[00:00:07]
          TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH. I'M MAYOR RICHARD PROCTOR, AND AT 6 P.M. I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DE SOTO CITY COUNCIL. 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, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM KEN WATERS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER, COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN WESLEY, COUNCIL MEMBER. DEBORAH NORTH HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL CHISHOLM HERE. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, PLEASE. FIRST, WE WILL HAVE THE SAFETY PROTOCOL STATEMENT BY INTERIM FIRE CHIEF BRIAN WHITAKER. HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. IN CASE OF ANY WEATHER OR OUTSIDE EMERGENCIES, YOU CAN REMAIN IN THE BUILDING. FOLLOW STAFF. THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO A SAFE AREA. ANY OTHER EMERGENCIES? YOU'RE GOING TO EXIT OUT THE DOORS WHICH YOU CAME OR THE DOORS TO YOUR LEFT. 
          STAY THERE UNTIL SOMEBODY, MARSHALL, POLICE CHIEF OR MYSELF COME AND GET YOU. AND WITH THAT, LET'S HAVE A GOOD MEETING. THANK YOU CHIEF. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL NOW HAVE THE INVOCATION BY PASTOR GARY FOSTER OF NEW COVENANT MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL CHISHOLM. LET US GO TO THE LORD IN PRAYER. MERCIFUL AND ETERNAL FATHER IN HEAVEN. FATHER GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING WITH GRATITUDE. WE THANK YOU FOR BEING A GOD OF LOVE WHO IS WITH US RIGHT NOW IN THIS VERY ROOM. YOU NEVER HAVE. YOU NEVER LEAVE US AND YOU NEVER FORSAKE US, O GOD AND FATHER, FOR THAT WE SAY THANK YOU. YOUR GRACE HAS BROUGHT US SAFE SO FAR. AND FATHER, YOUR GRACE WILL LEAD US HOME. WE THANK YOU FOR MAKING EACH OF US IN THIS ROOM. EVERY PERSON WE MEET, EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS CITY AND IN EVERY CITY, IN YOUR OWN IMAGE, WITH DIGNITY AND INFINITE WORTH. WE THANK YOU, O LORD, FOR YOUR CALLING. 
          YOU HAVE GIVEN EVERYONE OF US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF YOUR CREATION, TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES. I THANK YOU TONIGHT, FATHER, FOR THESE YOUR SERVANTS, OUR MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY STAFF, AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS. I GIVE THANKS FOR THE WAY OF SERVICE THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE UP. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US HERE. WE ALL COME TO THIS ROOM TONIGHT AS COMPLEX HUMAN BEINGS. FATHER GOD, WE COME CARRYING BURDENS, CARRYING JOY AND CARRYING HOPE, TRUSTING THAT YOU ALONE CAN HOLD US TOGETHER. FATHER, IN YOUR LOVE AND IN YOUR PEACE. HELP US, LORD, TO TRUST YOU MORE, MORE THAN OUR FEARS, MORE THAN OUR WOUNDS. 
          AND YES, LORD, EVEN MORE THAN OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. FATHER, I PRAY THIS NIGHT THAT WE WOULD TRUST AND LEAN ON YOUR EVERLASTING LOVE. FATHER, WE ASK IT ALL IN THE BLESSED NAME OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. WHAT A WONDERFUL PRAYER. WILL YOU JOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY THE TEXAS PLEDGE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE TO. THANK YOU FOR THAT PRAYER. AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER 
          [B. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
CHISHOLM, FOR LEADING US IN OUR PLEDGE THIS EVENING. I'M GOING TO ASK FOR THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, PLEASE. 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 CONDOLENCES. INFORMATION ABOUT HOLIDAY SCHEDULES. RECOGNITION OF INDIVIDUALS, REMINDERS ABOUT UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL EVENTS. 
          INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS INVOLVING AN IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AS WELL AS LIAISON UPDATES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM. 
          [00:05:01]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. IT IS A WONDERFUL DAY TO BE IN THE CITY OF DESOTO. AND I HAVE A COUNCIL LIAISON UPDATE FOR THE DESOTO PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. I ACTUALLY WANT TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT AS WELL AS OUR STAFF. AND I SEE THEM THERE. MISS JORDAN AND MR. MD, MD. YOU JUST HAD A BIRTHDAY TOO. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY. OKAY, SO BACK TO WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. SO THEY WENT TO THE TEXAS A P A CONFERENCE. AND HERE'S JUST A RECAP. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF DESOTO PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE TEXAS CHAPTER OF AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE IN IRVING, TEXAS, LAST WEEK. 
          COMMISSIONERS PARTICIPATED IN EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS FOCUSED ON PLANNING, BEST PRACTICES AND EMERGING TRENDS SHAPING COMMUNITIES ACROSS TEXAS. THE CONFERENCE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED AWARD WINNING PLANNING PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN TEXAS. 
          OUR VERY OWN COMMISSIONER, CHAIR TANYA BROOKS, SERVED AS A CONFERENCE PRESENTER, LEADING A SESSION ON SHIFTING FROM THE TRADITIONAL PLANNING APPROACH APPROACHES TO A MORE MODERN APPROACH THAT NAVIGATES POLITICS AND IS ENGAGED CENTERED TO ADVANCE COMMUNITY GOALS. THE CONFERENCE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL SUPPORT THE COMMISSION'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THOUGHTFUL PLANNING AND MAKING DECISIONS THAT BENEFIT THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF DESOTO. I AM SUPER PROUD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. THEY'RE NOT ELECTED. THEY'RE APPOINTED, AND THEY SPENT EVERY OTHER TUESDAY HERE IN OUR CHAMBERS MAKING DECISIONS ON THE PLANNING OF THIS CITY, AND STAFF SO GRACIOUSLY EXTENDED THE INVITATION FOR THEM TO ATTEND. AND THEY DID. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GO INTO THE COMMISSIONERS WHO ATTEND. 
          THANK YOU FOR TAKING WHAT YOU DO SO, SO VALUABLE AND HOLDING THAT SO DEAR TO YOU. THIS IS THAT REALLY MADE MY WEEK. OTHER THAN THAT, I ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE A VETERAN OR YOU'RE NOT A VETERAN, BUT YOU LOVE VETERANS OR YOU KNOW, A VETERAN, WE ARE HAVING OUR VETERANS ANNUAL VETERANS BREAKFAST AND BENEFIT FAIR. THERE'S ACTUALLY A FLIER FOR IT AT THE TABLE. YOU CAN TAKE ONE AND YOU CAN RSVP FROM THE CODE ON THE FLIER. AND I THINK, ACTUALLY, I GOT ONE MORE THING. AND THIS IS MORE ON A SOMBER NOTE, I. FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, I'VE BEEN TRAINING WITH ELITE UNIVERSITY AND I LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT FROM IT 70 POUNDS. RIGHT. 
          BUT THE COACH, ONE OF THE COACHES WHO WAS MY TRAINER WAS COACH MOOK. HE'S HIS NAME WAS EMMANUEL BAGLEY. I TRAINED WITH HIM EVERY MORNING AT 5 A.M. HE PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY, AND HIS FUNERAL WAS THIS PAST WEEK IN THE CITY OF DESOTO. I BRING IT UP BECAUSE HE WAS VERY INFLUENTIAL IN THE CITY OF DESOTO AND DESOTO ISD IN HAVING A MARK IN SO MANY OF OUR ATHLETES WHO HAVE GONE ON TO THE NFL. I COUNTLESS OF THEM, I CAN'T EVEN NAME THEM ALL. AND SO HIS LEGACY STRETCHES NOT JUST FROM GLEN HEIGHTS AND LANCASTER, BUT ALSO HERE IN DESOTO. SO I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY HIS NAME ON THIS MIC THIS EVENING, BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO BE TRULY MISSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT. I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION THAT IS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF. IT IS OCTOBER 26TH. THAT'S NEXT MONDAY. IT STARTS AT 630. IT IS AT THE AAC AND IT IS FOR PLACE TWO. IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN PLACE TO COME ON OUT, I'D LOVE TO SEE YOU AND HAVE COMMUNICATION WITH YOU AGAIN. 
          THAT'S OCTOBER 26TH, 630 AT THE AAC. I'LL SEE YOU THERE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PARKER. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WATERS. OKAY, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. OKAY. THE EVENT HERE IS DESOTO FAMILY BASH. IT'S GOING TO BE HELD FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30TH AT THE ARK SAYS JOIN US FOR SPOOKTACULAR EVENING OF GAMES, BOUNCE HOUSES, LASER TAG, CANDY STATIONS, MUSIC, FOOD, FACE PAINTING, AND FAMILY FRIENDLY FUN. JOIN US FOR A SPECTACULAR EVENT OF GAMES, BOUNCE HOUSES. OKAY, WE GOT THAT. OKAY, THE CITY INVITES YOU TO GO AND IT IS AT 6 TO 9 P.M. AT THE ARK 1400 ACADEMY WAY IN DESOTO. SO COMING OUT LOOKS LIKE A FREE EVENT ADMISSION FREE. SO BRING THE KIDS. IT'S GOING TO HAVE SOME GOOD ENTERTAINMENT THERE. ALSO ON NOVEMBER 13TH AT THE CORNER THEATER NEXT DOOR HERE IS GOING TO BE THE A NIGHT OF SMOOTH JAZZ AND R&B. OKAY, SO IT'S GOING TO BE NOVEMBER 13TH FROM 730 TO 930. SO I DON'T HAVE ADMISSION PRICE ON THE ON THIS, BUT 730 TO 930 WANT TO DO THAT? A NIGHT OF SMOOTH JAZZ. THAT IS MY TWO EVENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? AT THIS TIME? I 
          [00:10:08]
DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. I WANT TO GO IN ORDER OF THEIR OCCURRENCE. WE HAVE SOMETHING COMING UP ON THURSDAY NIGHT. WE HAVE THE LOCAL BUSINESS WORKSHOP. AND IF YOU HAVE EVER WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO DO BUSINESS LOCALLY HERE WITH THE CITIES AND THE BEST SOUTHWEST, THE BEST SOUTHWEST CITIES WILL BE HOSTING THIS EVENT. IT IS A I BELIEVE IT'S A QUARTERLY EVENT THAT THEY'RE HOSTING, AND WE WILL BE HAVING HOSTING THAT EVENT THIS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22ND FROM 630 TO 830, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HOSTED IN DESOTO THIS TIME AROUND AT THE ARK AND MCCOWAN PARK. THAT'S 1400 ACADEMY WAY RIGHT HERE IN DESOTO. AND YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK WITH MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF AND MEMBERS OF OTHER STAFF TO, AGAIN, LEARN ABOUT PROCESSES AND THE, THE, THE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED WITH DESOTO IS THAT ABOUT 25% OF CITY TRANSACTIONS IN FISCAL YEAR IN FISCAL YEAR 2026 CAME FROM SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. SO IT IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL. IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN INTERESTED WITH DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY, SO MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND. THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO SHARE, AND I BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE SOME MORE AVAILABILITY, AND THAT IS THE FIFTH ANNUAL FIRST LADIES BRUNCH WILL BE HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY, AND THAT IS A EVENT THAT WE HOST WITH ALONG WITH OUR FAITH COMMUNITY. BUT IN HONOR OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. AND WE WILL BE PARTNERING AGAIN THIS YEAR WITH METHODIST HOSPITAL FOR A PANEL AND SEVERAL OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING. IT'S ALWAYS A REALLY GREAT AND FUN EVENT. WE WILL BE HONORING MEN FOR MEN THIS YEAR WITH THE WORK THAT THEY DO THAT SUPPORTS MEN THAT HAVE BREAST CANCER, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HOST THIS EVENT FOR THE FIFTH YEAR THIS TIME AROUND. AND THAT EVENT WILL ACTUALLY BE AT THE UNIQUE VISIONS EVENT CENTER HERE IN DESOTO AT 324 SOUTHAMPTON ROAD, RIGHT HERE IN DESOTO. AND IT IS A FREE EVENT. 
          HOWEVER, YOU MUST BE REGISTERED. AND I DO BELIEVE WE DO HAVE SOME MORE SEATS. IF YOU ARE A SURVIVOR, THEN YOU HAVE TO REGISTER AS A SURVIVOR BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE SPECIAL TOKENS OF APPRECIATION AND SPECIAL LOVE TOKENS FOR YOU ALL AS WELL. THAT DAY AND SUNDAY, I WANT TO SHOUT OUT PATIO GERMAIN PATIO WITH SHELLS AND TAILS TO GO. THEY'RE HOSTING THEIR TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY BLOCK PARTY. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SHELLS AND TAILS, YOU KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A PERMANENT FIXTURE IN DESOTO FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE SUCH A HUGE MILESTONE WITH THEM. AND THEY ARE THERE AT SHELLS AND TAILS TO GO THERE IN A FOOD TRUCK OR A FOOD TRAILER THAT'S AT THE DESOTO MARKETPLACE, WHICH IS AT 324 EAST BELTLINE ROAD, AGAIN, RIGHT HERE IN DESOTO. SO IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE ON SUNDAY FROM 12 TO 4 P.M. PLEASE STOP BY AND SHOW THEM SOME LOVE AND CONGRATULATE THEM ON TEN AMAZING YEARS. AT THIS TIME, I HAVE NO OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS AND I SEE NO OTHER LIGHTS. I'M 
          [C. CONSENT AGENDA Items are listed on the Consent Agenda by the City Manager and are recommended to the City Council for single vote approval. An item( s) may be removed from the Consent Agenda for separate vote at the request of a Councilmember, the Mayor, or the City Manager.]
          [D. Consent - Other Items]
GOING TO ASK OUR CITY SECRETARY TO GIVE US A THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. NEXT, WE MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEMS ARE LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BY THE CITY MANAGER AND ARE RECOMMENDED TO CITY COUNCIL FOR SINGLE VOTE APPROVAL. AN ITEM MAY BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE VOTE AT THE REQUEST OF A COUNCIL MEMBER, THE MAYOR OR CITY MANAGER. 
          FIRST, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 14TH AND SEPTEMBER 15TH, AS WELL AS CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A FILING FEE FOR CANDIDATES, APPLICATION FOR PLACEMENT ON THE BALLOT FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR OR COUNCIL MEMBER, AND PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE TO PAYMENT OF THE FILING FEE. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS. ESTABLISHING A FILING FEE FOR CANDIDATES. APPLICATION FOR PLACEMENT ON THE BALLOT FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND PROVIDING FOR ALTERNATE PROCEDURE TO PAYMENT OF THE FILING FEE. PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. CONSIDER ACCEPTING THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 STAR TRANSIT COST OF SERVICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $262,150 FOR DEMAND RESPONSE AND SAME DAY TRANSIT SERVICES, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PARKER. SHE'S NOT. I'M NOT FINISHED. I THOUGHT. 
          I'M SORRY I DIDN'T LOOK UP AT YOUR FACE. I JUST HEARD A PAUSE. THAT'S ALL I KNOW. CASE NUMBER PP-356-26. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE PARKS RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION PRELIMINARY PLAT, CREATING TEN RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND FOR NON RESIDENTIAL LOTS, INCLUDING A REQUEST FOR SIDEWALK WAIVER PURSUANT TO SECTION 10.403 C OF THE CITY OF DESOTO COURT OF ORDINANCES TO ELIMINATE CONTINUOUS SIDEWALKS AROUND THE EASTERN AND WESTERN CUL DE SAC TURNAROUNDS SUBJECT TO THE INSTALLATION OF ADA COMPLIANT RAMPS AND NORTH TO SOUTH CROSSWALKS. AT EACH TURNAROUND, THE PROPERTY IS LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS CURTIS PARKS A BST1124PG369TR TEN A 
          [00:15:09]
CS5 .695 AND IS ADDRESSED AS 541 SOUTH PARKS DRIVE, DESOTO, TEXAS, 75115. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE FOR THE STREAM BANK EROSION MITIGATION PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF DESOTO. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 13 UTILITIES BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE 13.1500 DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND DRAINAGE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY STREAM BANK EROSION MITIGATION PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $129,622, WITH DUNAWAY ASSOCIATES, LLC FOR DESIGN AND ASSOCIATED OTHER SERVICES FOR THE BELT LINE ROAD AND COCKRELL HILL ROAD INTERSECTION SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH BOUND TREE MEDICAL, LLC FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND MEDICATIONS THROUGH THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN COOPERATIVE PURCHASING CONTRACT OF $120,000. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE THE RENEWAL OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH DALLAS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, DOING BUSINESS AS PARKLAND HEALTH FOR THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE BIOTEL DESOTO CARE TEAM WITH UPDATED TERMS AND NOT TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF 209,567 AND $0.74 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE ANNUAL RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT WITH GRANICUS, LLC FOR VIDEO STREAMING AND CAPTIONING SERVICES FOR $56,224.05. UTILIZING THE TIPS CONTRACT NUMBER 220105. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN ANNUAL CONTRACT WITH VERIZON WIRELESS FOR CELLULAR AND DATA SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $160,000. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PURCHASE CONTRACT FOR TWO YEAR SERVERS FROM DELL INC. AT A TOTAL COST OF $90,971.76. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PURCHASE CONTRACT FOR 120 DESKTOP AND LAPTOP COMPUTERS FROM DELL, INC. FOR A TOTAL COST OF $284,689. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN INTERLOCAL COOPERATION COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DESOTO AND THE CITIES OF LANCASTER, CEDAR HILL AND DUNCANVILLE FOR THE BEST SOUTHWEST JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2027 THROUGH 2032, CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH FIRST CHOICE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, LLC FOR HOLIDAY LIGHTING AND DECOR SERVICES AT CITY HALL, THE CIVIC CENTER, THE LIBRARY, AND THE AQUATICS AND RECREATION CENTER FOR THE 2026 HOLIDAY SEASON FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $151,275. ARE WE GOOD? OKAY, AT THIS TIME? I SEE YOUR LIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND THERE WAS A LOT THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON THERE. RIGHT. SO, MADAM MAYOR, I'M GOING TO ASK BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY, SO I'M GOING TO READ THEM OFF. AND THEN YOU CAN ASK ME WHATEVER QUESTIONS OR YOU WANT TO PULL FOR A SEPARATE. WELL, I THINK THEY NEED TO BE PULLED FOR A SEPARATE VOTE. 
          OKAY. OKAY. ITEM D1D3DD3. D EIGHT, D 12 AND D 13 G12 G13. OKAY. COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER CHISM, CAN WE HAVE. EXCUSE ME, I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. COUNCIL, CAN WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE REMAINING ITEMS, PLEASE? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF D1D3, D EIGHT, D 12 AND D 13, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND TO PULL. EXCUSE ME TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE PULLED ITEMS AS STATED. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. 
          ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AT THIS TIME WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU 
          [1.  Consider adoption of an Ordinance establishing a filing fee for a candidate's application for placement on the ballot for the Office of Mayor or Councilmember and providing an alternative procedure to payment of the filing fee AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, ESTABLISHING A FILING FEE FOR A CANDIDATE’S APPLICATION FOR PLACEMENT ON THE BALLOT FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR OR CITY COUNCILMEMBER AND PROVIDING FOR AN ALTERNATE PROCEDURE TO PAYMENT OF THE FILING FEE; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]
ABOUT D1D1. SO WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THIS I LOOKED AT IT AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, LET ME LOOK AT OTHER CITIES AND THE OTHER CITIES. D BOTH DUNCANVILLE AND CEDAR HILL ARE THE TWO THAT I REACHED OUT TO. I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR FILING FEES ARE, AND THEY LITERALLY 
          [00:20:05]
HAVE NO FILING FEE. AND I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHY EXACTLY DO WE NEED TO NOT ONLY WE'RE AT 100. WHY DO WE NEED TO GO TO 110 AND WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT TO HAPPEN, LIKE RIGHT NOW? WELL, WE WANTED TO ACTUALLY GET THIS ON THE AGENDA BEFORE THE ELECTION SEASON STARTED. SO GET AHEAD OF THAT. THIS WAS PASSED PRIOR TO ME COMING WITH AN ELECTION FEE. SO I'M NOT SURE IF COUNCIL WANTS TO PROPOSE SOMETHING WHERE THERE IS NO ELECTION FEE. THAT IS TOTALLY UP TO YOU ALL. WELL, NO, I'M NOT ASKING FOR US NOT TO HAVE ONE. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT MOTION. I'M ASKING WHY ARE WE WHY ARE WE INCREASING WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE JUST SOME ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES. WHAT WHAT IS WHAT DO YOU MEAN TO THE FILING FEE. SO THERE ARE OTHER CITIES OUTSIDE OF LANCASTER OR YOU SAID CEDAR HILL AND DUNCANVILLE. OTHER CITIES HAVE UPDATED THEIR FEES. OKAY. AND ARE WE THE HIGHEST IN THE IN THE AREA? NO, I'VE SEEN SOME IN UPWARDS OF $500. WHAT ARE WE, THE HIGHEST IN THE BEST SOUTHWEST AREA? I DID NOT CHECK THE BEST SOUTHWEST AREA. OKAY, OKAY. WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO. 
          NOT US MOVE UP. WE ALREADY GOT $100. AND THEN THE 25 SIGNATURES FOR. SO I'D LIKE TO. 
          I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DENY. DO I NEED TO DO IT ONE AT A TIME? BECAUSE I GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS. OKAY. YEAH. CAN I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION? BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET A NEW WE NEED TO GET A NEW ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS SO YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE. BUT IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE THE FEE TO $100 OR WHATEVER YOU'RE RECOMMENDING VERSUS WHAT IS TO KEEP IT WHERE IT IS. CORRECT. YEAH. WHICH I BELIEVE WAS THE WAS THAT THE $100, $100? YES. SO MAKE THE MOTION BASED ON THAT. YEAH. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE STAY AT THE $100 THAT IT ALREADY IS WITH THE CITY OF DESOTO. IS THERE A COUNCIL? IS THERE A SECOND THAT MOTION FAILS FOR LACK OF SECOND COUNCIL? IS THERE A MOTION? MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED PROPERLY. SECOND, TO APPROVE THIS ITEM D ONE AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN NAY. THAT MOTION PASSES FIVE. WE DIDN'T WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S IS SHE'S VOTING OR NOT. SO THAT MOTION PASSES 
          [3.  Case No. PP-356-26 - Consider approval of the Parks Residential Subdivision preliminary plat creating ten (10) residential lots and four (4) non-residential lots, including a request for a sidewalk waiver pursuant to Section 10.403(c) of the City of DeSoto Code of Ordinances to eliminate continuous sidewalks around the eastern and western cul-de-sac turnarounds, subject to the installation of ADA-compliant ramps and north-to-south crosswalks at each turnaround. The property is legally described as CURTIS PARKS ABST 1124 PG 369 TR 10 ACS 5.695 and is addressed as 541 S. Parks Dr., DeSoto, TX 75115. Applicant: Luke Caraway, PE, of Viewpoint Land Solutions Property Owner: TX H&H Construction, Inc.]
FIVE ONE. THANK YOU. OKAY. ITEM D THREE. ALL RIGHT. SO ITEM D THREE IS ACTUALLY USUALLY THAT WOULD BE A MINISTERIAL FUNCTION FOR US BECAUSE IT'S A PLAT. BUT I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY EARLIER ABOUT THIS. THERE IS A WAIVER OF SIDEWALKS ON THIS. AND WE ALREADY HAVE AN ISSUE IN THE CITY OF DESOTO WITH SIDEWALKS. I CAN'T SEE US. WELL, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD THEN WAIVER THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPER TO NOT PUT SIDEWALKS IN. I MEAN, SINCE IT'S ALREADY A REQUIREMENT FOR US. YES, MA'AM. SO I DID PUT THE PLAT ON THE MONITOR HERE. THIS IS A SUBDIVISION OF TEN LOTS, RIGHT? YOU SEE THE SOUTH SIDE, EIGHT LOTS. AND THEN I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN USE LET ME LET ME SEE IF I CAN USE A LASER HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M. BUT ANYWAYS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LOTS AT THE NORTH SIDE, THE TWO LOTS. AND THEN AND THEN WE HAVE EIGHT TO THE SOUTH, RIGHT. SO AND THEN YOU HAVE TWO CUL DE SACS ON THE EAST AND WEST. SO ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CUL DE SACS TO HAVE A RADIUS OF 96FT MINIMUM, THAT'S A THAT'S A REQUIREMENT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO THEN THE FIRE ENGINE CAN PULL IN AND PULL OUT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PLOT, LET'S SAY ON THE EAST SIDE, YOU SEE THE CUL DE SAC IS VERY CLOSE TO THE PROPERTY LINE FOR THE OTHER PROPERTY ON THE OTHER SIDE. SO IF THEY HAVE TO INSTALL THE SIDEWALK, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE FIRE REQUIREMENT. SO WHAT DO WE DO IN THIS CASE? ALL THE THE EIGHT RESIDENTIAL LOTS ON THE SOUTH SIDE, THEY DO HAVE A SIDEWALK, BUT WE WANT TO CONNECT IT TO ON THE NORTH SIDE TO THE SOUTH SIDE. SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT, WE SAID, OKAY, WE STILL WANT TO HAVE THIS DEVELOPMENT. WE CAN APPROVE YOUR REQUEST TO WAIVE THIS SIDEWALK AROUND THE CUL DE SACS, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO PUT TWO ROUNDS IN A CROSSWALK FROM THE TWO RESIDENTIAL LOTS TO THE NORTH SIDE, TO THE ONES TO THE SOUTH SIDE. SO WE ARE ACHIEVING THE CONNECTIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY. AND THEN AT THE 
          [00:25:01]
SAME TIME, WE ARE MEETING THE FIRE REQUIREMENTS. SO ARE THESE TWO ITEMS CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER. APPROVAL OF THE PLAT WOULD GIVE THEM AUTOMATIC APPROVAL OF THE WAIVER OF SIDEWALKS. SO. WELL I PUT ALL OF THOSE IN THE AGENDA. SO THEN IF YOU APPROVE THIS ITEM, YOU'RE APPROVING THE PRELIM PLOT. YOU'RE APPROVING THE WAIVER FOR THE SIDEWALK AROUND THE CUL DE SACS, BUT YOU'RE ALSO APPROVING THE CROSSWALK THAT WILL CONNECT THE TWO RESIDENTIAL LOTS TO THE NORTH. AND THEN AND THEN TO THE SOUTH. SO IT'S, IT'S ONE PACKAGE. SO THE, THE QUESTION I HAVE LEFT ON THIS IS IF THEY WERE TO BE REQUIRED TO DO WHAT OUR ORDINANCES SAY, THAT THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED, OUR ZONING SAYS THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO WITH THAT BE AN A DETERRENCE FROM THEM ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT. 
          EXCELLENT QUESTION. THAT WOULD BE A HARDSHIP. IT WILL BE A HARDSHIP FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE 96FT REQUIREMENT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO THIS IS BASED ON, YOU SAID, BASED ON ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND FIRE CODE REQUIREMENTS, NOT REALLY ZONING BECAUSE YOU YOU DON'T HAVE THE SPACE THERE. SO THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN, WHEN, YOU KNOW, THEY PUT THEY PUT THE DRAWINGS AND WE DID THE ANALYSIS FOR THAT ONE. WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT, WE REVIEWED IT. THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN ADD A SIDEWALK IN THIS CASE WITH FIVE FEET, UNLESS THEY MISS THE REQUIREMENT ON THE FIRE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT OBVIOUSLY DO. BUT IN ORDER TO DO THE FIRE AND DO THE SIDEWALK, THEY WOULD HAVE TO THEN REDUCE THEIR LOT SIZE. THE THAT'S NOT AN OPTION BECAUSE THAT'S ZONING. SO WE HAVE A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR THE LOT SIZE. SO THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO REDUCE THE LOT SIZE WITHOUT A ZONING APPROVAL. SO THEN NOW THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH THE COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE LOT SIZE APPROVAL. SO IT'S MORE OF A HARDSHIP FOR THEM THAN IT IS. 
          THAT'S REALLY. YES, MA'AM. IT'S ABOUT HOW THEY BUILT OUT THE ACTUAL PLAT. THAT'S CORRECT. 
          AND THEN BUT WE'RE ACHIEVING OUR GOAL. SO WE'RE WE'RE GETTING WHAT WE WANT THROUGH THE CROSSWALK. THAT'S GOING TO CONNECT THE TWO RESIDENTIAL LOTS TO THE TO THE OTHER EIGHT. 
          WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO. I MEAN, WHEN WE'RE TALKING IN TERMS OF SIDEWALKS, BUT THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. COUNCILMAN WESLEY. AGAIN, WHERE WHERE ARE NOT SIDEWALKS ARE GOING TO BE WHERE WHERE WILL THEY WILL NO SIDEWALKS BE ONLY AROUND THE CUL DE SAC, ONLY AROUND THE COURT? YES, SIR. OH, OKAY. SO ONLY AROUND THE CUL DE SAC? NO. YES. AND THEN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE RESIDENTIAL LOTS AROUND, YOU KNOW, AROUND THIS CUL DE SAC, IF WE DO, THEN THEY HAVE TO ADD THE SIDEWALK. AND THEN THE WHEN THIS IS BUILT OUT, PEOPLE WHO DECIDE TO MOVE IN HERE OR PURCHASE THESE HOMES, THEY HAVE TO BE OKAY WITH NO SIDEWALK. SO THEY WILL HAVE A SIDEWALK. SO NO SIDEWALK AROUND THE CUL DE SAC. YES, YES. BUT THEN, BUT THEN THEY COULD STILL ACCESS THE SOUTH SIDE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO PUT A CROSS, A CROSSWALK ON THE ROADWAY WITH TWO ROUNDS. SO THEN THE TWO PROPERTIES, IF THEY WANT TO GO TO THE SOUTH SIDE, AND INSTEAD OF GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE CUL DE SAC, IT'LL BE ACTUALLY SHORTER FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY COULD JUST GO ACROSS THE ROADWAY AND THEN TO THE SOUTH SIDE. AND AGAIN, THE ONLY PLACE WITH NO SIDEWALKS IS THE CUL DE SAC. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. NO, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. BUT ON THIS PRELIMINARY PLAT PHASE OF IT, NORMALLY WE CAN'T SAY NO. YOU KNOW, WITH THIS HARDSHIP THING HERE, DOES THAT MEAN WE CAN SAY NO? OR DOES IT MEAN WE STILL CAN'T SAY NO? SO YOU GOT SEVERAL OPTIONS. YOU'VE GOT THE PRELIMINARY PLAT APPROVED. THE PRELIMINARY PLAT IS MINISTERIAL. IF YOU APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY PLAT AND YOU. BUT YOU DO NOT WANT THE SIDEWALKS. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO APPROVE A PLOT WITH. 
          I'M SORRY. YOU DO WANT THE SIDEWALK. YOU'RE ALLOWED TO APPROVE A PLAT WITH CONDITIONS. 
          THE CONDITIONS WOULD BE THAT THE SIDEWALKS WOULD HAVE TO BE AROUND THE CUL DE SAC. SO YOU COULD MAKE THAT MOTION AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW AS WHAT WE'RE HEARING THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. IT PROBABLY WOULD COME BACK TO US AND SAY, WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT BASED ON THE WAY THAT YOU APPROVED IT, BECAUSE THEN THAT LOT WOULD NOT MEET OUR MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. SO THAT WOULD TRIGGER IT TO GO BACK THROUGH AND START THE WHOLE ENTIRE PROCESS OVER, COMING BACK, REQUESTING A REDUCED, REDUCED LOT SIZE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS. YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. BUT BUT YOUR CODE SPECIFICALLY PUTS THIS THIS THE WAIVER, THE SIDEWALK WAIVER WITH THE PRELIMINARY PLAT APPROVAL. YEP. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE THE. CAN YOU CUT YOUR MICROPHONE OFF SO WE CAN LISTENING ONLINE? I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE ITEM AS PRESENTED. IS THAT RIGHT? IS THERE A SECOND? COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL 
          [00:30:08]
OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. ARE YOU. WE NEED EVERYONE TO VOTE. WE'LL GO. ONE INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          CHISHOLM. COUNCIL MEMBER. NORTH. YES. COUNCILMAN. WEST. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. PRO TEM. YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. NO. IS THERE GOING TO BE AN ALTERNATIVE MOTION? BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE YOU'RE YOU'RE BASICALLY MINISTERIAL WAS THE PLAT APPROVAL. SO IS THERE GOING TO BE AN ALTERNATE MOTION TO EITHER APPROVE THE PLAT WITH A STIPULATION. YES. YES. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION. NO, I WON'T MAKE IT. WON'T MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS I MAKE. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE PLAT WITH CONDITIONS THAT THE THAT THE ACTUAL SIDEWALKS BE REQUIRED. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED TO APPROVE WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT THE SIDEWALKS BE ADDED. WE'LL WE'LL GO INDIVIDUALLY. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARKER. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, CAN I ASK SOME CLARIFICATION FROM THE ATTORNEY? SURE. OKAY. SO THIS IS NEW PROCESS FOR ME. THIS THING. SO I THOUGHT WE HAD A MAJORITY VOTE AT FIRST. SO THAT THAT DIDN'T IT WAS IT WAS TIED. OKAY. SO WE OKAY, I GUESS I'M CONFUSED ABOUT WE NORMALLY HAVE TO EITHER SAY YES ON THESE. BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU ARE SAYING YES TO THE PLAQUE. 
          YOU'RE PUTTING A CONDITION ON THE PLAT APPROVAL, RIGHT? THE SIDEWALKS IN THE CUL DE SAC. 
          RIGHT. OKAY. WELL, I, I WILL HAVE TO SAY YES. EXCUSE ME, COUNCILMAN WESLEY, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE LAWYER. YES. SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE LAWYER. IF IF WE APPROVE THIS WITH CONDITIONS AND THE VOTE PASSES, THAT WE WANT SIDEWALKS ONLY AROUND THE. I MEAN, THE ONLY ONE TO PUT THEM AROUND A CUL DE SAC. THEN IT BLOWS UP THE WHOLE PROJECT. RIGHT. 
          THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FROM FROM THE PRESENTATION, FROM STAFF THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO MEET THE MINIMUM. THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED BY OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF THE APPLICANT IS HERE. OH, OKAY. BUT WE WILL HAVE BASICALLY TWO OPTIONS. WE EITHER REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE LOTS OR I HAVE TO WAIVE THE THE STANDARDS OR THE SIDEWALK AND ALLOW THEM TO GO TO 3.5FT OR FOUR FEET. SO THEN I CAN YOU AND WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOTE. HOWEVER, JUST TO CLARIFY FURTHER WITH COUNCILMAN WESLEY, THE CUL DE SAC HAS NO RESIDENTIAL AROUND IT, CORRECT? NO. SO IT I MEAN, WHETHER IT HAS A SIDEWALK OR NOT IN IN THE IN THE TRADE OFF FOR THAT IS THAT YOU ALL ARE PUTTING RAMPS ON THE SIDES SO THAT THEY CAN GO ACROSS. THAT'S RIGHT. IN LIEU OF SIDEWALK. BASICALLY, IF YOU LOOK, IT'S SERVING NO PURPOSE AROUND THE CUL DE SAC. SO IF YOU LIVE AT THE TWO RESIDENTIAL LOTS OF THE NORTH AND YOU WANT TO GO SOUTH, WE'RE GOING TO PUT TWO RAMPS IN THE CROSSWALK THAT THESE TWO PROPERTY OWNERS CAN, CAN USE AND GO TO. BUT INSTEAD OF GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE EAST OR ALL THE WAY TO THE WEST TO WALK AROUND THE, THE CUL DE SAC AND COME BACK, WHICH, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, NO ONE DOES. PEOPLE WILL JUST CROSS THE ROADWAY. 
          BUT IF THEY WANT TO DO THAT, WE WILL HAVE RAMPS AND WE WILL HAVE A CROSSWALK. SO PAVEMENT MARKINGS THAT WOULD TAKE THE TWO RESIDENTIAL LOTS FROM THE NORTH SIDE TO THE SOUTH SIDE, THEY CAN CROSS SAFELY IN EXCESSIVELY AS WELL. AND I ASSUME THE TEAM, OUR TEAM, STAFF WISE, HAS DONE THEIR HOMEWORK TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S THOUGHTFUL SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHALLENGES WITH THAT. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. COUNCILMAN WESLEY, SO I DON'T WANT ANY CONDITIONS. SO THAT'S A NO VOTE, RIGHT? YOU WOULD BE A NO VOTE. NO. I'M NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          NORTH. MADAM MAYOR, SINCE THE VENDOR IS HERE OR THE BUILDER OR THE APPLICANT. THE APPLICANT. 
          WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH. IF. IF SO, IT WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE. WE CAN HAVE HIM TO COME UP. BUT DEPENDING ON HOW THE VOTE GOES. BUT WE NEED TO FINISH THE VOTE AT THIS TIME. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. CHISHOLM. NO. SO THAT LET ME. CITY ATTORNEY, HOW DOES 
          [00:35:02]
HOW DO HOW DO WE STATE THAT? BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR. FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE VOTING NO TO APPROVE THIS WITH CONDITIONS SO THAT THAT MOTION DOES A MOTION FAIL. MOTION FAILS, THE MOTION FAILS, DENY THE PRELIMINARY PLAT. THE MOTION FAILS. IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION? YES, MAYOR. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE PLAT AS PRESENTED. THANK YOU. SECOND, WE HAVE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM MADE THE MOTION. COUNCIL MEMBER WESLEY. SECOND, THE MOTION COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. NO. AND AND TO BE JUST A POINT OF ORDER, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOTE AND WE'RE DISCUSSING LIKE WE WERE NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOTE. AND THAT JUST SEEMS SO OUT OF ORDER TO ME. BUT I'M STILL A NO REGARDLESS. BUT IT JUST SEEMS OUT OF ORDER THAT MOTION PASSES FIVE ONE. THANK 
          [8.  Consider authorizing the Interim City Manager to execute the annual renewal of the contract with Granicus, LLC for video streaming and captioning services for $56,224.05, utilizing TIPS Contract No. 220105]
YOU, COUNCIL D EIGHT. ALL RIGHT. FOR FOR D EIGHT. I'M ASKING ABOUT THE THE GRANICUS AND THE FACT THAT THE AMOUNT OF MEETINGS THAT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'LL COVER DON'T SEEM LIKE IT'S ENOUGH FOR BOTH PLANNING AND ZONING AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. I ONLY CALCULATED ABOUT AT TWO, EVEN TWO HOURS, ABOUT 2.5 MEETINGS PER MONTH FOR THE NEXT YEAR. AND THAT'S BEYOND THE 7075. THAT'S THAT'S MORE THAN THE 75 MEETINGS JUST FOR THE COUNCIL. SO THERE HAS BEEN THIS THIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN FOR 75 MEETINGS FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. OKAY. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOUR MEETINGS A MONTH. IF THEY'RE ALL HELD AND NONE OF THEM ARE CANCELED, IS LESS THAN 75 FOR THE COUNCIL. AND THE PLANNING IS CORRECT AND ALSO HAS SOME ROOM FOR SOME TOWN HALLS AND SOME OTHER VARIOUS A FEW VARIOUS THINGS IN THERE. BUT THIS DOES NOT COVER IS ALL THE OTHER BOARDS. WE HAVE NEVER CONTRACTED FOR ALL OF THE BOARDS BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF PRICEY, RIGHT? IT'S GOT A LOT OF DIRECTOR WHO IS MOVING THE CAMERAS AROUND TO LOOK AT EACH ONE OF YOU AS YOU SPEAK AND PUT YOUR NAME UP ON THE SCREEN AND ALL THAT STUFF. SO THAT'S THIS, THIS JUST COVERS, THIS COVERS ACTUALLY DDC TWO, COUNCIL P AND Z AND DDC. OKAY. 
          YES, MA'AM. DDC, I DON'T THINK I SAW DEVELOPMENT CORPORATE THERE, BUT WAS IT IN THERE. I DON'T THINK IT WAS. I THOUGHT IT SAID P AND Z. AND IT SAYS DESOTO DEVELOPMENT CORP. OH IT DOES OKAY. YES MA'AM. OKAY SO THAT'S ENOUGH. YES. YOU'RE SAYING IT'S BEEN 75 MEETINGS FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS NOW. AND IN THE ACTUAL LISTING, I JUST DIDN'T SEE HOW MANY WE HAVE ACTUALLY USED. DO WE GET MONIES BACK FROM THE ONES WE DON'T USE? SINCE I DIDN'T SEE HOW MANY WE ACTUALLY HAPPENED, THIS NEVER HAPPENED. SO WE PAY FOR THE AMOUNT UP FRONT AND THEN THE CONTRACT THAT'S ON THE THING THAT'S ONLINE, IT SAYS 2022. WE WITH THIS, THIS WOULD BE A BRAND NEW CONTRACT. WELL, IT'S A IT'S A RENEWAL. IT'S THE SAME CONTRACT WE'VE HAD FOR, FOR QUITE SOME TIME. OKAY. IT WENT UP A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE ADDED CLOSED CAPTIONING AT Y'ALL'S REQUEST. THAT'S ABOUT ALMOST 17 GRAND OF IT IS THE ENGLISH AND SPANISH CLOSED CAPTIONING, BOTH LIVE AND ON DEMAND. AND THEN THE REST OF IT IS 75 MANAGED MEETINGS, DIRECTED MEETINGS, AND JUST A COUPLE GRAND FOR THE SOFTWARE LICENSE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION? MAYOR? I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY D 13. AND 
          [12.  Consider authorizing the Interim City Manager to execute an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the City of DeSoto and the Cities of Lancaster, Cedar Hill, and Duncanville for the Best Southwest Juneteenth Celebration for calendar years 2027 through 2032]
THIS ONE WAS JUST A SIMPLE QUESTION FOR FOR PARKS ABOUT THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. I KNOW WE NORMALLY ONLY HAVE THE PARKS AGREEMENT FOR THOSE THREE CITIES FOR THREE YEARS. WAS THERE A REASON WE DECIDED FOR FIVE. IS THAT GOING TO GIVE US ANY SAVINGS OR. NO. SO THE THE FISCAL REQUIREMENTS ARE THE SAME FOR THAT CONTRACT. WE WANTED TO BALANCE IT SO WE COULD GET. AND I THINK IT'S 2032 THAT ALL THREE CONTRACTS COULD BE BROUGHT BACK AND RENEWED AT THE SAME TIME, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING ONE EVERY OTHER YEAR OFF BALANCE. OKAY. 
          YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE IT AS PRESENTED. EXCUSE ME. OKAY. THANK YOU. FOR THE RECORD, IT'S 12 BECAUSE WE SAID 13. THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED PROPERLY. SECONDED TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. 
          [13.  Consider authorizing the Interim City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with First Choice Christmas Lights, LLC for holiday lighting and decor services at City Hall, the Civic Center, the Library, and the Aquatics & Recreation Center for the 2026 Holiday Season, for an amount not to exceed $151,275.00]
THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL D 13. OKAY. AND THIS IS THE LAST ONE I ACTUALLY WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE THE CONTRACT AND I WAS WONDERING NOW I DID REACH OUT TO YOU ALL ABOUT THIS. I ONLY SAW ONE CONTRACT IN THERE OR ONE ONE BID. AND USUALLY 
          [00:40:03]
WHENEVER WE HAVE THESE TYPES OF THINGS WHERE THERE'S A BID PROCESS, WE ACTUALLY SEE THE BID PROCESS. WE KIND OF SEE WHEN IT WENT OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH EACH ONE WAS, WHAT THEY WERE OFFERING AND WHY WE ENDED UP WHERE WE ENDED UP. HOWEVER, WAS THERE ONLY KIND OF GIVES US A SEAT INTO THIS SPECIFIC ONE. AND I WAS WONDERING WHERE THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE NOT ONLY PROVIDED, OR MAYBE YOU CAN SPEAK TO WHO THOSE COMPANIES ARE AND PROVIDE IT LATER, BUT THAT'S WHY I ACTUALLY EMAILED YOU GUYS TO ASK THAT. YES, MA'AM, SO I DID. I GOT YOU THAT INFORMATION EARLIER TODAY. SO THE THAT'S AN OVERSIGHT ON MY, MY PART. I DIDN'T REALIZE Y'ALL PUT THAT ON THE DOCUMENT. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE ON THE FISCAL THE FINANCIAL DATABASE WHEN WE SUBMIT THE PO, THE JUSTIFICATION, THE TWO OTHER COMPANIES. SO WITH US GOING OUT FOR BID AROUND LATE AUGUST FOR THESE CHRISTMAS CONTRACTORS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A TURNKEY PROVIDER TO ONE DO THIS FACILITY, BUT ALSO THE ARC, WHICH IS A NEWER FACILITY. WE NEEDED SOME INSIGHTS ON DESIGNING THOSE AREAS. WHAT WOULD WORK BEST, WHAT FITS THE THE THE DECOR FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND IDEALLY, WE SENT THAT OUT AROUND LATE AUGUST, WHICH IS LATE FOR CHRISTMAS. VENDORS. THEY'RE NORMALLY BOOKED UP AND SOLIDIFIED BY THAT TIME. SO WE ONLY RECEIVED TWO VENDORS THAT SUBMITTED BIDS BACK FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO. ONE OF THEM DECLINED BECAUSE IT WAS SO LATE IN THE SEASON. THEY WERE ALREADY HAD PRIOR CONTRIBUTIONS OR FOR THEIR FOR THEIR BUSINESS. THE TWO COMPANIES THAT WE DID RECEIVE BIDS FROM, ONE OF THEM IS IN YOUR COUNCIL DOCUMENTS. THE OTHER ONE IS CERTIFIED LIKE PROS. THEIR QUOTE WAS AROUND 180, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN WHAT THE CERTIFIED LIKE CONTRACTOR PRESENTED TO US. 
          AND THAT WAS EVEN AFTER THE ADDITIONAL LIGHT POLE LIGHT POLE ADDITIONS THAT WE NEEDED FOR THE CITY. SO, OKAY, SO THIS, THIS BIDDER, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THEY WERE GIVING US THE BEST CONTRACT AND THEY'RE GIVING US MORE THAN WHAT WE SAW IN THE CERTIFIED. ABSOLUTELY. YES. 
          OKAY. BECAUSE I TRIED TO GO THROUGH WHAT WAS IN THE EMAIL. BUT AGAIN, FORGIVE ME, I SHOULD HAVE ASKED EARLIER, BUT THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS AS FAR AS THEM, THIS PARTICULAR VENDOR THAT WE'RE USING NOW, THIS ONE THAT'S HERE, IS THIS NOT WHO WAS THE ONE FROM LAST YEAR? THERE WERE A COUPLE DIFFERENT VENDORS FROM LAST YEAR. SO WE DIDN'T JUST USE ONE VENDOR TO PUT UP CHRISTMAS DECOR. IT WAS KIND OF PIECEMEAL TO DO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY AND DIFFERENT PIECES. AGAIN, I BELIEVE WE HAD A LATE START LAST YEAR AS WELL, SO WE WERE USING AS MANY CONTRACTORS THAT WERE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME, SO WE DID NOT GO OUT TO THEM SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS. NO MA'AM. NO, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ARC LAST LAST YEAR. AND I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT THEY PROVIDED WAS THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE INDOOR DECOR. THIS YEAR WE GOT QUITE A BIT MORE LIGHTING. WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PHOTO OPS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. OKAY. AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS WE'RE NOT USING LAST YEAR'S VENDORS AT ALL. NO, MA'AM. NO. OKAY. BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR QUITE A BIT OF TIME. AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION. IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE STARTING OVER ALMOST. AND THE VENDORS WHO WERE WITH US, THEY REALLY GOT CUT OFF. IF I'M IF I'M HEARING YOU CORRECTLY, WE WENT TO A WHOLE DIFFERENT VENDOR. NO, MA'AM. THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO SUPPLY THE NEEDS OF WHAT WE WANTED ULTIMATELY IS WHAT, WHAT THAT BOILED DOWN TO. 
          OKAY. YEAH. THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO COMPLY TO THE BID SPECS. OKAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT, I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION? ONE QUICK QUESTION. THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPLY EVERYTHING. WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE TO CORRECT THEIR LABOR INCLUDED. YES, SIR. AND THEN THEY'LL WHEN ARE THEY WHEN ARE THEY PUTTING UP. THEY'LL START IN OCTOBER. SO THEY'LL START AS SOON AS THIS CONTRACT IS APPROVED. WRAPPING TREES AND PUTTING UP PERIMETER LIGHTS AROUND THE BUILDINGS, INSTALLING TREES AND THEN ALSO INSTALLING THE POLE LIGHTS. SO WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH FOR A TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY THE FIRST WEEKEND OR LAST WEEKEND IN NOVEMBER, THAT THANKSGIVING WEEKEND, BLACK FRIDAY. SO WE WANT TO HAVE EVERYTHING UP AND READY BEFORE THEN. SO WHEN DID THEY BRING DOWN THE FIRST WEEKEND IN JANUARY, FIRST WEEKEND IN JANUARY. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. IS THERE A MOTION? MAYOR MOVE THAT MAYOR. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED PROPERLY. SECOND, TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I AND A SHOW OF HANDS I. I ALL OPPOSED SAME SIGN THAT MOTION. THAT MOTION PASSES FIVE ONE. THANK YOU COUNCIL. MADAM CITY 
          [1.  Conduct a Public Hearing and consider approval of an Ordinance re-adopting Standards of Care that provide basic childcare regulations for recreation activities by the City of DeSoto Parks and Recreation Department   AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, ADOPTING UPDATED STANDARDS OF CARE FOR YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAMS OPERATED BY THE CITY OF DESOTO PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT; PROVIDING FOR ANNUAL COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS HUMAN RESOURCES CODE SECTION 42.041(b)(14); PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]
SECRETARY, WE HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE RE ADOPTING STANDARDS OF CARE THAT 
          [00:45:01]
PROVIDE BASIC CHILD CARE REGULATIONS FOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES BY THE CITY OF DESOTO PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND ORDINANCE. ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS. ADOPTING UPDATED STANDARDS OF CARE FOR YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAMS OPERATED BY THE CITY OF DESOTO PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, PROVIDING FOR ANNUAL COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS HUMAN RESOURCES CODE. SECTION FOUR, 2.041 B 14, PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. GOOD EVENING, DIRECTOR AGEE. 
          ALL RIGHT. AFTERNOON. I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE STAYED UP HERE FOR THE LAST THREE. SO. ALL RIGHT. 
          SO TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT OUR ANNUAL. WE'RE HAVING OUR ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ADOPTION OF YOUTH SPORTS STANDARDS OF CARE. WHAT THIS THIS ADOPTION DOES IS. MY APOLOGIES. I BROKE IT. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS SOME BACKGROUND AROUND THIS ADOPTION. 
          THERE WE GO. THANK YOU MA'AM. SO ULTIMATELY, SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS KEEP THE THE EXEMPTION IN ORDER TO KEEP THIS EXEMPTION, WE HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ADOPTED BY COUNCIL PER ORDINANCE EVERY YEAR TO KEEP THIS PER TEXAS GUIDELINES. RIGHT. THE LAW HAS FOUR ELEMENTS REGARDING THIS. THIS ORDINANCE, IT'S STAFFING RATIOS, MINIMUM STAFFING QUALIFICATIONS, FACILITY HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS, AND THEN MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT OF THOSE, THOSE PROCEDURES. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS GIVE THE PARENTS OF EACH PROGRAM THE STANDARDS, PHYSICAL COPIES OR DIGITAL. AND THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MARKETING OURSELVES AS A CHILD CARE LICENSE FACILITY. THOSE ARE KIND OF THE THREE STANDARDS. 
          RIGHT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OUR ORDINANCE, IT HAS FIVE KEY FACTORS, RIGHT? HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPONENTS, STAFFING, SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS, FACILITY AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, PARENT COMMUNICATION AND PARTICIPATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THEN MONITORING AND DISCIPLINE. SO WHAT'S GOING TO BE COVERED IN THIS THIS PRESENTATION AND THE ORDINANCE THIS YEAR IS A COUPLE OF THE OLD STANDARDS HAVE CHANGED, RIGHT? SO INSTEAD OF JUST COVERING ONE FACILITY AT THE REC CENTER, WE'RE NOW TAKING ON THE ADOPTION OF ANY SCHOOL ISD FACILITIES THAT WE MIGHT USE FOR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE AAC FACILITIES. SO THE LANGUAGE IS WRITTEN TO ENCOMPASS ALL OF THOSE THINGS, WHETHER WE'RE PUTTING ON A PROGRAM HERE AT A FIRE STATION OR ANY OTHER CITY OR SCHOOL ISD FACILITY, SO THAT IT'S ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT EXEMPTION. SOME OF THE OTHER CHANGES THAT WE HAVE OR THE, OH, I'M SORRY, GO BACK. SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT CHANGES IS WE INCREASE THE AGE FROM 11 TO 13, WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE MORE PARTICIPANTS IN OUR PROGRAM. SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WEREN'T EXCLUDED FROM ANY PROGRAMS WITHIN OUR, OUR DEPARTMENT AND DIVISION. AND THEN. THE OTHER CHANGE WE HAVE IS LANGUAGE WRITTEN ACROSS. POSITION SPECIFIC TRAINING AND RESPONSIBILITIES. SO WE KIND OF OUTLINED IN THIS ORDINANCE WHAT EACH STAFF PERSON WOULD BE DOING AND WHAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE WAS NOT CHANGING ACROSS THE BOARD IS GOING TO BE OUR STAFFING RATIO. SO WE'RE STILL GOING TO KEEP IT 1 TO 10 FOR ON SITE AND THEN 1 TO 6 FOR TRANSPORTATION. OUR BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE STILL GOING TO BE HR HANDLED. SO HR WILL RUN BACKGROUND CHECKS AND THEY WILL BE THE THE FULL DETERMINANT. ON WHAT EXCLUDES INDIVIDUALS FROM WORKING WITH THE CITY. 
          OBVIOUSLY, THINGS LIKE SEXUALLY HEINOUS CRIMES WOULD DISQUALIFY SOMEBODY FOR WORKING FOR THE CITY AS WELL AS WITH YOUTH. BUT HR WOULD BE THAT FINAL DETERMINATION FACTOR ON HIRING MANDATORY STAFF TRAINING WE HAVE OUTLINED IN THIS ORDINANCE. SO IT'S GOING TO ENCOMPASS A LOT MORE SPECIFIC TRAINING AS OPPOSED TO JUST A 20 HOUR MANDATE. AND THEN OUR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND REVIEW PROCESSES ADDRESS THE IMPLEMENTED TRAINING. SO MAKING SURE THAT ANY OF THESE TRAININGS, WE HAVE A REVIEW PROCESS AND THEN A FACILITATION SCHEDULE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH ALL THESE TRAININGS. RIGHT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SOME KEY UPDATES AGAIN. SO MORE CLEAR DEFINITION DEFINITIONS. THE THE INITIAL OR PREVIOUS VERSION DIDN'T HAVE DEFINITIONS OR SCOPE WHEN IT CAME TO THE ORDINANCE. STRONGER LANGUAGE AROUND ABUSE AND NEGLECT, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE REPORTING PER TEXAS GUIDELINES, PARTICIPATION AND RELEASE AUTHORIZATION. SO IT'S BEEN ADJUSTED A LITTLE BIT TO BE ADAPTABLE FOR THE CIVIC CENTER AND THE ARK, NOT JUST SHOWING IDS, BUT MAYBE WE DO DIGITAL CHECK IN OR CHECKOUT PROCEDURES, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THE CHILDREN ARE STILL SECURE AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION STANDARDS. SO INSPECTIONS ON ALL OF OUR VEHICLES THAT WE USE TO TRANSPORT KIDS, AS WELL AS CHECKING BEFORE WE LEAVE AND AFTER WE GET OFF THE 
          [00:50:06]
TRANSPORTATION AND BACK ON, RIGHT, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS ACCOUNTABLE. 
          INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS. SO MAKING SURE THAT WE OUTLINE THOSE THINGS AND OUR PRE PRE PARENTING MEETING, AS WELL AS DURING TRAVEL AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEN MORE DEFINED MONITORING AND CORRECTIVE ACTION. SO MAKING SURE THAT ANY COMPLAINTS OR DISCIPLINARY ISSUES ARE ESCALATED TO PROPER LEVELS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND EVERYTHING IS HANDLED FAIRLY AND EFFECTIVELY. NEXT PLEASE. SO THE STAFF TRAINING, RIGHT. SO THE ENTIRE STAFF TRAINING AND SUPERVISION, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO PRIORITIZE IS STREAMLINING AND MORE EFFECTIVE TRAINING. SO THE STANDARDS OF CARE DOCUMENT WILL BE USED IN THAT ORIENTATION FOR ALL NEW PERSONNEL. WE'LL HAVE ACTIVE SUPERVISION AND HEADCOUNTS PRE POST ACTIVITIES. SO MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE ON TOP OF THE KIDS WITHIN THEIR CARE ON EVERY ACTIVITY AS THEY'RE TRANSITIONING FROM THE POOL TO THE GYM TO, YOU KNOW, UPSTAIRS ROOMS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERYBODY THAT THE, THAT IS ENTRUSTED IN OUR PROGRAMS, FACILITIES, SPECIFIC PROCEDURES AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. SO WE'RE REALLY TAKING TIME TO ANALYZE EACH ONE OF OUR FACILITIES THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS ANY OF THE FACILITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO PARTNER TO UTILIZE FOR THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ALL ARE INSPECTED AND UP TO DATE FOR ALL SAFETY PROCEDURES AND NOTIFICATIONS, RIGHT. BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT. SO OUR DISCIPLINARY ACTION, RIGHT, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TRAINING STAFF, THAT THEY'RE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE TRAININGS, WE'RE GOING TO ESCALATE TO STAFF THAT HAVE THE PROPER TRAINING SUPERVISORS, SUPERINTENDENTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE SO THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE TO PARENTS AND HANDLE THINGS EFFECTIVELY. FIRST AID AND CPR. AED TRAINING IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALREADY DO, AND IT'S BEING TRACKED THROUGH OUR RISK MANAGER. SO EVERYBODY THAT'S HIRED AND WORKS FOR OUR YOUTH AQUATICS, THEY ALREADY HAVE TO HAVE THIS FIRST AID AND CPR, BUT WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY IN HOUSE THIS YEAR THAT CAN DO THOSE TRAININGS, INCIDENT AND ACCIDENT REPORTING. AGAIN, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING PROPER CHAIN OF COMMAND AND COMMUNICATION TIMELINES SO THAT PARENTS AND STAFF ARE BEING COMMUNICATED AND TALKED TO IN AN EFFECTIVE AND STREAMLINED MANNER. INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS, AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR FIELD TRIPS, TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS, OFFERING ACTIVITIES ARE ALL INCLUSIVE, AND WE'RE MAKING ACCOMMODATIONS WHERE WE CAN. MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT WE'VE KIND OF BUFFED UP SOME OF THE VERBIAGE. HOW DO WE MONITOR AND STAFF PROGRAMS AND DETERMINE THE SUCCESS? WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT THAT FEEDBACK FROM OUR ONE OF OUR KIDS, OUR PARENTS, OUR YOUTH. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT TO EVALUATE PROGRAMS FOR NEXT YEAR, RIGHT? WE'RE GOING TO FILL OUT OUR PROGRAM PLANS AND DOCUMENT EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON THROUGHOUT OUR ORGANIZATION, SITE MANAGERS AND FRONTLINE STAFF, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY ARE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE PROCESSES ARE THE SAME, REGARDLESS OF IF THE AAC OR THE CIVIC CENTER. SO WE'RE USING SIMILAR FORMS AND FORMATS FOR BOTH FACILITIES, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE ACCOMMODATING OF BOTH. WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE BOTH GOING TO HAVE SOME DIFFERENT NICHES AND OPPORTUNITIES, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THAT SAFETY COMPONENT IS STILL THERE CITYWIDE DEPARTMENT INVOLVEMENT. SO MAKING SURE THAT ANY DEPARTMENTS WE NEED TO INVOLVE FIRE HEALTH HEALTH INSPECTOR ARE DEFINITELY LOOPED INTO INTO THESE CONVERSATIONS AHEAD OF TIME. SO GETTING PRE INSPECTIONS, POST INSPECTIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT PRIOR TO NEEDING THEM. AND THEN COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS AGAIN ARE GOING TO BE ESCALATED AS NEEDED. SO EVERY, EVERY FEEDBACK OR CONCERN COMPLAINT SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED. AND THE ONES THAT CAN'T BE RESOLVED ON SITE ARE GOING TO BE ESCALATED TO A SUPERVISOR OR COORDINATOR, AS WELL AS A FOLLOW UP PROCESS TO THAT COMPLAINT AND FEEDBACK. SO NEXT UP, THAT'S GOING TO CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION ON PUBLIC HEARING. IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, I'LL TAKE THEM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. SECOND BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WATERS COUNCIL. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. DO WE HAVE COMMENT CARDS FOR THIS ITEM? WE DO NOT. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND MOVED BY COUNCILMAN PARKER. SECOND BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WATERS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING COUNCIL. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. 
          IS THERE A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE WITH JUST A FEW CONDITIONS. CAN I DO I NEED TO GO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO YOU AND I, WE WE HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING VIA EMAIL. YES, 
          [00:55:02]
MA'AM. PRETTY RAPIDLY HERE. AND I EXPLAINED THAT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE, THE ONE THAT'S ONLINE, IT DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THE, THE, SOME OF THE NECESSARY THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT CPR, FIRST AID, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOMEBODY ON SITE ALL AT EACH OF THE LOCATIONS THAT'S NOT REALLY STIPULATED IN THE DOCUMENTATION ANYWHERE. THINGS LIKE HOW THE CHILDREN WILL BE RELEASED, YOU KNOW, WHETHER, WHETHER IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS LIKE THE STAFF QUALIFICATIONS IN THERE, IT JUST SAYS MATURE. YOU KNOW, IT HAS A IT HAS A VERY BROAD STATEMENT, BUT IT NEEDS TO HAVE AN AGE LIMIT ON IT. YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW OLD ARE THESE PEOPLE GOING TO BE, THAT TYPE OF THING. AND SO I WAS ASKING IF WE COULD MAKE CERTAIN THAT THIS CAN GET TO THE COUNCIL AND THIS BE PUT INTO THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT, THE ONE THAT IS EXHIBIT A THAT DOES NOT HAVE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IN HERE. THINGS SUCH AS PARENTS ARE NOTIFIED WHEN THERE'S AN ILLNESS. THOSE TYPES OF THINGS NEED TO BE IN THE DOCUMENT SO PARENTS KNOW HOW AND WHO THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING TO. IF SOMETHING SHOULD OCCUR WITH THEIR CHILD ON SITE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION. IT HASN'T BEEN PROVIDED TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE ALL OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE NOT IN THE ACTUAL EXHIBIT. A WHAT IS YOUR MOTION, COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER, TO APPROVE WITH THE CONDITION THAT ALL OF THE ITEMS IN THE LIST, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT'S GOING TO GO INTO THE EXHIBIT TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE. WE CAN'T JUST APPROVE IT WITH BROAD TERMS. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT LANGUAGE WOULD BE. SO AT THIS POINT, OKAY, WELL THEN I'M NOT GOING I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION THEN BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE TO DENY IT WITH WITHOUT THIS INFORMATION IN THERE. 
          COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION? MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IMPROPERLY. SECOND, TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? CAN YOU PLEASE GET YOUR MIC ON? JUST YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CHILDREN. AND, YOU KNOW, ISDS, I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT OUR 504 CHILDREN, OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILDREN. SO I KNOW THAT'S KIND OF OUTSIDE OF THE ARENA WHEN THEY BRING THEM TO THE CAMP, YOU KNOW, OR CARE, BUT IT WOULD BE PRETTY GOOD TO THINK ABOUT ASKING THAT PARENT IF THEY WOULD SHARE MAYBE THEIR IEP OR THEIR, YOU KNOW, JUST SO YOU, YOU WILL BE AWARE OF, OF MAYBE WHAT A CHILD IS CHALLENGED MAY BE DEALING WITH. SO THAT'S JUST, IT'S JUST AN FYI. YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN. ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S IT. MAYOR, I DO HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE IN MY, MY 20 PLUS YEARS OF HIRING, I KNOW I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ASK ANYBODY ON THEIR AGE, WHAT CAN YOU TALK TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP BY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, SPECIFICALLY AROUND WHO IS HIRED FOR. TO WORK WITH THE CHILDREN, I GUESS, AND THAT THAT PERSPECTIVE OR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THINGS ARE SAID, IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T AGREE, BUT A LOT OF THIS FALLS INTO OPERATIONS, WHICH WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION OVER. RIGHT. SO WHAT WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO IN MY QUESTION AND MY QUESTION IS TO ELABORATE ON THE HIRING PROCESS, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE CAN'T ASK FOR AGE. WE CAN'T SPECIFY AGE FOR EMPLOYMENT. AND THEN WHO, WHO IS EXACTLY AROUND THESE KIDS. AND THEN DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR THE CPR OR THE THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED? YES, MA'AM. SO I WILL SAY THAT A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTIONS WERE REGARDING POLICY ISSUES. SO A LOT OF THESE THINGS WE ALREADY COVER IN, AGAIN, THE TRAINING, THE HR STANDARDS, WE DO HAVE MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR SOME OF THE JOBS. THE REASON WE TOOK IT OUT OF THE ORDINANCE PER SE, IS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO POSSIBLY OFFER SOME OF THE JUNIOR CAMP COUNSELOR INITIATIVES, WHICH WOULD ALLOW KIDS 16 AND 17 TO STILL GO THROUGH THAT SAME TRAINING AND ALLOW US TO MAKE THE JURISDICTION ON THEIR MATURITY AND THE LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY THEY WOULD HAVE. THEY WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE. 
          THEY WOULDN'T BE INVOLVED IN THE 1 TO 10 RATIO OR 1 TO 6 RATIO, OR HAVE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OVER THE YOUTH. THEY WOULD BE A GOOD MENTOR, BUT MAYBE FIRST TIME JOB OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF THEM TO GET INTRODUCED. AND WE CAN START OUR SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR CAMP COUNSELORS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AGING OUT OF OUR PROGRAM, ARE LOOKING FOR MORE FULL TIME EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT. AS FOR THE CPR FIRST AID TRAINING, AGAIN, WE HAVE SOMEONE IN-HOUSE THAT HANDLES A LOT OF THAT. THE SPECIFICS TO THOSE TRAININGS, WE DON'T PUT IN THE ORDINANCE, BUT IT COULD CHANGE WITH, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT VENDORS THAT WE USE, THE DIFFERENT EITHER VIRTUAL OR ONLINE OR TEST THAT WE TAKE THE, THE SPECIFICITY OF EACH ONE OF 
          [01:00:05]
THOSE IS GOING TO BE BASICALLY OUTLINED BY RED CROSS. RED CROSS IS GOING TO BE THE THE JURISDICTION. SO IT'S THEIR, YOU KNOW, GUIDELINES OR THINGS CHANGE. WE'LL ADJUST OUR TRAINING AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING APPLICABLE TO THOSE THINGS. I SEE HR BOOM THANK YOU MA'AM. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO JUST TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT, COUNCILWOMAN CHISHOLM, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE CANNOT ASK ON THE APPLICATION. HOWEVER, WE DO DO AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECK WITH THE HIRE. 
          SO WHEN A CANDIDATE IS PRESENTED WITH AN OFFER, IT'S UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF WHAT COMES BACK WITH THAT BACKGROUND CHECK. AND IF WE FIND ANYTHING, FIRST DEGREE FELONIES, ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT WE DEEM IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO WORK AROUND CHILDREN, THAT OFFER WOULD BE RESCINDED AND THEY WOULD HAVE THAT IN WRITING. AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THAT BACKGROUND CHECK. AND WE WOULD LET THE DEPARTMENT KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS CANDIDATE. DO YOU HAVE A SECOND CANDIDATE IN MIND? THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. WE'LL WE'LL USE OUR VOTING MACHINES TONIGHT. MR. CITY ATTORNEY. THANK YOU, MR. AGEE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PAD. MR. THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. THAT MOTION PASSES FIVE ONE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE THE NEXT 
          [1.  Consider authorizing the Interim City Manager to execute employee medical, dental, vision, and life insurance renewals at the quoted rates for Plan Year 2027]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA. NEXT, WE MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA ITEM. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE EMPLOYEE MEDICAL, DENTAL, VISION AND LIFE INSURANCE RENEWALS AT THE QUOTED RATES FOR PLAN YEAR 2027. MAKING AN INTRODUCTION AS HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR KATIE PEEL. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL. 
          GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. SO AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE GOING THROUGH OUR ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS, HR WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR BENEFIT BROKERS, MCGRIFF. OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE. I AM ONE OF THOSE EMPLOYEES TO NOT HAVE SEEN A RATE INCREASE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. HOWEVER, WE KNEW THAT GOING INTO THIS PLANNING YEAR, THINGS WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT JUST DUE TO THE MARKET AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO OUR BENEFIT BROKERS WORKED VERY HARD FOR US TO NEGOTIATE RATES THAT KEPT US BELOW OUR BUDGET, WHICH WE ARE VERY PROUD OF AND EXCITED FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE SEEING AN INCREASE, IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, TOO MUCH. SO WE HAVE MISS KRISTINA PALACIOS. SHE IS THE ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR MCGRIFF, AND SHE IS ONE OF THE BROKERS WHO WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH US. SHE'S BEEN ASSIGNED TO OUR ACCOUNT OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS, AND SHE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL A PRESENTATION OF WHAT WENT INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS AND THEN WHAT THOSE RATES WILL LOOK LIKE. AND THEN AT THE END, WE'LL SEEK YOUR APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING. CRISTINA PALACIOS, ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR MARSH. WE USED TO BE MCGRIFF, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF MARSH. JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST BROKERS IN THE WORLD, AND WE HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY OF DESOTO SINCE 2011. FOR THE AGENDA TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT COST PRESSURES, MEDICAL LOSS RATIO, MEDICAL INSURANCE RENEWALS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE HEALTHCARE COST PRESSURES. WE JUST WANT TO REFERENCE A LITTLE BIT OF LIKE, WHAT IS THE TRENDS GOING ON RIGHT NOW? EVERY YEAR, THE MEDICAL TREND IS AT 9%, BUT THERE ARE OTHER SIX COST INFLATOR FACTORS THAT. THAT IS AFFECTING THE MEDICAL CARE RIGHT NOW. ONE OF THEM, NUMBER ONE, IS THE HIGH COST CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS. NUMBER TWO IS SPECIALTY PHARMACY. NUMBER THREE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDER PRICING. NUMBER FOUR, THE GLP ONE EXPANSION. NUMBER FIVE, THE NO SURPRISE ACT. AND THEN NUMBER SIX, OTHER CONTRIBUTORS LIKE THE AI TECHNOLOGY THAT PROVIDERS ARE OUTSOURCING SO THAT THEY CAN DO MORE BILLING. 
          SO THESE ARE THE INFLATIONARY FACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTING THE MARKET ON THE MEDICAL AND PHARMACY. CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CITY OF DESOTO'S CLAIMS DATA AND PLAN PROJECTIONS. OH, IT WORKS NOW. 
          THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW HAS THEIR OWN LIFE. OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE VERY LAST COLUMN. WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE ROLLING 12 OF YOUR CLAIMS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CITY OF DESOTO IS AT 103% LOSS RATIO. THIS MEANS THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE CITY OF DESOTO PAYS, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD IS PAYING $1.03. THEREFORE, BECAUSE WE DO TRACK YOUR CLAIMS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WE DID EARLY ON BUDGET SEASON RENEWAL PROJECTION. AGAIN, 
          [01:05:06]
LET'S FOCUS ON THE RIGHT PART OF THE SCREEN. WE WERE PROJECTING BETWEEN 11% TO 20% INCREASE TO PREPARE WITH THE BUDGET AND WITHIN THE RENEWAL, WE RECEIVED AN INCREASE OF 17%. 
          WE NEGOTIATED AND BRING IT DOWN TO 14%, WHICH IS WITHIN BUDGET. JUST TO TO REMIND THAT 14% IS A CALENDAR YEAR. THE MEDICAL PLAN GOES FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER OF 2027. AND THE RATES OR THE BLUE HIGHLIGHTED HERE IS JUST TO REFLECT THE FISCAL YEAR IMPACT, WHICH WILL BE WITHIN BUDGET. THE FISCAL YEAR IMPACT FOR THE MEDICAL RATES IS AT 10%. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO JUMP INTO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS. WE'RE ASKING TO RENEW BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD MEDICAL PLANS FOR 2027. 
          THE TO. WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR THE EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEES TO SHARE PROPORTIONATE INCREASES OF THAT 14%. AND SINCE THIS MEETS THE FISCAL YEAR, BUDGET PLANNING HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MISS PALACIOS. COUNCIL. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION BEFORE WE GO INTO DISCUSSION. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED A SECOND. THANK YOU. THANK AGAIN. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? I SEE NO LIGHTS, MISS PALACIOS. THAT MEANS YOU DID A GOOD JOB. YOU LEFT US SPEECHLESS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. WE'LL USE OUR VOTING PADS, PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER, CAN WE CLEAR IT AGAIN? A REVOTE. COUNCILMAN WESLEY, WE NEED YOU. 
          [2.  Consider authorizing the Interim City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract for the purchase of Sensus water meters, radios, and annual software subscription fees with Aqua-Metric Sales Company for the not-to-exceed amount of $1,800,000]
OKAY. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF CENSUS WATER METERS, RADIOS AND ANNUAL SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTION FEES WITH ORTHOMETRIC SALES COMPANY FOR NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $1,800,000. AND FOR THE RECORD, WE DO HAVE A COMMENT CARD. GOOD EVENING, MR. LACEY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. DO YOU WANT ME TO GO AHEAD AND PRESENT OR THE COMMENT FIRST? WE WILL TAKE THE COMMENT CARD FIRST. YEAH. THANK YOU. MISS NICOLE RAPHAEL. 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'M NICOLE RAPHAEL AND I LIVE IN DESOTO, TEXAS. 
          I'VE SERVED ON THE COUNCIL FROM 2019 TO 2025. SO I KNOW HOW HARD THESE DECISIONS ARE AND I APPRECIATE STAFF'S WORK ON THE BILLING PROBLEMS. NOW I'M HERE RELATED TO THIS F2 ITEM, THE $1.8 MILLION METER PURCHASE. THE MAIN QUESTION, THE MAIN QUESTION IS BEFORE THE CITY REPLACES THOUSANDS OF METERS, WHAT PROOF DOES THE STAFF HAVE IN THAT THE BILLING SYSTEM CAN MATCH EVERY NEW METER TO THE RIGHT CUSTOMER ACCOUNT? AND WHY SHOULDN'T WE WAIT UNTIL THE BILLING IS STABLE? I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THOSE ANSWERS. HERE IS WHY I ASK. SINCE MAY, RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED BILLS MAILED THAT DON'T MATCH THEIR ONLINE BALANCES, PAST DUE NOTICES THAT WERE TOLD TO IGNORE. MANY OF US STILL CAN'T TELL WHAT WE OWE, AND REPLACING 4000M MEANS 4000 NEW METERS AND RADIO IDS THAT MUST BE CONNECTED TO THE RIGHT ACCOUNTS IN THE SAME SYSTEM, AND THAT IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. THE STAFF REPORT DOESN'T MENTION THE BILLING PROBLEMS OR DESCRIBE ANY TESTING PLAN. I ALSO FOUND ISSUES IN THE REPORT ITSELF. 
          THE REQUEST IS FOR UP TO 8.7 MILLION, BUT THE QUOTE IS 1.7 1,706,691. THAT'S ABOUT A $93,000. THAT'S ABOUT $93,000 MORE WITH NO EXPLANATION. TWO UNIT PRICES IN THE REPORTS TABLES DOES NOT MATCH THE QUOTE, THE RADIO AND THE ONE THE RADIO AND THE ONE INCH ALTIMETER EACH MULTIPLY OUT TO MORE THAN THE EXTENDED COST SHOWN TWO LINES THAT ARE BOTH LABELED 5/8 OF THREE FOURTHS INCH, BUT ONE COST ONCE $166. THE OTHER IS $383. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE. 
          [01:10:08]
THERE ARE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS, AND THE REPORT DOESN'T SAY SO. AND ABOUT $63,000 IN SOFTWARE FEES APPEAR TO REFERENCE INVOICES THAT WERE ALREADY ISSUED. AND THOSE ARE ARE THOSE ALREADY PAID? THAT'S THE QUESTION. AND THE LABOR AND THE LABOR IS PRICED FOR 3600 EXCHANGES, WHILE 4000M ARE BEING BOUGHT. WHAT COVERS THE EXTRA 400? THAT'S A QUESTION. 
          FINALLY THE REPORT METERS. FINALLY, THE REPORT SAYS THAT THE METERS FROM 2011 ARE NEARING THE END OF THEIR SERVICE LIFE. HOW MANY WERE ACTUALLY. HOW MANY HAVE ACTUALLY FAILED ACCURACY TESTING AND WHAT IS THE PLAN AND COST FOR THE REMAINING 14,000? I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO SAY NO TO METERS FOREVER. I'M ASKING YOU TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS BY GETTING THE ORDER RIGHT, WHICH IS PLEASE WOULD YOU CONSIDER THREE THINGS FIRST, RAPHAEL, THAT CONCLUDES YOUR TIME. OKAY. THIS WAS THREE MINUTES FOR THE FOR THE REGULAR SESSION. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. SURE THING. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER CARDS FOR THIS ITEM? WE DO NOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. LACEY. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS ITEM IS A PRETTY FAMILIAR ITEM THAT YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE IN THE PAST. MAYBE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER WESLEY, EACH YEAR, THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT BRINGS FORWARD A REQUEST TO PURCHASE WATER METERS FOR NOT ONLY NEW COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, NEW RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, BUT ALSO FOR CURRENT, EXISTING OR EXCUSE ME, EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES FOR METERS THAT MAY BE EXPERIENCING SOME ISSUES. AS YOU ARE ALL AWARE, THE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT HAS BROUGHT THIS FORWARD IN THE PAST. THERE'S USUALLY DISAPPEARS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. HOWEVER, THERE'S A FEW MORE THINGS THAT ARE AT PLAY AS THE. AS MISS RAPHAEL STATED, THIS ORDER IS A LITTLE LARGER THAN IN THE PAST. MUCH LIKE LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID PHASE ONE OF OUR METER REPLACEMENT, WE'RE SEEKING TO DO PHASE TWO IN CALENDAR YEAR 2027. THE ARMY PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN 2011 WITH A LIFE EXPECTANCY ON MOST OF YOUR METERS TO BE ABOUT 15 YEARS. SO AS SUCH, A LOT OF METERS THAT WERE PLACED INTO THE GROUND ARE STARTING TO REACH THEIR END OF USEFUL SERVICE LIFE. SO IN AN EFFORT TO REPLACE THOSE THAT MAY HAVE FAILED OR PROACTIVELY REPLACE THOSE BEFORE THEY FAIL, WE'RE BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. 
          JUST AS A QUICK ASIDE HERE, THIS CODE ALSO INCLUDES OUR FEES, OUR SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE, FEES AS A PART OF THE QUOTE. EACH YEAR WE DO PAY THE SOFTWARE HOSTING FEES, AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK IN THE TOWN HALL, I WANT TO DEVIATE TOO MUCH FROM THE FROM THE AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT. BUT THE METER SOFTWARE IS THE SAME SOFTWARE THAT WE HAVE USED SINCE 2011. SO THAT SOFTWARE HAS NOT CHANGED. AND EACH YEAR WE DO HAVE WHAT'S CALLED SAAS FEES OR SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE THAT HANDLES OUR DATA HOSTING AND ALL OF OUR METERING INFORMATION. YOU KNOW, AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE ON, YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS GROWN. SO WE'VE ADDED NOT ONLY ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION STATIONS IN THE PAST, BUT WE'VE ALSO ADDED ADDITIONAL METERS. SO, YOU KNOW, SOFTWARE FEES ARE SUBJECT TO AN INCREASE OF, I THINK, OF ABOUT 3.5% EACH YEAR. SO WE HAVE REACHED THAT THRESHOLD WHERE OUR SOFTWARE FEES HAVE EXCEEDED, YOU KNOW, THE $50,000 THRESHOLD. SO INSTEAD OF BRINGING THIS AS TWO SEPARATE ITEMS, WE'RE BRINGING THIS AS ONE LUMP SUM ITEM. AS A REMINDER, THIS WAS INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL. AND AS SUCH, THE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN FUND 503 OF THE METER REPLACEMENT FUND AND 504 FOR THE FEES OF THE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND. SHOULD YOU APPROVE THIS EVENING, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT YOU AUTHORIZE THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH AQUA METRIC FOR SOFTWARE AND SUBSCRIPTION FEES AND CENSUS WATER METERS RADIOS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1.8 MILLION. AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE OF ME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION? MAYOR? I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? THAT WAS YOU, COUNCILMAN. EXCUSE ME. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WATERS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. SECOND. OKAY. IS THERE QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? I DO HAVE ONE. YES. I 
          [01:15:02]
WAS FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY SECRETARY IS GETTING COPIES OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED. I REALLY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THOSE WERE, BUT I'M I'M GOING TO WALK DOWN AND SEE IF I CAN PIECE THIS TOGETHER. SO ARE ALL THE THE METERS IN, IN THE IN DESOTO, WERE THEY ALL REPLACED IN 2011? NO. SO ARE THERE SOME OLDER. NO. SO WHEN WE STARTED OUR PROGRAM, OUR AUTOMATIC METERING INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, IT WAS DONE IN PHASES, RIGHT. SO THE ONES THAT WERE PLACED INTO THE GROUND IN 2011 AND SUBSEQUENTLY THEREAFTER NEED TO BE REPLACED. SO WE HAVE ROUGHLY AROUND 19,000M. LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE WE REPLACED ABOUT 2200. AND THIS YEAR WE'RE WE'RE PROPOSING TO REPLACE 4000, AS I MENTIONED IN CALENDAR YEAR 2027. SO THAT WOULD GIVE US ABOUT A THIRD OF WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED INTO THE GROUND TO BE REPLACED. AND TO ALSO YOUR QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM, SINCE ABOUT 2019, DURING THE BUDGETARY PROCESS, THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A TRANSFER FROM THE FUND BALANCE FROM FUND 502 INTO 503 IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS REPLACEMENT PROJECT. SO FUNDING HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL SINCE SINCE I BELIEVE AROUND 2019. YEAH, YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT QUITE A FEW TIMES. SO I GET IT. THE THE MONEY IS IN THE ACCOUNT. I DO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. SO THE SAAS FEES, WHAT IS THAT COST DIFFERENCE FROM THE 1.8 MILLION. SO THE SAAS FEES, I BELIEVE TOTAL TO. 
          LET'S SEE HERE. IT WAS ABOUT $63,000. GOTCHA. AND THAT'S FOR ALL SERVICES. REGARDLESS IF THE METER IS REPLACED. CORRECT? CORRECT. SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE HOSTING THAT THAT DATABASE TO HOST ALL OF OUR, YOU KNOW, GET STORE OUR DATA AND HAVE OUR, YOU KNOW, METER TRANSMISSION DATA AND SUCH LIKE THAT. SO WHETHER WE REPLACE METERS THAT WE HAVE THE PROGRAM ALREADY IN PLACE. SO THAT IS THE CONTINUE AND HAVE THAT SOFTWARE AVAILABLE TO US. OKAY. 
          SO IF YOU SO I DIDN'T GET I DON'T KNOW IF MY WHEN MY METER HAS BEEN REPLACED, I HAVE TWO. 
          SO I'M NOT SURE IF THEY IF YOU HAVE REPLACED THEM AS A HOMEOWNER, WHAT WOULD I WHAT HOW WOULD I KNOW? LIKE WHEN MY METERS REPLACED. IS THERE SOMETHING IN MY HOME? IS THERE SOMETHING ON MY BILL THAT WOULD CHANGE BECAUSE AND I LOVE, I KNOW WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE WATER BILL AND THE. I'M LOOKING AT THE CITY ATTORNEY, SO I KNOW I CAN'T TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA. RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO BE LIKE A I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO THIS AS CRAFTY AS I CAN. SO WHAT WHAT WILL I SEE ANYTHING ON MY WATER BILL OR LIKE, BECAUSE I, AS A HOMEOWNER, IF WITH ALL THE CHANGES THAT I'VE, I'VE HAD RIGHT SINCE APRIL, AND THEN YOU GO AND REPLACE MY METER, IS THAT THEN GOING TO BE ANOTHER AGITATION? IS MY QUESTION. LIKE, HOW WILL I, WILL I FILL IT THROUGH THE WATER? WILL I FILL IT THROUGH THE BILL OR WILL I NOT EVEN KNOW? WILL IT JUST BE LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT AND YOU JUST TAKE IT AND REPLACE IT AND MOVE ON? I MEAN, WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE FOR ME AS A RESIDENT? OKAY, SO AS FAR AS LET ME, LET ME ADDRESS THIS TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. SO AS FAR AS IN THE INFORMING OF THE RESIDENT LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE REPLACING WATER METERS, WE DID A PHONE TREE TO THOSE SPECIFIC RESIDENTS BECAUSE IT DIDN'T AFFECT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. AND THEN ALSO BEFORE WE WOULD CHANGE ANY WATER METER, WE, YOU KNOW, KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND MAKE CONTACT WITH RESIDENT OR AND IF WE DON'T GET A, YOU KNOW, AN ANSWER, WE DO PUT A DOOR TAG ON THERE. SO THAT'S HOW YOU WOULD KNOW. BUT AS FAR AS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, LIKE WHAT YOU FEEL, FEEL IT ON THE BILL, LIKE AS FAR AS AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE, THE THE ANSWER IS NO, BUT I WILL, I WILL TELL YOU THIS JUST, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR THE COUNCIL. YOU KNOW, SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP THE TOWN HALL LAST WEEK, IF THERE A COUPLE OF THE RESIDENTS BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF GETTING THEIR METER TESTED. THIS IS HOW THIS WORKS. IF YOUR METER IS TO BE TESTED, WE GO TO YOUR HOME, WE PULL THAT METER OUT, WE SHIP THAT METER TO A THIRD PARTY COMPANY BECAUSE THAT, YOU KNOW, TAKES ANY ARBITRARY OUT OF THERE AS A COMPLETELY IMPARTIAL TEST. IN THE IN BETWEEN TIME, WE HAVE TO HAVE A METER TO PUT IN THE GROUND TO REPLACE THE ONE THAT'S BEING TESTED, RIGHT? SO IF THERE'S ANY TYPE OF LIKE BILLING DISPUTE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, OUR CUSTOMER HAS ISSUES, YOU KNOW, WITH THEIR WATER BILL. IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT INVENTORY TO, TO REPLACE THAT METER, WE CAN'T ESSENTIALLY PROVIDE THAT SERVICE OR TEST THAT. SO WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO RELY ON THE METER IS TELLING US, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE, WHAT THE BILL IS DOES 
          [01:20:03]
THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY INVENTORY IS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME WE'RE GETTING WE'RE GETTING LOW ON OUR INVENTORY. THAT'S WHY WE DO ANNUAL REPLENISHMENT. OKAY. SO FROM A CRITICAL STANDPOINT, BECAUSE YOU, YOU UPPED THE NUMBER FROM THE LAST INSTALLATION TO 2200 FROM THE 1900 FROM PRIOR, WHICH YOU MENTIONED WAS ONE THIRD. IS THIS BECAUSE OKAY, SO IS IT, IS IT COMPATIBLE TO LIKE GETTING YOUR OIL CHANGE OR SOMETHING LIKE, LIKE, IS THIS 15 YEARS? LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO START SEEING ISSUES WITH THEIR, THEIR METER? IS THEIR BILL GOING TO BE I'M, I'M ASKING THIS BECAUSE IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS AND SAY WITH THE AMENDMENT OF WAITING TILL THE BILL SITUATION IS FIXED, RIGHT. JUST HYPOTHETICALLY. RIGHT. WHAT'S THE LIKE, WHAT'S THE FALLOUT? I WANT TO UNDERSTAND, LIKE, WHAT IS THE FALLOUT? IS THE FALLOUT THAT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, CREATE ANOTHER PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THEIR METER. AND THEN THUS YOU'RE REALLY GETTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WATER BILL, OR IS IT GUARANTEED THAT IT'S GOING TO GO OUT IN 15 YEARS? AND I TIED IT INTO AN OIL CHANGE BECAUSE I DON'T I MEAN, I TRY TO RIDE SO I CAN'T RIDE ANYMORE, RIGHT? SO IN RESPECT TO THAT, IS THIS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE IT CAN GO PAST 15 YEARS, YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN VERY PROACTIVE THESE LAST COUPLE YEARS, I MAY ADD. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IT JUST THE NECESSITY FOR THE INCREASE TO GO AHEAD AND GET MORE OUT. SO, SO, SO THAT WAS A LOT. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT ALSO IT CAN CREATE ANOTHER PROBLEM. SO AS METERS GET OLDER THEIR ACCURACY LEVEL DOES DIMINISH RIGHT. SO THERE IS THAT THERE IS THAT RIGHT. BUT THEN ALSO. AS TIME GOES ON IF THAT METER DOES FAIL, WE DO NEED TO REPLACE IT. BECAUSE IF WE IF IT'S NOT TRANSMITTING OR IF IT'S NOT READING AT ALL, AND IT GOES DEAD AND WE CAN'T, AND THE METER READERS CANNOT GO OUT THERE AND READ IT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT UNLIKE WHAT OTHER UTILITIES DO. WE'LL HAVE TO DO A MANUAL CALCULATION AND AN ESTIMATION OF THE BILL BASED ON HISTORICAL USAGE BY THAT PARTICULAR RESIDENT. AS YOU KNOW, HABITS CHANGE. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ADJUST THEIR HABITS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THINGS ARE SEASONAL. SO YES, IT COULD ESSENTIALLY CAUSE ANOTHER PROBLEM. ALSO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO USE A, SOME WORDS THAT HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T GET AFTER ME AFTER THIS. I'M GOING TO USE SOME WORDS THAT YOU USED LAST NIGHT. THAT WAS NO DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT TOPIC, BUT THE SAME THING APPLIES HERE. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A BUSINESS, BUT, BUT IT IS A BUSINESS. SO WE'RE, WE'RE KEENLY AWARE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IN THE BUILDING. TRUST ME, I CAN'T FORGET IT. THE CITIZENS WON'T LET ME. THE COUNCIL WON'T LET ME FORGET. BUT WE STILL WE STILL HAVE TO PROCEED WITH THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY. AND I. 
          AND I DO WANT TO. AND I DO WANT TO TELL THE COUNCIL THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE METERS. A COUPLE THINGS. NUMBER ONE, THE METERS ARE ABOUT 6 TO 8 WEEKS OUT, SO NOTHING. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. 
          NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL 2020, CALENDAR YEAR 2027. AND BY THEN, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WILL BE STABILIZED. AS FAR AS THE BILLING ASPECT OF IT. THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS BACK IN FEBRUARY WHEN WE WHEN STAFF ORIGINALLY RECEIVED THIS QUOTE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, IN ORDER TO DO A BUDGET OR PUT A NUMBER IN FOR THE BUDGET FOR Y'ALL TO APPROVE, WE HAVE TO HAVE A QUOTE, A PRELIMINARY QUOTE. THAT PRELIMINARY QUOTE HAD ABOUT $42,000 WORTH OF TARIFF CHARGES. AND AS YOU SEE ON THE CURRENT QUOTE, THAT TARIFF CHARGE DOES NOT IS NOT APPEARING ON THERE. I, I'LL I'LL WATCH MY WORDS VERY CAREFULLY HERE. BUT BUT WE'RE ALL KEENLY AWARE OF SOME OF THE VOLATILITY THAT CAN COME OUT OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. SO THAT'S FEBRUARY UNTIL NOW. SO THAT'S ROUGHLY, YOU KNOW, CALL IT, YOU KNOW, 8 OR 9 MONTHS. SO WE ARE SAVING THAT AS WELL. SO FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, IF IT'S DECIDED THAT TARIFFS COME BACK INTO PLAY, WE MIGHT BE PAYING PLAYING THAT ADDITIONAL CHARGE. 
          SO IT JUST DEPENDS THIS THIS QUOTE, AS YOU AS YOU SEE TONIGHT IS ONLY VALID FOR 30 DAYS. SO WE CAN ACTUALLY LOCK THAT IN THIS EVENING AT THE CURRENT PRICE. OKAY. YEAH. AND I THINK IT'S JUST A CATCH 22. I THINK IT'S A NEED TO SUPPORT BECAUSE OF THIS 15 YEAR. AND WE'RE RIGHT HERE AT THIS MARK BECAUSE THE 2011 AND IT'S 2026. THAT'S 15 YEARS. I, I, I AM MORE INCLINED TO APPROVE THIS BECAUSE OF THE FACT I WOULDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO EXPERIENCE ADDITIONAL ISSUES WITH THEIR METER, CONSIDERING ALL THE ISSUES WE'VE ALREADY EXPERIENCED. I THINK IT'S THE PRICE TAG ON THIS THAT'S KIND OF SHOCKING. AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S BECAUSE AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF METERS YOU'RE GETTING IS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST. BUT I THINK YOU'VE EXPLAINED THAT TO ME. SO I THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, MR. LACEY, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I I'M GOING TO JUST STEP BACK IN TIME FOR A MINUTE. SO GIVE ME A GIVE ME A 
          [01:25:04]
SECOND. I WENT BACK AND DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON, ON OUR METER SITUATION. AND BACK IN 2021, WE ACTUALLY PURCHASED METERS. WE WENT FROM APRIL 2021, DID METERS, RADIOS, ACCESSORIES, AND WE WERE AT ABOUT 71 GRAND. IN 2022. WE WE DID METERS, RADIOS, PIT LID HOUSINGS AT ABOUT 285 GRAND. AND THEN IN MAY OF 2023, WE WENT TO ABOUT 200 GRAND. IN FEBRUARY OF 2024, WE WENT TO 215. IN MAY OF 2025, WE DID 215 AGAIN, LARGE METERS AND REGISTERS. IN DECEMBER OF 2025, WE WENT TO WE DID METERS AND RADIOS, BUT AT THAT POINT WE WENT TO 998,000. AND THEN HERE WE ARE, OCTOBER. ONLY A YEAR LATER, WE'RE SEEING ANOTHER 1.8 ON METERS. I CALCULATED A TOTAL OF 9120M OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, WHICH EVEN THAT IS STILL NOT HALF OF THE OR IT IS ABOUT HALF OF THE 18,000 THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY. MY QUESTION IS FIRST. OH, AND THERE'S ONE MORE ONE MORE GLARING THING THAT STOOD OUT IN THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION IN THE EARLIER YEARS. IT SAID IT DESCRIBED IT AS AQUA METRIC AS AN A, G, A C BY PARTICIPANT, WHILE IN ALL THE LATER ONES WHERE IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE, WE ARE NOW SAYING THEY ARE A SOLE SOURCE DISTRIBUTOR. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND FIRST WHY WE SAID THAT, AND ARE WE NOT A PART OF SOME AGREEMENT THAT COULD KEEP THE COST A LITTLE LOWER? BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT I JUST SAID, AS FAR AS COST IS CONCERNED, WE WENT 21, 20, 21. WE, WE, WE HAVE WE WILL HAVE PAID 3.28 MILLION IN 2024 AND 2026 BETWEEN THOSE THREE YEARS, AND ONLY 555,000 IN THE EARLIER YEARS. SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE. SO I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND. OKAY. YES. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION. SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS AT PLAY HERE. THE PREVIOUS YEARS THAT YOU REFERENCED THAT WAS PURELY A ROUTINE LIST. 
          REPLENISH INVENTORY FOR ANY NEW HOMES THAT MIGHT BE COMING ONLINE, NEW BUSINESSES AND TO HAVE INVENTORY IN CASE METERS GO PREMATURELY DEAD. THAT WAS JUST SIMPLE INVENTORY, RIGHT? WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON HERE TONIGHT IS TWO THINGS. WHAT I JUST MENTIONED, HAVING OUR INVENTORY, BUT ALSO DOING A FACE MASK SWAP OUT BECAUSE AS WITH ANYTHING, AS COUNCIL MEMBER MENTIONED, WITH ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES, YOU KNOW, EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, IT, IT FAILS AND IS SUBJECT TO FAIL. YOU WANT TO BE AS PROACTIVE AS, AS POSSIBLE AND GET, YOU KNOW, THESE OLD METERS OUT OF THE GROUND, REPLACE SOME SOME THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, MAY HAVE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, FAILED. YOU WANT TO, YOU KNOW, GET ON THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO THAT THAT'S NUMBER ONE. THE OTHER PART YOU'RE REFERENCING ABOUT SO IS THE SOLE DISTRIBUTOR OF THE METERS. AND I DO HAVE I'M SORRY, I FORGOT TO INTRODUCE HIM. I DO HAVE MR. JUSTIN HAMILTON HERE, WHO'S THE STRATEGIC SALES MANAGER FOR AQUA METRIC. AND HE CAN, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY HELP ON ANY QUESTIONS. CAN YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC ON THE, ON THE AGENDA ITEM WHERE YOU MENTIONED THAT A BOARD WAS WAS REFERENCED? WELL, ON THE ACTUAL ON THE PREVIOUS AGENDAS? THAT'S WHAT IT SAID THAT IT WAS ON THE BI, IT SAID HGAC BY BY. HANG ON JUST A SECOND. LET ME GET THE SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION. IT SAYS HBHGAC BY PARTICIPANT, THAT'S WHAT IT SAID ON THE PREVIOUS AGENDAS ON THESE THAT WE HAVE IN THE LATTER YEARS. IT SAYS IT'S THE EXCLUSIVE SOLE SOURCE DISTRIBUTOR, WHICH WHEN YOU SAY EXCLUSIVE OF ANYTHING, IT'S GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION. OKAY. SO. AQUA METRIC, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE EXCLUSIVE SOLE SOLE SOURCE PROVIDER. NOW, AS FAR AS THE H, G, A C BY BOARD OR TIPS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW, THOSE THOSE CONTRACTS GO UP PERIODICALLY FOR RENEWAL. THEY'RE NOT FOREVER IN A DAY. YOU'RE JUST PURELY WITH ANY COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE YOU'RE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THAT AGREEMENT. AND THOSE TERMS, ESPECIALLY AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF YEARS. SO I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO IF THOSE CONTRACTS ARE STILL IN PLACE OR NOT. YOU KNOW, I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT THE A LOT OF TIMES SOMETIMES WITH BY BOARD, YOU'RE NOT PERHAPS RECEIVING A BETTER COST. SOMETIMES YOU'RE PAYING A MORE EXPENSIVE COST. IT'S KIND OF LIKE BUYING, YOU 
          [01:30:05]
KNOW, MILK FROM THE CONVENIENCE STORE, RIGHT? THE WHEN YOU'RE DOING A COOPERATIVE PURCHASING, YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY GOING OUT TO BID OR GETTING THE THREE QUOTES OR, YOU KNOW, BARGAIN SHOPPING OR SUCH LIKE THAT. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF AQUA METRICS, VARIOUS H, G, A, C ARE BY BOARDS CONTRACTS. BUT NO, THEY PROVIDER OF THE CENSUS METERS. 
          SO THEY DIDN'T CHANGE THE PRICE. I MEAN, THEY THIS PRICE IS REALLY IT IS ASTRONOMICAL. AND SO I WOULD ONLY ASK BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY NOT COMPLETE COVERAGE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT OF THE INVENTORY, THE SWITCH OUTS BECAUSE ARE YOU SWITCHING OUT THE SAME PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THEIR METER CHANGED, OR ARE WE STARTING OVER OR ARE WE DOING NEW. THERE'S NO REPORT THAT ACTUALLY GIVES US THAT INFORMATION, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT. NO, MA'AM. AND LIKE I SAID, FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS, WE DIDN'T GET INTO THOSE WEEDS. 
          AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME YOU DO A EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT, KIND OF AND IT'S NOTHING DIFFERENT THAN, YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, MISS KIRBY AND STUFF LIKE THAT. WE'RE NOT REPLACING THE SAME COMPUTERS EVERY LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD THE SAME COMPUTER THAT I'VE HAD SINCE I GOT TO DESOTO IN 2023. I ESSENTIALLY WAIT MY TURN IN LINE. I'M UP FOR A NEW COMPUTER NEXT YEAR OR THIS CURRENT YEAR IN FISCAL YEAR 27. SO NO, YOU DON'T YOU DON'T GO BACK AND CHANGE THE SAME EQUIPMENT. YOU GO IN AND YOU STRATEGICALLY LOOK AT THOSE ADDRESSES, HOW IT WAS PHASED AND HOW THOSE WERE GO TO THOSE OLDEST METERS, HOW THEY WHEN THEY WERE PUT IN. AND YOU DEVELOP A PLAN, YOU START, YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR OLDEST ONES THAT WERE WERE PUT INTO THE GROUND IN 2011. AND YOU STRATEGICALLY GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THIS 5 OR 6 YEAR PROCESS. YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GO BACK TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CHISHOLM SAYS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT'S YOUR VOTE VOTED UP, VOTED DOWN. BUT YOU CAN ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, ARE UNINTENTIONALLY RATHER COMPOUND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE'S TWO THINGS I THERE'S TWO THINGS I WOULD I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL AND IT CAN IT CAN REMAIN A RHETORICAL QUESTION. NUMBER ONE, IF SOMEBODY HAS A BILLING DISPUTE AND ASK FOR A METER TEST AND THEY. AND WE CAN'T PROVIDE THAT SERVICE BECAUSE WE HAVE NO METERS IN INVENTORY, WHAT IS WHAT IS THE ANSWER? THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS BUILDERS. 
          DEVELOPERS. THEY PAY MY COLLEAGUES OVER IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICE METER SET FEE TO PUT THAT METER AT THAT NEW HOME. IF WE DON'T HAVE INVENTORY AGAIN, WHAT ARE WE ASKING? YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD DEVELOPERS AND STUFF CALL THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, DELAYED WITH GETTING METERS INTO INVENTORY JUST BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, LEAD TIMES AND OTHER VARIOUS SITUATIONS. SO, YOU KNOW, I GET IT. I THINK IN A WAY, WE'RE NOT COMPARING TWO LIKE SITUATIONS BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY THE LAST YEAR. AND THIS YEAR IS THE FIRST TWO YEARS WE'VE DONE THESE, THESE MASS SWAP OUTS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A NEED FOR IT BEFORE. YOU KNOW, 2026 -2011, THAT'S 15 YEARS. THAT IS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE METERS. AND LIKE I SAID, I WAS NOT HERE WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO START DOING THOSE ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS OR THOSE ANNUAL TRANSFERS INTO FUND 503. BUT IT IS, YOU KNOW, AS THIS BEING THE THIRD CITY I'VE WORKED IN, I DO THINK THAT IT IS A GREAT WAY OF DOING BUSINESS, BECAUSE YOU WERE BEING PROACTIVE IN MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE MONEY ESSENTIALLY IN THE ACCOUNT READY FOR AS SUCH A TIME WHEN YOU GO TO PROACTIVELY REPLACE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE REVENUE OF THE FUND, YOU WANT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE REPLACED IN A TIMELY MANNER. OKAY, I'M NOT BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION SAYING THAT. I JUST WANTED TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER SEEN A REPORT, OR SHOULD I SAY, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A REPORT THAT ACTUALLY TELLS ME HOW MANY METERS HAVE BEEN SWITCHED OUT EACH YEAR, AND WHY WE KEEP COMING BACK EVERY YEAR FOR MORE AND MORE. I'VE NOT SEEN THAT. SO THAT WAS THE REASON WHY I WAS ASKING. AND WITH THE INTENT OF ALL THE ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON. AS I SAID, WHEN WE WERE DOING THE BUDGET, MY WHOLE MANTRA IS THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY AND HOW MUCH TROUBLES THAT THEY'RE HAVING AT THE AT THE TIME OF US TALKING ABOUT SPENDING MORE MONEY ON METERS, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD STAVE OFF AND STOP, GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED AND THEN MOVE FORWARD. AND THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE MY MANTRA, WHETHER IT BE $10 OR A THOUSAND. I'M JUST REALLY JUST TELLING YOU THAT'S WHERE I SIT. THAT'S THE REASON I'M ASKING THE QUESTIONS I'M ASKING. I DON'T HAVE A REPORT THAT TELLS ME HOW MANY METERS NEED TO BE CHANGED. IT DOES NOT TELL ME I DON'T HAVE A REPORT THAT SAYS HOW MANY METERS ARE NEEDED FOR NEW BUILDS. MY WHOLE IDEA IS I WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE NOT SPENDING MONEY ON METERS, AND WE HAVE THE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE WITH ALL OF THE WATERING. AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION. 
          [01:35:01]
AND SO I'M GOING TO GO FROM THERE. AND THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I SIT. AND SO I STILL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT REPORT OF THE INVENTORY. AND IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT GIVES ME A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF WHAT'S BEEN CHANGED OUT AND HOW OFTEN WE'RE CHANGING THEM OUT. AND THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR, I YIELD BACK COUNCILMAN WESLEY. DO WE HAVE ANY METERS OLDER THAN 2011? NO, SIR. OKAY, GOOD. AND, YOU KNOW, I WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME. WE LIVE IN DESOTO, SO WE ALL ARE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS WATER BILL SITUATION. AND SO I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO GET. 
          I DO BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT A DOUBT. AND YOU PUT SOME THINGS IN PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO. LAY FEES, PAY WHAT YOU CAN, NOT TURN YOUR WATER OFF. SO YOU'RE DOING THINGS TO, YOU KNOW, PUT THINGS IN PLACE. SO BUT MY THING IS. YOU DON'T WANT THINGS TO COMPOUND ON, ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. SO IF, IF, IF YOU USE THIS 1.8 MILLION TO, LET'S SAY, TRY TO GET THE WATER BILL UNDER CONTROL, AND THEN YOU STILL HAVE WATER METERS THAT GO OUT, LIKE YOU EXPLAINED, THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT ME AND THE RESIDENTS AND EVERYONE WILL WILL BE UPSET. SO THIS IS THIS IS THE COST OF RUNNING THE CITY, I BELIEVE. 
          AND YOU PLANNED IT OUT IN THE BUDGET. YOU KNEW THAT THIS WAS COMING. IT WAS BUDGETED FOR. SO IT'S NEEDED. WE DON'T WE WE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM ON TOP OF ANOTHER ISSUE. 
          SO I JUST I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A COST THAT HAS TO BE IT HAS TO BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE, FOR THIS REASON. SO. AND IT'S PLANNED FOR US. SO IT'S LIKE I SAID, IT'S ALREADY BUDGETED FOR. 
          SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL, BUT I DO REALLY THINK, YOU KNOW, SO WE WON'T HAVE PROBLEMS ON TOP OF PROBLEMS THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IT. IT'S THE COST OF DOING RUNNING THE CITY. AND WE IT BRINGS IN REVENUE. SO IT HAS TO BE IT HAS TO BE FIXED. AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER YIELDED BACK, BUT I DEFINITELY I HEAR YOU AND AS I MENTIONED AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DEFINITELY SHIPPING TIMES AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. SO WE'RE ALREADY TWO MONTHS OUT, WHICH I ASSUME IS GOING TO BE CLOSER TO CLOSER TO FOUR, BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO GET ON THE SCHEDULE, DO SOME PRELIMINARY PLANNING AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO THIS IS NOTHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW. SO JUST JUST PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND. AND ONE MORE THING. 
          THAT'S WHY I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO EMAIL TO TO CALL, BECAUSE THOSE QUESTIONS WERE VERY GOOD QUESTIONS THAT THAT THE YOUNG LADY ASKED. SO, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS ASK OUR RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, THEY SEE SOMETHING IN AGENDA, NOT ONLY COME SPEAK ABOUT IT, BUT EMAIL THOSE SO WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THEM AND YOU HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS. SO HOPEFULLY THAT YOU WILL ANSWER HER QUESTION. THERE WILL BE A RESPONSE. YES, SIR. BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS DO. 
          THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. DID I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THAT THE VENDOR IS HERE? CORRECT. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUICK QUESTION. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL JUSTIN HAMILTON. I'M THE MANAGER OF STRATEGIC SALES FOR AQUA AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. OKAY. JUSTIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING THIS EVENING. AS YOU HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT OUR RESIDENTS, WE ARE EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH OUR BUILDING AND EVERYTHING. I'M JUST CURIOUS WITH THE THE METERS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, OF COURSE, STAYING ON TOP OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, MAKING SURE WE MAINTAINING WITH THAT, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE OUR RESIDENTS ON THESE METERS, MEANING THIS IS IT POSSIBLE WHERE TO MAKE SURE THAT MAYBE THE SERIAL NUMBER THEY CAN LOOK AT, IS THAT PRINTED ON THE BILL THAT THEY CAN SEE TO, I GUESS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS IN ALIGNMENT, THAT WE HAVE ALL OUR I'S DOTTED T CROSS, BECAUSE IT COULD BE WHERE THE TECHNICIAN IS INSTALLING THE METER AND IT COULD BE A TYPO. I'M JUST CURIOUS IF, IF WE CAN EDUCATE OUR RESIDENTS WITH REGARDS TO MAKE SURE WE COVER ALL OUR BASES TO HELP FOR RESOLUTION, AND I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER NORTH, AND THE REASON WHY I'M STEPPING IN, 
          [01:40:03]
BECAUSE THIS IS OUTSIDE OF HIS PURVIEW. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE THE METERING SOFTWARE IS DIFFERENT THAN OUR CURRENT BILLING SOFTWARE. THE METERING SOFTWARE WE'VE USED, WE'VE ALWAYS USED SINCE 2011. THAT INFORMATION IS. THEN YOUR CONSUMPTION DATA IS THEN SENT OVER TO THE BILLING SYSTEM, WHICH IS TYLER TECHNOLOGIES. NOW TO YOUR QUESTION OF, CAN WE PRINT THE METER SERIAL NUMBER ON THE BILL? THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GET ADDRESSED WITH OUR TYLER VENDOR TO SEE IF THAT'S IF THAT'S EVEN A POSSIBILITY THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF HIS SCOPE. OKAY. AND THE REASON WHY I BRING THAT UP AGAIN, WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS, HOW WE CAN HELP OUR RESIDENTS TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T REPEAT THIS ISSUE AGAIN. SO THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THAT. I'LL SAY ONE MORE THING ON THAT QUESTION. SURE, SURE. YOU ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THE HGACY. IT WAS ON ONE QUOTE, BUT NOT THE OTHER. SO WE DO STILL ACTIVELY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH HGAC THE PUBLISHED PRICING ON HGAC IS HIGHER THAN THE PRICING YOU HAVE ON THE QUOTE TODAY. ADDITIONALLY, HGAC CHARGES TYPICALLY IT'S A PERCENT AND A HALF FEE TO USE THEIR SERVICE. SO WHILE SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS DO PREFER TO GO THAT ROUTE, IT IS A BETTER DEAL FOR THE CITY. WE CAN GET A BETTER PRICE. NOT GOING TO THE RIGHT IS STILL AN OPTION, BUT THE PRICING THAT WE PROVIDED IS LOWER THAN IT WOULD BE IF WE WERE TO GO THAT ROUTE. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. I DO HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF OF, WELL, NOT REALLY MANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE SOME HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. I WANT TO JUST KIND OF BECAUSE A LOT HAS BEEN SAID. SO I WANT TO JUST KIND OF RECONCILE WHAT MY THOUGHTS ARE IN MY MIND. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T GET TOO FAR INTO THE WATER BILL ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S UNRELATED TO THIS. HOWEVER, JUST JUST FOR JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THE PUBLIC AND MYSELF SINCE AS YOU MENTIONED, COUNCILMAN WESLEY, WE ALL ARE GOING THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. WE ARE NOT EXEMPT AS COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE WATER BILLS. 
          DO WE EVEN ANTICIPATE CHANGING OUT THE WATER METERS TO IMPACT THE THE SITUATION THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE WATER BILLS IN ANY WAY? BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING METERS HAVE BEEN BEING CHANGED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS SINCE THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING. CORRECT. SO, I MEAN, METERS ARE CONSISTENTLY BEING REPLACED TO SOME DEGREE OR ANOTHER AT ALL THE TIME. CORRECT? CORRECT. AND FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS, IT COULD BE A BILLING DISPUTE. WHEN WE GO OUT THERE TO THE TO THE METER, IF IT'S IF IT'S NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, THERE'S A, THERE'S A VARIETY OF REASONS OR, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A NEW PROPERTY THAT THAT NEEDS ANOTHER, ANOTHER METER. SO METERS ARE ALWAYS ACTIVELY EITHER BEING PUT INTO THE GROUND OR ARE REPLACED. AND THIS IS SOMETHING, AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS WAS ALREADY BUDGETED IN THE IN FORECASTED OUT AS, AS WE KNOW, WITH ANY MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT PLANS THAT WE HAVE, WHETHER THAT'S CITY VEHICLES OR OTHERWISE, THESE HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED IN AND REPLACED. SO REGARDLESS OF THE WATER BILL ISSUE, THESE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO BE BOUGHT AND REPLACED. IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. SO THIS SO THE WATER BILL ISSUE DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING OR WON'T CHANGE ANYTHING BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE DONE REGARDLESS. NOW I, I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND I KNOW WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR IN REGARD TO WHAT, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? I'M NOT I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE WAIT TO REPLACE. THAT'S NOT MY SUGGESTION. HOWEVER, I'M CURIOUS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE WERE TO WAIT TWO AND TWO INSTANCES. SO IF WE WERE TO WAIT TO PURCHASE THESE ITEMS AT A LATER DATE, ONCE THE WATER BILL ISSUE IS RESOLVED, OR IF WE WERE TO SECOND REPURCHASE, GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE THEM SO WE CAN GET THE CURRENT PRICING THAT WE HAVE NOW, HOLD ON TO THEM, SO TO SPEAK, AND THEN WAIT TO START REPLACING AFTER THE ISSUE WITH THE WATER BILLS HAS BEEN RESOLVED. OKAY, SO LET ME ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION ABOUT THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED REGARDLESS OF THE BILLING ISSUE. IF YOU RECALL, THIS YEAR WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ANOMALY. WE STARTED THE BUDGET PROCESS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN WE NORMALLY HAVE. SO OBVIOUSLY WE STARTED IT PRIOR TO THE ISSUES WITH OUR BILLING SYSTEM. SO THE ANSWER IS YES. ABSOLUTELY YES. THAT THAT WAS ALREADY PLANNED AND BUDGETED FOR. THE THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS YES. AS OF, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF WE PUT IN THE ORDER TOMORROW, WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, JANUARY BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN IN AND ONCE. AND WE REALLY WOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, ENGAGE AQUA METRIC OR THE CONTRACTORS AS FAR AS ANY TYPE OF MASK SWAP OUT EFFORTS UNTIL AFTER THEN, AND THEN REALLY UNTIL THINGS BEGIN TO STABILIZE FROM A BILLING CONCERN. SO WE 
          [01:45:01]
DO, WE, WE, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE SPACE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HOUSE THESE METERS AND, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL LOCATIONS. SO IT WOULD DEFINITELY BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, IT'S, WE GOT TO BE STRATEGIC, RIGHT? SO WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CAUSING OTHER ISSUES BY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF STANDING PAT OR STANDING IDLE, YOU KNOW, THE UNFORTUNATE TRUTH OF IT IS, Y'ALL EXCUSE MY BLUNTNESS, WE JUST CAN'T COME TO A SCREECHING HALT. YOU KNOW, WE WE STILL HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE A DEPARTMENT TO RUN. WE STILL HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE WITH THE CITY BUSINESS. BUT BUT WITH THAT, WE, WE OUR COMMITMENT AS STAFF MEMBERS, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE STRATEGIC ABOUT IT AND THAT WE'RE THAT WE'RE SMART WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL CARDS FROM YOU ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. WE DO NOT. OKAY. COUNCIL. WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. I'M GOING TO ASK US. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHISM, YOU MADE THAT MOTION, CORRECT. CAN YOU RESTATE YOUR MOTION? SINCE IT'S BEEN A WHILE, WE'VE HAD LENGTHY DISCUSSION. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED. THANK YOU. I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WATERS. I HAVE HIM, IF I HAVE IT CORRECT. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. PLEASE USE YOUR VOTING PAD. THAT MOTION PASSES FIVE ONE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, MR. LACEY. AT THIS TIME, MADAM CITY SECRETARY 
          [G. CITIZEN APPEARANCES]
WILL HAVE THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE NOW 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 LISTED NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA. HOWEVER, YOUR CONCERNS MAY BE ADDRESSED BY CITY STAFF, PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA OR RESPONDED TO BY SOME OTHER COURSE. FOR ATTENDEES WANTING TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM LISTED ON THE AGENDA, THE COMMENT CARDS RELATED TO THE SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ARE TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY SECRETARY PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THAT AGENDA ITEM. THE STANDARD TIME LIMIT IS THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER AND MAY BE MODIFIED AT THE MAYOR'S DISCRETION TO MAINTAIN AN EFFICIENT FLOW OF THE MEETING. MISS BERNADINE HARRISON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING, MISS HARRISON. 
          PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. I'M BERNADINE HARRISON, AND I LIVE HERE IN DESOTO. AND I'VE BEEN HERE NOW CLOSE TO 30 YEARS, AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A MESS. TONIGHT HAS BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTING. 
          YOU SEEM TO RUBBER STAMP EVERYTHING OKAY. IT MAKES ME WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT SIT ON THIS PANEL HAVE A REAL BUSINESS BACKGROUND. OKAY, WHEN IN DOUBT, RUBBER STAMP IT. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TAUGHT WHEN IN DOUBT, DO NOTHING. EXAMINE. IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE ONE PERSON ON THIS COUNCIL THAT REALLY ASKED VERY CHALLENGING QUESTIONS, HAS DONE THEIR HOMEWORK. I'M ALSO SEEING THAT CHISHOLM, MISS CHISHOLM, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE NOW STARTING TO REALLY EXAMINE THINGS AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK. THE OTHERS OF YOU SIT HERE AND BASICALLY RUBBER STAMP EVERYTHING NOW. WE HAD THE SITUATION. I WATCHED THERE WITH THE GENTLEMAN, THE DEVELOPER HERE. WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE SIDEWALKS. FIRST YOU SAID, WELL, WE HAVE A VOTE ON THE FLOOR AND THEN THE MAYOR DECIDES, OKAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GO ON AND PASS THIS. 
          THIS IS BECOMING CRAZY. OKAY. I THINK THAT WHAT WE REALLY SHOULD DO, AND I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING, BUT I'M GOING TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT A REAL MESS IN THE COUNTRY NATIONALLY THAT WE NEED TO REALLY ADDRESS AFTER THAT. I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND TO MY COLLEAGUES, PEOPLE HERE, WE THE PEOPLE THAT WE GET RID OF. MOST OF YOU, YOU DON'T SEEM TO BE REALLY REPRESENTING US. YOU JUST RUBBER STAMP EVERYTHING, AGREE ON THIS, AGREE ON THAT, VOTE ON THIS. AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON THAT SEEMS TO REALLY HAVE DONE THEIR HOMEWORK AND REALLY SEEM TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON HERE. NOW I HAVE A FEW PROPERTIES THAT I OWN HERE. AND I WENT IN AND I HAD TO GO IN AND PUT IN SOME VANITIES. AND THE TENANT, WE PUT THE VANITIES OUTSIDE. A GUY FROM THE CODE ENFORCEMENT CAME UP WITHIN AN HOUR OR LESS, AND MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE HAD TO SIT THOSE VANITIES IN THE FRONT. AND IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT DONE BY A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, WE WOULD BE FINED OR GET A LETTER ON MY STREET. WE HAVE A STREETLIGHT THAT'S BEEN OUT NOW FOR A MONTH. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS, HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. SO I'M SAYING TO THIS 
          [01:50:01]
BODY HERE THAT YOU NEED TO USE THE SAME STANDARDS OF MAKING CORRECTIONS IN THE CITY AS YOU PUT ON. WE THE PEOPLE. OKAY. SAME STANDARD. THAT LIGHT HAS BEEN OUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. 
          IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. STREET. WE'VE GOT POTHOLES ALL OVER THE PLACE. I DON'T KNOW IF MONEY'S A PROBLEM, BUT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND A BODY THIS SIZE THAT GOES THROUGH AND JUST AGREE ON EVERYTHING. MAKES ME WONDER IF YOU REALLY DONE YOUR HOMEWORK. NOW, MRS. PARKER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ACTUALLY DOING YOUR HOMEWORK. REALLY EXAMINING WHAT'S GOING ON HERE AND NOT JUST SITTING HERE AND JUST GOING ON WITH WHATEVER THE MAYOR WANTS. THAT'S WHAT THE OTHER PEOPLE PRETTY MUCH DECIDE ON. MRS. CHISHOLM, I'M WATCHING YOU. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE STARTING TO ASK QUESTIONS. THAT CONCLUDES YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. 
          JUST FOR A POINT OF INFORMATION, I WANTED TO KNOW THE ADDRESS, WHERE THAT LIGHT IS OUT SO WE CAN GET IT REPLACED. SO IF WE COULD DO THAT ON THE RECORD, PLEASE. WELL, IT'S RIGHT AT MY HOUSE. OKAY. OH, IT'S AT YOUR HOUSE. WELL, NOT AT MY HOUSE, BUT ON MY STREET. OKAY. YOUR STREET. AND THEY CAN REPORT OUT STREET LIGHT OUTAGES THROUGH THE MY DESOTO APP AS WELL. I'M SORRY. WHAT? YES. RESIDENTS. FOR THE RECORD, RESIDENTS CAN REPORT STREET LIGHT OUTAGES THROUGH THE DESOTO APP. THAT SEEMS LIKE CODE ENFORCEMENT. THEY SEEM TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING. I'M JUST LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW. GENERALLY SPEAKING, I'M NOT DIRECTING MY COMMENT TO YOU. I'M LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT YOU CAN REPORT STREET LIGHT OUTAGES USING THE MY DESOTO APP AS WELL AROUND THE CITY AND SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF POTHOLES. WE HAVE THE MARINA MARTINEZ. I DON'T SEE MISS MARTINEZ. DID SHE LEAVE? SHE LEFT. MR. DANIEL CRUZ. GOOD EVENING. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. DANIEL CRUZ DESOTO. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. CITY STAFF. RESIDENTS. I'D LIKE TO RAISE FOUR MATTERS AFFECTING RESIDENTS. FIRST, THE ROADWAY CONDITION SURVEY AND INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
          THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT LISTS A. NOT TO EXCEED A COST OF ABOUT $152,000 WHEN THE WORK IS COMPLETE. I UNDERSTAND THE CITY WILL PUBLISH THIS REPORT A STREET BY STREET CONDITION MAP AND THE PRIORITIZED REPAIR PLAN. THE QUESTION HERE IS WHEN CAN WE EXPECT ACCESS TO THIS REPORT AND MAP? IS IT ON THE WEBSITE? I HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET. COULD THERE ALSO BE A PUBLIC PRESENTATION EXPLAINING THE SCORING FUNDING SCENARIOS AND SCHEDULE ON REPAIRING THESE THESE STREETS? SECOND MATTER. THANK YOU FOR PUBLISHING THE FLOCK CAMERA PORTAL. IT REPORTS FIVE CAMERAS, 83 SEARCHES, AND 1005 47 HOTLIST LISTS HITS OVER THE LAST 30 DAYS. THE PORTAL SAYS VEHICLE DATA IS RETAINED FOR 30 DAYS AND SEARCH AUDIT RECORDS INDEFINITELY. MY QUESTION WHICH OUTSIDE AGENCIES CAN ACCESS THE DATA AND VICE VERSA? WHICH OUTSIDE SYSTEMS CAN DESOTO OFFICERS SEARCH? DOES THE 30 DAY LIMIT ALSO COVER EXPORTED IMAGES, EVIDENCE COPIES, AND VENDOR BACKUPS? AND WILL THE CITY PUBLISH REGULAR AUDIT SUMMARIES? THE THIRD MATTER HOW DOES DESOTO TRACK DEVELOPMENT IN NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORING CITIES THAT COULD AFFECT OUR RESIDENTS? I'M FOLLOWING THE PROPOSED LIFE SCHOOL CAMPUS ON DUNCANVILLE, NEAR COCKRELL HILL AND DANIEL DALE. WHAT COORDINATION IS IN PLACE WITH DUNCANVILLE AROUND POTENTIAL TRAFFIC, SCHOOL ROUTES, DRAINAGE, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND EVENT IMPACTS? HOW CAN RESIDENTS STAY INFORMED AND SHARE CONCERNS? FINALLY, I, ALONG WITH OTHER DESOTO RESIDENTS, HAVE UNRESOLVED WATER BILL. HERE'S MY BILL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE OR CONFIDENT THAT WHAT'S ON HERE IS TRUE AND VALID. I'D APPRECIATE THE STATUS. I KNOW THERE WAS A LAST LAST WEEK THERE WAS AN IN-PERSON SESSION. I KNOW THERE'S ONE VIRTUAL TOMORROW. I DO PLAN ON ATTENDING, BUT. WE NEED TO GET THIS FIXED. THIS WATER BILL ISSUE. IT'S BEEN MONTHS AND ALL WE GET IS, YEAH, WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S AN ISSUE, BUT WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? I DON'T THINK ANYONE KNOWS. AND IT'S BEEN MONTHS. WE NEED TO GET THIS FIXED. I DON'T I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. IS IT THE WATER METER? IS IT THE SASS IS WHAT IS IT I DON'T KNOW. I'D LIKE FOR THERE TO BE TRANSPARENCY. 
          BUT BEYOND THE TRANSPARENCY IS HOW DO WE GET TO THE SOLUTION? CAN SOMEONE, CITY STAFF OR COUNCIL LET US RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT IS THE SOLUTION AND WHEN WILL WE GET TO THE SOLUTION? WHEN WILL WE GET THIS RECTIFIED? IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THAT ALL WE'RE GETTING AFTER MONTHS, MONTHS, MONTHS WE DON'T KNOW. WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST. WE'RE HOPEFUL IS WHAT I HEARD TODAY. 
          WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE RESOLVED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. THAT'S NOT 
          [01:55:06]
CONFIDENT. WE NEED TO DO BETTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL. THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENT CARDS. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED TO ADJOURN. 
          COUNCIL. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO ADJOURNMENT? HEARING NONE. IT IS
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.