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DeSoto City Councilmember Nicole Raphiel (Council Place 3 – DeSoto, Texas) has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2024 Community and Economic Development Federal Advocacy Committee. Councilmember Raphiel was elected to a one-year term and will provide strategic direction and guidance for NLC’s federal advocacy agenda and policy priorities on housing availability and attainability, community building, land use, local entrepreneurship, and economic development. The appointment was announced by NLC President Mayor David Sander of Rancho Cordova, California.

“NLC’s federal advocacy committees play an important role in helping policymakers in Washington understand the issues and challenges facing America’s cities, towns and villages at the local level,” said NLC President Mayor David Sander of Rancho Cordova, CA. “I’m thrilled to have Council Member Raphiel serve on NLC’s 2024 Community and Economic Development Federal Advocacy Committee this year, and look forward to working with her to strengthen the federal-local partnership, and grow our common knowledge of the issues and opportunities facing our communities.”

Councilmember Raphiel looks forward to using her NLC assignment and the national platform that comes with it to make sure that DeSoto’s needs and those in the region are both heard and addressed. “My appointment to the Community and Economic Development Federal Advocacy Committee marks a pivotal moment for DeSoto. Collaborating with the National League of Cities, I am dedicated to ensuring that our city’s (and region’s) distinct needs and aspirations are heard on a national stage. This committee underscores my commitment to fostering local economic growth, social well-being, and cultural richness, propelling DeSoto and the Best Southwest cities towards a future of equitable development and prosperity.”

As a member of NLC’s 2024 Community and Economic Development Federal Advocacy Committee, Council Member Raphiel will play a key role in shaping NLC’s policy positions and advocate on behalf of America’s cities, towns, and villages before Congress, with the administration and at home.

The leadership of this year’s committee will consist of Chair Kristopher Dahir, Councilmember, Sparks, Nevada; and three Vice-Chair’s Angela Birney, Mayor, Redmond, WA; Jeffrey Boney, Councilmember, Missouri City, TX; and Cindy Silva, Mayor, Walnut Creek, CA.

For more information on NLC’s federal advocacy committees, visit: https://www.nlc.org/advocacy/federal-advocacy-committees/. To view Councilmember Raphiel’s bio online, visit the City of DeSoto website.

The post DeSoto Councilmember Raphiel named to NLC Community appeared first on Focus Daily News.

Close to 250 people gathered in DeSoto’s Bluebonnet Room on Thursday afternoon to hear Mayor Rachel L. Proctor deliver DeSoto’s 2024 State of the City Address. It was Mayor Proctor’s third State of the City address since she’s been in office and she used the occasion to discuss the City’s key projects and to focus on the people who made a real difference in DeSoto.

The Mayor singled out several members of the DeSoto community to praise for their civic contributions including DeSoto High School’s Grammy-winning Choir Director Pamela Dawson, Vietnam Veteran and Bronze Star for Valor recipient James Baylor who was wounded at the Battle of Hamburger Hill, retiring 28-year City of DeSoto employee Kathy Jones who assisted thousands of community members over the years, and Coach Claude Mathis who led the DeSoto Eagles football team to its first-ever back-to-back Class 6A Division II State Championship. The Mayor also honored two of the student-athletes who accompanied Coach Mathis, Quarterback Darius “DJ” Bailey who was the Offensive MVP in the State Championship game, and Linebacker Keylan “Keke” Abrams who was the Defensive MVP and also an intern for the DeSoto Fire Department.

Mayor Proctor summed up the contributions of these standout community members when she said, “DeSoto stands on her own, but because of these individuals who have made such a difference, DeSoto shines brightly for all to see!”

The Mayor praised the City’s finance team for lowering or freezing its tax rate for residents and businesses for 13 straight years including a decrease of one cent in the current budget. She stressed that the City also worked hard to maintain and strengthen its bond rating which is currently at AA and has been for the past seven years. Mayor Proctor pointed out that DeSoto has been consistently recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its financial reporting, winning its Distinguished Budget Presentation for nearly twenty years, and receiving its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for close to forty years. She also noted that DeSoto has received a Transparency Star Award from the Texas Comptroller’s Office.

Mayor Proctor then provided the gathering with updates on some of the City’s top projects including the McCowan Park Aquatics and Recreation Center, the Hampton Road Corridor Redevelopment Plan, the updated Comprehensive Development Plan, and numerous roadway infrastructure projects including Wintergreen Road, Westmoreland Road, UHL Road, Parkerville Road, and the Meadows Parkway,

Mayor Rachel Proctor observed that the biggest reason for DeSoto’s successes in the past year has been the cooperative civic spirit of the people who live and work in our City. Said Mayor Proctor, “DeSoto succeeds when we work together and combine our efforts to move our City forward. As I always say, Progress moves at the speed of relationships!”

You can view the Mayor’s presentation of DeSoto’s State of the City Address on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/desototx/videos/420591160391580  News outlets should feel free to use any of the footage from DeSoto’s State of the City Address, or the photos below, for your coverage.

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DESOTO – The DeSoto City Council opened its council meeting this week making three presentations including School Board Recognition Month and acknowledging DeSoto Superintendent Usamah Rodgers in attendance. School Board Recognition Month was last month, but due to scheduling conflicts DeSoto Mayor Rachel Proctor explained council made the presentation Tuesday night. Proctor said, “From one elected official to another I definitely know the time and the dedication that you all put in, especially as it pertains to our children and so we want to thank you.”

Mayor Pro Tem Latitia Hughes read a proclamation honoring National School Counseling Week followed by a presentation of the November 2023 Financial Report.

Citizen’s comments included two residents who worked at the holiday skating rink this past year. They told council people are already asking if the skating rink will be back next year.

“The rink made a lot of people happy,” one resident said.

Another resident offered kudos to the city’s full-time animal control officers.

One gentleman talked about the passing of the upcoming character code, a new zoning ordinance for the Hampton Road redevelopment project. He said this ordinance is different from the current zoning and is extremely complicated. He said one aspect of the character code set forth a number of requirements for buildings within the district. There are 400 properties in that district, he explained when the code is activated all 400 properties will no longer be in conformity with the code.

He added this means there will be a problem if the property suffers a casualty loss or is abandoned for six months. He urged council to be familiar with this new ordinance before it was brought to vote as there will be issues with the cost therefore putting properties in a precarious position.

Council unanimously passed all but one consent agenda item, the latter, which was pulled for a separate vote passing 6 -1.

These items included the confirmation of the appointment of Terrence Stevens for Veterans Affair Committee – Place 2 and Betty Jenkins for Place 5.

Also passing was an Ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Adopted Budget in Fund 229 (Police Grant Fund) accepting grant funds from the Office of the Governor for the Public Safety Office for the Truancy Prevention and Intervention Program Grant in the amount of $90,300.

An Ordinance was amended for the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Adopted Budget for the PEG Fund to cover the cost of replacement equipment that facilitates the broadcast of public meetings on the City’s PEG channel; a Resolution passed authorizing the redemption of the City of DeSoto, Texas Limited Tax Note, Series 2023; and the City Manager was also given a nod to negotiate and execute a construction contract with Bernal Commercial Construction, Co. in the amount of $226,754.45 and approve a total contract amount of $258,500.08 for the Slope Stabilization Improvements for Heath Creek.

It was also approved to execute a change order to the contract with AECOM in the not-to-exceed amount of $7,500 for additional work required to finalize the City’s Comprehensive Plan Update and finally council approved the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Aqua-Metric Sales Company for the purchase of Sensus water meters of various sizes and Sensus Smart Point Radios in the amount not to exceed $215,000.

The item pulled by Place 3 Nicole Raphiel was regarding a revision to a Preliminary Plat of Homestead at Daniel Farms Phase 3 located south of W. Danieldale Road and west of N. Westmoreland Road. The property owner is Wildwood Development Co. LTD, requesting changes to 76 and 38 lots for revision.

Three public hearings were heard and passed including a continuation of a public hearing from the January 2, 2024, on an Ordinance adopting the 2024 Comprehensive Plan as authorized. Staff notes also indicated

The DeSoto Police Department is investigating the kidnapping of a 37-year-old female.
The victim has been identified as 37-year-old Lacey Lyn Overby (White Female). As of 3:30 pm, her last known location was around the 1300 block of E. Parkerville Rd. in DeSoto, Texas.

Since the investigation is still ongoing, details of the incident are very limited.
What is known is that Lacey was at the Taco Casa in Lancaster, Texas, purchasing a meal for what appeared to be a homeless male. The homeless male, who is now our suspect, was described as a bald Hispanic male between the ages of 25-35. He was last known to be wearing a blue and white plaid shirt.

Lacey was last known to be in her vehicle, a 2015 Silver Chevy Malibu bearing a Texas license plate of KDY7339. Lacey was wearing black scrubs and her hair in a ponytail. It is unknown if any weapons were involved.

If you have any information on this incident or have any information on the vehicle, please call 911 immediately. A press release with further information will be issued at a later time.

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