Jan 22, 2024 City Council

[00:00:05]

I

[CALL TO ORDER]

COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH WILL BE ON ZOOM.

WE'LL BEGIN TONIGHT'S REGULAR MEETING WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR ASHISH MATTHEW WITH COMMISSIONED CHURCH AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND TEXAS PLEDGE, LED BY GIRL SCOUT TROOP 45 83 WITH SHEPHERD ELEMENTARY AND WILSON MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN MY WIFE, SONYA AND I AND OUR ENTIRE COMMISSION, CHURCH ON THE DAY 15 OF OUR 21 DAY FAST.

AS WE PRAY FOR THE CITY OF PLANO, BY YOUR HEADS WITH ME, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH HEARTS FILLED WITH GRATITUDE.

WE THANK YOU FOR BEING A GOD OF LOVE WHO IS WITH US NOW IN THIS VERY ROOM.

WE THANK YOU FOR MAKING EACH OF US IN THIS ROOM AND EVERY CITIZEN OF THE CITY IN YOUR OWN IMAGE, WITH DIGNITY AND WITH INFINITE WORTH.

THANK YOU THAT YOUR SON JESUS, ROSE FROM THE DEAD.

AND NOW REIGNS IS KING OVER HEAVEN AND EARTH AND THE CITY OF PLANO.

AND I PRAY THAT OUR CITY WOULD BE KNOWN AS A RIGHTEOUS CITY, A CITY OF PEACE, AND A CITY OF HOPE, A CITY WITH HAPPY HOMES, A CITY THAT WELCOMES THE STRANGER, A CITY THAT CARESS FOR THE ORPHAN, THE WIDOW, THE NEEDY.

A CITY THAT DEFENDS THE INNOCENT FROM EVIL DOERS AND A CITY THAT CONFESSES JESUS'.

LORD, I THANK YOU TONIGHT, GOD, FOR THESE YOUR SERVANTS, OUR MAYOR, OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY STAFF, AND OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I GIVE THANKS FOR THE WAY OF SERVICE THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE UP ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US HERE, WE ALL COME TO THIS ROOM TONIGHT AS COMPLEX HUMAN BEINGS, SOME OF US BROKEN, SOME OF US CARRYING BURDENS, MANY OF US CARRYING JOY AND HOPE, TRUSTING THAT YOU ALONE CAN HOLD US TOGETHER IN A SEASON LIKE THIS.

THERE ARE MANY HERE THAT ARE LOOKING TO VOICE THEIR PAINS AND CONCERNS TO THESE ELECTED SERVANTS, BUT MORE THAN OUR FEARS AND OUR WOUNDS AND EVEN OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, MAY WE L LEAN IN ON YOUR EVERLASTING ARMS TONIGHT.

IT'S APOSTLE PAUL WRITING TO THE CHRISTIANS IN ROME THAT TELLS US THAT THOSE IN AUTHORITY ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST SERVANTS LORD OF YOU.

AND THAT HONORING YOU AND DOING YOUR WILL IS THE HIGHEST PURPOSE THAT ANY PORTION OF POWER THEY ENJOY IS GIVEN BY YOU AND YOU ALONE.

AND IT CAN BE TAKEN AWAY AT ANY TIME.

AND SO WE PRAY TODAY THAT, THAT, THAT YOU WOULD BE GLORIFIED TONIGHT THROUGH THE DECISIONS OF THIS CITY COUNCIL.

WE PRAY THAT YOUR KINGDOM WOULD COME IN PLANO.

WE PRAY FOR WISDOM, FOR STRENGTH, FOR COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD FOR ALL CITIZENS.

IT'S MY PRAYER TODAY THAT OUR CITY WILL BE, BE A SHINING EXAMPLE OF OUR, OF A COMMUNITY THAT LOVES ONE ANOTHER IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE HATE AND DIVISIVENESS THAT RUNS RAMPANT IN OUR TIME.

I PRAY FOR PEACE, UNITY, AND REVIVAL IN OUR CITY, STATE, AND NATION.

HELP US, LORD, TO TURN FROM OUR EVIL WAYS AND EXPERIENCE HEALING ONCE AGAIN.

WE THANK YOU TONIGHT FOR OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR MAYOR, OUR CITY STAFF, AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND ALL THOSE WHO WORK TO MAKE THIS PLACE.

WE CALL HOME SUCH A WONDERFUL CITY.

I PRAY THIS PRAYER IN THE POWERFUL NAME OF JESUS.

AMEN.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEASURE ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS.

ONE STATE UNDER GOD.

ONE AN INDIVISIBLE.

THANK YOU.

BE SEATED.

[00:05:52]

[

Presentation:  BEST Neighborhoods Platinum designation signs are being given to three Plano neighborhoods.

PLANOS BEST NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGNATION WAS DEVELOPED TO RECOGNIZE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE CREATED A COMMUNITY THAT IS BEAUTIFUL, ENGAGED, SAFE, AND THRIVING.

SO I'D LIKE TO CALL FORWARD CURTIS HOWARD, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.

KEISHA SIRANO, NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, KULA KRISHNAN, UH, SENIOR NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNER, STEPHANIE PEACOCK, NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH COORDINATOR FROM SHOAL CREEK, PHILLIPS SMITH, BOARD VICE CHAIR FROM GLEN HOLLOW ESTATES.

JUSTIN REINHARD, TREASURER.

LISA MARIE RESNICK, WILLIAMS COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR, AND LOU HOLTZ, LEWIS HOLTZ, PRESIDENT.

AND THEN FROM FOREST CREEK NORTH, BILL BURLEY TREASURER STEVE SHAW, PRESIDENT AND DILIP SHANKER, UH, BOARD MEMBER.

AND FINALLY FROM FOREST CREEK ESTATE, SUZANNE PAPPAS, BOARD MEMBER TO VAN HU JIM, COMMITTEE MEMBER AND JENNIFER MILLIGAN, COMMITTEE MEMBER.

SO KEISHA, I'M GONNA HAND THE MICROPHONE OVER TO YOU, LET YOU SAY A FEW WORDS.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M KEISHA SIRANO, NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT MANAGER.

FIRST, JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

WE HAVE FOUR NEIGHBORHOODS THIS YEAR.

THEY'RE ALL BEING RE-CERTIFIED.

MOST OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS RECEIVED THEIR INITIAL DESIGNATION IN 2017, UM, OR 2018.

AND SO THEY'RE JUST BEING RE-CERTIFIED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

THEY'VE CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AS BEAUTIFUL, ENGAGED, SAFE, AND THRIVING.

THEY DO SOME AWESOME PROJECTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO KEEP THEIR RESIDENTS ENGAGED AND AND CONNECTED.

THERE'S SOME THAT DO, UM, VOLUNTEER WORK.

THEY'RE KEEPING THEIR FRONT AREAS BEAUTIFUL.

THEY JUST DO A LOT.

WE WERE AMAZED WITH THE PRESENTATIONS THIS YEAR FROM THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND JUST SO EXCITED, UM, ABOUT WHAT THEY DO TO WHERE NEXT YEAR WE'RE GONNA SWITCH YOUR APPLICATION A BIT AND ACTUALLY GO TO THEM AND HAVE THEM SHOW US, UM, THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A BEST NEIGHBORHOOD, CONTACT OUR OFFICE, UM, OUR BEST NEIGHBORHOODS TEAM IN NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

YOU COULD ALSO REACH OUT TO ALL OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS 'CAUSE ALL OF THEM HAVE AGREED, UM, TO MENTOR, COACH A NEIGHBORHOOD TO HELP YOU, UM, GET UP TO WHERE THEY ARE.

OUR APPLICATION FOR THIS PROGRAM COMES OUT IN AUGUST.

SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, BY ALL MEANS REACH OUT TO US.

BUT AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATING WITH YOU ON YOUR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU.

SO WE NEED TO TAKE A PICTURE.

HOW'S THAT? GOTTA LOVE .

WE NEED TO GET CLOSER, DON'T WE? WELL, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR MAKING PLANO A CITY OF EXCELLENCE AND, AND A CITY OF GREAT COMMUNITIES.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[00:10:25]

[CONSENT AGENDA]

THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE ACTED UPON IN ONE MOTION AND CONTAINS ITEMS. TYPICALLY, NON-CONTROVERSIAL ITEMS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THIS AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION BY A COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE CITY MANAGER OR ANY CITIZEN.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER WILL ESTABLISH TIME LIMITS BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF SPEAKER REQUESTS.

GO AHEAD MR. MAYOR.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT FOR ITEM I SECOND.

THANK YOU.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM I.

PLEASE VOTE.

HOW DO YOU VOTE, RICK? THANK YOU.

MOTION PASSES EIGHT TO ZERO

[(i)  

To approve an Economic Development Incentive Agreement between the City of Plano, Texas, and ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Company”), providing an economic development grant to the Company; and authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.

ALOY GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED A TEXAS CORPORATION PROVIDING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT TO THE COMPANY AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.

ANTHONY, THANK YOU MAYOR.

I, I PULLED THIS ITEM FOR THE REASONS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN MORE DEPTH.

UH, I, I BELIEVE WHEN WE, UH, HAD THIS PRESENTED TO US IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, FROM EVERYTHING I'VE LEARNED ABOUT IT, I THINK ASA ALOI IS A GREAT COMPANY AND I CAN'T WAIT TO WELCOME THEM TO THE CITY OF PLANO.

BUT FOR THE REASONS THAT I EXPRESSED DURING THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION DISCUSSION, I THINK THAT THE FINANCIAL RETURN TO THE CITY ON THIS PARTICULAR INCENTIVE AGREEMENT IS NOT THERE.

UH, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF THE INCENTIVE, I WOULD VOTE FOR A LOWER INCENTIVE, BUT, UH, BUT I, I, I JUST DON'T THINK THE FINANCIAL ROI IS THERE ON THIS ONE.

SO, UH, I WILL TAKE A SMART BREVITY APPROACH AND STOP THERE, BUT I I I'M GUESSING IT'S GONNA PASS AND I WILL, UH, UH, CONGRATULATE ASA VOY AND WELCOME THEM TO THE COMMUNITY.

ALRIGHT, SO THANK YOU.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM I IN THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE VOTE, RICK.

YES.

OKAY.

MOTION PASSES SEVEN TO ONE.

[(1)  

Public Hearing and consideration of a Resolution to authorize a Substantial Amendment to the 2022-2023 HOME-American Rescue Program Allocation Plan for the use of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program funds; and providing an effective date.

REMAINING SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO 30 TOTAL MINUTES OF TESTIMONY TIME WITH THREE MINUTES ASSIGNED PER SPEAKER.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY AMEND THESE TI AS DEEMED NECESSARY NON-PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. PRESIDING OFFICER WILL PERMIT PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA NOT POSTED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER RULE ESTABLISH TIME LIMITS BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF SPEAKER REQUESTS, THE LENGTH OF THE AGENDA, AND TO ENSURE MEETING EFFICIENCY AND MAY INCLUDE A CUMULATIVE TIME LIMIT.

SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER.

THE REQUESTS ARE RECEIVED UNTIL THE CUMULATIVE TIME IS EXHAUSTED.

ITEM NUMBER ONE, PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 20 22, 20 23 HOME AMERICAN RESOURCE PROGRAM ALLOCATION PLAN FOR THE USE OF US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, HOME FUND, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP, AMERICAN RE RESCUE PLAN PROGRAM FUNDS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

MORNING MAYOR OR EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL.

SO MY NAME IS CURTIS HOWARD.

I'M THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

I'M HERE TO, UH, DISCUSS WITH YOU THIS, UH, UH, PROPOSAL TO AMEND OUR SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT ON OUR WHOLE ALLOCATION PLAN.

THE REASON THAT WE'RE DOING THIS RIGHT NOW IS WE ARE TRYING TO CLEAN UP SOME LANGUAGE AFTER, UH, WE RECEIVE SOME INFORMATION FROM, UH, A HEIGHT CONSULTANT TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT IF WE EVER HAVE, UH, IF WE'RE EVER LOOKED AT IN THE FUTURE, THAT WE HAVE, UH, DONE EVERYTHING CORRECTLY.

SO, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.

FIRST OF ALL, UH, WE, IN, IN APRIL OF 2021, HUD PROVIDED NOTICE THAT,

[00:15:01]

UH, WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF TALKING WITH COUNCIL, KINDA GIVING YOU AN, AN IDEA OF WHAT WE WERE GOING TO USE THIS MONEY FOR AND GETTING YOUR INPUT BEFORE COMING UP WITH A FINAL PLAN.

WE HIRE A CONSULTANT TO COME UP WITH A PLAN.

THEY HELP DRAFT THE PLAN.

WE THEN, UH, PROVIDED THAT TO YOU.

AND THEN COUNCIL APPROVED THE PLAN IN, UH, JANUARY OF 2023.

WE SUBMITTED THAT TO HUD THE NEXT MONTH, AND HUD APPROVED THAT PLAN.

UH, SO WHAT HAPPENED IS, IS DURING THE SUMMERTIME, WE HAD STAFF THAT THEY WENT TO AND THEY WERE TALKING TO HUD OFFICIALS, AND SOME QUESTIONS CAME UP BASED UPON SOME OF THE, THE, UH, THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF THE THIS, UH, OF THIS PLAN THAT CAUSED SOME, SOME QUESTIONS WITH OUR STAFF.

AND SO, UH, AFTER BACK AND FORTH WITH HUD OFFICIALS, UH, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE GET A, UH, A, A CONSULTANT, A HUD CONSULTANT TO HELP US LOOK AT IT.

WE DID SO, AND THE HUD CONSULTANT CAME BACK, CAME UP WITH THIS PROPOSED LANGUAGE THAT, UH, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THE CRITERIA SET OUT BY THE HUD PROGRAM.

UM, SO JUST, UH, RECOMMENDED CHANGES.

FIRST IS TO ENSURE THAT THE STATED QUALIFYING POPULATIONS, UH, THAT WE'RE RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM THIS HOME ARE PLAN.

THEY MEET THE HUD REQUIREMENTS.

KINDA THE LANGUAGE THAT WE USE IS WE USE TARGETED, UH, AND, AND WORDS MATTER IN THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO, QUALIFIED POPULATIONS IS THE PROPER TERMINOLOGY THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID.

SO WE'RE CLEANING THAT UP.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO DID NOT DO IS CLARIFY OUR PREFERENCES.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANNA DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE SHOW WHAT PRE WHAT, HOW WE WANT TO, UH, ALLOCATE THIS MONEY.

UH, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE, WE WOULD RESTRICT OTHER PEOPLE FROM USING IT WHO QUALIFY, BUT OUR PREFERENCES ARE GONNA BE, UH, WHAT I'LL TALK ABOUT IN JUST A MOMENT.

AND THEN ALSO, BECAUSE OF THE, THE TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS SORT OF THING, WE WERE BA UH, GONNA CHANGE THE ALLOCATION TO SHOW HOW WE HAVE BEEN USING THAT JUST TO BETTER, UH, UH, EXPLAIN TO COUNCIL HOW WE'RE USING THIS FUNDS, UH, THE QUALIFYING POPULATIONS.

SO HUD HAS, FOR QUALIFYING POPULATIONS, HOMELESSNESS OR HOMELESS, IS DEFINED IN THE, UH, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

UH, BASICALLY IT'S GONNA BE PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER DO NOT HAVE A HOME OR AT ARE AT, UH, SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOME IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

UH, ALSO AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, UH, WHICH IS NOT QUITE AS IMMINENT AS THE FIRST DEFINITION OF FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO FLEE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

DEALING WITH THOSE, THOSE VICTIMS OF, OF VARIOUS CRIMINAL OFFENSES WOULD BE THE THIRD CRITERIA.

AND THEN KIND OF THE CATCHALL CRITERIA IS NUMBER FOUR, THAT, UH, THAT WOULD, THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT FIT IN THE FIRST THREE, UH, MIGHT FALL INTO THAT CATCHALL CRITERIA THERE.

UH, AND SO THE PREFERENCES THAT WE HAVE THAT WE HAVE CHOSEN IN THIS CASE ARE GONNA BE DEFINITION NUMBER ONE, HOMELESS, AND THEN ALSO, UH, THE CATCHALL PROVISION THAT I JUST EXPLAINED TO YOU RIGHT THERE.

AND THAT ALSO HAS SOME INCOME LIMITATIONS TO IT THAT ARE PART OF THAT PROCESS, UH, AS FAR AS THE ALLOCATION THAT WE HAVE.

SO WHAT WE DID BASICALLY TOOK $45,000 AWAY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION FROM THE CITY OF PLANO.

UH, WE DID NOT NEED THAT MONEY.

AND SO, UH, 25,000 OF IT WENT BACK TO ADMINISTRATION FOR THOSE AGENCIES, THOSE NONPROFITS THAT ARE, UH, HELPING US, UH, UM, ALLOCATE THAT MONEY.

AND THEN ABOUT 20, 20,000 WENT TO ACTUALLY DIRECT, UH, SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED.

AND FINALLY, THE FINAL STEPS HERE ARE SUBMIT THE, UH, SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO HUD FOR RE-APPROVAL AFTER WE'VE MADE THE CHANGES.

AND THEN HUD HAS A PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH TO, UH, APPROVE IT IF THEY WANT OR LET US KNOW WHAT THEY, UH, WANT US TO CHANGE.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD.

UM, CURTIS, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE VERY LAST SLIDE WITH REGARD TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY? HOW, HOW DID YOU GET FROM $50,000 TO $5,000 IN ADMINISTRATION FEE? SO WHEN WE FIRST, UH, WHEN WE INITIALLY DID THIS, SO WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT, WE WERE LOOKING AT ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FOR OUR STAFF MEMBERS.

AND SO THIS, UH, THIS HOME ARPA MONEY, WE ALSO HAVE OTHER GRANT MONEY.

AND SO IN, WE ARE ABLE TO USE THAT TO PAY FOR THOSE STAFF MEMBERS.

SO, UH, WHEN THEY DID THIS, I MEAN, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER FUNDS THAT WE'RE USING FOR THAT WE DON'T NEED NEARLY THAT MUCH.

SO WE, WE DROPPED IT OFF, DROPPED IT DOWN $45,000.

SO FOR THE CITY OF PLANOS, IT CAME DOWN BY $45,000.

BUT THE SUB-RECIPIENTS, WHO, WHO ARE THEY THAT THEY'RE GETTING AN INCREASE OF $25,000? SO THE SUB-RECIPIENTS ARE THE TWO NON-PROFITS THAT WE HAVE.

TEXAS, MUSLIM WOMEN'S FOUNDATION, AND, UH, THE COLLIN COUNTY ASSISTANCE CENTER.

AND SO IT'S TO COVER THEIR COSTS FOR EMPLOYEES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT ARE MISSED STRING.

BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S RELATED TO CITY OF PLANO, IT'S ACTUALLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES, COUNCILWOMAN, YES.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? RICK? I SEE YOU

[00:20:03]

THANK, UH, KURT CURTIS, I THINK THAT THIS HAS GREAT NEWS FOR US.

UH, ONE, ONE QUESTION I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT, WHAT HAVE WE DONE, IF ANYTHING, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE, WE CAN GET THIS FUNDING TO THE PEOPLE IN THE QUALIFYING POPULATIONS THAT REALLY NEED IT IN THE SIMPLEST, LESS RED TAPE MANNER POSSIBLE? SO OUR, OUR, UH, OUR CONTRACTS, OUR AGREEMENTS WITH THOSE NONPROFITS IN PROVIDING THEM THEM FUNDING, I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY, UH, PROVIDED WE'VE PROVIDED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF THIS FUNDING OVER THIS, THIS PERIOD OF TIME.

SO WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE AS FAR AS THAT GOES.

SO, UH, I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY CONCERN THAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS THE RED TAPE THAT, UH, MIGHT BE GOING FORWARD OR THAT MIGHT BE A, THAT MIGHT BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AN IMPAIRMENT IN GETTING THIS FUNDING TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

OKAY, GOOD.

NO, THAT'S, THAT'S COME UP, UH, BEFORE THAT.

UH, SOMETIMES THAT, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY THERE TENDS TO BE LONGER LISTS THAN, UH, THAN WE CAN TAKE CARE OF.

UH, AND, UH, TO BE SURE THAT THE FUNDS DO GET IMPLEMENTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, BEING SORT OF IN, YOU KNOW, NEED OF BEING OR POSSIBLY BEING, UH, HOMELESS AND ACTUALLY ENDED UP HOMELESS.

I JUST WANNA BE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO BE SURE THAT, THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN SITUATIONS.

AND COUNCILMAN SMITH, IF I, IF I MAY ALSO IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE OTHER, UH, BUCKETS OF MONEY THAT WE CAN USE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY.

GREAT.

CURTIS, THANK YOU AGAIN.

ALRIGHT, THANKS SIR.

THANK YOU.

THANKS CURTIS.

ALRIGHT.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.

THE FIRST ONE IS ALEX STEIN.

ALEX STEIN.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE SECOND SPEAKER, WHICH IS RICHARD GRADY.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF.

I AM RICK GRADY, 84 13 BUCKS IN COURT, AND I COME TO YOU TODAY AS PRESIDENT OF THE COLLIN COUNTY HOMELESS COALITION.

I URGE YOU TO PASS AND APPROVE THIS MEASURE TONIGHT.

THE FUNDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY TO HELP THE HOMELESS AND THOSE THAT ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PYRAMID ARE NEAR EXHAUSTED OR TOTALLY EXHAUSTED AT THIS POINT.

I HAVE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME TALKING WITH AGENCIES AROUND THE CITY, UH, AND THEY ARE IN DESPERATE NEED.

THE DATA THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU AND THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH IS NEARLY TWO YEARS OLD.

MANY OF THE AGENCIES THAT HAVE, UH, PROVIDED INFORMATION TO YOU FROM THE SUB, SOME OF THE SUBSTANTIAL AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT WE'RE TALKED TO IN JANUARY OF 2022.

SOME OF THEM IN MAY OF 2022.

THE PIT COUNT THAT YOU HAVE DATA WITH IS IN 2022.

LOTS OF CHA, LOTS OF CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE THEN.

SO THE NEED IS ABSOLUTELY GREAT.

RENTS HAVE GONE UP APPROXIMATELY 13% BY, BY REAL WEALTH, WHICH IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISOR TO THOSE THAT INVEST IN REAL ESTATE.

THE ST.

LOUIS FED SAYS MORTGAGE RATES IN 2022, WERE 2.65% TODAY, THEY'RE 6.8.

HOUSING IS SHORT.

HUD HUD, UH, GIVES US A COUNT EVERY YEAR IN 2022 ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, WE HAD 582,000 PEOPLE THAT WERE HOMELESS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

LAST YEAR, 653,000 PEOPLE WERE HOMELESS EVERY SINGLE DAY THIS COMING THURSDAY, WHERE WE'LL BEGIN IN THIS CHAMBER, THE PIT COUNT TO FIND OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS THIS YEAR, AND HUD IS ESTIMATING THAT THAT PO THAT POSSIBILITY WILL GROW.

13% UTILITIES HAVE GONE UP.

I ENCOURAGE OUR, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ALSO, AND OUR CITY STAFF TO ALSO LOOK AT NOT ONLY DISTRIBUTING MONEY TO TXU AND ENCORE, BUT ALSO TO COSER BECAUSE MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE, OF THE CITY OF PLANO, AND THAT IS A COSERV AREA, AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FUNDING FOR COSER.

SO AGAIN, THE DATA THAT YOU'RE SEEING IS OLD, BUT IT IS OKAY TO HAVE THIS HISTORICAL DATA KNOWING THAT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE.

I URGE YOU, AGAIN, AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLIN COUNTY HOMELESS COALITION TO APPROVE THIS MEASURE TONIGHT AND GET THIS MONEY OUT ON THE STREET AS QUICKLY AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

I COMMEND YOU FOR TAKING DOWN THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FROM $50,000 TO $5,000 TO PUT THE EXTRA $45,000 TO WORK WITH CASE MANAGEMENT AND ON THE STREET.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION TONIGHT.

[00:25:01]

ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? ALRIGHT, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, CONFINE THE COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL.

CURTIS, CAN CAN I ASK ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION? SO AS FAR AS PUTTING THE, THE MONEY ON THIS STREET, UM, THIS MONEY HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE TWO, UH, SUBRECIPIENTS.

SO THE, THE TWO SUB-RECIPIENTS OF THE ASSISTANT CENTER AND THE MUSLIM WOMEN'S FOUNDATION HAVE HAD ACCESS TO THESE FUNDS SINCE I THINK 2022 WHEN WE ALLOCATED THOSE FUNDS OUT.

CORRECT? CORRECT.

SO I JUST, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCESS TO THIS, THAT, THAT THE, THE SUBRECIPIENTS HAVE HAD ACCESS TO IT.

WHILE IT MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN TO THE FINAL FOLKS, I DIDN'T WANT, UH, FOLKS TO THINK THAT WE ARE HOLDING ONTO THIS, THAT THEY HAVE HAD ACCESS THAT ENTIRE TIME.

YES.

OKAY.

THANK YOU MUCH.

OH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

JUST A, A QUICK QUESTION, FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GRADY SAID ABOUT COSERV, UM, I GUESS I WAS WONDERING, I, IS IT, IS IT CORRECT THAT ONLY CERTAIN UTILITY PROVIDERS WITHIN THE CITY HAVE, UH, ACCESS TO ASSISTANCE FUNDS AND THAT RESIDENTS SERVE BY COSER ARE NOT CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR THAT? OR IS THERE A WAY FOR THEM TO RECEIVE, UH, UTILITY ASSISTANCE IF, IF THAT'S MERITED? SO COSERV IS A CO-OP, UH, COUNCILMAN.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN A FOR-PROFIT.

OH, OKAY.

UH, UTILITY.

SO THEY HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WITHIN THAT.

UM, I'D HAVE TO GET CURTIS TO, TO REFRESH US ON EXACTLY WHAT THOSE, THOSE PROGRAMS ARE.

BUT AS A CO-OP, THEY HAVE A, UH, ALMOST A CERTAIN PHILANTHROPIC, UH, APPROACH TO, UH, TO SOME OF THAT.

SO CURTIS, IF YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION, THAT'S GREAT, OTHERWISE WE CAN GO DO THAT HOMEWORK.

I, I'LL HAVE TO DO THE HOMEWORK ON THAT, BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT WE'VE, UH, APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE ARE GOING TO USE FOR RE FOR, UH, UTILITY ASSISTANCE.

UH, THOSE CONTRACTS HAVE GONE THROUGH LEGAL, WE'VE GIVEN THOSE TO THE, UH, NONPROFITS THAT ARE GONNA DISTRIBUTE THAT FUNDING.

AND SO AS SOON AS WE GET THOSE BACK, WE ARE HOPING TO START THAT PROGRAM HERE AT THE FIRST PART OF FEBRUARY.

SO, FANTASTIC.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH CURTIS, THAT, THAT'S VERY EXCITING.

I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GRADY'S, UH, COMMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL PLANO RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO UTILITY ASSISTANCE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE BASED ON THE CO-OP NATURE OF COSERV, THEY MAY ALREADY BE DOING THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES.

WE WILL DOUBLE CHECK THAT.

COUNCIL, WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR CHECKING.

THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

I HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND, THINK YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE.

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE VOTE.

YOU VOTE RICK? YES.

OKAY.

MOTION PASSES.

EIGHT TO ZERO.

ALRIGHT.

RIGHT.

[COMMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST]

COMMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST.

THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS TO ALLOW UP TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER WITH 30 TOTAL MINUTES ON ITEMS OF INTEREST OR CONCERN AND NOT ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON THEIR CURRENT AGENDA.

THE COUNCIL MAY NOT DISCUSS THESE ITEMS, BUT MAY RESPOND WITH FACTUAL OR POLICY INFORMATION.

THE COUNCIL MAY CHOOSE TO PLACE THE ITEM ON A FUTURE AGENDA.

AND JUST AS A REMINDER, PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH OR YELL INTO THE MICROPHONE AT THE PODIUM.

HOLD ON.

AND WE DO HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS THIS EVENING.

SO WE, WITH THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS WE HAVE, WE WON'T MAKE THAT 30 MINUTE.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA TURN THAT DOWN TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER, SO EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.

PLEASE RESPECT THAT TWO MINUTE PERIOD.

PLEASE.

WHEN, UH, MS. HENDERSON, UH, TELLS YOU YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE FIND, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO FINISH IMMEDIATELY.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

FIRST SPEAKER IS SANA ABAD.

JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

DO I HAVE TO STATE MY ADDRESS? NO.

OKAY.

SO MY NAME IS SANA ABAD.

I WANT YOU TO LOOK CLOSELY AT THE IMAGE I'M ABOUT TO SHOW YOU.

YESTERDAY AS I WAS PUTTING MY THOUGHTS TOGETHER ON WHAT I'LL BE SPEAKING TO YOU, A VIDEO SHOWED UP OF A PALESTINIAN YOUNG GIRL BEING CARRIED INTO A HOSPITAL, PERHAPS FOUR YEARS OLD, ALREADY DEAD.

HERE'S HER PICTURE.

I REALLY HOPE YOU CAN SEE IT.

IF A CEASEFIRE HAD BEEN CALLED THE DAY BEFORE, THIS GIRL WOULD BE ALIVE.

TODAY.

IF A CEASEFIRE WAS CALLED YESTERDAY, ALL THE PEOPLE MARTYRED TODAY WOULD BE ALIVE.

BUT OUR GOVERNMENT, THE UNITED STATES, THE DEMOCRACY, THE ONE WHO WE SAY HAS LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL IN OUR HYPOCRITICAL PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IS VETOING THE THE VOTE FOR A CEASEFIRE.

AS I SPEAK TO YOU, I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE PICTURE OF THIS YOUNG, INNOCENT GIRL WHO WAS KILLED BY THE MONEY YOU

[00:30:01]

MURDERER IS THIS SELF-DEFENSE.

WHAT CRIME DID SHE COMMIT? WHAT CRIME DID THE 10,000 CHILDREN DEAD COMMIT? HEAR WHAT WE'RE SAYING AND PROCESS IT.

PLEASE.

25,000 PEOPLE DEAD BECAUSE OF YOUR MONEY.

WHEN YOU SORT THE AGE, WHEN YOU SORT BY AGE.

THE DOCUMENT RELEASED LISTING ALL THE PALESTINIANS KILLED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

THE FIRST SIX PAGES ARE JUST INFANTS BEFORE THEY REACH TO THE ONE YEAR OLDS THEY'RE BABIES.

TO GIVE THAT SOME PERSPECTIVE, THE DEADLIEST SCHOOL SHOOTING IN AMERICA KILLED 32 KIDS.

ISRAEL IS DOING IT ALL, NOT JUST WITH THE BLESSING OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT WITH MONEY SENT BY OUR TAXPAYERS AND BOMBS SENT THERE BY OUR MILITARY.

20 SECONDS WE'RE NOW WATCHING LIVE AS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION THAT YOU HAVE MADE US FUND THROUGH TAXATION.

WIPE OUT THE CIVILIANS IN ZA AND THE FACT THAT OUR WAR HUNGRY GOVERNMENT AND GENOCIDAL ISRAEL STILL HAVE THE AUDACITY TO LIE AND SAY IT'S CIVILIANS THAT THEY CARE ABOUT IS DISGUSTING.

THE FACT THAT THEY SAY THEY CARE ABOUT THE HOSTAGES AND THEN BOMB THE PLACES WHERE THEY'RE FROM, WHERE THERE ARE RIGHT NOW, SHAME ON OUR GOVERNMENT.

SHAME ON YOUR SILENCE AND I REQUEST THE IMMEDIATE SPONSORSHIP.

THANK YOU.

AND AFFIRMATION, THANK YOU TO A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TABBA ZAINE.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

I'M TABBA ZAINE.

I'VE BEEN LIVING IN TEXAS FOR 17 YEARS AND IN PLANO FOR EIGHT YEARS.

I'M FROM PLANO, ISD.

I HAVE ATTENDED SOME, UM, COLLIN COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, FAMILY VIOLENCE MEETINGS IN THE PAST.

MY HUSBAND ALSO WORKED WITH PLANO CITY OF PLANO FOR WATER QUALITY STUDY.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.

TODAY, UNITED STATES ITS SUPERPOWER IS ITS CITIZEN, ITS FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND UPRIGHT JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT UNLEASH THAT SUPERPOWER IN ITS PEOPLE AND ATTRACTED ASPIRING PEOPLE FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE EARTH, INCLUDING ME.

I'M AN AMERICAN PROUD AMERICAN FOR ITS CORE VALUE.

HOWEVER, OUR COUNTRY'S STANCE ON ALISTAIR AND ISRAEL CONFLICT HAS CHANGED.

ITS D WE ARE DESTROYING THE VERY FOUNDATION.

THE SA IS BUILT PEOPLE IN GAZA.

THEY ARE NOT ONLY DYING FROM BOMBS AND BULLETS, THEY'RE ALSO DYING FROM LACK OF FOOD, CLEAN WATER, HOSPITAL WITHOUT MEDICINES AND POWER.

LET US PROPOSE CEASEFIRE SOLUTION ON THE TABLE WHEN THE CEASEFIRE IS IN EFFECT.

BOTH PARTIES CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND TO ADDRESS THEIR GRIEVANCES AND LASTING, WE CAN BUILD A LONG LASTING PIECE, LET'S AMERICA DO THE RIGHT THING AND RETAIN ITS RESPECT AND RETAINS ITS, UH, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ALLIANCES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

20 SECONDS.

THIS IS ONLY, THIS CAN BRING THE PROSPERING TIMES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME IN THE US INCLUDING PLANO.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS AHMAD ELSS.

SAFADI.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS AHAD SOLI.

RECENT STATISTICS REVEAL THAT 89% OF AMERICANS CHECK THEIR PHONES WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF WAKING UP.

YET THESE NUMBERS FAIL TO CAPTURE THE UNIQUE REALITY FACED BY HUSBAND AMERICANS LIKE ME, WHO ANXIOUSLY REACH FOR THEIR PHONES EACH MORNING TO ENSURE THEIR FAMILIES SURVIVE THE NIGHT.

I'M HERE TO SHARE A DEEPLY PER PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, THE EXPERIENCE OF MAZA.

JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, AN ISRAELI MISSILE CLAIMED THE LIVES OF THREE MORE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY.

HOW TO BE A DEVOTED FATHER AND DOCTOR ON HIS WAY TO TREAT HUNDREDS OF WOUNDED CIVILIANS, AHMAD, HIS 20-YEAR-OLD SON AND DENTAL STUDENT, AND MOHAMMED, A FATHER WHO FINALLY WELCOMED A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER.

AFTER 16 YEARS OF TRYING, MOHAMMED'S WIFE EMED SUSTAINED A GRIEVOUS WOUND ONLY TO BE TURNED AWAY FROM THE HOSPITAL DUE TO INSUFFICIENT CAPACITY.

THEIR DAUGHTER WILL GROW UP WITHOUT HER FATHER, AND MOHAMMED WILL NEVER HEAR HIS DAUGHTER CALL HIM BABA.

INSTEAD OF CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR WITH FIREWORKS, MY FAMILY HAS FACED CONTINUOUS BOMBINGS THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF MY UNCLE ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.

WHAT A TRAGIC WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR.

MY 3-YEAR-OLD COUSIN MESH SHOULD BE PLAYING WITH TOYS, BUT INSTEAD HE ASKED HIS MOTHER, IF IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO DIE.

TROJAN HIS AGE SHOULD BE ENJOYING THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDHOOD, BUT INSTEAD, HE LIVES IN CONSTANT FEAR OF DYING.

MY AUNT RLA WAS SEEKING REFUGE IN HER

[00:35:01]

YET THEY REMAIN UNITED, EXTENDING COMPASSION TO PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

I WANT YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT AND IMAGINE 41 MEMBERS OF YOUR OWN FAMILY.

NOW ENVISION THEM BEING KILLED IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES WHILE FEELING UTTERLY HELPLESS.

THAT WAS NOT JUST AN EXAMPLE, IT IS MY LIFE.

EACH ONE OF THEM LAUGHED, WENT TO SCHOOL, WORKED, AND FELT PAIN JUST LIKE YOU AND ME, EXCEPT THEIR DEATH IS CELEBRATED BY MANY 20 SECONDS.

I URGE YOU ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONSIDER THE LARGE IMPACT OF YOUR DECISIONS ON THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY WHO WANT LIFE WITHOUT WAKING UP TO THE SOUNDS OF BOMBS AND GUNSHOTS.

I ASK THIS COUNCIL TO QUICKLY CALL FOR CEASEFIRE, SUPPORT PALESTINIAN RIGHTS, AND BE A SOURCE OF HOPE FOR THE VOICELESS.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY AND CREATE A FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE'S RIGHTS AND DIGNITY ARE HONORED.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TARA RICE, WHO WILL BE JOINING US VIA ZOOM.

MS. RICE.

MS. RICE, WE'LL NEED YOU TO TURN IT.

I'M HERE.

GIMME ONE SECOND.

SORRY.

WE'LL NEED YOU TO TURN IT.

THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD.

I AM HERE TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL.

ARE YOU, DO YOU GUYS SEE ME? YES.

GO AHEAD.

YES, YES.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

OH, OKAY.

OKAY.

WELL MY SON RIGHT NOW, MY SON WAS SITTING IN, IN A, DO YOU AGREE THAT, THAT IT'S A POLICE DEPARTMENT COMES WITH THEY HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH.

IT'S, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO DUE TO PLANO CITY ALLOWING THEIR OFFICERS TO LIE ON A POLICE REPORT, MY SON WAS CHARGED WITH IT INVADING, STEMMING FROM A, A SITUATION OF BRUTALITY AND HER, WELL NOT BRUTALITY, BUT HARASSMENT THAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH THE CITY OF FORT WORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO WE MOVED TO PLAINTIFFS TO GET AWAY FROM IT.

MEANWHILE, MARCH 25TH, MY SON WAS HELD 96 DAYS IN A TARRANT COUNTY JUVENILE FACILITY.

AND DO YOU KNOW, NEVER BEEN ARRESTED PRIOR TO THAT? NO RECORD AT ALL.

BUT, UH, HE WAS HELD THERE BECAUSE OF ME SPEAKING OUT PUBLICLY AGAINST THE INJUSTICE.

AND HE WAS HELD THERE BECAUSE HE IN AND ENDURED ABUSE BY CITY, STATE, AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES ALL BECAUSE THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH ME SPEAKING OUT, STANDING UP FOR HIS RIGHTS AND MANY OTHERS.

UM, SO, SO THEN IT COMES FAST FORWARD TO JULY 6TH.

WHAT I'M REALLY HERE FOR IS THAT MY SON, I GUESS THERE WAS A WARRANT OUT FOR MY SON JULY 6TH BASED OUTTA TARRANT COUNTY PLANO.

HE WAS TOLD HE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO COURT THAT MORNING.

I HAVE A VIA EMAIL.

I YOU GUYS SENT A DON'T KNOW WHO THIS, OFFICER 20 SECONDS INATED EAST TEXAS TASK FORCE.

AND THEN THERE'S NO PLAN, THERE'S NO MARK CARR IN SIGHT.

HOW WOULD HE KNOW AT A PARK TO STOP FOR AN OFFICER.

AND THEN YOU HAVE OFFICER, UH, PIVOT WHO YOU GUYS, WHO YOU GUYS ACTUALLY REWARDED A FEW MONTHS AGO.

UM, HE WASN'T THERE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, SO HOW WOULD HE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED? YOU CAN'T TELL A NARRATIVE UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

RIGHT.

MS. RISE, YOUR, YOU OH, YOU HEAR ME? YES, YOUR TIME IS UP.

OKAY, NO PROBLEM.

WELL, I'M DEMANDING THE RELEASE OF JAVIER RICE.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

MM-HMM, .

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS YARA ISHMAEL, THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THERE IS SMALL HOPE IN MY SON GETTING BETTER.

I LEFT THE HOSPITAL AND CAME BACK AND I DIDN'T FIND THE HOSPITAL,

[00:40:02]

THIS IS A QUOTE FROM MY FATHER IN GAZA, WHERE THE NUMBER OF THOSE KILLED HAS SURPASSED 25,000 PEOPLE, WHERE AT LEAST 10 CHILDREN PER DAY LOSE A LIMB.

AND WHERE FAMILIES TIGHTLY GATHER, HOPING THAT IF THEY ARE BOMBED, THEY DIE TOGETHER SO THAT ONE DOES NOT GRIEVE THE OTHERS.

TODAY I AM HERE TO ASK, HOW MUCH LONGER? HOW MUCH LONGER WILL YOU REMAIN SILENT AND COMPLICIT TO AN ONGOING GENOCIDE WITH MANY FAMILIES OF THOSE KILLED SITTING HERE AMONGST US TODAY? WARY OF WHAT TO DO, I TRY TO DISTRACT MYSELF AT SCHOOL ONLY TO TALK TO FRIENDS WHO'VE LOST 15, 20, OR 30 OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN GAZA.

FRIENDS WHO FEEL LIKE LIFE IS NO LONGER WORTH LIVING WHEN YOUR PEOPLE'S BLOODSHED IS MET BY COMPLICIT PRESIDENTS, SILENT SENATORS AND QUIET CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE CANNOT CLAIM TO BE A CITY OF EXCELLENCE WHEN EVEN HUMAN LIFE IS SEEN AS A TOPIC TOO FAR AWAY FROM US TO DISCUSS.

WE CANNOT CLAIM TO BE A CITY THAT CARESS FOR ALL WHEN THOSE WHO REPRESENT US FAIL TO RECOGNIZE OUR ANGUISH AND GRIEF OVER OUR FAMILIES IN PALESTINE.

SO PLEASE REPRESENT THE CITY OF PLANO.

REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS 20 SECONDS AND CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.

THANK YOU JENNA ISMAIL.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S BEEN OVER 100 DAYS OF THE PALESTINIAN GENOCIDE.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S BEEN OVER 100 DAYS, AND WE STILL HAVE TO STAND IN FRONT OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO ASK FOR A CEASEFIRE.

WE ARE ASKING OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO STOP THE BOMBING AND KILLING OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN.

THE BARE MINIMUM AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU CANNOT BRUSH THE PALESTINIAN GENOCIDE AS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING OVERSEAS AND PASS ON EMPTY CONDOLENCES OR EVEN STAY SILENT AS YOU CURRENTLY ARE.

THE TRUTH IS, AS A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY, AS A RESIDENT OF THE STATE, THE PALESTINIAN GENOCIDE HAS MORE TO DO WITH US THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

BECAUSE OUR GOVERNMENT FUNDS THIS GENOCIDE, OUR GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THIS GENOCIDE AND OUR GOVERNMENT ENABLES THIS GENOCIDE.

SPECIFICALLY, THE GOVERNMENT OF THIS STATE HAS PURCHASED ISRAELI BONDS IN THE MILLIONS.

THE GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE HAS MADE STATEMENTS CONFIRMING HIS UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE ATTACKS.

ISRAEL'S COMMITTING AGAINST CIVILIANS COMPLETELY UNDERMINING WHO HE REPRESENTS.

THIS IS A VERY MUCH PLANO, TEXAS ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, I CAME TO REALIZE THAT MY GOVERNMENT CARES MORE ABOUT FUNDING A GENOCIDE THAN FIXING THE CURRENTLY GLITCHING FEDERAL STUDENT AID WEBSITE.

NOW, AS A REMINDER, THE CITY COUNCIL'S ROLE IS TO FULFILL THE NEEDS OF ITS LOCAL RESIDENTS.

AND A CEASEFIRE IS WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

A REPRESENTATIVE IS SOMEONE WHO LISTENS TO HIS OR HER CONSTITUENTS CONCERNS WHILE PUTTING THEIR OWN PERSONAL INTEREST ASIDE.

20 SECONDS.

OUR VOICE, OUR VOICE OF HUMANITY, WILL ONLY FEEL HEARD ONCE A RESOLUTION FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IS PASSED.

BECAUSE REALLY, I HOPE YOU CAN ALL AGREE WITH ME AS WELL THAT DROPPING BOMBS, HUNDREDS OF BOMBS A DAY ON CIVILIAN, ON A CIVILIAN POPULATION IS NEVER A SOLUTION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANISA CHIRON.

.

AS REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY, YOUR VOICES WIELD SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE.

THIS POWER, HOWEVER, ENTAILS A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE WE IMPLORE YOU TO UPLIFT NOT JUST YOUR OWN VOICES, BUT OURS AS WELL.

THE VOICES OF THOSE WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY.

OUR VOICES MATTER.

WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS.

WE HEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THE SILENCE OF OUR LEADERS DIRECTLY IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY.

EVERY SINGLE DAY

[00:45:01]

INSTEAD, WE MUST UNITE OUR VOICES TIRELESSLY, CALLING FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE, OUR CHERISHED .

A SYMBOL OF PRIDE UNFORTUNATELY, HAS MADE US TARGETS AND OUR IDENTITY HAS LED US TO TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES WITHIN OUR COUNTRY.

IN OUR HEARTS, WE OFTEN ENVISION OURSELVES AS INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD'VE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST HISTORICAL ATROCITIES SUCH AS SLAVERY OR FASCISM IN EUROPE BEFORE WORLD WAR II.

TODAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE TIME HAS COME FOR US TO STAND UP AND SPEAK UP.

IT IS OUR MORAL OBLIGATION TO SEIZE THIS MOMENT AND ADVOCATE FOR FERVENTLY FOR THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY URGING YOUR SUPPORT FOR RESOLUTION.

CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE IN GAZA.

THE ONGOING CONFLICT HAS CAUSED A DEVASTATING TO ON 20 SECONDS LIVES, CAUSING IMMENSE SUFFERING AND WORSENING AN ALREADY FRAGILE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION.

THE TIME TO STAND UP IS NOW FREE PALESTINE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS AON AHMED, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF SOMEONE BARGED INTO YOUR HOUSE, GRABBED YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AT GUNPOINT? SURELY NO ONE HERE WOULD WANT THAT TO HAPPEN IN THEM, NOR DID I WISH THAT TO HAPPEN.

WORSE THAN THAT, THE PERSON DOING THE OFFENSE FOUND IT MORALLY ACCEPTABLE TO BE DOING SUCH AN ACT AND EVERYONE SUPPORTED HIM.

THE SCENARIO I JUST GAVE IS THE SIMPLEST VERSION OF THE SUFFERING, OPPRESSION, AND DISCRIMINATION PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN FACING FOR 70 PLUS YEARS.

THEIR SITUATION IS ON A MUCH LARGER, GRUESOME AND VIOLENT SCALE.

JUSTICE SHOULD BE DONE TO PALESTINE ON NOVEMBER 29TH, BA SULEMAN, ABU WANTED TO GO OUT AND PLAY SOCCER WITH HIS FRIENDS.

THE 15-YEAR-OLD FROM THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK CITY OF JEANINE, WAS DESCRIBED BY HIS UNCLE, BY A SIMPLE CHILD WHO JUST DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SCHOOLWORK AND HIS FRIENDS ALSO PLAYING IN THE STREETS OF JEANINE WAS AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY NAMED ADAM SUMMER ALOU.

DURING A SEVEN DAY PAUSE IN FIGHTING AZA, ISRAELI FORCES STORMED A REFUGEE CAMP SHOOTING AND KILLING BOTH CHILDREN.

BASIL WAS SHOT IN THE CHEST AND DIED SHORTLY IN A HOSPITAL WHILE ADAM WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD AND DIED ON THE SPOT.

THEIR VIDEOS HAVE BEEN RECORDED.

BASIL AND ADAM ARE AMONG THE 2,400 CONFIRMED NUMBER OF KILLED CHILDREN SINCE OCTOBER 7TH.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN INJURED IN ZA HAS TOTALED OVER 24,800.

LET ME REPEAT THAT.

24,820 SECONDS.

4,700 LOST WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHOSE BODIES PASSED AWAY UNDER THE RUBBLE.

WHEN WILL THE OPPRESSION END KIDS ARE CELEBRATING THEIR BIRTHDAYS IN ELZA WITHOUT THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY? WHEN CAN PEOPLE AND CHILDREN HAVE AMBITIONS AND GOALS LIKE US? WHEN THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KHALID ISHAK.

THANK YOU KARL.

AK TO STREET TO PLANO.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY DEAR FRIENDS, ACTUALLY LEMME START BY WISHING YOU ALL FILLED WITH NEW HOPES, NEW JOYS AND NEW BEGINNINGS.

THOUGH FOR THE LOT OF THIS WORLD THIS YEAR IS STARTING OFF WITH SADNESS AS THEY WATCH AND DISMAY AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS FAR OFF LITTLE LAND CALLED CASA.

WE LOOK TOWARDS YOU NOT JUST AS LEADERS, BUT AS OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE STOOD TOGETHER TO KEEP THE CITY EXCELLENT, BUT ALSO TO PROTECT, UH, YOU KNOW, TO PROTECT OUR VALUES AND BUILD AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT GREAT SHOULD CITIES SHOULD BE.

WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO USE OUR CENTERS AS WARMING CENTERS.

WE STILL USE THEM, UH, PACKING THOUSANDS, IF NOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FOOD PACKS FOR THE HOMELESS.

WHEN THIS CITY COUNCIL CONDEMNED THE ACT OF TERRORISM ON

[00:50:01]

AND RIGHTLY SO, WE EXPECT THE SAME FOR ALL LIVES.

IN THE CRUCIBLE OF CONFLICT WHERE SORROW AND STRIFE ENTWINE, A CALL ECHOES URGENTLY, A PLEA FOR HEARTS TO ALIGN GAZA, A TAPESTRY WOVEN WITH THREADS OF DESPAIR IN THE INACTION.

HUMANITY'S CONSCIOUSLY DARE SHAME ON US AMERICANS AS WE TURN AWAY OUR GAZE.

FOR THE PLIGHT OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS LOST IN A RELENTLESS MAZE, THEIR CRIES UNHEARD ECHOES IN THE CORRIDOR.

SECOND OF POWER, A POIGNANT REMINDER OF THE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER.

SHAME ON US FOR FORGETTING THE ESSENCE.

WE SHARE A SHARED HUMANITY THAT TRANSCENDS BORDERS BEYOND COMPARE FOR EVERY TEAR SHED IN GAZA, A STAIN ON OUR COLLECTIVE SOUL.

SILENT BYSTANDERS.

WE PLAY A ROLE WE CAN'T CONTROL.

FORM THESE VOICES, LET US TRANSFORM THEM INTO VOICES THAT COM SORRY.

NOW AS ECHOES OF SHAME REVERBERATE FOR INTO OUR EARS, LET US TRANSFORM THEM INTO VOICES THAT CALM OUR FEARS.

IN THE SPIRIT OF UNITY, LET COMPASSION PREVAIL.

WE AS WE, AS WE, AS WE CHARTER COURSE TOWARDS COMMON HUMAN TRAIL.

THANK YOU.

SHAME ON US.

IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING WE SHOULD CALL FOR, FOR PEACE.

AND THANK, THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEX STEIN.

ALEX STEIN.

UM, THE NEXT ONE IS DIGGER BARNS.

DIGGER BARNS.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO LENA UA.

I WAS BORN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS TO A PALESTINIAN FATHER AND AMERICAN MOTHER.

I WENT TO MURPHY MIDDLE SCHOOL, WILLIAMS AND PLANO EAST HIGH SCHOOL.

I WAS PROUD TO BE FROM TEXAS, A STATE THAT IS UNAPOLOGETIC, HOLDS FIRM IN THEIR BELIEFS.

I WAS PROUD UNTIL 10,000 PALESTINIANS WERE MURDERED AND YOU DID NOTHING.

I WAS PROUD UNTIL PREMATURE BABIES DECOMPOSED IN HOSPITALS AND YOU SAID NOTHING.

I WAS PROUD UNTIL CHILDREN BEGAN DYING OF STARVATION AND YOU DID NOTHING.

IMAGINE FOR A SECOND.

IT IS YOUR CHILD.

YOU MUST WATCH, HAVE THEIR LEG AMPUTATED WITHOUT ANESTHESIA.

IMAGINE THEIR CRIES OF PAIN.

IMAGINE IT IS YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY, GRANDPARENTS, SISTERS, BROTHERS, CHILDREN ALL WIPED OUT IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

IMAGINE IT IS YOUR WIFE WHO DIES BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT BEAR THE PAIN OF SEVEN LAYERS OF SKIN BEING CUT DURING A C-SECTION WITHOUT ANESTHESIA.

35,000 OF US HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE OCTOBER 7TH.

HOW MANY MORE OF US NEED TO DIE IN ORDER FOR YOU TO ACT, TO DO WHAT IS YOUR MORAL DUTY? I'M HERE AGAIN REQUESTING THAT THIS COUNSEL PASS AN IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION THAT INCLUDES RESOLUTION, THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING, AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE, AN IMMEDIATE END TO ISRAEL, CJ GAZA, WHICH HAS CUT OFF FOOD TO FOOD, CLEAN WATER, MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND ELECTRICITY, AND TO GAZA FOR OVER THREE MONTHS.