[3A. Presentation of a Proclamation recognizing January 27, 2024, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day and a request to light the downtown water tower in blue and white.]

MOVE ON TO OUR PRESENTATIONS, OUR FIRST FOR THE NIGHT IS ITEM 3A, AT RECOGNIZING JANUARY 27TH 24 AS INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY AND A REQUEST TO LIGHT THE DOWNTOWN WATER TOWER IN BLUE-AND-WHITE. IF THE COMMISSION COULD PLEASE COME FORWARD.

HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY IS NOT JUST A DATE ON THE CALENDAR. IT'S A SOLEMN OCCASION THAT A CALLS US TO REMEMBER THE UNIMAGINABLE SUFFERING ENDURED AND MILLIONS DURING WORLD WAR II. IT IS HOLDS PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR ME AS FAMILY MEMBERS ON MY FATHER'S SIDE WERE NOT ABLE TO ESCAPE THE CLUTCHES OF THAT DARK TIME . IT'S OUR DUTY TO HONOR AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LIVES LOST . IN PRESENTING HIS PROCLAMATION WE MAKE A COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO NEVER FORGET THE ATROCITIES OF THE HOLOCAUST AND IT IS A STARK REMINDER THAT HATRED AND INTOLERANCE HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES. THE RESILIENCE OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT AND THE STRENGTH OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED INSPIRE US TO STAND AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND INJUSTICE. LET US COME TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PAIN OF THE PAST, EMBRACING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT HISTORY NEVER REPEATS ITSELF AND STRIVE FOR A FUTURE BUILT ON TOLERANCE, UNDERSTANDING, AND A STEADFAST PURSUIT OF JUSTICE. MADE HIS PROCLAMATION SERVE AS A SYMBOL OF OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO THE WORLD WHERE THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST GUIDE US TOWARD A MORE COMPASSIONATE AND INCLUSIVE FUTURE. I WILL READ THE

[00:05:01]

PROCLAMATION . WHEREAS ON GENERATE 27TH, 1945, THE CONSTANT HE -- CONCENTRATION CAMP AUSCHWITZ BIRKENAU IS LIBERATED AND NOVEMBER 1ST 2005, UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTED A RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE GENERATE 27TH AS INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY. TO HONOR THE VICTIMS . WHEREAS THE U.N. RESOLUTION ESTABLISHES THIS DAY NOT ONLY IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST BUT TO REJECT ANY FORM OF DENIAL OF THE HOLOCAUST WHICH LED TO THE DEATH OF 2.7 MILLION JEWISH PEOPLE. WHEREAS OVER 250,000 ROMANI, 250,000 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ANY THOUSANDS OF LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL PRISONERS. WHEREAS INTOLERANCE, EXCITEMENT, HARASSMENT, AND VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS OR COMMUNITIES BASED ON RACE, ETHNICITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER, AGE, ABILITY OR RELIGIOUS BELIEF IS CONDEMNABLE AND WHEREAS THE HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE AND EDUCATION IS A SHARED SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS AND COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM AND DISINFORMATION AND HATE SPEECH TOWARD ANY MINORITY GROUP. ON BEHALF OF BLAKE MARGOLIS, THE CITY OF ROULAC, WE CALL UPON ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE JANUARY 27TH AS A DAY OF REFLECTION TO HONOR AND REMEMBER ALL VICTIMS AND RESOLVED TO NEVER FORGET OR TOLERATE INHUMANITY AND HATRED. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE WATER TOWER WILL BE LIT BLUE-AND-WHITE IN REMEMBRANCE OF ALL VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST AND AS A REJECTION OF ANY FORM OF DENIAL AND AS A SYMBOL OF HOPE FOR CITIZENS OF ROWLETT, TEXAS TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THERE IS A STRONG SPIRIT OF RESPECT AND HARMONY FOR ALL. THIS IS ALSO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMISSION , WHICH IS SPONSORED HIS PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. THE CHAIR OF THE RDI SEE, I WANTED TO SHARE THIS . "NOBLE B MAN, MERCIFUL AND GOOD. " WHEN SHE WAS LIBERATED, GERDA KLEIN , AFTER ALL OF THE INHUMANITY AND HORRIBLE ABUSE SHE HAD SUFFERED, SPOKE THOSE WORDS.

WHEN SHE SAID THEM, THEY WERE FROM A PLACE OF INCREDIBLE PAIN AND SPOKEN WITH IRONY, BUT I HOPE THAT WE CAN LEARN AND REMEMBER THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST THAT FROM SEEDS OF HATRED, INTOLERANCE, AND LACK OF COMPASSION, GREAT INHUMANITY CAN BE SPREAD AND -- IN UNIMAGINABLE WAYS, AND WE CAN STRIVE TO MAKE THESE WORDS TRUE IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT AS A MAKE IT A PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. >>

>> CAN WE TAKE A QUICK PHOTO?

>> YES, I DID WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND I WANTED TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE RDI SEE FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE 6 MILLION JEWISH PEOPLE WHO DIED IN GERMANY IN THE 1940S . I WAS STILL IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE FIFTH OR SIXTH GRADE WHEN I FIRST READ THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK AND THAT WAS MY FIRST EXPOSURE, REALLY, TO THE HORRORS OF THE HOLOCAUST. IT LED ME TO SEEK OUT OTHER BOOKS THAT REALLY OPEN MY EYES TO THE CRUELTY THAT HUMAN BEINGS ARE CAPABLE OF. IT'S A PAST WHAT HAD BEEN, UP UNTIL THAT TIME, THE MOST VIVID AND SHOCKING PERSONAL MEMORY OF MY CHILDHOOD FOUR YEARS BEFORE, THE ASSASSINATION OF JFK. ALL OF THAT WAS TERRIBLE BUT IT DID NOT HIT ME IN THE HEART NEARLY AS HARD AS THE STORY OF A YOUNG GIRL WHO WAS NOT MUCH OLDER THAN ME AND HAD SIMILAR ASPIRATIONS, TO BE AN AUTHOR, WHO WAS TARGETED BY HER OWN GOVERNMENT AND LIVED, HIDDEN AWAY IN FEAR, FOR TWO YEARS AND DIED BECAUSE SHE WAS BORN JEWISH. LATER IN MY LIFE, I MET HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS . I BECAME

[00:10:01]

INTERESTED IN JUDAISM, STUDIED THE TORAH AND THE TALMUD, AND MARRIED A MAN OF JEWISH HERITAGE. THE HOLOCAUST IS LONG PAST, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AND HATRED FOR JEWISH PEOPLE RUNS RAMPANT IN PARTS OF THE WORLD, EVEN IN SOME PARTS OF OUR OWN COUNTRY. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THIS. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY HOPE THAT THE SLOGAN , "NEVER FORGET" WILL CONTINUE TO BE AND BECOME MORE OF A REALITY IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.

[3B. Update from the City Council and Management: Financial Position, Major Projects, Operational Issues, Upcoming Dates of Interest and Items of Community Interest. ]

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. I WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, THE UPDATE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AND MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL POSITION, MAJOR PROJECTS, OPERATIONAL ISSUES, UPCOMING DATES OF INTEREST AND ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST. SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, ONE FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, FACILITIES WILL BE CLOSED FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY AND TRASH PICKUP WILL BE DELAYED BY ONE DAY. FROM THE SECRETARY CITY OFFICE, THE FINANCE CORPORATION , THE CITY IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR POSITIONS ON THE FINANCE CORPORATION THROUGH JANUARY 19TH AND YOU CAN APPLY ONLINE. FROM ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION COMMISSION, THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

CELEBRATION WILL BE SATURDAY, GENERATE 13 FROM 10:00 TO 2:00 AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. THE LITTLE SWEETHEART DANCE IS THE 26TH AND YOU CAN REGISTER ONLINE, NOW. FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM IS HOLDING A TWO DAY CLASS ON FEBRUARY 3RD AND FEBRUARY 10TH.

REGISTER THEIR . FROM OUR LIBRARY, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE WINTER READING PROGRAM . PARTICIPANTS READ 2380 SOMETHING HOURS AND THOSE PROGRAMS RESUME THIS WEEKEND FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WEBSITE. THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THEIR CULTURAL ARTS . EDUCATORS AND NONPROFITS INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR A GRANT SHOULD VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS . FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY BEGINS ON FEBRUARY 15TH AND REGISTRATION IS OPEN. COUNSEL, ARE THERE ANY OTHER

ANNOUNCEMENTS ? >> YES. HERE IS THIS WEEK'S PET SPOTLIGHT. HIS NAME IS SATCHMO, AND HE'S A FUN-LOVING TWO-YEAR-OLD DOG WITH BEAUTIFUL , FUN, TAN, AND WHITE COLORING. HE'S BEEN AT THE SHELTER SINCE DECEMBER OF 2022 WHICH IS A LONG TIME TO BE AT THE SHELTER. HE'S HEARTWORM NEGATIVE AND UP-TO-DATE ON ALL OF HIS VACCINES. HE HAS A LOT OF ENERGY, A LOT . HE LOVES TO GO ON RUNS AND IF HE IS NOT RUNNING, HE WANTS TO PLAY FETCH. HE KNOWS HOW TO SIT AND HE LOVES A GOOD BELLY RUB, ALONG WITH TREATS, ESPECIALLY PUP CUPS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET SATCHMO OR ANY OF THE OTHER ADOPTABLE ANIMALS, CONTACT ANIMAL SERVICES OR COME BY THE SHELTER FROM 10:00 TO 5:00 TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. WE ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT TODAY IS LAW-ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY AND THIS DAY OF APPRECIATION WAS CREATED IN 2015 BY A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS , INCLUDING THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE CHIEF OF POLICE, LAW-ENFORCEMENT UNITED, THE FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY ASSOCIATION AND SEVERAL OTHERS . IN 2017, TEXAS ADOPTED SECTION 662.0767 , WHICH OFFICIALLY DECLARED JANUARY 9TH LAW-ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY IN THIS STATE AND PROVIDED FOR OBSERVATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS . I JUST WANT TO SAY TO OUR LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THOSE WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT, WE DO APPRECIATE YOU.

[4. CITIZENS’ INPUT ]

ANNOUNCEMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO CITIZENS INPUT. COMMENTS WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE AUDIENCE ON ANY TOPIC AND NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN BY THE CITY COUNCIL DURING

CITIZENS INPUT. >> THERE IS NO CITIZENS INPUT

TONIGHT. >> OKAY. WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY

[5. CONSENT AGENDA]

ONLINE FORMS? OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. THE FOLLOWING MAY BE ACTED UPON IN ONE MOTION. A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OR CITIZEN MAY REQUEST ITEMS BE REMOVED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. CITY COUNCIL DID NOT CALL,

[00:15:02]

THERE IS ONE ITEM FOR CONSENT. DOES ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE WISH TO DO SO? SEEING NONE, WE WILL READ THE ITEM INTO THE

RECORD. >> ITEM 5A, CONSIDER ACTION TO

APPROVE MINUTES . >> I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE ONE ITEM OF THE LAST MINUTES.

>> ALL RIGHT, I UNDERSTAND. ?

>> I SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND WE WILL CALL THE VOTE. THAT ITEM CARRIED

[6A. Consider action to approve a resolution appointing a City Secretary for the City of Rowlett, Texas, accepting and approving an employment agreement for a City Secretary, and authorizing the Mayor to sign on the City’s behalf. ]

UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT. THEN, INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION . THIS IS EXCITING. I IMAGINE THAT IS WHY MOST OF YOU ARE HERE, CONSIDER ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION APPOINTING A CITY SECRETARY FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT, TEXAS, ACCEPTING AND APPROVING AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR A CITY SECRETARY AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ON THE CITY'S BEHALF.

>> IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THIS ITEM, WHICH IS JUST WHAT YOU SAID, A RESOLUTION TO APPOINT OUR INTERIM CITY SECRETARY AS REGULAR CITY SECRETARY . IF I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS , I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.

>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PROCESS? COUNCIL, YOU ALL DID RECEIVE THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT IN YOUR EMAIL . DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? OKAY. WELL, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A

MOTION. >> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE A RESOLUTION APPOINTING THE CITY SECRETARY FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT, TEXAS, ACCEPTING AND IMPROVING AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ON THE CITY'S

BEHALF. >> DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM?

>> I WILL GLADLY SECOND. >> I WILL NOW OPEN UP TO COMMENTS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE REALLY QUICKLY. ACTUALLY, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A SHORT COMMENT BEFORE WE GOT INTO COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? HOWEVER LONG YOU WANTED TO BE.

>> YES, I WOULD LIKE TO. IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR AND HUMILITY THAT I ACCEPT THE POSITION OF CITY SECRETARY FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT . I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO YOU, MAYOR, FOR HAVING CONFIDENCE IN ME, ALONG WITH ALL COUNCILMEMBERS , FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH THIS IS SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY ON A PERMANENT BASIS. HAVING SERVED AS THE INTERIM CITY SECRETARY FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WITNESSING THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF EACH COUNCIL MEMBER. YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF ROWLETT, TEXAS HAS INSPIRED ME AND I AM EAGER TO CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY , IN THE FRONT ROW, MY FRIENDS , MANY WHO ARE HERE, AND COWORKERS , WHO HAVE BEEN A SOURCE OF SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN REACHING THIS MILESTONE . MARK, MY HUSBAND, WITHOUT YOUR STEADY SUPPORT I WOULD NEVER HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR IN MY 22 YEAR CAREER WITH THE CITY . THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF ME AND SCOTTY . I WANT TO THANK STACY FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OVER THESE MONTHS, AND I UNDERSTAND MORE NOW THAN EVER WHY THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE HAS ALWAYS WORKED SO FLAWLESSLY OVER ALL THESE YEARS. RHONDA, FELICIA, AND SUSAN, YOU HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN I HAD QUESTIONS OR NEEDED HELP, ALWAYS READY TO SERVE.

DAVID, THANK YOU FOR ENCOURAGING ME AND BELIEVING I COULD DO THIS JOB. AS I ASSUME THIS ROLE, I AM FULLY COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THE PRINCIPLES OF TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY, AND INTEGRITY IN OUR CITY. TOGETHER, WITH THE SUPPORT OF YOU, CITY COUNCIL, MY COLLEAGUES, AND THE COMMUNITY, I AM CONFIDENT THAT OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT AND WE WILL ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT. THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY INTO MY LOVED ONES FOR THEIR ENDURING SUPPORT . I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE CITIZENS OF ROWLETT, TEXAS.

THANK YOU. >>

>> SO, IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, FACED WITH A NEED TO FILL THE POSITION OF CITY SECRETARY FOLLOWING A PARTING WITH THE PREVIOUS OFFICEHOLDER, THE CITY COUNCIL

[00:20:02]

WAS FORTUNATE TO FIND A HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND COMMITTED INDIVIDUAL IN OUR OWN RANKS. I AM DELIGHTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, AS WE HAVE BEEN STATING, THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF YOU THAT WHITEHEAD, WHO GRACIOUSLY STEPPED INTO THE ROLE OF INTERIM CITY SECRETARY. SHE HAD SERVED AS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR TWO DECADES, SHOWCASING HER UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTRICACIES OF MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS AND PASSION FOR THIS COMMUNITY. DESPITE HER LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO HER PREVIOUS ROLE, SHE RECOGNIZED THE CALL TO SERVE IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY, ONE ESSENTIAL TO THE SMOOTH FUNCTIONING OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT . IN HER TENURE AS INTERIM CITY SECRETARY, EVETTE WHITEHEAD HAS NOT ONLY MET BUT EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS. DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY HAVE BEEN EXEMPLARY. SHE'S NAVIGATED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ROLE WITH HER DEPUTY SECRETARY IN ENSURING THAT THE VITAL FUNCTIONS OF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO OPERATE SMOOTHLY . SHE HAS ALSO EMPOWERED HER AMAZING TEAM BY ENSURING THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. AS I STATED , EARLIER, I HAVE JUST SEEN SUCH A NEW PLACE, A NEW OFFICE, AND IT SEEMS LIKE A HAPPY PLACE TO WORK , WITH NEW ATTITUDES. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING CLOSELY WITH EVETTE WHITEHEAD DURING THIS TIME, AND I CAN ATTEST TO HER PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND HER UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF ROWLETT, TEXAS PICK IT'S WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO NAME EVETTE WHITEHEAD PERMANENT CITY SECRETARY. ANY

OTHER COMMENTS? >> YES, YOU KNEW I WOULD HAVE TO TALK. AS THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL , TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WHO HAS SERVED IN THE POSITION OF CITY SECRETARY , EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS LONG AGO, I THINK I KNOW MORE THAN MOST HOW DIFFICULT A JOB THIS IS . IT'S A CHALLENGE, IF THEY VIEW THE BIG CHALLENGE, AND WHEN MOST PEOPLE THINK OF SECRETARY, THAT TITLE CONJURES UP SOMEONE WHO TYPES AND TAKES NOTES AND THAT KIND OF THING AND YES, THAT IS A SMALL PART OF THE CITY SECRETARY'S JOB, BUT THE CITY SECRETARY IS TO THE CITY WHAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS TO THE STATE OR COUNTRY . THE CITY SECRETARY IS A DEPARTMENT HEAD, SHE IS THE EQUAL OF THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, SHE IS APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL, SHE IS ONE OF OUR TRUSTED, MOST TRUSTED EMPLOYEES, AND SO IT REALLY MATTERS WHO IS IN THAT POSITION. I AM REALLY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE IN THAT POSITION THAT I BELIEVE ALL OF US TRUST AND ADMIRE AND RESPECT , AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, EVETTE WHITEHEAD, FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AND EVERYTHING I KNOW YOU WILL DO

IN THE FUTURE. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? CITY

MANAGER? >> THANK YOU AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THIS VERY BRIEF, I WANT TO THANK EVETTE WHITEHEAD FOR HER SERVICE TO ME IN MY TIME. IT STARTED AS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER AND STARTED REALLY BEFORE I OFFICIALLY JOINED THE CITY. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, ALONG THIS JOURNEY, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECOMMENDING TO YOU SOMEONE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO APPOINTMENT IN THIS POSITION.

THE FIRST AND MOST NATURAL NAME THAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS EVETTE WHITEHEAD. SHE HAS INTERACTED WITH ME AND MY SEVEN MONTHS HERE WITH GRACE AND SO MUCH KINDNESS AND SO , IT WAS VERY NATURAL THAT I KNEW SHE WOULD SERVE YOU IN THE SAME CAPACITY , BUT EVEN IN HER TRANSITION TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, YOU HAVE SEEN THE RESULTS OF THAT KINDNESS AND GRACE AND SERVANT MENTALITY , REFLECTED BOTH IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY SECRETARY , BUT IN THE WORK PRODUCT AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND PERSONALLY, FOR ME, AND THE COORDINATION WITH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. WHILE IT WAS A LOSS, TO NOT WORK AS CLOSELY AS I HAD BEEN , I CANNOT THINK OF ANY MORE NATURAL REPLACEMENT ASIDE FROM HIS CHADWICK, WHO WAS STEADFAST IN HER SUPPORT , FOR ANYONE WHO SHOULD DOUBT THAT , WAS STEADFAST FROM THE BEGINNING IN THAT SUPPORT. I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE LEADERSHIP EVETTE WHITEHEAD HAS BROUGHT . I AM GRATEFUL, I APPRECIATE IT, AND AM HAPPY THAT THE COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO GO IN THIS

DIRECTION. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. IS THAT A COMMENT? NO? OKAY. YOU ARE JUST EXCITED. WITH ALL OF THAT STATED, CALL THE VOTE. THAT ITEM CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY WITH THOSE MEMBERS PRESENT.

[00:25:03]

CONGRATULATIONS. >>

>> ALL RIGHT, NOW TO SOMETHING EVEN MORE EXCITING , THE

[6B. Consider action to approve a resolution casting the City of Rowlett's vote for the fourth member of the Board of Directors of the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) in its run-off election.]

APPRAISAL DISTRICT . I'M JOKING. CONSIDER ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION CASTING THE CITY OF ROWLETT'S VOTE FOR THE FOURTH MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE DALLAS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT , DCAD, IN ITS RUN-OFF ELECTION.

AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL, THIS IS A RUNOFF. THE CANDIDATE THAT WE HAD PUT OUR VOTES IN FOR IS NOT ONE OF THE TWO THAT ARE IN THE RUNOFF . I AM SURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE SOME OF YOUR OWN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH INTO THE TWO CANDIDATES , SO IF ANY OF YOU ALL HAVE ANY IDEAS, PLEASE SHARE YOUR REASONS FOR WANTING ONE OVER THE OTHER. I HAVE MY PERSONAL IDEA OF WHERE I THINK I PROBABLY WILL BE VOTING ON , UNLESS THERE IS ANOTHER VALID POINT, AND I INQUIRED WITH A COUPLE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT FRANK AND THEY SPOKE VERY HIGHLY AND IN HIS SUBMISSION , HIS STATEMENT, I THINK HE REALLY GRASPS THE POSITION AND WHAT IS NEEDED IN THAT POSITION. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT , BUT I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT YOU ALL THINK. GO AHEAD.

>> FIRST OF ALL, WHEN I SAW THIS ITEM AND SAW THE LETTER FROM THE DCAD, I WAS SHOCKED THAT SO MANY CITIES CHOOSE TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS VOTE AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE REASONING IS BEHIND THAT. I AM NOT SURE OF THE LOGIC, BECAUSE OF THE STRENGTH OF THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT ON ALL OF OUR WALLETS AND POCKETBOOKS, AND, AS A MEMBER OF CITY LEADERSHIP, TO CHOOSE TO ABSTAIN FROM ABOUT LIKE THAT IS RATHER SURPRISING.

I MUST SAY THAT I ALSO WAS LEANING TOWARD MR. FRANK AS WELL MAINLY BECAUSE , NOTHING AGAINST MR. HERZ, IT IS BEEN IN THAT OFFICE A WHILE AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE TIME TO EXPERIENCE A CHANGE IN DCAD. I AM NOT SURE HOW THE CITY OF DALLAS FEELS ABOUT THEIR APPOINTED POSITION OR ANY OF THE OTHER APPOINTED POSITIONS, BUT FOR THE SUBURBAN CITY ELECTION, I THINK IT IS WITHIN OUR BEST INTEREST TO SEE A

CHANGE IN THAT OFFICE. >> AGREED.

>> YES, I WENT THROUGH BOTH OF THESE AND FRANKLY, IT WAS MAYBE THE REASON THAT THEY ARE ABSTAINING IS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DECIDE BETWEEN THE TWO. IN THE END, I TEND TO AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU , FOR THE REASONS THAT YOU STATED AND ALSO BECAUSE I THINK THAT BEING IN SACKS HE -- IN THAT CITY, THE COUNCILMEMBER WOULD HAVE MORE OF A PERSPECTIVE THAT IS CLOSER TO OURS, HERE IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT. FOR THAT REASON, I SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER FRANKS.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WITH THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A

MOTION. >> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE A RESOLUTION CASTING THE CITY OF ROWLETT'S VOTE FOR MR. FRANKS, COUNCILMEMBER FRANKS , AND TO SERVE AS MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE DALLAS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

>> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CALL THE VOTE. THAT ITEM CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY TO THE POINT, COUNCILMEMBER BRETT FRANKS TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, THERE IS ONE MORE ITEM ,

[7. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MAY REQUEST TOPICS TO BE PLACED ON AN AGENDA FOR A SUBSEQUENT MEETING. ANY DELIBERATION OR DECISION SHALL BE LIMITED TO A PROPOSAL TO PLACE TOPIC ON THE AGENDA FOR A SUBSEQUENT MEETING. TAKE ANY NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE ACTION ON CLOSED/EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS ]

MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MAY REQUEST TOPICS TO BE PLACED ON AN AGENDA FOR A SUBSEQUENT MEETING. ANY DELIBERATION OR DECISION SHALL BE LIMITED TO A PROPOSAL TO PLACE THE TOPIC ON THE AGENDA FOR A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.

>> SINCE JANUARY IS , ALL OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY IS SANCTITY OF LIFE MONTH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US CONSIDER RECOGNIZING THAT AS A CITY BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH.

>> WHAT WAS -- >> SANCTITY OF LIFE MONTH.

>> OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT?

[00:30:11]

>> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> IS THIS FOR A PROCLAMATION ,

RESOLUTION? OKAY. >> YES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US HAVE A WORK SESSION IN THE NEAR FUTURE , POSSIBLY IN MARCH, AT LEAST, TO REVIEW AND REVISE THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR CERTAIN

OFFICERS. >> OKAY. AROUND MARCH, GOT IT.

>> UNDERSTOOD. ANY OTHER ITEMS? ALL RIGHT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.