Oct 11, 2022 City Council on 2022-10-11 11:30 AM (Special Called Meeting (Work Session))

[00:00:02]

GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THIS MEETING OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL.

IT IS 1131.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, SO I CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

TODAY IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11TH, AND WE HAVE A QUICK WORK SESSION THAT WILL GET STARTED.

I JUST WANT TO AS A NOTE, I'M GOING TO LIKE ALL OF US, RIGHT.

GOT TO GOT TO WORK.

AND SO I HAVE TO LEAVE AT 12.

SO IF WE'RE STILL HERE, THE MAYOR PRO TEM WOULD CONDUCT THE REST OF THE MEETING.

BUT I WANT TO LAY SOME GROUNDWORK FOR THE FIRST ITEM JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

[A. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding an update on the City Council Priorities and Key Focus Areas for the City of Denton. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 1 hour]]

THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING IS TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE 2021 FISCAL YEAR COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND TO DISCUSS THE 2022 23 ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES, PLAN, THE NEXT STEPS AND COMPLETE LISTING OF PRIORITIES OF THEIR STATUS AND INCLUDED IN THE BACKUP FOR THIS ITEM.

AND SO THOSE WATCHING ALONG, WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE'VE ALLOCATED A BUDGET.

WE VOTED ON A BUDGET THAT IS IN PLACE ACCORDING TO THESE PRIORITIES.

AND SO THIS IS KIND OF A AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WATCHING TO GET UP TO SPEED ON THOSE PRIORITIES WHERE THEY ARE, HOW HAVE THEY BEEN FUNDED, HOW THEY'RE PROGRESSING ALONG.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THAT TRANSPARENCY AND THAT THAT CLEAR VISION SO THAT YOU AS THE PUBLIC CAN RESPOND AND GIVE US INPUT ON HOW WE'RE DOING THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

SO IS THERE ARE WE ALL I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ON THE PURPOSE OF THIS AND THAT THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN FUNDED, DIRECTED SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD SMOOTHLY.

ANY ISSUES WITH THAT? SEE, NONE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MONICA BENAVIDES, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER.

WELCOME TO TODAY'S PRESENTATION ON CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY.

TODAY WE'RE GOING TO COVER AN OVERVIEW OF THE FY 22 COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND START A DISCUSSION ON THE FY 23 ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY.

WILL CONCLUDE IT WITH SOME NEXT STEPS, AS DIRECTED BY COUNCIL.

ON THIS SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE AN OVERALL SUMMARY OF THE FY 22 COUNCIL PRIORITIES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED IN JUNE 2021.

THE ONES DESIGNATED AS ONGOING SIMPLY MEAN THAT WE CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO ENHANCE THOSE SERVICES, FOR INSTANCE, IMPROVE CAPITAL, PROJECT PLANNING AND COMMUNICATION.

ALTHOUGH WE'VE LAUNCHED THE INTERACTIVE CIP MAP AND WE USE ENGAGED AND DISCUSSED IT AND A SUGGESTION FOR HOW WE COMMUNICATE THE INFORMATION ON PUBLIC MEETINGS SUCH AS WITH BELL STREET WAS BROUGHT TO US AND WE WERE HAPPY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

FY 22 IS A YEAR FULL OF GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE CITY OF DENTON, AND SOME OF OUR NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE EXPANDING OUR HOLIDAY LEAVE BENEFIT.

WE ADDED JUNETEENTH AND VETERANS DAY, ONE OF WHICH IS MY BIRTHDAY.

SO THANK YOU. WE ALSO MADE UPDATES TO THE VACATION LEAVE POLICY AND THE DEATH AND FAMILY POLICY.

WE ADOPTED THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGIC TOOLKIT AND THE 2022 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO SUPPORT HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITIES.

WE ADDED A MEDIC AND STABILITY CASEWORKER TO THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ACHIEVED ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEF'S ASSOCIATION. THE STATUS IS GRANTED FOR FOUR YEARS AND THE AGENCY MUST SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REVIEW.

WE ALSO ADOPTED THE MOBILITY PLAN, THE PARKS, RECREATION AND TRAIL SYSTEM MASTER PLAN.

WE PASSED THE NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE AND WE ADOPTED THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.

NOW, ON THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.

THOSE ARE ACTUALLY INCLUDED AS A HANDOUT, SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER THOSE.

I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THESE ARE THE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED.

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE TAKE THE TIME TO GATHER FROM DEPARTMENTS A STATUS, KEY MILESTONES, PROGRESS REPORTS, AND NEXT STEPS.

AND SO WITH THAT, I WILL ACTUALLY TAKE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PORTION BEFORE I HAND IT OVER TO ONE OF OUR NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHICH IS THE HIRING OF OUR CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, AMY CATHOLIC.

GOT IT. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IN PROGRESS AND AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? ONGOING. ONGOING? YES, I THINK.

DO YOU REMEMBER? I KNOW WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION THE LAST TIME AROUND, CHRISTINE.

GOOD AFTERNOON IN PROGRESS WAS MEANING THEY WERE WORKING TOWARDS A SPECIFIC MILESTONE TO ALMOST COMPLETE THE END OF THE PROJECT OR HAVE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS ONGOING.

IT WAS SOME TYPE OF PROGRAM THAT WOULD NOT JUST STOP WHEN YOU HIT THAT MILESTONE.

WE'D HAVE ONGOING EFFORTS FOR IT.

SO IT WAS GOING TO CARRY OVER MULTIPLE YEARS AND PROGRESS MEANT PROBABLY LIKE A ONE YEAR GOING TO HIT A MILESTONE AND THAT ONE WILL BE CHECKED OFF AND COMPLETED.

ONGOING WILL SPAN 3 TO 5 YEARS.

THAT HELPS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[00:05:03]

SINCE I CAN'T SIT IN SO STAFF IS NICE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE ME AND WE'LL BRING THAT BACK AND IT'LL BE KIND OF AROUND THE MORE HOLISTIC BUDGET SLASH NEXT YEAR.

STRATEGIES CONVERSATION.

SO SAME CONVERSATION.

WE'LL JUST FAST FORWARDED A BIT.

SORRY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO I HAVEN'T MET YET, I'M AMY CATHOLIC.

I'M THE CITY'S NEW CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER.

I WANTED TO TAKE SOME TIME WITH YOU THIS MORNING TO SHARE THE IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND THE BENEFITS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING TO THE ORGANIZATION.

AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION, WE'LL BE RECAPPING YOUR KEY FOCUS AREAS, DISCUSSING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROCESS THAT LED TO THESE KEY FOCUS AREAS, OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY, AND THE NEXT STEPS FOR STRATEGIC SERVICES.

SO IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, YOU REVISED AND REAFFIRMED THE CITY'S KEY FOCUS AREAS, WHICH YOU SEE HERE.

THESE KEY FOCUS AREAS ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PLAN AND SOLIDIFY YOUR VISION OF HOW WE CAN BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST BENEFITS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING IS THAT IT HELPS US SET THE CITY'S DIRECTION AND PRIORITIES.

IT HELPS US TO LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW, WHERE WE WANT TO BE TOMORROW AND WHAT STEPS WE NEED TO TAKE TO GET THERE.

ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN AND THAT FOLLOW THAT PLAN TEND TO BE FAR MORE SUCCESSFUL AT ACHIEVING THEIR DESIRED OUTCOMES.

HAVING A STRATEGIC PLAN HELPS ORGANIZATIONS SHARPEN THEIR FOCUS.

SO THROUGH STRATEGIC PLANNING, WE CREATE WELL THOUGHT OUT STRATEGIES THAT ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR EFFORTS ARE VALUE ADDED.

SO THIS HELPS US GET THE RESULTS THAT WE NEED TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF TODAY AND FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

ANOTHER BENEFIT OF STRATEGIC PLANNING IS THAT IT HELPS THE ORGANIZATION ALIGN WITH COMMON GOALS, PRIORITIZE WORK AND BREAK DOWN SILOS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION.

IN ADDITION, EMPLOYEES WHO UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR WORK CONTRIBUTES TO THE ORGANIZATION'S SUCCESS ARE FAR MORE SATISFIED AND FAR MORE ENGAGED IN THEIR WORK.

STRATEGIC PLANS CAN SIMPLIFY DECISION MAKING SO THAT WHEN NEW IDEAS OR INITIATIVES ARE BROUGHT FORWARD AND WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD IMPLEMENT THOSE IDEAS, WE CAN THEN LOOK TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN TO HELP PROVIDE GUIDANCE.

THEY ALSO INFORM BUDGET DECISIONS BY HELPING US TO PRIORITIZE RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND BUDGET OUR FUNDS IN WAYS THAT HELP US ACHIEVE OUR STRATEGIC GOALS. IN ADDITION, THEY ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO BE FISCALLY RESILIENT BY ALLOWING US TO BETTER PLAN FOR OUR FINANCIAL NEEDS.

STRATEGIC PLANNING ALSO IMPROVES AN ORGANIZATION'S SELF AWARENESS AS THEY ARE OFTEN CREATED AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS.

STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESSES TEND TO INCLUDE AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN AND A SWOT ANALYSIS.

WE ALSO TEND TO USE THAT TIME TO GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR RESIDENT NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS, MUCH AS WHAT HAPPENED AS PART OF YOUR STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT WHEN YOU RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON THE COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS.

AT ITS CORE, STRATEGIC PLAN IS A GREAT TOOL FOR MANAGEMENT.

IT PROVIDES A ROADMAP AND HELPS CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION FOR ACHIEVING COUNCIL STRATEGIC GOALS.

AND LOOKING AT THE PROCESS OF CREATING A STRATEGIC PLAN.

COUNCIL SETS THE GOALS WHILE PLACING AN EMPHASIS ON STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK.

THIS CAN BE THROUGH SURVEYS, FOCUS GROUPS AND REALLY JUST ANY TWO WAY COMMUNICATION THAT COUNCIL ENGAGES IN WITH ITS CONSTITUENTS.

ONCE GOALS HAVE BEEN SET AND INDIGENOUS CASE, THAT'S IN THE FORM OF KEY FOCUS AREAS, OBJECTIVES NEED TO BE CREATED TO REFLECT THE DESIRED OUTCOMES THAT ARE GOING TO HELP MOVE THE CITY FORWARD.

CITY MANAGEMENT THEN LEADS THE ORGANIZATION IN THE CREATION OF STRATEGIES AND MILESTONES THAT SERVE TO MEET COUNCIL'S OBJECTIVES.

AND THEN LASTLY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ARE BOLSTERED THROUGH MONITORING AND REPORTING ON RESULTS.

SO HERE'S A GLIMPSE OF JUST A PORTION OF THE STRATEGY MAP THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY BUILDING.

IT HIGHLIGHTS COUNCIL'S KEY FOCUS AREAS AND THE OBJECTIVES THAT RESULTED FROM THE WORK DONE AT YOUR STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT.

SO HOW'S WITHIN THOSE FOCUS AREAS AND OBJECTIVES ARE THE EIGHT COUNCIL PRIORITIES THAT WERE ALSO IDENTIFIED DURING THE JUNE MEETING.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON EACH OF THESE AND HELPING BRINGING THEM TO FRUITION.

[00:10:10]

SO BEING NEW TO THE ORGANIZATION, I'M ON WEEK FIVE NOW.

I AM MEETING WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IN WHAT I'M CALLING DISCOVERY MEETINGS TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR STRENGTHS, THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AND THEIR ASPIRATIONS.

NEXT, WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON IDENTIFYING CORE SERVICES WITHIN EACH DEPARTMENT AND THEN ALIGNING PERFORMANCE METRICS WITH EACH OF THOSE CORE SERVICES.

AND THIS WILL INCLUDE INPUT OUTPUT, EFFICIENCY, QUALITY AND OUTCOME MEASURES.

I'M ALSO WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS TO FURTHER DEFINE STRATEGIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ALIGN WITH YOUR KEY FOCUS AREAS, AND THEN CREATING A TRACKING AND REPORTING MECHANISM FOR THOSE STRATEGIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING YOU A REPORT AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE FIRST QUARTER, UPDATING YOU ON NOT ONLY THE STATUS OF THE EIGHT PRIORITIES THAT YOU IDENTIFIED, BUT ALL OF THE OTHER ALIGNED INITIATIVES ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION.

ANY QUESTIONS? GREAT. SO AND THEN JUST TO BE SO FIRST QUARTER, THAT'S JANUARY.

THAT WOULD BE IN MARCH.

THE FIRST QUARTER IS OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER.

SO TO BE IN JANUARY. OH WELL OUR, OUR.

YEAH. GOT IT. GOT IT. YEAH.

FORGET WE START NOW.

I WAS IN A DIFFERENT WORLD WHERE THEY START IN JANUARY SO.

GOT IT. SO, SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, SO THE FIRST QUARTER WOULD BE REPORTING.

WE SHOULD EXPECT THAT REPORT WHEN JUST FOR THOSE TRACKING ALONG IN JANUARY IN GENERAL.

JANUARY, I WOULD SAY PERFECT, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOUR COUNCIL MEETINGS FALL.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU FOR VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

THAT'S GOOD. OK QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND CONSIDERATION OF YOUR TIME FRAME, I WONDER IF WE COULDN'T FOCUS ON SOME OF MY EARLIER QUESTIONS, AT LEAST ON THIS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE, ABOUT THE CITY HALL.

I KNOW THAT WAS THE THE MAYOR WAS PRIORITIZING THAT.

SO I HAD FROM THE THE THE INITIAL SESSION, I WONDERED IF WE COULDN'T HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY ON WHAT THE COUNCIL FEELS ITS ITS MILESTONES MIGHT BE ON THIS BECAUSE IT SEEMED WE BUNDLED A LOT OF THINGS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR HAD THE CITY HALL RENOVATIONS OR NEW ONE.

I WOULD APPRECIATE HIS HIS INPUT.

AND THEN BUT WE BUNDLED A LOT OF CITY HALL WEST CONCEPTS INTO THIS.

AND THERE WAS THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCEPTS INTO THAT.

AND SO I WAS CURIOUS WHAT STAFF'S TAKE ON THIS.

AND I WANTED TO LET I WOULD APPRECIATE THE MAYOR'S INPUT ON THAT AND WHAT HIS, HIS, HIS IDEAS WERE MORE FOR THAT ONE.

DAVID. TO SPEAK FROM THE STAFF PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE COMING AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A POTENTIAL BOND ELECTION IN 2023, AND THAT IS ONE OPTION AS WE THINK ABOUT A CITY HALL.

COULD CITY HALL BE PART OF A BOND ELECTION? SO WE PLAN ON DURING THAT TIME AS WE LOOK AT CAPITAL PROJECTS ACROSS THE BOARD, HAVE A DISCUSSION ON CITY HALL AND WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE.

SO WE'LL HAVE SOME TENTATIVE PLANS AND OPTIONS AND OPEN THAT UP FOR DISCUSSION.

SO AS FAR AS OUR NEXT STEPS WITH CITY HALL, THAT IS ONE OF THEM.

OBVIOUSLY, PART OF THE DIRECTION FROM THE PRIORITY WORKSHOP WAS TO IMPLEMENT RETAIL AND HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT.

SO WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT AND THAT WOULD BE PART OF OUR DISCUSSION AS WELL.

SO WE'RE STILL AT THE VERY EARLY STAGES OF THAT AND REALLY TARGETING THAT DECEMBER DATE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL.

SO JUST TO GIVE YOU PERSPECTIVE FROM FROM STAFF PERSPECTIVE OF OUR NEXT STEPS.

AND THE OTHER THE OTHER THING, THOUGH, IS THAT WE'RE ALSO WE'LL BE COMING BACK CHRISTINE WILL BE COMING BACK TO TALK ABOUT CITY HALL WEST.

THERE'LL BE AN OPTION IN THERE AS WELL THAT COULD TIE TO USE FOR THE PURPOSES OF OFFICE SPACE IN THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

AND THAT'S A GREAT POINT I WOULD ADD TO THAT AS WELL.

WE'RE ALSO GOING THROUGH OUR FACILITY MASTER PLAN RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FACILITY NEEDS FOR INTERNAL STAFF ACROSS THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, AND THAT'S WRAPPING UP.

SO AS WE HAVE THE RESULTS OF THAT, THAT WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE DISCUSSION IN DECEMBER AND OTHER DISCUSSIONS MOVING FORWARD AS WELL.

AND FOR MY COMPONENT OF THAT, I REALLY JUST IT'S IT'S LIFE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO CLEAN OUT A CONFERENCE ROOM FOR AN OFFICE.

RIGHT. THE LIFE WHERE THE THE CITY MANAGER'S SUITE HAS MORE THAN ONE RESTROOM.

SO JUST FUNCTIONS OF LIFE ENHANCEMENTS AND A CITY HALL CHAMBER THAT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE BY ANY STRETCH. I MEAN, IT HASN'T BEEN IT HADN'T BEEN ACCESSIBLE AT ANY PHASE, YOU KNOW, AND CERTAINLY NOT FOR 2022.

SO THOSE THINGS LIKE JUST FUNCTIONS THAT MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, FOR THE CITIZENS THAT ATTEND, I, I

[00:15:05]

IT JUST MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM.

AND SO REALLY WANT TO GET THAT ADDRESSED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND EVEN TO PUT A SAFETY COMPONENT TO IT.

WHEN CHIEF TALKS ABOUT AND IT'S TRUE THAT'S THE CASE, RIGHT? IF IF WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY AND SOMEONE'S IN A WHEELCHAIR, THEY'RE RUNNING DOWN THE STAIRS WITH A WILL WITH THE PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR.

AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE CITY OF DENTON THIS SIZE AT THIS PHASE.

SO JUST LOTS OF SECURITY FEATURES.

AND THEN THE TO PUT ANOTHER STEP TO THAT, THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE MAKES A GOOD POINT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SAFETY FEATURES AND THE STUFF HE INTERACTS WITH, DO WE WANT TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO A CITY HALL? AND AGAIN, THAT GOES ALL KIND OF INTO THAT CONVERSATION.

BUT I DID CONFIRM THAT THE JAIL THE JAIL IS A SEPARATE THING AND DOES NOT HAVE TO BE NEXT TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT.

SO THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS IF WE WANT TO BRING THAT THOSE TWO FUNCTIONS UNDER ONE ROOF AND GIVE THEM SOME SAFETY FEATURES.

SO MINE IS QUALITY OF LIFE SAFETY FOCUS AND WHAT KIND OF WHAT THAT NETS OUT TO BE.

THAT'S WHERE STAFF AND DAVID TAKE OVER.

YES, SIR. I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE, IF I CAN PARAPHRASE A LITTLE BIT, THAT THAT THE FOCUS FOR YOU AND I THINK A SHARED THIS VERY STRONGLY IS THAT OVERALL CITY FACILITIES YOUR YOUR INTEREST IS IS MAINTAINING AND UPGRADING CITY FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY THE ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES THE JAIL THE JUDGE, THE THE CITY HALL. AND I'M JUST SORT OF TRYING TO GET THE 50,000 FOOT VIEW KIND OF ATTITUDE AND KIND OF INITIATES A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE WE SEE THAT.

I THINK I THINK THAT'S AN ADMIRABLE GOAL.

I THINK I SUPPORT THE MAYOR IN IN THOSE SORT OF ADMINISTRATIVE UPGRADES AND THEN HAVING THAT DISCUSSION ON THAT.

SO I JUST WANTED SOME CLARITY BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE WE HAD WE HAD SORT OF TO PUNCTUATE THINGS CITY HALL WEST AND THE CITY HALL AND AND I WANTED TO GET MAYBE SOME MORE DIAS FEEDBACK ON THAT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SURE.

THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BURT.

AND TO THAT POINT ABOUT CITY HALL, CITY HALL SOUTH, I MEAN, WE'RE ANTICIPATING THE SIGNIFICANT GROWTH OF THE CITY IN A SOUTHWESTERLY FASHION, AS WE KNOW.

AND SO I JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO PUT A PIN IN THAT IF YOU ALL HADN'T CONSIDER THAT.

I KNOW WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL LARGE SOUTH RECREATION CENTER AND ALL OF THAT GOING ON DOWN.

GOT TO BE COMING UP ON DOWN THAT WAY.

POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, CITY HALL, SOUTH.

I'LL JUST PUT THAT IN THERE. BUT WHAT I REALLY RAISED MY HAND FOR INITIALLY WAS THAT I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER.

I HAVE A QUESTION. CAN I GO BACK? SURE. OKAY. HELLO THERE, MA'AM.

HI. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? ALL RIGHT.

I SAW THAT ONE OF THESE PLANS WAS TO WORK WITH.

MY QUESTION IS, IS WHEN? WHEN YOU GO AND DO THE FIRST.

GO BACK TO THAT. THAT FIRST PRIORITY.

YOU'RE MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT DISCOVERY MEETINGS? YES, MA'AM. AND SO WHAT CAME ACROSS MY MIND WAS, ARE YOU MEETING WITH ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES ON DIFFERENT LEVELS OR ARE YOUR MEETINGS AT THE HIGHER LEVELS RIGHT NOW MEETING WITH WITH THE DIRECTORS, THIS WITH THE DIRECTORS? ARE YOU PLANNING ON MEETING WITH THE OTHER FOLKS? SO THE NEXT ROUND OF SESSIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS WILL BE EXPANDING UPON THAT INTO OTHER INTO OTHER LEVELS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITIES.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M NOT SURE, OF COURSE, HOW YOU'RE MEETINGS ARE, HOW YOU'RE PLANNING ON MEETING WITH THE OTHER LEVEL FOLKS.

BUT I WANT TO KEEP IN MIND THIS PARTICULAR TERM CALL RETALIATION IF THEY START GOING INTO, YOU KNOW, A NEGATIVE ROW AND REALLY WANT TO SAY WHAT THEY REALLY WANT TO SAY.

I'M SURE THAT THAT TERM IS GOING TO COME UP AT SOME POINT ALONG THE WAY, MAYBE.

HOW DO YOU ALL PLAN ON DEALING WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH IT? WELL, I MEAN, I HAVEN'T I CERTAINLY HAVEN'T RUN INTO THAT YET.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STRENGTHS, OPPORTUNITIES AND ASPIRATIONS.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT IN MY HISTORY OF WORKING WITH STAFF AT ALL LEVELS, PARTICULARLY IN INSTANCES WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT PROCESS AND PROCESS REVIEWS, ONE, WE ALWAYS STICK WITH PROCESS, BUT IF THERE ARE ANY WEAKNESSES THAT NEED TO BE NEED TO BE PUT OUT THERE, ANY EFFICIENCIES, ANY INEFFICIENCIES, AND I'M HERE TO HEAR THOSE.

AND SO THOSE ARE FOR YOUR EAR ONLY TYPE CONVERSATIONS, OR WILL YOU BE EXPOSING THOSE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS WHEN

[00:20:01]

SO SO SO I'LL LET CHRISTINE.

BUT COUNCIL MEMBER THE THE FOCUS HERE IS MORE ON WHAT ARE WE DOING RIGHT? WHAT WHAT OTHER THINGS CAN WE BE DOING DIFFERENTLY OR DO WE NOT NEED TO BE DOING? FIRST OF ALL, I MEAN, WHEN SHE HEARS THINGS, SHE'LL BE ABLE TO DISCERN WHETHER IT'S SUGGESTIVE SUGGESTIONS WE NEED TO WORK ON OR THINGS WE HAVEN'T BEEN WORKING ON.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT EVEN IF SOMEONE DOES SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO WORK ON THIS, THIS HAS NOT BEEN HAPPENING, WE WELCOME THOSE KINDS OF INPUTS.

AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, SHE'S NOT GOING TO COME BACK WITH PEOPLE'S NAMES, RIGHT, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S JUST HERE'S WHAT I'M HEARING.

HERE'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE WORKING ON THINGS AND NOT THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE TO BE CALLED OUT OR RETALIATED AGAINST.

THIS IS REALLY TO FOR US TO TO FOCUS OUR TO FOCUS OUR DEPARTMENTS TO HAVE REALLY GOOD MEASURES SO THAT WHEN WE DO A DASHBOARDS, ANYONE IN THE CITY AND ANYONE OUTSIDE THE CITY CAN CLICK ON SOMETHING AND SEE WHERE WE WERE, WHERE WE ARE, WHAT OUR MEASURES ARE, HOW WE'RE DOING, AND ANYBODY THAT CAN GIVE US SOME GOOD INFORMATION, IT'S GOING TO BE WELCOMED.

I THINK, TOO. THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO ADD IS THAT THE MEETINGS DO TAKE PLACE IN GROUP SETTING AND THEY ARE POSITIVELY FOCUSED ON WHAT ARE OUR ASPIRATIONS, WHAT DO YOU SEE US LOOKING LIKE? HOW WOULD WE MEASURE SUCCESS? BUT THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS SEVERAL AVENUES FOR EMPLOYEES.

THROUGH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE THE LIGHTHOUSE PROGRAM THROUGH INTERNAL AUDIT, IF THEIR CONCERNS OR FEARS OF RETALIATION.

AND OF COURSE WE HAVE OUR SUPERVISORS GO THROUGH EXTENSIVE TRAINING WITH HUMAN RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THOSE AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE SO THAT THERE ISN'T ANY RETALIATION, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

SEE, TIM.

NOW. COME ON. I APPRECIATE THAT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO DOMINATE.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO GOING FORWARD? WHAT IS STAFF'S FEELINGS ON ON THE CONTINUANCE OF THE OLD 19, 20, 21 PRIORITIES THAT ARE STILL UNFINISHED? AND HOW ARE WE INTEGRATING THOSE INTO OUR NEW 23 PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF AN OVERALL PRIORITY SCHEMA? ARE WE WE PREFERENTIALLY PRIORITIZING? I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD PRIORITY PRIORITIZATION TWICE.

ARE WE PREFERENTIALLY PRIORITIZING EXISTING BUSINESS? WELL, THINGS DEFINITELY DON'T GO AWAY IF IT'S NOT A PRIORITY OR IF IT WAS LISTED ONGOING.

IF IT'S A PROGRAM, WE STILL THAT BECOMES PART OF THE OPERATIONAL FOCUS.

SO I BELIEVE AMY MENTIONED IT, BUT PART OF THIS PROCESS WAS REALLY EYE OPENING TO US BECAUSE AS WE WENT OUT TO, DEPARTMENTS ARE ALREADY WORKING ON INITIATIVES THAT MAY BE OUTSIDE OF THE EIGHT. WE WERE UP TO LIKE 150 PROJECTS OR PROCESSES THAT ALL FALL IN THOSE FOCUS AREAS.

SO OUR INTENT IS THAT WE WILL STILL CONTINUE TO REPORT ON THEM.

THEY WILL JUST BE MARKED RATHER IT'S A CONTINUED BUSINESS INITIATIVE OR A COUNCIL PRIORITY, BUT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE ISSUES THAT SPAN BEYOND OR PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO GO THAT FALL IN THAT 3 TO 5 YEAR MARK, IN ADDITION TO THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU'RE ESTABLISHING EACH YEAR.

BECAUSE THOSE FOCUS AREAS, WE WANT TO SHOW ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE TO SUPPORT THOSE FOCUS AREAS.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN EIGHT.

SURE, THAT MAKES SENSE.

I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEE.

SEE? NONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TAKES US TO OUR LAST ITEM FOR TODAY.

[C. Receive an update regarding the Denton County Transit Authority (DCTA) from the City of Denton DCTA Board representative. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]

LET ME SEE. RECEIVE AN UPDATE REGARDING THE DENTON COUNTY TRANSIT AUTHORITY FROM THE CITY OF DENTON, D.C.

TO BOARD REPRESENTATIVE.

Y'ALL. I DON'T HAVE AL MCGUIRE DONE.

CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT FOUR AND D.C.

TO REPRESENTATIVE.

I DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION THIS WEEK, BUT THERE WERE TWO ITEMS THAT I WERE PENDING THAT THAT I MENTIONED AT MY LAST UPDATE IN JULY.

OUR CEO HAS A NEW CEO.

WE DID AN EXTENSIVE NATIONWIDE SEARCH, INTERVIEWED CANDIDATES, AND ULTIMATELY ENDED UP GOING WITH THE INTERNAL CANDIDATE, THE INTERIM CEO, PAUL CHRISTINA.

AND IT WAS JUST UNANIMOUS ON THE BOARD THAT THAT WE FELT HE'S BEEN DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB FOR THE AGENCY.

HE WHEN HE WAS PUT IN THE INTERIM ROLE, HE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

HE MADE A TON OF ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS IMMEDIATELY, DID NOT WAIT.

AND HE DID IT JUST JUST BECAUSE HE FELT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO WE FELT THAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO WAS TO ALLOW HIM TO CONTINUE THAT WORK.

THE OTHER PENDING MATTER THAT I DISCUSSED LAST TIME WAS SERVICE CHANGES.

[00:25:01]

BEYOND FOUR MILES.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE RIDES LONGER THAN FOUR MILES.

FIRST OF ALL, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF RIDES ARE LOWER THAN FIVE MILES FOR MILES ON GO ZONE RIDES LONGER THAN FOUR MILES, TIE UP THE SYSTEM, REDUCE EFFICIENCY AND PARTICULARLY THOSE ROUTES, THOSE GOES ON RIDES THAT ARE ALONG EXISTING FIXED ROUTES.

THE AGENCY HAS REALLY AND THE BOARD PRETTY UNANIMOUSLY HAS AGREED THAT WE WANT TO BE GETTING THOSE FOLKS ON ON FIXED ROUTES.

FIXED ROUTE BUS SERVICE WILL BE CHANGING AGAIN STARTING JANUARY 1ST.

ROUTE SIX AND SEVEN, WHICH ARE THE TWO HIGHEST RIDERSHIP ROUTES, WILL BE RUNNING ON INCREASED FREQUENCY STARTING IN JANUARY, ON JANUARY 1ST.

ROUTE THREE WILL BE EXTENDED SO THAT IT WILL STOP IN FRONT OF THE NEW OUR DAILY BREAD FACILITY.

THERE WILL BE A BUS STOP IN FRONT OF THAT FACILITY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE HOURS FOR ROUTE THREE WILL END AT AT FIVE STARTING IN JANUARY.

BUT YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

SO MAYBE IF THAT RIDERSHIP IS HIGH, THAT MIGHT GET EXTENDED AS WELL.

ROUTE TWO WILL BE ELIMINATED STARTING ON JANUARY 1ST.

SO THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PARTICULARLY THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE CLOSE TIES TO THE SOUTHEAST DENTON COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO WANT TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT ROUTE TWO IS BEING DISCONTINUED.

SO OTHER THAN THAT, MOST OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD UPDATE YOU ON ARE AVAILABLE AT DCT DASHBOARD.

AND WE OBVIOUSLY REALLY EXTENSIVELY DISCUSSED SERVICE PLANNING LAST TIME.

SO I'LL JUST TAKE QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS.

QUESTIONS ON CTA.

COUNCILOR, WHAT'S SO JANUARY ONE? THE FIXED ROUTE BUS SYSTEM.

THE ROUTES THAT WILL BE OPERABLE ARE WHICH ONES? STARTING JANUARY ONE, WE WILL HAVE ONLY ROUTES THREE, SIX AND SEVEN.

ROUTE THREE WILL END AT 5:00.

ROUTE SIX AND SEVEN WILL RUN ON HIGHER FREQUENCY.

COULD YOU JUST SHARE JUST A BRIEF MOMENT ABOUT WHY WAS THE TIME NOT EXTENDED, EXTENDED ON THE ROUTE THREE? BECAUSE IF IT'S STOPPING BY THE HOUR DAILY, THE NEW SHELTER OR THE NEW I MEAN, 5:00 IS FIRST OF ALL, IT'S RUSH.

WHAT WAS THE BOARD'S SENTIMENTS ON NOT EXTENDING IT? WAS IT A COST? WAS IT, HEY, WE'LL WAIT AND SEE OR WHAT? WHAT WAS THAT? I WELL, YOU KNOW, FULL DISCLOSURE, I WAS THE LONE NO VOTE ON ON THIS SERVICE CHANGE.

I THINK THAT IT PRIMARILY CAME DOWN TO COST AND RIDERSHIP.

ROUTE THREE DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE PARTICULARLY HIGH RIDERSHIP.

I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THAT'S LIKELY TO CHANGE WHEN THE DAILY BREAD FACILITY OPENS AND WHEN ROUTE THREE STOPS IN FRONT OF OUR DAILY BREAD.

BUT THAT WASN'T PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

AND SO I GUESS BASED UPON WHAT I'VE READ, THE BUDGET IS SUFFICIENT THAT IF THERE IS THIS INCREASE IN THIS NEED OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET TO THE SHELTER AT HOURS AFTER 5:00, THEN THERE'S THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL THAT IF A CHANGE NEEDS TO BE MADE, IT'S THERE IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

YEAH, I THINK THAT A BUDGET AMENDMENT WOULD PROBABLY BE PRETTY EASY TO IMPLEMENT.

I THINK WHAT'S HARDER TO IMPLEMENT IS JUST SERVICE CHANGES IN GENERAL, ALTHOUGH EXTENDING SERVICE LESS COMPLICATED THAN REDUCING SERVICE, CERTAINLY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YEAH.

ANYONE ELSE? CNN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

PRO TEM. SOMETHING JUST POPPED IN MY HEAD.

SURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.

COUNCIL HAD THE IDEA WEEKS AGO AND YOU WERE GOING TO BRING IT UP WITH THE BOARD ABOUT POSSIBLY EXTENDING THE FLEET WITH SOME ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS.

DID YOU ALL CHAT ABOUT THAT? YES. SO MUCH LIKE THE CONVERSATION THAT WE WERE JUST HAVING ABOUT THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PLAN.

DCT IS REALLY IN LIKE VERY EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPING STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.

ONE OF THE GOALS THAT WE WILL BE DEVELOPING AND WE HAVE A DEADLINE NOW OF MARCH TO, TO DEVELOP ACTUAL METRICS BY WHICH TO TO MEASURE OUR PERFORMANCE. AND ONE OF THOSE IS THAT WE WE HOPE TO DEVELOP A FLEET REPLACEMENT PLAN.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY.

AND TMC MANAGES THE FLEET.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TMC AND DCT IS LIKELY CHANGING IN WAYS THAT WILL UNFOLD OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, BUT TMC IS PROBABLY DCT IS PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE A MORE HANDS ON APPROACH WITH TMC, ESPECIALLY IN DEVELOPING WORKFORCE ISSUES AND WITH FLEET FLEET REPLACEMENT.

[00:30:02]

BUT FULL TRANSPARENCY IS GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL YEARS FOR SURE.

IT'S GOING TO PROBABLY TAKE AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR TO GET A PLAN IN PLACE TO REPLACE THE FLEET.

THANKS FOR THAT. YEAH.

COUNCILWOMAN DAVIS AND COUNCILMAN BERT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. QUICK QUESTION THAT KIND OF SPARKED IN THAT POLICE FLEET REPLACEMENT CONVERSATION.

I REALIZE THEY'RE JUST KIND OF TALKING ABOUT IT AS STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL BE FLESHED OUT LATER ON.

BUT HAVE THERE BEEN CONVERSATIONS LIKE WITH THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT KIND OF RIGHTSIZING THE FLEET AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF VEHICLES? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GMC DOES TO AN EXTENT ALREADY, RIGHT? ROUTE THREE, BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE LOWER RIDERSHIP ROUTES THAT RUNS WITH A CUTAWAY, ONE OF THE SHORTER BUSSES.

SO THAT'S YES, HAVING A VARIETY OF VEHICLE SIZES AND RESERVING THOSE LARGER VEHICLES FOR THE HIGHER RIDERSHIP ROUTES IS DEFINITELY ON ON GOING TO BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION FOR SURE.

COUNCIL MEMBER. I'M GOING TO DO A LITTLE LITTLE COMPLAINING.

AND IT'S IN REGARDS TO THE TRAINING OF SOME OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE DRIVING THESE VEHICLES.

AND I'VE JUST SEEN SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BOTHERED ME, AND PARTICULARLY IF SOMEONE IS LETTING I SAW SOMEONE LET OUT A GENTLEMAN ON, I GUESS LET'S SAY WE'RE GOING NORTH.

SO THE PASSENGER I MEAN, I'M SORRY, THE DRIVER DOOR IS ON THE STREET.

I SAW HIM LET THIS GENTLEMAN OUT ON THAT PASSENGER SIDE AND CARS WERE COMING.

THAT'S VERY BOTHERSOME FOR ME.

AND SO I KNOW WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME TRAINING GOING ON HERE.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS, I'M THINKING INSTEAD OF LETTING PEOPLE OUT ON THE LARGER I GUESS IT'S AN ARTERIAL TYPE STREET AND HAVING YOU GUYS TO LOOK INTO HAVE THEM IF THEY CAN'T DROP THEM OFF AT THE DOOR LIKE UBER, HAVE THEM IN AT LEAST PULLING THE NEXT DRIVEWAY OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

AND THIS WAS OVER OFF OF COLORADO BOULEVARD BETWEEN THE MALL AND SPENCER ROAD, I BELIEVE THAT IS.

SO AND IT'S OCCURRED.

AND I SAID TO MYSELF, I NEED TO CALL THESE PEOPLE.

THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH.

YOU KNOW, I WAS BEING A REGULAR CITIZEN IN MY HEAD.

SO I'M WONDERING AND THIS IS A LONG SHOT.

IF WE SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, CAN WE GO INTO ENGAGED IN AND PUT THAT THERE FOR SOMEONE TO SAY SOMETHING? BECAUSE JUST HAVING THE NUMBER, YOU KNOW, ON A CARD OR IN MY CAR OR WRITTEN IN MY HAND OR TEXTING OR SOMETHING IS A BIT CUMBERSOME.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO DO THAT IF I WANTED TO ENGAGE IN ANY WAY.

BUT AT LEAST IT'S A QUICKER MINDSET, YOU KNOW, TO DO THAT.

YEAH. SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE CAN JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, MASSAGE THAT IDEA AND IF IT CAN'T WORK AND JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST DOESN'T WORK, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE TO ME WE NEED SOME KIND OF SIGNS OR SOMETHING OUT THERE ON THESE ROADWAYS THAT SAY IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH D.C.

TO PLEASE CALL US AT THIS NUMBER.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT OUT THERE TO GIVE ME A QUICKER OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A CASE FOR SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE I DRIVE MY CAR.

YEAH, YOU KNOW. YEAH.

YEAH. SO I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, I HEAR YOU ON THE TRAINING CONCERNS.

I'M ALSO REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVER TRAINING.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF VERY LONG CONVERSATIONS IN BOARD MEETINGS WITH THE CONSULTANTS AT VIA ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

WE DID GAIN SOME CONCESSIONS AS FAR AS EXPANDING THEIR SORT OF ONLINE TRAINING PLATFORM, BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BUILD BOARD SUPPORT AROUND THINGS LIKE REQUIRING SUPERVISORS TO MONITOR, DO DO RANDOM MONITORING OF DRIVERS OR THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ON GOING CONVERSATION.

DEFINITELY. I WILL I WILL SHARE THOSE CONTINUE TO SHARE THOSE CONCERNS WITH THE BOARD.

SO THE COMPLAINT PROCESS IS PRIMARILY THE SORT OF ENCOURAGED PROCESS FOR REGISTERING A COMPLAINT IS THROUGH THE GO ZONE APP. BUT OF COURSE IF YOU'RE NOT THE PASSENGER, THEN THAT'S NOT USEFUL TO YOU.

[00:35:01]

SO THERE'S THERE IS A PHONE NUMBER FOR THE CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM CURRENTLY VIA IS HANDLING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE COMPLAINTS SO THE PHONE CALL WOULDN'T GO TO TO DCT, IT WOULD GO TO VIA.

BUT I'M WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO SAY THAT I CAN SAY THAT PHONE NUMBER FOR ANYONE WHO'S LISTENING AND WANTS TO CALL IT THE GO ZONE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER IS 9402430077. AND THAT'S OPEN TO ANYONE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU'RE A PASSENGER OR NOT.

COUNCILOR WATTS, COUNCIL MEMBER, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

I GUESS I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE I THINK WHEN YOU SAY THEY DROPPED THEM OFF AND THEY GOT OUT ON THE THE TRAFFIC SIDE.

I MEAN, FROM WHAT I CAN UNDERSTAND, THERE'S TWO DOORS ON EITHER SIDE OF THOSE VEHICLES.

SO IF THEY WANTED TO EXIT ON THE OTHER SIDE, THEY COULD DO THAT.

AND ALSO BUSSES DROP PEOPLE OFF, ALTHOUGH IT ON THE SIDEWALK SIDE, ON ARTERIALS, ON EAGLE DRIVE AND SOME OTHERS.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AS WELL.

DON'T GET OUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE ON A ON ON TRAFFIC FLOW I MEAN BECAUSE I MEAN AS DRIVERS WE HAVE TO DO THAT SOMETIMES.

OF COURSE, WE LOOK, BUT.

SO I SEE THAT AS A CONCERN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A DRIVER TRAINING ISSUE UNLESS THE DRIVERS ARE SUPPOSED TO TELL THEM, DON'T GET OUT ON THIS SIDE, GET OUT ON THIS SIDE.

SO I THINK IT'S ALSO PEOPLE NEED TO USE THEIR COMMON SENSE.

I MEAN, YOU DON'T WANT TO OPEN A DOOR ON A ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND RISK SOMEBODY TAKING IT OFF OR TAKING YOU OUT.

SO I WOULD ASK EVERYBODY TO JUST BE VERY MINDFUL OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL SAFETY.

AND IF THEY CAN PASS THAT ALONG TO THE DRIVER, SAY, HEY, HER SIGN THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, GET OUT ON THIS SIDE, THAT THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

COUNCILOR BYRD YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT COMMON SENSE IS NOT COMMON.

AND SO THIS IS WHY WE HAVE A LOT OF LAWS AND RULES AND ORDINANCES TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE THAT ARE JUST, YOU KNOW, INTELLIGENT TO ME.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT'S JUST NOT LIKE ME.

THAT'S WHAT MY MOTHER TOLD ME WHEN I WAS TEN PEOPLE.

AND I LIKE YOU, VICKY.

SO THAT'S WHY WE JUST NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

AND AGAIN, IF THIS IF IT DOES HELP TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE VEHICLE OR TRAINING THE THE DRIVER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PUTTING PEOPLE OFF ON THE CURB, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT GENTLEMAN DECIDED TO GET OUT ON THAT SIDE.

I DON'T KNOW. SO WE HAVE TO PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S OUR JOB, RIGHT? SO BUT YEAH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SOMETHING SEEING SOMETHING NEW BECAUSE I'VE HAD SOME NEAR-MISSES WITH SOME OF THESE VEHICLES.

AND OF COURSE, I'M CHEWING MY CHEWING THEM OUT.

BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILOR MCGEE, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS BOARD.

ALTHOUGH BOARDS WE SERVE ON ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THIS ONE IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO MEMBERS OF OUR PUBLIC, AS EVIDENT IN THE NUMBER OF EMAILS, MANY OF WHICH ARE COMPLAINTS THAT I KNOW THAT WE ALL GET.

SO I KNOW THAT YOU'RE OFTEN ON THE DOWN SIDE OF OF LOSING VOTES.

AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A PASSION OF YOURS.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THIS PARTICULAR BOARD.

IT'S NOT IN VAIN. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ZEAL.

THANK YOU. YEAH. AND I DON'T MIND THE COMPLAINTS ONE BIT.

KEEP THEM COMING. WE NEED TO HEAR THEM.

SO THEN THEN I'LL TAKE A MOMENT TO ASK THEN ABOUT COMPLAINTS.

SO YOU WERE SAYING THAT VIA IS HANDLING THE COMPLAINT SYSTEM FOR FOR GOES ON.

DOES THE BOARD GET A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF COMPLAINTS OR JUST MORE OF A HIGH LEVEL HISTOGRAM OF THE TYPES OF COMPLAINTS, VERY HIGH LEVEL.

SO SO THEN I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE I KNOW THAT'S A LITTLE IT'S A LOT OF READING HOMEWORK FOR THE BOARD, BUT I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO, TO, TO GET BECAUSE IT GIVES A SENSE OF URGENCY.

IT GIVES A SENSE OF THE THE DIRECT CONSEQUENCES FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THESE THINGS.

AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO GET REPETITIVE.

YOU STILL WANT THE HISTOGRAMS, YOU STILL WANT THE HIGH LEVEL REPORTING.

OTHERWISE YOU CAN HAVE STATISTICS.

BUT BUT SOME OF THE DIRECT IMPACTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD.

YOU WERE SAYING YOU WERE HAVING PENETRATION PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF EDUCATING YOUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.

AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS THAT FOR THE TRAINING OF NOW THE TWO OPERATING FLEETS, I PRESUMABLY THAT THAT IS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT TRAINING REGIMENS TO FIX.

DRAUT AND TMC VERSUS VA.

YES THEY'RE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND ALTHOUGH I GUESS ROUTING IN SOMEWHAT WILL BE MEMORIZATION OF ROUTES AND LAYOUT OF VARIOUS CITIES WILL PROBABLY BE

[00:40:03]

BUT USING OUR CONTRACT, ARE THEY SPENDING COMPARABLE AMOUNTS OF TRAINING TO WHAT WENT ON WITH FIXED ROUTES BEFORE? SO WE CAN COMPARE APPLES TO ORANGES IN TERMS OF FIXED ROUTE TRAINING VERSUS GOES ON TRAINING? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

SO I THINK THAT.

IT IS. IT IS VERY APPLES AND ORANGES.

RIGHT. BECAUSE FOR FIXER OUT, A LOT OF THE TRAINING INCLUDES CDL TRAINING.

OFTEN DRIVERS GO AND GET THAT TRAINING ELSEWHERE AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER MATTER I THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION AROUND TMC IS THAT AND TMC DOESN'T INVEST A WHOLE LOT IN TRAINING BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPECTING THEIR DRIVERS TO HAVE DEALS AND IN MOST CASES TO GET THAT ALL ON THEIR OWN DIME. SO VERY, VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF THING, BUT I CAN LOOK INTO THAT.

THAT'D BE GREAT. I APPRECIATE IT.

ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS? ALL RIGHT. WELL, AND LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT THE MAYOR STOPPED, STEPPED OUT AT 1204 AND I TOOK OVER.

AND THEN I GUESS THAT WILL CLOSE THAT ITEM.

WE'VE PUSHED ITEM B, SO.

CITY MANAGER IS THERE ANY ANY OTHER BUSINESS FOR TODAY? NO, THERE'S NOT.

ALL RIGHT THEN. THEN AT 1213, WE WILL CLOSE THIS MEETING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.