[00:00:01] >> GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. [1. CALL TO ORDER] IT IS 7:30:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY JUNE 16 TORSION 20. AND WE ARE GOING TO START OUR EVENING WITH OUR INVOCATION AND WE ARE HONOR AND PRIVILEGED TO HAVE REVEREND BOARRIES WITH US. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING WAS AND IF YOU WOULD GIVE US OUR INVOCATION. >> WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR CITY LEADERSHIP. ASK THEMSELVES WHAT STEPS TAKEN TO ADDRESS ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY, WE ASK TO WHO DO WE -- DISCERN WHOSE ARE THE VOICES THAT AREN'T BEING HEARD. GOD WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THOSE WHO ARE BEFORE YOU AND WE RECOGNIZE THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE HAVE A LONG LASTING IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS. YOU KNOW CRITICISMS THOSE IN LEADERSHIP MUST WITHSTAND. COMMENTS BY PEOPLE WHO DON'T VALUES THE FACT ANSWERED MAKE UNFAIR JUDGMENTS. GIVE THESE LEADERS THE ABILITY TO GUARD THEIR HEARTS AND CONTINUE TO SHOW GRACE. GIVE OUR LEAD TERSE ABILITY TO HEAR CONCERNS THAT ARE SPOKE AND UNSPOKEN. GIVE THEM WISDOM ON THOUSAND RESPOND. THANK YOU FOR THE BUSINESS, SCHOOLS, FAITH BASED COMMUNITY , THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THIS CITY. THOSE WHO WORK DILIGENTLY BEHIND THE SCENES TO KEEP THIS COMMUNITY STRONG. THANK YOU FOR THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND SENIOR CITIZEN, THE OPEN SPACE AND FUTURE PLANS FOR STRENGTH IT CAN COMMUNITY AND SO MUCH MORE. AS THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS THE AGENDA BEFORE THEM, WE PRAY FOR YOUR GUIDANCE FOR WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CITY, EVEN IF NOT ALL PEOPLE AGREE, GIVE OUR LEADERS COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. MAY WE PRAY YOU OPEN THE HEARTS AND MIND OF WE THE CITIZENS TO ASK QUESTIONS WHEN NEEDED, TO LISTEN AND TO SUPPORT OUR LEADERS. HELP THIS COMMUNITY TO SHOW THE SAME GRACE WE WANT TO RECEIVE. HELP TO US REMEMBER WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM , THE TEAM OF THE ROWLETT COMMUNITY. WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR HOLY NAME, AMEN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL, IT IS 7:32 AND I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AND WE HAVE A QUORUM. AND THE FIRST THING ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 5A WHICH IS HEAR [5A. Hear a presentation regarding the culture and practices of the Rowlett Police Department.] A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE CULTURE AND PRACTICES OF THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND WE ARE HONORED AND VERY HAPPY TO HAVE OUR CHIEF WITH US. WE SHALL SO HAPPY YOU ARE HERE. >> I HAVE A PRESENTATION BUT I DON'T NEED IT UNTIL LATER IN MY ACTUAL DISCUSSION OR DOCUMENTATION NARRATIVE SPEECH, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO WORD IT. FOR THE MOST PART I'M JUST GOING TO TALK TO YOU. AT ANY POINT ASK QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW YOU ARE GOING TOO FAST OR SLOW. I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GOOD NIGHT. I'M GOING TO BEGIN. TONIGHT I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE CULTURE AND PRACTICES OF THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'VE GOT A LITTLE BACKGROUND PARAGRAPH AND THEN I'M GOING INTO THE REST OF IT. I DID SEND IT TO ALL OF YOU EARLIER TODAY. IF ON MAY 25, 2020 GEORGE FLOYDS TRAGICALLY MURDERED BY POLICE OFFICERS IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. I'M SADDENED AND ANGERED AT WHEN TOOK PLACE THAT DAY AND EVERY TIME I SEE VIDEO OR PICTURES OF THE EVENT I CAN'T CAN'T HELP BUT CRINGE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND I. IT'S SET BACK THE POLICING PROFESSION AND RACE RELATIONS DECADE. IT PARKED A MOVEMENT TO REFORM POLICING ACROSS THE NATION. THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS FRUSTRATED AND ARE DEMANDING CHANGES TO POLICING. POLICE DEPARTMENT AND GOVERNMENTS TO REVIEW POLICING METHODS, PRACTICES AND POLICIES AT ALL LEVELS. THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NO EXCEPTION. WE ARE TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW OUR POLICIES, [00:05:03] PRACTICES AND CULTURE TO ENSURE WE ARE SERVING THE ROWLETT COMMUNITY IN AN UNBIASED AND CONSISTENT MANNER. TONIGHT IS ABOUT THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT CULTURE AND PRACTICES. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE HONORED TO STERVE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT IN A PROFESSIONAL AND COOPERATIVE MANNER. THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT OPERATES IN A PHILOSOPHY OF FAMILY FIRST AND FUNCTIONS DAILY ON THE CORE VALUES OF PROFESSIONALISM, TEAM WORK, CUSTOMER SERVICE, WELL BEING AND PROACTIVE OR EVEN BETTER SAID BEING PROACTIVE. WE STRIVE EVERY DAY TO EARN AND MAINTAIN YOUR TRUST AND SUPPORT BY DOING THE RIGHT THINGS. WE TAKE PRIDE IN KNOWING WE HAVE THE SUPPORT AND FAITH OF THE COMMUNITY IN EVERY TURN VOW THE EVERYBODY IS THE COMMUNITY IN THE MANNER YOU DESERVE AND HAVE COME TO EXPECT. THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES STRONGLY IN ADD ONLY THE BEST TO OUR FAMILY TO ENSURE THE COMMUNITY IS WELL SERVED. OUR RECRUITING AN HIRING PROCESS IS INTENSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE. EACH CANDIDATE IS SCREENED AND INTERVIEWED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERNALLY AND MUST PASS AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECK TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYMENT. POLICE OFFICERS MUST PASS A PHYSICAL FITNESS ASSESSMENT AND MUST PASS A COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION. ALL EMPLOYEES MUST PASS A MEDICAL HEALTH EXAMINATION. POTENTIAL FAMILY MEMBERS ARE PRESENTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT EXPECTATIONS SO THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THEM. LICENSED EMPLOYEES SUCH AS POLICE OFFICERS AND COMMUNICATION OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED THE MEET SPECIFIC STANDARDS SET FORTH BY THE STATE OF TEXAS BEFORE THEY ARE OFFICIALLY APPOINTED TO THEIR POSITION. COMMUNICATION OFFICERS AND DETENTION OFFICERS WHO ARE NON-LICENSED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS RECEIVE INSTITUTIONAL INSTRUCTION AND THE MANUALTY OF THEIR TRAINING IS IN HOUSE OR ON THE JOB. THIS IS WHAT WE REFER TO AS FIELD TRAINING. THIS RANGES FROM SEVERAL WEEKS FOR DETENTION OFFICERS TO SEVERAL MONTHS FOR COMMUNICATION OFFICERS. POLICE OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND A VERY LENGTHY AND INTENSIVE BASIC POLICE ACADEMY THAT LAST FOUR TO SIX MONTHS AND ENCOMPASSES SEVERAL HUNDRED HOURS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE GOVERNORRED BY THE STATE OF TECHS AND BY OUR OWN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. THESE ARE MAINTAINED THROUGH A THIRD PARTY WHO HELPS TO MODIFY AS NEEDED TO STAY CURRENT WITH THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND ACCEPTABLE PRACTICES. THESE ARE THE OPERATIONAL STANDARDS TO WHICH OUR EMPLOYEES ARE HELD TO AND RESPONSIBLE FOR. THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS AN ACREDITTED AND RECOGNIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THROUGH TEXAS POLICE CHIEF ASSOCIATION RECOGNITION PROGRAM. THIS IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM ACCREDITATION IS A REGULAR ROWSE PROCESS THAT REQUIRES COMPLIANCE WITH 166 TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES. IT ALSO REQUIRES REVIEW BY A TEAM OF ASSESS SOURCE TO DETERMINE IF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS. THIS PROGRAM ASSISTS US IN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF SERVICE , THE REDUCTION OF RISK AND PROTECTION OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO REGULARLY ACKNOWLEDGE COMPLAINS WITH THE VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS. THE STANDARDS REQUIRED OF THE PROGRAM ARE NECESSARY FOR PROPER FUNCTIONING OF TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. RECOGNITION SETS THE TONE FOR WHAT WE EXPECT FROM POLICE PROFESSIONALS. POLICE OFFICERS ARE LEGISLATIVELY REQUIRED TO ATTEND TRAINING IN A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS IN NUMEROUS AREAS. SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE CULTURAL DIVERSITY DEESCALATION; CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING, LEGAL UPDATES, ACTIVE SHOOTER, RACIAL PROFILING, BODY WORN CAMERAS, CIVILIAN INTERACTION TRAINING AND MANY MORE. ROWLETT POLICE OFFICERS DURING ORIENTATION AND IN SERVICE CONTINUING EDUCATION WITH R ALSO TRAINED IN AREAS SUCH AS IMPOLITICS BIAS, PROPER USE OF LESS LETHAL WEAPONS ADAM IN ADDITIONS. FIREARMS TRAINING. MENTAL HEALTH, DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED, BODY WORN CAMERAS, DRIVING COURSE AND MORE. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AND BRAG ON ONE OF OUR MORE INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES, OUR CRISIS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. IT WAS CREATED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND IS ONE OF OUR BUSIEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS. IT'S TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO INSTEAD CRISIS. IN CRISIS CAN BE ANY EVENT OR SERIES OF EVENTS THAT CAUSE -- [INAUDIBLE] PROVIDES PERSONAL ASSISTANCE [00:10:02] TO PERSONS WHO MAY NOT HAVE OTHER OPTIONS. MY PLAN TO DISCUSS SOME SPECIFIC CONCERNS, OPERATIONAL ISSUES AN PRACTICES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT RECENTLY. I'M GOING ADDRESS THE # 8 CAN'T WAIT CAMPAIGN MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY HEARD OF AT THIS POINT. BEFORE I GET TO THOSE. I QUANTITY TO YOU KNOW AS YOUR CHIEF I WANT YOU TO KNOW OUR POLICIES ARE CURRENT AND REFLECT OUR VALUES. I RECOGNIZE WE CAN'T POLICE IN THE 21ST CENTURY AS WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY. I'M COMMITTED TO REVIEWING OUR POLICIES AND PRACTICES SO WE MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS EXPECTED BY OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE CURRENTLY HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER AND HOW WE CAN AVOID OR PREVENT ISSUES RELATED TO RACE OR SOCIAL INJUSTICE. CONSIDERING THE RECENT EVENTS WE'RE REVIEWING OUR RELATIONSHIP AND INTERACTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DETERMINE WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE IN THAT AREAISM KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED EMAILS RECENTLY AS HAVE I AND IS THE MANAGEMENT AND CITY COUNCIL ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC POLICIES, SPECIFIC PRACTICES, SPECIFIC PROCEDURES OUTSIDE THE # AID CAN'T WAIT. I HAVE A LONG LIST HERE. NOT ALL OF THEM I'M GOING GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT. ALL OF THEM I CAN ASSURE YOU ARE COVERED IN OUR POLICY MANUAL. I WILL NAME OFF AND TITLE WHAT THOSE ARE. A FEW OF OUR POLICIES JUST TO BEGIN WITH THE HASHTAG 8 CAN'T WAIT. AND MEASURES THAT ARE GETTING A LOT OF MOMENTUM THROUGHOUT THE NATION. A LOT OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE THESE IN PLACE. SOME POLICE DEPARTMENT DON'T HAVE ANY. WE HAVE ADDRESSED THESE POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITHIN OUR POLICY MANUAL. THEY MAY NOT BE WRITTEN AS OTHER AGENCIES MAY HAVE THEM BUT THEY ARE ADDRESSED IN ONE MANNER OR ANOTHER. SO I WANT TO DISCUSS ALL EIGHT OF THEM AS WE GO THROUGH. CHOKE HOLDS AND STRANGLE HOLD SAYS HUGE ISSUE THAT HAS COME ABOUT AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD. JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR OUR OFFICERS ARE NOT TRAINED AND THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE ANY TECHNIQUE THAT RESTRICTS THE FLOW OF BLOOD, RESTRICTS RESPIRATION OR CREATES A REASONABLE LIKELIHOOD THAT BLOOD FLOW TO THE HEAD OR RESPIRATION WOULD BE RESTRICTED. DURING OUR TRAINING POLICE ACADEMY ORIENTATION ONGOING IN SERVICE TRAINING WE TEACH SPECIFICALLY THAT THE HEAD, THE NECK IS OFF LIMITS UNLESS YOU ARE IN A DEADLY FORCE CONFRONTATION AND THEN OF COURSE ALL BETS ARE OFF. THE NEXT TOP SICK DEESCALATION. OUR POLICY ADDRESSES DEESCALATION AND IT'S VERY SPECIFIC AS FAR AS WHAT MANNERS AND METHODS AND PRACTICES YOU SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT USE WHEN TALKING TO OR CONTACTING AND INTERACTING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EITHERRER IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR SIMPLY NEED A LITTLE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION, COMPASSION CARE. A FEW OF THOSE I WANT TO GO OVER WITH YOU ARE WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING CONSIDERATIONS, EVALUATE ALL SAFETY CONDITIONS, INTRODUCE OURSELVES, OBTAIN THE PERSON'S NAME. BE PATIENT, POLITE, CALM, COURTEOUS, AVOID OVERREACTING. SPEAK AND MOVE SLOWLY IN A NON-THREATENING MANNER. MODERATE THE LEVEL OF DIRECT EYE CONTACT. REMOVE DISTRACTIONS. WE LIST A FEW OF WHAT WE SHOULD NOT DO. USE STANCES OR TACTICS THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED AS AGGRESSIVE A. LOU OTHERS TO INTERRUPT OR ENGAGE. GIVE THE INDIVIDUAL AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK. CORNER A PERSON. ESSENTIALLY WE SIMPLY TRY NOT TO MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE BY TAKING OUR TIME AND SHOWING THAT WE CARE. AND THIS IS APP TO BELIEVE ANY CONTACT WE MAKE AT ANY TIME WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL. ANOTHER POINT IS A WARNING BEFORE SHOOTING. WE GO INTO A LITTLE BIT IN OUR POLICY ABOUT THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE AND HOW IT'S JUSTIFIED. AND AT THE END OF IT WITHOUT READING THE WHOLE THING TO YOU IT DOES SAY UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES AND THIS IS REFERRING TO DEADLY FORCE, FLEEING SUBJECT, SERIOUSLY BODILY INJURY. UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES A VERBAL WARNING SHOULD PRECEDE THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE WHERE FEASIBLE. IT'S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO GIVE A WARNING. THERE ARE GOING TO BE A FEW LET'S SAY AN INDIVIDUAL FIRES -- [INAUDIBLE] [00:15:05] EVERY POLICY, EVERY PROCEDURE, EVERY RECOMMENDATION I'VE SEEN DOES HAVE THAT WHEN POSSIBLE, WHERE FEASIBLE THE TO THE MAKE SURE WE DO MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO DO THAT. ANOTHER TOPIC IN POINT IS TO CONSIDER AND EXHAUST ALL ALTERNATIVES BEFORE SHOOTING. WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF OPTIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS TO BE GIVEN BEFORE FIRING A WEAPON IN OUR POLICY. SOME OF WHICH INCLUDE THE IMMEDIACY AND SEVERITY OF THE THREAT. THE CONDUCT OF THE INDIVIDUAL BEING CONFRONTED. THEIR SIZE, AGE, RELATIVE STRENGTH, WHETHER DRUGS OR ALCOHOL PLAY A FACTOR. THEIR MENTAL STATE OR CAPACITY. WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE ANY WEAPONS. WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE BEEN RESTRAINED. THE AVAILABILITY OF OTHER OPTIONS. HOW SERIOUS THE CONDUCT OR THE OFFENSE THEY MAY HAVE CREATED. THE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE OF THE OFFICER, A BRAND NEW OFFICE IS GOING TO REACT DIFFERENT THAN A 20 YEAR OFFICER. THAT'S A GIVEN. ANY RISK, ANY FLIGHT TO NAME A FEW. ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MIGHT EXIST. ANOTHER POINT OF THE CAN'T WAIT , THE # A DUTY TO INTERVENE. WE HAVE OURS LABELED AS A DUTY TO INTERCEDE. MEANS THE EXACT SAME THING. NO DIFFERENCE. IT DOES STATE THAT ANY OFFICER PRESENT AND OBSERVING ANOTHER OFFICER USING FORCE THAT IS BLOND BEYOND THAT IS WHICH IS REASONABLY OBJECTIVELY REASONABLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL WHEN IN A POSITION TO DO SO INTERCEDE TO PREVENT THE USE OF UNREASONABLE FORCE. UPON REVIEWING THIS AND SOME COMMENTS AND DISCUSSIONS THAT HAD BEEN H WE HAVE THE WORD SHOULD IN THERE. AS WE REVIEW EVERYTHING THERE MAY BE A FEW CHANGES TO OUR POLICIES REGARDING SHOULD AND SHALL AND WOULD AND MAY SO WE CAN GET THE POINT ACROSS THAT SOME OF THESE ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ERROR. ANOTHER IS SHOOTING AT MOVING VEHICLES. THIS IS ADDRESSED IN OUR POLICY. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU THE BRIEF SUMMARIST. SHOTS FIRED AT OR FROM A MOVING VEHICLE ARE RARELY EFFECTIVE. OFFICERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SHOOT AT A VEHICLE IN ATTEMPT TO DISABLE IT. THEY SHOULD MOVE OUT OF THE PATH OF A VEHICLE WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE. THE ONLY TIME AN OFFICER IS ALLOWED TO SHOOT AT A MOVING VEHICLE IS WHEN THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER OPTION AND IT'S FOR THEIR SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AND THEY'VE EXHAUSTED EVERY OTHER OPPORTUNITY. USE OF FORCE CONTINUUM IS ONE OF THE # 8 CAN'T WAIT. THERE HAVE BEEN CAKES IN THE USE OF FORCE CONTINUUM OVER THE YEARS. IT USED TO BE A STAIR STEP STAIRCASE TYPE MATRIX WHERE IF THE SUSPECT OR THE OFFENDER , THE INDIVIDUAL DID A, YOU WOULD DO B. IF THEY DID C, YOU WOULD DO D, IF THEY DID E, YOU WOULD DO F. THAT IS NO LONGER WIDELY ACCEPTED. NOW IT'S A REASONABLENESS CRITERIA AND STANDARD WHERE YOU ARE ABLE TO USE ALL OF THE FACTORS IN YOUR TRAINING, YOUR EXPERIENCE. THIS POLICY IS FAIRLY LONG. IT'S SEVERAL PARAGRAPHS. BUT ULTIMATELY IT BOILS DOWN TO HOW REASONABLE THE ACTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN AS JUDGED BY YOUR PEERS, A JURY. SUPERVISORS , THE CHIEF OF POLICE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE JUDGE IF IT WERE TO GO TO COURT. THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY AN EQUAL OFFICER OFFICER REVIEW. IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH SUPERVISION, ADMINISTRATION AND THE COURT SYSTEM ON WHO DETERMINES WHAT IS REASONABLE AND WHAT ISN'T. THE NEXT POINT IS COMPREHENSIVE REPORTING. WE OF COURSE DO HAVE OUR COMPREHENSIVE REPORTING IN PLACE. WE USE A COUPLE OF SOFTWARE PROGRAMS WHERE ALL OF OUR DISCIPLINARY ACTION, ALL OF OUR INVESTIGATIONS AND AWARDS GO INTO A SOFTWARE PROGRAM AND IF THERE IS AN ISSUE OR TOO MANY ENTRIES, IT'S AN EARLY DETECTION FLAG SYSTEM THAT WILL LET US KNOW THAT OFFICER LET'S SAY SMITH FOR SOME REASON MAY HAVE HAD THREE USE OF FORCE ISSUES IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, WE WILL BE SURE AND REVIEW THOSE CUMULATIVELY AND LOOK IF THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WHETHER IT BE TRAINING OR SOME TYPE OF EDUCATION OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION. AND WE HAVE TO REPORT ALL OF OUR USE OF FORCE TO THE STATE OF TEXAS EVERY YEAR FOR THEIR COMPILATION. SEVERAL OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP LATELY THAT I'VE RECEIVED EMAILS ON AND I WOULD SAY THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM I [00:20:02] RESPONDED TO INDIVIDUALS AND LET THEM KNOW -- LETHAL WEAPONS, PEPPER SPRAY, PEPPER BALL SYSTEM, TASERS, RUBBER BULLETS, AND THEN OF COURSE A COUPLE MORE OR ARE A NO KNOCK WARRANT PRACTICE, WE HAVE THAT ADDRESSED IN OUR POLICY , THE USE OF MOBILE AUDIO AND BODY WORN CAMERAS IT CAN TRANSPORTING OF CITIZENS OF PERSONS OF SUSPECTS. THE VETTING OF EMPLOYEES, REQUESTING OF MEDICAL ATTENTION IN THE EARLY INTERVENTION SYSTEM CHILL FACTORS IS WHAT I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT WITH THE USE OF FORCE REPORTING. THE REPORTING OF IN CUSTODY DEATHS HANDCUFFING, LEG RESTRAINS, HOG TYING, ALL OF THOSE ARE ADDRESSED IN OUR POLICIES AND BIAS BASED POLICING IS ADDRESSED IN OUR POLICY. BEFORE I GO TOO MUCH FURTHER DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THAT SO FAR? ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. I'LL CONTINUE. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. I JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT LOST IN THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NONLETHAL MEANS WHEN YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE TEAR GAS AND RUBBER BULLETS, ARE YOU SAYING THOSE ARE COVERED IN YOUR POLICY, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ABOUT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS? >> ALL OF THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALLY COVERED IN OUR POLICY AS TO WHEN TO USE THEM, THOUSAND USE THEM, THE TRAINING THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM AND THE SPECIFIC SITUATIONS, WHAT THEY ARE, HOW THEY WORK AND UNDER WHAT CONDITICONDITIONS TOURS YOU AREO DEPLOY THEM. >> THAT'S LENGTHY AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET INTO THAT IN THIS DISCUSSION? >> IT'S NOT INTENDING TO. I WOULD BE HERE A LONG TIME. >> THAT'S FINE. >> DO I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ALSO CHIEF. FOR YOUR COMPREHENSIVE REPORTING AND I GUESS YOU DON'T REPORT EVERYTHING BUT YOU REPORT USE OF FORCE AND THIS GOES TO THE STATE? IT'S NOT A NATIONAL REGISTRY FOR THAT? >> CORRECT. IT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT AS OF YET. I CAN'T TELL YOU IF THEY FORWARD IT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR NOT. BUT IT IS A STATE REQUIREMENT. SO EVERY YEAR WE CONTRACT WITH A THIRD PARTY. WE SEND THEM ALL OF OUR INFORMATION. THEY PUT THE REPORT TOGETHER AND THEY SUBMIT IT. IT'S USUALLY IN THE EARLY PART OF THE YEAR AROUND FEBRUARY OR MARCH. I BELIEVE THAT WE DO NOTIFY YOU ALL EVERY YEAR AND SEND IT TO YOU. >> WHEN YOU DO RECRUITING, THAT IS PART OF THE DISCOVERY THAT YOU UTILIZE IS THAT DATA BASE WHEN YOU ARE INTERVIEWING OFFICERS? >> YES, MA'AM. IF THERE IS ANY HISTORY IT WILL SHOW UP DURING A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION. >> THANK YOU. >> YES, MA'AM. NEXT TOPIC I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS I'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL EMAILS ON ARE HOW I FEEL AND WHAT MY RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ARE FOR NEW LEGISLATION, LAWS AND BILLS REGARDING WHAT HAS HAPPENED LATELY. THIS TOPIC IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR ME AND IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL BECAUSE I NORMALLY DON'T HAVE A LARGE ROLE TO PLAY IN ANY TYPE OF LEGISLATION. TO BE HONEST, MY SHORT QUICK RESPONSE TO THAT IS MOST OF THESE LAWS ARE ALREADY THERE. THE LEGISLATION IS THERE. THERE ARE LAWS COVERING WHAT HAPPENED TO GEORGE FLOYD. THERE ARE LAWS COVERING WHAT HAPPENED TO MOST EVERY OTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN IN THE MEDIA LATELY AND FOR WHOM SEVERAL OF THESE PROTESTS ARE BEING HELD. JUST THE LAWS AREN'T FOLLOWED. THEY ARE NOT APPLIED CORRECTLY. THEY ARE NOT ENFORCED. THEY ARE NOT UTILIZING THEM. THE OFFICERS AREN'T USING THEIR TRAINING APPROPRIATELY. BUT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE ALL THERE. THE STATE OF TEXAS, TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUIRES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MANDATORY TRAINING FOR US. MOST ALL OF THESE TOPICS ARE COVERED IN THAT TRAINING. AS FAR AS OUR USE OF FORCE IN OUR BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE, WE ARE GOVERNED BY SO MANY LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATION, I CAN'T THINK OF MUCH ELSE WOULD BE OUT THERE. I'M MORE THAN WILLING AND HAPPY TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND LISTEN TO WHAT THE LEGISLATORS ARE GOING TO DECIDE FOR US THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. I WOULD IMAGINE THERE ARE GOING TO BE NEW LAWS. I DON'T KNOW I CAN THINK OF ANY THAT AREN'T ALREADY IN THE BOOKS SOMEWHERE. NEXT UP I WANTED TO GO OVER WITH YOU ALL SOME OF OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION AND COMPLAINTS INCLUDING RACIAL PROFILING COMPLAINTS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 2017 AND 201 WE HAD 0 RACIAL PROFILING COMPLAINTS INITIATED FROM OUTSIDE OUR AGENCY OR WITHIN OUR AGENCY. [00:25:03] WE HAVE HANDED OUT OR GIVEN 21 DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS TO OUR EMPLOYEES. FIVEHICH WERE SUSPENSIONS WITHOUT PAY, ONE OF WHICH WAS A TERMINATION AND 12 WRITTEN REPRIMANDS. THEY WERE FOR VARIOUS ISSUES SOME OF WHICH WERE GENERATED INTERNALLY THROUGH OUR OWN INVESTIGATIONS AND SOME OF WHICH WERE GENERATED EXTERNALLY THROUGH OTHERS. BUT WE DID NOT HAVE ANY FORMAL WRITTEN COMPLAINTS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT RESULTED IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION FROM OUTSIDE OUR AGENCY. WE INITIATED THE MAJORITY OF THE FORMAL COMPLAINTS WHICH I THINK SHOWS A GREAT DEAL OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT. I ALSO WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE GOOD. IF I THROW THE BAD IN THERE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE GOOD. IN THE LAST THREE YEARS WE HAVE 83 ALERTS OF APPRECIATION FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. WE'VE HAD FIVE LETTERS OF COMMENDATION. FIVE LIFE SAVING AWARD. 16 PROMOTIONS AND ANNUALLY WE HAVE OUR EMPLOYEES ANOTHER YEAR AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE AND SEVERAL OTHERS. I THINK WE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AT NOT ONLY HANDLING AND DEALING AND RESPONDING TO THE NEGATIVE ISSUES BUT ALSO RECOGNIZING POSITIVE THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE DOING. >> THAT DOESN'T EVEN MENTION ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA RECOGNITION THAT YOUR FORCE GETS AND CONTINUES TO GET WHICH IS A REALLY QUICK AND EASY WAY TO SHOW APPRECIATION BUT AN IMPORTANT WAY THIS OUR COMMUNITY SHOWS APPRECIATION FOR WHAT YOU AND YOUR OFFICERS DO. >> I AGREE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. NEXT UP I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT DEMOGRAPHICS. IF YOU ARE ABLE CAN YOU PULL UP THAT PRESENTATION PLEASE AND WE'LL GO OVER IT? IN DECEMBER OF 2019 WE RAN OUR DEPARTMENT DEMOGRAPHICS, PUT THEM TOGETHER AND LOOKED AT THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR HISTORY THAT I'M AWARE OF. I DECIDED TO DO THIS EVERY SIX MONTHS TO SEE HOW WE ARE ALIGNING WITH THE CITY OF ROWLETT DEMOGRAPHICS. THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AT THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL PERSONNEL OF WHICH WE HAVE 95 FEMALE -- 95 MALE, 44 FEMALE, 90 SWORN CURRENTLY AND 49 CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, OF THE GENDER 68% ARE MALE AND 32% ARE FEMALE. OF THEIR FUNCTION 65% OF OUR DEPARTMENT ARE SWORN PERSONNEL POLICE OFFICERS AND 35% ARE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. NEXT SLIDE. THE ETHNICITY OF ALL PERSONNEL THIS IS EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL THAT WORKS IN THIS BUILDING 76% ARE WHITE. 16% ARE HISPANIC, 6% ARE BLACK. 1% IS AMERICAN INDIAN AND 1% IS ASIAN. GIVE YOU THE LAURA NUMBERS FOR THOSE AS WELL. 106 WHITE, 9 FOR BLACK, 22 FOR HISPANIC, 1 ASIAN AND ONE AMERICAN INDIAN. JUST OUR SWORN PERSONNEL THIS IS JUST OUR POLICE OFFICERS FOR THE GENDER WE ARE 78 MALES AND 12 FEMALES WHICH EQUATES TO 87% MALE AND 13% FEMALE. FOR ETHNICITY FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 6 BLACK, 15 HISPANIC AND 69 WHITE WHICH RETHREW IT 70% WHITE, 17% HISPANIC AND 6% BLACK. FOR OUR CIVILIAN PERSONNEL OF WHICH WE HAVE 32 FEMALE, 17 MALE, WE HAVE 65% FEMALE IN OUR CIVILIAN PERSONNEL AND 35% MALE. ETHNICITY FOR OUR CIVILIAN PERSONNEL THE RAW NUMBERS ARE 37 WHITE, THREE BLACK, 7 HISPANIC, 1 ASIAN AND ONE AMERICAN INDIAN. THAT EQUATES TO 76% WHITE, 14% HISPANIC, 6% BLACK, 2% AMERICAN INDIAN AND 2% ASIAN. THE LAST SLIDE THE CURRENT CITY OF ROWLETT DEMOGRAPHICS AS COMPARED TO THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT -- I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER ON ONE SLIDE TO SHOW YOU A BETTER COMPARISON. BUT WHEN YOU DO LOOK AT IT, THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU BREAKS IT [00:30:07] DOWN DIFFERENTLY THESE DAYS. I WAS WORKING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON HOW THIS READ AND SO THE NUMBERS COME OUT A LITTLE DIFFERENT. ALL PERSONNEL WITHIN THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT THE CITY OF ROWLETT IS 7.7% ASIAN , THE ROWLETT% IS 1%. THE CITY OF ROWLETT IS 16.8% BLACK. THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS 6% BLACK. THE HIS PANIC POPULATION IS 18.7% AND THE HISPANIC POPULATION IN THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS 16%. AND THEN THE WHITE PERCENTAGE FOR THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS 76% AND THE WHITE ALONE FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE CLOSEST TO EQUATE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS 77.4%. WE'RE A LITTLE LOWER WITH THE ASIAN POPULATION AND BLACK POPULATION AND WE'RE ALMOST RIGHT IN LINE WITH THE HISPANIC AND WHITE POPULATION AS FAR AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY'S DEMOGRAPHICS. THAT IS MY LAST SLIDE ON THAT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL ABOUT THAT? I AM GOING THE CONTINUE WITH WHAT IS MORE OR LESS MY CLOSING. THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES MUTUAL RESPECT, FAMILY AND INCLUSION IS WHAT SETS US APART. WE MUST ENSURE THOSE BELIEFS EXTEND INTO THE COMMUNITY. WE MUST MAINTAIN A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THAT BEGINS WITH ME YOUR CHIEF OF POLICE. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY. I CAN STAND UP HERE OR SIT DOWN AND TALK ALL NIGHT ABOUT WHAT I STAND FOR AND WHEN THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT STANDS FOR BUT NONE OF IT WILL MEAN ANYTHING IF WE DON'T PRACTICE IT. ACTION IS THE KEY. MY PROMISE IS TO THE ALL THE CITIZENS OF ROWLETT IS THAT YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL ALWAYS TREAT WITH YOU RESPECT, COURTESY AND PROFESSIONALISM. THEY WILL PERFORM THEIR DUTY TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY. I HAVE ALL THE FAITH IN THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES. THEY ARE MY FAMILY AND AS SUCH I SUPPORT THEM AND CARE DEEPLY FOR THEM. ALL I ASK IS YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US IN THE MANNER YOU ALWAYS HAVE AND MAINTAIN YOUR FAITH IN US. MY INTENTION IS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY AND PROMOTE MEANINGFUL CHANGE WHERE REQUIRED AND NECESSARY. THE LAST PHOTOGRAPH I HAVE IN BECAUSE I STOLE IT FROM SOMEBODY ELSE. I THOUGHT IT WAS PERFECT FOR WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY TONIGHT. ONE OF MY PEER WHO IS I RESPECT TREMENDOUSLY RELEASE AID STATEMENT AND WHAT HE SAID STUCK WITH ME. IT PRESIDENT ELECTS MY SENT MEANT PERFECTLY. HE SAID AND I NOW SAY STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGE. WHEN WE ARE WILLING TO TRULY SEE EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE, HEARTS SOFTEN, MINDS OPEN AND CHANGE HAPPENS. MY SLEEVES ARE ROLLED UP. I'M HYDRATED. I'M LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT LEADERS TO STEP UP, JOIN ME AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME. COUNCIL, WITH THAT DO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I AM READY AND OPEN FOR LOTS OF COMMENTS AND LOTS OF QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THAT PRESENTATION SO MUCH. BUT EVEN MORE WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE STAFF AND POLICE FORCE. YOU HAVE BEEN JUST AN INCREDIBLE EXAMPLE OF THE LEADER WE NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THE LEADER THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES. AND SO FOR THAT WE THANK YOU TREMENDOUSLY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH MAYOR. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. >> THIS HAS BEEN A PERIOD OF TIME THAT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR I'M SURE YOUR OFFICERS BECAUSE THEY HURT ALSO FOR SEEING SOME OF THIS THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS COUNTRY. IN MANY DIFFERENT RESPECTS. ONE OF THE THINGS THIS HAS JUST BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF GREAT LEARNING AND DISCOVERY FOR SO MANY PEOPLE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STICKS OUT TO ME IN REGARDS TO THE POLICE FORCE AND YOUR POLICE FORCE IS HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY [00:35:01] AND VARIED REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU HAVE. WE'VE ALL KNOWN THAT. WE ALL SEE IT. BUT HOW MUCH HAVE WE DOWN DEEP REFLECTIVE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY WE REQUIRE OF POLICE OFFICERS. AND IT'S TREMENDOUS. AND THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT I THINK -- [INAUDIBLE] OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU MUST HANDLE BEING A POLICE OFFICER. THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS I WANTED TO MAKE. >> THAT MEANS A LOT. >> COUNCIL, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FOR THE CHIEF? WE ASKED FOR THE CHIEF TO DO THIS PRESENTATION. WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO US AND THE PUBLIC. THIS IS NOT THE END. THIS THE BEGINNING OF DISCUSSIONS. >> CHIEF, I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND YOUR TEAM'S RESPONSIVENESS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS TO ALL OF THE UNREST, ALL OF THE HURT, ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP NATIONWIDE AND YOUR RESPONSE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY I THINK HAS BEEN COMPASSIONATE AND CARING. I THINK IT'S JUST STRUCK THE RIGHT TONE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT AND APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE THAT. >> THANK YOU FOR SAYING SO. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. IT MEANS A LOT TO US. THANK YOU. >> >> THANK YOU CHIEF. MARTHA AND THE MAYOR SAID IT GREAT. I THINK YOU ARE THE LEADER THIS DEPARTMENT NEEDED GOING INTO THIS AND THE LEADER WE NEED GOING FORWARD. I THINK OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IT'S ALREADY GREAT, IT WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER FOR SURE. IT NOT BEEN EASY FOR YOU OR YOUR GUYS. AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFULNESS THAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR RESPONSE TONIGHT AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID. I HAVE ONE QUESTION. YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW WHEN YOU HIRE NEW OFFICERS THEY GO THROUGH A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION. ARE THEY REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION YEARLY OR HOW OFTEN DO THEY HAVE THAT? HOW OFTEN ARE THEY PSYCHOLOGICALLY EXAMINED? >> IT'S ONLY REQUIRED DURING THE HIRING PROCESS AND FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LICENSING THROUGHOUT THE STATE. NOW WE DO TRY TO MONITOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS CLOSELY. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE ASKED A FEW AND HAVE SENT A FEW TO BE THE PSYCHOLOGIST FOR AN EXAMPLE, CONSULTATION BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN, WHAT WE'VE HEARD THEIR BEHAVIOR, THEIR MENTALITY, ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE COME ACROSS, ESPECIALLY WITH EARLY DETECTION AND WARNING SYSTEM. LEGISLATIVELY AND STATE MANDATE IS ONLY ONE TIME AT THE BEGINNING OF EMPLOYMENT. >> IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT IF IT'S A BEST PRACTICE THAT COMES OUT OF ALL OF THIS? >> I'D BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT IT. IF IT'S A BEST PRACTICE, WE'D IMPLEMENT IT. IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE PRACTICE WHICH A LOT OF PRACTICES WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE ARE GOING TO ADD AN INCREASE TO OUR BUDGETS. I BELIEVE THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGES, SEVERAL REQUIREMENTS AND MANDATES COMING. IF A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SOME SORT YEARLY OR EVERY OTHER YEAR IS A REQUIREMENT, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT. >> I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT. I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE BEST PRACTICES THAT COME OUT OF THIS. AND KNOW THAT THE STRESS THAT YOU GO THROUGH AS A POLICE OFFICER -- I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT ARE POLICE OFFICERS. AND JUST KNOW WHAT YOU GO THROUGH AND SEE ON A DAILY BASIS, I COULD SEE THAT BEING A BENEFIT AS IT MOVES FORWARD. THE OTHER POINT I HAD AND I THINK I BROUGHT IT UP TO YOU BEFORE. I WAS LISTENING TO THE RADIO AND THEY WERE INTERVIEWING A FORMER CAPTAIN IN THE BROOKLYN UNIT OF NEW YORK AND HE SAID YOU KNOW WHEN POLICE GET A BADGE, THEY THINK THEY CAN DO EVERYTHING AND SOME POLICE ARE BETTER SUITED FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. I'M CURIOUS AS YOU LOOK AT THE STAFF THAT YOU HAVE AND THE OFFICERS THAT YOU HAVE, OBVIOUSLY THEY ALL NEED TO BE ABLE TO REACT TO THE SITUATION THEY ARE PUT IN. FOR INSTANCE THE GREAT PEACEFUL PROTEST THAT WE HAD RALLY THAT WE HAD THIS WEEKEND, DO YOU CHOOSE CERTAIN OFFICERS TO BE INVOLVED WITH THAT BASED ON WHAT MAYBE THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE SAYS, BASEND TO TYPE OF TEMPERMENT VERSUS ANOTHER OFFICE THEY'RE IS MAYBE MORE SUITED FOR SOMETHING ELSE? IT WAS AN INTERESTING [00:40:02] CONVERSATION THEY WERE HAVING WITH THIS CHIEF. IT'S HARDENER A SMALLER DEPARTMENT. ESPECIALLY IF LARGER DEPARTMENTS THE THOUGHT WHAT HE SAW HAPPENING WITHIN ESPECIALLY THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS THEY WERE JUST PUTTING POLICE OUT THE DO ALL OF THE POLICING EKING ACTIVITIES AND THEY ARE NOT ALL CREATED EQUAL NOR ARE ALL COPS CREATED EQUAL NOR ARE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS CREATED EQUAL. DO YOU START TO LOOK AT THOSE DIFFERENT OFFICE FERRIS DIFFERENT PIECE? IS THAT MAKING SENSE? >> ABSOLUTELY. I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. ALL OF OUR OFFICERS HAVE DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNDS, THERE IS NO DOUBT. SOME ARE BETTER AT TALKING TO INDIVIDUAL, SOME ARE BETTER AT SHOOTING, SOME ARE BETTER AT DRIVING. SOME ARE BETTER AT VERBAL AND SOME CAN HANDCUFF SOMEBODY IN HALF A SECOND WITHOUT AN ISSUE. THE NICE THING ABOUT BEING A SMALL DEPARTMENT IS WE KNOW WHO THOSE INDIVIDUALS. WE SEE THEM EVERY DAY. WE RECOGNIZE THEM. WE'RE NOT STRANGERS. WE KNOW EACH OTHER BY FIRST NAME. WHEN WE DO SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL OR START NEW PROGRAMS OR NEW INITIATIVES, WE DO HAVE OFFICERS WHO ARE VERY THEY ARE GOING TO BE MUCH BETTER ADAPTED TO. THAT LIKE YOU SAID WORKING THE PROTEST THE OTHER NIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE MUCH MORE OPEN. THEIR PERSONALITY IS BUBBLY AND WE'LL WANT THEM IN ONE SPOT AND WE'LL HAVE FOLKS TACTICAL AND OPERATIONAL AND WE LOVE TO HAVE THEM IN A WAR ZONE. BUT THEY MIGHT NOT BE THE STRONGEST PERSON IN A CROWD. IT'S NOT HARD FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE AND DECEIVER AND DIFFERENTIATE WHICH OFFICERS AND WHO HAVE THEIR STRENGHTS. THEY ALL HAVE SOME OF THE SAME BASIC EXPERIENCES, TRAINING, BASIC BEHAVIORS AND MENTAL STATE. BUT EVERYBODY EXCELS IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT BAYWAY IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT AREA. WE ARE ABLE TO ASSIGN OFFICERS IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND DIFFERENT PLACES BASED ON THEIR STRENGTHS. >> THANK YOU AGAIN CHIEF FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING. AND I APPRECIATE YOU EVERY DAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY I JUST FEEL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND DO I WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOU BEING THERE FOR THE PROTEST THIS PAST WEEKEND , THE MARCH AND EVERYTHING. AND I DID HEAR SEVERAL PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AND MAKE A COMMENT THAT THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT OUR CHIEF WAS THERE. AND I TOLD THEM WELL I'M NOT. THAT'S JUST THE WAY HE OPERATES. AND I HAPPY TO SEE. THAT THE SAME THING BECAUSE THEY COME UP TO ME AND START TALKING. I SAY THAT'S JUST THE WAY HE IS, YOU'LL SEE HIM ALL DIFFERENT PLACES. HE WILL BE THERE. THAT IS HIS LEADERSHIP. YOU HAVE IT AND HE'LL SHOW. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AND JUST KEEP PRAYING FOR WHAT YOU ALL ARE GOING THROUGH. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL TAKE ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS COMMUNITY SUPPORT. I COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN AT THIS DEPARTMENT. IF NOT FOR THEM I WOULD NOT BE NEAR AS SUCCESSFUL, WE WOULD NOT BE NEAR AS SUCCESSFUL AND THEY ARE BEST SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> CHIEF, I THINK I KNEW A LOT OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU SAID TONIGHT THAT WE WERE ALREADY KIND OF AHEAD OF THE CURVE IN DOING. BUT THE ONE THING THAT SHOOK ME TONIGHT ABOUT YOUR PRESENTATION IS YOUR EMPHASIS ON FAMILIES FIRST. THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THE WAY THAT WE DO COMMUNITY POLICING AND THE WAY THAT WE TREAT ONE ANOTHER AND WE TREAT EACH OTHER AS HUMAN BEINGS. AND SO GOING FORWARD, THAT IS A GREAT METHODOLOGY FOR HOW WE HANDLE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. WE'RE ALL HOW MANY AND WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ENCOURAGE YOUR OFFICERS TO KEEP ON WHAT THEY ARE DOING. WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST POLICE FORCES THAT I KNOW OF AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE TOP LEADERSHIP AND THE GREAT OFFICERS THAT WE HIRE. SO THANK YOU. >> THAT'S GREAT. FAMILY FIRST IS ONE OF THE MY MOST FAVORITE THINGS THAT I'VE [00:45:03] IMPLEMENTED SINCE I BECAME CHIEF. I PUT SIGN US UP. I HAVE IT ON MY LETTER HEAD. I PUSH IT. I WANT TO KNOW EVERY EMPLOYEE'S FIRST NAME. I MEET WITH THEM WHEN THEY COME TO WORK AND FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE AND FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR KIDS AND DOGS AND HOBBY. WE HAVE TO KNOW EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE BEFORE WE WORK TOGETHER. THAT'S TRANSLATES TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S HOW WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND OUR COMMUNITY. AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT THAT MATT BROUGHT UP AND I SPOKE TO CHIEF HOWARD ABOUT IT ALSO WITH OUR CITY MANAGER. THAT'S THE PTSD THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS EXPERIENCE. AND I KNOW IT'S EXPENSIVE TO DO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING. ONE THING THAT I FOUND OUT WHEN I STARTED REALIZING WHAT AN ISSUE IT WAS WITH THE STRESS THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS GO THROUGH IS THAT ALL OF YOU GUYS TO ME ARE HEROES. YOU RUN TOWARDS DANGER AND ARING THERE ON A DAILY BASIS. HEROES DON'T LIKE TO ADMIT THEY NEED HELP A LOT OF TIMES. ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO THROW OUT THERE FOR YOU CHIEF IS MAYBE JUST HAVING SOME KIND OF YEARLY I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE CONVERSATION COUNCIL TYPESETTING. THE ROUTINE THAT YOU DO EVERY YEAR IS THESE POLICE OFFICERS ASK HOW THEY ARE DOING, HOW THEY ARE HANDLING STRESS. ALL TIME WE'RE SEEING WHERE A FIRST RESPONDER TAKES THEIR LIFE AND NO ONE KNEW THAT THEY WERE AT THIS POINT. SO THAT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THROW OUT THERE. WE CARE ABOUT YOU GUYS. WE CARE ABOUT YOUR FAMILIES AND YOUR HEALTH AND WE WANT TO KEEP YOU AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND WE WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY IN WHAT YOU DO. AND SO I WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME SORT OF ROUTINE WHERE EVERYBODY DOES IT ON A YEARLY BASIS SO THERE IS NO STIGMA ATTACHED TO ASKING FOR HELP. IT'S JUST PART OF YOUR WELLNESS PROCESS. IT'S VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND IN DEPTH AND DETAIL ABOUT WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE, PHONE SERVICES TO INTERNAL AND EXPERSONAL PEER SUPPORT GROUPS TO A COUNSELING SERVICE THAT WE UTILIZE WHO HAS A COMPLETELY MODERN APPROACH TO THERAPY. IT'S GONE OVER PHENOMLY. IT'S BEEN IN PLACE A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THERE IS NO PRIDE OR JUDGMENT IN ASKING FOR HELP. WE ROUTINELY ARE TALKING WITH EACH OTHER. WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AS FORMAL AS WHAT YOU ARE PRESENTING FOR AN INTERNAL CONVERSATION OR COUNSELING. WE DO HAVE EVERYTHING IN PLACE AND SO FAR IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING WELL. NOT ONLY THE SUPPORT GROUPS BUT THE RECOGNITION STIGMA RECOGNIZE HOW THE TALK TO EACH OTHER, HOW TO RECOGNIZE IT IN YOURSELF, HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOURS YOUR SPOUSE, GIRLFRIEND OR BOYFRIEND AND HOW TO RESPOND AND DEAL WITH STRESS OF ANY SORT. [00:51:09] >> THANK YOU CHIEF. >> I WOULD AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT THAT HAS BEEN SAID TONIGHT. I COULDN'T IMAGINE. ON A NATIONAL LEVEL WHEN IT COMES TO THE POLICIES OF POLICING. WHETHER IT HIRING A GREAT THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN IN A CURVE WHEN IT COMES TO MODERNIZATION OF POLICIES. HOWEVER WE MUST ALWAYS CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO DO BETTER AND BE BETTER IN OUR JOB AND I KNOW THAT WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP CHIEF WE CAN DO THAT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> I DO APPRECIATE IT. TO SPEAK TO THE CRISIS PROGRAM. IT'S A ONE MAN SHOW. HE NEVER STOPS. >> IT'S MY THREE YEAR PLAN TO GET HIM SOME HELP. I'M HOPING AT SOME POINT TO ADD A LITTLE HELP TO HIS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO EVERYBODY IS MORE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CITY MANAGEMENT AND POLICE MANAGEMENT AND CITY COUNCIL NEED TO LOOK SERIOUSLY AT. WE ALL KNOW THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN UNDER STAFFED AND NEEDS ATTENTION AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. YOU MENTIONED LOOKING AT POLICIES. I SUPPORT THAT AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO UNDER GO A REVIEW OF POLICIES RELATING TO A LOT OF THESE SPECIFIC SUBJECT MATTERS. ONE OF THE BEST PRACTICES THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IS HAVING INVOLVEMENT IN THAT PROCESS BY A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF CITIZENS THAT CAN WORK HAND IN HAND UNDERSTAND PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU TO GO THROUGH THOSE POLICIES SO THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE VIEWPOINTS CONSIDERED WHEN MAKING THOSE DECISIONS. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT YET OR WILL SUPPORT? >> I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. I'M A LITTLE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON IT RIGHT NOW. AND I'VE SEEN THAT NOT WORK AS WELL IN SOME DEPARTMENTS AND PERHAPS WORK SOMEWHAT WELL. NORMALLY ALL OF OUR POLICIES AND ALL OF OUR PROCEDURES ARE BASED ON BEST PRACTICES, LAWS, LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND CHANGES. AND WHAT THE STANDARD SEEMS TO BE. THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHERE WE MODIFY OUR POLICIES SIMPLY TO FIT ROWLETT A LITTLE BETTER. BUT GENERALLY A LOT OF THOSE COME FROM WAY ABOVE ME. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT. LEGISLATION. I'M I'M NOT OPPOSED TO ENTERTAINING IT BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THE MOST OPEN GUYS ABOUT HAVING DISCUSSIONS. I'M APPREHENSIVE BUT I'M OPEN TO AT LEAST BEGINNING THE CONVERSATION AND SEEING WHERE IT GOES. WE'RE ALL LEARNING SOMETHING NEW [00:55:07] EVERY DAY. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING OPEN TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO TALK THROUGH THAT. >> CERTAINLY. >> COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE SPECIFIC SITUATIONS IN THIS TOWN BUT WHAT YOUR POLICIES ARE AS FAR AS INDEPENDENT REVIEW IN WHAT SPECIFIC SITUATIONS AND HOW IS A REVIEW PERFORMED OF ACTIONS? >> DO YOU MEAN LIKE A COMMUNITY REVIEW OR -- >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT I MEAN. I'M ASKING WHAT YOUR POLICY IS. IF UP TO HAVE A POLICE -- WHAT IS YOUR REVIEW PROCESS? I KNOW THIS COULD BE A LONG ANSWER? I'M LOOKING FOR AN OVER VIEW OF WHAT IS THE REVIEW PROCESS FOR THINGS THAT COULD BE DIFFICULT. >> IT COULD BAY LONG DISCUSSION, YOU ARE RIGHT MAYOR. SO FOR MAJOR INCIDENTS USE OF FORCE, POLICE OFFICERS, SHOOTINGS, POLICE OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, MAJOR CRIMINAL OFFENSE OR ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH DEADLY FORCE, WE UTILIZE AND CONTACT THE TEXAS RANGERS TO HELP WAS IMPARTIAL AND NEUTRAL INVESTIGATION SO THERE ARE NO CONCERNS OR ISSUES WITH BIAS ON THAT. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFERS THE SAME INVESTIGATION ASSISTANCE. WE DO NOT INVESTIGATE THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS OURSELVES. INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS OR COMPLAINT RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC WE DO INVESTIGATE THOSE OURSELF. WE HAVE AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS DIVISION ANYTIME THEY RECEIVE A FORMAL COMPLAINT THEY DO INVESTIGATE IT FULLY IF THERE ARE EVER ANY CONCERNS WHERE WE. I FEEL STRONGLY WE CAN INVESTIGATE OUR OWN OFFICERS IMPARTIALLY AND WE CAN DO THAT SUCCESSFULLY. WE'VE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES AS OF YET WHERE WE'VE HAD ANY CONFLICTS SUCH AS THAT. HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT BUT THERE ARE AGENCIES WE CAN CONTACT. THE VERY BEST ONE OUT THERE IS THE TEXAS RANGERS. WE HAVE TEXAS RANGER WHO WORKS OUT OF OUR DEPARTMENT HERE AND HE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP WITH ANY INVESTIGATION TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT AND OPEN. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT DISCUSSION CHIEF. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I THINK THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE DISCUSSION. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE AS WE HAVE ALL SAID EVERYTHING YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT ARE DOING AND THIS COMMUNITY SUPPORTS YOU GREATLY. AND I HOPE YOU FEEL THAT LOVE. AND I'M VERY GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE OPEN TO LOOKING AND LISTENING AS YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE DIFFICULT PERIOD OF TIME THESE LAST TWO WEEKS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> FIRST OFF I DO WANT TO THANK THE CHIEF AS WELL. AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT I'M EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH HIS SENSITIVITY, HIS FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS AS THIS THING HAS EVOLVED I BELIEVE HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE WAY HE'S ENGAGED HIS OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. I'M SO PROUD OF HOW HE'S HANDLED THIS. I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT HE WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS PLEDGED TO DO WHICH IS REVIEW THE POLLS SIS IN LIGHT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING AND MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS IN ROWLETT. CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR THAT SIR. >> THANK YOU SIR. DO I APPRECIATE IT. >> I THINK WE'LL WRAP IT UP. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO THIS DEPARTMENT. HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT. >> THANKS CHIEF. [5B. Presentation of the Arts and Humanities Commission’s 2020 Writing Contest awards.] [01:00:03] >> ITEM 5B PRESENTATIONS OF >> 22 THE POINT WRITING CONTEST. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LAURA TURNER AND I'M THE STAFF LIAISON. BACK IN MARCH, THE COMMISSION HOSTED A WRITING CONTEST FOR ADULT RESIDENTS IN DALLAS AND ROCKWELL COUNTIES. THREE CATEGORIES: POETRY, SHORT STORIES AND SHORT WORKS, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF PLAYS AND ESSAYS, AND THIS YEAR'S CONTEST THEME WAS WHO DONE IT. SO I WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE FIRST AND SECOND PLACE WINNERS. THE FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THE SHORTWORKS CATEGORY IS DEON HANSEN FOR ROAD TRIP AMUSINGS. THE FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THE SHORT STORY CATEGORY IS STACY NEAR FOR HER SHORT STORY ENTITLED "MY BROTHER'S KEEPER." AND THE FIRST PLACE WINNER IS LAKESHA PEPPER "AN APOLOGY TO MY SON. I DID NOT KNOW." THE SECOND PLACE WINNER IS BRIDGET MOORHEAD FOR HER SHORT WORK ENTITLED "THE MISSION." THE FIRST PLACE WINNER IS MANAL AHMED FOR "ODE TO HOLD THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CRIMES." THERE WAS NO SECOND PLACE WINNER BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH ENTRIES. I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR WINNER AND THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED, INCLUDING OUR JUDGES. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, LAURA. WE APPRECIATE THAT. >> IT'S NOT QUITE THE SAME WHEN WE'RE NOT IN PERSON TO DO THOSE. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE. MARTHA, YOU'RE LIAISON TO ARTS AND HUMANITIES. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? >> I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN ALL OF THE PROGRAMS AND THE PROJECTS THAT THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION PUTS TOGETHER. THEY'RE TYPICALLY ONE OF OUR MOST ACTIVE BOARDS. IF YOU EVER LOOK AT THEIR STORYBOARD OF WHAT ACTIVITIES THEY HAVE GOING ON, IT'S JUST -- IT WILL MAKE YOU TIRED JUST TO LOOK AT IT. BUT SOMEHOW ALL TOGETHER THAT VERY ACTIVE BOARD MANAGES TO PULL IT OFF WITH EXCELLENCE. AND SO I KNOW THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO THE TIME WHEN THEY CAN CRANK THOSE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS BACK UP. BUT IT'S GREAT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GO FORWARD WITH THE WRITING CONTEST. I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS. >> THANK YOU, MARTHA. COUNCIL, ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT BEFORE I MOVE FORWARD? >> WE LOST DAVID BERHMAN. SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO DO ANYTHING THAT WE SHOULDN'T DO, DO IT NOW. OH, HE'S BACK. >> THERE HE IS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, LAURA. >>> NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 5-C. [5C. Recognition of COVID-related extraordinary contributions.] WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS EVERY MEETING TO RECOGNIZE SO MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH DURING THIS PANDEMIC. AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE CITY EMPLOYEES. DURING THIS COVID EVENT WE WANT TO TAKE OUR TIME TO RECOGNIZE THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WHO HAVE MADE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS. THE BUSINESS OF RUNNING THE CITY IS LIKE NO OTHER. IT PROVIDES OPERATIONS TO NEARLY 65,000 PEOPLE, APPROXIMATELY 25,000 HOUSEHOLDS AND 1400 BUSINESSES. NOT TO MENTION THOSE WHO JUST VISIT OR PASS THROUGH. WITH EVERYONE AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 EVENT, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE PEOPLE AT HOME DURING THE DAY, WHICH MEANS MORE USAGE OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS. MORE PEOPLE UTILIZING ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEMS. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE SERVICES THAT WERE CONSIDERED HIGH RISK FOR GROUPS, CITY STAFF HAS MANAGED TO MAINTAIN CITY OPERATIONS ESSENTIAL TO OUR DAILY LIVES THROUGH ALL OF THIS. IT MAY HAVE ADAPTED HOW IT WAS PROVIDED, BUT IT WAS PROVIDED. THE CITY OF ROWLETT EMPLOYS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CHALLENGE TO DO THEIR JOBS DIFFERENTLY, EITHER HOW TASKS WERE PERFORMED OR WHEN OR WHERE. TO SAY THEY HAVE LIVED UP TO THE CHALLENGE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. [01:05:03] ANOTHER REMARKABLE STATEMENT IS THAT NONE OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19. KNOCK ON WOOD. I MUST NOW SPECIFICALLY KEEPING UP WITH THE DELUGE OF INFORMATION AND CONFERENCE CALLS WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. AS WELL AS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT YVETTE WHITEHEAD WHO HAS HELPED OUR PUBLIC STAY UP TO DATE BY PUBLISHING OUR WEEKLY NEWS LETTER TWICE PER WEEK DURING THESE EVENTS. ALSO DENISE PERRIN WHO HAS BEEN A MESSAGING AND COMMUNICATING MACHINE CONSTANTLY UPDATE, AND ENSURING INFORMATION IS BEING UPDATED FOR OUR RESIDENTS. PROVIDED THE SIGNAGE, THE INFORMATION INFORMATIVE INDIVIDUALS AND CONTENT ON THE CITY'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL, AS WELL AS BEING THE MAN BEHIND THE SCENES FOR OUR VIRTUAL MEETINGS. AND OUR IT DEPARTMENT WHO HUSTLED TO PROVIDE STAFF THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO WORK THEIR ALTERED SCHEDULES AND FACILITATED OUR MEETINGS. TO OUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT TEAM WHO HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO STAY ABREAST OF OUR EVER CHANGING RULES AND HELP BUSINESSES AND CITIZENS MANEUVER THROUGH THIS. OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES UNDERSTAND AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VARIED AND COMPLEX RELIEF RESOURCES AVAILABLE. AND CERTAINLY, WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL. FIRE AND RESCUE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES WHO HAVE UTILIZED OUT OF THE BOX THINKING TO PROVIDE THEIR NECESSARY SERVICES IN A WAY TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE. LIFE MAY LOOK DIFFERENT FROM HERE ON OUT, BUT WE CAN ALL REST ASSURED THAT YOUR CITY STAFF WILL BE HERE TO DO WHAT THEY DO BEST AND BE THEIR VERY BEST. SO ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE RESIDENTS WE SERVE, THANK YOU, CITY PERSONNEL. AND TO ALL, STAY SAFE AND TOGETHER WE WILL STAY STRONG. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> CITY STAFF. >> THANK YOU. >>> ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM 5-D. [5D. Update from the City Council and Management: Financial Position, Major Projects, Operational Issues, Upcoming Dates of Interest and Items of Community Interest.] I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO READ ONE STATEMENT. COUNCIL THINK ABOUT IT IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS AFTER THIS THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE. WITH EVERYONE AT HOME THIS MEANS MORE TIME TO WORK ON THE YARD AND MORE TIME TO DO SOME SPRING CLEANING. IT ALSO MEANS THERE ARE MORE PILES AND MORE STUFF PUT OUT AT THE CURVE FOR SCC TO PICK UP. WHICH RESULTS IN FULLER TRUCKS, FILLING OF TRUCKS FASTER AND MORE TRIPS TO THE LANDFILL. IN MAY, FCC EXPERIENCED DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF BULK TRASH FOR COLLECTION COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS. MANY CITIES AND VENDORS HAVE SUSPENDED ALL COLLECTIONS OUTSIDE. AND HAVE SUSPENDED BULK COLLECTION AS WELL. BUT THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND FCC CREWS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OUR CITIZENS WITH THIS SERVICE FCC CREWS ARE MAKING AN EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT TO CLEAR ALL THIS ADDITIONAL BULK SET OUT IN A TIMELY MANNER. HOW CAN YOU HELP? WE ASK THAT YOU REFRAIN FROM ANY UNNECESSARY LANDSCAPE OR SMALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. FCC'S OPERATIONS ARE AS AFFECTED BY COVID-19 AS ALL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. THEY HIRED ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES TO FILL THE GAP OF QUARANTINED EMPLOYEES AND RENTED EQUIPMENT TO SMOOTH THIS BULK PEAK. DO YOU WANT TO CART SOMETHING OFF TO THE LANDFILL? YOU CAN GET YOUR FREE LANDFILL PASS FROM THE CITY OF ROWLETT, WHICH ALLOWS TWO TRIPS PER YEAR TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD. YOU CAN CONTACT UTILITY BILLING AT 972-412-6105 AND THEY WILL DELIVER THOSE PASSES RIGHT TO YOUR FRONT DOOR. NO PHYSICAL CONTACT. THEY'LL JUST TAPE THOSE TO YOUR DOOR AND THEY'LL RING THE BELL TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THOSE PASSES ARE TAPED TO YOUR DOOR. ALSO AS A REMINDER, IF YOU HAVE A COMMERCIAL LAWN SERVICE OR HAVE HIRED CONTRACTORS TO PERFORM TREE TRIMMING, PLEASE BE SURE THAT THOSE FOLKS KNOW THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REMOVING YOUR LAWN CLIPPINGS AND YOUR DEBRIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND FOR PARTNERING WITH US TO HELP CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF BULK PICKUP GENERATED RIGHT NOW. IF YOU'RE BULK SET OUT HAS NOT BEEN PICKED UP WITHIN THREE [01:10:06] WEEKS CALL FCC AT 469-802-0017. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? STAFF OR ANYBODY? [6. CITIZENS’ INPUT] >> ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE TO OUR CITIZENS IMPORT SECTION OF OUR MEETING. THIS IS THE SECTION OF THE MEETING WHERE CITIZENS CAN COMMENT ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER UP TO THREE MINUTES. AND WE HAVE BEEN TAKING THOSE VIA EMAIL. AND WE DO HAVE CITIZEN COMMENTS TODAY. AND I WILL READ THEM ONE BY ONE. THIS IS FROM ANGIE ELLIOT. STOP RAISING TAXES. CUT YOUR BUDGET. THAT IS WHAT EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS AFFECTED BY THIS SLOWDOWN HAS TO DO. WE ALL KNOW THERE IS FAT YOU CAN CUT FROM THE BUDGET. >> THIS ONE IS FROM SUSAN RASPBERRY. OUR PROPERTY VALUES AND TAXES HAVE APPROXIMATELY I ASSUME RISEN, HAVE APPROXIMATELY 40% IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. WE CAN'T SURVIVE. I CAN DO WITHOUT FIREWORKS. CUT THE BUDGET. SAVE OUR HOMES. THIS ONE IS FROM DAVE RASPBERRY. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO NOT INCREASE TAX RATE AT THIS TIME. BUDGET SHORTFALL, IT CAN BE WORKED OUT. THIS ONE IS FROM EMILY HOLDER. AS A ROWLETT HOMEOWNER, AN INCREASE TAX RATE OF 8% IS UNTENABLE. DOES NOT ALLOW THE TAX BASE TO TOLERATE THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE THIS RATE WOULD BE. HOMEOWNERS WOULD BE STUCK WITH A HUGE TAX BILL, IMPOSSIBLE UNEMPLOYMENT OR UNDER EMPLOYMENT IN AN ENVIRONMENT NOT CONDUCIVE. 17% DECLINE FROM LAST YEAR. AND THEN THIS PERSON CONNECTS A HYPERLINK. I WOULD MUCH PREFER TO SEE SOME CREATIVE BUDGETING TO REDUCE EXPENSES RATHER THAN PUSHING TAXPAYERS IN TO FORECLOSURE OR BANKRUPTCY. DELAYING PARK UPDATES TO MAKE THE MONEYS AVAILABLE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THAT WAS FROM SHANE AND EMILY HOLDER. THIS IS THE LAST ONE. THIS IS FROM STUART B. AS IN BOY. BE ROLLED BACK, CAPPED AT THE S- CURRENT LEVELS, REDUCED AS A RESULT OF LOTS LOSING THEIR JOBS, ET CETERA. COMPLY WITH THE STAKEHOLD ON INCREASE AT A MINIMUM. THANKS, STUART B. SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR CITIZEN INPUT FOR THE EVENING. >>> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA. [7. CONSENT AGENDA] COUNCIL HAS NOT REMOVED ANYTHING FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. SO LAURA, IF YOU COULD READ IN THE RECORD PLEASE. >> WE HAVE 7A APPROVING MINUTES. 7B, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING A RENEWAL FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES. 7C, CONSIDER A TREE MITIGATION PLAN AND RELATED TREE REMOVAL PERMIT APPLICATION. 7D, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPOINTING A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION. 7E, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A DISASTER RECOVERY MANAGEMENT CONTRACT. AND 7F, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING HAZARD MITIGATION ACTION PLAN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, LAURA. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS READ IN TO THE RECORD. >> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> MOTION A SECOND. I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE QUICK COMMENT AND THAT IS ABOUT THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION. WE APPRECIATE SO MUCH ALL OF OUR CITIZENS THAT VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE ON THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION. IT'S AN IMPORTANT TASK AND ONE THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE DONE EVERY FIVE YEARS. AND WE'RE COMING UP ON THAT DEADLINE. SO WE GREATLY, GREATLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT THREW THEIR NAME IN THE HAT FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THAT COMMISSION. AND I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR CITY CHARTER, WE HAVE 7 REGULAR MEMBERS. AND WE ALSO CHOSE TO APPOINT TWO ALTERNATES IN ADDITION TO THE SEVEN REGULAR MEMBERS. [01:15:05] SO THOSE APPOINTMENTS WERE MADE BASED ON EACH INDIVIDUAL CITY COUNCIL PERSON PUTTING FORTH THEIR RECOMMENDED PERSON TO SERVE ON THAT COMMISSION. AND THEN WE APPOINTED TWO ALTERNATES BASED ON MAJORITY VOTE. SO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC WAS AWARE OF THAT PROCESS. AND ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE I TAKE A VOTE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. AND THAT PASSES 7-0. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>> THE NEXT AND LAST ITEM ON [8A. Consider a Resolution to Calculate the Voter Approved Tax Rate Consider action to approve a resolution directing the City’s Finance Director to calculate the voter-approval tax rate of the City in the manner provided for a special taxing unit (at a voter-approval rate of 8%) due to the declarations of disaster by the Governor of Texas and the President of the United States.] THE AGENDA IS ITEM 8A WHICH IS CONSIDER ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY'S FINANCE DIRECTOR TO CALCULATE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE OF THE CITY IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR A SPECIAL TAXING UNIT AT THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE OF 8% DUE TO THE DECLARATIONS OF DISASTER BY THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. AND IS THAT GOING TO BE MS. BADGETTE? OR ARE YOU GOING TO START US OFF, BRIAN >> MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT EVERY CITY IN TEXAS IS HAVING RIGHT NOW. AND QUITE FRANKLY, ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. EVERY STATE HAS DIFFERENT RULES AND REQUIREMENTS. THIS IS ALL A PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL ALWAYS HAS ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE. AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS DISCUSSION TONIGHT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE ALTERNATIVES THAT YOU NEED BEFORE WE ENTER, FORMALLY ENTER IN TO THE DECISIONMAKING PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH WE WILL DO OVER THE NEXT SIX WEEKS OR SO. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO WENDY AND I THINK I'LL HAVE SOME FOLLOW UP COMMENTS AS WELL. >> OUR BUDGET OFFICER ROBERT KOHN IS GOING TO PRESENT THIS TO BUDGET COUNCIL TONIGHT. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, ROBERT KOHN, ROWLETT STAFF. I'M HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU DISASTER PROVISION AND BUDGET CALENDAR ITEM. >> FIRST OFF A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND IN HISTORY. WHAT IS SB-2. SENATE BILL 2 ALSO KNOWN AS THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX REFORM AND TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2019 WAS PASSED BY TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN 2019 AND BECAME EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, '22 THE POINT TO ENCOURAGE FISCAL POSSIBILITY. TO PROTECT PROPERTY TAX OWNERS, TO SLOW THE RATE OF GROWTH, AND IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY IN THE PROCESS. >> GO ON. >> THANK YOU. SO SB 2 ALSO BROUGHT WITH IT SOME NEW TERMINOLOGY. PRE-SENATE BILL 2 WE HAD A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TAX RATE TERMINOLOGIES. WE HAD THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE. THAT IS DEFINED AS THE TAX RATE NEEDED TO RAISE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE ON EXISTING PROPERTY. WITH SB-2 THAT BECAME THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. BOTH KNOWN AS THE ROLL BACK RATE. THAT WAS THE TAX RATE NEEDED TO RAISE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE AS THE PRIOR YEAR PLUS 8%. AFTER THE PASSAGE OF SB-2, THAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE. >> THANKS A LOT. >> SOME MAJOR COMPONENTS OF SB-2, FIRST IT LOWERS THE TAX RATE THAT A CITY CAN ADOPT WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL BY LOWERING THE MULTIPLIER FROM 8% TO 3.5%. SB-2 REQUIRES AN AUTOMATIC ELECTION IF APPROVES ABOVE 3.5%. WHAT THAT MEANS IN A NUTSHELL IS BEFORE SB 2 IF A CITY ADOPTED A TAX RATE, EXCEEDING ROLL BACK RATE, VOTERS COULD PETITION FOR A ROLLBACK ELECTION. AND THAT ROLLBACK ELECTION WAS NOT HELD ON A UNIFORM ELECTION DATE. NOW WITH THE PASSAGE OF SB-2, IF A CITY ADOPTS A TAX RATE [01:20:04] EXCEEDING THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, WHICH IS NOW 3.5%, THE CITY MUST HOLD AN AUTOMAIC ELECTION, AND THE TAX RATE APPROVAL ELECTION IS TO BE HELD ON THE NOVEMBER UNIFORM ELECTION DATE. THE POINT OF THIS ENHANCED TRANSPARENCY AND ALSO APPRAISAL REFORMS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. NOW THERE'S A BUNCH OF INTERACTIONS IN THOSE CHANGES THAT JUST HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE LEGISLATION THAT GOVERNORS THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE TAX PROCESS AND OF COURSE THE ELECTION PROCESS. SO THESE ARE THREE DIFFERENT PIECES OF LEGALESE THAT ARE NOW WORKING TOGETHER OR AGAINST EACH OTHER. SO THE BUDGET IS GOVERNED BY TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 102 PRIMARILY. THE TAX RATE IS GOVERNED BY TEXAS TAX CODE CHAPTER 26. AND SETTING THE TAX RATE IS PART OF AND GOVERNED BY TEXAS ELECTION CODE SECTION 3.005. AND THESE ARE THE THREE PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT SET THE DIFFERENT DATES AND TIMES AND RESULT IN THE BUDGETS CALENDAR THAT'S COMING UP HERE ON THE NEXT SLIDE. AND I CAN GO BACK OVER ALL THOSE INDIVIDUAL TAX CODE SECTIONS IF COUNCIL SO CHOOSES. I WAS JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT. WE COULD GO BACK LATER IF YOU'D LIKE. BUDGET CALENDAR. SO THIS IS THE BUDGET CALENDAR AS WE CURRENTLY STAND. IF THE TAX RATE ADOPTION WILL TRIGGER AN AUTOMATIC ELECTION. THAT'S ONE THAT EXCEEDS THE 3.5% VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE. THE MAIN DEADLINE THERE IS AUGUST 17TH. THAT'S THE DEADLINE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET, ADOPT THE TAX RATE AND THEN CALL ON ELECTION, WHICH IS AUTOMATIC IF YOU EXCEED THE 3.5%. IF THE ADOPTED TAX RATE IS NOT APPROVED IN THE ELECTION, THE CITY THEN MUST AUTOMATICALLY REDUCE THE TAX RATE TO THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE. THAT TAX RATE IS THE 3.5%. NEXT SLIDE. SO SB-2, AS LEGISLATION DOES CONTAIN A DISASTER PROVISION. NOW WHAT THIS DISASTER PROVISION DOES IS PERMITS A CITY TO DIRECT A DESIGNATED OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE TO CALCULATE THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE USING 8% INSTEAD OF THE 3.5% IF ANY PART OF THE CITY IS LOCATED IN AN AREA DECLARED A DISASTER AREA DURING THE CURRENT TAX YEAR BY THE GOVERNOR OR BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. AND THEN THIS REMAINS FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS AND POSSIBLY THREE YEARS. SO WHAT THIS DOES IS IT RAISES THE NO NEW REVENUE AND THE NO FROM 3.5 TO 8. NEXT SLIDE. WITHOUT TRIGGERING AN ELECTION. WE DID RECEIVE SOME SB-2 DISASTER PROVISION GUIDANCE. THIS IS FROM TML. TML SENT THIS OUT TO SOME CITIES. THE QUESTION POSED WAS DOES SB-2 MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE VOTER APPROVAL CALCULATION. AND THE ANSWER FROM TML IS THAT YES, IT DOES UNDER THE STATUTE ADDED BY SB-2, CITY COUNCIL MAY DIRECT A DESIGNATED OFFICER TO CALCULATE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR A SPECIAL TAXING UNIT, IT HAS TO BE 8% RATE INSTEAD OF A 3.5% RATE. IF ANY PART OF THE CITY IS LOCATED IN AN AREA DECLARED A DISASTER AREA DURING THE CURRENT YEAR BY THE GOVERNOR OR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. NEXT SLIDE. SO WHAT HAPPENED WITH COVID-19? SO COVID-19 ESSENTIALLY TRIGGERED THE SB-2, THE ABILITY TO USE THE SB-2 DISASTER PROVISION. I WANT IT CLEAR THERE. MARCH 13TH, GOVERNOR ISSUES A PROCLAMATION DECLARING A DISASTER STATEWIDE. THE PRESIDENT ALSO DECLARED A NATIONAL EMERGENCY. DISASTER IS DEFINED IN THE GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 418004 AS THE OCCURRENCE OR IMMINENT THREAT OF WIDESPREAD DAMAGE OR LOSS OF LIFE OR PROPERTY RESULTING FROM NATURAL OR MANMADE CAUSE INCLUDING FIRE, [01:25:05] FLOOD, EARTHQUAKE, WIND, STORM, WAVE ACTION, OIL SPILL OR OTHER WATER CONTAMINATION, VOLCANIC ACTIVITY, EPIDEMIC AIR CONTAMINATION, BLIGHT, DROUGHT, INFESTATION, EXPLOSION, RIOTILIY ACTION, EXTREME HEAT, CYBER SECURITY EVENT, OTHER PUBLIC CALAMITY REQUIRING EMERGENCY ACTION OR ENERGY EMERGENCY. CITY MAY OPT IN TO SB-2 DISASTER EXEMPTION BY DIRECTING A DESIGNATED OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE TO CALCULATE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE. THIS IS POSITIONED IN SB-2'S LEGISLATION ABOUT FURTHER DISASTER PROVISION. WE REACHED OUT TO COUNCIL FROM TML, TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE TO SEE WHAT THEIR OPINION WAS. AS OF MAY 5TH, THEIR OPINION HELD THAT THE COVID-19 DISASTER DECLARATIONS DID ALLOW FOR CITIES TO OPT IN TO THE DISASTER PROVISION OF SB-2. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE ALSO CHECKED WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL TO GET THEIR INPUT ON AND GUIDANCE AS TO THEIR INTERPRETATIONS OF THE PROVISIONS. AND THEY AGREED WITH TML'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND ADVISED THAT COVID-19, THAT WOULD QUALIFY AS A DISASTER UNDER SB-2 AND WOULD ALLOW THE CITY THE ABILITY TO PUT IN FORTH THE DISASTER PROVISION. >> ROBERT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT REAL CLEAR. I THINK YOU SAID CITY COUNCIL, AND WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY IS CITY ATTORNEY. >> OH, I'M SORRY. YES. >> I KNOW ATTORNEY AND COUNCIL ARE INTERCHANGEABLE. >> NOT THE SAME THING. I APOLOGIZE. WE SPOKE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. >> THANK YOU. >> I'M USED TO COMING FROM THE COUNTY SO WE HAVE COUNTY COUNCIL AND A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. SO I GOT MY COUNCILS MIXED UP. >> DON'T MISTAKE DAVID FOR US OR VICE VERSA. >> I THOUGHT I GOT A PROMOTION. >> I'LL DO MY BEST. >> NO, YOU'RE GOOD. THANK YOU, ROBERT. >> NEXT SLIDE. AND NEXT SLIDE AGAIN, PLEASE. I GOT IT DUPLICATED IN THERE. THANK YOU. SO WHAT WERE SOME OTHER CITIES DOING? WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THEM BRIAN PROBABLY HAS MORE EXAMPLES AFTER THIS. A COUPLE OF THEM HERE. LONG VIEW CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO GO AND MOVE FORWARD THROUGH ROLLBACK RATE, AS DID THE COUNCIL FOR SAN MARCOS TO CALCULATE THE 8% TAX RATE. NEXT SLIDE HERE. THANK YOU. THIS IS REALLY THE KEY EMPHASIS FOR ME. THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THIS PROCESS AND WHAT ACTUALLY IS HAPPENING HERE. THIS IS THE ONE THAT'S REALLY KEY TO ME. AND I'M GOING TO PROBABLY -- I'LL EXPLAIN HOW THIS CALENDAR IMPACTS THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR THAT WE SAW EARLIER. SO THE MAIN BENEFITS OF SB2 AT THE MOMENT ARE CHANGES THE CALENDAR. AND ALL OF THE INTERACTION OF THE LEGISLATIONS THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER. THOSE THREE PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT ALL HAVE VERY SPECIFIC DATES ON THEM, DEADLINES TO WHEN THINGS HAVE TO BE DONE BECAUSE OF THE TRIGGERING OF AN ELECTION OR 3.5% RATE WITHOUT THE DISASTER PROVISION. IF THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS MOVED TO AUGUST 4 WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES CERTIFIED PROPERTY VALUES RATHER THAN ESTIMATES. THE OTHER IMPORTANT DATE IS A AFTER THE PROVISION MOVES IT MOVES THE VOTE ON TAX RATE. INVOKING THIS IS NOT SETTING A TAX RATE THE DISCUSSION FOR A LATER TIME. WHAT THIS IS DOING IS SETTING THE RATES AND CHANGING THE DATES BASED UPON THE LEVEL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR AN ELECTION. THIS MOVES THE VOTE ON THE TAX RATE FROM AUGUST 17 TO SEPTEMBER 15. [01:30:07] WHAT IS THIS TIMING DO? IT MOVES EVERYTHING BACKWARDS AND MOVES THE DECISION-MAKING BACKWARDS. IS A BETTER ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT. AS I MENTIONED THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL INCLUDE PROPERTY VALUES THAT ARE CERTIFIED RATHER THAN ESTIMATES. CLICKS NOTED TAX RATE DOESN'T MEAN THERE IS A REVENUE TAX RATE. MEANS YOU CAN ADOPT ANYWHERE UP TO 8% WITHOUT AN ELECTION BUT JUST IN PRIOR YEARS WHAT IS ADOPTED IS ACTUALLY UP TO THE CITY. THIS DOES ALLOW THE COUNCIL AND STOPPED AT THE BEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS RATHER THAN FORCING DECISIONS WITH LIMITED PREDICTIONS AND ESTIMATIONS. THAT IS THE PRESENTATION THAT WE DO HAVE THE RECOMMENDED ACTION THAT STUFF IS REQUESTING. STAFF IS REQUESTING A MOVE TO APPEAR THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY'S FINANCE DIRECTOR. THERE'S A VOTER APPROVAL RATE OF 8%. WITH THAT AND BY PRESENTATION I BELIEVE BRIAN HAS SOME WORDS HE WANTS TO SAY. >> MAN: ONE THING I DO WANT TO SAY THAT TO BE CLEAR THE RESOLUTION DOES NOT COMMEND THE CITY OF ROWLETT TO ADOPT TAX RATES THAT WILL RESOLVE AND REVENUES INCREASING BY 8%. SOMETHING PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY TO CONSIDER NEEDS BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION. COUNSEL, YOU ARE IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION HERE. AT THIS STAGE WE STILL DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE BUDGET. WE ARE DEALING WITH ABOUT $2 MILLION REVENUE SHORTFALLS THIS YEAR AND POSSIBLY A PROJECTION OF ABOUT $1.8 MILLION SHORTFALL NEXT YEAR. WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A SIX-MONTH ISSUE, TWELVE-MONTH ISSUE OR IF WIND UP WITH A TWO-YEAR RECESSION. THERE STILL INFORMATION YOU DO NOT KNOW. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. WITH THE ACCELERATED SCHEDULE WE HAVE TO STAY ON IF WE WERE TO EXCEED THE 3 AND A HALF% WE WILL HAVE TO END UP HAVING PRESENTING THE BUDGET IN MID JULY WHEN WE STILL DON'T EVEN HAVE THE FINAL CERTIFIED VALUE. IT'S A MONTH AHEAD OF WHAT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN THE NORMAL SCHEDULE. THIS IS ABOUT PRESERVING OPTIONS IF WE NEED TO DO SO. WE ARE NOT ADVOCATING EITHER THE. THANK YOU R. >> WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THIS IS A REALLY COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUE A DIFFICULT TIME. I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF UNDERSTANDING OF SP2 AS MOST OF US DO. IT IS VERY COMPLEX. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE OTHER PEOPLE A CHANCE TO TALK FIRST. >> I GUESS I WILL TALK. OKAY BLAKE GO AHEAD. >> I'LL TALK AFTER YOU THAT'S NO PROBLEM. >> I WILL NOT SUPPORT BUT THE [01:35:02] THING TAX TRADE THAT WILL RESULT IN INCREASED REVENUE AROUND 8% LET ALONE OVERTURNING HALF PERCENT. I WILL SUPPORT THE APPROVAL OF FORMALLY ADOPTING THE DISASTER POSITION. IT IS SIMPLE BECAUSE WE'RE LIVING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES THAT REQUIRE FOCUS, ACCURACY AND SENSITIVITY WHICH WILL NOT BE DONE UNDER THE SP2 CALENDAR IF WE DID NOT ADOPT THE PROVISION THIS IS THE WORST TIME TO BE RUSHING A BUDGET WITH THE RISK OF MISCONDUCT LETTING PROPERTY VALUES RESULTING IN US HAVING TO COME BACK TO ADOPT A BUDGET AMENDMENT BEFORE WE ARE EVEN THROUGH 2021. IT'S POTENTIALLY FORCING A STAY-AT-HOME ORDER WHICH WOULD CAUSE UNDENIABLE DAMAGE TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND CITY OPERATIONS WORSE THAN BEFORE. AS EASY AS IT WOULD BE TO MAKE A POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT DECISION TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH SP2 I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A CONSEQUENTIAL MISTAKE AND WOULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR CITY WHICH I WILL NEVER SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I UNDERSTAND THE PRESENTATION AS ITS PRESENTED HERE. I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH IT. ONE THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS VERY AWARE IS THAT YOU HAVE TO OPT IN IN THE YEAR OF A DISASTER DECLARATION. I'M GONNA BE TALKING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF MY MOUTH HERE AND THAT'S NECESSARY BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE BUT HE HAS THE FACTS. IF WE DON'T OPT INTO THE DISASTER DECLARATION THIS YEAR WE UNNECESSARILY HAVE THAT OPTION NEXT YEAR FOR THE YEAR AFTER IF THERE IS NO LONGER DISASTER DECLARATIONS IN EFFECT. IT'S IN EFFECT AS OF 2021. I SAID THAT WRONG, WE DON'T NECESSARILY. YOU HAVE TO OPT IN TO THIS DISASTER DECLARATION IN THE CALENDAR. IN THE FISCAL YEAR OR CALENDAR? >> IN THE FISCAL YEAR IN THE FISCAL YEAR IN WHICH THERE IS A DISASTER DECLARATION. . THIS IS POTENTIALLY A DECISION FOR THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS ALSO. IT'S A LOT CARY TO BE SITTING HERE TO MAKE DECISIONS ODAY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT AND THEN TRYING TO EXTRAPOLATE THOSE TO FUTURE YEARS. THAT'S ONE SIDE OF MY MOUTH. THE OTHER SIDE OF MY MOUTH IS I WILL NOT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT SUPPORT A BUDGET ABOVE A 3 AND A HALF% EFFECTIVE TAX RATE THIS YEAR. I HAVE ONE OF SEVEN VOTES. I SEE NO NEED AND IF WE WERE TO HAVE A TAX RATE ABOVE 3 AND A HALF% IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR I WOULD WANT TO GO TO THE. I SEE NO NEED TO OPT INTO THE DISASTER DECLARATION THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR. OUR ECONOMY AND OUR CITIZENS CANNOT SUSTAIN A TAX RATE INCREASE ABOVE 3 AND A HALF% EFFECTIVE RATE THIS YEAR AND IF WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS I WANT THE VOTERS TO HAVE A VOTE NOW. THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO USE THE ACCELERATED CALENDAR BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GO FOR A VOTE ANYWAY. I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT WE HAVE TO OPT IN TO HAVE THE [01:40:01] DIFFERENT CALENDAR. DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. THE ONLY REASON WE HAVE TO LOCK AND HAVE A DIFFERENT CALENDAR IS IF WE HAD A PLAN TO POTENTIALLY GO ABOVE THREE AND HALF PERCENT. >> THE QUESTION IS NOT CONFUSED. >> IT'S BEEN PRESENTED THAT IF YOU OPT AND YOU HAVE THIS ONE CALENDAR AND YOU HAVE MORE TIME TO FIGURE OUT REAL NUMBERS ON THE BUDGET PROCESS AND TIMING. CERTAINLY IF YOU OPT IN TO THE DISASTER DECLARATION YOU DO HAVE THAT MUCH MORE TIME. THAT MORE TIME IS IRRELEVANT IF YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO GO OVER THE 3 AND A HALF% ANYWAY. >> I GUESS I'M LOST. >> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO TO A VOTE. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GO TO A VOTE CAST THE VOTERS THIS YEAR TO APPROVE A RATE ABOVE 3 AND A HALF%. >> THIS IS AN OPINION THAT I'M SAYING BUT YOU ALSO STATED THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT ABOVE 3 AND A HALF%. IT DOESN'T MATTER. >> I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IT DOES BECAUSE THIS IS A WRONG TIME TO BE RUSHING A BUDGET. >> THE THING. YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUSH THE BUDGET. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GO TO THE VOTERS TO GO OVER 3 AND A HALF% SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO DECLARE A TAX RATE. >> THE ONLY REASON YOU ARE GUESSING ON THAT IS THE CALL ABOUT QUICK SO MAYBE I'M EITHER LOST. >> OR WE'RE ABOUT TO CLEAR MY TOPIC. >> ACTUALLY YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.IF WE DON'T GO ABOVE 3 AND A HALF% THERE IS NO ELECTION AND IT DOES NOT MATTER. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF HAVING THIS DISCUSSION IS THAT IT WOULD TAKE THIS ACTION TO PRESERVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AND AS HE VERY CLEARLY SAID EARLIER THIS QUALIFIES AS A DISASTER AND YOU HAVE TO OPT IN THIS YEAR IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT EFFECTIVE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS. IF WE DO NOT GO ABOVE 3 AND A HALF% REGARDLESS THEN YOU ARE RIGHT. THE CALENDAR DOESN'T MATTER, THE SCHEDULE DOESN'T MATTER IS THERE WON'T BE AN ELECTION. LET'S JUST SAY WE GOT TO AUGUST AND COUNCIL WANTED TO ADOPT A 4% BUDGET. NOW YOU HAVE AN ELECTION. WE ASKED THEM TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT ABOUT NOT WEARING ABOUT 3 AND A HALF% NOW WHEN YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION. >> THAT IS THE ANSWER.> I WAS DEFINITELY MISINFORMED OR CONFUSED ABOUT THIS. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL THE BUDGET CALENDAR WOULD NOT PRESENT AN ISSUE IN THAT STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT. NOW I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THAT ALLEVIATED MY MAIN CONCERN WHICH WILL UNDERPIN AND SO NOW I'M KIND MOTHER BECAUSE SHE HAS HER HAND RAISED. MY OTHER POINT IS THAT ALSO CAUSES A COMMITMENT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. MY PERSONAL POINT IS VOTERS INVOLVED IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS WE GOT THE 3 AND A HALF%. THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION. >> I MAY BE PERMITTED TO DO SOMETHING BUT THAT DOESN'T [01:45:02] NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT'S THE BEST THING FOR ME. I FEEL LIKE THAT APPLIES HERE. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THIS OPTION TO GO TO THE 8% BECAUSE OF THE DISASTER DECLARATION OUR WHOLE DISCUSSION IN OUR BUDGET SESSION IS FOCUSED ON THE POSITION THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS IN. YES THE CITY IS A SILK SHORTFALL BUT SO DO MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS IS JUST NOT THE TIME TO RAISE OUR TAX RATE ABOVE 3 AND A HALF%. WE WANT TO EXPLORE OPTIONS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN 3 AND A HALF AND ZERO AND JUST SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. I TOO HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THE SCHEDULING ISSUE. TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN ELECTION AND WE HAVE KIND OF DISCUSSED THAT WE WANT TO NOT GO OVER THE 3 AND A HALF%, I DON'T SEE ANY BENEFIT IN APPROACHING THE ESTIMATE AND DISASTER DECLARATION WITH THE PERCENT. I AGREE WITH THE MARY THAT IF WE DO IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS WANT TO GO OVER THAT 3 AND A HALF% THEN WE TAKE IT TO THE VOTERS. I BELIEVE THAT'S THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. THAT WAS A LEGISLATION THAT PASSED AND SO I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO LIVE WITH THAT. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING PASSING THIS RESOLUTION. >> THANK YOU MARTHA. >> IS THE THREE YEARS. I HEAR YOUR VOICES IN MY HEAD AND HAVE TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR TODAY AND I TRY TO THINK ABOUT THAT. WHEN I TRY TO THINK OF ALSO IS IF WE CONTINUE TO GO UNDER RECESSION AND WE GO DOWN. I AGREE. THIS YEAR HE CANNOT GO OVER. LET'S SAY 2 TO 3 YEARS WERE STILL IN A RECESSION AND YOU'RE GOING TO PUT OURSELVES IN A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE TO CUT'S OFFICERS OR OTHER PEOPLE. YOU MIGHT NEED TO DO 4 AND A HALF OR 5% ONE YEAR TO GET ZERO WE ARE ESSENTIALLY, I CAN TAKE THE VOTERS THAT I HAVE A FEELING THAT AT THE BEGINNING PROBABLY WON'T ON THE FOREFRONT. LEAVING A LITTLE BIT OF THE STATISTICS I DON'T KNOW WHEN I AM ON THE FENCE ON THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. TWO OR THREE YEARS FOR NOW LEAVES OPEN THAT OPTION THAT IF WE DO OPT INTO IT WE HAVE THAT OPTION IF WE NEEDED TO GET THROUGH THE YEAR OR TWO BECAUSE WE ARE IN A RECESSION LIKE BRIAN'S. WE WE NEED THAT EXTRA PERCENT HALF. THAT WAY WE ARE ABLE TO NOT CUT SOME VERY VITAL SERVICES. THAT'S THE ONE HOLD THAT I HAVE. TO BE HONEST I DON'T KNOW WHERE I LAY RIGHT NOW. >> THANK YOU MATT. MARTHA USED TO LOVE YOUR HAND UP. >> WOMAN: YES I DO. >> LET ME GO TO PAM FIRST IF THAT'S OKAY. >> SURE. >> GO AHEAD PAM. >> WOMAN: IF WE OPT IN, DOES IT HAVE TO GO UP TO 8%? THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING. WE CAN LEAVE IT AT 3 AND A HALF%.. WE MIGHT NEED IT NEXT YEAR. >> IT'S JUST A REALLY TOUGH MESSAGE. >> THE LANGUAGE IS WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PROVE THIS RESOLUTION. WE'RE STUCK WITH THE LANGUAGE [01:50:04] THAT WE NEED TO HAVE PARTICULARLY TO FOLLOW THE STATUTE. TO YOUR POINT NOW IT IS NOT AUTOMATIC. HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS. IF WE APPROVE THIS AND IF THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR OR EVENÁIS YOUR COUNSEL ABOVE 3 AND A HALF% IT WOULD NOT TRIGGER AN ELECTION UNLESS THE ONE ABOVE 8%. THAT IS WHAT THIS REALLY DOES AND IT'S THE UNCERTAINTY OF THAT IS THE ISSUE. I'M PRETTY CERTAIN THIS TEXT I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF LIMITING OUR OPTIONS. I'M JUST KIND OF LEANING IN THAT DIRECTION SIMPLY BECAUSE I DO AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. AT SOME POINT OUR CITIZENS NEED TO HAVE A SAY IN THIS. THEY NEED TO HAVE BILLIONS. I THINK THE NUMBER OF COMMENTS THAT WE GOT TONIGHT IS INDICATIVE OF THE CONCERN THAT OUR CITIZENS HAVE THAT WE MIGHT BULLDOZE THROUGH THIS. I THINK THEY HAVE A MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT. I THINK THEY PROBABLY FEEL LIKE WE WOULD BE APPROVING THE PERCENT IF WE PASS THIS. YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER CONCERNS THAT ARE BEING EXPRESSED IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT THEY ARE WANTING TO HAVE A SAY IN THIS. >> I TOTALLY OR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING MARTHA BUT THERE IS A LACK OF EDUCATION WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN REALIZE WHETHER WE GO TO 8% OR 3 AND A HALF% THIS YEAR OR NOT IT'S NOT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THEIR APPRAISALS WHICH IS THE ULTIMATE DRIVER OF WHAT THEIR TAX BILL IS GOING TO BE. >> HERE WE ARE AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH TAKING IT TO THE VOTERS. I WOULD NEED TO TAKE SOMETHING TO THE VOTERS THAT IS UNEDUCATED. THAT COSTS US TO REDUCE SAFETY WITHIN OUR CITY. >> IT COULD BE WORSE AFTER THE NEXT SESSION. >> IF WE HAVE VALID REASONS TO INCREASE TAXES AND THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR OVER THE HALF PERCENT EFFECTIVE TAX RATE SHAME ON US. ESPECIALLY IF WE CAN GET THAT MESSAGE QUICKLY TOWARD RESIDENCE. >> IS KIND OF OUR JOB TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. THE SENATE BILL TWO IS SO CONFUSING. ROBERT YOU DID A GREAT JOB. HE DID A GREAT JOB PRESENTING IT BUT IT IS VERY HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT IS TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE THAT PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING THIS OUT. >> I SAW TODAY THAT PEOPLE THINK THAT WE ARE RAISING THE TAX RATE BY 8% TONIGHT.> THEY DO. >> PAM YOU HAVE A HAND UP AGAIN? >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT WE LIVE IN RALEIGH ALSO. WHATEVER WE VOTE ON FIXES US TO. WITH MANY OF HER CITIZENS THEY DON'T READ. THEY DON'T EVEN CARE TO LOOK AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES. [01:55:11] I DO BELIEVE I'M JUST NOT SURE. THAT IS MY OPINION AND I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF A TAX INCREASE THIS YEAR BUT I AM IN FAVOR OF THE PERCENT HAVING THE OPTION. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IT PIGEONHOLES US FOR THE NEXT 2 TO 3 YEARS AND WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO WITHOUT GOING TO THE ELECTRIC TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING PASSED. IT'S HAVING THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY THAT. YOU CAN CERTAINLY SAY THAT THAT WOULD GO FOR EITHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE. IF THE EXISTING PROJECT THAT WE'VE HAD FOR YEARS AND WE STILL HAVE TO JUSTIFY A PERCENTAGE THAT IS HIGHER THAN WHAT THE NO NEW TAX PIECES. WITH MY EXPERIENCE NOT KNOWING WHAT CAN HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS FINANCIALLY SCARES ME ESPECIALLY WITH PROPERTY TAX VALUES NEXT YEAR AND THEN EVEN THE YEAR AFTER THAT. WITH THE REOCCURRENCE OF CORONAVIRUS AND OTHER THINGS HAPPENING. I THINK WE WOULD BE BETTER POSITIONED AS A CITY TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY SHOULD WE NEED IT. I REALLY FALL DOWN ON THE SIDE OF HAVING THE 8% IF WE NEED IT. WE CERTAINLY DON'T THAT WE KEEP IT AT 3 AND A HALF BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY. >> I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE BY ONE INTERVIEW IN A CAMBER WHICH ONE. THE LEGISLATION PUT THIS IN PLACE AND IT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED BY THE TAXPAYERS ACROSS THE STATE TO HAVE A SAY ON A YEAR-BY-YEAR BASIS IF THE TAX RATE WAS GOING TO GO ABOVE 3 AND A HALF%. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER COMMENTS. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD BEFORE WE ASK FOR MOTION? DOES ANYONE MAKE A MOTION? I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO GIVE SOMEONE OFF THE FLOOR TO MAKE A MOTION. >> I WILL MAKE A MOTION MAYOR. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE AND APPROVE THE 8% POTENTIAL. I'M READING THAT WRONG. NEED TO LOOK AT. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION DIRECTING WITH AN APPROVAL RATE OF THE CITY AND THE MINUTE PROVIDING FOR SPECIAL TAXING UNIT. [02:00:01] IT'S A VOTER APPROVAL RATE OF 8%. >> IN A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND? >> I SECOND. >> A MOTION BY MATT AND A SECOND BY WHITNEY. DO YOU WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION? >> NO. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OF THE DISCUSSION COUNSEL? >> I WILL SAY JUST THIS LAST THING. WHITNEY I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE BECAUSE IT KIND OF TOOK ME OVER TO ONE SIDE. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH MARY THAT THIS 3 AND A HALF% DID PASS OVERWHELMINGLY FROM THE VOTERS. THIS PROVISION WAS PUT IN THERE IN CASE OF A DISASTER. I MYSELF AS ARE COMMITTED TO ABSOLUTELY FOR THIS YEAR. WE'RE LOOKING AT A 3 AND A HALF% BUDGET. I THINK I'M GOING TO SUPPORT GOING AHEAD AND SUPPORTING THIS SO THAT WE DO HAVE THE OPTION. >> IS THE SAME THING THAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID. I STILL WANT TO PUT US INTO TWO SIDE OF A WHOLE. IT'S OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS IF W HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION. >> IS WHEN I AGREE AGREE WITH MARTHA AND MATT. WHITNEY THAT IS SO TRUE. YOU NEVER KNOW. WE JUST NEVER KNOW. THAT'S IT. >> ANY OF THE DISCUSSION? >> CALL TO VOTE FOR THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THE MOTION PASSES. YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED BRIAN AND WENDY. >> THANK YOU MA'AM AND THINKING COUNSEL. >> WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO HELP OUR PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT STORY TO TELL. WE NEED TO BE COMMITTED TO HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PASS. HELP ME WITH HELPING EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PROVISION IS OUT THERE AND WHY IT PASSED TONIGHT. >> I THINK YOU MAKE A REALLY GOOD POINT THERE MAYOR. A LOT OF TIMES WE DO LET YOU TAKE THE LEAD ON EXPLAINING THIS AND THIS IS A CASE WHERE I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HELP GET THE INFORMATION OUT THERE. >> I THINK WITH OTHER MAJOR ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE CITY WE CAN CERTAINLY DEVELOP AN FH YOU WHICH WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AS WELL AS PUTTING TOGETHER A SPECIAL ISSUE TO ADDRESS THAT ALONG WITH THE [02:05:06] BUDGET. >> REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TOUGH DISCUSSION TONIGHT.T WAS TOUGH DECISIONS TONIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.