[00:00:02]
GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO THIS MEETING OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL.
[WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 2:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL WORK SESSION ROOM]
IT IS 2 P.M. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, AND SO WE'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS TO START OFF WITH.
GREAT. THAT TAKES US TO QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE.
THAT TAKES US TO OUR FIRST WORK SESSION, AND I'LL JUST SET THE TABLE UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE INTERNET ISSUES OUTAGE ISSUES I DON'T WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING.
IF THERE IS, THEY'LL WORK TO GET THEM BACK ON.
IF THEY CAN GET THEM BACK ON. IF THEY CAN'T, THEY CAN'T.
BUT WE HAVE A QUORUM IN THE ROOM, SO WE'RE GOING TO JUST KEEP GOING.
JUST SO PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE KIND OF BACK-AND-FORTH NATURE, THAT TAKES US TO OUR FIRST ITEM.
[A. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding appointments to vacancies on City of Denton boards and commissions. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]
ITEM A ID 232426 RECEIVE, REPORT, HOLD, DISCUSSION, GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING APPOINTMENTS TO VACANCIES ON CITY OF DENTON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OKAY.ALL RIGHT. GOOD DEAL. I'M A LOT OF PRACTICE WITH THE ZOOM.
SO, I GOT IT RIGHT. I THINK MAYOR AND COUNCIL RYAN ADAMS CHIEF OF STAFF THIS IS A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON ESTABLISHING DEADLINES FOR APPOINTMENTS TO BOARD AND COMMISSION VACANCIES. LET'S GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
SORRY. AND IF HE LEAVES, DO WE LOSE QUORUM? NO. THERE'S FOUR OF US. KEEP GOING.
AND THESE ARE FOR, THOSE INSTANCES WHERE A CERTAIN CHAIR OR A CERTAIN POSITION ON A BOARD OR COMMISSION, THAT NOMINATION IS DESIGNATED TO ONE SPECIFIC COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND IN THIS PITCH, IF AN INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER NOMINATION WAS NOT MADE BY A CERTAIN DEADLINE, THE COUNCIL, ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION. THAT PITCH RECEIVED DIRECTION TO PROCEED.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
PARTICULARLY THERE WOULD BE SOME ADDITIONAL STAFF HOURS NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THIS.
THOSE WOULD BE, TIED TO MANAGING THE VARIOUS MEMBER SPECIFIC DEADLINES.
AND THEN THIS WOULD ALSO ENTAIL A LOT OF COMMUNICATIONS, THAN WE CURRENTLY DO, SUCH AS COMMUNICATIONS TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS REMINDING THEM OF APPROACHING DEADLINES.
THERE WOULD BE MULTIPLE ONES OF THOSE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A NEED TO DO.
SO, THERE IS POTENTIAL WITH THIS CONCEPT FOR REDUCED LONG TERM VACANCIES TO HOLDOVERS.
STAFF CANNOT SAY FOR CERTAIN HOW MUCH THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED.
SO, ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 15 VACANCIES AND 40 MEMBERS IN HOLDOVER POSITIONS.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, A HOLDOVER MEMBER IS SOMEONE WHOSE TERM HAS EXPIRED.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REAPPOINTED AND A REPLACEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPOINTED.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT WE ESTABLISH A STANDARD DEADLINE ACROSS ALL VACANCIES.
THAT COULD BE AT THE END OF A MEMBER TERM, WHICH IS AUGUST 31ST EVERY YEAR.
THOSE ARE WHEN, TERMS END OR SOME OTHER FIXED DATE AFTER AUGUST 31ST.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, 60 DAYS AFTER AUGUST 31ST IS A DEADLINE WHEN ALL OF THOSE VACANCIES NEED TO BE RECEIVED BEFORE IT IS OPENED UP FOR THE ENTIRE COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION FOR UNEXPECTED VACANCIES, SUCH AS A RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL.
THAT COULD BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS 60 TO 90 DAYS FROM THE NOTICE OF THAT VACANCY.
HAVING A STANDARD DEADLINE, SOMETHING THAT APPLIES TO ALL OF THE VACANCIES THAT ARE EXPECTED AND SOMETHING THAT APPLIES TO ALL THE VACANCIES THAT ARE UNEXPECTED WOULD REALLY REDUCE THAT STAFF TIME IN MANAGING COORDINATING THOSE DEADLINES.
SO, WHAT STAFF IS LOOKING FOR TODAY IS DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL.
DOES COUNCIL WANT TO ESTABLISH A DEADLINE, AND IF SO, STAFF WOULD LIKE DIRECTION ON WHETHER TO IMPLEMENT A STANDARD DEADLINE FOR THOSE END OF TERM VACANCIES AND A SEPARATE STANDARD DEADLINE FOR THE UNEXPECTED VACANCIES AND STAFFS.
[00:05:03]
NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO BRING FORWARD AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD UPDATE THE RULES OF PROCEDURE AND POTENTIALLY, SOME OF THE ENABLING ORDINANCES EXISTING FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND STAFF IS, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.AND I'LL STOP SHARING MY SCREEN SO EVERYONE CAN SEE.
HAS THE HAS THE SYSTEM BEEN, DIFFICULT TO COORDINATE UP TO THIS POINT FOR FILLING VACANCIES? AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE STAFFS TIME, I WOULD SAY THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENT.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING STAFF IS EXPLORING.
COUNCILMAN. MAYOR PRO TEM AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.
BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PRACTICE THAT, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR.
THE, THE VACANCIES, WERE PUT INTO BINDERS OR PDFS.
NOW THAT WE'VE KIND OF MOVED FORWARD IN TIME AND THE APPLICANTS, ALL THESE SORTS OF EXISTING VACANCIES AND BINDERS AND WHO APPOINTED WHOM AND WHAT THEIR TIME FRAME WAS, WAS ALREADY DONE MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR.
SO, I CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THAT EFFORT? AND THE ADDITIONAL STAFF TIME THAT THAT WAS PUT UNDER OPERATIONAL IMPACTS.
SO RIGHT NOW, IF A, SAY, A TERM MEMBER, A TERM ENDS FOR A MEMBER, THEY GO INTO A HOLDOVER POSITION AND THEY CONTINUE IN THAT CAPACITY, ESSENTIALLY ONGOING UNTIL THEY ARE EITHER RENOMINATED OR REPLACED.
NOW STAFF WOULD HAVE TO TRACK, OKAY, WHEN DO THEY GO OUT OR WHEN DO THEY BECOME, A HOLDOVER? WHEN DID THE TERM END? AND THEN WE NEED TO TRACK NOT ONLY WHEN THAT DEADLINE THAT COUNCIL ESTABLISHED.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF THAT IS SOMEONE THAT TYPICALLY IS NOMINATED BY DISTRICT TWO.
SO, MAYOR PRO TEM HAS 90 DAYS FROM THE END OF TERM TO MAKE HIS NOMINATION.
AND WE TRY TO DO THAT TO HELP THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OUT SO THAT THEY KNOW, HEY, YOU HAVE TWO WEEKS FROM THE DEADLINE OR A MONTH FROM THE DEADLINE, OR IT WOULD LIKELY BE MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO TRACK ACROSS THE BOARD, WHICH IS WHY WE WERE ADVOCATING FOR SOME STANDARDIZATION OF THAT DEADLINE, BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE MORE COMPRESSED AND MORE COMMUNICATIONS BOTH.
NO, I SEE THE DISTINCTION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE.
SO, AS WELL AS YOU CAN GO LOOK ONLINE FOR MOST OF THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.
SO, I DO THINK IT MIGHT BE EFFICIENT TO HAVE, THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT TIME, AND THIS IS THE REMINDER MONTH X DAYS LATER, I COULD SEE THE VALUE OF THAT.
YEAH, I'M LEADING WITH, I LIKE BOTH OPTION ONES.
THAT'S WHAT I'M LEANING WITH RIGHT NOW.
I'LL PASS THE BATON TO OTHER QUESTIONS BECAUSE COUNCILMAN MCGEE. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, BE REMINDED AS A COUNCIL THAT IT'S OUR JOB TO ENCOURAGE OUR CITIZENS TO BECOME A PART OF THE PROCESS.
AND SO, I'M GOING TO CHARGE US WITH THAT, TOO, YOU KNOW, KEEP A REMINDER OUT THERE TO OUR CITIZENS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY EMAIL US, THEY CALL US, THEY DO EVERYTHING ELSE.
YOU KNOW, SHORT OF BEING A PART OF THE PROCESS.
SO, I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT I DO A BETTER JOB WITH THAT.
[00:10:07]
HAD AN ISSUE IN REGARD TO YOU ALL LETTING US KNOW, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE, AND YOU ALL GIVE US A STATEMENT AS TO WHO'S YOU KNOW, WHAT'S MISSING.AND IT'S ALWAYS, VERY HELPFUL WHEN WE CAN LOOK AT THAT.
BECK HAS SPOKEN OF AND GO DOWN THE LIST AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IN THAT MANNER.
SO JUST SAYING THAT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS NEED TO COME TO A CROSSROADS AND, AND BE ELEVATED, BUT ALSO, YES, THERE NEEDS TO BE A TIMELINE.
I'M IN AGREEMENT. I CERTAINLY WOULD ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF YOU ALL TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE US A TIMELINE, PUT A BIT MORE PRESSURE ON US TO PERFORM AS COUNSELORS. AND JUST KEEP TALKING ABOUT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
WE WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, WHICH I AM GOING TO SAY THAT I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH IN ALLOWING A BROADER SPECTRUM OF FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO GET ON THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
SO, AS YOU ALL ARE LOOKING ON AND HEARING OUT, NOW IS YOUR TIME TO GO ON THE WEBSITE AND GO TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND COMMIT YOURSELF TO BEING PART OF SOMETHING POSITIVE SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN A IN A COMMUNITY TYPE WAY.
I WOULD, FIRST SAY I THINK THIS IS A GOOD FIX.
YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES AND HOLDOVERS.
I THINK GOD DOES SUGGEST THAT A PROCESS IMPROVEMENT IS WORTH TRYING.
AND I WOULD ALSO AGREE THAT 90 DAYS FEELS LIKE PRETTY GENEROUS.
IT TAKES LONGER THAN PEOPLE MIGHT REALIZE TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE.
YOU KNOW, IN SOME WAY QUALIFIED AND INTERESTED AND WILLING AND ABLE.
BUT I THINK 90 DAYS, IS, IS A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND THEN THE IDEA THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A FORCE MULTIPLIER, YOU KNOW, AND HAVING OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OUT, I THINK IS, IS A GOOD IDEA.
AND I'D SAY WHATEVER KEEPS IT MOST EXECUTABLE BY STAFF, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE THE PLACE TO START.
SO, I THINK THE IDEA OF A COMMON DATE, YOU KNOW, AFTER EXPIRATION OR AFTER TERM EXPIRATIONS IS GOOD.
I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING WHILE LISTENING THAT.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU'D WANT IT TO BE 90 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE TERM END.
SO, JUST IN THE INTEREST OF KEEPING IT ALL ON THE SAME DATE, I WOULD ENDORSE THE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMON DATE POST TERM END FOR THE TRANSITION. ANYONE ELSE.
COUNCILWOMAN. YEAH, I, IF IT GETS EXTENDED TO 90, I MIGHT COULD GET ON BOARD.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF CHECK AND BALANCE THAT IF, THOSE 90 DAYS EXPIRE, THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE 1 OR 2 COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO BASICALLY WAIT AND KIND OF STACK THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME LIMITATIONS ON IF THAT DOES OCCUR, THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ONLY A CERTAIN NUMBER OF APPOINTEES THAT THEY CAN MAKE UNDER THAT RULE.
SO, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WAITING FOR 90 DAYS.
IS THAT CORRECT? IT HAS. AND WITH WITH OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IS ESSENTIALLY A VACANCY IN ANOTHER TERM.
THERE'S NO ONE OCCUPYING THAT SEAT FOR THE CURRENT TERM.
WE SIMPLY HAVE A HOLDOVER COMING OVER AND SOMEONE IS REMAINING IN THAT SEAT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN NO NO ONE TO TO BE RENOMINATED OR TO FILL WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE CURRENT TERM.
HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE. SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT IS SOMETHING NEW THAN WHAT WE DISCUSSED IN THE TWO MINUTE PITCH, BASED UPON THIS SORT OF NUANCED ARGUMENT OF IT IS VACANT. IT'S JUST GOT SOMEBODY SITTING IN THERE BECAUSE OF A HOLDOVER.
IS THAT WHAT IS THAT WHAT I HEARD WE CONSIDER THEM ONE AND THE SAME.
OKAY. AND WHEN WOULD THIS TAKE EFFECT?
[00:15:05]
SO, WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK AND BRING AN ORDINANCE BACK TO COUNCIL.SO THAT WOULD GENERALLY TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
AND SO, DEPENDING ON HOW WE STRUCTURE WHAT DIRECTION WE GET, IT MAY NOT TAKE EFFECT IN ANY PRACTICAL WAY UNTIL PERHAPS TERMS END IN NEXT AUGUST, UNLESS THERE'S AN UNANTICIPATED VACANCY.
YEAH. YEAH, I THINK WE CERTAINLY CAN'T MAKE THIS RETROACTIVE.
ALL RIGHT. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T SAY, YOU KNOW, ONCE IT BECOMES ACTIVE, IF SOMEBODY'S GOT A VACANCY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE 60 DAYS IS UP OR THE 90 DAYS OR IT STARTS TO. I MEAN, WE NEED TO HAVE A HARD START DATE, WHICH TYPICALLY WOULD BE WHEN ALL THOSE NEW TERMS ARE COMING UP.
OKAY. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS WAS THIS WAS MY PITCH.
AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER WATTS BRINGING THAT UP.
WHEN I MADE THE PITCH, I DID NOT INTEND FOR THIS TO INCLUDE HOLDOVERS.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT STAFF DID AND I'M OKAY WITH IT.
BUT JUST SO IT SAID, I WASN'T TRYING TO GO AFTER ANYONE WHO HAD A WHO HAD A HOLD OVER.
SO JUST TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THAT STAFF HAS DONE ON THIS.
I JUST WANTED TO START THE CONVERSATION.
SO, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO YOU ALL AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK.
AND I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO GO WITH OPTION ONE AS WELL.
60 DAYS. BUT, MAYOR, JUST SO YOU'RE PUTTING ME DOWN, FOR THE FOR THE DAYS OF REMOVAL.
THERE'RE TOO MANY MOVING PARTS FOR ME TO TRACK.
SO, STAFF'S TRACKING I PRESUME.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE NOW? YEAH. SO, ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. MAYOR. SO, COUNCILWOMAN.
BUT I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT SOMETHING.
AND CONCERN MAY BE TOO STRONG OF A WORD.
THE TWO-MINUTE PITCH WAS FOR VACANCIES.
AND WHAT I JUST HEARD IS THAT SOMEHOW.
AND IT'S NOTHING AGAINST STAFF.
NOTHING AGAINST YOU, RYAN, OR CITY ATTORNEY OR CITY MANAGER.
BUT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE KNOWN AHEAD OF TIME.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THAT WASN'T THE ORIGINAL PITCH FOR THE DISCUSSION.
SO, COULD SOMEBODY JUST BRIEFLY EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THAT CHANGE, OR POSITION WAS MODIFIED? IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL JUST GO BACK TO THE PITCH BECAUSE IT WAS ON NOVEMBER 7TH AND IT SAID, I PROPOSE A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO NOMINATE PUBLIC MEMBERS TO EXPIRED TERM LIMITED OR VACANT POSITIONS.
ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.
I APPRECIATE COUNCILOR WATSON.
I'M VERY OKAY WITH 90 DAYS, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO ALL MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER IF WE WANT TO TAKE OUT THE HOLDOVER TERMS. I AM FINE WITH THAT.
SO, SOMEONE WANTS TO GIVE THAT DIRECTION.
WHEN I THINK OF A PERSON THAT'S HELD OVER, THEY'RE DOING IT VOLUNTARILY AND THEY'RE NOT THERE.
[00:20:01]
THERE THEY ARE.THEY'RE HOLDING A VACANT SEAT.
THEY CAN LEAVE THE ROOM AT ANY TIME.
THEY CAN SAY, I'M DONE, AND THEN THEY'RE DONE AND IT'S STILL VACANT.
BUT NOW THE QUESTION BECOMES, WHAT IS THEIR ROLE AS A HOLDOVER? ARE THEY STILL VOTING OR ARE THEY STILL ACTIVE, OR ARE THEY? SO, THERE IS A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN A HOLDOVER AND A VACANCY.
RIGHT. OR I'M UNDERSTANDING IT'S ALL ONE AND THE SAME.
YEAH. AND STAFF WE TREAT THEM VERY SIMILARLY.
YES. A HOLDOVER IS SOMEONE WHOSE TERM HAS ENDED.
SO, THEY'RE WHAT THEY SIGN UP FOR HAS CONCLUDED.
HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO ONE NOMINATED OR APPROVED APPOINTED TO TAKE THEIR PLACE ON THE BOARD, SO THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY UNTIL SOMEONE IS NOMINATED OR THEY THEMSELVES, IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE, ARE RENOMINATED FOR THAT NEW TERM.
SO THAT TERM IS THERE'S NO ONE BEEN APPOINTED.
NO ONE HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THAT TERM.
SO, THEY CONTINUE TO JUST SERVE SO THAT THE COMMITTEE MAY CONTINUE TO DO ITS BUSINESS.
SO, IN MY MIND, I CAN COMPREHEND THAT ALTHOUGH WE DO KNOW WHAT IT'S A VACANCY, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T ACT LIKE ONE.
IT IS. AND SO, NOW WE CAN COME BACK TO CONCLUDE, COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO, THERE'S SOME CLOUDS IN THAT I THINK THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO CLEAR UP AND CLEAN UP.
AND SO, WITH MCGEE SAYING, HEY, IF WE NEED TO TAKE VACANCY TOTALLY OUT, WHICH IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, IS VACANCIES, RIGHT? SO, SO THAT NEEDS TO STAY IN, BUT MAYBE JUST TAKE OUT THE TERM HOLDOVER OR CLEARLY DEFINE IT AS A VACANCY.
SO, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, IF NOTHING ELSE, JUST PUT ME DOWN FOR, OPTION ONE.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR PRO TEM. YEAH, JUST KEEPING TRACK.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH STAFF'S INTERPRETATION THAT.
YOU KNOW A HOLDOVER IS SOMETHING YOU DO WHILE THERE IS A VACANCY, AND THERE HAPPENS TO BE SOMEBODY WHO CAN KIND OF, SERVE UNTIL, SOMEONE IS PROPERLY APPOINTED ACCORDING TO THE REQUIREMENTS.
HOWEVER, I'M INTRIGUED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WATT'S CONCERN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU DON'T LET ONE COUNCIL MEMBER KIND OF MONOPOLIZE ALL THE APPOINTMENTS.
AND I WAS KIND OF HOPING I WOULD HEAR A PROPOSAL AND I WOULD JUST, INDICATE THAT I'M.
I'M INTERESTED AND WOULD BE OPEN TO CONSIDERING ONE.
OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YEAH.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S CONCILIATORY TONE AND HOW EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO WORK TO CONSENSUS.
I'M A LITTLE WORRIED THAT WE'RE CREATING, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS.
I MEAN, A HOLDOVER IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S A DE FACTO VACANCY.
AND UNLESS, YOU KNOW, IF THE BODY WANTS TO DO THAT, THEY CAN DO THAT.
BUT, FOR ME, I DON'T SEE A DISTINCTION FOR, OR I DON'T SEE A REASON TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN, ONE AND THE OTHER, ESPECIALLY GIVEN, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE I'M HEARING, YOU KNOW, MORE PEOPLE GOING FOR 90 DAYS.
THAT SHOULD BE LOTS OF TIME TO RECTIFY, ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
I WAS, I WAS FOR OPTION ONE, 60 DAYS.
[00:25:10]
TO NECESSARILY DOMINATE EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME.SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT RULE WOULD BE.
BUT I AM OPEN TO AN ADDITIONAL RULE IN THE FUTURE THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ONLY MAKE SO MANY, POST 60- OR 90-DAY OPEN NOMINATION KIND OF THINGS.
THAT THAT SOUNDS FAIRLY REASONABLE TO ME.
SO, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.
ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN WATTS? I WOULD, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF NUMBER IT'D BE.
THERE WERE SO MANY SEATS THAT THAT, VIOLATED THE 90-DAY RULE.
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK AND LOOK AT IT, BUT I THINK THAT THIS WILL MOTIVATE PEOPLE.
I'VE NOT, BEEN AS DILIGENT ON THAT AS I SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS WILL, YOU KNOW, MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO GET OUT THERE, GET IT DONE.
THAT'S JUST PICKING IT OUT OF THE AIR.
SO. AND THEN IF IT SEEMS THAT THAT'S NOT, THAT'S STILL AN ISSUE.
SUBSEQUENT COUNCILS CAN ALWAYS GO BACK AND MODIFY THAT.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN MCGEE.
I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS.
I'LL COSIGN TWO. AND JUST TO ADD AGAIN, I MISSPOKE WHEN I ORIGINALLY MADE THE PITCH.
IT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO COME AFTER YOUR PARTICULAR HOLDOVER, JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE.
SO, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT I'M TRYING TO.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.
SO, I GUESS IF THERE'S AGREEMENT, I'LL GO WITH HIM ON HIS NUMBER OF TWO.
ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILWOMAN. YEAH, I'LL GO ALONG WITH TWO.
ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. THEN I'M GOING TO CLOSE OUT.
SO, IF YOU IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, GET IT IN.
MY CONCERN IS THIS THE GOAL IS TO ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE NOMINATION PROCESS.
WELL, FIRST, JUST THE IDEA OF 50 PEOPLE.
OR EVEN THE 15, RIGHT? HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE THE VET PER PERSON? JESSE, YOU MAY.
BUT THAT'S NOT A WEEK OF STAFF TIME FOR ONE PERSON.
USUALLY IF WE START VETTING, SAY, ON A MONDAY, WE CAN USUALLY HAVE IT WRAPPED UP BY A FRIDAY.
AND SO, WE DO QUITE A BIT OF VETTING DURING THE SUMMER.
AND WE EXPECT THAT WE KNOW THAT THAT'S COMING.
SO THAT'S A WEEK FOR A, SOME GROUP OF PEOPLE OR ONE PERSON A WEEK FOR SOME GROUP OF PEOPLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE COULD IF WE HAD, FOR INSTANCE, TEN NOMINATIONS THAT WE START THE VETTING PROCESS ON MONDAY, WE GENERALLY CAN CONCLUDE THAT, SAY, BY FRIDAY OR THE NEXT MONDAY FOR ALL TEN.
OKAY. AND THEN THERE'S BEEN NO DISCUSSION.
AND THIS HAPPENED JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.
THAT VACANCY IS TREATED LIKE ANY OTHER VACANCY.
SO, IF YOU HAVE A NOMINATION THAT'S MADE FOR IT, WOULD THERE ALREADY WOULD BE EITHER A VACANCY ALREADY EXISTING OR IT WOULD BE A HOLDOVER POSITION THAT THE NOMINATION WAS MADE.
[00:30:05]
HOLDOVER POSITION WOULD CONTINUE TO SERVE UNTIL SOMEONE IS APPOINTED BY COUNCIL.BUT THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT YOU MAKE A NOMINATION.
THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE THE DIRECTION WE'VE RECEIVED IS RIGHT.
SO, DO YOU FULFILL THAT OR BY PROXY? BY A RESULT OF A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE NOT WANTING YOU TO FEEL THAT IT MAINTAINS CLOCK STARTS OR HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT? SO, I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE BECAUSE THE LETTER OF THE ORDINANCE HASN'T BEEN DEVELOPED YET.
BUT IF COUNCIL'S DIRECTION IS THAT A NOMINATION MUST BE MADE BY A CERTAIN DATE AND THAT PERSON COUNCIL MEMBER MAKES THAT NOMINATION, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR MACK IF YOU WANT TO CHIME IN, BUT THAT APPEARS THAT THAT WOULD FULFILL THE REQUIREMENT THAT COUNCIL IS PLACING ON ITSELF.
OKAY. AND THEN, IT HADN'T BEEN TALKED ABOUT. IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT GENERALLY AND I JUST ASK YOU ABOUT IT.
BUT JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
THAT'S. THAT DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR.
I SENT THE EMAIL, AND THEY DIDN'T GET IT.
RIGHT OR HOW WILL STAFF HANDLE? BECAUSE WHAT YOU'LL HAVE IS MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS, RIGHT? IF I IF I THINK THERE'S A GAP, THERE'S A MISSED EMAIL, THERE'S A MISPLACED POST-IT NOTE.
I DIDN'T TELL THEM I CALLED IN.
RIGHT. AND SO THINGS GET MISSED I.
NOW YOU HAVE MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS.
HOW DO YOU ANTICIPATE OR WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT? BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS THIS.
THERE'S, I HADN'T BEEN TRACKING, BUT THERE'S SOME MAJORITY THAT SUPPORTS THE GENERAL IDEA.
BUT I CAN'T GET BEHIND THE IDEA BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
RIGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
I JUST CAN'T GET ON BOARD WITH SOMETHING THAT'S THAT.
AND I'M JUST NOT WILLING TO SIGN A BLANK CHECK.
SO, I'LL TAKE IT THAT THAT'S NOT, YOU'RE NOT AT THAT PROCESS, I GUESS SO, YEAH, I JUST THEY HAVE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.
SO, FOR ME, I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE.
NOT BECAUSE I DON'T SUPPORT THE IDEA.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU HANDLE THE 15 VACANCIES CURRENTLY.
RIGHT. ARE THOSE? HOW DO YOU HANDLE THOSE? ARE THOSE FAIR GAME? THEY'RE NOT FAIR GAME. I JUST THERE'S SO MANY MOVING PARTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN VETTED, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DISCUSSION.
I MY PREFERENCE MACK IS THAT YOU DO NOT WRITE THIS.
IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD LEGAL BLINDLY WRITE THINGS, AND THEN, IT DOESN'T CAPTURE THE INTENT, OR THE INTENT GETS MOVED OR ALL THOSE THINGS. SO, I JUST THERE NEED TO BE SOME SUBSET OF THOSE THAT ARE IN SUPPORT TO THEN MEET WITH STAFF AND CREATE THIS ORDINANCE VERSUS, HEY, LEGAL, YOU HEARD A, YOU KNOW, HOUR LONG CONVERSATION DID BOIL THAT DOWN TO SOMETHING THAT THEN, YOU KNOW, GOES FORWARD.
SO, I JUST, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, AND I'LL LEAVE THAT TO STAFF TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS.
BUT I WANT TO HAVE A CLEAR RECORD THAT I DISAGREE WITH THE CURRENT STATUS QUO OF A GENERAL CONVERSATION THAT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE THAT NO ONE KNOWS. IF I ASK YOU TO SUMMARIZE WHAT'S BEEN SAID RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU YOU'LL GET CLOSE.
CERTAINLY. BUT BUT THERE'S NUANCE, RIGHT.
AND SO, I NOT TAKING A FOR OR AGAINST POSITION.
I'M TAKING A POSITION THAT THIS IS NOT RIPE FOR ANY MOVEMENT BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEEN, IT HADN'T BEEN PRESSURE TESTED.
IT'S JUST QUICK TO MOVE FORWARD.
GREAT. THAT CONCLUDES THAT ITEM TAKES US TO ITEM B ID 232425.
[B. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding a future charter amendment election. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 45 minutes]]
RECEIVE REPORT HOLD DISCUSSION.GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING A FUTURE CHARTER AMENDMENT.
MAYOR, COUNCIL, RYAN ADAMS, CHIEF OF STAFF.
LET ME PULL THIS PRESENTATION UP.
[00:35:02]
I JUST WANTED TO COME OUT UP FRONT WITH COUNCIL JUST TO SHARE THE OBJECTIVES FOR THE PRESENTATION.WE DID RECEIVE DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CHARTER AMENDMENT ELECTION BACK ON DECEMBER 5TH.
WE ARE STILL AT THE VERY BEGINNING, INITIATING, GETTING DIRECTION, BEFORE COUNCIL DEVELOPS A CHARGE, INITIATES THE COMMITTEE PROCESS, AND THEN REVIEWS THE COMMITTEE DECISION. SO, WE DID PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON TIMELINE ALTERNATIVES.
AND I HAVE A SLIDE RIGHT AFTER THIS THAT SHOWS MORE DETAIL THAN WHAT YOU SEE HERE.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS BECAUSE THIS MAY 2025 ELECTION DOES PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT TIMELINE FLEXIBILITY FOR ADDITIONAL COUNCIL WORK SESSIONS, ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS, UNANTICIPATED THINGS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT COME UP.
AS YOU CAN GUESS, MORE CHARGES TO THE COMMITTEE.
MORE THINGS FOR THEM TO DISCUSS WILL REQUIRE MORE MEETINGS FOR THE COMMITTEE.
BY CONTRAST, STAFF FEELS THAT A NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION WOULD NOT PROVIDE A WHOLE LOT IN THE WAY OF FLEXIBILITY FOR UNANTICIPATED, ISSUES THAT MAY COME UP.
THERE WOULD BE ABOUT TWO DATES TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT CHARGES BEFORE AN ELECTION HAS TO BE.
OR, PARDON ME, BEFORE A COMMITTEE SHOULD BE FORMED.
AND THE COMMITTEE TERMS WE MENTIONED THIS LAST TIME, THE COMMITTEE MEMBER TERMS WOULD NOT ALIGN NECESSARILY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TERMS. SO A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO MAKES AN APPOINTMENT IN THE SPRING POTENTIALLY COULD NOT BE ON COUNCIL, BY THE TIME THE SUMMER COMES AROUND OR THE FALL COMES AROUND.
ONE BIG THING WITH A NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION IS THAT THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STAFF WORK FOR SUPPORTING THE COMMITTEE COINCIDES WITH A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT STAFF WORK WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND THAT WOULD BE A VERY HEAVY LIFT FOR STAFF.
AND IT COULD LIMIT THE SCOPE OF POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO 3 TO 5 ITEMS. AND THAT IS PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE ARE LIMITED TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS WITH THE NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION.
SO, I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THESE TIMELINES.
I WILL PAUSE HERE TO LET YOU LOOK OVER IT, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 2024 AND PARDON ME, I SHOULD SAY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF A 2025 ELECTION AND AN OPTION TWO, WHICH IS A 2024 ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
NOT AS MUCH FOR BOTH OF THOSE WITH OPTION TWO.
AND I'LL PAUSE IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS OR I CAN MOVE ON.
GOT IT. REFER BACK TO IT SO I CAN GO THROUGH REALLY QUICKLY.
WELL, I'LL PULL THIS BACK UP AND STAFF'S READY TO TAKE DIRECTION ON THE TIMELINE.
OKAY. IF YOU CAN PULL THAT DOWN SO I CAN SEE.
OH YES SIR. COMMENTS ON PREFERRED.
JUST EITHER CLARIFICATION TO GET TO A DIRECTION ON TIME AND IT'S MAY OR NOVEMBER.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN HARLAN? MAY 25TH. OKAY.
OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE NOVEMBER OF 24.
ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? THEN I'M GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THERE.
MAYOR, WE MAY HAVE JUST LOST OUR CONNECTION.
[00:40:02]
THERE THEY ARE. THEY'RE BACK.I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY HEARD OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A HANG UP.
SURE. ANY INPUT BEFORE Y'ALL? POTENTIALLY. HELLO.
ARE PEOPLE TALKING? YEAH. YES. I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING.
THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CAN YOU HEAR US? YEAH, I CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
GO. RIGHT. EITHER OF YOU CARE TO TAKE A POSITION ON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OR OPTION TWO? COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER? YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION.
THAT ABOUT A DIFFERENT WAY TO GO FORWARD, AND I'D BE INTERESTED IN STAFF REACTION.
WHAT WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE OPTION TWO DIRECTION AND THEN, LETTING THE COMMITTEE ADVISE IN JULY WHETHER THEY NEED MORE TIME OR NOT. AND IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF IT FALLING ON TOP OF, BUDGET PREP, YOU KNOW, IF LIKE, IF WHAT YOU'RE REALLY SAYING IS WE CAN'T DO THIS BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I WANT TO HEAR THAT THAT IF THAT'S.
ANYWAY, WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT? IF I SAY THAT, THEN TRY TO PURSUE OPTION TWO B MOVING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET TO NOVEMBER, BUT BE WILLING TO LISTEN IN JULY IF THE COMMITTEE SAYS WE NEED WE JUST NEED MORE TIME.
I'M SORRY, THAT WOULDN'T REALLY RESOLVE THE STAFF TIME CAPACITY ISSUE.
WE WOULD REALLY HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT ALREADY AND EXPENDED MOST OF THAT TIME BY JULY.
AND WE WOULD COUNCIL WOULD HAVE NOT HAD, MORE THAN PROBABLY TWO POSSIBLE DISCUSSIONS TO ACTUALLY DEVELOP THE COMMITTEE CHARGE. SO, IF THAT'S IMPORTANT TO COUNCIL TO HAVE TIME TO TALK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES, THAT WOULD HAVE ALREADY GONE PAST, THE ONLY FLEXIBILITY THAT WOULD GIVE US AT THAT TIME WOULD BE TO EXTEND THE AMOUNT OF, COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND THEN HAVE MORE TIME FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION.
YEAH. I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE WE YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DO THE CHARTERING PART, IN A COUPLE OF MEETINGS.
BUT IF YOU'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, STAFF JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO, THE REST OF IT, THEN THAT'S NOT AN OPTION. SO, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US, THEN I WOULD SUPPORT THAT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK I WOULD SAY THAT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND STAFF'S PREFERENCE IS TO PROVIDE THAT TIMELINE FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE STRAIN IT WOULD PUT ON STAFF RESOURCES DURING THE BUDGET SEASON.
SO, OKAY. I, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO RESPECT THAT COUNCIL.
I'M OKAY WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE I'M NOT QUITE SURE.
I MEAN, CHANGING THE CHARTER IS A BIG DEAL.
AND WHY WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN WITHIN.
PLUS, IT ALLOWS YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPREHENSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH AND ALLOWS YOU TO REALLY LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE HAVE REALLY FLOATED SOME INTERESTING IDEAS.
AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT SEVEN MONTHS IS ENOUGH TO REALLY VET THROUGH A COMMITTEE, REALLY EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION OF OUR CITY.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M IN FAVOR OF STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
BECAUSE IF SOMEHOW SOMEBODY WANTS TO SORT OF PUSH IT THROUGH QUESTION THAT PARTICULAR, APPROACH.
SO I'M ALL FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION, AND THEY HAVE SHARED WITH US THAT IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BUDGET SEASON, AND WE ALL KNOW HOW CRAZY THAT GETS. AND THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO IS DO A COUPLE OF THINGS, SORT OF HALF.
YOU KNOW WHAT? BECAUSE WE'RE STRETCHED TOO FAR AT BOTH ENDS, AND STAFF WOULDN'T DO THAT.
BUT THAT'S WHY THEY WOULD BE BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS.
SO, MY MY PREFERENCE IS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH THAT THAT CONCLUDES THAT ITEM.
YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED. WELL, WE HAVE TWO MORE PARTS.
[00:45:02]
YEAH. YES, SIR. GOT IT. SORRY.SO THAT GIVES YOU A TIMELINE? YES, SIR. YES.
SO, THE NEXT PORTION IS ON THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE SIZE.
WE DID RECEIVE DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 5TH TO PROCEED WITH THE PROCESS.
ALL VOICES CAN BE HEARD WITHIN THE COMMITTEE ENSURING EFFECTIVE DISCUSSIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN CHOSEN BY THE COMMITTEE.
THEY KEEP COMING BACK. SO, I'M JUST GOING TO.
AND IT'LL TAKE A SECOND FOR GTV TO UNMUTE.
OKAY I THINK, ALL RIGHT I THINK WE'RE ALL BACK.
WE NEVER KNOW HOW FAST. I KNOW RIGHT? HOW LONG? WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE.
CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF TRADITIONALLY BEEN CHOSEN BY THE COMMITTEE.
AND THE COUNCIL MAY ESTABLISH THE QUORUM THRESHOLD.
THAT COULD BE DIFFERENT THAN A SIMPLE MAJORITY.
SO, WE DO HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AND GIVE DIRECTION ON.
THAT IS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
AND IT MAY PROMOTE MORE THOROUGH DISCUSSION OF ISSUES, WITH, WITH A TIGHTER GROUP.
THIS WAS UTILIZED FOR THE 27 CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE.
THIS IS ALSO EFFICIENT FOR FORMING SUBCOMMITTEES.
AND WHILE IT MAY, BE A LITTLE BIT MORE LABORIOUS TO APPOINT THEM, BRING THEM ON BOARD AND, YOU KNOW, TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME FOR THOSE ISSUES.
IT MAY ALLOW TO TALK TO DISCUSS THOSE ISSUES.
IT MAY ALLOW FOR GREATER COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMITTEE.
AND STAFF IS HAPPY TO TAKE DIRECTION ON THE SIZE OF THE COMMITTEE.
OKAY. INPUT ON THE SIZE OF THE COMMITTEE.
IF YOU CAN PULL THAT DOWN FOR ME, PLEASE.
YES, SIR. WE'LL JUST START THERE.
THE LAST CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE WAS.
RIGHT. AND SO, I BELIEVE THEY ALL THE MEETINGS WERE IN 2017.
BUT THAT'S THE MOST RECENT CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE.
WHAT WAS THE SIZE OF THAT 21? OKAY, SO THAT WAS THREE, NOMINEES PER COUNCIL MEMBER.
YES, SIR. APPOINTEES OR WHATEVER.
YEAH. I'M GOING TO GO WITH THAT BECAUSE I THINK, IT ALLOWS FOR A GREATER REPRESENTATION, ALLOWS US TO, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY INCLUDE, A MORE CROSS-SECTION OF THE VOICES.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BIG WAS OUR BOND COMMITTEE, 40 MEMBERS.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER.
WELL, I DIDN'T ACTUALLY ASK TO SPEAK, BUT I'M WILLING TO.
IF YOU WANT TO WAIT AND CHANCE IT, THEN I'M HAPPY TO OBLIGE.
WELL, I'LL FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCT THERE.
I DON'T, I DON'T FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT IT EITHER WAY.
I HAVE A BIAS TOWARD, I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S GOOD THINGS ABOUT BOTH.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S GOOD THINGS ABOUT 21 TWO.
SO, SO, YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF 60% FOR TWO, BUT I WOULDN'T OBJECT IF THE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED TO GET TO FOUR ON 21, I WOULDN'T OBJECT TO IT.
MAYOR PRO TEM. YEAH, I'LL BE FAST.
I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENTS AND THE RATIONALE FROM COUNCILOR WATTS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE SIMPLER TO GET 14 PEOPLE TOGETHER ON A GIVEN, PLACE AND GIVEN NIGHT THAN 21.
[00:50:07]
SO, I WOULD SUGGEST THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.I'M ALL ABOUT MORE PARTICIPATION, MORE REPRESENTATION.
SO, IN ORDER TO STAY CONSISTENT, I WILL ALSO GO WITH THE LARGER COMMITTEE.
COUNCILMAN BYRD. MY SENTIMENTS ARE WITH 14.
AND THAT ALSO IS CONNECTED, TOO, ALONG OUR OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER ON IT.
SO THAT'S WHY I WENT THE OTHER WAY WITH THE MAY VOTE.
I WILL BE 14 AS WELL AT SOME POINT.
WELL, BETTER SAID, I AM SPEAKING FOR MYSELF WHEN I SAY.
I TRUST STAFF'S ANALYSIS OF THEIR TIME.
I TRUST THEIR, CAPACITY AND THEIR ABILITY TO MANAGE THESE PROCESSES. AND SO, I'M NOT WILLING TO I MEAN, IT'S, I JUST, IT'S INCUMBENT UNLESS THEY'RE, UNLESS I FEEL THEY'RE WAY OFF AND THEY KNOW.
I'LL SAY THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I NEED TO RESPECT AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME AND SAY, HEY, HERE'S WHAT WE THINK IS BEST AND TRUST THAT ANALYSIS VERSUS, AND THEIR ANALYSIS ON 21 IS CLEAR, TOO.
THEY'RE NOT SAYING THERE'S AN ABSOLUTE PROHIBITION LIKE THE OTHER DISCUSSION.
SO, I TAKE THAT POINT, BUT JUST I 14 PEOPLE IN A ROOM WORKING TOGETHER.
AGAIN, IT DOESN'T LIMIT ANYONE FROM COMING IN.
IT JUST I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S STRESSED ENOUGH FOR ME PERSONALLY THAT ANYONE CAN.
THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
WE COULD HAVE 151,000 PEOPLE SHOW UP AT EVERY MEETING, AND THERE'LL BE NO PROBLEM.
BUT IT'S JUST WHO'S AT THE TABLE, WHO MAKES UP THAT QUORUM? WHO'S INVOLVED IN THOSE THAT THAT KIND OF DIRECTION SIDE OF THINGS.
BUT INPUT IS WELCOME FROM ANYONE.
SO, THERE IS NOT A LIMIT ON INPUT.
THERE'S A LIMIT ON HOW MANY PEOPLE MAKE UP THOSE COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEES, ET CETERA.
COUNCILMEMBER MELTZER, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PICK.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED, RON? THAT'S IT FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU.
[C. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction on pending City Council requests for: 1) Request seeking a supermajority for a resolution to go directly onto an upcoming agenda to express support for state legislation similar to H.B. 870 and S.B. 1989, which would prohibit pet stores from selling dogs or cats unless they are obtained from an animal control agency, an animal shelter, or an animal rescue organization. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]
RECEIVE REPORT, DISCUSSION.GIVE STAFF DIRECTION ON PENDING CITY COUNCIL REQUEST.
MAYOR COUNCIL CARLOTTA COWAN, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER.
I'LL BE PRESENTING THE CITY COUNCIL PENDING REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.
ALSO KNOWN AS THE TWO-MINUTE PITCH.
SO, COUPLE REMINDERS THE REQUESTING COUNCIL MEMBER WILL HAVE UP TO TWO MINUTES TO PRESENT THEIR PITCH TO YOU ALL, AND THE REMAINING COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE UP TO ONE MINUTE EACH FOR TO GIVE THEIR FEEDBACK.
A REMINDER THAT A CONSENSUS OF SIX IS REQUIRED FOR A RESOLUTION, AND WE ARE REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS GIVE THEIR, GENERAL CATEGORIZATION OF HIGH, MODERATE OR LOW WHEN GIVING THEIR SUPPORT.
SO WE HAVE ONE ITEM TODAY, WHICH IS A REQUEST SEEKING A SUPERMAJORITY FOR A RESOLUTION TO GO DIRECTLY ONTO AN UPCOMING AGENDA TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR STATE LEGISLATION SIMILAR TO HOUSE BILL 870 AND SENATE BILL 1989, WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT PET STORES FROM SELLING DOGS OR CATS UNLESS THEY ARE OBTAINED FROM AN ANIMAL CONTROL AGENCY, AN ANIMAL SHELTER, OR AN ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
YES. THANK YOU. WE'VE ALREADY HAD A PRETTY GOOD, WORK SESSION ON THIS TOPIC.
GENERALLY, AND STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, BASED IN PART ON THE ADVICE GIVEN BY THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY BOARD, WAS TO BAN SALE, RETAIL SALE OF PUPPIES AND KITTENS BECAUSE OF THE PUPPY MILL, KITTEN MILL PROBLEM.
THAT COUNCIL VOTED NOT TO PROCEED WITH.
[00:55:02]
THAT WAS BECAUSE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER WE HAD THAT AUTHORITY UNDER STATE LAW.AND THE POINT OF THIS RESOLUTION IS TO GO DIRECTLY AT THAT AND TO MAKE IT CLEAR, IF YOU ALL AGREE THAT THIS IS THE RESULT THAT WE WANT, OUR STATE LAW TO REFLECT AND TO COMMUNICATE THAT, THAT TO OUR DELEGATION.
AND IT'S NOT THAT IT WAS VOTED NO.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT JUST IT DIDN'T GET TO THE FLOOR, DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE FUNNEL.
SO, I THINK IT'S WITHIN OUR SCOPE TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT, FOR A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THAT TO OUR LOCAL DELEGATION.
WHAT IS STAFF'S POSITION? FOR THE RECORD.
SO, WE PROVIDED A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION THAT IS IN YOUR BIG MATRIX THERE.
AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION THAT STAFF MADE.
THERE ARE OPERATIONAL BENEFITS TO DOING IT.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME LEGAL IMPLICATIONS, LEGAL IMPEDIMENTS TO ROLLING IT OUT.
EVERYTHING I RECEIVE IN MY IPAD IS FROM STAFF DIRECTION, RIGHT STAFF FORWARDS P AND Z.
ZBA LEGAL STAFF RECOMMENDATION COMES.
OKAY. GOT IT. SO, THIS IS PASSING ALONG INFORMATION FROM WHICH BODY.
VERY OFTEN WE PASS ALONG INFORMATION.
AND THIS IS FROM THE ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
PERFECT. OKAY. JUST SO I UNDERSTOOD.
OKAY. SO THOSE ARE COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS, I'LL GIVE YOU THE FLOOR, IF YOU WANT IT FIRST.
YOU WANT TO WAIT, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS.
SURE. I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE RESOLUTION ITSELF.
I CAN'T SUPPORT THE GOING STRAIGHT TO RESOLUTION.
I DID WATCH THE WORK SESSION THAT Y'ALL HAD ON, THE PRIME THE CITY'S WILLINGNESS TO WRITE AN ORDINANCE TO RESTRICT CERTAIN TYPES OF BUSINESSES AND FROM SELLING CATS AND DOGS THAT ARE NOT FROM, YOU KNOW, SHELTERS OR THINGS SUCH AS THAT. AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT WAS BECAUSE OF STATE LAW.
I'M NOT I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR BILLS.
SO, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE RESOLUTION.
I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT IT ONLY BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THOSE BILLS WERE THAT DID NOT THAT JUST SORT OF SAT ON THE FLOOR AND DIDN'T PASS BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS. THESE TYPES OF LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW.
THAT WAS PRESUMABLY THE REASON THAT COUNCIL DIDN'T ADOPT THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS THERE.
SO, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THIS.
IT'S NOT A POSITION TO THE SUBSTANTIVE PART.
IT'S MORE THE PROCEDURAL PART.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THEN COUNCILMAN BYRD.
THANK YOU. I, MY WIFE AND I RESCUED A PUPPY MILL MOM, BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN RETRIEVER NAMED AUDREY.
AUDREY HAD BEEN, ABUSED AND NEGLECTED AND USED JUST TO GIN OUT AS MANY PUPS AS POSSIBLE.
BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO SET THE CITY UP FOR A LAWSUIT.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT THESE LICENSES ARE GRANTED BY THE STATE, NOT BY THE CITY.
AGAIN, MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH MY PAL AUDREY.
AND I DON'T WANT ANY, ANY, ANY DOGS OR KITTIES TO BE, TO BE PUT IN THAT SITUATION.
BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT MY CITY TO BE SUED.
[01:00:02]
THANK YOU. OKAY.MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND JUST FOR CLARITY, IN MY ONE MINUTE.
THIS IS SUPPORTING STATE LEGISLATION OUT OF JARED PATTERSON'S OFFICE.
THAT SAYS TO DO IT AT THE STATE LEVEL.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I FIND MYSELF AGREEING WITH JARED PATTERSON'S OFFICE, BUT THIS IS THIS.
SO, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS HIS OFFICE TOOK ON THIS.
I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT, TAKING THIS TO THE RESOLUTION AND SUPPORTING, THAT WE SUPPORT THE STATE GETTING GEAR AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN. COUNCILMAN BYRD. I JUST NEED TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT I HEARD THAT WE, AS A CITY, WAS ALREADY IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING SURE THAT THE BUSINESSES WERE DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE IN BRINGING ANIMALS IN FROM REPUTABLE SOURCES.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING HUNG UP ON.
IS THE CITY BEING DILIGENT IN MAKING SURE THAT THESE ANIMALS ARE COMING FROM THOSE PLACES? HOW DO WE FIGURE THAT OUT? OR HOW MUCH TIME ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT INTO THIS ENDEAVOR IN MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS PARTICULAR PLACE IS BRINGING IN ANIMALS FROM A LOCATION THAT IS HONORABLE? I'M JUST STILL NOT CLEAR ON THAT.
SO, IF SOMEONE CAN PROVIDE A SO THE INQUIRY BE A STATEMENT OF FACTS.
SO, IF SOMEONE CAN PROVIDE A FACT STATEMENT FOR THAT, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
WE DO NOT CURRENTLY BECAUSE OF STATE LAW DO THAT.
OKAY. AND SO, THAT THAT PUTS IT IN ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE VERY QUICKLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILWOMAN MCGEE POINT OF INQUIRY, MR. MAYOR. STATE YOUR POINT OF INQUIRY.
MELTZER ASKED FOR THIS TO GO STRAIGHT TO A MEETING RESOLUTION, WHICH MEANS WE NEED A SUPERMAJORITY IF IN FACT WE ONLY HAVE A MAJORITY TO COUNCIL MEMBER WHAT'S HIS LINE OF THINKING? WOULD WE THEN FALL BACK TO WORK SESSION? OR IF WE DON'T HAVE A SUPERMAJORITY, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING BASED OFF OF WHAT HIS REQUEST WAS BASED ON HIS REQUEST AND THE RULES.
GO RIGHT AHEAD. I APPLAUD COUNCILMEMBER MELTZER IN DOING THIS.
I'M GOING TO BE I'M GOING TO BE A YES ON THIS.
I APPLAUD, REPRESENTATIVE PATTERSON'S OFFICE FOR DOING THIS.
I THINK THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY THING FOR US TO DO.
I THINK OBVIOUSLY, THE LEGISLATION IS NEEDED.
SO, I AM HAPPY TO GIVE DIRECTION TO ADD THE CHORUS OF VOICES FROM THE CITY OF DENTON TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STATE DELEGATION KNOWS THAT THIS IS, IN FACT, THE WILL OF THIS PARTICULAR BODY.
SO, FOR ME, THE LAW THAT IS MORE RESTRICTIVE PASSED JUST LAST YEAR.
THE LAW THAT WAS BEING REFERENCED HERE DID NOT MAKE IT TO A VOTE.
I HAVE A HARD TIME READING THE TEA LEAVES TO SAY THIS IS EVEN IF IT'S FILED NEXT YEAR, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPEAL THE LAW THEY JUST PASSED, AND I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW LIKELY THAT IS.
THAT'S NOT MY BUSINESS TO BE IN THAT PLACE.
SO, I, TOO, SHARE COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLANDE'S HEART, EVERYONE'S HEART ON HERE ON THIS DAIS FOR MAKING SURE ANIMALS ARE WELL CARED FOR, THAT WE'RE PROTECT THEM WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE.
BUT I'D ALSO SAY THERE NEEDS TO BE A LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY TO NOT FIGHT WITH THE STATE AT EVERY TURN UNLESS IT'S, THIS THING WE LIKE JARED PATTERSON TO DO, AND THEN WE FIGHT WITH HIM ON EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TO HAVE SOME CONSISTENCY THERE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS JUST BECAUSE I, I DON'T JUST LAST YEAR IT VOTED.
I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TURN AROUND AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
[01:05:03]
SO THAT, AND THEN.BUT IS THIS YOUR FIRST KIND OF FORMAL? YES, IT IS. TRIP TO THE PODIUM.
OKAY, WELL, I'M COMING UP TO THE PODIUM.
OKAY. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T SURE.
AND SO, WE HAVE, LET ME GET RIGHT BACK AT IT.
SO, YEAH. SO, WE HAVE A GIFT FOR YOU.
SO, TO REMEMBER US BY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
AND SO PROUD OF YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE TEAM.
GREAT JOB. AND SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
RIGHT. THAT'S SOME KIND OF FUNNY GOING ON AROUND HERE.
MAKE SURE YOU ALL. I'M GONNA TAKE CARE OF THIS ONE FOR YOU, TOO, BECAUSE I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
HEY, I HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY HERE, SO IT'S FINE.
YEAH. THERE YOU GO I DON'T KNOW.
WE HAVE OUR TWO CLOSED SESSION ITEMS, SO WE'LL SET THE ROOM FOR, CLOSED, BUT I'LL CALL THE ITEM.
[1. Closed Meeting:]
FORTH ON THE AGENDA, WHICH INCLUDES ITEM A, ID 232376, DELIBERATIONS REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS AND ITEM B, ID 232377 DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY.WE'LL TAKE A QUICK FIVE-MINUTE BREAK TO SET THE ROOM, AND SO WE'LL BE BACK AT 4:03.
WELCOME BACK TO WELCOME BACK TO THIS MEETING IN DENTON CITY COUNCIL.
THAT TAKES US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[4. CONSENT AGENDA]
I'LL TAKE A MOTION.MAYOR PRO TEM, I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS WRITTEN.
COUNCILOR MCGEE? SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, WE NEED TO DO A VOICE VOTE.
WELL, I GOT TO DO THE TWO THERE.
RIGHT? DO I DO THOSE FIRST? AND YOU PLUG THEM IN, RIGHT? COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER, HOW SAY YOU? AYE. COUNCILMEMBER WATTS? AYE. OKAY, SO THAT'S TWO AYES, AND THEN EVERYONE ELSE WANTS.
READY? VOTE ON THE SCREEN, PLEASE.
AND THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO TAKES US TO OUR ONE ITEM, ONE ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
[A. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton amending Chapter 14, Article VIII of the Code of Ordinances (Non-Discrimination in Public Accommodations, Employment Practices, and Housing), to add a fair chance hiring provision to Section 14-203-5 setting hiring standards to limit employers’ consideration of the criminal history on an initial job application; providing severability; providing a savings clause; providing for publication and codification; providing for a penalty; and providing an effective date.]
LET ME GET THERE.CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON AMENDING CHAPTER 14, ARTICLE EIGHT OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ADD FAIR CHANCE HIRING PROVISION TO SECTION 14 DASH 203-5 SETTING HIRING STANDARDS TO LIMIT EMPLOYERS' CONSIDERATION OF THE CRIMINAL HISTORY ON THE INITIAL JOB APPLICATIONS.
PROVIDING SEVERABILITY PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE.
PROVIDING PUBLICATION AND CODIFICATION.
PROVIDING FOR PENALTY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
LET ME JUST, OH, AND BEFORE YOU DO THAT, YOU TOLD ME A MILLION TIMES I STILL MESSED IT UP.
SO, I JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW IF YOU'RE HERE FOR PLAN DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT RELATED TO SAINT MARK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, THAT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 23RD, 2024, THIS YEAR AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED DURING THIS MEETING THIS EVENING.
SO, JUST WANTED TO GIVE EVERYONE A HEADS UP.
IF YOU'RE HERE FOR, SAINT MARK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, THAT IS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, JANUARY 23RD, 2024.
NO. YOU'RE GOOD. THANK YOU. MAYOR.
SO JUST TO GIVE A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON FAIR CHANCE HIRING ORDINANCES GENERALLY.
AND THEY ALL TAKE DIFFERENT FORMS. GENERALLY, THEY DELAY A CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK OR CONSIDERATION OF AN APPLICANT'S CRIMINAL HISTORY UNTIL LATER IN THE EMPLOYMENT PROCESS.
[01:10:04]
THE HIRING PROCESS.WE MAY HAVE JUST LOST OUR ZOOM PARTICIPANTS.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL GET BACK ON BOARD.
THANK YOU. SO, THESE ARE ALSO KNOWN AS BAN THE BOX ORDINANCES BECAUSE THEY DO REMOVE OFTENTIMES THE BOX FROM CONSIDERATION OR PARDON ME, THE CRIMINAL HISTORY QUESTION BOX FROM AN APPLICATION.
OKAY, I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
STEVE, YOU MAY HAVE TO LOG BACK IN.
WE'RE. I'M SORRY. WE'RE HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
WE STARTED HAVING SOME REALLY SERIOUS INTERNET ISSUES.
WE STARTED HAVING SOME REAL COMPUTER ISSUES AND INTERNET ISSUES EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AROUND 1130.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE MY 5:00 PREDICTION, BUT WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
SO, IF Y'ALL WANT TO JUST KEEP.
LET'S SEE HOW FAR YOU CAN GET.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SHARE AGAIN, OKAY? OKAY. I THINK WE'VE GOT IT FIGURED OUT.
HOW FAST? BECAUSE I'M AFRAID WE'RE GOING TO LOSE.
I KNOW, OKAY, SO FAIR CHANCE HIRING ORDINANCES ARE DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATORY IMPACT.
THE EEOC DOES RECOMMEND THAT AN EMPLOYER CONDUCT, OR PARDON ME, DOES RECOMMEND THAT THE CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK OCCURS LATER IN THE PROCESS.
AS PART OF THEIR BEST PRACTICES.
SO, YOU LOOK AT THAT PERSON'S SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES AND DO NOT DO A BLANKET, REVIEW OR A BLANKET, DISQUALIFICATION OF PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL HISTORIES.
AS I SAY, REJECTING EVERYONE WITH AN ARREST OR CONVICTION MAY BE DISCRIMINATORY.
SO, WE HAVE PROVIDED THIS BEFORE, JUST LOCAL REGULATION OF FAIR CHANCE HIRING.
AND AS OF 2021, 37 STATES AND 150 CITIES HAVE FAIR CHANCE HIRING LAWS FOR THEMSELVES.
OF THESE, 15 STATES AND 22 CITIES EXTEND THESE TO PRIVATE EMPLOYERS.
AND I DID LIST THOSE IN TEXAS, PARTICULARLY THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE CITY OF DESOTO.
CAN Y'ALL SEE IT? WELL, IT'S SHOWING SOMETHING DIFFERENT HERE.
ALL RIGHT. WHAT DID HE SAY? DID HE SAY JUST KEEP GOING.
WHAT DID HE SAY WHEN HE WAS HERE BEFORE? BECAUSE. LET ME SEE REALLY QUICK.
I MEAN, I'VE GOT THE PRESENTATION.
AND, AND I CAN LISTEN, AND PAUL SAID HE'S OKAY.
[01:15:03]
SO DON'T, LET'S NOT GET HUNG UP ON TRYING TO PUT IT UP ON ZOOM AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.THAT'S A SAYING. A WORD IS WORTH A THOUSAND PICTURES ANYWAY.
THAT'S RIGHT. SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S RIGHT.
YEAH. SO, I THINK EVERYONE'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE BACKGROUND.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE AUGUST OF 2022 THROUGH A SERIES OF PITCHES.
WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS AT THE END OF 2022.
IT WAS BROUGHT BACK THIS SUMMER, AND WE DID HAVE A PRESENTATION IN JUNE OF THIS SUMMER WHERE WE RECEIVED DIRECTION TO BRING THIS BACK IN JANUARY, AFTER WE HAD A PERIOD OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND PUBLIC FEEDBACK.
SO, WHAT DOES A PROPOSED ORDINANCE PROHIBIT? IT PROHIBITS CONSIDERATION OF AN APPLICANT'S CRIMINAL HISTORY IF THAT CONSIDERATION RESULTS IN DISCRIMINATION BASED ON A PROTECTED CLASS.
AND WE DO HAVE THOSE LISTED TO THE SIDE.
THIS COULD BE ANYTHING FROM IMPLYING THAT CRIMINAL HISTORY IS AN AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIER INQUIRING ABOUT CRIMINAL HISTORY BEFORE A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT, OR TAKING ADVERSE ACTION BASED ON CRIMINAL HISTORY.
SO, WHAT DOES IT NOT PROHIBIT ANY ACTION THAT DOESN'T RESULT IN DISCRIMINATION.
SO, IF NO DISCRIMINATION OCCURS, IT DOES NOT VIOLATE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
NOTABLY NOT INCLUDED IS ANY TIME A CRIMINAL HISTORY, IS LOOKED AT WHERE THERE ARE OTHER FEDERAL OR STATE LAWS THAT REQUIRE IT. SO, IF A FEDERAL OR STATE LAW SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO THE CRIMINAL HISTORY OR YOU HAVE TO CHECK IT, OUR ORDINANCE DOES NOT BEAR ON THOSE POSITIONS.
SO, WHO IS COVERED? ALL PRIVATE EMPLOYERS WITH 15 OR MORE EMPLOYEES WHO'S NOT COVERED.
THE STATE OF TEXAS AND ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.
AND THEN WE'VE SHOWN THIS BEFORE WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR PUBLIC HEARING BACK IN DECEMBER.
HOW ARE COMPLAINTS HANDLED WHEN WE DO RECEIVE A COMPLAINT? WHEN IT'S FILED, WE REFER THE COMPLAINANT TO THE STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY THAT WOULD HANDLE THAT TYPE OF INVESTIGATION.
IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE THE EEOC OR THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION.
THEY WILL EITHER FIND THAT DISCRIMINATION DID OCCUR, AND THEY WILL HAVE THEIR OWN REMEDIAL ACTION.
THEY WILL FIND THAT DISCRIMINATION DID NOT OCCUR, AND THAT COMPLAINT WILL BE CLOSED.
NOW, WE DO NOTE THAT SINCE OUR NONDISCRIMINATION REGULATIONS, WHICH THIS FALLS INTO, THIS IS GOING TO BE PART OF OUR NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE, SINCE THOSE REGULATIONS ARE THE SAME AS THE EEOC.
WE HAD THREE IN-PERSON LISTENING SESSIONS, TWO VIRTUAL LISTENING SESSIONS.
MOST OF OUR FEEDBACK WAS GIVEN BY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND IN FACT, YOU DID HAVE THE CHAMBER COME AND SPEAK LAST TIME ON DECEMBER 5TH, WHERE THEY PROVIDED A LETTER TO THE COUNCIL OF THEIR THOUGHTS, THEIR POSITION ON THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
AND WE DID GIVE THAT FEEDBACK TO THE COUNCIL IN THE FORM OF AN ISR, AN INTERNAL STAFF REPORT.
THOSE CONCERNS WERE IMPACTS ON COMPETITIVENESS, LACK OF CLEARLY DEFINED NEED FOR THE ORDINANCE.
AND AS I MENTIONED, THE CHAMBER BOARD DID ISSUE A LETTER OF OPPOSITION, AND WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO GO FIND RESEARCH OR DATA ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE ORDINANCES. AND WITH WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THERE'S A RESEARCH CONSENSUS ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FAIR CHANCE HIRING INITIATIVES AND ORDINANCES. SO THAT IS A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
OKAY. AND IF I COULD HAVE IF WE COULD HEAR FROM THE CHAMBER, THAT'D BE.
THAT'D BE GOOD. YES. IS THAT NOW A GOOD TIME?
[01:20:02]
YES, SIR. OKAY, LET'S DO THAT.APRIL, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. VERY WELL. HAPPY NEW YEAR.
HAPPY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AS THE MAYOR JUST POINTED OUT, APRIL STOKES IS IN THE AUDIENCE THIS EVENING.
SHE IS OUR CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
AND SO AT ANY TIME, IF YOU'D LIKE APRIL TO COME UP, I WILL CLEARLY INVITE HER TO DO SO.
AND SO, I JUST WANTED TO READ A FEW COMMENTS TODAY.
OR I'M SO SORRY, OBVIOUSLY FOR CHAMBERS, BUT FOR TRAINING AND SKILLS ACQUISITION, SECOND CHANCE HIRING INITIATIVES EMPOWER BUSINESSES TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND THE CHAMBER AND POTENTIALLY ADDITIONAL PARTNERS SUCH AS OUR FRIENDS AT THE DENTON BLACK CHAMBER AND THE NORTH TEXAS LGBT CHAMBER.
STRENGTHENING THE POOL OF RESOURCES AND ACCESS POINTS LOCALLY IN DENTON DATA AND RESEARCH, AS RYAN SHARED, IS NOT CONCLUSIVE ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FAIR CHANCE HIRING ORDINANCES WITH SECOND CHANCE HIRING INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS. HOWEVER, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE BUSINESSES WITH WAYS TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS INSTEAD OF PASSIVE COMPLIANCE THROUGH AN ORDINANCE.
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE WANT BUSINESSES TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
SUCH OPPORTUNITIES EXIST, AND THEY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT, A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT AVAILABLE TO EMPLOYERS FOR HIRING INDIVIDUALS FOR CERTAIN TARGETED GROUPS WHO HAVE CONSISTENTLY FACED SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.
THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S FEDERAL BONDING PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FIDELITY BONDS FOR AT RISK, HARD-TO-PLACE JOB SEEKERS AND THE BOND, PROTECTS EMPLOYERS AGAINST CERTAIN ASPECTS FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT, AT NO COST TO THE JOB APPLICANT OR THE EMPLOYER.
THIS WILL STRENGTHEN OUR WORKFORCE LOCALLY AND BUILD ON OUR ECONOMIC VITALITY.
WE WILL ALSO WORK WITH THE CITY FOR THE 120 DAY PERIOD TO ESTABLISH A MODEL THAT ENABLES OUR BUSINESSES TO ACCESS EDUCATION AND TRAINING, WHILE ALSO ENABLING INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS EDUCATION AND TRAINING, ESTABLISHING A PIPELINE OF TALENT LOCALLY THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY UNTAPPED, ULTIMATELY ENABLING OUR BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS IN DENTON TO BE RECRUITED FOR BUSINESSES TO RECRUIT, TO BE TRAINED FOR BUSINESSES TO TRAIN AND TO GROW OUR BUSINESSES AND TO GROW OUR WORKFORCE POPULATION. THIS IS A NEW MEANS TO DO SO.
JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS GAIN CONFIDENCE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN DENTON.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY FOR ALL IN DENTON, INVOLVED AND INCLUSIVE OF THE JUSTICE INVOLVED COMMUNITY, AND LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THE CITY AND HIGHLIGHTING EMPLOYERS OF CHOICE, CREATING AND RETAINING JOBS IN DENTON.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.
OKAY, WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER, BUT IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD HAVE, ANYTHING TO SPEAK ON EITHER STAFF OR CHAMBER BEFORE WE GO TO THE SPEAKER? SEEING NONE.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, CAN WE THEN, GIVE HIM TIME TO FORMULATE QUESTIONS.
PERHAPS THEN ASK AARON OR APRIL.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GIVE ME GIVE ME ONE MOMENT.
SO, SAGE THORNE, YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME.
YOU'LL HAVE. FOUR MINUTE THREE.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT TODAY.
AND I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTION AS TO THE NECESSITY OF THIS ORDINANCE AND ITS IMPACT, AND WHETHER IT'S NECESSARY AND WHETHER IT IS IMPACTFUL.
[01:25:04]
PEOPLE THEY KNOW, AND LOVE ARE CRIMINALS, WHETHER THEY ARE CAUGHT OR NOT.YOU KNOW, YOU JUST NEED TO LOOK DOWN I-35 TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE SPEEDING.
AS FOR IN MY FAMILY, MY UNCLE WAS, BEFORE UBER AND WHEN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WASN'T SO GREAT, DECIDED TO WALK HOME AND GOT PUBLIC INTOXICATION.
A FRIEND OF MINE WAS, AT THE BAR AND DECIDED TO SLEEP IN HIS CAR AND GOT A DUI AND LOST PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING. I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE WHO, HAD TO STEAL BABY FOOD BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T AFFORD IT, BECAUSE HER KID WAS SPECIAL NEEDS, AND SHE DIDN'T REALLY GET PAID ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO BUY THAT.
AND AS FOR ME, MY, DAD, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THINGS WERE PRETTY TIGHT FOR US GROWING UP BECAUSE, THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, KIDS WHEN THEY STARTED HAVING KIDS.
AND THAT'S AN UNFORTUNATE REALITY OF LIFE, AND WE COULDN'T REALLY AFFORD IT.
AND WHENEVER YOU I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS, BUT WHENEVER YOU GROW UP, WHEN THINGS ARE HARD AND YOU'RE YOUNG AND EVERYTHING IS TOO MUCH, YOU KIND OF LOOK FOR ANY WAY TO ESCAPE.
AND FOR MY DAD THAT WAS DRINKING AND UNFORTUNATELY, HE ENDED UP, GETTING A DUI AND HE WENT TO PRISON, AND I DIDN'T SEE HIM FOR A LONG TIME.
AND WHENEVER HE GOT BACK, IT REALLY CHANGED HIM A LOT.
AND IT ONLY REALLY MADE HIM WORSE AND NOT BETTER.
AND WHENEVER HE TRIED TO GET A JOB, THOUGH, IS WHENEVER THINGS GOT REALLY BAD BECAUSE HE WAS BACK, BUT NOW HE COULDN'T GET A JOB ANYWHERE AT ALL BECAUSE NOBODY WOULD EVEN GIVE HIM THE TIME OF DAY OR CONSIDER HIRING HIM IN EVERY.
AND THAT MADE LIFE A LOT HARDER FOR US AS KIDS.
I WANTED TO GIVE MY STORY THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY. COUNCILMAN HARLAN? SAGE, EXCUSE ME.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? HERE IN DENTON.
YOU LIVE IN CITY OF DENTON YET? THANK YOU. OKAY.
ANYONE ELSE? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN MCGEE.
IF I MAY, CAN I ASK THE CHAMBER PRESIDENT A COUPLE QUESTIONS? YES. AARON.
OF COURSE. SO, I JUST WANT FOR EVERYBODY JUST TALK ABOUT THE GENESIS OF HOW WE GOT TO HERE.
SO, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS SEPTEMBER OF 2022.
AT THE INVITATION OF THE PREVIOUS BOARD CHAIR.
SO. MOVING THINGS DOWN THE ROAD.
I THINK HONESTLY IT WAS JUST A LAPSE IN COMMUNICATION.
I THINK THAT'S HOW WE GOT HERE.
SO. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE QUICKLY OR IT WASN'T FLY BY THE SEAT OF YOUR PANTS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF TIME, EFFORT AND ENERGY SPENT HERE.
I WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU TO RYAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONDUCTING ALL THE MEETINGS AND THE LISTENING SESSIONS.
BUT TODAY, TODAY WAS, TODAY WAS INTERESTING.
SO, IF YOU DON'T MIND, JUST TO BE REALLY CLEAR, CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES OF AN OPTIONAL PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES TO OPT INTO? WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE FOR THEM TO OPT INTO SECOND CHANCE HIRING? THE ADVANTAGES FOR BUSINESSES TO OPT IN TO SECOND CHANCE HIRING? ABSOLUTELY. THERE ARE MANY ADVANTAGES FOR BUSINESSES TO OPT INTO SECOND CHANCE HIRING.
[01:30:09]
POOL. WHEN WE TALK TO BUSINESSES FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PERSPECTIVE, WE TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.AND SOMETHING WE HEAR REGULARLY IS, TALENT POOL, TALENT SHORTAGES AND ACCESS TO TALENT.
ONE OF THOSE BEING OPENING THEIR EYES AND OPENING THEIR MINDS TO SECOND CHANCE HIRING BY PROVIDING THEM ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND RESOURCES THROUGH A SECOND CHANCE HIRING INITIATIVE, PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY WOULD REALLY BROADEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO A TALENT PIPELINE.
THAT WOULD BE ONE OPPORTUNITY.
ANOTHER WOULD BE A RETENTION OF TALENT THEN LOCALLY.
THERE ARE TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS.
THAT'S A WAY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO ENGAGE IN THIS WITHOUT THE RISK.
SO, MITIGATING THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.
AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY HIRING ANYONE IN A SECOND CHANCE POPULATION IS RISKIER THAN NOT.
SO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS NOT MISQUOTED.
IT'S SIMPLY THAT SMALL BUSINESSES, THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS CAN BE GREAT.
THEIR INSURANCE PROVIDER MAY NOT ALLOW THEM TO TAKE ON THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO, WITH FEDERAL GRANTS, WITH FEDERAL WORKFORCE CREDITS, THEY'RE ABLE TO MITIGATE THAT RISK, LEARN OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO EMBRACE A DIFFERENT CULTURE FOR THEIR BUSINESS, STEP OUT, TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND THEN RECOGNIZE WHAT EXISTS HERE IN DENTON.
SO REALLY IMPLORING US TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THOSE WOULD BE TWO QUICK OPTIONS, BUT WE WOULD WORK WITH THE CITY TO PARTNER, HOST EDUCATION AND AWARENESS OPPORTUNITIES, COLLECT DATA, FIND WAYS TO EMBRACE SECOND CHANCE HIRING AND JUSTICE INVOLVED HIRING AND WORK ON PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
I APPRECIATE THAT, ABSOLUTELY.
WHEN WHEN I'M GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS LEADING UP TO TODAY, I'LL BE HONEST AND SAY I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH CONFIDENCE THAT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WOULD BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THIS.
BUT I WANT TO SAY, IT'S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, RIGHT? YOU AND I WERE LEADERSHIP DENTON CLASSMATES AND CLASS OF 37.
YOU KNOW, THE CHAMBER WORKS A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE NFL IN THAT THEY DON'T WORK FOR YOU.
BUT. HEARING ABOUT SOME OF THE FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES TO OPT INTO.
I THINK I CAN ALSO SPEAK FOR THE CITY.
CITY LEADERSHIP. WE WEREN'T AWARE THAT THERE WERE POTENTIAL FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS, GIVEN THAT THE UPSIDE IS CLEAR.
THE OTHER REASON FOR ME BEING, IF WE ALL.
IF WE STOP SHORT OF ORDINANCE CARROT AND STICK, WE CAN ALWAYS REVISIT THAT LATER IF WE NEED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT APRIL, THE BOARD CHAIR IS THERE THIS YEAR.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR, JUST PERHAPS, A VERBAL COMMITMENT THAT YOU ALL ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH US, WORK WITH THE CITY AS WELL, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL OPT IN PROGRAM.
THANK YOU. NO, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SAY THAT THE BOARD, THE CHAMBER BOARD IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AARON WITH THE SUPPORT AND THE REST OF THE TEAM WITH THE SUPPORT IN ORDER TO FACILITATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF DENTON, TO SUPPORT, TO ACTUALLY AND GET THIS PROGRAM GOING SO THAT IN LIEU OF AN ORDINANCE BASED ON WHAT WE RECEIVED AS FEEDBACK FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND OUR MEMBERSHIP, THAT THIS IS THE PATH FORWARD THAT WE WOULD PROPOSE.
THE POINT OF THIS WAS NEVER ORDNANCE.
THE POINT OF THIS WAS GETTING THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD RIGHT.
IT WAS TO MATCH POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS.
MANY OF THEM ARE ALREADY WORKING.
MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY.
THAT'S WHAT THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT, TRYING TO HELP FOLKS GO TO WORK THERE.
BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I.
[01:35:06]
RIGHT? A LOT OF BLUE-COLLAR FOLKS HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS.MY HOPE IS THAT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS WILL REALLY HELP.
SET THE CITY OF DENTON AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON A NEW PATH, ON A BETTER PATH THAT CAN SERVE AS THE MODEL FOR HOW GOVERNMENT CAN WORK WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY.
IT WAS IGNORANT, UNFOUNDED AND JUST PLAIN WRONG.
GOVERNMENT IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE, EVERYDAY PEOPLE JUST LIKE US AND OUR JOB IS TO HELP.
THIS IS A WAY WHERE WE CAN ALL HELP.
SO, I'M THANKFUL THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.
IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW OTHERS TO SPEAK OR SHOULD I MAKE A MOTION? WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE A MOTION? LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET A SECOND. LET'S, MOVING ALONG.
SO, IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR MOTION, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET A SECOND.
OKAY I APPRECIATE THAT. SO, MY MOTION IS GOING TO BE LET'S TABLE AN ORDINANCE.
LET'S ALLOW THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, TO IMPLEMENT AN OPT IN PROGRAM AND GIVE THEM THE SAME 120 DAYS THAT WE WERE GOING TO BEFORE AN ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT TO STAND UP A PROGRAM AND THEN COME BACK WITH US TO A WORK SESSION TO SEE HOW WELL THAT PROGRAM IS WORKING. OKAY.
YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? THAT I'M NOT.
CANDIDLY, I'M NOT CRAZY ABOUT THE DEADLINE ON IT, BUT NOT MY DECISION TO MAKE.
SO, YOUR THOUGHTS? AND WE FIRST OF ALL APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME.
WELL, FIRST SHE HAD THE FLOOR.
SECOND. IF THEY'RE NOT AMENABLE TO IT, THEN THERE'S NO POINT IN SECONDING IT.
I NEED TO HEAR FROM THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE OKAY WITH THAT BEFORE WE PUT THAT ON THEM.
IF THAT'S OKAY. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
SECOND, WE'VE WORKED WITH CITY MANAGER HENSLEY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CITY MANAGER AND HER TEAM, INCLUDING AND NOT JUST LIMITED TO RYAN AND, OF COURSE, DUSTIN, TO REALLY FIGURE OUT A ROBUST PROGRAM THAT WORKS FOR THIS AND CHECKING IN WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY TO MAKE SURE THIS MAKES SENSE.
IF AT THAT TIME IT EXCEEDS THE 120 DAYS, WE WOULD COME BACK AND ASK.
ADD ON TO THIS, BUT I THINK THAT WE COULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
IS THERE A SECOND? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR? MAYOR PRO TEM OR. NO.
GOOD. IS THERE A SECOND? COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER.
OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION BY AND A SECOND DISCUSSION.
YEAH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TALK. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WAS A LITTLE OUT OF MY MENTAL SPACE BECAUSE I WAS PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT THE EARLIER, SPOTS.
OKAY, SO, MR. MAYOR, LET ME ASK FOR PROCESS.
ARE WE LIMITING DISCUSSION JUST TO THIS, MOTION OR THE TOPIC IN GENERAL? I'LL GIVE SOME FLEXIBILITY.
I JUST I'M TRYING TO CUT DOWN ON THE OPINING TO, TO THE DEGREE WE'VE JUST HAD.
SO OBVIOUSLY, YES, YOU YOU'RE NOT FORECLOSED FROM SPEAKING ON SOMETHING.
SAY WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND AND MOVE ON.
ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE THAT THAT THAT CLARITY.
THE I WILL I'LL AMEND MY COMMENTS TO BE SORT OF MORE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO THIS, THIS, AMENDED MOTION AND, OR NOT AMENDED MOTION.
[01:40:02]
THIS MOTION, MY CONCERN IS NOT REGULATING PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO OPT IN.IT IS REGULATING PEOPLE WHO ARE UNWILLING TO OPT IN.
AARON APRIL, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MANY BUSINESSES THERE ARE IN DENTON AND HOW MANY ARE MEMBERS? YES, APPROXIMATELY 6000 BUSINESSES, AND WE HAVE UNDER A THOUSAND.
YEAH. NOW, OF COURSE, THIS WOULD NOT BE A LIMITED OPPORTUNITY FOR ONLY MEMBERSHIP.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S VERY CLEAR.
THIS OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE OPEN.
SECOND CHANCE HIRING WOULD BE OPEN TO ANY AND ALL BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF DENTON.
WE WOULD NOT IT WOULD NOT BE A MEMBERSHIP RESTRICTED OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE JOBS ARE THE GOAL.
AND SO, PLACEMENT OF JOBS COMES FIRST.
AARON. I, I KNOW THAT THE CHAMBER WORKS HARD, AND SO I DON'T MEAN ANY DISPARAGING.
DISPARAGING? THAT'S NOT THE WORD DISPARITY.
I DON'T MEAN TO DISPARAGE I PORTMANTEAU THOSE.
WHY THE RESISTANCE OF OUR LOCAL CHAMBER COMPARED TO THE BEST PRACTICES FROM THE NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAW PROGRAM, THE NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LABOR DIVISION, THE EEOC, THE FEDERAL CHAMBER, THE MANY, LIKE 30 CHAMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IF I REMEMBER THE STATISTICS, DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT LAST ONE.
IT SEEMS WE HAVE A PREPONDERANCE OF RECOMMENDATION IN ONE DIRECTION.
AND, WHILE I SAW THAT, CAN YOU HELP ME GET SOME CLARITY ON WHAT MAYBE THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN WAS, FROM THE, THE MEMBERSHIP THAT YOU POLLED, AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS WERE.
SURE. I BELIEVE THAT WE TURNED IN THE ALMOST THREE-PAGE MEMO GUIDE TO THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP AND ANYONE THAT ATTENDED, THE OPEN SESSION DIALOG.
THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED AND WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE IS THAT THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS, WHILE NO ONE IS AGAINST SECOND CHANCE HIRING OR A FAIR CHANCE PROCESS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUSINESS IS ALLOWED TO INTERVIEW AS THE PROCESS THAT THEY WILL.
SO, A SECOND CHANCE INITIATIVE GOES BEYOND THE BOX.
AND I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU AND I HAD THAT CONVERSATION, WE AGREED THAT WE MAY DISAGREE.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE A DANCE MOVE LIKE THAT.
I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT. BUT, IT DOES.
IT MOVES PEOPLE FROM TOSSING THEIR APPLICATION OUT INTO THE WIND AND HOPING SOMETHING COMES BACK TO NARROWING THAT FIELD, PUTTING THEIR APPLICATION WHERE EMPLOYERS ARE OPEN TO SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYEES OR JUSTICE INVOLVED EMPLOYEES, AND ACTUALLY PUTTING INDIVIDUALS IN JOBS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT IS AND THAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT WE ARE GOING TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS COMMITTED TO.
I'M SORRY? I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF.
THE OTHER THING THAT REALLY CAME THROUGH IN MANY OF OUR CONVERSATIONS, GIVEN THAT THESE ARE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE GIVEN US THEIR COMMENTS AND THEN ARE ALSO ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE PRIMARY THING THAT I HEARD OVER AND OVER WAS A DESIRE TO INCENTIVIZE BUSINESSES TO ENGAGE WITH THESE POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES VERSUS CRIMINALIZING THEM FOR NOT ACTUALLY DOING WHAT YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO DO.
AARON'S ALREADY REFERENCED THE FACT THAT THERE THE JOB SHORTAGE THAT ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES THAT THE CITY OF DENTON ACROSS THE BOARD IS FACING AND HIRING ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES AND PROVIDING THEM WITH INCENTIVES TO LOOK AT CANDIDATES THAT MIGHT HAVE THE BACKGROUNDS THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT BUT PROVIDING THE INCENTIVIZING FOR THEM AND NOT THE ACTUAL CRIMINALIZATION OF IT.
SO, CAN I GET ONE CLARITY QUESTION THEN? I HAVE A COMMENT, MR. MAYOR. THE ONE CLARITY QUESTION IS THIS THIS PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE, PROPOSING, WHICH DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A BAD THING AT ALL, IS, IS TO LITIGATE. I'M DOING IT AGAIN TO MITIGATE RISK.
[01:45:01]
WHAT? WHERE IS THE RISK IN THE HIRING OR IN THE APPLICATION? WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO MITIGATE WITH THE PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TO OFFER? I DON'T KNOW IF I DIRECTLY UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO AVOID ANSWERING THE QUESTION.IT'S JUST THAT A SECOND CHANCE HIRING PROGRAM.
EDUCATES AND PROVIDES AWARENESS TO EMPLOYERS ABOUT A DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITY OF POTENTIAL TALENT THAT HAS HISTORICALLY OFTEN BEEN A CLOSED DOOR, CLOSED OFF, NOT OPEN TO OPPORTUNITY.
SO, IT'S NOT MITIGATING AT THE FOREFRONT OR THE BACK FRONT, OR IT IS OPENING A TALENT PIPELINE.
IT IS PROVIDING AWARENESS TO OUR DENTON BASED EMPLOYERS OF THE OPPORTUNITY.
SO, THE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH TAX CREDITS, THROUGH FEDERAL BONDING, THROUGH GRANTS MITIGATES THAT.
DIFFERENT ASPECTS DEPENDING ON INDUSTRY, DEPENDING ON TYPE OF SALARY, DEPENDING ON OPPORTUNITY.
BUT WE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, CHAMBER AND CITY, WOULD BE PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL ACCESS AND AWARENESS TO EMPLOYERS AND POTENTIALLY TO EMPLOYEES WHO DO NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHICH EMPLOYERS TO GO TARGET WHEN THEY'RE HERE IN DENTON AND THEN DENTON BASED EMPLOYERS TO TARGET POTENTIALLY A DIFFERENT TALENT BASE OF EMPLOYEES.
I THINK THAT HELPS RISK MITIGATION, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
THE PROBLEM THAT I SEE IS IT SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A NOT A LITTLE BIT A SUBSTANTIAL, A LARGE FALSE DICHOTOMY TO SAY, HERE'S A POSITIVE PROGRAM THAT WOULD ENHANCE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATION AND SET THAT AS OPPOSED TO THE ADVANTAGES THAT MAY COME FROM, THE ORIGINAL ITEM PRESENTED BEFORE US.
I DON'T SEE WHY THAT'S A EITHER OR.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A BOTH AND DO BOTH.
AND I CAN SEE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
THIS GIVES BUSINESSES THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPT INTO SOMETHING, AND IT ADVANCES THE CITY'S JOB CREATION. WHEREAS THE ORDINANCE COULD STILL POTENTIALLY LEAD LEAD TO BUSINESSES NOT HIRING SOMEONE.
BECAUSE YOU MOVE THE YOU MOVE THE BOX DOWN THE ROAD.
SOMEBODY STILL HAS A PREVIOUS CRIMINAL HISTORY OR IS JUSTICE INVOLVED? THEY LATER DON'T PASS THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
IT MOVES THEM DOWN AND THEY DON'T GET HIRED.
WHERE THIS ENDS UP OPENING DOORS FOR BUSINESSES, THEY LEARN ABOUT A NEW TALENT POOL, AND IT ENDS UP CREATING A NEW PIPELINE FOR JOBS. I THINK IT'S TWO DIFFERENT ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM.
YEAH, AND WE JUST AGREE TO DISAGREE.
YEAH. AND I THINK THAT'S OKAY.
SO, I APOLOGIZE, MR. MAYOR. SO, YEAH.
NO, I SEE THIS AS A FALSE DICHOTOMY.
LIKE I SAID, THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO DO BOTH.
THERE'S THE, I CAN PRECLUDE BAD ACTORS IN ONE CASE.
AND THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THAT IS, THIS DOESN'T ACTUALLY STOP YOU FROM DOING A CRIMINAL CHECK.
IT ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT STOP YOU FROM DOING A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK OR EVEN ASKING.
IT'S JUST PUSHES IT BACK TO THE END OF THE PROCESS.
AND IN FACT, JUST A COMMENT TO SOME OF THE WHAT THE STAFF SAID.
AND THIS IS NOT A DIG AGAINST STAFF, BUT THERE, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T THAT HARD FOR ME TO FIND A 2022 PAPER FROM OCTOBER, FROM UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, INDICATING THAT THERE IS A DISPARITY IN HIRING BETWEEN.
AND THEY DID A COMPARISON OF CHICAGO AND DALLAS.
IT'S IN OUR LOCAL, HIRING, REGION OF 27%.
AND EVEN WHEN YOU FILTER OUT RACIAL BIAS, IT WAS STILL 7.1% AFTER RACIAL AFTER RACIAL BIAS WAS FILTERED OUT BETWEEN THE CHICAGO AND DALLAS.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND THE OTHER PAPERS THAT I'VE READ, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WHEN WE MET IS THERE IS THERE IS NO HARMS OTHER THAN THE TRANSITIONAL, CHAOS IN THE FIRST YEAR.
AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN OCCUR IN ALL PARTS OF THE STUDY.
[01:50:10]
PLACE WHERE, THEY ARE TRYING TO INITIATE AN EDUCATION PROGRAM, I SEE THIS AS BOTH AND IF YOUR PROGRAM AND I'M GOING TO FREELY GIVE YOU A NUMBER, IT RESULTS IN THE SAME 7% THAT THE STUDY SHOWED BETWEEN CHICAGO AND DALLAS, THEN THAT'S 40.18%.ALL RIGHT. EVEN IF IT'S HALF, IT'S 10% VERSUS, YOU KNOW.
SO, I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE 10% THAN THE 7%.
SO, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION, AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE EARLIER ITEM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH FAIR CHANCE HIRING.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH FAIR CHANCE HIRING.
THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS, IS AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES THE CITY TO REQUIRE EMPLOYERS IN THE CITY TO HAVE FAIR CHANCE HIRING.
I HAVE A I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
I LIKE THE SOMEBODY USED THE PHRASE EARLIER IN LIEU OF AN ORDINANCE.
I LIKE IN LIEU OF AN ORDINANCE.
SO, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO WITH RESPECT IS ASK MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE TO WITHDRAW HIS MOTION BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE THE DANGLING THING, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD ON TO THIS THING FOR SIX MONTHS.
WE'VE BEEN HOLDING ON IT SINCE JUNE.
IT'S JUST BEEN FLOATING AROUND.
I WANT TO I WANT TO TERMINATE IT NOW.
SO, I'M GOING TO ASK HIM TO WITHDRAW HIS MOTION.
MOTION? WITHDRAW HIS MOTION, AND THEN DENY THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE WITH RESPECT.
JUST BRIEFLY, IF YOU CAN RESPOND EITHER AN AFFIRMATIVE OR NEGATIVE SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND.
MAY I ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION? BY ALL MEANS.
IF WE TODAY VOTE DOWN THIS ORDINANCE, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PREVENTS IT FROM COMING BACK UP AT A LATER DATE IN THE EVENT THAT AN OPT IN PROGRAM DOESN'T WORK? I GUESS I PRESUMES THAT YOU WOULD WITHDRAW YOUR TABLE.
THERE WAS ACTUALLY A VOTE, A MOTION TO APPROVE, AND THAT ULTIMATELY DID NOT PASS.
CORRECT? NO. AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, THE COUNCIL COULD BRING THIS ITEM BACK.
ANY COUNCIL MEMBER COULD PITCH IT OR USE ANY OTHER MEANS TO BRING AN ITEM BACK ON THE AGENDA.
IS THERE A RULE WITH TO WHICH DICTATES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME? LIKE YOU HAVE TO WAIT? NOT FOR THIS ITEM, A FEW MONTHS OR ANYTHING.
LIKE NOTHING LIKE THAT. NOT FOR THESE TYPES OF VOTES.
NO, I THINK THERE'S SOME ZONING LIMITATIONS, BUT NOTHING ON THIS.
SO MY LAST QUESTION WOULD BE, I GUESS, TO THE MAYOR OR THE CITY MANAGER, IF IN FACT WE DO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE IS SUGGESTING, DO I NEED AN AFFIRMATIVE MOTION, TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO USE HER RESOURCES TO BEAR TO PARTNER WITH THE CHAMBER TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM? I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS, HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN? DOES THAT NEED A MOTION? IS THAT OPERATIONAL? IT'S OPERATIONAL. AND WE WORK WITH THE CHAMBER ON A DAILY BASIS.
SO, IT BEHOOVES US AS A CITY TO WORK WELL WITH OUR PARTNERS, WHETHER IT BE THE CHAMBER, UNT, TWU, NCTC, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AFFORDING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO ANY INDIVIDUAL THE ABILITY TO GET THE TRAINING AND TO BE ABLE TO GET HIRED.
IT BEHOOVES US FOR THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF OUR CITY.
IS THAT RIGHT? YES, BY ALL MEANS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARLAN, YOU'RE ALL SET.
I BEG YOUR PARDON. YES, SIR. OKAY.
I WAS JUST GOING TO THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THAT IDEA.
OKAY, SO YOU'RE ALL SET, CONGRESSMAN.
CONGRESSMAN COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.
COUNCIL MEMBER BYRD? I LIKE THAT.
THIS KIND OF REMINDS ME OF, WHEN PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH, AND WE ALL KNOW CHURCH IS FOR SINNERS.
THERE ARE NO ANGELS IN THE CHURCH, AND WE GO TO CHURCH TO BE AMONGST LIKEMINDED PEOPLE.
AND BE REFRESHING EVERY WEEK TO DO A BETTER JOB THE NEXT WEEK.
AND I'M CONNECTING THAT WITH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IS BECAUSE.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
BUT BECAUSE WE DO NOT LIVE IN A UTOPIC WORLD.
[01:55:03]
THERE'RE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US NOT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.AND I THINK THAT US SITTING ON THIS DAIS, WHENEVER WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CITY, WE CAN SEE, AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE.
AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE MINDSET THAT WE ARE THINKING OF THE GREATER GOOD.
AND WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME IN FRONT OF US AND TELL US WHAT THEIR ISSUE IS, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE THAT AND SEE WHETHER OR NOT IT AFFECTS ALL OF US FOR THE GREATER GOOD.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TOPICS.
IT'S A CULTURAL TOPIC, OR WE ARE GOING TO BE AN INCLUSIVE CITY.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR MANTRA POINTS.
WE'RE NOT OUT OF OUT OF REACH, OUT OF TOUCH.
THAT'S OUR JOB ON THIS DAY IS TO MAKE SURE WE FEEL THAT WAY.
SO, I'M THINKING, WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH ME AS I'M LISTENING? AND IT'S JUST IT'S JUST THE REALITY THAT WHEN THINK ABOUT POOR PEOPLE, WE THINK ABOUT MINORITY PEOPLE, WE THINK ABOUT CRIMINAL PEOPLE.
WE THINK ABOUT THIS SUBSET OF GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HELPS US WITH OUR EXCLUSIVITY, THAT HELPS US THINK THAT WE'RE BETTER THAN OTHER PEOPLE. THE FAIRNESS IS NOT THERE.
THEN SOMETHING COMES TO US LIKE THIS WHICH FORCES US TO COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE OTHER PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY. WE DO NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF WAY AND HAVE A DIFFERENT MINDSET AND DIDN'T I MEAN DIDN'T, THERE'S NOT LIKE ANY OTHER PLACE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH AND THERE'S RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WE PICK UP AND READ AND WE WANT TO ABIDE BY. IT'S NOT PENALIZING ME BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THE ONES THAT DO THE RIGHT THING.
I KNOW THAT I DON'T WANT THEM WORKING FOR ME.
I KNOW THAT I DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO COME IN HERE AND WORK IN MY BUSINESS.
MAYBE I'M RACIST, MAYBE I'M MISOGYNISTIC, MAYBE I JUST HATE PEOPLE.
MAYBE I HATE COLLEGE STUDENTS.
I DON'T WANT THEM WORKING IN MY JOB.
I DON'T WANT THEM WORKING FOR ME.
IT'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS OUT THERE THAT'S KEEPING US FROM BEING FAIR.
NOW PENALIZATION VERSUS, BEING INCENTIVIZED.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, THOSE LITTLE, THOSE LITTLE HAPPY TICKETS THAT YOU GIVE TO THE KIDS THAT ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING DOES NOT GO PAST THE NEXT DAY. YOU HAVE TO KEEP FEEDING THESE PEOPLE, THESE TICKETS FOR THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND INSTEAD OF SETTING THE BOUNDARY AND SAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOME POINTS TAKEN FROM YOU IF YOU'RE NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING BY THE END OF THE DAY, THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY POINTS DO THEY STILL HAVE LEFT? AND THEY WORK TOWARDS DOING A BETTER JOB.
IT'S OKAY TO HAVE A PENALTY FACTOR IN LIFE.
THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH US HALFWAY ANYWAY.
WE GET UPSET WHEN PEOPLE PENALIZE US FOR SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING.
SO, WE HAVE TO WORK HARDER IN NOT DOING IT.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT CHILDREN. I'M TALKING ABOUT ADULTS.
MOMS. DO YOU KNOW EVERYBODY HAS TO WORK TOWARDS GOODNESS AND LIGHT? I'M OKAY WITH INCENTIVES, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY FOR SOMEONE THAT HAS A BUSINESS.
TO HAVE TO BE INCENTIVIZED TO DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
YOU SHOULD BE DOING THAT ANYWAY.
I HEARD OF A STORY OF A GENTLEMAN AT A NONPROFIT GROUP THAT I BELONG TO, AND HE CAME IN AND TOLD HIS STORY ABOUT BEING AN OUT-OF-CONTROL CHILD, GOING TO COLLEGE AND SMOKING AND DRINKING AND GOING TO JAIL AND GETTING A DEGREE OF SOME SORT AND HAVING TO PUT IN AN APPLICATION WITH A
[02:00:01]
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND.HE KEPT PUTTING IN THE APPLICATION.
IT BECAME A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE CORPORATION.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE RULES IN THE FIRST PLACE? BECAUSE WE ARE NOT IN UTOPIA.
WE STILL HAVE RACIST, MISOGYNISTIC PEOPLE.
WE HAVE HATERS OUT THERE THAT OWN BUSINESSES.
AND I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT.
THERE'S NOT EVEN THAT MANY BLACK PEOPLE IN DENTON.
WHERE ARE THE BLACK PEOPLE? AND WE KEEP BRINGING THEM UP, AND THEN WE'RE CONNECTING THEM WITH BEING POOR ALL THE TIME.
WHEN BLACK PEOPLE AND OTHER POOR PEOPLE AND MINORITIES ALWAYS IN THE SAME SENTENCE.
AND EVERYBODY IS STRUGGLING OUT HERE.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT.
AND I'M GOING TO SAY, YES TO THE INCENTIVES IF THAT'S THE WAY WE HAVE TO GO.
WE'RE NOT TALKING TO THE CHOIR.
TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE IN CHURCH.
AND WHEN THEY GET IN THERE, THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN SOMETHING.
NOW, IF WE CAN DO THIS FOR THOSE SINNING FOLKS, BY THE WAY, WHITE COLLAR WORKERS ARE STILL A LOT OF MONEY.
OKAY, SOME OF THE WORST ONES VERSUS SOMEONE THAT DIDN'T PAY THERE.
AND THEN WHEN I GOT OUT, THEY WENT AND GOT DRUNK, GOT CAUGHT AGAIN, THROWN BACK IN JAIL.
OKAY. THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENING.
SO, I'M GOING TO TECHNICALLY NOT APPROVE OR VOTE FOR, MCGEE'S OFFER, BUT I WILL HOPE THAT WE WILL GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL AND WORK WITH THAT AND ENCOURAGE OUR BUSINESSES TO DO THE RIGHT THING ANYWAY.
WE'RE SMART, INTELLIGENT PEOPLE.
IF YOU OPEN UP A BUSINESS AND ITS SUCCESSFUL AND SUSTAINABLE, WHICH I AM LOVING.
DON'T WISH ANY ILL WILL ON ANYONE.
YOU HIRE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR YOUR JOB.
THEY'RE THE ONES WITH THE BURDEN.
THE BUSINESS DOESN'T HAVE THE BURDEN.
THE COMPLAINANT HAS THE BURDEN OF PROOF.
OKAY. AND IF IT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD, NOTHING COMES OUT OF IT.
ANYONE ELSE? BECAUSE WE'RE WRAPPING UP.
SO, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING, LET'S GET IT IN.
COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER? YEAH. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD WHAT I, WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD WHEN I OFFERED MY SECOND, FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE ENERGY MOVING TOWARD A VERY, VERY PROGRESSIVE VIEW.
FOR DENTON ON FAIR CHANCE HIRING, I THINK IS GREAT.
AND I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, I'D SAY THAT CHAMBERS AHEAD OF ME AND I'M BEING LED AND THAT'S, I ABSOLUTELY THINK ANYTHING WE DO SHOULD INCLUDE HONORING THAT IMPULSE AND SEEING IF YOU KNEW WHAT ROLE THE CITY WOULD NEED TO PLAY AND HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I THINK I THOUGHT THAT THIS HEARING WAS.
TABLE LITERALLY MEANS LATER IN THE SAME MEETING BUT POSTPONED SEEING IF WE'RE HAPPY WITH JUST ONE INITIATIVE, OR IF WE WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH BOTH, BUT BASICALLY TO DEVELOP.
THE SORT OF CHAMBER DRIVEN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT INCENTIVE, PER SE.
IT'S ABOUT IT'S ABOUT DEVELOPING A WORKFORCE AND REDUCING RISKS OF PEOPLE WILL DO IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS.
[02:05:01]
FLESH THAT OUT, AND THEN LET'S LOOK AT IT TOGETHER AND SEE.JUST PART B, JUST PART A OR BOTH THAT THAT WERE POSTPONING THE DECISION ON THE, YOU KNOW, ON THE ON THE ORDINANCE, ON THE AGENDA. SO, I GUESS, FIRST MY QUESTION IS, IS THAT, IN FACT, WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED THAT SO IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO TABLE VERSUS POSTPONED TABLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER? MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S GOING TO BE POSTPONED FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS IS WHAT THE TIME FRAME WAS FOR THIS PROGRAM FROM THE CHAMBER AND THE CITY TO BE DEVELOPED AND THEN COME BACK WITH THAT INFORMATION, AND IT WOULD REMAIN ON THE TABLE OR POSTPONE UNTIL THAT TIME.
JUST DO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PIECE COULD BE ANY OF THOSE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES.
IS THAT CORRECT? ALL THOSE OPTIONS WOULD BE AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME.
YES. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S THAT.
THANK YOU. THAT I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION.
AND I THINK ALL OF US SHOULD REALLY EMBRACE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND ALL GET ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT HOW WE, WE CAN BEST, ADDRESS THIS OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S REALLY A VERY HEARTENING, MOMENT, IF WE CAN EMBRACE IT.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER WATTS? YEAH. JUST TELL ME WHAT THE MOTION IS AND WHEN I NEED TO VOTE, BECAUSE I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT'S ON THE TABLE AND WHAT'S NOT ON THE TABLE AND SO ON THE TABLE IS, POSTPONING OR TABLING THIS DISCUSSION TO GIVE THE CHAMBER AND CITY STAFF MANAGEMENT TIME TO WORK ON A PROPOSAL THAT INCENTIVIZES AND HELPS, ALMOST LIKE A, PER MY NOTES, A WAYFINDING DEVICE FOR THOSE THAT WOULD FIND THEMSELVES LOOKING FOR A JOB AND MAY HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY.
THIS SERVES A WAYFINDING DEVICE TO NAVIGATE THE THOUSANDS OF HIRING BUSINESSES, HE SAID.
INSTEAD OF HAVING TO APPLY AT THOUSANDS TO TRY TO FIND ONE, HOW ABOUT LET'S GIVE YOU A LIST OF ACTIVE 100 THAT YOU CAN HIT STRAIGHT AWAY? INSTEAD OF WALKING UP AND DOWN UNIVERSITY DRIVE, YOU HAVE A TARGETED APPROACH, IS WHAT I'M HEARING.
BUT THAT THAT'S JUST MY NOTES.
I JUST THOUGHT I'D HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE PONDERING SOMETHING ELSE.
SO, I'LL JUST WAIT TILL THE MOTION'S MADE, AND IT'S SECONDED, AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.
GOT IT. IT'S MADE AND SECONDED.
I DO ALL RIGHT AND I AND SO I WANT TO I WANT TO SAY THIS ALL THE DISCUSSION FANTASTIC.
INITIATIVE AND KIND OF THIS IS A GOOD RESULT, I BELIEVE.
AND THAT IS TO HEAR A PERSON OF AUTHORITY AT THIS DAIS BY TITLE, THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO TONGUE LASH PEOPLE WHEN I BELIEVE THEY'RE ENTITLED TO THE SAME PROTECTIONS AND ACTIONS THAT HE IS.
SO, WHEN HE WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS OPEN RECORDS AND NOT TURNING THOSE OVER, WHEN HE WAS INFORMED BY LEGAL THAT HE NEEDED TO TURN THOSE OVER, WHEN HE WAS DIRECTLY CONFRONTED IN THE WORK SESSION ROOM ABOUT HIS OPEN RECORDS FROM JESSE DAVIS.
HIS POINT OF ORDER. THIS IS OFF TOPIC.
HIS STATEMENT WAS POINT OF ORDER.
IT IS THE EXACT SAME THING I'M SAYING.
BUT THEN YOU SIT HERE AND LECTURE SOMEONE ABOUT GOING THROUGH WHAT THEY SHOULD GO.
I THINK THAT IS THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY.
AND I WANT TO TELL THE AUDIENCE, THE AUDIENCE WHAT IT IS.
IT IS FROM THE DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL.
IT FEATURES DENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS NUMBER TWO IN THE NORTH TEXAS AREA.
THERE ARE 125 INDEPENDENT RESEARCH.
THE. IT LISTS THEIR METHODOLOGY ON THE SIDE THERE AND THEY ARE NUMBER TWO.
AND SO, TO ME, IT'S JUST NOT WE PAY THE CHAMBER TO DO THIS WORK.
[02:10:02]
AND SO, THEY'RE DOING WHAT WE ASK THEM TO DO.THERE'S ONE PERSON TO DATE, ONE THAT STOOD BEFORE US.
THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A JOB ONE.
BUT WE HAD A DISCOVER DENTON 50 OVER 50%, BUSINESSES OVER 50%.
WE'RE YOU KNOW, OUR JOB IS TO RESPOND TO WHAT PEOPLE ASK US TO DO.
AND THERE'S BEEN NO ONE OF ANY MEASUREMENT OF ANY DATA SOURCE OF ANY NUMBER.
DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT NUMBERS? THERE'RE NO NUMBERS TO SUPPORT THIS, TO SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO, WITH THAT, THERE'S A MOTION.
BEFORE WE VOTE, I'LL COME BACK TO YOU ONCE MORE.
YOU SAID THAT YOU WANTED TO PONDER.
OH, MR. MAYOR, DO YOU HAVE TO HEAR THE POINT OF ORDER? ARE WE JUST? GO ON. I DO NOT, OKAY? NO. ALL RIGHT, I'M GOOD.
BUT LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSION OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO WORK.
AARON, HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE DIALOG AND MORE IN-DEPTH? EXPLAIN THIS PROPOSED PROGRAM WITH ALL OF US INDIVIDUALLY? NO, I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL OF YOU.
NO, BUT THAT WOULD BE WHAT THAT 120 DAYS WOULD BE FOR.
AND I JUST WANT TO HEAR YOU SAY ONE MORE TIME IS 100.
DO YOU FEEL RUSHED WITH 120 DAYS AND THE 120 DAYS' TIME FRAME CAME FROM? IF WE HAD VOTED FOR AN ORDINANCE, TODAY WOULD HAVE TAKEN EFFECT WITH THE HUNDRED 20 DAYS' TIME INTENDED FOR YOU TO MAKE SURE AND EDUCATE THE BUSINESSES.
DO YOU FEEL RUSHED WITH THAT TIME FRAME? NO. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE UNDER THIS WHEN WE DISCUSS THIS.
WE MIMICKED THE 120 DAYS BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THE SAME TIME FRAME THE ORDINANCE WOULD GO INTO EFFECT, AND THAT WOULD GIVE OUR TEAM THE TIME TO CONCEPTUALIZE A PLAN B IN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, COME BACK, PUT THAT PLAN UP FOR PROPOSAL TO YOU ALL AND THEN WORK THROUGH ANY KINKS WITH YOU.
ALL BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP.
A PARTNERSHIP IS DEFINED BY TWO OR MORE COMING TOGETHER, WORKING AS CONDUITS.
AND OUR MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE, EDUCATE AND COLLABORATE.
WE WOULD BE MEETING AND EXCEEDING OR EXCEEDING OUR MISSION BY ADHERING TO THAT.
SO NO, TO FORMALLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE WOULD NOT BE RUSHED.
THE ONLY CLARIFICATION I'LL GIVE ON THE 120 IS THAT WE DON'T SEE THIS AS A ONETIME THING.
THIS ISN'T A, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD A SESSION AND WE'RE GOING TO INVITE PEOPLE AND THINGS ARE DONE.
THIS WILL BE A NEW INITIATIVE WITHIN THE CHAMBER THAT WILL BE AN ONGOING, PROGRAM WITH THE CITY AND A PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO PERPETUITY TO CONTINUE TO FACILITATE ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, BOTH FOR EMPLOYERS AND EDUCATING THEM ON THE DIFFERENT TAX CREDITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, BUT THEN ALSO FOR POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES, SO THAT THEY CAN SEE SPECIFICALLY THE EMPLOYERS THAT ARE READY AND WILLING, THE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE A TARGETED APPROACH WHEN THEY ARE SPENDING THEIR TIME GOING AND LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHEN PEOPLE TELL US WE HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BEING PRO EMPLOYER AND PRO EMPLOYEE.
I THINK THIS ADVANCES THIS GOAL.
SOMETIMES IN LIFE YOU DON'T GET TO THROW THE 120 YARDS.
THE HUNDRED-YARD TOUCHDOWN BOMB.
BUT YOU CAN RUN THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD A FEW YARDS AT A TIME, AND WE CAN HELP TO GET THERE.
I THINK THIS IS A VERY WORTHY ENDEAVOR THAT WE ALL NEED TO CONSIDER, BECAUSE THIS COULD MARRY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD AND THE CITY OF DENTON LEADERSHIP IN A WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T BEFORE. WHAT I'M HEARING IS A LOT OF LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THEIR BOARD AND OUR BODY.
I THINK WE COULD REALLY WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THAT, AND EVERYONE WILL BE THE BETTER FOR IT.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBER I'M NOT GOING TO WITHDRAW MY MOTION.
IF, MR. MAYOR, MY MOTION STAND AND WE'LL VOTE UP AND DOWN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME.
[02:15:06]
BEYOND THAT. SO. AND IT'S ONGOING.MAYBE WE SET A REGULAR OCCURRING CONVERSATION.
PART OF THAT AND WE HAVE A REGULAR CONVERSATION WITH CONTRACT.
SO THAT BEING SAID THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE US.
COUNCILMAN MELTZER, HOW SAY YOU? AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS? AYE. EVERYONE ELSE'S PHOTO ON THE SCREEN? PASSES FIVE, TWO.
THEN THAT TAKES US TO CONCLUDING ITEMS.
[6. CONCLUDING ITEMS]
ANY CONCLUDING ITEMS? CITY MANAGER. MAYOR. I'LL BE OUT OF THE OFFICE THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND THEN PART OF THE WEEKEND IN PITTSBURGH AGAIN FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGERS COUNTY MANAGERS PROGRAM PLANNING FOR THE UPCOMING CONFERENCE.BUT CHRISTINE, CASSIE AND FRANK WILL BE HERE, AND I'LL BE AVAILABLE VIA MY COMPUTER.
I'LL JUST BE WORKING ON PROGRAM PLANNING.
MR. MAYOR, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT PROMOTION AWARDS ARE COMING UP THIS THURSDAY, AND THEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BANQUET IS JANUARY 12TH.
SO, IF YOU SEE SMOKE ON THE NORTH PART OF TOWN, IT'S DONE ON PURPOSE.
THEY'RE TRYING TO RESTORE PRAIRIES TO A MORE NATURAL STATE USING FIRE.
AND I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'RE USING BEST SCIENCE ON THAT.
AND THEN I WANT TO APPLAUD AND RECOGNIZE DOCTOR LAUREN FISHER AT UNT.
SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON THE TEXAS ZONING ATLAS, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A TOOL THAT HELPS NOT JUST DENTON AND THE CHAMBER AND THE COUNCIL, BUT COUNCILS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT'S GOING TO BE AN AMAZING TOOL, AND I JUST WANT TO PRAISE HER AND HER TEAM.
I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON QUAKERTOWN IN A IN A IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS OR A MONTH OR SO, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INVITED ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY TO COME AND JOIN US ON THE QUAKER TOWN SPEAK SERIES.
I THINK THIS IS JUST ABOUT THE LAST PART OF OUR QUAKER TOWN INITIATIVE.
THIS SATURDAY, MEET ME OVER AT THE MLK AND WE'RE GOING TO START THERE.
AND IT'S SOME KIND OF PROCESSION.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE WALKING MUCH, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO END UP AT THE CIVIC CENTER PARK, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A PROGRAM AT THE CIVIC CENTER, BUT NOT THE CIVIC CENTER PARK, QUAKER TOWN PARK.
BUT AT THE QUAKER TOWN PARK, TO FINISH OFF THIS PARTICULAR PORTION.
SO, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO SEE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE THERE CELEBRATING, THE QUAKER TOWN INITIATIVES AND THE FAMILIES AND ANCESTORS, OF THIS GREAT CITY.
SO, VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR THE PRIMARY IS THE 5TH OF FEBRUARY, COMING UP, FEBRUARY 5TH.
OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER MCGEE OR, WHAT'S ANYTHING? NO, NO. OKAY, GREAT.
ALL RIGHT THEN I'LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, GOOD TO BE BACK.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AGAIN RILEY WEBB.
SO, I'VE GOT TO READ A PROCLAMATION.
HE'S THE TIE DOWN ROPING WORLD CHAMP.
GET TO MEET HIM. GREAT KID, GREAT FAMILY.
SO, WITH THAT, 6:16 WILL CONCLUDE TONIGHT'S MEETING.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.