Aug 21, 2023 City Council Special Meeting

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ALL

[1. Call meeting to order. ]

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

TODAY IS AUGUST 21ST, 2023.

THANK YOU MUCH.

I HAVE, UH, 5:40 PM I DO HAVE A QUORUM OF CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.

UM, COUNCILWOMAN MIRANDA INE WILL NOT BE JOINING US THIS EVENING.

I DO WANNA WELCOME YOU TO THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

[2. Citizens Forum/Public Comments. Public comments can be submitted online, please visit: cedarhilltx.com/publiccomment. All comments submitted by 3pm on City Council meeting dates will be distributed to the City Council and entered into record.]

UM, PHILLIP LEWI, IF YOU, IF YOU HEAR YOU PLEASE COME UP.

OH, THEY ARE.

PLEASE COME ON DOWN.

AND WE HAVE, UM, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THAT Y'ALL NEED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S PROPERLY POSTED.

I LOOKED AT THE NOTICE WHEN IT WAS PUT UP THERE AND IT WASN'T SIGNED BY THE CITY SECRETARY THAT SHE PUT IT UP THERE.

SO RIGHT NOW THAT YOU'RE OPERATING WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORITY WITH THAT.

UM, BUT, UM, I'M GONNA GO ON WITH MY PRESENTATION, BUT Y'ALL DO NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN PROPERLY POSTED.

DO WE NOTED, WHEN I MENTIONED TO SOMEONE AND SIGNED IT WASN'T SIGNED, I MENTIONED THAT THE MEETING WAS AT FIVE 30.

THEY SAYS, WELL, THAT'S NATURAL BECAUSE NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW UP.

BUT ONE THING THAT THE CITY LEADERS NEED TO CONSIDER IS THAT THERE'S A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT THEY HAVEN'T, UH, IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE GONNA WANT, Y'ALL WANT TO APPROVE THEM RAISING TAXES, BUT YET Y'ALL GOT WATER AND JOE POOL THAT Y'ALL HAVEN'T TAKEN OUT.

IT'S BEEN THERE FOR 47 YEARS AND NO ONE, THERE'S BEEN NO EFFORT, BUT YET Y'ALL WANNA RAISE, GET THE TAXES RAISED HERE.

WE'VE GOT A LIBRARY THAT WAS BUILT.

DID Y'ALL TURN THE MIC OFF? AND THE LIBRARY, Y'ALL GONNA ABANDON IT FOR A NEW ONE.

Y'ALL BUILT THREE JAILS, THEN Y'ALL DON'T USE ANY OF 'EM.

THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE CITY NOT HAVING GOOD FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

AND I'M NOT SURE, I'M SURE THERE'S A NUMBER OF A MAJORITY OF THE SCHOOL BOARD BEING HERE RIGHT NOW, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THEY HAVE A POSTING THAT THEY HAVE A MAJORITY OF THE SCHOOL BOARD POSTED FOR WHERE THEY MAY BE DISCUSSING SOMETHING LIKE IT'S ALWAYS DONE WHEN Y'ALL MEET SOMEWHERE.

UM, THE CITY, THE SCHOOL, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY OPERATE BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD, IN MY LIFETIME HERE THREE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT.

ONE OF THEM, TWO OF THEM ARE VACANT RIGHT NOW, AND ONE OF THEM, THEY TORE DOWN.

AND ONE OF THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY HAVE THAT'S VACANT, I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW, IS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND THEY SAID THAT IT COST SOMETHING LIKE 300,000 TO FIX IT.

WELL, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A LOT CHEAPER THAN A BOND ISSUE.

BUT ONE OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WAS TORE DOWN, UH, THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T REPAIR IT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO, UH, KEEP THE SCHOOL IN GOOD REPAIR AND MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS SECURE.

AND I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE TWO SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW THAT THEY HAVE, THAT ARE VACANT THAT WILL END UP IN THE SAME MANNER THAT, UH, UH, UH, THAT, UH, THAT ONE SCHOOL WHERE A BASEBALL DIAMOND'S ON.

AND, UH, AND THIS AND OVER THE YEARS, UM, UH, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE, UH, THAT COULD GO TO SCHOOL HERE DON'T GO TO SCHOOL AND THEY CHOOSE TO GO TO LIVE SCHOOLS.

BUT I'M GONNA GO BACK TO THE FIRST PART THAT I SAID, Y'ALL NEED TO GO LOOK AT THAT POSTING ON THAT MEETING.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT Y'ALL HAS BEEN PROPERLY POSTED WHERE Y'ALL THANK YOU MUCH.

ALRIGHT, COUNSEL, THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE FOR CITIZENS

[3. Receive a presentation and consider approving Resolution No. R23-687, a Resolution of the City of Cedar Hill, Texas in support of the Cedar Hill Independent School District calling a Voter Approved Tax Rate Election (VATRE) in November 2023 to pay for Teacher attraction and retention efforts, school safety and security measures as mandated by Texas House Bill 3. ]

SO NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS RECEIVE A PRESENTATION AND CONSIDER APPROVING RESOLUTION NUMBER R 23 DASH 6 87, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS IN SUPPORT OF THE CEDAR HILL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, CALLING A VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE ELECTION VADER IN NOVEMBER, 2023 TO PAY FOR TEACHER ATTENTION AND RETENTION EFFORTS, SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES, AS MANDATED BY TEXAS HOUSE BILL THREE, CITY MANAGER.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S, UH, GREAT TO SEE YOU THIS AFTERNOON AS WELL AS MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND AND PARTNERS, UH, AT THE CEDAR HILL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

UH, WE'RE MEETING THIS EVENING BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YET ANOTHER MAJOR STEP FORWARD ON OUR ENDURING JOURNEY TO PREMIER.

UH, WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIND OF WHAT GOT US HERE TONIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT WHAT CITIZENS WANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE PERIOD

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AND WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE ROLE THAT A SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT PLAYS IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF BOTH OF THOSE.

LEMME MAKE SURE I GOT THIS GOING.

AS ALWAYS, WE ARE DRIVEN AND GUIDED BY, SUPPORTED BY AND ANCHORED BY OUR VISION, MISSION, AND VALUES.

WE'RE ON THIS ROAD TO BEING THAT PREMIER CITY THAT RETAINS THIS DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER WHERE FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES FLOURISH IN A SAFE AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT.

AND YOU CAN JUST BEGIN THERE BY ASKING, WHAT ROLE DOES A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE IN OUR ABILITY TO MEET THAT OBJECTIVE? UH, OF COURSE, THE MISSION OF THE CITY IS TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY MUNICIPAL SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS AND CUSTOMERS CONSISTENT WITH OUR VALUES.

AND ONE OF THOSE VALUES IS PEOPLE IN RELATIONSHIPS.

AND EVERY SERVICE WE PROVIDE HERE, THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF PARTNERING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT ALLOWS US TO DELIVER THAT.

AND OF COURSE, THE, THE VALUES ARE PEOPLE IN RELATIONSHIPS, STEWARDSHIP, HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS, BEHAVIOR INTEGRITY, AND SERVANT LEADERSHIP.

SO, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE IN CEDAR HILL, THIS IS SOMETHING WE JUST WOKE UP ONE DAY AND SAID, HEY, LET'S GO DO THIS.

THIS HAS BEEN PART OF A LONG RANGE JOURNEY THAT IS ALWAYS, UH, THAT WE STOP AT MILESTONES FOR.

AND THOSE MAJOR MILESTONES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL ARE ANNUAL GOAL SETTING RETREAT.

AND YOU WILL RECALL AT THIS LAST ONE, THERE WAS A BIG DISCUSSION ON THE IMPORTANCE THAT THAT SCHOOLS PLAY AND THAT SCHOOLS OF CHOICE ARE GOING TO PLAY IN OUR ABILITY TO BE THAT PREMIER CITY IN OUR VISION STATEMENT.

AND THEN ALSO A DESIRE TO FOCUS REALLY MORE, UH, DEFINITIVELY ON THE IMPACTS OF SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLS ON THE ECONOMIC GOALS THAT WE HAVE, AND IN THE GOALS OF BEING ABLE TO BUILD STRONG FAMILIES THAT WE HAVE.

AND THEN ALSO TO FOCUS AGAIN ON THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF AN UNSUCCESSFUL SCHOOL DISTRICT IN OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR.

AND INEVITABLY, WE FOCUSED ON THESE FOUR PREMIER, UH, PILLARS OF PREMIER.

UH, OBVIOUSLY TEXAS SCHOOLS OF CHOICE HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH ALL EIGHT OF THEM, BUT PARTICULARLY ARE IMPORTANT TO HAVING A STRONG AND DIVERSE ECONOMY, UH, TO BEING ABLE TO HAVE A SAFE COMMUNITY BOTH WITHIN THE SCHOOLS.

BUT SAFE SCHOOLS ALSO MEAN SAFE COMMUNITIES AND VICE VERSA.

UM, AS WELL AS HAVING AN, A COMMUNITY THAT IS ENGAGED AND SUPPORTIVE FOR THE LONG HAUL OF WHAT THAT WE EXPECT FROM BOTH THE CITY AND ITS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON THESE FOUR PREMIER ITEMS. OF COURSE, IN THE END, THIS COMES DOWN TO WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE HERE AND HOW DO WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WANT THIS? UH, THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITIES ARE BUILT UPON THE SUCCESS OF ITS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND IT'S FOR US SPECIFICALLY, THAT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH.

UM, AND IT'S TIES TO A SUCCESSFUL DISTRICT.

IT'S ALSO, IT'S ALSO TIED TO OUR FISCAL RESILIENCY AND WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT FOR THE VALUE OF THEIR TAX DOLLAR.

AND HOW WE CREATE FOR THE HOMEOWNER A BALANCED ECONOMY AND A TAX BURDEN THAT'S BALANCED BETWEEN STRONG BUSINESSES.

AND THEN THE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.

UH, WE WANT THE ABILITY TO HAVE, UH, THE HIGHEST, BEST QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT RESTAURANT AND RETAIL OPTIONS.

WHY? BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES IT.

AND YOU CAN'T GO TO A SINGLE H O A MEETING OR A SCHOOL EVENT OR A CITY EVENT WITHOUT HEARING THOSE WORDS.

PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING THAT.

AND THEN FINALLY, THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS JOURNEY REQUIRES QUALITY RESIDENTIAL GROWTH AND THE ATTRACTION OF THE WORKFORCE AND THE TALENTS THAT ARE GONNA NEED TO BE ABLE TO FEED THE BUSINESS INVESTMENT THAT WE EXPECT AND NEED FOR THE PREMIER COMMUNITY THAT WE MUST HAVE.

ALL RIGHT, MAKE SURE I'VE GOT THIS.

CAN YOU HELP ME OUT, BELINDA? TELL ME BACK TO, OH, RIGHT THERE.

ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA PLAY A LITTLE VIDEO AND THEN MY, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR HENRY IAN, IS GONNA WALK YOU THROUGH, UM, A FEW ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

THANK YOU.

FROM PRAIRIE TO SKYLINE, TO RODEO TO MUSEUM AND COUNTY TO COUNTY, THE WORD HOME TAKES ON MANY DIFFERENT FORMS HERE IN NORTH TEXAS.

AND SINCE 1971, THE NORTH TEXAS MISSION HAS HELPED SHAPE OUR HOME INTO THE HOTBED OF RAPID GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY THAT IT PROUDLY IS TODAY.

WE ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS, WE'RE ADVOCACY EXPERTS.

WE ARE GAME CHANGERS, AND WE'RE LEADING THE WAY FOR A BETTER NORTH TEXAS BECAUSE ONE THAT WE BRING TOGETHER THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO CHAMPION A BETTER REGION FOR OUR ALMOST 8 MILLION HARDWORKING TEXANS FOR SOME HOME IS MAKING ENDS MEET AT A SMALL BUSINESS THAT WAS PASSED DOWN FROM

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HOME IS WORKING AT ONE OF THE 20 PLUS FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES HEADQUARTERED IN NORTH TEXAS.

IT'S LIVING IN A REGION THAT ALLOWS FOR ACCESS TO OVER 20 HIGHER EDUCATION CAMPUSES, OR CHEERING ON ONE OF OUR 13 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS ON A NIGHT OUT WITH LOVED ONES.

IT'S ATTENDING ONE OF OUR OVER 6,000 ARTS AND CULTURAL EVENTS EVERY YEAR, OR MAKING TIME TO VISIT OUR 124 MUSEUMS SPREAD ACROSS NORTH TEXAS.

NORTH TEXAS IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING REGIONS IN THE US AND CURRENTLY OUTPACING THE JOB GROWTH RATE OF THE ENTIRE NATION.

THAT'S RIGHT, THE ENTIRE NATION.

AND WITH OUR POPULATION EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 17 MILLION BY 2050, NORTH TEXAS WILL BE THRIVING FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

IT'S WHAT WE DO BEST.

AND THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE NORTH TEXAS COMMISSION, ALONG WITH OUR MANY PARTNERS, WE ARE HELPING LEAD THE WAY IN DRIVING US TOWARDS AN EVEN STRONGER AND MORE VIBRANT FUTURE FOR ALL WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.

AND OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF NORTH TEXANS EVERYWHERE, BY EDUCATING FUTURE LEADERS, BY ADVOCATING FOR PRO BUSINESS AND PRO LOCAL FREEDOM LEGISLATION.

AND BY UNITING OUR REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN EXCEED OUR FULL POTENTIAL.

SO TELL YOUR FRIENDS, GET MOTIVATED AND GET EXCITED BECAUSE WHETHER YOU'VE JUST MOVED INTO THE REGION OR YOU'VE LIVED IN NORTH TEXAS ALL OF YOUR LIFE, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMETHING HERE FOR EVERYONE.

AND THERE'S ONE ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A HISTORY OF FACING OUR REGION'S TOUGHEST CHALLENGES.

THE NORTH TEXAS COMMISSION.

THERE WE GO.

SO WE'RE PART OF ALL THAT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO AROUND THE WORLD TRYING TO FIND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS LIKE MOST COMMUNITIES DO.

THIS METRO AREA IS GROWING SO FAST.

EVERY COMPANY'S COMING EVERY DAY.

COMPANIES CHOOSING TO EXPAND HERE EVERY DAY, PEOPLE MOVING HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THIS SCREEN RIGHT HERE, THIS IS OUR COMPETITION.

AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE STAND OUT AMONG ALL OF THESE AMAZING COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DOING GREAT THINGS IN EDUCATION, GREAT THINGS IN QUALITY OF LIFE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE THAT THEREFORE ATTRACT THE COMPANIES.

SO THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE'RE PART OF ONE OF THE FASTEST, IF NOT THE FASTEST GROWING METRO AREA IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

THE BAD NEWS IS, SO OF ALL OF THOSE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, THEY MENTIONED ONLY A COUPLE OF ARE SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN, OF ALL THE FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES THAT THEY MENTIONED, THEY'RE ALL DOWNTOWN OR NORTH.

THAT SUCCESS HAS NOT TRICKLED DOWN TO OUR AREA YET.

AND TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WE HAVE TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE TO ATTRACT THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT WE'RE SEEING THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE METROPLEX.

SO YOU'VE SEEN ALL OF THE STATISTICS, AND I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE, BUT BY ALMOST ANY METRIC, WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT POPULATION GROWTH OR ATTRACTION OF COMPANIES, OR EXISTING JOB GROWTH FROM COMPANIES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE, OR, UH, FLIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD OR ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT STATISTICS, THIS AREA IS MAKING IT HAPPEN, BUT WE ARE NOT MAKING IT HAPPEN LIKE WE CAN BE.

WE WANNA BE A PREMIER CITY, WE WANNA BE INCLUDED ON THESE LISTS.

WE GOTTA TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL STEPS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE THE MOST, SO I JUST HIT MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN CEDAR HILL, AUGUST 1ST.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKED THE MOST WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, AND THEN, UH, WHEN I, RIGHT AFTER I ACCEPTED THE JOB, I CAME DOWN FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE LIBRARY.

AND IT WAS CLEAR THAT OUR CITIZENS WERE EXTREMELY ENGAGED AND EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE DOING THAT, THAT YOU SURVEY OUR CITIZENS, THAT WE ASK THEM QUESTIONS, WE WANNA KNOW WHAT THEY WANT BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S HOW THIS, THE NEW LIBRARY CAME ABOUT.

AND THEN I REMEMBER, IT MIGHT'VE BEEN THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING I CAME TO IN AUGUST.

IT WAS, IT WAS EARLY ON IN MY, MY TENURE HERE WHEN, UM, AT A COUNCIL MEETING, A CONSULTANT RELEASED THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY THAT YOU HAD DONE.

AND SO THAT SURVEY TOLD US A LOT ABOUT WHAT OUR CITIZENS LIKE AND WHAT THEY DON'T LIKE, WHAT'S THEIR SATISFACTION LEVEL WITH DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEY TOLD US IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT WE'RE FAILING WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS.

OKAY? AND SO AS WE WORKED ON OUR STRATEGY FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THAT WAS A BIG KEY DISCUSSION POINT.

HOW DO WE DO, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT? WHAT ARE THOSE ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS THAT

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SAME WITH DIVERSE RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL.

EVERY DAY SOMEBODY ASKS ME, WHY DON'T WE HAVE SO AND SO? I KNOW YOU GUYS GET THE SAME QUESTIONS.

IT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO HAVING THE PEOPLE TO SPEND MONEY AT THOSE BUSINESSES TO HAVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AND THE RIGHT DEMOGRAPHICS.

WE'VE GOTTA HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SAME GOES FOR QUALITY NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHEN WE TALK TO HOME BUILDERS, THEY WANT TO COME TO MARKETS WHERE THERE'S A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE EASIER FOR THEM TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO COME BY THEIR HOMES.

IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

SAME WITH THE ABILITY TO WORK CLOSER TO HOME.

WE WANNA INCREASE THE DAYTIME POPULATION HERE.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

INSTEAD OF THE 90 PLUS PERCENT OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AND ARE COMMUTING INTO ANOTHER MARKET RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEIR JOBS ARE.

TO ATTRACT THOSE JOBS, WE HAVE TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND THEN FINALLY, OF COURSE, WE WANNA HAVE A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THAT'S WHY PEOPLE, THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE THING PEOPLE LOOK AT WHEN THEY'RE CONSIDERING MOVING TO A NEW COMMUNITY.

THE GOOD NEWS IN THE METROPLEX IS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE PROVEN TIME, AND AGAIN, THEY'LL DRIVE A HALF HOUR OR MORE FOR A JOB.

IF WE CAN PROVIDE A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE HERE, EVEN IF THEIR PARTICULAR JOB'S NOT HERE, THEY'LL COME HERE.

WE KNOW WE'VE GOT OTHER THINGS.

PEOPLE WANT OUR NAT, OUR NATURE ASSETS BE EVERYBODY, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE FALLING SHORT ON, ON SEVERAL ASPECTS THAT WE GOTTA WORK ON.

AND SO LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT SURVEY FOR A SECOND.

SO THIS TAKES A LOOK AT SURVEY RESULTS FROM 2016, 2020, AND THEN THE BLUE IS 2022.

AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP IN TERMS OF A PLACE TO LIVE, THE GENERAL QUALITY OF LIFE HERE, THE IMAGE OF CEDAR HILL, A PLUS, ALRIGHT, HIGH, HIGH RANKINGS, BUT THEN GO DOWN TO THE VERY BOTTOM.

AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, 7% OF OUR CITIZENS WERE VERY SATISFIED WITH CEDAR HILL IS AN ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION.

ANOTHER 17% SAID SATISFIED.

SO LESS THAN A QUARTER OF OUR CITIZENS FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING ENOUGH.

WE'RE PROVIDING ENOUGH OF THOSE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANT FOR DATE NIGHT OR FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT.

WHETHER IT'S MORE RESTAURANTS OR DIVERSE MIX OF RETAIL, OR SOME OF THE COOL ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS THAT WE SEE GOING ALL OVER THE METROPLEX THESE DAYS.

THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA ATTRACT THOSE THINGS IS BY ATTRACTING THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GO TO THOSE THINGS.

MORE CRITICAL MASS OF POPULATION.

AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO ATTRACT THAT CRITICAL, MASSIVE POPULATION IS BY HAVING A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

NOW I'M GONNA TURN IT BACK OVER TO MR. PORTER.

HE'S GONNA TALK ABOUT DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR TAX BASE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

BEYOND THE OBVIOUS CORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, ACTIVITIES AND GOALS THAT WE HAVE, THAT HAVING A AND PARTNERING WITH THE STRONG SCHOOL DISTRICT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE, ARE OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE.

UH, THE COUN COUNCIL HAS HAD A LONG-TERM STANDING FISCAL GOAL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A DIVERSE, UH, ECONOMY HERE AND IN A DIVERSE TAX BASE SO THAT THE BURDEN OF THE ENTIRETY OF THE TAX RATE IS NOT ON HOMEOWNERS.

SO WE HAVE ASPIRED FOR A 60 40%, UH, TAX BASE, 60% RESIDENTIAL, 40%, UH, COMMERCIAL FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

AND THAT 40% COMMERCIAL IS ABSOLUTELY TIED TO THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT THE BUSINESSES WHO THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THE WORKFORCE IN THE SCHOOLS FOR THEIR FAMILIES THAT THEY WOULD BE BRINGING IN TO GO TO.

SO OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE OUR FINANCIAL GOALS FOR OUR CITIZENS AND BEING ABLE TO, UM, BALANCE THAT TAX BASE, UH, TAX BURDEN UPON THEM IS BASED ON OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER A STRONG EDUCATION FOR OUR FAMILIES HERE.

UH, AND THEN ULTIMATELY, EVERY BUSINESS DECISION AND EVERY FAMILY DECISION ULTIMATELY COMES BACK TO SCHOOLS.

WHETHER IT'S BUSINESS LOCATIONS OR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, IT ALL COMES AROUND TO THE SAME PLACE.

SO ALL ROADS TO PREMIER, UH, GO THROUGH HAVING A PREMIER SCHOOL EDUCATION EXPERIENCE HERE IN CEDAR HILL.

SO LET'S TALKING ABOUT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR A LITTLE BIT.

YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RECENTLY ADOPTED, UH, JUST LAST YEAR CALLS FOR BROAD DIVERSE HOUSING.

YOU ALSO KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING MARKET STUDIES THAT SUGGEST THAT SOME OF THAT HOUSING IS IMPEDED, UH, BY PERCEPTION OF EDUCATION, NOT JUST IN CEDAR HILL, BUT IN THIS AREA.

SO WE MUST HAVE AN IMPACT ON THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ATTRACTING THE RESIDENTIAL, THE NEW FAMILIES, UH, THE NEW TALENTS THAT WE MUST HAVE TO CONTINUE ON THIS JOURNEY.

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AND SO THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT INVESTMENTS INTO PUBLIC EDUCATION COME BACK 20 FOLD, UH, IN TERMS OF RETURN FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR, UH, ON BUSINESS, UH, SITE SELECTION.

WELL, RESIDENTIAL HAS A LOT TO DO WITH COMMERCIAL AS WELL BECAUSE, UH, NEW RESTAURANTS, NEW ENTERTAINMENT PLACES ARE LOOKING FOR PLACES THAT ARE GROWING AND THEN HAVE GROWING RESIDENTIAL BASES.

AND SO THE TWO ARE INEVITABLY TIED.

AND SO THERE ARE REASONS THAT BOTH OF THOSE SECTORS ARE LOOKING FOR, UH, GOOD AND STRONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE WELL SUPPORTED BY THEIR COMMUNITIES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SELECTIONS ON MO MOVING THEIR FAMILIES AND MOVING THEIR BUSINESSES HERE.

AND THEN ON THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SIDE, UH, YOU'VE SEEN IT, WE'VE JUST ATTRACTED SEVERAL MILLION SQUARE FEET OF NEW BUSINESSES.

EVERY ONE OF THOSE BUSINESSES ARE LOOKING FOR THE QUALITY OF THE WORKFORCE THAT'S IN THAT AREA, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE CITY.

SO FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET THE HIGHEST, UH, AND BEST USE OUT OF THOSE FACILITIES, WE'VE GOTTA CONTINUE TO BE REALLY PUSHING THE ENVELOPE ON THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE OFFER HERE.

NOT JUST FOR THEIR WORKERS, BUT ALSO FOR THE FAMILIES THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO COME AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE ALWAYS ASPIRED FOR OUR KIDS TO WANT TO STAY HERE TO BECOME THE FUTURE LEADERS.

AND SO WE MUST BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE JOBS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, AS WELL AS THE JOB SKILLS TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE WITH THE, UH, COMPANIES THAT WE ARE ATTRACTING AS WELL.

SO SCHOOL SUCCESS IS RELATED TO ECONOMIC GROWTH.

UH, YOU'VE SEEN MANY ARTICLES INCLUDING THIS ONE THAT HAVE A HIGH CORRELATION BETWEEN A COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC GROWTH AND THE GRADE OF THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE MUST WORK TOGETHER AS WELL AS WE KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS AND ASPIRES FOR, UH, GREATER EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS AND OUTCOMES THAN WHAT WE HAVE.

SO WE'RE BEING TOLD WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

AND AS ALWAYS, WE DO THAT THROUGH ENGAGEMENT.

SO AGAIN, COMING OFF OF THE FOCUS THAT THE COUNCIL HAD MADE AND LAID OUT THE, THE, UH, THE OBJECTIVES FOR IT, THE RETREAT, UH, THE MAYOR CALLED A, UM, A SPECIAL, UH, EDUCATION COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS SUMMER WITH, UH, ONE GOAL IN MIND.

AND THAT WAS TO LAY THE FOUNDATION OF SUSTAINED COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN CEDAR HILL.

AND THE REASON WHY WE WANTED TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE WE REALLY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE AS A COMMUNITY, UH, AND AS NEIGHBORS IF WE DON'T DO THAT.

AND SO THIS GROUP WAS MADE UP OF LEADERSHIP ALL ACROSS THE CITY.

AND DIVERSE, UH, BACKGROUNDS HAD, UH, LEADERS FROM OUR FAITH COMMUNITY, LEADERS FROM OUR NON-PROFITS, LEADERS FROM OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSION LEADERS FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, FORMER ELECTED LEADERSHIP HERE.

SO THIS GROUP WAS CALLED TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE.

'CAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE DO AS A, AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A CITY, WE ENGAGE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF EDUCATION, HOW DO WE START ON THIS ROAD AND, AND HOW DO WE SET A FOUNDATION SO THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE AND WILL BECOME A STRENGTH FOR US AS WE GO TO REACH ALL THE OTHER OBJECTIVES THAT WE'VE GOT.

SO THIS GROUP SPENT, UH, UH, FOUR WEEKS LOOKING AT THE INFORMATION.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE KNOW ARE GONNA TAKE QUITE A BIT OF TIME, AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN ONLY DO TOGETHER IN WORKING AS A COMMUNITY.

SO THESE ARE THINGS LIKE STOPPING DECLINING ENROLLMENT, UH, CHANGING THE STANDARDS OF THE CHANGING STANDARDS OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY RATE, THE CHANGE THE, THE STATE KEEPS CHANGING THEM.

THEREFORE, IT'S VERY HARD TO SET A MARKER FOR PROGRESS, THE LACK OF APPROPRIATE STATE FUNDING.

WE'VE SEEN PLENTY OF EVIDENCE THAT SUGGESTS THAT THE SCHOOL'S CON, THAT THE STATE'S CONTRIBUTION TO PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUR CITY IS DECLINING.

UH, WE HAVE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE TO ADDRESS SO THAT OUR KIDS HAVE THE VERY BEST IN, UH, THE, UH, EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH TO LEARN.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO KEEP THINGS SAFE AND, UH, KEEP OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE MUST, WE MUST, WE MUST CREATE A LONG LASTING, UH, BOND OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO.

BUT WE HAVE TO START ONE THING AT A TIME.

AND SO IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DISTRICT AND WITH THIS GROUP, WE HAVE A VERY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE FIRST MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGES ARE.

UH, AND ONE IS THE ABILITY TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT GOOD TEACHERS.

UH, AND THE SECOND ONE IS ENSURING IN THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE IN AS SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

SO GOING BACK TO TEACHER RETENTION AND ATTRACTION, UH, THIS IS AN ISSUE NOT JUST FOR CEDAR HILL, BUT REALLY FOR ALL SCHOOLS.

YOU'VE SEEN IT IN THE NEWS VERY RECENTLY THAT THERE'S A DEMAND FOR TEACHERS AND THERE ARE NOT VERY MANY TEACHERS WHO ARE WANTING TO DO THESE JOBS.

THEREFORE, BEING COMPETITIVE

[00:25:01]

AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP IT ONCE IT COMES.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF STATS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHARED WITH US THAT I THINK ARE VERY CREDIBLE.

ONE IS THAT TWO-THIRDS OF THE, OF THEIR INSTRUCTORS HAVE EITHER ALT CERTIFICATIONS OR NOT THE CERTIFICATIONS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

THIS IS THE RESULT OF NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT HIGHLY CERTIFIED EXPERIENCED TEACHERS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THE SECOND ONE IS THAT HALF OF NEW TEACHERS THAT COME TO CEDAR HILL LEAVE WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS.

SO THE ABILITY TO BUILD ON THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ULTIMATELY DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT KIDS CAN LEARN, UH, CANNOT HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD AND STABLE SOLID INSTRUCTORS IN THOSE SCHOOLS, UH, AND SUPPORTING THEM.

THOSE ARE VERY KEY.

UM, ALSO, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE, UH, TO THE SAFETY PIECE.

AS YOU KNOW, UH, THE, THE STATE RECENTLY APPROVED, UH, HOUSE BILL THREE, WHICH MANDATES ARMED SECURITY ON EVERY CAMPUS.

AND WE KNOW THE REASONS WHY FOR THAT.

UH, WHAT THE STATE HAS NOT DONE IS PROPERLY PAID FOR IT.

AND I BELIEVE THE STAT THAT WE SAW IS SOMETHING LIKE 25% OF THE COST OF ACTUALLY MEETING THAT MANDATE IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE STATE.

THE REST IS ON US AS A COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.

THAT IS WHY TEACHER RETENTION AND CAMPUS SECURITY ARE OUR KEY ISSUES.

UH, WE KNOW THAT OUR, OUR PARTNERS AND ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND IN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

AS WE SAID.

UM, THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TEACHERS.

AND WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE WE'VE JUST GONE THROUGH AN EXPERIENCE, UH, OURSELVES WITH TRYING TO RETRACT OR ATTRACT AND RETAIN, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS.

UM, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON HOW TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND SUSTAIN IT.

AND THEIR CONCLUSION IS, WE MUST PROPERLY FUND A COMPETITIVE PAY SCALE IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

AND WE MUST PROPERLY FUND WELL-TRAINED SECURITY POLICE PERSONNEL TO PROTECT OUR KIDS WHILE THEY'RE IN SCHOOL.

SO THEY HAVE LOOKED AT AND THEY HAVE THE INTENT TO CALL A TAX RATIFICATION ELECTION TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE TWO THINGS.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.

IF WE DO NOT, IF THAT MEASURE IS NOT APPROVED, THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AGAIN CAN'T HAPPEN FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE MUST BE, AND THEN AS A COMMUNITY WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO, WAITING A YEAR TO START TO ADDRESS A BIG PROBLEM DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE TO ME.

SO WHAT WOULD THESE FUNDS BE PAID FOR? THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR.

WE'VE GOT TWO ISSUES TO START WITH.

ONE IS TEACHER RETENTION AND RETRACTION.

AND I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE YOUNG MAN THERE, AS A FIRST YEAR TEACHER, UH, HE WENT TO SCHOOL AT, UH, CEDAR HILL, I S D I USED TO OPEN DOORS FOR HIM BEFORE HE COULD DRIVE.

AND HERE HE IS TEACHING OUR OWN KIDS.

IT'S A GREAT REPRESENTATION OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH PROPER SUPPORT COMING FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEN THE SECOND ITEM HERE IS DEALING WITH SCHOOL SECURITY AND SAFETY, WHICH ISN'T AS SIMPLE AS JUST GIVE SOMEBODY, UH, SOME TOOLS AND LET THEM GO DO IT.

WE EXPECT AND NEED THE BEST IN FIRST RESPONDERS ON THE SCHOOL SIDE, JUST LIKE WE DO ON THE CITY SIDE.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD IS GOING TO CONSIDER A TAX RATIFICATION ELECTION, UH, LATER THIS EVENING.

IF THEY DO.

THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS OCTOBER 10TH.

EARLY VOTING WILL BE OCTOBER 23RD TO THE THIRD, AND THEN ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 7TH.

AND AGAIN, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THIS SLIDE IS THAT IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING BY THEN, THE NEXT BEST AVAILABLE TOOL DOESN'T COME AROUND FOR ANOTHER 365 DAYS.

AND BACK TO THE POINT THAT HENRY MADE, MANY OF US HAVE LABORED ON OUR JOURNEY TO PREMIER WITH AN ECONOMY THAT IS FOCUSED ON THE NORTH, WHICH IN ALL THE BLUE DOTS OF WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE, WHERE ALL THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, WE'VE SEEN THE GREEN DOTS, WHICH ARE ALL THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS.

WE ARE NOW SEEING THE ECONOMY'S EYE FINALLY IN OUR FRONT YARD.

AND SO THE REGION AND THE NEED TO, TO ACT NOW, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'VE DONE THINGS LIKE POSITION OURSELVES WITH BETTER AMENITIES WITH THE 2017 BOND IS KEY BECAUSE THIS SPOTLIGHT WILL NOT ALWAYS BE ON US.

SO WHAT DOES, UH, SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, THE COMMITTEE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON, AND THOSE ARE THINGS LIKE PROVIDING EVERY CHILD AND TEACHER A SAFE SCHOOL, IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, RETAIN AND RECRUIT THE BEST TEACHERS, INCREASE DISTRICT ENROLLMENT.

TEXAS SCHOOLS OF CHOICE WOULD NEED THAT, UH, TO IMPROVE, UH, TO IMPROVE LONGHORN COMMUNITY PRIDE AND IMPROVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT ENGAGEMENT.

IN THE END.

IN THE END, IT IS

[00:30:01]

AND THEY'RE NO ONE ELSE MANSFIELD, BUT END GRAND PRAIRIE FRISCO.

THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUALITY EDUCATION HERE WE ARE.

SO WE ASKED THE COMMITTEE SOME QUESTIONS.

THE FIRST ONE WAS, IT'S BEEN PRESENTED AT THE TOP TWO ISSUES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, IMPROVED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE TEACHER PAY AND SCHOOL SECURITY.

AND DO YOU AGREE? AND OUR COMMITTEE RESPONDED, THEY ABSOLUTELY AGREED WITH THAT.

SECOND ONE WAS, DO YOU THINK A TAX ELECTION IS A VIABLE OPTION TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS BOTH OF THESE? AND THE ANSWER THAT THEY PROVIDED US WITH A YES, THEY, THEY BELIEVED THAT IT WAS, AND ALSO DID THEY BELIEVE THAT THE NEED TO DO SO WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO ACTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR IT.

AND THEY SAID EMPHATICALLY THAT YES, THEY BELIEVED THAT IT DID.

AND SO WITH MAYOR, THAT IS, UH, MY PRESENTATION TO YOU.

YOU DO HAVE A RESOLUTION.

UH, I WANNA SAY I WANNA APPRECIATE, UH, THE, MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BOTH IN THE STAFF AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR PROVIDING A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS DIALOGUE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

AND I THINK THAT IS THE BASELINE FOR BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO GET THROUGH THE GOALS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO.

THAT WOULD BE MY PRESENTATION, SIR.

THANK CITY MANAGER.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO STATE IT IS SIX 12 COUNCIL, NOT THAT I'M TRYING TO RUSH YOU, BUT THERE IS A MEETING SCHEDULED TO BE HERE AT SIX 30.

UM, BUT BASED UPON THE PRESENTATION OR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE RESOLUTION, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS, UH, QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? IF NO COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? UH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A ME A MOTION IN FAVOR OF RESOLUTION NUMBER R 23 DASH 6 87.

IT'S A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CEDAR TEXAS IN SUPPORT OF THE CEDAR HILL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT CALLING A VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE ELECTION VADER IN NOVEMBER TO PAY FOR TEACHER ATTRACTION AND RETENTION EFFORTS AND SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY AS MANDATED BY TEXAS HOSPITAL NUMBER THREE.

AND THE, THE, THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD ADD TO THAT, I, I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT MY MEMORY SAYS TO ME THAT THE SUCCESS OF OUR DISTRICT IS TIED TO THE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND SO WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS MEASURE ADDRESSES IS THE MOST CRITICAL PIECE IN THE SUCCESS OF OUR DISTRICT.

AND THAT'S TEACHER ATTRACTION AND TEACHER RETENTION.

SO THANK YOU.

THAT'S MY MOTION.

ALRIGHT.

WE DO HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

WE DO HAVE A, A, A SECOND FROM, UH, COUNCILMAN CHAD MCCURDY.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? COUNCILOR MCGOVERN? JUST ONE QUICK COMMENT.

UH, AS I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS AND ROLLING THIS OVER FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS IN LIFE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ME TO DO.

BE IN LOVE WITH MY WIFE, BE A FATHER TO MY CHILDREN, HAVE FAITH IN MY GOD.

BUT TO BE A TEACHER, TO BE EMPLOYED, YOU, YOU NEED A SALARY.

AND NO OTHER PROFESSION DO WE ASK PEOPLE TO TAKE LESS.

AND IT, I, I I CAN'T UNDERSTAND THAT WE ASK INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE LESS AND PRODUCE MORE.

AND THE PRODUCTION IS OUR CHILD, OUR CHILDREN, OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST VALUED ITEMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR POSSESSION.

AND WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE, WHETHER THERE IS SNEAKERS OR CARS OR A HOME TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

AND I CAN'T SEE HOW WE CAN'T GO FORWARD AND MAKE SURE THAT TEACHERS WHO SEE OUR CHILDREN MORE THAN WE DO MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ARE WELL PAID.

THAT'S THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION TO PEOPLE BEING SATISFIED WITH THEIR JOB AND NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT CAN I MAKE MY CAR PAYMENT THIS MONTH? SO I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER.

UH, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT.

UH, WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

UH, WE DO HAVE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, MR. MR. MAYOR.

I, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, SAY ONE, SAY ONE MORE THING REAL QUICK.

YES, SIR.

UM, THE, BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS, AND, AND THAT IS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE, UH, THE IMPACT OF, OF SALARY CHANGES, UH, WITH THE, WITH OUR OWN, UH, FIRST RESPONDER POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW MY DAUGHTER IS A, IS A STUDENT AT, AT OUR COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL.

MY SON IS IN THE SKILLS DEPARTMENT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN SHORT, AT LEAST BOTH

[00:35:01]

AT LEAST ONE TEACHER, UM, MAY MAYBE MORE, UH, MY DAUGHTER THIS YEAR DOESN'T HAVE A, A PHYSICS TEACHER, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT WE SAW IN, IN OUR, YOU KNOW, IN OUR BUDGET JUST WELL STILL THIS YEAR, UM, BECAUSE WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS, YOU KNOW, MID-YEAR WAS THAT BECAUSE THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS AROUND US HAD RAISED SALARIES SIGNIFICANTLY.

ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WENT FROM A FULLY STAFFED POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST FISCAL YEAR IN OCTOBER TO HAVING A DEFICIT, I BELIEVE, OF, UH, 10 OFFICERS.

WE WERE DOWN 10 OFFICERS BY MARCH.

SO FROM OCTOBER TO MARCH, WE WENT FROM FULLY STAFFED TO DOWN 10 OFFICERS.

THAT'S 15%, A 15% REDUCTION IN FORCE IN, IN LIKE SIX MONTHS.

AND WHEN WE, WE CALLED OUR AN EMERGENCY MEETING AND WE ALTERED OUR SALARIES FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

AND WITHIN A MATTER OF TWO MONTHS, WE WENT FROM BEING, HAVING, YOU KNOW, SHORT 15% IN, IN OUR, UH, FORCE TO BEING ESSENTIALLY FULLY STAFFED, ALL JUST BY ALTERING, UM, THE SALARIES OF, OF OUR OFFICERS.

NOW, WE WENT FROM BEING THE, ONE OF THE LOWEST PAID DEPARTMENTS IN THE REGION TO BEING THE HIGHEST PAID DEPARTMENT IN THE REGION.

BUT THE, I THINK THE EXPECTATION THAT, UH, THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AROUND US WILL PROBABLY RESPOND AND WE'LL BE BACK IN THE MIDDLE, WHICH IS WHERE WE TYPICALLY TARGETED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR DEPARTMENT HAS A GREAT CULTURE, HAS A GREAT REPUTATION, AND, AND WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT WANT TO COME HERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME HERE, UM, JUST BECAUSE OF REPUTATION AND JUST BECAUSE OF CULTURE.

THEY, THEY HAVE TO BE PAID AS WELL.

AND THE TEACHERS ARE, ARE THE SAME WAY.

THE TEACHERS ARE ALSO PUBLIC SERVANTS.

UM, AND THEY, THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH THE SAME RESPECT AND THE SAME DIGNITY, AND THE SAME COMPENSATION, JUST LIKE WE DO OUR OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS AND, AND OUR OTHER PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THIS CITY.

THANK YOU.

UH, COUNCILOR MCCURDY.

UM, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, ON, UM, WE, WE ARE RECORDING VIRTUALLY.

AND, UH, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT, UM, COUNCILWOMAN MIRANDA INE CANNOT JOIN US HERE TODAY, BUT SHE DID EXPRESS, UH, HER SUPPORTED RESOLUTION.

UH, WE DON'T DO PROXIES, UH, SO SHE CANNOT, WE CANNOT PROXY HER VOTE.

UH, BUT JUST FOR THE STATE, UH, FOR THE RECORD, I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION BEFORE WE CONTINUE WITH THE VOTE COUNSEL.

UH, AND I DO KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A, A, A MOTION IN A SECOND, BUT ALLOW ME TO, TO, TO, TO SOME GRACE.

GO AHEAD AND READ THIS, UH, AS WE STILL HAVE A FEW, FEW MINUTES HERE.

WHEREAS PREMIER CITIES ARE BUILT UPON SUCCESS OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO INCLUDE ECONOMIC GROWTH, HAVING A DIVERSE ECONOMY, ENSURING THE TOTAL TAX BURDEN IS BALANCED BETWEEN NON-RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND HAVING THE DESIRED ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS, RESIDENTIAL GROWTH, AND WORKFORCE TALENTS.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF CITY HILL RECOGNIZED THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BENEFIT TO SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS.

AND CITIES WITH STRONG SCHOOLS HAVE HIGHER QUALITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HIGHER PAYING JOBS, AND HIGHER END RESTAURANTS.

WHEREAS FUTURE SUCCESS FOR THE CITY HILL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT INCLUDES PROVIDING EVERY CHILD AND TEACHER SAFE SCHOOL, IMPROVING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, RETAINING AND RECRUITING THE BEST TEACHERS, INCREASING DISTRICT ENROLLMENT, IMPROVING LONGHORN COMMUNITY PRIDE, IMPROVING COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT IN AN EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE DISTRICT'S FUTURE GOALS.

TEACHER PAY HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE FOR THE CITY HILL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ITS PURSUIT TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT.

BASED UPON, BASED ON A CITY HILL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT COMPARISON OF TEACHER SALARIES TO OTHER DALLAS-FORT WORTH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE TEACHER PAY IS AMONGST THE LOWEST SURROUNDING DISTRICTS.

ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF INDEPENDENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT, 41% OF ALL TEACHERS LEAVE THE DISTRICT OF A LOWER THAN MARKET PAY.

OVER AND OVER 50% LEAVE THE DISTRICT AFTER THEIR FIRST TWO YEARS AS A TEACHER.

BECAUSE OF LOW PAY IN 2023, HOUSE BILL THREE WAS PASSED IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE REQUIRING ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE A CERTIFIED ARMED SECURITY OFFICERS AT EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL CAMPUS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL CHILDREN IN ALL YEARS OF THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, INCLUDING INCLUDE PROVIDING, I'M SORRY, INCLUDE IMPROVING ACADEMICS PERFORMANCE, THE DECLINE IN DISTRICT ENROLLMENTS, AND ADDRESS EDUCATIONAL LEARNING GAPS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT'S.

AND THE FIRST STEP TO ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES IS TO PROVIDE A COMPETITIVE TEACHER SALARIES AND A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THE CITY OF CITY HILL HOSTED A SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION COMPRISED OF CEDAR HILL CITIZENS TO BRING AWARENESS

[00:40:01]

THE CITY HILL SPECIAL COMMITTEE AND EDUCATION RECOMMEND TO THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL THAT THE CITY OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT CALL AND SUPPORT A VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE ELECTION VADER IN NOVEMBER, 2023.

AND THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL HAS STRATEGIC POSITION ITSELF TO BE A PREMIER CITY, WHICH PLAYS GREAT VALUES ON TEXAS SCHOOLS OF CHOICE.

AND TO HAVE A PREMIER CITY, WE MUST HAVE PREMIER SCHOOLS, PREMIER TEACHERS, PREMIER SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY.

NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED.

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY HILL OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS, IN SUPPORT OF CITY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT C H I S D, CALLING EVADER IN NOVEMBER, 2023 TO PAY FOR TEACHER RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND SCHOOL SAFETY SECURITY MEASURES.

COUNCIL, THOUGH THAT IS THE RESOLUTION, UH, R 23 6 87, COUNCIL MEMBER DAN HAYDEN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, I, I WON'T REITERATE, UH, I THINK, UH, SEVERAL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, MAYOR PRO TEM, REALLY SAID IT VERY E ELOQUENTLY AS FAR AS THE NEED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ONE THING I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO SEE IS, IS HOW MUCH STRUGGLE AND CHALLENGE THAT YOU ALL HAD AS A SCHOOL BOARD AND AS, AND AS A DISTRICT TO KEEP TEACHERS AND TO HAVE TEACHERS.

AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE PAY STRUCTURE AND I LOOKED AT WHAT WE WANT TO TRY TO, UH, TO PROVIDE AND IN THE WAY OF HOUSING FOR PEOPLE, SOME OF THOSE TEACHERS WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, UH, ON THE PAY THAT THEY HAD.

SO THERE WAS SOME STRIKING, UH, AND SHOCKING, UH, STATISTICS THAT I SAW WITH REGARDS TO THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME, AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO, TO MY KIDS.

THEY GREW UP THROUGH THAT.

AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND, AND I THINK IF, IF CITIZENS HEARD THE RELATIONSHIP OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE CITY AND HOW WE CAN BE PREMIER, ESPECIALLY AFTER LISTENING TO, UH, HENRY, THAT I'M DEFINITELY IN SUPPORT OF THIS, KNOWING HOW MUCH, UH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS IMPORTANT FOR US AS A CITY AND FOR US AS A COMMUNITY.

SO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR MC.

HAYDEN, UH, COUNCIL, WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND WE DO HAVE A SECOND.

UM, IT APPEARS WE DO HAVE CONSENSUS, SO ALLOW ME TO GO AHEAD AND, AND CALL A ROLL CALL VOTE.

AND THEN, UH, WE'LL MOVE TO CONTINUE.

SO WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION.

WE DO HAVE A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF MAYOR PRO.

TIM SIMS, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YAY.

IN FAVOR.

AYE UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MCCURDY.

YAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER HAYDEN AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, GLOVER.

YAY.

AND COUNCILWOMAN DANIELS.

I'M SORRY.

YES.

COUNCILWOMAN DANIELS.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL COUNCILMAN THAT IS, THAT MOVES UNANIMOUSLY AND THEREFORE, IF THIS, UH, RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, COUNSEL.

THANK YOU EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT TODAY.

AND WITH THAT LAST, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO ADJOURN.

MOTION TO ADJOURN.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? HAVE SECOND.

SECOND, SECOND.

COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER AS NON-AVAILABLE MOTION.

UH, ALL FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

IT IS 6 23.

THANK YOU, COUNSEL.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.