Jun 06, 2023 City Council on 2023-06-06 2:00 PM

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THE BIGGEST THING IS THERE WASN'T ENOUGH DOCUMENTATION GIVING PEOPLE CLEAR GUIDANCE.

BUT, BUT EVERYBODY IS IN AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT CLEAR GUIDANCE IN GOING FORWARD AND THAT THESE THESE POTENTIAL HICCUPS WILL GET RESOLVED.

IS THAT SORT OF A GOOD SUMMARY? YES. AWESOME.

THAT SOUNDS GREAT TO ME. IT'S MORE AND MORE WHY I LOVE ALL THESE AUDITS.

THEY REALLY HELP. THANK YOU, MADISON.

I WILL SAY YES, I DO WANT TO LET THE COUNCIL KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE MENTIONED TO YOU PRIOR TO THIS.

WE HAD ANOTHER AUDIT, AND THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE WE AS STAFF UNCOVERED OURSELVES AND THEN ASK THE AUDITOR TO COME IN AND TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE.

WE HAVE TOM, WHO'S HERE, WHO HAS MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.

TOM GRAMMAR. AND NOW YOU SHOULD SEE A MAJOR SHIFT BECAUSE THIS IS THIS IS AN AREA THAT WAS QUITE FRANKLY NOT IN THE BEST SHAPE.

AND SO WE'RE THANKFUL FOR MADISON BECAUSE SHE COMES IN AND HELPS US.

BUT IN THIS CASE, WE ACTUALLY RECOGNIZE WE HAD A PROBLEM OVER A YEAR AGO AND MADE SOME STAFF CHANGES AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT THEN BEGAN THE PROCESS OF OF IDENTIFYING ISSUES.

AND THEN MADISON CAME IN AND REALLY, WITH HER STAFF, CLARIFIED WHERE WE NEEDED TO FOCUS OUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN MCGEE. MR. MAYOR. MADISON, GREAT JOB, AS ALWAYS.

ONE THING I WANT TO FLAG THAT YOU SAID, AS YOU SAID ON THE HORIZON, WE MIGHT NEED AN ADDITIONAL FUEL STATION THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

IS THAT ALREADY ON YOUR.

YEAH, TOM CAN ANSWER THAT.

I GUESS BASICALLY MY QUESTION WAS.

THIS IS JUST GUESSTIMATING.

HI. THANK YOU, TOM. HOW FAR AWAY ARE WE FROM FROM ACTUALLY NEEDING THAT? WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME ON THAT? I KNOW I'M ASKING YOU TO GUESS, BUT IS THIS SOMETHING NEAR FUTURE OR MORE EXTENDED FUTURE? YEAH. SO IT'S NOT A GUESS.

CURRENTLY WE HAVE THE SOUTH STATION, THE PD FIRING RANGE AND THE FIRE STATION DOWN THERE THAT COULD UTILIZE A REMOTE FUEL STATION AND THAT SOUTH PART OF TOWN.

UPON THE COMPLETION OF THIS AUDIT, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE VENDOR AND WE'RE SECURING A QUOTE CURRENTLY FOR AN ABOVE GROUND FUEL STORAGE TANK THAT IS TEMPORARY, THAT COULD BE PLACED AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN THAT WOULD HELP US RESTRICT THE CARD USAGE AND STILL PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICES FOR FUEL AT THE BULK RATE FOR THE SOUTH SIDE STATIONS AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT SEE.

BACK TO US AT THE END OF THE SUMMER.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE A TIMELINE BECAUSE WE'RE JUST RECEIVING QUOTES.

THERE'S A LOT OF IMPLEMENTATION TO GO ON, BUT WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING THAT PROCESS.

THANK YOU, TOM. YES, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU, MADISON.

THANK YOU. TAKES US TO ITEM B.

[B. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding an update on the Wastewater Master Plan. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 45 minutes]]

ID 23375.

RECEIVE A REPORT, HOLD DISCUSSION, AND GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING AN UPDATE ON THE WATER WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN.

OKAY.

AFTERNOON. STEPHEN GAY, DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES.

JUST WANTED TO GO OVER AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN.

DURING THIS PRESENTATION, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE PHASING AND GROWTH THAT WE'RE SEEING.

DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

FOCUSING IN ON BOTH THE HICKORY CREEK AND THE CLEAR CREEK BASINS AND THEN DISCUSS NEXT STEPS.

SO WITH REGARDS TO THE PHASING AND THE GROWTH, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS ROUGHLY ABOUT AN 8.1% PROJECTED GROWTH RATE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS OR FIVE YEARS. THIS NUMBER IS BASED OFF OF THE WORK THAT WE DID WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

SO LOOKING AT THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN, LOOKING AT THE PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THE ONES THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE PIKE.

MOVING FORWARD, LOOKING FORWARD IN THE TEN YEAR WINDOW, WE SEE THAT LEVEL OFF TO ABOUT A 3%, 3.5% GROWTH RATE AND THEN A 25 YEAR WINDOW LEVELING DOWN TO ABOUT 2%.

SO WE LOOK WE LOOK OUT 25 YEARS AND THEN WE HONE BACK IN TO THE FIVE YEARS BECAUSE THAT'S MORE REALISTIC PLANNING WINDOW FOR US.

[00:50:07]

NOW, WHEN WE MET WITH YOU GUYS THE FIRST TIME BACK IN OCTOBER, WE WERE LOOKING AT THE BUILD OUT, INCLUDING ALL THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTS.

AND IF WE WERE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WASTEWATER SERVICES WITHIN THE HICKORY CREEK BASIN THAT CAME THAT PROJECTION WAS ROUGHLY $1.26 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT'S CONVEYANCE AND TREATMENT.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT A FIVE YEAR WINDOW AND WE LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE KNOW IS COMING THROUGH AND OUR NEED, WE CAN FOCUS IN ON WHAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEEDED WITHIN THAT NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THAT'S ROUGHLY 574 MILLION, WHICH IS $151 MILLION IN CONVEYANCE AND 200 OR 423 MILLION IN TREATMENT CAPACITY. FOCUSING ON THE CLEAR CREEK BASIN.

AGAIN, WE MET WITH YOU IN OCTOBER.

WE LOOKED AT THE NEED AND THOSE THE TWO GRAY SHADED OBJECTS UP ON THE NORTH SIDE, THOSE ARE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTS THAT THAT ONE AREA THAT HAS THE FOUR MCGEE HIGHLIGHTED, THAT'S THE MILAM CREEK.

AND WE'RE SEEING SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH WITHIN THAT REGION OF OUR SYSTEM AND IT FLOWS NATURALLY DOWN INTO THE CLEAR CREEK BASIN.

SO IN OCTOBER, WE WERE PROJECTING ROUGHLY $345 MILLION OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED BASED OFF OF THE GROWTH DEMAND.

AGAIN, COMING BACK DOWN INTO A FIVE YEAR WINDOW.

WE BELIEVE IT'S MORE REALISTIC TO PLAN FOR $251 BILLION OF INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE CONVEYANCE AND TREATMENT.

SO ALL IN WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE HICKORY CREEK BASIN, $574 MILLION OF INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT'S JUST CONVEYANCE AND TREATMENT.

CLEAR CREEK, 251 MILLION FOR GRAND TOTAL OF $825 MILLION.

OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETE OUR REVIEW OF THE FIVE, TEN AND 25 YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

COMPLETE OUR FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND THEN REVIEW THE FINDINGS WITH PUB AND CITY COUNCIL AND COMPLETE OUR REPORT AND BRING A FINAL REPORT BACK TO YOU FOR APPROVAL.

AND WITH THAT.

I'LL STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

COUNCILWOMAN. WHAT'S. GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON. THAT 8% OVER, I THINK YOU SAID THREE YEARS.

YES, SIR. THAT'S A TOTAL FOR THOSE THREE YEARS.

THAT'S NOT 8% PER YEAR.

THAT IS NOT AN 8% PER YEAR.

IT'S A TOTAL. SO IT'S TWO AND A HALF OR IT IS PER YEAR.

WE HAVE WE HAVE OUR CONSULTANTS HERE FROM KIMLEY-HORN.

OKAY. SO THAT IS 8% GROWTH, WHICH MEANS 24% OVER THE THREE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

YES, SIR. AND IS THAT THAT'S THE GROWTH THAT'S NOT ONLY IN THE CITY.

IS IT ALSO WHAT'S IN THE EGG OR IS IT JUST IN THE CITY? YES, SIR. WE IT IS IN THE CITY.

WE REFINED THAT ANALYSIS TO BE WITHIN OUR CORPORATE LIMITS.

I'M GOING TO ASK TAYLOR TO COME UP HERE WHO DID THE ANALYSIS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, SO SHE CAN ANSWER IT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET YOU THE RIGHT ANSWER.

THE CORRECT ANSWER, NOT THE RIGHT ANSWER.

HELLO? HELLO. SO THE 8% INCLUDES OUT TO THE EDGE.

SO THAT'S INCLUDING ALL OF THE MUDS OUT IN THE TWO AREA.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I APPRECIATE THAT. SO THEN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE COST OF 800 AND SOMETHING BILLION.

HOW DO I PUT THIS? HOW MUCH OF THAT IS REQUIRED BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY LIMITS, OUTSIDE OF OUR CORPORATE BOUNDARIES? IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT OF THAT CONTRIBUTION TO THAT TOTAL IS BECAUSE OF WANTING TO I'M PRESUMING WE'RE WANTING TO PROVIDE WASTEWATER SERVICES TO THESE MUDS IN THE FORM OF SEWER LINES.

LIST ANYTHING THAT'S NEEDED TO MEET THEIR DEMAND.

IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, I WOULD I WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE THEM THE SERVICES.

HOWEVER, WE FOCUSED IN ON THE AREA, THE HUNTER COAL AREA.

THAT'S WHAT THE ANALYSIS IS.

IS THAT NOT CORRECT? YES. SO THE SO THE GROWTH RATE INCLUDES IT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BE CONSISTENT IN THE NUMBERS WE WERE SHOWING FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER.

BUT THE NUMBERS SHOWN IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED TO SERVE, NOT INCLUDING THE MUDS JUST WITHIN THE CITY.

JUST WITHIN THE CITY, YES.

FANTASTIC. THAT'S GREAT.

I'M TRYING TO THINK IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, BECAUSE THAT WAS REALLY MY CONCERN, NOT CONCERN.

MY QUESTION, WHICH WAS HOW MUCH OF THAT IS IN.

BUT NONE OF IT IS BASED UPON US PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE OUTSIDE OF OUR CORPORATE BOUNDS FOR THIS PARTICULAR ANALYSIS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.

[00:55:01]

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

SO IN THE BACKUP, YOU SAID THE PLAN IS ABOUT 50% DONE.

THE THE WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN, IT'S I WOULD SAY IT'S MORE AROUND 80% COMPLETE.

THE MASTER PLAN IS WHAT'S LEFT.

WHAT CAN WE WHAT MORE CAN WE EXPECT TO BE VERY GENERAL.

JUST THIS IS. YEAH I'LL I'LL ASK KIMLEY-HORN BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING ON THIS EVERY DAY AND SO THEY CAN GIVE YOU THE MOST, MOST ACCURATE ANSWER.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I'M JEFF JAMES WITH KIMLEY-HORN.

THE ANALYSIS PIECE IS COMPLETE AND WHAT STEVEN IS NEEDING US TO DO NOW IS BASICALLY PUT TOGETHER THE DOCUMENT THAT HAS THE CIP INFORMATION, THE EXHIBITS, EVERYTHING CONTAINED, BUT THE ANALYSIS ITSELF IS COMPLETE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DO. GO RIGHT AHEAD.

JUST REAL QUICK FOLLOW UP.

AT WHAT POINT IN THE ANALYSIS THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR THE CONSULTANT? AT WHAT POINT IN THIS ANALYSIS DO WE THEN SWITCH OVER TO LOOKING AT THE COST? AND OUR PLAN IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES BEYOND OUR CORPORATE CITY LIMITS IS THAT ONLY AS WE ENTER INTO CONTRACTS, I MEAN, WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE BUILDING THE CAPACITY IN CASE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN.

BUT IF THEY DON'T, THEN, YEAH, WE'RE CONTEMPLATING THE GROWTH RATE BASED OFF OF THE MUD'S DEVELOPING, WE'RE BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE BASED OFF OF THE NEED WE KNOW OF WITHIN OUR CORPORATE LIMITS.

SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTS, THEN WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO OVERSIZE AND ENHANCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING FOR WHAT WE KNOW IS COMING, WHAT WE KNOW IS WITHIN OUR CORPORATE LIMITS.

DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? COUNCILOR WANTS IT DID.

AND SO WE WERE WE WOULD ALSO BE LOOKING TO THOSE MUDS TO PROVIDE THE COST.

YES, SIR. OF THAT CONVEYANCE AND WHATEVER ADDITIONAL COSTS.

YES, SIR. THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD WITH.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR.

I'LL PICK UP THERE AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AS PART OF THAT DOCUMENTATION TO MAKE SURE THAT FUTURE DEVELOPERS IN THE ETJ UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE DONE THAT INITIAL ANALYSIS FOR THEM BECAUSE TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE A VALUE ADD, BUT WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS IT'S THERE, HOPEFULLY AS A WAY TO ENTICE THEM TO COME TO THE TABLE AND, AND ALSO TO ADD VALUE TO THEM PARTNERING WITH US.

YES, MAYOR, WE'RE VERY TRANSPARENT WITH THEM OF THE PLANNING INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE DOING AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO BUILD.

IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, SIR, AND IS THAT POSTED? SO I KNOW THE PEOPLE WERE TALKING TO, BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE IS NEW TO THE TABLE WITH A DO WE HAVE A WAY OF KIND OF MESSAGING TO THEM OR GIVING THEM GIVING THEM THAT INFORMATION EARLY IN THE PROCESS? I WOULD I WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE ANYTHING FORMALIZED THAT WE PHYSICALLY HAND OUT OR POSTED.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE COMMUNICATE WITH THEM WHEN THEY DO COME INTO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

OKAY, GREAT.

AND THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD IS HAVE WE DONE A COST ANALYSIS KIND OF PRE VERSUS POST? AND A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS ROPES AND RANCH BECAUSE THEY BUILT THEIR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE.

NOW WE'RE TAKING IT OVER HALF TAKING IT OVER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT TIMELINE IS, BUT MATTER OF FACT IS WE DID AND SO DO WE.

LOOK AT THAT COST TO DO KIND OF A AFTER ACTION REPORT TO SAY IF WE HAD IF WE HAD DONE EXACTLY THIS IN ADVANCE.

LOOKING FORWARD, WE WOULD HAVE SAVED OR IT WOULD HAVE COST MORE.

HAVE WE DONE THAT KIND OF ANALYSIS? THE ANSWER IS NO.

I BELIEVE WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, IF I MAY.

SURE. YOU'RE ASKING IF WE TOOK WE LOOK BACK AND SAID, OKAY, ROPES AND RENTS BUILT THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT COST X.

HAD WE BEEN PROACTIVE AND BUILT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN ADVANCE, WHAT'S THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM? AND WOULD IT BEEN MORE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US TO HAVE BUILT IT FIRST VERSUS WAITING FOR THEM TO BUILD IT RIGHT, BECAUSE THEN WE HAD TO COME IN AND TAKE IT OVER? YES. AND THAT HAD A COST TO IT.

THAT HAD A COST TO IT, YES.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE DONE THAT, SIR.

BUT WE CAN LOOK IN DOING THAT ANALYSIS FOR YOU.

YEAH, JUST JUST THE HIGH LEVEL, NOT NOT DEEP DETAIL, BUT WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF JUST HAVE WHOLE NUMBER LOOK AT WHAT THAT BECAUSE THAT WILL GIVE ME A KIND OF A FEEL FOR WHAT THAT AGAIN WHAT VALUE WE'RE BRINGING AND JUST HAVE THAT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND.

SO YES, SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LET ME SEE IF WE GET IT RIGHT.

TAYLOR AND JEFF, THANK YOU ALL.

TAKES US TO ITEM C ID 23421.

[C. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the introduction of the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) staffing updates. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]

RECEIVE REPORT, HOLD DISCUSSION.

GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DENTON COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY STAFFING UPDATES.

ALL RIGHT. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[01:00:03]

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

IT IS VERY GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT HAVE NOT MET OFFICIALLY, MY NAME IS PAUL CHRISTIANA.

I'M THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT THE DENTON COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE FOR US TO BE HERE TODAY.

I'M JOINED BY SOME VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE OF OUR TEAM WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO IN A MINUTE.

I'VE GOT SOME SLIDES THAT COVER A LOT OF THE TOPICS THAT ARE IN THE LETTER THAT YOU ALL SENT TO THE VIA OUR BOARD MEMBER ALISON MAGUIRE BACK IN FEBRUARY.

AND SO I WILL SPEAK TO THESE AS WE GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND THEN RECAP AT THE END.

FIRST, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS BEEN UNDER A SIGNIFICANT TRANSFORMATION OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 18 MONTHS, AND NOTHING THAT WE DO AT THE AGENCY HAPPENS WITHOUT THE PEOPLE THAT I'M JOINED WITH IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW.

SO I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE THEM, STARTING WITH MR. MORRIS BELL. HE JOINED US WITH MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY, BEGINNING HIS CAREER AS A PARATRANSIT OPERATOR AND SERVING IN ROLES OF INCREASING RESPONSIBILITY, INCLUDING ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF BUS OPERATIONS AT DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT, VP OF INNOVATIVE SERVICES FOR KEOLIS NORTH AMERICA THAT LAUNCHED THE INDUSTRY'S FIRST AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SHUTTLE OPEN ROAD SHUTTLE PROGRAM, AND ALSO AS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT THE PORT OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT IN PITTSBURGH. THANK YOU.

MORRIS. NEXT, MISS CHERYL EVANS JONES ON THE OTHER END JOINS US.

SHE'S OUR CFO.

SHE'S JOINS US WITH MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT.

SHE BEGAN HER CAREER WITH ERNST AND YOUNG BEFORE SERVING AS CFO FOR THE KLYDE WARREN PARK FOUNDATION AND OTHER ASSIGNMENTS, INCLUDING, MOST RECENTLY, THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FOR THE CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH.

NEXT UP, MR. JAVIER TRILLO.

HE'S BEEN WITH DCTA MORE THAN TEN YEARS, OUR LONGEST TENURED EMPLOYEE.

HE HOLDS AN MBA FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS, AND HE'S WORKED AS A LEADER OF OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AT DCTA. MOST RECENTLY, HE WAS ALSO THE LEAD PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE GOZONE SERVICE AND HAS BEEN SHEPHERDING THAT PROGRAM TO WHERE IT IS TODAY.

MORE THAN A MILLION RIDES IN ITS FIRST 18 MONTHS, AND THE NUMBER 21 MOBILITY SERVICES OPERATION IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS HE WILL BE TRANSITIONING THAT PROGRAM OVER TO MR. BELL FOR A UNIFIED OPERATIONS FUNCTION AT DCTA.

AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, MISS BRITTANY PHARR.

SHE JOINED A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE ME IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021, AFTER MORE THAN TEN YEARS AT DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT, WHERE SHE LED VARIOUS PROGRAMS OF INCREASING RESPONSIBILITY THAT A LOT OF TIMES HELPED DART'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A PASSIONATE PERSON FOR THOSE PEOPLE, BRITTANY FITS THAT BILL.

SHE HAS A JURIS DOCTORATE FROM BOSTON COLLEGE LAW SCHOOL AND LEADS ALL FACETS OF OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR MEMBER CITIES, OUR BOARD MEMBERS, INCLUDING OUR BOARD SUPPORT.

AGAIN, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING SOMETIMES BEHIND THE SCENES, SOMETIMES NOT BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE DCTA THE SUCCESS THAT IT IS TODAY.

AND I'M PROUD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE THEM.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR BOARD MEMBER, ALISON MAGUIRE, WHOM YOU ALL KNOW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY, MA'AM.

SO THE THE MAIN MESSAGE HERE, THE MAIN MESSAGE HERE IS DCTA HAS REORIENTED ITSELF TO SERVE THE MISSION, VISION AND VALUES THAT ARE EMERGING WITH OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AROUND THE KEY MESSAGES THAT YOU SEE THERE.

WE EXIST TO GET PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED AND WANT TO GO.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE RIDER AND WE WANT TO DRIVE A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE DENTON COUNTY.

WE HAVE A MISSION STATEMENT THAT'S EMERGING AND A VISION STATEMENT THAT'S EMERGING.

WE'RE WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR NEW STAFF TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US AND OUR CORE VALUES PERSPECTIVE AND EXPECT THAT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL BE ADOPTING THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THIS SLIDE TELLS THE STORY OF WHAT I TALK ABOUT TRANSFORMATION AT DCTA.

WHAT YOU SEE THERE IS I WAS NAMED CEO IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022.

SINCE THEN WE HAVE HIRED 12 I'M SORRY.

YEAH, 12 MID AND SENIOR LEVEL LEADERS AT THE AGENCY AND WE HAVE MORE TO FOLLOW.

WE HAVE A DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES WHO'S GOING TO START WITH US IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND WHAT YOU SEE DOWN THERE IS THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY INTERVIEWING AND JOBS ARE ACTIVELY POSTED TO ROUND OUT THE KEY STAFF AT DCTA.

SO IT IS A NEW DAY AT THE DENTON COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.

SO WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT SAFETY, SERVICE AND RIDERSHIP BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS.

FIRST, SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO START THE CONVERSATION THERE.

WHAT YOU SEE IN THE UPPER LEFT IS OUR GO ZONE INCIDENT FREQUENCY RATIO MONTH OVER MONTH THROUGH APRIL OF THIS YEAR.

OUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR IS ONE INCIDENT PER 100,000 GO ZONE MILES.

AND WHAT YOU SEE IS THAT WE'VE BEEN BELOW THAT KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR FOR THE DURATION OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

FOR CONTEXT, GO ZONE HAS ABOUT 56 VEHICLES IN OPERATION ON ANY GIVEN DAY AND DRIVES MORE THAN 300,000 MILES A MONTH.

THE FIRST YEAR OR LAST YEAR, 700,000 MILES OR 700,000 RIDES OVER THE COURSE OF THE WHOLE THE WHOLE YEAR.

NEXT IN THE UPPER RIGHT ARE BUS INCIDENT FREQUENCY RATIO.

YOU SEE, WE'VE HAD A VERY GOOD YEAR ON THE BUS SIDE IN TERMS OF INCIDENTS.

ONE INCIDENT IN FEBRUARY THAT CAUSED THAT LITTLE SPIKE, BUT OVERALL, A VERY GOOD YEAR THERE.

[01:05:04]

FOR CONTEXT, THE BUS OPERATION RUNS ABOUT 60,000 MILES A MONTH.

SO 60,000 ON THE BUS SIDE, 300,000 ON THE GO ZONE SIDE.

AND THEN DOWN THERE AT THE BOTTOM, WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR RAIL OPERATION, OBVIOUSLY.

AND WE'VE HAD ONE REPORTABLE INCIDENT TO THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION THIS WEEK WHEN AN EMPLOYEE TWISTED THEIR ANKLE IN THE PARKING LOT.

WE USE THIS DATA IN ORDER TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE OUR SAFETY FUNCTION.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE HIRED OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN A DIRECTOR OF SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE, A FEDERALLY MANDATED POSITION, BECAUSE AS WE RECEIVE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, THEY EXPECT ACCOUNTABILITY ON SAFETY PERFORMANCE, AS DO ALL OF YOU.

NEXT ON SERVICE PERFORMANCE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, IF WE'RE BELOW THE LINE, THAT'S GOOD.

ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, IF WE'RE ABOVE THE LINE, THAT'S GOOD.

ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, GO ZONE SEAT UNAVAILABILITY.

OUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR FOR GO ZONE SEAT UNAVAILABILITY IS 17.5% BASED ON THE VOLUME OF RIDERSHIP THAT WE GET REQUESTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

YOU SEE THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE 6 TO 7.5% RANGE.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT THE ALGORITHM THAT IS USED TO DISPATCH GO ZONE RIDES IS LEARNING HOW TO POSITION VEHICLES WHEN THEY'RE NOT BEING UTILIZED OR WHEN THEY'RE BEING UTILIZED TO DRIVE HIGHER AND HIGHER EFFICIENCIES.

LAST MONTH, WE HIT A NEW RECORD.

WE CONTINUE TO HIT NEW RECORDS.

LAST MONTH, 74,000 TRIPS WERE COMPLETED ON GO ZONE ACROSS THE SYSTEM AND THE BOTTOM LEFT GOES ON WAIT TIMES BY ZONE.

WE HAVE TWO ZONES, DENTON AND HIGHLAND VILLAGE.

LEWISVILLE OUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR IS 24 MINUTES.

IT SHOULD TAKE FROM THE TIME YOU REQUEST A RIDE TO WHEN YOU GET A RIDE.

YOU SEE THAT WE'RE MEETING.

WE'RE EXCEEDING THAT KPI IN THE RANGE OF 17 MINUTES TO 19.5 MINUTES.

SO VERY GOOD NEWS STORY ON THAT FRONT.

I WILL NOTE THESE ARE NOT JUST PERCENTAGES.

THESE ARE PEOPLE, THESE ARE RIDERS WHO ARE DEPENDING ON A SERVICE.

AND SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT.

AND THAT'S GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO SPEAK TO THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EVOLUTION OF OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THOSE NEEDS.

ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, OUR FIXED ROUTE SERVICE PERFORMANCE IS WHAT YOU SEE.

OUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR FOR FIXED ROUTE ON TIME PERFORMANCE IS 90%, WHICH YOU SEE BY THIS GRAPH IS THAT WE'VE BEEN BELOW 90% SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

THIS WAS PART OF THE REASON FOR OUR FOR MY DECISION TO END OUR CONTRACT WITH HENDRICKSON TRANSPORTATION GROUP AND INSOURCE OR RATHER HIRE OUR OWN GENERAL MANAGER THROUGH NORTH TEXAS MOBILITY CORPORATION WITH DIRECT ACCOUNTABILITY TO MR. BELL WHO KNOWS HOW TO RUN A BUS OPERATION SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR BACK UP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

BECAUSE I'LL TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR BUS AND GO ZONE TO WORK TOGETHER SEAMLESSLY.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THE BUS NETWORK HAS TO RUN ON TIME AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT.

ON THE DEMAND RESPONSE SIDE, PARATRANSIT, YOU SEE OUR ON TIME PERFORMANCE GOALS 90% AND WE'RE EXCEEDING THAT.

ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS THAT WE KNOW THAT IS ON THE MINDS OF EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS TELL US ABOUT TRAINING FOR GOZONE DRIVERS.

THIS SLIDE TELLS THE STORY.

YOU HAVE THIS IN YOUR PACKET.

IT IS MANDATORY FOR A GOZONE DRIVER TO BE ONBOARDED WITH TRAINING WHEN THEY TAKE ON SERVICE THROUGH THE SAFETY TIPS AND TOOLS E-LEARNING MODULE THAT YOU SEE NUMBER TWO THERE ON THE RIGHT.

THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR, A GOZONE DRIVER IS PUSHED NOTIFICATIONS FOR OTHER LEARNING MODULES THAT YOU SEE IN ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX.

IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO BRUSH UP ON THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT, WANT OR NEED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH, LIKE CONFLICT, DISSOLUTION, CUSTOMER SERVICE, DISABILITY AWARENESS AND SENSITIVITY, ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

WE HAVE A QUARTERLY OR MONTHLY CONVERSATION RATHER WITH OUR VIA OPERATOR PARTNERS THAT COME TO OUR OFFICES IN DENTON OR IN LEWISVILLE, AND WE TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST MONTH IN TERMS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUES, THINGS RELATED TO THESE LEARNING MODULES, AND THAT GIVES THEM THE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH ON THEIR DRIVERS WHERE THEY NEED TO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT RIDERSHIP.

THIS IS A REALLY GOOD NEWS STORY.

DCTA IS A STORY THAT MANY OTHER TRANSIT AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY CANNOT TELL AND THAT WE'RE MORE THAN 100% RECOVERED FROM THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.

MOST AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE ABOUT 70% RECOVERED.

WHAT YOU SEE IN THE IN THE CHART AT THE TOP IS THAT 40% YEAR OVER YEAR, UP 40% YEAR OVER YEAR ACROSS ALL MODES.

GOZONE IS UP 70% AS A RESULT OF THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT THAT WAS MADE.

OUR BUS SERVICE IN AGGREGATE.

UNT PLUS PLUS CONNECT IS UP 35%.

THE RAIL SERVICE IS UP 27%.

VANPOOL STAYED STEADY THROUGH THE WHOLE PANDEMIC.

EVEN IT'S UP 10%.

SO, AGAIN, GREAT NEW STORY ON THE KINECT SIDE.

THE CHART ON THE LOWER LEFT SAYS THAT OUR CUSTOMERS RESPOND TO BUS FREQUENCY.

SO IF YOU RECALL, THE THE CTA BOARD INVESTED IN FREQUENCY ON KINECT SIX AND SEVEN LAST YEAR THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONS ANALYSIS.

AND WHAT YOU SEE IS OVER THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR, THE KINECT SERVICE IS UP 43%.

AS WE CONTINUE THE INTERMEDIATE SERVICE PLANNING PROCESS, WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS FOR TO BE INFORMED AS TO WHAT OTHER INVESTMENTS MIGHT NEED TO BE MADE IN THE BUS OPERATION.

AND THEN ON THE LOWER RIGHT HAND SIDE, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SERVICE UP 40% AS WELL.

OVERALL RIDERSHIP PERFORMANCE AT DCTA FROM 2021.

THE DEPTHS OF 2021, 1.1 MILLION RIDERS.

[01:10:03]

WE DOUBLED OUR RIDERSHIP LAST YEAR AND WERE UP 40% THIS YEAR.

AGAIN, NOT A LOT OF OTHER TRANSIT AGENCIES, MAYBE NO OTHER TRANSIT AGENCY IN THE COUNTRY CAN TALK ABOUT THIS KIND OF RECOVERY.

AND THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THIS COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL OF OUR MEMBER CITIES, WHO HAVE MADE HARD DECISIONS TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

AND NOW OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAXIMIZE THESE RESOURCES, TO CAUSE THAT LINE TO GROW EVEN FURTHER.

IF WE MAINTAIN THE CURRENT PACE WITH A REALLY STRONG SUMMER AND A GOOD BACK TO SCHOOL, WE COULD EXCEED 3 MILLION RIDERS THIS YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE A FIVE YEAR HIGH FOR DCTA.

AGAIN, A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MAJOR INITIATIVES REALLY FAST, THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF BUS AND GO ZONE.

THE JOINT RAIL OPERATING FACILITY IS WELL UNDERWAY.

IT'S 100% DESIGNED.

THIS IS A DEAL THAT WAS DONE BETWEEN OUR BOARD AND THE DART BOARD TO SAY LET'S CO-LOCATE SILVER LINE EQUIPMENT AT THE JOINT RAIL OPERATING FACILITY.

WHEN THE SILVER LINE COMES, COMES ONLINE.

THAT WAY, DART DOESN'T HAVE TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY.

WE GET REGIONAL EFFICIENCIES ON MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THAT THAT IMAGE SHOWS YOU WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

THERE AGAIN, PROJECTS 100% DESIGNED.

WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR FROM DART ON THE GREEN LIGHT TO PROCEED WITH BIDDING AND CONSTRUCTION.

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INITIATIVE TO DETERMINE WAYS TO ENHANCE THE VALUE OF OUR A-TRAIN.

IT'S A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT THAT THIS COMMUNITY AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITIES OF OUR MEMBER CITIES HAVE MADE.

AGAIN, WE SAW RIDERSHIP ON THE A-TRAIN GO UP 44% LAST FISCAL YEAR.

IT'S UP ANOTHER 30% THIS YEAR.

THIS INITIATIVE WOULD IS ALLOWING US TO EVALUATE WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET TO STATION FOR THE A-TRAIN AND DOWNTOWN CARROLLTON.

SO A PERSON FROM DENTON COULD GET A TWO SEAT COMMUTER RAIL RIDE TO DFW AIRPORT FOR THE COST OF A REGIONAL PASS.

WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF ADDING A NEW STATION AT CORINTH.

THIS INITIATIVE WILL GENERATE A PROGRAM OF PROJECTS WITHIN OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE DIRECTION ON HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED.

WE THINK THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEDERAL INVESTMENT HERE AND ALSO IT GIVES US LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH OUR STATE DELEGATION AS WELL.

THIS CITY IS OUR QUIET ZONES.

WE HAVE THREE WAYSIDE HORNS ON THE A-TRAIN CORRIDOR IN THE CITY OF DENTON, SYCAMORE, SHADY OAKS, SOUTH MAYHILL.

THE GOOD NEWS STORY HERE IS THAT WE HAVE PROJECTS AND FUNDING IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE TRIP PROGRAM TO ELIMINATE THOSE WAYSIDE HORNS OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

YES, MA'AM. LET'S TALK ABOUT INTERMEDIATE SERVICE PLAN.

WE'RE A DATA DRIVEN ORGANIZATION.

ABOUT 8 TO 10% OF ALL THE GO ZONE TRIPS IN THIS CITY COULD BE SERVED FROM AN ORIGIN AND DESTINATION BY BY SOME COMBINATION OF THOSE THREE CONNECTOR ROUTES, THREE, SIX AND SEVEN. THE INTERMEDIATE SERVICE PLAN IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE GIVE OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS THIS DATA AND THEY MAKE DECISIONS ON HOW TO BEGIN SEPARATING THIS UNIQUE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE WITH A MOBILITY AS A SERVICE OPERATION, OVERTOP OUR FIXED ROUTE NETWORK.

TO DO THIS, WE WILL NEED TO AGAIN MAKE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ON TIME PERFORMANCE AND ALSO OUR BUS STOP INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE POTENTIAL WAY AHEAD FOR THIS PROGRAM THAT WE ADDRESSED WITH OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN APRIL IS THAT MAYBE THERE'S A DECISION TO BE MADE THAT IN JANUARY IF YOU'RE TRYING TO BOOK A RIDE ON GO ZONE AND TRYING TO GO FROM ORIGIN DESTINATION FROM POINT TO POINT ON THOSE THREE ROUTES, THE APP WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO BOOK A RIDE.

IT WILL DIRECT YOU TO THE NEAREST BUS STOP.

IF YOU'RE WITHIN A QUARTER OF A MILE, THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW TO GEOFENCE THAT THREE ROUTE NETWORK AND USE THOSE ENHANCED BUS STOPS AS TRANSFER POINTS BETWEEN GO ZONE AND THE FIXED ROUTE.

AND THEN IN PHASE THREE, WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE LONG TERM ANSWER FOR THE DISCOVERY PARK ROUTE THAT'S CURRENTLY BRANDED A T ROUTE AND THE COLORADO EXPRESS ROUTE THAT'S CURRENTLY BRANDED A T ROUTE AND THE POTENTIAL OF ADDITIONAL SERVICE THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO EXPAND THE GEO FENCE SIGNIFICANTLY AROUND THE UNT CAMPUS NUGGET OF GOLD ZONE CAPACITY THAT COULD BE REALLOCATED TO OTHER PLACES IN THE SERVICE AREA OR EVEN OTHER PLACES IN THE CITY OF DENTON THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT GETTING ANY TRANSIT SERVICE.

WE HAVE THIS OVER A MULTI YEAR PERIOD OR A MULTI PHASE PERIOD BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF COORDINATION TO BE DONE WITH OUR PARTNERS HERE IN THE CITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS AND OTHERS.

BUT HAVING JUST COME FROM THE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION MEETING LAST FRIDAY, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS REALLY A NEED AND WE'RE FOCUSED ON TRYING TO FULFILL IT.

ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW AND EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO SARAH AND CASSIE AND AND YOUR STAFF FOR THE COORDINATION THAT WE'VE HAD ON TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

THE A-TRAIN ASSET CAN BE MAXIMIZED WHEN THERE ARE DESTINATIONS ALONG THE A-TRAIN CORRIDOR.

AND SO WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO BE FULLY INTEGRATED WITH YOUR EMERGING MASTER PLANS AND AREA PLANS, AND ALSO TO LOOK AT THESE CORRIDORS THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN PURPLE TO SAY THESE ARE MAJOR TRANSIT CORRIDORS.

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ENHANCES WALKABILITY AND BIKEABILITY AND SAFE ROUTES TO ENHANCE BUS STOPS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS?

[01:15:03]

AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT THAT PROGRAM HERE IN THE DENTON CORE, AS WELL AS PLACES AROUND THE MED PARK STATION.

OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WE KNOW ARE TOP OF MIND FOR YOU ALL AND US AS WELL AS STAFF, OUR LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN.

IN THE PAST, WE'VE NOT HAD GOOD CLARITY AROUND WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR INVESTING AND REINVESTING IN OUR BUS OPERATION, OUR TRAIN OPERATION IN TERMS OF HEAVY MAINTENANCE AND BYRD OUR FACILITIES AND PHYSICAL PLANT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WORKSHOP THAT WILL HAPPEN THIS MONTH, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN TO SEE THE INTEGRATION OF THOSE NEEDS INTO OUR LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN, WHICH IS REQUIRED OF US FROM THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, AND IT'S ALSO REQUIRED US, REQUIRED OF US AS GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

WE PROVIDED AN UPDATE TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND AN INFORMATION REPORT A COUPLE IN APRIL ABOUT FARE POLICY.

LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS, NOT JUST HERE BUT ELSEWHERE, ABOUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF FREE FARES ON TRANSIT.

FREE FARES SHOULD BE TAKEN UP IN THE CONTEXT OF A BROADER DISCUSSION ABOUT DCTA'S OVERALL FARE POLICY.

AND SO THAT THOSE ARE THE MAIN POINTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING THROUGH AS WE INITIATE THAT FARE STUDY.

AT SOME POINT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, YOU ALL WILL BE DISTRIBUTED IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.

THE INFORMATIONAL REPORT THAT WAS GIVEN TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS BACK IN APRIL.

AND THEN FINALLY, CUSTOMER SERVICE ENHANCEMENT.

RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT CUSTOMER SERVICE FUNCTIONS.

WE HAVE ONE THAT SERVES OUR BUSSES AND TRAINS.

WE HAVE ONE THAT SERVES GOZONE.

WE WE NEED TO GET TO AN END SOURCE, SINGLE SOURCE FOR ALL, FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ACROSS ALL OF OUR MODES TO ENHANCE QUALITY AND INTEGRATE BUS AND PARATRANSIT SERVICE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A PERSON WHO IS STRANDED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET A GOZONE RIDE DUE TO CAPACITY ISSUES OR WHATEVER THEY NEED TO CALL IN, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO CALL TO A DCTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND HAVE A VEHICLE DISPATCHED TO THEM.

THAT MAY BE A VEHICLE THAT'S ALREADY OUT ON A ROUTE BECAUSE IT'S SERVING A PARATRANSIT CUSTOMER OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

SO NOT THE ADDITION OF A NEW SERVICE, JUST THE BETTER INTEGRATION OF OUR CURRENT SERVICES.

IT'S A THREE STEP PROCESS.

WE'VE TAKEN FIRST STEP ALREADY, WHICH IS GETTING AUTHORIZATION FOR A DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SERVICE POSITION AT DCTA.

THE SECOND STEP IN THE PROCESS IS GOING TO BE DETERMINING WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO STAND UP A MODERN TRANSIT CUSTOMER SERVICE FUNCTION INSIDE OF DCTA? AND THEN THE THIRD STEP OBVIOUSLY IS IMPLEMENTING THAT CHANGE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR, YEAR OR TWO.

SO THAT IS THE END OF MY PREPARED REMARKS.

I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER. ESSER. YEAH.

YEAH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, IT'S VERY HEARTENING AND VERY NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN IN THIS, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY FORMALLY HAVING THE ROLE.

I HAVE SOME KIND OF NARROW SCOPE QUESTIONS AND SOME BROADER ONES JUST ON THE DATA DRIVEN THE DATA PART OF THE DATA DRIVEN ANALYSIS.

WHY IS ONE INCIDENT PER 100,000 MILES A GOOD METRIC? DOES IT FOLLOW SOME KIND OF A STANDARD? IT IS A STANDARD IN THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY AND ALSO CALLED OUT IN OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCY SAFETY PLAN.

WHAT IT DOES IS KIND OF NORMALIZES HOW TO THINK ABOUT INCIDENTS OR HOW TO VIEW INCIDENTS WHEN YOU HAVE SERVICES OF DIFFERENT MAGNITUDES, LIKE WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE BUS SERVICE AT 60,000 MILES A MONTH VERSUS THE GO ZONE SERVICE OF 300,000 MILES A MONTH.

IT'S ALSO A PRETTY BROADLY USED METRIC IN THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION REALMS AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING.

YOU KNOW, THE STANDARD AT THE OUTSET HAD BEEN THAT NO, NO, WAIT TIMES OVER THE 30 MINUTES WOULD BE ALLOWED.

WHEN THE CONTRACT WAS LAUNCHED, WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A KPI BEYOND JUST THE 30 MINUTES.

AND SO AS THE SERVICE EVOLVED, WE COORDINATED WITH WITH VILLA TO SAY WHAT IS REASONABLE BASED ON THE RIDERSHIP DEMAND AND WHAT THE ALGORITHM AND THE VEHICLES ON THE STREET CAN DELIVER. AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE GET TO THE 24 MINUTE MARK.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

PART OF THIS IS THE DISCIPLINE AS DCTA AS AN ORGANIZATION REGULARLY REPORTING ON THESE SORTS OF THINGS AND MAKING THAT REPORTING CONSISTENT.

AND SO IT CERTAINLY IS UP TO THE IN THE PURVIEW OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ESTABLISH NEW KPIS WHICH WOULD REQUIRE US TO THEN GO TO GO TO VILLA AND UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF THE SYSTEM IF WE TRY TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY VISIBILITY INTO WHAT OPERATIONALLY IT WOULD TAKE FOR 15 MINUTES TO BE THE STANDARD.

IT'S JUST KIND OF A, YOU KNOW, PERSON ON THE STREET SORT OF NUMBER.

BUT I'LL JUST SAY THAT TO YOU.

LET ME ASK YOU KIND OF A BROADER QUESTION, IF I COULD, JUST TO FOLLOW UP.

ONE OF THE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS CONSIDERED IN THAT 30 MINUTES IS THAT THE FIXED ROUTE NETWORK AT THE TIME WAS RUNNING ON 40 MINUTE HEADWAYS OR SO.

AND THEN TODAY, THE FIXED ROUTE NETWORK ON SIX AND SEVEN IS RUNNING ON 20 MINUTE HEADWAYS.

THAT'S CURRENT PEAK TIMES.

YEAH. SO I GET THAT KIND OF CONTEXT COMPARISON.

[01:20:02]

DO YOU THINK THAT IT WOULD IMPROVE BOTH HEADWAYS AND GOES ON WAIT TIMES IF THERE WERE A LITTLE MORE INSTEAD OF A COMPLETE OVERLAP, A DISTRIBUTION OF WHAT RESOURCES YOU PUT WHERE SO THAT YOU'VE GOT POTENTIALLY MORE THAN THAT NUMBER OF ROUTES OF OF FIXED ROUTE OPERATING IN THE BUSY AREAS AND GOES ON.

RESOURCES WERE CONCENTRATED ON LAST MILE IN AND OUT OF THAT ZONE.

WOULD THAT GIVE YOU BOTH BETTER SERVICE ON THE BUS AND SHORTER WAIT TIMES ON THE GO SO BECAUSE THEY'RE SPREAD VERY THIN RIGHT NOW.

SO THE THE INTERMEDIATE SERVICE PLAN IS SPEAKING TO EXACTLY THAT POINT.

HEADWAYS ON THE BUS SERVICE ARE BASED ON THE THE SERVICE DESIGN.

AND SO WE COULD MAKE A SERVICE DESIGN THAT SAYS HEADWAYS ON THE BUSSES WILL BE 15 MINUTES, TEN MINUTES, 20 MINUTES, IRRESPECTIVE OF WAIT TIMES OR CAPACITY ON THE GO ZONE SERVICE. BUT YOUR POINT IS, IS WELL MADE THAT BY BY CAUSING GO ZONE AND FIXED ROUTE TO NOT BE OVERTOP ONE ANOTHER AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRANSFERS BETWEEN GO ZONE AND FIXED ROUTE FOR FIRST LAST MILE SORTS OF USES THAT WILL ALLOW US THAT COULD ALLOW US TO REALLOCATE GO ZONE RESOURCES AT THE DIRECTION OF OUR BOARD.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE WHAT THE INTERMEDIATE SERVICE PLAN IS DESIGNED TO EXPLORE.

NOW, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR WHAT DECISIONS THEY MAY OR MAY NOT MAKE, BUT BUT THEY ASKED FOR US TO INVESTIGATE WHAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

YES, SIR. JUST A COUPLE MORE, MAYOR ON ROUTE SIX.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO NOTE WITH PLEASURE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING MORE STOPS TO MAKE THE ROUTES, THE FIXED ROUTES, YOU HAVE MORE USABLE FOR MORE PEOPLE, WHICH IS GREAT. AND INCIDENTALLY, A TRAIN TO YOUR CHANGES ARE ALL TO MAKE IT MORE USEFUL TO MORE PEOPLE.

SO AWESOME JUST IN THAT DIRECTION.

ON ROUTE SIX BETWEEN UNIVERSITY AND WINDSOR, THERE'S NORTHBOUND STOPS, BUT THERE'S NO BUT THERE'S A LACK OF SOUTHBOUND STOPS.

RIGHT? SO YOU'VE GOT TO WAIT FOR IF YOU WANT TO GET ON, YOU GOT TO WAIT FOR IT TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND.

I DON'T KNOW. I JUST OFFER THAT UP TO BE IN THE MIX OF WHAT GETS LOOKED AT.

I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO HAVE A RESPONSE ON THAT.

AND THEN I JUST WANT TO LASTLY JUST MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT.

HOW TO A WAY TO LOOK AT FARE FREE WHICH IS.

FIRST, ALL KNOWING THAT IT'S ONLY LESS THAN HALF A PERCENT OF REVENUE AFFAIRS BECAUSE THE REVENUE COMES FROM SALES TAX, THAT IT'S NOT JUST A VALUE PROPOSITION THING.

OPERATIONALLY, IT ELIMINATES THE NEED TO PROCESS AND COUNT AND HAVE SECURITY AND EVERYTHING INVOLVED WITH WITH HANDLING PAYMENTS.

AND THEN ON THE CUSTOMER SIDE, IT ELIMINATES HAVING TO KNOW HOW TO PAY AND HOW MUCH AND WHAT MECHANISMS YOU TAKE AND ALL THAT.

SO IN TERMS OF JUST REDUCING FRICTION IN THE WHOLE SYSTEM, THAT TO ME IS KIND OF THE POINT MORE THAN.

MORE THAN STRICTLY SPEAKING, THE VALUE PROPOSITION JUST MAKES HOPPING ON HOPPING OFF EASIER MAKES IT MORE LIKELY THAT THAT ANYBODY MIGHT HOP ON, NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO STUDY IT.

YES, SIR. YEAH. THANKS.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN. BYRD AND THEN COUNCILMAN.

WHAT'S. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO I DON'T RIDE THE BUS, JUST BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MY TRANSPORTATION.

I'M DOING THE OLD TEXAS WAY, JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST GETTING IN MY CAR.

BUT I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE ON ONE OF THE BUS LINES AND A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I OBSERVED, AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL TAKE CARE OF A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE.

BUT I WAS JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR THE BUS STOPS THEMSELVES? I WAS AT THE BUS STOP, JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, ON MCKINNEY STREET NEAR THE CORNER OF WOODROW.

THERE'S A SET OF APARTMENTS THERE AND THE BUS STOP IS ON A HILL GRADE GOING DOWN INTO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX.

AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, IF I WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR, I WOULD BE LITERALLY IN THE STREET OR I WOULD BE AT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AREA OFFICE BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE ROLLED DOWN THE HILL, YOU KNOW, JUST THINGS LIKE THAT.

I WITNESSED THAT THROUGHOUT MY RIDE.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I WITNESSED WAS WHERE THE BUS STOPS USED TO BE, THE POLES ARE STILL THERE.

AND THEN THERE'S A BIT OF INFORMATION ON THE POLE TO GUIDE THE RIDER TO ANOTHER AREA OR IT'S NOT COMING OR WHATEVER IT SAYS ON THE SIGN, I CAN'T REMEMBER.

I'M WONDERING WHY IS THERE ANY WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME OF JUST TAKING THE POLES AWAY IF IT'S NOT A BUS STOP? YES. YOU KNOW, SO I KNOW THAT WE HAD TO KIND OF GRADUALLY EDUCATE THE FOLKS THAT WOULD USE THAT.

[01:25:07]

BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW LONG IS IS THAT GOING TO TAKE? BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY STILL THINK THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY STILL A BUS STOP RIGHT NOW.

SO TO REMOVE THE CONFUSION THERE, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

AND, YOU KNOW, JUST THE WHAT DO I HAVE THE OH, AND THEN YOU SAID SOMETHING AT THE END OF YOUR PRESENTATION IN REGARDS TO IF SOMEONE RIDE COULDN'T MAKE IT IN TIME OR SOMETHING, THEY NEED TO CALL.

DID YOU SAY THEY NEED TO CALL TO GET ANOTHER RIDE OR GO ONLINE OR HOWEVER IT'S DONE TO GET ANOTHER RIDE OR.

AND WHILE YOU WERE SPEAKING IN MY HEAD, I WAS SAYING, OH, THAT'S NOT DONE AUTOMATICALLY.

IF SOMEONE CAN'T BE PICKED UP AT AT A CERTAIN AREA BECAUSE OF WHATEVER REASON, THEIR RIDE CAN'T BE CANCELED AUTOMATICALLY AND THEN ANOTHER CAR IS AUTOMATICALLY SENT TO THEM.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT GOES.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AT THE END? YES, MA'AM, I DO. AND LET ME START WITH THAT ONE FIRST, AND THEN I'LL GO BACK TO THE BUS STOP.

QUESTION OKAY. WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO IS SOME OF THE SOME OF THE ANECDOTES THAT WE HEAR IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT A PERSON, PARTICULARLY A PERSON WHO MAY HAVE A DISABILITY, WHO HAS GONE TO THEIR DESTINATION ON GOZONE, BUT IS NOT ABLE TO GET A RETURN TRIP ON GOZONE BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING A SEAT UNAVAILABLE MESSAGE.

OKAY. WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT CASE IS THAT TODAY THEY HAVE TO CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH VIA WHO WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THEM A GOZONE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT THAT THE SYSTEM IS AT CAPACITY OR THERE MAY BE CHALLENGES UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE PERSON IS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

OUR VISION FOR AN INTEGRATED CUSTOMER SERVICE FUNCTION IS ONE THAT IF THAT HAPPENS TO AN INDIVIDUAL, THEY COULD CALL RATHER THAN A CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE THAT GOES TO VIA A CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, THAT GOES TO DCTA, TO A CALL CENTER LED BY THE DCTA DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.

THE POSITION WHO WAS JUST AUTHORIZED, WHO COULD EITHER GO INTO THE VA SYSTEM TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET A RIDE OR COULD LOOK ACROSS THE DESK TO A PERSON WHO'S OPERATING A PARATRANSIT VEHICLE SAYING, HEY, THIS PERSON'S PARATRANSIT QUALIFIED AND THEY NEED TO BE PICKED UP BECAUSE THEY'RE AT A LOCATION WHERE THEY CAN'T GET A GOZONE IT'S THE INTEGRATION OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICE FUNCTION THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THAT.

WHAT AGAIN, THE ANECDOTES I DON'T HAVE DATA ON THIS, BUT WE HEAR STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE AT A LOCATION AND CANNOT GET A GOZONE RIDE TO BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

AND RIGHT NOW, TODAY, THAT THAT CAUSES US TO HAVE TO DEPEND ON VIA CUSTOMER SERVICE.

WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS A INSOURCED DCTA CUSTOMER SERVICE FUNCTION THAT UNDERSTANDS THE AREA AND UNDERSTANDS ALL THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO THAT'S HOW I WOULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WELL, IT MAKES SENSE.

MY MY I GUESS MY CONSTERNATION, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD WORD TO USE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M FEELING RIGHT NOW, IS THAT THE ONUS IS ON THE THE PERSON THAT NEEDS THE RIDE AND THEM ALREADY FRUSTRATED WITH, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING GETTING THE RIDE, BUT FOR THEM TO NOW GO IN AND TRY TO FIND THE RIDE, THAT'S NOT GOING TO THAT'S NOT GOOD.

IT CUSTOMER SERVICE.

AND SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO COME UP AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS RIDE IS NOT AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING YOU A RIDE. RIGHT.

AND YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE A LITTLE CLOCK TICKING OR SOMETHING THAT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON, YOU KNOW? UNDERSTOOD. THE THAT'S WHAT THAT'S I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE IF I WAS A WRITER.

UNDERSTOOD AND UNDERSTOOD.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE WRITER AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS INTEGRATED CUSTOMER SERVICE FUNCTION.

WITH REGARD TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE BUS STOPS.

LAST MONTH, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED A TASK ORDER FOR A CONSULTING FIRM TO TAKE THE INVENTORY OF BUS STOPS THAT WE CREATED LAST YEAR THAT LOOKS AT ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S IN PLACES WHERE BUS STOPS ARE OR BUS ROUTES ARE NO LONGER IN SERVICE, INCLUDING THE CITY OF LEWISVILLE, HIGHLAND VILLAGE AND OTHER UNUSED STOPS HERE IN DENTON AND MAKE AN INVENTORY OF WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE COULD BE AVAILABLE TO BE REPOSITIONED TWO STOPS THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE SERVICE.

THEN WHILE WE WERE DOING THAT WORK LAST SUMMER IN THE FALL, THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND COORDINATION WITH THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, WE FOUND AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN $1 MILLION IN FUNDING TO FUND BUS STOP INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

AND SO THE PLAN IS THAT ONCE THE CONSULTANT FINISHES THE TASK ORDER THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, THAT WE WILL BE FINDING THE LIST OF BUS STOP AND DISCRETE BUS STOP IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ALONG THREE, SIX AND SEVEN AND POTENTIALLY OTHER LOCATIONS TO HOW TO ON HOW TO LEVERAGE THAT MILLION DOLLARS TO RELOCATE BUS STOP INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCT NEW BUS STOP INFRASTRUCTURE, $1 MILLION OF OF MONEY THAT CAME FROM NCTCOG AS A RESULT OF THE VISION TO IMPROVE BUS STOP

[01:30:08]

INFRASTRUCTURE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE INTERMEDIATE SERVICE PLAN THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

ONE MORE QUESTION. YES, MA'AM.

THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE OF A STATEMENT THAN A QUESTION, BECAUSE I AM REPRESENTING THE INNER CORE OF THE CITY, AND I APPRECIATE THE ADVOCACY GROUP THAT CALLED ME, CALLED ME OUT AND CALLED ME UP ON THIS FOR THIS AREA.

I, I AM WONDERING, WHEN DO YOU ALL GO BACK AND REVIEW THE HOW OFTEN DO YOU ALL GO BACK AND REVIEW WHAT YOU STATED REALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR STATEMENT THAT WE GOT NEW SPACES TO LOOK AT? I DON'T WANT TO FORGET THE OLD SPACES.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE, IS TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE OLD SPACES, THE CENTER OF THE CITY.

AND SO IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE'VE TAKEN BUSSES AWAY FROM THE AREAS WHERE THE FOLKS PROBABLY NEED THEM THE MOST.

AND I WANT US TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE AREAS BECAUSE MCKINNEY AND, YOU KNOW, JUST A COUPLE OF BLOCKS HERE AND THERE, I WAS AT THE END OF THIS BUS LINE.

I WANTED TO GO TO ALDI TO GET MY GROCERIES BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THE CLOSEST STORE TO WHERE I WAS.

BUT THE BUS ENDED OVER ON MORRIS STREET.

SO IF I HAD MORE THAN A BAG OR OR TWO, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR ME TO WALK WITH EVERYTHING AND A KID AND A STROLLER TO GET BACK TO THAT BUS.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK WE NEED TO AND YOU ALL ARE DOING IT, BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO HEAR THE PEOPLE.

AND IF THEY'RE SAYING THAT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME SERVICE IN THIS AREA, REALLY LISTEN TO THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CARS AND THEY DEPEND ON IT. AND SO WE NEED TO GIVE IT TO THEM.

SO I'M EXPECTING THAT.

YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

WHAT'S PAUL? WELCOME. THANK YOU.

GOOD. YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS DOING A GREAT JOB.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS AND I GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

IT IS SO GOOD AND IT FEELS SO GOOD TO LOOK OVER HERE AND TO SEE.

EXCEPT FOR JAVIER, MOST OF THE STAFF.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

HOLD ON. HE WAS THERE WHEN I WAS I MEAN, HE'S BEEN LONG TERM, BUT WE'VE GOT ALL NEW LEADERSHIP AT DCTA.

AND. AND JAVIER UNDERSTANDS WHAT HAD TO TRANSPIRE FOR THAT TO OCCUR AND FOR YOU TO BE HERE.

AND I THINK IT IS WELL PAID OFF.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS FOR MANY YEARS.

AND TO SEE THE PROFESSIONALISM, TO SEE THE THE WHAT DID YOU SAY? A MILLION RIDES AND THEN THE BUS CONNECTS OR, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE OUTPERFORMING YOUR PEERS.

AND IT JUST MAKES ME EXCITED.

IT MAKES ME PROUD TO TO AT LEAST HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT FRONT END, WHICH WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

BUT HARD WORK PAYS OFF AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR SERVING.

THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE MAGUIRE, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. DO WHAT? THANK YOU FOR THAT. YEAH. YOU BET.

YOU BET. YES, SIR. SO I'VE GOT THE LETTER THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES.

SO I JUST WANT TO GO OVER THESE BECAUSE I THINK YOU'VE ANSWERED A LOT OF THOSE.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO GO BY THE LIST REAL QUICKLY.

INFORMATION ON THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS GEO FENCING RELATED STRATEGIES TO ENSURE THAT GOES ON USES AT THE CAMPUS DOES NOT ADVERSELY IMPACT AVAILABILITY.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING YOU PRESENT DATA ON HOW DO WE BETTER COORDINATE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BUS SYSTEM AND THE GO ON.

SO I THINK I THINK YOU GUYS ARE ACHIEVING THAT SERVICES TO THE INDUSTRIAL AREAS OF THE CITY OF DENTON, PARTICULARLY THOSE OF WEST OF I-35.

I THINK YOU'RE YOU'RE CERTAINLY WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.

MAXIMIZING SERVICE USAGE PER DOLLAR SPENT.

THESE ARE TOUGH DECISIONS.

YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU BALANCE ALL THIS? YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU GUESS WHETHER YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO CUT OFF GO ZONE RIDES WITHIN A QUARTER OF A MILE OF A BUS ROUTE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, ORIGIN AND DESTINATION, QUARTER OF A MILE IS A LONG WAY.

IT'S A LONG WAY TO WALK.

AND SO WHEN YOU CONSIDER A 24 MINUTE TIME FRAME FOR FOR A GO ZONE.

YOU'VE GOT TO CALCULATE THAT IN.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU REALLY CRUNCHING THE DATA TO SEE HOW DO YOU MAXIMIZE THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF A COVARIANCE STRUCTURE.

YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT THAT AND THAT WILL COME BEFORE THE BOARD AT SOME POINT.

AND THE PROVISIONS OF STANDBY ON CALL OR HOTSHOT SERVICES TO ENSURE TIMELY AND CONSISTENT GOZONE RIDES, PARTICULARLY FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT ONCE YOU IMPLEMENT THIS SEAMLESS KIND OF CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT YOU'LL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT THAT WITH SOME MORE PROACTIVE APPROACHES THROUGH CUSTOMER SERVICE, ESPECIALLY WITH VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WHERE YOU CAN IDENTIFY THEM THROUGH THEIR HOWEVER THEY ACCESS THE APP.

[01:35:08]

THAT'S CORRECT. I THINK THE ONLY THING THE ONLY QUESTION I CAN IF I CAN ADDRESS.

YES, ONE OF THE ONE OF THE BIGGEST STRUCTURAL CHANGES AT DCTA WAS THE HIRING OF MR. BELL TO LEAD A CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS FUNCTION THAT HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERY ONE OF OUR MODES.

BECAUSE WE OPERATE A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK, EVERYTHING HAS TO WORK TOGETHER SEAMLESSLY AND IN PRIOR TO PRIOR TO THAT CHANGE, WE HAD DIFFERENT MODES REPORTING TO DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.

BUT ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION FUNCTION REQUIRES A CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS FUNCTION, AND THERE IS NO MORE QUALIFIED OFFICER TO LEAD THAT THAN MR. BELL. SO I'M GOING TO SAY THIS BECAUSE EVERYBODY SORT OF CHUCKLED WHEN I SAID, EXCEPT FOR JAVIER.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU.

YOU IMPLEMENTED THE GO ZONE ORIGINALLY? YOU'VE BEEN THERE ALL ALONG.

YOU'VE GOT THAT HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AND DATA AND YOU'VE GOT THAT EXPERTISE.

SO. I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, THAT WITHOUT YOUR ABILITY AND YOUR EXPERTISE TO DO THAT, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CHALLENGING THAN IT WAS ORIGINALLY.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND IT'S A TESTAMENT THAT YOUR LEADERSHIP IS MOVING FORWARD IN THAT REGARD.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE I GET A LITTLE STUCK WHEN I HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CUT OFF GO ZONE. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A PILOT PROGRAM THAT GOES INTO EFFECT WHEN YOU SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO TRY THIS, WE'RE GOING TO SAY WITHIN WHATEVER IT IS, QUARTER OF A MILE, WHATEVER THE DISTANCE IS OF THESE TWO POINTS OR THIS BUS ROUTE, WE'RE GOING TO SAY RIDES ARE UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE I'M NOT SO SURE THAT THE ASSUMPTION THAT THAT MEANS PEOPLE WILL QUIT RIDING THE GO ZONE AND GET ON THOSE BUS ROUTES IS, WELL, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO COLLECT THE DATA TO VERIFY WHETHER THAT IS ACTUALLY WORKING OR NOT? BECAUSE I MEAN, I GUESS IF YOU SEE A DROP IN GO ZONE AND YOU DON'T SEE A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE BUS ROUTE BECAUSE PEOPLE RIDE THESE THINGS FOR VERY DIFFERENT.

IN FACT, I OWN A I OWN A PROPERTY WHERE THERE'S A BUS ROUTE ON ONE STREET AND LITERALLY 150 TO 200FT DOWN A SIDE ROAD YOU SEE PEOPLE GETTING IN TO.

GOZONE VEHICLES AND THAT BUS STOP.

IT'S CROWDED AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY WITH STUDENTS GOING, I THINK IT'S SEVEN STUDENTS GOING OUT TO DISCOVERY PARK.

SO THAT'S A.

THAT'S A QUITE. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE GOING TO SORT OF DO THAT IMPLEMENTATION ON A GRADUAL SCALE BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG.

TEST? THAT'S CORRECT.

I MEAN, THAT'S A THAT'S A BIG TEST.

AND ONCE YOU ONCE YOU GO, YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY THIS. AND, OH, BY THE WAY, Y'ALL CAN GET A RIDE BECAUSE WE'RE TRAINING.

ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE BEING TRAINED ON HOW TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

SO WHAT? JUST REAL BRIEFLY, NOT VERY MUCH, BUT WHAT'S THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD ON HOW TO.

IMPLEMENT THAT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T HURT.

THE SUCCESS THAT YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE IN BOTH KINECT AND THE ON DEMAND.

IT'S A IT'S A GREAT POINT AND YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE LAST THING THAT WE WANT TO DO IS NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR CUSTOMERS.

BUT TO THE QUESTION IN THE IN THE LETTER ABOUT HOW ARE WE MAXIMIZING RESOURCES TO SERVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, IT POINTS EXACTLY TO THIS PLACE BECAUSE IF THE IF THE BUS IS FULL, THEN IT'S A VERY COST EFFECTIVE MODE.

IF THE BUS IS NOT FULL, THEN GO ZONE IS VERY COST EFFECTIVE.

RIGHT. WHEN WE STARTED THIS IDEA AND BY THE WAY, I HAVEN'T FOUND A PARALLEL IN THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY THAT'S TRYING TO DO THIS TAKE TAKE THESE THINGS APART.

TYPICALLY, THESE MICRO TRANSIT SERVICES ARE LAUNCHED AT THE END OF EXISTING BUS ROUTES.

SO WE'RE KIND OF UNIQUE IN THAT REGARD.

WE'RE NOT AFRAID TO LEAD, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO BLEED OUR CUSTOMERS.

AND SO THIS PHASED APPROACH IS THE WAY THAT WE ADDRESS THAT, THAT FIRST IT'S LET'S SEE HOW PEOPLE RESPOND.

IF YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO GET A GO ZONE RIDE BETWEEN THOSE THREE ROUTES, WE'LL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND BEFORE WE DID THIS, CHANGE OUR GO ZONE RIDERSHIP? WAS THIS OUR BUS RIDERSHIP WAS THIS.

WE INVESTED IN FREQUENCY.

WE SAW WE SAW AN IN AN UNTAPPED OR AN UNMET DEMAND BY INCREASING FREQUENCY.

SO THAT MAKES US FEEL PRETTY GOOD.

AND THEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO ADOPT IT, WE WILL NEED TO SEE.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS PROCESS, WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT LOOK AT FIVE ROUTES.

HOW IF WE LOOK AT JUST THOSE FIVE ROUTES, THREE CONNECT PLUS TO YOU AND THAT'S 30% OF ALL THE GOES ON TRIPS IN THE CITY CAN BE CONSUMED THERE.

BUT WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT NOT JUST HOW ARE THE RIDERS GOING TO REACT, BUT WHAT'S THE INVESTMENT REQUIRED IN ADDITIONAL BUS FREQUENCY TO MAKE THAT FEASIBLE.

THAT'S A BIG GAMBLE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS PHASED APPROACH IS IS THE PLACE THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING.

AND THEN THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS US IF IT WORKS, THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS US TO EXPAND THAT GO ZONE GEOFENCE AREA TO MAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT

[01:40:02]

WE'RE MOVING THE RIGHT PEOPLE BY THE RIGHT MODE.

YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE INTERESTING AND YOUR YOUR EXPERTS THAT YOU THAT YOU'VE HIRED WOULD KNOW IF THIS IS FEASIBLE OR NOT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU IF YOU'RE DOING ONE OF THESE PILOT PROGRAMS AND YOU GET A YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A RIDE AND IT SAYS, OH, NOT AVAILABLE, HOWEVER, WE'RE GOING TO POINT YOU TO A BUS ROUTE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IS THAT THERE'S A WAY AND IT'S GOING TO BE VOLUNTARY ON THE RIDER THAT THAT RIDER CAN SAY THEY EITHER TOOK THAT BUS ROUTE OR THEY DIDN'T, AND THAT THAT WOULD PROVIDE NOT REAL TIME NECESSARILY, BUT YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO GUESS BASED UPON BECAUSE RIDERSHIP FLUCTUATES FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

SO. WELL I APPRECIATE YOU ADDRESSING THE THE THE.

PRIORITIES THAT THE COUNCIL HAD HAD TALKED ABOUT AND AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

JUST ALL THE LEADERSHIP, THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, THE BOARD AND HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF TRUST THAT YOU GUYS ARE WORKING HARD TO FIND THE BEST BALANCE AND THE BEST FIT.

UNDERSTANDING THAT STUFF HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT DOES.

BUT WHEN YOU WHEN YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE IN PLACE TO HANDLE IT, YOU MOVE ON, YOU MOVE, YOU MOVE, YOU CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO I TELL YOU THIS EVERY TIME I SEE YOU, WHETHER IT'S IN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, I SO APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU, SIR. AND YOUR TEAM, I MEAN, BECAUSE IT TAKES IT TAKES THE TEAM AND YOU'VE PUT THAT TOGETHER.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU, SIR. IT'S A PRIVILEGE.

YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN MCGEE AND MAYOR PRO TEM.

PAUL, WELCOME TO YOUR TEAM.

MAURICE, JAVIER, BRITTANY, CHERYL.

HI. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING THE TEAM.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THE GREAT JOB.

AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DID NOT SAY THANK YOU TO BOTH MRS MAGUIRE AND COLONEL SMITH.

SEE YOU BACK THERE. THANK YOU.

UM, JUST.

DID I HEAR YOU SAY IN YOUR PRESENTATION THAT DCTA IS FULLY RECOVERED FROM THE PANDEMIC WITH REGARD TO OUR RIDERSHIP PRE-PANDEMIC VERSUS POSTPANDEMIC? THE ANSWER IS YES. ON OUR CORE SERVICES.

AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS SERVICE HADN'T QUITE REBOUNDED TO 100%, BUT IT WAS VERY CLOSE.

BUT IN TERMS OF OUR MEMBER CITY FUNDED SERVICES, WE WERE OVER 100% PRE-PANDEMIC RIDERSHIP ACROSS ALL MODES.

IN YOUR OPINION, TO WHAT DO WE ATTRIBUTE THIS TO? WHAT'S THE CLIFFSNOTES? WHAT'S THE BIGGEST FACTOR? I MEAN, IS IT THE THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE PUBLIC RETURNING BACK TO THE SYSTEM, OR IS IT THE AMAZING TEAM YOU'VE ASSEMBLED? WHAT WHAT DO YOU THINK? I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

ONE, CERTAINLY THE TEAM IS AMAZING AND THERE'S A WHOLE STABLE OF MORE AMAZING TEAM MEMBERS BACK IN BACK IN LOUISVILLE.

BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I THINK, NUMBER ONE, THE REOPENING OF THE ECONOMY AT THE PACE THAT IT REOPENED.

THE REOPENING OF THE UNIVERSITIES, ALL THAT SORT OF THING CAUSED PEOPLE A LOT OF YOU KNOW, WE WHEN WE SAY THIS INDUSTRY IS 70% RECOVERED.

WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT PLACES LIKE NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, D.C., SEATTLE, PORTLAND, MAJOR SYSTEMS THAT DIDN'T MAYBE THEIR SOCIETIES DIDN'T OPEN UP QUITE AS QUICKLY.

SO I THINK I THINK THAT IS PART OF IT.

AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE THE CONTRIBUTION OF RIDERSHIP GROWTH ACROSS ALL THE MODES, GOZONE WAS THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR OF RIDERSHIP GROWTH BETWEEN BETWEEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC AT 700,000 RIDES.

HOWEVER, TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A BUS SERVICE, THAT THAT'S 40% MORE THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR, THAT'S A THAT'S A HUGE STORY THAT NOBODY ELSE IS ABLE TO TELL EITHER.

AND SO WE NEED TO BE REALLY PROUD OF THAT AS WELL.

SO THAT'S MY MY PERSPECTIVE THERE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. JUST A COUPLE MORE.

AND ONE OF YOUR SLIDES YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT.

MODULATED TRAINING FOR FOR GOES FOR GOES ON EMPLOYEES, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF ABILITY.

WHAT'S THAT TRAINING LIKE? SO EVERY DRIVER HAS TO BE A LICENSED DRIVER WITH A CLEAN BACKGROUND CHECK, ALL THAT SORT OF THING.

WHEN THEY COME ON BOARD, THERE IS A GENERAL SAFETY AWARENESS MODULE THAT THEY UNDERGO.

I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS OF THAT IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M HAPPY TO BRING THAT BACK OR TO PROVIDE A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT.

SO I GUESS I'M JUST ASKING THIS FOR THE PUBLIC.

SO YOUR DRIVERS ARE GETTING TRAINING AND AWARENESS AROUND AROUND DIE, SOMETHING SIMILAR, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO FOLKS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES. I THINK THAT THAT WOULD FALL UNDER ONE OF THE OPTIONAL CATEGORIES, NOT THE MANDATORY SAFETY TRAINING CATEGORY.

BUT ONE OF THE LEARNINGS THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE LAUNCHING THIS CONTRACT IS WHAT WHAT DOES WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD, FOR INSTANCE, EARLY ON WAS THESE THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THEY OUGHT TO THEY OUGHT TO PAY LOCAL TAXES TO FOR THE IMPACT ON THE ROADS, ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF.

SO WE WORKED WITH VA TO IMPLEMENT IN STATE REGISTRATION FOR ALL THE VEHICLES.

THIS IS ANOTHER PLACE WHERE AS WE HAVE MONTHLY CONVERSATIONS WITH VA, WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THE IMPACT TO OUR CONTRACT AND THE COST WE'RE PAYING IF WE BEGIN TO MAKE

[01:45:01]

SOME OF THESE MODULES MANDATORY? AND THEN VERSUS WHAT IS THE OUTCOMES THAT WE HAVE? AND SO THAT THAT IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

WE HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY STEPS TO CAUSE MORE OF THOSE MODULES TO BE MANDATORY.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT EXTENSIVELY WITH VA.

OKAY. THANK THANK, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WHAT IS A DEAD ZONE? A DEAD ZONE. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THE CONTEXT OF WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF IN TERMS OF PLACES WITHIN THE CITY BOUNDARIES THAT GO ZONE MIGHT NOT SUFFER OR SERVICE? OKAY. I'M.

LET ME LET ME JUST.

I THINK I HAVE A MAP.

I DON'T HAVE A MAP.

THERE ARE THERE ARE AREAS OF THE CITY OF DENTON THAT DO NOT HAVE TRANSIT COVERAGE, EITHER FIXED ROUTE OR GO ZONE.

SO, MA'AM, WOULD YOU LIKE.

HI ALISON MAGUIRE.

I REPRESENT THE CITY OF DENTON ON THE DCTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

I'M GUESSING COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE THAT YOU'RE RESPONDING TO SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD ME SAY IN OUR LAST BOARD MEETING LAST MONTH REGARDING THE FACT THAT I PERSONALLY LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE SERVICE AREA.

I LIVE IN COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND'S DISTRICT AND NEITHER MY HOME NOR MY GROCERY STORE ARE WITHIN THE GOZONE SERVICE BOUNDARIES, EVEN THOUGH I PAY SALES TAX AND AND TRAVEL TO THE GROCERY STORE MANY TIMES PER WEEK.

NOW THAT I SEE MORE STABILITY COMING DOWN THE LINE AT DCTA, I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE ASKING NOW FOR THINGS LIKE EVERY PART OF THE CITY THAT PAYS SALES TAX SHOULD ALSO RECEIVE SOME LEVEL OF SERVICE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE I'VE ASKED FOR.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE ASKED FOR IN A PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT CONVERSATION IS COMING AS PART OF OUR INTERMEDIATE SERVICE PLAN.

YES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

AND YES, YES, THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO.

AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS, DURING THE PAST ELECTION CYCLE, I HAD THE THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOCKING ON DOORS FOR MY GOOD FRIEND MRS BYRD IN DISTRICT ONE AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR OF A GENTLEMAN WHO WHO ASKED WHO WHO HAD SOME OPINIONS ABOUT ABOUT THE A TRAIN.

HE SAID EVERY TIME HE'S GOING DOWN THE ROAD, HE DOESN'T SEE ANYBODY ON THE TRAIN.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DATA HAS SAID, BUT FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF DENTON, HELP ME RESPOND TO HIM.

SOMEONE WHO WONDERS WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR WHEN THEY DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD AND THEY SEE NO ONE ON THE TRAIN.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO HIM? AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, IN ADDITION TO THE DATA, YES, WE KNOW THE DATA IS GREAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT FOLKS DON'T ALWAYS FEEL THE DATA WHEN THEY CAN'T SEE WITH THEIR OWN EYES.

WHAT DO I TELL THAT GENTLEMAN? UNDERSTOOD. I'LL START WITH THE DATA AND THEN I'LL GO MORE SUBJECTIVE.

THANK YOU. 174,000 TRIPS LAST YEAR ON THE TRAIN, AND THEN WE'RE UP ANOTHER 20, 30% THIS YEAR.

SO WE'LL WE'LL PROBABLY BE AT ABOUT 240,000 TRIPS.

THE BEST THE TRAIN EVER DID WAS ABOUT 550,000 TRIPS RIGHT BEFORE THE I-35E EXPANSION HAPPENED.

TRANSPORTATION POLICY MATTERS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE OPTIONS TO GET PLACES FASTER OVER THE HIGHWAY THAN OVER THE TRAIN, THAT THAT CAUSES THEM TO MAKE DECISIONS.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS, THOUGH, THAT WE CAN CONTROL IS WHAT ARE WE DOING AT THE STATIONS TO CAUSE PEOPLE TO WANT OR NEED TO USE THE TRAIN.

AND SO THAT'S WHY THE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION IS SO IMPORTANT.

WHEN YOU GET OFF THE TRAIN AT THE DOWNTOWN DENTON TRANSIT CENTER.

HOW DO YOU GET BY BY FOOT OR BY BIKE TO TWU OR THE SQUARE OR WHEREVER YOU MAY GO? HOW DO WE MAKE THAT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO USE THE TRAIN? HOW DO WE CREATE DESTINATIONS? HOW DO WE REIMAGINE THE DOWNTOWN DENTON TRANSIT CENTER AREA? HOW DO WE REIMAGINE HOW MEDPARK INTERFACES WITH THE AREAS SURROUNDING IT? THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH SARAH AND HER TEAM THAT SHOULD COME OUT OF THE OVERALL MASTER PLAN THAT WE COORDINATE WITH SO WE CAN CREATE A VISION FOR DRIVING RIDERSHIP.

THE TRAIN WAS INITIALLY LAUNCHED AS A COMMUTER TRAIN TO GET PEOPLE TO THE GREEN LINE TO GO INTO DALLAS.

THE COMMUTER INDUSTRY COMMUTER RAIL OPERATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE SEEN THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC, AND WE'RE NO DIFFERENT.

THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING ARE BEING SEEN ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

SO WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WHAT KIND OF ASSET THE TRAIN CAN BE TO GET PEOPLE TO PLACES THAT THEY WANT TO GO, LIKE DESTINATIONS, IF NOT AS MANY PEOPLE ARE USING IT TO TO PLACES THAT THEY NEED TO GO LIKE WORK.

AND I AM COMMITTED TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

REALLY APPRECIATE THE THINGS THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE.

I YIELD BACK. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR.

[01:50:02]

MAYOR. I, ON THE OTHER HAND, REALLY WANT THE DATA THING, SO I'M GOING TO ASK SOME DATA QUESTIONS.

I'M JUST TEASING YOU. COUNCILMAN MCGEE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID EARLIER ON IN YOUR SLIDES WAS YOU WERE LOOKING AT SORT OF THE THE COST PERFORMANCE DATA ON ON HEADWAYS VERSUS DOLLARS.

I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE THOSE SORT OF ACCELERATION CURVES LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT 15 MINUTES OR 20 MINUTES OR TEN MINUTES OR WHATEVER THE HEADWAYS ARE? DO YOU HAVE SORT OF A FEEL FOR WHAT IT TAKES TO PROGRESS, SORT OF AN ACCELERATION CURVE OF, YOU KNOW, TO GET AN ADDITIONAL FIVE MINUTES IS GOING TO COST X MORE DOLLARS KIND OF THING? YES, SIR, WE DO.

IN THE APRIL BOARD MEETING OR I'M SORRY, IN THE MAY BOARD MEETING, WE PRESENTED A SLIDE THAT DOES EXACTLY THAT.

IT SAYS, IF FOR EVERY ONE OF THE CONNECTOR OUTS, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO TEN MINUTE HEADWAYS, THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD COST.

HERE'S THE INCREMENTAL COST OF CHANGE FROM WHAT WE'RE RUNNING TODAY.

IF YOU WANT TO GO 15 MINUTES, 20 MINUTES, WHATEVER, IF YOU WANT TO COMBINE THOSE TOGETHER, HERE'S THE OVERALL INCREMENTAL COST.

AND SO WE'RE USING THOSE COST NUMBERS TO COMPARE TO THE COST OF GO SERVICE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE PUTS AND TAKES.

SO YES, WE ARE BASING IT ON THE DOLLARS AND CENTS OF THE OPERATION.

THAT'S GREAT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO READING MORE AND SEEING MORE ABOUT THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

DOES BY ANY CHANCE, WHEN YOU'RE ESTIMATING THESE COSTS AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THOSE THOSE NUMBERS OF AVERAGE HEADWAYS AND WHATNOT, ARE WE INCLUDING SORT OF THE THE INFINITE TIME OF OF A FAILURE TO GET A RIDE? I MEAN, HOW DOES HOW DO YOU INTEGRATE FAILURE TO GET A RIDE ON A GO ZONE VERSUS VERSUS THE WAIT? I MEAN, I KNOW YOU CAN JUST CALCULATE THE WEIGHT OF THE RIDE THAT SUCCEEDS, BUT HOW DO WE INTEGRATE THE FAILURES OR THE FAIL TO GET A RIDER? YEAH, WE'RE CONSIDERING THE OPERATION OF THE BUS SERVICE AND THE OPERATION OF THE GO ZONE SERVICE.

WE DO NOT HAVE A COST.

AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN ASSIGN COSTS TO INCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

WE'RE NOT ASSIGNING THOSE SORTS OF COSTS INTO THAT ANALYSIS.

WE'RE SIMPLY LOOKING AT WHAT IS THE DOLLARS AND CENTS OF CAUSING THE BUS TO RUN MORE FREQUENTLY VERSUS WHAT ARE THE DOLLARS AND CENTS OF HAVING GO ZONE CAPACITY IN THIS AREA.

AND THEN WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACTS OR WHAT THE NATURE OF THE SERVICES ARE, THAT THE BUS OPERATES ON A SCHEDULE AND IS SOMEWHAT WELL KNOWN.

THE GO ZONE VEHICLE MAY BE SUBJECT TO SEAT UNAVAILABILITY IN THE RANGE OF 6 TO 8% BASED ON OUR CURRENT KPI PERFORMANCE OF AGAINST A GOAL OF 17.5.

OKAY. SO.

ALL RIGHT. SO, WELL, PROBABLY PROBABLY WHEN I GET TO SEE SOME OF THE OTHER DATA, THAT WILL PROBABLY HELP ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BETTER HOW WE INTEGRATE THAT, DOES THAT SAME KIND OF DATA, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE GETTING ONE OF THE THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS NEW GROWTH AND YOU ON THAT, THAT SLIDE WHERE YOU SHOWED THE PHASING AND I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO PULL IT BACK UP, BUT THE WHERE YOU ACTUALLY USE THE GOZONE DATA TO SORT OF PROJECT WHAT THE INTERMEDIATE SERVICE PLAN MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

ARE YOU OR IS THAT THE CASE? ARE YOU PROJECTING WHAT A WHAT THE INTERMEDIATE SERVICE PLAN ROUTES WILL BE? OR YOU'RE SAYING FOR THESE ROUTES, THIS IS WHAT THE INTERMEDIATES ARE.

YOU DESIGNING NEW ROUTES, ROUTES USING THE GO ZONE, HEAVY, HEAVY DISTRIBUTION DATA? WE ARE NOT DESIGNING NEW ROUTES.

WE ARE SIMPLY MAKING PRODUCING ALTERNATIVES BASED ON THE EXISTING ROUTES THAT WE KNOW ARE PERFORMING THE DESIGN OF NEW ROUTES AND LOOKING AT NEW ORIGIN DESTINATION PAIRS AND HOW NEW FIXED ROUTES COULD BE SERVED.

THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE ANTICIPATE WOULD BE A LONG RANGE SERVICE PLAN TO BE IMPLEMENTED AFTER 2025.

DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GOING TO START WE'RE NOT GOING TO START THE LONG RANGE SERVICE PLANNING UNTIL 2025, BUT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DESIGN NEW ROUTES NOW IN IN ONE OF THE FUTURE PHASES ON THE MAP WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IF THERE WAS SERVICE FROM A PREVIOUSLY EXISTING ROUTE AND HOW DOES THAT CORRELATE TO THESE FIVE, FIVE ROUTES THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING? SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT, BUT WE'RE NOT AT THE PHASE WE'RE RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE TRYING TO RIGHT SIZE THE SERVICE THAT WE HAVE AND AND RIGHTLY ALIGN THE SERVICE THAT WE HAVE.

THE DESIGN OF NEW ROUTES IS REALLY A LONG RANGE SERVICE PLANNING EXERCISE THAT WE HAVE NOT STARTED YET.

YEAH. AND IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR THE REASONS THAT THAT COUNCILOR WATTS TALKED ABOUT, WHERE YOU'RE TRAINING THE BEHAVIOR OF THE CITIZENS AND AND CONSTANTLY REVISING WILL CONFUSE THEM.

AND I GET THAT.

SO I REALIZE THAT'S A LONG BUT THE REASON I ASK THAT QUESTION, IF YOU'RE USING THAT EXISTING DATA AND IT GOES TO MY LAST QUESTION, AS AS NEW NEIGHBORHOODS COME IN AS AS THE POTENTIAL FOR NEW SERVICE AREAS, IF WE CAN FREE UP CAPACITY ARE GENERATED, HOW THIS GOES TO TRANSIT ORIENTED DESIGN, HOW ARE WE KIND OF ACCELERATING THAT CONCEPT IN THE SENSE OF LIKE GETTING ADDITIONAL CAPACITY SO THAT THERE IS CAPACITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE IT, ESPECIALLY IN GROWTH CAPACITIES OR IN THE OLD NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE COUNCILOR BYRD MENTIONED, HOW ARE WE GETTING TO THAT CONCEPT OF TRANSIT ORIENTED DESIGN AND DESTINATION PLANNING?

[01:55:07]

RIGHT NOW WE'RE HAVING LOTS OF GOOD CONVERSATIONS.

LIKE I SAID, WE WENT TO THE DENTON MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION ON FRIDAY.

WE'RE TALKING WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, WE'RE TALKING WITH OTHER ADVOCACY GROUPS TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SERVICE.

WE'RE CONNECTED WITH YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, YOUR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, SO THAT ONCE WE IDENTIFY WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL OF GOZONE CAPACITY, THAT COULD BE REALLOCATED.

AGAIN, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CTA GETS TO PICK ACROSS THE WHOLE NETWORK OR MAYBE NOT RELOCATE, ALLOCATING THE CAPACITY AT ALL.

BUT IT'LL BE THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

AND WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE THE MOST RIDERSHIP WITH THE FINITE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT'LL THAT'LL DRIVE THAT DECISION.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S STEP 2 OR 3 IN THE PROCESS.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING TO JUST THREE, SIX AND SEVEN.

ALL RIGHT. SO THE LAST HALF QUESTION JUST FOLLOWS UP DIRECTLY ON THAT.

AND THAT IS, HAVE YOU BEEN LOOKING AT POTENTIAL CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS WHERE THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT HAS A BUY IN AS A AS AN AMENITY FOR THEIR NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT IS ENHANCED SERVICE IN A REGION THAT MIGHT BE OUTSIDE YOUR COVERAGE ZONE.

SO ESSENTIALLY A DEVELOPER IS BUYING GO ZONE OR FIXED ROUTE CAPACITY IN ORDER TO HAVE AN AMENITY FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

YEAH, WE HAVE NOT.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TIED UP IN THAT REGARDING FEDERAL REGULATIONS BECAUSE WE RECEIVE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO A SIGNIFICANT EXTENT TO OUR OPERATION. AND AND WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT NOT BEING IN COMPETITION WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

AND SO IT'S A CREATIVE IDEA AND SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY THINK ABOUT, BUT IT'S NOT DIRECTLY ON THE RADAR FOR THAT REASON.

ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.

YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

ANY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, I IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'LL I'LL JUST FOLLOW UP WITH.

WELL, LET ME LET ME GET TO SOME OF THE KEY ONES.

I'LL RATTLE OFF SOME OTHER ONES JUST FOR NOTES.

BUT I DO WANT TO START OFF, DO WE HAVE ARE YOU ABLE TO GIVE US SOMETHING CONTACT INFORMATION TO GIVE THE PEOPLE THAT SPEAK TO THE.

AND FORGIVE ME IF YOU ANSWER IT AND I MISSED IT, BUT JUST ABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING TO COUNCIL MEETINGS.

THEY HAVE CONCERNS.

I'M NOT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN RUNNING TO GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, SO I WANT TO GET THEM TO THE RIGHT PERSON.

BUT DID YOU LEAVE US CONTACT INFORMATION OR SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PHYSICALLY HAND THEM CARDS, SOMETHING THAT THEN REDIRECTS THEM? WE'RE DEVELOPING. WE DO NOT HAVE IT TONIGHT, BUT WE'RE DEVELOPING A FOUR BY SIX CARD.

STOCK WITH INFORMATION ABOUT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MY CONTACT INFORMATION THAT WILL HAND TO SARA AND HER STAFF SO THAT YOU ALL HAVE THAT.

EXPECT TO HAVE A DRAFT OF THAT SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.

OKAY, SO WE'RE WE'RE WELL UNDERWAY.

YEAH. EVEN IF WE CAN HAVE AN ELECTRONIC COPY BEFORE IT'S PRINTED, THAT'D BE FANTASTIC.

YES, SIR. BECAUSE THEN AT LEAST STAFF CAN EMAIL THOSE THINGS.

YES, SIR. I WANT TO THANK YOU PICKING UP THERE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU AND SARA FOR WORKING TOGETHER ON THE THE BENCHES ISSUES, THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

CURIOUS AND THIS COULD BE A FOLLOW UP.

WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH RESPECT TO DENTON ISD, JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRIDGE A GAP WHERE I FORGET WHAT THE EXACT RANGE IS.

IT'S ONE MILE OR SO FROM A SCHOOL THAT PEOPLE CAN'T RIDE THE BUS OR YOU DO, RIGHT? THERE'S SOME, SO THERE'S SOME ISSUES THERE.

AGAIN, I DON'T I DON'T RUN THAT ORGANIZATION EITHER.

BUT AND SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT DISTANCE IS, BUT THERE IS A DISTANCE.

THERE IS A GAP THAT MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MAKE CONNECTIONS OR ADVISE PARENTS THAT THAT SAY, HEY, YOU'VE GOT TO BE AT WORK AT THIS TIME.

HERE'S A SUPPLEMENT, THE BUS RIDE OR THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE A LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH DENTON ISD AND WE'LL TAKE THAT AS AN ACTION ITEM.

OKAY. AND THEN I AM CURIOUS ALSO ABOUT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, I-35W CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES TO MOVE AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM TEXDOT NEXT.

FEEL FREE TO HANG, BUT, BUT I SEE IT EVERY DAY.

I FEEL LIKE I'M UP TO SPEED. YES.

WELL, AS THEY FINISH, JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S LOOKING FANTASTIC, RIGHT? I MEAN, ALLIANCE AREA ALLIANCE AIRPORT AREA, EXTENDING ALL THOSE THE MANAGED LANE, ETCETERA.

BUT MY QUESTION IS AND MY MY CONCERN IS WHEN IT GETS HERE, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH.

RIGHT. AND THAT'S TO TO THAT THAT EXCHANGE, THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

BUT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DCTA TO BRIDGE THAT GAP.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CONTINUING.

AND I KNOW IT IS, BUT JUST WOULD LOVE TO GET AN UPDATE ON YOUR ANALYSIS OF WHEN LIFE HAPPENS AND I-35W, I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO WORK ON THE SERVICE ROADS FIRST AND DO SOME THINGS TO MITIGATE, BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A TOUGH TIME.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE AND MESSAGING TO RESIDENTS HOW WE'RE GOING TO SURVIVE THIS, THIS PROCESS.

AND SO WE'D LOVE TO KNOW THAT.

AND THEN ON 4TH OF JULY, FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOWNTOWN.

SO IF YOU'VE NOT ALREADY TALKED TO PARKS AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS, I'D LOVE TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW WE CAN ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE.

[02:00:02]

OBVIOUSLY THE SQUARE BEING SHUT DOWN, BUT MAYBE THERE'S SOME MESSAGING WE CAN GET OUT EARLY BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A DRONE SHOW AND SO MAYBE THERE'S SOME MESSAGING WE CAN GET OUT EARLY THAT SAYS CATCH THE BUSSES HERE.

IT HELPS EXPEDITE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME DOWNTOWN AND PARK OR PARK AT MED PARK, TAKE THE TRAIN FARE FREE TO THEN WALK TO THE SQUARE.

RIGHT, RIGHT. ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH. AND EVEN WITH THAT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, MAYBE WE HAVE STAFF, STAFF THAT BELL CROSSING SO THAT WE CAN GET PEOPLE ACROSS FASTER, THAT SORT OF THING.

YES, SIR. THAT'S THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

AND WE CAN CERTAINLY MESSAGE IN THAT REGARD.

OKAY, GREAT. AND THEN THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE ON THE THE THE HORN THE YOU KNOW, THAT GET STARTED AT FIVE EVERY MORNING. I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERY TIME IT HORNS.

YES. BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP WHERE YOU DID WHERE YOU COULD AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT AND THEN.

I JUST WANT TO END BY SAYING THIS.

WHAT I WHAT REALLY JUMPS OUT AT ME IS ALL YOUR ANSWERS.

A AH, POINT BACK TO A PLAN, RIGHT? HOW BIG IS YOUR ORGANIZATION? HOW MANY, HOW MANY STAFF? LIKE JUST KIND OF HOW WOULD YOU CATEGORIZE HOW BIG YOUR ORGANIZATION AUTHORIZED STRENGTH OF DCTA ADMIN STAFF RIGHT NOW IS 36.

OKAY. WE HAVE 95 EMPLOYEES AT TMC THAT RUN THE BUS OPERATION.

FROM AN ADMIN AND OPERATIONS PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE ABOUT 45 TO 50 EMPLOYEES THAT RUN THE TRAIN.

AND IN ANY GIVEN DAY WE HAVE 56 GOZONE DRIVERS ON THE STREETS UP AGAINST A POOL OF ABOUT 200 PLUS DRIVERS WHO COULD BE DRIVING ON ANY GIVEN DAY.

RIGHT. AND SO GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE AND YOUR ANSWERS, THE FOCUS IS NEVER, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING EXPEDITED NEXT WEEK WITHOUT A PLAN.

RIGHT. AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT FOCUS AND THAT ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND THAT THAT INTENTIONALITY ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING VERSUS EVEN IN IN THE MIDST OF THE HIGHEST STORMS BEING PURPOSEFUL ABOUT, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO STAY TRUE TO THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO STUDY IT, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.

AND SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT APPROACH TO DETAIL IN THAT WAY.

SO AND IT'S APPARENT AS EACH OF YOUR ANSWERS KIND OF REFERENCES, REFERENCES BACK TO THE TO A STUDY, TO A PLAN, TO A, YOU KNOW, ACTION ITEM, THAT SORT OF THING.

THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK. THAT REALLY MEANS A LOT.

AND WITHOUT A VISION, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SUCCEED.

WE RUN A VERY COMPLEX OPERATION.

WE HAVE A COMPLEX ORGANIZATION.

WE'RE DOING A LOT OF GOOD FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WITHOUT A VISION, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

BUT BUT I'M ALSO AN ENGINEER AND A TRAINED MILITARY OFFICER, SO I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY TO DO IT.

YEAH. NO, YEAH, NO, IT'S IT'S APPRECIATED.

IT TRULY IS. SO.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE THE INSIGHT AND AND YEAH, WE'LL CATCH UP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE Y'ALL THAT TAKES US TO ITEM D WHICH IS ID 23919 RECEIVE REPORT HOLD DISCUSSION

[D. Receive a report, hold a discussion and give staff direction regarding the City of Denton and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) collaboration including efforts relating to safety and planning measures. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]

GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING THE CITY OF DENTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COLLABORATION, INCLUDING EFFORTS RELATING TO SAFETY PLANNING MEASURES.

YES, SIR.

TWO MILES. TWO MILES.

IS THAT THE SCHOOL BUS? YOU HAVE TO LIVE BEYOND.

ONE HAS TO LIVE BEYOND TWO MILES IN ORDER TO RIDE A SCHOOL BUS.

GOT IT. I MADE A CAREER OF SAYING THAT WAS TOO FAR.

YEAH. YEAH. NO, THAT.

THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW. AND I HOPE WE CAN BRIDGE THAT GAP.

LET'S THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT'S. I MEAN, I WALK TWO MILES EVERY MORNING, BUT I'M ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT.

YOU LOOK GREAT, BY THE WAY.

IT'S PAYING OFF. YEAH, WELL, IT'S DOGS, DUDE.

MOST OF THE DOGS ARE AWESOME.

THEY ARE FANTASTIC.

OKAY, CHECK THAT OUT. YES.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

TO MY RIGHT, I HAVE AMANDA MILLER, WHO IS THE AREA ENGINEER FOR THE DENTON COUNTY OFFICE, AND SHE'S A PART OF THE TEXT DALLAS DISTRICT.

I'M GOING TO KICK OFF THE PRESENTATION, TURN IT OVER TO AMANDA, BUT I'LL BE HERE TO ASSIST AND HELP COLLABORATE WITH HER.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING US TO COME AND MAKE THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DEFINITELY AN ACTION ITEM FOR ME, IS TO WORK ON THE COLLABORATION WITH TEXDOT AND ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SO I'M GOING TO START BY WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THEIR SAFETY PROCESS AND PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION AND THEN OF COURSE, OUR COORDINATION EFFORTS.

SO A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS GAVE A TWO MINUTE PITCH REQUESTING A WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS TRAFFIC SAFETY ALONG AT THAT TIME, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO WEST US 380 AND THE TEXDOT COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF DENTON, INCLUDING SAFETY AND PLANNING MEASURES.

SO AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THE MAP, THE CITY OF DENTON HAS A NUMBER OF TEXDOT ROADWAYS THAT GO THROUGH THE CITY.

[02:05:01]

ALL OF THE ROADWAYS THAT YOU SEE HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN ARE TEXDOT FACILITIES.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD THAT VISUAL REPRESENTATION.

SO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COORDINATION.

SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AMANDA AND I TEXT PROBABLY I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN WE'RE ON THE PHONE WITH EACH OTHER, VERY CONSTANT AND FREQUENTLY.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME REGULAR SCHEDULED EVENTS THAT HAPPEN THROUGH TIME.

SO WE HAVE MONTHLY COORDINATION MEETINGS, AND THOSE HAPPEN ONCE A MONTH WHERE WE MEET WITH THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW TEAM, THE ENGINEERING STAFF AND ALSO ENFORCEMENT STAFF.

SO PD ACTUALLY BRINGS FORWARD A NUMBER OF ITEMS TO US THAT THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT COME UP.

WE HAVE A SMART SHEET THAT WE TRACK ALL OF THIS INFORMATION ON AND THEN WE GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THOSE ITEMS. AMANDA OR HER STAFF GIVE US A RECOMMENDATION, A FOLLOW UP, AND WE TRACK IT IN THAT PROCESS THAT'S ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR DASHBOARD IN OUR LANDING PAGE.

SO AT ANY PERIOD OF TIME, SOMEONE CAN GO IN FROM A CITY STAFF PERSPECTIVE AND ADD THAT INFORMATION TO THAT DASHBOARD.

SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TRACK ALL OF THOSE MEASURES.

THAT'S AN INTERNAL PROCESS.

WE ALSO MONTHLY HAVE OUR ON SYSTEM MEETINGS WHICH GO OVER ALL THE TECH PROJECTS THAT ARE IN PLANNING DESIGN AND THEN WORKING THROUGH CONSTRUCTION TO COORDINATE.

JOHN POLSTER WAS HERE.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAD TO LEAVE EARLY.

MANY OF YOU WERE VERY AWARE.

THAT SAID, ON THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE OF THE ON SYSTEM REPORT THAT YOU GET MONTHLY.

THAT'S THE SAME REPORT THAT HAPPENS AT THE TEX-DOT OFFICE MEETING, EXCEPT FOR IT'S A DIFFERENT GROUP OF FOLKS, OBVIOUSLY, THAT ARE A PART OF THAT.

THERE ARE PROBABLY 50 DIFFERENT TEXDOT STAFF THAT ARE ON THAT ALONG WITH SOME OF THEIR CONSULTANTS.

AND WE TALK ABOUT EACH ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS TREVOR ATTENDS WITH ME, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OF OUR OTHER STAFF AS NEEDED, AND TALK ABOUT THE COLLABORATION EFFORTS.

I MENTIONED MR. POULTER'S PRESENTATION THAT COMES TO MOBILITY MONTHLY.

WE ALSO HAVE REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE, AS I MENTIONED, BETWEEN AMANDA AND MYSELF.

AMANDA HAS ONLY BEEN IN HER ROLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

PRIOR TO HER, IT WAS TRAVIS CAMPBELL WHO HAS NOW GONE TO OUR DALLAS DISTRICT OFFICE.

WE HAVE REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE ON PERMITS, SO EVERY TEXDOT PERMIT THAT'S WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY OR UTILITY PERMITS THAT ARE A PART OF OUR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR TEAM LEADS AND COORDINATES WITH AMANDA AND HER TEAM.

WE ALSO HAVE A SMART SHEET WHERE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS LOADED.

WE WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND WE COORDINATE.

SHE HAS TWO INDIVIDUALS ON HER TEAM THAT ACTUALLY WORK THROUGH PERMITS, AND THEN THE UTILITY PERMITS GO TO THE DALLAS DISTRICT OFFICE.

SO WE COORDINATE THOSE.

AND THEN I WILL TELL YOU, THERE ARE SPECIFIC PROJECT MEETINGS THAT HAPPEN ON A BIWEEKLY BASIS.

TREVOR AND HIS STAFF ATTEND THOSE.

THEY'RE TYPICALLY ABOUT PROJECTS SUCH AS I-35.

AMANDA IS GOING TO GO THROUGH THOSE PROJECTS HERE IN JUST A MINUTE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS. BUT THOSE MEETINGS HAPPEN TO HAVE PROJECT SPECIFIC MEETINGS.

I WOULD BE VERY MUCH IT WOULD BE NOT RIGHT FOR ME NOT TO SAY THAT THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF DENTON AND TEX-DOT HAS SEVERELY IMPROVED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

WE FIND EACH OTHER WORKING TOGETHER AND COLLABORATING ON PRETTY MUCH EVERY ASPECT, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK THROUGH MANY THINGS THAT EITHER OUR PD HAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION OUR ENGINEERING STAFF, DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY OR RESIDENTS THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH.

EVEN TODAY, AS SHE WALKED IN THE DOOR, SOLID WASTE WAS SAYING, HEY, WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT TRASH.

HOW CAN WE WORK THROUGH THIS COLLABORATION? I WAS ABLE TO INTRODUCE HER AND WORK THROUGH THAT TOO.

SO VERY HAPPY TO HAVE AMANDA HERE AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO HER AND LET HER TALK THROUGH THE SAFETY MEASURES AND PLANNING MEASURES AND THEN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

AMANDA, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. AND THANKS FOR LETTING ME COME AND SPEAK TO YOU ALL TODAY.

SO I DEFINITELY WANTED TO START OFF BY TALKING ABOUT A TEXT INITIATIVE THAT HOPEFULLY YOU'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT.

IF NOT, IT'S CALLED IN THE STREET.

SO TEXT HAS NOT GONE A DAY SINCE NOVEMBER 7TH OF 2000 WITHOUT A FATALITY ON A TEXT ROADWAY.

SO BACK IN.

SO THAT WAS ON NOVEMBER 7TH OF 2000.

AND THEN BACK IN MAY OF 2019, TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ADOPTED A MINUTE ORDER, BASICALLY STATING THAT OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES BY HALF BY 2025 AND THEN TO ZERO BY 2050.

SO WITH THAT, A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE HAD TO GO AND LOOK AT IS JUST SOME OF THE DATA, WHAT'S CAUSING SOME OF THESE CRASHES, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON. AND TO REALLY UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS, WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING TO KIND OF HELP BRING AWARENESS TO SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING, WE NEED TO BE CHANGING IN DESIGN AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THIS IS JUST SHOWING THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE FATALITIES, THREE OF THE TOP CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THOSE FATALITIES ARE PEOPLE NOT WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS, SPEEDING OR IMPAIRED DRIVING.

SO I WANTED TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT ON THAT A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST US DOING ENGINEERING WORK.

[02:10:02]

IT IS ALSO ABOUT ENFORCEMENT AND US REACHING OUT TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

OR LIKE BECKY WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE WORK TOGETHER AND GETTING FEEDBACK FROM LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO ARE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, WORKING THESE SCENES, LIKE PROVIDING THAT FEEDBACK TO US ON WHAT THEY'RE SEEING.

BUT ALSO EDUCATION.

EDUCATION IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

AND SO A LOT OF WHAT TEXAS HAS STARTED DOING LATELY IS LIKE AND I'VE EVEN BEEN INVOLVED WHERE WE'VE GONE TO RECRUITING FAIRS, WHERE WE BRING, YOU KNOW, A TRUCK SIMULATOR WHERE IT SHOWS LIKE WHAT HAPPENS WITH A CRASH IF YOU HAVE A SEATBELT AND WHAT HAPPENS, WHAT'S HAPPENING, IF NOT.

SO IT'S NOT JUST FOCUSING ON THE ENGINEERING SIDE, IT'S WHAT PROGRAMS CAN WE DO? ARE WE DOING ENOUGH OUTREACH TO LET LOCALS KNOW THAT, HEY, WE CAN COME TO YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL EVENTS? WE GO TO RECRUITING EVENTS ALL THE TIME.

SO SOME OF THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT NOT JUST WITH THOSE FACTORS.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY OTHER FACTORS THAT THAT WE'RE SEEING ON OUR ROADWAYS AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO HELP SOME OF THAT.

SO LIKE I SAID, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING THE DATA TO MAKE INFORMED DECISION ON OUR PROJECTS.

A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING IS THAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC TYPE OF PROJECTS THAT WE CAN USE THAT WOULD REQUIRE SAFETY FUNDING TO HELP REDUCE SOME OF THESE FATALITIES.

YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD IMPROVE SIDEWALK ACCESSIBILITY, ADA RAMPS, INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS, EVEN JUST LIGHTING OR, YOU KNOW, UP UPGRADING, MAKE SURE WE'RE UPGRADING THE STRIPING MORE CONSISTENTLY THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO, UM, ANOTHER BIG ONE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT LATELY IS WORK ZONE CRASHES.

SO IS THERE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE CAN BE PUTTING IN OUR PLANS PRIOR TO IT GOING TO CONSTRUCTION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ITEMS IN OUR PLANS THAT OUR CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO UTILIZE.

AND WHEN IT GOES TO CONSTRUCTION TO JUST GET AHEAD OF THAT ISSUE.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THERE A SCHOOL WITHIN OUR CONSTRUCTION WORK ZONE? AND IF WE'RE IF IT'S GOING TO CLOSE SOME OF THAT ACCESS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING ACCESS? WHERE ARE SIGNING GOING, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT IN ADVANCE OF ANYTHING GOING TO CONSTRUCTION SO WE'RE BEING MORE PROACTIVE INSTEAD OF REACTIVE WHEN SOMETHING'S COMING UP.

UM, SO JUST A FEW THINGS SPECIFIC ON SAFETY PROJECTS THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDING CATEGORIES THAT GO INTO TEXT PROJECTS, BUT SPECIFIC I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SPECIFIC TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CITY OF DENTON THAT IS BEING FUNDED SOLELY THROUGH SAFETY FUNDING.

SO IN FY OUR FISCAL YEAR 2023, WE HAD FOUR DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND IT WAS ABOUT 1.3 MILLION JUST IN SAFETY FUNDING.

AND SO THOSE PROJECTS WITHIN THAT FISCAL YEAR INCLUDED LIGHTING, UPGRADING TRAFFIC SIGNALS OR INSTALLING NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND WORKING TO UPGRADE PEDESTRIAN ELEMENTS.

AND THEN IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, WE HAVE THREE PROJECTS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO SAFETY AND WE'RE SPENDING 3.3 MILLION OUT OF THAT SAFETY FUNDING AND THAT AGAIN, INSTALLING TRAFFIC SIGNALS, WORKING ON PAVEMENT AND STRUCTURE REPAIRS.

AND THEN ALSO WE'RE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR WHEN I MOVED TO TO DENTON COUNTY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS TRYING TO DO, SO LIKE BECKY SAID, I MOVED UP HERE A FEW MONTHS AGO, SO I CAME TO DENTON COUNTY AREA OFFICE IN FEBRUARY.

I WAS IN THE DALLAS COUNTY AREA OFFICE BEFORE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID OVER THERE IS WE LET A SPECIFIC PROJECT WHERE IT WAS JUST TO FOCUS ON STRIPING BECAUSE IN OUR MAINTENANCE SECTIONS WE ONLY GET SO MUCH MONEY.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS TRYING TO DO WAS FIND ANOTHER WAY TO USE SOME MORE FUNDING TO ASSIST WITH STRIPING.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS NEXT FY HERE IN DENTON.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET A LOT MORE.

AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO UPGRADE THAT STRIPING.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN FISCAL YEAR 2024.

AND THEN IN 2025, WE HAVE CURRENTLY HAVE FIVE PROJECTS SCHEDULED AND THOSE ARE FOR 11 MILLION SPECIFIC TO SAFETY FUNDING.

SO SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS WILL INCLUDE INCLUDE WIDENING, WIDENING THE PAVEMENT.

SO ADDING SHOULDERS AND RESURFACING SOME OF THE ROADWAYS, TRAFFIC SIGNALS, AGAIN, UPGRADING SAFETY FEATURES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO JUST SO YOU HAVE A REALLY QUICK IDEA, SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO SAFETY FUNDING INCLUDE THE STATEWIDE SYSTEMATIC WIDENING PROGRAM.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THAT ONE WHERE I HAVE PAVEMENT WIDENING AND SHOULDERS AND THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THAT BECAUSE WE'RE WIDENING THE EXISTING ROADWAY.

SOME OF THE OTHER ARE LIKE ROAD TO ZERO.

SO WHAT THAT IS, IS THERE ARE FUNDING FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY TO TARGETING AND REDUCING FATALITIES.

SO IT'S LOOKING AT PAST DATA, WHAT'S KIND OF GOING ON LIKE WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS ON SOME OF THOSE HOTSPOTS AND THEN HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

SO LIKE I SAID, THESE ARE JUST SO WITHIN THESE THREE YEARS, THERE'S 12 PROJECTS, IT'S ESTIMATED $15.6 MILLION WORTH OF WORK JUST FOR THE SAFETY FUNDING.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S ALL THE JOBS THAT ARE COMING UP.

UM, OOPS.

[02:15:01]

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT'S ALL THAT'S COMING UP IN DENTON.

THERE'S A LOT MORE COMING UP AND DENTON, THAT IS SAFETY PROJECTS THAT JUST AREN'T TIED TO THAT SPECIFIC FUNDING.

SO SOME THAT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT HAVE PROBABLY GONE ON OR CLOSED OUT RIGHT WHENEVER I GOT HERE AND WOULD BE FM 21, 81, FM 2499 AND 377.

SO WHAT I KIND OF WANTED TO FOCUS ON A LITTLE BIT WAS THIS PLANNING AND DESIGN.

THAT'S THE LONGEST LIST THAT I HAVE UP HERE AND.

I CAN GO OVER EACH ONE OF THESE IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

BUT BASICALLY THEY'RE SO SOME OF THE BIG ONES I KIND OF WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THE MERGE PROJECT.

THAT'S THE NEXT REALLY BIG PROJECT THAT WE HAVE THAT'S GOING TO LET SOON AND THAT IS OVER 500, $600 MILLION.

NOW, WHILE THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY SAFETY FUNDING, IT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP WITH SAFETY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO RECONSTRUCT THE INTERCHANGE.

IT'S GOING TO WORK ON FRONTAGE, ROADS, RECONFIGURE, RAMP INTERCHANGES.

SO WHILE IT'S NOT JUST SAFETY FUNDING, IT ACTUALLY IS SAFETY.

SO A LOT OF WHAT WE DO WITH THAT PROJECT IS WE COORDINATE WITH THE CITY.

LIKE BECKY SAID, IF IT'S NOT, WE HAVE THOSE SCHEDULED MEETINGS.

BUT IT'S ALSO ANYTIME, YOU KNOW, IF A CITIZEN CALLS ABOUT A QUESTION OR IF THEY GET A QUESTION ON, HEY, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS, THEY'LL COMMUNICATE WITH US AND WE ALWAYS MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.

WE'RE SENDING THE SAME MESSAGE AND OUT WHENEVER WE GET THOSE QUESTIONS, WHICH I REALLY DO APPRECIATE.

THAT HELPS MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

WE KNOW WE'RE ALL FOCUSING ON THE SAME END GOAL.

SO THAT'S A BIG PROJECT.

A COUPLE OTHER ONES, THE 35 W FRONTAGE ROADS.

SO THAT'S A $340 MILLION.

THAT'S A FRONTAGE ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

SO IT'S NOT REDUCING ANY LANES ON 35 W IT IS ADDING FRONTAGE ROADS.

SO I DID WANT TO SAY AND WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT TO REDUCE LANES OR CAPACITY ON ANY OF THESE PROJECTS, THESE ARE ALL WIDENING OR ADDING FRONTAGE ROADS.

SO I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.

YES, LIKE I SAID, A LOT LIKE A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS, THERE'S BILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING UP IN CONSTRUCTION.

ANOTHER ONE THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, WHICH ISN'T A $500 MILLION BUT I KNOW IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY IS THE ELM AND LOCUST JOB.

SO JUST REAL QUICK ON THAT ONE TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN UPDATE BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO ANOTHER ONE THAT'S COMING UP REALLY SOON IS A LOT OF THAT COORDINATION TRULY TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO ME BEING IN THIS POSITION.

BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE KEEPING MOMENTUM ON THAT JOB.

SO MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW IS WORKING ON THE DESIGN.

WE'RE ALMOST AT 60%.

THAT PAVEMENT DESIGN STRUCTURE WAS WORKED OUT WITH THE CITY OF DENTON.

IT WAS AGREED UPON ON WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THE CITY WAS GOOD WITH OUR DESIGN.

AND WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING THE THE FORMS ARE DOWN IN AUSTIN TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS GOING TO.

THE WHOLE PLAN IS THAT THAT SECTION IS GOING TO GO OFF SYSTEM.

WE'RE ALL SET AND DONE. SO IN ORDER FOR IT TO GO OFF SYSTEM, THAT'S WHY WE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PAVEMENT DESIGN WAS WAS COORDINATED WITH THE CITY AND MAKE SURE YOU ALL WERE ON BOARD WITH WHAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE.

BUT THAT IS STILL IN THE WORKS.

WE'RE WORKING ON THE DESIGN AND WORKING ON THE PAPERWORK THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO PLACE FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT GOES OFF SYSTEM.

SO THAT IS DOWN IN AUSTIN RIGHT NOW.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON LETTING THAT PROJECT AND THIS FY.

SO I DID WANT TO KIND OF TOUCH BASE ON THAT ONE TOO, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

AND THEN JUST REAL QUICK ON THE WE DO ALREADY HAVE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW.

THE BIG ONE IS THE 383 77.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE INSTALLING MEDIAN AND IT'S A $21 MILLION JOB WIDENING AND ADDING THE DIVIDED THE RAISED MEDIAN, WE HAVE THAT TEN FOOT SIDEWALK. SO A LOT OF PEDESTRIAN ELEMENTS ALSO GOING ON THERE.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF PLANNING, THERE IS A LOT OF COORDINATION.

AND THIS COUNTY IN GENERAL HAS, I THINK, THE MOST UPCOMING LIKE THE MOST DOLLARS WORTH OF CONSTRUCTION THAT'S UPCOMING, THAT'S PLANNING.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.

AND WE REALLY I REALLY APPRECIATE WHEN I HOPPED INTO THIS ROLE, THE COORDINATION BETWEEN TEX AND THE CITY, IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER TO HAVE THE SUPPORT BE UP FRONT FROM THE GET GO, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHAT WE'RE SHOWING IN OUR PLANS, THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY AND FROM STAFF.

AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT PARTNERSHIP AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUALLY MEET HAVE THOSE COORDINATION MEETINGS.

LIKE I SAID, IF IT'S NOT A SET UP MEETING, WE'RE JUST PHONE CALL AWAY OR TEXT AWAY, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE STAFF THAT HELPS US MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

WE ARE STAYING ON TASK AND WE'RE SENDING THE SAME MESSAGE OUT TO THE PUBLIC THAT YOU ALL ARE SENDING OUT AS WELL.

SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE HAD AND FROM CITY STAFF, IT REALLY MAKES IT A LOT MORE SMOOTH MAKING SURE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

AND THAT'S KIND OF ALL I HAD JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHT.

SO I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE QUESTIONS.

SO AND WHETHER THEY'RE FOR ME OR BECKY, I.

I'M READY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

QUESTIONS FOR FOR STAFF.

[02:20:01]

IT'S HARD FOR ME NOT TO SAY COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND.

IT'S HARD. JUST LIKE.

JUST LIKE. HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I USED TO WORK FOR THE TEXAS HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.

TEX DOT. YES, I.

I COULD HAVE BROUGHT MY ONE YEAR SAFE DRIVER AWARD, BUT I DIDN'T ANYWAY.

WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING AND I KNOCKED ON DOORS EVERY TIME.

EVERY TIME I ASK WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT'S YOUR CONCERN, CITIZEN? EVERY PERSON TO A MAN SAID THE STREETS IN DENTON EVERY PERSON.

THEN THE SECOND AND THIRD TAPERED OFF.

BUT EVERY EVERYTHING WAS WAS THE STREETS.

I'M DOWN IN AUSTIN.

WHAT WAS DONE TODAY TO FIX ELM AND LOCUST STREET DOWN IN AUSTIN? WHAT WAS DONE TODAY TO FIX THAT? YEAH. SO SO BASICALLY ELM AND LOCUST IS THE WHOLE GOAL IS THAT THAT SECTION IS GOING TO GO OFF SYSTEM.

SO IN ORDER FOR IT TO GO OFF SYSTEM, THERE IS AN AGREEMENT THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH.

THEY'LL HAVE TO BE A CITY ORDINANCE THAT PASSES TO TAKE IT OFF SYSTEM.

AND THEY'RE ALSO IT'LL HAVE TO GO TO COMMISSION FOR THEM TO SIGN OFF ON IT.

SO WE HAVE BEEN COORDINATING WITH CITY STAFF ON THAT.

AND SO IT'S BASICALLY THE INFORMATION THAT SAYS, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

EVERYBODY LIKE OUR RIGHT OF WAY STAFF AND EVERYTHING.

AUSTIN HAS TO REVIEW IT BEFORE IT GOES TO COMMISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WE HAVE OUR EVERYTHING IN A ROW FOR IT TO COME OFF SYSTEM.

AND SO IDEALLY WHEN WE LET THESE JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO GO OFF SYSTEM, WE CALL THEM LIKE A TURN BACK, IT'S BASICALLY THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THE CITY PASSES AN ORDINANCE SAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE IT OFF SYSTEM AND ALSO MAKE SURE THAT COMMISSION IS GOING TO AGREE THAT IT WILL GO OFF SYSTEM, LET'S SAY, WORST CASE SCENARIO, SOMETHING GOES WRONG AND IT DOES NOT PASS OR WHATEVER.

TEXAS STILL HAS PLANS.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO WORK ON FIXING UP THOSE ROADWAYS.

NOW, IT MAY NOT BE THE EXACT PAVEMENT DESIGN THAT WAS WORKED OUT WITH THE CITY OF DENTON BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO STAY ON SYSTEM, BUT THERE STILL IS GOING TO BE A PLAN TO WORK ON THE THE PAVING AND THE RESTRUCTURING OVER THERE.

AND IF I COULD DEAL WITH THAT JUST FOR ONE SECOND.

I BEG YOUR PARDON? I OWN PROPERTY ON NORTH ELM STREET.

OKAY. AND TEX RESURFACED MY STREET, NORTH ELM STREET, SMOOTH AS THIS TABLETOP FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND AND THE PAVEMENT HEAVED AND I'M AND I'M NOT EXAGGERATING HEAVED BETWEEN 12 AND 18IN IN PLACES MY FRIEND ANDREW ROGERS WHO WAS WHO WORKS AT THE DENTON TEX DOT.

WE USED TO CALL IT BARN.

I DON'T KNOW. STATION OFFICE.

OFFICE. I'VE CALLED HIM A THOUSAND TIMES.

HE KNOWS ME BY NAME.

WHY WHY IS THE THE THE THE QUALITY WHY WAS THE QUALITY SO POOR ON THAT END? AND WILL WE EXPECT THE SAME THING ON THE SOUTHERN END OF ELM AND LOCUST.

SO I TRULY DON'T KNOW WHAT TOOK PLACE ON THAT PROJECT BEFORE, BUT THIS PROJECT THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS NOT JUST TO RESURFACE.

IT IS ALSO WORKING ON SUBGRADE REPAIRS.

SO I DON'T. SO I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM IS SUBGRADE ISSUES.

SO THIS PROJECT WE ARE IT IS THE TOP SIX INCHES ARE GOING TO BE ASPHALT AND THEN IT'S 12IN OF SUBGRADE WORK.

SO WE'RE GOING 18IN DEEP TO FIX WHERE WE'RE SEEING PAVEMENT FAILURE.

SO IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE AT THE TOP, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING A LITTLE BIT FURTHER BENEATH TO MAKE THOSE REPAIRS.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS HONESTLY DONE ON THAT PROJECT THAT YOU'RE SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO IT AND MAKE SURE.

BUT WE SO FOR EXAMPLE, LAST FRIDAY WE HAD A MEETING INTERNALLY ABOUT THIS JOB AND WE HAD OUR PAVEMENT ENGINEERS ON THE CALL.

WE HAD OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION.

SO WE HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON THAT CALL WHO COULD KIND OF WEIGH IN ON THE PAVEMENT DESIGN, ON THE REPORTS THAT WERE RUN OUT ON THAT PARTICULAR PAVEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE WERE DOING WOULD BE ADEQUATE FOR THE REPAIRS.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT CONCRETE CAN BE USED IN LIEU OF ASPHALT? SO IF WE WERE TO GO BACK AND REDO ALL THAT, WE I MEAN, YOU'RE RESTARTING THAT CLOCK ON WHEN IT WOULD BE POTENTIALLY LETTING AND WHEN IT WOULD BE GOING OFF SYSTEM? YEAH. YEAH. SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.

WHAT WAS DONE NORTH OF THE COURTHOUSE IS ACTUALLY A RESURFACING THAT WAS COMPLETED, NOT A COMPLETELY REBUILD OF A ROADWAY.

AND THE REASON WHY, TO CLARIFY THE PORTION SOUTH OF THE COURTHOUSE WHERE THE WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITIES AND ALL OF THE DRAINAGE WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.

THAT IS THE PORTION AMANDA IS ALLUDING TO THAT THE PAVEMENT DESIGN HAS BEEN AGREED UPON.

[02:25:03]

THE CITY OF DENTON HAS A PAVEMENT DESIGN THAT IS VERY ROBUST.

SO WE WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH NUMEROUS MEETINGS TO GET TO A PAVEMENT DESIGN THAT WE COULD ALL BE COMFORTABLE WITH, THAT TEXDOT COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH TO ENSURE THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DON'T HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

THE PORTION NORTH OF THE COURTHOUSE THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECONSTRUCTED YET, THAT WAS JUST A SIMPLE OVERLAY OF THAT AREA.

CITY STAFF TREVOR'S TEAM IS GOING TO BE LEADING FORWARD AN EFFORT TO REPLACE THE WATER AND SEWER IN THAT AREA, REPLACE THE DRAINAGE AND COMPLETELY RECONSTRUCT THE ROADWAY IN THAT VICINITY. AND THEN AT THAT TIME, THE CITY WILL COMPLETELY TAKE OVER THE ROADWAY FROM 380 ALL THE WAY TO EAGLE OF ELM AND LUCAS.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE IN THE BREACH TO TO MAKE IT TOLERABLE FOR FOR TAXPAYERS THAT ARE DRIVING ON IT TODAY? ARE YOU DISCUSSING SOUTH OF THE COURTHOUSE? YES, PLEASE. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT TEXDOT WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.

SO I'M SURE AMANDA COULD LOOK INTO IT.

YEAH, I MEAN, I DEFINITELY HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT AND GET BACK.

AND I'M ALSO INTERESTED ON WHAT TOOK PLACE PRIOR SAYING, IF THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

MY GUESS WAS THAT IT WAS JUST A RESURFACING.

IT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING ON THIS NEW PROJECT.

IT'S NOT JUST A RESURFACING JOB, BUT I WILL DEFINITELY LOOK INTO IT AND I WILL FOLLOW UP.

AND JUST TO BE JUST TO BE CLEAR.

YES. SO TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

SO THE SOUTHERN SOUTH OF THE SQUARE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WASN'T RESURFACED NORTH OF THE SQUARE WAS RESURFACED AND NOT DOING GREAT, IS IT? AND I DON'T KNOW, BECKY, IF YOU WANT TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE STUDY, SO IT'S PROBABLY THREE YEARS AGO.

WE HAVE THE STUDY TO RESTUDY OUR SOIL AND HOW WE HOW DEEP WE DIG ALL THOSE I'M DOING, I'M BUTCHERING IT.

BUT WE HAD SOME STUDY TO BETTER INFORM HOW WE BUILD OUR ROADS.

CORRECT. SO THERE'S A GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION THEN.

ALSO, TREVOR HAS WORKED WITH STAFF ALONG WITH OUR ENGINEERING STAFF TO COME UP WITH A STANDARD DETAIL AND A SPECIFICATION THAT ACTUALLY GIVES THE ROADWAY CROSS SECTION FOR AN ASPHALT ROADWAY THAT WILL LAST A A SUBSTANTIAL LIFETIME.

RIGHT? SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING SOUTH OF THE COURTHOUSE WAS PATCHES THAT WERE MADE IN THE AREAS OF WHICH WATER AND SEWER OR DRAINAGE WAS RECONSTRUCTED.

IT WAS NOT COMPLETELY OVERLAID.

THERE WERE ASPHALT PATCHES LAID IN THAT SOUTHERN PORTION IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS ROADWAY PROJECT THAT AMANDA IS DISCUSSING TODAY TO HAVE RECONSTRUCTED.

OKAY. I GOT SOME CHUCKLES WHEN I SAID CONCRETE IN LIEU OF ASPHALT, AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THE DALLAS DRIVE.

WHICH WAS THE OLD HIGHWAY 77 ROAD INTO DALLAS.

THAT ROAD IS OLDER THAN ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM.

CONCRETE. AND JUST.

AND THERE'LL BE A GOOD THING FOR YOU TO CATCH UP.

WE HAD THAT THE CHUCKLES WERE BECAUSE WE HAD THAT SAME CONVERSATION AND THE AND THE THE DECISION MATRIX IS THE TIME IT TAKES.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, GREAT EXAMPLE.

HOW LONG IS CARROLL BOULEVARD BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO TO FIX THOSE LANES.

RIGHT. IT JUST TAKES SO MUCH LONGER WITH CONCRETE AND COST, ETCETERA.

I MEAN WE'VE BEEN DOWN TO ONE LANE FOR BUT IT LASTED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME BEFORE THOSE REPAIRS WERE NECESSARY.

BUT THAT'S BUT WE HAD THAT VERY CONVERSATION.

RIGHT. SO SO CONCRETE COULD BE DONE.

IT'S GOING TO BE WAY MORE EXPENSIVE.

THE ISSUE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND ON LOCUST IS IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU PUT ASPHALT OR CONCRETE, IF YOU DON'T FIX THE SUBBASE LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING, IT'S GOING TO FAIL NO MATTER WHAT. SO IF YOU DIDN'T FIX THE SUBBASE AND WE PUT DOWN 12IN OF CONCRETE, WE'D HAVE THE SAME ISSUES, JUST A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE POTHOLES GOING ON.

SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING DOING ON THE SOUTH AND THE NORTH, CREATING OR FIXING THAT SUBGRADE AND I'VE SEEN THOSE GEOTECHNICAL REPORTS.

YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE WHERE YOU HAVE AN INCH OF ASPHALT THERE WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF SUBGRADE THAT'S ALL MIXED AND MATCHED.

SO IT REALLY IS A SUBBASE ISSUE THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE MOVING FORWARD.

SO YOU ALWAYS WE CAN THERE'S THERE'S ISSUES WITH CONCRETE, THERE'S ISSUES WITH ASPHALT, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW.

CONCRETE IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

IT'S ALSO HARD TO GET WHERE WE'RE STARTING TO COME OUT OF THAT KIND OF ISSUES WITH CONCRETE.

BUT FOR A WHILE THEY WERE LIMITED US TO THE AMOUNT OF CONCRETE WE COULD GET AT ONE POINT, YOU KNOW, ONLY A COUPLE OF YARDS AT A TIME.

SO IT WAS EVEN TOUGH TO DO SIDEWALKS AT THAT POINT.

SO THOSE ARE KIND OF THE THINGS THAT WE EVALUATE WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE CROSS SECTIONS AND DETERMINE WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO GO ASPHALT CONCRETE.

BUT REALLY THAT SUB BASE FIXING IS IS THE THE IMPETUS OF THIS PROJECT? YES, SIR. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BECKY AND TREVOR HAVE TOLD US ABOUT IS THE OCI INDEX THAT WE USE TO SORT OF HELP US PRIORITIZE ROAD LEVELS.

AND DOES TECH START USING SOMETHING OPERATIONAL CONDITION INDEX? CONDITION INDEX OR PCI? YEAH. YES.

SO TEXDOT, AS WE CALL IT, A PMI SCORE.

SO BASICALLY IT'S OUR PAVEMENT SCORES.

SO. WE USE THAT, BUT THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY GO INTO PLAY ON THE LIKE.

[02:30:06]

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT LOOK AT, TO BE HONEST, SOMETIMES WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR UPCOMING MAINTENANCE PLANS OR WHAT WE'RE DOING IN HOUSE OR HOW WE'RE GOING TO BUDGET THE THE MAINTENANCE LIKE THE MONEY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET IN OUR MAINTENANCE FOR OUR CONTRACT FORCES.

WE'LL DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE'RE HAVING IF SOME OF OUR PAVEMENT IS FAILING, THEN WE'LL LOOK AT KIND OF PRIORITIZING SOME OF THOSE.

IT'S NOT EVEN JUST THAT. IT'S ALSO SKID SCORE OR OUR SKID DATA AS PART OF THAT.

SO IF WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF WET ROAD CRASHES, IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH SKID? AND THAT'S KIND OF PART OF THAT PAVEMENT DATA THAT WE'LL LOOK AT.

SO WE DO THAT.

WE LOOK AT IT EVERY YEAR.

EVERY YEAR WE RUN NEW NUMBERS ON IT.

IT GETS UPDATED EVERY YEAR.

WE LOOK AT THAT, WE KIND OF FIGURE OUT, HEY, DO WE NEED TO CHANGE WHAT WE WERE FORECASTING FOR NEXT YEAR? DOES IT LOOK LIKE IT'S RIGHT? IS IT NOT? RIGHT? AND WE KIND OF LOOK AT IT IN A FOUR YEAR PLAN ON WHAT WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON.

SO IT'S NOT MAYBE IT MAY NOT ALWAYS GO ALONG WITH THESE BIG MOBILITY JOBS.

IT MAY BE SOME MORE ON OUR MAINTENANCE FORCES OF WHAT WE CAN DO IN-HOUSE OR CONTRACTED THROUGH OUR MAINTENANCE FORCES OR SOME OF OUR REHAB JOBS THAT WE CALL OUR CAT ONE PROJECTS. BUT YEAH, WE DO.

WE DO. WE USE SOMETHING SIMILAR.

SO IF YOU MIGHT IF ON THESE PAVEMENT SCORES DO.

IS IT THAT YOU HAVE A MAINTENANCE CYCLE OF FOUR YEARS OR SOMETHING? AND AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BUMP IT UP HIGHER OR LOWER IF IT HAS A FAILURE OR IS IT GOING TO BE SO THAT I'M GOING TO YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO GET A REVISIT EVERY FOUR YEARS? OR IS IT SOMETHING WHERE IF IF IT HAD A FAILURE OTHER THAN AN EMERGENCY FAILURE? IS IT THAT IT WOULD BE UPDATED MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THAN WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE REGULAR FOUR YEAR INTERVALS? SO IF I'M UNDERSTANDING, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.

SO IT'S IT'S THOSE PAVEMENT SCORES ARE UPDATED EVERY YEAR.

I JUST MEAN LIKE WE KIND OF LOOK AT THE DATA FOR THIS YEAR AND WE SAY, HEY, IF YOU KNOW, IF ONE ROAD IS POOR, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO GET IT NEXT YEAR.

IF ONE IS FAIR, THEN WE KIND OF PROGRAM IT OUT AND THEN LIKE WE'LL KNOW LIKE, HEY, THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE WE GO IN AND WE SAY, HEY, THIS IS THE ROADWAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PLAN ON ON WORKING NEXT YEAR.

AND THEN WE KIND OF TRACK THAT WHEN WE EVALUATE IT THE NEXT YEAR TO SEE, HEY, DID THOSE REPAIRS WORK? DID THEY NOT WORK? DO WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE HAVING A DIFFERENT ISSUE? OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T LIKE TO SEE IT AND WE SPEND MONEY ON IT AND IT'S NOT WORKING.

SO IT'S TRYING TO EVALUATE IF IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE.

SO KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ON A YEAR TIME FRAME.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAVE SOME OF OUR ROADS THAT GET A SEAL COAT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO A SEAL COAT ON A ROAD EVERY YEAR.

SO THERE IS KIND OF A CYCLE OF HOW OFTEN YOU WOULD BE WORKING ON SOME.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF REPAIR THAT IT IS, THAT IT MAY FALL WITHIN A CERTAIN CYCLE OF HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK.

BUT YOU ALSO CAN'T SEAL COAT A ROAD TEN TIMES.

SO AFTER YOU SEAL COAT IT SO MANY TIMES YOU MAY NEED TO DO A MORE EXPENSIVE REPAIR, IF YOU WILL, WHICH IS LIKE KIND OF A MILL AND OVERLAY AND WHERE YOU'RE JUST RESURFACING, RESURFACING THE JOB.

SO WE BUT WE DO WE LOOK AT THE OUR PMI SCORES TO KIND OF HELP US EVALUATE WHAT TYPE OF REPAIRS DO WE NEED TO MAKE.

AND WE DO OUR BEST ON ESTIMATING WHAT'S UPCOMING.

NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN JUST BECAUSE IF I PLAN SOMETHING OUT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, IF NEXT YEAR SOMETHING POPS UP AND IT WAS NOT ON OUR PAVING SCORES AND IT'S A BIG ISSUE, WE WILL DEFINITELY BE LIKE, HEY, DO WE NEED TO SHIFT SOMETHING AROUND TO GET IT IN INSTEAD OF FOUR YEARS OUT FROM NOW? IF THAT MAKES IF THAT MAKES SENSE OR ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

YEAH, THAT'S SORT OF WHERE I WAS GOING.

I MEAN, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL PREFACED ALL THIS WITH YOU HAVE A TIGHT COMMUNICATION AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I WAS JUST THE THINGS THAT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE REST OF COUNCIL, BUT THE THINGS THAT THAT CAUSED THE CONSTITUENTS THAT CONTACT ME A LOT OF HEARTBURN IS ARE YOU KNOW THE THE ROAD CONDITIONS FOR FOR THE ROADS THAT WE HAVE LIMITED ABILITY THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH YOUR OFFICE RATHER THAN BECKY'S OFFICE TO DEAL WITH AND AND AND WE HAVE SO MANY OF THEM HERE IN DENTON AND THE THE OTHER ONE THAT THAT I'LL BRIEFLY ASK ABOUT IS THE ABILITY TO GET THE VARIOUS PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY METHODS, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY SIDEWALKS AND ACCESSING THE RIGHT OF WAY AND FACILITATING THAT SORT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT STAGE WHERE WE'RE NOT REALLY ASKING TEXDOT TO DO ANYTHING.

A DEVELOPER OR THE CITY IS GOING TO DO A SIDEWALK.

IS THERE ARE THERE WAYS TO FACILITATE SO THAT WE CAN GET THESE STITCHED TOGETHER OUR SIDEWALK NETWORK AND A LITTLE SMOOTHER FASHION? YES. SO WE SO WE ALSO DO LOOK LIKE TEXDOT ALSO LOOKS INTERNALLY OF YOU'RE RIGHT.

LIKE IF YOU HAVE IF YOU HAVE ALL THESE BRAND NEW DEVELOPMENTS COMING IN WHERE THEY'RE ADDING SIDEWALK, BUT YOU HAVE THESE DEVELOPMENTS THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR YEARS THAT DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS, YOU MAY HAVE GAPS.

AND THAT'S NOT MAKING A LOT OF SENSE.

RIGHT? SO WE DO ON SOME OF THOSE SAFETY PROGRAMS THAT I WAS MENTIONING, LIKE THE CIP PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE WILL LOOK TO SEE, HEY, AND WE'VE EVEN HAD FEEDBACK FROM

[02:35:03]

THE CITY BEFORE. IT'S LIKE WE GET THESE CALLS FROM THESE CITIZENS.

THERE'S DEVELOPMENT THAT'S ALREADY HERE.

DO YOU HAVE A PLAN TO COME IN AND CONNECT THESE SIDEWALKS? AND WE'LL GO THROUGH AND WE'LL LOOK, WE'LL EVALUATE IT.

WE'LL SAY, YEP, SIDEWALKS MISSING.

WHAT KIND OF FUNDING DO WE NEED TO INCLUDE TO KIND OF HELP SOME OF THAT? SO WE DO TAKE THAT FEEDBACK.

YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE FEEDBACK FROM A MAP THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OF OUR SIDEWALK.

IT MAY BE FEEDBACK THAT WE GET FROM A CITIZEN CALL AND MAYBE FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM A CITY OR OUR MAINTENANCE GUYS WHO ARE OUT RUNNING ROADS.

THEY MAY SEE OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM, THEY MAY SEE THAT THEIR SIDEWALK MISSING AND AND, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY COME BACK IN AND REPORT TO ME AND ISSUE SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE SEEING.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY TRACK SOME OF THAT IN ORDER TO GET TO KIND OF FILL IN THOSE GAPS.

AND I'LL JUST SAY TWO THINGS TO THAT.

SO NUMBER ONE IS ELM AND LOCUST AND EAGLE DRIVE ARE THE ROADWAYS THAT WE GET THE MOST COMPLAINTS ABOUT.

AND WHEN ELM AND LOCUST ARE DONE FROM SOUTH OF THE COURTHOUSE, EAGLE DRIVE WILL BE DONE AT THE SAME TIME, BUT IT WILL STAY AN ON SYSTEM ROADWAY FOR TEXDOT.

AND THEN THE OTHER PORTION I WOULD MENTION IS, IS WHEN THEY PRODUCE THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THESE DESIGNING AND PLANNING PHASES AFTER A CERTAIN TIME FRAME IN 2021, EVERY PROJECT THAT COMES THROUGH AND GOES THROUGH A SCHEMATIC PHASE.

WE'RE WORKING WITH TRANSPORTATION PLANNING TEAM AND ALSO OUR MOBILITY PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND AND ALSO PARKS THAT WE WANT A SIDE PATH, WE WANT THAT TO CONNECTIVITY, WE WANT THAT MULTIMODAL APPROACH.

SO WE'RE BEING VERY VOCAL WHEN WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW A SCHEMATIC AND SAY, NO, THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

WE ALSO NEED THESE ELEMENTS OR WE NEED RIGHT AWAY TO BE ABLE TO PUT THESE, YOU KNOW, TEN I'M SORRY, MY PHONE'S BLINKING TEN, SOMEBODY'S CALLING ME TEN FOOT SIDE PATH.

SO JUST JUST UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT.

WE'RE COORDINATING AND WE COLLABORATE AND HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION WITH TEX.

YEAH, NO, I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S AGAIN, YOU STARTED EVERYTHING WITH THE CLOSE INTERACTION.

IF THERE'S WAYS THAT WE COULD ACCELERATE THAT, THAT APPROVAL AND DESIGN PROCESS BOTH FOR SIDE PATHS AND AND FOR, YOU KNOW, ROAD MAINTENANCE.

IF THERE'S AVENUES, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO ON OUR END THAT COUNCIL CAN DIRECT, THAT WOULD HELP.

TEX DOT AND INCREASE THE FREQUENCY, LET US KNOW WE REALLY WANT TO HELP.

IS THERE SUCH A WAY? I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S WHY I'M LEAVING IT OPEN IN THE AIR.

ASK THAT QUESTION. I MEAN, I THINK IN ALL HONESTY, LIKE, IT'S I MEAN, NO ONE'S EVER SAID, HEY, YOU'RE DOING IT TOO FAST.

SO, YOU KNOW, I, I HONESTLY HEARING WHEN YOU HEAR WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE COMING TO YOU SAYING, HEY, AND IT'S LIKE A HUGE ISSUE OF IF IT'S PAVEMENT OR IF IT'S IF IT'S SIDEWALK.

JUST HAVING THAT OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH US AND LETTING US KNOW.

AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THAT ISSUE IS AND FIGURING OUT IF THERE'S DIFFERENT AVENUES, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON SOME OF THESE LARGER MOBILITY JOBS.

RIGHT? LIKE THAT TAKES TIME BECAUSE YOU GOT TO GO THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS, YOU GOT TO DO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

IT'S HARD. THERE'S CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT SET UP AND IT'S HARD TO LIKE JUMP SOME OF THAT.

BUT FOR EXAMPLE, SIDEWALK OR SOMETHING, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN ADD INTO A QUICK MAINTENANCE CONTRACT, BY QUICK, I MEAN LIKE RIGHT WITHIN THE YEAR.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S DEFINITELY WAYS THAT WE COULD TRY TO WORK AROUND IT TO TRY TO GET IT DONE MORE QUICKLY WHEN WE CAN.

IT'S JUST IT HONESTLY DEPENDS ON THE ISSUE, JUST TO BE HONEST.

OKAY. I APPRECIATE.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN. BYRD. COUNCIL MEMBER.

ESSER. OH, I HAVE MY QUESTION.

IS THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW OVER OUR MAIN AREA AND WE'VE KIND OF BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ANYWAY OVER OUR 288 AND MCKINNEY STREET, AND WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT KIDS GETTING OVER ACROSS THE STREET, ACROSS THAT MAJOR THOROUGHFARE THERE.

AND SO THIS CONNECTS WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

AND WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

WE KNOW THAT WE'RE IN A FLUX WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVING TO GET OVER ACROSS A MAJOR ROADWAY.

THAT SUCKER IS HUGE.

AND SO WE'VE ALREADY HAD A FATALITY THERE WITH A STUDENT.

AND SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT AT SOME POINT.

HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PART COME INTO THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT MAKING THAT CORNER THAT FAR AWAY? HOW DO WE MAKE THAT SAFER? HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT? AND THEN HERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION GOES TO PROVE THAT CONSTITUENTS ARE WATCHING.

SO THEY'RE SENDING THEIR QUESTIONS IN ONE ASK ABOUT STATE NOTED THAT ROADS IN SOME AREAS OF THE COUNTRY USE GROUND UP TIRES AS PART OF ROAD SURFACE MATERIAL.

ANY THOUGHTS TO THAT AS ROAD SURFACE MATERIAL ABOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS? YEAH, SO SO ON REAL QUICK, ON THE ROAD SURFACE MATERIAL.

SO THERE IS SO TEXAS IS ALWAYS DOING DIFFERENT RESEARCH ON WHAT WE USE, WHAT WE HAVE, AND KIND OF LIKE TREVOR WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, THERE'S DIFFERENT.

[02:40:04]

UM, RESOURCES.

RIGHT. I THINK EVERYBODY'S FACING IT, WHETHER IT'S A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND EQUIPMENT OR WHETHER THANK YOU OR WHETHER IT IS A TRAFFIC SIGNAL EQUIPMENT OR WHETHER IT IS CONCRETE, RIGHT? LIKE WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH CEMENT AND THERE'S CERTAIN ISSUES ON WHAT IS BEING SUPPLIED ON CERTAIN TIMES.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO.

IF A CONTRACTOR BRINGS SOMETHING UP TO US, WHETHER WE'VE RESEARCHED IT OR NOT, WE'RE DEFINITELY WILLING TO LOOK INTO IT.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN USING IT RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOMEBODY DOWN IN AUSTIN IS SAYING, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO AND IT WILL BE APPROVED.

UM, AND THEN SO LIKE I SAID, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR GROWTH OR ROOM FOR CHANGE.

THE OTHER QUESTION ON THE 288 AND MCKINNEY STREET, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THAT.

WE HAVE I THINK WE CAN PUT THAT ON OUR LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WE CAN START TO EVALUATE.

SARA HAS ALREADY ASKED US TO LOOK AT MCKINNEY STREET SPECIFICALLY, AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE IS ALSO BROUGHT THAT UP.

SO LET US PUT THAT ON OUR LIST AND I HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN TOO.

SO THANK YOU. YES, ABSOLUTELY.

NO, I APPRECIATE THAT. ANY COUNCILMAN MELTZER.

YEAH. YEAH.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS A WAY OF THINKING ABOUT IT THAT, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT HELPS, OR MAYBE NOT.

BUT I'VE KNOCKED ON DOORS AT A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE TO COUNCIL MEMBER AND PROBABLY ALL OF US.

AND YOU PROBABLY ALWAYS HEAR FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

FASTER, FASTER, FASTER, FASTER.

AND I MY CONCERN IS THAT THAT MIGHT LEAD TO YOUR WANTING TO GET PROJECTS STARTED, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY GET THEM FINISHED. RIGHT.

AND WE SPENT A LONG TIME LOOKING AT THE ORANGE CONES.

AND THE THOUGHT I'D WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU IS IF THIS IS A REAL TRADE OFF, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU COULD DON'T DO US ANY FAVORS BY STARTING SOON, BUT START WHEN YOU CAN HAVE THE SHORTEST DURATION.

DO YOU FOLLOW WHAT I'M GOING? JUST LIKE WHEN YOU BOOK AN AIR AN AIRLINE FLIGHT, RIGHT? DON'T GO FOR THE THREE HOPS.

THAT'S ONLY AN HOUR IN THE AIR.

BUT IT'S THREE DAYS TO GET THERE, RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S IT.

YEAH. SO REAL QUICK ON THAT.

SO THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

IT'S LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IS UTILITIES.

SO ME GETTING A JOB OR TEXT OUT, NOT ME PERSONALLY, TEXT OUT LETTING A JOB.

IF THERE IS A TON OF UTILITY CONFLICTS THAT'S NOT DOING ANYBODY ANY FAVORS.

SO WE ARE AT THE DALLAS DISTRICT.

WE ARE REALLY WE HAVE I MEAN, WE HAVE UTILITY MEETINGS NONSTOP, BUT WE ALSO HAVE LIKE QUARTERLY RIGHT OF WAY MEETINGS.

SO EVERYBODY GETS IN THOSE ROOMS, EVERYBODY WHO'S WORKING ON THAT PROJECTS.

WE KNOW WHERE OUR RIGHT OF WAY STATUS IS, WHAT'S BEING HELD UP.

DO WE HAVE PARCELS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO UTILITY RELOCATIONS THAT WE MAYBE NEED TO FOCUS ON? SO WE DO THAT IN OUR PLANNING.

WE TRY TO DO THAT. AND THEN SOME OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO ON SOME OF OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IS, UM, WE DO INCENTIVES OR WE DO WE'RE CONTRACTORS NOW BIDDING TIME TO TRY TO SEE LIKE, HEY, IT MAY COST US A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY LIKE ON SOME OF THE MATERIAL, BUT IF YOU CAN DO IT A LOT FASTER, DOES THAT BALANCE OUT AND DOES THAT GIVE US A LOWER BID? SO FOR EXAMPLE, I'VE HAD A CONTRACTOR WHO WON A PROJECT.

THEY WEREN'T THE CHEAPEST IF YOU TOOK OUT THE TIME, BUT THEY WERE THE CHEAPEST WHEN YOU ACCOUNTED THEIR TIME AND THEIR COST FOR MATERIALS.

SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO TRY TO HELP WITH WITH THAT, WITH A TON OF GROWTH AND A TON OF PROJECTS COMING UP, YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU SEE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION.

PEOPLE GET FRUSTRATED WITH THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

YOU KNOW, I DRIVE THROUGH IT AS WELL.

SO I SO I UNDERSTAND IT FROM A CITIZEN PERSPECTIVE.

BUT SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT TO HELP WITH SOME OF THAT.

YEP. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

THANK YOU ALL. YEAH, THANK YOU.

THAT TAKES US TO OUR LAST WORK SESSION ITEMS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE CLOSED SESSION AS WELL AFTER THAT.

SO NEXT ITEM IS ITEM E, ID 23216.

[E. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction on pending City Council requests for: 1). Request for staff to research and prepare an Informal Staff Report (ISR) on Community Benefits Ordinances. 2). Request to bring the implementation of a Fair Chance Hiring Ordinance forward for Council consideration during the June 27 City Council meeting. 3). Request for a work session on the creation of a Public Health Official position. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]

RECEIVE REPORT, HOLD DISCUSSION.

GIVE STAFF DIRECTION ON PENDING CITY COUNCIL REQUEST.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

JENNIFER RAINEY, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER.

AS A QUICK REMINDER, YOU HAVE UP TO SEVEN REQUESTS WILL BE REVIEWED PER MEETING.

STAFF WILL INTRODUCE EACH REQUEST AND THEN THE ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT MADE THAT REQUEST HAS TWO MINUTES TO DESCRIBE IT AND JUSTIFY THAT.

AND THEN THE REMAINING OFFICIALS HAVE ONE MINUTE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND INDICATE THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE USE OF STAFF TIME.

THE AGENDA COMMITTEE WILL ASSIST IN SCHEDULING THOSE ITEMS AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN ALSO PRIORITIZE THOSE ITEMS AS HIGH, MODERATE OR LOW.

AND FOR OUR FIRST REQUEST WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER, YOU HAVE THE REQUEST FOR STAFF TO RESEARCH AND PREPARE AN ESSER ON COMMUNITY BENEFITS ORDINANCES.

TAKE IT AWAY. THANK YOU.

SO, YES, THIS IS TO REQUEST AN INFORMAL STAFF REPORT ON COMMUNITY BENEFITS ORDINANCES WITH THE INTENSE DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE AND DENTON.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS IS TO HELP SENSITIVE NEIGHBORHOODS AND DEVELOPERS GET ON THE SAME SIDE AND FORMALLY AGREE WITH PROPER SUCCESSORS AND

[02:45:03]

ASSIGNS LANGUAGE ON HOW NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL BENEFIT THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS IN AN INDIVIDUAL CASE.

THAT KIND OF AGREEMENT IS CALLED A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT, A CBA.

IT INVOLVES THE TWO PARTIES WITH NO ROLE FOR THE CITY.

SOMETIMES CBAS RESULT IN COMMUNITY AMENITIES LIKE PRESERVED GREEN SPACE AND TRAILS.

SOMETIMES THEY RESULT IN A PERCENTAGE OF THE RENTAL UNITS BEING AFFORDABLE, OR THEY COULD INVOLVE LOCAL TRAINING AND HIRING BE PRIORITIZED.

IT COULD BE AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS A FOOD DESERT.

IT'S UP TO THOSE PARTIES.

THE CONCEPT OF A COMMUNITY BENEFITS ORDINANCE A CBO, WOULD BE TO REQUIRE DEVELOPERS OF PROJECTS THAT ARE ABOVE A CERTAIN SCALE TBD, AND WHO ARE WORKING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S UNDER A SMALL AREA PLAN.

WITH SOME SENSITIVE ISSUES TO MAKE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE A CBA AS PART OF THEIR PROCESS.

THE OTHER PARTY TO THE AGREEMENT WOULD BE AN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

OR IF ONE DOESN'T EXIST, THERE WOULD BE A PROCESS TO ASSIST AN AD HOC ASSOCIATION TO BE FORMED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

CBOS ALREADY EXIST IN OTHER PLACES.

MY ASK IS FOR STAFF TO HELP US LEARN WHAT HAS WORKED AND WHAT HASN'T, UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES AND WHAT THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES HAVE BEEN.

SO COUNCIL CAN EVALUATE WHETHER A CBO MIGHT BE A USEFUL POLICY TOOL TO HELP DENTON DEVELOP AND UNIQUELY DENTON WAYS WITH THE GUIDANCE OF DENTON NEIGHBORHOODS. ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE. ANYONE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

WHAT'S? YEAH, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT'S AN LSR AND INFORMATION IS ALWAYS HELPFUL AND GOOD.

I CAN SAY I'M A LITTLE RESIDENT, RETICENT AND HESITANT TO INJECT THE CITY IN IT, BUT I WANT TO SEE WHAT THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE ZONING ORDINANCES, WE HAVE PROCESSES WHEREBY NEIGHBORHOODS CAN COME, BUT I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH.

YOU KNOW, INFORMATION SO I CAN SUPPORT AN SALAZAR.

IS THAT A LEGAL STATUS REPORT? YEAH, IT SAYS IS ESR ESR.

OKAY. WELL, I'M SURE.

WELL, WE'LL NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR PRO TEM, THEN? COUNCILMAN MCGEE.

I'LL JUST SAY I AGREE WITH COUNCILOR WATTS.

I SUPPORT THE ESR.

COUNCILMAN. MCGEE. YES.

ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER. BYRD. I'LL SUPPORT IT.

BUT ALSO, THIS IS GOING TO BE.

THIS IS IT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALREADY KIND OF DO ALREADY.

ANYWAY, WHENEVER OUR COMMUNITY GROUPS OF FOLKS ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THOSE DEVELOPERS, THEY COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WE THOSE MEETINGS THAT WE'RE THERE UNTIL 11:00 AT NIGHT WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WE'VE DONE, WE'VE SEEN THAT DONE WITH KINGS ROW AREA.

AND THEN EVENTUALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE TELL THE DEVELOPERS, YOU GOT TO GO BACK TO THE PEOPLE AND YOU GOT TO WORK THROUGH IT.

SO THIS IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR US.

I WOULD CERTAINLY SUPPORT THEM KNOWING MORE ABOUT IT, BUT I WOULD ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO ACTUALLY HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN OUR PRESENCE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON. ITEM TWO IS THE REQUEST TO BRING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A FAIR CHANCE HIRING ORDINANCE FORWARD TO COUNCIL CONSIDERATION DURING THE JUNE 27TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

I WANT TO FIRST OFF, START BY THANKING STAFF FOR FOR SENDING THE LINK TO COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER AND AND COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLANDS ABOUT THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD BACK IN DECEMBER.

AGAIN, AS I SAID THEN, THIS IS A BEST PRACTICE THAT IS ALREADY IN EFFECT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

MANY OF THE LARGEST CITIES DO THIS.

SOME OF THE LARGEST STATES DO THIS.

AS WE ARE GROWING ECONOMICALLY, THIS COMMUNITY REALLY CARES ABOUT CORPORATE GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP.

AND AS WE'RE LOOKING FOR BUSINESSES TO BRING THEIR BUSINESS TO THE CITY OF DENTON, MANY OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS ARE ALREADY DOING THIS.

LET'S BRING THE REST OF THE CITY IN LINE WITH THIS.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO EVERYTHING THAT I TALKED ABOUT BACK IN DECEMBER, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR ME IS HAVING ALLOWING WORKING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO WORK HERE IN THIS CITY.

AND I BELIEVE THIS IS ONE TOOL IN OUR IN OUR TOOLBOX THAT GETS US TOWARD THIS GOAL.

SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS STAFF CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS ALREADY DRAFTED AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD FIT WITHINSIDE OF OUR ALREADY EXISTING NDO WE ALREADY HAVE THE FRAMEWORK IN PLACE.

THIS WOULD BE AN ADDITION TO AN ORDINANCE THAT ALREADY EXISTS.

I AM ASKING THAT YOU ALL GIVE THE LICENSE TO BRING THIS BACK TO US NEXT WEEK.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE THIS VOTE AND LET'S MOVE ON AND LET'S GIVE OUR FOLKS SOME PROTECTION AND ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO WORK AND BE MORE FULL CONTRIBUTORS OF OUR SOCIETY.

[02:50:07]

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. CITY ATTORNEY. BEFORE ANYONE ELSE SPEAKS, YOU WANT TO.

YOU WANT TO. IS IT SIMPLE AS PLUG AND PLAY OR I'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU TO EXPLAIN BEFORE PEOPLE SPEAK.

YEAH, I CAN'T REMEMBER 100% WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THERE WAS THIS PITCH LAST YEAR AND WE DID HAVE A DRAFT ORDINANCE AT THAT TIME, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE DIRECTION ON WHERE OR HOW THAT WOULD WORK.

WE DRAFTED IT TO PUT IT INTO THE EXISTING NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE THAT SEEMED TO MAKE THE MOST SENSE.

SO THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS DRAFTED AND WE CAN BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL.

BUT. JUST TO BE CLEAR.

THERE'S THIS IS SIMILAR.

NO WORK SESSION, RIGHT? JUST WHATEVER YOU HAVE DRAFTED WOULD COME BACK UNCHECKED.

THAT'S THAT'S THE ASK.

SO I NEED TO MAKE SURE. NO.

YES. NO, MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU HAVE TO BRING THE ORDINANCE TO THE NEXT MEETING FOR CONSIDERATION.

FOR VOTE, RIGHT? FOR CORRECT. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR COUNCIL MEMBER.

MCGEE. YES.

YEAH, BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE SPEAKING TO.

YES, SIR. WE HAD THE WORK SESSION ALREADY BACK IN DECEMBER.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED ANOTHER WORK SESSION.

ORDINANCE IS ALREADY READY TO GO.

AND DRAFTED. DO WE HAVE A WORK SESSION OR TWO MINUTE PITCH? AND. FORGIVE ME, I JUST DON'T KNOW.

SO. OKAY.

YEAH. I HAD THE PITCH BACK IN THE SUMMERTIME AND WE PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR.

WE HAD THAT WORK SESSION, I BELIEVE, DECEMBER 6TH LAST YEAR.

IS THAT RIGHT? I BELIEVE SO, YES.

YES. OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR.

YEAH. OKAY.

WHO WANTS TO SPEAK? MAYOR PRO TEM.

YEAH. WE'VE ALREADY PUT THIS TOGETHER.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN CONSTRUCTED. I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM BRINGING IT BACK FORWARD.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN.

BYRD. I AM IN AGREEMENT TO BRING THIS BACK BEFORE US.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN MELTZER. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I CAN REVIEW THAT WORK SESSION BEFORE VOTING, SO SURE I'M IN FAVOR.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN. WHAT'S. YEAH, I KNOW THE DIRECTION WAS NOT TO DO THAT BACK THEN, AND SO IT'S BEEN FIVE MONTHS, BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I'M READING THE STAFF REPORT.

YEAH, THE EYES FROM THAT WORK SESSION.

THIS IS TOTALLY IGNORING IT AND DENYING IT BECAUSE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE SOME MEETINGS WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, TO HAVE SOME MEETINGS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITIES, WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE LIKE THEY DID WITH THE ENDO.

AND THERE'S NONE OF THAT HERE.

WE HAD A WORK SESSION, NO DIRECTION.

THERE'S BEEN NO PUBLIC INPUT.

NOW WE'RE BRINGING IT TO A VOTE.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THIS PROCESS IN THE TWO MINUTE PITCH OF BRINGING THINGS STRAIGHT TO A VOTE WITHOUT INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY OR INVOLVING COUNCIL IN DISCUSSIONS.

SO I CAN'T SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW.

WE'VE GOT NO INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS WHAT STAFF RECOMMENDED BACK IN THE WORK SESSION THAT EVERYBODY IS RELYING UPON TO MOVE IT FORWARD WITHOUT THAT COMPONENT.

LET ME GET BACK TO IT.

OKAY. THERE WE GO.

OH, OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE, PLEASE? COUNCILMAN HOLLAND. LIKE.

LIKE MEMBER MELTZER.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND ON THIS.

I WASN'T AROUND IN DECEMBER, BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK EMPLOYERS NEED TO BE THE EXPERTS ON WHO THEY'RE HIRING.

OKAY. AND I WILL.

I WILL SIMPLY SAY THAT JUST YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE, WHERE WE GOT OFF ON NOT HAVING PUBLIC COMMENT ON, ON THINGS SUCH AS THIS.

AND EVEN MORE BROADLY TO SAY PETERBILT, IT OPERATES NATIONALLY.

AND WHERE TO GO TO THEM AND SAY YOU NEED TO DRAFT A SEPARATE APPLICATION FOR DENTON ONLY AND THEY DON'T HAVE A SAY SO IN THAT IT'S JUST IT'S JUST WEIRD FOR ME TO TO TO GET ON BOARD.

IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, NOT TO SAY IT DOESN'T ADD VALUE TO SEPARATE THOSE TWO.

THIS IS ALL CARROT.

I MEAN, PARDON ME, THIS IS ALL STICK, NO CARROT.

AND SO THEY DESERVE TO BE HEARD.

AND I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE ON THE COUNCIL AND PARDON ME ON THE CHAMBER THAT DID NOT SUPPORT THIS.

THEY DID NOT SAY THIS IS A WORTHY EFFORT AT THIS PHASE.

THERE'S OTHER STUFF THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO FOCUS ON.

SO I'M GOING TO SAY NO.

AND SO IT WILL BE.

THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBER, BYRD AND MELTZER THAT WANT TO MOVE IT FORWARD FOR THE 27TH.

[02:55:05]

IN WHAT FORM DOES IT COME BACK ON THE 27TH, WHATEVER'S DRAFTED? THAT'S THAT'S THE ANSWER I GOT.

WELL, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS CONSENT.

INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

OH, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S I DON'T KNOW.

WHATEVER. SACHSE. I MEAN, WHAT'S YOUR PREFERENCE? YOU BRING IT BACK INTO CONSIDERATION TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO TALK, BUT THEY DON'T GET A CHANCE TO EDIT.

SO I DO THINK WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK IN INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION BECAUSE I THINK BETWEEN THE TWO NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE STAFF HAVE SOME INFORMATION THEY MAY WANT TO HEAR BEFORE THEY VOTE.

WELL, THAT THAT WOULD BE THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER WHAT'S TOUCHED ON, THAT'S THIS PROCESS.

RIGHT. BUT SOMEHOW WE'VE GONE FROM REQUESTING WORK SESSIONS TO STRAIGHT VOTES.

AND THEN NOW I GUESS WE'RE USING THAT VOTE OPTION AS A DISCUSSION.

AND IT'S NOT THAT IT'S ONCE YOU MOVE THERE, IT'S IT'S EXPLICIT.

IT SAYS WE'RE READY FOR ACTION.

SO I UNDERSTAND AND I TAKE YOUR POINT.

SO INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

AND BUT I'LL TELL YOU, JUST FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, SAME THING AS WE'RE DOING TODAY.

IF YOU HAVE EDITS AND THEY DON'T MAKE THE NOTICE, PERIOD FOR PEOPLE, FOR BUSINESS OWNERS IN THIS COMMUNITY TO RESPOND AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IT STRAIGHT UP OR DOWN AS WRITTEN, SIGHT UNSEEN BY BY THE PUBLIC.

AND THAT'S JUST FULL DISCLOSURE.

IT'S SO WE'RE MOVING ON.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER, YOU CAN YOU CAN GET WITH HER LATER.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY A POINT OF ORDER.

WELL, THE ITEM IS OVER.

SO THERE'S NO THERE'S NOTHING ON THE TABLE TO DISCUSS.

POINT OF ORDER. THERE'S WE'RE DONE.

SO GOING REQUEST DIRECTION FROM LEGAL.

WE COULD GO INTO CLOSED SESSION IF YOU'D LIKE.

YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO RIGHT NOW THE CITY.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW AT LEAST.

OH, WE HAVE ONE MORE.

WELL, THEN PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL.

THAT THAT ITEM IS DONE.

SO YOU CAN YOU CAN CIRCLE BACK WITH STAFF.

STAFF GO RIGHT AHEAD.

OUR LAST ITEM IS A REQUEST FOR A WORK SESSION ON THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL POSITION FROM MAYOR PRO TEM BECK.

THANK YOU. I'M PROPOSING A WORK SESSION FOR CREATION OF A NEW CITY STAFF POSITION, A PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL.

THIS POSITION WOULD SERVE AS A VITAL LINK BETWEEN HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS, SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL AND OTHER AGENCIES THAT WOULD COORDINATE RESOURCES, IMPLEMENTING PROACTIVE MEASURES AND AND ADDRESS EMERGING HEALTH CONCERNS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND EDUCATION OUTREACH AND TRAINING TO OUR RESIDENTS. WHY? WHY AM I PROPOSING THIS? BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL ON OUR STAFF.

WE HAVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS WHO DO AN ADMIRABLE AND FABULOUS JOB RESPONDING TO VARIOUS CRISES.

BUT THEN FOR PROACTIVE PLANNING AND SOMEONE WHO HAS THE EXPERTISE AND TRAINING, THAT'S IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO TO SPEAK ON THE LEVEL OF THOSE PARTICULAR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL ITEMS AS AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

THERE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE CALLED FOR BY STATE TO BE SIGNED OFF ON BY A PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL FOR WHICH WE'RE USING THE COUNTY.

SO THIS WOULD REDUCE WASTE AND IMPROVE COORDINATION, PLANNING AND OUTREACH.

AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE FOR THINGS LIKE MOBILE VAN SCREENINGS WITHIN THE CITY SUPPORTING THE MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR HOMELESS POPULATION AS WE TRY TO ADVANCE REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES.

AND SO, IN CONCLUSION, I'M HOPING THAT WE'LL WE'LL HAVE A WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS THE MERITS OF HAVING SOMEONE WHO HAS PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING ON OUR STAFF TO COORDINATE AND PROVIDE SYNERGIES, REDUCE RISKS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM IN ORDER TO MAKE BETTER POLICY DECISIONS GOING FORWARD. OKAY.

ANYONE CARE TO SPEAK? COUNCILMAN MCGEE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OH, READY? YEAH. YOU'RE READY. OKAY, LET'S TRY.

RIGHT. YOU READY? YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THIS PITCH.

I'M A YES ON THIS.

AND IN PARTICULAR, ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS I'M A YES IS TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF COORDINATION THAT WE HAVE.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN OFFER OUR RESIDENTS A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE AND MORE PARTNERSHIP, PARTICULARLY WITH NON-PROFITS WHO WANT TO DO COMMUNITY HEALTH CHECKS.

I DON'T WANT I DON'T WANT A VALUABLE COMMUNITY HEALTH CHECK OR ANYTHING LIKE HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST TO BE KILLED ARBITRARILY BY A MEMBER OF STAFF OR THIS BODY. I THINK PUTTING IN PLACE A COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE, PUTTING IN PLACE A POSITION LIKE THIS TO HELP COORDINATE ALL THESE EFFORTS WOULD BE EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD BE

[03:00:03]

DOING. A CITY THAT IS 151,000 AND RAPIDLY GROWING.

SO I'M ABSOLUTELY. YES.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN. BYRD. I WOULD DEFINITELY APPRECIATE A WORK SESSION ON THIS.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER. ESSER. I'D LIKE GUIDANCE FROM LEGAL ON WHETHER COUNCIL MEMBERS EVER GIVE UP THEIR ABILITY TO DELIBERATE ON A ON AN INDIVIDUAL ITEM AND MAKE AMENDMENTS.

AND I SUPPORT THE WORK SESSION.

MR. MAYOR. YEAH.

AND YOU CAN GET WITH LEGO AFTER THE MEETING OR DURING A BREAK.

COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND. I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS.

I THINK IT WOULD BE REDUNDANT.

WE HAVE A BIG, BIG FACILITY ON ROUTE 28 IN OUR CITY CURRENTLY.

I DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR THAT. I THINK IT'S REDUNDANT.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? LIKEWISE. I THINK GIVEN THE SHINING EXAMPLE UNDER THE MOST DIFFICULT OF CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE PANDEMIC THAT DR.

RICHARDSON PERFORMED, EXCEPTIONAL, GAINED NATIONAL ATTENTION.

WE'VE ADDRESSED THOSE NEEDS.

WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY COORDINATOR.

WE HAVE THESE THINGS IN PLACE TO SUPPLEMENT HIS GREAT WORK.

AND AND I WANT TO JUST GIVE KUDOS TO THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT THEY SHOWED UP AT THE GOAL EVENT.

THEY SHOW UP AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT EVENTS AND THEY'RE DOING SCREENINGS AND THEY'RE DOING THOSE THINGS.

THEY ALREADY HAVE THE VAN.

THIS THIS IS NOT AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OUR BUDGET AND OUR CITY BUDGET IS TIGHT, AS IS TO BRING EMPLOYEES UP TO SPEED ON WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

AND SO THIS IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR FOR ME.

I'VE NOT HEARD IT BE A PRIORITY FOR ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO RESPONDING IN THE NEGATIVE.

MAYOR, MAY I ASK WHERE WE WANT TO PUT THIS FROM? A LOW, MEDIUM OR HIGH.

WE HAVE NO VACANT SPOTS UNTIL SEPTEMBER THE 12TH.

WELL, AND HERE HERE'S THE PROBLEM AGAIN.

RIGHT? WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLICY AND PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES.

THAT WAS THAT'S INCUMBENT ON THE SPEAKER TO BRING UP.

AT THAT POINT. THEY FAILED TO DO SO.

THAT'S FINE, BUT TO GIVE YOU DIRECTION.

SO IF IF THE MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBER, MCGEE, COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD AND COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER WANT TO GO BACK AND AMEND THEIR COMMENTS TO INCLUDE SIMPLY A PRIORITY, THEN THAT WOULD BE GOOD AND UNDERSTAND IT'S THERE WILL BE TWO PHASES TO THAT.

IF THERE'S SYNERGY AMONGST ALL FOUR OF YOU, THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES THERE NEEDS TO BE SYNERGY ON WHAT GETS REMOVED AND REPLACED.

SO EITHER SEPTEMBER OR WHAT GETS REMOVED REPLACED IN THE ORDER YOU SPOKE.

MAYOR. MAYOR PRO TEM MEDIUM TO LOW.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE. QUESTION, MR. CITY MANAGER, IF WE DO SEPTEMBER 12TH, AS YOU SUGGESTED, THAT'S AN OPEN SPOT AND NOTHING HAS TO BE REPLACED.

OR ARE WE GOING TO BE REPLACING SOMETHING WITH THAT? IT'S COMPLETELY AN OPEN SPACE.

THAT'S FINE. OKAY.

I JUST WANTED. MR. MAYOR, I'LL VOTE FOR I'LL GIVE DIRECTION FOR SEPTEMBER 12TH.

THEN WHATEVER LEVEL OF PRIORITY THAT IS.

I DON'T KNOW. IT SOUNDS LIKE.

ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD.

FIRST AVAILABLE? YES.

SEPTEMBER DATE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MELTZER.

YEAH, I'M FINE WITH THAT DATE, BUT I THINK THE BETTER WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS WE HAVE A RETREAT COMING UP.

WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP A LIST OF PRIORITIES AND SEQUENCE THEM, AND THAT SHOULD INFLUENCE WHAT GOES ON THE AGENDA BEFORE WHAT ELSE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE PIECES ARE YET BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

SO BUT, YOU KNOW, IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT HAVING HAPPENED YET, I'M FINE WITH THAT DATE.

OKAY. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW, AT 5:05 P.M., CONVENE IN CLOSED MEETING TO DELIBERATE THE CLOSED THE CLOSED MEETING ITEMS SET

[1. Closed Meeting:]

FORTH ON THE AGENDA, WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEM A ID 23107 FOR CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071. AND SO I THINK I HEARD FOOD BEING SET UP IN THERE.

SO I WILL WE'LL TAKE WE'RE IN CLOSED SESSION.

WE'LL GET STARTED ONCE EVERYONE'S BACK SEATED.

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

[AFTER DETERMINING THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT, THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, 215 E. MCKINNEY STREET, DENTON, TEXAS AT WHICH THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED:]

IT IS 634.

PARDON ME FOR RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND, BUT WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.

WILL CALL AS PART OF A MEETING TO ORDER.

THE FIRST THING ON OUR AGENDA IS PLEDGES TO THE UNITED STATES AND TEXAS FLAG.

[03:05:02]

SO PLEASE STAND WITH ME IF YOU'RE ABLE.

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.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO YOU.

TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WE HAVE A FEW PROCLAMATIONS.

[A. Proclamation: Elder Abuse Awareness Month]

SO LET'S SEE HERE.

IF YOU ARE HERE FOR ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH, YOU CAN MEET ME AT THE PODIUM HERE.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? DRAWING AND UPDATING ONE MORE TIME.

DAYNE DAYNE. NICE TO MEET YOU.

OKAY, SO IF YOU COULD, LET'S SEE HERE.

IF YOU COULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

HEY, POPS UP.

IF YOU COULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING.

OH, IN THE CAMERAS. THIS WAY.

CAN I GIVE MY SPEECH? HI, I'M KIMBERLY CARTER WITH ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

THIS IS MY COLLEAGUE, DANE ROSA WITH ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

WE'D LIKE TO SAY GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

LET ME FIRST THANK YOU FOR PROCLAIMING JUNE AND ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF DENTON.

THE US CENSUS BUREAU HAS IDENTIFIED THAT THE YEAR 2034 AS THE FIRST TIME IN US HISTORY THAT ADULTS 65 AND OLDER WILL OUTNUMBER YOUNGER PEOPLE.

THIS SHIFT IN DEMOGRAPHIC IS EXPECTED TO STRONGLY IMPACT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

OLDER ADULTS ARE VITAL, CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY, AND EVERYONE DESERVES THE RIGHT TO LIVE FREE FROM ABUSE AND DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

NATIONAL RESEARCH HAS SHOWN AS MANY AS 1 IN 10 OLDER AMERICANS ARE ABUSED OR NEGLECTED EACH YEAR.

AND FOR EVERY CASE KNOWN TO PROGRAMS AND AGENCIES, STUDIES SHOW THAT 24 CASES ARE UNKNOWN AND UNREPORTED.

IN A SOCIETY THAT VALUES THE TREATMENT OF ALL PEOPLE, ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH REMINDS US THAT ELDER ABUSE HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR ALL OF US, AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIND THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS TO IT.

THEREFORE, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT IT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

EDUCATING PUBLIC ON ELDER ABUSE AND WHAT TO DO WHEN THE SUSPECT ABUSE, NEGLECT OR FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF AN OLDER ADULT OR INDIVIDUAL WITH DISABILITIES IS CRUCIAL. THE APS PROGRAM WILL REMAIN FOCUSED ON RAISING AWARENESS OF ELDER ABUSE, INVESTIGATION, PREVENTION AND RESOURCES.

ON BEHALF OF OUR PROGRAM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, JUDICIAL PARTNERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE AND DISABILITIES.

THROUGH THESE COLLABORATIONS, WE ARE FORMING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO IDENTIFY WHERE STRONGER SUPPORTS ARE NEEDED AND WHERE EXISTING CONNECTIONS WILL BE SUSTAINED.

AND IT'S ESSENTIAL STEP WHERE OUR EXISTING CONNECTIONS WILL BE SUSTAINED, AN ESSENTIAL STEP TOWARDS DEFENDING OUR COMMUNITY AGAINST ELDER ABUSE.

TO REPORT ABUSE, NEGLECT OR FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CAN CALL THE HOTLINE AT ONE 800 242 5400 OR REPORT A HOTLINE OR ONLINE AT TEXAS ABUSE HOTLINE.ORG.

YOU CAN LOCATE THAT ON THE INTERNET AS WELL.

WE SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

ANY MANSION IN. OKAY.

OKAY. OKAY. GOT IT.

SO I HAVE A PROCLAMATION, AND IT READS A PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS.

TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME.

GREETINGS. WHEREAS OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CONTINUE TO BE WELL WELL BEING OF CONTINUED CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL BEING OF THE CITY OF DENTON BY WORKING CAREGIVING, VOLUNTEERING AND ACTIVELY PRESERVING CUSTOMS, RITUALS AND TRADITIONS.

AND. WHEREAS, AS WE GO, WE BUILD MOMENTUM TO ACCUMULATING KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCES, INSIGHT AND WISDOM THAT CAN BE SHARED TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY. AND.

WHEREAS, ABUSE OF OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS A COMMUNITY CONCERN AFFECTING MORE THAN 100,000 OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN TEXAS IN 2022. AND.

WHEREAS, ABUSE AGAINST OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS GROSSLY UNDERREPORTED BECAUSE OF THE SOCIAL STIGMA, EMBARRASSMENT AND FEAR.

[03:10:01]

AND. WHEREAS, THE IMPORTANCE AND THE IMPORTANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR EFFORTS TO PREVENT REPORT AND ADDRESS ELDER ABUSE NOW, THEREFORE, I GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY DECLARE AND PROCLAIM JUNE 2023 AS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH.

IF WE CAN GIVE A HAND AGAIN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.

YES. A. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, NEXT IS LET'S SEE WHO THIS IS.

[B. Proclamation: Waste and Recycling Workers Week]

GREAT WASTE AND RECYCLING WORKERS WEEK.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WOULD YOU TELL US WHAT WHO'S TELLING US WHAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING? WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BRIAN BURNER.

I'M THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR WITH THE CITY OF DENTON.

AND WITH ME, I'VE GOT SOME OF THE HARD WORKING FOLKS THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE CLOSE TO 130 PROFESSIONAL, SOLID WASTE WORKERS AND RECYCLING WORKERS HERE IN THE CITY OF DENTON.

THAT SERVICE, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS EVERY SINGLE DAY TO ENSURE ONE WERE SANITARY, TWO THAT WE'RE CLEAN, AND THREE, THAT WE'RE COST EFFECTIVE.

AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF DENTON AND ITS OR THE CITY OF DENTON SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEES, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.

GOT IT. THANK YOU. DOES EVERYONE WANT TO GIVE THEIR NAME REAL QUICK? IS THAT ALL RIGHT? YES.

I'M EUGENE MCKINNEY. I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING.

TAMMY CLAUSING, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING.

I'M BRANDI NEAL, THE ADMINISTRATION MANAGER OF SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING.

SHELBY SMITH, BUSINESS ACCOUNT COORDINATOR FOR SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING.

RANDALL MORRIS LANDFILL MANAGER.

THANK YOU. SO I THINK I READ SOMEWHERE IF YOU BUY LIKE A NEW 65 INCH TV, YOU SHOULD TAKE THE EMPTY BOX AND PUT IT IN FRONT OF YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE TO TRICK PEOPLE.

IS THAT. NO, I DIDN'T READ THAT ON THE CITY WEBSITE.

OKAY. GOT IT.

YEAH. IT WAS GOOGLE SOMETHING.

YEAH. OKAY, SO PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. GREETINGS.

WHEREAS SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING SERVICES ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND CLEANLINESS OF OUR CITY.

AND. WHEREAS, THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH MULTI DISCIPLINARY TEAM OF DEDICATED, SOLID WASTE PROFESSIONALS WHO BUILD, PLAN, MANAGE AND OPERATE THE CITY SOLID WASTE COLLECTION SYSTEM AND FACILITATE.

AND. WHEREAS, WASTE AND RECYCLING WORKERS WEEK IS CELEBRATING.

IS A CELEBRATION OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS IN NORTH AMERICA WHO PROVIDE GARBAGE AND RECYCLING, COLLECTION MANAGEMENT AND DIVERSION EFFORTS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY DECLARE AND PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF JUNE 17TH THROUGH THE 23RD 2023 AS WASTE AND RECYCLING WORKERS WEEK. IF WE CAN GIVE THEM A HAND.

WHAT DO WE DO TO WHAT DO WE DO TO PICTURE? HOW MANY HOW MUCH WASTE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PER YEAR? OR WHAT'S KIND OF HOW MUCH POUND DID YOU QUANTIFY IT? FOR US AT CITY OF DENTON, WE ARE A REGIONAL LANDFILL FACILITY.

SO BETWEEN THE CITY OF DENTON CUSTOMERS AND WHAT WE RECEIVE FROM OUTSIDE CUSTOMERS, WE GET ABOUT 350, 400,000 POUND OR 1000 TONS OF WASTE A YEAR.

CURRENTLY AT OUR FACILITY.

WE HAVE ABOUT 65 YEARS OF DISPOSAL CAPACITY LEFT AT OUR CURRENT DISPOSAL RATE.

AS IT INCREASES, OBVIOUSLY THAT THAT TIME WILL GET SHORTER.

A LOT OF OUR JOB RIGHT NOW IS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, LOOKING NOT JUST TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY, BUT LOOKING TEN AND 15 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, TRYING TO DIVIDE, TRYING, TRYING, TRYING TO DRIVE DIVERSION UP SO THAT DISPOSAL GOES DOWN AND WE CAN TAKE THAT 65 YEARS TO 75, 85, EVEN 100 YEARS FROM NOW.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. OKAY, RYAN.

SORRY. THAT'S OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

HERE WE GO. YOUNG SLIDE IN.

DOING. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

RIGHT. YES. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH.

APPRECIATE IT. AND WE HAVE ONE MORE.

UH, WE HAVE DIANE ROSELLE, HUEBNER DAY.

[C. Proclamation: Diann Rozell Huber Day]

IF YOU CAN COME DOWN, IF YOU'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

DON'T LIKE Y'ALL.

COME ON DOWN HERE. YEAH.

YOU GOOD? OKAY.

GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. WE GOT BECKER.

THAT'S GOOD. YEAH.

HELLO? SO ONE OF Y'ALL WANT TO SHARE WHAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING OR GIVE UPDATE PEOPLE WHAT WE DOING?

[03:15:07]

HELLO, I'M DAVID BECKER, ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH THE DENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE MISS DIANE HUBER.

MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT YOU AND HAS ITS OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR WITH OUR DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT THE DENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES EMS AND FIRE SERVICE TO THE CAMPUS.

AND BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF MISS HUBER, WE NOW HAVE A PHYSICAL REMINDER AS WE ROLL DOWN THE STREETS WITH A BRAND NEW, BEAUTIFUL UND THEMED ENGINE AT FIRE STATION THREE.

AND SO THAT RELATIONSHIP, I FEEL, HAS BEEN ENHANCED AND IT'S GOING TO HELP PROVIDE A SERVICE TO THE CITY OF DENTON FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

ANYTHING? OKAY.

GOT IT. ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

AND SO IT'S A IT'S A PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME.

GREETINGS. WHEREAS DIANE ROSELLE HUEBNER HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF DENTON FOR 32 YEARS WITH DEEP TIES TO THE COMMUNITY GRADUATING FROM UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS GOING GREEN FUND, FOUNDING THE DENTON BASED EDUCATION COMPANY AND RAISING FOUR SONS WITH WHOM WHOM GRADUATED FROM DENTON HIGH SCHOOL GO BRONCOS WITH THEIR WITH WITH THREE WHOM WORKED WORKED IN DENTON, INCLUDING A DENTON FIREFIGHTER DEPARTMENT.

AND. WHEREAS, DIANE'S LOVE OF COMMUNITY IS ALSO SHOWN IN HER STRONG SUPPORT OF THE DENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HER ALMA MATER.

AND. WHEREAS, OVER THE COURSE OF EIGHT YEARS, THE CITY OF DENTON AND UND SOUGHT TO COLLABORATE ON A UNT THEMED FIRE TRUCK, SUCCEEDING ONCE DIANE JOINED AS A FIERCE ADVOCATE.

AND. WHEREAS, THANKS TO DIANE'S TREMENDOUS SUPPORT AND EFFORTS, THIS MEAN GREEN FIRE TRUCK DEMONSTRATES THE COMMITMENT OF UNT AND THE DENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES, INCLUDING UNT'S CAMPUS AND THE SURROUNDING AREA OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY DECLARE AND PROCLAIM THE 25TH DAY OF MAY 2023 AS DIANE ROZELL HUEBNER DAY, IF WE CAN GIVE HIM A HAND.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE APPRECIATE IT.

YEAH.

OKAY, THAT IF WE COULD PLAY THE VIDEO ON ADDRESSING COUNCIL, PLEASE.

[3. PRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC]

AND THANK YOU. THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED RULES OF PROCEDURE, INCLUDING A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT APPLIES TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THESE RULES WERE ENACTED TO PROMOTE AN ORDERLY PROCESS AND TO PRESERVE DECORUM.

SPEAKERS WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO GIVE A SCHEDULED REPORT AND FOUR MINUTES TO GIVE AN OPEN MIC REPORT.

A BELL WILL RING WHEN TIME IS EXPIRED.

IF THE REMARKS ARE NOT CONCLUDED BY THAT TIME, THE SPEAKER WILL BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING.

IF THE SPEAKER DOES NOT CEASE AND A SECOND REQUEST IS MADE, THE MAYOR MAY REQUEST TO HAVE THE SPEAKER REMOVED FROM THE CHAMBER.

SPEAKERS SHOULD NOT APPROACH THE DAIS.

IF A SPEAKER HAS MATERIALS FOR THE COUNCIL, PLEASE NOTIFY THE CITY SECRETARY IN ADVANCE FOR SCHEDULED REPORTS.

THE COUNCIL MAY INITIATE DISCUSSION OR ASK QUESTIONS FOR NON SCHEDULED OPEN MIC REPORTS.

THE COUNCIL MAY LISTEN, HOWEVER, BECAUSE NO NOTICE OF THE SUBJECT OF THE OPEN MIC REPORT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC IN ADVANCE.

THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT PROHIBITS DISCUSSION OR DECISION BY THE COUNCIL ON NONSCHEDULED ITEMS. AS A RESULT, THE COUNCIL MAY ONLY PROCEED AS FOLLOWS ON NON SCHEDULED ITEMS PROPOSED TO PLACE THE ITEM ON A FUTURE AGENDA.

MAKE A STATEMENT OF FACTUAL POLICY OR A RECITATION OF EXISTING POLICY.

SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO DIRECT ALL REMARKS AND QUESTIONS TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE AND NOT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL MEMBER.

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM MAKING ABUSIVE, PERSONAL, IMPERTINENT, PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS.

ANYONE WHO VIOLATES THE COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE MAY BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM THE CHAMBER.

THANK YOU. IN ADVANCE.

COPIES OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CITY SECRETARY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THE FIRST SPEAKER THAT SIGNED UP IS STEPHEN DILLENBURG.

HE'S HERE. YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME.

YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

ONE MORE TIME.

OKAY. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PHILIP YOUNG.

IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

YEP. YEP.

OPEN, OPEN MIC. OR THE.

[03:20:01]

THE 5 OR 5 A.

YES. HE'S NOT HERE.

YEAH, I DON'T SEE HIM.

I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY MOVING ALL OF A SUDDEN.

YES. GOOD EVENING.

I'M WESLEY YOUNG AND I LIVE AT 2041 SCRIPTURE STREET IN DENTON.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN A WORD OF PRAYER OR A MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION.

ALMIGHTY GOD, WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL GUIDE US IN OUR DELIBERATIONS THIS EVENING, THAT WE MIGHT BE INSTRUMENTS FOR THE PROMOTION OF PEACE AND JUSTICE.

AND WE ASK THIS IN YOUR NAME.

AMEN. I'M HERE TO IMPLORE THE COUNCIL TO SEEK TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE LAW AND ORDER IN DENTON WITH JUSTICE.

HAVING NEVER TRIED MARIJUANA MYSELF, I VOTED AGAINST THE PROPOSITION TO LIBERALIZE THE POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA IN DENTON.

NEVERTHELESS, IT HAS BEEN CLEAR SINCE LAST NOVEMBER THAT THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS IN DENTON WOULD LIKE TO DO SO.

AND IF ONE BELIEVES THE PROPAGANDA BEING SPREAD BY CHRISTIAN MCFATE THROUGH THE DENTON RECORD-CHRONICLE, HE OR SHE MIGHT ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE, QUOTE, A CITY MANAGER AND A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS HELL BENT ON IGNORING THEIR WILL, END QUOTE.

THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

I HAVE SPOKEN WITH CITY MANAGER SARA HENSLEY AND MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT OUR CITY LEADERSHIP IS UNITED IN RECOGNIZING THE WILL OF THE VOTERS. THE STICKING POINT IS HOW TO IMPLEMENT THEIR DESIRE WITHOUT BREAKING THE LAW.

ONE LEGITIMATE WAY OF DOING SO IS THROUGH OUR CITY LOBBYISTS MAKING IT CLEAR TO MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE THAT THE MAJORITY OF DENTON'S VOTERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE STATE LAW CHANGED WITH RESPECT TO THE POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA.

ON THE OTHER HAND, ENGAGING IN THE OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE BY SEEKING TO PREVENT LICENSED POLICE OFFICERS FROM ENFORCING ANY LAW OF THE STATE IS NOT A LEGITIMATE USE OF AUTHORITY.

IT IS A CRIME.

WE ARE A NATION OF LAWS, AND IF WE FORGET THAT, WE WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE ANARCHY IN THIS CITY.

THE CASE MIGHT BE MADE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IT IS WRONG FOR LIQUOR STORES TO BE FORCED TO CLOSE ON SUNDAYS SO WE COULD GATHER SIGNATURES ON A PETITION TO PASS AN ORDINANCE SAYING THAT LIQUOR STORES IN DENTON MAY REMAIN OPEN ON SUNDAYS.

THAT IS NOT, HOWEVER, THE WAY GOVERNMENT WORKS IN THIS NATION.

IT IS THE STATE AND NOT MUNICIPALITIES WHICH ARE EMPOWERED TO REGULATE LIQUOR STORES.

AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE VOTERS IN DENTON MAY THINK, THE OWNER OF A LIQUOR STORE WHO SELLS LIQUOR ON SUNDAY IS CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO ARREST.

WE CAN, HOWEVER, TAKE ACTION WITH RESPECT TO POLICE ABUSE, HAVING NOW BEEN THE VICTIM OF POLICE ABUSE TWICE IN MY LIFE, I CAN SAY THAT MARIJUANA POSSESSION HAS BEEN USED BY POLICE OFFICERS AS A TOOL FOR OPPRESSING THE POOR.

ALL TOO OFTEN, POLICE OFFICERS ARE CARELESS WITH THEIR ALLEGATIONS, LEADING TO UNWARRANTED ARRESTS.

TAKING THE POSITION THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL SORT OUT THE TRUTH.

BUT NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

THE RICH CAN ASSEMBLE COMPETENT LEGAL TEAMS TO OBTAIN JUSTICE FOR THEMSELVES, WHILE THE POOR ARE REPRESENTED BY SINGLE LAWYERS WHO ARE OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID.

AS A RESULT, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT POLICE OFFICERS MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE FAIR AND HONEST UP FRONT SO THAT LIVES ARE NOT RUINED THROUGH THEIR CARELESSNESS, IF NOT DELIBERATE DISHONESTY.

I DO URGE THIS COUNCIL TO AGREE TO HIRE AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM TO EXAMINE POLICE ABUSE IN DENTON POWER ALMOST ALWAYS HAS A CORRUPTING INFLUENCE IN MARIJUANA POSSESSION HAS ALL TOO OFTEN BEEN USED AS A TOOL FOR EXERTING BLUE POWER TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR CITIZENS.

LET'S FIND OUT WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING AT THE DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU.

AND GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, CHRISTINE BRAY.

YOU CAN COME NOW AND GIVE YOUR NAME.

YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CHRISTINE BRAY.

I JUST GOT BACK FROM A CONFERENCE ON CITIES.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF VISITING NORTH CAROLINA, CHARLOTTE TO ATTEND A INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NEW URBANISM AND THE POWER AND POSSIBILITIES OF CITIES. AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE DON'T MAKE THIS YOUR ONLY TIME COMING TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

CITIES HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF AUTHORITY AND POWER TO IMPROVE OUR LIVES IN VARIOUS WAYS PUBLIC TRANSIT, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, MAKING IT SAFER TO GET AROUND BY BIKE AND BY FOOT, EXPANDING OUR DOWNTOWN.

AND I WOULD JUST REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO, AGAIN, NOT MAKE THIS YOUR ONLY TIME COMING TO CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

[03:25:06]

THESE FOLKS ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY CARE A LOT ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND ULTIMATELY THEY DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE A LOT OF CHANGES TO OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST PROPERTY.

NEXT IN THE LAST OPEN MIC, SPEAKER WILLIE HUDSPETH.

YOU'LL HAVE 30S.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES. THE FIRST 30.

YEAH, OVER HERE, I'M AFRAID.

ALL RIGHT. GOT TO GIVE YOUR NAME FIRST.

GOT ME. SHUT.

OKAY. I WAS GLAD TO HEAR IN THIS PRESENTATION THAT THERE'S SOMETHING YOU GOT TO BE ON MIC SO THEY CAN HEAR YOU.

I KNOW IT. IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU.

I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING TO PROTECT THE ELDERLY.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS SUCH A LAW LIKE THAT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON.

BECAUSE NOW GERARD, WHEN YOU ACCIDENTALLY, AS YOU'RE LAUGHING, PUSH ME DOWN THE STAIRS.

I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO PROTECT ME.

OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW IF SOME OF YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS, BUT I TALKED TO MR. COUNCILMAN. I MEAN, PRO TEM.

MAYOR PRO TEM BACK.

HE SAID THAT HIS WIFE IS DOING SOMETHING WITH CEMETERIES, SO SHE PROBABLY KNOWS ABOUT THIS, BUT I'M GOING TO TELL THE REST OF YOU ABOUT IT SO THAT YOU CAN DO WHATEVER, IF ANYTHING, ABOUT THESE CEMETERIES.

THERE IS A CEMETERY IN PILOT POINT CALLED SAINT JOHNS CEMETERY.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE THE CITIZENS OF PILOT POINT SOLD TO THE FREED SLAVES AND TO BURY THEIR THEIR DECEASED MEMBERS.

AND THE THE LAND WAS REALLY POOR.

IT WAS HARD TO BURY ANYTHING THERE.

IT WAS ROCK SOLID IN IT.

AND THEY SOLD THEM, SOLD IT TO THEM AT A LARGE, EXPENSIVE PRICE OR MORE MONEY THAN IT WAS WORTH.

AND NOW SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT THEY HAD TO LEAVE REAL FAST FROM THAT AREA AND.

WE THINK THE KLAN GOT IN THERE AND SCARED THEM, SO THEY LEFT REALLY QUICKLY.

THEN THE RANCH OWNERS CAME IN AND BUILD RANCHES ALL AROUND IT.

SO THE LAND NOW IS LANDLOCKED.

THE LAND IS UNKEPT AND IT'S NOT MARKED, AND THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE BUT JUST ROCKS AND OVER BRUSH A BRUSH.

THE PERSON, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT PROPERTY IS THE COUNTY.

THEY ARE NOW STARTING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

BUT WHAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY IS JUST IMAGINE YOU DIED, YOU WERE YOU WERE LIVING AND YOU DIED.

YOUR CHILDREN DIED.

AND NOBODY CARES ABOUT WELL, NOBODY'S DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A HEADSTONE.

SO I WENT OUT THERE AND CLEANED IT UP, ME AND SOME OTHER CITIZENS.

AND WE HAD WE TRIED TO FIND THE HEADSTONES.

WE COULDN'T. THEY WEREN'T THEY WEREN'T THERE FOR THE MOST PART.

SO I GUESS AT THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE TO YOU IS.

WHAT IF IT WAS YOU? WHAT IF IT WAS YOUR FAMILY AND NOBODY CARES ABOUT IT? THERE'S NOT EVEN A MARK, A FENCE TO COVER IT.

COWS AND.

AND OTHER ANIMALS AND EVERYBODY JUST WALK ALL OVER THE THING.

AND HALLOWEEN, THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS FROM THAT AREA GO OUT AND DESTROY THE.

THE STATUES.

I JUST DON'T THINK SOME OF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT OR YOU WOULDN'T JUST LET IT CONTINUE TO GO DOWN LIKE THAT.

SOMETIMES WE GO OUT AND VOLUNTEER TO WORK.

ANY TIME THAT YOU ARE WANTING TO DO THAT, THEN JUST GET A HOLD OF ME AND WE'LL WE'LL PUT YOU ON THE LIST AND WE'LL GO OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT SITUATION.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. AND THEN ONE MORE I MISSED.

IT WAS STUCK TO THE OTHER CARDS.

LIAM, IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.

AND THAT'S OUR LAST OPEN MIC SPEAKER.

HELLO, MY NAME IS LIAM.

I'M OFF OF PONDER AVENUE.

I WAS HERE AT THE WORK SESSION, SO I WAS ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE DCTA BRIEFING, WHICH A LOT OF GOOD NEWS THERE.

[03:30:05]

BUT COUNCILMAN WATTS BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT THAT IT IS A LOT IN THIS CITY.

IT'S A LOT TO ASK PEOPLE TO WALK A QUARTER MILE TO GET TO A BUS STOP, AT LEAST CURRENTLY, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE WHICH THE CITY IS ABSOLUTELY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND IT'S MOVING TO MAKE THE CITY MORE WALKABLE AND USABLE.

BUT THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE MORE DONE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE THE SIDEWALKS OR THE BIKE LANES.

THERE'S PLENTY OF PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE THE SHADE NECESSARY TO DO IT IN THE SUMMER.

SO AND THAT IS ONE THING THE CITY CAN CONTROL.

AND WHAT IT DOES IT IS MAKE THE PLACE MORE USABLE.

HE IT WOULD HELP.

IT WOULD HELP BE ABLE HELP PEOPLE BE ABLE TO GET TO THEIR BUS STOP SAFELY AND BE ABLE TO GET AROUND TO AROUND THE CITY MORE SAFELY AS WELL AS A BENEFIT.

BUT ANOTHER THING THAT HAS BEEN THAT'S BEEN I'VE BEEN CHEWING OVER IN MY MIND IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS DOWNTOWN AREA, THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THREE COLLEGES ACTUALLY, IF YOU COUNT N CTC.

NOW OF LIKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOWNTOWN, LIKE THE CITY IN THE LOOP AND THEN THE CITY OUTSIDE OF THE LOOP.

LIKE WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? IT'S ALL THE DIFFERENCE IS ALL THE DIFFERENT USES THAT ARE INSIDE THIS DOWNTOWN AREA.

IT'S THE MEETUP, IT'S THE JUICY PIG, IT'S THE BIKE SHOPS THAT ARE INTERMIXED WITH THE RESIDENTIAL LOT.

A LOT OF THE PLACES LIKE WHERE I WHERE I GREW UP HERE IN DENTON, LIKE IN SOUTH DENTON BY GUYER AND A PLACES LIKE OUTSIDE OF THE LOOP. A LOT OF IT'S JUST GOING TO BE PURE RESIDENTIAL LIKE THERE'S I MEAN THERE'S NICE PARKS.

THE CITY HAS DONE A NICE JOB WITH THE CITY PARKS, BUT THERE'S NO PLACE TO GO TO.

THERE'S NO PLACE TO.

THERE'S NO USE LIKE YOU EITHER GO TO LIKE UNICORN LAKE OR MAYBE SOME STRIP MALLS, BUT THERE'S NO REAL INBUILT COMMUNITY PLACES LIKE IN HERE IN DOWNTOWN DENTON.

IT'S LIKE I CAN NAME OFF MANY OTHER BUSINESSES LIKE THAT, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY CHANGE IN OUR ZONING CODE AND TO MAKE IT TO MAKE IT MORE EASY TO ONE, TO WALK THE PLACES THAT ARE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT JUST TO BE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN GATHER AND SPEND TIME INSTEAD OF JUST BEING PURELY BEDROOM SUBURBS.

ALTHOUGH THAT IS GOING TO BE A CONTENTIOUS DEBATE, I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ONE.

BUT I THANK YOU AND I'LL YIELD THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK SARA FOR LETTING ME KNOW THAT MY CARD WAS THERE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THAT TAKES US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

I'LL TAKE A MOTION, BUT FOR A F AND G, THOSE WERE PULLED SO, MAYOR PRO TEM, I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCLUDING ITEMS A, F AND G.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.

SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM BRICK SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MCGEE.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO TAKES US TO OUR FIRST ITEM.

A LET ME GET THERE.

ITEM A IS ID 23112, ONE.

[A. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton adopting Chapter 21, Article V, of the City of Denton code of ordinances, titled “Marijuana Enforcement”; providing repealer, cumulative, and severability clauses; and declaring an effective date.]

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON ADOPTING CHAPTER 21, ARTICLE FIVE OF THE CITY OF DENTON CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLED MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT PROVIDING A PROVIDING REPEALER CUMULATIVE AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSES AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

SO IT'S THERE, I DON'T BELIEVE IS THERE.

OKAY. MAYOR JUST TO LET THE COUNCIL KNOW THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR THIS ITEM.

GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SEEKING TO SPEAK.

WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE IT IS TRADITIONALLY THREE MINUTES FOR THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO NARROW IT TO TWO MINUTES.

AND AND SO THAT'S JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE OVER 32 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

AND SO WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.

FIRST IS JULIE OLIVER.

IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MAYOR.

MY NAME IS JULIE OLIVER.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GROUND GAME TEXAS, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO PRIMARILY SPEAK TO YOU ALL ABOUT WHY THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT VIOLATE STATE LAW, WHICH IT DOESN'T.

IF I WAS STANDING HERE FIVE YEARS AGO, I WOULD SAY THAT I WOULD CONCEDE THAT THIS ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN WOULD VIOLATE STATE LAW.

BUT THE 2019 FARM BILL HAPPENED STATE LEDGE, AND WE NOW HAVE A LEGAL SUBSTANCE IN TEXAS THAT IS MARIJUANA.

IT IS LOW POTENCY MARIJUANA THAT IS COMPLETELY INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM ILLEGAL HIGHER POTENCY MARIJUANA BY LOOK AND SMELL.

[03:35:04]

THE ONLY WAY TO PROVE THAT SOMETHING IS ILLEGAL MARIJUANA IS TO TEST IT AT A STATE LICENSED LABORATORY.

AND THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TESTS AND THEY TAKE QUITE, QUITE A BIT OF TIME TO GET THE RESULTS BACK.

AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRIAL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LABORATORY TECHNICIAN ALSO ATTEST THAT THE LABORATORY, THE TESTING WAS DONE IN A WELL, I'M BLANKING ON THE WORD, BUT BASICALLY THE LABORATORY TEST WAS CONDUCTED IN THE RIGHT WAY.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR MUNICIPALITIES.

AND IN 2019, MANY LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND DA'S AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS DECIDED THEY WERE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE LOW LEVEL MARIJUANA OFFENSES ANYMORE POSSESSION CASES BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT YOU CANNOT TELL ON SITE WHETHER SOMETHING IS ILLEGAL, LOW POTENCY HEMP OR HIGHER POTENCY, ILLEGAL MARIJUANA. AND IT IS WELL WITHIN YOUR RIGHTS AS A CITY COUNCIL TO DECIDE ITEMS TO BUDGET.

AND IF THE CITY, THROUGH ITS POLICYMAKERS, Y'ALL OR THE VOTERS DECIDE WE DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR TESTING, THAT IS WELL WITHIN THE RIGHT OF CITY COUNCIL, IT IS ALSO WELL WITHIN YOUR RIGHT TO AVOID THE RISK OF UNLAWFUL ARREST AND HONESTLY UNLAWFUL SEIZURE OF SUBSTANCES WHEN SOMEBODY IS PULLED OVER.

SO I WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT I'M HERE.

I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY.

BUT THIS DOESN'T VIOLATE STATE LAW BECAUSE THERE'S AMBIGUITY IN THE LAW WITH THE 2019 FARM BILL.

OKAY. I DO HAVE A QUESTION, THOUGH, IF THAT'S OKAY.

HAVE YOU REVIEWED THE DENTON CITY CHARTER? 2.10, SECTION 2 TO 10.

TELL ME WHAT THE. PLEASE.

CERTAINLY IT'S A SEPARATION OF POWERS, SO IT DICTATES THAT THE COUNCIL CANNOT GIVE DIRECT ORDERS TO PEOPLE THAT AREN'T THE CITY'S DIRECT DEPARTMENT, THAT AREN'T OUR DIRECT REPORTS.

SO. MEANING I CAN'T WRONGFULLY INFLUENCE A POLICE OFFICER TO NOT GIVE MY WIFE A TICKET.

SO THERE'S A SEPARATION THERE TO SAY I SPEAK WITH THE CITY MANAGER.

THAT'S RIGHT. AND SO IF I IF CAN WE AGREE THAT THERE'S SECTIONS, THERE'S ABOUT FIVE SECTIONS IN THIS CITY ORDINANCE NOW IT'S ON THE BOOKS THAT STIPULATES THAT WE ARE TO GIVE DIRECT ORDERS TO POLICE OFFICERS.

DO WE AGREE? I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

OKAY. I AGREE THAT IT IS NOW THE MANAGER'S DUTY TO IMPLEMENT THIS.

AND YOU AS A COUNCIL BODY CAN CAN GIVE DIRECTION TO YOUR MANAGER TO DO SO.

IT. WELL, IT SAYS DENTON POLICE OFFICERS SHALL NOT ISSUE CITATIONS.

THAT'S A DIRECT ORDER TO THE POLICE OFFICERS.

YES, IT'S JUST. IT'S JUST AN ORDINANCE LANGUAGE.

OKAY. YEAH. THEN WE DISAGREE THERE.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO. I DON'T WANT TO BE COMPLICIT.

I DON'T I DON'T AGREE THAT THIS IS A SEPARATION OF POWERS AT ALL.

AND OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE EXACT SAME THING DON'T ARRIVE AT THAT CONCLUSION EITHER.

YEAH, I'VE NOT READ THEIR CHARTER.

I UNDERSTAND. WELL MOST OF THE CHARTERS AND I THINK SARA PROBABLY IS FAMILIAR WITH AUSTIN'S CHARTER HAS SOMETHING SIMILAR.

IT MAY. I'M NOT SURE.

I'M SORRY I DIDN'T READ IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER? COUNCILMAN MCGEE QUESTION FOR THE SPEAKER.

NO, SIR. I HAD A I HAD A QUESTION PROCESS QUESTION FOR YOU BEFORE WE BEFORE THIS FIRST SPEAKER, I HIT THE BUTTON, SO I'M HAPPY TO DO IT NOW OR WAIT TILL ALL NO, I'M GOING TO GET THROUGH THESE. THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING, SO I'M GOING TO GET THROUGH THEM.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER? THIS MIGHT ACTUALLY PERTAIN TO THAT.

GO AHEAD. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NO OTHER QUESTIONS? YES.

IS IT HELPFUL TO PUT THE ORDINANCE ON THE SCREEN FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT EXACTLY IT IS WE'RE DISCUSSING? WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE IT IF WE KNOW, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WORKS.

YEAH, WE'LL SEE IF STAFF HAS IT, THEY'LL POP IT UP.

IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE GOT 30 PEOPLE TO GET THROUGH.

THAT'S AN HOUR, MR. MAYOR. KIRBY WALLACE, IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS KIRBY WALLACE.

I'M A STAFF ATTORNEY WITH THE COMBINED LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS.

AND I HAVE HAD THE DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING MANY OF THE OFFICERS SITTING IN TONIGHT'S AUDIENCE.

AND I WILL SAY I CAN SPEAK FOR CLETE BY SAYING THAT WE ARE THE HENSLEY OPPOSED TO ANY MEASURE THAT WOULD IMPEDE AN OFFICER'S ABILITY TO USE DISCRETION OR UPHOLD THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

DENTON POLICE OFFICERS TAKE AN OATH TO ENFORCE THE LAWS OF THIS STATE.

NOW, I REALIZE IN 2023 SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT TAKE OATHS SERIOUSLY.

THESE PEOPLE DO.

THEY TAKE THEIR OATH VERY SERIOUSLY TO UPHOLD PUBLIC SAFETY AND UPHOLD THE LAWS OF THIS STATE.

WHILE STATE LAW PROVIDES AN AVENUE FOR MARIJUANA, CITE AND RELEASE, IT DOES NOT REMOVE AN OFFICER'S DISCRETION, NOR SHOULD IT.

[03:40:04]

OTHER FACTORS SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR WHEN AN OFFICER MAKES A DECISION ON A CUSTODY ARREST.

ARREST. THAT DISCRETION IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE WHEN IT COMES TO OFFICER SAFETY AND THEIR ABILITY TO PROTECT AND SERVE.

AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, AS A FORMER ASSISTANT CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY, I HUMBLY PERSONALLY KNOW THAT USING THE ODOR OF MARIJUANA HAS LED TO MANY TO THE MANY ARRESTS OF VIOLENT FELONS AND FUGITIVES.

AND TO TAKE THAT ABILITY AWAY FROM OFFICERS IMPEDES UPON PUBLIC SAFETY AND IT IMPEDES UPON THEM DOING THEIR JOB.

DENTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VIBRANT, SAFE AND WELCOMING CITY.

THIS IS THANKS IN NO SMALL PART TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON THIS ORDINANCE.

LET DENTON PD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT PUBLIC SAFETY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. THANK YOU.

COME ON. COME ON, COME ON. YES, THANK YOU.

YES. I HAD QUESTIONS FOR MR. WALLACE. OKAY.

WELL, IF YOU ALL COULD DO ME A FAVOR.

THE TWO MINUTES THEY'RE TALKING, GO AHEAD AND HIT THE BUTTON.

THAT WOULD. BECAUSE I'M GOING TO KEEP IT MOVING.

RIGHT. BECAUSE WE'VE GOT 30 PEOPLE.

THAT'S ONE HOUR. SO IF YOU GIVE ME JUST ONE SECOND.

EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY. IF YOU CAN COME BACK DOWN.

I'M SORRY. THANK YOU.

MR.. WALLACE SO THE THE 2019 FARM BILL, YOU YOU AGREE THAT THAT SET A THRESHOLD LEVEL OF 0.3% THC CONTENT FOR DIFFERENT VARIETALS AS THE LEGAL THRESHOLD LIMIT? I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE READ THE FARM BILL.

SO GOING OFF OF MEMORY AND AND DO YOU KNOW WHETHER YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE IN SMELL BETWEEN HEMP OR THC VARIETALS OF CANNABIS BASED ON THE SMELL THAT IS IN COUNCIL CHAMBER RIGHT NOW? A HAZARD TO GUESS IT'S NOT HEMP, SIR.

SO WHILE I APPRECIATE THE HUMOR OF THAT, YOU ACTUALLY ALL CANNABIS SMELLS THE SAME BECAUSE IT'S NOT FROM THE TETRAHYDRO CANNABINOIDS OR THE HYDROCARBON OR THE CANNABINOID OILS THAT ARE THE SOURCE OF THE ODOR.

SO I WOULD HESITATE.

YOUR CANINE UNITS COULDN'T EVEN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEMP D8 AND D8 AND D9 OR THC.

SO IS IT IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, DO DO THE POLICE VEHICLES AND SINCE YOU HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THE REGION, DO THEY HAVE A GAS CHROMATOGRAPHS OR OTHER TESTING FACILITIES IN THE VEHICLES? THEY DO NOT HAVE GAS CHROMATOGRAPHS TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

HOWEVER, I WILL STAND FIRM ON ON WHAT I'VE SAID TONIGHT, AND THAT IS BASED ON THE SMELL OF MARIJUANA ALONE THAT HAS LED TO THE NUMEROUS ARRESTS OF VIOLENT FELONS AND VIOLENT FUGITIVES AND TO TAKE AWAY AN OFFICER'S ABILITY TO TO CREATE PROBABLE CAUSE BASED ON THE ODOR OF MARIJUANA IS DETRIMENTAL TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE FARM BILL DID THAT AGAIN, BASED ON BASED ON THIS ORDINANCE, BASED ON THIS ORDINANCE, REMOVING AN OFFICER'S ABILITY TO FORM PC ON THE SMELL OF MARIJUANA IS DETRIMENTAL TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

I'M NOT I'M NOT GOING TO STAND HERE AND ARGUE ABOUT WHAT THE FARM BILL DID OR DIDN'T DO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THIS ORDINANCE.

I THINK IT RUNS AFOUL OF STATE LAW.

AND I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE ASKING YOU'RE ASKING OFFICERS TO TO SET ASIDE THEIR OATH TO UPHOLD STATE LAW.

THAT'S AN ISSUE.

THIS ISN'T JUST WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT LETTING LETTING SOMEONE GO WHO HAS A JOINT IN THEIR ASHTRAY.

YOU'RE ORDERING OFFICERS TO NOT MAKE ARRESTS.

YOU'RE ORDERING OFFICERS TO NOT ENFORCE THE LAW.

THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

AND THE FACT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISCIPLINED FOR UPHOLDING STATE LAW.

THAT IS A PROBLEM AS WELL.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE NEED THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON TESTING EVERY SINGLE POT PLANT THAT OFFICERS CONFISCATE.

BUT I HAZARD TO GUESS THAT THE CITY OF DENTON ALSO DOES NOT WANT TO PAY FOR EVERY SINGLE ARBITRATION THAT IS GOING TO TAKE IF YOU DISCIPLINE THESE OFFICERS.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LUIS.

THANK YOU. IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

[03:45:01]

MY NAME IS LUIS PIZANA.

I'M A DETECTIVE WITH THE DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'VE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND THE DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN THE ONLY POLICE DEPARTMENT I'VE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH FOR THE DURATION OF MY CAREER.

I AM HERE TO SPEAK TO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.

I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SPEAKING ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCES I HAS HAD.

I HAVE HAD AS A PEACE OFFICER AS IT RELATES TO MARIJUANA.

WHILE WORKING AS A PATROL OFFICER, I CONSTANTLY ENCOUNTERED SUBJECTS WHO WERE IN POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA.

THERE WERE COUNTLESS TIMES I CONTACTED DRIVERS WHO WERE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MARIJUANA AND DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED.

A COMMON THEME IDENTIFIED WAS DRIVERS DID NOT SEE THE PROBLEM.

THEY DID NOT BELIEVE IT WAS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE IT WAS JUST WEED.

THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE SWERVING ALL OVER THE ROAD AND PUTTING OTHER DRIVERS AT RISK.

ANOTHER COMMON THEME WAS THE ODOR OF MARIJUANA ESTABLISHING PROBABLE CAUSE TO SEARCH A VEHICLE THAT LED TO THE SOLVING OF VIOLENT CRIME OR RECOVERY OF ILLEGALLY CARRIED WEAPONS.

WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT THE SPECIFIC EXPERIENCES I ENCOUNTERED AS A MEMBER OF THE VIOLENT CRIMES TASK FORCE.

THE TASK FORCE WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO A SPIKE IN VIOLENT CRIME IN DENTON.

DURING MY TIME AS A TASK FORCE MEMBER, WE WERE CONSTANTLY COMING INTO CONTACT WITH GANG MEMBERS ILLEGALLY POSSESSING WEAPONS.

QUITE OFTEN, MARIJUANA WOULD LEAD TO THE SEARCH THAT LED TO THE DISCOVERY OF THE ILLEGAL FIREARM.

IN MY EXPERIENCE ON THE TASK FORCE, GANG MEMBERS WITH GUNS WERE A VERY BAD THING.

I CONDUCTED AND ASSISTED IN COUNTLESS INVESTIGATIONS IN WHICH THESE GANG MEMBERS WERE INVOLVED IN SHOOTINGS IN OUR CITY.

IN ADDITION, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ROBBERY I INVESTIGATED OR ASSISTED WITH THAT WAS DRUG RELATED WAS RELATED TO MARIJUANA AS OPPOSED TO OTHER DRUGS.

I DO NOT HAVE THE EXACT STATISTIC WITH ME ON THE NUMBER OF MURDERS RELATED TO MARIJUANA, NOR WILL I SPEAK TO THE ONES I CAN RECALL IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THOSE CASES. BUT I CAN SAY I CANNOT REMEMBER A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION THAT WAS RELATED TO NARCOTICS AND THE DRUG WAS SOMETHING OTHER THAN MARIJUANA.

I CAN MOST CERTAINLY SAY IN MY EXPERIENCE AS A POLICE OFFICER, MARIJUANA IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO VIOLENT CRIMES.

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA AND REMOVING OFFICERS ABILITY TO ABILITY.

FIRST NAME STARTS WITH R.

SORRY. AND THEN THERE'S.

LAST NAME. MCKINNEY.

THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU. RIGHT.

OKAY. IF YOU'LL FIX IT FOR ME.

SORRY. HELLO.

MY NAME IS RALEIGH MCKINNEY.

THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. I'M AN OFFICER WITH THE DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BEFORE THAT, I WAS AN OFFICER IN COLORADO FOR FOUR YEARS WHERE I SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I AM HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE VIOLENT CRIME THAT IT CREATED LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IN COLORADO.

AND NOT ONLY DID IT CREATE MORE VIOLENT CRIME, I SAW AN UPTICK WITH OVERDOSES.

OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS INUNDATED WITH CALLS CONSTANTLY GOING TO PEOPLE OVERDOSING ON THC.

OUR FATALITIES AND TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS WENT UP 140% FROM 55 A YEAR IN 2013 TO 130 5 IN 2019.

I DON'T LIKE THOSE NUMBERS.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN HERE LIKES THOSE NUMBERS AND I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN IN DENTON.

I CAME HERE TO SERVE AND PROTECT AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT HERE FOR THE CITY OF DENTON.

AND I THINK THAT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IS THE WRONG CHOICE.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT. JEFF LOFLAND.

HELLO, MY NAME IS JEFF LOUGHLIN AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THE CITIZENS OF DENTON FOR THE PAST 19 YEARS.

PRIOR TO ME TAKING AN OATH AS A POLICE OFFICER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, I HAD THE HONOR OF TAKING ANOTHER OATH WHEN I SWORE TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION AND A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.

I PROUDLY SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS FOR EIGHT YEARS, WHERE I SERVED ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE GREATEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER KNOWN.

IN MY YEARS AT DENTON P.D., I WAS ABLE TO SERVE AS A POLICE OFFICER, DETECTIVE SWAT TEAM MEMBER AND TASK FORCE OFFICER.

DURING THAT TIME, I HAVE USED MY DISCRETION, REASONABLENESS, COMPASSION AND MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS TREATED EQUALLY AND TO HOLD OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN NEEDED. I HAVE USED THE SMELL OF MARIJUANA TO LOCATE AND RECOVER LARGE AMOUNTS OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS, INCLUDING FENTANYL, ILLEGALLY RECOVERED WEAPONS. AND AT TIMES I HAVE ARRESTED INDIVIDUALS FOR MARIJUANA JUST TO KEEP OTHERS SAFE.

I DO ALL THIS UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHICH GIVES ME THE AUTHORITY AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO USE MY JUDGMENT.

AND I FIRST STARTED WORKING HERE.

OFFICERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, WERE ARRESTED, NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS FOR LOW LEVELS OF AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA OVER THE YEARS.

I, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT EACH CASE IS UNIQUE AND EACH CIRCUMSTANCE HAS ITS OWN SET OF FACTS.

THIS REALIZATION IS WHY DENTON PD HAS SEEN A DROP IN THE NUMBER OF MARIJUANA ARRESTS IN MY CAREER.

[03:50:06]

I HAVE ALSO SEEN HORRORS ON COLLEGE KIDS FACES.

IF THEY HAD HAD A GUN PULLED ON THEM AND ROBBED FOR JUST AN OUNCE OF MARIJUANA.

MARIJUANA POSSESSION IS NOT JUST ABOUT SMOKING IT, AS THERE ARE OTHER HARSH CRIMES THAT CAN COME ALONG WITH LEGALIZING MARIJUANA POSSESSION.

AS WE RECENTLY WORKED A DOUBLE HOMICIDE IN REFERENCE TO MARIJUANA.

AT THE CURRENT TIME, THE POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA IS ILLEGAL IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THE AUTHORITY GIVEN UPON ME AND THE OTHER OFFICERS THAT DIDN'T COME FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I TOOK AN OATH 19 YEARS AGO TO UPHOLD THE LAWS OF THE STATE I CALL MY HOME.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE, THE DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, ARE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN MAKING MARIJUANA POSSESSION A LOW PRIORITY WHILE STILL UPHOLDING OUR OATH.

THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ORDINANCE IS UNNECESSARY AND AGAINST THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

YEAH. ERIC BECKWITH.

YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME YOU HAVE FOR ME AND SAY, HOW ARE YOU? HI, MY NAME IS ERIC BECKWITH AND I'M A SERGEANT AT THE DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'VE BEEN IN DENTON P.D. FOR 21 YEARS.

PRIOR TO THAT, I WAS ALSO IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, WHERE I SERVED MY COUNTRY AND SWORE AN OATH LIKE DETECTIVE LAUGHLIN DID.

I ALSO SWORE AN OATH TO THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT I WOULD ENFORCE THE LAWS APPROPRIATELY AND ALSO TO THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE CITY OF DENTON.

AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE AT DENTON P.D., I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY.

I'VE LIVED HERE 21 YEARS.

I'VE RAISED MY DAUGHTER HERE THAT WENT THROUGH DENTON ISD, GRADUATED FROM GUYER HIGH SCHOOL, WENT TO COLLEGE AND HAS A COLLEGE DEGREE, AND SHE'S NOW GOING TO TEACH AT RYAN HIGH SCHOOL. MY SON IS ABOUT TO START FIRST GRADE.

YES, I KIND OF STARTED OVER, BUT HE'S ABOUT TO START FIRST GRADE.

I HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I LIVE HERE.

I SERVE HERE. I HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I KNOW WHAT COMES ALONG WITH DEGREES OF MARIJUANA POSSESSION.

AND I ALSO KNOW THAT OFFICERS NEED THE DISCRETION TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THE LAWS, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT ARE GIVEN TO US.

LIKE LIKE DETECTIVE LAUGHLIN SAID, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, THERE WAS A LOT OF LOW LEVEL MARIJUANA, MARIJUANA ARRESTS BECAUSE IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME BACK THEN.

WE'RE AWARE OF THE THE TIMES AND THAT THE TIMES CHANGE, OKAY? AND WE'RE ADAPTING WITH THOSE TIMES.

WE'RE NOT OUT TO THROW EVERYBODY IN JAIL.

WE'RE USING DISCRETION.

BUT TO TAKE A TOOL AWAY FROM OFFICERS SUCH AS THE ODOR OF MARIJUANA, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET GUNS OFF THE STREETS THAT DON'T BELONG IN THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT GANG MEMBERS IN JAIL THAT ARE OUT THERE COMMITTING VIOLENT CRIMES.

THINK ABOUT IF YOU THEY GOT PEOPLE HAVE TO BUY THE MARIJUANA SOMEWHERE.

WOULD YOU WANT A GROW HOUSE OR SOMEONE DEALING ILLEGAL DRUGS NEXT TO YOU? WHAT'S THAT GOING TO DO TO PROPERTY VALUES? THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OTHER THAN JUST THE POLICE.

IF THIS IF YOU ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE AND PASS IT, I THINK WE NEED TO NOT ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE.

THE POLICE NEEDS DISCRETION, HOW TO DO THEIR JOB TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE.

YOU GOT IT. ONE QUESTION, BECAUSE YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT.

AND JUST TO KIND OF GET A VISUAL OF THAT, I'M ASSUMING AT SOME POINT WHEN YOU'RE INTO POLICING, YOU COULDN'T HAVE TATTOOS, ALL THESE KIND OF THINGS.

AND I SEE ALL THE TIME THAT'S BEEN RELAXED TO TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE.

AM I AM I WRONG? TIMES CHANGE, SIR, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS CHANGED ALONG WITH THE TIMES.

YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHRIS.

SUMMIT. YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS CHRIS SUMMIT.

I'VE BEEN WITH DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT 27 YEARS.

RIGHT NOW I'M A LIEUTENANT.

IT'S THE ONLY POLICE DEPARTMENT I'VE WORKED FOR.

LIKE SERGEANT BECKWITH.

I'M INVESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I'VE RAISED FOUR CHILDREN.

PUT THEM ALL THROUGH DENTON HIGH SCHOOL.

I HAVE TWO KIDS AT UNT.

I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 1993.

SO TO QUOTE SIR ROBERT PEEL, THE POLICE ARE THE PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC ARE THE POLICE.

WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, TOO.

I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THE POLITICAL TOXICITY SURROUNDING THIS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE ABOUT DENTON POLICE IS WE HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM OUR FELLOW OFFICERS.

WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM OUR DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM OUR ELECTED COUNCIL.

WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM OUR CITY MANAGER.

WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

AND AS WE POLITICIZE THIS ISSUE, I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE HAVING PUBLIC CALLS TO FIRE A POLICE CHIEF BECAUSE HE'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S UNSURE WHETHER THIS ORDINANCE IS LEGAL OR NOT.

I WOULD SAY PEOPLE HAVE OPINIONS, BUT IT'S NOT DECIDED.

THE LAW HASN'T BEEN SETTLED ON THIS.

[03:55:02]

SO THAT'S GOING TO DESTABILIZE OUR DEPARTMENT.

PEOPLE COME TO WORK HERE BECAUSE OF THOSE THINGS, BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT.

AND WHEN WE START DRAGGING OUR LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE MUD, WHETHER IT'S CITY MANAGER OR POLICE CHIEF OR ME, WHEN I REFUSE TO DISCIPLINE AN OFFICER FOR ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR AUTHORITY, ALL THAT DOES IS DESTABILIZE THE DEPARTMENT.

RIGHT NOW, OUR NUMBERS ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT OUR ALLOTTED STAFFING IS.

YOU LOOK AT OTHER AGENCIES, THEY'RE 25, 30% DOWN.

THAT AFFECTS SERVICE DELIVERY TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO I WANT TO KEEP DENTON A DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE.

I THINK PASSING THIS ORDINANCE, POLITICIZING THIS MORE THAN IT IS, IS THE WRONG, WRONG COURSE OF ACTION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

DARREN BRIGGS.

EVENING, MR. MAYOR. MY NAME IS DARREN BRIGGS.

I'M A SERGEANT DENTON PD WITH 29 YEARS ON COMING UP ON 30.

I'M ALSO A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE DENTON POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

THIS ORDINANCE JUST FLIES IN CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW.

AND AS SEVERAL OF THE OFFICERS HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, IT IMPACTS OUR DISCRETION, DISCRETION AND DISCRETIONARY ABILITY ON THE STREET TO SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY ENFORCE THE LAWS AND TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

NOBODY IN DENTON PD IS DOING THIS AS A POWER TRIP.

WE ARE ALL HERE TO SERVE.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN IN TIMES THAT THIS NATION HAS NOT SEEN IN A GENERATION.

AND IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT AS IT IS, TO CLEAR UP SOMETHING THAT IS PROBABLY A MISCONCEPTION.

A LOT OF MEDIA COVERAGE, ABOUT 71% OF THE VOTERS SUPPORTED THIS.

71% OF THE VOTERS THAT BOTHERED TO SHOW UP AND VOTE SUPPORTED IT.

UNFORTUNATELY, VOTER APATHY IS VERY REAL IN THIS COUNTRY.

I WISH IT WASN'T.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN THIS CITY, ABOUT 36% OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS SUPPORTED THIS ORDINANCE IN THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

IT'S BIGGER THAN JUST THE LEGAL ISSUE, THOUGH.

IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY AND A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS, I'VE BEEN THE SUPERVISOR OR ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS IN THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SECTION.

I HAVE BEEN TO NEARLY PROBABLY 90% OF ALL THE FATALITY CRASHES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PAST 11 YEARS IN THIS CITY.

IMPAIRED DRIVING IS AN EPIDEMIC AND MARIJUANA IS PART OF THAT.

WE NEED THESE TOOLS.

WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE ROADWAYS SAFE.

WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE RESIDENTS OF DENTON SAFE AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT VISIT US.

IF WE LOSE THESE TOOLS, IT'S GOING TO MAKE THAT MUCH HARDER.

THERE'S ALSO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT COME INTO PLAY.

THERE ARE NOW STUDIES THAT SUPPORT THE FACT THAT THC HAS IMPACTS ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

THERE'S A DANISH STUDY OUT NOW THAT SHOWS A 30% INCREASE IN SCHIZOPHRENIA IN YOUNG MALES DUE TO MARIJUANA USE.

IT'S NOT JUST THE LEGAL ISSUE THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO DEBATE AND THAT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE.

BUT THERE'S A PUBLIC HEALTH AND A PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT TO THIS AS WELL.

IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.

MISTER DONALD THORNTON.

DONALD THORNTON.

THANK YOU. CITY COUNCIL.

CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE CHIEF OF POLICE ADVISORY BOARD AND I AM PRIVILEGED TO SERVE WITH THESE BRAVE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FOR THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO SERVE OUR CITY.

I SUPPORT THEM WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

I'M HERE, OBVIOUSLY AGAINST THIS PROPOSITION BECAUSE FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

OBVIOUSLY, THE DANGER OF IT, THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF IT, OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEEN MENTIONED SEVERAL, SEVERAL TIMES.

THE RACIAL COMPONENT THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP BY THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTING IT.

IT'S ERRONEOUS.

AND WE'VE SEEN SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST WHERE MANY TIMES THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE PUSHING THE IDEA THAT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE PARAMOUNT OR THE VERY SAME PEOPLE OVER 101 YEARS AGO IN THIS VERY SAME CITY VOTED TO EVICT PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN QUAKERTOWN.

THAT WAS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AS WELL.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A MAJORITY OF DENTON KNIGHTS WHO VOTED TO EVICT BLACK PEOPLE RIGHT OVER HERE IN THIS PARK.

THE CITY COUNCIL PUT THAT UP FOR A VOTE AND THE MAJORITY OF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE 101 YEARS AGO VOTED TO EVICT BLACK PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE WILL, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS WRONG.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS I BRING THE RACIAL COMPONENT INTO THIS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN BROUGHT IN BY GROUND GAME TEXAS, BECAUSE THEY'VE RAISED THIS FELONIOUS IDEA THAT THAT THE POLICE ARE OUT ARRESTING BLACK PEOPLE DISPROPORTIONATELY.

[04:00:05]

THEY BROUGHT IN. OH, HEY, EXCUSE ME.

CAN WE JUST. JUST A MINUTE.

PAUSE THE TIME. CAN WE GET HIM? THANK YOU. CAN I GET SOME OF MY TIME BACK? YES, IF YOU CAN RESET IT.

30S. AND JUST PLEASE, I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO STAY, BUT I DON'T MIND ASKING YOU TO LEAVE.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, SIR.

SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS I WANT US TO UNDERSTAND.

SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE POLICE IN THIS CITY.

I'VE SEEN WHAT THESE GUYS DO.

I'VE TALKED WITH FORMER FORMER CHIEF DIXON AND NOW NEW CHIEF SHOEMAKER.

THESE PEOPLE PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO PROTECT OUR CITY.

DON'T BELIEVE THE LIE.

DON'T BE HOODWINKED.

BECAUSE IF YOU THINK THEY'RE JUST GOING TO STOP AT DECRIMINALIZATION, THEY'RE NOT.

THEY'RE AFTER LEGALIZATION.

AND ONCE THEY GET THERE, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LA, IN PORTLAND AND ALL THOSE CITIES THAT HAVE DECRIMINALIZED CITIES IN COLORADO THAT STARTED WITH JUST DECRIMINALIZATION AND NOW THEY'VE LEGALIZED IT.

AND WHERE YOU SEE, AS PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

PACKAN HOMELESSNESS HAVE ALL INCREASED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE CONSIDER NOT APPROVING THIS PROPOSITION.

ROBERT HEAD.

IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

YES, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ROBERT HEAD.

I'M A VETERAN THAT HAS A 501.

C THREE CALLED HEMP FOR VICTORY.

AND WE HAVE ON OUR BOARD MAJOR GENERAL TOD BUNTING FROM THE KANSAS CITY NATIONAL GUARD, DOCTOR COREY BURKMAN, WHO IS A HARVARD TRAINED ANESTHESIOLOGIST, FORMER COLONEL, AND HE ALSO TEACHES AT DARTMOUTH.

WE ALSO HAVE LIEUTENANT COLONEL TODD SCATTINI, WHO'S LIAISON OVER AT OVERSEAS IN THE SLAVIC AREA DURING HIS TIME, ONE WHEN HE WAS IN ALSO A WEST POINT GRADUATE.

THE REASON WHY I'M UP HERE IS TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT VETERANS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH CANNABIS.

60% OF VETERANS ARE GOING TO OR VETERANS ARE GOING TO USE CANNABIS, 60% MORE THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC, LARGELY DUE TO BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE COMORBIDITIES THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON AT THEIR AGE.

I SERVED FOR ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS, DID TWO AND A HALF TOURS IN IRAQ, AND AS I CAME OUT, MAJORITY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT I SERVED WITH ARE USING CANNABIS.

AND THE REASON WHY I BRING THIS UP AND THE DECRIMINALIZATION ISSUE IS THAT THE GENTLEMAN THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, IF THEY'RE SINGLE AND THEY'RE JUST GOING TO AND GET THEIR DEGREE AND THEY'RE PROBABLY USING CANNABIS AS A WAY OF MEDICINE AND A TOOL TO HELP THEM FOCUS AND KEEP ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.

THEY GET A FAMILY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM BECAUSE NOW IT'S NOT THEM THAT PAYS THE PRICE, IT'S THEIR FAMILY.

SO THEY GO BACK TO THE PILLS AND THEY GO BACK TO THE ALCOHOL.

AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENTS COMING FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I GET A LOT OF IT.

NOT ALL OF IT. I'M NOT GONNA LIE TO YOU.

A LOT OF IT'S CRAZY, BUT SOME OF IT IS VERY TRUE THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE COME HERE IS BECAUSE OF THE CRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.

BUT IT IS BEING USED AS A MEDICINE.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO PUNISH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING USED AS A MEDICINE THAT ARE GOOD CITIZENS BECAUSE WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT A DRUG THAT YOU GUYS CRIMINALIZED 80 YEARS AGO, AND NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH THE AFTER EFFECTS OF THAT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

IT'S GOING TO GET LEGALIZED, GUYS.

THERE'S NOTHING YOU'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS AT SOME POINT IN TIME, IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK WITH OUR CITIZENS.

DURING THIS DECRIMINALIZATION, WE'RE GOING TO THINK OF SOMETHING NEW.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

AND THEN FORGIVE ME IF I SAY THIS WRONG.

CANON JOHNSON.

AM I CLOSE? CANON JOHNSON.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

HOW'S IT GOING, EVERYBODY? KEENAN JOHNSON, EAGLE DRIVE.

I'M JUST HERE IN SUPPORT OF PROP B.

I'M A LOCAL BARTENDER THAT WORKS WITH VETERANS AS WELL.

WE HAVE MANY VETERANS THAT COME IN FROM PTSD, FROM SLEEPING PROBLEMS, FROM EVERYTHING, AND THEY COME IN ARE GETTING DIFFERENT VARIETY OF CANNABINOIDS.

DELTA EIGHT, HHC.

THERE'S OVER 128 CANNABINOIDS AND I KNOW MOST PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT THC AND THEY'RE SCARED.

THC THERE'S OVER 128 OTHER ONES THAT HELP HELP A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY ALL SMELL THE EXACT SAME.

SO I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF PROP B, I'M A LOCAL BARTENDER.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISEASES, VETERANS, EVERYBODY, THEY'RE NEEDING THIS MEDICINE AND WE'RE THE GOOD GUYS.

SO DON'T DON'T PUNISH US FOR USING MEDICINE THAT WE NEED.

OKAY? THANK YOU.

TRAVIS EAVES CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME.

YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.

HI, I'M TRAVIS EAVES.

HELLO, COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZATION.

I DON'T USE CANNABIS MYSELF, BUT I HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO DO.

AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME GENUINE THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS BOTH FOR CLINICAL CONDITIONS AND JUST THE STRESSES OF MODERN LIFE.

I THINK THAT CANNABIS USE IS NOT DIRECTLY CONDUCIVE TO VIOLENCE.

[04:05:03]

I THINK SOMETIMES IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BUT I THINK LOTS OF PEOPLE USE CANNABIS.

IN. PERHAPS THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO DECRIMINALIZE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. THERE'S A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I DON'T WANT TO BE ENEMIES WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE ON THE SAME SIDE.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE SOME SORT OF SUPPORT FROM THEM ON THIS ISSUE ALSO.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

AND NEXT IS AUSTIN, AND I'LL LET YOU TELL ME YOUR LAST NAME.

THERE WE GO. THAT'S IT.

YOU DID GREAT.

GIVE IT TO ME AGAIN. I WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

MY NAME IS AUSTIN HARIRI.

DIXON BIERI. YES, SIR.

YEAH. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS AUSTIN ZIMMERER. I RUN THE.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS CANNABIS COLLECTIVE, A 500 AND 1C4 DEDICATED TO REFORMING CANNABIS LAWS HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT AS AN ACTIVE LOBBYIST AT THE LEGISLATURE, THAT ONCE AGAIN, THE LEGISLATURE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHO WE KEEP HEARING THAT WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE THESE LAWS HAS FAILED US ONE MORE TIME.

WE KEEP GOING BACK.

WE KEEP GETTING HOUSE APPROVAL ON PENALTY REDUCTION BILLS.

SUPERMAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE FROM 2019 2021.

THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAD A HB 218 THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE HOUSE, ONLY TO GET STARTED BY ONE MAN WHO PRESIDES OVER THE SENATE THAT WILL NOT HEAR OUR LEGISLATION.

AND SO NOW THEY KICK THE ONUS BACK DOWN TO THE CITIES.

AND BECAUSE I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE LAWS DID CHANGE IN 2019 WHEN HB 1325 WAS PASSED BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, AND THAT LEGALIZED HEMP UNDER 0.3%.

DELTA NINE THC BY DRY WEIGHT IN ALL OTHER ISOMERS, DERIVATIVES AND NATURALLY OCCURRING SUBSTANCE OF THE PLANT.

THIS INCLUDES CBD, CBG, THC, THC FOR OVER 100 DIFFERENT CANNABINOIDS, AND THERE IS NOT A POLICE OFFICER OR A K-9 UNIT IN THE WORLD THAT CAN DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE SMELL OF THE DIFFERENT HEMP CANNABINOIDS THAT ARE PERMEATING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF DENTON AS WE SPEAK, BEING SOLD IN HEMP COMPLIANCE.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN 2019 KICKED IT DOWN TO THE CITY LEVEL FOR Y'ALL TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ENFORCE A LAW THAT HAS BEEN UNJUST FOR ALMOST A CENTURY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND NOW I ASK THE CITY OF DENTON TO GET COMPLIANCE QUESTIONS FROM TDA AND DSHS.

GOT IT. THANK YOU.

I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU, THOUGH.

HAVE YOU LOOKED HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE TICKETS ISSUED HERE IN THE CITY OF DENTON? AND IS THERE ONE THAT YOU TAKE AN ISSUE WITH? YOU SAID TICKETS.

YEAH, TICKETS. CITATIONS.

CITATIONS. IT'S ON THE BOOKS, RIGHT.

THE IT'S A IT'S A CITY ORDINANCE.

IT'S BEEN ON THE BOOKS SINCE IT PASSED.

YES. HAVE YOU LOOKED AT ANY OF THE THE CITATIONS ARREST ET CETERA.

AND THAT YOU FEEL HAVE BEEN DONE IN ERROR IN THE CITY OF DENTON? I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR NO CITATIONS, AND THAT'S WHAT I SUPPORT.

RIGHT. SO SO BUT I'M SAYING, YES, I HAVE LOOKED AT THE RECORDS AND I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE VOTED IN NOVEMBER WITH 71%.

RIGHT. THAT WAS A RECORD TURNOUT.

33,000 PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF DENTON.

YES. MY QUESTION IS THIS, THOUGH, PRETTY SUCCINCT OF THE OF THE WE CAN STILL ARREST PEOPLE, RIGHT, FOR CRIMES.

YES. SO SO I'M SAYING OF THOSE ARRESTS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, ARE ANY OF THOSE DONE IN ERROR OR WERE THEY THEY'RE STILL DRUG FREE ZONES.

THEY'RE STILL YOU KNOW, THERE'S GUN ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S OTHER ISSUES WITH WHY YOU CAN ARREST SOMEONE.

MY QUESTION IS SIMPLY, HAVE YOU REVIEWED THE CITY OF DENTON'S ARREST? AND DO YOU TAKE ISSUE WITH ANY OF THOSE? YES, I TAKE ISSUE WITH ANY OF THEM THAT WERE DONE OUT OF COMPLIANCE OF PROP B THAT WAS VOTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2022.

IF I REPRESENT TO YOU, NONE OF THEM WERE DONE OUT OF COMPLIANCE.

WOULD YOU DISAGREE WITH ME? YES, I WOULD.

OKAY. SO YOU YOU REVIEWED THEM.

YES. OKAY. GOT IT.

I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. AND THEN MADISON POWERS.

MY NAME IS MADISON POWERS.

GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW CITIZENS.

TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A PROUD RESIDENT, A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER, AND A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE.

DENTON JOURNEY TOWARDS A PROGRESSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE FUTURE DEPENDS ON ADDRESSING TWO PRESSING ISSUES.

FIRSTLY, DENTON CITIZENS HAVE CLEARLY VOICED THEIR SUPPORT FOR PROP B, WHICH RECEIVED AN ASTONISHING 71% APPROVAL RATE.

[04:10:04]

WE CAN'T GET PEOPLE TO AGREE ON ANYTHING EVER.

SO 71% IS KIND OF HARD TO IGNORE, BUT IT IS BEING IGNORED.

THE PERSISTENT DELAYS AND DENIALS IN IMPLEMENTING THIS MEASURE UNDERMINE THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND THE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I URGE YOU TO RESPECT THE MAJORITY'S CHOICE, EMBRACE PROGRESS, AND SWIFTLY IMPLEMENT PROP B.

SECONDLY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT CONCERNS REGARDING THE ACTIONS OF DENS.

POLICE CHIEF MR. SHOEMAKER.

DISTURBING DISPARITIES IN CANNABIS RELATED ARRESTS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT PEOPLE OF COLOR.

VIOLATING THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE AND EQUALITY CHERISHED BY DENTON.

ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE OPERATED A MOBILE DISPENSARY IN DENTON THAT SERVES DENTON CITIZENS, INCLUDING MANY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, IN NEED OF COMPASSIONATE CARE.

THROUGH OUR WORK, I'VE WITNESSED THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF CANNABIS PROVIDING RELIEF TO THOSE FACING DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

MY FELLOW ENTREPRENEURS AND I SUPPORT THE DECRIMINALIZATION MOVEMENT, WORKING TO EDUCATE AND INCREASE AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT EMBRACES RESPONSIBLE CANNABIS USE.

HINDERED BY THE LACK OF PROPER IMPLEMENTATION, OUR PROGRESS IS STIFLED, DENYING OUR COMMUNITY THE BENEFITS OF A MORE ENLIGHTENED APPROACH.

TOGETHER AS A UNITED DENTON, WE CAN MAKE LASTING CHANGE.

LET US EMBRACE DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE BY IMPLEMENTING PROP B AND ENSURING EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW.

HOLDING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANY DISPARITIES AND BIASES.

WE STRIVE FOR A POLICE FORCE THAT FOSTERS TRUST AND SERVES OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A FUTURE THAT UPLIFTS THE VOICES OF OUR CITIZENS, FOSTERS ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND CREATES A THRIVING COMMUNITY BASED ON UNITY AND UNDERSTANDING. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I IMPLORE YOU TO LISTEN TO OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE CHAMPION JUSTICE AND WORK TOWARDS A DENTON THAT EMBRACES CHANGE, EMPOWERS ITS RESIDENTS, AND BUILDS BRIDGES TOWARDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A QUESTION, THOUGH.

I'M SORRY. I CAN'T LET I CAN'T LET THE THE THE STATEMENT ABOUT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING BLACK PEOPLE GO WITHOUT ASKING THIS DID YOU IS THAT NUMBERS THAT YOU'VE LOOKED AT AND ANALYZED NUMBERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED ONLINE THROUGH DECRIM, DENTON AND SEVERAL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

OKAY. AND I'LL JUST REPRESENT TO YOU THAT THOSE WEREN'T PEOPLE THEY DIDN'T CHECK TO SEE WHAT THOSE PEOPLE LIVED.

RIGHT? SO AND I JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE IT MEANS VERY IT'S VERY SENSITIVE TO, I TAKE IT, VERY SERIOUS.

I THINK YOUR CONCERNS ARE VALID.

IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE THAT FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY.

WE HAVE A HOTLINE YOU CAN CALL AND THEY CAN FILE A CLAIM AND FILE A REPORT AND WE'LL ADDRESS THAT.

ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE AS AS THE FIRST MAYOR THAT HAS BROKEN THROUGH, I UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THERE.

BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE NUMBERS ONLINE, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO BACK AND CHECK THEM, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY RECONCILED THEM AGAINST RESIDENTS PERCENTAGES VERSUS JUST PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD EIGHT BLACK PEOPLE THAT WERE ARRESTED FOR ROBBING STEALING THE ATM.

I DON'T THINK THAT ALL ATM ROBBERIES ARE BLACK, BUT IF YOU CHECKED IT THIS DAY IN 2023, THE STATISTICS WOULD SHOW THAT ALL BLACK PEOPLE STEAL ATM MACHINES.

RIGHT? SO IT'S IT'S IT'S WEIRD, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, JUST DOUBLE CHECK THE NUMBERS BEFORE TAKING THAT POSITION ON THERE.

I THINK THAT THE CALCULATIONS WERE DONE IN ERROR.

SO JUST FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, YOU CAN LIKE I HAD AN OLD PASTOR FRIEND SAID YOU CAN EAT THE MEAT AND SPIT OUT THE BONES, SO IGNORE IT IF YOU NEED TO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU, JOSEPH.

ADAM. ADAM.

IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.

HEY, MY NAME IS JOSEPH AND AMO.

AND I LIVE HERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT LOOK AT ME AND HAVE A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS, BUT I'M NOT AGAINST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YOU KNOW, I VALUE EACH AND EVERY I VALUE EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT IT'S RIDICULOUS WHAT'S HAPPENING.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GETTING ARRESTED FOR CPD BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE.

JUST ON SMELL ALONE.

CBD SMELL IS THE EXACT SAME AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING ARRESTED FOR THINGS THEY CAN BUY AT A SMOKE SHOP.

LIKE I JUST, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO IT, PEOPLE ARE BEING ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES.

AND THAT'S AN ISSUE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING.

AND I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED AT WHERE WE'RE AT, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

I'M GOING TO END MY TIME.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS ERIC.

ONE MORE TIME. OKAY.

ARE YOU OKAY? THEN MAX ANDERSON.

HELLO. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME OUT TODAY.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY WANTS THIS TO BE PASSED.

HOW THE LAWS WRITE THEMSELVES.

THAT IS UP FOR YOU ALL TO DECIDE AND THAT IS UP FOR THE LAWYERS WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT TO DECIDE.

[04:15:05]

WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT MORE IS HOW MUCH I LOVE THE CITY OF DENTON.

I MOVED HERE. I MOVED HERE LAST FALL TO COME TO AA.

UNFORTUNATELY, MY STUDENT AID DIDN'T GO THROUGH SO I COULDN'T GO AND IT REALLY HURT ME.

IT REALLY KIND OF SET ME BACK.

AND GETTING TO GO TO SCHOOL IN THE SPRING WAS A REALLY IMPACTFUL MOMENT IN MY LIFE.

I REALLY CHANGED A LOT OF MY HABITS.

I FEEL LIKE I BECAME A BETTER PERSON AND I ATTRIBUTE THAT ALL TO THE FACT THAT WHEN I WAS 16 I WAS PULLED OVER AND MY CAR SMELLED LIKE MARIJUANA AND THE COP OFFICER CHOSE NOT HE KNEW, BUT HE BYPASSED IT AND HE USED HIS DISCRETION, WHICH WE CAN ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE DISCRETION.

BUT I GOT LUCKY.

I GOT LUCKY WITH THE GOOD COP THAT DAY.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I DON'T GET DENIED FAFSA.

I CAN STILL GO TO SCHOOL AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I CARE A LOT ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY.

I HOPE THAT I CAN RAISE MY FAMILY HERE ONE DAY.

I LOVE THE AREA WE LIVE IN OVER OFF OF LINDEN DRIVE AND, YOU KNOW, BEING WORKING WITH THE CITY NOW, I GET TO SEE A LOT OF GREAT FACES.

SOME OF Y'ALL'S FACES I'VE SEEN OVER HERE AT THE CIVIC CENTER.

AND OH, MY GOSH, I PRESSED SOMETHING.

SORRY. AND I JUST THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO GO TO SCHOOL HERE AND THERE.

I DON'T WANT THEM TO LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO GO TO SCHOOL HERE.

I THINK ABOUT THE KIDS THAT I WORK WITH AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO LOSE OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THEY GET ARRESTED ONE DAY JUST FOR HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF MARIJUANA ON THEM IN THEIR OWN HOME TOWN. SO THANK YOU.

AND IF I COULD SAY THIS JUST I KNOW YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING, RIGHT? YOU'RE GOOD. BUT JUST TO SAY TARGET AND WALMART, HAVE THEY THEY FRONT TUITION SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY IT BACK OR TURN IN RECEIPTS.

AND SO THEY'RE REALLY GOOD ABOUT THAT.

SO IF YOU EVER I MEAN I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO WHENEVER YOU'RE READY TO GO BACK AND AND THAT'S ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT TO TO PAY FOR.

THEY FRONT THE TUITION FOR YOU IF YOU I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HOURS YOU GOT TO WORK BUT IT'S IT'S A RESOURCE.

I LOVE THE CITY OF DENTON AND THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO WORK LIKE LIKE I'M JUST SAYING, LIKE, IF YOU WERE GOING TO IF YOU WERE GOING TO DO, LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE, EXTRA, YOU KNOW, LIKE A SECOND GIG OR SOMETHING TO PAY FOR SCHOOL, THAT SORT OF THING.

I LOVE YOU WORKING FOR THE CITY OF DENTON, TOO.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE. COOL.

YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

EVA GRECO.

IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

I DID WRITE DOWN WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY AND I'M GOING TO FORGET ALL THAT BECAUSE I SAT HERE AND I LISTENED AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THE MISINFORMATION.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THE MISINFORMATION THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK UP TO.

I HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN MY FAMILY.

POLICE OFFICERS.

MY DAUGHTER'S A FIREFIGHTER.

COUSINS, FBI AGENT.

OKAY. BUT TO SIT HERE AND I RESPECT LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT TO SIT HERE AND HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT MIS INFORM THE PUBLIC IS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.

IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT.

AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF DENTON.

OKAY. AND I NEVER IN MY 67 YEARS HEARD OF ANYBODY OVERDOSING ON MARIJUANA.

THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED.

OKAY. UM, I FOUGHT HARD FOR THIS.

OKAY. THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO WORK TOGETHER, OKAY? AND ALL WE'RE GETTING IS PUSH BACK.

PUSH BACK.

WE HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS PUSHING BACK AGAINST THEIR CITIZENS.

THAT'S NOT HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK AND COME TO A HAPPY MEDIUM SOMEWHERE.

AND I SAY I ONLY HAVE 28 SECONDS LEFT TO GO.

SO IN CLOSING, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT SHOEMAKER NEEDS TO GO.

WELL, KENNY SEVERSON SEVEN.

SORRY. HI, SYVERSON SYVERSON.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KENNY SYVERSON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

I AM AN AIR FORCE VETERAN.

I WORK AT UNT. I'M A STATE EMPLOYEE.

I DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANY OF THAT TONIGHT.

I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS.

FIRST IS DEMOCRACY AND THE SECOND IS JUSTICE FOR ALL.

DEMOCRACY IS CLEARLY SOMETHING THAT I'VE FOUGHT FOR, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL FIGHTING FOR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE ALREADY VOTED THIS IN.

AND IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SEE IT HAPPEN AND TO FIND A WAY.

AND THE OTHER PART IS JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THE CRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA IS A RACIST POLICY FROM THE WAR ON DRUGS.

[04:20:05]

AND WE ARE AS A SOCIETY TRYING TO MOVE PAST IT.

AND YOU CAN TELL FROM THE TESTIMONY TONIGHT AGAINST THIS MEASURE THAT THOSE WHITE SUPREMACIST DOG WHISTLES ARE IN THERE AND THEY ARE THERE TO SCARE WHITE PEOPLE TO BE OPPOSED TO THIS.

BUT AS AN AIR FORCE VETERAN WHO USES THIS AS MEDICINE AND AS A PERSON WHO FOUGHT FOR THESE PEOPLE, THIS IS NOT GOING TO STAND. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. RICHARD HAYNER, YOU GOT IT RIGHT.

MY NAME IS RICHARD HAYNER AND I JUST CAN'T THINK CAN'T HELP BUT THINK BACK ON WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FOR YEARS, OVER 55 YEARS FOR ME.

AND IT'S THE SAME OLD THING.

WE KEEP RUNNING INTO THE SAME LIES, THE SAME MISINFORMATION AND THE SAME STALLS, AND YOU JUST NEED TO DO YOUR JOB AND DO WHAT THE THE VOTERS SAID.

AND YOU DON'T COUNT PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T BOTHER TO VOTE.

YOU DON'T DO THAT. YOU DON'T SAY, WELL, IT WAS 71 THAT VOTED.

BUT NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

BUT YOU DO HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT WAS SAID.

AND IF YOU CAN'T FIND A WAY TO DO IT, THEN STEP ASIDE AND LET SOMEBODY ELSE COME IN AND DO IT BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

WE WERE TOLD THAT WE HAD A VOTE HERE IN DENTON TO STOP FRACKING JUST IN THE CITY LIMITS.

AND WE WE GOT THAT VOTE.

AND WHAT HAPPENED? THE PEOPLE IN AUSTIN DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD JUST SAY, WE CAN'T DO THAT.

WE THE VOTERS CAN'T MAKE THAT CHOICE.

AND THAT WAS WRONG.

AND Y'ALL KNOW IT WAS WRONG.

AND NOW YOU'RE DOING THE SAME THING.

SO DON'T DO IT.

JUST DO WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

DO YOUR JOB.

ALL RIGHT. AND THEN BRETT FLORES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, BRETT FLORES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE THIS QUICK.

AND WE'VE HEARD PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND TELL YOU THE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD HAVE THIS PASS AND WHY WE SHOULDN'T.

AND I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO AMPLIFY A VOICE THAT WAS SPOKEN TONIGHT.

AND I'M FRIGHTENED MAINLY BECAUSE I'VE HEARD A LOT OF MISINFORMATION, A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN SPREAD THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TRUST TO THE POLICE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

BUT BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT, FROM SCHIZOPHRENIA TO OVERDOSES, NOT TRUE.

WE HAVE 50 PLUS YEARS, NOT 50, BUT 20, 25 YEARS OF RESEARCH HAVE COME OUT TO SHOW THIS IS NOT TRUE.

WILL THIS BE PASSED? I DON'T KNOW. BUT WE WILL BE BACK.

THIS WAS JUST THE BEGINNING AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. JARED PANKOW.

AND FORGIVE ME. HELP ME OUT.

GERARD. PANICO. NICE.

I'M A DENTON RESIDENT.

I'M A RECENT GRADUATE FROM UNT AS WELL.

AND I MEAN, I DON'T REALLY USE CANNABIS.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO DO I REPRESENT STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY AT UNT.

AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE HARMS THAT HAVE BEEN CAUSED TO THESE FRIENDS, NOT FROM THE CANNABIS ITSELF, BUT FROM NEARLY GETTING ARRESTED OR NEARLY HAVING THEIR LIVES RUINED OR ACTUALLY HAVING THEIR LIVES RUINED.

I HAVE AT LEAST LIKE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THREE FRIENDS WHO THEY LOST A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE OF LIKE POSSESSION OF SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA.

AND I WANT TO HELP THEM PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE.

AND I'VE SEEN A BETTER WORLD.

AND I KNOW THIS IS SCARY, BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL HERE TO FIGHT INJUSTICE AND WORK TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE.

AND I KNOW THAT EVEN THE PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE THE MOST STAUNCHLY AGAINST THIS WILL STILL WORK TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND PROTECT AGAINST INJUSTICE AND ADAPT TO THAT BECAUSE WE'RE SMART.

LIKE WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO BE LIKE, OH, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE CANNABIS IS DECRIMINALIZED.

LIKE, NO, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES AND WORK THROUGH WITH THAT.

SO AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.

THANK YOU. AND I SEE MY TIME.

THANK YOU. MARSHALL LUNDBERG.

[04:25:10]

HELLO, MY NAME IS MARSHALL LUNDBERG.

I SUPPORT PROP B, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT IN MY EXPERIENCE, MARIJUANA BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.

IT FACILITATES THE FORMATION OF NEW AND EXCITING, INNOVATIVE IDEAS.

ME AND THE REST OF THE MEMBERS OF MY BAND ARE HERE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT MARIJUANA HAS HELPED US IMMENSELY CREATIVELY, HAS PROVIDED ME AND MY FRIENDS WITH SOME OF THE BEST MOMENTS OF OUR LIVES.

AND HONESTLY, IT'S SICKENING TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING ARRESTED FOR PERFECTLY LEGAL AMOUNTS OF THESE SUBSTANCES.

THIS WHOLE THING IS RIDICULOUS.

MARIJUANA OPENS PEOPLE UP TO LOVE.

YEAH, THAT'S IT.

KEEP DENTON GROOVY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. SAGE.

SAGE. NO, NO, THANK YOU.

I'M SORRY. HELLO, COUNSELORS.

MY NAME IS SAGE AND I LIVE BY AA.

AND I WILL SPARE YOU A LOT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU, LIKE, WHY THIS ISN'T ILLEGAL.

POLICE HAVE DISCRETION, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT THING.

SO I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT TALK ABOUT.

AND THAT IS THAT THAT THIS LAW IS UNJUST, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE OUR MORAL DUTY TO OPPOSE UNJUST LAWS BECAUSE THE VOTERS ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT, BUT NEITHER IS THE LAW.

AND WHENEVER THE LAW DICTATES A LAW THAT HAS ORIGINATED IN RACISM AS AN EXCUSE TO ARREST COMMUNITIES AND PUT THEM IN JAIL AND INTO LEGALIZED SLAVERY IN ACCORDANCE TO THE 13TH AMENDMENT, IT IS OUR DUTY TO OPPOSE THAT AND TO NOT DO THAT.

AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY, FOR HERE TONIGHT, OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT AND SERVE ITS PEOPLE.

AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT IS, YEAH, SURE, THERE MIGHT BE CRIMINALS WHO ALSO LIKE WHO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES THAT DO HARM THE COMMUNITIES WHO ALSO USE CANNABIS.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT CANNABIS IS HARMFUL.

AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS THAT THIS LAW HARMS A LOT MORE PEOPLE BY ARRESTING INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE NO OTHER WRONG THAN USE SOMETHING THAT HELPS THEM HONESTLY AND.

IT IS UP TO US.

WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WE SHOULD NOT ENFORCE AN UNJUST LAW BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE'VE ALREADY GONE OVER WHY IT ISN'T AGAINST THE LAW TO ASK OFFICERS TO NOT DO THIS.

AND I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT WE SHOULD PUT TRUST IN THAT, THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT USE THIS FOR ILL.

I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THIS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ONE QUESTION FOR YOU, COUNCILMAN MCGEE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. HI, SAGE.

HI. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS LAW, THIS LAW IS ROOTED IN RACISM.

CAN YOU SAY MORE ABOUT THAT, PLEASE? YES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY AND THE ORIGIN OF THIS LAW, IT WAS USED IT WAS LEGALIZED, WHICH ISN'T IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT TERM FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN THE FACT THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR, SUCH AS HISPANIC COMMUNITIES, BLACK COMMUNITIES, ET CETERA, ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE THAT.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORICAL TEXTS AND WHICH I'VE GONE OVER EXTENSIVELY, I'M A BIG HISTORY NERD, YOU CAN FIND QUOTES ABOUT PEOPLE SAYING THAT REEFER MAKES THOSE SLURS THINK THAT THEY'RE EQUAL TO WHITE PEOPLE.

AND A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S ROOTED IN RACISM.

AND WE SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO ENFORCE THIS LAW WHICH HARMS INNOCENT PEOPLE.

LIKE, YEAH, SURE IT MIGHT.

IT MIGHT RESULT IN SOME GOOD OF LIKE, ARRESTING PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ARRESTED FOR OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT HARM THAT ARE HARMFUL.

BUT IT'S NOT WORTH PUTTING A LOT OF INNOCENT PEOPLE IN JAIL AND SUBJECTING THEM TO INSTITUTIONALIZED SLAVERY.

THANK YOU. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

SO LET ME SEE IF WHAT I KNOW TRACKS ALONG WITH WHAT YOU KNOW.

YEAH. TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KIND OF ON THE SAME PAGE WITH RESPECT TO RACISM SPECIFICALLY.

SO GOING BACK TO THE 60S, NEITHER ONE OF US WAS HERE.

BASED OFF OF MY UNDERSTANDING AND WHAT I HAVE STUDIED WAS.

[04:30:03]

NIXON FLOODED COMMUNITIES WITH DRUGS.

CORRECT. OKAY.

SO BASED OFF OF WHAT WE KNOW FROM EHRLICHMAN.

NIXON FLOODED HIPPIE COMMUNITIES WITH MARIJUANA AND BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WITH COCAINE.

HE STARTED THE WAR ON DRUGS, CORRECT? CORRECT. SO THEN IN 1980, WE HAVE REAGAN COMING BEHIND THIS AND DOUBLING DOWN ON THE WAR ON DRUGS, CORRECT? CORRECT. AND IT'S NOT A PARTIZAN THING, BECAUSE THEN IN THE 1990S, WE HAVE NIXON HITTING US WITH THREE STRIKES AND YOU'RE OUT, WHICH THEN THEREFORE REMOVED AN ENTIRE GENERATION AND A HALF OF MEN, PARTICULARLY BLACK MEN FROM THE HOME.

DOES ALL THAT TRACK WITH WHAT YOU STUDIED? YES, CORRECT.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

JEANETTE MCKENZIE.

GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JEANETTE MCKENZIE.

I'VE LIVED IN DENTON FOR OVER FIVE YEARS NOW AND I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF DECRIMINALIZE DENTON SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING.

THIS ORDINANCE BROKE MANY RECORDS AT THE POLLS WITH THE SHEER NUMBER OF VOTES BEING MORE THAN ANY ORDINANCE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OR MAYOR HAS EVER RECEIVED IN THE HISTORY OF DENTON, AS WELL AS MORE THAN EITHER GOVERNOR CANDIDATE IN EVERY PRECINCT IN DENTON.

WE HAD HISTORIC VOTER TURNOUT.

VOTER APATHY COMES FROM PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THEIR VOTE DOESN'T MATTER.

WHEN I WAS OUT KNOCKING ON DOORS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, COLLECTING SIGNATURES FOR THIS BALLOT INITIATIVE, PEOPLE SAID, WHY SHOULD I SIGN THIS? EVEN IF I VOTE IT, THEY WON'T PASS IT.

MY VOTE IS NOT GOING TO MATTER.

IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP.

SHOW THEM THAT THEIR VOTE MATTERS.

WE HAD A HISTORIC VOTER TURNOUT THAT SHOULD BE RESPECTED.

WE WERE A BIPARTISAN ORGANIZATION WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

THE MEMBERS, WHO HAVE, QUOTE UNQUOTE BEEN DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD OF OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP, WOULD NOT BE DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD IF THEY WERE DOING THEIR JOB BY PROTECTING DEMOCRACY AND PROTECTING THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.

IF SMELL IS THE ONLY THING THAT YOU CAN USE TO SOLVE VIOLENT CRIME, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THESE OFFICERS GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND FIND ANOTHER CAREER BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY TOOLS THAT CAN BE USED IN DETECTIVE WORK.

THIS ORDINANCE, AS SAID BY MANY PEOPLE, DOES NOT VIOLATE STATE LAW.

IT SIMPLY SAYS THAT COUNCIL SHOULD DIRECT IT TO BE PUT AT THE LOWEST PRIORITY.

BUT A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST THAT WE DID SHOWED THAT THERE WAS AN OVER 200% INCREASE IN ARRESTS FOR MISDEMEANOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION SINCE PROP B'S PASSING 200% INCREASE.

AND THAT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDING ANY RACIAL DISPARITIES.

DUIS ARE STILL ILLEGAL.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS, BUT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OFFICERS SHOULD BE FOR ALL, JUST LIKE IT IS FOR EVERY CITIZEN.

AND I YIELD. IS THIS A NEW QUESTION? OKAY. NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. CARSON PARKER.

HI, MY NAME IS CARSON PARKER.

I'VE BEEN IN DENTON FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW, AND I JUST.

I WANTED TO COME HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT MY VOICE WAS ACTUALLY HEARD.

BECAUSE FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE, FROM WHAT I HAVE, FROM WHAT? FROM MY EXPERIENCE, MY VOICE, IT SEEMS LIKE IS NOT BEING HEARD.

I BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.

I BELIEVE THAT THE VOICES OF THE VOTERS SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND SHOULD BE, AND IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT ABOUT IN A WAY THAT IS PRESENTED BY THE BY THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

IF ANYONE HAS AN ACTUAL PROBLEM WITH THE LEGALITY OF THIS BILL, THEN LET THE COURTS DECIDE THIS.

LET THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE TO JUDGE THESE THINGS, JUDGE THEM, AND INSTEAD OF IMPOSING YOUR OWN PERSONAL BELIEFS ABOUT MARIJUANA, YOUR OWN PERSONAL USE IS ABOUT IT.

INSTEAD OF IMPOSING THAT UPON THE COMMUNITY, I BELIEVE THAT THESE THINGS SHOULD BE TALKED ABOUT FREELY AND FREE THOUGHT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND WE NEED WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS BECAUSE DECADES UPON DECADES WE'VE SEEN THAT THIS WAR ON DRUGS, WHICH IS REALLY A WAR ON COMMUNITY, HAS NOT ONLY TRAUMATIZED THE COMMUNITY AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, IT HAS NOT ONLY IT HAS REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE SIMPLY JUST TRYING TO GET BY AND LIVE THEIR LIFE AS CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CITIZENS OF TEXAS AND DENTON WE WE WISH TO JUST BE ABLE TO LIVE FREELY BY NOT HURTING ANYONE.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT DUIS.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT VERY VAGUE BLANKET STATEMENTS ABOUT MARIJUANA, SUPPOSEDLY INCREASING RISKS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA.

[04:35:06]

I HAVE FRIENDS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA THAT SMOKE MARIJUANA.

THEY'RE FINE.

I HAVE FRIENDS WITH WITH WITH TOURETTE'S.

I HAVE FRIENDS WITH ANXIETY.

I PERSONALLY STRUGGLE WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

AND IN MY EXPERIENCE, MARIJUANA HAS MEDICINALLY HELPED ME.

AND I, I AND I SEE MY RIGHTS BEING IMPOSED AND MY OWN VOICE BEING IMPOSED.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NICK STEVENS.

HI, IT'S ME AGAIN.

NICK FROM DECRIMINALIZED DENTON.

I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING MS..

HENSLEY, MR. REINWAND AND THE FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE, FRANK DIXON, NOW ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR ALWAYS DIALOGING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH HARD TOPICS.

I WISH. I WISH THAT DOUG SHOEMAKER WOULD DO THE SAME.

THAT WOULD BE WELCOME.

I HAD A LOT TO SAY, BUT INSTEAD I HAVE TO COMBAT A LOT OF MISINFORMATION FROM THE MAYOR AND THE DPOA, SO HOPEFULLY I HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO THAT ONE. YEAH.

AGAIN, YOU CANNOT OVERDOSE WITH THC.

ANY COP THAT DISAGREES IS WELCOME TO COME OVER TO MY HOUSE AND WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT TOGETHER.

THE CDC AND THE FBI BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO VIOLENT CRIME IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH CANNABIS USE.

WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO DISCIPLINE COPS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THE ORDINANCE SAYS.

ACTUALLY, DOUG SHOEMAKER IS THE ONE THAT GETS TO MAKE THAT POLICY PER OUR ORDINANCE, NOT YOU.

WE'RE NOT FIRING COPS.

THAT'S UP TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO DETERMINE PER OUR ORDINANCE BASED ON CITY POLICY.

AGAIN, ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THIS DOES NOT DECRIMINALIZE DUIS.

IF YOU ARE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, YOU SHOULD GO TO JAIL.

THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT MAKE ANY EXCEPTION TO STATE THAT WE JUST HAVE TO LET THOSE PEOPLE OFF THE HOOK IN THE SAME WAY, IF IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH A VIOLENT CRIME, YOU GO TO JAIL. THE ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN TO ADDRESS THAT.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I ACTUALLY WANT TO POINT OUT, THOUGH, IS IT WAS MIND BLOWING.

I HEARD ALL OF THESE POLICE OFFICERS SAY DON'T TAKE AWAY OUR ABILITY TO USE THE SMELL TEST.

DID YOU HEAR THAT? BUT I THOUGHT I HEARD THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR WEEKS NOW SAY THAT YOU DON'T USE THE ODOR TEST.

SO WHICH IS IT? I DON'T KNOW.

I'M CONFUSED.

AND SO, AGAIN, WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IS IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT ANY OF US HERE TODAY SAY, IT'S THAT 72% OF DETONATES ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT TO DO. THANK YOU.

AND YOU ARE HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT THEIR VOICES, NOT YOUR OWN.

THANK YOU. AURORA MASTERS.

YEAH. I DON'T KNOW. UH OH.

ARE YOU? OKAY.

I JUST WANT TO. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS YOU OR NOT.

OKAY. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE IT.

THAT'S WHAT HE'S ASKING, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE IT.

ARE YOU READY? YES.

OKAY. HI, MY NAME IS AURA.

I AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I GO BY.

AND I JUST HAVE A LITTLE SMALL SPEECH HERE.

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START IT SAYS, DEAR FELLOW DENTON KNIGHTS AND TEXANS, I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA IN DENTON COUNTY. AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, I BELIEVE IT IS TIME FOR US TO RECONSIDER OUR STANCE ON THIS ISSUE AND EMBRACE A MORE COMPASSIONATE AND PRACTICAL APPROACH TO DRUG POLICY FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF.

MARIJUANA PROVIDES A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL MEDICATIONS THAT CAN COME WITH A HOST OF SIDE EFFECTS AND RISKS.

AS A SINGLE, DISABLED, DISABLED PARENT WITH LUPUS, I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE CHALLENGES OF CHRONIC MANAGING CHRONIC PAIN AND ILLNESSES WHILE CARING FOR MY CHILDREN. I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE THE OPTION TO SMOKE WHAT LOOKS LIKE CIGARET ON MY PORCH THAN POP A BUNCH OF PILLS IN FRONT OF MY CHILDREN.

BUT BEYOND THE PERSONAL MEDICAL USE, DECRIMINALIZATION CAN HAVE A LARGER POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY BY SHIFTING OUR FOCUS AWAY FROM PUNITIVE MEASURES AND TOWARD PREVENTION AND TREATMENT. WE CAN BETTER ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION.

WE CAN ALSO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHICH IS CURRENTLY OVERWHELMED WITH DRUG RELATED CASES THAT COULD BE BETTER HANDLED THROUGH OTHER MEANS.

SO I URGE YOU, MY FELLOW TEXANS, TO CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF DECRIMINALIZATION AND TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO MAKE THE CHANGE HAPPEN AND DENTON COUNTY.

[04:40:02]

LET US WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS A BRIGHTER, MORE COMPASSIONATE FUTURE FOR OURSELVES AND OUR NEIGHBORS.

HELLO, MY NAME IS LOGAN, AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW ME, BUT I LIVE HERE IN DENTON, SO YOU SHOULD, UH.

LOGAN LARSON.

YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BRING BACK SOME HUMANITY TO THIS WHOLE SITUATION.

THIS IS ALL EXTREMELY RIDICULOUS.

YOU KNOW, FROM THE GET GO, WE ARE PUTTING OUR VOICE OUT THERE.

WE REALLY WANT TO BE HEARD.

WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND I FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS, A LOT OF YOU UP HERE ALREADY HAVE YOUR MINDS MADE UP AND YOU DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO US.

YOU DON'T WANT TO FIGHT FOR WHAT'S RIGHT.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, REFLECT, REALIZE THAT WE ARE ONE AND THE SAME.

WE'RE ALL HUMANS. WE'RE ALL HUMANS HERE, AND WE'RE ALL TRYING TO HAVE A GOOD FUTURE FOR OURSELVES, FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WE JUST WANT TO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THINGS ARE JUST AND RIGHT.

AND THE WAY THAT THE SYSTEM IS RIGHT NOW IS BROKEN AND IT'S NOT RIGHT.

I GIVE THE REST OF MY TIME SO I DON'T WASTE Y'ALL'S.

Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. THANK YOU DEB ARMATURE.

YOU GIVE YOUR NAME? YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

OKAY. MY NAME IS DEB ARMENTOR AND I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING.

SO FIRST OF ALL, ONE OF THE OFFICERS MENTIONED THAT THE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS PROVIDED BY CRIM DENTON ARE ERRONEOUS. THESE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS FROM DECRIM DENTON WERE TAKEN FROM THE POLICE INCIDENT REPORTS.

WE GOT THEM FROM Y'ALL FROM A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST FOR POLICE DATA.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE USING.

SO I'D BE VERY CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG WITH THESE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS.

SECONDLY, I'M GOING TO READ TO YOU IN FULL THE SECTION ON PROP B ON DISCIPLINE.

IT IS A SINGLE SENTENCE LONG, A SINGLE SENTENCE.

ANY VIOLATION OF THIS CHAPTER MAY SUBJECT A DENTON POLICE OFFICER TO DISCIPLINE AS PROVIDED BY THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OR AS PROVIDED IN CITY POLICY. THAT'S IT.

THAT SIMPLY MEANS.

YOU KNOW, DISCIPLINE WILL HAPPEN EITHER AS THE STATE DECIDES OR AS THE POLICE CHIEF DECIDES, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN IT COMES TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS, DISCIPLINE THAT DOES FALL UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE POLICE CHIEF.

THIS IS REALLY A VERY, VERY MODEST LAW.

ALSO, THERE WAS ONLY ONE DWI IN THE ENTIRE THREE MONTH REPORTING PERIOD, ONE DWI CONNECTED WITH WITH CANNABIS.

SO FOR, YOU KNOW, JUST IN CASE ANYONE THINKS THERE ARE ALL THESE DWI, CANNABIS RELATED, DWI IS THAT IS JUST NOT HAPPENING.

INSTEAD, THE POLICE DATA SHOWS THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING PULLED OVER THEIR THEIR PRIVACY IS BEING VIOLATED FOR JUST MINDING THEIR OWN BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, DARING TO SMELL THE WRONG WAY.

THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, DONNA.

DONNA SMITH.

AND AFTER DONNA, WE HAVE TWO OTHERS.

AND SO THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

GO RIGHT AHEAD. OKAY. MY NAME IS DONNA SMITH, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT ALL OF YOU ARE HERE TONIGHT.

AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS TOPIC A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND I STILL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.

AND SO I'M ASKING YOU TO NOT SUPPORT PROP B AND A COUPLE OF REASONS WHY IS THAT THE LAW IS IMPORTANT.

AND I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT ALL THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE IN THE ROOM AND THEY'RE PASSIONATE.

THEY WANT DEMOCRACY TRULY GO DOWN TO AUSTIN.

SOMETIMES YOU WIN, SOMETIMES YOU LOSE.

I MADE MY VOICE KNOWN ON A MANY DIFFERENT BILLS THAT WERE DOWN IN AUSTIN IN THIS PAST LEGISLATURE.

SOME THINGS I GOT I WAS I WANTED SOME THINGS I DID NOT.

AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY DEMOCRACY WORKS.

BUT RIGHT NOW AND I AM GLAD RIGHT NOW THAT IT IS NOT LEGAL IN TEXAS JUST TO DO WHAT YOU WANT.

MY BIG CONCERN IS THAT IF WE SAY, OH, WE'RE JUST GOING TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY AND LOOK THE OTHER WAY, YOU KNOW, THE ILLEGAL STUFF THAT COMES IN, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM. THE CARTELS ARE REAL.

[04:45:04]

THEY DON'T CARE IF THEY POISON PEOPLE.

IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY.

IT'S ABOUT POWER.

AND SO FOR THE SAKE OF OUR RESIDENTS, THEY NEED TO BE PROTECTED, EVEN IN MY THOUGHT PROCESS.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM PROTECTED.

THE OTHER ISSUE I SEE IS THAT TO TELL OUR CITY MANAGER, TO TELL OUR POLICE OFFICERS, DO NOT OBEY THE LAW, DON'T DO IT BECAUSE OUR LOCAL LAW ORDINANCE IS GREATER THAN THE TEXAS LAW.

I THINK THAT'S A HUGE MISTAKE.

IT'S A MISTAKE.

AND I DO SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

WE WANT THEM TO DO THEIR JOB TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY, WE HAVE ONE QUESTION.

COUNCILMAN MCGEE. HI, MISS SMITH.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? I'M GOOD, THANK YOU.

YOU STILL OWE ME A PRAYER, REMEMBER? I DO. I DO.

I DO. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, BUT IT'S ALSO FOR EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE ROOM AND EVERYBODY TRACKING ALONG.

YOU ASKED THAT WE NOT SUPPORT THIS.

ARE YOU AWARE THAT THE ORDINANCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS IN THE CITY OF DENTON? I AM AWARE THAT PEOPLE VOTED FOR IT.

I AM AWARE OF THAT.

SO GIVEN THAT PEOPLE ALREADY VOTED FOR IT ON NOVEMBER 8TH, ARE YOU AWARE THAT THIS IS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS, THAT REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER WE DO OR DON'T DO TONIGHT, THIS ORDINANCE WILL STILL STAY ON THE BOOKS? ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT? I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SAY YES AND NO.

I'M AWARE THAT IT IS THERE.

I THINK IT'S NOT LEGAL.

SO IF THAT BRINGS US TO A PLACE WHERE THE STATE OF TEXAS WOULD SUE US, THEN OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO EITHER DEFEND IT OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF THEY WOULD GIVE US A FINE.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WOULD WORK, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE TAXPAYERS WOULD LOSE MONEY EITHER WAY THAT WENT.

BUT JUST BECAUSE A TAXPAYER THE TAX, BECAUSE THE CITIZENS VOTED FOR IT, ARE THE THE GENTLEMAN'S POINT WAS CORRECT. YOU KNOW, OVER 100 YEARS AGO, THEY ALSO THE CITIZENS VOTED TO HAVE PEOPLE REMOVED BASED ON THEIR COLOR.

WE WOULD NEVER WANT THAT.

SO JUST BECAUSE THE CITIZENS HAVE VOTED FOR SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

AND IT'S IT'S ILLEGAL RIGHT NOW.

AND WE WANT OUR CITY TO BE SAFE.

SO PLEASE SEE TO IT THAT WE'RE SAFE.

THANK YOU. MS.. DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MISS SMITH.

THANK YOU. I YIELD BACK, MR. MAYOR.

AND SAM.

AND YOUR LAST NAME STARTS WITH A THERE'S A L AFTER THAT.

A L P H, MAYBE O K E, AND THEN THAT RING A BELL ANYWHERE CLOSE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IF YOU FILLED OUT A BLUE CARD AND YOU DON'T GET CALLED.

SO OKAY.

RICHARD GLADMAN THAT'S BE OUR LAST SPEAKER.

I'M THE LAST SPEAKER.

THAT IS CORRECT. GIVE YOUR NAME.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. AS A LAWYER, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO KEEP MY COMMENTS TO TWO MINUTES.

BUT I'LL DO MY BEST.

I'LL HELP. MY NAME IS.

THAT MEANS I'M GOING OVER FOR SURE NOW.

FIRST OF ALL, MY NAME IS RICHARD GLADDEN.

I LIVE AT 1822 WEST OAK.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS FOCUS EXACTLY ON WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING TONIGHT.

WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A POLITICAL ISSUE.

WE ALSO KNOW, AS I THINK ONE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TESTIFIERS OR COMMENTERS TONIGHT REALIZE IS IT'S A LEGAL QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE INITIATIVE THAT'S ON THE BOOKS IS OR ISN'T INCONSISTENT OR VALID IN RELATION TO STATE LAW.

COURTS DECIDE WHAT THE LAW IS.

I DON'T GET I'M A LAWYER AND I DON'T GET TO DECIDE WHAT THE LAW IS.

AND SO PEOPLE WHO TAKE OATHS OF OFFICE PLEDGE TO FOLLOW THE LAW AS DETERMINED BY OUR COURTS WHEN IT INVOLVES A LEGAL ISSUE.

WHEN YOU DEAL WITH A POLITICAL QUESTION, IT'S A FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY THAT MAJORITY VOTES SETTLE DISPUTES IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHEN WE DISAGREE. AND IT PAINS ME A LITTLE BIT THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SPLIT UP OVER THIS ISSUE.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT GROWS OUT OF THE GROUND THAT NOBODY CAN OVERDOSE TAKING.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.

BUT WHEN I SUGGEST IS THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT SPOKE BEFORE YOU TOLD YOU THAT THEY ARE AGAINST THIS? WELL, THEY VOTED.

THEY CAME UP SHORT.

THEY LOST BY 71%.

[04:50:03]

THE REASON WHY THEY DON'T LIKE THIS IS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CONTINUE ENGAGING IN INDISCRIMINATE SEARCHES BECAUSE IT MIGHT LEAD TO EVIDENCE OF VIOLENT CRIME.

SO WOULD CHEWING GUM.

SO WOULD BEING BLACK.

SO WOULD BEING WHITE.

SO WOULD BEING HISPANIC.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A FOURTH AMENDMENT.

SO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT'S LIKE YOU'VE HEARD THE NIGHT.

THANK YOU. DON'T SEARCH PEOPLE FOR INDISCRIMINATE, ARBITRARY REASONS.

THANK YOU. UNDER THE JUSTIFICATION OF FINDING SOME VIOLENCE SOMEWHERE.

THANK YOU. AND SO THEN ALSO.

COMMENTS THAT THAT THAT THEY SUBMITTED COMMENTS.

THERE'S WALTER MCELHANEY IS IN SUPPORT AND KEITH SHUGART IS IN OPPOSITION SO THOSE THEY'VE REGISTERED THEIR THOUGHTS AS WELL.

THAT CONCLUDES COMMENTS.

I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR WE STILL HAVE CONSENT AGENDA STUFF TO GET TO AND THE REST OF OUR AGENDA, BUT I'LL OPEN IT UP TO BRIEF SUCCINCT COMMENTS EMOTION ANY OF THE ABOVE.

COUNCILMAN MCGEE.

TURN YOUR MIC ON. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AS I REQUESTED FOR A MINUTE AGO.

CAN WE SEE THE LANGUAGE ON EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TONIGHT? IS STAFF ABLE TO PULL UP THE PROPOSITION? I'M WORKING ON THAT NOW. THANK YOU, RYAN.

OKAY. IS THAT THAT'S THE EXTENT OF YOUR COMMENTS.

JUST WAITING ON THAT. RIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE? YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR FOR LEGAL, AND THAT IS IF THE MOTION, AS I MADE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, TO VOTE THIS IN EXACTLY AS AS WRITTEN PLUS A 60 DAYS TO TO EVALUATE ANY CHANGES AS WELL AS COME UP WITH AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

WE DISCUSSED THIS ALL IN WORK SESSION.

MY QUESTION LEGALLY IS THE ONLY ITEM OF DISPUTE MAY BE THE 2182, WHICH IS WHETHER PETITIONS HAVE THE POWER OF HAVE BUDGETARY POWER.

IS THAT CORRECT? I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING.

SORRY. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING IS WAS THERE A A PROBLEM WITH THE INITIATIVE IN THE SENSE THAT IT APPROPRIATED MONEY AND OUR CHARTER FOR THE CITY DOES NOT ALLOW THE INITIATIVE, THE ABILITY TO APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR THE CITY.

AND SO I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO IS, YES, THE INITIATIVE IS EFFECTIVE TODAY, THAT COMPONENT OF IT THAT APPROPRIATES MONEY, THAT SAYS YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE FUNDS TO TEST MAY HAVE AN IMPLICATION, A NEGATIVE IMPLICATION.

IT MAY NOT BE FULLY ADOPTED IN THE SENSE THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT THE CHARTER ALLOWS THROUGH INITIATIVE PROCESS.

SO SO REALLY THEN WE'RE VOTING ON WHETHER TO GIVE AN ALREADY EXISTING.

I MEAN, IF I BOIL IT DOWN, WE'RE VOTING ON WHETHER TO GIVE AN ALREADY EXISTING PIECE OF LEGISLATION BUDGETARY POWER.

AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE REPORTS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM VARIOUS STAFF MEMBERS THAT THE CAN IS BEING DESTROYED WHEN IT'S SEIZED AND WE CAN GET INTO THE ISSUE OF WHETHER THEY'RE SEIZING LEGAL HEMP AND OPENING US UP TO TO ILLEGAL SEIZURE AND WHATNOT AND AS A SEPARATE ITEM.

BUT IF WE ARE DESTROYING THE PARAPHERNALIA AND NOT TESTING, THEN WE HAVE A $0 CHANGE BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND WHATEVER HAPPENS TODAY, BECAUSE WE'RE ESSENTIALLY VOTING ON A BUDGETARY MATTER BY ENFORCING WHAT IS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS AS 21 FIVE.

IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, YEAH, THERE'S TWO PARTS TO IT.

YES, THAT'S, I THINK, THE PRIMARY PIECE.

I DON'T KNOW ALL THE PARTS YOU SPOKE BEFORE ABOUT.

THE DIFFERENT EFFECTS OF THIS.

YES, I THINK YOU'RE FILLING IN A GAP BUDGETARILY THAT MAYBE IT WASN'T ALLOWED FOR THROUGH THE INITIATIVE PROCESS IF YOU ADOPT THIS TONIGHT.

BUT YOU'RE ALSO MAKING A COUNCIL VOTE TONIGHT, WHICH CHANGES IT DOESN'T CHANGE IT, BUT IT LAYERS ON TOP OF IT.

BEFORE, IT WAS AN INITIATIVE ADOPTED BY THE CITIZENS.

YOU'D ALSO TONIGHT BE TAKING ACTION AS A COUNCIL.

IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE IT, IT WOULD BE NOW A COUNCIL ACTION.

OKAY, BUT I'M CONFUSED.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CITIZEN PETITIONS HAVE ALL THE POWER OF COUNCIL EXCEPT FOR BUDGETARY POWER.

[04:55:07]

SO THEY HAVE ALL THE POWER OF COUNCIL.

I'M GOING TO REPEAT MYSELF EXCEPT FOR BUDGETARY POWER.

SO ALL WE IF WE ADD OUR VOICES TO THIS TONIGHT, WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANYTHING OTHER THAN BUDGETARY POWER.

AS FAR AS THE ORDINANCE. YES.

AS FAR AS AS FAR AS WHAT IT WAS ADOPTED OR HOW IT WAS ADOPTED.

YES, YOU ARE YOU'RE CHANGING IT FROM AN INITIATIVE WHERE THEY STEPPED INTO THE SHOES OF COUNCIL TO NOW IS A FORMAL COUNCIL ACTION THAT SUBJECTS YOU AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO POTENTIAL CHALLENGE AS WELL.

YOU'RE TAKING ACTION VERSUS WHAT YOU DID BEFORE WAS JUST APPROVE WHAT THE INITIATIVE WAS.

YOU CANVASS THE ELECTION.

IT BECAME OPERATIONAL BY LAW.

THANK YOU. I'LL LET OTHER PEOPLE COMMENT BEFORE I MAKE A MOTION OR ANYONE ELSE MAKES A MOTION.

COUNCILMAN. BYRD. YOU KNOW, EARLIER TODAY IN OUR WORK SESSION, I HAD ALREADY MADE MY COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO WHAT I THINK ABOUT THIS MATTER.

I AM I HAD NOTED VERY EARLY ON WHEN THIS FIRST CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL THAT I WAS NOT EXCITED ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE HERE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, BUT I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE ACTIVISM TO BRING IT FORWARD.

I AM SO PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR PUSHING THE ENVELOPE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PUSH OURSELVES TO FIND OUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH OURSELVES.

AND AND WHENEVER WE'RE SPEAKING HERE, EVERYTHING THAT WE DO ON THIS COUNCIL IS ALWAYS FOR THE FUTURE.

WE CAN'T GO BACK AND CHANGE THE PAST, BUT WE CAN DIRECT WHAT OUR FUTURE IS GOING TO BE.

I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH THIS BECAUSE I AM DIRECTED TOWARDS THE WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE OF US AND THAT'S OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE STANDING RIGHT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS.

AND THEY HAVE COME THROUGH WITH THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND THEY'VE GIVEN US THEIR WORDS.

AND I'VE HEARD YOUR WORDS.

AND I JUST TO LET SOME OF YOU ALL KNOW, I AM A FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

BACK IN THE OLDEN DAYS, I GOT A LOT OF GRAY HAIR.

SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE OUT OF BUSINESS FOR A WHILE, FOR A WHILE.

BUT I DO KNOW I DO KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BE EVERYTHING AND ON 100% ALL THE TIME. AND IF WE EXPECT OUR LAW OFFICERS TO BE 100% EVERY SINGLE TIME, WE ARE GOING TO SADDLE THEM WITH SOMETHING THAT'S VERY I DON'T KNOW THE WORD, IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IT'S GOING TO HARBOR SOME ILL WILL.

NOW, THIS IS WHAT MY ISSUE IS.

MY ISSUE IS THAT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A MARIJUANA PROBLEM HERE IN TOWN BECAUSE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SMOKE MARIJUANA SMOKED IT YESTERDAY.

THEY SMOKED IT TODAY.

THEY'RE GOING TO SMOKE IT TOMORROW.

AND I'M ASKING EACH ONE OF US, WHAT DIFFERENCE IS THIS GOING TO MAKE? HOW IS THIS GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT YOU USE DELIVER, PROTECT ALL OF THAT? WHAT DIFFERENCE IS IT GOING TO MAKE TO YOU? REALLY? YOU DON'T SMOKE IT.

YOU DON'T MATTER. YOU USE IT.

YOU'RE GOING TO STILL USE IT.

YOU'RE GOING TO STILL GET IT BECAUSE IT'S EVERYWHERE AND IT'S BEEN EVERYWHERE.

BUT NOW MY, MY, MY MY PROBLEM IS, IS THAT WE PUT OUR POLICE OFFICERS RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

THEY'VE GOT TO GO OUT AND THEY'VE GOT TO BE ON 100.

THEY'VE GOT TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.

AND WHEN WE'RE PUTTING THAT STRESS ON OUR OFFICERS, ALL OF THIS IS BRINGING IN A BUNCH OF CONFUSION.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME DEALING WITH IT.

SINCE LAST YEAR, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A WAY.

WE'VE SPOKEN WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ACM AND THE CITY MANAGER.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO FIND ALL OF THE LEGAL THINGS ABOUT THIS? WHAT CAN WE DO? WE ASKED THEM.

WE PUSHED IT BACK.

IT CAME BACK. WE PUSHED IT BACK.

AND FINALLY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY YES OR NO.

I DON'T WANT MY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO BE IN A PREDICAMENT.

I WANT TO PROTECT MY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

I WANT THEM TO HAVE THE DIRECTION.

I WANT THEM TO DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

I WANT TO SUPPORT MY POLICE CHIEF.

HE'S COME HERE WITH THE WORD.

AND WE HAVE HAVE TO DEPEND ON SOMEONE.

WE KEEP GOING TO FIRE EVERYBODY.

WHATEVER YOU DON'T LIKE, LET'S JUST GET RID OF THEM.

WE DON'T LIKE THE CITY MANAGER.

WELL, SHE GOT TO GO.

WE DON'T LIKE THE POLICE. SHE GOT TO GO.

WE DON'T LIKE THE.

THE GUY IN THE LANDFILL.

HE'S GOT TO GO. EVERYBODY'S GOT TO GO.

[05:00:01]

AND HERE WE ARE HAVING TO DEPEND ON THESE PEOPLE.

NOW, HERE'S WHAT THE OTHER PROBLEM IS WITH ME, IS THAT WE WERE GOING STEADY, ROCKING, STEADY, HAVING COMMUNICATIONS BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CITY, THE CITY MANAGER, SHE GOING TO THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE ACM AND SAYING, WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN DO? WE WANT TO DO THAT.

WELL, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE RIGHT THERE.

THEN YOU TURN AND PIVOT TO, OH, LET'S BRING THE BLACK PEOPLE IN.

WE CAN'T GET WHAT WE NEED.

WELL, LET'S BRING THE BLACK PEOPLE IN AND THE PEOPLE OF COLOR, YOU'RE MISTREATING THEM NOW.

WE GOT TO GET RID OF IT.

I'M OFFENDED BY THAT.

OKAY, SIR, I'M JUST GOING TO BE JUST A MOMENT.

I'M OFFENDED BY THAT.

YOU CAN'T GET WHAT WE WANT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ARE ALREADY KNOW WE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA.

WE HAVE PROBLEMS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA AND MISOGYNY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. SO I PUT THE ONUS ON THE POLICE CHIEF THAT IF YOU'RE HIRING PEOPLE LIKE THAT, I'M GOING TO BE RIGHT ON TOP OF YOU BECAUSE I WILL KNOW BECAUSE THE REPORTS WILL SHOW IT.

AND IF WE GOT POLICE OFFICERS OUT THERE THAT ARE DELIBERATELY TARGETING AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE WHERE THEY CAN'T LIVE THEIR LIVES, ONCE ALL OF THAT IS OVER FOR THEM, WHEN THEY GET OUT OF JAIL, NOW THEY HAVE A RECORD.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

WE HAVE TO DEMAND MORE FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT'S NOT THE MARIJUANA.

IT'S THE RACISM.

IT'S THE SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT WE FIND IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

I WANT MY POLICE CHIEF TO TELL THE WORLD THAT IF YOU ARE A HOMOPHOBIC AND YOU'RE RACIST AND YOU'RE MISOGYNISTIC INDIVIDUAL, DO NOT APPLY TO THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO HIRE YOU.

YOUR JOB IS TO TAKE CARE OF US.

NOW, I'M ALSO THINKING ALL OF THESE AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE, DO THEY LIVE HERE OR ARE THEY JUST COMING THROUGH? WHAT WAS THE DEAL? I HAVEN'T READ THE POLICE REPORTS.

I WANT MY POLICE OFFICERS PROTECTED.

I WANT THEM TO HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED, ALL THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED, BECAUSE I MAY HAVE TO CALL ON THEM SOME DAY.

AND IF SOME GUY COMES IN AND TRIES TO COME TO HELP ME AND THEY SEE THAT I'M A BROWN PERSON AND THEY'RE A RACIST AND THEY DO NOT CALL FOR HELP, EMT OR WHATEVER ELSE ON TIME IN A TIMELY MANNER TO HELP ME.

THAT'S WHAT MY PROBLEM IS.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE LAW ALL DAY LONG.

IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT YOU DELIVER YOUR DRUGS, USE YOUR DRUGS.

WE'RE ALREADY HAD NEGOTIATED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS IS A LOW LEVEL SITUATION FOR THEM.

THEY DON'T HAVE TIME FOR ONE MARIJUANA JOINT, A REEFER, AS HE LIKES TO CALL IT, HAVE TIME FOR THAT.

THEY HAVE TIME TO DO THE HARD WORK.

AND WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON THESE PEOPLE AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, TOO, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE FIRST RESPONDERS AS WELL.

I WANT TO GET OFF OF THIS SUBJECT.

I DON'T WANT TO I DON'T WANT TO GO ANY FURTHER WITH THIS SUBJECT.

I WANT US TO BE DONE WITH IT.

OUR JOB IS TO TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER, AND THAT INCLUDES OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLKS.

WE HOLD THEM AT A VERY HIGH STANDARD AND THEY ARE MEETING THAT STANDARD.

AND IF THEY'RE NOT, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE PARTICULARITIES OF WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE MORE AFRICAN AMERICANS THAT HAVE A HIGHER RATE? THAT'S THEIR JOB TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

OKAY. SO IF WE HADN'T HAVE GONE ALONG AND NOW WE PIVOT TO THIS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY, OH, I'M SO GLAD THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTING US AND THEY'RE PROTECTING US, THE WHITE PEOPLE, COME ON.

ALL RIGHT. THIS IS A CONVERSATION FROM FROM HAWAII ALL THE WAY OVER TO KEY WEST, FLORIDA, AND THEN SOME.

SO I DON'T WANT TO LECTURE, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT MARIJUANA IS HERE AND IT'S HERE TO STAY.

AND IF YOU FOOL AROUND AND HAVE AN DUI OR DWI OR WHATEVER WE WANT TO CALL IT, AND YOU GET PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE BECAUSE YOUR HEADLIGHT IS OUT AND THEY STOP YOU AND THERE YOU ARE.

THEY SMELL IT.

YOU COULD SMELL THE STUFF ALL DAY IF IT'S BEEN SMOKED OR IF IT HASN'T BEEN SMOKED.

IT HAS AN ODOR.

[05:05:01]

NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT I'M A DRUG DEALER.

I GOT ALL KINDS OF STUFF IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR, AND WHEN I COME THROUGH DENTON, ALL I GOT TO DO IS JUST SMELL LIKE MARIJUANA.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, OH, HAVE A GREAT DAY AND MOVE YOU ON DOWN THE LINE.

IS THAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW? WE'RE ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE, 35, COMING ALL THE WAY FROM SOUTH TEXAS, ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH ILLINOIS, HEADED UP AND MOVING OUT.

IT'S OKAY.

GOT THIS COLLEGE TOWN.

WE KNOW IT'S MARIJUANA OUT HERE.

PEOPLE ARE SMOKING MARIJUANA.

WE HAD A DRUG DEALER THAT COME THROUGH HERE AND TELL US HE'S DELIVERING TO POLICE OFFICERS, NOT TO POLICE OFFICERS.

I'M SORRY, BUT TO TEACHERS AND AND TO PEOPLE IN THE LAWYER IN THE LAWYER'S OFFICE, A DA, EVERYBODY'S SMOKING THIS STUFF.

THEY'RE DOING IT IN THE PRIVACY OF THEIR HOMES.

IT'S RECREATIONAL.

THEY'RE DOING THEIR OWN THING.

BUT WE HAVE TO THE BOTTOM LINE IS, HOW IS OUR HOW ARE IS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDING TO IT? YOU ALL THINK ON THAT.

I THINK I'M DONE.

THANK YOU. OH, AND BY THE WAY, I SAID WHAT I SAID.

I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I'M NOT GOING TO RESPOND BECAUSE I SAID WHAT I SAID, AND THAT'S ALL THAT I'M GOING TO SAY.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND MAYOR, POINT OF ORDER, PLEASE.

ARE ARE WE ARE WE LOOKING FOR A MOTION AT THIS TIME? YES, SIR. MOTION DISCUSSION AT AL.

THEN. THEN I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION AND I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IT.

PRESUMING. PRESUMING THAT IT GETS A SECOND.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO DENY ID 23.

ONE. ONE, TWO, ONE.

DENY IT. REPEAL IT, OR WHATEVER THE PROPER LANGUAGE IS.

POINT OF ORDER. MAYOR KENT, STATE.

YOUR POINT OF ORDER CAN'T PUT A NEGATIVE EMOTION MOTION IN.

CAN'T PUT A NEGATIVE MACK HELP ME OUT.

MOTIONS ARE MEANT TO PROCESS FORWARD, NOT STEP BACKWARDS.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S GENERALLY THE RULE, ALTHOUGH WE'VE DONE A LOT OF MOTION TO DENY.

IT'S VERY COMMON PRACTICE FOR THE COUNCIL TO DO A MOTION TO DENY AS WELL.

OKAY, SO I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR.

OKAY. SO.

GOT IT. SO THERE'S A MOTION TO DENY.

TAKE YOUR POINT. BUT I GUESS WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST.

IS THAT HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF THAT.

FREQUENTLY I THINK WE HAVE A PRACTICE OR A RULE THAT SAYS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO MOTIONS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, BUT WE SORRY, WE HAVE A RULE.

WE HAVE A RULE THAT SAYS WE SHOULD DO MOTIONS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, BUT OUR COMMON PRACTICE IS TO DO MOTIONS IN THE NEGATIVE AS WELL.

WE DO FREQUENTLY MOTIONS TO DENY.

IT'S VERY COMMON. WE DO IT ON LOTS OF ZONING CASES AS WELL.

BUT ULTIMATELY, I'M ADVISING YOU, MAYOR, YOU MAKE THE ULTIMATE CALL.

YOU'RE THE CHAIR. OKAY.

GOT IT. WE CAN'T HEAR MATT, OKAY? HE JUST HE JUST SAID TRADITIONALLY OUR PRACTICE IS THAT WE CAN THAT WE CAN MOVE TO DENY COUNCILMAN BYRD MADE THE POINT THAT MOTIONS ARE TO BE AN AFFIRMATIVE TRADITIONALLY, BUT THIS BODY HAS DONE IT BOTH WAYS, WHERE YOU CAN MOVE TO DENY OR MOVE TO APPROVE.

SO I'M GOING TO ACCEPT THE COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND'S MOTION TO.

DENY JUST.

AND WE'LL SEE IF IT GETS A SECOND.

IS THERE A SECOND? THE SHOW OF HANDS, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO LOSE THEIR PLACE IN QUEUE.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER, WHAT'S.

I GUESS CLARIFICATION ON THE MOTION.

ARE YOU SAYING A MOTION TO DENY THE ORDINANCES THAT IS PRESENTED TODAY ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? AS IT'S WRITTEN? YES, SIR. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M THAT'S MY MOTION TO DENY THE MOTION AS WRITTEN THAT THE COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON TODAY.

I ACTUALLY PREFER THE WORD REPEAL.

WELL, YEAH, WE'RE NOT.

MR. CITY ATTORNEY, IF YOU COULD ADDRESS.

WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO REPEAL THE EXISTING ORDINANCE.

THIS IS A AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL.

WE WERE ASKED TO BRING A DUPLICATE ORDINANCE TODAY, SO.

OKAY, THEN. TO DENY. I BEG YOUR PARDON? OKAY. SO, IN EFFECT, IF THIS WAS APPROVED, THE UNDERLYING ORDINANCE, THE INITIATIVE THAT WAS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER, WOULD STILL BE ON THE BOOKS.

THAT'S NOT UP FOR A VOTE TONIGHT, RIGHT? OKAY. SO IF THE MOTION IS TO SIMPLY DENY THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN BEFORE THE COUNCIL TONIGHT, AS IN THE BACKUP, IS THAT THE MOTION? OKAY. THEN I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.

I GUESS IT'S OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS ITEM.

DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION.

THANK YOU. YES, MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, CITIZENS, WE HAVE SPENT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND MONEY ON THIS.

IT JUST SEEMS TO GO ON AND ON AND ON WHILE OUR STREETS CRUMBLE.

[05:10:04]

IF WE WERE TO TAKE THE SAME ENERGY THAT WE'VE THAT WE'VE SPENT ON THIS AND GET SOME GET SOME STREET REPAIR DONE, IT WOULD REALLY, REALLY PLEASE ME.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THIS THAT PARTICULARLY OFFEND ME.

I'M I'M NOT I'M NOT GOING TO TELL A PROFESSIONAL POLICE OFFICER HOW TO DO HIS OR HER JOB.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S MY JOB.

MY JOB IS TO BACK THE BLUE.

AND BACK IN THE BLUE IS MORE THAN STICKING A BUMPER STICKER ON THE BACK OF YOUR CAR.

I THINK WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THESE MEN AND WOMEN.

AND THEY'VE THEY'VE STOOD UP HERE TONIGHT AND TOLD US TOLD US WHERE THEY COME FROM ON THIS.

AND THEY SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE.

WHEN I WAS DENTON COUNTY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, I SIGNED HUNDREDS OF ARREST WARRANTS THAT WERE PREDICATED WITH THE ODOR OF MARIJUANA AND AND KIDNAPED CHILDREN WERE FOUND IN THE BACK SEAT AND AND GUNS WERE FOUND IN THE TRUNK AND AND OTHER DRUGS, ALL SORTS OF ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT STARTED WITH PROBABLE CAUSE. I THINK THAT'S VERY, VERY REASONABLE.

I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE CLEAR AND CONCISE SUPPORT TO THE POLICE.

AND IF THIS PASSES, THAT IS TO SAY, IF MY MOTION FAILS, WE WILL GET SUED, WE WILL GET SUED AND WE WILL LOSE AND WE'LL LOSE AGAIN.

MONEY THAT COULD BE COULD BE USED TO FIX THE STREETS THAT YOU AND I DRIVE ON.

I APPRECIATE THE SECOND.

COUNCILWOMAN MELTZER.

YEAH, LET ME SHARE MY THOUGHT PROCESS THAT I'LL GO INTO MY NO VOTE.

I INTEND TO OFFER A MOTION AFTER IF THAT IF THIS MOTION DOESN'T SUCCEED.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE A QUARREL WITH MOST OF WHAT I'VE HEARD ON FROM THE POLICE OR FROM THE SUPPORTERS OF PROPOSITION B, THE WAY WE SETTLE THOSE THINGS, THOSE POINTS WERE ALL VALID BEFORE THE ELECTION.

THERE WAS AN ELECTION.

THAT'S HOW WE SETTLE THINGS IN THIS COUNTRY.

NOW, I HASTEN TO POINT OUT THAT.

ELGIN. HARKER HEIGHTS.

SAN MARCOS.

AUSTIN. KILLEEN.

ALSO PASS THESE.

SOME HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH IT.

SOME HAVE NOT.

THEY ALL HAVE CITY MANAGERS.

THEY ALL HAVE CITY ATTORNEYS.

THEY ALL HAVE CHIEFS OF POLICE.

I'M NOT AWARE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE CONTESTING ANY OF THOSE.

SO MAYBE THEY WILL, MAYBE THEY WON'T.

BUT WE HAVE AT LEAST AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LAW THAT'S ON THE BOOKS.

WHATEVER WHATEVER IS SAID HERE SO FAR, WE STILL HAVE THAT LAW ON THE BOOKS, BUT IT'S NOT BEING ENFORCED.

SO. OKAY.

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO SAY FIRE EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN PART OF NOT ENFORCING IT.

I'M NOT IN THAT CAMP. I WANT TO GET US ALL TO THE SAME SIDE.

IF THERE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH IMPLEMENTING THIS, LET'S LEARN FROM ELGIN, HARKER HEIGHTS, SAN MARCOS, AUSTIN, KILLEEN.

SO I'M GOING TO BE PROPOSING THAT THE THAT WE ADOPT THE ORDINANCE WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE IN 60 DAYS.

I'M GOING TO REQUEST THAT THERE BE A STAFF REPORT AT 30 DAYS THAT TELLS US WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T, WHAT ADJUSTMENTS HAD TO BE MADE FOR IMPLEMENTABILITY IN ELGIN, HARKER HEIGHTS AND MARCOS, AUSTIN KILLEEN AND SOME OF THE THINGS DIDN'T WORK AND WE SHOULDN'T DO THE THINGS THAT DIDN'T WORK AND THE THINGS THAT DID WE SHOULD DO. AND THEN I WILL ASK THAT BEFORE 60 DAYS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW A STAFF RECOMMENDATION, A MARKUP, IF YOU WILL, THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT COMMUNITY AND STAFF INPUT TO IMPROVE THE IMPLEMENTABILITY THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.

THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S HOW WE DO THINGS.

I'VE BEEN ON THE BRUNT OF WINNING AND LOSING ELECTIONS.

THAT'S HOW WE DO IT.

SO LET'S GET TO THE IMPLEMENTATION.

BUT TAKING IN ALL THE VOICES, I COMPLETELY I COMPLETELY RESPECT THE INPUT OF THE POLICE AND I FULLY EXPECT THEM TO GIVE GUIDANCE ON HOW TO ADJUST THIS SO THAT WE CAN DO WHAT IS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.

AND YOU'VE HEARD THAT THERE IS OPINION THAT IT DOESN'T VIOLATE STATE LAW.

SO WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET.

KNOW THERE'S AN OPINION EXPRESSED THAT IT FLATLY DOES THAT THAT'S THAT THAT IS NOT A BLACK AND WHITE STATEMENT OF FACT, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT YOU HEARD ABOUT 2019, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FACT THAT ALL THESE OTHER CITIES HAVE POLICE CHIEFS.

SOME HAVE IMPLEMENTED IT.

SO ALL OF THAT IS WHY I'M VOTING NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M ASSUMING.

JUDGE HARLAN, CAN YOU TAKE YOUR NAME? I THINK THERE'S A REMOVE THING THERE.

AND YES, THERE WE GO.

AND COUNCILMAN BYRD.

[05:15:02]

ARE YOU STILL. I'M STILL ON.

I WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING.

BY ALL MEANS ABOUT THIS, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE MEDICINAL USE IS LEGAL IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. BUT I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB IN SENDING THE RIGHT PEOPLE DOWN THERE TO AUSTIN.

BUT OUR PROBLEM IS, IS THAT WE'RE ARE NOT PUTTING SOME PEOPLE UP AGAINST SOME OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING DOWN TO AUSTIN AND MAKING THESE DECISIONS. AND WE WANT A DIFFERENT IF WE WANT A CHANGE, PUT THE PEOPLE IN AUSTIN TO MAKE THE CHANGE. I'VE READ WHERE THERE ARE SOME LEGISLATORS THAT HAVE PUT IN OPPORTUNITIES OR NEEDING A VOTE TO DECRIMINALIZE. IT'S DOWN THERE, BUT IT CAN'T GET OUT OF THE COMMITTEE.

AND THEN THERE'S THIS GUY THAT THAT SIGNS OFF ON EVERYTHING.

HE'S ALREADY KNOW THAT THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO SIGN OFF ON THIS STUFF.

SO THAT'S OUR JOB RIGHT NOW AS CITIZENS IS TO FLIP PUT IN CANDIDATES THAT CAN WIN SO WE CAN HAVE THE KIND OF VOTE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THIS KIND OF THING WORK.

THAT'S WHAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW AS ADVOCATES.

I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR THAT, AND THEN THAT WILL COME BACK TO US AND HAVE US DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

BUT UNTIL THE STATE OF TEXAS LEGALIZES FULLY, THEN WE CAN GO AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THE ONLY OTHER THING IS, IS THAT WE'VE HEARD THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, OFFICERS DEPARTMENT ALREADY CONSIDERS THIS A LOW LEVEL SITUATION FOR THEM. THEY'VE ALREADY NOTED TO US THIS IS NOT A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US ANYWAY.

WE'RE ANSWERING THE 3 TO 400 CALLS EVERY DAY, AND NOBODY'S SITTING AROUND WAITING.

THIS IS ME TALKING. THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THIS.

AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS SITTING AROUND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO HAS A COUPLE OF JOINTS IN THEIR POCKET AND THEY'RE WALKING.

I CAN'T IMAGINE SOMEONE HAVING A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND BECAUSE OF A MARIJUANA JOINT IN THEIR POCKET.

SO LET'S THINK ON THAT.

I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT TO THE CONVERSATION AS WELL.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK FOR US TO STILL DO ON THIS, BUT AS VOTERS COLLECTIVELY, WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THOSE FOLKS DOWN THERE IN AUSTIN.

ALL OF THIS ENERGY THAT WE'RE PUTTING UP HERE, IT COULD BE GOING DOWN THERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THERE OR IT COULD BE DONE AT THE VOTING BOOTH AND IT COULD BE DONE BY PUTTING SOME PEOPLE UP, UP AGAINST THESE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTING US DOWN THERE IN AUSTIN.

ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT READY TO GO TO AUSTIN YET, BUT AT SOME POINT, I GUESS I COULD, BECAUSE IF THAT MEANS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE RIGHTS AND PUT THE PEOPLE OUT THERE, THAT'S YOUR JOB TO DO THAT.

THAT'S OUR JOB TO DO THAT.

AND I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

I THINK IT BEARS REPEATING THAT REGARDLESS OF OUR VOTE HERE TONIGHT, IT'S STILL THE LAW BASED ON THE PETITION AND I SAID THIS BEFORE THAT THAT ALL ALL WE ARE MERELY DOING IS PROVIDING COUNSEL POWER TO A BUDGETARY ITEM.

AND HONESTLY, IT GIVES COVERAGE TO THE POLICE.

AND I WANT TO ADDRESS THIS A LITTLE BIT.

THERE'S BEEN CALLS FOR HEADS TO ROLL FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL I'M AFRAID OF BEING FIRED OR THIS PERSON BEING FIRED OR THAT PERSON.

I DON'T I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND ANY TASTE FROM THIS DAIS FOR OFFICERS TO BE FIRED, FOR POLICE CHIEFS TO BE FIRED, FOR CITY MANAGERS TO BE FIRED.

I THINK YOU CAN TELL FROM MY LANGUAGE I AM THE MOST ALIGNED ON THIS ISSUE.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO CALL FOR PEOPLE TO BE FIRED.

I'M LOOKING RIGHT OUT AT ALL SIDES OF THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT GOING TO CALL FOR IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHER PEOPLE WILL CALL FOR, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO BE CALLING FOR PEOPLE TO BE FIRED AT THIS TIME.

ALL RIGHT. AND AND I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE POWER TO CALL FOR POLICE TO BE FIRED.

THAT'S UP TO THE POLICE LEADERSHIP.

ALL RIGHT. AND IT JUST SAYS DISCIPLINE IN THERE.

ANYWAY, HAVING SAID THAT, WE ARE APPLYING BUDGETARY POWER.

IN FACT, WE ARE DEBATING THE ONLY REAL MUNICIPAL ACTIONABLE SUPREME POWER THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS OUR OWN BUDGET.

ALL RIGHT. ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THE TESTING OR NOT PAY FOR THE TESTING? ALL RIGHT. THAT IS WHAT WE ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE THE REST OF THE LAW IS ALREADY THE LAW.

ALL RIGHT. THE REST OF THE GENERAL OFFICERS, PRINCIPALS ARE ALREADY THAT WE DON'T USE SMELL TEST.

SO IF WE FIND PEOPLE SOLELY USING SMELL TEST, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

ALL RIGHT. IF WE IF WE IN FACT, WHERE I WAS GOING FROM THE BEGINNING WAS IF IF THIS ACTUALLY GIVES COVERAGE TO

[05:20:08]

THE OFFICERS DOING THEIR LOW LEVEL DECRIMINALIZATION EFFORTS.

ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE NOW THEY CAN SAY, OH, THERE'S NO POINT IN THE LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OR THE CITY ATTORNEY PROSECUTING THIS BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO TESTING. WE CAN'T DETERMINE WHETHER THIS IS HEMP OR D8 OR D9, THC, WHICHEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

WE CANNOT TELL BECAUSE WE CAN'T FUND THE TESTING.

SO IN ORDER TO NOT HAVE SOME LET'S LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE NARRATIVE.

SOME RICH COLLEGE KID WHOSE PARENT IS GOING TO HAVE BAGS OF MONEY IS GOING TO SUE US FOR, YOU KNOW, IF WE TALK ABOUT BEING SUED, WE'RE GOING TO GET SUED BECAUSE THEY HAD HEMP AND THEY WANT TO MAKE A POINT.

AND WE USED THE SMELL TEST TO ATTACK THAT.

WELL, ALL RIGHT.

NOW, THEY'VE SEIZED SOMETHING LEGAL.

THEY'VE DESTROYED SOMETHING LEGAL.

ALL RIGHT. AND WE CAN'T EVEN TEST IT BECAUSE WE DESTROYED IT.

IT'S BETTER TO JUST GIVE OUR OFFICERS THE COVERAGE AND SAYING THE CITY DOES NOT DID NOT AUTHORIZE US TO TEST IT.

I CAN'T GET A FAVORABLE PROSECUTION.

THERE IS NO POINT TO DOING THIS.

IF I NEED TO DO DETECTIVE WORK, I'M GOING TO FIND SOME OTHER MECHANISM TO DO THIS.

WE ARE VOTING.

WE ARE WE ARE WAFFLING AROUND THE DISCIPLINE ISSUE.

THE THE THE THE FIRING ISSUE, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.

WE'RE NOT FOCUSING ON THE BUDGETARY POWER, WHICH IS OUR PRIMARY POWER IN THIS INSTANCE.

ALL RIGHT. THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE HAS ALREADY BEEN SPOKEN, PERIOD.

THE ONLY THING WE'RE OFFERING NEW IS DO SHOULD WE FUND OR NOT FUND TESTING? AND IT ACTUALLY GIVES OUR OFFICERS COVERAGE TO SAY, I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THIS ANYWAY.

ALL RIGHT. I WASN'T SURE.

IN MY HEART OF HEARTS WHETHER IT IS LEGAL OR IT'S NOT LEGAL, WHETHER I CAN USE THE SMELL TEST OR NOT, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN YOUR GENERAL ORDERS.

ALL RIGHT. I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY OF THIS BECAUSE THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ARE NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE BECAUSE IT'S NOT TESTABLE.

GREEN, LEAFY SUBSTANCE IS GREEN, LEAFY SUBSTANCE.

I CAN'T PROVE WHAT IT IS.

I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE.

SO I THINK WE'RE DANCING ALL AROUND, ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY DOES OR DOES NOT WANT.

AND WE'RE NOT FOCUSING ON THE REAL ISSUE, AND THAT IS, ARE WE ADDING BUDGETARY POWER TO THE EXISTING ORDINANCE? SO I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO TO THE REPEAL AND ADDING AND PROBABLY FOLLOWING SOMETHING LIKE COMMISSIONER OR COUNCILOR MELTZER'S IDEA IF WE WANT TO MAKE CHANGES THAT ARE DISHEARTENING TO US, BUT I ACTUALLY DON'T RECOMMEND IT, MAKE IT MATCH THE SAME AS RIGHT NOW AND JUST GIVE IT BUDGETARY AUTHORITY.

AND THEN DURING THE 60 DAYS THAT I ASKED FOR, MAKE WHATEVER CHANGES MAKE SENSE TO THE COMMUNITY AND TAKE IN ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS, THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S COOL.

BUT WE HAVE 60 DAYS TO DO THAT.

ALL RIGHT. THE ONE THING WE'RE NOT FOCUSING ON IS BUDGETARY POWER.

AND I WISH WE WOULD. SO I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO TO THIS AND VOTING YES TO SOMETHING ELSE.

ALL RIGHT. AND COUNCILMAN WATSON, I'M GOING TO SPEAK AFTER YOU AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO VOTE.

WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. WE HAVE AN ENTIRE AGENDA TO GET TO.

COUNCILMAN WATTS, I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. LET ME START OFF BY SAYING AND I SAID THIS IN THE WORK SESSION LAST TIME ON MAY 5TH, MAY THE 16TH.

I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE ORDINANCE AND THAT BEING HOW DO WE MITIGATE, IF NOT ELIMINATE, THE IMPACT OF LOW LEVEL MARIJUANA USAGE? I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET A WHOLE LOT OF NECESSARY DISAGREEMENT FROM SOME OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, BECAUSE AT THE HEART OF THAT IS DISCRETION.

SO THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENED.

WE HAD AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS DRAFTED FROM AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION THAT WAS NOT VETTED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, THAT WAS NOT NECESSARILY VETTED WITH THE COMMUNITY OTHER THAN THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED THE PETITION.

AND IT GOT VOTED ON.

SOME OF THOSE PROVISIONS, AT LEAST DOWN IN KILLEEN RECENTLY, A JUDGE HAS RENDERED SOME STATEMENTS ON THE RECORD IN A CASE ABOUT ENFORCEABILITY VIOLATION OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION CAUSES OFFICERS TO VIOLATE THEIR OATH AND UNENFORCEABLE AGAINST STATE LAW.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO DIRECT MY QUESTION OR MY COMMENT TO A COLLEAGUE BASED UPON YOUR COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER MELZER.

SO I'M GOING TO ADDRESS IT TO THE MAYOR, MAYOR, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU PASS IT ALONG OR WHAT, BUT I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED.

WE ARE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE OF COUNCIL MEMBER BECK, MAYOR PRO TEM BECK, TWO MINUTE PITCH THAT SAID, WE WANT TO VALIDATE THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE.

THIS WHOLE NOTION THAT SOMEHOW IT'S FOCUSING ON ONE LITTLE ITEM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED TWO MONTHS AGO, BUT THAT'S NOT THE TWO MINUTE PITCH THAT WAS PRESENTED.

ALL RIGHT. IT WAS WE'RE VOTING ON THIS ORDINANCE.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TELLING OFFICERS TO VIOLATE THE LAWS AS I READ THEM.

[05:25:08]

THEY'RE ON THE IF IT'S ALL A MATTER OF OPINION UNTIL IT GOES TO COURT, FOLKS.

I MEAN, COME ON, WE'RE ALL GOING TO JUST SAY ANYTHING GOES.

ALL RIGHT. BUT WE ARE HERE BECAUSE SOMEONE ASKED FOR A TWO MINUTE PITCH TO PUT THIS ON TO VALIDATE THE VOTERS ORDINANCE.

THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION ABOUT ABOUT VALIDATING THC TESTING FUNDS.

I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON HOW FAR IT GOES, THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T REALLY GIVE A LIMITATION ON AN AMOUNT.

SO I'M VOTING AGAINST AN ORDINANCE THAT NOBODY ON THIS COUNCIL HAS VETTED.

EVERYBODY'S ALL OVER THE ROAD, ALL OVER THE MAP ON WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS GOOD, RIGHT? WHAT WILL WORK? WHAT WON'T WORK? AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, WE'RE GOING TO IF WE TAKE COUNCILMAN MAYOR PRO MS BECK ARGUMENT.

ALL RIGHT. THAT WE'VE ALREADY GOT THE ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS.

WHY ARE YOU ALL HERE? YOU ALL ARE HERE BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT IT'S NOT BEING ENFORCED, THAT THERE'S STILL THESE THINGS GOING ON AND THAT IT'S SORT OF JUST. IT'S AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.

THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE.

HOW IN THE WORLD IS THAT GOING TO BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN 60 DAYS FROM NOW WHEN STAFF COMES BACK? PROBABLY WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS OF SAYING WE'VE GOT TO TAKE SOME OF THIS STUFF OUT.

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE SOME OF THIS OUT BECAUSE IT VIOLATES STATE LAW.

NOW WE CAN LISTEN TO THEM OR NOT.

AND GUESS WHAT? YOU'RE ALL GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK HERE.

AND I SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS BODY AND I'M DISAPPOINTED IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS MOVEMENT IN DENTON THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET CREATIVE TO FIND A WAY, INSTEAD OF IT BEING BLACK OR WHITE ON OR OFF.

YES OR NO? BECAUSE WHAT ARE WE ASKING THE CITY MANAGER TO BRING AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN BACK OF A PLAN IS THE HOW AND COUNCIL MEMBER MELZER CAN MAKE ALL THE MOTIONS HE WANTS ABOUT IN 30 DAYS. GIVE US SOMETHING.

IS THAT GOING TO CHANGE THE ARGUMENT? WE'RE ALL GOING TO VOTE THE SAME WAY DEPENDING ON HOW WE THINK THE LAW IS.

SO I'M NOT VOTING AGAINST THIS BECAUSE I'M AGAINST THE PRINCIPLE.

I'M NOT. I THINK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THEIR LIVES TREMENDOUSLY ALTERED.

IN FACT, I HEARD SOMEWHERE WHERE IF YOU HAVE AN ARREST OR SOMETHING ON LOW LEVEL POSSESSION THAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET A STUDENT LOAN.

WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO RETHINK THAT.

BUT IS THE RETHINKING HITTING A FLY WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER WHEN WE'VE NOT NONE OF US HAVE SAT DOWN TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE DO THIS PRACTICALLY? WE ALL HAVE THE SAME INTEREST.

I DON'T THINK I'M THAT MISALIGNED, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE TO TAKE AWAY THE DISCRETION OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT THEY'VE SWORN AN OATH TO.

AND YOU CAN CALL WHATEVER THAT 2019 LAW IS ALL YOU WANT.

ALL RIGHT. THAT JUST GIVES SOME PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES.

STATE LAW, IT'S STILL ILLEGAL.

SO HOW CAN WE NOT FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO MITIGATE OR AND OR ELIMINATE THE IMPACT? AND I'VE HEARD SOME OF THE PROCESSES THAT THE THE MUNICIPAL JUDGES PUT IN PLACE THAT VIRTUALLY ALMOST DOES THAT.

SO I REJECT THE NOTION THAT THIS IS ONLY ABOUT A BUDGETARY PROCESS, BECAUSE IF IT WAS, YOU WOULD HAVE SAID THAT YOU DID NOT SAY IT IN YOUR TWO MINUTE PITCH, SIR, YOU SAID TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE TO ALLEVIATE ANY KIND OF DISCREPANCY ABOUT POWERS OF COUNSEL.

BECAUSE IF IF WE EVEN JUST VOTED ON THAT BUDGETARY PROCESS, WE STILL HAVE THE ORDINANCE CORRECT.

SO IF WE VOTE FOR IT AND LET ME SAY THIS.

WHEN WE VOTE ON THIS ORDINANCE, IF IT APPROVES IN WHATEVER FORM, THIS IS NOT THE VOTERS ORDINANCE ANYMORE.

WE ONLY HAD A MINISTERIAL DUTY TO CALL THE ELECTION AND CANVASS THE RESULTS.

IF WE HADN'T HAVE DONE THAT, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BREAKING THE LAW.

BUT IT WAS A MINISTERIAL DUTY.

THIS IS PART OF OUR ELECTED.

OFFICIAL POWERS.

SO ANYBODY UP HERE THAT THINKS THAT THEY'RE JUST VOTING TO RATIFY SOMETHING? NO, YOU'RE VOTING TO OWN IT.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET IT RIGHT TO WHERE IT PROVIDES THE MAXIMUM ABILITY TO MEET THE INTERESTS OF ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT'S GOING TO GET PASSED WITH NO CHANGES.

AND WE KEEP HAVING THE SAME CONVERSATION.

I MEAN, THERE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO TEM, WHO TALKED.

HE TALKS ABOUT HE DOESN'T WANT A FIRE.

THAT'S FINE. BUT THERE WAS A POST PUT OUT ABOUT PERSONNEL REVIEWS, ABOUT WHY ARE WE NOT ENFORCING THIS.

[05:30:08]

SO I'M TELLING YOU, FOLKS, IF WE CAN'T START BEING TRUTHFUL AND AUTHENTIC ABOUT REALLY WHERE WE ARE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR AN ORDINANCE THAT I BELIEVE IS AGAINST THE LAW THAT I BELIEVE TAKES AWAY POLICE OFFICER'S DISCRETION WITHOUT EVEN TRYING TO FIND A CREATIVE PROCESS.

TO MEET THOSE INTERESTS.

SO IF THAT'S THE WAY WE WANT TO DO IT UP HERE, WE GOT A LONG ROAD FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALLY GOING TO BE THE SOLUTION.

SO THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I EVEN SECONDED THE MOTION AND I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT I'VE HEARD WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT THE IMPACT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT.

I JUST DON'T THINK THIS IS THE HOW TO DO IT.

I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT THAT MEETS EVERYONE'S INTERESTS WITHOUT CREATING THIS DIVISION, THIS TALK OF RACISM IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THIS TALK OF DISPARATE IMPACT. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE DATE IS CORRECT WHEN I HEAR THOSE REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY DATA.

SO IF WE WANT TO KEEP DOING IT THIS WAY, THAT'S FINE.

BUT I WANTED TO EXPLAIN WHY I SECONDED IT BECAUSE SOME OF YOU PROBABLY WONDER PAPER SAID IT'S A WAKE UP CALL FOR ME THIS LAST ELECTION.

YEAH, IT'S A WAKE UP CALL BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AD NAUSEAM UNTIL WE TRULY GET TOGETHER AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE THE BEST THAT WE CAN WORK TO MEET THE INTERESTS OF NOT WANTING PEOPLE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF A DECISION OF, I'M GOING TO SAY PROBABLY NOT THAT MUCH CONSEQUENCE. SO THAT'S WHY I SECONDED IT.

SO IF IT GOES DOWN IN FLAMES, I DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY, BUT I KNOW MY CONVICTION AND I'VE SOLVED A LOT OF PROBLEMS. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 13 YEARS AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVISIVE ISSUES, ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS ISSUES I'VE EVER SEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY SINCE I'VE BEEN SERVING ON THIS DAIS.

AND THE SAD PART IS IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.

THAT'S THE SAD PART.

BUT AS LONG AS WE KEEP DOING IT THIS WAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET THE SAME RESULT.

I'M SORRY, MAYOR, FOR TAKING UP SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME.

SO MUCH OF THE TIME. THANK YOU.

OKAY. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THIS AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS HERE, A LOT OF ANGST FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS WHEN WE WERE SUPPOSED TO NOT BE RELAXING, NOT HAVING MEETINGS.

AND I HEAR THE PROPOSAL THAT, HEY, LET'S DO THIS AGAIN IN 30 DAYS.

NOT ONLY NO, BUT HELL NO.

YOU KNOW, NO, THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

I'M GOOD. RIGHT? THIS IS NOT ON OUR COUNCIL PRIORITIES.

THERE'S BEEN NOT ONE COMPLAINT FILED.

THESE ARE FACTS. THESE ARE UNDISPUTED.

AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

BUT I'M GOING TO TRY TO STAY ON TASK.

I'M GOING TO TRY TO MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY, BUT I NEED TO CREATE A RECORD.

I THANK ALL THAT HAVE SAID THAT IT'S ABSOLUTELY ABHORRENT FOR PEOPLE TO THREATEN PEOPLE'S JOBS.

WE HAVE FAMILIES AND YOU HAVE COLLATERAL DAMAGE.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, ALL OF US SIGN UP FOR THIS.

BUT OUR SPOUSES, WHOEVER YOU LOVE, WHOEVER YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS, DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS.

AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY TORTUROUS.

AND SO FOR THAT, THAT ANYBODY THAT'S HAD LONG DAYS, SHORT NIGHTS EXPLAINING TO WHOEVER YOUR ROOMMATE IS, YOUR WIFE, WHATEVER, I'M SORRY, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

WE HAVE TO UNITE.

AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THAT REFOCUSING ON ON CITY PRIORITIES.

I'LL SAY IT SUCCINCTLY IN SUMMARY, SO THAT EVERYTHING YOU I SAY GOES UNDER THIS CONTEXT.

POLICING SHOULDN'T BE POLITICAL.

IT JUST SHOULD NOT BE.

WE DON'T WE DON'T VOTE ON WHO GETS SPEEDING TICKETS.

WE DON'T VOTE ON HOW WE KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT WE DO.

THOSE TWO ARE SEPARATE.

AND I WANT TO TOUCH ON THIS BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT LEVELS.

WE'LL TALK FEDERAL, STATE AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CITY CHARTER AT EVERY LEVEL.

THIS VIOLATES SOMETHING IN EVERY LEVEL.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, DEJA TAYLOR, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE'S IN THE NEWS IN VIRGINIA, SHE HER SHE LIED ON THE APPLICATION TO GET A GUN.

HER SON TOOK THE GUN TO SCHOOL AND SHOT A TEACHER.

HERE'S WHAT THAT HERE'S WHAT A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE SAYS ABOUT THAT.

THOUGH SEVERAL STATES MOVED TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN RECENT YEARS, INCLUDING VIRGINIA IN 2021.

THAT'S WHERE DEJA TAYLOR LIVES.

THE DRUG REMAINS ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

WE HAVE A WE HAVE A PRESIDENT NOW THAT IS DEMOCRAT.

BEFORE HIM WAS A REPUBLICAN.

SO WE'RE WE'VE HAD TWO SHOTS AT THIS TO CHANGE IT.

AND IT SAYS IT REMAINS ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

[05:35:05]

MARIJUANA REMAINS A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE FEDERALLY, JUST LIKE HEROIN, COCAINE, IT'S A FEDERAL FELONY TO USE WHILE ARMED WITH A GUN.

SO THAT'S A FEDERAL CONTEXT.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE STATE CONTEXT.

I WON'T BELABOR THAT POINT.

LET'S AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY.

THE EXACT SAME ORDINANCE IN BELL COUNTY ON MAY 25TH.

AND AND THIS IS THIS IS UNDISPUTED.

JUDGE RICK MORRIS OF BELL COUNTY SAID THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE PROPOSITION ORDINANCE IS CONTRARY TO TEXAS LAW, IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNENFORCEABLE AND INVALID.

THEN HE GOES ON TO SAY, IT SEEMS THAT THE INJUNCTION MUST BE AGAINST OFFICIALS SUCH AS THE CITY SECRETARY, MAYOR OR POLICE CHIEF. THOSE THOSE WORDS ARE UNDISPUTED IN KILLEEN, THE EXACT SAME ORDINANCE.

SO IF THERE'S ANOTHER JUDGE THAT'S ISSUED SOMETHING SINCE MAY 21ST, 25TH, I'D LOVE TO READ IT.

WE'VE HAD, AGAIN, ZERO COMPLAINTS.

AND THEN LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT THE CITY CHARTER, BECAUSE THAT'S THAT TO ME IS MOST IMPORTANT CITY CHARTER SETS.

TERM LIMITS. AND I'M CERTAIN THERE ARE SEVERAL OF Y'ALL THAT DON'T WANT TO SEE ME FOR A FOURTH TERM.

NOW, RIGHT NOW, THE CHARTER SAYS YOU CAN'T DO IT.

YOU GET THREE TERMS AND SIDE JOKE AND IT'S KIND OF FUNNY AND TRUE.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FORM.

I GOT SHORTED SIX MONTHS BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC HIT AND OUR ELECTION GOT PUSHED.

SO I DON'T GET MY FULL SIX YEARS.

IF I SERVE TWO TERM, I ONLY GET FIVE YEARS AND SOME CHANGE.

SO IT'S A IT'S A FEBRUARY SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR JOKE.

YOU'LL GET IT LATER. AND SO BECAUSE THAT'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE CHARTER THE CHARTER IS WHAT GAVE THESE CITIZENS TO RIGHT TO EXERCISE THEIR VOICE, WHICH I SUPPORT.

BUT THE CHARTER ALSO SAYS WE DON'T GET TO TELL OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHAT TO DO FROM THIS DAIS.

IT'S SECTION 2.10 OF THE CITY CHARTER.

READ IT FOR YOURSELF.

IF YOU FIND A GAP IN IT, YOU EMAIL IT TO ME.

BUT IT'S PRETTY CONCISE.

IT'S BEEN VALIDATED AND CONFIRMED AND IT'S UNDISPUTED.

SO EVERYTHING I'VE SAID THUS FAR UNDISPUTED.

DEJA TAYLOR IS HAS AN ATTORNEY, IS PLEADING GUILTY.

THE JUDGE IN BELL COUNTY HAS ISSUED HIS STATEMENTS.

THOSE ARE UNDISPUTED.

THE CITY CHARTER THAT GUIDES US THAT YOU YOU DON'T WANT A COUNCIL THAT'S WILLING TO IGNORE ITS OWN SET OF RULES, THE MOST LOCAL SET OF RULES WE HAVE. YOU DON'T WANT THAT.

AND THEN LET'S GO ON TO LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THE THE SHOTS ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICANS, THIS, THAT OR THE OTHER MEN THAT IS THAT'S HARD FOR ME TO HEAR.

WE HAVE MORE BLACK PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL THAN WE'VE EVER HAD IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF DENTON.

AND EVERYONE SITTING HERE THAT TALKS ABOUT THAT'S AN ISSUE.

DIDN'T WANT ME IN THIS SEAT.

SO IF THEY HAD IT THEIR WAY, WE STILL WOULDN'T HAVE A BLACK MAYOR AND DENTON.

BUT THEY WANTED TO TELL ME THAT THEY'RE LOOKING OUT FOR ME.

I DISAGREE, BUT IT'S OKAY.

WE WORK. WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO FIND COMMON SOLUTIONS.

AND HERE'S WHAT AND COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND TOUCHED ON IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE DON'T DISAGREE WITH? THEY DISAGREE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF IT.

BUT PEOPLE DON'T DISAGREE WITH FIXING ROADS, WITH MAKING SURE WE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, MAKING SURE WE HAVE PARKS, MAKE SURE THEY'RE WALKABLE, MAKE SURE WE HAVE SIDEWALKS.

THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE AND I CAMPAIGNED ON THOSE THINGS.

I CAMPAIGNED ON STAYING IN THE NEWS LESS SO.

EVERYONE ABSOLUTELY WAS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR WHERE I STOOD ON THINGS.

AND THEY HAD A CHOICE AND THEY MADE THAT CHOICE.

AND I AGREE, ELECTIONS MATTER.

AND I'M GOING TO STAND BY WHAT I COMMITTED TO TELL THE VOTERS I WAS GOING TO DO.

AND THAT WON'T CHANGE.

SO THAT'S WHAT BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE REALLY QUICK OF WHERE WE CAN MAKE EFFECT CHANGE FROM A RACIAL STANDPOINT.

WHEN I WAS WHEN I WAS 16, I TOOK A DRIVER'S TEST.

YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO DPS, YOU DRIVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU COME OUT, DPS OFFICER SAYS, HEY, THAT FOUR WAY INTERSECTION, I'M GOING TO MARK OFF NOW.

DON'T WORRY, I PASSED WITH A 70.

BUT THEY HE SAID, I'M GOING TO MARK OFF THIS INTERSECTION BECAUSE YOU MADE A COMPLETE STOP AND THERE'S NOT A STOP SIGN.

AND SO I THOUGHT FOR A SECOND.

AND THAT OFFICER.

WAS BIASED. HE WASN'T.

HE WASN'T MEAN. HE WASN'T MEAN SPIRITED.

WE JUST NEEDED TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP.

BECAUSE WHERE I'M FROM, THAT STOP SIGN WAS STOLEN AND IT WAS IN SOMEBODY'S HOUSE.

SO I STOPPED WHERE HE'S FROM.

THEY PURPOSELY LEFT IT OFF TO DIFFERENT UPBRINGINGS, TO DIFFERENT.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE CAN BUILD COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHERE WE CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER.

WE CAN LEARN EACH OTHER, WE CAN GO.

I SEE THE OFFICERS IN THE IN THE SCHOOLS CONNECTING WITH KIDS, THE CITIZEN ACADEMY, CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHERE WE GET TO LEARN EACH OTHER.

THAT'S WHERE WE BUILD COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHERE WE BREAK DOWN THOSE, THOSE, THOSE THINGS.

MY DAD AND PASTOR CHAMBERS WORKED, AND IT'S BEEN A NUMBER OF YEARS TO HOST POLICE OFFICERS AT MOUNT CALVARY CHURCH.

[05:40:05]

THOSE ARE HOW WE AND IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A CHURCH AT ANY COMMUNITY.

EVENT CONES WITH COPS, COFFEE WITH COPS.

THAT'S WHERE WE BUILD COMMUNITY.

NOT THIS WHERE WE COME IN HERE AND TEAR EACH OTHER DOWN, CALL EACH OTHER LIARS FOR TWO HOURS.

THAT'S THAT'S VERY DISRUPTIVE.

VERY DISHEARTENING.

AND THE BUDGET THING, I'LL TELL YOU, WE HAD THIS THING PROPOSED.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS PROPOSED IT.

IT CAME FORWARD. WE SET A BUDGET EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO. WE DON'T NEED THIS TWO HOUR PROCESS TO SET A BUDGET TO DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY ON.

WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT ANYWAY.

WHETHER THIS PASSES OR FAILS, WE HAVE A BUDGET PROCESS.

IT'LL BE ABOUT $1.9 BILLION THIS YEAR.

AND NONE OF THIS TIME THAT WE'RE SPENT IS ON OUR PRIORITY LIST ANYWHERE.

SO IT'S CHALLENGING THAT WE'RE TAKING AWAY FROM SO MANY THINGS.

AND THEN I'LL JUST SAY THIS OUR OFFICERS CAN.

WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE TO WORK.

IF THEY VIOLATE THEIR STATE LICENSING, THEY CANNOT CONTINUE TO WORK.

THEY LOSE THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

AND WE'RE JUST KIND OF HAPHAZARD ABOUT IT.

IT'S LIKE, AH, LET'S SEE WHAT THE COURT SAYS.

MEANWHILE, THEY LOSE THEIR JOB.

IT IS VERY SERIOUS TO THEM.

THEY TAKE THEIR JOB VERY SERIOUSLY.

THEY ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE.

AND SO IT JUST IT'S NOT WEIGHED EQUALLY IN MY ESTIMATION.

AND THEN ALL THE EXTRA WORK THEY DO.

SO LOOK, LOOK, LOOK IN THE NEWS, YOU CAN LOOK AT FOX FOUR NEWS HAD HAD A GOOD VIDEO CLIP OF IT.

THERE WAS A BULL RUNNING AROUND ON LINDEN STREET BY FIRST REFUGE.

WE HAVE AN ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BUT WHO DO WE CALL? POLICE. WHO? WHO ENDED UP WITH A TRANQUILIZER.

SOME OTHER RANCHER. DUDE.

IT WASN'T EVEN AN ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

BUT. SO POLICE ARE CALLED TO DO ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

RIGHT. AND THEY'RE PUTTING ALL THESE DISPARATE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

AND SO I JUST I JUST APPRECIATE AND IT'S NOT THAT THEY GET IT RIGHT.

ALWAYS RIGHT. BUT BUT I APPRECIATE THAT.

CHIEF DIXON, WHEN THE GEORGE FLOYD THING, HE LED ON THAT, HE SAID, HEY, THIS IS NOT GOOD.

WE HAD 5000 PLUS PROTESTERS AND DENTON AND NOT ONE.

WE HAD ONE ARREST.

NO, NO MAJOR VIOLENCE ISSUES.

THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE LEADERS THAT ARE DOING EXACTLY WHAT SOME OF MY PEERS SAID BUILDING COMMUNITY, LISTENING, BEING RESPONSIVE AND TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER.

SO THAT TO ME IS IMPORTANT.

AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN, JUST WHEN I'M MAKING THIS DECISION, IT'S SIMPLY, DO I TRUST SOMEONE AT THIS DAIS TO TELL ME HOW POLICING SHOULD WORK OR DO I TRUST THE OFFICERS THAT DO IT DAY IN AND DAY OUT WHAT THEY NEED TO MAKE IT WORK? I'M GOING TO GO FOR THE LATTER AND I COULD JUST BE WRONG AS THE DAY AS LONG.

THAT'S OKAY. SO HERE'S HERE'S MY STATEMENT.

AND IT WAS. AND SO I'LL CONCLUDE WITH THIS.

I JUST HAPPEN TO SEE THIS WHEN I WAS IN OHIO, AND IT'S A STATEMENT BY WILLIAM M MCCULLOUGH.

AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY I THINK IT'S SPOT ON.

WE ARE A NATION OF MANY PEOPLE AND MANY VIEWS IN SUCH A NATION.

THE PRIME PURPOSE OF A LEGISLATOR FROM WHEREVER HE MAY COME IS TO ACCOMMODATE THE INTEREST, DESIRES, WANTS AND NEEDS OF ALL CITIZENS.

THE TO ALIENATE SOME IN ORDER TO SATISFY OTHERS IS NOT ONLY A DISSERVICE TO THOSE WE ALIENATE, BUT A VIOLATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF OUR REPUBLIC.

LAWMAKING IS THE RECONCILIATION OF DIVERGENT VIEWS IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY LIKE OURS.

THE PURPOSE OF OF REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IS TO SOFTEN TENSION, REDUCE STRIFE WHILE ENABLING GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS TO MORE NEARLY OBTAIN THE KIND OF LIFE THEY WISH TO LIVE.

AND WHY. AND WHY DOES.

AND SO WHY I PICK.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL STATEMENT, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM.

SO I LOOKED IT UP. AND HERE'S HERE'S WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME.

HE'S CREDITED BY JFK AND LYNDON B JOHNSON AND THE FIRST LADY FOR BEING A PIVOTAL PIECE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND GETTING THOSE LAWS PASSED.

A MATTER OF FACT, HE STOOD AGAINST THOSE, THE DEMOCRATS THAT WOULD OPPOSE HIM, HIS HIS LEGISLATION, BECAUSE THEY WATERED DOWN THE VOTING RIGHTS.

AND SO HE DIDN'T HE SAID, GIVE ME SOMETHING WITH TEETH AND I'LL SUPPORT IT AND WE'LL GET IT PASSED.

AND HE DID. AND HE'S IN A DISTRICT WHERE IT WAS 2.5, MAYBE PERCENT AFRICAN AMERICAN.

SO IT WASN'T LIKE HE NEEDED THE VOTES.

HE COULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY IGNORED THEM.

HE DID IT BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I AM ABSOLUTELY DONE WITH THIS TOPIC.

HOPEFULLY, IF THIS GOES THE WAY I WOULD LIKE IT TO AND WE CAN GET BACK TO RUNNING OUR CITY AND FIXING SOME STREETS AND MAKING SURE WE HELP YOU WITH YOUR UTILITY BILLS AS IT'S ABOUT TO GET REAL HOT AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE WATER AS WE HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE RUNNING OUT OF WATER.

[05:45:01]

AND THOSE ARE CRITICAL THINGS THAT WE CAN ALL RALLY AROUND AND TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND MAKE SURE THOSE THAT NEED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR.

SO WITH THAT, LET'S THE MOTION ON THE TABLE MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS.

IN AN EFFECT, IT LEAVES THE CITIZEN REFERENDUM IN PLACE, WHICH IS NOT A PROPOSITION.

IT IS AN ABSOLUTE ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON.

IT IS ON THE BOOKS AS WRITTEN AS VOTED ON UNCHANGED, UNEDITED.

EXACTLY WHAT YOU VOTED ON IS ON THE BOOKS RIGHT NOW.

IT'LL BE ON THE BOOKS TOMORROW.

WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING IS DUPLICATING EFFORTS.

AND THAT'S WHAT THAT IS TO SAY THAT WE DON'T NEED TO REDO IT AND THAT WE CAN BUDGET.

WE CAN. THE BUDGETING ISSUE IS AN ISSUE, BUT WE WE WE PASS A BUDGET EVERY YEAR.

WE WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO DO THAT EVERY YEAR, AND THAT'S UNCHANGED.

SO YOU CAN VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

AND THIS. SO THIS VOTE IS A YES IS TO IS TO NOT DUPLICATE THE ORDINANCE AND MAKE IT A COUNCIL ORDINANCE.

A NO IS TO.

DUPLICATE THE THE.

GO AHEAD. WELL, NO, A NO JUST MEANS THIS FAILS AND THEN IT'S WHATEVER OPENED UP THAT IS RIGHT ON THE REST OF THE DAY.

THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. WE'RE BACK TO IT.

RIGHT. AND SO, MR. CITY ATTORNEY, CAN YOU HELP ME JUST MAKE SURE I SAID THAT SUCCINCTLY, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE ANYTHING AND THAT'S NOT MY FORTE.

NO, I THINK YOU GOT THAT EXACTLY RIGHT.

THAT'S YOU VOTE YES IF YOU WANT TO DENY THIS ORDINANCE BEING APPROVED.

OKAY. THERE WE GO.

VOTE ON THE SCREEN, PLEASE.

AND THAT THE THE MOTION PASSES.

THE ORDINANCE IS DENIED 4 TO 3.

LET'S TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK TO LET THE ROOM CLEAR.

WE'LL BE BACK TO DO OUR OTHER CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AND GET TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WE'LL MOVE ALONG EXPEDITIOUSLY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT.

[F. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton amending the provisions of Ch. 21 Art. 1 Sec 21.6 of the code of ordinances “Prohibited Acts” to include an offense titled “aggressive solicitation” outlining prohibited acts; providing for a severability clause; providing for a savings clause; providing for a penalty; providing for codification; and providing an effective date.]

[G. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton amending the provisions of Ch. 16, Art. III, Sec. 16-72 to remove panhandling from the definition of soliciting; providing for a severability clause; providing for a savings clause; providing for codification; and providing an effective date.]

[A. Hold a public hearing inviting citizens to comment on the 2023-2027 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development and 2023 Action Plan.]

[06:03:10]

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS.

[06:03:11]

BACK TO THIS MEETING OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL.

[06:03:14]

IT IS 933.

WE'RE BACK ON THE RECORD AND WE ARE TAKING UP THE TWO.

I YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.

HUH? MAYBE THEY'RE IN THE BACK SETTING IT UP.

YEAH. MY CHECK.

YEAH. HUH? CHECK. CHECK. I DON'T KNOW.

STEVE MAGUIRE WENT TO GO CHECK.

MAYBE. STEVE. THERE WE GO.

SO WE ARE AT THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WE HAVE TWO MORE ITEMS TO TAKE UP THERE.

I'M GOING TO CALL THOSE TOGETHER, ITEM F AND G, AND THAT IS ID 23931.

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON AMENDING AND THE PROVISION OF CHAPTER 21, ARTICLE ONE, SECTION 21.6 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES PROHIBITED ACTS TO INCLUDE THE OFFENSE OF AGGRESSIVE SOLICITING, SOLICITATION AND OUTLINING PROHIBITED ACTS, AND THEN ALSO ITEM G.

ID 231109.

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON AMENDING THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 16, ARTICLE THREE, SECTION 16.72 TO REMOVE PANHANDLING FROM THE DEFINITION OF SOLICITATION, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.

SO DANNY, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

DANNY SHAW, COMMUNITY SERVICES.

I'M ALSO JOINED BY LIEUTENANT ELISA, HOW WE DID THE WORK SESSION PRESENTATION FOR YOU ALL AND YOU GAVE US DIRECTION TO BRING THESE TWO BACK.

AND SO WITH THAT, YOU PULLED THESE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION.

SO WE'RE WE'LL STAND FOR YOUR QUESTIONS OR YOUR DISCUSSION.

ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

[06:05:01]

COUNCILMAN. MCGEE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, DANNY.

HEY. DID YOU STAY HERE TONIGHT JUST FOR THIS? YES, SIR. WELL, WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING, TOO, SO.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

OKAY, SO THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION KIND OF IN THE PUBLIC BASED OFF OF THOSE FOLKS WHO WATCHED THE WORK SESSION.

I KIND OF JUST WANT TO BASICALLY A RECAP OF WHAT WE DID BEFORE WE TAKE THE VOTE, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PUBLIC INTEREST.

THAT'S WHY I PULLED THE ITEMS. OKAY. SO WE'RE PROPOSING TWO THINGS IN CHAPTER 16.

WE'RE PROPOSING REMOVING PANHANDLING FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT PANHANDLING IS PROTECTED UNDER FIRST AMENDMENT.

SO THE SOLICITATION ORDINANCE, THE WAY THAT IT'S WRITTEN NOW, REQUIRES PEOPLE TO REGISTER AND GET A PERMIT AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

SO WE FELT LIKE IT WAS BETTER TO CLEAN THAT ONE UP RIGHT AWAY.

SO IT'S JUST REMOVING PANHANDLING FROM THAT PROCESS THAT'S REQUIRED IN CHAPTER 16.

AND THEN WITH CHAPTER 21, WE'RE ADDING BASED ON COUNCIL'S DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS RELATED TO IMPROVING CITY, LOOKING AT HOW WE WOULD DO SOME SORT OF ORDINANCE THAT WOULD WORK ON THE AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION PROCESS.

SO WE REDRAFTED 21 TO JUST INCLUDE VERY SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS FOR WHAT AGGRESSIVE IS.

SO THERE'S FIVE ITEMS THAT INDICATE WHETHER IF SOMEONE'S ACTING AGGRESSIVELY THAT THAT CAN THEY DO RECEIVE THEY CAN RECEIVE A CITATION UNDER CLASS C MISDEMEANOR.

SO THAT'S THOSE ARE THE TWO CHANGES IN THOSE TWO ORDINANCES.

IF I COULD JUST HAVE CLARIFICATION ON THE FIRST THING YOU SAID, SO HELP ME GET THERE WITH YOU.

SO WE REMOVED PANHANDLING BECAUSE TECHNICALLY FOLKS WHO ENGAGE IN PANHANDLING WOULD HAVE HAD TO REGISTER.

SO ALL THAT ORDINANCE REQUIRED IT BECAUSE PANHANDLING WAS IN THE DEFINITION.

AND THEN THAT PROCESS AND IT'S REALLY BUILT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING DOOR TO DOOR SOLICITATIONS OR ITINERANT MERCHANTS WHO ARE SETTING UP A BOOTH ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, MAKING SURE THAT WE PERMIT THAT PROCESS SAFELY SO THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT.

SO PANHANDLING, WE DIDN'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT PROCESS.

SO MY WORDS, NOT YOURS WORDS, WE ARE PROTECTING AN ALREADY VULNERABLE COMMUNITY BY NOT ALLOWING THEM TO BE CAUGHT UP BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T DO AND CRIMINALIZING THEM RIGHT.

WE DON'T WANT TO CITE THEM FOR BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A PERMIT, AS THE ORDINANCE WOULD RIGHT NOW REQUIRES.

AND REMOVING PANHANDLING THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN PANHANDLING, THIS DOES NOT FURTHER CRIMINALIZE THEM.

CORRECT. IT JUST REMOVES IT COMPLETELY FROM CHAPTER 16 AND MAKES IT CLEANER.

AND THEN WE ADDED THE DEFINITION OF SOLICITATION IN THE CHAPTER 21 TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.

WHAT THAT IS AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE AGGRESSIVE.

MISTER MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PULL THESE ITEMS AND HAVE THIS DISCUSSION IN THE OPEN FORUM, JUST SO FOLKS ARE CLEAR, BECAUSE PEOPLE I HAVE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME HAVE HAD SOME THOUGHTS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN GOING FURTHER TO CRIMINALIZE A VULNERABLE POPULATION.

I JUST WANTED TO GET IT OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE THAT WE ARE, IN FACT, DOING THE OPPOSITE.

SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND, THANK YOU FOR STICKING AROUND.

JUST. SO AND I'M NOT REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THIS.

CURRENTLY, A PERSON NEEDS A PERMIT TO OPEN TO OPERATE A BOOTH.

RIGHT. OR. OR DOOR TO OR GO DOOR TO DOOR AND THE SAME OR.

AND THE SAME UMBRELLA GOVERNS PEOPLE PANHANDLING.

IT DOES IN THE CURRENT ORDINANCE.

OKAY. MY MY PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT.

PEOPLE THAT ARE OPERATING A BOOTH I CANNOT GO TO, I CANNOT WALK TO THEIR BOOTH.

I JUST CHOOSE NOT TO.

I CAN WALK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET OR NOT STOP DOOR TO DOOR PEOPLE.

I GUESS I DON'T HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR.

I CAN JUST NOT OPEN THE DOOR.

PANHANDLERS APPROACH ME AND I'M AND I'M USING ME IN A SORT OF AS A SOCIAL SETTING.

BUT THEY'RE INTIMIDATING AND AND THEY'RE SCARY SOMETIMES.

LOTS OF TIMES.

AND VERY OFTEN WHEN I'VE HEARD THE PHRASE NO MEANS NO.

LOTS OF TIMES. NO DOESN'T MEAN NO.

NO MEANS WELL, LET'S NEGOTIATE.

I ASK YOU FOR I ASK YOU FOR TEN BUCKS.

BUT WHAT ABOUT FIVE? WHAT ABOUT A DOLLAR? WHAT ELSE CAN. CAN YOU GIVE ME ANYTHING?

[B. Consider approval of a resolution of the City Council of the City of Denton to appoint a director to the Board of Directors of Hunter Ranch Improvement District No. 1 of Denton County, Texas; and providing an effective date.]

[C. Consider approval of a resolution of the City Council of the City of Denton to appoint a director to the Board of Directors of Cole Ranch Improvement District No. 1 of Denton County, Texas; and providing an effective date.]

WHY NOT? YOU'VE GOT ALL THIS STUFF.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS.

SO MAY I ADDRESS IT, PLEASE? TWO WAYS. SO THAT PARTICULAR BEHAVIOR WOULD BE IN NOW CHAPTER 21.

SO IF YOU GAVE A NO TO SOMEONE AND THEY CONTINUED TO ASK YOU, THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION AND WOULD BE A VIOLATION UNDER THE ORDINANCE AS WE'VE DRAFTED IT. THE ONLY THING IN 16 IS JUST REMOVING PANHANDLING BECAUSE IT IS PROTECTED FREE SPEECH AND SOMEONE CAN ASK FOR A DONATION, MUCH LIKE LET'S TAKE PEOPLE WHO WHO ARE NOT EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, PEOPLE WHO JUST DO IT RIGHT.

[06:10:04]

THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO DO PANHANDLING, BUT THERE'S ALSO CHARITABLE FOLKS WHO ARE STANDING ON THE CORNER ASKING FOR DONATIONS LIKE THE FIREMAN'S BOOT DRIVE OR THOSE OTHER ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE TAKEN OUT NOW WITH JUST PANHANDLING, BEING PROTECTED AS A CHARITABLE ASK.

I'VE JUST NEVER BEEN THREATENED, NEVER FELT THREATENED BY THE FIREMEN SOLICITING FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.

AND AGAIN, HOPEFULLY CHAPTER 21 ADDRESSES SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS FOR YOU.

YOU SAY THERE'S THERE'S FIVE CHARACTERISTICS THAT DESCRIBE AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING.

YES, SIR. IS THAT AVAILABLE SOMEPLACE? I HAVEN'T YES, IT'S IN YOUR BACKUP.

BUT IT'S YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T YOU CAN'T TOUCH SOMEONE.

YOU CAN'T FOLLOW THEM AFTER THEY'VE TOLD YOU.

NO, YOU CAN'T BLOCK THEIR ABILITY TO TO MOVE PAST YOU, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

OKAY. OKAY.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO I APPRECIATE COUNCILOR HOLLAND'S QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT GOES TO, I THINK, WHAT IS IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS OR THEIR CONCEPTIONS.

AND WE TOOK GREAT PAINS TO SEPARATE BY SEPARATING PANHANDLING FROM AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT AND OTHER PLACES HAVE MADE IT REALLY ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT IT'S IT'S FIRST AMENDMENT CHARITABLE ASKING THAT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU YOU HAVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO CHARITABLY ASK.

AND THEN ONCE YOU'VE REMOVED THOSE SORTS OF PROTECTIONS OUT, EVERYTHING ELSE IS SORT OF COVERED BY OUR DISORDERLY CONDUCT RULES.

AND SO THIS IS THE THE I MAY GET THE NUMBERS WRONG.

IT'S 16 IS THE PANHANDLING AND 21 IS THE AGGRESSIVE OR DO I HAVE THAT BACKWARDS? SOLICITATION. 16 IS CURRENTLY SOLICITATION AND ITINERANT MERCHANTS.

AND THEN 21 WAS REALLY ONE ONE STATEMENT, ONE LINE JUST ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY AN ANGEL NEXT TO A CASH MACHINE IN ORDER TO AVOID SPEAKING OUT OF TURN. THEN I'LL JUST PUT 16 AND 21 TOGETHER THAT THAT THAT CONFUSION IS, I THINK, STILL IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE REDUNDANCY EVEN WITH WE ARE SEPARATING, THE CONFUSION IS STILL THERE.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WHAT WE'RE GETTING IS ANYTHING BEYOND WHAT WE HAVE.

I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE IN THE WORK SESSION.

AND THE AND THE OTHER THING IS MY CONCERN IS BECAUSE WE DID DO DUPLICATIVE SORT OF COVERAGE OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

AND PEOPLE DO GET CONFUSED ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO ASK FOR CHARITY.

THEN THEY WILL THEY WILL THINK THAT THIS COVERS FIRST AMENDMENT CHARITABLE ASKING RATHER THAN DISORDERLY THE REALLY BEING NARROWLY TARGETED.

I THINK THAT CONFUSION WILL REMAIN.

AND AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE I AM GOING TO BE VOTING TO TO DO FOLLOW THE SUPREME COURT ON THE SECOND ITEM TO TO TAKE PANHANDLING OUT.

BUT I THINK THE FACT THAT WE'LL HAVE CONFUSION IN THE COMMUNITY ON THIS ONE AND WE ARE ALREADY DUPLICATIVE OR IT WOULD BECOME DUPLICATIVE IS WHY I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS FIRST ITEM.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN.

ESSER. YEAH.

THANK YOU. DOES THIS THE AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION LANGUAGE COVER ANYTHING THAT CURRENT LAW ON HARASSMENT, FOR INSTANCE, DOESN'T COVER? I'M GOING TO LET ELISA STEP UP AND THEN MACK MAY HAVE.

HI. GOOD EVENING.

I'M LIEUTENANT ELISA HALL.

SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THERE ARE OTHER LAWS IN PLACE THAT WOULD COVER THAT, LIKE DISORDERLY CONDUCT OR HARASSMENT OR TERRORISTIC THREAT.

BUT THIS SPECIFICALLY IS ABOUT WHEREAS THOSE COVER EVERYBODY LIKE THIS IS DIRECTLY ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SOLICITING GOODS OR SERVICES FROM PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE COMING INTO CONTACT WITH.

OKAY. ANY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN. MCGEE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ONE OTHER BRIEF THING BASED OFF OF SOME EMAILS THAT I KNOW ALL OF US GOT.

SO IF A PERSON FEELS LIKE THEY ARE BEING AGGRESSIVELY PANHANDLED, HAVE WE DONE ANYTHING IN THESE VOTES WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE? HAVE WE DONE ANYTHING TO SAY THAT? POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD NOT RESPOND IN ANY PARTICULAR WAY.

HAVE WE ADDRESSED THAT AT ALL IN THIS ABOUT THEM NOT RESPONDING.

YES. TO PANHANDLING CALLS? I GUESS WHAT I'M REFERENCING IS THAT WE DID RECEIVE SOME EMAILS WHERE THERE WAS SOME INFORMATION IN THE COMMUNITY THAT COUNCIL IS DIRECTING POLICE OFFICERS NOT TO RESPOND TO ISSUES LIKE THIS.

NOW WE STILL RECEIVE CALLS FOR SERVICES REGARDING PANHANDLING AND OFFICERS WILL RESPOND.

BUT WE HAVE OPTIONS AS FAR AS ENFORCEMENT.

[06:15:01]

OR WE CAN CALL OUT OUR HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM WHO CAN OFFER RESOURCES AND LOOK FOR JAIL DIVERSION OR OTHER MEANS RATHER THAN ENFORCEMENT.

TO BE CLEAR, YOU ALL STILL WILL RESPOND JUST AS NORMAL, CORRECT? IF RESIDENTS CALL? YES, SIR. OKAY.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU. SO I'M GOING TO MOVE SO WITH BECAUSE WE GOT TO WE GOT TO GET GOING.

SO WITH ITEM F THIS EXCLUSIVELY, I'M GOING TO MOVE APPROVAL.

UNDERSTANDING THAT IT THERE IS OVERLAP.

I'LL CONCEDE THAT. BUT I ALSO WILL USE IT AS A EDUCATION COMPONENT.

AND AS TOUCHED ON, IT ADDS A LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY SO THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON UNDERSTANDS THEIR RIGHTS.

NO DIFFERENT THAN WE HAVE AN ANTI-BULLYING MESSAGE ON THE DOOR AND AT THE REC CENTERS.

THAT'S ALL COVERED.

BUT IT'S JUST GOOD TO REMIND PEOPLE SO THAT WE'RE ON OUR BEST BEHAVIOR.

THOSE THINGS ARE COVERED IN THERE.

IT'S JUST, OH, BY THE WAY, THE CITY OF DENTON HAS PLACED A FOCAL POINT ON THIS IS HOW I READ IT.

AND THEN IT ADDS SOME EXAMPLES OF KIND OF TO MAKE SURE WE ALL GET ALONG WELL TO UNDERSTAND THE KIND OF THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, THAT SORT OF THING.

[D. Consider adoption of an ordinance considering all matters incident and related to the issuance, sale and delivery of up to $80,500,000 in principal amount of “City of Denton General Obligation Refunding and Improvement Bonds, Series 2023”; authorizing the issuance of the bonds; delegating the authority to certain City officials to execute certain documents relating to the sale of the bonds; approving and authorizing instruments and procedures relating to said bonds; enacting other provisions relating to the subject; and providing an effective date. The Public Utilities Board recommends approval (6-0).]

SO I DO LIKE THAT IT ADDS A LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY TO IT.

I DO CONCEDE THAT THERE ARE SOME THERE IS SOME OVERLAP, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH IT TO MAKE SURE WE ALL UNDERSTAND OUR RIGHTS AND THAT WE CAN ALL KIND OF COEXIST WELL. COUNCILMAN WHAT'S OUR SECOND? SO MOTION BY MAYOR HUDSPETH SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER.

WHAT'S DISCUSSION? COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN HOLLAND, PLEASE.

WHAT? WHAT WHAT CHANGES IF THIS PASSES? WHAT? WHAT WHAT CHANGES? WE WOULD ENFORCE CHAPTER 21 WITH A VERY SPECIFIC PENALTY IF SOMEONE IS CITED FOR AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION.

OKAY, BUT BUT BUT SOMEBODY'S STILL FREE TO WALK UP AND DOWN THE MEDIAN OF DALLAS DRIVE OR FORT WORTH DRIVE? YES, SIR. CURRENTLY? YES. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

PASSES FOR THREE TAKES US TO ITEM G.

IS THERE A MOTION? MAYOR PRO TEM I MOVE APPROVAL.

COUNCILMAN MCGEE SECOND MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MCGEE.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.

PASSES. SEVEN ZERO.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

AND OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, I THINK.

YEP. IS SIX A ID 23287.

HOLD PUBLIC HEARING. INVITE CITIZENS TO COMMENT ON THE 2023 2027 CONSOLIDATED PLAN FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND 20 2023 ACTION PLAN.

AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL COURTNEY DUONG WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES.

I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO BE PERSONALLY OFFENDED THAT NO ONE WANTED TO STAY FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.

WE ARE HERE, AS YOU'VE HEARD, TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CITY'S 2023 TO 2027 CONSOLIDATED PLAN FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS OUR 2023 ACTION PLAN.

AS A REMINDER, AS RECIPIENTS OF FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, OR CDBG AND HOME, WE ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A CONSOLIDATED PLAN EVERY 3 TO 5 YEARS.

AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OPEN FOR A 2023, 2027 CONSOLIDATED PLAN.

THIS PLAN DESCRIBES THE NEEDS, RESOURCES, PRIORITIES, STRATEGIES AND GOALS RELATED TO THOSE FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES YOU JUST HEARD ME MENTION.

ADDITIONALLY, EVERY YEAR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN, WE ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE WHAT'S CALLED AN ACTION PLAN, WHICH OUTLINES FUNDING ALLOCATIONS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE SPECIFIC FISCAL YEAR.

THE ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES LISTED ON THE LEFT OF THE SCREEN UNDER EACH FUNDING SOURCE.

THESE ARE THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED IN OUR DRAFT PLAN.

THEY HAVE NOT CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM OUR PREVIOUS PLAN, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE DRAFT PLAN THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED, WE HAVE A LOT OF MORE CURRENT DATA TO SUPPORT THESE CURRENT PRIORITIZATIONS.

ADDITIONALLY, THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN CONSISTS OF THE COMPONENTS LISTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, WHICH INCLUDE AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

WE OVERVIEW THE PROCESS FOR UPDATING THE PLAN.

WE PROVIDE A NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND MARKET ANALYSIS AND THEN OUTLINE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

[06:20:05]

AND AS I MENTIONED, OUR ACTION PLAN IS INCLUDED WITHIN THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN.

SO CURRENTLY THERE IS JUST OVER $1.7 MILLION OF CDBG HOME FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR ALLOCATION IN THIS UPCOMING ACTION PLAN.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT, THESE ARE THE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL INITIALLY IN A WORK SESSION PREVIOUSLY.

AND THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS BROUGHT FORWARD BY OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SO JUST SO EVERYONE'S AWARE, THE DRAFT PLAN HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

IT'S LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT WAS SENT OUT VIA OUR OUR EMAIL LIST.

WE'VE SHARED IT WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

WE'VE SHARED IT THROUGH THE CITY SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WELL AS POSTING NOTICE IN THE DENTON RECORD-CHRONICLE.

NOT ONLY HOW TO ACCESS THE PLAN, BUT HOW TO PROVIDE COMMENT ON WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL MAYBE TAKE THIS DOWN.

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY WITH 220 PAGES, I READ MOST OF IT, ABOUT 200 PAGES OF IT.

BUT IT'S A LOT TO ABSORB.

BUT I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND STAFF ON ON WORKING REALLY HARD AND PUTTING TOGETHER ALL THESE THIS REALLY DISPARATE DATA, COLLECTING LOTS AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT STATISTICS. I REALLY THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.

ONE, ONE, ONE JUST SORT OF FRIENDLY NOTE.

AS I WAS READING THROUGH IT, THERE WAS A BUNCH OF PLACEHOLDER LINKS.

I HOPE WE DON'T PUT THOSE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT ACTUAL LINKS.

I KNOW, I'M PRETTY SURE YOU WON'T, BUT I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT IN OUR BACKUP, THAT'S WHAT I SAW.

THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT IS I NOTICED, PARTICULARLY ON THE THE APPENDIX ON ON APPENDIX TWO, PAGE 1617, WHERE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TABLES.

AND IT'S THAT SAME TABLE THAT WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT DANNY.

AND I NOTICED THAT PARTICULARLY LIKE, I LIKE THE WAY THAT WE'VE ADDRESSED THESE GOALS, I'M A LITTLE NOT CONCERNED.

I HOPE WE KEEP OUR EYE ON THE BALL FOR THAT.

LIKE TO GET TO GOAL ONE.

IT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO GET TO GOAL TWO AND THAT'S SORT OF A LOT OF THESE RELATE TO.

WE HAVE THESE COMPETING INTERESTS FOR OUR LAND BANKING, WHETHER IT'S ENVIRONMENTAL, LAND, BANKING, FLOODPLAIN, LAND BANKING, THIS THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE ABOUT 3 OR 4 DIFFERENT KINDS OF LAND BANKING WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

AND AND AND LAND JUST GETS MORE AND MORE SCARCE.

SO I THINK WE'VE GOT TO BE REALLY MINDFUL ON OUR HISTORICAL PROPERTIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROPERTIES.

AND THE THE OTHER ONE THAT I THINK I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR EYE ON IS FOR GOAL.

FOR GOAL FIVE WILL ALSO BE SUPER CRITICAL TO GET ALL THAT STAKEHOLDER BUY IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY SEES THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS COMMUNITY ORIENTED AND AND AND NOT SIMPLY CRAMMED ON THEM.

THAT AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS BUT THE MORE EDUCATION OUTREACH AND TRAINING.

THE MORE THING.

I SORT OF PARTICULARLY GLAD THAT WE WE ADDRESSED THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT ORDINANCE CONCEPT THIS MORNING BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD THAT WOULD DOVETAIL NICELY WITH THIS.

SO ANYWAY, THE YOU KNOW, I THINK ESPECIALLY IF WE I KNOW YOU WILL, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO PUT A PIN IN FOR IF WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN INTEGRATES WITH THIS PLAN AND OUR HISTORICAL LAND PRESERVATION GOALS, THAT'S SORT OF ALL THAT I'M ASKING FOR IS THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT THAT LEVEL OF COOPERATIVITY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROCESS OF THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS PRESCRIPTED BY HUD, SO WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT IN A LOT OF STUFF.

BUT I APPRECIATE THAT AND WE'LL LOOK AT HOW WE CAN JUST AT LEAST PROVIDE SOME OF THAT LINKAGE TO IT.

SO THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, DANNY.

THAT'S ALL, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY ANY ACTION FROM US IS JUST.

JUST DO WE NEED TO.

JUST AN UPDATE? JUST PUBLIC HEARING. PERFECT.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND IT IS A PUBLIC PUBLIC HEARING.

SO IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT CARES TO SPEAK, YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK ON IT.

HELLO, MY NAME IS LIAM.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY I THINK THIS PLAN IS A ESSER OVER 200 PAGES, BUT A BIT A BIT DENSE.

[E. Consider adoption of an ordinance considering all matters incident and related to the issuance, sale and delivery of up to $158,500,000 in principal amount of "City of Denton Certificates of Obligation, Series 2023"; authorizing the issuance of the certificates; delegating the authority to certain city officials to execute certain documents relating to the sale of the certificates; approving and authorizing instruments and procedures relating to said certificates; enacting other provisions relating to the subject; and providing an effective date. The Public Utilities Board recommends approval (6-0).]

I ONLY READ A FEW PAGES BEFORE I HAD TO GO DO SOMETHING ELSE TODAY.

BUT ALSO SINCE.

YEAH, JUST THANK YOU FOR LIKE PUTTING PUTTING IT OUT AND STUFF.

[06:25:01]

I YIELD THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME.