[00:00:08]
P.M. IT IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH. THE MAYOR, RACHEL PROCTOR, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO OUR SPECIAL MEETING. WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS EVENING. I'M GOING TO ASK IF OUR CITY SECRETARY WILL GIVE US A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HEWES HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM KEN WATERS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER, COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN WESLEY, COUNCIL MEMBER. DEBORAH NORTH HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL CHISHOLM.
THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL NOW HAVE THE SAFETY PROTOCOL STATEMENT BY INTERIM FIRE CHIEF BRIAN WHITAKER. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. PLEASE FOLLOW YOUR OWN PROTOCOLS AND WE'LL GO INTO MORE IN DEPTH DURING THE REGULAR AGENDA. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION FIVE FIVE, 1.0712, TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING DALLAS COUNTY MAGISTRATE REQUIREMENTS AND THE APPLICATION OF SECTION 15.17 OF THE TEXAS CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY SECRETARY. AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, WE WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR WILL WELCOME YOU ALL TO OUR REGULAR MEETING OF THE DE SOTO CITY COUNCIL. IT IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH. IT IS 6 P.M. WE HAD EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS EVENING THAT BEGAN AT 5:05 P.M. AND WE CONVENED OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 5:43 P.M.
AND DO WE HAVE A MOTION? YES WE DO, MAYOR. I MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROCEED WITH DRAFTING A CORRESPONDENCE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY IN RESPONSE TO DALLAS COUNTY REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS AND THE APPLICATION OF SECTION 15.17 OF THE TEXAS CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE IN REGARD TO TRANSPORTATION ON BEHALF OF DALLAS COUNTY. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. NAY. THAT MOTION PASSES SIX ONE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA FOR THE REGULAR SESSION. WE WILL NOW HAVE THE SAFETY PROTOCOL STATEMENT BY INTERIM FIRE CHIEF BRIAN WHITAKER. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE WEATHER. SO IN CASE WE WERE TO HAVE SOMETHING, JUST FOLLOW STAFF TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR ALL OTHER EMERGENCIES, YOU'RE GOING TO EXIT EITHER AT THE DOOR THAT YOU CAME OR THE DOOR TO YOUR LEFT. GO SOMEWHERE, FIND A SAFE SPOT. REMAIN THERE UNTIL THE MARSHAL, POLICE CHIEF, OR MYSELF COME AND GET YOU. WITH THAT, LET'S HAVE A GOOD MEETING. THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE. NEXT, WE'LL HAVE THE INVOCATION BY DENISE VALENTINE, FORMER CITY OF DESOTO MAYOR PRO TEM, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM KEN WATERS OF DESOTO CITY COUNCIL, PLACE THREE. WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE STAND? PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER. OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. WE COME TO YOU IN THE HUMBLEST WAY WE KNOW HOW, THANKING YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE HEALTH AND STRENGTH TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR COMMUNITY'S BUSINESS. LET YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FILL THIS ROOM, LORD. WHILE INFORMATION IS SHARED AND DECISIONS ARE MADE, I ASK SPECIAL BLESSINGS FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR CITY STAFF, AND THE CITIZENS THAT CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNING OF OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE KEEP US SAFE, LORD, AS WE RETURN TO OUR HOMES AND OUR FAMILIES. AMEN. AMEN. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM VALENTINE FOR COMING AND RENDERING THAT BEAUTIFUL PRAYER FOR US. AND THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WATERS FOR LEADING US IN OUR PLEDGES AT THIS TIME. WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL NOW 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
[00:05:04]
CONDOLENCES. INFORMATION ABOUT HOLIDAY SCHEDULES, RECOGNITION OF INDIVIDUALS, REMINDER ABOUT UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL EVENTS, INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS INVOLVING IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH AND SAFETY, AS WELL AS LIAISON UPDATES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CHISHOLM. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, DE SOTO. WELCOME HERE TODAY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT TODAY IS NATIONAL REGISTRATION REGISTER VOTER REGISTRATION DAY. LET ME GET THAT OUT. AND IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILLION TEXANS IN TEXAS. THAT VOTER REGISTRATION WAS SUSPENDED THIS YEAR. AND SO IT BEHOOVES US ALL TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE. AND YOU CAN DO THAT BY GOING TO VOTE FOR 11.ORG TO LOOK UP YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION OR AGAIN, THE STATE OF SECRETARY'S OFFICE AS WELL, WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU. MY NEXT ANNOUNCEMENT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M TRULY EXCITED ABOUT, BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST TIME IT'S HAPPENING IN DESOTO, AND IT IS DUE TO STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS. MISS FELICIA PETRIE, WHO IS OUR DISTRICT CLERK WITH DALLAS COUNTY, IS HOSTING A REMOTE PASSPORT FAIR HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF DESOTO. AGAIN, I SAID, THIS IS THE VERY FIRST TIME DALLAS COUNTY HAS STEPPED OUTSIDE OF DALLAS TO DO THIS.AND THAT WILL BE SEPTEMBER THE 28TH HERE AT OUR LIBRARY FROM 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M. 1 P.M. AND IT IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. I WAS JUST WONDERING, WAS IT THE 26TH? SATURDAY THE 26TH? WHAT DID I SAY? YOU SAID 2026. 26 THANK YOU. BECAUSE I WAS GOING NOT NEEDED. NOT KNOW I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT TOO. WELL, NOW YOU CAN TAKE IT OFF YOUR LIST. SEPTEMBER 26TH IS WHEN THAT PASSPORT FAIR IS. AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU THERE. AND THEN LASTLY, JUST TO PREPARE YOU IN ADVANCE, IF YOU ARE A VETERAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR OF ALSO BEING A COMBAT VETERAN, BUT ALSO SERVING AS THE COUNCIL'S LIAISON FOR OUR DESOTO VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION COMMITTEE. AND OUR NEXT EVENT IS GOING TO BE OUR VETERAN BREAKFAST, WHICH IS NOVEMBER THE 7TH. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND REGISTER TODAY ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. WE WILL ALSO HAVE A BENEFITS WORK FAIR. IT IS IF YOU ARE A VETERAN AND YOU'RE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE BENEFITS THAT YOU HAVE, WE'LL HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE TO ASSIST. SO THOSE ARE MY ANNOUNCEMENTS. I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU. I'M NOT SURE. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH, AFTER YOU GET DONE WITH THE PASSPORT FAIR IN THE LIBRARY, JUST STAY. HANG ON OUT. BECAUSE AT 3:00, DOORS OPEN FOR THE DESOTO TEXAS CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION FIFTH ANNUAL DESOTO ARTIST SHOWCASE FESTIVAL. IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT OUT HERE IN THE AMPHITHEATER. ANYWAY, ENJOY AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENING FILLED WITH LIVE MUSIC, ART, FASHION, POETRY, FOOD, CREATIVITY, AND FAMILY FRIENDLY FUN. ENJOY EXCITING ACTIVITIES AND PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL, INCLUDING SPOKEN WORD CONTESTS HOSTED BY INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED POET ALEX THE GREAT. OKAY. A PLEIN AIR ART CONTEST WHERE YOU CAN WATCH ARTISTS CREATE LIVE DURING THE FESTIVAL. A FASHION SHOWCASE PERFORMANCES BY AN ENERGETIC DESOTO STEPPERS. THAT'S GOING TO BE GOOD. DESOTO STEPPERS WILL BE THERE. LIVE MUSIC UNDER THE STARS. SO AT 5:00, THE MODERN CAJUN JAZZ ENSEMBLE, FEATURING THE DYNAMIC ANDREA WALLACE AND INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SAXOPHONIST TOM BRAXTON. AND THEN AT SEVEN, THE HEADLINING ACT WILL BE ROBERT HOBAN BAND, HOBART. HOLBRT BAND. SO FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY ANYWAY. EVENT DETAILS ARE. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH. DOORS OPEN AT THREE, BUT THE EVENT STARTS AT FOUR, SO 4 TO 8 P.M. LOCATION DESOTO AMPHITHEATER AT THE DESOTO TOWN CENTER, 211 EAST PLEASANT RUN ROAD, DESOTO, TEXAS, 75115. ADMISSION IS FREE.
SO BRING YOUR LAWN CHAIRS, INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND COME EXPERIENCE THE INCREDIBLE CREATIVITY AND TALENT HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN DESOTO. OKAY, NEXT THING IS, IN TWO DAYS, I'M GOING TO HAVE A TOWN HALL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION EVENT. OKAY. NOW IT'S GOING TO BE A SPECIFIC I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC THINGS TO PLACE THREE, BUT IT'S EVERYBODY'S INVITED. SO YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT THE LATEST HAPPENINGS IN PLACE. THREE LEARN ABOUT THE VISION PLACE. THREE LEARN ABOUT UPCOMING PROJECTS SLATED FOR PLACE THREE
[00:10:01]
LEARN ABOUT WHAT COUNCILMAN WALTERS BEEN UP TO, BUT ALSO COME READY FOR RESIDENTS INPUT AND IDEAS SESSION. SO THIS WOULD BE AGAIN FOR PLACE THREE. SO THIS IS FOR IDEAS FOR DIFFERENT SHOPPING, DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN PLACE THREE. SO I'LL GO OVER THAT. ALSO, IF YOU KNOW ANYONE BETWEEN AGES 21 TO 33, I'M GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR THAT AGE DEMOGRAPHIC. SO TELL THEM TO BE HERE. EVERYONE COME OUT. IT'S GOING TO BE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH FROM 7 TO 8:30 P.M. OVER AT THE ARC IN THE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM, 1400 ACADEMY WAY. SO COME ON OUT IN. WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING THAT. SO THAT IS MY ANNOUNCEMENTS. NOW YOU'RE BACK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WESLEY. YES. GOOD EVENING. AND I WANT TO SECOND THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. THE DALLAS COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK IS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DESOTO PUBLIC LIBRARY, IS GOING TO HOST A US PASSPORT FAIR ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH. IT WILL BE IN OUR DESOTO PUBLIC LIBRARY. LISTEN, THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND IF YOU. IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (214) 653-6075.THIS IS A. THAT IS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO GIVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE DENISE VALENTINE FOUNDATION WHO GAVE OUR BEAUTIFUL PRAYER HERE BEFORE WE OPENED UP THE DESOTO VANTAGE DE. THEY ARE EMPOWERING ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY, INSPIRING THE FUTURES OF OUR OF OUR COMMUNITY. YOU CAN COME. THIS IS GOING TO BE ON DECEMBER 17TH.
IT'S A THURSDAY FROM 5 TO 8 P.M. YOU'RE GOING TO GET A FREE PHOTO WITH SANTA. IT'LL. IT'LL WILL HAVE THE HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE. WILL THERE BE FOOD? THERE'LL BE REFRESHMENTS AND THERE'LL BE VINTAGE EXPERT SERIES AND A LOT MORE. PLEASE, I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER TO BE A VENDOR. I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER DONATING BECAUSE THIS. THE FUNDS RAISED WILL GO TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND SCHOLARSHIPS. AND WHAT A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. SO THANK YOU, MISS DENISE VALENTINE. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND I WANT TO SAY HELLO TO SOTO.
IF YOU ARE NOT A PART OF THE CHAMBER, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY. LET ME FIRST CONGRATULATE OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WIN ON THIS PAST FRIDAY AT THE FIRST RESPONDERS BOWLING. WHOOP, WHOOP. AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A TURKEY BOWLER AND HE SITS NEXT TO ME. HE ACTUALLY DID A TURKEY BOWL. SO CONGRATULATIONS, DEPUTY MAYOR. AND THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY EVERY YEAR DURING NINE OVER 11 FOR US TO NOT ONLY COMMEMORATE THE MOMENT, BUT ALSO COME OUT AND SUPPORT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. SO I'M HOPING NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ONLY CHAMBER MEMBERS, BUT PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND ENJOY. DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE A BOWLING ALLEY IN DESOTO? YES WE DO. IT'S TIME TO GET THE BOWL ON. RIGHT. AND THEN THE NEXT THING WE HAVE ON OUR LIST FOR THE CHAMBER IS THE COMEDY NIGHT. IT IS COMING UP THIS COMING 24TH OF SEPTEMBER. IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN RIGHT HERE AT THE CORNER THEATER. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR TICKETS, GO ONLINE AND CHECK THAT OUT. THE DESOTO AREA CHAMBER IS PARTNERING WITH LEADERSHIP SOUTHWEST TO PUT THAT ON. COME ON OUT AND GET YOUR LAUGH ON.
AND IF YOU HAVE NOT JOINED THE CHAMBER, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY, I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PARKER COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I HAVE TWO THAT I WANT TO MAKE MENTION OF. I HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE, BUT I'M GOING TO JUST DO TWO THAT ARE COMING UP SOON. AND WE HAVE ON THIS COMING SATURDAY, WE HAVE THE RUN SOUTH EVENT THAT'S HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO WITH RUN IT UP DALLAS, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE ON SEPTEMBER 19TH AT 8:30 A.M. AT THE DESOTO PARK AQUATIC AND RECREATION CENTER. AND THAT EVENT IS A THREE MILE RUN OR WALK. SO THEY'LL HAVE ALL PACE GROUPS THERE. SO IF YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL RUNNER OR IF YOU'RE LIKE ME AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN THE WALKING GROUP, THEY WILL HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY. WE WILL ALSO HAVE AFTER ACTIVATIONS, AND A PART OF THOSE ACTIVATIONS WILL BE OUR VERY OWN DESOTO STEPPERS.
THEY WILL BE TEACHING LINE DANCES. THEY'LL ALSO HAVE YOGA AND SOME OTHER ACTIVITIES THERE, AS WELL AS SOME VENDORS THERE FOR YOU TO PARTAKE IN. ALSO, NEXT WEEK IS HOMECOMING WEEK FOR DESOTO ISD, AND SO THEY WILL BE HOSTING THE HOMECOMING PARADE ON NEXT THURSDAY. THAT IS SEPTEMBER 23RD. AND THAT'S GOING. THE PARADE ITSELF IS GOING TO START AT 6 P.M. AT AMBER TERRACE, AND IT'S GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY UP AMBER TERRACE TO HAMPTON ROAD TO EAGLE DRIVE, AND THEN WE WILL END AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. SO IF YOU. IF YOU HAVE TIME TO SUPPORT OUR EAGLES, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE A PART OF THAT AND WEAR YOUR GREEN AND GOLD AND
[00:15:04]
COME LOUD AND PROUD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME I'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEMS ARE LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BY 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 HAVE APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 27TH THROUGH 29TH, 2026 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 4TH AS WELL AS. AND FOR THE RECORD, MAYOR, WE ARE PULLING ITEMS ONE THROUGH SEVEN AS WELL AS. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT CCP D AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, PROPOSING THE CREATION OF THE DESOTO CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT, CREATING A TEMPORARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, APPOINTING PERSONS TO SERVE AS TEMPORARY DIRECTORS OF THE PROPOSED DISTRICT AND PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A FIRE CONTROL, PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DISTRICT. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, PROPOSING THE CREATION OF THE DESOTO FIRE CONTROL PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE DISTRICT, CREATING A TEMPORARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. APPOINTING PERSONS TO SERVE AS TEMPORARY DIRECTORS OF THE PROPOSED DISTRICT AND PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. CONSIDER AN AWARD BID TO THE FMC CONSTRUCTION GROUP, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,888,000 AND $17 ZERO $0.00 FOR PHASE ONE OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NANCE FARM CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, APPROVING A TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET OF $3,500,277 TO INCLUDE PROJECT CONTINGENCY AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ALL RELATED CONTRACT DOCUMENTS. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH DALLAS COUNTY FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL SERVICES, AND AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AND ALL RELATED DOCUMENTS, CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT KIVA PARK AND MURPHY HILL, WITH WORLD DESIGN INCORPORATED IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH KINDIG KEYS FOR THE ZONING AND SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE UPDATE AND RELATED DOCUMENTS FOR A NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $150,000, FUNDED THROUGH THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND USE GLOW GRANT. AND WE DO HAVE COMMENT CARDS FOR E 12. THANK YOU. WE'LL RECEIVE THOSE COMMENT CARDS BEFORE WE HEAR FROM COUNSEL ON HIS DESIRE FOR CONSENT. DANIEL CRUZ. GOOD EVENING, MR. CRUZ. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE ONLY. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DANIEL CRUZ. I'M 12 YEARS OLD AND SEVENTH GRADE, AND MY FAMILY LIVES HERE IN DESOTO IN THE TEN MILE CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD.
SOME OF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ME. LAST MARCH, I STOOD AT THE SAME PODIUM AND ASKED FOR SHADE OVER THE PICNIC TABLES AT OUR PARK. THE CITY LISTENED, ADDED THE SHADE, AND IT TURNED OUT GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED TO COME BACK TONIGHT. I'M HERE ABOUT ITEM E 12, THE PLAYGROUND CONTRACT FOR CABLE PARK AND MURPHY HILLS PARK. I WANT TO BE CLEAR. I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO CANCEL THE PROJECT. I'M ASKING YOU TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MURPHY HILLS PARK. BUT. PAUSE THE KARABAKH PIECE. I KNOW CABLE PARK HAS ALREADY BEEN WAITING SINCE 2021, ABOUT FIVE YEARS. I ALSO KNOW PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF HAVE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS PROJECT, BUT I BELIEVE GIVING A LITTLE MORE TIME COULD BE WORTH IT. I'D LIKE THE CITY TO EXPLORE OUTSIDE FUNDING, INCLUDING GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE. THEY COULD BRING ADDITIONAL MONEY INTO THIS ORDER INSTEAD OF
[00:20:08]
RELYING HEAVILY ON TAXPAYERS AND WAITING IS SAFE. THIS FUNDING COMES FROM THE PARK IMPROVEMENT FUND, WHICH DOESN'T EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, SO THE CITY WOULDN'T LOSE THE MONEY BY TAKING A LITTLE MORE TIME. CABLE PARK HAS A LOT OF OPEN SPACE AND POTENTIAL. WE'VE SEEN WHAT THE SODA CAN DO WITH A GREAT PLAYGROUND LIKE ERNIE ROBERTS PARK. I'M NOT ASKING KEVIN TO COPY IT. I'M ASKING FOR THE CHANCE TO MAKE SOMETHING EVEN BETTER. SO TONIGHT I'M ASKING FOR A HALF WIN. LET MURPHY HOUSE MOVE FORWARD, BUT PASS CABLE LONG ENOUGH TO EXPLORE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND IMPROVE THE DESIGN. I KNOW THAT MEANS CABLE WAITS LONGER, BUT IF EXTRA TIME CAN HELP US BUILD SOMETHING LOUDER AND BETTER, I BELIEVE THE WAIT WILL BE WORTH IT. BUILD IT ONCE. BUILD IT RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR CITY. ALL RIGHT. THANK. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, MR. CRUZ AND MR. CRUZ, WE DID RECEIVE YOUR YOUR PROPOSAL TODAY. THE COUNCIL DID RECEIVE THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR SENDING THAT OVER AT THIS TIME. COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE. YES. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION EARLIER, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY BILLION, BUT IT SAID BILLION. WHEN WE SAID 3 BILLION, I WAS LIKE, OH WAIT, WE WAY OUT OF WE WAY OUT OF RANGE. BUT I WANTED TO PULL ITEM 12. WHAT IS THAT, F12E12. I WANTED TO PULL E 12 BECAUSE I DO HAVE CLARIFYING QUESTIONS. AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO QUICKLY. SO I WANT TO PULL THAT ONE FOR A SEPARATE VOTE. YES MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM, THAT I BASED ON MY CONVERSATION WITH STAFF AS WELL ON ITEM 12. E, I WANTED TO HAVE THE DIALOG WITH COUNCIL AS WELL. CERTAINLY. COUNCIL. IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM E 12. YES. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND, IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES, SECOND BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WATERS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BACKUP TO THE BACKUP. SO, COUNCIL, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NAY. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE ITEM E 12 COUNCIL MEMBER PARK. I'LL ALLOW YOU TO ASK YOUR QUESTIONS FIRST. THANK YOU FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THIS ITEM. IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING BECAUSE AS I WAS LOOKING AT THE CONTRACT, THE CONTRACT SHOWS THERE'S A LINE ITEM IN THERE THAT SAYS THAT THE HAUL OFF THE MAKE READY THE A LOT OF THE UPFRONT WORK IS NOT ON THE ACTUAL PEOPLE WHO ARE PUTTING THE THING IN PLACE. THE ONLY THING THAT THEY'RE PAYING, THE ONLY THING THAT MONEY PAYS FOR IS FOR THEM TO PUT IT THERE. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS WHERE IS THE REST OF THE WHERE'S THE REST OF THE PROPOSAL THAT KIND OF SAYS, WHO'S GOING TO DO ALL THAT WORK? AND HOW MUCH IS THAT GOING TO COST? WELL, SO THE THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT WAS 500 K.
SO WE WORKED WITH OUR CONTRACTORS TO IN HOUSE A PORTION OF THAT DEMOLITION. SO THE PARK STAFF IN HOUSE TEAM WILL ACTUALLY BE DEMOLISHING DEMOLISHING THE PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE CURRENTLY TO SAVE SOME COST. SO THE CONTRACTORS CAN COME IN AND INSTALL A NEW PLAYGROUND THERE. OKAY. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY NOW AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED, THEY THIS THIS CONTRACT WAS SIGNED. BOTH OF THOSE CONTRACTS SHOULD BE SIGNED LAST YEAR. SO THERE WERE SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT SAID THEY NEEDED TO HAVE IT BE PAID UPFRONT OR IN 30 DAYS HAS I GUESS I WAS KIND OF UNCLEAR ON THAT PART WHEN WE STILL HADN'T WE HADN'T ACTUALLY APPROVED IT YET. OKAY. COULD YOU CLARIFY THE QUESTION? I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE 30 DAYS WAS THE INVOICE PAYMENTS FOR, YOU KNOW, RIGHT. THE ACTUAL PAYMENT ITSELF? YES, MA'AM. INSIDE OF THE ACTUAL CONTRACT, THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS. SO I WAS REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, I WAS REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTRACT. AND THEN THE FACT THAT THERE'S MORE COSTS THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT. ALL WE KNOW ABOUT IS THE ACTUAL EQUIPMENT ITSELF, IS THE COST OF PUTTING IT IN THE ENTIRETY OF THE COST. IS THAT GOING TO BE OUTLINED SOMEWHERE? IT SHOULD BE OUTLINED IN THE CONTRACT AND INVOICE. SO IT SHOULD BE A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 500 K WHICH WAS THE APPROPRIATE BUDGET. WELL THE 500 K IS FOR BOTH PROJECTS. YES MA'AM. BUT I'M SORRY I'M UNCLEAR THE ACTUAL CONTRACT ITSELF. THERE'S A LINE ITEM INSIDE OF THE CONTRACT THAT SAYS THAT THEY DON'T ACTUALLY DO IT. THEIR CONTRACT IS TO PUT THE STUFF IN
[00:25:05]
PLACE. YES, MA'AM. OH, SO THE PART FOR THE CITY TO DO THAT'S NOT ANYWHERE IN THE CONTRACT.SO DEMOLITION IS IN-HOUSE. SO THE PARK STAFF. YES, MA'AM. SO OUR INTERNAL PARKS TEAM WILL BE GOING OUT THERE TO DEMOLISH THE PLAYGROUNDS. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A COST ASSOCIATED FROM THE CONTRACTOR. OH, OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, I YIELD BACK. I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY. ONE MORE QUESTION. BASED ON OUR CONVERSATION, THERE WAS AN EMAIL THAT CAME THROUGH AND JUST LIKE YOU HEARD JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, WHERE IT ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT THEM BEING SPLIT, WAS THAT EVEN A POSSIBILITY TO HAVE THEM SPLIT? SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, I BELIEVE WE ARE SAVING SOME COSTS BY JOINING THESE PROJECTS TOGETHER. AGAIN, THESE PRICES WERE GIVEN TO US EARLIER IN THE YEAR. SO THE CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN HOLDING THIS PRICE FOR US SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. IF WE DELAY ON IT, THERE MAY BE SOME COST INCREASES TO THE CONTRACT. OKAY, THEN I JUST ADD TO THAT, COUNCILWOMAN PARKER, TO YOUR QUESTION. SO BECAUSE THE TWO PARKS WILL BE TOGETHER IN THE SAME CONTRACT, WILL BE DOING THE WORK, THE MOBILIZATION WILL BE PRETTY MUCH ONE KIND OF ONE MOBILIZATION BECAUSE THERE'LL BE IN THE AREA AS OPPOSED TO THEM MOBILIZING FOR ONE ONE PARK, FINISHING THAT, AND THEN COMING BACK LATER TO MOBILIZE FOR THE SECOND PARK. WELL, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, BUT THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL HAUL OFF. IF YOU GOT BOTH PARKS GOING, KIND OF HITTING THE GROUND AT THE SAME TIME, THE WORK OF GETTING IT READY IS A LOT WORK, AND THAT'S NOT ANYWHERE. WE DON'T SEE THAT TIMELINE. THERE'S NO TIMELINE SHOWING THAT PART OF IT AND HOW MUCH THAT'S GOING TO COST THE CITY. THAT'S THE REASON WHY I WAS ASKING THAT QUESTION. BUT IF YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S NO COST, THOSE COSTS ARE ALREADY BAKED INTO OUR OPERATING COSTS. SO WE ALREADY HAUL OFF MATERIALS FROM THE PARKS TEAM.
THOSE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THAT. SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY IMPACT TO THE BUDGET. FY 27. NO, MA'AM. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I YIELD BACK, COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TODAY, AS WELL AS ENTERTAINING MY QUESTIONS THAT YOU DID ANSWER.
BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU IN THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE I HAVE SOME OF THE BEST CONSTITUENTS IN PLACE. SIX AND SOME OF THEM HOLD ME EXTREMELY ACCOUNTABLE. AND MR. CRUZ IS NO EXCEPTION TO THAT. HE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT KEY KIVA PARK FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS, AND AT ONE POINT IT WAS GEARED TO GO. AND THEN IT FELL OFF THE RADAR. AND NOW IT'S BACK. AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I DID LOOK AT THE RENDERINGS. YOU PROVIDED ME THE ADDITIONAL RENDERINGS THAT WERE PROVIDED TO ME OUTSIDE WITH THE PUBLIC HAS AND WITH THE CONCERN IS, AND I CAN SEE IT AS A VALID CONCERN. IF ANYBODY'S VISITED KIVA PARK, IT'S NESTLED RIGHT IN WINDMILL HILL, AND IT HAS THIS BEAUTIFUL DIP, RIGHT? THAT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE YOU'RE EXCLUDED. AND IT'S JUST ALL THIS AREA OF LAND OF NOTHING BUT GRASS, RIGHT. AND WHAT THEY HAVE TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE PLAYGROUNDS THAT WE HAD BACK IN THE 80S. AND IT IS WOOD TO WOOD, AND IT'S BIG AND HUGE. AND SO WHAT THE NEW DESIGN LOOKS LIKE IS A LOT LIKE ERNIE ROBERTS, RIGHT? BUT IT DOESN'T COME WITH ALL OF THE GADGETS THAT ERNIE ROBERTS COMES WITH, DESPITE THE AVAILABILITY WITH THE LAND THAT THEY HAVE NOW. YOU DID EXPRESS TO ME THAT YOU DID UNDERSTAND THAT POINT OF VIEW. HOWEVER, I, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT ADVOCATE FOR NOT JUST MR. CRUZ, BUT EVERY LITTLE KID THAT VISITS THAT PARK BECAUSE IT IS MAGICAL, IN MY OPINION. WHAT ELSE COULD THE CITY DO WITHOUT STALLING ANY PROJECTS OR LEAVING ANY MONEY ON THE TABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAXIMIZING THAT AREA? ESSENTIALLY, I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT MR. CRUZ IS ASKING FOR, NOT TO REPLACE HIS STEAK WITH A SANDWICH, BUT TO REPLACE HIS STEAK WITH A STEAK. TO SPEAK TO YOUR CONCERNS, I BELIEVE THE FIRST STEP WOULD PROBABLY BE TO FACILITATE THE THE PARK'S MASTER PLAN. THAT'S GOING TO GIVE A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF THAT AREA, OF THAT SPACE AND KIND OF OUTLINE WHAT THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THAT PARK IS. WE HAVE KIND OF TWO CATEGORIES OF PARKS THAT WOULD FIT THAT SPACE AND JURISDICTION. IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND A COMMUNITY PARK. WHAT GOES INTO THOSE TWO, THOSE TWO IDEOLOGIES IS THE AMOUNT OF SPACE, THE SERVICE AREA, AND THE INTENDED USE OF LIKE LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY. IDEALLY, RIGHT NOW, KIVA PARK IS CATEGORIZED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, MEANING IT'S THERE TO SUPPORT RECREATION FOR ABOUT HALF A MILE TO A FOURTH OF A MILE OF THAT PERIMETER MILE RADIUS, WHERE A COMMUNITY PARK LIKE ERNIE ROBERTS IS CATERED TO ABOUT FIVE MILE RADIUS. SO WITH THOSE THOSE THINGS IN MIND,
[00:30:01]
ERNIE ROBERTS IS EQUIPPED WITH PARKING LOT. IT'S EQUIPPED WITH RESTROOMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO SUSTAIN MORE PEOPLE THERE. THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AT KIVA IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THAT TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, SO WE WOULD NEED TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING AN AMENITY THAT'S GOING TO ATTRACT COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT FOR YOU, AND THAT MAKES SENSE. I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT CONVERSATION TO FOR OUR PARK BOARD, BECAUSE THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY, IN MY OPINION, HAVE A SAY IN THE DESIGN OF WHAT OUR PARKS LOOK LIKE. I'M NOT SURE IF STAFF, I BELIEVE YOU DID TELL ME IN, IN THE IN THE MESSAGING THAT PARKS HAD ACTUALLY LOOKED AT IT LAST MONTH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.SO THEY WERE A PART OF THAT PROCESS. AND MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A COMBINATION OF REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO FORWARD, BUT WHERE ARE WE GOING TO CIRCLE BACK AT? LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MR. CRUZ HANGING ON HIS EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS PARK. LIKE, WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP HERE? SO I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND GOING FORWARD WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT. AND IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN FY 27 THAT WE CAN PUT TOWARDS THE PROJECT, WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT. BUT ULTIMATELY, I WOULD I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY THAT THAT PARK'S MASTER PLAN IS GOING TO BRING US A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF WHAT ALL CAN GO IN THAT PARK, AND THEN ADDITIONAL SURVEYS ON WHAT THAT LAND CAN BE USED FOR.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT IS KIND OF A ROCK QUARRY, SO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO BUILD THERE, BUT I'M DEFINITELY OPEN TO PROVIDING SOMETHING THERE AND FACILITATING THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS AS WE SEE FIT. COULD I ASK IF THE, THE WHAT THEY SENT YOU, IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE COULD, COULD I SEE THAT SO I COULD SEE WHAT IS POSSIBLE ELSE TO GO THERE? ABSOLUTELY. YES, MA'AM. WE CAN. WE'RE DEFINITELY OPEN TO WORKING WITH OUR CONTRACTOR THAT THEY ARE HERE TONIGHT. IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PLAYGROUNDS, BUT KIND OF AS I ELABORATED EARLIER IN OUR CONVERSATION, THAT THIS PARK WAS DESIGNED FOR MORE SO INCLUSIVE AND ADAPTIVE RECREATION. THE PARK THAT YOU REFERENCED IS, IS ACTUALLY TWO, FIVE YEAR OLD THROUGH 12 YEAR OLD PLAYGROUNDS. SO SCHOOL AGE PLAYGROUNDS. SO NOT EVEN A PRESCHOOL AGE PLAYGROUND IS THERE, BUT THEY ARE A LOT LARGER, A LOT MORE BULKY, A LOT MORE SPACING NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THOSE, THOSE FACILITIES. BUT THE TWO STRUCTURES ARE, ARE MORE SO ADAPTIVE, INCLUSIVE. THEY BOTH INCLUDE BOTH A FIVE YEAR OLD, A 12 YEAR OLD PLAYGROUND AND A FIVE YEAR OLD AND PLAYGROUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I GET THAT IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, BUT I WANT YOU TO KEEP THIS IN MIND THAT THE ONLY THING OVER THERE RIGHT NOW ON THAT SIDE OF TOWN IS WINDMILL HILL, AND THERE IS NOT ANOTHER PARK IN THAT AREA UNTIL YOU GET TO BELTLINE AND YOU GET TO BRIARWOOD OR YEAH, LIKE I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT HITS THAT COMMUNITY RIGHT BEHIND IT EITHER. LIKE THAT. IS THAT THAT AREA RIGHT THERE? I AGREE, YES, MA'AM. AND WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT TEN MINUTE WALK METRIC THAT NRP A IS SET FOR HAVING A GREEN SPACE OR PLAYGROUND WITHIN A TEN MINUTE WALK OF EACH HOME IN DESOTO. SO THAT WILL BE EVALUATED IN OUR PARKS MASTER PLAN. COMING UP TO SEE HOW WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD TO FACILITATE THAT GOAL. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WE RECEIVED DIRECTLY EMBEDDED WITHIN MR. CRUZ'S EMAIL ABOUT THE EXPLORATION OF MATCHING GRANTS THROUGH THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM TO TO LOOK AND SEE HAS THE CITY EXPLORED. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE DIFFERENT AREAS IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WHERE WE DO AND SECURE MANY GRANTS AS WELL. WHAT WOULD WHAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF SOMETHING THAT MAY BE FEASIBLE FOR DESOTO TO EXPLORE THERE? YES, MA'AM. SO WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT DIFFERENT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH A PLETHORA OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. THE REFERENCE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT GRANTS THEY HAVE, UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF THEM THAT WILL BE APPLICABLE FOR PLAYGROUNDS CLOSED ON AUGUST 1ST. THE NEXT ROUND OF GRANTS WOULD BE THE OUTDOOR RECREATION LAND GRANT CLOSES ON OCTOBER 1ST, SO THAT WOULD THAT ONE THERE IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO PRODUCE A COMPETITIVE GRANT APPLICATION IN 15 DAYS WITH WITH KIND OF A STARTING BLANK ON ON ANALYSIS OF THE PLAYGROUND AND STRUCTURE AND LAND AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR NEEDS ASSESSMENT. SO THANK YOU. THAT'S, THAT'S VERY HELPFUL KNOWLEDGE TO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW ABOUT THE TIMELINE. I THINK THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU, MR. AG. AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. CRUZ. FOR THE INFORMATION COUNCIL, WE HAVE AN ITEM THAT WE NEED TO VOTE ON.
IS THERE A MOTION, MADAM MAYOR, JUST BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WANTED TO ASK. SO BASED ON YOUR QUESTION JUST NOW, THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WAS THAT OCTOBER 1ST. ARE WE SAYING THAT IS NOT DOABLE? IT IS NOT DOABLE. OKAY. THAT'S 15 DAYS AWAY. AND THEN I THINK YOU SAID, MR. AGEE, IF I CAUGHT YOU CORRECTLY, THE ONES FOR PLAYGROUNDS HAS ALREADY EXPIRED, CORRECT? OR IS ALREADY PAST CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. THEY WERE AUGUST 1ST. THAT WAS THE DEADLINE FOR THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE. OKAY. AND I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT MOVING FORWARD, AT SOME POINT,
[00:35:04]
WE WILL EXPLORE THOSE AHEAD OF TIME. IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY SO THAT WE CAN DO SOME OF THOSE ITEMS, AND I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE. THE POINT OF INFORMATION IS, IS DOCTOR E BECAUSE THAT'S OUR GRANT AREA, RIGHT? ARE THEY ARE YOU ARE THEY WORKING WITH PARKS FOR GRANTS? YES. SO YES, MA'AM. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, I MEAN, DOCTOR WILLIAMS DEPARTMENT WORKS WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WITH GRANTS, BUT A LOT OF TIMES, DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFICITY OF THE GRANT, IT, IT IT, IT STARTS WITH THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE GRANULAR KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT WHAT IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED. BUT THEN THEY ALSO BRING THAT GROUP IN TO HELP. OKAY, SO WE JUST MISSED THIS ONE BY HAPPENSTANCE. YES. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND COUNCIL? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND TO APPROVE THIS ITEM E 12 AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NAY. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. MADAM CITY SECRETARY, WE HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. NEXT, WE MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2027 ASSESSMENT RATE AND FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027 BUDGET FOR THE CANDLE MEADOW PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. NUMBER ONE, APPROVING THE SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT PLAN AND LEVYING THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE SERVICE PLAN. THE ASSESSMENT PLAN SETTING THE ASSESSMENT RATE. AUTHORIZING THE PROPER OFFICIALS OF THE CITY TO DO AND PERFORM CERTAIN ACTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICE PLAN FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE CANDLE MEADOW PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER ONE, AND PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. SO SORRY. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'LL TAKE THIS ONE. SO WE THIS IS AN ANNUAL PROCESS WHERE WE WHERE WE SET THE ASSESSMENT RATE FOR THE COUNTY. WE DO IT FOR BOTH COUNTY AND STILLWATER CANYON. SO THERE'LL BE TWO TWO SUCCESSIVE ITEMS. AND SO WHAT WHAT COUNCIL IS DOING TONIGHT IS APPROVING THE ASSESSMENT RATE AS WELL AS APPROVING THE SERVICE ASSESSMENT PLAN, AS WELL AS THE SERVICE PLAN ASSESSMENT PLAN, I'M SORRY, AS WELL AS THE ORDINANCE. SO YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET YOU SEE THE COMPARISON FOR 2026 VERSUS 2027. THE TAXABLE VALUES FOR CANDLE MEADOW FOR 2027 CAME IN AT 189,000,770, 31, $737,060. AND YOU SEE THE COMPARISON. LAST YEAR, IN 2026, THE TAXABLE VALUES WERE $192,429,210. SO TAXABLE VALUES WENT DOWN A LITTLE BIT FOR FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE BUDGET IS A LITTLE LESS THIS YEAR FOR $545,500, COMPARED TO $560,600 LAST YEAR. SO WITH A LITTLE BIT LOWER TAXABLE VALUES AND A LITTLE BIT LOWER BUDGET, THE ASSESSMENT RATE IS IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT LOWER AS WELL.IT'S DOWN TO 0.30263 $0.05, COMPARED TO 0.30.306661 IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IN YOUR PACKET, YOU ALSO HAVE A LETTER OF INTENT FROM THE FROM THE BOARD AND THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY INDICATING WHAT THEY INTEND TO DO WITH THOSE FUNDS, AS WELL AS THE BUDGET, WHICH WHICH INDICATES THE THE BUDGET AMOUNT OF 545,500. WE ROUNDED UP A LITTLE BIT FOR ROUNDING PURPOSES, BUT $545,500 FOR THE BUDGET AND AS WELL AS THE. WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THOSE OR NOT, BUT WE. THE THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD AS WELL. WE HAVE THOSE MINUTES AS WELL. SO THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING IS BASICALLY JUST TO ALLOW ANY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY COMMENTS OR CONCERNS TO COUNCIL REGARDING THE BUDGET PRIOR TO COUNCIL APPROVING THE ASSESSMENT RATE. THANK YOU, MR. CAMERON. AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO MOVED. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. EXCUSE ME. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NAY. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. MADAM CITY SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE CARDS FOR THIS ITEM? WE DO NOT. OKAY.
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY AT THIS TIME. COUNCIL, IS THERE ANY
[00:40:04]
DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? I DO SEE YOUR LIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. POINT OF INFORMATION FROM OUR INNER CITY MANAGER. HE JUST SAID ABOUT THE MINUTES, THEY'RE NOT ON THE PACKET. SO WILL WE BE ADDING THOSE AT SOME POINT TO THE PACKET SO THAT THEY'LL BE FOR FUTURE REVIEW? YES, MA'AM. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN ADD THEM TO THE PACKET BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE. BUT I CAN FORWARD IT TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW IF YOU WANT. OKAY, I CAN DO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION? CAN YOU CUT YOUR MIC ON AND STATE THAT IN THE MIC, PLEASE. I MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH. I BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO YOU. WE'RE GOING TO USE OUR VOTING PASS FOR THIS ONE AS WELL. SO COUNCIL WHEN THEY TEE IT UP PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PAD. ONE SECOND. YEAH. GO NOW. GO. THERE YOU GO. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2027 ASSESSMENT RATE AND THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027 BUDGET FOR THE STILLWATER CANYON PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. NUMBER TWO, APPROVING THE SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT PLAN AND LEVYING THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS.APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE SERVICE PLAN. THE ASSESSMENT PLAN SETTING THE ASSESSMENT RATE. AUTHORIZING THE PROPER OFFICIALS OF THE CITY TO DO AND PERFORM CERTAIN ACTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICE PLAN FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE STILLWATER CANYON PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. NUMBER TWO, AND PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. YES, SIR. SO ONCE AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, KIND OF THE SAME SCENARIO, JUST THE DIFFERENT THIS HAPPENS TO BE THE STILLWATER CANYON PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. AND YOU'LL SEE FOR 2027, THE TAXABLE VALUE CAME IN AT $147,461,600. OKAY. AND THEN COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, $149,869,070. THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR FY 2027 IS $284,968, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S BUDGET OF $259,061. AND SO THAT THAT THAT RESULTS IN A ASSESSMENT RATE FOR 2027 OF 0.203420, WHICH IS UP A LITTLE BIT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR OF 0.181956. BUT THAT BUT THAT RATE THAT WE DESCRIBED WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO TO RAISE GENERATE THE REVENUE NEEDED FOR THE BUDGET. SO AGAIN, BASICALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO TONIGHT IS OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE ANY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WANT TO HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE BUDGET OR THE APPEARED ITSELF.
COUNCIL, IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING? HEARING NONE.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. MADAM CITY SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE CARDS FOR THIS ITEM? WE DO NOT. OKAY. COUNCIL, IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY. HEARING NONE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. COUNCIL, BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN A MOTION. DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS, COUNCILMAN PARKER? YES. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER SO THE SAME COMMENT FROM LAST TIME, AND I REALLY WISH THAT I HAD ASKED BECAUSE I DO SEE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM WHERE FROM KENNAMETAL. EVEN THOUGH WE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN, DID WE ASK THE PUBLIC SHOULD WE HAVE ASKED, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THEY HADN'T PUT IN A CARD, WE WERE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. DO WE NEED DID WE NEED TO ASK THEM IF THEY WANTED TO TALK? BECAUSE I SEE PEOPLE FROM KENDALL MEADOW THAT WERE HERE, THEY MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN HERE IN TIME ENOUGH AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS WAS. SO I'M JUST ASKING, WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IS ASKED? I'M JUST ASKING. DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING. JUST IN CASE THE COUNCIL. OKAY. ALRIGHT. AND SO MY OTHER QUESTION IS, IS I LOOK AT STILLWATER CANYONS NOTES. IT SAID THAT THEIR BUDGET IS UP.
I'M SORRY, IS DOWN IS IT WENT UP AND THEN THEIR ASSESSMENT RATE WENT UP, BUT THEIR ACTUAL TAXABLE VALUES WENT DOWN. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND NOW REMEMBER WE DID HAVE MEETING MINUTES. YOU HAD SOME MEETING MINUTES THAT WILL BE ATTACHED OR PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL AFTERWARDS. RIGHT. THAT SHOULD TELL US WHY THAT'S UP AND THE VALUE IS DOWN. WELL THE VALUES COME FROM DCAD. RIGHT. SO SO SO IN THIS CASE WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING UP IN ASSESSMENT VALUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. THEY HAVE A HIGHER BUDGET. YEAH. THE BUDGET IS UP BY ABOUT WHAT ALMOST 30,000. OKAY. COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. BUT WE STILL WILL
[00:45:01]
GET THE MINUTES. YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I YIELD BACK AND THEIR BUDGET SHOULD BE ABLE TO YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ASCERTAIN THE DIFFERENT COST CHANGES WITH LOOKING AT THEIR BUDGET, WHICH IS ATTACHED RIGHT AT THIS TIME. COUNCIL IS THERE A MOTION, MADAM MAYOR MOVE TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CHISHOLM TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED. COUNSEL, PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PAD. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET AS REQUIRED BY ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE DE SOTO CITY CHARTER. AND FOR THE RECORD, WE DO HAVE COMMENT CARDS FOR THIS ITEM. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FY 2026 2027 BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WAS CONDUCTED ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026, AS REQUIRED BY ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE DE SOTO CITY CHARTER. THIS INFORMATION IS BEING PRESENTED FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING BEING HELD THIS EVENING. THE CITY'S FY 2026 2027 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDES GENERAL FUND REVENUES OF 74.3 MILLION, APPROPRIATIONS OF 74.1 MILLION. OTHER MAJOR FUNDS INCLUDE PUBLIC UTILITIES, SANITATION AND DRAINAGE. THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY 3.2 MILLION, A 5.94% INCREASE. THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL THIS YEAR IS $695,286. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE FY 2027 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS. SO HERE ARE OUR BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS. THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE PROPERTY TAX RATE. IT WILL REMAIN 0.684934. WE'RE PRESENTING A BALANCED PROPOSED FY 2027 BUDGET. THIS BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES A PROPOSED 2% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, A 3.5% STEP INCREASE, WHICH IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR CURRENT COMPENSATION PLAN. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE FIRST FULL YEAR FOR OUR PROGRAMING. ALSO INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IS A PROPOSED 9% WATER AND SEWER RATE ADJUSTMENT, AS WELL AS CONTINUED PROGRESS IN THE SCHEDULED CI KEY PROJECTS. THERE'S ONE UPDATE SINCE OUR ORIGINAL HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026. THAT UPDATE IS TO FUND FOR 12. THIS IS A CAPITAL FUND CALLED THE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND. THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED EXPENDITURES WERE 1.4 MILLION. THE UPDATED PROPOSED EXPENDITURES OF 1.5 MILLION. THE REASON FOR THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUEST IS DUE TO RECENT PRICE INCREASES IN ENTERPRISE MEMORY AND STORAGE CAUSED BY PRODUCTION SHORTAGES. THESE PRODUCTION SHORTAGES ARE DUE TO DATA CENTERS AS WELL AS GEOPOLITICAL ISSUES. AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE INCREASES OUR IT DEPARTMENT HAS SEEN IS A SINGLE SERVER MEMORY PURCHASE IN FY 25 WAS $1,500, COMPARED TO TODAY'S COST OF $7,500. WE DO EXPECT THESE PRICES TO REMAIN ELEVATED FOR BOTH MEMORY AND STORAGE UNTIL SUPPLY CONSTRAINTS AND POLITICAL PRESSURE EASES. THE TWO LINE ITEMS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS INCREASE ARE COMPUTER REPLACEMENT AND DATA PROCESSING. HERE WE HAVE OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET OVERVIEW.WE HAVE OUR REVENUES PRESENTED AS WELL AS OUR EXPENDITURES. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR PROPOSED PERSONNEL CHANGES. THESE ARE THE SAME AS THOSE THAT WERE PRESENTED AT THE SEPTEMBER 1ST HEARING. HERE WE HAVE OUR FY 2027 BUDGET OVERVIEW FOR THE GENERAL FUND. OUR FY 2027 BEGINNING PROJECTED FUND BALANCE IS 32.1 MILLION. TOTAL REVENUES OF 74.3 MILLION AND BUDGETED EXPENDITURES OF 74.1 MILLION. WE HAVE A PROJECTED SURPLUS OF $192,876. BELOW THAT, YOU'LL SEE OUR REVENUE BREAKDOWN. THE GENERAL FUND IS STILL THE TOTAL REVENUE OF 74.3 MILLION, BUT WE DO HAVE IT BROKEN DOWN BETWEEN GENERAL FUND AND OUR REVENUE. THIS BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS OF PRESENTING NEW POSITIONS AND RECLASSIFICATIONS DEPARTMENTAL HIGHLIGHTS AND HEALTH CARE INCREASES. THIS EVENING, YOU ALSO RECEIVED THE UPDATED BUDGET SUMMARIES THAT MATCH THIS PRESENTATION, AS WELL AS THE BUDGET THAT WE ARE PRESENTING THIS EVENING. MAYOR STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU, MISS PENTON. AT THIS TIME, COUNSEL, IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING? HEARING NONE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. WE DO HAVE COMMON CARDS FOR
[00:50:02]
THIS. WE DO. MR. GARY RAVENEL. GOOD EVENING. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE ONLY. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I JUST HAD A QUESTION AS I WAS LOOKING. THE BUDGET IS DAUNTING. OVER 500 PAGES AND I WAS LOOKING AT IT. COMPARED TO THE 2025 TO 2026 BUDGET. AND WHAT I NOTICED IN THAT BUDGET ON PAGE 273, THERE'S AN EXHIBIT A ENTITLED THE DESOTO TEXAS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.AND WHAT IT DID IS IT LISTED OUT ALL THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ITEMS THAT YOU HAD AND THAT YOU ANTICIPATED FOR THE YEAR. EITHER IS MY OVERSIGHT OR THERE WASN'T AN EXHIBIT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAD THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO YOU.
AND THE REASON I ASK THAT IS BECAUSE THERE WAS A LINE ITEM FOR BOND 508, WHICH APPEARED TO HAVE ABOUT $13 MILLION ANTICIPATED. AND WHAT I WAS WONDERING, IT STATED THAT IN THE BUDGETED MESSAGE, IT SAID THAT ITEMS TO BE IDENTIFIED LATER, LATER ON. SO MEANING THEY'RE I GUESS THEY'RE NOT IDENTIFIED TODAY. AND MY QUESTIONS WERE AT A $13 MILLION FOR BOND GOING INTO THAT DEBT. IT'S GOING TO COST US NOT SURE WHAT THE TOTAL COST WOULD BE, BUT WHAT TYPE OF ITEMS ARE YOU LOOKING AT, OR DO YOU ANTICIPATE NEEDING THAT MONEY FOR? AND IF YOU WERE TO ADOPT THIS BUDGET, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE ADOPTING THE BUDGET WHEN THOSE ARE NOT SPELLED OUT CLEARLY ON HOW YOU'RE GOING TO UTILIZE THE MONEY? AND THEN LASTLY, IF YOU DO ADOPT A BUDGET, WILL THEY HAVE TO COME BACK TO OR WILL THEY HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS? THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS AND MY COMMENTS, MR. RAVENEL, TO CLARIFY WHAT YOUR ACTUAL QUESTION IS, ARE YOU ASKING FOR WHERE THE CIP PROJECTS ARE IN THE BUDGET? YES, YES, YES, THEY ARE EMBEDDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AS THEY ARE EVERY YEAR. SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE IDENTIFY WHERE THEY ARE IN THE BUDGET FOR YOUR FOR YOUR REVIEW. AND THERE WAS A STATEMENT THAT SOME PROJECTS OR ANTICIPATED BUDGET PROJECTS ARE BEING IDENTIFIED, BUT THEY HAD NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. WILL THOSE ITEMS BE IDENTIFIED BEFORE BUDGET? IS YOU'RE REFERRING SPECIFICALLY TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS? CERTAINLY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
MR. JACK OR JACK OR JOEL BLACK. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JOEL BLACK. I LIVE IN DESOTO IN THE RANCHO ESTATES SECTION. I'VE LIVED THERE FOR ABOUT 18 YEARS. PREVIOUSLY, I LIVED ABOUT THREE YEARS BACK WHEN I GOT MARRIED IN THE 80S, AND THEN I MOVED BACK TO DESOTO AFTER A STINT OUT OF THE AREA. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON IN SUPPORT OF STUDYING THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TO THE. THE TAX CALCULATION. AFTER 18 YEARS, MY HOUSE VALUE HAS PRETTY MUCH DOUBLED, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL THING. WHEN I SELL IT. HOWEVER, MY INCOME HAS NOT DOUBLED IN THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME. AND OF COURSE THE RATES HAVE DOUBLED ON THAT. AND SO YOU ALL KNOW THAT EXPERIENCE. I UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE MUCH TO DO WITH THAT. THAT'S CONTROLLED AT A HIGHER LEVEL, BUT A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WOULD HELP KIND OF TAKE THE EDGE OFF OF THAT. SO I'D URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THAT FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR. THANKS. THANK YOU, MR. BLAIR. MR. DANIEL CRUZ. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. DANIEL CRUZ, THE HOME OWNER. I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU. TWO WEEKS AGO, I STOOD AT THIS PODIUM DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASKED COUNCIL TO CONSIDER A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR DESOTO HOME. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT REALLY SURPRISED ME. YOU DIDN'T JUST LISTEN. YOU DISCUSSED IT. YOU ENGAGED THE IDEA. COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS, STAFF RESPONSES, A REAL BACK AND FORTH THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME, AND IT MEANT A LOT TO THE NEIGHBORS WHO WATCHED FROM HOME. I'M BACK TONIGHT NOT TO REPEAT THAT ASK, BUT TO MOVE IT FORWARD BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.
THIS IS THE FINAL BUDGET MEETING. THE FY 2027 BUDGET IS ESSENTIALLY SET, AND I RESPECT THAT. BUDGETS ARE BUILT OVER MONTHS OF CAREFUL WORK BY STAFF AND COUNCIL, AND I'M NOT HERE TO SECOND GUESS THAT WORK. AT THE 11TH HOUR ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, I ASKED COUNCIL TO LOOK AT A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, AND I LATER LEARNED THAT STAFF HAD ALREADY DONE EXCELLENT ANALYSIS BACK IN MARCH. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT WORK, AND I'M NOT HERE TONIGHT TO ASK THEM TO REPEAT IT. WHAT I'M ASKING IS DIFFERENT, AND IT'S SIMPLE AND SPECIFIC, DIRECT THAT THE MARCH
[00:55:03]
ANALYSIS BE FORMALLY CARRIED INTO THE FY 2028 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, WITH A PUBLIC PRESENTATION AND A COUNCIL DECISION POINT. SO IT DOESN'T REMAIN A ONE TIME WORK SESSION, BUT BECOMES A REAL CHOICE. THIS COMMUNITY GETS TO WEIGH IN ON NEXT YEAR, NOT A MANDATE TO ADOPT ONE, NOT A DEMAND. JUST MOVING IT FROM. WE LOOKED AT IT ONCE TO A FORMAL STEP IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE, WITH TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND AND COUNCIL DELIBERATION. AND I WANT TO SPEAK TO A CONCERN I KNOW IS REAL, THAT A BREAK FOR HOMEOWNERS COULD COME AT A COST OF HIRING THE POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND STAFF. WE NEED.I SHARE THAT CONCERN. I WOULD NEVER WANT IT TO. THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I'M ASKING FOR A STUDY WITH GUARDRAILS FUNDED OUT OF THE REVENUE GROWTH WE'RE ALREADY SEEING, NOT OUT OF EXISTING SERVICES THIS YEAR, THE CITY IS COLLECTING MORE THAN $3 MILLION MORE THAN LAST YEAR WITHOUT RAISING THE RATES. AND IT'S ALREADY FUNDING NEW POSITIONS FOR FROM THAT GROWTH, A MODEST EXEMPTION WOULD COME FROM THAT SAME GROWTH. THIS ISN'T A CHOICE BETWEEN HOMEOWNERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY. WE CAN DO BOTH. AND THE STUDY IS HOW WE MAKE SURE OF IT. I WANT TO MENTION, SINCE I SPOKE TWO WEEKS AGO, I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF DESOTO HOMEOWNERS.
MORE THAN 120 RESIDENTS HAVE SIGNED A LETTER SUPPORTING THIS REQUEST. AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HERE TONIGHT WHO CARES ABOUT THIS. MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS TOOK OUT, TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR TUESDAY EVENING TO BE HERE. THEY TOO LOVED THE CITY AND BELIEVE THIS IDEA DESERVES A FAIR LOOK. THEIR PRESENCE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. THE NUMBERS ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD. A 5% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WOULD SAVE THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER ABOUT $105 PER YEAR. THE FISCAL IMPACT ON THE CITY IS REAL, BUT MANAGEABLE. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR AN ANALYSIS, NOT A BLANK CHECK. CHECK. DESOTO COULD BE A LEADER IN THIS. IN SOUTHERN DALLAS COUNTY, NOT EVERY CITY HAS TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO GO FIRST. I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS. I MOVED TO DESOTO BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE FAMILIES, THE PRIDE PEOPLE TAKE IN THIS PLACE.
THE CITY SLOGAN IS RIGHT. THERE'S REALLY SO MUCH TO LOVE. A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WON'T SOLVE EVERY PROPERTY TAX CHALLENGE, BUT IT WOULD BE A TANGIBLE SIGNAL THAT THE CITY THAT DOES CONCLUDE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENT CARDS FOR THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENT CARDS. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING? HEARING NONE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AT THIS TIME. COUNCIL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FIRST BEFORE WE HAVE DISCUSSION.
EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ONE. IS THERE ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION? AND I KNOW WE HAD A FEW QUESTIONS FROM OUR SPEAKERS THAT I WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN POSSIBLY GIVE SOME CLARITY TO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM, WHILE WE'RE. I KNOW THAT I.
MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE ASKING US SPECIFICALLY FOR STAFF, BUT TO MR. RAVENEL'S CONCERNS ABOUT. BECAUSE WE'VE GONE OVER THE CIP PROJECT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A SLIDE THAT SHOWS THAT OR IF WE HAVE THE TIME TO INDULGE IN THAT. I HOPE WE DO, JUST TO GO OVER THOSE ITEMS. BUT ALSO, HE MENTIONED A BOND, AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BONDS HAPPENING THIS BUDGET CYCLE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A MISPRINT OR, OR IF THE IF FINANCE COULD ELABORATE ON THAT. AND THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT TO THE RESIDENTS THAT TALKED ABOUT A HOMESTEAD, I THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF US, ALL OF US UP HERE, ARE HOME OWNERS. AND SO WE UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A TAX EXEMPTION BECAUSE THAT BENEFITS US DIRECTLY AS WELL. I, I WENT INTO THIS BUDGET YEAR THINKING THAT THIS WAS THE YEAR THAT THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WHATEVER HAPPENED DIDN'T HAPPEN OR SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED, DIDN'T HAPPEN. HOWEVER, IF YOU NOTICED EARLIER IN OUR MEETING TODAY, IN OUR CONSENT AGENDA, WE TALKED ABOUT THE CRIME DISTRICT AND THE FIRE DISTRICT. IF YOU GO BACK A FEW COUNCIL MEETINGS, WE'VE WE'VE DISCUSSED ACTUALLY EXTENSIVELY HOW. DIVERTING FUNDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY PAID THROUGH OUR OUR EXPENDITURES IN OUR GENERAL FUND, SUCH AS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS CURRENTLY TODAY, 49% OF OUR BUDGET, RELATIVELY LOW.
ACTUALLY, I'M TRYING TO KEEP IT UNDER 50%, IF I CAN BE TOTALLY HONEST, BUT IT'S 49% OF OUR CURRENT BUDGET, RIGHT? THESE DISTRICTS WILL ALLOW US TO USE SALES TAX VERSUS PROPERTY TAX, WHICH IS GREAT FOR OUR CITY. THAT'S GOING TO OPEN UP SOME MONEY TO ALLOW FOR THINGS LIKE HOMESTEAD, BECAUSE DOING A HOMESTEAD MEANS THAT'S LESS MONEY COMING INTO THE CITY. I AGREE, WE NEED TO DO IT. I, I, AND I STAND FOR IT. I THINK STAFF IS JUST MAKING SURE THAT
[01:00:03]
WE DO IT CONSERVATIVELY AND RIGHT SO THAT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'RE NOT COMING BACK WITH A WITH AN INCREASE. BUT I THAT'S THAT'S MY $0.02 ON IT. BUT I'LL LEAVE YOU TO ANSWER THOSE OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN APPETITE FROM THE CITIZENS AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO REVIEW THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, WE DO WANT TO GIVE IT THOROUGH RESEARCH BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS. ONCE YOU HAVE IT, YOU HAVE IT. SO WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A CONSENSUS AS TO WHAT THAT EXEMPTION WOULD BE. AND WE DO HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IT BACK IN THE FUTURE FOR A WORK SESSION. AS FAR AS THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, WE DO HAVE AN EXHIBIT THAT WE PRESENTED WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM. THERE WAS NO BOND SALE FOR FY 2026, BUT WE ARE HAVING ONE FOR FY 2027. WE HAVE LISTED HOW THAT BOND PROCEEDS WILL BE SPENT. THERE WERE SEVERAL WORKSHOPS WHERE WE WENT WITH A CITY COUNCIL FOR THE PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE RELATED TO THAT PARTICULAR BOND SALE. WHAT WE PRESENTED WAS A SUMMARY AND DID IDENTIFY. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE YOU KNOW, HE WAS REFERRING TO, BUT IT'S NOT LISTED SPECIFICALLY ON THE EXHIBIT. BUT WE HAVE COVERED THAT WITH COUNCIL AND MULTIPLE WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS THAT WE CAN SHARE IN THE FUTURE. AND WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS THAT WE WE DON'T JUST PLAN FOR THIS CURRENT BUDGET. WE PLAN FOR UPCOMING BUDGETS. SO IT WAS MENTIONED FOR UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR BUDGET AND NEED. BECAUSE WHILE WE DID THAT, IT ALSO JUST TO GIVE. BECAUSE I LOVE UNDERSTANDING WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO. RIGHT. AND SO WHEN, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ABOUT PAYING DOWN DEBT, THE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE DID THAT WAS SO THAT WE COULD STABILIZE OUR INS. THINK ABOUT THE BUDGET IN TWO FORMS. YOU HAVE YOUR REVENUE AND YOU HAVE YOUR DEBT, RIGHT? OUR DEBT IS OUR INS PART OF THE HOUSE, RIGHT. AND SO TO, TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP OUR RATING THE SAME, OUR CREDIT RATING THE SAME, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE UNNECESSARY DEBT OR DO UNNECESSARY RATE INCREASES. WE PAID DOWN DEBT AND A GREAT CHUNK OF IT THAT'S GOING TO SAVE THIS CITY SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. BUT THAT IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING ANY GOING OUT FOR A BOND THIS YEAR. SO TO KEEP THINGS BALANCED FOR US, AND WE SEE THAT TODAY BECAUSE OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE IS THE SAME. YES, COUNCILMAN, THAT IS CORRECT. BEING THAT WE ARE PAYING OFF THE DEBT EARLY TO STABILIZE OUR RATE, WE ARE SAVING THE INTEREST THERE THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE PAY. AND THAT DOES ALLOW US TO MAINTAIN A STABLE PROPERTY TAX RATE. THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. THANK YOU. SO, MADAM MAYOR.THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL, I JUST WANTED TO I THINK MR. RAVENEL REFERENCED 508 SPECIFICALLY.
THAT IS THE WATER AND SEWER WATER AND SEWER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND. AND SO THAT IS THE REASON THEY SAID TO BE DETERMINED. USUALLY WITH THAT FUND, WE IDENTIFY WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS IN THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED TO BE WHERE WHERE THE WATER AND SEWER LINES NEED TO BE UPGRADED, UPSIZED AND OR REPLACED. AND SO THAT IS WHERE STAFF NORMALLY GOES BACK AND LINES OUT PROJECTS TO, TO, TO, TO UTILIZE THAT FUND AS WELL AS I THINK PART OF WAS THE TRANSFER FOR THE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET UP, BUT PART OF IT ALSO WAS TRANSFERRED TOWARD THE, THE, THE FUND FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITIES BUILDING. WE TRANSFERRED A PORTION OF THAT AS WELL. SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WHAT THEY MEAN WHEN THEY SAY TO BE DETERMINED, BUT IT WILL BE UTILIZED IN 20 WITH BOND PROCEEDS FOR 2020 FROM THE 2027 BOND SALE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. I SEE NO ADDITIONAL LIGHTS SO WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027 TAX RATE. GOOD EVENING.
THE PROPOSED TAX RATE WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL. I'M SORRY, TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON AUGUST 18TH, 2026. THE TAX RATE NECESSARY TO PAY DEBT OBLIGATIONS AND PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF OPERATING SERVICES, AS PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET, IS 0.684934 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION, THE SAME AS TAX YEAR 2025. THE PROPOSED RATE COMPRISES OF THE DEBT SERVICE RATE AND THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE. THE DEBT SERVICE RATE IS 0.165003 PER $100 VALUATION, A DECREASE FROM THE TAX YEAR 2025 RATE OF 0.182542 PER $100. VALUATION. THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE IS 0.519931 PER $100, VALUATION, AN INCREASE FROM THE TAX YEAR 2025 AMOUNT OF 0.02932.502392 PER $100
[01:05:07]
VALUATION. ADOPTING THIS TAX RATE WILL ENABLE THE CITY TO COVER THE COST OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. THE FINANCIAL IMPACT AGAIN, THE TOTAL TAX RATE REQUIRED TO FINANCE THIS BUDGET IS 0.684934 PER $100 VALUATION. THERE IS NO CHANGE FROM TAX YEAR 2025, AND IT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR OPERATING EXPENSES AND PAYMENT OF DEBT OBLIGATIONS.THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY AN AMOUNT OF 3.2 MILLION, A 5.94% INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL IS $695,286. THERE WILL BE AN ORDINANCE DURING THE REGULAR AGENDA. AT THIS TIME, MAYOR STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU. COUNSEL. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING? HEARING NONE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE CARDS? THERE ARE NO COMMENT CARDS FOR THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, COUNSEL, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING? HEARING NONE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. AT THIS TIME, COUNSEL, DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC? MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS AGAIN BECAUSE I KNOW THE TAX RATE IS HIGH. AND I SAID THIS THE LAST TIME WE HAD. AND IT'S IT'S HIGH WITH THE RESPECTIVE OF WE HAVE SOME GREAT HOUSING STOCK HERE.
BUT I MENTIONED IN A PRIOR COUNCIL MEETING HOW THIS RATE WAS, WE WERE AT 0.68 IN 2009, 2008. IF THAT IF YOU CAN PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE, WE, WE, WE, WE SHOT UP JUST A BIT OVER THAT TO LIKE 0.71, BUT THE COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAS CONSISTENTLY EITHER DROPPED THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OR KEPT IT STABILIZED. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT'S HOT, IT'S NOT IT WASN'T DONE LIKE THAT OVERNIGHT. IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR DECADES. SO. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN ORDINANCE BY RECORD OF VOTE TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN CIP, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS. APPROVING AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2026 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027. PROVIDING THAT EXPENDITURES FOR SAID FISCAL YEAR SHALL BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAID BUDGET, APPROPRIATE AND SETTING ASIDE THE NECESSARY FUNDS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND OTHER REVENUES FOR SAID FISCAL YEAR, FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, AND FOR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE CITY. ADOPTING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ORDINANCES AND CONFLICT, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026, IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. SECTION 551.043 C THE CITY OF DESOTO PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027 IS POSTED AT W W DOT DESOTO, TEXAS.GOV AND THE TAXPAYER IMPACT STATEMENT FOR A MEDIUM HOMESTEAD VALUE TAX COMPARISON IS POSTED AS IN THE AGENDA. AND WE DO HAVE COMMENT CARDS FOR THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. WELCOME BACK. MISS PEYTON. THANK YOU MAYOR. THIS IS THE ITEM THAT WE DISCUSSED DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE'VE LISTED BACKGROUND INFORMATION AS WELL AS INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE FINANCIAL IMPACT IS ALSO INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET. THE TOTAL TAX RATE REQUIRED TO FINANCE THIS BUDGET IS 0.684934 PER $100 TAXABLE VALUATION, WITH THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATING RATE OF 0.19931 PER $100 VALUATION, AND THE DEBT SERVICE RATE OF 0.165003 PER $100 VALUATION.
AGAIN, THE PUBLIC UTILITY FUND FOR FY 2026 HAS PROPOSED A 9% INCREASE IN THE WATER BASE AND VOLUME RATES FROM THE CURRENT BASE RATE OF $12.64 TO $13.78, AND THE CURRENT VOLUME RATE OF $4.37 TO $4.76. THE FUND ALSO HAS PROPOSED A 9% INCREASE IN THE SEWER BASE RATE FROM THE CURRENT RATE OF $15.29 TO $16.67. THE SANITATION FUND BUDGET FOR FY 2627 PROPOSES NO INCREASE. THE FY 2026 RATE WILL REMAIN AT $34.30. STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY
[01:10:02]
COUNCIL APPROVE THE ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE FY 2627 BUDGET AND FY 27 TO 2031 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE CALL FOR A MOTION? MAYOR, I DO HAVE A QUESTION. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE WATER RATE AND THE WATER AND SEWER RATE IN THIS IN THIS ITEM. CORRECT. WE WE DO HAVE A SEPARATE ITEM FOR THE WATER AND SEWER, BUT IT IS LISTED HERE AS PART OF THE BUDGET. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED A SECOND.
OH, I'M SO SORRY. WE HAVE COMMENT CARDS, I APOLOGIZE. I'M SORRY. COUNCIL. HOLD ON TO THAT MOTION. THAT WAS COUNT. MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMAN DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM KEN WATERS. WE DO HAVE COMMENT CARDS. I APOLOGIZE, MISS BERNADINE HARRISON. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING. I'VE LOOKED OVER THIS, AND I'VE. MISS HARRISON, COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME? YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE, FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. MY NAME IS BERNADINE HARRISON, AND MY CITY OF RESIDENCE IS DESOTO. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW DISPLEASED I'VE BEEN WATCHING WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. IT'S BEEN AWFUL. IT'S BEEN ABSOLUTELY AWFUL. IT'S BEEN SO AWFUL UNTIL NOW.
I'VE SAID WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW. I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING. I'M REALLY HERE TO SPEAK TO MY MY COLLEAGUES BEHIND ME AND PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE GOING TO GET TOGETHER. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND ANY MORE TIME COMING DOWN HERE TRYING TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE NO HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
WE PAY ALL THESE HIGH TAXES. OUR SCHOOLS ARE FAILING. OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT BEING EDUCATED.
WATER BILLS OFF THE CHART. NO MONEY FOR ANY TYPE OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. MY DAUGHTER MOVED OUT OF DESOTO INTO COPPELL BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS WERE MUCH BETTER. PEOPLE DON'T MAKE THE DON'T CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND INCOME. IF YOU HAVE POOR SCHOOLS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FORGET IT. NOBODY'S GOING TO MOVE INTO A COMMUNITY. BUSINESSES WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE FAILING. WHEN WE WATCH PEOPLE COME FROM CALIFORNIA, THESE BUSINESSES, WHERE DO THEY GO? THEY GO UP NORTH. THEY DON'T STOP. IN DESOTO. WE HAVE TERRIBLE SCHOOLS. WATER BILL OFF THE CHART. CODE COMPLIANCE. EVERY TIME I LOOK AROUND, ALL WE'RE DOING IS CHARGING PEOPLE FOR MONEY. EVEN THOUGH WE HAD THE WHO WAS THAT GUY? THIS JUDGE HERE GO IN AND CHARGE ALL THESE PARENTS MONEY. IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY. IT'S NOT ABOUT PEOPLE.
AND SO THEREFORE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THIS. I'M GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME DOWN TO THESE USELESS MEETINGS, SIT HERE ALL DAY, AND THEN WE CAN SPEAK AT THE END OF THE MEETING. THAT'S THE KIND OF DISCOURAGE US FROM COMING. I'M GOING TO ASK PEOPLE THAT I KNOW NEXT MEETING WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUR MONEY. I'M GOING TO PUT IN MY $100. WE'RE GOING TO SIT OUT THERE WITH OUR LITTLE, YOU KNOW, OUR LITTLE PROTEST TO TRY TO TURN THIS AROUND. NOTHING IS CHANGING IN DESOTO STREETS. DISREPAIR. I DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND I'M WONDERING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO MY MY TIRES HERE, THE STREET I LIVE ON, THIS STREET LIGHT HAS BEEN OUT NOW FOR THE LAST 2 OR 3 WEEKS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. MOST OF MONEY FROM A CITY GOES TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS, BUT OURS ARE FAILING. WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THIS ANYMORE. PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE, LET'S ALL GET TOGETHER. WE'VE MADE ONE IMPROVEMENT. WE HAVE ONE PERSON ON THIS COUNCIL THAT REALLY CARES ABOUT WE THE PEOPLE. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT WE HAVE TO GET OTHER PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT ARE GOING TO TURN THIS CITY AROUND. CONCLUDES YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. MR. GARY RAVENEL. THAT WAS CALLED FOR PUBLIC HEARING. THAT WAS. THERE ARE NO MORE DISTRICT PARTS OF THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? YES, MADAM MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO FOR I, I DON'T HAVE A POINT OF INFORMATION. I JUST WANT TO GIVE CLARITY TO THAT. WHILE THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE A HOMESTEAD FOR ALL, WE DO OFFER HOMESTEAD FOR OUR SENIORS. SO IF YOU ARE
[01:15:05]
OF THE AGE OF 64, 65 OR OLDER, THAT IS OF $40,000 EXEMPTION, HOME EXEMPTION. SO THAT THAT'S THAT DOES EXIST. HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. WHAT ABOUT AND, AND, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I JUST WANT TO BRING CLARITY THAT WHILE OUR ISD IS DEFINITELY IN A CHALLENGING TRANSITION, UNFORTUNATELY, THE CITY'S BUDGET IS SEPARATE FROM THE ISD. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT WAS MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES, SECOND BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM KIM WATERS. COUNCIL. PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PAD.MAYOR. I HAVE TO CALL THE NAMES AND DO A RECORD VOTE. OKAY. THANK YOU. SHE HAS TO DO A RECORD VOTE. BY LAW, YOU CAN CLEAR IT OUT FOR ME, PLEASE. CHIEF MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR. YES.
MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM KEN WATERS. CAN YOU CUT YOUR MIC ON, PLEASE? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN WESLEY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. DEBORAH NORTH. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CRYSTAL CHISHOLM. YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THAT PASSES SIX ONE. WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. CONSIDER AND TAKE A SEPARATE VOTE TO RATIFY A PROPERTY TAX REVENUE INCREASE, AS REFLECTED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET. WHEN COMPARED TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET. THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY AN AMOUNT OF $3,238,107, WHICH IS A 5.94% INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL IS $695,286. DO WE? OH EXCUSE ME. GOOD EVENING. AGAIN, THIS ITEM REQUIRES A SEPARATE VOTE TO RATIFY A PROPERTY TAX REVENUE INCREASE, AS REFLECTED IN THE FY 26 2027 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET. WHEN COMPARED TO THE FY 2526 OPERATING BUDGET. THIS ITEM IS REQUIRED BECAUSE THE FY 2027 BUDGET RAISES MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL IS $695,286.
THE NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED 2026 2027 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET WAS PUBLISHED IN THE DAILY COMMERCIAL RECORD ON AUGUST 19TH, 2026 AND AUGUST 24TH, 2026 AND IS POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. ADDITIONALLY, THE 2026 NOTE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX INCREASE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE DAILY COMMERCIAL RECORD ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2026 AND SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026, AND AGAIN IS POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT THE VOTE TO RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE INCREASE, AS REFLECTED IN THE FY 2026 2027 OPERATING BUDGET. MAYOR, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. HOWEVER, COUNCIL DO IS THERE A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM? MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH. I DO HAVE REALLY NOT A QUESTION. MORE OF A COMMENT TO ASK FOR STAFF TO CLARIFY. I KNOW SOMETIMES THE LANGUAGE ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM CAN BE SOMEWHAT CONFUSING BECAUSE IT REFERENCES AN INCREASE. SO CAN YOU. AND I KNOW BY LAW IT HAS TO BE STATED A CERTAIN WAY. SO CAN YOU KIND OF BREAK DOWN THIS AND PUT THIS IN PLAIN LANGUAGE WITH SPECIFICALLY WHAT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS ACCOMPLISHING AS IT PERTAINS TO THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE? YES, MA'AM. ALTHOUGH OUR TAX RATE REMAINS THE SAME AS PRIOR YEAR, BECAUSE SOME RESIDENTS HAVE AN INCREASED VALUE IN THEIR PROPERTY. THEREFORE, WE HAVE INCREASED REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES. SO ANYTIME THAT HAPPENS, WE ARE REQUIRED TO STATE THAT IS AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH. DO WE NEED A RECORD OF I MEAN HIM VOTE FOR THIS ONE AS WELL? YES, MA'AM. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR YES, MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM KEN WATERS, YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BRIAN
[01:20:02]
WESLEY YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. DEBORAH NORTH, COUNCIL MEMBER. CRYSTAL CHISHOLM. YES. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, WE HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN ORDINANCE BY RECORD VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO. LEVYING AND ASSESSING MUNICIPAL AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027 AT 0.519931 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, AND 0.165003 FOR INTEREST AND SINKING FUNDS, FOR A TOTAL OF 0.684934. SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH TAXES MAY BE EXPENDED, AND DIRECTING THE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION THEREOF.
REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS, INCLUDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS LEVYING AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE YEAR 2026. FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027 AT A RATE OF 0.684934 PER $100. ASSESSED VALUATION ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF DESOTO AS OF JANUARY 1ST, 2026, TO PROVIDE REVENUE FOR THE PAYMENT OF CURRENT EXPENSES, PROVIDING FOR AN INTEREST AND SINKING FUND FOR ALL OUTSTANDING DEBT OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, PROVIDING FOR DUE AND DELINQUENT DATES, TOGETHER WITH PENALTIES AND INTEREST.
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS ITEM IS ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE BY RECORD VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS. LEVYING AND ASSESSING MUNICIPAL AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027 AT 0.519931 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND 0.165003 FOR INTEREST IN SEEKING FUNDS, FOR A TOTAL OF 0.684934. ADOPTING THIS TAX RATE WILL ENABLE THE CITY TO COVER THE COST OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. THE TOTAL PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE REMAINS THE SAME AS FISCAL YEAR 2026. THE ORDINANCE SETTING THE TAX RATE FOR 2026 2027, CONFIRMS THE PROPERTY TAX CODE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. DUE TO THE INCREASE IN ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUATION FROM TAX YEAR 2025 TO TAX YEAR 2026, THE FOLLOWING DISCLOSURE LANGUAGE IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. THIS TAX RATE WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE. THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 4%, AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOUSE BY APPROXIMATELY $17.54. STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT THE PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVE THE ORDINANCE, LEVYING AD VALOREM TAXES FOR FY 2027. WHEN A MOTION IS MADE, THE FOLLOWING PHRASE MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE VERBAL MOTION MADE TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE. I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.684934, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 5.52% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU, MISS PAYTON. AT THIS TIME COUNCIL I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENT CARDS FOR THIS ONE. I'M SORRY. LET ME RETRACT. WE DO NOT.
THANK YOU. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE. THE CITY OF DESOTO APPROVED THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027. MUNICIPAL AD VALOREM TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS. AND WAIT 50. LET ME START OVER. THIS ONE'S A LOT. OKAY, I MOVE THAT WITH THIS ORDINANCE BY RECORD, VOTE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO THAT WE LEVY AND ASSESS THE MUNICIPAL AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO FOR FISCAL YEAR 2627 AT 0.51 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, AND 0.16 FOR INTEREST AND SINKING FUNDS FOR A TOTAL OF OF 0.684934. SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF WHICH SAID TAXES MAY BE EXPENDED, AND DIRECTING THE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION THEREOF. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IMPROPERLY. SECOND, WE'LL ALSO DO A RECORD VOTE FOR THIS ONE. OH, IT'S NOT A RECORD VOTE. IT SAYS BY RECORD VOTE. AM I READING THE WRONG ONE? THAT'S
[01:25:04]
OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR YES, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES, MAYOR PRO TEM LETICIA HUGHES YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM KEN WATERS, YES. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER YES. COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN WESLEY YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. DEBORAH NORTH, YES.COUNCIL MEMBER. CRYSTAL CHISHOLM, YES. THANK YOU. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING WATER AND SEWER SERVICE FEES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO APPENDIX A FEE SCHEDULE BY AMENDING ARTICLE 19.00 WATER SERVICE CHARGES. SECTION 19.20081 BASE RATE FOR WATER SERVICE AND SECTION 19.20083 VOLUME RATE. APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 20.00 SEWER SERVICE CHARGES BASE RATE AND VOLUME CHARGE FOR SEWER SERVICE, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES AND CONFLICT, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. AND WE DO HAVE A COMMENT CARD FOR THIS ITEM. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THESE ARE THE RATES THAT WE DISCUSSED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, DURING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS INVOLVING THE PUBLIC UTILITY FUND. IT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO RAISE THE BASE AND VOLUME RATES FOR WATER AND SEWER SERVICES. THE PUBLIC UTILITY FUND BUDGET FOR FY 2627 HAS PROPOSED A 9% INCREASE IN THE WATER BASE AND VOLUME RATES FROM THE CURRENT BASE RATE OF $12.64 TO $13.78, AND THE CURRENT VOLUME RATE OF $4.37 TO $4.76. THE FUND ALSO HAS PROPOSED A 9% INCREASE IN THE SEWER BASE RATE FROM THE CURRENT RATE OF $15.29 TO $16.67. STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING WATER AND SEWER SERVICE FEES, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE DO HAVE A COMMENT CARD FOR THIS ITEM. DOCTOR BRANDON NORWOOD. GOOD EVENING. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. DOCTOR NORWOOD, CITY OF DESOTO. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I ONLY STAND HERE. YOU ALL SEEM TO HAVE VIEWED MY EMAIL RIGHT WHERE 70 PEOPLE CALLED ABOUT THIS. SO I'M STANDING ON BEHALF OF THEM. I WANT TO GIVE THE ANALOGY. NOT EVEN ASK QUESTIONS BECAUSE BASED UPON WHAT HAS HAPPENED ON TONIGHT, I CAN ONLY GIVE AN ASSUMPTION OF WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDED TO THE BUDGET. SO ONE WOULD ASSUME THAT, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. RIGHT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM, WITH THAT, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS IN YOUR DECISION ON TONIGHT. THESE RATES WILL BE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR. WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS PUTTING OUT BILLS BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN TWO BILLS THAT ARE INACCURATE. DON'T WANT TO WASTE ANY TIME COMING UP HERE IN LINE. I'LL JUST TAKE CARE OF IT LATER. RIGHT. BUT WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN OUR SYSTEM IN PLACE. AND I KNOW THAT THE 70 PEOPLE, 78 TO BE EXACT, THAT REACHED OUT TO ME. I'VE ONLY PROVIDED WAIVERS THROUGH MY BUSINESS TO HELP THEM WITH SOME OF THE COST OF THE BILLS. PEOPLE ARE ALREADY BEHIND ON THEIR WATER BILLS AS IT IS, AND SOME OF THEM ARE ON PAYMENT PLANS. OUR SYSTEM IS NOT IN PLACE CORRECTLY AND IT WASN'T IMPLEMENTED CORRECTLY. THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW. AND WE'RE ASKING RIGHT NOW, AT THIS IMMEDIATE MOMENT, TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE RIGHT NOW, WHERE THERE ARE NO OTHER OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED. IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO ME THAT EVERY TIME I STAND HERE, I SEE THAT STAFF GIVES PRESENTATIONS. THERE ARE NO OTHER OPTIONS BUT ONE. I WISH MY STAFF WOULD DO THAT BECAUSE I WOULD FIRE THEM, GIVE ME MORE OPTIONS, OR GIVE US AS CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS MORE OPTIONS. BECAUSE WHY OUR TAX DOLLARS RUN THIS CITY? AND SO YOU'RE ASKING, THINK ABOUT YOUR GRANDPARENT, YOUR GRANDMOTHER, YOUR MOM, YOUR DAD IN A CURRENT SITUATION RIGHT NOW ON FIXED INCOME, HEARD A NEIGHBOR JUST STAND UP AND SAID THAT HIS INCOME HAS NOT CHANGED. I'M ALREADY BEHIND. NOT ME. BUT SOME IN THIS AUDIENCE ARE ALREADY BEHIND ON THEIR BILLS. THE WATER BILL BEING A MAIN ISSUE, AND NOW WE'RE ASKING TO INCREASE IT WITHOUT ANY OTHER OPTIONS. AND IT NEEDS TO BE IMMEDIATE BASED ON THE LAST MEETING. AND WE'RE AT THIS JUNCTURE OF HAVING TO MAKE A DECISION FOR AN INCREASE, AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FALL BEHIND ON THEIR BILLS. LET THAT BE YOUR REALITY IN THIS DECISION. AND JUST DON'T BE A YES MAN AND SAY YES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ACCUSTOMED
[01:30:05]
TO DOING. BUT ASK YOURSELF AND REALLY THINK ABOUT YOUR DECISION ON TONIGHT AND MAKING, BECAUSE IF YOU DECIDE TO DO THIS AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, WE'RE HEADED DOWN A RAILROAD THAT IS GOING TO LEAD US INTO A DITCH. WHY? BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN PLACE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO TO TELL YOU ON TONIGHT, BUT OTHER THAN TO THINK AND MAKE THE BEST DECISION, NOT FOR YOURSELVES, BUT ALSO FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE SITTING HERE AND THE ONES THAT ARE WATCHING US ONLINE. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL CARDS FOR THIS ITEM? THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL CARDS FOR THIS ITEM. THANK YOU COUNSELOR, ENTERTAIN A MOTION.MAYOR. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY PRESENTED. PROPERLY SECONDED. EXCUSE ME. WE NEED TO. WE CAN USE OUR VOTING POWER FOR THIS.
WE HAVE DISCUSSION. YES, PLEASE. YES I APOLOGIZE. SO THIS ITEM HIT ME KIND OF HARD THIS YEAR.
NOT THAT I WASN'T EXPECTING IT, BECAUSE WE'VE HONESTLY BEEN TALKING ABOUT INCREASES IN OUR WATER BILL FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 2 TO 3 YEARS. IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE THE SHOCK FACTOR.
BUT JUST FOR CLARITY, THIS WAS NOT A DECISION THAT FOR THAT STAFF BROUGHT TO US JUST THIS YEAR, EVERYBODY ON THIS DAIS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MR. COUNCIL MEMBER WESLEY KNEW GOING IN TO THIS BUDGET SEASON THAT STAFF WOULD BE COMING TO US WITH AN INCREASE IN WATER FOR OUR WATER RATE, NOT JUST FOR THIS YEAR, BUT FOR NEXT YEAR TOO. AND, AND, AND IF YOU DID NOT KNOW, YOU GOT AN INCREASE LAST YEAR, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF ALL THE VOTES. I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY ONE THAT I WRESTLE WITH. AND YOU'RE LIKE, CRYSTAL, WHY IT'S 9% BECAUSE 9% ADDS UP. AND IF THERE'S ANYBODY OUT THERE LIKE ME, I GOT TWO WATER BILLS FROM THE CITY OF DESOTO THAT COME TO MY HOUSE TO LOOK FOR YOU ALL TO LOOK UP.
IT'S TWO. IT'S ONE FOR MY LAWN AND ONE FOR MY HOUSE. AND SO FOR ME, I, I, I, I UNDERSTAND I HAD TO PUT MY BIG GIRL SHOES ON FOR THIS ONE BECAUSE WITH RESPECT TO WHAT DOCTOR NORWOOD SAID, I ALSO HAVE DAILY, I WANT TO SAY DAILY HAVE HAD TO BE A CONDUIT BETWEEN THE CITY AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER REGARDING THEIR WATER BILL. BUT THE TRUTH IS, IS THAT THOSE TWO, WHILE I WANT BOTH ISSUES, ARE VERY DISHEARTENING, A RATE INCREASE AND HAVING ISSUES WITH A WATER BILL AND ITS LAUNCH. RIGHT, IT IS DISHEARTENING TO SEE MONTHS TO HAVE THIS ISSUE OUTLAW, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT THERE'S 12 PEOPLE BEHIND THAT WALL WHO ARE WORKING DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO HELP ANSWER THE PHONE, SOLVE YOUR ISSUES, AND GET IT RESOLVED AS FAST AS THEY CAN.
WE'LL PROBABLY LITTLE TO NO THANK YOU. A LITTLE ATTITUDE. THEY'RE DOING THE WORK. AND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, I HAVE FOLKS LIKE MY BROTHER AND EVERYBODY ELSE, MY AUNT, FOLKS WHO ARE CALLING ME AND SAYING, CRYSTAL, WHY MY BILL SO HIGH? SO I GET IT. I, I UNDERSTAND, AND I THINK EVERYBODY ELSE UP HERE DOES, BUT WHEN I SAY I HAD TO PUT MY BIG GIRL SHOES ON, I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE NEWS THIS RECENTLY AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE, BUT I LIKE HAVING RUNNING WATER AND I LIKE HAVING WATER THAT DOES NOT TURN BROWN WHEN I TURN ON THE FAUCET. BUT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, SAN ANTONIO, LAREDO, ODESSA, HOUSTON, FORT WORTH, AUSTIN HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT HAVE COST THEM MULTIPLE MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. AND THEY WERE NOT DUE BECAUSE OF SOME RANDOM OUTAGE. LAREDO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF I CAN TAKE THEM, LAREDO HAD UP CLOSE TO FIVE FIVE DIFFERENT WATER BREAKS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT DON'T GO TO ANY OTHER FUND. BUT FIXING THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, AND I THINK WHAT WE WRESTLE WITH IS WHAT DO WE FEEL THE THE HURT NOW? OR DO WE HIT IT LATER? WHEN YOU'RE TURNING ON YOUR SHOWER AND THEN YOUR WATER IS NOT WORKING AND IT'S BROWN OR THE, THE, THE, THE PRESSURE IS NOT THERE BECAUSE THE YOUNG MAN WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OVER OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES TODAY HAS BEEN SO FUTURE THINKING FOR US THAT WE NOT ONLY HAVE A WATER STATION THAT IS HELPING OUR OTHER WATER STATION ON WESTMORELAND THAT HANDLES CLOSE TO 70% OF THE WATER IN THIS CITY. WE NOW HAVE HAMPTON ROAD THAT IS HELPING WITH THAT. WE HAVE A NEW WATER TOWER THAT'S GOING ON THE NORTH SIDE. SO THOSE FOLKS THAT MOVED INTO DANIEL FARMS, WHO'S PAYING AN
[01:35:02]
EXTRA LOAD MORE IN TAXES BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A PROPER AREA FOR MY FOLKS IN THE ROOM.DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT EXTRA TAX? BUT THEIR PRESSURE TO THEIR WATER WAS NOT THERE AND IT'S NOT THERE. AND THAT AREA IS STILL BUILDING UP. IF YOU'VE DRIVEN BY THERE, THERE'S STILL HOMES GOING UP. SO WE KNOW WE NEED WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THERE. THIS WAS A BIG GIRL MOVE. THIS WAS A MOVE. THIS THIS THIS ITEM RIGHT HERE IS LIKE THE PAIN YOU FEEL AS A HOMEOWNER BECAUSE YOU GET EXPENSES THAT KEEP YOU FROM TO KEEP THE HOUSE TOGETHER THAT YOU'RE NOT ANTICIPATING, BUT YOU GOT TO ANTICIPATE FOR. SO I'M, IF I CAN BE HONEST AND MAYOR, PLEASE EXCUSE ME AND ALL THE CHRISTIANS IN THE ROOM, I'M MAD AS HELL BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PAY A RATE INCREASE THIS YEAR, BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE TODAY. AND THAT IS SAFE, CLEAN RUNNING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS, THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIMES.
IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, WE JUST FIXED THE STATION THAT HADN'T HAD ANY UPDATES IN 40 YEARS.
I'M 43. THAT'S THAT'S OUTSTANDING. TO KNOW THAT THEY HAD NOT DONE ANYTHING IN 40 YEARS. AND I'M NOT BLAMING ANYONE FOR THAT. BUT NOW IS THE TIME. AND SO IT IS A IT IS HARD TO DO THIS VOTE, BUT I KNOW IT'S THE RIGHT VOTE. AND I WANT TO THANK STAFF, PARTICULARLY YOU, MR. LACEY, BECAUSE FROM THE DAY YOU WALKED THROUGH THIS DOOR, YOU HAVE HAD A VISION AND A PLAN FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND YOU HAVE KEPT TO THAT PLAN, AND I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY TO OUR RESIDENTS, HANG IN THERE. CHANGE IS DIFFERENT AND THIS IS FOR THE GOOD. AS IT HAS BEEN STATED, WE'RE HERE. WE'RE RIGHT HERE WITH YOU. WE DIDN'T WANT TO, BUT WE HAD TO. AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF. REACH OUT TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE LIKE MY COLLEAGUE HAS SAID, WE ARE REACHING OUT TO MR. LACEY AND HIS TEAM. AND THEY HAVE BEEN, I MEAN, JUST INCREDIBLE AT RESPONDING AND DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO TALK AND WALK PEOPLE THROUGH THIS CHANGE. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ANY CONSOLATION. AND IT'S EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE BILLS HAVE BEEN DOUBLED AND PEOPLE ARE NOT QUITE UNDERSTANDING THAT. BUT EVEN ON THE WEEKEND, I'VE SEEN HIM TAKE TIME TO CALL PEOPLE BACK. SO WE'RE ALL RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. JUST REMEMBER THAT. AND WE ARE DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS? COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM? I BELIEVE I GAVE IT ALREADY. DID YOU GIVE IT TO SECOND YOUR MOTION? YOU DID. OKAY. WHERE DID I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES COUNCIL. PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PAD. THAT MOTION PASSES SIX ONE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL. WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SANITATION SERVICE FEES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO APPENDIX A TITLED FEE SCHEDULE ARTICLE 30.00 SOLID WASTE COLLECTION FEES BY AMENDING THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER RATE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING FOR A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MAYOR, THIS ORDINANCE IS TO ESTABLISH SANITATION FEES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THE SANITATION FUND BUDGET FOR FY 2627 PROPOSES NO INCREASE. THE SANITATION RATE IS TO COVER THE COST OF COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SERVICES FOR TRASH AND RECYCLING MATERIALS. THE EXISTING RATE OF $34.30 WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED AND CONTINUE IN EFFECT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2627. STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE ORDINANCE, ESTABLISH SANITATION SERVICE FEES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026. THANK YOU, MISS. MADAM CITY SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE CARDS FOR THIS ITEM? I DO NOT OKAY. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND THEN WE CAN TAKE COMMENTS. SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM. SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED COUNCIL OF THEIR COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM. HEARING NONE. COUNSEL PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PAD. THANK YOU. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE
[01:40:11]
AGENDA. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE DEFINING THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS WITHIN THE CITY. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS.DEFINING THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED POSITIONS WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN EACH CLASSIFICATION, PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. GOOD EVENING, MISS PEEL. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO PRIOR CIVIL SERVICE, CHAPTER 143. WHEN THERE ARE ANY STAFFING CHANGES IN OUR POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE TO COME TO YOU ALL TO APPROVE THOSE ORDINANCES. SO FOR POLICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 27, THERE ARE GOING TO BE TWO ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS MAKING THAT TOTAL CIVIL SERVICE COUNT FOR POLICE, 89 POSITIONS. DOES THAT CONCLUDE YOUR PRESENTATION? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. SHORT AND SWEET. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, BEFORE WE HAVE COMMENTS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A REVERSE ORDER. THIS TIME. WE HAVE MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES, AND WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM MAKING THAT MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. HEARING NONE, WE'LL WE CAN USE OUR VOTING PAD, PLEASE. MAYOR PRO TEM, CAN YOU TRY ONE MORE TIME FOR ME? THERE YOU GO. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE DEFINING THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS. DEFINING THE NUMBER OF EACH AUTHORIZED POSITIONS WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN EACH CLASSIFICATION, PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE. PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. GOOD EVENING AGAIN, ANOTHER SHORT AND SWEET PRESENTATION. SO AGAIN, PER CHAPTER 143, WHEN THERE ARE ANY CHANGES TO CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS, WE COME TO YOU FOR APPROVAL OF THAT NEW ORDINANCE FOR FIRE. THERE ARE GOING TO BE FIVE NEW ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS FOR FISCAL YEAR 27, MAKING THAT TOTAL CIVIL SERVICE POSITION COUNT 81. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN COMMENTS? MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, I'M GOING TO GIVE THAT TO COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH. WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER EXCUSE ME, MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. COUNCIL. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? I DO HAVE ONE, CERTAINLY. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN PLAYING WITH US, MAYOR, ABOUT ME AND MY COLLEAGUE TO MY RIGHT GOING BACK AND FORTH. BUT THIS IS OUR LAST VOTE FOR THE BUDGET. YEAH. THE VERY LAST TIME I WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE AND SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE ON A BUDGET ITEM. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY IT IS AN HONOR. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR Y'ALL HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB. THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST BUDGET SEASONS THIS YEAR LIKE WE'VE SEEN. AND MR. CAMERON, I OWE YOU TWO AS WELL.
I AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO CRY ABOUT. TAKE THAT ON. DITTO. MAYOR PRO TEM, DID YOU HAVE COMMENTS? OKAY. DITTO. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR THIS ITEM. WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM. SO WE'LL USE OUR VOTING PAD TO MOVE IT FORWARD. THERE WE GO. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU COUNCIL.
AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. NEXT WE'LL 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 IT 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 THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER AND MAY BE MODIFIED AT THE MAYOR'S DISCRETION TO MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE FLOW OF THE MEETING. THANK YOU. COULD YOU CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER? PORTIS JONES?
[01:45:02]
GOOD EVENING, MISS JONES. COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE? AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK? ABSOLUTELY. GOOD EVENING. FOR THE RECORD, IT'S JORDAN JONES AT H IS SILENT. MY MOM IS PROBABLY TREMBLING IN HEAVEN. OKAY, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND FELLOW RESIDENTS OF DESOTO. I DON'T HAVE CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE DESOTO ISD, SO SOME MAY ASK WHY I'M CONCERNED. MY ANSWER IS SIMPLE. THERE. THESE ARE DESOTO CHILDREN, AND THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND SAFETY AFFECT EVERY RESIDENT. OUR SCHOOLS INFLUENCE PROPERTY VALUES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES. WE CANNOT CALL OURSELVES A GROWING, VIABLE COMMUNITY WITHOUT TREATING THE CONDITIONS OF OUR SCHOOLS AS SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY OF DESOTO, THE CITY, AND DESOTO ISD ARE SEPARATE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, AND THAT THE DISTRICT FACES SERIOUS FINANCIAL AND LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES. I'M NOT ASKING THE CITY TO ASSUME THE DISTRICT'S DEFICIT RESPONSIBILITIES OR THE GOVERNANCE. LET'S JUST STAND IN THE GAP. THIS IS NOT CASE UNIQUE. THAT COULD MEAN EXPLORING TEMPORARY, CAREFULLY RESTRICTED FUNDING OR PARTNERSHIPS FOR ACADEMIC AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING INCREASED SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER COVERAGE, PARTICULARLY AT DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL. IT COULD MEAN ENSURING CROSSING GUARDS ARE AVAILABLE WHERE OUR YOUNGEST RESIDENTS CROSS MAJOR STREETS. IT COULD ALSO MEAN ORGANIZING CHURCHES, VETERANS, RETIRED EDUCATORS, BUSINESSES AND OTHER RESIDENTS TO ASSIST WITH TUTORING, MENTORING AND APPROVED ACADEMIC AND SAFETY PROGRAMS. ANY CITY PARTICIPATION SHOULD BE TEMPORARY, TRANSPARENT, LEGALLY APPROPRIATE, LIMITED TO SPECIFIC NEEDS AND SUPPORTED BY MEASURABLE RESULTS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER CONVENING A PUBLIC DISCUSSION WITH DESOTO ISD LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS.LET US IDENTIFY THE MOST URGENT GAPS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND LET'S PROVIDE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE.
WE DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE OVER DISTRICT TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. WE DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT ITS DEBT TO SUPPORT THEIR SAFETY. WE SIMPLY HAVE TO DECIDE THAT WHILST THE ADULTS WORK THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES, NO CHILD WILL BE LEFT EXPOSED BECAUSE TWO SEPARATE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES FAILED TO BUILD A BRIDGE. LET'S STAND IN THE GAP. NOT PERMANENTLY, BUT PURPOSEFULLY, RESPONSIBLY AND TOGETHER. BECAUSE SAFETY AND SUCCESS SHOULD NEVER BE PLACED ON STANDBY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, TERRANCE GORE. GOOD EVENING, MR. GORE.
COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE FOR THE RECORD? AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS TERRANCE GORE. I'M RESIDENT OF SOTO. I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT AS A CITIZEN WHO STILL HAS HIS CONSTITUTIONAL VOICE IN THESE CHAMBERS, EVEN WHEN THE CITY ACTS LIKE IT WOULD NOT RATHER NOT HEAR ME. I WOULD AND WOULD VIOLATE THE LAW. SINCE THE FOUNDING DAYS OF OUR DEMOCRACY, THESE LAWS ARE PROTECTING FREE SPEECH, PUBLIC ASSEMBLY, AND BRINGING GRIEVANCES TO OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN LONG STANDING FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, MR. GORE, WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY. HE HAS SAT SILENTLY AS SILENTLY, LIKE THE CLOWN AS HE IS. WHILE THIS COUNCIL OVERSTEPPED, TARGETED SPEAKERS, CHANGED RULES AND CHILLED PUBLIC CRITICISM, HE HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE SOUND LEGAL ADVICE BEFORE THIS COUNCIL VIOLATING THE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS. MY RIGHTS. MR. GORE HAS HAD THE AUDACITY TO GASLIGHT CITIZENS. ONE IS SITTING IN THIS AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW, MISS BERNADINE HARRISON, WHEN HE TOLD HER, WHEN SHE ASKED THE QUESTION, DO I NOT HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT, A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO SPEAK? AND HE TOLD HER NO, AND HE RAN OFF SOME ASS. LEGAL CITATION THAT THAT'S WHAT IT WAS, BECAUSE IT HAD NO FOUNDATION IN HIS ANSWER. LET ME BE CLEAR TO ALL Y'ALL. ALL Y'ALL THAT ACT LIKE CLOWNS AND HAVE BEEN ACT JUST JUST BEEN THIS THIS CITY FOR THE LONGEST.
THE CRITICISM OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS IS PROTECTED SPEECH. HARSH CRITICISM IS PROTECTED
[01:50:03]
SPEECH. EMBARRASSING CRITICISM IS PROTECTED. SPEECH NAMING NAMES. MAYOR PROCTOR. RACHEL PROCTOR. IS PROTECTED SPEECH. THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT DISAPPEAR BECAUSE PROCTOR DOES NOT LIKE THE TONE. THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT DISAPPEAR WHEN SOMEBODY WANTS TO CALL A POINT OF ORDER. WHEN RESIDENTS ARE UP HERE SPEAKING. NO LONGER WILL THAT TRUMP THE CONSTITUTION. THE FIFTH CIRCUIT APPEALS HAVE ALREADY RULED ON THAT SEVERAL TIMES, WHICH IS WHY I'M UP HERE SPEAKING AFTER A YEAR HIATUS, RACHEL PROCTOR, YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS DRAGGED THIS CITY'S REPUTATION TO THE GROUND WITH ALL YOUR. THE PUBLIC SEES THE ANTICS AND THE PUBLIC SEES THE PERSONAL DEFENSE. THE PUBLIC SEES THE EFFORT TO MOVE THE CITIZENS COMMENTS, NARROW CRITICISM AND MAKE PUBLIC WAIT, WHILE ELECTED OFFICIALS PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM ACCOUNTABILITY. NOW YOU'RE GOING TO WATCH US, THE PEOPLE SEE Y'ALL WITH REPUTE AND DISRESPECT. THANK YOU, MR. GORE. THAT CONCLUDES YOUR TIME. WE NOW HAVE THE LAST AND FINAL COMMENT CARD. DOCTOR BRANDON NORWOOD. GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR NORWOOD. COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK DOCTOR. BRANDON NORWOOD, CITY OF DESOTO. AND THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT AFTER THE GENTLELADY CITY SECRETARY PRONOUNCED IT CORRECTLY. I KNOW THAT YOU HEARD IT AND I APPRECIATE IT. I STAND TONIGHT IN CITIZENS COMMENTS FOR CITIZENS APPEARANCES, OF COURSE, FOR A REASON. AND THAT IS STAFF.I OWE YOU ALL AN APOLOGY. EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF YOU IN COMMENTS THAT I HAVE MADE AT THIS PODIUM. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE AS A RESIDENT WHO'S STILL LEARNING TO SOME DEGREE, THAT IN AN EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE AND OPEN RECORD, I FOUND THAT YOU ALL WERE TOLD, DUE TO TIME MANAGEMENT BY OUR MAYOR, RACHEL PROCTOR, TO LIMIT YOUR PRESENTATIONS. AND SO AS A RESULT OF IT, THAT'S WHY A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS, BASICALLY THAT COULD BE ANSWERED WITH YOUR PRESENTATIONS AND WITH YOUR INFORMATION, IT'S KIND OF ADDING UP. NOW AT THIS POINT.
IT ADDS UP AND IT PROVIDES CLARIFICATION. ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE YESTERDAY THE MEETING WAS TRYING TO BE RUSHED TO BE ENDED AT 830, BUT THAT'S ALSO IN PUBLIC RECORD. AND AN EMAIL ABOUT REMIND STAFF, WHICH IS MENTIONED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, BELIEVE IT WAS YOU, SIR. MR. INTERIM ABOUT REMINDING STAFF TO CONDENSE THEIR PRESENTATIONS SO THAT ON THE SAKE OF TIME MANAGEMENT, THAT THINGS CAN MOVE ALONG. AND SO WHEN I SEE THAT, BECAUSE I REQUESTED IT IN OPEN RECORD, AND THEN I NOW SEE IT IN RECORD, I SEE IT HAPPENING BEFORE ME AND THE COUNCIL DOES NOTHING. I SIT AND I STAND HERE AND I LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF YOU.
YOU SAY THAT YOU STAND FOR SOMETHING. SHOW ME. AND THIS IS TEXAS, NOT ILLINOIS. RIGHT? SHOW ME THAT YOU STAND FOR SOMETHING. INSTEAD OF A SMILE AND A JOKE. AND I SAY THAT ACTIVELY STANDING HERE BECAUSE THE THOUGHT THAT I WOULD THINK THAT YOU'VE BEEN ELECTED TO A POSITION WHERE YOU TOOK AN OATH, AND I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM CAN WHO RIDE TO THIS ONE BECAUSE WE BOTH TOOK AN OATH AND NOW WE'RE VETERANS. AND SO YOU TOOK AN OATH AND YOU RAISED YOUR HAND AND SAID THAT YOU TOOK AN OATH TO DO A JOB. ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT AND FOLLOW YOUR RULES AND PROCEDURES? ARE YOU JUST GOING TO SIT BACK AND ALLOW ONE PERSON TO MAKE A UNILATERAL MOVE? BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SAID ON MULTIPLE TIMES THAT OUR CITY IS NOT A MAYORAL LED CITY. AND SO IF THE RESIDENTS STAND ABOVE THE COUNCIL AND ASK QUESTIONS, THEN I CAN ONLY FEEL SORRY FOR YOU AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT SIT HERE, THAT HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO YOUR POSITIONS, THAT YOU FEAR NOT SPEAKING UP. AND SO IF YOU FEAR NOT SPEAKING UP, THEN I ASSUME THAT THAT THING SAMES FALSE FOR THE STAFF. AND AS A PART OF THAT, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE BEING PICKED ON. AND I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THAT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR NORWOOD. WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE CARDS. NO, WE DO NOT. I'M SORRY. NO, MA'AM, WE DO NOT. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING. I WILL ACCEPT THE MOTION. SO MOVED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNING? ANY NAYS?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.