[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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EVENING EVERYBODY. IF I COULD GET YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE. IF I COULD GET YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE. IF EVERYBODY COULD BE SEATED SO THAT WE CAN START OUR MEETING THIS EVENING. WE THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. I'M MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. IT IS TWO. IT IS MONDAY. EXCUSE ME.
MAY 18TH IS 6 P.M. AND I WANT TO CALL OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER. I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CITY SECRETARY IF SHE WOULD START US OFF WITH A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISM HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. PERRY PARKER, COUNCIL MEMBER KEN WATERS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BYRD, SENIOR COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH, COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA HUGHES. THANK YOU. WE WILL HAVE EXCUSE ME. WE WILL HAVE THE FIRST ITEM
[2. INVOCATION: CARL SHERMAN, JR., OAK GARDENS CHURCH]
ON OUR AGENDA, PLEASE. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE THE INVOCATION BY CARL SHERMAN JUNIOR OF OAK GARDENS CHURCH. WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE STAND? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.JUST A POINT OF DISTINCTION. I'M A MEMBER, OAK CLIFF BIBLE FELLOWSHIP. SO THANK YOU, LORD, WE LOVE YOU. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY THAT YOU'VE GRACED US WITH THE ABILITY TO INHALE AND EXHALE, AND JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WALK IN YOUR FAITHFULNESS, YOUR LOVE, YOUR CARE, AND YOUR CONCERN FOR US. AND LORD, THIS EVENING WE LIFT UP THE CITY OF DE SOTO. WE ASK A SPECIAL BLESSING OF PROTECTION, OF PROVISION, OF WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT. WE ASK THAT YOU WILL BE A SHINING LIGHT IN A DARK ROOM, THAT YOU WILL LIFT OR LIFT AND REMOVE ANY VEIL THAT MAY BE BLOCKING AND IMPEDING THE DECISION MAKING OF THIS COUNCIL. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR OUR ELECTED LEADERS. WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT WILL BE SWORN IN TONIGHT.
AND FATHER, WE KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT WAS CREATED AND IS A CONSTRUCT THAT ALLOWS US TO EFFICIENTLY GOVERN AND MANAGE THE GIFTS, TALENTS AND TREASURES THAT YOU'VE ALLOWED FOR A COMMUNITY TO HAVE. AND SO, LORD, I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO ALLOW THEM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BOLDNESS, WITH COURAGE, WITH CONFIDENCE, AND THAT AS THEY SURRENDER TO YOU AND ARE YIELDED TO YOU, THAT THEY WILL EXPERIENCE THE VICTORY THAT COMES BY LIVING A LIFE SURRENDERED TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. LORD, WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR SON. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN, AMEN. THANK YOU FOR THAT PRAYER, MR. SHERMAN. AT THIS TIME,
[a. Presentation of Financial Report April 2026]
WE'LL BE SEATED AND WE WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, PLEASE. WE WILL NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION OF THE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR 2026. MAKING A PRESENTATION IS FINANCE DIRECTOR LAKITA SUTTON. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING. MR. OUR APRIL 2026 FINANCIAL REPORT BEGINS WITH THE GENERAL FUND. WE ARE SEVEN MONTHS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR, SO ABOUT 58.8% INTO THE FISCAL YEAR. AT THIS TIME. OUR BUDGETED REVENUE 69.8 MILLION.YEAR TO DATE, ACTUALS ARE 55.9 MILLION, PUTTING US AT 80.1% COMPARED TO 78.7% LAST YEAR.
OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES LAST YEAR. YEAR TO DATE, WE WERE AT 55.8%. THAT'S JUST ABOUT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, 55.2%. YOU CAN SEE THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES. OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES ARE BROKEN DOWN BY DEPARTMENT. A COUPLE OF THE CATEGORIES. NON-DEPARTMENTAL IS A LITTLE BIT UP COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR. IT IS AT 67.7%. OUR FINAL PAY BENEFITS ARE COMING OUT OF THAT LINE ITEM, WHICH PUSHED IT UP A LITTLE BIT. AND ALSO WE HAD SOME EXTRA PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FEES THAT CAME OUT OF NON-DEPARTMENTAL DUE TO SEARCH FIRMS FOR EXECUTIVE ROLES. IN OUR PUBLIC UTILITY FUND. OUR BUDGET 34.7 MILLION YEAR TO DATE, ACTUAL IS 18.4 MILLION IN REVENUE. THAT PUTS US AT 52.9%, COMPARED TO 60.4% IN FISCAL YEAR 25. OUR PUBLIC UTILITY FUND REVENUE GENERALLY INCREASES MORE. OUR TWO MAJOR SOURCES HERE ARE OUR METERED WATER SALES AND OUR SEWER SERVICE SALES. THOSE WILL INCREASE PICK UP MORE IN THE SUMMERTIME PER THEIR NORMAL SCHEDULE. RIGHT NOW, 48.7% FOR WATER SALES METERED. AND CORRESPONDINGLY, OUR NEW CONNECTIONS AND SEWER AND WATER AS WELL ARE A LITTLE BIT DOWN. THOSE ARE DUE TO NEW CONNECTIONS AND NEW
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DEVELOPMENTS, BUT THOSE ARE EXPECTED TO PICK UP. OVERALL, WE WILL PICK UP IN THE SUMMERTIME TO GET US MORE ON TRACK WITH BUDGET. AND OUR SANITATION FUND. OUR REVENUE 7.9 MILLION IS WHAT WAS BUDGETED. WE HAVE RECEIVED 4.5 MILLION, PUTTING US AT 57.6%.THAT IS ABOUT WHERE WE WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR. CORRESPONDING EXPENDITURES IN THE SANITATION FUND. THE CATEGORIES ARE LISTED AS WELL. OUR PERSONNEL IS AT 51.1%, SUPPLIES 31.1%. SERVICES AND PROFESSIONAL FEES 49.1 AND TRANSFER TO OTHER FUNDS 75%.
OUR TRANSFER TO OTHER FUNDS ARE AHEAD. WE DO THOSE ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, SO TWO MONTHS FROM NOW, YOU'LL SEE THOSE KIND OF LEVEL BACK OUT. OUR EXPENSE TOTAL PERCENTAGE IS AT 50.4% COMPARED TO 41.5% LAST YEAR. OUR GOLF CLUB FINANCIALS, THESE ARE FINANCIALS THROUGH MARCH OF 2026. THE GOLF CLUB IS ON A CALENDAR YEAR. SO THAT'S ABOUT THREE MONTHS INTO THEIR FISCAL YEAR FOR REVENUES. BUDGETED REVENUE TOTAL FOR THE GOLF CLUB IS $2,936,607. BUDGET. I'M SORRY. BUDGETED EXPENDITURES ARE AT $2,881,696. THAT GIVES US A REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES OF $54,911. THAT IS THE BUDGET YEAR TO DATE. ACTUALS ARE IN THE MIDDLE COLUMN. YEAR TO DATE ACTUALS. WE HAVE A REVENUE UNDER EXPENDITURES OF $45,492. THOSE WILL ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO CATCH UP DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. FEBRUARY, JANUARY. FEBRUARY, MARCH ARE SLOWER FOR THE GOLF CLUB, BUT WE WILL SEE THOSE EVEN OUT AGAIN. WE'RE EXPECTING AN OVERALL SURPLUS OF $54,911. WITH YOUR REPORT. YOU ALSO HAVE A REPORT OUT OF ALL OF THE OTHER FUNDS WITH EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES, CAPITAL PROJECTS, AS WELL AS THE PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS REPORT AT THAT TIME. AT THIS TIME. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU, MISS SUTTON.
I DO SEE SOME LIGHTS. MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, MISS SUTTON, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I DID SEE YOU CREATED AN EXTRA LINE FOR OUR ARC, AND I SAW $120,000 YEAR TO DATE. DO YOU HAVE THAT CONVERTED INTO LIKE, WHAT? THAT LOOKS LIKE MEMBERSHIP WISE OR AND SPECIFICALLY IS THAT 120 SINCE WE'VE OPENED, OR WAS THAT A GRADUAL. FROM WHEN WE OPENED UP THE MEMBERSHIP PRIOR TO THE GRAND OPENING? THAT IS, IT IS EVERYTHING. YES, EVERYTHING FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. AND THOSE ARE STRICTLY MEMBERSHIP FEES. OKAY. AND SO THAT THAT EQUATES TO HOW MANY SINCE THE OPENING THE NUMBER. I'LL LET MISS ELLIOT GIVE YOU THAT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL. WE'RE CURRENTLY SITTING OVER 2000 MEMBERSHIPS, TWO 2000 MEMBERSHIPS, 2000 MEMBERSHIPS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I THINK YOU SAID, MISS ELLIOT, THE GOAL WAS 2500. YES. SO IN WHAT, LESS THAN TWO MONTHS? YES. ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO. YES. ALL RIGHT. GREAT.
THAT'S GREAT NEWS. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. YOU KNOW WHAT, MADAM MAYOR? I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO RESCIND MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. I SEE NO ADDITIONAL LIGHTS. THANK YOU MISS. THANK
[b. Presentation and Discussion on the City of DeSoto Drainage Master Plan ]
YOU. AT THIS TIME, MADAM CITY SECRETARY, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ON THE CITY OF DE SOTO'S DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN MAKING. THE INTRODUCTION IS CITY ENGINEER MD HUSSEIN. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. SO TODAY WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT THE FINAL DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN COMPLETING OVER THE LAST ONE YEAR. WE HAVE OUR CONSULTANTS, MISS WALKER FATIMA AND MISS KATHERINE JENNINGS. BOTH OF THEM ARE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND THEY ARE WITH HUB ASSOCIATES. THEY WILL BE PRESENTING THE SUMMARY OF THE FINAL DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS[00:10:04]
FATMA FROM HAF. THIS IS KATHERINE JENNINGS FROM HAF ASSOCIATES AS WELL. WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT THE DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN. SUMMARY. WE WENT. WE MET EARLIER IN THE YEAR DISCUSSING SOME MAJOR CONCERNS OF MAJOR ISSUES REGARDING THE DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN, AND WE WENT OVER SOME OF THE STUFF. SO JUST A QUICK HIGHLIGHT OF WHAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST IS LIKE THE MAJOR OBJECTIVES THAT OUR TEAM COVERED, INCLUDING UPDATING THE DATABASE REVIEWS, WATERSHED MASTER PLANNING, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PLANS, STREAMBANK STABILITY AT HIGH LEVEL ANALYSIS FOR THE SIX OF THE AREAS. AND IN THE END, WE ARE WORKING ON FINALIZING THE REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. TO CONCLUDE. SO FOR THE WATERSHED MASTER PLAN. AS A QUICK RECAP, WE DID A 2D MESH HYDRAULIC ANALYSIS, WHICH IS FOR THE TWO, TEN AND 100 YEAR STORM EVENT. WITH THIS, WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY 40 AREAS OF CONCERNS WITHIN THE CITY OF DE SOTO. THIS AREA WAS JUST REGARDING THE RELATIVE RISK IDENTIFICATION AND NOT USE AS A FEMA REPLACEMENT MAP. WE USED THE CRITERIA IDENTIFYING THESE SITES USING THE NUMBER OF STRUCTURES THAT WERE INUNDATED, THE FLOODING FREQUENCIES, FLOODING COMPLAINTS, OR THE DEPTH OF THE FLOODING. THIS MULTI-FACTOR APPROACH AVOIDS RELYING ON A SINGLE METRIC AND PROVIDES A MORE BALANCED PICTURE OF RISK. SO IN SUPPORT OF ALL OF THIS, WE DEVELOPED A CIP PROGRAM FRAMEWORK, CIP, AS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PROGRAM. WITH THESE FOUR TASK WHERE WE DEVELOPED THE CONCEPTUAL SOLUTION OF THE TOP AREAS OF CONCERNS, PROVIDE THE SOLUTION AND COST ESTIMATES, THEN UPDATED THE COSTS FROM THE 2001 DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN TO THE $2,025 TO BRING IT UP TO STANDARDS AND PRIORITIZE THE OLD AND THE NEW CIP PROJECTS, ACCORDING TO THE SET CRITERIA, WILL DISCUSS IN THE NEXT SLIDE AND ALSO RECOMMEND A SHORT TERM, SEVEN YEAR CIP PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION. SO FOR THE CIP PRIORITIZATION, PROJECTS WERE PRIORITIZED USING A WEIGHTED SCORING FRAMEWORK, BALANCING THE LIFE SAFETY PROPERTY OF LISC, ROADWAY OVERTOPPING, AND SO ON. YOU CAN SEE THE LIST WHERE THE LOSS OF LIFE BEING THE HIGHEST WEIGHTED CRITERIA, AND COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE IS BEING THE LOWEST OF THE LIST.AND WE CREATED A CONSISTENT DATA FRAMEWORK LEVERAGING THE PREVIOUS CIP PROJECTS. WE ESTABLISHED THESE SCORING BOUNDS BASED ON FOR EACH CATEGORY. INSURANCE SET EVALUATION FOR THE FUTURE WHERE THE PROJECTS WERE EVALUATED BASED ON 1 TO 10 SCORING, WHERE ONE BEING THE LOWEST RISK AND TEN BEING THE HIGHEST RISK. THESE CATEGORY WEIGHTS WERE ESTABLISHED IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY AND WERE ADJUSTED TO TO REFLECT ANY LOCAL PRIORITIES. WE THEN SET A GRADE AND A RANK TO EACH OF THESE CIP PROJECTS, WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED BY CATHERINE, AND THE GOAL WAS TO PROVIDE A REPEATABLE, TRANSPARENT AND OBJECTIVE METHOD FOR THE CITY TO RECREATE ANY OF THESE FOR THE NEW PROJECTS ONCE THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. AND THIS ALSO ENSURES THAT THE PRIORITIZATION REMAINS MORE RESPONSIVE AND DEFENSIBLE OVER TIME. SO FROM THAT PRIORITIZED LIST, WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A SEVEN.
I'M SORRY, MISS JENNINGS, COULD YOU ALL MOVE IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE OUR ONLINE AUDIENCE CAN HEAR YOU AS WELL? YES. THANK YOU. SO FROM THE PRIORITIZED LIST, WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A SEVEN YEAR CIP PLAN. AND THIS ALIGNS THE CITY PRIORITIES WITH FUNDING. AND SO YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A 1.5 MILLION ANNUAL BUDGET BASED ON THE DRAINAGE UTILITY RATE STUDY. AND THIS IMPLEMENTS 11 OUT OF THE 25 PROJECTS IN THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS. THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PROJECT WAS STREAMBANK STABILIZATION, WHERE WE LOOKED AT SIX EROSIVE AREAS OF CONCERN. WE RANKED THEM ACCORDING TO THREAT TO PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, RESIDENCES AND UTILITY STRUCTURES. AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH CONCEPTUAL LEVEL SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING RETAINING WALLS, GABION BASKETS AND DROP STRUCTURES, AND CAME UP WITH COST ESTIMATES FOR EACH OF THOSE PROJECTS. THE PROJECTS ONE THROUGH THREE ARE BEHIND HOMES AND THEN FOUR THROUGH SIX ARE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. I'M SORRY, MISS JENNINGS, COULD YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE? SLIDE SEVEN. YES. YOU SAID 1B12B3B ARE THESE ARE ALL HOMES RESIDENTIAL AREA. AND THEN THE SECOND SET OF THREE ARE ALL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. AND SO THIS LAST SLIDE IS A SUMMARY OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. AND THIS IS A COLLECTION OF STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS. THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS. SOME HAVE MATCH REQUIREMENTS UP TO 50%. OTHERS HAVE REQUIRE A COST
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BENEFIT ANALYSIS. AND THESE MAY CHANGE OVER TIME. THEY'RE SUBJECT TO REVIEW, BUT IT GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT MORE PROJECTS BASED ON FUNDING SOURCES. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISS FATIMA. THANK YOU, MISS JENNINGS. WE DO HAVE SOME LIGHTS ON FOR QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO CALL COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE DRAINAGE THOUGHT PROCESS. WE DO HAVE TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD. THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE GRANT FUNDING, THE GRANT FUNDING. DO YOU KNOW OR HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN INVOLVED WITH ANYTHING TO HELP THE CITY TO OBTAIN THOSE GRANTS? I MEAN, HAS THERE BEEN ANY WORK AROUND THAT? AND THEN SECONDLY, WHEN WE'RE TALKING IN TERMS OF AND IF WE CAN, CAN WE GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WHERE YOU HAD THE THE SPOTS, THE ACTUAL LOCATIONS KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING. I'M SORRY. RIGHT THERE. I THINK THAT'S IT. YOU SAID IN YOUR STATEMENT, YOU SAID THAT THE RANKING CAME FROM A SPECIFIC SET OF INFORMATION. AND I'M WITH MADAM MAYOR. I COULDN'T HEAR YOU, SO I WAS GOING TO WAIT FOR YOU TO GET TO THIS STOPPING POINT, TO MAYBE ASK IF YOU WILL ELABORATE AND BE A LITTLE BIT CLEARER ON WHAT THAT REALLY THAT RANKING IS AND WHO MADE THOSE DECISIONS. SO I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THOSE TWO. OKAY. FOR GRANT, FOR GRANT, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY FOR SORRY FOR GRANT. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY ON IDENTIFYING WHICH GRANTS ARE SUITABLE FOR WHICH OF THE PROJECTS IN THE CIP OR OUTSIDE THE CIP. THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE WORKING WITH THAT, AND WE CAN REFER TO. AND THE SECOND QUESTION ABOUT THE RANKING, THE RANKING. SO OVER HERE WE WORKED ON. BASED ON THESE PERCENTAGES, WE SET UP LIKE A WEIGHTED CRITERIA, AND WE SET UP A WEIGHTED CRITERIA. AND FOR EACH OF THE PROJECTS IT DEPENDED ON, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAD A FLOODING COMPLAINT OR HISTORICAL COMPLAINTS WE RECEIVED, WE ASSIGNED LIKE 1 OR 2 OR DIFFERENT RANKS. WE HAVE A WHOLE PROCESS AND A DATABASE OF HOW WE COLLECTED THAT INFORMATION AND CAME UP WITH A SET RANK. SO THOSE RANKS IN THIS ONE, WE DON'T WE'RE NOT SHOWING THE FULL LIST, BUT ON THE LEFT TOP LEFT CORNER, YOU CAN SEE THE RANK OF THE TOP 12 PROJECTS HERE. AND WE ASSIGNED THE NUMBERS. YOU GET AN AVERAGE AND THEN RANK THEM BASED ON WHICHEVER COMES WITH THE HIGHEST RANK OUT OF 100. OKAY.AND SO AS FAR AS THE MAP IS CONCERNED IN IN RELATION TO WHAT THE MAP SAYS, I'M LOOKING AT THIS LIST AND I'M NOT SEEING THAT ON THE MAP. SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, IS THERE A MAP THAT ACTUALLY CORRELATES TO SAY WHERE THAT TOP PROJECT IS? I SEE SOME OTHER STUFF HERE. SO THIS ONE ONLY SHOWS THE TOP FIVE PROJECTS THAT WE DID. THE CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS ON. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 25 2001 DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN CIP PROJECTS. SO THIS MAP. OKAY.
THANK YOU. SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE WHERE YOU SAID THESE ARE THE TOP TEN, AND WE GO BACK TO THE OTHER SLIDE, NONE OF THE TOP TEN ARE ON THAT LIST ON THAT MAP. NO, NO, THEY ARE NOT ON THE MAP. THOSE ARE SPECIFIC TO JUST THE TOP FIVE THAT WE DID THE CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS ON.
OH, OKAY. SO THE MAP IS REALLY JUST CONCEPT INFORMATION. YES. THE CONCEPTUAL INFORMATION FOR THIS ONE WE ANALYZE BOTH THE 2001 DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN CIP PROJECT, ANALYZE THEM, AND THEN RANK THAT PLUS THE NEW TOP FIVE. SO TOTAL 25 PROJECTS BECAUSE THERE WERE 20 FROM 2001 STUDY, FIVE FROM THIS NEW ONE, WE COMBINE THEM TOGETHER, RANK THEM. AND THIS IS WHAT THE RISKS THAT CAME OUT OF. OKAY. HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THE DRAINAGE MAP IS TO YOUR POINT, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALIGN THE MAP WITH THE POINT SYSTEM, ALIGN IT WITH THE TOP PROJECTS AS WELL, SO THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN ITSELF. AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. OKAY. SO THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW BECAUSE. YES. YES MA'AM.
ALONG WITH THE SCORING AS WELL. OKAY. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID A FEW MINUTES AGO ABOUT THE SCORING WAS BASED ON THE CALLS OR THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. AND OR AT LEAST I HEARD THAT. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T KNOW. IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS PAGE SLIDE. SO WHAT YOU SEE IS THE TOP, THE TOP EIGHT SCORING MATRIXES, THOSE ARE ALL WEIGHTED. AND SO IF YOU HAVE A POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE, YOU'LL GET 25 POINTS. IF YOU GET IF YOU HAVE BANK EROSION OR SCOUR, THAT'S 12 POINTS. SO YOU TALLY ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN QUESTION. AND THE TOP TEN PROJECTS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN OUR TOP PRIORITY. OKAY, GOOD. SO THE ONES ON THE NEXT PAGE, WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE ON THE NEXT PAGE, THOSE ACTUALLY THERE WOULDN'T BE, COULD THERE BE A, YOU KNOW, A COLUMN THAT ACTUALLY SAYS WHERE THEY RANK, EVEN THOUGH I SEE WHAT IT SAYS, BUT ABSOLUTELY. AND IT SHOULD SAY SHOULD SAY THE NUMBER ALSO
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OUTSTANDING. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, IT MIGHT ALSO BE OPPORTUNITIES TO PUT ACTUALLY WHERE IT IS, BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THESE, THESE STREETS AND WHILE I KNOW THE STREETS, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ON TWO DIFFERENT SIDES AND WE'RE ONE IS NINE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE SAME AREA AS THE ONE THAT'S ONE. SO IT'S KIND OF HARD TO FOLLOW ALONG IF WE'RE GOING TO GO UP AND DO ONE, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN AND DO TEN AT SOME POINT OR NINE AT SOME POINT. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YES. AND SO THE DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN WILL HAVE A SHEET FOR EACH ONE OF THE PROJECTS. IT'S RANKING. IT'S IT'S SOME DETAILS ON IT, THE COST, ALL OF THAT. SO EACH ONE OF THE PROJECTS WILL HAVE WILL HAVE ITS OWN SHEET ON THE MASTER PLAN ITSELF. OKAY. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS, IS THIS ALL THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY RIGHT HERE, THESE AMOUNTS, OR ARE THESE INCLUDING WHAT THE COMMUNITY OR THE PERSON THAT LIVES AT THAT IN THAT AREA THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO? OR IS IT JUST THE CITY, THESE DOLLARS DOLLARS THAT ARE HERE? THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER, FOR THE QUESTIONS, THE PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE SEEING ON THIS SLIDE, ALL THIS ARE CITY PROJECTS. OKAY. THANK YOU, I YIELD BACK.THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER. MAYOR PRO TEM, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COUNSEL, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE STAFF OR FOR MISS OR MISS JENNINGS? MADAM MAYOR, NOT NOT QUESTIONS NECESSARILY, BUT WOULD ASK IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, HOW SOON WOULD WE HAVE THIS THESE THESE PIECES OF INFORMATION SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CITY IS PLANNING TO DO ABOUT THE ACTUAL DRAINAGE PROJECT. THIS IS A PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS, RIGHT? OKAY. SO. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO WE'LL SEE IT DURING THE BUDGET SEASON. OKAY. THANK YOU. I YIELD BACK. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR.
JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. YOUR TOP TEN ARE ALREADY RANKED BY SOME METRIC. IS THAT CORRECT? AND THAT METRIC IS THE METRIC THAT YOU SHOWED ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE. CORRECT. OKAY. WE JUST DON'T. SO NUMBER ONE IS INDEED THE MOST CRITICAL ONE. CORRECT. OKAY. VERY GOOD. I FROM THE QUESTIONING FROM MY COLLEAGUES, IT SOUNDED AS IF THE THESE WERE NOT ALREADY RANKED. SO THESE ARE ALREADY RANKED IN IN ORDER OF OF WHAT'S MOST CRITICAL ACCORDING TO YOUR SCALE ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE. THAT IS CORRECT. THE RANK IN THE COLUMN WILL STATE WHICH RANK. THEY LIE BASED ON THE SCALE THAT WE DID IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR THE CLARITY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY
[a. Presentation to outgoing Councilmember Andre' Byrd, Sr. ]
MUCH. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION TO OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRE BIRD. SENIOR MAKING A PRESENTATION IS MAYOR RACHEL L PROCTOR. BUT FIRST WE WILL HAVE A SHORT VIDEO.[00:25:47]
I TOLD HIM HE NEED TO BRING ALL HIS STUFF DOWN FROM THE DAIS AT ONE TIME.PACK IT ALL UP. AS HE'S COMING. I JOKE, BUT TONIGHT IS VERY BITTERSWEET. I'M SURE I'M NOT ALONE IN THE ROOM. AND YOU KNOW ME. I TALK FOR A LIVING. BUT IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS, WORDS ESCAPE ME. SO I HAVE WRITTEN DOWN A FEW REMARKS BEFORE. WE PRESENT YOU WITH TWO MEMENTOS THAT HOPEFULLY WILL WILL HELP REFLECT WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT ON US IN PUBLIC SERVICE. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY HOLD A SEAT. BUT THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE COUNCILMAN BIRD WHO LEAVE A MARK. AND MY FRIEND AND MY COLLEAGUE HAS UNQUESTIONABLY LEFT A MARK ON THE CITY OF DE SOTO. WE HAVE SERVED TOGETHER ON AND OFF THIS DAIS THROUGH DIFFERENT SEASONS, DIFFICULT CHALLENGES, AND DIFFERENT MOMENTS IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. AND THROUGH IT ALL, ONE THING HAS REMAINED CONSISTENT HIS HEART FOR PEOPLE, HIS LOVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND HIS COMMITMENT TO SERVING WITH INTEGRITY AS A PASTOR AND A MAN OF GOD. HE HAS ALWAYS LED WITH CONVICTION AND WITH COMPASSION, EVEN IN MOMENTS OF DISAGREEMENT OR DIFFICULT DECISIONS. HIS POSTURE WAS ALWAYS ROOTED IN WHAT HE BELIEVED WAS BEST FOR DE SOTO, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP THAT MATTERS. BUT BEYOND THE TITLES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP. PUBLIC SERVICE CAN BE DIFFICULT, AND HAVING PEOPLE BESIDE YOU WHO ARE GENUINE, GROUNDED AND TRUSTWORTHY IS TRULY A GIFT THAT I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE SEASONS WE'VE SERVED TOGETHER AND FOR THE WISDOM, LAUGHTER, AND PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT ALONG THE WAY. AND SO TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT YOU WITH TWO SYMBOLS. FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR DAIS MAGNET, THE MARKER OF THE SEAT THAT YOU HAVE FAITHFULLY OCCUPIED IN SERVICE TO THIS CITY. AND WHILE YOUR TIME ON THIS CHAIR MAY BE ENDING YOUR IMPRINT ON THIS COUNCIL AND THIS COMMUNITY WILL REMAIN, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THAT.
AND AS CUSTOMARY, WE HAVE YOUR EAGLE FOR YOU TO TAKE WITH YOU. AND I'M GOING TO READ IT, AND THEN WE'LL ALLOW YOU TO HAVE SOME REMARKS AS WELL TO ANDRE BIRD, SENIOR COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE FOUR, 2019 THROUGH 2026. IN APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE CITIZENS AND DEMONSTRATION OF OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY. MAY 18TH, 2026.
I PROMISE MYSELF I WASN'T IN CHURCH. I WILL NOT CRY, BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO FEEL SOMETHING WHEN YOU'VE SERVED WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU GENUINELY CARE ABOUT.
AND MADAM MAYOR, AND TO THIS COUNCIL, WE ARE. WE'RE FAMILY. WE ARE FAMILY. SO I APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY. AND TO MY FRIENDS, THE MAYOR AND THOSE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT IS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT. EVEN THOUGH WE WORK VERY HARD AND IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY OF SEVEN YEARS, WE HAVE COME NOW TO THE TO THE END OF THIS JOURNEY, AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED US TO BE HERE. SO I'M JUST GOING TO STICK WITH MY NOTES AND AND GET OUT OF YOUR WAY TO OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, JOHN.
WALLY PRICE TO MY FRIEND AND MY BROTHER, JUDGE JONES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND TO ALL THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU HAVE COME OUT TO WITNESS AND TO
[00:30:04]
SUPPORT THIS TRANSITION TO MY BROTHERS IN THE GOSPEL, KIRK COMBS, BILL, AND THOSE WHO PRAYED ME THROUGH. MY NEW BROTHER. WE ARE APPRECIATIVE BECAUSE WITHOUT THE HELP OF GOD, THIS JOB WOULD BE UNBEARABLE. AND THOSE WHO WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME. MANY YEARS WITHOUT, WITHOUT $1 IN RETURN, NO REIMBURSEMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS THAT GOT ME THROUGH. MANY OF OUR CITIZENS DON'T KNOW, BUT SHALANDA WEAVER IS A GOOD FRIEND OF OURS, AND WE STARTED A WEEKLY PRAYER AT THE POLLS. AND WE DIDN'T DID NOT MAKE A BIG DEAL, BUT WE STARTED A PRAYER HERE AT THE CITY HALL. THERE IS A COUPLE THAT'S HERE EVERY MONDAY AT 7:00. AND FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, WE HAD PEOPLE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE CITY AT EVERY ENTRANCE OF THE CITY, TO PRAY FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CITY.AND WE DID IT NOT AS A POLITICAL STUNT, BUT WE WE DID IT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER. AND I WANT TO SUBMIT THAT MAYBE THIS CITY IS NOT UNDER. BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME GOOD FOLK THAT WAS PRAYING. TO MY WONDERFUL FAMILY, AND I'M GOING TO JUST TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND ASK MY LOVELY WIFE OF 43 YEARS TO STAND. OUR OUR CHILDREN, AND I'M GOING TO CALL THEM IN GROUPS OF AS COUPLES, OUR CHILDREN, ANGEL AND HER HUSBAND, RAMON. OUR DAUGHTER, OUR SON ANDRE AND HIS WIFE ALICIA. TO MY MOTHER OF 93 YEARS, MAMA'S. AND TO MY SIBLINGS AND. AND TO MY INCREDIBLE GRANDCHILDREN, ANAYA, SKYE, JAY, RENEE, DRAYA, TYSON AND JACE WHO ARE THE JOY OF MY LIFE. AND TO MY EXTENDED FAMILY, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS TO MY INCREDIBLE CHURCH FAMILY, THE NEW FAMILY WHO I AM PROUD TO BE CALLED YOUR PASTOR. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING WITH ME AND FOR SHOWING UP TONIGHT. FINALLY, TO THE CITIZENS OF DE SOTO, THE HONOR OF MY LIFE HAVE BEEN TO SERVE AS YOUR CITY COUNCILMAN, AND FOR TWO YEARS AS YOUR MAYOR PRO TEM SEVEN YEARS ON THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, SEVEN YEARS AS THE LIAISON WITH MY FRIEND AND MY BROTHERS, WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THREE YEARS AS THE LIAISON FOR KEEP DE SOTO. BEAUTIFUL. THREE YEARS ON THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS.
THREE YEARS ON THE NORTH TEXAS CENTRAL HOUSING AND FINANCE BOARD. THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT HONOR OF SERVING. LET ME NOW THANK OUR CITY STAFF MEMBERS WHO GAVE THEIR TALENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS GOT DONE IN THIS GREAT CITY, TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, TO OUR CITY SECRETARY AND TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AND TO AND TO THOSE THAT PLANT THE FLOWERS, TO THOSE THAT PICK UP THE TRASH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. TO MY INCREDIBLE NEIGHBORS IN THE THORN TREE ADDITION, WHOM I HAVE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR OVER 26 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEART. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BROTHERHOOD AND SISTERHOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOYALTY TO OUR CITY AND YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND THE LOVE FOR OUR CITY. A SPECIAL THANKS TO A FRIEND, MR. TOM GEBHARDT OF THE WILDWOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WHO HAS ADDED MORE THAN $250 MILLION IN TAX BASE TO THE CITY OF DE SOTO IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS. A SPECIAL THANKS TO ANOTHER BROTHER, MR. TERRENCE MADDEN, AND THE RUSSELL GLENN DEVELOPMENT, WHO HAVE MADE SURE THAT OUR CITY HAS THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMENITIES THAT OTHER PREMIER CITIES HAVE. AND. AND WE ONCE ONLY DREAMT OF SMOOTHIE KING, CHICK FIL A, TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCES, DUNKIN DONUTS, AND MANY OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. AND
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BOTH OF THESE DEVELOPERS ARE CITIZENS OF DE SOTO. OVER THE. OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS TOGETHER, WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOME AMAZING THINGS, CONTINUING THE GREAT HISTORY OF MAINTAINING OR LOWERING THE PROPERTY TAX RATE WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE QUALITY OF SERVICES THAT IS GREATER. THAT IS GREATER THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE BEST SOUTHWEST AREA.CONTINUING THE AMAZING TASK OF BUILDING OUR FINANCIAL RESERVES, CONTINUING TO SHOW FINANCIAL INTEGRITY BY BY CONTINUING TO RECEIVE UNMODIFIED AUDITS FROM VARIOUS CPA FIRMS AND BEING RECOGNIZED AND AWARD WINNING BY THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. SO I WANT TO JUST LEAVE THIS DAIS AND LEAVE THIS PODIUM WITH THE TRUTH. THIS CITY IS IN GOOD HANDS AND HAS BEEN IN GOOD HANDS SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL AND NOT ME SINCE WE HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL. NOT ONE MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS, NOT ONE FAILED AUDIT, NOT ONE YEAR WITHOUT AWARD WINNING FINANCIALS. I BELIEVE THAT THEY DESERVE A HAND CLAP. THEIR. NOT ONLY HAVE WE CONTINUED TO PERFORM THE CORE FUNCTIONS WITH EXCELLENCE, BUT WHEN LIFE DARED TO CHALLENGE OUR UNITY, WE RESPONDED WITH VIGOR AND CAME TOGETHER IN CRISES. THE DEATH OF THE SITTING MAYOR, MAYOR MCCOWAN. WE CAME TOGETHER. WINTER STORM ERA. WE CAME TOGETHER. COVID 19. WE CAME TOGETHER, GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN. WE CAME TOGETHER. DE SOTO DID NOT FALL APART DURING CRISES.
WE SIMPLY CAME TOGETHER. I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AVENUE DE SOTO WILL ALWAYS COME TOGETHER. NOT ONLY DO WE BAND TOGETHER FOR CORE FUNDAMENTALS CRISIS RESPONSE, BUT WE COME TOGETHER IN COURAGEOUS CHANGES. BAN THE BOX ORDINANCE TO GIVE THOSE WHO HAVE WHO DON'T HAVE A PERFECT RECORD ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO A PROSPEROUS LIFE. PARENTAL TIME OFF FOR THOSE FIRST TIME RESPONDERS, WHILE THEY ARE PROTECTING OUR LIVES, CAN ENJOY THE LIFE WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
HISTORIC PAY INCREASES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR WAGES FOR OTHER EMPLOYEES ARE COMPETITIVE AND MOST TIME LEADING THE CITIES IN OUR IMMEDIATE AREA.
IMPLEMENTING TECHNOLOGY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO PUT THEIR LIVES IN DANGER HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF COMING HOME NIGHT AFTER NIGHT TO THEIR FAMILY. SHOTSPOTTER, THE DRONE SYSTEM AND OTHER DEVICES, PUTTING ORDINANCES ON THE BOOKS THAT WOULD PROTECT OUR PROPERTY VALUES FROM THE OVERSATURATION OF LOW END RETAIL STORES AND GAME ROOM. WE COME TOGETHER, TO QUOTE HENRY FORD, COMING TOGETHER IS A BEGINNING. STAYING TOGETHER IS PROGRESS, BUT WORKING TOGETHER IS SUCCESS. I WANT TO CHALLENGE THIS GREAT CITY NOT TO ONLY TO COME TOGETHER, BUT TO STAY TOGETHER. AS DIVISIVE TACTICS. TACTICS HAVE BECOME COMMONPLACE, UNTRUTHS HAVE BECOME CURRENT PRACTICES. INCIVILITY HAVE BECOME COMFORTABLE POSTURING. I WANT US TO STAY TOGETHER. LET US REMIND. LET US BE REMINDED WHO WE ARE. A PLACE WHERE, COME, WHERE. COME UP AND COMING UP. WANT TO LIVE. A PLACE THAT THOSE WHO HAVE ARRIVED WANT TO STAY. A PLACE WHERE EXCELLENCE IS ON DISPLAY IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES. THAT IS WHO WE ARE AND THAT'S WHAT WE MUST PROTECT. AND THAT'S WHY WE MUST STAY TOGETHER. DE SOTO, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO SHARE A LESSON LEARNED FROM MY 94 YEAR OLD MOTHER. MANY OF YOU DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT I DID NOT GO THROUGH SCHOOL IN DE SOTO. I GREW UP IN OAK CLIFF, TEXAS, RIGHT OFF OF
[00:40:03]
OVERTON ROAD BETWEEN FORDHAM ROAD AND OVERTON. DID NOT THINK WE WERE POOR BECAUSE I HAD A MAMA AND A DADDY THAT LOVED ME. I HAD PEOPLE THAT WORKED AND THAT TAUGHT ME TO LOVE GOD. BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL ONE DAY I HAD TO BRING MY 94 YEAR OLD MOTHER, AND SHE WAS A 94 THEN, BUT I HAD TO BRING HER A COMMISSIONER TO A HOME OFF OF WHISPERING OAKS, THE 1200 BLOCK OF WHISPERING OAKS, AND I TOOK HER TO WHAT I CONSIDERED A MANSION THAT SAT ON ABOUT FOUR OF LAND IN THE FROST FORM EDITION OF DE SOTO, AND SHE WORKED THERE AS A DOMESTIC HELP. MY MOTHER WORKED IN DE SOTO. THAT WAS MY FIRST EXPOSURE TO DE SOTO, BUT I LEARNED SOMETHING FROM MY MOTHER. BUT I ALSO LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVED EVEN THEN IN DE SOTO, THAT THEY DID NOT TREAT HER LIKE A HIRED HELP. THEY TREATED HER LIKE A PERSON. AND WHAT IT TAUGHT ME THAT NO MATTER WHERE GOD ALLOWED ME TO GO, NO MATTER HOW PROSPEROUS GOD MIGHT ALLOW ME TO BE OR NOT TO BE PEOPLE OR PEOPLE, RIGHT? THERE IS A GOOD SPOT FOR AN AMEN. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE DOWN COCKRELL HILL, LAWANDA. I WOULD GO AS FAR AS DANIEL DALE AND BEGAN TO PRAY BECAUSE I WAS INTIMIDATED BY THE SIZE OF THE HOUSE. I WAS INTIMIDATED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE LANDSCAPING. I WAS INTIMIDATED BY THE PROSPERITY THAT EXUDED OUT OF THE VERY CORE OF WHO DE SOTO EVEN WAS THEN. BUT I HAD A TALK WITH MY MOTHER, AND THIS IS WHAT MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME. DON'T BECOME COMPLACENT. IF YOU CAN ENVISION IT, YOU CAN HAVE IT. IT WILL REQUIRE HARD WORK, BUT IT WILL BE WORTHWHILE. SO ME BRINGING MY MOTHER TO DE SOTO GAVE ME AN IMAGE OF A BETTER LIFE THAN I COULD HAVE EVER DREAMT OF IN OAK CLIFF. THE SECOND LESSON THAT WAS TAUGHT WAS, DON'T FORGET TO BE COMPASSIONATE. WE ARE ALL CREATED IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD. YOUR POSSESSIONS DON'T MAKE YOU LESS PRECIOUS IN HIS EYESIGHT. AND LASTLY, DON'T FORGET THE COMMISSION. AND I HAD TO ASK MOM, WHAT WAS THE COMMISSION? SHE SAID, THE COMMISSION IS STEWARDSHIP. TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING AS IF EVERYTHING BELONGED TO YOU. BUT KNOWING THAT EVERYTHING BELONGED TO GOD. AMEN. AMEN. SOME MIGHT ASK WHY I AM SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS SEAT, WHY I AM SO HARDWORKING IS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE BURDEN OF STEWARDSHIP TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED. I SEE MY SISTER IN HERE. I DIDN'T SEE HER EARLY. THANK YOU. ALBERTA. AND AND THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN DE SOTO, WE MUST PROTECT WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US BY PROTECTING THOSE WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME. THOSE WHO MUST ENDURE BAD NAMES ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THOSE WHO HAVE DARED BEEN BLOCKED IN THEIR DRIVEWAY, THOSE WHO WIVES HAVE BEEN CURSED OUT AND HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO ANYBODY. BUT YET.AND STILL, THESE PEOPLE BEHIND ME COME TO WORK. YET AND STILL THEY STAY FOCUSED. YET AND STILL THEY DO THEIR JOBS. WHY? BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT STEWARDSHIP IS. THERE ISN'T ANOTHER CITY LIKE OUR DEAR DE SOTO, BUT SHE IS NOT MINE. I WAS JUST GIVEN STEWARDSHIP FOR A SHORT WHILE WHILE I WAS ON COUNCIL. THERE IS A SONGWRITER IN 1945. SHE'S A PIANIST AND A LYRICIST, AND SHE WROTE THESE SONGS. IT WAS MADE FAMOUS AT MARTIN LUTHER KING'S FUNERAL.
IF I COULD HELP SOMEONE AS I PASS ALONG, IF I COULD CHEER SOMEBODY WITH A WORD OF A SONG, IF I CAN SHOW SOMEBODY HE IS TRAVELING WRONG, THEN MY LIVING IS NOT IN VAIN. MAY THE LORD
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GOD BLESS YOU REAL GOOD. DE SOTO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.[b. Present Certificate of Election to the Councilmember-Elect for Place 4 in accordance with the Texas Election Code]
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE OUR NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL PRESENT THE CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT FOR PLACE FOUR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE. MAKING A PRESENTATION IS MAYOR RACHEL L PROCTOR.AT THIS TIME, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION TO COUNCIL MEMBER SUEN TO BE COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN WESLEY. YOU CAN COME WITH ME. THIS CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DE SOTO. THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT AT THE GENERAL ELECTION HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 2ND, 2026, BRIAN WESLEY HAVING RECEIVED 62.42% OF THE VOTES FOR A TOTAL. THAT'S A MANDATE. THAT'S THE MANDATE. OF THE VOTES FOR A TOTAL OF 2259 VOTES, THAT BEING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES CAST AT SAID ELECTION FOR ANY CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE HEREIN NAMED WAS DULY ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF DE SOTO FOR THE OFFICE OF PLACE FOR IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I, RACHEL L PROCTOR, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DE SOTO, TEXAS, HAVE HEREUNTO SUBSCRIBED MY NAME AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, TO BE AFFIXED TO THIS CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION ON THE 18TH DAY OF MAY 2026. I'M GOING TO SIGN AND THEN YOU WILL SIGN AFTER ME. YES, MA'AM. NO, YOU WON'T SIGN.
THOSE TO OUR CITY SECRETARY. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE HER. SHE DOES A GREAT JOB AT KEEPING ME STRAIGHT. THERE WE GO. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO YOUR OATH. SO JUST THE HIGH AND TIGHT. YES,
[c. Administer Oath of Office to the Councilmember-Elect for Place 4 in accordance with the Texas Constitution]
MA'AM. ALL RIGHT, HANG TIGHT. WE WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. AT THIS TIME. WE WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT FOR PLACE FOUR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION. MAKING A PRESENTATION IS THE HONORABLE JOHN WILEY PRICE. I NEED ALL MY FAMILY TO COME IN.MADAM MAYOR, MR. MANAGER. OKAY, THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. WE DON'T HAVE THIS HIGH END EQUIPMENT AT THE COUNTY. MADAM MAYOR, MR. MANAGER, MADAM SECRETARY. COUNCIL, CITIZENS OF DESOTO. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO BE HERE. I THOUGHT COUNCILMAN BIRD WAS GOING TO OPEN THE DOORS TO THE CHURCH. VERY WELL SAID. AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO'VE BEEN AROUND HERE, MADAM MAYOR, SINCE THE. I KNOW TOM GEBHARDT AND I SINCE THE SUPERCONDUCTING SUPER
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COLLIDER. I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE SAYING WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT COMING INTO DESOTO. THERE HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN A COMFORTABLE FEELING COMING INTO DISORDER. AND SO I'VE WATCHED DESOTO MORPH OVER THE YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. TONIGHT. AND BY THE WAY, MR. MANAGER, I NEED THAT FLOODPLAIN STUDY TO MAKE SURE WITH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD THAT SOMEHOW WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCILMAN SAID A FEW MINUTES AGO ABOUT BEST SOUTHWESTERN CITIES THAT ARE VERY WELL RUN. DALLAS COUNTY IS 965MI■S. ONE CITY'S 16 OF THEM ARE IN MY DISTRICT, MR. GAVIN. AND I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT DESOTO IS WELL RUN. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DIDN'T SAY IN THE LAST 17 YEARS IN TERMS OF YOUR TAXES, WHEN I COMPARE YOU TO OTHER ENTITIES, YOU'RE VERY WELL MANAGED, VERY WELL RUN CITY, AND I LOOK AT YOUR RESERVES WITH ENVY. MY RATING HOUSE IS 10.5%. DESOTO IS FAR ABOVE THAT. SO YOU'RE VERY WELL MANAGED. AS YOU SAID, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS BEING SAID. AND. GOOD EVENING, MR. CARTER. GOOD TO SEE YOU. SO TONIGHT, WITH PRIDE, I JOINED THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT FOUR IN ADMINISTERING THE OATH OF OFFICE TO COUNCILMAN ELECT BRIAN WESLEY. AND SO I'D ASK YOU TO RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. AND BY THE WAY, THE REASON I ASK IS FAMILY, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCILMAN BYRD TALKED ABOUT, HE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. AMEN. FAMILY'S GOT TO UNDERSTAND. AND YOU SIGN ON. YOU DON'T SIGN ON 8 TO 5. IT IS A CONTINUUM UNTIL YOU VACATE. AND THEN THEY KEEP COMING. REPEAT AFTER ME. I REPEAT YOUR NAME. I, BRIAN WESLEY, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF. FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTY OF CITY COUNCIL. CITY COUNCIL. PLACE FOUR. PLACE FOR. FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO. FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO, AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. PROTECT, PROTECT, SERVE, SERVE AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD, SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.SECRETARY. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. GLORY TO GOD. WELL GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU AS NEW COUNCILMAN IN PLACE FOR OF OUR CITY, DESOTO MAYOR PROCTOR. CURRENT COUNCIL MEN AND WOMEN. PASTOR BIRD, TO ALL THE DIGNITARIES THAT'S GATHERED HERE TONIGHT, TO EACH OF YOU, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY. THANK YOU, SIR, TO MY WIFE COREY, AND MY FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FAITHFUL FRIEND AND SUPPORTER FOR ALL THESE YEARS. TO ALL OF YOU WHO VOTED, AND TO ALL OF YOU WHO VOTED FOR ME, THANK YOU. AS YOUR
[00:55:20]
COUNCILMAN OF PLACE FOR HERE IN OUR CITY OF DESOTO, THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME.YOU CAN EXPECT ME TO BRING TO THIS ALREADY FINE COUNCIL OF MEN AND WOMEN, A VOICE THAT REPRESENTS YOUR INTEREST, A VOICE THAT SUPPORTS THE STRATEGIC PLAN ALREADY ADDRESSED BY MAYOR PROCTOR. TO BROADEN OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO ADVANCE OUR COMMERCIAL ECONOMICS. A STRATEGIC AND INTENTIONAL PLAN THAT INCREASES PROPERTY VALUE, AS WELL AS OUR MUCH NEEDED RETAIL TAX BASE. WE HAVE DONE WELL AS A BEDROOM COMMUNITY, BUT IT IS NOW TIME TO FURTHER DISTINGUISH OURSELVES, AS HAVE OTHER CITIES AROUND US, BY BECOMING A CITY KNOWN FOR ITS FUTURISTIC, SMART AND INCLUSIVE BUSINESS PLANNING, A PLACE FOR FAMILY, A PLACE FOR FUN, YES, BUT ALSO A PLACE FOR SMART FINANCING. THIS WILL TAKE PLACE BY HAVING DELIBERATE, WELL-PLANNED ZONING. BUSINESSES WILL HAVE A PLACE. BEDROOMS WILL HAVE A PLACE, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WILL HAVE A PLACE, AND COMMON INTERESTS FLOURISH WHEN THEY CAN HAVE A SPACE. OUR MAYOR AND CURRENT COUNCIL HAVE PUT US ON THE BRINK OF A BEAUTIFUL FUTURE. I WILL JOIN THAT EFFORT FOR YOU, MY FAMILY, AND CONTINUE TO BIRTH THE PLACE NOT ONLY KNOWN FOR PEACE, BUT ALSO KNOWN FOR PROSPERITY, KNOWN FOR PROGRESS AND PROGRESS JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN. IT MUST BE PLANNED. A PLACE FOR AS PLACE IN PLACE FOR MEMBERS AND CITIZENS. AS YOU SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS FOR THE PROGRESS WITH ME, I WILL SHARE THEM WITH COUNCIL AND CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS CITY OUR CITY OF DESOTO, ONE OF THE FINEST AND STRONGEST CITIES HERE IN TEXAS.
MINE IS TO BE A BRIDGE BUILDER, ONE WHO BREACHES GAPS, ONE WHO TIES US ALL TOGETHER, PROGRESSING TO A VERY POSITIVE DISTINCTION AND DESTINATION CALLED THE GREAT CITY OF DESOTO.
MINE IS TO BRING US ALL TOGETHER LIKE FINGERS ON A HAND, BECAUSE WE ARE ALL STRONGER WHEN WE'RE ONE. LET US GET THIS. LET'S GET THIS DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FAMILIES, AND FOR OUR FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SERVE YOU AS YOUR PLACE FOR COUNCILMAN. I'M BRIAN WESLEY. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMAN WESLEY, YOU CAN COME TAKE YOUR SEAT ON THE DAIS.
I HAD ANOTHER BROTHER. WELL, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS TONIGHT, SO WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TO DO ON THE DAIS. UNLESS YOU WANT TO GIVE US A MOTION TO ADJOURN SO WE CAN CELEBRATE. SO MOVE. SO. OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMAN WESLEY, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES TO ADJOURN COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. IT IS
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.