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DeSoto board authorizes up to $100,000 for discovery study on health innovation hub
Summary
The DeSoto board on March 27 authorized staff to prepare a professional services agreement with Campus Innovations Group LLC for an exploratory, four‑month discovery process to shape a health and life‑sciences strategy, with a contract cap of $100,000.
The DeSoto board on March 27 authorized staff to prepare a professional services agreement with Campus Innovations Group LLC to lead a four‑month discovery process aimed at defining how the city could promote health, life‑science innovation and related economic development.
The board’s motion, made by Director Jones and seconded by Dr. Hernandez, authorized general counsel and the executive director to draft a professional services agreement using Campus Innovations Group’s proposal as the scope of work and to limit the expenditure to no more than $100,000. The board approved the motion by voice vote.
Board members and subcommittee members who met with the consulting team described the agreement as an exploratory discovery phase rather than a commitment to a particular institutional partner or a single project. Subcommittee members said the work will include a targeted charrette to gather representative community input, a review of potential partners (including, but not limited to, health systems such as UT Southwestern), and development of metrics and a roadmap for next steps.
“...we’re not buying the answers from them,” a board member summarized of the engagement’s intent, saying the consultants are expected to help the board identify outcomes and partners that best fit DeSoto rather than prescribe a ready‑made project.
The proposal discussed in subcommittee meetings and before the board envisages a roughly four‑month engagement, with the $100,000 cap described in board discussion as phased (one board member referenced an approximately $25,000 per month pacing in the draft proposal). Board members asked staff to ensure contract language preserves flexibility to broaden partner searches beyond any single health system; the motion included a friendly amendment to keep the scope open.
Staff said the expenditure would come from the board’s professional services line and that, because the amount exceeds what staff originally anticipated, a budget amendment and council approval would be required before funds are spent. The city manager explained that using the set‑aside in professional services would reduce the year‑end contribution to fund balance rather than require use of reserves.
Board discussion touched repeatedly on community engagement and equity: members pressed for a charrette that reflects a cross section of residents (young adults, parents, seniors) and for outcomes that produce measurable benefits for DeSoto residents, including job creation, expanded services, and longer‑term health measures. Several members emphasized that the discovery phase could conclude that a particular innovation hub model is not appropriate for DeSoto.
Next steps spelled out by the board include finalizing a professional services agreement for approval by the board and forwarding the spending request to City Council for budget approval. Because an upcoming municipal election may affect the council calendar, staff warned the agreement may not reach council until June or July if the board waits until after new members are seated.
The board also removed a listed executive‑session item from the agenda under Texas Government Code section 551.087 (economic development).
Votes at a glance: The board approved the motion to authorize staff to prepare and execute a professional services agreement with Campus Innovations Group LLC, scope as proposed, for a maximum price not to exceed $100,000 (motion moved by Director Jones; seconded by Dr. Hernandez; approved by voice vote).
