[1. Call To Order] [00:00:05] >> GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IT'S MONDAY MARCH, 23, 2020. WE'RE AT CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND WE HAVE A QUORUM ON A COMBINED BASIS IN PERSON AND VIDEO CONFERENCING. AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 551.001 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THIS MEETING MAY BE CONVENED INTO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSES OF SEEKING CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ON ANY AGENDA ITEM HEREIN. THE CITY OF ROWLETT RESERVES TH CALL THE EXECUTIVE SESSION OR ORDER BUSINESS AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT. CITY COUNCIL WILL AT ONE POINT SEE IF ANYONE WANTS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INPUT. SO, CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:36. SO, THANK YOU FOR ANYBODY THAT IS JOINING US EITHER LIVE OR LATER IN A VIDEO. WE ARE TRYING FOR THE FIRST TIME TO DO OUR VIDEO CONFERENCING WITH REMOTE PARTICIPANTS. NOT ONLY REMOTE PARTICIPANTS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BUT ALSO REMOTE PARTICIPANT FROM THE PUBLIC. SO THIS WILL BE THE FORMAT WE'LL BE GOING FORWARD BUT IT IS A LITTLE BIT ROUGH RIGHT NOW JUST BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE DOING IT. IF YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO OBVIOUSLY VIEW CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS LIVE ON RTN-16 EITHER ON YOUR CABLE FEED, TV OR ON THE ST STREAMING FUNCTIONALITY ON OUR WEBSITE. WE'RE VERY MUCH HOPING THAT OUR PUBLIC CONTINUES TO TUNE INTO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS BUT WE HOPE THEY DO THAT SAFELY AND FROM THE SAFETY OF THEIR OWN PH OBTAIN PUBLIC INPUT FROM OUR PUBLIC THROUGH TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO PLACE. BEAR WITH US TONIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT ROUGH WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY. THERE'S A DELAY THAT'S WHY I WAS HESITATING FOR A MINUTE. I'M GOING TO, AT THIS TIME, UN-MUTE EVERYBODY ON THE CALL. AND I'M GOING TO ASK IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INPUT. I'LL WAIT ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO SEE IF ANYBODY SPEAKS UP AND THEN I WILL MUTE THE PARTICIPANTS AGAIN. IF THERE ARE ANY PARTICIPANTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INPUT, PLEASE SPEAK UP. ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC INPUT FOR THIS MEETING AND MOVE ON TO OUR AGENDA ITEMS. THE FIRST ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA [2. Discuss the COVID-19 event and take any necessary action.] IS ITEM 2, DISCUSS THE COVID-19 EVENT AND TAKE ANY NECESSARY ACTION. SO WE GOT LOTS TO COVER. SO, EVERYBODY PLEASE BEAR WITH US. SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING ALL THE DECISIONS WE NEED TO MAKE AND THAT WE'RE PROVIDING ALL THE PUBLIC INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE. THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS TO REPORT UPDATED NUMBERS. EVERY DAY IN THE MORNING WE REPORT THE LATEST NUMBERS OF THE NUMBER OF CASES THROUGH THE VARIOUS LOCALES. AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT ONCE A DAY, ROUGHLY AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME. WE REPORTED THOSE NUMBERS THIS MORNING. SINCE THAT TIME, OBVIOUSLY, THERE HAS BEEN CHANGES BECAUSE THAT HAPPENS EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY AND SO I AM AT THIS MOMENT GOING TO REPORT UPDATED NUMBERS. AND I'M GOING TO REPORT FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE CONFIRMED CASES IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT. SO, OUR NATIONAL -- I'M JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CASES. OUR NATIONAL CASES ARE -- THESE ARE CONFIRMED CASES, EVERYBODY. CONFIRMED WITH A POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST. NATIONAL 42,817 CASES. TEXAS, SORRY ABOUT THAT GUYS. TEXAS, 728 CASES. NORTH TEXAS, 297 CASES. DALLAS COUNTY, 155 CASES WITH 3 DEATHS. ROCKWALL COUNTY, 1 CONFIRMED CASE IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT. CITY OF ROWLETT 2 CONFIRMED CASES IN TOTAL INCLUDING ONE IN ROCKWALL COUNTY AND ONE IN DALLAS COUNTY. CITY OF GARLAND, 5 CONFIRMED CASES. SO, OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS NOW [00:05:01] INFORMATION. THIS IS THE FIRST DAY THAT WE WILL BE REPORTING A CONFIRMED CASE IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT. THE THING WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO IS, I'M SURE EVERYBODY IS AWARE THAT THE DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE PUT FORTH AN ORDER YESTERDAY THAT BECOMES EFFECTIVE AT 11:59 P.M. TONIGHT FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF DALLAS COUNTY. AND EVERY TIME ONE OF THESE ORDERS COME OUT, THEY BECOME MORE AND MORE STRINGENT AS EVERYBODY IS AWARE. THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE ORDER PUT IN PLACE BY JUDGE JENKINS FOR DALLAS COUNTY YESTERDAY EFFECTIVE 11:59 P.M. TONIGHT IS A SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDER. THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS BEHIND THAT. AND I'M HOPING THAT EVERYBODY'S HAD A CHANCE TO READ THAT VERY LENGTHY AND IMPORTANT DOCUMENT. AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH AT SOME POINT IN THIS MEETING A LOT OF THE SPECIFICS OF THAT SHEL SHELTER-IN-PLACE DOCUMENT. BUT THE MAYBE THING BEFORE US WAS A CITY DOWN SIT TONIGHT IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AS A CITY IN REGARDS TO DALLAS COUNTY ORDER THAT WAS PUT FORTH YESTERDAY. SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS I'VE TALKED ABOUT AT THIS DAIS SEVERAL TIMES THIS LAST WEEK IS WHAT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN FOR THE MOST PART IS THE AUTHORITY OVER THE COUNTY. JUDGE CLAY JENKINS HAS BEEN PUTTING OUT A SERIES OF ORDERS. WE HAVE MYSELF AS MAYOR DURING THE INITIAL SEVEN-DAY PERIOD WAS CONSIDERING ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS OF THOSE ORDERS AND THEN MAKING DECISIONS TO PUT THOSE ORDERS IN PLACE FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT. NOT JUST THE DALLAS COUNTY PORTION OF ROWLETT BUT ALSO THE ROCKWALL COUNTY PORTION OF ROWLETT. THEN THE CITY COUNCIL MET FRIDAY OF LAST WEEK AND EXTENDED THE DISASTER DECLARATION PAST THE INITIAL SEVEN-DAY PERIOD. THE MAYOR HAS THE ABILITY TO ISSUE A SEVENDAY DISASTER DECLARATION AND AFTER THAT POINT AND TIME THE GOVERNING BODY IS REQUIRED TO EXTEND THAT OR MAKE A DECISION ON THAT. THE CITY COUNCIL EXTENDED OUR DISASTER DECLARATION TO APRIL 30TH, 2020. I WANT TO PAUSE FOR A MINUTE AND EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT OF ALL THESE DATE DIFFERENCES. BECAUSE IT IS CONFUSING PEOPLE. AND I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS CONFUSING PEOPLE. SO, THE GOVERNOR PUT OUT A DISASTER DECLARATION AND THE EXPIRATION OF THAT WAS APRIL 3RD. THE DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE PUT OUT A DISASTER DECLARATION AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT EXTENDED THAT TO APRIL 3RD. THE DALLAS MAYOR, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER CITY, PUT OUT A DISASTER DECLARATION FOR THE INITIAL SEVEN-DAY PERIOD AND HIS CITY COUNCIL EXTENDED THAT TILL APRIL 29, 2020. WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND IS THERE IS A DISASTER DECLARATION AND THAT HAS TO BE DECIDED UPON BY THE GOVERNING BODY AFTER THE INITIAL SEVEN-DAY PERIOD. AND THEN THERE'S SPECIFIC ORDERS UNDER THAT DISASTER DECLARATION THAT CAN BE DETERMINED BY MYSELF AS A MAYOR AS IT RELATES TO A CITY AND FROM A COUNTY JUDGE AS IT RELATES TO A COUNTY. SO, THERE CAN BE DIFFERENT DATES ON THOSE ORDERS UNDERNEATH THE DISASTER DECLARATION. AND THAT'S ONE THING WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT. AND JUST BECAUSE OUR DISASTER DECLARATION ENDS APRIL 30TH AND THE DALLAS COUNTY DISASTER DECLARATION ENDS APRIL 3RD THAT'S REALLY JUST AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER. BECAUSE THIS COUNCIL EXTENDED OUR DISASTER DECLARATION THROUGH APRIL 30TH WHICH GIVES ME THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THE ORDERS UNDER THE DISASTER DECLARATION UP TO THE DATE OF THE EXPIRATION OF THE DISASTER DECLARATION. I HAVE EVERY BELIEF AND I'M SURE THAT DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE JENKINS HAS EVERY BELIEF THAT HIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER COURT WILL EXTEND HIS DISASTER DECLARATION PAST THE APRIL 3RD DATE BASED ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING THAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE. I JUST DON'T WANT EVERYBODY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THIS AP APRIL 3RD/APRIL 30TH DATE. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE [00:10:03] ORDERS UNDERNEATH THE DISASTER DECLARATION CAN BE CHANGED AT ANY TIME AND THEY CAN BE MADE MORE STRINGENT OR THEY CAN BE MADE LESS STRINGENT. AND WHAT THE PRACTICE OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT HAS BEEN TO THIS POINT IN TIME IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE DALLAS COUNTY DECLARATION THAT'S GOING OUT. MAKE SURE WE AGREE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THAT AND THEN IMPLEMENTING IT CITYWIDE SO WE'RE NOT BUY FUR KATING THE CITY BETWEEN ROCKWELL COUNTY AND DALLAS COUNTY. I'LL PAUSE THERE FOR JUST A MINUTE AND SEE, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT SO FAR? SO, WHAT IS BEFORE US RIGHT NOW IS THE DECISION TO MAKE -- THAT I HAVE TO MAKE ON DO WE AMEND OUR DISASTER DECLARATION, EXCUSE ME, DO WE AMEND OUR ORDERS UNDERNEATH THE DISASTER DECLARATION FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT. AND IF WE LEAVE THEM JUST AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW, THE DALLAS COUNTY PORTION OF ROWLETT WOULD HAVE THE MOST STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING THE SHELTER IN PLACE, AND THE ROCKWELL SIDE OF ROWLETT, ROCKWELL COUNTY SIDE OF ROWLETT WOULD BE UNDER THE ORDERS PREVIOUSLY PASSED. AND I CAN CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT'S NOT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE AND THAT WE -- I WOULD RECOMMEND I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND OUR ORDER THROUGH A SUPPLEMENT TO PUT IN PLACE THE PROVISIONS OF THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDERS TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE. THEN I WOULD LIKE TO FURTHER PROPOSE, BECAUSE THESE ARE SUCH STRINGENT GUIDELINES WE HAVE GONE TO A NEW LEVEL HERE ON I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE NEW PROV PROVISIONS THAT WE HAVE AN END DATE OF THE SHELTER IN PLACE OF APRIL 3RD TO COINCIDE WITH THE DALLAS COUNTY DATE THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE. EVEN THOUGH I FULLY BELIEVE THAT DALLAS COUNTY IS GOING TO EXTEND IT PAST APRIL 3RD. I DON'T WANT TO BE SENDING A MESSAGE TO OUR PUBLIC THAT CITY OF ROWLETT THINKS WE GOT TO SHELTER IN PLACE UNTIL APRIL 30TH BUT DALLAS COUNTY THINKS ONLY SHELTER IN PLACE TILL APRIL 3RD. THAT'S WHY I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THE SHELTER IN PLACE COMPONENTS OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT REVISED ORDERS HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE OF APRIL 3RD TO COINCIDE WITH THE CURRENT EXPIRATION DATE OF THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDER. I WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS. THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE IS THAT THE CITY OF ROW ROWLETT'S SUPPLEMENT TO THE ORDER TODAY HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND TIME OF TOMORROW AT 11:59 P.M. THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDER HAS AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND TIME OF TODAY AT 11:59 P.M. SO OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR RES RESIDENTS ON THE DALLAS COUNTY SIDE OF ROWLETT HAVE HAD A DAY, A BUSINESS DAY TO TRY TO GET THEIR STUFF TOGETHER. I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THAT TO TE ROCKWELL COUNTY SIDE AND GIVE THEM A DAY ALSO TOMORROW AND MAKE IT EFFECTIVE 11:59 TUESDAY. THIS CAUSES COMPLEXITY. I UNDERSTAND THAT. IT CAN CAUSE CONFUSION. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, IF I AM GOING TO PUT THIS IN PLACE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GIVE THAT ROCKWELL COUNTY SIDE OF ROWLETT ANOTHER DAY TO ADJUST. IF I DO PUT THAT IN PLACE IN THAT MANNER, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE DALLAS COUNTY SIDE OF ROWLETT IS EFFECTIVE 11:59 P.M. TONIGHT AND THE ROCKWELL COUNTY SIDE OF ROWLETT IS EFFECTIVE 11:59 P.M. TOMORROW NIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THAT ANY CLEARER WITHOUT CAUSING CONFUSION. SO, I'M GOING TO PAUSE, JUST FOR EASE OF ADMINISTERING THE MEETING I'M GOING TO ASK FOR COMMENTS FROM THE PEOPLE HERE AT THE DAIS FIRST AND THEN I'M GOING TO GO TO PEOPLE JOINING US FROM VIDEO. IS THAT OKAY EVERYBODY? MATT? >> I THINK THAT'S THE CORRECT WAY TO GO, MAYOR. I THINK OUR CITY NEEDS TO BE UNITED IN WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE SO I'M IN FAVOR OF WHAT YOU HAVE PROPOSED. >> I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF THAT. I BELIEVE WE NEED TO PRESENT A VERY CLEAR AND CONSISTENT MESSAGE AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'D BE DOING BY THIS ORDER THAT YOU PROPOSED. >> MAYOR: ARE YOU OKAY GIVING IT [00:15:03] ANOTHER DAY? >> I AM. I THINK IT'S FAIR TO THE BUSINESSES ON THAT SIDE OF OUR STATE. >> MAYOR: IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT COUNTY HAS UNTIL 11:59 P.M. S - TONIGHT REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE CITY OF ROWLETT DOES. PAM? IS YOUR MICROPHONE ON? >> I AGREE WITH YOU 100 PERCENT, MAYOR. >> MAYOR: I'M GOING TO GO TO BLAKE. >> SO I'M GOING TO -- I'M GOOD WITH THAT. IS THERE TIME TO DISCUSS THE MERITS OF THE ORDER? >> MAYOR: THE MERITS IS WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THE ORDER? LET ME THINK ABOUT THAT WHILE I -- JUST A SECOND OKAY. MARTHA? >> COUNCILMEMBER: YES, I AGREE WITH PUTTING THE ORDER IN EFFECT FOR TOMORROW EVENING AT 11:59 AND MAKING IT EFFECTIVE THROUGH APRIL 3RD TO MIRROR DALLAS COUNTY. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, MARTHA. BROWNIE? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I AGREE. >> MAYOR: A MAN OF FEW WORDS. THANK YOU. OKAY SO I THINK WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IN ANSWER TO YOUR YES. SO, WE'RE AT A LITTLE BIT OF DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS FULLY INFORMED OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE READ AND SEEN THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDER AND SOME HAVE NOT. AND I HAVE A PROPOSED SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER TO THE ROWLETT CITY ORDER IN FRONT OF ME THAT HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE PACKET. SO I THINK WHAT I WANT TO DO IS GO THROUGH IN PRETTY GOOD DETAIL OF WHAT I AM PROPOSING TO PUT IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND THEN WHEN I GET DONE WITH THAT, OPEN IT UP FOR COMMENTS ON POTENTIAL CHANGES. DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU, BLAKE? >> COUNCILMEMBER: ABSOLUTELY. >> MAYOR: OKAY. SO, BEAR WITH ME GUYS. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO AMEND. TO SUPPLEMENT OUR ROWLETT CITY ORDER, AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT VERBATIM BUT I AM GOING TO TELL THE MAIN COMPONENTS. EFFECTIVE AS OF 11:59 P.M. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 24TH AND CONTINUING UNTIL 11:59 P.M., FRIDAY APRIL 3RD, 2020, ALL INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY LIVING IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT ARE ORDERED TO SHELTER IN THEIR PLACE OF RESIDENCE. TO THE EXTENT INDIVIDUALS USE SHARED SPACES OR OUTDOOR SNOWS MUST AT ALL TIMES REASONABLY MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING OF AT LEAST SIX FEET. ALL PERSONS MAY LEAVE THEIR RESIDENCES ONLY FOR ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES OR TO PROVIDE OR PERFORM ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT FUN FUNCTIONS, OR TO OPERATE ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES. AND THAT WILL BE DEFINED IN A MINUTE. ALL BUSINESSES OPERATED IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT EXCEPT ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES ARE REQUIRED TO CEASE ALL ACTIVITIES AT FACILITIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY. FOR CLARITY, BUSINESSES MAY CONTINUE OPERATIONS CONSISTING EXCLUSIVELY OF EMPLOYEES OR CONT CONTRACTORS PERFORMING ACTIVITIES AT THEIR OWN RESIDENCES. WORKING FROM HOME. TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES MUST COMPLY WITH THE SOCIAL DISTANCING GUID GUIDELINES WHICH HAVE BEEN DET DETAILED AS SIX FOOT SOCIAL DISTANCING. RELIGIOUS AND WORSHIP SERVICES MAY ONLY BE PROVIDED BY VIDEO OR TELECONFERENCE. RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS MUST LIMIT IN-PERSON STAFF TO TEN PEOPLE OR LESS WHEN PREPARING OR CONDUCTING VIDEO OR TELECONFERENCE SERVICES. AND ALL INDIVIDUALS MUST FOLLOW SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES INCLUDING THE SIX FOOT SOCIAL DISTANCING. ALL PUBLIC OR PRIVATE GATHERINGS OF ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE OCCURRING OUTSIDE A SINGLE HOUSEHOLD OR LIVING UNIT ARE PROHIBITED. NOTHING IN THIS ORDER PROHIBITS THE GATHERING OF MEMBERS OF A SINGLE HOUSEHOLD OR LIVING UNIT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO DEFINITIONS. [00:20:02] ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES ARE EXCE EXCEPTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO PERFORM TASKS ESSENTIAL TO HEALTH AND SAFETY OR TO HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THEIR FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED. FOR EXAMPLE, OBTAINING MEDICAL SUPPLIES OR MEDICATION, VISITING A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL OR OBTAINING SUPPLIES NEEDED TO WORK FROM HOME. ADD ADDITIONAL -- HANG ON A SECOND. ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SERVICES OR SUPPLIES FOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS OR TO DELIVER THOSE SERVICES TORE SUPPLIES TO OTHERS. FOR EXAMPLE, FOOD, PET SUPPLIES, HOUSEHOLD CONSUMER PRODUCTS, AND PRODUCTS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN SAFETY, SANITATION AND ESSENTIAL OPERATION OF RESIDENCES. IN ORDER TO ENGAGE IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY, INDIVIDUALS MUST COMPLY WITH THE SOCIAL DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS OF SIX FEET. TO PERFORM WORK PROVIDING ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS OR SERVICES, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES ARE. AND YOU ALSO ARE ALLOWED TO CARE FOR A FAMILY MEMBER OR PET IN ANOTHER HOUSEHOLD. NOW I'M GOING TO MOVE TO WHAT AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS IS. HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS INCLUDING HOSPITALS, CLINICS, DENTISTS, PHARMACIES, PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, OTHER HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, HEALTHCARE SUPPLIERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICE PROVIDERS, BLOOD BANKS, MEDICAL RESEARCH, LABORATORY SERVICES, AND ANY RELATED OR ANCILLARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES. HOME-BASED AND RESIDENTIAL BASED CARE FOR SENIORS, ADULT OR CHILDREN ARE ALSO CONSIDERED HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS. HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS ALSO INCLUDES VETERINARY CARE AND ALL HEALTH AND WELFARE SERVICES PROVIDED TO ANIMALS. HEALTH AND WELFARE, NOT GROOMING. THAT WAS MY EDITORIAL COMMENT. HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS DO NOT INCLUDE FITNESS AND EXERCISE GYMS AND SIMILAR FACILITIES. AND THIS IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT, THIS NEXT SENTENCE. HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS DO NOT INCLUDE ELECTIVE MEDICAL, SURGICAL AND DENTAL PROCEDURES AS ESTABLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS. ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS ARE STILL ALLOWED AS LONG AS SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS ARE MET. ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS STILL ALLOWED INCLUDING PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING, AIRPORT OPERATIONS, WATER, SEWER, GAS, ELECTRICAL, OIL REFINING, ROADS AND HIGHWAYS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, SOLID WASTE COLLECTION, AND REMOVAL, INTERNET, TELECOMM TELECOMMUNICATIONS, PROVIDE THAT ALL THOSE SERVICES ARE CARRIED OUT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS. ESSENTIAL RETAIL INCLUDES FOOD SERVICE PROVIDERS INCLUDING GROCERY STORES, WAREHOUSE STORES, BIG BOX STORES, BODEGAS, LIQUOR STORES, GAS STATIONS AND CONVENIENCE STORES AND FARMER'S MARKET THAT'S SELL FOOD, PRODUCTS AND HOUSEHOLD STAPLES. BUSINESSES THAT SHIP OR DELIVER GROCERIES, FOOD, GOODS OR SERVICES DIRECTLY TO RESIDENCES. RESTAURANTS AND OTHER FACILITIES THAT PREPARE AND SERVE FOOD BUT ONLY FOR DELIVERY OR CARRYOUT. SCHOOLS AND OTHER ENTITIES THAT TYPICALLY PROVIDE FREE SERVICES TOBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON A PIN-UP AND TAKE AWAY -- PICKUP AND TAKE AWAY BASE ONLY. LAUNDROMATS, DRY CLEANERS AND LAUNDRY SERVICE PROVIDERS. BUSINESSES THAT SUPPLY PRODUCTS NEEDED FOR PEOPLE TO WORK FROM HOME, GAS STATIONS, AUTO SUPPLY, AUTO AND BICYCLE REPAIR, HARDWARE STORES AND RELATED FACILITIES. BUSINESSES THAT SUPPLY PRODUCTS NEEDED FOR PEOPLE TO WORK FROM HO HOME. IN ADDITION, BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE FOOD, SHELTER AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER NECESSITIES OF LIFE FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED OR OTHERWISE NEEDY INDI INDIVIDUALS. THEN THE LAST CATEGORY IS SERVICES NEEDED TO MAINTAIN ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS OF RESIDENCES OR OTHER ESSENTIAL [00:25:04] BUSINESSES, TRASH AND RECYCLING, PROCESSING AND DISPOSAL, MAIL AND SHIPPING SERVICES, BUILDING, CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE, WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION AND FULFILLMENT, STORAGE FOR ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES, FUNERAL HOMES, CREAM TORE YUMS AND CEMETERIES. PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIAN AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY, SANITATION AND ESSENTIAL OPERATION OF RESIDENCES. ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES AND ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES -- PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUCH AS LEGAL AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES WHEN NECESSARY TO ASSIST IN COMPLIANCE WITH LEGALLY MANDATEDIVITY S. HENCE WE HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY HERE. NEWS MEDIA IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, BANKS, CREDIT UNIONS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARE ALLOWED AND CHILD CARE SERVICES ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE. ANY MANUFACTURER WHO RETOOLS OR RECONFIGURES BUSINESS OPERATIONS SO THAT IN SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THEIR BUSINESS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MANUFACTURING AND PRODUCING VENTILATORS MAY APPLY FOR AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS EXEMPTION UNDER THIS ORDER. SO THAT BASICALLY, NOT BASICALLY, THAT DOES MIRROR WHAT THE DALLAS COUNTY HAS PUT IN PLACE FOR 11:59 P.M. EFFECTIVE TIME AND DATE TODAY. AND THAT IS MY PROPOSAL TO SUPPLEMENT OUR ORDER TO PUT IN SHELTER IN PLACE PROVISIONS. SO, SINCE, BLAKE, YOU ARE THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THIS UP, MAYBE MAKING SUGGESTS CHANGES OR ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS I'M GOING TO LET YOU GO FIRST PLEASE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: OKAY. SO, WITHIN THE ESSENTIAL BUSINESS I RECEIVED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT -- >> MAYOR: WE CAN'T HEAR YOU, BLAKE. BLAKE, CAN YOU SPEAK -- START THAT ALL OVER, IF YOU COULD. >> COUNCILMEMBER:. SO I RECEIVED QUESTIONS FROM CITIZENS WHETHER OR NOT ON CARE HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDERS OR ROOF -- >> MAYOR: I AM GOING TO REPEAT THE QUESTION IN CASE SOMEBODY DIDN'T HEAR. SHAKE YOUR HEAD OR NOD IF I AM RIGHT. THE QUESTION IS YOU HAVE BEEN GETTING QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS IF LAWN CARE WOULD BE AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS FOR A RESIDENCE AND IF NOT COULD WE ACCEPT THAT. AND ROOFERS? >> COUNCILMEMBER: LAWN CARE, HEALTH PROVIDERS, AND ROOF REPAIR. >> MAYOR: BLAKE, I'M HAVING TROUBLE HEARING YOU. CAN YOU DO A CHAT AND I'LL REPEAT YOUR QUESTION PLEASE. WHILE HE IS DOING THAT, I'LL A ADDRESS THE LAWN CARE BECAUSE I DID HEAR THAT PART. AND LAWN CARE IS NOT AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS IN THIS ORDER. I HAVE NO BELIEF THAT DALLAS COUNTY INTENDED LAWN CARE TO BE AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS FOR RESIDENCES. AND THAT IS NOT IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT ORDER EITHER. THE PROBLEM WITH CHANGING OUR ORDER ON ANY TOPIC, AND IT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T, I'M JUST TELLING YOU THE PROBLEM, IS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE ORDER WILL EXIST. SO IF DALLAS COUNTY ORDER DOES NOT ALLOW LAWN CARE SERVICES BUT WE PUT IN OUR ORDER THAT WE SPECIFICALLY ALLOW LAWN CARE SERVICES, THEN THE ONLY PORTION OF ROWLETT THAT IS GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO HAVE LAWN CARE SERVICES IS THE ROCKWELL COUNTY PORTION OF ROWLETT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: CAN YOU HEAR ME. OK OKAY. SO, THEN WHENEVER WE'RE GIVING OUT CODE VIOLATION WARNINGS, SHOULD WE SUSPEND THOSE WARNINGS FOR LAWNS, DAMAGED FENCES THAT CANNOT BE REPLACED EITHER WAY DUE TO THE ORDER? AT LEAST SUSPEND THOSE WARNINGS GOING OUT? >> MAYOR: I'M GOING TO HAVE BRIAN -- BLAKE IF YOU DIDN'T H HEAR, BRIAN, HE WANTS TO ADDRESS CAN WE SUSPEND GRASS CODE ENFORCEMENT OR, YOU KNOW, WARNINGS AND/OR FINES? AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, BLAKE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH [00:30:02] DOING THAT BUT I UNDERSTAND IT IS A REALLY PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DON'T HAVE LAWN EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR OWN HOME. DOES ANYBODY DISAGREE WITH ME? DAVID, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT LAWN CARE SERVICES FOR HIRE ARE ALLOWED OR NOT ALLOWED UNDER THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDER? >> I BELIEVE UNDER THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDER THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE ORDER CAREFULLY THERE'S A PROVISION THAT AUTHORIZES PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS, EXTERMINATORS AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO MAINTAINING THE SAFETY, SANITATION AND ESSENTIAL OPERATION OF RESIDENCES. SO IF IT IS A ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK LAWN MOWING SERVICE THAT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. IF YOUR LAWN HOWEVER WAS IN SUCH A CONDITION THAT IT BECOMES A SAFETY OR A SANITATION ISSUE THEN IT WOULD BE ALLOWED. >> MAYOR: OKAY. DID EVERYBODY HEAR THAT? >> AND I THINK THE SAME WOULD GO FOR ROOFERS THEN. >> I WOULD THINK THAT. IF YOU GOT A HOLE IN YOUR ROOF THAT WOULD BE, NO MATTER WHAT YOU WOULD ALWAYS BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A ROOFER REPAIRING YOUR ROOF. >> MAYOR: DID EVERYBODY HEAR DAVID OR NOT? THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN GUYS. HELP ME OUT HERE. OKAY. SO WHAT DAVID SAID IS THERE'S A PROVISION FOR THE -- WHAT PARAGRAPH IS IT IN SO I CAN FIND IT REAL QUICK? >> SIX, MAYOR. IN YOUR ORDER. >> MAYOR: OKAY. THERE IS A PROVISION THAT ALLOWS SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY, SANITATION AND ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS OF RESIDENCES. SO WHAT DAVID SAID IS HE BELIEVES THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDER DOES NOT ALLOW RESIDENTIAL MOWING SERVICES BY THIRD PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS EXCEPT IN THE SITUATION WHEN IT BECOMES A HEALTH OR SAFETY ISSUE. AND THEN THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THIS WORLD RIGHT NOW AND THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH ANYTHING THAT GETS PUT ON PAPER. AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING I'VE LEARNED THIS WEEK IS WHEN THERE'S CONFUSION IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GET CLEARED UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS WITH A NEW ORDER. THEN MORE CONFUSION IS GOING TO BE PUT IN PLACE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NEW PROVISIONS OF AN ORDER. THAT DOESN'T HELP ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT'S GOING, I DON'T HAVE A LAWN MOWER, HOW DO I KEEP MY LAWN MOWED. I HOPE NEIGHBORS WILL HELP NEIGHBORS AND PUT THEIR LAWN MOWER AT THE EDGE OF THE YARD AND SAY YOUR TURN. GO USE MY LAWN MOWER. I'M NOT TRYING TO BE GLIB. I'M REALLY NOT. BUT I BELIEVE THAT FOR-HIRE LAWN SERVICES IS NOT AN ALLOWABLE, ESSENTIAL SERVICE UNDER THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDER AT THIS TIME. >> I WOULD AGREE. >> MAYOR: WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT I'M ON THESE CALLS WITH JUDGE JENKINS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND AS ARE ALL THE OTHER MAYORS IN THE DALLAS COUNTY AND WHEN WE BRING UP ISSUES HE WILL ADDRESS THEM. OKAY. SO IT COULD BE THAT THIS GETS CLEARED UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. ONE OF THE -- AND, AGAIN, THIS IS AN EDITORIAL COMMENT. ONE OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS IS THIS IS A SHELTER IN PLACE THAT HAS SO MANY EXCEPTIONS IT'S FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES NOT A SHELTER IN PLACE. AND I BELIEVE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET MORE LENIENT FROM A DALLAS COUNTY PERSPECTIVE. I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE STRINGENT. ANDS THAT BEEN PROVEN OUT IN THE LAST TEN DAYS. I THINK BRIAN HAS SOME INFORMATION. >> COUNC . >> MAYOR, DO I UN-MUTE MYSELF OR DO YOU DO IT? >> MAYOR: YOU UN-MUTE. >> OKAY. I'M SORRY. >> MAYOR: BRIAN IS GOING TO SAY YOU'RE WRONG, MAYOR. >> MAYOR, JUDGE JENKINS IS ON RIGHT NOW. HE JUST SAID MOWERS ARE EXEMPT. POOL CLEANERS, PLUMBERS, ET CETERA IS ALLOWED. MOWING IS UNDER ESSENTIAL SERVICES. >> MAYOR: HOW DID YOU FIGURE THAT OUT? >> MY WIFE IS WATCHING JUDGE JENKINS RIGHT NOW RATHER THAN US. [LAUGHTER] >> MAYOR: MOWERS ARE ALLOWED. JUDGE JENKINS IS GIVING A PRESS CONFERENCE RIGHT NOW. TELL ME HE DIDN'T PUT A NEW ORDER IN. I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT. NEVER MIND. >> SHE IS WATCHING US TOO AND SAYS SORRY MAYOR. >> MAYOR: THE CITY MANAGER JUST TOLD THE MAYOR THE MAYOR WAS WRONG. JUDGE JENKINS JUST TOLD THE [00:35:01] PUBLIC LAWN MOWERS ARE ALLOWED. >> I THINK HE'S GETTING TONS OF CALLS TODAY FOR CLARIFICATION AND I BET YOU THAT'S WHY HE IS DOING THAT TODAY. >> MAYOR: WE BELIEVE JUDGE JENKINS IN A PRESS CONFERENCE RIGHT NOW PROBABLY CLEARING UP A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS AND LAWN JUST TO REPEAT, LAWN MOWERS ARE ALLOWED. WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE YOU SAID, BRIAN? >> HVAC AND POOLS. >> MAYOR: HVAC AND POOLS SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE ALSO ALLOWED. >> SO IT WOULD PROBABLY BE ANYBODY. ROOFERS. >> MAYOR: HVAC IS FOR HEALTH BECAUSE OF AIR CONDITIONING. POOL IS BECAUSE YOU GOT TO KEEP YOUR POOL SANITIZED. PROBABLY ROOFERS WOULD BE A SANITARY ISSUE. SO, LIVE-- >> IN TERMS OF FENCING POSSIBLY BEING A SAFETY ISSUE THAT'S PROBABLY COVERED. BECAUSE THE SYSTEM REACHED OUT TO ME AS WELL REGARDING A WARNING FOR DILAPIDATED FENCE. >> MAYOR: THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT CODE ENFORCEMENT IN A MINUTE. BUT, YOU KNOW, FENCING AROUND A POOL IS FOR SAFETY. FENCING AROUND A BACKYARD WITHOUT A POOL IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT CODE ENFORCEMENT SEPARATELY. >> COUNCILMEMBER: OKAY I DIDN'T KNOW THAT'S WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO. IF WE WERE GOING TO DISCUSS THAT SEPARATELY OR MNOT. I'LL WAIT A MINUTE. >> MAYOR: BUT BRING THEM UP NOW, THAT'S GOOD. I JUST WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE IN THE ORDER THAT WE THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER OR CHANGE THE WORDING. ANYBODY ON THE VIDEO THAT NEEDS TO TALK? OKAY. SO, I'LL TAKE THAT AS WE'RE GOOD WITH THE ORDER ASSIST AND I WILL -- AS IS AND I WILL SIGN THAT AND THE CITY OF ROWLETT SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER WILL BE EFFECT 11:59 P.M. TUESDAY, MARCH 24TH. BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDER IS IN EFFECT ALREADY. SO, THAT SHELTER IN PLACE IS APPLICABLE TO THE DALLAS COUNTY SIDE OF ROWLETT AT 11:59 P.M. TONIGHT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT THING IN REGARDS TO -- WE'RE STILL ON ITEM 2 ON THE AGENDA WHICH IS OUR COVID-19 UPDATE. THE NEXT THING I'D LIKE TO COVER IS A PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT IS NECESSARY TO PUT IN PLACE ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS TO ENFORCE OUR ORDER. AND SO, AGAIN, WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE A DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC. AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW. UNFORTUNATELY, IN VERY LIMITED SITUATIONS WE HAVE TO DO THINGS ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS. SO, I'M GOING TO OPEN THE MIC TO DAVID BERMAN OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO TELL US WHY WE NEED THIS ORDINANCE AND THEN I'LL GO THROUGH THE DETAILS OF IT SO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR THE DETAILS OF THE ORDINANCE. >> CITY ATTORNEY: THAT WOULD BE FINE. BASICALLY, UNDER STATE LAW MOST VIOLATIONS OF ORDERS ISSUED IN CONNECTIONS WITH DECLARATION OF LOCAL STASER ARE CLASS B MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES. WHICH MEANS IF SOMEBODY IS VIOLATING THE SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER THE ENFORCEMENT ISN'T BY CITATION IT'S PHYSICALLY ARRESTING THE PERSON AND CHARGING THEM WITH A JAILABLE OFFENSE. IN MANY SWAYSS THAT MAY BE SOMEWHAT EXTREME AND IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY SOMEBODY BECAUSE THEY'RE WANTING TO GO TO WORK FOR A NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESS. WE DO HAVE PROVISIONS IN OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES THAT PROVIDE FOR CLASS C MISDEMEANOR PENALTIES BUT IT'S FOR VIOLATING ORDERS OR PLANS THAT ARE ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THAT CODE PROVISION WHICH HAS NOT BEEN DONE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT OPERATING UNDER THOSE PROVISIONS. THE DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT I AM PROPOSING SIMPLY SAYS THAT IT IS A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE. NOT A JAILABLE OFFENSE BUT A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE FOR SOMEONE TO KNOWINGLY OR INTENTIONALLY FAIL TO COMPLY WITH TERMS OF THE ORDERS ISSUED PURSUANT DECLARATIONS OF DISASTER. THAT WOULD BE WITH THE MAYOR, THE GOVERNOR, PROBABLY NOT THE PRESIDENT'S, BUT THE MAYORS. IT WOULD ALSO BE A C MISDEMEANOR [00:40:02] OFFENSE TO HINDER, OBSTRUCT OR DELAY ANY PUBLIC OFFICIAL WHO IS ATTEMPTING TO ENFORCE THOSE ORDERS. SO, EFFECTIVELY WHAT THIS AUTHORIZES IS REALLY NOTHING MORE THAN IT ENABLES OUR POLICE OFFICERS OR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OR EMERGENCY COORDINATORS TO ACTUALLY WRITE A TICKET TO SOMEBODY WHO IS VIOLATING THE ORDER, SEND THEM HOME, OR IF THEY DON'T THEY CAN WRITE THEM A TICKET. AS A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE YOU RECOGNIZE THAT A PERSON CAN STILL BE ARRESTED FOR A C MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE. THEY WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY BE ARRAIGNED, BOND SET AND THEN THE PUNISHMENT WOULD NOT INCLUDE A JAIL SENTENCE. IT WOULD JUST BE A FINE ALONE. UNDER STATE LAW AND UNDER OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES, PENALTY FOR THIS KIND OF VIOLATION WOULD BE AS HIGH AS $2,000. SO THE MAXIMUM RANGE OF PUNISHMENT IS NOT SIX MONTHS IN JAIL IT'S SIMPLY BY FINE ALONE OF MAYBE $2,000. THE PROVISIONS OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE WOULD CERTAINLY REQUIRE PROOF THAT THE CONDUCT OR THE OMISSION, THE FAILURE TO COMPLY, WOULD BE DONE KNOWINGLY OR INTENTIONALLY BY THE PERSON CHARGED. IT KIND OF FILLS A GAP IN OUR CURRENT CODE OF ORDINANCES AND WILL PROBABLY CLOSE THAT LOOPHOLE OR GAP ONCE THE EMERGENCY IS OVER BY AMENDING OUR CODE. BUT FOR THE TIME BEING THIS DRAFT WOULD ONLY BE IN EFFECT UNTIL APRIL 3RD WHEN THE MAYOR'S SUPPLEMENTAL SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER WOULD EXPIRE. >> MAYOR: NO. APRIL 30TH WHEN THE CURRENT TOTAL ORDER IS SET TO EXPIRE. >> CITY ATTORNEY: AS IT STANDS -- I'M SORRY, IT SAYS APRIL 30TH. YOU ARE RIGHT. >> MAYOR: WE GOT ORDERS THROUGH APRIL 30TH AND SHELTER IN PLACE THROUGH APRIL 3RD. >> CITY ATTORNEY: I STAND CORRECTED. I THE SHELTER IN PLACE IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT BUT THEY VIOLATE THE GATHER OF TEN OR MORE WE COULD CHARGE THEM. SO THIS WILL ADD UNTIL THE END OF APRIL. >> MAYOR: AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO COUNCIL WHY IT'S NOT A PERM NINETY IN PLACE -- NORM NANT IN PLACE IN CASE WE HAVE OTHER KECK LA RACINGS IN THE FUTURE. >> CITY ATTORNEY: WE DO HAVE PROVISIONS THAT REQUIRE COMPLIANCE BUT THE LANGUAGE IN THE CODE ITSELF -- WHEN YOU INTERPRET THE PROVISIONS OF A STATUTE THAT IMPROSES CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY IT IS INTERPRETED AGAINST THE CITY OR AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LIBERALLY IN FAVOR OF THE VIOLATOR. THE LANGUAGE IN OUR EXISTING CODE IS KIND OF BROAD AND UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE INCLUSIVE OF A VIOLATION OF A DECLARATION OF DISASTER AND A SPECIFIC ORDER ISSUED BY THE MAYOR LIKE A SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER, FOR EXAMPLE. SO THIS CLOSES A LOOPHOLE IN A TEMPORARY BASIS. WE'LL FINISH CLOSING IT ON A PERMANENT BASIS ONCE THIS IS OVER. OR AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD. MY PREFERENCE IS WHEN WE'RE GOING TO -- IF WE'RE GOING TO BE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES ON A PERMANENT BASIS I WOULD PREFER NOT TO DO IT ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS. MY PREFERENCE IS 72 HOUR, MINIMUM 72 HOUR POSTED AGENDAS SO THE PUBLIC HAS FULL AWARENESS OF WHAT COULD BE DONE AND WHAT RHO MIGHT BE DOING. THIS TEMPORARY ONE IS ONLY TEMPORARY BECAUSE WE ARE CURRENTLY -- >> MAYOR: HANG ON A SECOND. >> BLAKE AND THE REST ON VIDEO CAN'T HEAR DAVID. >> MAYOR: YOU CAN'T HEAR DAVID AT ALL? WHY IS THAT? >> WE HAVEN'T HEARD A WORD. >> CITY ATTORNEY: DON'T LOOK AT ME. [LAUGHTER] >> I MEAN, YOU CAN SUMMARIZE WHAT HE SAID. [LAUGHTER] >> CITY ATTORNEY: WE SHOULD HAVE USED ZOOM. >> MAYOR: YOU DON'T PAY ME ENOUGH FOR THIS [LAUGHTER] >> ALEX IS COMING. >> MAYOR: IT'S OKAY, ALEX. YOU CAN FIX THIS LATER. WE NEED TO PUT AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE TO PUT IN PLACE PROVISIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS UNDER THE DISASTER DECLARATION. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A SITUATION IN OUR ORDINANCES THAT DO NOT SPECIFICALLY CALL FOR ENFORCEMENT OTHER THAN JAIL TIME. WHICH IS THE STATE PROVISION. WE DON'T WANT TO BE ENFORCING THESE ORDERS BY PUTTING PEOPLE IN JAIL. THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY WE WANT TO GO. SO WE ARE PROPOSING A NEW ORDINANCE THAT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY THAT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE RIGHT NOW THROUGH APRIL 30TH, 2020, WHICH IS THE END DATE OF OUR CURRENT -- CURRENT END DATE OF OUR DISASTER DECLARATION, IN WHICH INSTEAD OF HAVING OUR ONLY COURSE OF ACTION [00:45:02] UNDER A CLASS B, RHO COULD HAVE A COURSE OF ACTION UNDER A CLASS C WITH A FINE UP TO $2,000 INSTEAD OF UP TO ONLY 6 MONTHS IN JAIL. AND THEN I ASKED THE QUESTION -- I ASKED DAVID TO CLARIFY WHY WOULD WE PUT THIS IN PLACE TEMPORARILY ONLY THROUGH APRIL 30TH INSTEAD OF JUST AMENDING OUR ORDINANCES. THE MAIN COUPLE REASONS, IT'S NOT REALLY GOOD TO AMEND ORDINANCES WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A DISASTER THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO NON-DISASTER -- WELL THIS WOULDN'T BE. I'M SORRY I SAID THAT WRONG. IT'S NOT GOOD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO AMEND YOUR PERMANENT CODE OF ORDINANCES WHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A DISASTER. IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO. AND THIS ORDINANCE WAS PUT IN AS AN EMERGENCY MATTER AND WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE, YOU KNOW, GIVE 72 HOURS NOTICE AND THE PUBLIC SEES THE ORDINANCE AND CAN COMMENT ON IT MORE WIDELY BEFORE WE PUT A PERMANENT ORDINANCE IN PLACE. SO, DAVID IS PROPOSING THIS ORDINANCE THAT RIGHT NOW EXPIRES APRIL 30TH TO COINCIDE WITH THE END OF OUR DISASTER DECLARATION AND THIS WOULD BE EXTENDED ALONG WITH OUR DISASTER DECLARATION IF WE WERE TO EXTEND OUR DISASTER DECLARATION. WAS THAT GOOD ENOUGH FOR A NOVICE HERE? >> CITY ATTORNEY: THAT'S NOT BAD. BETTER THAN I COULD HAVE SAID IT. >> MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. SO, I'LL PAUSE. ANYBODY HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? >> ARE YOU ASKING FOR QUESTIONS JUST ABOUT THE ORDINANCE AND NOT ABOUT ENFORCEMENT THIS TIME. ARE YOU GOING TO GO TO THAT PART NEXT? >> MAYOR: LET'S DO THE ORDINANCE NEXT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. >> MAYOR: ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE. I WILL TAKE A MOTION. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I'LL MAKE A MOTION APPROVE THE ORDINANCE. >> MAYOR: I HAVE A MOTION. I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN SHERRILL. I'LL CALL A ROLE VOTE FOR THIS. MATT? >> AYE. >> WHITNEY. >> AYE. >> PAM. >> TAMMY. >> AYE. >> BLAKE. >> AYE. >> MARTHA. >> AYE. >> BROWNIE. >> AYE. >> MAYOR: 7-0 ORDINANCE PASSES. SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR QUESTION, MATT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: SO THE OBVIOUSLY NEXT QUESTION IS HOW IS IT GOING TO BE ENFORCED AND WHAT ARE THE PROTOCOLS FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AS THEY'RE OUT THERE WITH YOUR CITIZENS? IS YOUR MIC ON, MATT. >> MAYOR: YES. HIS QUESTION IS HOW IS IT GOING TO BE ENFORCED AND WHAT ARE THE PROTOCOLS FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. I DON'T WANT TO TALK FOR YOU CHIEF. YOU WANT TO TALK, CHIEF? >> MAYOR, THERE IS A -- >> MAYOR: HANG ON. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN HEAR YOU BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T HEAR DAVID. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO REPEAT EVERY SINGLE THING. GET REAL CLOSE TO THE MIC. BLAKE, GIVE ME A THUMBS UP OR DOWN WHEN BRIAN STARTS TALKING. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME? NO. OKAY. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> THERE YOU GO. >> CAN YOU HERE CHIEF? >> WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. >> CAN YOU ALL HEAR THE CHIEF? >> MAYOR: CHIEF. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> GUESS NOT. MARTHA COULD. >> MAYOR: CHIEF TALK FOR A COUPLE MINUTES. >> TO VERY BRIEFLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MATT, WITH GREAT DISCRETION, WITH GREAT COMPASSION AND VERY CAREFULLY. THIS WILL BE A CASE -- >> MAYOR: THEY CAN'T HEAR IT. COME UP HERE CHIEF. RIGHT HERE. YOU CAN STAY AWAY FROM ME [LAUGHTER] >> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? WE'RE GOOD? ALL RIGHT. TO ANSWER COUNCILMAN GRUBISICH'S QUESTION ABOUT HOW THIS WILL BE ENFORCED. TO BE VERY HONEST, THIS IS BRAND-NEW GROUND FOR ALL OF US BUT WE ARE WELL AWARE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW CONSIDERABLE DISCRETION, COMP COMPASSION ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS WITH THIS. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE INTEND TO GO OUT SEARCHING FOR AND LOOKING FOR. THESE ARE GOING TO HAVE HAING SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS AND SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE WE TAKE SOME TYPE OF ACTION BUT I ASSURE YOU EVERY TIME WE DO WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE AND SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION FROM THE COMMUNITY. DOES THAT HELP AT ALL? >> COUNCILMEMBER: YES. THANK YOU CHIEF. >> MAYOR: I DO WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW, THIS SHELTER IN PLACE [00:50:03] IS VERY SIGNIFICANT AND ALARMING AND IMPORTANT. AND WE NEED VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE BY OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND THERE ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT NEED TO CONTINUE IN THIS ECONOMY, IN THIS COUNTY, IN THIS CITY, IN THIS STATE, IN THIS COUNTRY. AND IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DOWN THIS ROAD OF PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES WE NEED VERY STRINGENT, VOLUNTARY COOPERATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER. WE'VE GOT TO STOP THIS IN ITS TRACKS AND EVERY DAY, EVERY COUPLE DAYS THESE ORDERS COME DOWN WITH MORE AND MORE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE NOT STOPPING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS TO THE EXTENT IT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED SO THAT IT DOESN'T OVERTAKE OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS. THERE ARE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS GUIDING THE DECISION MAKERS IN THESE DECISIONS. AND THEY ARE VERY, VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THE NEED TO STOP THIS IN ITS TRACKS. THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO OUR ECONOMY. AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS IN A MANNER THAT KEEPS THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES GOING BUT PROTECTS OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND SAVES AS MANY LIVES AS POSSIBLE. IF WE DON'T HAVE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE THEN IT WILL CONTINUE TO GET MORE AND MORE STRICT. AND, BY THE WAY, IT MAY CONTINUE TO GET MORE STRICT REGARDLESS. WE JUST DON'T KNOW. SO, PLEASE, COMMUNITY, PLEASE, PAY HEED TO ALL THESE DETAILS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT INFORCEMENT OR THE ORDINANCE? OKAY SEEING NONE WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT SUBSECTION OF -- WE'RE STILL ON WAS THERE SOMEONE? WHO DID? >> BRIAN. >> MAYOR: BRIAN? >> COUNCILMEMBER: YOU WILL HAVE TO TALK LOUD. OR MAYBE I'LL REPEAT. I DON'T KNOW. >> I HAVE NOTES WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING. DO YOU WANT TO DID THAT LATER? REMEMBER WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT ACTIONS WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING. >> MAYOR: I'M GETTING THERE YES. I SAID IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT ENFORCEMENT. OKAY THE NEXT -- YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP HERE BRIAN WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO TALK. THE NEXT THING I AM GOING TO GO TO IS I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME DETAILS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY AND THEN I'M GOING TO HAVE BRIAN GIVE EVEN MORE DETAILS. A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK POST. AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT I DEEM IT NECESSARY TO SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT IT AT THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING. SO, I'M GOING TO GO OVER SOME OF THE STUFF THEN TURN IT OVER TO BRIAN WHO IS OUR CITY MANAGER AND HE IS GOING TO GIVE US MORE DETAILS. PUBLIC SAFETY REMAINS OUR TOP PRIORITY. YOU CAN TELL WE'RE TIRED. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE UNAFFECTED BY THESE ORDERS. THEY'RE IN FULL FORCE. BUT THEY ARE AFFECTED TREMENDOUSLY BY WHAT IS GOING ON. SUPPORT YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS. SUPPORT YOUR POLICE. SUPPORT YOUR FIRE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL. MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG THAT YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THEM. CONTINUE TO CALL 911 IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING AN EMERGENCY. BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS THAT YOU ARE SHARING THOSE SYMPTOMS WITH ANY EMERGENCY PERSONNEL. WHETHER IT'S ON THE PHONE OR IN PERSON BEFORE YOU GET WITHIN SIX FEET OF THEM. THE CITY REMAINS OPEN. YOU CAN PLEASE CONDUCT BUSINESS VIA PHONE AT (972) 412-6100 OR ONLINE WHEN POSSIBLE. ROWLETT.COM IS THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GO TO HAVE LIBRARY SERVICES, WATCH CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, SUBMIT PERMIT REQUESTS, PAY YOUR UTILITY BILL, PAY YOUR TRAFFIC BILL, TICKET, SORRY, NOT BILL, AND SIGN UP FOR CONNECT ROWLETT. WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS HISTORICALLY. WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS IN THE LAST TEN DAYS. CONNECT ROWLETT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO SIGN UP FOR. IT IS THE CITY'S EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND YOU CAN [00:55:02] SIGN UP FOR THAT ON ROWLETT.COM AND YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR WHAT KIND OF NOTIFICATIONS YOU WANT TO RECEIVE AND YOU CAN SIGN UP HOW YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THOSE NOTIFICATIONS. PHONE, TEXT, EMAIL OR A COMBINATION THERE OF. THE CITY HAS MADE THE DECISION TO SUSPEND UTILITY DISCONNECTS DUE TO NON-PAYMENT ISSUES. WE WILL NOT TURN OFF WATER WHILE THIS DISASTER DECLARATION IS IN EFFECT. WATER IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, WE WILL NOT TURN OFF ANYBODY'S WATER DUE TO INABILITY TO PAY THEIR WATER BILL. ALSO WE WILL NOT BE ACCRUING LATE FEES DURING THIS PERIOD. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE FORGIVING LATE FEES FOR PERIODS PRIOR AND IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE FORGIVING LATE FEES IN THE FUTURE AFTER THIS IS ALL OVER, BUT DURING THIS PERIOD WE'RE NOT ACCRUING LATE FEES. CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL STILL PROVIDE NOTICES. WE GOT TO TRY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY IN AN ORDERLY MANNER IN A SAFE MANNER. THAT'S VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. BUT WE ARE SUSPENDING CITATIONS AND I WILL HAVE BRIAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. LIBRARY FINES ARE SUSPENDED AND ACCOUNT BLOCKS, WHERE YOUR ACCOUNT IS BLOCKED BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH YOUR LIBRARY ACCOUNT, THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED. OKAY GARBAGE UPDATE. BEGINNING MARCH 30TH, WHICH IS SEVEN DAYS FROM TODAY, ALL ITEMS IN YOUR GARBAGE, POLY CART, NOT YOUR RECYCLING BIN, YOUR GARBAGE POLY CART, MUST BE IN CLOSED BAGS OR FCC WILL NOT SERVICE THE GARBAGE CART. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS KEEPS CONTAMINATED ITEMS FROM POSSIBLY ESCAPING AND PUTTING OUR FCC STAFF AT RISK. AND KEEPING THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE. DO NOT USE BAGS IN YOUR RECYCLING BIN. THAT DEFEATS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE RECYCLING BIN. OKAY. PAY REAL CLOSE ATTENTION ALWAYS TO WHAT CAN BE RECYCLED AND WHAT CAN'T. PLEASE, THIS IS A PLEA FROM US. EVERYBODY'S HOME RIGHT NOW. IT'S REALLY TEMPTING TO GO OUT AND TRIM YOUR TREES AND CLEAN YOUR GARAGE AND DO YOUR BIG HOUSEHOLD PROJECTS. WE CAN'T HAVE A LOT OF BULK STUFF AT THE CURBSIDE. IF EVERYBODY IN THIS TOWN STARTS TRIMMING THEIR TREES AND CLEANING OUT THEIR GARAGES AND PUTTING BULK ITEMS AT THE CURBSIDE WE'RE GOING TO FIND US IN A SITUATION WHERE WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SERVICE THE GARBAGE. THE ORDER OF PRIORITY BY FCC IS RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE, COMMERCIAL GARBAGE. RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING, COMMERCIAL RECYCLING. BULK ITEMS. THEY THINK THEY CAN SERVICE THAT RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE THAT IF WE OVERLOAD THEM AND THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO POTENTIALLY BE ABLE TO SERVICE THAT IF WE START HAVING ISSUES WITH ABSENCES BY FCC PERSONNEL. PLEASE, DON'T PUT BULK OUT AT THE CURBSIDE. I'M BEGGING YOU NOT TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW. TRASH BAGS OF GRASS AND LEAVES ARE NOT BULK AND THEY WILL NOT BE COLLECTED BY THE BULK TRUCK. THIS IS NOT NEW INFORMATION. THIS IS ALWAYS THE RULE. THIS IS JUST A REMINDER. IF YOUR ITEMS REGULARLY DO NOT FIT IN ONE CART PLEASE REQUEST A SECOND CART BY CALLING THE UTILITY BILLING DEPARTMENT AT (972) 412-6100. THE MONTHLY FEE FOR EACH ADDITIONAL CART IS $11.74. NOW THIS IS TOILET PAPER. I HAD TO PUT A TOILET PAPER ORDER IN PLACE SO NOW I GOT TALK ABOUT TOIL ET PAPER. DON'T FLUSH WIPES. EVEN THOSE WIPES THAT ARE LABELED "FLUSHABLE," DON'T FLUSH TISSUES AND DON'T FLUSH PAPER TOWELS IN THE TOILET. THESE PRODUCTS DON'T BREAKDOWN LIKE TOILET PAPER BREAKS DOWN AND THEY WILL CLOG OUR SEWER SYSTEMS VERY, VERY QUICKLY. THAT CREATES A PUBLIC HEALTH RISK, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS PANDEMIC. SO THEY COULD CAUSE YOUR OWN PLUMBING TO CLOG RESULTING IN A BACK-UP OF OUR HOME ALSO. SO, PLEASE DON'T DO THAT. ALTHOUGH THE ROWLETT COMMUNITY CENTER IS CLOSED THE CITY PARKS AND REC FACEBOOK PAGE FOR LINKS AND INFORMATION ABOUT AT HOME WORKOUTS, A VIRTUAL ZOO AND MUSEUM TOUR, FITNESS CLASSES FOR KIDS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE OUT THERE TO ENTERTAIN EVERYBODY WHILE WE'RE AT HOME TOGETHER. WHILE THE LIBRARY IS CLOSED, AS I SAID, MATERIALS WILL NOT ACCRUE FINES. THEY ALSO DO NOT [01:00:06] HAVE TO BE RETURNED BY THE DUE DATE TO THE LIBRARY IF YOU CAN'T GET TO THE LIBRARY. BY THE WAY, RETURNING BOOKS TO THE LIBRARY IS NOT AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE AS OF 11:59 P.M. TONIGHT. ALL OF THE CITY'S PUBLIC LIBRARY FACEBOOK PAGE OR VISIT THEM AT ROWLETT.COM FOR VIRTUAL STORIES. LINKS TO ONLINE LEARNING, E-BOOKS, AUDIO BOOKS, MOVIES, FREE ONLINE TUTORING, FREE SCREEN GAMES TO PLAY, RESOURCES TO HELP BEAT CABIN FEVER AND MUCH MORE. GISD IS PROVIDING CURBSIDE BREAKFAST FROM 8 TO 9:00 A.M. AND LUNCH FROM NOON TO 1:00 P.M. AT DESIGNATED CAMPUSES. IN ROWLETT THOSE INCLUDE DORSEY, GOODEN STEADHAM, LIBERTY GROVE AND ROWLETT ELEMENTARY AND CORAL MIDDLE SCHOOL. FAMILIES MAY REMAIN IN THEIR CARS. ONE MEAL IS PROVIDED FOR EACH CHILD PRESENT AND UNDER 19. ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS CAN BE FOUND AT GARLAND ISD.NET. ROCKWELL ISD IS OFFERING CUB ARESIDE LAUNCH FROM 11-1 AT DOBBS AND ROW SHELL ELEMENTARY. THEN TO THOSE IN NEED WE HAVE COED AND I'M GOING TO LET WHITNEY TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT. THESE CULTURE HAVES HIT EVERYBODY HARD BUT PARTICULARLY SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES. PLEASE CONTINUING PATRONIZING RESTAURANTS FOR DELIVERY OR CURBSIDE SERVICES. AND I'M SURE OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP US INFORMD OF WHAT OUR BUSINESSES ARE DOING WITH THIS NEW SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER. IT MAY CHANGE WHICH RESTAURANTS REMAIN OPEN. GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT SBA HAS APPROVED EMERGENCY DESIGNATION FOR SMALL BUSINESS DISASTER LOANS. PLEASE VISIT SBA.GOV/DISASTER TO APPLY FOR AISTANCE. THIS ONLINE APPLICATION IS THE F FASTEST METHOD TO RECEIVE A DECISION ON LOAN ELIGIBILITY. BOTH ROWLETT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS CREATED WEB PAGES CONTAINING RESOURCES FOR OUR LOCAL BEST BUSINESSES. FIND THEM AT ROWLETT.COM AND ROWLETT CHAMBER.COM. JUST AS A REMINDER WHILE YOU ARE HOME PLEASE RESPOND TO THE CENSUS. IT'S SAFE. IT'S CONFIDENTIAL. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ONLINE BUT YOU CAN AT MY CENSUS.GOV. OR BY PHONE (844) 330-2020 OR BY MAIL WHEN YOU RECEIVE OR HAVE RECEIVED YOUR CENSUS INFORMATION IN THE MAIL. WE MUST GET A COMPLETE COUNT SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITIZENS IN TEXAS ARE COUNTED. SO, WITH THAT, I THINK DO YOU WANT WHIT FNEY TO DO A COED UPDATE. THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVE IN DISASTER COMMITTEE MET TODAY AT 2:00. THEY ELECTED LEADERSHIP. MICHAEL GALLOP OF THE CHAMBER IS THE CHAIR AND LAKEISHA CULPEPER IS THE VICE CHAIR. SHE IS WITH GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE ADDED SIX WORKING COMMITTEES TO HELP BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF ROW ROWLETT. AND WE WILL BE MEETING ON A WEEKLY BASIS STARTING APRIL 1ST TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN ROWLETT. TWO BIG THINGS I WANTED TO SAY WERE THAT THE WEBSITE IS UP AND READY TO GO. IT'S ROWLETTREADY.COM. ON THAT WEBSITE, IF YOU HAVE A NEED, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A SENIOR AND YOU NEED FOOD DELIVERED OR SOME TYPE OF OTHER NEED THAT WE CAN HELP YOU WITH, YOU CAN SEND AN EMAIL TO AN ADDRESS AT NEEDS NEEDS @ROWLETTREADY.COM. OR USE THE CONTACT US FORM ON THE WEBSITE FOR FURTHER ADISTANCE AND WE'LL BE SURE TO TRY TO FIND VOLUNTEERS TO HELP YOU OUT. WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO GO WITHOUT DURING THIS CRISIS AND EMERGENCY. SO, BE SURE TO CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS. ESPECIALLY WITH SENIORS. REACH OUT TO THEM AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S OKAY. IF IT'S NOT, LET SOMEONE KNOW. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, WHITNEY. AND THEN BRIAN IS GOING TO GIVE US FURTHER UPDATES. WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THIS LAST MIC UP HERE >> LET ME TRY THIS FIRST. BLAKE AND BROWNIE, MARTHA, CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME NOW? >> MAYOR: THUMBS UP. >> CITY ATTORNEY: LET'S TRY THAT THEN THAT WAY THE MIC CAN PICK UP. >> COUPLE THINGS. FIRST AND FOREMOST WE ARE WORKING ON SEVERAL INITIATIVES [01:05:01] TO MAKE SURE WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR CUSTOMERS DURING THIS DISASTER DECLARATION. AND THAT WE'RE ALSO TAKING CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. SO OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS WE WILL BE CLOSING SOME OFFICES TO THE PUBLIC. THIS INCLUDES UTILITY BILLING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THE ANIMAL SHELTER, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND CITY HALL. NO FACILITY WILL BE CLOSED WITHOUT HAVING WORK SOLUTIONS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. ONLINE PERMITTING, INVOICING AND MAKING PAYMENTS ARE FOREMOST AMONG THE TECHNOLOGY THAT ALREADY EXISTS AND IN SOME OFFICES STAFF WILL ALSO STILL BE AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT. IN ADDITION, WE WILL BE CLOSING ALL PLAYGROUNDS AND PARK RESTROOM FACILITIES. THE ORDER IS SPECIFIC AS TO THE DEFINITION OF STAYING HOME. THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THESE FACILITIES AND KEEP THEM CLEAN IS ANOTHER REASON THAT THEY WILL BE CLOSED. WATER FOUNTAINS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TURNED OFF FOR THAT EXACT REASON. CITY COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO MEET BUT WE'LL BE VIRTUAL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. PLANNING AND ZONING WILL ONLY MEET IF THERE IS A DECISION THAT MUST BE MADE. I WILL TELL YOU THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS WORKING WITH TML AND A BUNCH OF OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES ON THIS ISSUE TRYING TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE SOLUTIONS OR ISSUES THAT HAVE RISEN. WE'RE GETTING GUIDANCE ALMOST DAILY ON SOME OF THIS. SOME OF THIS IS A LITTLE BIT BEHIND. IF THERE ARE ISSUES ALREADY IN THE WORKS, REQUESTS, THEN WE WILL ADDRESS THOSE. BUT FOR THE MOST PART WE WILL LIMIT NEW REQUESTS COMING IN PARTICULARLY FOR PERMITS FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL PLATS WHICH STARTS THAT 30 DAY CLOCK. WE WILL BE SHUTTING DOWN OTHER NON-ESSENTIAL ACTIVITY. THAT'S WHAT I JUST SAID. SORRY. AND THAT OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WILL NOT MEET UNTIL THE ORDER IS LIFTED. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A STRONG EXCEPTION IN THAT. WE JUST MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO WITH THE COED BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING ON EXACTLY THIS ISSUE AND HOW WE CAN SOLVE FOR SOME OF THESE ISSUES FOR OUR PUBLIC. PUBLIC WORKS INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER AND SEWER SERVICES AND TRASH ARE ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS. THESE SERVICES WILL CONTINUE AND CURRENT OR TIME SENSITIVE PROJECTS WILL CONTINUE AS WELL. WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE WORKS. WEATHER HAS HELD US UP ON SOME OF IT. IN A LOT OF CASES THESE ARE FARMED OUT TO CONTRACTORS AND THEY WILL CONTINUE ON THOSE PROJECTS IS WEATHER PERMITS. THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS THAT DO NOT MEET THE DEFINITION OF ESSENTIAL. THESE WILL BE DEFERRED UNTIL THE ORDER IS LIFTED. THERE IS A NUMBER WE WILL TALK ABOUT UNDER ONE OF OUR NEXT ITEMS WHEN WE GET INTO FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN STARTED YET AND SO WE'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED THOSE FOR COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION TO SEE IF ANY OF THOSE PROJECTS IN PARTICULAR COULD BE USED WHEN WE START TO SEE SOME OF THE REVENUE IMPACT. SO, WE'LL GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DETAIL. THERE WILL BE -- DENISE WILL -- OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION TEAM WILL POST SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT EACH DEPARTMENT. THERE WILL BE A LINK TO THAT. THAT WILL COME OUT TOMORROW. BUT I WANT TO ALSO SAY THIS. FOR EXAMPLE, JUST PARKS KITCHEN. I'M GIVING FLAVOR HERE. THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO FOUR 10-HOUR SHIFTS. THEY'LL HAVE NINE PEOPLE ALTERNATING DAYS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE ONE PERSON, ONE EMPLOYEE PER VEHICLE. WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID HAVING A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN ONE VEHICLE. BY ALTERNATING SCHEDULES LIKE THAT WE CAN AVOID THOSE SCENARIOS. WE'RE LETTING PEOPLE WORK REMOTELY. THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE ALREADY ENCOURAGED BY THE ORDER SO WE HAVE GONE THROUGH EVERY DEPARTMENT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE CAN ACCOMMODATE AND DO THAT. THERE ARE AREAS WHERE WE CAN'T. IN THOSE CASES WE'RE ALSO ALTERNATING TEAM MEMBERS. I'LL GIVE YOU JUST AN EXAMPLE. WE HAVE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WE HAVE OUR DETECTIVES THAT WORK IN A PRETTY SMALL OFFICE AREA SO THEY'RE ALTERNATING SCHEDULES. SOME IN AT ONE POINT AND OTHERS IN AT ANOTHER TIME. EVEN WORKING FROM HOME THEY DO A LOT OF REPORT WRITING, PHONE CALLING, I THEY CAN DO STILL DO SOME OF THAT. THAT WAY WE'RE NOT HAVING SO MANY PEOPLE CONNED TANED IN VERY SMALL SPACES. [01:10:02] ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION WE'RE TAKING THOSE PRECAUTIONS AS WELL. THE WET ZONE. WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS WILL LAST. SO, THEY'RE CONTINUING WITH THEIR HIRING PROCEDURES BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW THERE'S ABOUT 70 PART-TIME PEOPLE WE HAIRED THIS DURING THE SUMMER BUT WE'RE HOLDING OFF ON THE ACTUAL HIRING. SO, WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, GETTING READY FOR IT. THERE WILL BE SOME ONLINE TRAINING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE. AS YOU KNOW, OUR TRIGGER DATE IS TOWARDS THE END OF MAY AND I'M SORRY LOST THAT DATE, SOMEWHERE AROUND MAY 19TH. IF WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE READY TO GO, THEN THAT FACILITY WON'T OPEN UP BUT WE'RE TAKING EVERY STEP WE CAN ALONG THE WAY SO THAT WE CAN OPEN ON TIME, IF WE'RE STILL NOT UNDER ORDERS TO CLOSE. SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING. WITH REGARD TO UTILITY BILLING. WE HAVE DROP BOX. THERE'S ALSO PAYMENTS ONLINE. WE WILL BE UPDATING OUR WEBSITE AND REMINDING PEOPLE OF ALL THE WAYS THAT THEY CAN PAY. MAIL SERVICE IS STILL WORKING BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH ONLINE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE WILL USE TO HELP PEOPLE. OUR GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN AS LITTLE NO DISRUPTION TO DAILY SERVICE. WE STILL WILL BILL PEOPLE. AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ADDING PENALTIES AT THIS TIME. BUT WE STILL ARE GOING TO BE BILLING FOR SERVICES. CODE ENFORCEMENT. I JUST WANT TO MENTION AGAIN THAT WE WILL STILL REMIND PEOPLE. BUT WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING IS ISSUING CITATIONS. AGAIN, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN DO THAT. AND FINALLY JUST EVEN AS THE MAYOR SAID, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HER GOING OVER THAT IN DETAIL, THE REC CENTER AND THE LIBRARY ARE CLOSED AT THIS TIME. THEY'RE PROVIDING SO MUCH INFORMATION ONLINE. ONLINE, YOU KNOW, READING FOR KIDS. YOU KNOW, VIDEOS TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE ACTIVE AND EXERCISING AT HOME AND FINDING FUN THINGS TO DO. SO I JUST WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND HIT THOSE HIGHLIGHTS, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: SO ONE THING I WANTED TO MENTION AND TALK ABOUT BRIEFLY IS PNZ. LAST TIME WE MET COUNCIL WHICH SEEMS LIKE AGES AGO BUT IT WAS ONLY FRIDAY WE DECIDED ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WERE SUSPENDED AND THAT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WOULD CONTINUE. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE. WE'RE THE GOVERNING BODY. AND WE DID IT HALF IN PERSON, HALF REMOTE TODAY. NEXT MONDAY WHEN WE MEET WE MAY ALL BE REMOTE. BUT WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE MEETING AS THE GOVERNING BODY. BUT WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT PNZ AND B. O. A. SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE DISCONTINUE PNZ AND B. O. A. AND I'VE TALKED TO DAVID ABOUT THIS AHEAD OF TIME AND TO BRIAN. NOW THE B. O. A. I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THAT, IF THERE'S A LEGAL REASON TO MEET, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IF IT HAPPENS, WOULD BE MY THOUGHTS ON THAT. BUT PNZ HAS A RECLY SCHEDULED TWICE A MONTH MEETING. AND THIS STAY IN PLACE ORDER, SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER CHANGES THINGS, IN MY OPINION. SO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HAS LOOKED AT EVERYTHING. THERE WAS NOTHING ON TOMORROW'S AGENDA THAT WAS CRITICAL. SO, TOMORROW'S PNZ MEETING WAS CANCELLED BY STAFF ALREADY. IS THAT CORRECT, BRIAN? OKAY. THEN I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT PNZ MEETINGS ARE SUSPENDED. THE ONLY THING THAT'S OUT THERE FOR THE TIME BEING. THE ONLY THING THAT'S OUT THERE RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD CAUSE A PROBLEM IS THIS, YOU KNOW, 30DAY CLOCK ON RESIDENTIAL PLATS. AND I CONTACTED OUR A. G. AND SHE IS WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND SHE'S TEXTING ME WHILE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS MEETING TO SEE IF SHE CAN GET THE GOVERNOR TO GIVE RELIEF ON THAT 30 DAY REQUIREMENT. SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER YET. WHAT BRIAN HAS TOLD US IS THERE'S ONLY ONE OF THOSE IN THE QUEUE. AND IF WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT WITHIN THE 30 DAYS, WE COULD CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF PNZ TO DEAL WITH THAT. BUT IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THOSE ARE NOT ESSENTIAL SERVICES GOING FORWARD. SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO START THE CLOCK TABLINGING ON ANYTHING ELSE THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US UNDER THE SHELTER IN PLACE PROVISION. IS THIS NEWS TO YOU, DAVID? NO. OKAY. I CAN'T REMEMBER EVERYTHING I'VE TALKED TO YOU AND WHAT I HAVEN'T. THINGS MOVE FAST, FOLKS. SO THE 30-DAY CLOCK MIGHT BE AN ISSUE FOR ONLY ONE RESIDENTIAL [01:15:04] PLAT. IF IT IS, WE'LL CALL A SPECIAL MEETING TO CONSIDER THAT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE OUR POSITION AND CANCEL ALL PNZ MEETINGS. DOES ANYBODY HAVE IN ANY COMMENTS OR CONCERNS? >> COUNCILMEMBER: NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER: NO. >> MAYOR: OKAY. AND I THINK WE'RE DONE WITH ITEM 2. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM 3. [3. Discuss potential financial impact and changes to the Fiscal Year 2021 budget process resulting from the COVID-19 disaster.] DISCUSS POTENTIAL FINANCIAL IMPACT AND CHANGES TO THE FISCAL 2021 BUDGET PROCESS RESULTING FROM THE COVID-19 DISASTER. I'M GOING TO PREFACE THIS WITH, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING WE TALK ABOUT TODAY, EVEN ON THIS PIECE OF IT IS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT POTENTIALLY IN THE NOT TOO DISTANCE FUTURE. SO THIS IS JUST INFORMATIONAL. WE'RE NOT MAKING DECISIONS TODAY. STAFF HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK ON WHAT IF SCENARIOS. AND WENDY IS GOING TO PRESENT US SOME INFORMATION. AND THIS SPREADSHEET WAS IN THE PACKET. SO, WINDY, THANK YOU. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY CAN HEAR YOU. >> SPEAKER: CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? IS THIS GOOD? NO? HOW ABOUT NOW? >> MAYOR: NO. >> SPEAKER: DO YOU WANT ME TO TRY THIS MICROPHONE. >> SHE NEEDS A COMPUTER. IT'S HOOKED UP. YOU WANT TO TRADE PLACES WITH ME. [LAUGHTER] >> SPEAKER: WE MAY HAVE TO SWITCH BACK THOUGH. >> SPEAKER: WELL THEN I WON'T HAVE A COMPUTER. >> SPEAKER: YOU CAN WATCH THE SCREEN. >> MAYOR: GIVE US A MINUTE. WE ARE IRONING OUT THESE PROBLEMS AND THE NEXT TIME WE WILL BE SMOOTHER. [LAUGHTER] >> SPEAKER: CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? GOOD? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. TONIGHT I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 POTENTIAL BUDGET PROVISION. AND THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 FINANCIAL AND STRATEGY AND BOTH OF THESE ARE RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THAT WE'VE CURRENTLY BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS REALLY HARD TO SEE UP HERE BUT I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON SENATE BILL 2. PRE-SENATE BILL 2 WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TAX RATES. ONE WAS THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE AND THAT WAS THE TAX RATE THAT WAS NEEDED TO RAISE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE ON EXISTING PROPERTY AS THE PRIOR YEAR. WE ALSO HAD THE ROLL BACK RATE WHICH WAS THE SAME THING. THE TAX RATE NEEDED TO RAISE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE ON THE EXISTING PROPERTY AS THE PRIOR YEAR PLUS IT PROVIDED AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT PERCENT WE COULD GO ABOVE THAT. BILL 2 KNOWN AS THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX REFORM AND TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2019 WAS PASSED BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR. IT WAS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST THIS YEAR. IT RENAMED THESE RATES TO THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE WHICH WAS THE OLD EFFECTIVE TAX RATE AND IT RENAMED THE ROLLBACK RATE TO THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE. WHAT IT ALSO DID WAS IT LOWERED THE MULTIPLIER FOR THE ROLLBACK RATE TO 3.5 PERCENT INSTEAD OF 8 PERCENT IN THAT IT REQUIRES AN AUTOMATIC NOVEMBER ELECTION IF COUNCIL DOES APPROVE A RATE ABOVE THAT 3.5 PERCENT PROVISION. HOWEVER THERE WAS A DISASTER PROVISION IN THE SENATE BILL 2 THAT PERMITS COUNCIL ON TO DIRECT THE DESIGNATED OFFICE TO APPROVE THE VOTER TAX RATE USING [01:20:03] THE ORIGINAL EIGHT PERCENT OF ANY PART OF THE CITY IS LOCATED IN AN AREA DECLARED A DISASTER DURING THE CURRENT TAX YEAR BY THE GOVERNOR OR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THIS PROVISION WOULD BE INTO EFFECT FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS, POSSIBLY THREE, DEPENDING ON THE PROPERTY VALUE ON THE YEAR THAT THE DISASTER HAPPENED VERSUS THE YEAR THAT THE PROPERTY VALUE IN YEAR 3. THE GOVERNOR ISSUED A PROCLAMATION DECLARING A STATE OF DISASTER IN EVERY TEXAS COUNTY DUE TO COVID-19 ON MARCH 13TH OF THIS YEAR. THE CITY AMONGST OTHER CITIES LAST THURSDAY, MARCH 19TH, MUNICIPALITIES RECEIVED UPDATE NUMBER 4 ON CORONAVIRUS FROM TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AND THAT I PROVIDED GUIDANCE THAT THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF DISASTER IN EVERY TEXAS COUNTY DID TRIGGER THE ABILITY OF A CITY COUNCIL TO CALCULATE ITS VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE USING THAT EIGHT PERCENT MULTIPLIER INSTEAD OF THE 3.5 PERCENT MULTIPLIER REQUIRED UNDER THE ORIGINAL RULING OF SENATE BILL 3. I'M SORRY BILL 2. BILL 2 GIVES THE CITY COUNCIL LOCATED IN A DISASTER AREA THE DISCRETION TO DIRECT ITS DESIGNATED OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE TO CALCULATE THE EIGHT PERCENT VOTER APPROVAL EIGHT PERCENT TAX RATE AND THE CITY COUNCIL RETAINS THE ABILITY TO ADOPT A RATE DIFFERENT RATHER LOWER THAN HIGHER BUT TML RECOMMENDS A CITY COUNCIL WISHING TO DIRECT THE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE TO CALCULATE THE 8 PERCENT TAKE FORMAL ACTION TO DO SO TO ENSURE A RECORD OF THE COUNCIL'S DECISION ON THE MATTER. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A DECISION OR A VOTE TONIGHT. WE'RE JUST BRINGIG IT UP TO CONSIDERATION FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT IF YOU WANT ANY DISCUSSION ON IT THAT WOULD POSSIBLY GIVE US DIRECTION IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO BRING TO COUNCIL. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? >> MAYOR: I THINK IT'S WAY PREMATURE TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN AT THIS POINT AND TIME. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THE PROVISIONS, THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT'S BEEN TRIGGERED BUT I THINK IT'S WAY TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT THAT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I AGREE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I AGREE. >> MAYOR: I AM NOT SEEING ANY DISAGREEMENT. IM K >> COUNCILMEMBER: IT IS FUNNY HOW THINGS WORK OUT. >> MAYOR: AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR NEXT YEAR BUT THE YEAR AFTER THAT. >> SPEAKER: AND IT IS STAFF'S INTENT TO CONTINUE ALONG ON THE BUDGET CALENDAR SCHEDULE THAT WE HAVE NOW. BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO ENACTION THE EIGHT PERCENT THEN WE'VE GOT TO FOLLOW ALONG THE ORIGINAL 3.5 PERCENT BUDGET CALENDAR TO HAVE THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. SO, IT IS OUR PLAN TO TRY TO CONTINUE ALONG WITH THAT AS BEST WE CAN. WE ARE HEARING FROM THE CADS THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE DELAYED IN GIVING US TAX VALUES AND WE JUST GOT INFORMATION THAT BEAR COUNTY IN AUSTIN HAS SAID THEY'RE GOING TO USE PROBABLY LAST YEAR'S PROPERTY VALUES. SO, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT OTHER CADS MAY FOLLOW ALONG WITH THAT IF THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS AND HAVE TO KEEP THEIR DOORS CLOSED FOR A WHILE. >> MAYOR: WOW. SO, LET ME ASK BRIAN. ARE YOU OKAY WITH US NOT HAVING THIS DETAILED DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW? HE SAID YES HE IS OKAY. DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, BLAKE? >> COUNCILMEMBER: WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO >> MAYOR: WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO -- SOMETHING. >> COUNCILMEMBER: [INAUDIBLE]. >> MAYOR: THE QUESTION IS WILL IT BE POSSIBLE FOR STAFF TO PREPARE MULTIPLE SCENARIOS OF THE BUDGET. WE ALWAYS DO THAT REGARDLESS. THE QUESTION IS IF WE DECIDE TO ENACT THAT THEN THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE MORE STRINGENT CALENDAR AT THIS POINT AND TIME. BUT I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO MAKE THAT DECISION. BUT THEY WILL PREPARE BUDGET IN OTHER SCENARIOS >> SPEAKER: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE IT MAY MAKE AN IMPACT O DELAY. >> MAYOR: DID THAT ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION, BLAKE, YES OR NO? THUMBS UP. OKAY. TECHNOLOGY PUTS US BACK INTO OLD METHODS OF COMMUNICATION. THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN. OKAY. >> SPEAKER: ALSO WE WANT TO BRING TO YOU TONIGHT THAT COVID-19 HAS A POTENTIAL TO IMPACT THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POSITION THROUGH UNBUDGETED EXPENDITURES REQUIRED TO ENSURE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OR THROUGH THE DISASTERS IMPACT ON CITY REVENUES SUCH AS SALES TAX. WE'VE ALREADY MOBILIZED PLANNING EFFORTS IN RESPONSE TO THE [01:25:03] DISASTER AND HAVE INSTITUTED EXPENSE TRACKING PROCEDURES SHOULD THESE COSTS BE RECOVERABLE AT A LATER DATE DETERMINED THROUGH FEMA OR OTHER FUTURE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. AND TONIGHT WE WILL DISCUSS A PRELIMINARY LIST OF PROJECTS AND ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES THAT CAN BE DELAYED FOR CONSIDERATION AND FUTURE BUDGET CYCLES AND THIS BUDGET CYCLE AS WELL AS FUND BALANCE REDUCTION OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED SHOULD A COST SAVINGS STRATEGY BE REQUIRED. THE INITIAL DRAFT OF THE REDUCTION LIST WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET AS ATTACHMENT 1 AND IS UP ON THE SCREEN. AND IT IS INTENDED TO BE A PRELIMINARY LIST OF OPTIONS FOR DISCUSSION. IT'S NOT INCLUSIVE OF ALL POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS STRATEGIES BUT ARE THOSE THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN THIS DISASTER THAT WOULD BE THE LEAST IMPACTFUL TO -- GENERALLY THE LEAST IMPACTIVE TO CITY OPERATIONS ON A DAILY BASIS. WHAT WE HAVE PROVIDED FOR YOU IN THE YELLOW TIER 1 IS WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND AS THE FIRST LEVEL OF OPTIONS. MOVING OVER TO TIER 2. IF TIER 1 IS EXHAUSTED IT COULD GO UP TO -- TIER 1 WOULD GO UP TO $860,000. TIER 1 WOULD TAKE US UP TO $1.4 MILLION. AND TIER 3 WOULD GO UP TO ALMOST $4.4 MILLION IN CONTINGENCY OPTIONS FOR OUR FINANCIAL STRATEGY. SO, TONIGHT I WANT TO OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL TO -- YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE LIST. IF YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, ANYTHING WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF THAT IS NOT IMPACTFUL TO CITY OPERATIONS OR ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. >> MAYOR: BLAKE, UN-MUTED SO I THINK HE HAS A COMMENT. CAN YOU TALK REALLY LOUD INTO YOUR -- >> COUNCILMEMBER: LET ME MOVE IT UP CLOSER. SO, IN REGARDS TO TIER 1. VEHICLES FOR THE ANIMAL SERVICES VEHICLE AND THE ASPHALT -- CAN BE MOVED FURTHER INTO TIER 3. >> MAYOR: WE CAN'T HEAR YOU, BLAKE. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. THIS TECHNOLOGY'S GOING TO HAVE TO GET SOME WORK. AND WE WILL, RIGHT. BLAKE, CAN YOU CHAT? AND I'LL REPEAT YOUR QUESTION. DON'T CRINGE, DAVID. [LAUGHTER] WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN. ALL RIGHT. LET ME ASK A QUESTION WHILE HE IS TYPING THAT QUESTION TO ME SO I CAN REPEAT HIS QUESTION. DO YOU NEED ANY DECISION MAKING TODAY OR IS THIS JUST INFORMATIONAL AT THIS POINT AND TIME? >> SPEAKER: THIS IS INFORMATIONAL. WE WOULD LIKE SOME TYPE OF DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL IF YOU FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE TIERS PRETTY MUCH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT'S COMPLETELY OFF THE BOARD IN TIER 1 THAT YOU WANT TO COMPLETELY TAKE OUT WE'D LIKE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION TO MOVE THE ITEMS AROUND SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE CAN PULL FROM AT LEAST IN THE FIRST TIER UNTIL WE GET UP TO THAT POINT OF NEEDED FUNDING. >> MAYOR: AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS WAS DEVELOPED IN CONCERT WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS OF THEIR PRIORITIES. THIS WASN'T FINANCE DICTATED. >> SPEAKER: WELL THE PROCESS FOR THIS WAS YOU CAN SEE THE MAJORITY OF THESE PROJECTS ARE FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN FISCAL YEAR 20 BUDGET. I CONTACTED DEPARTMENTS TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE IN THIS PROCESS. IF THEY HAVE STARTED THE PROJECT ALREADY OR HAVE REQUESTED BIDS OR HAVE STARTED THAT PROCESS WE TOOK THEM OFF THE TABLE. THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN STARTED IN ANY WAY YET. >> MAYOR: OKAY. BUT DID DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE SOME DECISION MAKING ON THEIR HIGHEST PRIORITIES? >> SPEAKER: THEY WERE IN GENERAL THE DEPARTMENTS -- THEY WERE NOTIFIED WHAT WAS ON THE LIST. >> MAYOR: I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO [LAUGHTER] >> MAYOR, WHAT WE DID WAS WE IDENTIFIED THE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WE THOUGHT COULD BE UP FOR DISCUSSION. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. SECONDLY, THE OTHER THING THAT WE DID IS WE DID VERIFY THAT NON-OF THESE ITEMS WERE ALREADY IN THE WORKS. THERE WERE A COUPLE OTHER ITEMS ON THERE ORIGINALLY THAT HAD BEEN REMOVED FOR THAT VERY REASON. A PURCHASE ORDER THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED AND HAD NOT SHOWN UP ORIGINALLY. YOU CAN ALSO SEE IN OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE RESERVES, TBD. [01:30:05] WENDY WAS STILL WORKING ON WHAT AVAILABILITY WE WOULD HAVE IF WE WERE TO DIP IN RESERVES. THERE'S OPERATIONAL ISSUES WE HAVE NOT SOLVED FOR YET THAT WE DID DURING THE TORNADO AND YOU WILL REMEMBER WE DID A HIRING FREEZE AND WE DID SOME OTHER THINGS. AT THIS POINT WE'RE NOT MAKING THOSE OPERATIONAL SUGGESTIONS YET. WE HAVE OPTIONS THIS YEAR THAT WE DID NOT HAVE BACK IN 2015 WITH THE TORNADO BECAUSE WE WERE JUST COMING OUT OF THE GREAT RECESSION. THE MAIN THING THAT WE WERE HOPING FOR TONIGHT WAS FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL IF THERE'S ANYTHING ON THIS LIST THAT IS NOT AN OPTION. THAT IS THE MAIN -- WHETHER IT'S IN THE RIGHT BUCKET OR NOT, THAT IS THE REAL THING THAT WE WERE HOPING TO GET TONIGHT IF COUNCIL FELT THAT WAY OR FELT THAT STRONGLY ABOUT ANYTHING ON THIS LIST. >> MAYOR: OKAY. SO, I'LL MAKE MY COMMENT THEN I'LL READ SOME COMMENTS I'M GETTING FROM THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WE'RE JUST HAVING TO DO THIS BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE WITH AUDIO. BUT I DO NOT -- THERE'S A LOT GOING ON. DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE BUSY. WE'RE ALL BUSY. BRIAN, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IS BUSY. WENDY, EVERYBODY IS BUSY. EVERYBODY IS DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING. BUT WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS HELP US WITH SOME PRIORITIES. FOR INSTANCE, IN TIER 1 WE'VE GOT ANIMAL SERVICES VEHICLES AND IN TIER 2 WE'VE GOT ANIMAL SHELTER RENOVATION. I KNOW THEY'RE NOT DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT HEAD AGREES WITH THAT PRIORITY. THAT THEY'D RATHER GIVE UP THE ANIMAL SERVICES VEHICLE THAN GIVE UP THE RENOVATION. I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS IN A VACUUM. SO, YOU ARE ASKING FOR COMMENTS BY COUNCIL RIGHT NOW, THAT'S MY COMMENT. AND BLAKE IS AGREEING WITH THAT COMMENT. THEN BLAKE'S OTHER COMMENTS THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR OTHER PEOPLE. I AM CONCERNED WITH DE-FUNDING TWO POLICE VEHICLES, ANIMAL SHELTER VEHICLE AND ASPHALT REHAB AND OVERLAY IN TIER 1. I THINK THESE ITEMS NEED TO BE A LAST-RESORT CUT. THAT'S BLAKE'S COMMENT. THEN MARTHA COMMENTED... WE JUST APPROVED PURCHASE OF SEVERAL POLICE DEPARTMENT VEHICLES ALREADY. SO I THINK SHE WAS RESPONDING TO BLAKE. SO, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO OTHER COMMENTS BY COUNCIL. WHITNEY? >> COUNCILMEMBER: HOW SOON DO YOU THINK THAT WE'LL HAVE TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON THESE POTE POTENTIALS? >> SPEAKER: AT THIS POINT I THINK WE'RE STILL AWAY FROM THAT. I, I MEAN, WHEN YOU GET THE FEBRUARY FINANCIAL REPORT AND, QUITE FRANKLY, PROBABLY EVEN MARCH, IT'S GOING TO SHOW A PRETTY ROSY PICTURE. I THINK OUR IMPACT THAT WE'LL SEE WILL BE IN APRIL AND MAY AND MAYBE EVEN BEYOND. AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW, WE THINK WE'LL SEE IT IN SALES TAX FIRST BUT THEN OTHERS WERE FOLLOW. WHAT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO NOW IS JUST MARSHAL OUR RESOURCES. THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS CONVERSATION IS ABOUT. >> MAYOR: WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IS START A CIP PROJECT FOR A PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING RENOVATION AND THEN DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION TO DELAY THAT TWO MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN WE START SEEING FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. YOU KNOW, FROM A CITY STA STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, THIS HAPPENED AFTER MOST PROPERTY TAXES WERE COLLECTED. SO, MOST OF THE REVENUE HAS ALREADY COME INTO THE CITY. SO, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT AREAS. WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS IN REDUCED SALES TAX COLLECTIONS. WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS IN REDUCED FINES. WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS IN PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS. AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS IN INCREASED OPERATING COSTS AS A RESULT OF MANAGING THIS SITUATION. ALL OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE DELAYED BY A MONTH OR TWO. BUT WE KNOW THEY'RE ALL COMING. WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS THE SEVERITY AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THEM. SO I WOULD LOOK AT THIS LIKE NUMBER ONE LET'S HELP GET SOME PRIORITIZATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. BUT, NUMBER 2, DELAY, DELAY, DELAY, DELAY EVERYTHING ON THE LIST UNLESS IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. MATT, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I WAS GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING. IDON'T THINK I'M READY TO MAKE A DECISION ON ANY OF THAT TONIGHT BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GO OVER THESE IN THE SHORTENED MARRED OF TIME THAT WE HAD THIS. BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING SAY. I THINK UNLESS IT'S ABSOLUTE PRIORITY WE JUST DELAY IT. AND KIND OF HAVE TO DELAY IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ON THE FIRST LIST AREN'T ESSENTIAL DUTIES. DE FACTO THEY'RE DELAYED. BUT THE LONGER WE CAN DELAY IT AS THIS GOES OUT I THINK THE BETTER AND GIVE US MORE TIME TO DIVE INTO THIS AND ASK [01:35:03] QUESTIONS. >> SPEAKER: THAT IS THE COMMUNICATION THAT I HAD WITH DEPARTMENTS WHEN I DID SPEAK WITH A LOT OF THEM ON THIS. IS THAT WE'RE NOT SAYING WE'RE TAKING IT FROM YOU NOW. IT'S ON THE LIST THAT POTENTIALLY WE CAN DELAY UNTIL WE KNOW BETTER WHAT OUR FINANCIAL STANDING IS. >> MAYOR: I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT PRIORITIZATION. OKAY. I UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO ULTIMATELY MAKE THE DECISION. BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S OPTIONS FROM A PRIORITY STANDPOINT WE NEED TO INCLUDE THEM. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS AT THE DAIS? ANY COMMENTS ON THE VIDEO? OKAY. WAS THAT ENOUGH OF INDECISION BY US? >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR: NO, IT'S IMPORTANT STUFF. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM 4. [4. Consider an ordinance postponing the May 2, 2020 General Election to November 3, 2020 due to the Declaration of Emergency issued by the Governor of Texas.] CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE POSTPONING THE MAY 2, 2020, GENERAL ELECTION TO NOVEMBER 3, 2020, DUE TO THE DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS. IS THAT ME? I'LL TAKE IT. OKAY. SO, SORRY, I WAS GETTING MESSAGED FROM MY SON. SO WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST FRIDAY BUT WE WANTED TO PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA TODAY AFTER WE HAD BE GIVEN THE 72 HOUR NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT THAT COUNCIL HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE SURE THEY CONSIDERED THIS FULLY AND WE KNEW THAT THINGS WOULD DEVELOP OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND ALSO WHICH WOULD LEAD US ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER ON THE PANDEMIC. SO THE SITUATION IS IS THAT EARLY VOTING STARTS APRIL 20TH. AND THE ELECTION IS PROPOSED FOR MAY 2. DALLAS COUNTY HAS INDICATED TO US THEY WILL NOT SUPPORT US IN AN ELECTION. SO IF WE WERE TO HOLD THIS ELECTION WOULD WE HAVE TO BEAR THE COST AND PROVIDE THE RESOURCES FOR THE ELECTION. AND THAT IS REALLY JUST NOT FEASIBLE NOR PRUDENT AT THIS TIME BASED ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS. SO THAT IS WHY THIS IS ON THE AGENDA. SO, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I'LL MAKE A COMMENT. I BELIEVE THAT WE DO UNDERNEATH THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE ARE WE NEED TO DELAY THE ELECTION AND PUSH IT BACK TO NOVEMBER 2ND. MY EDITORIAL COMMENT ON THIS, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT, IS THAT SETS A PRECEDENT. I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THIS ACROSS THE NATION AND SEE A LOT OF ELECTIONS GET PUSHED BACK. AND I DO THINK THAT SETS A REALLY, REALLY BAD PRECEDENT MOVING FORWARD. SO I JUST WARN EVERYBODY THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THIS IS A DECISION THAT CANNOT -- I KNOW AL THE DECISIONS CANNOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. COMPLETELY UNDERSTND. THAT NONE OF THESE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE LIGHTLY. AT LEAST NOT BY ME. BUT THIS ONE ESPECIALLY. I AM A BIG BELIEVER IN TERM LIMITS. I AM A BIG BELIEVER THAT AMERICA HAS THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS AND YOU START DELAYING AND DELAYING ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF PANDEMICS, BECAUSE OF OTHER ISSUES THAT CAN COME UP ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS, THAT CAN BECOME A REALLY SLIPPERY SLOPE VERY, VERY QUICKLY. THAT'S JUST MY EDITORIAL COMMENT. BUT UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE UNDER RIGHT NOW AND ALSO THE FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT IT WOULD PUT ON THE CITY WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE THAN TO DO THAT. BUT I WILL ALWAYS SAY THAT THAT WILL -- IS ONLY A LAST-CASE SCENARIO. I'LL REPEAT THAT EDITORIAL COMMENT IT IS A VERY, VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE. >> MAYOR: VERY GOOD COMMENTS, MATT. ANYONE ELSE? MATT SAID NOVEMBER 2ND BUT IT WOULD BE NOVEMBER 3RD. AND I'LL GET TO YOU IN A SECOND, MARTHA. JUST AS A CLARIFYING COMMENT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS DETERMINED -- IS THAT THE RIGHT AUTHORITY -- THE GOVERNOR HAS DETERMINED THAT -- WHO HAS DETERMINED? >> THE GOVERNOR HAS SUSPENDED ELECTION DEADLINES. >> MAYOR: THE GOVERNOR HAS SUSPENDED ELECTION DEADLINES SO THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER WILL STAND AS THE CURRENT SLATE OF CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL. >> CITY ATTORNEY: EVERYTHING WILL BE LOCKED IN PLACE, WHERE WE ARE NOW WILL BE EXACTLY WHERE WE WILL BE MONTHS FROM NOW. NO NEW CANDIDATES. NO NEW MEASURES UNLESS WE WANT TO ADD SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. >> MAYOR: WHAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAID WAS EVERYTHING WILL BE LOCKED IN PLACE. THAT'S NOT A CITY DECISION. THAT'S A STATE DECISION. SO, EVERYTHING THAT IS ON THE PROVISIONS RIGHT NOW FOR THE MAY 2ND ELECTION WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THE NOVEMBER 3RD ELECTION. IF WE PASS THIS TONIGHT TO DELAY THIS ELECTION. MARTHA, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR QUESTION? >> COUNCILMEMBER: YEAH. JUST WANTED TO SAY I AGREE WITH MATT THAT THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION. AND DALLAS COUNTY JUST MADE THE DECISION FOR US BECAUSE THEY [01:40:06] CANNOT ACCOMMODATE HAVING THE ELECTION IN MAY. AND SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD GO INTO AS A ONE-OFF TYPE THING. AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T REPEAT THIS AGAIN. BUT I AM IN FAVOR OF PUSHING OUR ELECTIONS OFF TO NOVEMBER. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CHOICE AT THIS POINT. >> MAYOR: FOR THOSE THAT COULD NOT UNDERSTAND MARTHA. SHE SAID THAT SHE IS IN FAVOR OF PUSHING THIS ELECTION TO NOVEMBER 3RD AND THAT DALLAS COUNTY'S INABILITY TO SERVICE, UNDERSTANDABLE INABILITY TO SERVICE THIS ELECTION PRETTY MUCH LEAVES US NO CHOICE BUT TO DELAY THIS TO NOVEMBER 3RD. DID I REPRESENT THAT CORRECTLY, MARTHA? AND THAT IS A YES. BROWNIE? >> COUNCILMEMBER: IN THE ORDINANCE UNDER SECTION 1, WHERE IT SAYS THAT EACH TO SERVE A THREE-YEAR TERM, I WAS WONDERING IF WE SHOULD ADD THAT THAT ENDS IN MAY OF 2023 AS OPPOSED TO ENDING IN NOVEMBER. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE AGREED THAT BUT I WAS WONDERING IF IT NEEDS TO SAY THAT. >> MAYOR: DAVID? >> I AM OKAY WITH THAT DOING THAT. >> MAYOR: BROWNIE SUGGESTED WE JUST MAKE IT MORE CLARIFYING IN THE ORDINANCE THAT THREE YEAR TERM WOULD END WITH THE MAY DATE. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SUGGESTION. >> THAT'S FINE. I'M OKAY WITH THAT. >> MAYOR: GOOD CATCH BROWNIE. YOU'RE THE DATE MAN. >> COUNCILMEMBER: BACKGROUND INFORMATION SECOND LINE. IT JUST SAYS PLACE ONE, PLACE THREE. IF IT MATTERS. >> MAYOR: WE'LL FIX THE SIGNED ORDINANCE. THAT'S A STAFF REPORT. THAT'S NOT IN ANYTHING ELSE. BUT THANK YOU, BROWNIE. GOT IT. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE, ANYBODY? I'LL TAKE A MOTION. LET'S SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT ON THE BALLOT MAKE A MOTION. MARTHA? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE THE ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER 3, 2020. >> MAYOR: MARTHA MADE A MOTION THAT WE DEFER THE ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER 3, 2020. DO I HAVE A SECOND? BROWNIE SECONDED. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE VOTE. SO, AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: AYE. AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: AYE. MARTHA AYE. BROWNIE AYE. BLAKE ARE YOU ABSTAINING? BLAKE ABSTAINED. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S IT. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT. NEXT WEEK IS IT A TUESDAY OR MONDAY MEETING? OKAY. SO THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, AT 5:30 P.M. AND WE'LL HOPEFULLY HAVE SOME BETTER VIDEO CONFERENCING, AUDIO STUFF GOING ON. AND I WISH EVERYBODY SAFE WEEK AND PLEASE STAY TUNED TO THE NEWS. PLEASE HELP YOUR NEIGHBOR. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.