[00:00:01]
IT'S 2:23.WE WILL HAVE OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM OF MEMBERS.
[1. Roll Call - Announcement of a Quorum]
SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AS I SAID 2:23.MEMB FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF DALLAS COUNTY BOARD OF TRUSTEES WEBSITE TO REGISTER TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
PORTIONS WILL BE GIVEN FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS BROADCAST OVER THE INTERNET.
AUDIO RECORDING AND TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING ARE BEING MADE AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AFTER THE BOARD'S WEBSITE AFTER THE MEETING AT A LATER DATE.
[2. Certification of Notice Posted for the Meeting]
>>> CAN WE CONFIRM THE MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW?
>> THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 551 OF THE TEXAS CODE.
AS W BIT EARLIER TODAY, TOO, WE HAVE LATER THIS MONTH, WE HAVE A GOOD PLANNING SESSION THAT I THINK WILL BE VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE, VERY HELPFUL FOR US.
BUT SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS AND I GUESS WE WANT TO START WITH THE SAFETY AND SECURITY FIRST.
>> DIRECTOR, CAN YOU CONFIRM WE DON'T HAVE CITIZENS TO SPEAK.
>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU SAID.
>> OFF THE RECORD I HEARD YOU SAY.
(LAUGHTER) (SIMULTANEOUS SPEAKING)
[4.1. Safety & Security Update]
>> I'LL START BY SAYING AS YOU SEE A CROSSSECTION OF WHAT IS WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY AROUND HERE, ASSISTANT CHIEF ASHFORD, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
AND SHARON DAVIS, WHO LEADS OUR -- OFFICE, AND SO THEY ALL ARE ENGAGED WITH LOOKING AT DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF SAFETY AND SECURITY OPERATIONS.
THE BOARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION LAST MONTH, WE HAD OUR UPDATE WITH CHIEF HILL ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
AND WE WILL GET INTO SOME OF THEM WITH THIS MEETING AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY, SAFETY AND SECURITY IS ON EVERYONE'S MIND THESE DAYS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF BEHIND-THE-SCENES WORK THAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND THE COMMUNITY SAFE AS THEY'RE ON OUR CAMPUS.
I APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK THESE FOLKS DO.
YOU'LL HEAR SOME OF THE DETAILS AROUND THAT.
ROB, ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO ADD?
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD OTHER THAN THE FACT WE HAVE THREE REPRESENTATIVE TO SAY ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITH YOU.
THEY'RE IMPORTANT AFTER THE TRAGIC EVENTS IN UVALDE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
SO T FROM PERIODIC SECURITY BRIEFINGS THAT OCCUR IN CLOSED SESSION, AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW, ABOUT SOME OF OUR SECURITY MEASURES.
WE DO THOSE IN CLOSED SESSION AS WE ARE ALLOWED TO.
WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT OUR PREPAREDNESS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING REGARDING THE IMPORTANT ISSUES, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME.
I'LL CHURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CHIEF ASHFORD TO LEAD US OFF.
GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD AND CHANCELLOR.
I'M GOING TO BASICALLY COVER THE
[00:05:01]
OVERVIEW OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.AND SOME OF THIS THE BOARD HAS SEEN AT THE PRESENTATION LAST MONTH.
THIS IS JUST AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU COVERED.
SO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE BUILT ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING.
WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUCTORS.
ALL OFFICERS HAVE GONE THROUGH.
INCLUDING NEW OFFICERS COMPLETE ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING AT THE ACADEMY.
WE'LL ENHANCE THE SKILLS OF THE OFFICERS WITH VARIOUS TRAINING DURING THE ARMS TRAINING SESSIONS TO BEYOND JUST THE STANDARD QUALIFICATION REQUIRED BY THE STATE.
THOSE ARE THE ELECTRONIC CONDUCTED WEAPONS, WHERE I'M SURE EVERYONE HAS SEEN THOSE OFFICERS CARRY THOSE ON THEIR BELTS.
IT'S USE OF FORCE FOR OFFICERS.
GIVES THEM ALTERNATIVE USE TO SUBDUE SOMEBODY VERSUS USING A FIREARM.
ALSO CAMERAS IN AN IN-CAR CAMERA SYSTEM TO DOCUMENT OFFICERS' INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC.
WE C REVIEW IN 2018 AND ALSO WE COMPLETED OUR STAFFING ANALYSIS IN 2019.
SOME ACCOMPLISHED SINCE THE INTEGRATION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IN 2019, WE EXECUTED MOU'S TO INCLUDE DALLAS COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CAMPUSES AND CENTERS HAVE MOUS WITH THEM.
AND ALSO, WE HAVE RELEASED THE RAVE GUARDIAN APP IN 2019 TO HELP MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS AWARE OF INCIDENTS THAT OCCUR VIA STUDENTS, PARENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, ET CETERA.
>> IT IS AN APP THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO SHOOT OFF NOTIFICATIONS TO THOSE WHO HAVE IT ON THEIR SMARTPHONES.
>> ON THE SMARTPHONES THERE'S AN APPLICATION.
>> THAT, I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I CAN'T RECALL RIGHT NOW THIS SECOND HERE.
ONE PROUD OUT AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN LAST YEAR, 2021, ACHIEVED TPCA, TEXAS POLICE CHIEF ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION.
THAT CERTIFICATION IS SIMILAR TO NATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS.
THIS IS FOCUSED ON STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
BASICALLY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IS UP TO SNUFF BASED ON THE BEST POLICIES AND PROCEDURES DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING, SUCH AS USE OF FORCE, DOCUMENTATION, ET CETERA.
WE BEGAN PHASE TWO IN JANUARY OF 2020.
WE'VE INSTALLED AVIGILON HARD CARE AND SOFTWARE FOR THE CAMERA SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS US TO TRACK ACTIVITY THAT BUILDS ON AND GO BACK AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING OR LOOK AT IT LIVE.
IN ADDITION, 1,500 ACCESS CONTROL POINTS INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE COLLEGE AND WE HAVE OVER 1,000 CAMERAS INSTALLED ACROSS THE COLLEGE.
AS I STATED EARLIER, WE'VE ALL GONE THROUGH ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING.
THAT IS REQUIRED BY THE STATE.
YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT LATELY IN LIGHT OF THE UVALDE SHOOTING.
THE GOVERNOR MADE MENTION OF IT IN THE NEWS.
ALL THE OFFICERS HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT OR SIMILAR LASER TRAINING, WHICH IS LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVE SHOOTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH IDENTICAL TRAINING.
ONE IS DONE BY THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND ONE IS DONE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
WE HAVE INSTRUCTORS IN LASER THAT ARE -- EASTVILLE OR -- THEY TEACH THE DEPARTMENT AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS UP TO SPEED WITH THE TYPE OF TRAINING.
WE H INTERVENTION TRAINING TRYING TO RECOGNIZE AND DEESCALATE SITUATIONS.
AGAIN, FROM USING OTHER TECHNIQUES BESIDES FORCE.
WE HAVE DONE REGIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT EXERCISES.
EXERCISES WITH OUR COLLEAGUES, COUNTERPARTS THROUGH INTERREGION, SUCH AS WITH THE F.B.I.
WE DID ONE A FEW YEARS AGO WHERE THEY BROUGHT IN THE AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND WENT THROUGH DIFFERENT SCENARIOS PROVIDING INFORMATION AND BEST PRACTICES HOW TO HANDLE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
WE A DEFENSIVE TACTICS QUALIFICATIONS.
ALSO, WE HAVE INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS ASSESSMENT AND TACTICS TRAINING.
AGAIN, THIS IS A WAY TO TRACK PEOPLE USING LESS THAN LETHAL OR USE OF FORCE TECHNIQUES.
I'M UNSURE OF JUST -- (SPE MICROPHONE)
[00:10:01]
>> JUST TO MAKE YOU AWARE -- TRAINING, ESPECIALLY ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN CASE OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER, FOR EVERYBODY -- SOME OF THAT -- (SPEAKER AWAY FROM MICROPHONE)
>> BUT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT THEY -- (SPE MICROPHONE)
>> SO BA ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION, OUR FOCUS AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CONCERNED, IS TO STOP THE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR OF THE PERSON --
>> WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE TRAINING ARE -- SECURITY -- (INDISCERNIBLE)
>> OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE DONE ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING.
>> (INDISCERNIBLE) DISTRICT WIDE?
>> W LOCATIONS, VARIOUS POINT OF SAFETY DRILLS.
SO EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS KNOW WHAT TO DO DURING ONE OF THOSE DRILLS IF SOMETHING HAPPENED.
THE TYPE OF TRAINING THAT OFFICER ASHFORD IS FOCUSING ON IS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE IN A SITUATION.
SO JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT IS BEING SAID, WE WORK WITH THE COLLEGE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR CAMPUS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM.
AND WE HAVE DRILLS AT EVERY LOCATION EACH SEMESTER.
AND WE HAD A MEETING JUST RECENTLY.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS ADD A DRILL FOR ACTIVE SHOOTER TO HAPPEN EVERY SEMESTER IN A (INDISCERNIBLE) (AUDIO INTERFERENCE)
>> THOSE WILL HAPPEN AT EVERY LOCATION.
WE CAN ADD MORE TO THE TRAINING FOR A FUTURE DATE.
>> TO ADD TO THAT, AS FAR AS ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING -- WILL CONDUCT EACH SEMESTER.
(PLEASE STAND BY FOR CAPTIONER)
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE TRAINING.
SO YOU SAID THE STATE TRAINING AND THERE'S A FEDERAL THAT WE BOTH DO.
>> SO BASICALLY, WHAT WE DO IS BASICALLY -- IF WE'RE UNABLE TO GET AN ALERT TEAM THAT IS ALLOWING THE INSTRUCTORS TO DO THAT, WE WILL DO THE ALERT.
IF NOT, WE HAVE THE BACKUP, WHICH IS THE LASER.
BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE SIMILAR.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE EVERY OFFICER IS BEING TRAINED ON BOTH.
IT'S BASED ON WHAT WE COULD SCHEDULE IT AND WE DECIDE WHICH ONE IS USED.
>> SO NEXT, WE'RE STILL HOPING TO COME HERE PART OF THE REGIONAL RADIO SYSTEM.
THAT'S BEING SPEAR HEADED BY CITY OF DALLAS AND DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE THAT UP AND RUNNING LATE THIS YEAR.
[00:15:03]
THAT FOLLOWING YEAR, 2023-2024.LIKE OTHER AGENCIES WE'RE FOCUSED ON HIRING.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BENEFITS VERSUS SAYING MUNICIPAL POLICING, WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE A BETTER BALANCE OF CALL OF LIFE WITH WORK BALANCE HERE AT THE COLLEGE (INDISCERNIBLE).
AS OF YESTERDAY, WE ARE AN ABLE AGENCY.
FINALLY ON THAT, OUR -- GOING ON.
I BELIEVE THE NEXT PORTION IS FOR DR. DAVIS.
I'M SHARON DAVIS, THE CHIEF OFFICER FOR DALLAS COUNTY.
THE OFFICE OF CONTINUITY WAS CREATED IN 2021.
WE HAVE OUR MISSION TO ENSURE DALLAS COUNTY IS PREPARED FOR -- RESPONSE -- TO HELP ENSURE WE HAVE SAFER LEARNING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THAT VEIN IS WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING -- AND STANDARDIZING -- ALL DALLAS COUNTY LOCATIONS AS IT RELATE TO SAY THE SIGNAGE OF THE SAFER ZONE SIGNAGE AND -- AND ALSO EMERGENCY PROCEDURE SIGNAGE.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE FACILITIES TO GET CLASSROOMS AND ALL COMMON AREAS.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING.
THE SIGNAGE, WILL IT BE PROMINENT? IN OTHER WORDS WILL IT DRAW THE EYE?
>> SO THE EVACUATION SIGNAGE IS BOTH PROMINENT AND CONSISTENT WITH EVERY LOCATION.
BECAUSE -- MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE SIGNAGE IS THE SAME NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE.
SO THAT IF IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY AT ANY LOCATION, THEY KNOW WHAT SIGNAGE LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF THAT EMERGENCY.
AND A C R OSSFUNCTIONAL TEAM OF OUR OFFICE, POLICE FACILITIES, STUDENTS AND STAFF AND INSTRUCTION AND HAVE TEAMS OF EMPLOYEES GO TO LOCATIONS FOR SOME WORK AT THOSE LOCATIONS.
AND REVIEW POSS VULNERABILITY.
SO W THERE ALL GLASS CLASSROOMS OR ALL GLASS OFFICE SPACES OR DOORS THAT CAN'T LOCK FROM THE INSIDE.
WE MADE NOTATION OF ALL OF THAT.
THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT TYPE OF MITIGATION THEY CAN PUT IN PLACE AT THOSE LOCATIONS TO HELP US BE SAFER IN THE EVENT OF ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENT.
AS I WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CAMPUS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS. THESE ARE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO ASSIST IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
THEY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM MEMBER.
AND TRAINING TO ASSIST WITH EMERGENCIES.
DURI ARE WORKING TO HAVE -- CERT RECRUITMENT EVENTS AT ALL DALLAS COUNTY LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS WE WANT.
(PLEASE STAND BY FOR CAPTIONER)
>> SOME LOCATIONS WE DON'T OWN BUILDINGS SO WE HAVE TO DO IT THROUGH THE PHONE SYSTEM OR USE BULL HORNS.
SOME LOCATIONS WHERE WE HAVE A SECTION OF A FLOOR OR JUST A FLOOR, WE DO THOSE DRILLS WITH BULL HORNS.
SO IT DEPENDS ON THE LOCATION.
BUT IN MOST LOCATIONS, WE ARE DOING IT THROUGH A PA SYSTEM.
>> THOSE THAT ARE LOCATIONS AND NOT LEAD LOCATIONS?
[00:20:14]
>> HOW MANY LOCATIONS ARE RELEASED FOR THE FULL CAMPUS?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
>> CULINARY, FOR EXAMPLE, -- (INDISCERNIBLE)
ADDI A CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED AS A COMMITTEE TO ASSIST US IN OUR WORK.
THIS COMMITTEE, THE EMERGENCY AND CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS TEAM, IS A TEAM THAT WILL ASSIST US AS WE RESPOND TO COLLEGE-WIDE CONCERNS, WORKING WITH TEXAS CIVIL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
AND ANY OTHER MAJOR CONCERNS THAT WE MAY NEED ASSISTANCE WITH.
PEOP POLICE, FACILITIES, STUDENT SERVICES, INSTRUCTION, WORK FORCE, RISK MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS, MARKETING, NURSING.
SO AS WE NEED TO ADDRESS COLLEGE-WIDE ISSUES THAT MAY -- AS WE NEED TO RESPOND TO COLLEGE-WIDE ISSUES THAT TEXAS SCHOOL OF SAFETY MAY HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR US.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH OUR MARKETING TEAM AND THE POLICE TO UPDATE OUR PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION PLAN.
AS W DISCOVERED THERE'S PLANS IN PROCESS THE COUNTY HAD IN PLACE WE NEED TO UPDATE.
AS P PRACTICES, WE CONDUCTED RISK ASSESSMENT FOR DALLAS COUNTY.
WE ASKED ALL EMPLOYEES, LET US KNOW WHAT RISK YOU MAY BE AWARE OF THAT WE COULD BUILD ON OR MAYBE A CURRENT RISK OR SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT.
THE WE SHARED THAT WITH LEADERSHIP.
AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE AREAS WILL BE ADDRESSING CONCERNS.
THE ON COMPLETING IS THE BUSINESS IMPACT ANALYSIS.
AND THAT IS A MORE FOCUSED ANALYSIS.
WE'LL DEEP DIVE INTO THEIR OPERATIONS TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE THE KEY PROCESSES.
WHO ARE THE KEY PEOPLE? WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN PLACE IN THE EVENT? HOW MUCH DOWNTIME CAN YOU HAVE? WE'RE DOING THE DEEP DIVE.
AND AND BUSINESS IMPACT ANALYSIS, THOSE RESULTS WILL BE USED TO HELP US FORM THE CONTINUITY STRATEGIES FOR DALLAS COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
THOS THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR SO.
[00:25:01]
>> THE THINGS LIKE THE RISK ASSESSMENT, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE THIS ON OUR SCOPE AND SCALE.
(INDISCERNIBLE) MAY SEE ISSUES OF CONCERN THAT WE CAN HELP WITH.
WE MENTIONED A FEW TIMES WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO OUR PART AND KEEP EVERYTHING SAFE AND SECURE.
A COUPLE OF KEY POINTS THAT WE ARE DOING, WE'RE -- FIRE ALARMS.
>> IS THAT FOR THE PARKING LOT OR THE BUILDING?
WE WANT THEM AT NIGHT TO BE SECURE.
>> WHAT TYPE OF GATES? AT MOUNTAIN VIEW YOU HAVE SWING GATES.
DR. TIMES THE LOCATION ASSESSMENT, SHE TALKED ABOUT THE DOORS AND CLASSROOMS AND WINDOWS AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.
MY TEAM IS GOING TO LOOK AT THAT.
YOU ABOUT ACCESS CONTROL OF ALL EXTERIOR DOORS.
WE ARE WORKING TO TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER AND DO ALL THE DOORS.
THERE'S A HOST OF OTHER REASONS THAT THAT HELPS WITH AS WELL.
AND DR. DAVIS TALK ABOUT THE RISK ASSESSMENT WHERE PEOPLE SEE THINGS WRONG OR POTENTIALLY UNSAFE.
FACILITIES HAVE RECEIVED THE ONES SPECIFIC TO US.
WE'RE GOING RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES AS WELL.
I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU WHAT FACILITIES IS DOING.
>> IT'S GOOD TO SEE HOW THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ARE INTERACTING VERSUS WORKING -- INCREASE SECURITY, MITIGATE RISK.
LIABILITY AND DISPARITY STUDY.
[4.2. Availability & Disparity Study]
>> YES, WE HAD THE TEAM COME UP THE LAST TIME IN COMMITTEE IN APRIL.
WE TALKED TO THE BOARD ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY AND DISPARITY STUDY AND THE PROCESS WE'VE BEEN ENGAGED IN.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE TEAM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT AN UPDATE ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I NEED TO STAND UP HERE.
BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF TALK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY AND DISPARITY STUDY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.
MARISOL ADDRESSED THAT IN APRIL.
SO W APPROPRIATE TIME TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND TALK GENERALLY ABOUT THE REASONS FOR WORK FOR THE AVAILABILITY AND DISPARITY STUDY, WHAT IT MEANS AND HOW IT'S USED AND FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT THE COURTS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE STUDIES.
I WO GENERAL COUNSEL DESIREE TO ADDRESS THE LEGAL AS SPENTS OF THE STUDIES.
WHAT (INDISCERNIBLE) AND MARISOL IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE -- OF THE STUDY.
JOHN AND I ARE SIMPLY BOOK ITEMS FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THAT'S THE NICEST THING YOU'VE EVER SAID.
LIKE ROB SAID, I'M HERE TO DISCUSS
[00:30:02]
THE LEGAL JUSTIFICATIONS.TO DO THAT, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO DOWN A CONSTITUTIONAL -- BEAR WITH ME.
FROM WHY IS AN A & D STUDY REQUIRED? ANY TIME THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS ADOPTING A RACE-BASED PROGRAM, THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE OF THE UNITED STATES IS GOING TO BE TRIGGERED.
THE POLICY AND PROGRAM WOULD BE SUBJECT TO SCRUTINY, THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF REVIEW FEDERAL COURTS GIVE PROGRAMS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE CONSTITUTIONAL.
THE CITY OF RICHMOND VERSUS JA CLARKSON, WITH GENERAL CONTRACTING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS. IN THE CASE, THE SUPREME COURT RULED THERE MUST BE COMPELLING INTEREST TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTED PROGRAMS THAT ARE TARG MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.
ANY SORT OF SOLUTION THAT A GOVERNMENT ENTITY DESIGNED MUST BE NARROWLY TAILORED TO FIT THE INTEREST.
IN O GOVERNOR ENTITY MUST DEMONSTRATE BOTH -- OTHERWISE IN THE EVENT OF A LAWSUIT, THE PROGRAM ENACTED BY THE GOVERNMENT COULD POTENTIALLY BE INSTRUCT DOWN AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
A & D STUDIES WERE EVOKED FROM THE CONSTITUTION ENACTED BY GOVERNMENTS INTENDED TO MEDIATE DISCRIMINATION (INDISCERNIBLE).
SO T USED BY GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO EXAMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH A MINORITY CONTRACTORS ARE UNDER UTILIZED IN PRACTICES, AND WHETHER THERE'S A LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE RACE-BASED JUSTIFICATION REMEDY THEY CAN ENACT.
SO I ANALYSIS UNDER THE STRICT -- STANDARD --
SO WHEN DID THIS DECISION -- WHAT YEAR DID IT COME DOWN FROM THE SUPREME COURT?
>> IN ORDER TO DO AN ANALYSIS ON THE STANDARD, WE LOOKED AT THE COMPELLING INTEREST FROM THE EVIDENCE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL ONE COMPELLING INTEREST SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. (INDISCERNIBLE) MARKETPLACE.
ESSENTIALLY, WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE IS NOT THE NATURE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INTEREST, BUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT CAN BE USED TO SHOW THAT THE INTEREST EXISTS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT HAS TO BE EVIDENCE OF DISCRIMINATION OR EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICE, ACTIVE OR PASSIVE.
A CO THERE'S A VERY STRONG BASIS IN THE EVIDENCE -- LIKE SOMETHING BY AN A & D STUDY TO JUSTIFY THE CONCLUSION THAT -- ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT'S ENTITY'S ACTION AS NECESSARY.
THE COURT IS GOING TO PREFER STATISTICAL EVIDENCE.
IN THE CASE, THE SUPREME COURT STATED PROPER EVALUATIONARY EVIDENCE WOULD INCLUDE REVIEW OF PERCENTAGE OF MBES IN THE AREA QUELL QUALIFIED, WILLING AND ABLE, AND THE TOTAL CONTRACT DOLLARS AWARDED BY THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY TO THE TYPES OF FIRMS. ANEC INFORMATIVE AND INSTRUCTIVE.
HOWEVER, COURTS GENERALLY FOUND ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE ON ITS OWN IS INSUFFICIENT TO CREATE THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. (INDISCERNIBLE).
ESSE FINDINGS IN THE EVIDENCE AND CAREFULLY.
THE REASON IS BECAUSE EVEN WHEN COURTS HAVE FOUND AN MBE PROGRAM ADVANCES GOVERNMENT COMPELLING INTEREST, THEY WILL STRIKE IT DOWN IF THEY FIND THE PROGRAM IS NOT NARROWLY TAILORED TO FIT THEIR INTEREST.
THIS IS WHAT THE COURT FIND IN A CASE OUT OF THE FIFTH CIRCUIT, THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT THAT INCLUDES TEXAS, LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT CASE FOR THE COLLEGE.
THAT CASE WAS WH SCOTT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY VERSUS THE CITY OF (INDISCERNIBLE) THE CIRCUIT INSTRUCT DOWN A PROGRAM BASED ON A STUDY BECAUSE THE STUDY FAILED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OF THE AVAILABILITY OF MINORITY CONTRACTORS IN THE CITY OF JACKSON FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
IF Y LISTENING TO ME, WHAT DOES NARROWLY TAILORED MEAN? WE TAKE THE EVIDENCE TO CREATE A PROGRAM THAT LIMITS THE NUMBER AND TIMES OF BENEFICIARIES --
>> BEFORE YOU GET NARROWLY TAILORED, THE FIRST LINE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT MUST PROVE THAT RACIAL DIS -- (INDISCERNIBLE) WHAT IF THERE'S NO PROOF OF REMEDIAL? WHAT IF THERE'S NOBODY COMPLAINING? WHAT IF -- WHY ARE YOU GOING TO DO ANYTHING IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE FIRST LINE?
>> SO ONE THING YOU COULD DO -- YOU COULD CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES --
>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REQUIRED BEFORE A GOVERNMENT
[00:35:01]
ENTITY CAN IMPLEMENT POLICY OR PROGRAM BASED ON RACE.>> YOU HAVE ONE TRUSTEE COMPLAINING BECAUSE WE PROCURE BUSINESSES ON TAX PLAYER DOLLARS.
AND TAX PLAYERS FOUND -- DALLAS COUNTY.
WHEN SOME OF THE PROVIDERS WERE PROCURING GOODS AND SERVICES ARE NOT RETURNING TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ON EQUITABLE BASIS DEPENDING ON AVAILABILITY, THERE'S A PROBLEM.
BUT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, MOST -- COME TO ADDRESS --
>> BECAUSE I HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, I'LL BRING PEOPLE TO ADDRESS THEM.
I'M ASKING WHAT DO WE HAVE THAT HASN'T BEEN PRESENT? I KNOW WHAT YOU'VE SAID AND I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID.
AND I DON'T DISBELIEF THAT YOU SAY.
I'M SAYING WE LOOK AT THE ELEMENTS HERE, YOU USUALLY DO SOMETHING WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO DO.
IF Y TO DO, YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING.
>> I WENT TO BAYLOR, SO YOU HAVE TO --
>> YOU HAVE A HIGHER -- (SIMULTANEOUS SPEAKING)
>> ANY SUSPICIONS THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING AMISS, A GOVERNMENT ENTITY SHOULD ENGAGE.
IF THE EVIDENCE DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM, THAT'S THE ENTITY -- THAT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY PRECLUDE A GOVERNMENT ENTITY FROM CONSIDERING CERTAIN RACE MUTUAL ALTERNATIVES.
JUSTICE O'CONNOR RECOMMENDED A MUTUAL ALTERNATIVE BY BARR BUREAUCRATIC INERTIA.
(INDISCERNIBLE) THER SYNERGY, A SOLUTION THAT DOESN'T TRIGGER RACE?
>> WHAT WAS THAT THAT JUSTICE O'CONNOR, WHAT?
>> THE ELIMINATION OF FORMAL BARRIERS CAUSED BY BUREAUCRATIC INERTIA.
HOW DO YOU DO IT? YOU CREATE A PROGRAM BASED ON THE EVIDENCE THAT LIMITS THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF BENEFICIARIES ELIGIBLE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM.
AND YOU ARE REQUIRED BEFORE YOU IMPLEMENT ANY TYPE OF PROGRAM TO CONSIDER RACE NEUTRAL ALTERNATIVES.
THAT MIGHT BE SIMPLIFICATION OF -- OR THE PHASE COINED BY JUSTICE O'CONNOR, VARIOUS WAYS TO DO THAT.
ESSENTIALLY STRICT SCRUTINY IS A HIGH STANDARD.
WHEN RACE COMES INTO PLAY, THE STANDARD IS GOING TO BE HIGHER.
IT'S NOT INSURMOUNTABLE BUT VERY IMPORTANT FOR DALLAS COUNTY TO EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY TO CAREFULLY DESIGN AND MAINTAIN ANY TYPE OF SOLUTION IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE IT'S -- (INDISCERNIBLE).
>> (INDISCERNIBLE) THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE DO TAKE OUR DIRECTION FROM THE COURTS.
WE'V DISCUSSION ANECDOTALLY ABOUT PERCEPTIONS WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE FOLLOWING PRACTICES THAT ENGAGE US AND WE SHOULD BE WITH MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.
-- LOOKING AT WORKERS AND HISTORICAL USE OF MINORITY AND UNDER UTILIZED BUSINESSES.
IF WE HAVE THE SUSPICIONS WE WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE WITH REMEDY.
THAT IMPORTANT, THIS DISCUSSION HERE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE -- AND WHAT THINGS YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT BEFORE YOU COULD MAKE -- (INDISCERNIBLE) THAT IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.
I'M SORRY, MARISOL I STOLE SOME OF YOUR THUNDER.
IF WE HAVE ANECDOTAL OR PERCEPTION BASED BELIEF WE SHOULD BE DOING BETTER THAN WE ARE WITHOUT A FORMAL COMPLAINT OR LAWSUIT, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS TO HAVE THIS KIND OF STUDY TO SUPPORT.
YOU HAD SUCH A MEMORABLE CEREMONY, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WILL FORGET.
I HA IS AN A & D STUDY? WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS? WHAT ARE REDOING? I'M MARISOL ROMANY.
DIVERSITY IS ONE OF THE FOCUS AREAS.
[00:40:02]
ROLE TO PROCUREMENT TO THE BUYERS OF DALLAS COUNTY AND TO FACILITIES WHEN THEY'RE WORKING ON THE PURCHASING AND CONTRACTS.WE ARE REALLY THE CONNECTING LINK TO THE DIVERSE SUPPLIERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND OUR INSTITUTION.
I WANTED TO START BY SHARING THAT RESPONSIBILITY WITH YOU.
IN T COMPARES THE AVAILABILITY VERSUS THE UTILIZATION OF SUPPLIERS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
TO BE ABLE FOR US TO SEE WHAT THE RELATE IS FOR DALLAS COUNTY AND WHY HAVE A SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM INSTITUTED INTO THE DALLAS COUNTY, WE NEED TO FIRST NOTE WHAT ARE GAPS? THIS CAN FIND INFORMATION.
BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE LISTED HERE, WE'RE ANALYZING OUR CONTRACTING PRACTICES VERSUS WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF INEQUITIES.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INCLUSION.
SO WHO ARE WE INCLUDING FROM OUR MARKET? WHO ARE WE INSTITUTING BECAUSE OF OUR PRACTICES? AND HAVING ENOUGH INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE PARTICULAR SUPPLIERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
IN T & D STUDY, WE'RE LOOKING AT BEING ABLE TO GET ACTIONABLE DATA FOR US TO CREATE GOALS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDE DIVERSE SUPPLIERS, NOT JUST INCLUDE BUT UTILIZE DIVERSE SUPPLIERS IN OUR CONTRACTS AND ALSO IN HAD OUR SPEND TARGETS.
YOU POINT IN THE WHY HAS TO DO WITH DETERMINING THE NUMBER OF CAPABLE, ABLE AND WILLING.
IN T LOOKING AT WHAT IS THEIR FINANCIAL CAPACITY? HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK? THIS THEY HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO DO THAT WORK.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WILLING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHO ARE THE SUPPLIERS THAT ARE NOT ONLY CAPABLE BUT WOULD LIKE TO DO BUSINESS WITH DALLAS COUNTY.
WHEN ABLE, WE'RE TALKING ARE THEY AVAILABLE TO DO THE WORK? THEY CAN BE CAPABLE, THEY CAN BE WILLING BUT ARE THEY AVAILABLE TO DO THAT WORK? SO I BENEFITS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE WHY, YOU'RE ALSO IDENTIFYING THE AREAS WHERE THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET A LIST OF THIS SUPPLIERS, NOT JUST GENERAL LIST OF WHO ELSE IS OUT THERE AND OWNS A BUSINESS.
AND THAT IS KEY FOR THIS AVAILABILITY AND DISPARITY STUDY.
FOR US TO BE ABLE TO FILL OUR GAPS IN ANYTHING THAT WE FIND THROUGH OUR SPEND REPORT THAT WE FIND, WE HAVE A GAP IN ANY OF THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN DALLAS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHO IS AVAILABLE TO FILL THAT GAP.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT, SERVE AS A LEAD WITH PROCUREMENT AND BUYERS AND FACILITIES OF DALLAS COUNTY.
AND MAKE THE MATCH IN TERMS OF HERE'S A LIST OF THE ONES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PROJECT X.
NOW, THEY WILLING, ABLE, AND READY TO DO THAT WORK.
WHEN BENEFITS, THE MAIN BENEFIT IS AS DALLAS COUNTY WE'RE SAYING THAT WE WANT TO PROVIDE EQUALIZED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.
TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO CREATE A PROGRAM, ADD TO THE PROGRAM THAT WE'VE STARTED BY HAVING AN AVAILABILITY AND DISPARITY STUDY THAT GIVES US WHO IS AVAILABLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WHO CAN WE MATCH? OUR PROCUREMENT FOLKS, FACILITIES FOLKS, OUR BUYERS IN DALLAS COUNTY TO THE SPECIFIC PROJECT, CONTRACTOR IS AVAILABLE.
BECAUSE THAT LISTING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS STUDY, IS GOING TO GIVE US ACCESS AS TO HOW TO FILL THOSE GAPS, SHOULD ANY GAPS BE PRESENT.
>> MY QUESTION WOULD BE THAT THIS TYPE OF STUDY SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS VERY ADAPTIVE TO A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REGIONAL SMU HAS THAT.
[00:45:02]
I THINK IN ANY OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, DISD, I MEAN, WHAT IF YOU FIND A WAY TO -- THAT SAME VENDOR WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THEM AND CAPABLE AND WILLING AND ALL THAT, LOOKS LIKE TO ME THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT DATA AMONG INSTITUTIONS AND ACTIVITIES THAT THEY CAN PASS ON.CAN YOU RELY ON THE DATA FOR THE STUDY FROM SOMETHING ELSE? THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS DONE ONE.
>> THE QUESTION WOULD BE WHY WOULDN'T WE -- (INDISCERNIBLE)
>> HE IS CONCERNED -- INFORM OUR STUDY.
THE MAIN JUSTIFICATION FOR IT, IS IF AND WHEN THIS SORT OF POLICY IS CHALLENGED, THE COURT IS GOING TO REQUIRE THAT THE EVIDENCE BE PARTICULARIZED TO DALLAS COUNTY.
FOR INSTANCE, IN THE WH SCOTT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY CASE, THE POLICY ENACTED BY THE CITY OF JACKSON WAS FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF MINORITY CONTRACTORS WITHIN THE CITY'S OWN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
THAT IS UNANIMOUS IN HAD CASE LAW.
WHIL THINGS THAT ARE ANALOGOUS WITH CITY OF DALLAS, THE COURT IS GOING TO REQUIRE THE COLLEGE SHOW THERE'S COMPELLING INTEREST SPECIFIC TO DALLAS COUNTY -- PRACTICES AND ANY SORT OF SOLUTION IS NOT ONLY TAILORED TO DALLAS COUNTY --
AND I UNDERSTAND OUR -- BUT THE ACCESS TO WHAT -- SELECT FROM COULD BE A COMMON POOL BECAUSE A VENDOR THAT DOES RED IRON CONSTRUCTION IS RED IRON CONSTRUCTION.
AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE AND THEY'RE CAPABLE, THEN YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE NEED TO HAVE A SPECIFIC POLICY AND DIRECTION HERE.
>> SO I'M GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ANOTHER POINT TODAY.
AND THAT IS WHEN YOU ARE REVIEWING THE OTHER A & D STUDIES PUT OUT IN TEXAS, WE REALIZED THAT THE CRITERIA IS FOR THE BULK OF THE ISSUE LIES.
FOR D STUDIES, DID NOT HAVE THE CRITERIA OF CAPABLE.
THEY ONLY HAD AVAILABLE AND WILLING.
AND YELLOW PAGES OF COMPANIES THAT ARE OUT THERE BUT YOU MAY END UP -- OR HAVING THE PROCUREMENT FOLKS WORK HARDER BECAUSE THEY DID NOT LOOK AT THE CAPACITY.
>> I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT DISD HASN'T DONE IT RIGHT.
BECAUSE THEY DO MORE THAN WE DO FOR SURE.
>> BUT THEIR STUDIES, THE CITY AND DISD STUDY WERE PARTICULARIZED TO THE PROCUREMENT PRACTICES OF THOSE ENTITIES.
AS DESIREE SAID IS CORRECT, POLITE WAY OF SAYING, LAWYERS HAVE TO GO INTO COURT WITH SUPPORT FOR OUR POLICIES.
DALLAS COUNTY HAS AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE WE SHOULD EMBRACE.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO HAVE A STUDY THAT SUPPORTS PARTICULARLY OUR PRACTICES THAT LOOKS AT VENDORS READY, WILLING AND ABLE AND HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PERFORM SERVICES FOR US.
IF WE RELY ON SOMEBODY ELSE, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO FOR DISD -- AS LAWYERS OFTEN DO, WE'RE TRYING TO ANTICIPATE THE CHALLENGE THAT MIGHT COME THROUGH THE PROGRAM WE PUT IN PLACE AND HOW WE DEFEND THAT IN COURT AND WE NEED A PARTICULARIZED STUDY IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
THE HAVE NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT DID IT FOR CITY OF DALLAS AND DISD WERE CAPABLE VENDORS.
THEY DID IT IT (INDISCERNIBLE) AND DISD RESPECTIVELY.
AND THEY ARE FINDING SPACE ON THAT.
WHICH IS WHAT WE WOULD LOOK FOR.
>> TO YOUR POINT -- W STARTED ON THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO -- WE OUGHT TO PARTNER WITH OTHER PROCUREMENT AGENCIES LIKE DISD AND THE CITY AND COUNTY.
AND THE DIVERSITY INITIATIVES THEY HAVE.
HOW DO WE GET TOGETHER TO SHARE SOME OF THIS DATA? HOW DONE ALL KINDS OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS.
WHY COULDN'T WE GET TOGETHER AND
[00:50:01]
HAVE THE STRENGTH EVER MANY INSTEAD OF MARISOL HAS AN DEPARTMENT, THE CITY HAS A DEPARTMENT.IT WOULD BE GREATER TO BETTER SERVE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW I'M START TO GO SOUND LIKE JOHN LENNON.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHARING IN OPPORTUNITY.
>> (INDISCERNIBLE) AND WE HAVE.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE -- CORROBORATING PURCHASING AGREEMENT WITH DISD --
NO ONE LIKES TO BE COMPEL TODAY DO SOMETHING WITH A SHARP STICK GOING DOWN THEIR THROAT.
I UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS.
BUT THE BENEFIT SIDE OF THIS AND REALLY -- BECAUSE OUR MISSION IS LARGELY THE ECONOMY.
WE CAN DO IT -- I THINK MAYBE THAT'S JUST A PLATE SPINNING -- OR SPINNING OPERATION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO IT.
WE'RE JUST HERE TO TALK ABOUT RAMIFICATIONS.
>> (INDISCERNIBLE) WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH ALL COMMUNITIES.
AND SO THE A & D STUDY AND LEGAL PART YOU HEARD IS THE PART TO THAT, FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING.
JOHN, WHERE DID YOU GO? THERE YOU GO.
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL BEFORE YOU -- FOR MYSELF, MANY OF YOU ALL -- (LAUGHTER)
SHE'S BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HELPING ME WITH ALL THE ITEMS.
>> BEFORE YOU START, I WANT TO MAKE SURE ANYBODY ELSE -- I AM 100% IN SUPPORT US MAXIMIZING OUR USE OF THE MINORITY FIRMS. I ONLY WANT TO DO IT IN THE MOST ECONOMICAL AND EFFICIENT WAY.
I FO FOR MOST OF MY LIFE HOW REGIONAL STUFF TO REACH OUR GOALS BETTER FOR LESS MONEY.
IF WE CAN'T DO IT, WE CAN'T DO IT.
IF WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, IT WON'T HAPPEN.
I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT I HAVE A STRONG RECORD OF SUPPORTING MINORITY BUSINESSES ALL OF MY CAREER AND I WON'T DISCONTINUE THAT HERE.
I JUST WANT TO -- EVERY TIME WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT SMARTER, THAT'S MY REQUEST.
>> I'M JUST VERY IMPRESSED THAT I'VE HEARD CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND I WAS ABLE TO UNDERSTAND IT.
SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS? JOHN, GO AHEAD.
>> I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A PROJECT THAT STARTED AWHILE BACK AT ONE POINT BOB AND I DEVELOPED A LAND USE POLICY THAT EVOLVED OVER TIME TRYING TO WORK WITH WHAT DOES THE COLLEGE REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT 20, 30, 40, 50 YEARS OUT? I GO BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL -- AND HOW THEY STRATEGICALLY BOUGHT PROPERTY AROUND DALLAS COUNTY THAT SERVES THE COUNTY VERY WELL.
IF W TYPE OF PLAN IN PLACE, A MECHANISM FOR MAKING SURE THAT THOSE DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY ARE NOT ONE-OFFS BUT PART OF A DECISION MAKING FRAMEWORK THAT HELPS US FOLLOW A PLAN.
SO W LOOKED AT SEVERAL FIRMS. WE HAD SEVERAL REPLY AND GAVE PREPARATIONS TO US.
AND WE WERE MOST IMPRESSED BY A GROUP OF -- IN ASSOCIATION WITH HRA THAT IMPRESSED THE COMMITTEE ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO TAKE US TO A PLACE WE HAVEN'T BEEN.
[00:55:02]
SO W START WITH WHAT WE WILL CALL PHASE ONE.PHASE ONE IS A STUDY TO BASICALLY BUILD THAT POLICY AND DECISION MAKING FRAMEWORK THAT WE CAN THEN USE ON OUR REAL ESTATE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND THIS WILL INVOLVE THE BOARD.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THIS.
THAT WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THIS HERE AND MATCH IT TO WHAT YOU ENVISION IS WHAT WE SEE FOR THE NEXT 20-50 YEARS FOR LOOKING OUT THAT THIS FRAMEWORK THAT WE'RE BUILDING ACTUALLY DOES THAT.
SO T APPROVAL TODAY ARE -- AGENDA TODAY IS APPROVAL FOR WHAT WE CALL PHASE ONE, WHICH IS BUILDING THIS QUOTE-UNQUOTE POLICY FRAMEWORK, DECISION MAKING FRAMEWORK TO BE ABLE TO RUN PROJECTS THROUGH THAT TELLS US IT DOES OR DOESN'T MATCH WITH OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITY.
IT MATCHES WITH WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
IT MATCHES WITH THE BOARD'S THROUGHOUT PROCESS OF WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO.
WE EXPECT ONCE APPROVED, THIS SHOULD BE DONE IN FOUR TO FIVE-MONTH TIME FRAME.
AND THEN, WE'D BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY -- WE'RE GOING TO TEST THIS ON MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS OUT THERE TO SEE HOW IT FITS.
NOT THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH APPROVAL.
USE IT AS A GUINEA PIG SO SPEAK.
THEY CONCENTRATE ON THE INNOVATION CONCEPT AND THE DOWNTOWN CONCEPT.
AND SOME OF THE CONCEPTS WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE DECISION MAKING FRAMEWORK WOULD ACTUALLY WORK.
>> SO BUILT INTO THIS, IS HELPING TO CRAFT A LAND USE POLICY THAT THE BOARD HAD ASKED FOR AWHILE BACK?
IT'S NOT SO MUCH POLICY IF I CAN -- I'M PUTTING QUOTES AROUND IT.
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY JUST FRAMEWORK.
IT ENCOMPASSES SUSTAINABILITY.
IT ENCOMPASSES FUTURE WORKING DISCUSSIONS.
IT ENCOMPASSES ALL THE THINGS WE'VE DONE BEFORE.
AND HISTORICAL PRESERVATION OF WHERE WE'RE AT TO ALSO TRYING TO -- I'M -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE CARS IN 20 YEARS.
AND WHAT DO WE DO WITH OUR PARKING LOTS? TO HELP US BUILD INTO THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF ALL THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
>> I'M CURIOUS, ARE THEY LOCAL, PAGE SOUTHERLAND PAGE?
>> YES, THERE'S ONE FROM DALLAS AND ONE FROM CALIFORNIA.
AND THEY'RE BRINGING THEM TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHAT WE GOT IMPRESSED WITH THE ABILITIES THEY HAVE.
WE'LL BRING AT THAT TIME TO PHASE TWO.
IT'S REALLY WHERE -- WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THE DETAILS.
WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE EFFICIENTLY USING ALL THE SPACE WE HAVE.
AND WHAT MORE DO WE NEED TO BUILD? WE GOT TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PHYSICAL PLANING PROCESS.
WHAT GOES WHERE? HOW DO WE WORK WITH THE NEW SCHOOL CONCEPT? WHAT PROGRAMS GO WHERE TO SERVE STUDENTS BEST? WE W THINGS THAT WE MOVE ON WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO KIND OF MAKE THOSE -- WE TOLD THEM WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO LOOK AT THIS.
IF WE GO BACK OUT TO DO A MASTER PLAN AND HIRE AN ARCHITECT, WE'LL HAVE PAGE.
WE H MASTER PLAN SINCE WE'VE BECOME DALLAS COUNTY.
IS IT NEXT YEAR? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BUDGET LIMITATIONS.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE AT SOME POINT.
>> I LIKE THAT BOARD NOT LOOKING AT -- BUT PROJECTING OUT TO THE FUTURE.
IS THERE A POINT WE DON'T NEED PARKING LOTS?
>> WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, THEY HAVE TO RECREATE.
WE'VE DONE AN EDUCATION PLAN, FACILITY CONDITION.
WE'VE DONE A MASTER PLAN FOR SEVERAL COLLEGES.
IT'S PART OF TAKING WHAT WE'VE DONE.
THAT'S WHAT IS SO IMPRESSIVE ABOUT PAGE, NOT TRYING TO HAVE US SPEND MONEY STARTING ALL OVER.
HOW CAN THEY USE WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE AND HELP BUILD.
>> I TELL YOU ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IMPRESSED ME ABOUT
[01:00:01]
THEM IS -- BECAUSE I DISCUSSED THIS WITH JOHN IN OUR APPROPRIATION MEETING -- THEY BEAT THEM OUT IN THE SELECTION PROCESS.THAT WAS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WE HAVE A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME, YEAH, WE DID.
DID WE HAVE COMPETITORS WHO BUILT SOME OF THE STRUCTURES HERE? THEY DID.
IT GOES TO YOUR QUESTION TODAY HOW DOES THE PROCESS WORK? UNDER OUR SELECTION GROUPS PUT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW.
WE GET RESULTS BUT WE DON'T EVER UNDERSTAND EXACTLY THE MAKEUP OR HOW THAT REALLY HAS TO HAPPEN.
BUT REALLY DID -- I REALLY THINK ALSO THE FACT IS THAT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS IN THAT THEY HAVE THE REACHES AROUND THE COUNTRY, BRINGING INFORMATION THAT WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE HERE THAT DEALS WITH MORE PROGRESSIVE STUFF THAT MIGHT BE IN THE DALLAS AREA TODAY.
WE R GREATER BECOMING THE ORIGINATOR OF PROGRESS, BUT TO THIS DAY, I MEAN, SILICON VALLEY AND OTHER PLACES IT STARTED.
WE A IS WHAT I'VE ASKED JOHN, MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHERE THE BOARD IS PROVIDING INPUT ON THE FRONT END, NOT GETTING SOMETHING AFTER.
AND EVERY DAY ABOUT IT'S NOT FOR CONTROL OF THE BOARD TO MAKE THE SAUSAGE AND DON'T GET INVOLVED.
BUT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE INGREDIENTS OF THE SAUCE.
AND YOU ALL STILL MAKE THE SAUCE.
WE NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GIVE US A FINISHED PRODUCT, WHAT WENT INTO THAT.
AND THAT'S PART OF PHIL'S QUESTION ABOUT WHAT MAKES UP THE PROCESS? IT'S SIMPLE.
>> THIS IS JUST FOR THE DOWNTOWN?
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL BE LOOKING AT IS ALONG WITH THE INNOVATION DISTRICT DOWNTOWN, HOW DO WE USE THOSE PROJECTS RUNNING THROUGH THE DECISION MAKING FRAMEWORK TO SEE HOW THEY FIT? WHAT DID WE LEAVE OUT? WHAT DID WE NOT INCLUDE TO MAKE SURE -- MOST OF IT IS GOING TO DEFINE WHAT DATA WE NEED.
IT'S AND COORDINATION OF DOWNTOWN.
SO THE WHOLE DISTRICT-WIDE, BUT THERE WILL BE A FOCUS ON --
>> SIMPLY THE NEXT PHASE OF WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING.
WE'RE GOING INTO THIS HAVING AT LEAST $800 MILLION TO $1 MILLION WORTH OF -- WE GOT TO DO THIS IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY, IF WE SPEND -- I HATE TO SAY THIS.
WE GOT TO DECIDE WHAT FACILITIES ARE WE GOING TO NEED IN THE FUTURE? AND HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY NEED? AND CONTEST ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WHAT IS COMING DOWN THE PIPE, IT CAN GET CRAZY.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED THESE PEOPLE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND AND TRY TO THINK ABOUT.
>> 30 SECONDS OR LESS, EXPLAIN HOW THIS CONTRACT IS NOT DUPLICATIVE OF ANY OTHER CONTRACT IN THE LAST SIX YEARS.
>> WE HAD COLLIER'S REAL ESTATE CONSULTING HELP US WITH A SIMILAR TYPE OF THING FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO BEFORE WE DID -- AS WE WERE FINISHING UP THE INDIVIDUAL COLLEGE MASTER PLANS.
AND FOR HELP TO GET TO PHASE ONE OF AN EVALUATION.
HOWEVER, IT WAS LIMITED IN MANY INSTANCES WHAT IT COULD PROVIDE.
FIRS THE SCHOOLS CONCEPT OR EDUCATION PLAN.
>> SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS USE AS MUCH OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST AS WE DEVELOP WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE DOING TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
THAT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, REALLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A REAL LONG-TERM FUTURE FOCUS.
IT WAS LOOKING OUT TWO TO THREE YEARS.
>> AND THE -- DIDN'T CHANGE A LOT SINCE THAT TIME.
THIS IS WHAT THE REVIEW WILL HELP US WITH WITH THE POTENTIAL FUTURE VIEW.
>> ARE THEY GOING TO BE MAKING SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ON COST SAVINGS OVER WHAT WE MIGHT HAVE SPEND OVER PRIOR
[01:05:02]
FACILITY PLANS? BECAUSE COVID MAY NOT REQUIRE WE HAVE AS MUCH CLASS SPACE, ET CETERA.ARE THEY GOING TO BE GETTING INTO PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS?
>> IT'S SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS BUT NEVER PULLED THE TRIGGER ON.
>> PARTNERSHIPS AND OTHERS FROM PHASE TWO.
OF THE AGAIN, PHASE ONE IS GET THE BASICS OF THE CRITERIA OF WE EVALUATE THINGS BEFORE WE CAN START MOVING FORWARD WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE PROJECT, OTHER ELEMENTS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE.
AND FIRST THING OF PHASE TWO, WE NEED TO GET THEM STARTED ON, IS PROBABLY THIS SPACE UTILIZATION, BECAUSE WE CAN MAKE ANY DECISIONS ABOUT ANYTHING, WE'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WE HAVE AND HOW MUCH IS BEING USED.
WE HAVE A NEW POLICY POSSIBILITY COMING THROUGH WITH WORK.
HOW MUCH SPACE WE NEED AND HOW MUCH SPACE WE CURRENTLY UTILIZE.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT IS -- WHAT I SAID IS IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE INFLUENCE ON THINGS THAT I'VE ASKED SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST HAS BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE SEVEN INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP AS OPPOSED TO THIS BOARD.
THE YOU CONDONED IT OR APPROVED IT BECAUSE THEY HAD THE MOST CORRECT IMPACT.
BECAUSE THEY KNEW MORE BECAUSE THEY LIVED IN IT.
AND THEN, WE NOW THIS BOARD, IN MY OPINION, HAS TO MAKE THE DECISION EACH OF THEM MADE WHEN THERE WERE SEVEN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS OR INSTITUTIONS.
SO T I MEAN, JUST THE DELIVERY OF SIMPLE SUBJECT LIKE WELDING, DO YOU HAVE THREE OR FOUR LOCATIONS FOR WELDING? OR DO YOU HAVE ONE? SO T STRUCTURE THAT EVALUATES WHAT THE EDUCATIONAL DELIVERABLE IS.
HOW DO YOU BEST DELIVER THAT OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS? SO I PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS -- I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MORE EFFICIENT WAYS TO GET THE END RESULT OF WHAT WE NEED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE NEED BUT WHAT WE PUT ON.
I'M I KNOW THIS MAY NOT BE POPULAR TO BE SAID, BUT I'M NOT SURE WE NEED AN INNOVATION CENTER.
I SAY THAT, NOT THAT WE DON'T NEED INNOVATION, BUT CAN THERE BE INNOVATION AS A CONCEPT OR INNOVATION AS A SERVICE WITHOUT A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE? I THINK IT TAKES THESE LEVEL OF MINDS OF PEOPLE SAYING YOU'RE WHISTLING IN THE WIND, BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT DETROIT.
THEY TRIED TO DO THAT WITHOUT THIS, AND THEY FAILED.
OR YEAH, THEY DID THAT AND SUCCEEDED.
IF WE DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY PUTTING THE STRUCTURE TOGETHER THAT ALLOWS LOCAL EXPERTISE TO FEED INTO IT, OR PERSONAL BOARD MEMBERS' EXPERTISE TO FEED INTO IT.
SO T IS DESCRIBING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS JOHN SAID TO THEM, YOU ALL ARE ASKING AND WE'RE DOING SOMETHING WITH YOU ALL THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FAILED TO DO.
THEY FAILED TO DO WHAT YOU ALL ARE ASKING US TO DO.
THE NEED IS THERE, AND WE CAN DELIVER IS WHAT THEIR COMMENT WAS.
SO T UNKNOWN, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.
ONE COMPETITIVE PIECE OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID, WE DID AN EDUCATION MASTER PLAN TO HELP INFORM US HOW TO ALIGN ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, WHETHER TO MAKE THEM THREE PROGRAMS, DIFFERENT CAMPUSES, HOW TO ALIGN THOSE, ONE, IN A SCHOOL MODEL? BUT TO YOUR POINT, DECISIONS ABOUT THE FACILITIES TO SUPPORT THOSE PROGRAMS, HISTORICALLY WERE MADE AT THE LOCATION.
AND LOCATION MASTER PLAN, THE DEVELOPMENT ALIGNED AND ACTIVE SCHOOL MODEL -- LOOKING AT HOW TO FACILITATE OR SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN A UNIFIED SORT OF WAY IN A ONE COLLEGE APPROACH.
>> I THINK GOING TO BE THE OBLIGATION HERE IS HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE OF WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE.
I KNOW COMING IN -- I'M SURE -- I'M INTRIGUED WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE.
IT'S GOING TO -- WE LEARNED THE LAST FEW YEARS HOW MUCH DIFFERENT THE FUTURE CAN CHANGE.
I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE WE HAVE -- AND -- BUILT --
[01:10:02]
(INDISCERNIBLE)ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I'M SORRY.
>> MOVING FORWARD WE'LL TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE DART CONTRACT.
THIS WILL BE THE THIRD RENEWAL WE'VE HAVE THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
WE'VE HAD AN AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH DART REAL ADVANTAGE IS PULLING BACK BARRIERS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, FOOD, DAY CARE.
THOSE ARE THE ONES WE'RE CONCENTRATING ON.
ONE OUT WORKING WITH DART THAT THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO GET TO CAMPUSES DAILY, ONCE IN AWHILE OR HOWEVER THEY NEED TO GET TO THEIR CAMPUSES AT NO COST TO THEM.
THIS THE LAST SIX YEARS VERY WELL.
THE STUDENT FEEDBACK ON IT IS VERY POSITIVE OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.
AND THAT ONE OF THE STUDIES WE DID -- I PROMISE I'LL BRING AN UPDATE BACK IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER ON THIS WHOLE PROGRAM.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH TWO YEARS OF COVID.
SO I WANT TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND BE ABLE TO PROJECT TRENDS GIVEN ALL THAT INFORMATION.
CURR THIS YEAR, WE WILL SPEND APPROXIMATELY $2.6 MILLION FOR PROVIDING THE GOPASSES TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
WHICH IS GOING TO END UP BEING SOMEWHERE AROUND, WELL, I KNOW WE'VE HAD LIKE 20,000 SO FAR.
AND DURING THE SUMMER, THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ANOTHER 3,000.
BUT ENROLLMENT IS UP RIGHT NOW.
THE NUMBER I SAW OF STUDENTS WE HAD IT'S UP 25% YEAR OVER YEAR JUST FOR SUMMER IN THE DART PASS THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO THEM.
SO I THAT GO UP AND I EXPECT THE FALL -- BECAUSE I'M HEARING NUMBERS ARE GOING UP OR MORE WITH WHAT WE HAD.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON THIS? ONE BEFORE, THIS SAVED OUR STUDENTS THIS PAST YEAR, $6 MILLION OVER BUYING A DART PASS, MONTHLY DART PASS, WHICH IS $48 A MONTH.
AND THIS SAVES THEM THAT TYPE OF MONEY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE GOPASS.
>> SO THE $3 MILLION A YEAR, IT DOESN'T COVER EVERY STUDENT, RIGHT? IT COVERS AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT WE THINK THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ARE THAT NEED A PASS.
YOU HAVE TO -- CREDIT CONTINUING EDUCATION PORTIONS.
>> WE NEED THE $3 MILLION A YEAR.
AND YOU KNOW, SOME YEARS IT COULD BE UP.
AND WE DIDN'T USE UP ALL THE MONEY THAT WE HAD -- EXCEEDED BEFORE.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ESTIMATING.
IT STAYS THE SAME FOR NEXT YEAR.
IN THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS, $1 INCREASE.
BUT ENROLLMENT I'M HOPING I'M GOING TO SEE ENROLLMENT GO UP.
>> SO WHAT'S CONTINGENCY IF WE HAVE -- IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PASSES FOR THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WANT THEM?
>> WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO SUPPLY THAT IN THE PAST.
I DON'T EXPECT THAT TO EVER BE -- BECAUSE -- I DON'T SEE IT GOING UP BY 25% OR SOMETHING.
WE CAN HANDLE THE ENROLLMENT TYPE INCREASES THAT I EXPECT US TO SEE OVER THE COMING MONTHS.
WE'VE BEEN AT THAT LEVEL BEFORE.
WE HAD -- WE WERE APPROACHING ALMOST -- BEFORE COVID, 30,000 GOPASS STUDENTS A YEAR.
SO WE WERE GETTING VERY CLOSE.
AND IT WAS BUILDING EACH YEAR.
NOW, WITH COVID, IT'S KIND OF TAKEN A DIP.
I EXPECT THE TREND TO BE ON THE SAME PATH, HOW MANY STUDENTS WE CAN SERVE WITH THE GOPASS.
>> IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE A CONTINGENCY.
WE WOULDN'T TELL STUDENTS AT SOME POINT, LET'S SAY WE BUDGETED FOR 30,000 PASSES, BUT WE NEED 40.
YOU WOULD HAVE A CONTINGENCY TO COVER THAT?
BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T BUDGET ON PER PASS
[01:15:01]
BASIS.IT'S BASED ON NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.
THAT'S THE SAME PROGRAM DART OFFERS ALL INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE DALLAS COUNTY PROGRAM.
I WI BECAUSE OF OUR SIZE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE ARE PUSHING DART TO DO MORE CREATIVE THINGS AND FIND DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO TO PROVIDE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO T AND THEY'RE MAKING CONTRACT AMENDMENT IF WE CAN GET THINGS WE WANT TO ADD IN THE FUTURE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
WE D TAKING CARE OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE TRANSIT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
WE GOT THE NEW GO LINK IN THERE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MADE MINOR IMPROVEMENTS.
I THINK I'M REALLY TO THE POINT OF NOW IS THE TIME TO SEE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS.
WE HAVEN'T USED IT BECAUSE WE HAVE HIGHER NEEDS FOR DOLLARS THAN WE BUDGETED FOR THIS.
UNFORTUNATELY -- DOLLARS ARE GOING AWAY.
I WOULD RATHER GET THIS IN THE OPERATING BUDGET BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN USING IT FOR SIX YEARS AND CONTINUE TO PLAN FOR IT IN THE OPERATING BUDGET.
>> I MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT IT NOW.
WE ARE GOING TO PAY BACK SOME TAX NOTES, $8 MILLION.
AND SAY THAT'S OUR WHOLE PROCESS OF TRYING TO PAY DOWN DEBT.
WE'RE GOING TO DO MORE NEXT YEAR.
WE HAVE THE TAX CALENDAR SCHEDULE IN THERE AND THE AGREEMENT WITH MESQUITE CITY AND ISD ON SWIMMING POOL AGREEMENT.
I'VE GOT DR. KEILLER HERE TODAY AND ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THAT REGULAR AGENDA.
WE LOOK FOR APPROVAL ON ALL THOSE ITEMS. WE VETTED THEM VERY WELL WITH EVERYBODY WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OF JOHN BEFORE -- IF NOT, WE WITH ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
FINANCE COMMITTEE ADJOURNED AT 3:39.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.