Jun 15, 2026 City Council Special Meeting

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MONDAY, JUNE 15TH AT 6 P.M. I'M MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR, AND I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE DESOTO CITY COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CITY SECRETARY TO GIVE US A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR HERE, MAYOR PRO TEM CRYSTAL CHISM HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KEN WATERS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN WESLEY HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA HUGHES. THANK

[2. SAFETY PROTOCOL STATEMENT BY: FIRE CHIEF BRYAN SOUTHARD]

[a. Presentation of the Every Drop Counts Art Contest Winners]

ADRIANA. DRAY. JARRETT.

OH SO SORRY. I THOUGHT IT WAS ON. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL STAFF, PARENTS AND PARTICIPANTS. TONIGHT WE ARE EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE THE TALENTED STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR SECOND ANNUAL EVERY DROP COUNTS WATER CONSERVATION ART CONTEST. WHILE WE HAD A SMALLER NUMBER OF ENTRIES THIS YEAR, THE CREATIVITY, EFFORT AND IMPORTANT MESSAGES ABOUT WATER CONSERVATION WERE TRULY IMPRESSIVE. THROUGH THEIR ARTWORK, THESE STUDENTS REMINDED US THAT PROTECTING OUR WATER RESOURCES STARTS WITH A SIMPLE ACTIONS AT HOME AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEIR DRAWINGS WILL NOT ONLY BE FEATURED IN OUR 2027 EVERY DROP COUNTS CALENDAR, BUT WILL ALSO HELP EDUCATE AND INSPIRE OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO JOURNEY. WILSON JOURNEYS ARTWORK STOOD OUT FOR ITS CREATIVITY, MESSAGE AND OVERALL DESIGN. AS A RESULT, HER ARTWORK WAS SELECTED TO BE FEATURED ON THIS YEAR'S OFFICIAL. EVERY DROP COUNTS T-SHIRT AND WILL RECEIVE SPECIAL PLACEMENT IN OUR 2027 CALENDAR. CONGRATULATIONS JOURNEY ON THIS WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION! EACH PARTICIPANT WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION, A COPY OF THE 2027. EVERY DROP COUNTS CALENDAR FEATURING THEIR ARTWORK IN AN EVERY DROP COUNTS T-SHIRT. A VISA GIFT CARD ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, AND A ONE DAY PASS TO ENJOY THE AQUATIC SIDE OF THE ART FOR THEMSELVES AND A PARENT. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO DOCTOR MARQUIS BUFORD, INTERIM PARKS DIRECTOR, FOR GENEROUSLY DONATING THE AQUATIC ONE DAY PASSES AND HELPING US CELEBRATE THESE OUTSTANDING STUDENTS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KEN WATERS FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS. COUNCILMEMBER WATERS, I'M GOING TO INVITE YOU DOWN TO HELP US HAND OUT CERTIFICATES MOMENTARILY. WE FIGURED IF YOU'RE GOING TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM, WE MIGHT AS WELL PUT YOU TO WORK TOO. THANK YOU ALL TO OUR PARTICIPANTS AND FAMILIES FOR HELPING US SPREAD THE MESSAGE THAT EVERY DROP TRULY COUNTS. AND NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES, BRANDON LACY. THANK YOU, MISS JARRETT. ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR STUDENT PARTICIPANTS AND THANK THEIR FAMILIES FOR SUPPORTING THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS YEAR'S CONTEST. WATER CONSERVATION IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE ALSO SHARE AS A COMMUNITY, AND IT REALLY DOES TAKE ALL OF US. THE ARTWORK WE ARE RECOGNIZING TONIGHT HELPS COMMUNICATE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE. OUR WATER RESOURCES ARE VALUABLE, AND EVEN SMALL CONSERVATION EFFORTS CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF DOING THIS CONTEST, AND IT'S BEEN EXCITING TO SEE OUR YOUNG RESIDENTS USE THEIR CREATIVITY TO PERFORM, TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE WATER USE. YOUR ARTWORK WILL HELP EDUCATE RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR THROUGH THE EVERY DROP COUNTS 2027 CALENDAR. ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE TO THAT THERE'S STILL TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVERY DROP COUNTS CONTEST. PRETTY MUCH. YOU PLEDGE TO CONSERVE WATER DURING OUR PEAK SUMMER MONTHS, WHICH ARE CONSIDERED JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST. WE HAVE QR CODES IN THE BACK. IF YOU TAKE THE PLEDGE, YOU ENTER INTO A CHANCE TO WIN A. EVERY DROP COUNTS 2027 CALENDAR THAT EXHIBITS ALL OF THE STUDENTS ARTWORK. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS, PARENTS, CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF WHO SUPPORTED THIS PROGRAM. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MISS JARRETT, BECAUSE THIS PROGRAM IS THE RESULT OF A LOT OF HER EFFORTS THAT SHE DOES ON

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WAY. AND EXCUSE ME IF I'M MISPRONOUNCING THIS INCORRECTLY. ORA GRATCH. GRATCH. AND LAST WOULD BE OLIVIA CLARK. OKAY. THANK YOU TO ALL THAT PARTICIPATED. IF WE COULD JUST HAVE THE REST OF THE CONTESTANTS AND BRANDON TO COME BACK UP AND WE WILL TAKE SOME PICTURES. THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING. AND I JUST WANT TO MENTION AS WELL, I'M SORRY THAT THE PICTURES ARE OUT FRONT IN THE ATRIUM DISPLAYED. IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO AND TAKE PICTURES AFTER. TOGETHER. 123. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS JARED. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WATERS. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ALL OF THE THE CONTEST WINNERS. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE OUR CITY SECRETARY GIVE US THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. YES, MAYOR. JUST AS A NOTICE BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM NUMBER FOUR A AND FOUR B HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THE AGENDA FOR TOMORROW. AND THAT'S THE DISCUSSION OF THE EXPLORATION OF DARK MICRO TRANSPORTATION IN DE SOTO. THAT'S FOR A. AND THE DISCUSSION OF THE POTENTIAL ZONING CREATION FOR COMMERCIAL

[b. Presentation of a Mayoral Commendation to Pastor Nathaniel L. Green, Sr., Ms. Asani Lewis, Mr. Oscar Sanchez, and Ms. Kea Thomas ]

GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I WAIT, AM I ON THE RIGHT CITY TONIGHT? GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. THAT'S MUCH BETTER TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF PRESENTING THIS MAYORAL COMMENDATION. AND I DO SEE DOCTOR TAYLOR AND HER HUSBAND IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US TONIGHT.

AND I'M GOING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF READING. AND THEN I'M GOING TO ASK OUR INDIVIDUALS TO COME UP TO THE FRONT FOR RECOGNITION. ONE OF THE GREATEST PRIVILEGES OF SERVING AS MAYOR IS RECOGNIZING INDIVIDUALS WHOSE ACTIONS EXEMPLIFY THE VALUES OF COMPASSION, SERVICE, COURAGE, AND COMMUNITY. AND SO TONIGHT, THE CITY OF DE SOTO IS PROUD TO HONOR FOUR REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS. INDIVIDUALS WHOSE SELFLESS ACTIONS MADE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS DURING A CRITICAL MOMENT OF NEED ON

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WITHOUT HESITATION, HE RUSHED TO ASSIST AND PROVIDING COMFORT, REASSURANCE AND CRITICAL SUPPORT UNTIL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ARRIVED. ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT KNOW MR. TAYLOR, HE ACTED WITHOUT HESITATION, DEMONSTRATING EXCEPTIONAL COMPASSION, COURAGE AND SERVANT LEADERSHIP. PASTOR GREEN, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE RESIDENTS OF DE SOTO, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPASSION, YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING OTHERS.

WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MISS LEWIS, MISS KIA THOMAS AND MR. OSCAR SANCHEZ OF FROST BANK OF DUNCANVILLE BRANCH. THEIR SWIFT RESPONSE IN CONTACTING EMERGENCY SERVICES, ASSISTING DURING THE EMERGENCY AND SUPPORTING THE TAYLOR FAMILY AFTERWARD EXEMPLIFIED PROFESSIONALISM, KINDNESS AND GENUINE CARE FOR OTHERS. TOGETHER, THESE INDIVIDUALS DEMONSTRATED THE VERY BEST OF COMMUNITY SERVICE. THEIR ACTIONS REMIND US THAT COMPASSION, EMPATHY AND A WILLINGNESS TO HELP CAN HAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS. SO, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS OF DESOTO, IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT THESE MAYORAL COMMENDATIONS TO PASTOR NATHANIEL L GREEN, SENIOR MISS LEWIS, MISS KIA THOMAS AND MR. OSCAR SANCHEZ. IF YOU ALL COULD PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT. THANK YOU. AND PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING AND THANKING THEM FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO OTHERS. AND I'M GOING TO READ. YOU CAN COME OVER HERE. PASTOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU. AS ALWAYS, I'M GOING TO READ THE COMMENDATION FOR YOUR HEARING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF DE SOTO. I'M HONORED TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY COMPASSION, PROFESSIONALISM AND QUICK RESPONSE IN ASSISTING MR. REGINALD TAYLOR DURING A CRITICAL MEDICAL EMERGENCY ON MARCH 31ST, 2025. YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTIONS IN HELPING ENSURE MR. TAYLOR RECEIVED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL CARE, AWARENESS AND A COMMITMENT TO SERVING OTHERS DURING A MOMENT OF GREAT NEED. YOUR RESPONSE REFLECTED THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPASSION AND THE IMPACT OF ONE'S ONE PERSON'S ACTIONS CAN HAVE ON ANOTHER PERSON'S LIFE. THE CITY OF DE SOTO PROUDLY RECOGNIZES AND COMMENDS YOU FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ASSIST A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY. YOUR ACTIONS EXEMPLIFY THE VALUES OF SERVICE, COMPASSION, AND HUMANITY THAT MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE. SO, ON BEHALF OF THE DE SOTO CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 15TH, 2026, SIGNED MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR, WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO. AND I DO SEE MR. TAYLOR, IF YOU WOULD YOU HOLD ON, PASTOR GREEN, WE GOT TO GET A PHOTO, DO SOME OF THE OFFICIAL THINGS. MR. TAYLOR IS HERE, AND I BELIEVE HE HAS A BIRTHDAY TOMORROW. YES. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET. I JUST NEED TO CUT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF DE SOTO, AND I LIKE TO THANK FOR HONORING THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HELPED ME IN MY GREATEST TIME OF NEED. WITH ACCIDENTAL FALL, THEIR SWIFT ACTIONS POSSIBLY SAVED MY LIFE AND I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL UNTO THEM. AND. AND I THANK EVERYONE FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE FOR ME. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. TAYLOR. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME PHOTOS. JUST A.

IN THE MAYOR IS IS RIGHT THERE I SEE THAT. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW? COUNCIL MEMBER HUGHES I SEE YOUR HAND UP. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY RIGHT NOW? YES.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO SAY GOOD EVENING. AND THANK YOU TO DOCTOR TAYLOR FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. AND THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, FOR HONORING THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO

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[c. Presentation of the Best Southwest Scholarship]

THANK YOU. DIDN'T REALIZE I'D BE BACK SO SOON. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO ASK IF ZACHARY CARROLL, IF HE'S HERE TO COME TO THE FRONT. THERE YOU ARE. AND AS HE'S COMING, I'M GOING TO READ JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR BEST SOUTHWEST SCHOLAR RECIPIENT THIS YEAR, BECAUSE IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO INTRODUCE A YOUNG MAN WHOSE STORY IS GROUNDED IN RESILIENCE, PURPOSE, AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO HELPING OTHERS. ZACHARY HUDSON JOVON CARROLL, A STUDENT AT CEDAR HILLS HIGH SCHOOL'S EARLY COLLEGE ACADEMY, HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF THROUGH BOTH ACADEMIC RIGOR AND PERSONAL DETERMINATION, EARNING HIS ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WHILE COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL, ALL WHILE RANKING IN THE TOP 10% OF HIS CLASS. I THINK THAT DESERVES A HAND CLAP. BUT WHAT MAKES ZACHARY'S JOURNEY ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL IS THE HEART BEHIND HIS GOALS. AT A YOUNG AGE, HE EXPERIENCED MOMENTS THAT WOULD SHAPE HIS FUTURE, WALKING HAND IN HAND WITH HIS GRANDFATHER AND LATER WITNESSING THE LOSS OF HIS MOBILITY COMBINED WITH HIS OWN CHALLENGES AS A STUDENT ATHLETE FACING INJURY. THESE EXPERIENCES SPARKED A DEEP CURIOSITY ABOUT HOW THE BODY HEALS AND A DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS REGAIN NOT JUST MOVEMENT, BUT HOPE. ZACHARY IS A LEADER WHO LEADS WITH PURPOSE AS VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY TEAM CAPTAIN, HE HELPED GUIDE HIS TEAM TO A REGIONAL COMPETITION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 16 YEARS AS SYMBOLS SECTION LEADER IN A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MARCHING BAND, HE DEMONSTRATED THAT LEADERSHIP BEGINS WITH LISTENING, DISCIPLINE AND LIFTING OTHERS TO SUCCEED. HIS IMPACT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND SCHOOL, WITH NEARLY 300 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, ZACHARY HAS DEDICATED HIMSELF TO MENTORING YOUTH, SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN NEED AND SERVING HIS COMMUNITY WITH COMPASSION AND HUMILITY, CARRYING FORWARD A LEGACY OF SERVICE INSPIRED BY HIS GRANDFATHER. THIS FALL, ZACHARY WILL ATTEND TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE WILL MAJOR IN KINESIOLOGY AS HE BEGINS HIS JOURNEY TOWARDS BECOMING A PHYSICAL THERAPIST, HIS MISSION IS CLEAR TO HELP INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME PHYSICAL SETBACKS, RESTORE CONFIDENCE, AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, ONE STEP AT A TIME. ZACHARY REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST OF THIS SCHOLARSHIP, RESILIENCE, LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, AND HEART. PLEASE JOIN ME IN PROUDLY CONGRATULATING THE BEST SOUTHWEST PARTNERSHIP MAYORAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT, ZACHARY HUDSON JOVON CARROLL. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR HIM. OH, YES. I BELIEVE MOM AND DAD ARE HERE.

WE WANT TO INVITE YOU UP AS WELL.

GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY PARENTS, MY COMMUNITY. I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES EXPERIENCES I HAVE, AND I'M VERY BLESSED TO

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[d. Presentation of Financial Report May 2026]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. OKAY, TAKING A LOOK AT OUR MAY 2026 FINANCIAL REPORT.

BEGINNING WITH THE GENERAL FUND, WE HAVE ALL OF OUR REVENUE SOURCES LISTED HERE ON THE LEFT SIDE WITH OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET, OUR REVISED BUDGET, OUR YEAR TO DATE ACTUALS, OUR ACTUAL PERCENTAGE FOR THE END OF MAY WAS 83.7%. AND WE'RE TRACKING VERY NICELY AGAINST THIS TIME LAST YEAR, IT WAS 84.5%. THE DIFFERENT SOURCES ARE LISTED HERE. OUR SALES TAX IS TRACKING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND, BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT IT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE WERE AS WELL. WE WERE AT 49.8%. SO WE DO BELIEVE THAT AFTER THE SUMMER MONTHS, THOSE DO KIND OF CATCH UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE'RE TRACKING WELL WITH REVENUE SO FAR ON OUR EXPENDITURES LISTED HERE BY DEPARTMENT. EACH DEPARTMENT IS TRACKING ALONG VERY WELL, AS WELL AS 60.9%, COMPARED TO 61.5% LAST YEAR. IN OUR PUBLIC UTILITY FUND, WE ARE AT 53.0% ON OUR YEAR TO DATE PERCENTAGE OF OUR REVENUE. OUR VARIOUS REVENUE SOURCES BY CATEGORY ARE LISTED HERE, OUR METERED WATER AND OUR METERED. OUR SEWER SALES ARE OUR TOP REVENUE SOURCES THERE. WE ARE LOOKING TO BE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DID CHANGE OF SOFTWARES THAT WE'RE GOING KIND OF GOING THROUGH THAT CHANGE WITH OUR ERP. SO WE HAVE RECEIVED 1 OR 1 COMPLETE BILLING CYCLE THAT HAS NOT POSTED YET. SO WE HAVE RECEIVED THOSE PAYMENTS. WE HAVE THE CASH, BUT WE HAVE TO GET THEM TO POST ON THE BACK END. SO WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT.

ONCE THAT UPDATES FOR MAY AND JUNE, THEN YOU'LL SEE THAT ON THE NEXT FINANCIAL REPORT. BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT'S ON THE GENERAL LEDGER IS LOOKING AT 53.0%. OUR CORRESPONDING EXPENDITURES IN THE PUBLIC UTILITY FUND ARE LISTED BY CATEGORY AS WELL, AND WE ARE AT 65.5%, JUST A LITTLE BIT BEHIND WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR. THAT'S OKAY, BECAUSE IT'S ON THE EXPENSE SIDE. WE WERE AT 68% THIS TIME LAST YEAR. THE ONLY ONE THAT'S TRACKING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND IN THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE OUR NON-DEPARTMENTAL. THAT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE ALL OF OUR TRANSFERS TO OTHER FUNDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. SO THEY ARE DONE ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. SO THEY'RE ALREADY ALL OF THOSE CATEGORIES TRANSFERRED TO VEHICLE REPLACEMENT TRANSFER FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. AS FAR AS CAPITAL PROJECTS, THOSE ARE AHEAD ALREADY. SO THAT PUTS US A LITTLE BIT AHEAD IN NON-DEPARTMENTAL IN THE PUBLIC UTILITY FUND FOR SANITATION. IT'S LOOKING REALLY WELL, 61.1% FOR OUR REVENUE AND 53.50 IN MAY. THESE ARE OUR GOLF CLUB FINANCIALS. OUR GOLF CLUB FINANCIALS ARE ALWAYS RUNNING KIND OF ONE MONTH BEHIND THAT WE JUST RECEIVED MAY. SO THOSE WILL BE ON THE NEXT REPORT. OUR APRIL ARE OUR MOST UP TO DATE FINANCIALS THAT WE HAVE FROM THE GOLF CLUB. FOR GORE IS LISTED HERE. THIS IS THE BUDGET FOR THE GOLF CLUB FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR. KEEP IN MIND WE'RE ONLY FOUR MONTHS INTO THE CALENDAR YEAR. THEY'RE ON A DIFFERENT WE'RE ON THE FISCAL YEAR. THEY'RE ON THE CALENDAR YEAR. SO THE 2.9 MILLION PLUS THE 19,200. THAT PUTS US AT A BUDGETED REVENUE OF 2.9 MILLION. IF YOU ADD UP ALL OF THE EXPENSE CATEGORIES, THAT'S 2.936. AND THEN IF YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE MANAGEMENT FEES THAT WE HAVE TO PAY TO THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, THIS COLUMN HERE IS THE BUDGET FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR. WE'RE LOOKING AT $54,911 BY THE END OF THE YEAR IN A SURPLUS. NOW THAT'S THE BUDGET. THE NEXT COLUMN IS THE YEAR TO DATE ACTUAL REPORT. THE ACTUAL REVENUE RECEIVED. YOU WILL SEE THOSE PERCENTAGES LISTED HERE. 29% IN THIS CATEGORY AND 33% IN MISCELLANEOUS INCOME. THOSE

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SO THEY START THEIR FISCAL YEAR JANUARY 1ST, AS OPPOSED TO US STARTING IN OCTOBER. AND SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE MISSING, WE'RE 54 UNDER. AND YOU SAID BACK IN I GUESS LAST MONTH THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME CATCH UP DURING THE SUMMER. YES. IS THERE SOME, SOME, SOME DOCUMENTATION THAT CAN PROVE THAT THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN? YEAH. WELL, YES. I MEAN, WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR FOR SURE. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY.

OKAY. AND THEN IF WE JUMP BACK UP TO THE BUDGET, THERE ARE A COUPLE ITEMS IN THERE WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE THE REVENUE IS A LITTLE SLOW IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS, LIKE THE SANITATION AND THE PUBLIC FUND, THEY'RE JUST ABOUT MAYBE 7% LOWER THAN THEY WERE LAST YEAR. SO IS THERE IS THERE SOMETHING GOING ON WITH SANITATION AND PUBLIC THAT WE'RE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT UNDER WHERE WE WOULD NORMALLY BE THIS YEAR? IT'S ONLY THE BILLING. SO BECAUSE OF THE BILLING, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BILLING, THOSE REVENUES, THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, WE JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN A CHANCE TO WORK THROUGH ALL OF THE POSTING ISSUES YET. SO AS SOME OF THE CUSTOMERS ARE AWARE, THEY'VE BEEN COMING IN HAVING TO KIND OF CIRCUMVENT AND WORK AROUND AS WE IMPLEMENT TYLER MUNI. SO THE CASH HAS DEFINITELY BEEN RECEIVED, AND THE TEAM IS WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY TO GET THOSE POSTED. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT BY THE NEXT SET OF FINANCIALS, YOU'LL SEE IT CATCH UP TWO MONTHS BECAUSE WE HAVE POSTED A FEW OTHER BUILDING BILLINGS. SO JUST FOR THE PURPOSES OF LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW, WE'RE AT 67% RIGHT NOW FOR THE BUDGET, RIGHT? YES. SO THE EXPECTATION IS 67% OF EVERYTHING EXCEPT PUBLIC USE, PUBLIC FUNDS, PUBLIC UTILITY AND SANITATION AROUND THAT. OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU, I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PARKER, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU. MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THORN TREE. AND THE DEFICIT THAT WE UNDERSTAND IS BECAUSE OF THE WINTER MONTHS GOING INTO THE SUMMER, THAT 54,000, THAT SHOWS TO BE NEGATIVE. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY IS CURRENTLY HAVING TO PAY. CORRECT? NO, NO. AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN RESERVE, CORRECT? CORRECT. YES. AND WE ARE WE'RE YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ONLY JUST FOUR MONTHS INTO THE YEAR. WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT. WE'RE WE'RE SEVEN MONTHS INTO AND OUR FISCAL YEAR. AND SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, THOSE ARE DEFINITELY THE SLOW MONTHS. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR FINANCIALS FROM THIS TIME LAST YEAR, YOU'LL SEE THE SAME TREND. AND THEN ONCE THE SUMMER MONTHS COME, THEN IT'LL EVEN BACK OUT.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S IDEAL TO HAVE A BALANCED CONVERSATION WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THORN TREE. SURE. MY SECOND QUESTION TO YOU IS ACTUALLY FROM THE MAIN. I THINK IT'S THE FIRST PAGE AND IT'S THE EXPENDITURES RELATED TO INTER-DEPARTMENTAL. I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT THEY ARE TRENDING AT 95% OF THE BUDGET. AND CONSIDERING YOU'RE GOING TO COME BEFORE US A COUPLE MORE TIMES, AND IF THE RUN RATE IS WHAT I SEE IT TO BE, WE'RE GOING TO EXCEED THAT PRETTY FAST. DO WE KNOW IF WE

[00:30:02]

[e. Update on the City’s application to the Texas Commission on the Arts Cultural Districts Program]

SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, I DID ASK FOR SPECIAL PERMISSION TO SUBMIT THE RESOLUTION AFTER THE DEADLINE AND THEY APPROVED IT. OKAY. SO TONIGHT, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU JUST AN UPDATE ON THE BOUNDARY PROPOSED. AS YOU CAN SEE, MOST OF IT IS ALONG THE HAMPTON ROAD AREA BETWEEN PLEASANT RUN AND AND BELTLINE. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OVER TO I EXTENDED IT OVER TO THE DESOTO MARKET. AND THEN WE ALSO INCORPORATED NANCE FARM. WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO THAT AS A AS A SEPARATE, NOT NECESSARILY TIED IN TO THE REST OF THE DISTRICT, BUT STILL RECOGNIZED AS PART OF OUR DISTRICT. AND FOR THIS, WE TRIED. WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WAS CREATE A DISTRICT THAT REFLECTS BOTH OUR EXISTING CULTURAL ASSETS AND THE AREAS WHERE WE SEE FUTURE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. THE DISTRICT CONNECTS SEVERAL KEY COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE TOWN CENTER, HAMPTON ROAD CORRIDOR, THE FUTURE OF VILLAGE GREEN AREA, NANCE FARM AND THE BELTLINE AREA. AND ONE THING I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS THAT THE CULTURAL DISTRICT IS NOT JUST AN ARTS DESIGNATION. THE STATE VIEWS THESE DISTRICTS AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS. THE GOAL IS TO SUPPORT INVESTMENT, ENCOURAGE CREATIVE BUSINESSES, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY IDENTITY, AND CREATE DESTINATIONS THAT ATTRACT BOTH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. SO HERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE WHAT WE HAD TO TURN IN AS FAR AS LIKE, WHAT WAS WHAT ASSETS WERE IN THOSE AREAS. AND THEN AS FAR AS OUR HIGHLIGHTED ASSETS, I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAVE AN ESTABLISHED FOUNDATION WITH OUR DESOTO TEXAS CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION. WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY CULTURAL ARTS MASTER PLAN. WE ARE CURRENTLY ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL PERFORMING ARTS AND VISUAL ARTS PROGRAMS GOING ON, AS WELL AS OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE PROGRAMING. AND, AND I HIGHLIGHTED THE OUR DESOTO ARTIST LAB PROGRAM, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THAT WHEN WE DID OUR RESEARCH, NOT A LOT OF CITIES THAT WERE DESIGNATED ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO WE ARE AHEAD IN THAT AREA. AND THEN ALSO OUR COMMUNITY FESTIVALS AND DESTINATION EVENTS THROUGH OUR LIBRARY AND OUR PARKS. OUR PROPOSED DISTRICT VISION IS TO BE A THRIVING CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT THAT INSPIRES CREATIVITY, CELEBRATES OUR COMMUNITY, AND ENRICHES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN DESOTO. SO THIS VISION IS EVERYTHING YOU'VE SEEN SO FAR.

THE ASSETS, PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND INVESTMENTS REALLY SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS VISION. OUR VISION INCLUDES BOTH SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM GOALS, AND SHORT TERM.

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[00:40:03]

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SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT DISTINCTION. IT STILL COMES BEFORE YOU FOR YOU TO APPROVE THAT. AND ON SPEAKING ON GRANTS. IT'S NOT JUST THE GRANTS. IT'S NOT JUST THE TEXAS CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES, ALSO THE FEDERAL AND, AND MY, IN MY PRIOR EXPERIENCES. ALSO, IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT GRANTS AS WELL, NOT, YOU KNOW, GRANTS, BUT ALSO SOME, YOU KNOW, MONEY GIVEN TO THE CITY TO SUPPORT, TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT WE DO. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT DISTINCTION. IN TERMS OF WHO WOULD THE APPROVING BODY WOULD BE THE CITY COUNCIL IN ANY INSTANCE, WE APPLAUD. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH. YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU, DOCTOR WILLIAMS FOR THE PRESENTATION THIS EVENING. AND MAYOR, I'M SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP TOURISM THAT WOULD BE ATTRACTED TO OUR AREA. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED TO SUPPORT INCREASED VISITORS. WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT FAR YET. OKAY. YES, BUT I HAVE IDEAS. WONDERFUL. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THEM. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. I SEE NO ADDITIONAL LIGHTS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR WILLIAMS. AND WE LOOK

[c. Discussion on Opportunity Zones]

HAPPY MONDAY AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RUNOFF WIN AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. SO WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION. HOPEFULLY I'LL. CAN YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME? JOSH.

JOSH MCGEE. SORRY, MAYOR. IT LOOKS LIKE WE. NO WORRIES. YEAH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT. WE CAN WE CAN MOVE TO THE SECOND SLIDE. YEAH. SO HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, WE HAD THIS PRESENTATION. OUR LAST DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MEETING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OPPORTUNITY ZONES. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR, OPPORTUNITY ZONES IS A PROGRAM THAT WAS ENACTED BY FEDERAL LEGISLATION WITH THE INTENT TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT TO SOME LOW INCOME, DISTRESSED CENSUS TRACTS THROUGHOUT THE US. THE WAY IT WAS PREVIOUSLY ENACTED.

IT WAS ALL BASED OFF RECOMMENDATION, WHETHER IT WAS A CITY GOVERNMENT OR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THEY WOULD SUBMIT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WOULD ESSENTIALLY REVIEW THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN PASS THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS OVER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR CONSIDERATION. APPROVAL THIS TIME AROUND WITH LEGISLATION THAT WAS JUST PASSED IN 2025, WE'RE ASKED TO DO THE SAME EXERCISE AGAIN. HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS. THERE'S STILL ALWAYS GOING TO BE A CHANCE THAT THESE CENSUS TRACKS ARE NOT GOING TO BE APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT AS PART OF THIS EXERCISE AND AS PART OF BEING PROACTIVE AS A COMMUNITY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SUBMIT WHAT WE HAVE, WHAT IS ELIGIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE CONSIDERED IN HOPES TO HAVE JUST ANOTHER TOOL IN YOUR TOOLBOX. WHEN YOU'RE ATTRACTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS TO YOUR COMMUNITY. AS OF 2020. OH, SORRY. IN THE PAST IN THE CITY OF DE SOTO, WE ACTUALLY HAD ONE TRACT THAT WAS SUBMITTED THAT IS CENSUS TRACT.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT HIDDEN ON HERE, BUT IT IS CENSUS TRACT 166.19. AND THIS MAY LOOK FAMILIAR TO YOU ALL. IT'S ONE CONTIGUOUS TWO TRACKS AT THE TIME THAT RUN ON EAST PLEASANT,

[00:50:02]

AND WE DO HAVE SOME ACTIVE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE THERE. SO IF THIS WERE TO HYPOTHETICALLY GET APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEN THE INVESTMENT THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE ON THAT CENSUS TRACT WOULD QUALIFY FOR SOME CAPITAL GAINS TAX BREAKS, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE BENEFIT IS. THE OTHER NEW CENSUS TRACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECOMMEND IS 166.35, AND MANY OF YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THIS AS A CENSUS TRACT WHERE WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN THE AREA, WHICH IS OUR METHODIST HOSPITAL AS WELL. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO HAVE SOME GREENFIELD SITES, UNDEVELOPED LAND SOUTH OF THE HOSPITAL THAT WE HAVE ALSO INCLUDED AND HAVE REFERENCED IN SOME OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE JOB CREATION. SO THESE TWO REQUIREMENTS ARE MET. IN ADDITION TO THAT, CENSUS TRACT 166.35 IS ACTUALLY ONE THAT SHOWS, BASED ON DATA THAT IS THE MOST DISTRESSED OUT OF THE OTHER THREE. AND SO THAT ALSO MEETS ANOTHER CHECK BOX IN THE REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SET FORTH BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

NOW, SOME OF YOU MAY BE QUESTIONING, WELL, WHY DON'T WE HAVE OTHER CENSUS TRACKS TO SUBMIT? THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ACTUALLY MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR US TO GO THROUGH THIS EXERCISE, MEANING THAT ALL OF THE CENSUS TRACTS THAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE ARE ACTUALLY CENSUS TRACTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN BACKED AND VERIFIED THROUGH THE DATA THAT US CENSUS CONDUCTS AND PRODUCES, AND THEY PROVIDE US A LIST OF ELIGIBLE CENSUS TRACTS BASED ON COMMUNITIES. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS JUST GO IN THERE AND SELECT WHAT HAS TO BE RECOMMENDED FOR THIS NEW PROGRAM. THE OTHER QUESTION THAT THAT YOU MAY BE THINKING IS, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ELIGIBLE TRACTS WITHIN OUR CITY THAT WE CAN CONSIDER? AND THE ANSWER IS NO. WE JUST HAVE THREE ELIGIBLE CENSUS TRACTS. AND BASED ON OUR COMMUNITY OF OUR SIZE AND BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CENSUS TRACTS THAT WE DO HAVE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM, WE ACTUALLY QUALIFY TO SUBMIT ALL THREE OF THEM OR GO IN 100%. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE CENSUS TRACTS WILL BE APPROVED FOR THIS PROGRAM. IT JUST MEANS THAT OUR RECOMMENDATION PASSES THROUGH THE GOVERNOR REVIEWS. IF HE BELIEVES THAT THESE CENSUS TRACTS SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED, THEY'LL GO AHEAD AND RECOMMEND TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, SEE SOME RESULTS OF WHAT THOSE NEW CENSUS TRACTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY ZONE 2.0 WILL, IN FACT, BE OR NOT. SO ON THE ON THE DECK THAT WAS PROVIDED, YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED INFORMATION. YOU'LL SEE SOME RECOGNIZABLE BRANDS AND COMPANY LOGOS ON THERE OF WHO'S WHERE OR WHO'S WHAT AND WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED WITHIN THOSE CENSUS TRACTS. ALL THIS DATA THAT YOU SEE ON HERE IS DATA THAT IS OBTAINED FROM THE US CENSUS BUREAU. YOU'LL SEE THIS ONE RIGHT HERE THAT IS ALSO NEIGHBORING. WE ARE ACTUALLY LOCATED ON THIS CORNER OF THE CENSUS TRACT. AND WE ALSO SEE THAT ON THE EAST SIDE OF NORTHAMPTON ROAD, WE SEE A LOT OF THE PLANT. WE SEE A LOT OF THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL BUSINESSES AS WELL THAT COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY ZONE 2.0, IF IT WERE TO BE, IN FACT, RENEWED FOR THIS UPCOMING PROGRAM. AND THIS IS THE NEW CENSUS TRACT 166.35 THAT I REFERENCED BEFORE. WE SEE METHODIST HOSPITAL RIGHT HERE AT THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE CENSUS TRACT. AND WE ALSO SEE SOME OF THIS UNDEVELOPED LAND THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY REFERENCED. AND WE SEE SOME LARGE EMPLOYERS

[00:55:02]

COUNCILWOMAN HUGHES. THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO HAVE ACTIVE PROJECTS IS SIMPLY A RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. IT ONLY FORTIFIES THE THE SELECTION CRITERIA EVALUATION THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AT LEAST AT HIS LEVEL. SO IF IF THE QUESTION IS RELATED TO WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN STILL MAKE MENTION OR REFERENCE PROJECTS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY STILL BE TAKING PLACE IN THESE TRACKS, THE ANSWER IS WE'LL TAKE THEM AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND INCLUDE THEM ON OUR APPLICATION PACKAGE AND NARRATIVE. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IF A PROJECT DOESN'T GET REFERENCED, THEY WILL NOT TAKE BENEFIT OF THIS PROGRAM. IF THEY WERE IN FACT GET APPROVAL BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE OPPORTUNITY ZONE BENEFITS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU. MAYOR, CAN I CAN I ADD AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY CLEVER QUESTION. AND LET ME TELL YOU, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THE STATE REALLY FOCUSES ON. AND I THINK RATHER THAN SAYING A PROJECT, MAYBE A TARGETED INDUSTRY WHERE WE SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS CENSUS TRACK CAN SUPPORT BIOMEDICAL OR CAN SUPPORT LIGHT INDUSTRIAL OR MORE TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN INDUSTRIES. I THINK THAT CAN THAT CAN HELP CERTAINLY OUR CAUSE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND SAYING, LOOK, THEY'RE ON THE SAME TRACK AS THE STATE, AND I WANT TO SUPPORT THEM WITH IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE CAN SAY THERE IS SPECIFIC AREAS IN THERE THAT COULD REALLY BENEFIT NOT ONLY FROM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BASE, BUT ALSO FROM CREATING JOBS IN THOSE CENSUS TRACKS. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, MR. GODFREY. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU. AND I THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, FOR ELABORATING ON THAT. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OPPORTUNITY ZONES, WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE TAX BREAKS FOR INVESTORS, RIGHT? BUT OFTENTIMES WHEN PEOPLE ASSOCIATE OPPORTUNITY ZONES, THEY STRUGGLE WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S LIKE YOU'RE GIVING A DISCOUNT TO SOMEONE INVESTING, BUT THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY INVESTING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. SO WHEN MR. GODFREY TALKS ABOUT A TIE IN TO HIRING AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES, BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT THOSE AREAS AND I SEE WHERE YOU'RE SAYING, I'M VERY CERTAIN THAT PROBABLY THEY COULD WE COULD ADD MORE OF A COMMUNITY BENEFIT TO THAN JUST SAYING FOR PROJECTS, BECAUSE MY NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE, WHAT PROJECTS DO YOU HAVE COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE THAT YOU FORESEE? BUT YOU SAID IT AMBIGUOUS, SO I IMAGINE YOU'RE NOT QUITE READY TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION YET. I ALSO LIKE IN THE PRESENTATION THAT WE TAKE A LITTLE OWNERSHIP RIGHT ABOUT THE PAST OPPORTUNITY ZONE, BUT I'M ALSO WANTING TO KNOW THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF LIKE TRANSPARENCY TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY ZONE, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH IT, WHAT, WHAT TO THIS TO CITY MANAGER'S POINT. INSTEAD OF SAYING PROJECTS, WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING AFTER WHEN IF WE'RE GOING TO GIVE SOMEONE A DISCOUNT FOR

[01:00:02]

WELL, AS MUCH AS AS MUCH AS WE WISH, WE CAN COME HERE WITH HUNDREDS OF PROJECTS WE'VE JUST STARTED FOR THE PAST 30 DAYS. BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED AND ENTHUSED TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. AND AND I THINK IT'S A IT'S A GREAT COMMENT. IT'S IT'S A GREAT SERIES OF QUESTIONS AS WELL, COUNCILWOMAN. AND IT'S ACTUALLY PART OF THE DIALOG THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL REGARDING HOW DO WE MAKE THIS PROGRAM BETTER? I'VE SEEN OPPORTUNITY ZONE PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY, AND IT SEEMED TO ME, AT LEAST IN THE PERSONAL NOTE, THAT THE PROGRAM WAS ONLY MADE AWARE TO A SELECT FEW, RIGHT? IT'S TYPICALLY PEOPLE WITH WITH DOLLARS THAT THEY'RE READY TO DEPLOY. SO MUCH SO THAT WE'VE ALSO SEEN A PATTERN WHERE YOU GET A COLLECTIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH INVESTMENT DOLLARS, AND THEY CREATE A FUND, AND THEN THEY GO OUT SEARCHING FOR THESE OPPORTUNITY ZONES, AND THEY'RE KIND OF HUSH HUSH ABOUT THE BENEFITS BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY WITH THE WITH THE FIRST VERSION OF THIS PROGRAM, THERE WAS NO REQUIREMENT TO REALLY DISCLOSE WHETHER OR NOT THE BENEFITS WERE BEING PERMEATED THROUGH THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY, AS YOU MENTIONED. RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED, HENCE WHY PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS WITH THIS NEW PROGRAM ITERATION IS THAT THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND INVESTOR ONE, THEY HAVE TO HOLD THEIR INVESTMENT FOR AT LEAST 5 TO 10 YEARS TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE FULL BENEFIT OF THIS FEDERAL TAX CREDIT. AND THEN SECOND, THEY HAVE TO BE A WHOLE LOT MORE TRANSPARENT WITH THE WAY THAT THEY ARE REPORTING THEIR THEIR JOB CREATION OPPORTUNITIES, RIGHT THROUGH THESE INVESTMENTS. AND SO PART OF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE FOR INVESTMENT TAKING PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SECOND, WE ALSO HAVE A BRAND NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE TERMS THAT PERHAPS REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP ON BEHALF OF THESE CORPORATE CITIZENS THAT ARE MAKING INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I'M SURE OUR DIRECTOR CAN ADD A COUPLE MORE COMMENTS REGARDING TO THAT. THE OTHER THING THAT I AND I'M HOPING TO ANSWER EVERY SINGLE QUESTION AND ADDRESS EVERY COMMENT THAT THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED. SO FORGIVE ME IF I FORGET SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY. BUT ANOTHER THING THAT I, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, TO DISCLOSE IS THAT THE SAME OBSERVATION ABOUT CRICKETS WITH OPPORTUNITY ZONES, THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN A NORM FOR THIS FIRST PROGRAM THAT THAT CAME OUT A WHILE BACK. A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS JUST DID NOT KNOW. AS A MATTER OF FACT, A LOT OF OUR PEERS IN THE FIELD DID NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT THE FIRST TIME IT CAME AROUND. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE MAP WAS RELEASED AND THERE WAS CENSUS TRACKS THAT WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS CAPITAL GAINS TAX BENEFIT, AND THEY JUST KIND OF ROLLED WITH IT, RIGHT. AND THEY STARTED TO INCLUDE SOME OF THAT LANGUAGE IN THEIR ADVERTISEMENT AND PROMOTION TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT. LIKE, HEY, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY ZONES IN OUR BACKYARD, COME AND INVEST IN SOME OF THESE AREAS. RIGHT. AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE SPIRIT OF THIS EXERCISE TO BE REALLY AHEAD OF IT AND BEFORE WE SUBMIT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, IS TO WORK ALONGSIDE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO WORK ON ALONGSIDE OUR TEAM AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS, AND TO REALLY BE PROACTIVE SO THAT IF WE DO GET THESE TRACKS RENEWED AND APPROVED, IT'LL BECOME A STRONGER NARRATIVE ON HOW WE ATTRACT INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR THE OUTSIDE FOLKS, BUT ALSO FOR THE LOCAL FOLKS, RIGHT? SOMEBODY THAT'S WILLING TO DEVELOP A SIMPLE 8 TO 10 UNIT APARTMENT IN OUR BACKYARD, AT LEAST THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE BENEFIT OF THIS OPPORTUNITY ZONE, THAT THEY ARE CREATING JOBS, THAT THE IMPACT IS FELT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT WE CELEBRATE THAT AS A WIN AS WELL, RIGHT? FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S MAKING THAT INVESTMENT IN THE CITY OF DESOTO. BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF STUFF THAT I'M THAT I AND MY COLLEAGUE AS WELL, GUS GARCIA, DIRECTOR, THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT TO BE ABLE TO WORK COLLECTIVELY AND REALLY JUST BE PROACTIVE, HAVE THIS OTHER ASSET IN OUR TOOLKIT AND JUST HIT HOME RUNS ALONGSIDE YOU ALL. SO HOPEFULLY I WAS ABLE TO ADDRESS ALL THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCILMAN WATERS.

[01:05:04]

THANK YOU, MR. JEFFREY, FOR FOR YOUR COMMENTS, I'LL USE A TERM THAT MR. GHAFFARY MENTIONED EARLIER ON A SEPARATE ITEM. THINK OF IT AS AN OVERLAY, RIGHT. IT'S ANOTHER OVERLAY OVER THE POLICIES AND STRATEGIC ENVISIONING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONDUCT AND FORMALIZE AS PART OF THIS GOVERNING BOARD, AS PART OF THE STAFF. SO TO ALSO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICALLY, COUNCIL MEMBER WATERS, THERE HAS BEEN TALKS ABOUT RESTRICTING WHAT LEGISLATORS ARE CALLING ULTRA LUXURY DEVELOPMENTS ON THESE ZONES, BECAUSE WE USED TO HAVE A PATTERN OF THESE FIVE STAR HOTELS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WORKED IN IN NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM ONE THAT WAS BEING BUILT IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH WAS THE THOMPSON HOTEL. IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT HOTEL ASSET ON THE RIVERWALK THAT WAS IN.

THAT WAS ALSO ANOTHER PROJECT THAT TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE TRACKS. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED. BUT AGAIN, IT'S AN OVERLAY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTROL. ACTUALLY, I WOULD SAY WE HAVE FULL CONTROL TO BE ABLE TO DECIDE HOW WE WANT DEVELOPMENTS TO TAKE PLACE IN THESE AREAS, AS MR. GAFFNEY MENTIONED. OKAY.

AND THE LAST THING TO THAT POINT, THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY I WAS BRINGING THIS UP, IS ONE OF THESE TRACKS INCLUDES PART OF I-35 CORRIDOR, WHICH IS OUR MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. WE DON'T WANT TO BE FORCED TO ONLY DO LOW TIER PROJECTS. I MEAN, THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING THAT. YEAH. SO OKAY, I THINK IT'S IT'S A VALID OBSERVATION. IT'S A VALID QUESTION. IT'S UP TO US AT A LOCAL LEVEL TO REALLY

[01:10:02]

BAPTIZED INTO THE FIRE TODAY FOR 30 DAYS, LESS THAN 30 DAYS, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THAT, COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER NORTH, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. YOU'RE WELCOME. AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY ZONES BECAUSE OF WHAT THE POTENTIAL IT BRINGS TO OUR COMMUNITY. I AM CURIOUS ABOUT ONE OF THE TRACKS. HAS KROGER IN THERE, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. CENSUS TRACT ONE SIX 6.10. OKAY. AS WE ARE LOOKING AT ATTRACTING SMART INVESTORS FOR FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW, HOW WILL THAT ALSO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE? BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT KROGER PARKING LOT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US, TO THE RESIDENTS HOW THAT WILL BE HELPFUL IN TERMS OF AS WE PURSUE AND DEVELOP THESE OPPORTUNITY ZONES AS THEY'RE BEING REVIEWED? IF I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY, COUNCILMEMBER NORTH, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS DO THE OPPORTUNITY ZONES, LET'S SAY SPECIFICALLY THE KROGER SHOPPING CENTER, RIGHT? I'M GIVING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE. YEAH. WITHIN THE WITHIN THE LENS OF AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE, CORRECT? YES. OKAY. SO AGAIN, THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE AT A FEDERAL LEVEL IS ANOTHER OVERLAY THAT PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE ON TOP OF THE MANY INCENTIVES THAT WE CAN DO AT A LOCAL LEVEL. AND SO JUST A HYPOTHETICAL US AS STAFF WITH THE DESOTO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WE CAN ALWAYS GO TO THE OWNER OF THE SHOPPING CENTER AND SAY, RIGHT NOW IS YOUR TIME. WE HAVE A CAPITAL GAINS TAX BREAK THAT YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. WE REQUIRE A CERTAIN TYPE OF INVESTMENT TO BE ABLE TO UPLIFT THE SHOPPING CENTER, PLUS SOME OTHER ASSISTANCE THAT MAY BE THE CITY OR THE DESOTO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CAN PROVIDE. AND IN THEORY, THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH, RIGHT TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR SOMEBODY TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S GO AHEAD AND MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

I'M GOING TO GO AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THESE PROGRAMS AND HOPEFULLY PROVIDE A REVAMPING, REDEVELOPMENT, REVITALIZATION OF A VERY IMPORTANT AREA HERE ON PLEASANT RUN AND I-35. SO THAT THAT THAT WOULD BE A HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO THAT WE CAN TAKE, THAT WE CAN USE AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE COULD TAKE THIS NEW TOOL, IF APPROVED, RIGHT AFTER ALL THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, TO JUST MAKE IT THAT MUCH MORE ENTICING FOR INVESTORS TO INVEST IN THE AREA.

HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER. YES, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER PARKER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

JUSTIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONGRATULATIONS. I DO WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION. TRACK 1661210.

IS THAT THE SAME TRACK THAT HAS THE BIG MAGNESIUM IN IT? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. YEAH. PLEASE SAY THAT. I'M ONLY ASKING. IT'S NOT ALL RIGHT. IT'S NOT. I WAS GOING TO SAY OPEN UP GOOGLE MAPS. BUT NO, I JUST GOT CONFIRMATION THAT IT IS NOT IN THAT TRACT. YEAH. OKAY. YOU KNOW WHAT. GIVE ME A MARKER SO THAT I CAN JUST STRETCH THAT LINED UP NORTH. BUT YEAH, I DID, I DID CHECK THAT CENSUS TRACT. AND LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, WHEN, WHEN I FIRST CAME IN, THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TASKS THAT THAT CAME TO MY DESK AND I THOUGHT, OH MY GOODNESS, I'M GOING TO HAVE A BUNCH OF CENSUS TRACTS TO PICK OUT. AND WE ONLY HAVE THREE. SO OKAY. YOU KNOW, AND SO THE THREE WERE ALREADY BUILT IN. SO THE, THE THREE WERE ALREADY BUILT IN. AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS APPLY TO THE, THE GOVERNANCE. OKAY.

CORRECT. YEAH. IT'S IT'S A VERY SIMPLE EXERCISE BECAUSE THE U.S. CENSUS PROVIDES THESE ELIGIBLE TRACKS FOR US TO PICK. SO JUST FROM A PROXIMITY PERSPECTIVE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITY ZONES, DOES THE PEOPLE IN THE VICINITY OF THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE POSSIBLY GET SOME OF THE SAME INCENTIVES? CAN THEY POSSIBLY, YOU KNOW, GRAB ON TO SOME OF THOSE SAME INCENTIVES SINCE THE ACTUAL OPPORTUNITY ZONE IS SITTING? MAYBE ONE LITTLE TICK FROM THAT SAME SPOT THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. DO THEY GET ANY CAN THEY GET ANY BENEFIT FROM IT? SO

[01:15:04]

ANYBODY THAT'S OFF BY FOOT, UNFORTUNATELY, WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THOSE TAX BENEFITS. OKAY. NOW NEVER SAY NEVER, RIGHT. BECAUSE THERE'S THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS. THERE'S THE CENSUS TRACK ITSELF, AND THEN THERE IS IF, IF THERE IS AN INVESTOR WHO'S WILLING TO, LET'S SAY IN ONE OF THE CORNERS WANT TO INVEST, NOW WE HAVE THE LOCAL CONTROL TO SAY, IF YOU DO X, Y, AND Z, WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO EXTEND BEYOND THAT. THEY MAY NOT GET THEY MAY NOT GET BENEFIT OUT OF THE AREA OUTSIDE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE ENTIRE DEAL, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO DO THAT TO GAIN MORE INCENTIVES FROM BOTH THE CITY AS WELL AS THE TAX BREAKS. OKAY.

THANK YOU, MR. GODFREY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, AS AS I MENTIONED BEFORE IN THE PRESENTATION, PART OF THIS NEW UPDATE MEANT YOU CAN NO LONGER SUBMIT ONE CONTIGUOUS TRACT. YOU HAVE TO BREAK THEM UP INTO.

AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE WE'VE THERE'S BEEN SOME CASES WHERE PROPERTY OWNERS OWN PROPERTY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BOUNDARY. AND SO THROUGH, AGAIN, PEOPLE THAT KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR IT. THEY WOULD PUSH FOR THESE CONTIGUOUS TRACTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO TRY TO RECEIVE THIS BENEFIT FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE PROPERTY. BUT AGAIN, THAT DOESN'T STOP US FROM HELPING OUT SOMEBODY, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S WORTH HELPING. THAT'S GOING TO CREATE JOBS. IT'S GOING TO TILT THE OR NOT TILT, BUT IT'S GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR OUR ECONOMY. WE'LL FIGURE OUT WAYS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR TOOL KIT. AND THE ONLY LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS, IS, IS THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE. DOES IT NEED PEOPLE TO MAKE IT THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE? LIKE YOU HAVE A SPOT WITH ALL THOSE HOUSES THERE. THERE'S A LOT OF HOUSES THERE. YEAH. AND THAT'S WHERE THE INCOME IS COMING FROM. SO THE REASON THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF WINTERGREEN, YOU DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE IS BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE OVER THERE. YOU DON'T HAVE HOUSES, NOT JUST PEOPLE, BUT IT'S ALSO POVERTY LEVELS, INCOME PER CAPITA, YOUR AVERAGE OR MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME, THINGS LIKE THAT IS REALLY WHAT DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A DISTRESSED CENSUS TRACT. SO IF WE GO BACK TO THE TO THE METHODOLOGY THAT WAS USED TO CREATE THIS PROGRAM IN THE FIRST PLACE, IN THEORY, IF YOU INVEST IN THESE DISTRESSED AREAS, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INVESTMENT IS GOING TO MAKE THE ECONOMY GO UP. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE DISPOSABLE INCOME, BUT THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR WITH 1.0. NOT NOT ALL THAT INVESTMENT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, PENETRATE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE STILL SEEING THE SAME TRACKS SOMETIMES AS ELIGIBLE TRACKS FOR THIS 2.0 PROGRAM. AND SO IT IS OUR GOAL THAT IF, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE BENEFIT AND WE'RE BEING PROACTIVE AND WE SUCCESSFULLY GET SOME NEW OPPORTUNITY ZONE TRACKS FOR 2027 AS YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, THAT WE DO OUR VERY BEST TO ENSURE THAT WE DESIGN PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS WHERE INVESTMENTS ARE TRULY MAXIMIZING THEIR IMPACT AND TRULY MOVING THE NEEDLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF DESOTO, WHICH I BELIEVE IS WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS, THIS IS JUST THAT SWEETENER TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT HAPPEN. OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT. SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SWEETEN THAT DEAL, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT MAGNUSSEN IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE ON THAT CORNER. YEAH, IT SURE IS. YEAH I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN WESLEY THAT WAS A GOOD SEGUE INTO MY QUESTION.

GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. YOU AND THE TEAM WITH THIS UPDATED PROGRAM, DO YOU GUYS HAVE EXPERIENCE IN USING THIS TOOL IN YOUR TOOLBOX TO TO CLOSE CLOSE DEALS? WE DO. AND TO BE VERY HONEST WITH, WITH EVERYBODY. AND I WON'T SPEAK ON BEHALF OF, OF OUR DIRECTOR BECAUSE OUR DIRECTOR HAS A DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT LAYERS OF EXPERIENCE. OPPORTUNITY ZONES PREVIOUSLY WERE NOT REALLY THOUGHT OF WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING A DECISION AS TO WHETHER TO INVEST IN A COMMUNITY OR NOT. IT WAS JUST THAT ADDED SWEETENER, RIGHT? IF COINCIDENTALLY, THE PROJECT WAS TAKING PLACE IN THE TRACK, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WOULD MAKE MENTION OF IT. I THINK THINGS ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WAY OUR ECONOMY IS CHANGING, THE WAY OUR INVESTORS ARE THINKING ABOUT HOLDING INVESTMENTS FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT I'M VERY PERSONALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT AS WELL, THAT I'VE ACTUALLY, I CAN SAY I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH, IS CREATING A PROJECT THAT GATHERS, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE LOCAL THAT ARE LOOKING TO START BUSINESSES, SCALE AND GROW. YOU COULD DO THAT IF YOU PROVIDE THEM A SPACE WITHIN AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE. AND THEY, IN

[01:20:04]

AND HAD THESE NUMBERS AS PART OF THE CENSUS TRACT INFORMATION AS WELL. AND THOSE WERE THE ORIGINAL TWO IS OR THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL ONE THAT WAS SUBMITTED TOGETHER. CORRECT. SO I WAS ALWAYS TOLD AND EVEN EVEN DID MY OWN RESEARCH TO LOOK IT UP. AND MAYBE IT WAS A, MAYBE IT WAS ONE FROM WAY BACK IN THE DAY OR WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY STARTED THE PROGRAM. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE OR TWO THAT WE HAD IN DESOTO WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF POLK. SO KIND OF THE AREA THAT IS WHERE BELTLINE AND POLK IS. THERE'S LIKE A FOUR CORNERS, THERE'S A 7-ELEVEN ON ONE CORNER, AND THEN THE OTHER CORNERS ARE RELATIVELY UNDEVELOPED. I THINK MAYBE THERE'S A HOUSE ON THE OTHER ONE THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF CATTY CORNER THAT WAY. AND THEN SOME OF THE AREA THAT TOUCHES WHERE THE MOBILE HOME PARK IS, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE THERE. SO I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE WHERE THEY WERE IN TERMS OF THE ONES THAT WE HAVE NOW. MAYBE THEY WERE, MAYBE THEY ONCE WERE. I'M NOT SURE. HOW FAR BACK DOES THE PROGRAM GO IN TERMS OF, OF, OF THAT, DO YOU KNOW? YEAH. NO, THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THAT QUESTION. SO THESE TRACKS ARE COMING STRAIGHT FROM OUR US CENSUS WEBSITE, RIGHT. YOU CAN SEARCH OPPORTUNITY ZONE TRACKS U.S. CENSUS TO BE ABLE TO FIND THESE. I THINK THE ONES THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING ARE ACTUALLY STATE ENTERPRISE ZONES THAT FOLLOW A SIMILAR CRITERIA. BUT THE MAPS MAY LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. AND I CAN GO HOURS AND HOURS TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. YEAH. AND I AND I'VE SLEPT SINCE THEN, BUT THE ONE, THE WEBSITE THAT I LOOKED AT, IT WAS A STATE WEBSITE. SO THEY WERE ALL OF THE DATA WAS BEING AGGREGATED THROUGH SOME SORT OF A STATE. STATE. YEAH. SO IF IT'S, IT'S LIKELY THAT YOU'RE CORRECT. I JUST THOUGHT THEY WERE THEY'RE NOT OVER HERE. SO I'M ACTUALLY PLEASANTLY SURPRISED. SO CAN WE CAN WE PUT THE THREE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING UP AGAIN. OF COURSE, BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO SEE IF THAT IF THE ONE THAT I'M THINKING IT ENCOMPASSES WINTERGREEN COURT. IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S THE AREA THAT HAS THE HOMES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE. IT'S LIKE A WAREHOUSE OR SOME SORT OF A SOME. IT'S ONE OF THE I DON'T CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME. I JUST REMEMBER THE, THE AREA. BUT IT'S HOMES THAT ARE THERE ON WINTERGREEN COURT. THEN THERE'S A BUSINESS RIGHT THERE ACROSS THE STREET. AND WE HAD TO PUT WALLS THERE FOR THE HOMEOWNERS. I REMEMBER THAT MANY YEARS AGO. SO WE HAVE WINTERGREEN, RIGHT? RIGHT ON THE BOUNDARY OF THESE TWO TRACKS THAT WE WERE ORIGINALLY TALKING ABOUT. MAYOR WINTERGREEN IS IS RIGHT HERE COMING RIGHT OFF OF 35 EXTENDS ALL THE WAY UP HERE. SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE THE TRACK THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING IS IN THIS AREA, BUT THE NEW TRACK THAT YOU ALSO ASKED ABOUT BORDERS, INTERSTATE 20, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS, YOU KNOW, YOUR DALLAS SIDE, BUT THE DESOTO SIDE, YOU DO HAVE EMPLOYERS SUCH AS SERTA PRATT AND PT. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE WHERE YOU MAY HAVE FOUND THIS OTHER. RIGHT. SO NOW THIS PARTICULAR AREA, AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS A PART OF

[01:25:02]

YES. OKAY. THE CENSUS TRACKS. THEY DON'T THEY DON'T SEE CITY LIMITS. SURE. OKAY. BUT I KNOW THIS ONE, THIS PARTICULAR CENSUS TRACK IT. IT IS THIS THE IS THIS THE AREA THAT HAS A LOT OF HIGH CONCENTRATION OF OUR SENIOR APARTMENTS THERE AS WELL? RIGHT. YEAH. THERE'S A GOOD DENSITY OR A DECENT DENSITY OF MULTIFAMILY UNITS HERE AS WELL AS RIGHT HERE. I'M NOT SURE.

YEAH. I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION HERE. YEAH. AND BASED ON CENSUS TRACT DATA, THESE SEEM TO BE IMPOVERISHED AREA, MEANING THAT THEIR PER CAPITA INCOME IS LOWER. THERE'S POVERTY RATES OR SORRY, THE POVERTY RATE IS IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL NORM. AND SO THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY THE MOST DISTRESSED AREA, DESPITE HAVING SOME OF THESE LARGE INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE PAST. AND IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE THE FOLKS THAT WORK THERE DON'T LIVE THERE. SURE. SO YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO, JOSH, WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US ON THIS? IS THIS JUST AN FYI FOR RIGHT NOW? THIS IS JUST AN FYI. IT'S A GOOD EXERCISE. I LOVE ALL THE QUESTIONS. IT'S IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION. BELIEVE ME. THERE'S, THIS IS JUST ONE OUT OF THE MANY PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN UTILIZE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEALS. WE JUST ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD BASED ON THE COMMENTARY AND THE CONSENSUS THAT WE THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND JUST SUBMIT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WAY BEFORE DEADLINE SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY HAVE SOME NEW OPPORTUNITY ZONES, OR AT LEAST HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY ZONES FOR US TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE. KEEP IN MIND, THERE'S ALSO THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE ANY OPPORTUNITY ZONES RENEWED AS WELL. SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES ON 2027. I'M SORRY, MADAM MAYOR. I HAVE A QUICK I HAVE A POINT OF INFORMATION ON THIS. IF IF WE WERE GOING DOWN THIS LINE WITH THESE THREE TRACKS, THAT 116, SIX, THREE, FIVE, I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE US TO GO UP IN THAT AREA. WOULD THAT CHANGE THIS AS A NON OPPORTUNITY ZONE? BECAUSE IT'S COMING WITH HIGHER RENTS AND HIGHER YOU KNOW THINGS HAPPENING IN THAT AREA. YEAH. SO IF THERE'S SOME DEVELOPMENT THAT IS POTENTIALLY COMING TO THAT AREA, THIS WOULD STILL QUALIFY. IF IT GOES THROUGH, THEN WHOEVER WOULD INVEST HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING, WE ALREADY HAVE THIS RIGHT APPROVED. THEN THEY COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE CAPITAL GAINS TAX CREDITS AS WELL. OUTSTANDING. I YIELD BACK SORRY. YEAH NO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. YEAH I WOULD I WOULD SUGGEST SINCE WE'RE GOING TO CONNECT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, I WOULD SUGGEST A LETTER OF SUPPORT SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF SOME OF THE INDUSTRIES THAT WE TARGET, AND WE CAN DEFINITELY PREPARE THAT. I'D LOVE TO INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT IS DEFINITELY SUPPORTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. SO IF IF YOU'RE ASKING US FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I WOULD LOVE TO TO GET A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE MAYOR. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL. I SEE NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. AT THIS TIME. THAT IS THE FINAL ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. SO AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WATERS TO ADJOURN COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 7:28 P.M. W

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.