE READINESS, RANKING FIRST IN DALLAS COUNTY ACROSS TSI CATEGORIES AND PRODUCING THIS YEAR 56 ASSOCIATE DEGREE GRADUATES. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THEM. STUDENTS HAVE EARNED OVER $17 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS THIS YEAR ALONE. FINE ARTS PROGRAMS CONTINUE THEIR TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE AND ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS, INCLUDING A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL TEAM AND A NATIONAL QUALIFYING ARCHERY TEAM. THANK YOU. MCCOWAN MIDDLE SCHOOL. CURTIS DEAN MCCOWAN MIDDLE SCHOOL DEMONSTRATES STRONG PERFORMANCE IN BOTH ACADEMICS AND EXTRACURRICULARS. STUDENTS EARN SUPERIOR RATINGS IN CHOIR, STRONG BAND RATINGS, AND MULTIPLE FIRST PLACE RECOGNITIONS IN MLK COMPETITIONS. ATHLETICS ALSO EXCELLED WITH UNDEFEATED DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS IN FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL AND TRACK FOR SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS. CATHERINE JOHNSON TECHNOLOGY MAGNET ACADEMY CONTINUES TO EXCEL IN ACADEMICS, STEM AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A NATIONAL SPELLING BEE COMPETITOR WHO WILL BE COMPETING MAY 26TH IN THE NATIONAL SPELLING BEE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.. YES. THEY ALSO HAVE U. I L ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND STRONG STEM EXPO PLACEMENTS. STUDENTS ARE ALSO ENGAGED IN ADVANCED PATHWAYS LIKE P-TECH AND RECOGNIZE IN FINE ARTS AND ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS. COCKRELL HILL ELEMENTARY HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC GROWTH, PARTICULARLY IN READING. A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS MET OR EXCEEDED GROWTH GOALS, WITH SEVERAL ADVANCING MULTIPLE GRADE LEVELS. [00:25:06] THEIR INTERVENTIONIST PROGRAMS ARE ALSO PRODUCING STRONG GAINS, MOVING STUDENTS INTO HIGHER PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES. NEXT IS WOODRIDGE FINE ARTS AND GIFTED ACADEMY. WOODRIDGE FINE ARTS AND GIFTED ACADEMY CONTINUES TO SHINE. IT'S THROUGH ITS ROBUST FINE ARTS PROGRAMING. STUDENTS HAVE PERFORMED ACROSS THE METROPLEX IN CHOIR, DANCE AND THEATER WHILE ALSO ENGAGING IN INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING THAT CONNECTS ARTS, HISTORY, AND CULTURE. THESE EXPERIENCES BUILD BOTH SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE FOR THOSE STUDENTS. NEXT IS THE MEADOWS ELEMENTARY. THE MEADOWS ELEMENTARY FOCUSES ON BUILDING WELL-ROUNDED STUDENTS THROUGH ACADEMIC SUPPORT, LEADERSHIP, AND ENRICHMENT. STUDENTS ARE BENEFITING FROM TARGETED INSTRUCTION PARTICIPATING IN STEM OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE GIRLS STEM CLUB AND DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH STUDENT COUNCIL. NEXT WE HAVE FRANK DE MOTES ELEMENTARY, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH HONOR ROLL RECOGNITION, LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN STUDENT COUNCIL AND PARTICIPATION IN FINE ARTS. THESE EFFORTS SUPPORT ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT. SO AS WE REFLECT ON THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, A FEW THEMES STAND OUT THAT DEFINE WHAT MAKES DE SOTO ISD EXCEPTIONAL. WE CONTINUE TO SEE STRONG ACADEMIC GROWTH AND A CLEAR FOCUS ON COLLEGE READINESS FOR ALL STUDENTS. OUR FINE ARTS PROGRAMS MAINTAIN EXCELLENCE AT BOTH THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS, WHILE OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATE DOMINANCE, INCLUDING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESS. EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS OUR COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING THE WHOLE CHILD ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. FINALLY, WE ARE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH STEM INITIATIVES, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY COLLEGE PATHWAYS, ENSURING OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE. WE WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE BY EXPRESSING OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE CITY OF DE SOTO FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT. YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS MAKE A DIRECT IMPACT ON STUDENT SUCCESS AND OPPORTUNITY. TOGETHER, WE ARE BUILDING A STRONG COMMUNITY AND A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR EVERY STUDENT WE SERVE. THANK YOU. AMAZING. MISS BRYANT, THANK YOU FOR SHARING. WASN'T THAT GREAT? RIGHT? YEAH. AT THIS TIME, MADAM SECRETARY, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL WELCOME DE SOTO ISD INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT BRANT S MITCHELL, AS HE MAKES AN INTRODUCTION OF THE DESOTO ISD SUPERINTENDENT. AS AS MR. MITCHELL, I ALWAYS SLIP UP AND CALL HIM DOCTOR MITCHELL. I TOLD HIM, I THINK. YEAH, I TOLD HIM IT'S ON THE WAY. THIS IS SO YOU CAN COME AROUND THIS WAY AND FACE THE AUDIENCE. BUT THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. WE, WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE THIS ALSO A TRADITION BY INTRODUCING YOU TO, TO OUR SIDE OF, OF THE CITY. AND ONE THING AND YOU ALL CAN GO READ HIS DYNAMIC BIO ON THE, THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE. SO I WON'T, I WON'T BELABOR, BELABOR THE TIME, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STUCK OUT WHEN WE FIRST MET, WHEN YOU CAME IS JUST YOUR ENERGY AND YOUR PASSION. AND I COULD TELL ALREADY WE HAD GOTTEN THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB. AND SO I THANK YOU. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS TAKE AWAY FROM YOU IS THAT'S LET'S GET IT. SO ANYTHING THAT ANYTIME IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK. HE ALWAYS SAYS, LET'S GET IT. SO WITH THAT, WITH THAT SAID, CAN WE WELCOME OUR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, MR. BRANT MITCHELL, TONIGHT? ALL RIGHT. WELL, AFTER MISS BRYANT GOT DONE, I DON'T REALLY HAVE TOO MUCH TO SAY. I WANT TO HONOR AND THANK MY BOARD MEMBERS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. I WANT TO THANK MY PEOPLE FOR BEING IN THE BUILDING. MY PRINCIPALS, MY TEACHERS. Y'ALL SAW HOW AWESOME MY KIDS ARE. I'M JUST I'M BLESSED TO BE HERE, NUMBER ONE. BUT NUMBER TWO, I'M THANKFUL. I'M FROM A SMALL TOWN CALLED LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. AND WHERE I COME FROM ON SATURDAY MORNINGS, I HEARD A WHOOP. ARE WE IN THE HOUSE? ALL RIGHT. LOVE IT. COME ON, TALK ABOUT IT. LET'S GET IT. AND SO I DON'T KNOW ABOUT I'M LOOKING AROUND. I SEE SOME FOLKS WHO GOT A LITTLE SEASONING ON THEM, KIND OF LIKE ME. AND SO WHEN I WAS A KID ON SATURDAY MORNINGS WE WOULD CLEAN THE HOUSE REAL GOOD, HAD TO SMELL LIKE PINE-SOL AND BLEACH AND WE WOULD CLEAN THE HOUSE. [00:30:08] MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD PLAY THIS SONG BY A LADY NAMED BONNIE RAITT, AND THE SONG WAS ENTITLED, LET'S GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THE SLIDE DECK THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU ALL TONIGHT, BUT AS YOU TALK ABOUT DE SOTO, THE YOU LET'S GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. LET'S TALK ABOUT MY 56 BABIES THAT ARE ALREADY GOING TO SCHOOL DEBT FREE WITH THEIR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREES. ALL RIGHT. LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW MY FRESHMAN CLASS ALREADY HAS 25% OF THEIR STUDENTS GOING TO COLLEGE WITH ASSOCIATE DEGREES. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TSI SCORES THAT WERE NUMBER ONE ON I-35. RIGHT? SO I KNOW, I KNOW THAT I WAS BROUGHT HERE AND BLESSED TO BE HERE BECAUSE OF SOME CHALLENGES, BUT I DID A LITTLE BACKGROUND SEARCH BEFORE I SAID YES. AND SO NOT ONLY AM I EXCITED, BUT I CAN'T WAIT TO CONTINUE TO GIVE Y'ALL SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. SO WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. I JUST GOT THREE WORDS LEFT, RIGHT? I GOT THREE WORDS LEFT THAT ALL MY PEOPLE KNOW. EVERY SINGLE MORNING WHEN WE DO OUR HUDDLES, EVERY TIME WE COME TO YOUR CAMPUS, EVERY TIME WE BRING YOU THIS DE SOTO ENERGY. LET'S GET IT. THANK Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. WELL, MR. MITCHELL, WE DEFINITELY LOOK LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO TO WORK WITH YOU AND SUPPORT DE SOTO ISD. HOWEVER WE CAN AT THIS TIME, MADAM SECRETARY, WE WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. WE WILL NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION BY ATMOS ENERGY AND FIND A WAY TO THAT DE SOTO ISD TEACHERS OF THE YEAR, WHICH ARE LASANDRA. CASSIE, ELEANOR GREEN, PATRICIA REED, OLIVIA TAYLOR, ERNIE JONES, SABRINA MAYBERRY, EDUARDO KING, DEJA PORTER, TAYLOR PLEASANT, KAWANA JONES, AND GEORGE GOLDEN. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS BRANDON MORGAN AND I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF FOUND A WAY LOCAL NONPROFIT HERE IN DESOTO. AND WE'VE BEEN HONORING TEACHERS FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS AND PARTNERING WITH ATMOS ENERGY. MISS NORA MCNEELY IS HERE TONIGHT. SHE ACTUALLY MADE THIS HAPPEN. SHE WROTE THE CHECK. SO. MOST DEFINITELY THANK ATMOS ENERGY FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP IN CELEBRATING THESE TEACHERS. AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT. OKAY. WE'LL START AND IF WE CALL YOUR NAME, IF YOU CAN COME UP. LASANDRA. CASSIE. PATRICIA. REID. ERNIE. JONES. OLIVIA. TAYLOR. SABRINA. MAYBERRY. EDUARDO. KING. DEJA. PORTER. TAYLOR PLEASANT. T WARNER JONES. N GEORGE GOLDEN. AS A PART OF THIS INITIATIVE, EACH TEACHER WILL RECEIVE $500 CHECK FROM FOUNDER WAY AND ATMOS ENERGY. THE TWO TEACHERS AT CATHERINE JOHNSON WILL RECEIVE $250 BECAUSE WE SPLIT IT UP BY CAMPUS, SO THEY'RE STILL CELEBRATED ON TONIGHT. LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR PROCTOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE AND CELEBRATING YOUR SPACE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. AND WHILE THEY'RE GETTING ORGANIZED FOR A PHOTO, WE HAVE LOTS TO CELEBRATE TONIGHT. SO THAT SAID, WE HAVE PLENTY OF FOOD STILL IN THE ATRIUM. [00:35:04] SO IF YOU WANT TO GO OUT OUTSIDE THESE DOORS AND ENJOY SOME OF THAT FOOD, WE DO HAVE PLENTY OF FOOD LEFT AS WELL. OH. I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE MORE NAME TO CALL. SORRY ABOUT THAT, MISS ELEANOR GREEN. COME ON IN. WE DON'T NEED RIGHT NOW. THERE WE GO. OKAY. OKAY. OH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. HOLD ON TO IT. GIVE ME SOME. SORRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU GOT YOURS. ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AGAIN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, IF YOU ALL COULD HOLD THE VOLUME DOWN ON YOUR WAY OUT. IF YOU ALL COULD HOLD THE VOLUME DOWN ON YOUR WAY OUT AND EXIT QUIETLY. AGAIN, WE DO HAVE FOOD REMAINING IN THE ATRIUM IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOOD. I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CITY SECRETARY IF SHE WILL MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL. WE ARE PULLING THE ITEM FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. YES. SO IF ANYONE WAS HERE FOR THAT ITEM, THAT ITEM IS IT HAS BEEN PULLED AND IT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK IN THE MONTH OF JULY. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA PLEASE. WE WILL NOW HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH KNAUF TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION HONORING PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK. IF YOU ALL COULD PLEASE HOLD THE VOLUME DOWN, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I AM. IT IS SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO HONOR THE PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL CLERKS THIS WEEK. WILL YOU PLEASE STAND UP? COME ON UP. AND I'LL SHARE THIS PROCLAMATION WITH EVERYONE. WHEREAS, THE OFFICE OF THE PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL CLERK IS ESSENTIAL TO THE EFFECTIVE OPERATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENSURING TRANSPARENCY, ACCURACY AND ACCESSIBILITY IN MUNICIPAL PROCESSES. AND WHEREAS, MUNICIPAL CLERKS UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY OF GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS BY MAINTAINING OFFICIAL RECORDS, [00:40:06] SUPPORTING LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS, AND SAFEGUARDING THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO INFORMATION. AND WHEREAS THESE PROFESSIONALS SERVE AS A VITAL LINK BETWEEN ELECTED OFFICIALS, STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY, PROMOTING OPEN COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC TRUST IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND WHEREAS, PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL CLERKS DEMONSTRATE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO ETHICS STANDARDS, IMPARTIAL SERVICE AND CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EDUCATION CERTIFICATION AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DE SOTO RECOGNIZES THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ITS MUNICIPAL CLERK'S OFFICE IN ADVANCING EFFICIENT GOVERNANCE AND ENHANCING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RACHEL PROCTOR, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DE SOTO, TEXAS. BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF MAY 3RD THROUGH MAY 9TH, 2026 AS MUNICIPAL MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK IN THE CITY OF DE SOTO AND I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL CLERKS WHOSE WORK SUPPORT A TRANSPARENT, RESPONSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT. AN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION WHEREOF I HAVE HEARD. I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DE SOTO TO BE AFFIXED THIS FIFTH DAY OF MAY 2026. RACHEL L PROCTER MAYOR. ATTEST. SOPHIE LOUIS AUBRY, CITY SECRETARY. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ANY WORDS VERY QUICKLY. GO RIGHT AHEAD. VERY QUICKLY. THANK. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR THIS. THE GARRISON AND I WERE TALKING TO SOME COLLEAGUES TODAY AND THE MUNICIPAL CLERKS. ROSE CITY SECRETARY ROLE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST PROFESSIONS IN THE WORLD. AND SO THAT IS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. I ALSO SHARED WITH JOHN TODAY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT MAKES THE CITY RUN AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO. AND SO I SHARED WITH JOHN AND THE GARRISON AND I WERE CHATTING. I SAID, YOU ONLY NEED MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND A CITY SECRETARY. THAT IS HOW IMPORTANT THAT ROLE IS. YOU CAN GET ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. AND SO WE ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE. THE CITY OF DE SOTO IS THE RIGHT PLACE AND THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO BE HERE. AND I GOT THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE THE ASSISTANT CITY SECRETARY AND REYNOLDS. AND SO IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH. AND THANK YOU TO MADAM CITY SECRETARY, MADAM ASSISTANT CITY SECRETARY. YOU ALL ARE DOING A FINE JOB AND MAKE IT SUCH, SUCH A PLEASURE TO COME TO WORK EVERY DAY AND BE ABLE TO INTERFACE AND WORK WITH YOU ALL. SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS RECOGNITION. AT THIS TIME. WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL NOW HAVE THE PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION HONORING TEACHERS APPRECIATION WEEK MAKING THE PRESENTATION IS MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. I THANK ALL OF OUR TEACHERS LEFT TO GO CELEBRATE AND FINISH OFF THE FOOD THAT'S OUTSIDE. CAN WE HAVE THEM TO COME BACK IN? I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY WERE LEAVING OUT, BUT THIS IS AGAIN. I'M GOING TO SEE IF THEY CAN. CHIEF, CAN YOU TELL THEM TO? YEAH. ALL RIGHT. TO COME ON BACK IN. WE GOT ONE MORE RECOGNITION FOR THEM. DO WE HAVE ANY NAMES OF THEM THAT ARE HERE? WELL, WE HAVE THE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR THAT ARE HERE. CORRECT. OKAY. SO WE DO KNOW OUR TEACHERS OF THE YEAR. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY OTHER THAN DESOTO ISD THAT ARE HERE. OKAY. YOU HAVE ONE TEACHER. OKAY. WHAT WE COULD DO IS WE COULD HAVE. WELL, HOW LONG IS YOUR PRESENTATION, KAREN? VERY SHORT. IF WE COULD HAVE THEM TO COME BACK IN AFTER KAREN IS GOING TO PRESENT, IF THAT'S OKAY. IF I CAN TAKE A POINT OF PRIVILEGE, KAREN IS GOING TO PRESENT HER PRESENTATION. AND IF WE COULD ASK THEM TO COME BACK IN. WE DO HAVE ONE FINAL PRESENTATION FOR TEACHERS APPRECIATION WEEK. YES. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT UP JUST A LITTLE BIT. AND WE'LL DO THIS ONCE THEY COME BACK IN. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE PRESENTATION OF THE NEW CITY OF DESOTO WEBSITE MAKING THE PRESENTATION. IS IT DIRECTOR KAREN KIRBY? HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. [00:45:06] I HOOKED MYSELF UP HERE. I WILL SAY WITH ONE CAVEAT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A HOME PAGE THAT IS NOT QUITE FINISHED. SO PHOTOGRAPHY AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE STILL UNDER WORKS BY OUR LOVELY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT. SO WE'LL GO WITH THAT. SO. OH, THERE YOU ARE. OKAY, SO REALLY QUICKLY, MOSTLY WHAT I WANT TO DO TONIGHT IS PRESENT TO YOU THE TOOLS THAT YOU BOUGHT LAST WEEK. BUT WHILE WE'RE HERE, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE FEATURES HERE WE HAVE ON THE NEW HOME PAGE. WE HAVE THE MOVEMENT OF THE TOP OF THE WINGS HERE. WHEN YOU MOUSE OVER AND GET THE DROPDOWNS, YOU HAVE SOME MORE MOVEMENT HERE WITH THESE BUTTONS AS THEY LIGHT UP AND GET BIGGER. YOU'VE GOT YOUR WINGS REPEATED HERE. YOU'VE GOT MORE MOVEMENT HERE WITH YOUR NEWS AND EVENTS AS THEY MOVE UP AND DOWN. AND THEN DOWN HERE AT THE BOTTOM, YOU'VE GOT YOUR CALENDAR, MEETINGS, CALENDAR, EVENTS, CALENDAR. AND THE REPEAT OF THE WINGS AND THE BOTTOM. THE WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THIS PAGE REAL QUICK. I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE TWO THINGS THAT YOU PURCHASED LAST MEETING. MAYBE IF I CAN CLICK RIGHT. THERE WE GO. SO THIS IS A PAGE WITH A LOT MORE TEXT TO IT. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE PURCHASED LAST WEEK WAS THIS TOOL RIGHT HERE. IT'S CALLED AUDIOEYE. AUDIOEYE IS A WAY FOR THE END USER TO ADJUST THE TEXT TO WHAT THEY LIKE TO SEE OR READ, SO THEY CAN MAKE IT BIGGER OR SMALLER. THEY CAN CHANGE THE FONT TO SOMETHING THAT'S EASIER ON THEIR EYES, INCLUDING THIS DYSLEXIC TEXT. HERE YOU'VE GOT THE CONTRAST, YOU SEE THE PICTURE CHANGING, OR YOU CAN GET TO BLACK AND WHITE, MAKE SOME CHANGES THAT MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU TO READ IT. OTHER THINGS HERE, SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO READ LIKE THIS. JUST THERE'S OTHER THINGS IN HERE. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM, BUT THAT'S THE FIRST ONE. THAT'S THE AUDIO I. THE SECOND ONE IS THE DOC ACCESS WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN YOU BOUGHT THAT LAST WEEK. SO WHAT DOC ACCESS IS, IS ANY, ANY PDF ON THE ON THE OOPS. I DON'T WANT THAT ONE. ANY PDF ON THE WEBSITE. THERE WE GO. IT MAKES IT WITH A CLICK OF A BUTTON ACCESSIBLE TO SCREEN READERS AND ALSO TO PEOPLE WITH REDUCED VISION. OVER HERE, PART OF THE FEATURES OF THIS, YOU CAN ASK A QUESTION. SO FOR EXAMPLE, I'M GOING TO DO THIS REAL QUICK. IT'S GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE ANSWER OR GIVE YOU THE ANSWER IN TEXT DOWN HERE. IF YOU ASK IT A QUESTION, IT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A DOCUMENT OUTLINE. IT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU TRANSLATE. I'M HAVING TROUBLE CLICKING WITH ITS MOUSE. I'M SORRY. LET ME JUST TOUCH IT. SO TRANSLATE INTO ANY LANGUAGE WITH THE GOOGLE TRANSLATE RIGHT. TRANSLATES THAT DOCUMENT IN IN LIKE A SECOND. GO BACK TO ENGLISH HERE SO WE CAN ALL SEE IT. AND THEN THIS IS DISABILITY ASSISTANCE. THIS IS FOR THE END USER CAN ACTUALLY CALL THIS PHONE NUMBER AND SPEAK WITH SOMEBODY OVER THE PHONE THAT CAN HELP TO WALK THEM THROUGH THIS DOCUMENT. THEY GET UP TO 30 MINUTES FREE AND THEY GET TO DOWNLOAD AND KEEP THEIR TRANSCRIPT. IF THEY'RE NOT DONE IN 30 MINUTES, THEY CAN HANG UP AND CALL BACK. THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SHOW YOU TODAY, OF COURSE, IT HAS THE GOOGLE TRANSLATE FEATURE THAT EVERYBODY IS USED TO ON HERE FOR THE ENTIRE WEBSITE. AND THEN THIS IS GOING TO BE THE THE NEW CHATBOT THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT. SO AND HERE YOU CAN EITHER PICK ON THESE PRE-MADE QUESTIONS, JUST CLICK ON THAT LINK AND IT'LL TELL YOU THE ANSWER. YOU CAN ASK IT A QUESTION. SO. SORRY MY TYPING. AND THIS ALSO, I'M SORRY, THIS ALSO HAS A TRANSLATE BUTTON. SO IF YOU WANT TO DO IT IN SPANISH, YOU CAN ANSWER IN SPANISH. YOU CAN SAY DONDE ESTA LA? BIBLIOTECA COULD TYPE THAT VERY WELL EITHER. BUT IT DOESN'T CARE THAT I MADE A TYPO. IT'S GOING TO FIND ME THE BIBLIOTECA. THERE YOU GO. SO THOSE ARE WHAT I WANTED TO SHOW Y'ALL REAL QUICK. THESE ARE WHAT YOU APPROVED LAST WEEK. I HAVE A BIG GRIN ON YOUR FACE OVER THERE, MISS PARKER. SO THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR Y'ALL. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? YES. I'M NOT SURE WHOSE LIGHT WAS ON FIRST. I DO SEE SOME LIGHTS. I MIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. [00:50:04] I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU. ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE AROUND THE CHAT BOT AND THE BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ALL TOOK PRE PRE DISPOSED OR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND PRELOADED THOSE FOR THE CHAT BOT. MY QUESTION WOULD BE, IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY ONGOING MAINTENANCE THAT WOULD LOOK AT TRENDS FROM THE THE USER'S PERSPECTIVE SO THAT THAT'S CONSISTENTLY UPDATED. AND I KNOW, AND WITH THAT, BECAUSE IT IS A CHAT BOT, AND I KNOW I'VE WATCHED A FEW SESSIONS WITH T ML THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL THIS WHOLE POLICY THING AROUND CHAT BOT OR AI JUST IN GENERAL. WILL THE CITY BE ADOPTING ANY POLICY RELATED TO THIS AI AT ALL, OR WILL THERE BE A NEED FOR IT? AND THEN MY MY, I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING. SO WE WENT THROUGH THIS WHEN I FIRST CAME ON TO THE COUNCIL UPDATING THE WEBSITE AND POST THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF FALLOUT, PARTICULARLY IN WHAT YOU WERE THERE. RIGHT. I WAS THERE I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE THIS ITERATION TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE THINGS, SUCH AS LIKE THE SEARCH FUNCTIONALITY THAT WE STRUGGLED WITH THE LAST TIME. ALSO CONTINUITY FROM PLATFORMS TO PLATFORMS BECAUSE AS I RECALL, THE LAST ITERATION THAT WAS UPDATED, A LOT OF THINGS IN TRENDS OVER TRANSFER OVER, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, RESIDENTS WHO USE THE NOTIFY ME, WE LOST THAT DATA AND HAD TO REBUILD. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, JUST, YOU KNOW, WITH WHAT WE'VE BOUGHT, YOU KNOW, OF THE, THE TRINKETS, DO WE ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE VERY EYE OPENING FOR US IN THE LAST TIME THIS UPDATE HAPPENED? THAT WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I KNOW, I KNOW, I'VE BEEN WAITING. SO LET'S START WITH THE BEGINNING. THE CHATBOT IS BEING TRAINED NOW. IT CAN BE TRAINED ON THE BACK END. THE ANSWER THAT YOU SEE HERE WITH THE BRUSH AND BULK COLLECTION WAS ACTUALLY MANUALLY PUT IN THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS CORRECT. IT JUST READS OUR OWN SITE THAT AI IS, IT'S REALLY NOT TRUE AI, AI, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR THING, BUT IT READS THIS SITE AND TRIES TO GET THE ANSWER. AND ON THE BACK END, WE CAN GO AND SEE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT IT WAS HAVING. AND IF IT SAYS IF IT DOESN'T KNOW IT, IT SAYS, I CAN'T FIND THE ANSWER. THEN WE CAN GO IN THE BACK END AND WE CAN MANUALLY FILL IN THE ANSWER LIKE YOU SEE HERE. SO THAT IS AN ONGOING PROCESS. YES, IT IS ONGOING. THERE'S A WHOLE BACK END TO THIS OF TRAINING IT AND FOLLOWING AND FINDING, FINDING OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING AND LOOKING AT THE CONVERSATIONS AND TRENDS AND THE WHOLE BIT. I DIDN'T BRING THAT LOG IN TO YOU TODAY. NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO. AND I PROBABLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MORE UNDERSTANDING THAN MOST BECAUSE I JUST DID THIS ON MY, ON MY, ON MY PROFESSIONAL SIDE OF THE HOUSE. SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE INS AND OUTS OF, OF LAUNCHING IT. I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THE CITY WOULD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, USUALLY IT'S A INSTALL AND FORGET, BUT, YOU KNOW, AS TIME GOES ON, I'M SURE AND AS SEASONS CHANGE. RIGHT. RIGHT. NEW ISSUES WILL COME UP FOR FOLKS THAT ARE. AND MY HOPE IS THAT THE ACTION CENTER WILL BE ACTIVE PART OF THAT. THEY'VE BEEN TESTING IT AS WELL BECAUSE THEY GET ALL THE CALLS. RIGHT. YEAH. THAT THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS ON THE BACK END TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES OR GET SOME UPDATES AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF, AND HOPEFULLY THERE'LL BE SOME OTHER EYES ON IT AS WELL FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT UP FRONT, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL OF THOSE THINGS. SO AS FAR AS AI, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY. THIS IS MORE OF AN AI LITE. THIS ISN'T A TRUE FULL FLEDGED AI. SO AI POLICY IS KIND OF A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING ABOUT THE ENTIRE CITY, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO ADDRESS TONIGHT. BUT YES. THEN THE QUESTION ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF DATA WE DID HAVE SOME NOTIFY ME TRANSFER OVER LAST TIME. I'VE ALREADY WAS ABLE TO EXPORT ALL THE SUBSCRIBERS IN THE CURRENT ONE AND BRING THEM INTO THE NEW ONE. THIS ONE. SO EVERYBODY WHO'S SUBSCRIBING TO LIKE HOLIDAY TRASH NOTIFICATIONS IN THE OLD ONE ARE GOING TO BE AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED IN THIS ONE. AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS, WHAT REMIND ME WHAT THE LAST, LIKE THE SEARCH FUNCTIONALITY. THAT WAS A HUGE ONE. YEAH. YOU COULD SEARCH FOR SOMETHING AND NOT FIND IT LITERALLY. RIGHT? AND SEARCH IS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT IFFY MORE THAN OTHER THINGS IN THE CHATBOT, I THINK WILL HELP THAT BECAUSE IT'S A LOT EASIER TO CONTROL WHAT IT FINDS AND WHAT IT GIVES YOU AS AN ANSWER. BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY IT'S BETTER THAN IT WAS, AND WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT MORE OF THAT. WE CAN SEE ON THE BACK END WHAT SEARCH TERMS PEOPLE ARE PUTTING IN THAT SEARCH BAR AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM, I WAS TOLD THAT THE AI OR THE CHATBOT RATHER IS MORE LIKE A REGENERATIVE CHATBOT. SO IT'S NOT MAKING A DECISION FOR US. IT'S BASICALLY JUST SPIDERING AND SEARCHING THE WEBSITE LOOKING FOR THE ANSWER WITHIN WHAT'S ALREADY CONTAINED IN THE WEBSITE. THAT'S CORRECT. SO IT'S NOT DECIDING OR DOING ANY OF THAT. NO IT'S NOT. IT'S JUST REGENERATIVE. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR AND DIRECTOR KIRBY, I TELL YOU WHEN I SAY THAT I LOVE WHAT I'M SEEING IN FRONT OF ME. I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOR. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG. YES, MA'AM. AND SO FROM AN IT PERSPECTIVE, A PERSON WHO HAS AN I.T. [00:55:02] BACKGROUND, I'M LOOKING AT PREDICTIVE TEXTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT THE WEBSITE THAT WE'RE ON RIGHT NOW MAKES IT SO DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO JUST NAVIGATE. SO I'M JUST I'M PLEASED AS PUNCH. CAN I SAY THAT IF THERE'S EVER A WORD TO SAY. PERRETTE IS REALLY PLEASED. THAT IS ME RIGHT NOW AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS NOW. DO YOU WANT TO SAY THAT THE TRASH, THE TRASH, IT DOESN'T HAVE ALL OF IT ON THERE, BUT OKAY, WELL, THAT'S AGAIN, THIS IS NOT LIVE. THIS IS NOT FOR, NOT FOR, NOT FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION RIGHT NOW. SO I'M JUST LETTING Y'ALL THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING I ONLY MEETING I HAD BEFORE IT GOES LIVE WITH YOU GUYS. YEAH. SO I DID HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THOUGH, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNEW THAT THIS IS THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF THING THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS IN ORDER TO BE CONSTANTLY IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY IN A WAY THAT YOU TEACH THEM HOW TO, HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITY. AND WE ARE SHOWING THEM WE'RE LISTENING. SO I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. SO LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION. WHEN IS THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH? RIGHT NOW IT'S A WEEK FROM TODAY. OKAY. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW I ASKED PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE I'M, I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS THAT PERSON WHO LOVES TO GET MY, MY, MY HANDS INTO IT. WHAT KIND OF OUTREACH DID WE DO WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ALLOW THEM TO ACTUALLY DO SOME, SOME TOUCHING AND FEELING AND HELPING. WE DID NOT REALLY DO MUCH OF THAT THIS TIME. WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE IN THE PAST WITH MIXED RESULTS. BUT BECAUSE THIS CONTRACT WAS SIGNED IN OCTOBER, RIGHT AFTER WE NEW FISCAL YEAR CAME AND WE ONLY HAD SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE ADA DEADLINE, WE JUST WENT FORWARD TO THE 4 TO 6 MONTH IMPLEMENTATION. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE RISK MANAGER, WITH LISA, WITH A DISABILITY PIECE, AND WITH A LOT OF OTHER EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN GIVING FEEDBACK INTO IT. SO NOT A LOT THIS TIME. AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WASN'T THE TIME TO FIT THAT IN. SO IS THERE A FEEDBACK PIECE IN HERE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GIVE THAT KIND OF FEEDBACK? YES. OKAY. AND SO THE OTHER THING YOU BROUGHT, YOU WALK RIGHT INTO THAT ADA THING WHEN I WAS IN DC AND I ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO THE CITY ABOUT ADA COMPLIANCE, I AM SO GLAD TO KNOW THAT THEY MOVED IT ANOTHER YEAR, WHICH IS GREAT. HOWEVER, HOW COMPLIANT ARE WE WITH THIS? SO I HAVEN'T RUN MY INSIDE TOOL ON THIS ONE YET, BECAUSE WE JUST GOTTEN A LOT OF THIS STUFF INSTALLED, LIKE YESTERDAY AND TODAY TO GET READY TO SHOW IT TO YOU GUYS TONIGHT. SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT YET, BUT WE HAVE BEEN VERY CAREFUL NOW ABOUT ADDING AS WE'RE ADDING MORE PICTURES AND THINGS ABOUT DOING THE ALT TEXT AND DOING ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE. OKAY. OUTSTANDING. AND ONE OF THE ADA COMPLIANT THINGS, AND I KNOW WE HAVE A WHOLE NOTHER YEAR TO DO THAT. BUT THE BACK END, THE DOCUMENTATION, I SAW THAT GREAT DOCUMENTATION WE JUST SAW THAT'S ON THE FRONT END, BUT THINGS LIKE LASER FISH AND ALL THAT THAT'S PULLED INTO FROM AN ADA COMPLIANCE PERSPECTIVE. HOW WILL THIS WORK WITH THAT? SO I CAN'T ANSWER THAT TONIGHT. I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE OUTSIDE THINGS. LASER FISH HAS ITS OWN ADA COMPLIANCE. AND SO I HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN HOW THAT PULLS INTO THIS YET. WE JUST GOT DOC ACCESS LIKE LAST NIGHT. OUTSTANDING, OUTSTANDING. OKAY, I YIELD BACK. I'LL GIVE YOU THAT TIME TO DO THE OTHER THINGS. BUT I REALLY AM APPRECIATIVE THAT WE ARE LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND LETTING THEM BE A PART OF SUCH A GREAT FEATURE THAT THE CITY HAS. YES, MA'AM. AND I WILL POINT OUT THAT WE KNEW ABOUT THESE TOOLS WHEN WE SIGNED THE CONTRACT IN OCTOBER. WE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO PAY FOR THEM FOR SIX MONTHS UNTIL WE COULD GET THEM LIVE. SO OUTSTANDING. I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN WATERS. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. YEAH, I AGREE WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES. THAT SITE LOOKS GREAT VISUALLY. AND I'M JUST GLAD THAT IT'S UPDATED LIKE THAT BECAUSE AS MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, THAT, YOU KNOW, FOUR IS KIND OF HARD TO FIND STUFF THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR. SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL ARE ADDRESSING THAT. BUT JUST VISUALLY, THE OLD SITE IS GOOD, BUT THIS IS DYNAMIC. IT LOOKS DYNAMIC. IT LOOKS LIKE I WANT TO GO IN HERE AND SEARCH STUFF. SO Y'ALL DID A VERY, VERY GOOD JOB. WELL, WE HAVE THESE SPECIAL BUTTONS HERE TOO THAT WE CAN CHANGE OUT, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON THOSE ARE EASILY CHANGEABLE TO WHATEVER WE WANT THEM TO BE. AND SO IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE ON THE BACK END TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING FOR. WELL THANK YOU. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS CURRY. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANY DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL OR JUST. NO, MA'AM. I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHAT YOU BOUGHT. THANK YOU. GREAT. WE APPRECIATE IT AND WE LOVE IT. AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FINAL PRODUCT. AND I KNOW OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO DID YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS? NO. I WAS GOING TO SAY MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE ANY, ANY COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, PLEASE FORWARD THEM TO KAREN. AND WE WILL WE WILL LOOK INTO THEM. THANK YOU. I MEANT TO SAY THAT TO EMAIL ME AND ALSO TO COPY THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, MADAM CITY SECRETARY, CAN WE HAVE THAT PREVIOUS ITEM, PLEASE? AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE THE PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION HONORING TEACHERS APPRECIATION WEEK. [01:00:13] I'M GOING TO ASK THE REMAINING TEACHERS TO COME BACK UP TO THE PODIUM TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK. I WAS TOLD THERE WERE TWO OF YOU ALL LEFT, OR IS IT THREE OF YOU ALL LEFT TONIGHT? OKAY. AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE ELSE GETS A COPY OF THIS PROCLAMATION AS WELL. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR STAYING. OKAY. I. JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. SURE. OKAY. PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS TEACHERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A THRIVING AND INFORMED COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, EDUCATORS IN THE CITY OF DE SOTO DEMONSTRATE DAILY COMMITMENT BY FOSTERING INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT ENCOURAGE CURIOSITY, CRITICAL THINKING, AND LIFELONG LEARNING. AND WHEREAS THROUGH INNOVATION AND ADAPTABILITY, TEACHERS CONTINUE TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF STUDENTS, PREPARING THEM TO SUCCEED IN A DYNAMIC AND EVER CHANGING WORLD. AND WHEREAS THE IMPACT OF A DEDICATED TEACHER EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, INFLUENCING STUDENTS CONFIDENCE, CHARACTER, AND FUTURE ASPIRATIONS. AND WHEREAS EDUCATORS CONSISTENTLY INVEST THEIR TIME, ENERGY, AND PASSION TO SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS, OFTEN EXTENDING THEIR EFFORTS BEYOND INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS TO ENSURE EVERY LEARNER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEL. AND WHEREAS RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING OUR EDUCATORS STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY AND REAFFIRMS OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RACHEL PROCTOR, BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, DALLAS COUNTY HERE DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF MAY 4TH THROUGH THE EIGHTH, 2026 AS NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK IN THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THE EDUCATORS WHO MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS FIFTH DAY OF MAY 2026, SIGNED MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR, MAYOR ATTESTED TO BY SOPHIE AND LOUIS AUBRY, CITY SECRETARY. WE CAN GIVE OUR EDUCATORS A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS OLIVIA TAYLOR. I AM A THIRD GRADE MATH TEACHER AT WOOLRIDGE ELEMENTARY FINE ARTS AND GIFTED ACADEMY. I'D LIKE TO SAY THIS PROCLAMATION IS PRETTY MUCH DUE JUSTICE OF ESSENTIALLY THE HANDS THAT ARE THE HANDIWORK THAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS. AND TO YOU ALL I DO SAY, AS A PROUD GRADUATE OF DESOTO ISD IN CLASS OF 2008, I AM PROUD TO BE HERE ON A DAILY BASIS. MY TWO CHILDREN ARE ALSO SCHOLARS, SMALL SCHOLARS OF DESOTO ISD, AND I BELIEVE IN THE MISSION AND VISION THAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS. ALSO STANDING FIRM THAT THE HANDS OF THE WORK THAT I DO ON A DAILY BASIS IS TO LIFT UP AND GLORIFY GOD'S NAME. AND SO BY THAT, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL DO FOR US. AND WE THANK YOU FOR FEELING APPRECIATED. HAVE A FANTASTIC NIGHT. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DEJA PORTER. I AM A PROUD, PROUD, PROUD ALUMNI OF DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL. I WENT FROM ELEMENTARY MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL AND I AM CURRENTLY SERVING AS A SPECIAL CASE MANAGER, RL, A CHAIR AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN AT DESOTO WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL. AT THE MOMENT WHERE MY SON IS ACTUALLY AN EIGHTH GRADER AND WILL BE GOING TO DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR AS A FRESHMAN, AND MY DAUGHTER WILL BE ATTENDING AMBER TERRACE EARLY CHILDHOOD. AND I JUST WANT TO LEAVE YOU GUYS WITH THIS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN PONDERING ON THIS SINCE I ARRIVED BACK TO DESOTO. COME HOME. WE SAY ALL THE THINGS WE HEAR, THE THINGS WE PANDER TO, THE NEGATIVE. AND THE ONLY THING THAT I KEEP FIRM IS THAT DESOTO BUILDS EXCELLENCE. THAT'S RIGHT. WE CAN SAY ALL THE THINGS, BUT COME HOME. AS I WALK THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOODS, I SEE PROUD PARENT OF A STUDENT FROM LIFE, PROUD PARENT FROM A STUDENT FROM RED OAK. PROUD PARENT OF A STUDENT ALL THE WAY IN WAXAHACHIE. TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS, COME HOME. LOOK AT ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING ON THE CAMPUSES OF DESOTO ISD EVERY DAY. PANDER TO THAT. TELL THEM, COME HOME. THANK YOU. [01:05:02] THANK YOU. I WANT. TO SAY SOMETHING VERY, VERY BRIEF. THESE TWO LADIES ARE A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW. SO I WOULD JUST SAY, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF US. A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DO, NOBODY MAY EVER COME BACK TO SAY THANK YOU, BUT WE DON'T DO IT FOR THE THANK YOU. WE DO IT FOR THE LOVE. WE DO IT BECAUSE WE ARE CALLED. WE KNOW THAT WE'RE CALLED TO DO WHAT WE DO. I TOO AM A PROUD MOM OF TWO DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. WE MOVED HERE A MILITARY FAMILY. WE MOVED HERE LIKE 17 YEARS AGO. SO I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE STAYED IN THE AREA. WE DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT LEAVING. THERE'S TIMES WE DID WANT TO GET A BIGGER HOUSE, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY. BUT BUT I'M SO GLAD THAT WE CAME AND VISITED MY UNCLE SOME YEARS AGO AND SAW THE AREA AND FELL IN LOVE WITH IT, AND WAS SO GRATEFUL THAT WE PUT OUR ROOTS DOWN HERE. SO I ECHO WHAT MY TWO COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID. IT HAS WONDERFUL THINGS TO OFFER AND WE SHOULD SUPPORT OUR HOME. WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO COME AND TAKE PART IN THESE BLESSINGS AS WELL. BUT THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING. WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. OH, MY NAME IS KIANA JONES. I AM A U.S. HISTORY TEACHER AT DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, MADAM SECRETARY, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. [D. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST] NEXT, WE MOVE ON TO ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.0415. THE CITY COUNCIL MAY REPORT ON THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. EXPRESSION OF THANKS, CONGRATULATIONS OR CONDOLENCES. INFORMATION ABOUT HOLIDAY SCHEDULES, RECOGNITION OF INDIVIDUALS, REMINDERS ABOUT UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL EVENTS. INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS INVOLVING IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AS WELL AS ANY LIAISON UPDATES. THANK YOU. DO I HAVE ANY LIGHTS? YES, MAYOR PRO TEM. EXCUSE ME, COUNCILMEMBER PARKER. OH, SHE HAD NO. YOU WENT FIRST. WELL, GOOD EVENING, DE SOTO. I AM ACTUALLY JUST HERE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR PUTTING ON THE BATTLE. BATTLE OF THE BOARDS ROYALE. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE GOT THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TOGETHER. AND IT WAS SUCH A FUN TIME OF COMPETITION. THEY CAME OUT. THEY LEARNED. THEY ENJOYED. THEY PLAYED TOGETHER AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY GOT BETTER ON THAT DAY. THAT WAS APRIL THE 25TH. AND THE FIRST PLACE WINNERS OF THE COMPETITION WAS THE CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION. SO I WANT TO GIVE THEM A CONGRATULATIONS. AND THE SECOND SECOND PLACE WINNERS WERE THE LIBRARY. AND THIRD PLACE WINNERS WAS A COMBINATION OF OTHER BOARDS. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SAY THANK YOU TO THEM FOR COMING OUT, BEING ON A SATURDAY MORNING AND COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. I HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR YOU FROM THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. THEY ARE HOSTING A. BECAUSE MAY IS MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH. IT'S ALSO MEMORIAL DAY. IF YOU KNOW, MEMORIAL DAY IS DIFFERENT FROM VETERANS DAY, WE'RE CELEBRATING THOSE WHO ARE FALLEN IN MAY. SO WE HAVE TWO EVENTS THAT ARE SET UP THAT YOU CAN ATTEND, AND ONE IS THE OTHER IS THE 23RD. AND THAT IS OUR MEMORIAL DAY FIVE K WALK RUN. AND MAY 25TH IS THE MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY. THAT'S THE EVENT THAT WE TYPICALLY HAVE AT NANCE FARM. IF THERE ARE WEATHER CHALLENGES, IF IT SHOULD RAIN, IT WILL MOVE TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. SO I DO WANT TO STRESS THAT THAT WE DO HAVE PROVISIONS IF THE WEATHER DOES CHANGE. I ALSO WANT TO BRING UP THE JOB FAIR THAT IS FAST APPROACHING. ON THE 28TH OF THIS MONTH AS WELL, AT 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M., WE WILL HOST OUR ANNUAL DESOTO WORKS JOB FAIR, WHICH IS A COLLABORATION WITH THE [01:10:02] CITY OF DESOTO, THE DESOTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THEY GIVE US A NICE CHECK. MR. GUS, WE HOPE TO KEEP THAT GOING. AND ALSO THE CHAMBER. THE DESOTO AREA CHAMBER DISCIPLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY CHURCH. AND LIKE I SAID, DC THE CITY OF DESOTO. IN PRIOR YEARS, WE HAVE SERVED ALMOST TO THE TUNE OF 800 PEOPLE AT THIS JOB FAIR. SO WE'RE EXPECTING A GREAT TURNOUT. AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS CANNOT FORGET THAT THEY WILL BE PRESENT AS WELL. LASTLY, ON A SOMBER NOTE, ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMISSION CASSANDRA WESLEY. I'VE WORKED WITH HER FOR YEARS. SHE LOST HER HUSBAND. AND SO I WANT TO SEND CONDOLENCES TO HER. SHE'S ALSO LIVES IN PLASTICS. SO I JUST WANT TO SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO HER AND HER FAMILY AS THEY GO THROUGH THAT DURING THIS TIME. I THINK THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WATERS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO THE GRAND OPENING OF THE ARK. I WASN'T HERE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, SO I WANT TO MENTION THAT. SO IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS, EVERYBODY. SO THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER AS A WHOLE. AND IT WAS A LOT A LOT OF WORK THAT CAME INTO THAT. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FROM THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL FOLKS THAT HAD THE VISION TO, YOU KNOW, APPROVE IT. ALL THE CHRIS GLOVER FOR, YOU KNOW EVERYTHING HE DID WITH THE IDEAS AND THE LONG, HARD WORK FOR THAT. AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, ALL THE CITY STAFF THAT TOOK ALL THE, YOU KNOW, LATE, LATE EVENINGS AND ALL THE TIME THAT Y'ALL PUT INTO THE EFFORT TO GET EVERYTHING GOING AND OPEN. SO I DEFINITELY WANT TO JUST APPRECIATE AND EVERYBODY, ALL THE CITIZENS, EXCUSE ME, RESIDENTS, ALL THE EMPLOYEES, EVERYBODY THAT MADE THAT A SUCCESS BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC DRIVERS OF THIS CITY GOING FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE. SO THANK YOU ALL. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS? COUNCILWOMAN HUGHES, DO YOU HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? I DO NOT, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. [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. ] WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO CONSENT AGENDA. ITEMS ARE LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BY THE CITY MANAGER AND ARE RECOMMENDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR SINGLE VOTE APPROVAL. AN ITEM MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE VOTE AT THE REQUEST OF A COUNCIL MEMBER, THE MAYOR OR THE CITY MANAGER. FIRST, WE WILL HAVE THE APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING. MARCH 30TH. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. APRIL 7TH. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING. APRIL 20TH. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 21ST AS WELL AS RECOGNITION OF PROCLAMATION HONORING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT [F. Consent - Other Items] WEEK. RECOGNITION OF PROCLAMATION HONORING NATIONAL NURSES WEEK. RECOGNITION OF PROCLAMATION. HONORING NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK. RECOGNITION OF PROCLAMATION HONORING OLDER AMERICANS. MONTH. RECOGNITION OF PROCLAMATION HONORING PEACE OFFICERS. MEMORIAL DAY POLICE WEEK CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS FOR THE GILBERT AVENUE, REEDSPORT PLACE AND SENATE PLACE SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE PURCHASE CONTRACT WITH SAM PAX, FIVE STAR FORWARD FOR THE ACQUISITION OF ONE 2025 FORD POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,762.60. CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF DESOTO CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 13 UTILITIES BY AMENDING ARTICLE 13.800 GARBAGE, TRASH AND REFUSE BY AMENDING SECTION 13.801 DEFINITIONS BY AMENDING RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION, BY AMENDING AND RENAMING SECTION 13.809 TO PLACING A BRUSH AND BULKY WASTE TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC TIMES FOR PLACEMENT OF BRUSH AND BULKY WASTE BY THE CURB. BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 13.818 TITLE PENALTY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEE AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 13 UTILITIES BY AMENDING ARTICLE 13.800 GARBAGE, TRASH AND REFUSE BY AMENDING SECTION 13.801 DEFINITIONS BY AMENDING RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION, BY AMENDING AND RENAMING SECTION 13.809 TO PLACING A BRUSH AND BULKY WASTE TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC TIMES FOR PLACEMENT OF BRUSH AND BULKY WASTE BY THE CURB. BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 13.818 TITLE PENALTY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEE TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF ARTICLE [01:15:03] 13.800. PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE. PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE. PROVIDING A PENALTY CLAUSE A FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF $500 AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. YES, MADAM MAYOR. I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON ITEM F SEVEN AND EIGHT. DID YOU NEED TO PULL THOSE ITEMS OR ARE THEY JUST QUESTIONS? THEY'RE REALLY JUST QUESTIONS. YEAH, THEY'RE REALLY JUST QUESTIONS. SO WE COULD I CAN JUST ASK THOSE IF. GOOD EVENING. COUNCILMAN. MAYOR. HOW ARE Y'ALL? GOOD EVENING. I'M SORRY. HOW CAN I HELP YOU? OKAY, SO THE QUESTION I HAD WAS ABOUT THE. SO THIS RIGHT HERE IS SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THIS, THIS SPECIFIC TRUCK. AND IT SEEMS LIKE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF TRUCKS, AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION BECAUSE WE DID ALSO HAVE OUR SENIOR CENTER WHO JUST CAME OUT LAST, WHAT IS IT, APRIL 7TH AND HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE VANS. IS THE VANS A PART OF THE FLEET AS WELL? AND THEY AT SOME POINT WILL GET REPLACED JUST LIKE THIS WILL GET REPLACED. YES MA'AM. THIS VEHICLE ACTUALLY IS A POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLE. IT'S A SQUAD CAR THAT'S BEING REPLACED DUE TO IT BEING TOTALED IN A COLLISION ACCIDENT. OKAY. AS FAR AS THE SENIOR CENTER VAN, SINCE YOU ASKED, IT WILL BE REPLACED WHEN IT IS DUE FOR REPLACEMENT. RIGHT NOW, THOSE VEHICLES, THE MILEAGE ON THEM ARE UNDER 7000 MILES ON BOTH OF THEM. WE DID BRING THEM IN TO THE FLEET SERVICE AREA. WE HAVE INSPECTED THEM FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. WE HAVE NO ISSUES THAT WE ARE AWARE OF CURRENTLY. WE HAVE GONE AHEAD AND BROUGHT ONE OF THEM BACK TO CHANGE, BUT THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY AROUND THE VEHICLE, JUST AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE. BUT AS FAR AS MECHANICALLY SOUND, THEY ARE MECHANICALLY SOUND. THE ONE TIME THAT THE VEHICLE DID BREAK DOWN IT WAS DUE TO A BATTERY. IT WAS DUE TO THE BATTERY. IT WENT DEAD GOING DOWN THE ROAD. AND THAT'S JUST UNFORTUNATELY, THINGS DO HAPPEN. OUTSTANDING. AND SO MY MY QUESTION AROUND IT WAS JUST REALLY WANTING TO KNOW BECAUSE I REMEMBER BACK IN I BELIEVE IT WAS, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN NOVEMBER. I ASKED FOR KIND OF THE FLEET POLICY ABOUT REPLACEMENT AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED THERE, BUT I WANTED TO KIND OF GO BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY WE CAN GET THE FLEET POLICY AND BE ABLE TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE VEHICLES, BECAUSE WE DID SEEM LIKE WE'RE REPLACING EVERY MEETING, WE'RE REPLACING A VEHICLE. WELL, SO I MEAN, I MEAN, THAT'S NOT A, THAT'S NOT A BAD THING. IF IT HAS TO BE REPLACED, IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. CORRECT. AND WE DO HAVE THE POLICY SET IN PLACE. I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE IT WITH YOU AND SEND IT OUT TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. I BELIEVE WE DID SHARE IT BACK IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER WHEN IT WAS ASKED, BUT WE'RE GETTING INTO A DETAILED DISCUSSION ON THAT. OKAY. IF YOU WANT TO SHARE THE POLICY, SHARE THE POLICIES AND STICK TO THE ITEM. OKAY. BUT I WANT TO OFFER THE ATTORNEY, I WANT TO OFFER CLARIFICATION. THERE'S GOT TO BE A FLEET UTILIZATION STUDY. A POLICY BY ITSELF IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO TELL WHAT THE CONDITION OF VEHICLES AND THE REPLACEMENT ARE. SO IN FISCAL YEAR 2027, ONE OF OUR PROPOSALS IS TO LOOK AT A FULL UTILIZATION STUDY, WHICH WILL ADDRESS HOW MANY VEHICLES WE NEED. YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR USE IS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH THEM? HOW HOW FAST DO WE REPLACE THEM? HOW MANY YEARS FOR THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS? SO THAT'S A FLEET UTILIZATION STUDY, AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THAT, IT WILL HAPPEN IN FISCAL YEAR 2027. OKAY. YOU HAD A SECOND QUESTION? SECOND ITEM. DID YOU GET BOTH ITEMS THAT YOU HAD? DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? GO AHEAD. OKAY. AND THEN THE THING. OKAY. I'M SORRY. THEN THE ITEM EIGHT WHEN WE'RE TALKING IN TERMS OF THAT, I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE ORDINANCE AND I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE MAKING THE ORDINANCE FOR US AS A CITY TO PUT THE $35 ON THERE IF THE BULK IS LEFT, RIGHT. BUT THE PORTION THAT REPUBLIC. WILL THAT BE WRITTEN ANYWHERE? WILL IT SHOULD IT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN THE ORDINANCE? NOT NOT IN ORDINANCE. I HAD THAT SAME QUESTION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND HE ADVISED THAT THIS IS THE THIS THIS PARTICULAR $35 FEE IS WAS ENFORCEABLE [01:20:08] BY THE CITY. OKAY. AND SO THAT WE COULDN'T PUT PUBLIC'S RATE FOR PICKING UP BRUSH IN THE FOR OUR NON-COMPLIANT BRUSH IN THE, IN THE ORDINANCE. BUT, BUT IN TERMS OF THE, THE PROCESS AND THE PROCEDURE THAT WE FOLLOW, THAT WHAT WE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF INITIALLY REPUBLIC, HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE IT BEFORE WE GET TO THIS POINT, THAT WILL BE THE PROCESS. OKAY. AND THE $35 IS A ONE TIME FEE THAT HAPPENS IF THE BROKE. YES. OKAY. AND IT'S WHATEVER, $35 PER CUBIC YARD OVER THE OVER ALREADY A LOT THAT YOU ALLOW, RIGHT? CORRECT. OKAY. AND SO THAT KIND OF INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED. AND SO FROM THE SENIORS PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE THE SENIORS ARE, I'M SURE THEY'RE GETTING SOME TYPE OF DISCOUNT ON THEIR WATER, WILL THAT ALSO BE INCLUDED WITH THAT OR IS IT 35 STRAIGHT UP FOR SENIORS AS WELL? WELL, SO THE SO IT WILL NOT IMPACT THE ACTUAL MONTHLY RATE THAT THEY THAT THEY BUILD. OKAY. SO THE $35. SO THE MONTHLY RATE THAT THEY BUILD. THERE IS A THERE IS A SENIOR DISCOUNT INCLUDED FOR WATER, SEWER, DRAINAGE AND SANITATION THAT THERE'S A, THERE'S A, THERE'S A DISCOUNT THAT'S INCLUDED WITH THAT. THIS WILL JUST BE FOR NON-COMPLIANT BRUSH AND BULK. THIS WILL BE IN ADDITION TO RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU GET WITH THAT MONTHLY RATE THAT YOU'RE CHARGED THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE CHARGED, SENIORS INCLUDED, THEY GET UP TO TEN CUBIC YARDS OF BRUSH AND BULK. IF THEY EXCEED THAT, THAT'S WHEN THEY PAY THE $35 PER CUBIC YARD, AND THEY WON'T ACTUALLY SEE IT UNTIL THE BILL COMES OUT. CORRECT. OKAY. I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN NORTH, IS THAT YOUR LIGHT? YES. YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON ITEM NUMBER SIX. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK STAFF AND THE CONTRACTOR FOR SEEING. THESE PROJECTS THROUGH THESE KIND OF IMPROVEMENTS DON'T ALWAYS GET A LOT OF ATTENTION, BUT THEY REALLY DO MATTER FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO BEFORE WE MOVE TO ACCEPTANCE AND WARRANTY PHASE, HAS STAFF IDENTIFIED ANY FUTURE MAINTENANCE NEEDS OR FOLLOW UP WORK THAT WE SHOULD ANTICIPATE AS A RESULT OF THIS PROJECT? AND GREAT QUESTIONS. SO NOT WITHIN THAT AREA. THIS AREA WAS ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED IN THE PAST FOR. AND THAT'S WHY WE REPLACED THE EXISTING OLD SANITARY SEWER LINE. COULD I COVER THE QUESTION? ANSWER YOU ALL? YES I DID, YES I DID, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE BECAUSE IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AS WE'RE PLANNING AHEAD. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE MANY OTHER AREAS WHERE OUR SANITARY SEWER LINES ARE VERY OLD AND UNDERSIZED AND EVENTUALLY WE WILL NEED MORE PROJECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL. EXCUSE ME, BY MAYOR PRO TEM CHISHOLM, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCIL. I MADE A MOVE TOO FAST. PASSED OUR ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST. AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES BIRTHDAY. AND THAT IS COUNCILMAN KIM WATERS. AND WE WANTED TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. COUNCILMAN WATERS, I THINK THIS IS. IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME GETTING YOUR BIRTHDAY? SO YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS, RIGHT? BY NOW, YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW IT WORKS. YOU GET TO PICK WHICH VERSION YOU WANT IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER CHOIR WILL SING IT TO YOU TONIGHT. LET'S DO THE REGULAR, THE REGULAR BIRTHDAY. HE WANTS TO KEEP IT SIMPLE. TONIGHT. ON THE COUNT OF THREE, HE'S FOLLOWING IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS, MAYOR PRO TEM, I KNOW ON THE COUNT OF THREE, WE WILL SING THE TRADITIONAL VERSION OF HAPPY BIRTHDAY. ONE. TWO. THREE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COUNCILMAN WATERS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. THERE YOU GO. PERFECT TIMING. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN WATERS. WE HOPE THAT YOU'VE BEEN ENJOYING YOUR BIRTHDAY SEASON. YOU'VE BEEN VACATIONING AND ALL THE THINGS, SO WE HOPE YOU'VE BEEN ENJOYING YOURSELF. YOU DESERVE IT AT THIS TIME. MADAM CITY SECRETARY, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. [1. Consider approving a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application on behalf of the DeSoto Police Department to the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority Task Force grant to secure funding for various initiatives designed to prevent and reduce catalytic converter theft and other motor vehicle-related crimes in the amount of $327,054] YES, MA'AM. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE ARE PULLING CASE NUMBER Z-1548-26 FOR A LATER DATE, AND NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA ITEM. [01:25:02] CONSIDER APPROVING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE DESOTO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME PREVENTION AUTHORITY TASK FORCE GRANT TO SECURE FUNDING FOR VARIOUS INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO PREVENT, PREVENT AND REDUCE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT AND OTHER MOTOR VEHICLE RELATED CRIMES, AND THE AMOUNT OF $327,054. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL. AS JUST STATED, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER APPROVING A RESOLUTION WHICH WILL AUTHORIZE US TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME PREVENTION AUTHORITY TASK FORCE TO SECURE FUNDING FOR VARIOUS INITIATIVES WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO PREVENT AND REDUCE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT AND OTHER MOTOR VEHICLE RELATED CRIMES. THE AMOUNT OF 300,000 $327,054. IF WE GET THAT GRANT, THAT GRANT WILL HELP US TO SECURE SOME PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WHICH WILL INVOLVE ABOUT 30 FLOCK CAMERAS, SO WE'D BE ABLE TO COVER THE ENTIRE ENTRANCE AND EXITS ON THE CITY WITH LPR FLOCK CAMERAS. WHAT THAT WILL ALSO DO IS GIVE US SOME FUNDING FOR A TASK FORCE AGENT, WHICH WILL BE ABLE TO HIRE ANOTHER POLICE OFFICER UNDER THIS GRANT AND A VEHICLE, AND WILL GIVE US SOME SOME OTHER FUNDING FOR OUR DRONE INITIATIVES. SO WE WE WE ASK YOU THAT TO CONSIDER ALLOWING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO ALLOW US TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT. IF WE WERE TO SECURE THIS GRANT, WE WOULD THERE WOULD BE A 20% MATCH, WHICH WOULD BE 65,000 $411. AND THAT GRANT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER CITIES SURROUNDING US. SO WE WE REALLY FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT. AND WE NEED THE RESOLUTION TO START THAT GRANT PROCESS. THANK YOU CHIEF. I THINK WE DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, CHIEF COSTA, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. DID YOU YOU NEED TO TALK TO. I'M GOOD. OH, OKAY. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. BECAUSE 30 FLOCK CAMERAS SOUND LIKE A LOT. LET ME TRY TO GET PAST THAT. 30 FLOCK CAMERAS ACROSS THE CITY AT THE ENTRANCES. MY FIRST CONCERNS ARE JUST THE PRIVACY OF THAT FOR TO CITIZENS. I REMEMBER MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER BIRD THERE WAS AN INITIATIVE ABOUT CAMERAS IN BUSINESSES THAT ARE, ARE, THAT ARE CHALLENGING FOR US. AND SO I, I REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION CAME UP ABOUT JUST BEING A RESIDENT AND HAVE CAMERAS EVERYWHERE. SO I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. AND SO AS IT RELATES TO THE FLOCK CAMERAS, WHAT, WHAT WILL BE THE RESTRICTIONS AROUND THE DATA? WILL YOU SHARE THAT WITH OTHER AGENCIES? WE'RE IN A TIME RIGHT NOW WHERE THE COUNTY IS BY STATE LAW HAS TO, HAS TO PARTICIPATE WITH CERTAIN AGENCIES. DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOUR FLOCK CAMERAS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THAT TOO? AND THEN ONGOING MAINTENANCE BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE THESE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS, RIGHT? SO WHEN, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ANNUAL MAINTENANCE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF OFFSET COSTS THAT COULD BE CONTRIBUTED TO HAVING THIS PROGRAM, WHAT IS, HOW IS THAT GOING TO BE FUNDED? AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR US? AND THEN LASTLY, DID CPAC DID THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS. BECAUSE BECAUSE BECAUSE BECAUSE HERE'S HERE'S THE THING. WE WE DON'T HAVE 30 IN THE CITY TODAY. I THINK WE HAVE, WHAT, FIVE BETWEEN FIVE FIVE, RIGHT? WHAT'S NORMAL FOR A CITY TO HAVE FOR FLOCK CAMERAS? I DON'T I DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOT. I JUST WANT TO KNOW YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE DOING IT BECAUSE OF THE CONVERTER SITUATION, DO YOU HAVE ANY REPORTING ON THE SUCCESS OF WHAT THE FLOCK CAMERAS HAVE DONE? BECAUSE THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST TIME COMING DOWN FOR FLOCK CAMERAS RELATED TO THE, THOSE CONVERTER THINGAMAJIGS THAT PEOPLE ARE STEALING CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SO DO WE HAVE ANY REPORTING AROUND WHAT THE FLOCK CAMERAS HAVE DONE TO, YOU KNOW HELP SOLVE THOSE CRIMES OR PREVENT THEM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I'M JUST TRYING TO WRAP MY BRAIN AROUND AND JUST THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR YOU. YOU ASKED ME A LOT. FIRST OF ALL, I'M GOING TO SAY I LEFT OUT THE PART THAT IS, IT'S A RECURRING IT'S A RECURRING GRANT THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR ITS THREE YEAR GRANT, [01:30:07] BUT WE CAN APPLY EVERY YEAR AFTER THAT. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT WE'LL GET IT. AND BUT WE CAN CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR THAT SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE MAINTENANCE OR THE ANNUAL COSTS FOR THE FLOCK CAMERAS. OTHER CITIES LIKE CITY HALL GOT THE SAME GRANT AND THEY HAVE FLOCK CAMERAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THEY'RE INSTALLING THEM NOW. SAME WAY THAT WE WANT TO DO PRIVACY CONCERN IS THAT THEIR LICENSE PLATE READERS ARE NOT FACIAL RECOGNITION. THEY'RE NOT GETTING INTO WHAT'S INSIDE A VEHICLE. ALL THEY'RE DOING IS CAPTURING THE TYPE OF VEHICLE, THE COLOR, AND ALSO THE LICENSE PLATES. AND SO THAT IS STORED IN A DATABASE. IF WE NEED IF WE HAVE AN INVESTIGATION INVOLVING RED 1967 CAMARO, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LICENSE PLATE, WE CAN GO AND QUERY THAT DATA AND WE CAN GO SEE WHERE THAT 67 CAMARO HAS BEEN IN OUR CITY. IF THERE'S MORE THAN ONE. AND WE HAVE TO SIFT THROUGH THAT TO SEE WHERE, WHERE AND WHEN THAT THOSE VEHICLES ARE IN OUR CITY. WE CAN ALSO MINE THAT WITH OTHER AGENCIES THAT PARTICIPATE AND ALLOW US TO LOOK INTO THEIR DATABASE. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO SIGN UP OTHER AGENCIES ON TO BE ABLE TO MINE OUR DATA, IF YOU WILL, AND, AND GET THAT INFORMATION. SO IT'S, IT'S A BIG PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AND, AND A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS, A LOT OF CITIES ARE GOING THROUGH THIS THIS TECHNOLOGY, THEY'RE ADDING A LOT OF CITIES ARE ADDING 30, 30 OR MORE CAMERAS LIKE THIS. THERE ARE MANY CITIES THAT HAVE MORE THAN 30, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE CITY. IT'S BECOME QUITE THE RESOURCE FOR FOR CITIES AND FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS. NOT ONLY WILL IT GIVE YOU THE VEHICLE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, BUT IF THERE'S WARRANTS ON IT, IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR, IF WE'RE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR CERTAIN VEHICLE AND WE CAN TRACK IT AND SEE WHERE IT WENT. AND SO IT'S IT'S A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR OUR CITY, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER CITIES, NOT ONLY LOCALLY, BUT NATIONALLY. I THINK I ANSWERED ALL YOUR QUESTIONS, I THINK. WELL, THE REPORTING, YOU KIND OF WENT OKAY, THE REPORTING LIKE OTHER CITIES, BUT MAYOR PRO TEM, YOUR MICROPHONE IS NOT ON. OH, YOU BLANKETED LIKE JUST OTHER CITIES ARE MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION. BUT I WAS LOOKING FOR MORE LIKE CONCRETE DATA. I CAN, I CAN LOOK AND SEE WHAT THE REPORTS ARE. THEY THEY DO HAVE A VERY FINE BACK END THAT THEY CAN, THEY CAN CREATE A LOT OF REPORTS. LET ME SEE WHAT KIND OF REPORTS I CAN, I CAN CREATE FOR YOU AS FAR AS THE, THE SUCCESS STORIES AND THE THINGS THAT IT'S DONE. I KNOW IN OUR CITY, WE'VE HAD MUCH SUCCESS WITH THE FIVE THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO INSTALL THAT WE PURCHASED THROUGH BUDGETARY MEANS. AND YOU GUYS HAVE APPROVED EACH YEAR. SO WE, WE CAN GET YOU A A REPORT THAT WILL HELP YOU LOOK AT THAT AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT EACH FLOCK CAMERA GOES FOR AN APPROACH, NOT A FULL INTERSECTION, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. GOES FORWARD. SO EACH SO EACH INTERSECTION WILL TAKE FOUR FLOCK CAMERAS. AT THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES, WE'LL BE ABLE TO COVER ALL THE ENTRANCES AND EXITS IN THE CITY WITH 30. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PARKER. GO AHEAD. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AS YOU KNOW, I'M I'M A I'M A STRONG PROPONENT FOR FLOCK CAMERAS. I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THEM FOR A LONG TIME. I DEAL WITH THEM OUT IN, IN THE COMMUNITIES IN THE ACTUAL SUBDIVISION. SO I'M OKAY WITH IT. BUT I DO HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT THE 65,000. WHILE THAT'S NOT A LOT YOU SAID THAT THIS IS A RECURRING GRANT, THAT THIS IS NOT A GRADUATING GRANT. SO NEXT YEAR IT WON'T BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN 20%. SO WE WOULD ASK FOR WHAT WOULD COVER OUR COSTS. WE WON'T GO FOR 327,000. WE'LL ASK FOR WHAT THOSE RECURRING COSTS ARE FOR EACH CAMERA AND FOR THE DRONES TO UPDATE THOSE AND THOSE DATABASES. SO IT WON'T BE 327. AND I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S A 20% MATCH WITH RECURRING GRANT. WE'D HAVE TO SEE THAT. OKAY. SO THAT'S THE REASON THAT I ASKED THAT QUESTION WAS BECAUSE I DO KNOW WITH FLOCK CAMERAS, YOU DO HAVE THE YEARLY MAINTENANCE AND, AND OR COSTS FOR THE ACTUAL CAMERA ITSELF, AND HOPEFULLY THERE WON'T BE DAMAGE TO THEM. BUT SHOULD THERE BE? I KNOW FLOCK HAS AN ACTUAL AMOUNT THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT 2500 TO 3000 PER CAMERA AT 30,000, I MEAN 30 CAMERAS FOR THE CITY. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHERE DOES THAT MAINTENANCE COME FROM? AND THEN MY LAST WELL, THE SECOND TO THE LAST QUESTION IS WHERE DOES THIS MONEY COME FROM? WHERE ARE WE GETTING THIS MONEY FROM? WHERE IS IT GOING TO BE? SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION. WHAT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION? OKAY. FIRST QUESTION WAS, I KNOW THAT FLOCK HAS THE AMOUNT OF ABOUT THREE GRAND PER CAMERA RIGHT NOW. [01:35:08] YES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR COST IS GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR, BUT IF YOU GET THE CAMERAS IN PLACE, CONSIDERING THEY ARE CAMERAS, THEY DO. THEY'RE OUT IN THE ELEMENT. SO THE MAINTENANCE OF THAT CAMERA AND THE UPKEEP OF THAT CAMERA, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE ON THE CITY. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'LL BE THAT'LL BE OUR PROPERTY ONCE WE GET IT. OKAY. SO WHERE WOULD THAT MONEY COME FROM? WELL, FLOCK HAS A REPLACEMENT PROGRAM UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT. AND DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CAMERA, WE ARE FIVE THAT WE'VE HAD OUT THERE FOR THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY DAMAGES THROUGH WEATHER OR THROUGH ANYTHING ELSE. THEY'RE HIGH ENOUGH WHERE THEY CAN'T BE VANDALIZED AND THEY RUN OFF OF SOLAR POWER. SO I THINK THEY'D BE PRETTY GOOD. BUT IF THAT WERE THE CASE, THEN WE WOULD WE WOULD REPLACE IT ON OUR OWN AND I WOULD USE OUR EQUITABLE SHARING. EQUITABLE OR FEDERAL FORFEIT SHARING ACCOUNT, WHICH IS WHAT I WOULD LOOK TO USE FOR THE 62, 65,000. OKAY. AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION IS, AS FAR AS THE CAMERAS ARE CONCERNED THE APPROACH OF DOING 30. I GET WHY YOU'RE DOING THEM. TRUST ME, I BELIEVE YOU. I DO WANT TO UNDERSTAND THOUGH, WHY DID WE USE THE WORDING CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE TITLE OF THE GRANT. WHEN THEY STARTED THIS GRANT A FEW YEARS AGO, THE BIG CONCERN WAS CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. NOW THAT THE LAW HAS CHANGED AND THEY PUT SOME MORE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS ON CATALYTIC CONVERTERS POSSESSING THEM THAT THEFT HAS KIND OF GONE DOWN. THEY STILL THEY STILL DO STEAL THOSE QUITE A BIT, BUT IT'S GONE DOWN QUITE A BIT. SO WHEN THIS GRANT CAME OUT, THAT'S WHAT THEY NAMED IT. AND THEY'VE KEPT THAT AS THEY'VE GONE YEAR TO YEAR. OURS IS ON THE TASK FORCE SIDE. IT'S NOT JUST THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS ASIDE. SO THERE'S TWO SIDES TO THIS GRANT AND THE MONEY WOULD BE EXPENDED. ONCE YOU GET THE 30 CAMERAS, THERE WOULD BE NO MORE MONEY LEFT. NO, NO NO, THERE'LL BE THERE'LL BE MONEY. WE'RE GOING TO GET A VEHICLE. WE'RE GOING TO GET AN OFFICER. WE'RE GOING TO GET A DRONE TECHNOLOGY. WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THE FLIGHT CAMERAS. WE'RE GOING TO GET A MOBILE FLOCK CAMERA, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET A TWO OTHER FLOCK CAMERAS THAT WE CAN MOVE AROUND IF WE NEEDED TO ON, ON POLES THAT WE CAN YOU KNOW, PUT IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY IF WE NEED THEM IN NEIGHBORHOODS OR IN, IN COMMUNITY OR COMMUNITY AREAS OF THE CITY TO WHERE THEY'RE NOT ON THE MAIN ROADS. OUTSTANDING. I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCILMAN WATERS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS. SO YOU SAY WE CURRENTLY HAVE FIVE. IS THAT RIGHT? WE HAVE FIVE. NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE INSTALLING THIS. WE HAVE A SIXTH ONE, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN PUT UP YET. NOW, ARE THESE DIFFERENT FROM LIKE ON THE MEDIUM, WHEN YOU PUT THOSE LICENSE PLATE READERS IN THE MEDIUM EVERY NOW AND THEN, IS THAT THE SAME THING? IS THAT SOMETHING? NO. THEY'RE DIFFERENT. WHAT WE HAVE THOSE LICENSE PLATE READERS IN THE MEDIUM, THAT MOBILE LICENSE PLATE READER THAT, THAT THAT STORES THAT MINE'S DATA IN A DIFFERENT WAY. IT STILL STORES LICENSE PLATES AND VEHICLES, BUT IT'S, IT'S IN A DIFFERENT DATABASE NOW WITH THE FLOCK CAMERAS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE DATABASE THAT EVERY, EVERY COMMUNITY THAT HAS FLOCK CAMERAS CONTRIBUTES TO THE LICENSE PLATE READER THAT WE HAVE. THAT'S, THAT'S MOBILE. WE'VE HAD FOR PROBABLY ABOUT 7 OR 8 YEARS NOW. THAT ONE CONTRIBUTES TO THAT INFORMATION TO ANOTHER DATABASE. AND SO WE, WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO DIFFERENT DATABASE. WE WANT TO GET TO ALL ONE, WHICH WOULD BE ALL THE FLOCK CAMERAS. YEAH. BECAUSE I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE EVERY TIME I PASS THOSE, I'M LIKE, WHERE IS THIS DATA GOING? YOU KNOW? AND ANYWAY SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING 30 LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, YEAH. YOU YOU IN THIS HERE. IT DIDN'T SAY EXACTLY HOW MANY YOU KNOW, WHEN STUFF WE'RE LOOKING AT. RIGHT. SO I WAS THINKING OF A FEW OR WHATEVER, BUT WHEN YOU TOLD ME WHEN WE FOUND OUT HERE 30. I MEAN, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THAT'S WHEN YOU LOST ME ON 30, BECAUSE I DON'T I DON'T I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THE POLICE STATE HERE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I GET IT. YOU WANT TO DO CRIME, FIGHT CRIME. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BALANCE WE HAVE TO DO FROM RESIDENTS FREEDOM AND SECURITY. YOU KNOW, WHAT'S WHAT'S THE GUY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU GIVE UP. WHAT IS IT? SECURITY FOR FREEDOM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YOU DON'T DESERVE BOTH OR WHATEVER. SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCE. SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO 30, WHICH I'LL SAY, I MEAN, I'M NORMALLY WITH YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M NORMALLY WITH YOU, CHIEF. I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW ME. I'M NORMALLY WITH YOU, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO 30 CAMERAS, I CANNOT SUPPORT THAT. I MEAN, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN 30 CAMERAS TRACKING EVERYTHING WE DO IN EVERY ENTRANCE, YOU KNOW? I MEAN, THAT'S JUST ME PERSONALLY. OKAY. SO LET ME, LET ME LET ME TAKE THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND. CHIEF. SURE. SO TAKE BELTLINE ROAD, FOR EXAMPLE. IT HAS SEVEN SIGNALS. YES. IN THE VICINITY OF THE CITY OF DESOTO. RIGHT. SEVEN SIGNALS EACH APPROACH. THAT'S SEVEN TIMES TWO. OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S 14 FLOCK CAMERAS JUST FOR ONE. [01:40:03] ONE MAJOR ROAD. SO IF WE WANT TO MONITOR LET'S SAY PLEASANTON AND BELTLINE, THAT WILL TAKE THOSE 30 CAMERAS. WELL, JUST FOR TWO ROADS, JUST FOR THE TWO ROADS. WELL, YOU SAID HE SAID, WELL, 30, 30 EVERY INCH, EACH CAMERA WILL FOCUS ON ONE APPROACH. YEAH. SO A TYPICAL INTERSECTION HAS FOUR APPROACHES. OKAY. SO IF WE PUT IN JUST FOR THE MAJOR STREETS, THE BELTLINE, THE BELTLINE ROAD AS WELL AS THE PLEASANT RUN. YES. OKAY. THAT WILL TAKE 30 CAMERAS JUST IN THE VICINITY OF DE SOTO. SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO MONITOR AN ENTIRE CORRIDOR OF A MAJOR CORRIDOR, WHICH IS BELTLINE IS AND PLEASANT RUN IS OKAY, THEN IT WOULD TAKE ROUGHLY ABOUT 30 CAMERAS UNLESS WE SKIP, WE START SKIPPING. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WHEN, WHEN, WHEN YOU HAVE VEHICLES, WHEN YOU HAVE MOTORISTS THAT TURN THE SIDE STREETS, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO CATCH THEM. SO THAT'S THE REASON WE WANT SOME CONTINUITY IN MONITORING WHAT GOES ON IN THE PATTERN OF OF WHAT THE CHIEF MENTIONED ABOUT THE CAMARO, FOR EXAMPLE, IS IT TRAVERSING ALL THE WAY TO THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL OR LANCASTER? THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THAT'S SOME OF THE INTELLIGENCE THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT CITIES LIKE LANCASTER, CITIES LIKE CEDAR HILL AND OUR CITY AS WELL. SO 30 IS NOT A LOT. JUST JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT. THANK YOU. AND I DON'T MEAN TO. I DON'T MEAN TO ARGUE. I'M JUST. I'M GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. SO ACCORDING. ACCORDING TO CITY MANAGER, IS TWO MAIN ROADS, NOT LIKE EVERY ENTRANCE. YOU'RE SAYING EVERY ENTRANCE OF THIS CITY. YOU KNOW. SO IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT EVERY INTERSECTION, IT'S NOT GOING TO COVER EVERY INTERSECTION. HE'S RIGHT. WE NEED FOR EVERY. SO I'M TALKING ABOUT MAJOR ENTRANCES AND EXITS. SO JUST LIKE HE SAYS, BELT LINE ROAD AT CEDAR HILL AND DE SOTO. YEAH. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BELTLINE ROAD DOWN AT THE END AT 35. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAMPTON DOWN THE END. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENTRANCES AND EXITS. SO WE'VE GOT THOSE ALL COVERED. THE MAIN ROADS. BUT AS YOU SAID, YOU CAN GO INTO NEIGHBORHOODS. WE'RE NOT TRACKING PEOPLE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS. WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PEOPLE THAT COME INTO THE CITY, DO CRIMES AND LEAVE THE CITY. SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. WHEN THEY CAME IN, WHEN THEY LEFT AND WHICH WAY THEY WENT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR THE PRESENTATION THIS EVENING. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, AS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP AROUND PRIVACY, BECAUSE AS WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS THIS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FIND CONCERNING ESPECIALLY IF FLOCK IS USING AI TECHNOLOGY, IF YOU WILL, AND AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT AGAIN, AROUND PRIVACY, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS WITH THE DATA, HOW LONG IS THAT STORED BY FLOCK? AND SECONDLY BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CITIES THAT REPORTED CONCERNS ABOUT HOW FLOCK MAY USE THAT DATA IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE DATA COULD BE MISUSED? AND IF SO, I WAS JUST CURIOUS, HAS FLOCK GIVEN US ANY SAFEGUARDS TO ENSURE THAT THAT DATA IS PROTECTED, THAT IT PROTECTS OUR RESIDENTS. I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG IT STORES IT IN THE DATABASE, BUT I CAN FIND THAT OUT AND LET YOU KNOW AND THEY HAVE ACCESS TO EVERY FLOCK CAMERA THAT'S OUT THERE. HOW THEY PROTECT IT IS THAT THERE IS AN AUDIT SYSTEM WHO GOES IN AND WHO CHECKS ON WHAT, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR. LIKE I SAID, WITH THAT 67 CAMARO, IF IF I WENT IN AND I QUERIED THE 67 CAMARO IN OUR CITY AND THROUGHOUT, THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE AN AUDIT OF THAT AND IT'S GOING TO BE LOGGED IN THAT I WENT IN WHAT TIME AND ALL THAT. SO THE SAFEGUARDS ARE IF IF WE ABUSE THAT AND MISUSE IT, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND SEE WHO DID THAT AND THEN BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, DISCIPLINE THEM ACCORDINGLY. I APPRECIATE THAT, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO DATA AND PRIVACY, THAT WE HAVE SOME TYPE OF RECOURSE IN THE EVENT OF FLUCK MAY ALLEGEDLY MISUSE THAT DATA OUTSIDE THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT WE'RE SEEKING FOR ITS USE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNSEL. IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR, I MAKE A MOVE THAT I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE AS WRITTEN. [01:45:02] IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THAT MOTION HAS BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED COUNCIL. WE WILL DO A. WE WILL DO A ROLL CALL SINCE WE HAVE ONE THAT'S VIRTUAL. MADAM CITY SECRETARY, CAN YOU ASSIST US WITH THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE, FOR THIS VOTE? MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR YES, MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISHOLM. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CORRECT. PARKER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. KEN WATERS. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. ANDRE BIRD, SENIOR COUNCIL MEMBER. DEBRA NORTH, YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. LATISHA HUGHES. YES. THAT MOTION PASSES FIVE ONE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. MADAM CITY SECRETARY WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL MOVE ON TO CITIZEN APPEARANCES. [ The City Council invites citizens to address the Council on any topic not already scheduled for Public Hearing. Citizens wishing to speak should complete a "Citizen Comment Card" and present it to the City Secretary or return to the Ambassador's table prior to the start of the meeting. In accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, the City Council cannot take action on items not listed on the agenda. However, your concerns may be addressed by City Staff, placed on a future agenda, or responded to by some other course. 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 3 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, impertinent, profane, or slanderous remarks or becoming boisterous while addressing the City Council. If such conduct occurs and is not corrected immediately, the 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. ] THE CITY COUNCIL INVITES CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON ANY TOPIC NOT ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING. CITIZENS WISHING TO SPEAK SHOULD COMPLETE A CITIZEN COMMENT CARD AND PRESENT IT TO THE CITY SECRETARY, OR RETURN TO THE AMBASSADOR'S TABLE PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE CITY COUNCIL CANNOT TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA. HOWEVER, YOUR CONCERNS MAY BE ADDRESSED BY CITY STAFF, PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA OR RESPONDED TO BY SOME OTHER COURSE. FOR ATTENDEES WANTING TO SPEAK ON AN 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, IMPERTINENT, PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR BECOMING BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL. IF SUCH CONDUCT OCCURS AND IS NOT CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY, THE 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 OUR FIRST CARD, MISS ANNA WILLIAMS. GOOD EVENING, MISS WILLIAMS. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. YES, MA'AM. GOOD EVENING. BOARD. CITY CITY MANAGER AND ALSO THE LAWYER ON. I'M SPEAKING ON ROY OR TRAIL AND A FLOCK CAMERA. WE HAVE IT. THANK YOU FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE HAD ONE GUY THAT PUT DEATH MOBILE ON THE CAR. POLICE GOT THAT STOLEN CAR. THE POLICE GOT THEIR NEIGHBOR ROBBED. POLICE? THEY DIDN'T QUITE GET IT, BUT THEY. THEY TRIED. YES. THE FLOCK CAMERA IS GREAT FOR US BECAUSE OF THE WAR TRAIL AND BECAUSE OF THE CITY OF DE SOTO OWNS A DEED TO ROY TRAIL. IT IS DARK. THE YOUNG MEN. THREE OF THEM WAS IN A CAR AT 8:30 P.M. AT NIGHT, AND I'M SORRY FOR THE POLICE CHIEF. I HAD TO CALL HIM, BUT IT WAS RIGHT ON TIME WHEN HE CAME. AND HIS POLICE OFFICERS, WE HAVE A PROBLEM ON THE ROY TRAIL. BUT THAT FLOCK CAMERA IS THE REASON WE HAVE IT. WE BOUGHT IT. YOU DIDN'T. WE NEED IT TO. YOU DIDN'T. BUT ANYWAY THE ROY TRAIL. YOU OWE US MONEY. A LOT OF MONEY. BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE DEED TO THE CITY OF ROY TRAIL. THAT IS, WE PAY TAXES THERE, AND. ABSOLUTELY. YOU OWE US. YOU OWE US A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE YOU DON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION. THAT CREEK IS A MESS. AND THEN WHEN PEOPLE COME IN IN THE DAYTIME, THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WHO SIT ON A BENCH THE PURSES, THE CLOTHES. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THE POLICE SAID, WELL, WE CAN'T BOTHER THEIR CLOTHES AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A PERIL AND WE HAVE TO HAVE PROTECTION. THE DRONE AT NIGHT FOR US WITH THE CITY, YOU YOU WAKE UP AT NIGHT WITH THAT DRONE GOING ALL NIGHT LONG AND WE [01:50:02] KNOW IT IS CRIMINALS AROUND SOMEWHERE. THAT'S WHAT GOES OFF FOR US. BUT WITH ROY OR TRAIL AND WITH THE DRONE AND WITH THE FLOCK CAMERA AND OF COURSE, THE BEAT UP BRIDGE. AND IT IS BEAT UP. WE NEED A LOT OF ATTENTION WE HAVE IN NO ATTENTION IN AT LEAST 30 YEARS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE HAVE. ALSO, I WANT TO LET THE COUNCIL KNOW THAT MCKNIGHT WAS GIVEN A PRESENT PRESIDENT'S AWARD FOR THE CITY OF DE SOTO, AND HE THANKED US FOR IT. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, MISS WILLIAMS. DOCTOR. BRANDON NORWOOD. GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR NORWOOD. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. DOCTOR NORWOOD, CITY OF DE SOTO. MY NAME IS DOCTOR NORWOOD. I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU ON TONIGHT AS A NEW HOMEOWNER AND RESIDENT OF DE SOTO. IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS, PAID THE FIRST MORTGAGE, BUT ALREADY PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS COUNCIL ON TONIGHT. I CHOSE THE CITY OF DESOTO BECAUSE OF ITS POTENTIAL AND ITS LOCATION AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS. BUT I'VE QUICKLY LEARNED SOMETHING, AND THAT IS POTENTIAL ONLY MATTERS WHEN IT'S MATCHED WITH CONSISTENCY, EXECUTION, AND CLEAR DIRECTION. AS I DRIVE THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AT NIGHT, I SEE STREETS THAT ARE STILL UNDER LIT, BEYOND MAJOR INTERSECTIONS THAT NOT JUST ARE ABOUT VISIBILITY. IT'S MORE ABOUT SAFETY, PREVENTION, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. WHEN RESIDENTS SEE, CAN'T SEE CLEARLY. THEY DON'T FEEL SECURE. AND WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL SECURE, EVERYTHING ELSE BEGINS TO ERODE. I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND WHAT MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL ISSUE TO SOME, BUT SPEAKS TO A MORE BROADER, A LARGER SPECTRUM. FOR OVER FIVE MONTHS BEFORE PURCHASING THIS HOME, THERE WAS A CONSTRUCTION AHEAD SIGN IN MY YARD WITH NO CONSTRUCTION TAKING PLACE. IT WASN'T REMOVED UNTIL I FOLLOW UP MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. NOW, THAT MAY SEEM MINOR TO SOME, BUT IT RAISES A REAL QUESTION ABOUT PROCESS. IF THINGS CAN SIT WITHOUT FOLLOW THROUGH, WHAT SYSTEMS ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO ENSURE LARGER PRIORITIES ARE BEING EXECUTED CONSISTENTLY AND COMPLETELY? THEN I REVIEWED TONIGHT'S AGENDA. I SEE WE'RE SPENDING. OR WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY REQUEST A GRANT FOR $327,000 TO ADDRESS CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT. AND I'LL JUST SPEAK PLAINLY ABOUT THAT. I'M NOT EVEN GOING THROUGH THE NOTES. THE GRANT, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I'M EDUCATED ABOUT IT, IS SPECIFICALLY FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT AND THEFT ONLY. I MADE A REQUEST SPECIFICALLY TO THE CITY FOR OPEN RECORDS FOR DATA, BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS GRANT IS FOR, BECAUSE I HAVE A BUSINESS AND I DO GRANTS MYSELF. THERE IS NO DATA. THERE ARE NO REPORTS. I WAS DENIED THAT INFORMATION. AND SEE, I STAND HERE TONIGHT BEFORE A BOARD THAT JUST APPROVED A $65,000 PURCHASE FOR A VEHICLE. AND THEN ALSO THE POLICE CHIEF THEN STANDS BEFORE US ON TONIGHT REQUESTING FOR PERMISSION TO SUBMIT A GRANT THAT ALSO INCLUDES THAT HE WILL PURCHASE A VEHICLE. SO NOW WE'LL HAVE TWO VEHICLES FOR THE CITY. NO ONE ASKED ABOUT SPECIFICS OR PLACED ANYTHING ON HOLD TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION. NO ONE'S TALKING ABOUT THE LIGHTING IN THE AREA. WE COME DOWN BELTLINE, OUR PLEASANT RUN. THE LIGHTS ARE NOT EVEN RUNNING AT NIGHT TIME. AND SO WE'RE SPENDING ALL OF THIS MONEY AND NOT EVEN LOOKING AT THE REAL ISSUE HERE. MY LAST QUESTION OR LAST STATEMENT, RATHER IN A TIME, HOW IS THE CITY OF DESOTO ENSURING THAT ITS DECISIONS FROM PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO FEES TO DEVELOPMENT ARE NOT JUST INDIVIDUALLY JUSTIFIED, BUT STRATEGICALLY ALIGNED IN A WAY THAT RESIDENTS CAN CLEARLY SEE, UNDERSTAND AND FEEL THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES WHILE ALSO POSITIONING THE CITY TO REMAIN FINANCIALLY STABLE AND AVOID THE KINDS OF CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR NORWOOD. MISS MARY BONAPARTE. IS MISS BONAPARTE GOING TO SPEAK OR IS SHE LEAVING? NO. COME BACK THROUGH THE METAL DETECTOR. [01:55:12] GOOD EVENING, MISS BONAPARTE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. MARY BONAPARTE. ONCE AGAIN, JUST WHEN YOU THINK CONDITIONS COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE, YOU TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AND THEY HAVE. I'LL CHALLENGE EACH OF YOU TO DRIVE THROUGH DESOTA TO SEE WHAT I'M. WHAT I'M. WHAT I SEE WEEK AFTER WEEK. IT'S NOT SPECULATION, IT'S REALITY. IN MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WE'RE PLAGUED WITH JUNK VEHICLES, ILLEGAL BOOK APARTMENTS WITH OVERGROWN GRASS FENCES LITERALLY FALLING APART. IT'S A PICTURE THAT FEELS LESS LIKE PROGRESS BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE'VE STEPPED BACKWARDS. IT'S CLEARLY OPERATIONAL FAILURE AND A FAILURE TO ADDRESS THE REAL CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE. IT'S SAD THAT WE CONTINUALLY ASK FOR BASIC CITY SERVICES AND ONE WOULD WONDER WHY TRUST HAS ERODED IN DE SOTO. CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS ARE MORE THAN VOTE OR NAMES ON A TAX LIST. CITIZENS DESERVE BETTER. WE DESERVE RESPECT AND LEADERSHIP THAT ACTUALLY LISTENS TO THE CONSTITUENTS. STOP TALKING ABOUT REBUILDING TRUST, BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO REALLY REBUILD TRUST, START BY ASKING THE COMMUNITY WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. OPEN THE DOOR FOR REAL DIALOG, NOT JUST WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT, BUT WHEN IT'S REALLY NECESSARY. IT'S TIME TO TAKE OFF THE FAKE HALOS, STEP DOWN FROM THE PEDESTALS, AND TO TRULY CONNECT WITH REALITY BEFORE THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN LEADERSHIP AND THIS COMMUNITY GROWS TOO WIDE TO REPAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BONAPARTE. NEXT SPEAKER, MR. GARY RAVENEL. GARY RAVENEL, DE SOTO, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. IN JANUARY OF 2025, I APPEARED BEFORE YOU TO EXPRESS SUGGESTIONS REGARDING EMPLOYEE ACCOUNTABILITY, KNOWING IT WOULD NOT BE LOOKED ON FAVORABLY SINCE I WAS THE CHAIR OF PLANNING AND ZONING. AS I CONTINUE TO VOICE MY CONCERNS, I REALIZE THE TARGET ON MY BACK WAS GETTING LARGER. I KNEW RETALIATION WAS COMING MY WAY. PUNISHMENT WAS INEVITABLE. ATTEMPTS AND WAYS TO SILENCE ME WITH SURFACE AND ULTIMATELY ANYTHING WOULD BE DONE OR SAID TO CANCEL ME OUT. BUT I STAND BOLDLY AS GARY RAVENEL, PROUD OF WHO I AM, MY CHARACTER, AND IN WHAT I BELIEVE. I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR HAVING A HEART AND LOVE FOR PEOPLE, FOR DESIRING THAT EMPLOYEES OF THIS CITY HAVE A GREAT WORK ENVIRONMENT THEY CAN ENJOY COMING TO. AND ONCE HERE, THEY FEEL VALUED, ARE COMPENSATED AND DEALT WITH FAIRLY, AND FEEL IT'S AN HONEST ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY CAN THRIVE. THE TURNOVER THIS CITY HAS EXPERIENCED HAS LOST VALUABLE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND WASTE TAXPAYER DOLLARS. I AM ASHAMED THAT IN A CITY 67% BLACK, WITH AN ALL BLACK COUNCIL, THAT THE NAACP SHARED THAT THEY HAD COMPLAINTS BROUGHT TO THEM REGARDING VARIOUS TREATMENT EMPLOYEES RECEIVE. FURTHER, CITIZENS DESERVE TO BE HEARD AND KNOW THAT WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS NOT FALLING ON DEAF EARS. AT THE LAST MEETING, RESIDENT MILLER EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION OF HAVING TO WAIT SO LONG TO BE HEARD, ONLY TO HAVE TIME TAKEN AWAY. RESIDENT DOCTOR TAYLOR EXPRESSED THAT SHE FEELS SHE'S NOT AN IMPORTANT CITIZEN OF DE SOTO, JUST A BOAT, BECAUSE HER REQUEST IN 2025 WENT UNANSWERED. AT THE SAME MEETING, RESIDENT STEVENS STATED, THE MORALE OF THIS CITY IS AT AN ALL TIME LOW AND SHE IS AT A POINT OF CONSIDERING A MOVE. SHE ISN'T THE ONLY PERSON FEELING THIS WAY. LET ME END WITH THIS QUESTION AND I ASK, WILL BLACK FLIGHT FIND ITS WAY INTO DE SOTO'S FUTURE? DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL CARDS? WE DO NOT, MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM CHISM. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH TO ADJOURN COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. IS 758 COUNCIL. [02:00:01] WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.