It should be [laughter] I still want to diagnostics. I don't think >> I don't think Have a great Good morning and welcome to the city council meeting. Before Mayor Parker calls the meeting to order, we ask that you please be seated and silence all electronic devices. City council meetings are conducted for the official business of the city council and to receive input from residents. Individuals attending the meeting shall observe rules of decorum and shall not engage in disorderly conduct that interferes with the ability of others to observe or participate in the meeting without disruption or fear of intimidations. Speakers who engage in any conduct or encourage such conduct that interferes with the meeting, including loud and prolonged yelling or other noisecreating acts which make it difficult for city council to conduct or continue with the meeting will have their mics muted and will be removed from the chambers. For those of you who have requested to speak when your name is called, please come forward to the center podium. The countdown clock is displayed on the left monitor and will indicate how much time is remaining. A bell will sound when you have 30 seconds remaining. Before you begin your comments, please state your name and thank you. Thank you, Janette. Good morning. Calling our meeting to order. Today's invocation will be by Pastor Damon Holidayiday from the Key Church. Please rise for the invocation and remain standing for the pledges of allegiance. Let's pray. Uh dear father Lord, we just thank you for being such a amazing, awesome God. And we thank you for the city of Fort Worth. We thank you for how you're blessing our city in such an amazing way. Lord, we just want to lift up our mayor. We want to lift up all of our city council members, our all of our elected officials, Lord. And Lord, we just uh thank you for the numeric growth that we're having, but we know with that growth comes challenges. Lord, we just pray that you will give us your grace and your love that we may manage this responsibility well. Lord, give us the unity, Lord, that we need and equality so that we can be a blessing to the residents of Fort Worth. And we just pray that every decision made today and going forward will be done to glorify you. We ask you do all of this in Jesus name. Amen. To the flag to the stands nationy for all flag. Next will be any items to be continued or withdrawn by staff. We have one item to be continued. That's M andC 25-0975 be withdrawn. The council and is being asked to vote for the revised MNC of 25-0975. Mayor and councel before uh we take speakers on the consent there is one additional correction that I'll read into the record uh and that is on MNC 251018 on page five of the agenda it indicates an appropriation ordinance will be adopted but the or appropriation ordinance is not needed and that will be corrected and reflected in the minutes. >> Mayor I believe we have one speaker. Thank you, Janette. Adrienne Smith, Mr. Smith present. That will be the conclusion of our consent agenda. Speakers council can entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. Got a motion and a second. Any discussion? If not, please vote. Motion carries. Next will be announcements from council. >> Council member Flores coming events. Okay, there we go. Thank you, mayor. Uh get the first slide, please. Uh up on the top we have some pictures from the Chuco Trailblazer Award ceremony there at Santa Rosa at the Rose Marine Theater. Uh who was honored was the former justice of the peace uh Manuel uh Valdez. He has served in his capacity very honorably former US Marine or I should say always uh thanks Charlie [laughter] a US Marine and so he continues to serve in different capacities in our community. So, congratulations to Judge Valdez. Uh on the bottom, Red Cross sound the alarm uh event where they gave out fire and smoke detectors uh to needy residents. Uh Fort Worth fire and Fort Worth co- compliance helped out in that regard. So, thank you Red Cross for helping keep our communities safer. Then I just have the next slide a couple of announcements. Uh we have our upcoming help build our future 2026 bond uh town hall. and we get to discuss that on November 12th at the North Side Community Center at 1100 Northwest 18th Street. So, be sure to connect and find out more information about what our city is doing in planning for, you know, our next round of capital projects and other important uh initiatives. Then I'm joining uh Council Member Hill uh welcoming Chief Garcia at a meet and greet uh November 19th from 5:30 to 7:00 at Eagle Mountain Sageno ISTD. So we both look forward to seeing everyone there. And that's all I have. >> Thank you, Carlos. Council member Peoples, >> good morning. Well, I want to start out by saying we had an amazing time in district 5 at the grand opening of Hughes House. And I understand some folks are here from um the housing uh authority who made that happen. It was a wonderful day. As you can see, our mayor was there with many of our elected officials and we did the ribbon cutting and uh it is great to see that revitalization coming to the neighborhood. Next slide, please. Also on that same day, the mayor stayed with us and we had uh there's a workforce innovation and talent center that opened. We were able to attend that ribbon cutting. Uh CVS Health was there and they are teaching pharmacy techs there. So it was a wonderful uh opportunity not only for the neighbors to see the new tech center but for introduce uh a new skill to the community. Next slide please. And then uh this was it says breast cancer awareness month but it is also domestic violence awareness month. And you will see in the beautiful slides there uh the amazing women uh that belong to the uh black police officers association did a wonderful lunch and where they focused on not only breast cancer awareness but domestic violence and the impact. And then as you can see there were several uh events in the community. Uh one of our partners uh Albertson's that is there held a breast cancer walk and had survivors come in and walk the pink carpet. So just a wonderful uh way to honor the victims uh or the patients of who've had breast cancer and the victims of domestic violence. Next slide, please. And then I got to do what I love to do best and that is read to children. So we were able to go to the key school and uh those some of the smartest kids I know. They had great questions and so we read the story about Norman and his best friend Mildred the Tree. And so then I left Key School and I went to next slide please. Uh Uplift Crescendo Academy where I got to meet some amazing teachers and some incredible students who are there learning and so I love it. Fall in love with learning and that is the focus that they had. So next slide please. And then this was the highlight of my year. Uh so we know we have a Buddhist temple and those uh monks reside in district 5. Uh they are doing a walk for peace. It is a 2300 mile walk. It's going to take them about three months uh to do the walk. They're walking about 20 miles per day. But I love the focus on interfaith. There was an amazing young woman, Lesie Parker Horn, who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. She was there and we talked about this whole goal toward peace and unity and loving each other and working with each other. And so there is we weren't able to get the uh card up there, but you can follow the peace walk. If you go to Facebook, it is the Walk for Peace 2025 and you can see at any given time where these courageous monks are walking and to advance the cause of peace. Next slide. And then finally, uh, please, we are going to do on Saturday, November the 15, 2025, we'll be presenting the 2026 bond, uh, to those in District 5, but people from other districts are welcome to come uh, to find out about the bond program. It's going to be at the East Side Y on Sandy Lane. And we look forward to seeing lots of citizens there to learn about where your money uh, will be spent. And that's all I have. Mayor, >> thank you. Council member Peoples and Council Member Beck. There we go. Try again, Ken. I think it's on. Yeah. All right. Got it. All right. Uh, first slide. Yesterday, I had the opportunity uh, next slide. [clears throat] Thank you. Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a um a panel at Texas&M School of Law hosted by the Jewish um student organization, the Muslim student organization and the Christian student organization on um on your faith and your law practice. So I appreciate the opportunity to participate on that panel. Next slide. This some upcoming closures. Forest Park Boulevard will be closed due to the filming of uh the Lioness season 3 October 29th. That's this weekend from 11:00 am to 4:00 am October 30th the next day. Um so just be mindful as you're moving about the city. Next slide. All right. We have the um Diaz de los Muertos um celebration at Fire Station Community Center coming uh November 1st at 10 a.m. and then also at Artisan Circle November 2nd at 11:00 a.m. Next slide. Uh Boots to Business Reboot on November 3rd. um the at the Devoid Jennings business assoc uh assistance center and they will be assisting veteranowned small businesses with a one-day workshop on um how to build your business plan and your small business. Next slide. All right, just as a reminder, um November 4th is an election day. Um Trinity Metro is providing free rides to all the polling locations. You just have to tell your driver or conductor that you are traveling to vote and you get a free ride on Trinity Metro. Uh, next slide. All right. Uh, look for some street closures due to the Fort Worth Marathon. Um, November 8th and November 9th. Um, so just be mindful of that. Next slide. November 10th at 6 PM we have Oh, next slide. Next slide. Here we go. November 10th at 6 PM, um we will have our bond meeting at University Christian Church on University Drive. Next slide. As a reminder, November 11th is uh Veterans Day and we will have the um the Veterans Day parade launching from Panther Island. Next slide. November 15th, Lost and Sound is coming back to the near southside. So if you're into live music, make sure you check it out. Um, next slide, final slide. November 23rd at 6 PM, the Parade of Lights downtown. Don't miss it. That's all I got. Thank you, Council Member Beck. Mayor, I believe that gets us to non-consent speakers, and we have six. Thank you. Our first speaker is Daniel Bennett, followed by Lon Burnham. >> Good morning, Daniel Bennett. I live in white settlement. I want to talk with you about your item for the appropriate uh appointing your votes for the ter appraisal district board of directors. As some of you may know, may not know the 24 election there was an overvote to the college with 200 votes. We don't know if the correct people have been populating that board because the district messed up. Now, the way this is supposed to work on the property tax code, the chief appraiser supposed to guide from start to finish. It's his responsibility. Whether it was delegated to somebody else, how it got messed up at 24, we don't know. But I can tell you there's been issues in the past with this election. I won't get into it. But the way it's supposed to work is supposed to be a snapshot in time, a supplemental report issued by the chief appraiser time certain. Then he puts that stuff into an Excel spreadsheet, calculates your votes, prints that out, physically takes it over, and put it in where your ballot and your notification can be printed and issued. It's nurtured by the chief appraiser from start to finish. Now, there's an investigation apparently from Rick Barnes is going to find out how this occurred. I'm asking you to postpone your vote today until we get some results of whether your number you have today is correct. The commission's court was shorted 24 votes in 2024. Mr. O'Hare is not happy. How do we know this body today has the correct number of votes? You don't. Once you cast them and you're short, you live with it. So, I'm asking you to postpone till the next meeting your your vote. You get two meetings because you got 5% under the property tax code. If you have greater than 5%, you have to cast your ballot within the first and second meeting. So, you have one more shot. Wait till after November 3rd where you got some resolution, some confidence in what you're doing. I appreciate your time. >> Our next speaker is Lon Burnham followed by Gwen Johnson. Representative Burnham. >> Good morning all. My name is Lauren Bernham. I've um have been a resident of District 9 since 1979. So, this is my first time to speak before this chamber, but I've been around for a while. Uh and I want to second everything that Joe Bennett just said as far as the absolute need to put the brakes on this resolution right now. There are too many questions up in the air. There are too many things unresolved and once you vote on this resolution, you're not going to have a chance to back up this year and try to figure out what needs to be done. Over the last half century when I've been involved with city council politics, I've noticed time and time again sometimes the best decision is to delay a decision until you have all the facts. Uh, I have a personal preference in who should be appointed because I think she's better qualified than a lot of names that are being floated. But the main thing now is stop. Slow down. Don't make another mistake. Don't rush to judgment. Let's get this right. After all, in your day-to-day activities as a council member, you never hear about anything more than you hear about crime, potholes, and property taxes. This is your opportunity to do something meaningful about property taxes and that is to fix the system and the problem. You are the second largest taxing entity in the county and you can address this problem. So let's dig a little deeper. Let's postpone and let's address this problem. And I'm just going to take a minute for not even a minute for what I have left to say you have a frequent visitor to city council chamber who is celebrating a 90th birthday this week and I just want to do a big shout out to Reed Bills for all of her community commitment. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Lon. >> With that, we have actually I'm going to go ahead and call Reed up and we'll have Gwen go next. Happy birthday, Reed. Come on up if you'd like to. Uhhuh. Happy birthday. 90 years young, right? >> It's good to see you. Make sure you're in that microphone, Reed, if you don't mind. So, it should been down to you. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. >> Over 50 of them here in Fort Worth, so I've lived here more than I have anywhere else. >> Very good. >> Oh, it's my home. I had signed up to speak. Should I go ahead and >> Yes, please. Yes. >> Speak. Okay. uh when you do vote for the position in on the TAD board hopefully you will delay that until a later time. Uh I would like to recommend to you say sed for that position. Uh say um let's see I have to change this because um would would be a TAD representative who is eminently qualified to fill this position. She is a former appraisal review board member who granted fair, informed decisions to property owners who came before her. She already possesses the knowledge of the TAD process and her prior experience fully qualifies her to serve on the board. The TAD board needs a member who will represent the taxpayers and assure that all actions are done publicly, honestly, and transparently. Sita Zed is that member and I ask you to elect her your representative to the TAD board of directors. Thank you. >> Thank you. Gwen Johnson will be followed by Charles Bills. Is Gwyn present? Thank you. Reed Bills, excuse me, Char Charles bills, followed by Adrienne Smith. Mr. Bills, >> yes. I'm here to reiterate the U suggestions by Joe Bennett to delay this vote. You know, it's easy to once you've done it, you can't undo it. So, you may as well make sure to get it right. Also I recommend say to say she represents the people and I don't particularly think that uh uh the you're I don't remember her name but uh the people need to be representative and uh you know I know the powers of be have plenty of representation but the people don't. >> Thank you Mr. Bills. Adrienne Smith is Adrien present. No council that's a conclusion of our speakers. We can move to changes in boards and memberships and commissions. So the first item is 25-5525 from district 2. Council district 2. Council member Flores. >> It should work. It's green. I don't know. Let me try one more time. >> It is green on there. We go. >> Okay. >> Who knows? >> Late action. Okay. Mayor and council request your consideration to appoint the following individual. the board below with a partial term effective October 28th, 2025 and ending October 1st, 2026. And that individual is Andy Bearden, who is here in the audience. Thank you, Andy, for being present for a partial term on the city planned commission. The respective application and resume are available upon request, and the original copies will be maintained at the city secretary's office. So, that is my motion. Thank you, Carlos, and Council Member Nettles for District 825-5554. >> Mayor, we need to take a vote. >> I apologize. I was talking to my attorney here, making sure I had everything straight. Um, Council Member Flores has a motion. Thank you. Please vote. Motion carries. Now, we can do 25-554 from District 8. >> Thank you, Janette. Council member Nettles. >> Yes, Mayor Council. I request your consideration to appoint the following individuals to the board listed below with a partial term effective October the 28, 2025 and ending October 1st, 2026, Shawana Washington Library Advisory Board. The application resumes are available upon request. >> Thank you, Council Nettles. Got a motion, a second. Thank you. Please vote. Motion carries. Next will be 25-552 5552. Got a motion and a second. Council, um, please vote. Motion carries. and a significant congratulations and thanks to Chief Raymond Hill who was out of town today or he would have been here in person but I know each of us enjoys working with him and look forward to his leader leadership at the for fire department on an interim basis. Next item is 255518. Thank you Janette. Um I was actually just conferencing with Lean Guzman and I appreciate um our speakers this bringing this to our attention. This was something we knew behind the scenes. Um, I would actually like to entertain a motion from the council of consideration to delay this decision. Um, it's my understanding TAD is having a special called meeting on November 3rd to help provide clarity on what happened last cycle and I don't think there's any reason for us to rush through it just in case something else comes up on the 3. So if there are no open for discussion on this item, thank you council member Peoples. I know that council member want to add something as well. >> Sorry. There you go. >> Yes. After discussion with the city attorney, I'm going to recuse from these votes out of an abundance of caution. >> And because why, Alan? >> Because I serve on the T. >> Thank you. Okay. Appreciate that. I've got a motion a second. Council Flores, did you have a question or was that from before? Okay. Thank you. Motion to continue. Council member, thank you. >> Did you want to say something? Council peoples, go ahead. >> Make sure that the motion was to uh continue. I was look I was reading up here. So, we'll we'll change it. Okay. >> Yes. Motion to continue. Yes, ma'am. Motion to continue passes. Next item is 25-551. Motion a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next is 25-5526. >> Motion to second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next will be 25-5535. Motion and a second. Please vote. Motion carries. Congratulations to District 8. Next will be 25-5517. Motion a second. Please vote. Motion carries. Next will be MNC25-0995 and staff is available if you have questions. >> Council member Hill. >> Second. >> Motion a second. Please vote. >> Motion carries. Next is MNC25-0975 revised. >> Council member Peoples and Council Member Martinez. >> Second. >> Motion. A second. Please vote. Motion carries. Next is MNC25-1000. Council, >> thank you. >> Motion a second. Please vote. Motion carries. Next is MNC2-06. >> Motion in a second. Please vote. Motion carries. Next is MNC2-1012. Motion in a second. Please vote. Let me see. Try one more time. Motion carries. Mayor, that concludes all of the action items. Thank you, Janette. Meeting is adjourned.