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ZERO IS A[Dallas Park and Recreation Board on April 20, 2023.]
GLOBALLY.UM, JOHN WAS THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT WOODROW WILSON.
AND UM, I BELIEVE AMY WIL MIGHT BE ON VIRTUAL.
WAS GONNA OR IS THAT ELIZABETH? UM, I THINK I REGISTERED SEPARATELY.
YOU REGISTERED SEPARATELY? NO, JOHN IS NOT HERE.
THE NEXT PERSON IS EBONY BROCK.
WOULD YOU MOVE THE MICROPHONE CLOSER TO YOU IN EITHER ONE.
I'M KAREN ALB BROCK FROM V 14.
I'VE MANAGED TENSON PARK POLLINATOR GARDEN SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN JANUARY, 2017.
FOR TWO YEARS, I'VE LED MASTER NATURALIST GROUPS WORKING TO REPAIR CREEK EROSION IN TENSON PARK.
I AM HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR STRATEGIES THAT PROMOTE STABILITY OF SENSITIVE ECOSYSTEMS, NAMELY CREEKS AND URBAN WILDLIFE.
THE OBJECTIVE OF EROSION CONTROL IS TO SLOW RAINFALL.
BEST PRACTICES TO ACHIEVE THIS INCLUDE NOMO ZONES ALONG CREEKS.
WE OBSERVE A RESURGENCE OF NATIVE PLANTS IN THESE GROW ZONES, LIKELY LEAF, SAGE, FROG FRUIT, SGES, GOLDEN ROD, OR SERB.
ALL WITH DEEPENED FIBROUS ROOT SYSTEMS DESIGNED TO HOLD SOIL IN PLACE.
IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.
OUR GAR, OUR POLLINATOR GARDEN AND PARKS IN GENERAL WERE REFUGES FOR US ALL.
WE WERE DISTRACTED WITH WILDFLOWERS, DRAGONFLIES, MIGRATING MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, BUMBLEBEES AND BIRDS.
WE OWE SOMETHING TO THE MILLIONS OF OTHER SPECIES FOR WHICH WE SHARE THIS PLANET.
AT THIS VERY MOMENT, ONE OF OUR EASTERN BLUEBIRD NEST BOXES HAS A RECORD.
BLUEBIRD PARENTS NEED TO FORAGE ABOUT 8,000 LIVE INSECTS TO GET ONE READY TO FLEDGE.
THEY NEED ABUNDANT RESOURCES NEARBY OR RISK MEANS TO SUPPORT ELDER OLIVE.
INSECTS ARE ATTRACTED TO WILDFLOWERS, BUT WHEN PARKS ARE MOWED, BIMONTHLY, WILDFLOWERS ARE PREVENTED.
TIME TO BLOOM, TO RECEDE, AND TO REGENERATE.
I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER MORE GROW ZONES WITHIN OUR PARKS, PERMIT HABITATS AND FOOD SOURCES, OTHERWISE LOST IN URBANIZATION TO BE RESTORED, TO EMULATE NATURE WITH REIMAGINED PARK AND CREEK MAINTENANCE PRACTICES.
MA'AM, NEXT SPEAKER IS GREGORY WILLIAMS. MR. WILLIAMS, YOUR TWO MINUTES BEGIN.
HOW YOU DOING? AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
UM, AS YOU SAID, MY NAME IS GREGORY WILLIAMS AND I COME TODAY AS A PRODUCT OF DALLAS COUNTY AND, UH, BRING WITH ME ANOTHER PRODUCT OF DALLAS COUNTY, WHICH IS MR. JAMARI AND CYRUS.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT CREATIVE PROGRAMMING THAT'S NEEDED IN OUR PARKS AND RECREATION.
CURRENTLY, I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING AT THE SINGING HILLS RECREATION CENTER FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF TO DEVELOP A MUSIC PROGRAM TO BRIDGE THE GAP IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
CAUSE TO SPEAK WITH THESE YOUNG MAN, WE HAVE TO SPEAK A CERTAIN LANGUAGE.
JUST SO HAPPENED HE'S MADE PRODIGAL MUSIC.
I'M A PRODIGAL MUSIC THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER.
I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THESE YOUNG MAN AND THROUGH THE SINGING MUSIC PROGRAM, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING TO DO IS TO BRING IN OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE AND ALSO CONNECT COMMUNITY USING CREATIVE ARTS.
WE HAVE TO BRING IN MORE CREATIVE PROGRAMS. YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE THIS HERE ARE NOT GETTING THAT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THEY'RE TAKING MUSIC PROGRAMS OUT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
THAT JUST HAPPENED TO BE ONE OF MY PASSIONS.
I HAVE 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN TECHNOLOGY.
MUSIC HAS TAKEN ME COACH TO COACH.
TECHNOLOGY HAS TAKEN ME AROUND THE WORLD.
THIS YOUNG MAN NEEDS AN OPPORTUNITY.
HE NEEDS INDIVIDUALS TO COME IN WITH CREATIVE PROGRAMMING THAT CAN SPEAK WITH HIM AND THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THAT.
WE NEED TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE MEDIA SPECIALISTS.
HE KNOWS EVERYTHING FROM PLAYING THE GUITAR, DOING SOCIAL MEDIA, COMPUTER.
THEY NEED THE PROGRAMMING AT OUR PARK AND RECREATION WHERE THEY'RE GATHERING.
WE HAVE, UH, COMPUTER CENTER TECH CENTERS AT RECREATION CENTERS THAT'S COLLECTING DUST.
WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY LIKE TO COME IN THE PARK AND RECREATION.
I WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF VOLUNTEERING.
I WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A VENDOR JUST SO I CAN SHOW OTHER INDIVIDUALS.
WE HAVE TO CONNECT WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS AT THE SAME TIME.
WE GOTTA CONNECT WITH PARTS AND RECREATION.
WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER THE SAME LIVES.
THAT'S THE WAY I WANT TO DO IT.
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AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A CITY AND AS A COMMUNITY AND START WORKING WITH SOME OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.JAMARI, IT'S UM, I'M JAMARI SAR AS YOU HAD HEARD.
AND, UH, I GO SEE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M AN ATHLETE AND I DO MUSIC NOW.
WHEN I MET, UH, MR. GREG A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, WE STARTED THIS LITTLE PROGRAM WHERE WE DO MUSIC AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
NOW THE MAIN THING IS NOT, WE DO ONLY WANNA DO THE MUSIC, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO SAVE PEOPLE, DO EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE SCHOOL AND, UM, CREATION AND ALL THAT.
SO HE WAS JUST GOING TO DO THINGS LIKE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE MY AGE, YOU KNOW, AND SO THIS IS MR. AGGRESSION, THIS IS HIS VISION.
I'M JUST A VESSEL THAT HE'S USING TO EXTEND THAT.
SO I'M WILLING TO DO THAT FOR HIM AND, UH, FOR WILLING TO SAVE PEOPLE AND BRING THEM TO SOMETHING ELSE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CAROLINE HUMPHRIES.
HUMPHREYS YOUR TWO MINUTES BEGIN.
MY NAME IS CAROLINE HUMPHREYS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THIS TIME TO HEAR OUR REQUEST FOR CHANGES TO THE CURRENT MOWING PRACTICES IN THE NORTHERN SECTION OF TENNYSON PARK.
I'M A MASTER NATURALIST AND A MASTER BURDEN, TWO QUALIFICATIONS THAT HAVE ENHANCED MY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE NECESSITY TO PROTECT OUR FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT.
OUR GOAL IS TO USE THIS SMALL AREA IN D 14 AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW ONE CAN SIMPLY TRANSFORM AN OVERLY MANICURED SPACE INTO A MORE NATURE FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT BY MERELY REDUCING THE CURRENT MOWING PROGRAMS. THERE IS ALREADY A WELL-ESTABLISHED POLLINATOR GARDEN, A DEVELOPING RIPARIAN CREEK RESTORATION AREA, AND A SHADED BIRDING HABITAT.
THE LATTER TWO ALSO PROVIDE NEEDED EROSION CONTROL.
TO DATE, I HAVE DOCUMENTED 35 SPECIES OF BIRD IN AND AROUND THE PARK, AND I EXPECT THIS NUMBER TO RISE SIGNIFICANTLY.
THE THREE MENTIONED DISTINCT HABITATS WOULD BENEFIT FURTHER FROM A REDUCED MOWING PROGRAM.
IN ADDITION TO SAVING THE PARK DEPARTMENT TIME AND MONEY, THE ALICE CLA AND RECREATION WEBSITE HAS EXPRESSED THEIR COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.
I QUOTE, ONCE ESTABLISHED NATURAL AND WILDFLOWER AREAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED CARBON EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH MOWING, TRIMMING AND MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT.
END QUOTE, DALLAS IS COMMITTED THROUGH CCAP TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.
ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO REDUCE AND HOPEFULLY ELIMINATE THE HUMAN GAS POWERED MOWING AND BLOWING EQUIPMENT.
OUR PROPOSAL IS PROVIDING YOU WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO JUST THAT WHILE SAVING THE CITY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, IMPROVING AIR QUALITY AND HELP NATURE TO THRIVE.
WE ENVISION TENSON PARK AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH A FEW MOWING MODIFICATIONS AND HOPEFULLY START A PROGRAM OF REWILDING SECTIONS OF MANY OF THE CITY'S PARKS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. PLEASE.
AS A FORMER PARK MEMBER FOR DISTRICT THREE, MY NEIGHBORS AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CREEK EROSION INSIDE EMERALD FAITH PARK AND THE VOLUME OF ILLEGALLY DUMP TRASH IN THE PARK AND ON ITS PERIMETERS.
I TRUST YOU RECEIVE MY EMAIL WITH ALL THE PICTURES TO GO ALONG WITH HIS SPEECH.
EMER LAKE PARK IS 62 ACRES IN SIZE, BUT ONLY A VERY SMALL PORTION OF IT IS CARED FOR BY PARK STAFF.
IT HAS ONE SIDEWALK NEAR THE LAKE AND ONE PARKING LOT.
UNFORTUNATELY, OVER THE YEARS, MANY ILLEGAL TRAILS WITHOUT PARK PERMISSION HAVE BEEN BUILT FOR YOUR YEARS.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS THE ERODING HILLSIDE INSIDE THE PARK THAT IS ON THE BOUNDARY.
WITH HARMONY SCHOOL'S PLAYGROUND, THE PLAYGROUND DROPS 40 FEET STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE CREEK.
STAFF HAVE COME OUT TO LOOK AND SAY IT'S BAD AND NOTHING HAPPENS.
AS THE HILLSIDE CONTINUES TO COLLAPSE, THE SCHOOL'S PLAYGROUND FENCE WILL FALL IN IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL BE LIABLE.
AND ESPECIALLY IF SOME CHILD GET HURT, WALKERS AND RIDERS USING THE UNAPPROVED TRA NON-SCHOOL LAND ARE IN DANGER OF ALSO FALLING DOWN.
THIS 40 FOOT CLIFF HARMONY SCHOOL HAS INSTALLED MENTAL POSTS AND PUT UP NO TRESPASSING SIGNS ON THEIR LAND BLOCKING THIS TRAIL.
BUT THE WALKERS AND DOBA RIDERS JUST KEEP TAKING THEM DOWN.
THIS IS A HUGE LIABILITY ISSUE FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
EAGLE FORD DRIVE RUNS ALONG THE PARKS EASTERN BOUNDARY, AND FOR THE PAST 19 YEARS, I HAVE TRIMMED THE TREES ON THAT CURB BECAUSE GOOD EARTH
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WON'T MOW ANYWHERE.SO IF I DON'T TRIM THE TRIM, THEY WON'T MOW.
THEN OUR KIDS HAVE TO WALK IN THE STREET IN ORDER TO GET TO SCHOOL.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE CUTTING THE TREES NOW THAT WE EVEN HAVE A SIDEWALK BECAUSE THE TREES ARE FROM THE PARKLAND ARE STILL HANGING OVER THE SIDEWALK.
MS. TAF, THAT'S YOUR TIME LAST YEAR? PARDON? THAT'S YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU, MS. THANK YOU MS. TAF.
UH, THE NEXT PERSON IS KEVIN PFEIFFER.
OKAY, MR. FEY, FOR YOUR TWO MINUTES BEGIN.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.
I'M AN ARCHITECT IN NORTH NORTH TEXAS.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, DALLAS, TEXAS IS BIRD CITY USA.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP SHOULD BE ONE OF THE MAJOR GUIDING LIGHTS FOR ANYTHING THAT OCCURS IN ANY PARK.
THERE IS ARE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF EXISTING OLD GROWTH TREES IN DEAN PARK AND PORTIONS OF THE ESCARPMENT AREA ADJACENT TO KATY TRAIL.
ALL THE TREE AND GARMENT IN THE AREAS ADJACENT TO THE KATY TRAIL ARE PROTECTED BY CCAP.
IT HAS CITIZENS TO GET INVOLVED.
IT IS ALL ABOUT HELPING PROMOTE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLNESS.
WE SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS AND STRIVE TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE WHAT ASSETS WE ALREADY HAVE.
ONCE THESE ASSETS ARE GONE, THEY WILL BE UNRECOVERABLE.
WHILE THE EXISTING MATURE TREES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF, UH, COLLEGIATE HUMPHREY'S THEATER ARE VERY IMPORTANT ACCORDING TO PROFESSIONAL ARBORISTS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPECIES OF EXISTING CHER TREES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE, OF THE CALIDA, SPECIFICALLY ADJACENT TO THE HEALTH BUILDING.
THEIR COMMENTS, THESE SPECIES OF TREES ARE HIGHLY UNIQUE AND IRREPLACEABLE.
LET THAT SINK IN AN EXISTING AREA IN THE DALLAS CITY PARK THAT HAS UNIQUE SPECIES OF TREES AND THE CURRENT DTC PROPOSAL WILL ELIMINATE ALL OF THEM.
NUMBER THREE, RESTORATION AND REVITALIZATION OF THE COLLE IS LONG OVERDUE.
THE CURRENT OVER AMBITIOUS PLANS THAT DTC IS PROPOSING WILL BELITTLE THE CO COLLEGIA TO BECOME AN AFTERTHOUGHT AND BASICALLY DESTROY, DESTROY ANY SEMBLANCE OF A CALM PARK SETTING.
REGARDING KALETA, IT WAS MEANT TO GROW OUT OF THE HILL UNTIL THE DTC CURRENT DTC PROGRAM IS SIGNIFICANTLY PARED DOWN FROM ITS OVER 330 MILLION CURRENT COST ESTIMATE.
PENCILS DOWN, DO THE RIGHT THING, W R I G H T.
AND THAT'S FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UH, THE NEXT PERSON IS ELIZABETH LE.
I HOPE I PRONOUNCE THAT CORRECTLY.
MY HUSBAND'S FROM LOUISIANA AND SAYS, LEMOYNE
YOUR, YOUR TWO MINUTES SPEAKING.
UM, I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY AS AN OVER 15 YEAR RESIDENT, EAST ALICE AND THE MOM OF A WOODROW WILSON VARSITY FOOTBALL, BASEBALL PLAYER.
THIS YEAR THE TEAM IS 22 AND SIX IN THE DISTRICT.
AND UNDER THE, UM, LEADERSHIP OF COACH DONNIE MCEWEN, THEY HAVE WORKED HARDER AND PLAYED BETTER THAN I'VE EVER SEEN.
UM, I'M BIASED, BUT I THINK THAT THEY ARE A GROUP OF GOOD YOUNG MEN AND, UH, UM, CREDIT TO THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE TRIED TO, UH, CATCH A GAME AT THEIR HOME FIELD AT WILLIS WINTERS PARK.
IF YOU HAD, YOU WOULD SEE THAT THERE'S NO GAMES TO BE HAD BECAUSE THE TEAM'S HOME FIELD IS NOT PLAYABLE.
THE BOYS THIS YEAR HAVE HAD TO TRAVEL OVER AN HOUR EACH WAY FOR HOME GAMES.
THE KIDS ARE MISSING WORSE SCHOOL THAN EVER, WHICH AS A MOTHER DRIVES ME CRAZY.
MY HUSBAND, WHO IS AN AVID TEAM SUPPORTER LAST YEAR, UNDERTOOK OUTREACH EFFORTS TO TRY TO GET THE MEMBERS OF THE JULIET FOWLER COMMUNITY NEXT DOOR TO WATCH GAMES.
HE BROADCAST THEM AND TO COME AND ATTEND.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE EFFORTS NOW HAVE PRETTY MUCH ALL BEEN AUGHT.
THERE ARE BIGGER ISSUES SURROUNDING WHY THE PARK GOT INTO THE CONDITION THAT IT DID.
AND I KNOW AND APPRECIATE THAT THEY'RE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD, THE CITY AND D I S D.
THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND A LARGER SOLUTION.
BUT WE HEARD TODAY FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON, AND THAT'S TO ASK ANY MINIMUM THAT THE PARKS STOPPED RENTING THIS FIELD TO DEER LEAGUES AND OTHER GROUPS WHO ARE DESTROYING THE PROPERTY.
ASKED MY SON THIS MORNING ABOUT WHY HE CARES ABOUT THE PARK AND THE FIELD, AND HE SAYS THAT IT, IT'S REALLY
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SAD TO SHOW UP AT THE FIELD AND FIND CIGARETTE BUTTS AND TRASH EVERYWHERE, THAT IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THEM AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.THESE RUNNERS ARE NOT BEING GOOD CITIZENS OR GOOD STEWARDS OF THE, OF THIS PROPERTY.
AND WHEN, WHEN I GREW UP, IF YOU DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF SOMETHING, YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED TO USE IT ANYMORE.
THIS SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT, MA'AM.
THE NEXT PERSON IS DD LEEK SAID THAT CORRECTLY.
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR CITY.
UM, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO, UH, DECLINE THE, UH, DTC MASTER PLAN FOR WILLIAM D UH, WILLIAM BD, THE THIRD, UH, UH, MD PARK.
I ALSO LOVE THE KALETA AND WANNA SEE IT RESTORED.
HOWEVER, TODAY I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE PARK.
I'VE LIVED ON TURTLE CREEK FOR 39 YEARS.
I'VE WALKED IN THAT PARK EVERY WEEK AND MANY TIMES, EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT GYM IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS CITY.
NOT ONLY FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO FOR ALL OF US IN DALLAS.
IT NEEDS NEW PAVING ON THE EXISTING PARKING LOT, BUT IT DOESN'T NEED THE, THE DES DESTRUCTION OF OVER 200 URBAN FOREST TREES THAT ARE SO BEAUTIFUL THERE THAT, THAT MASTER PLAN WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM US IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
MY HUSBAND IS AN, UH, NATURE AND WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER AND HE HAS CAPTURED THE IMAGES OF BIRDS THAT MANY SPECIES THAT I HAD NO IDEA WERE THERE.
UM, AND INSECTS AND TURTLES AND EGRETS.
I MEAN, IT IS AN OASIS, BUT IF THAT PLAN WERE TO HAPPEN, THAT ENTIRE WILDLIFE IN, UH, WOULD BE GONE.
THEY, IT, IT WOULD JUST, THEY'D BE DESTROYED AND THEY COULDN'T COME BACK.
SO THAT PLAN IS SO DESTRUCTIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE DON'T NEED UNDERGROUND PARKING, WHICH WOULD DESTROY ALL THE TREES.
WE DON'T NEED MORE CONTRACT CONCRETE BUILDINGS.
WE JUST NEED TO RESTORE THE BEAUTIFUL, PRECIOUS FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT COLTA HUMPHRY THEATER AND DO THE EROSION CONTROL, THE, THE GET RID OF THE LITTER, YOU KNOW, UH, BUILD UP THAT LITTLE BRIDGE THAT GOES ACROSS THE CREEK.
AND, UM, AND THAT'S YOUR TIME.
UM, JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT I'VE LIVED IN DALLAS FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.
I MOVED STATE AND OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS I PERSONALLY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE VICINITY AND THE PARKS SURROUNDING MY HOME.
I LIVE ON THE TURTLE CREEK CORRIDOR ARE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DREW ME TO WANT TO STAY HERE AND TO PLANT ROOTS AND TO BUY, UM, THE URBAN OASIS THAT EXISTS ON THE TURTLE CREEK CORRIDOR.
UM, THE PARKS, ALL OF THE, THE NATURE IN THE COMMUNITY IS THE BEAUTY OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO, NOT JUST FOR ME, CUZ I LIVE THERE, BUT I WALK THE PARK, I SEE THE PEOPLE THAT VISIT FROM OUTSIDE I KNOW OUTSIDE OF THIS AREA.
SO IT'S FINALLY IMPORTANT TOO, I THINK MAINTAIN THE, THE PARK SYSTEM.
AND I'VE ALSO SEEN THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT OF THE, OF THE WILLIAM DEAN PARK AND THE COLTA HUMPHRES THEATER.
THE THINGS THAT ARE PROPOSED TO DESTROY HUNDREDS OF TREES TO MAKE WAY FOR MORE CONCRETE BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES IS NOT NEEDED, NOT NEEDED IN THIS PART OF DALLAS.
AND IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO, UM, REINFORCE THE PARKS THAT ARE IN THE AREA AND CLEAN THOSE UP AND ENSURE THAT THOSE SPACES ARE MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED.
AND THE HISTORIC STRUCTURES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE LIKE THE CALIDA THEATER ARE RESPECTFULLY RENOVATED AND BROUGHT TO FORM, UM, AND MAINTAINED.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S PLENTY OF SPACE IN OTHER THEATERS AND PARKS AND I CAN HEAR THERE'S LOTS OF NEED IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE CITY.
BUT, UM, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT FI PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR THIS PARK, FOR THIS THEATER.
AND THE PLAN AS IT'S PROPOSED, CANNOT CONTINUE.
IT WOULD JUST STOP, DESTROY THE ECOSYSTEM OF, OF THAT PART THAT I ENJOY SO MUCH THAT
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I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE DO AS WELL.NOT, NOT THAT THOSE THAT JUST LIVE THERE, BUT THOSE IN, UH, DALLAS PROPER.
THE NEXT PERSON IS JANE MANNING.
I HAVE DEI BE, SHE'S LIVED HERE 39 YEARS.
I LIVE IN ONE OF THE HIGH RISES ON TURTLE CREEK BOULEVARD AND I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, THE ONLY REASON I TELL YOU THIS, IF YEARS AGO WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE TURTLE CREEK ASSOCIATION AND ONE OF THE FOUNDERS SUBSEQUENTLY OF THE LEE PARK ARLINGTON HALL CONSERVANCY, NOW CALLED THE TURTLE CREEK PARK CONSERVANCY.
AND THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALL ABOUT THE PARK AND THEY CONTRIBUTE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR TO PUT IT BACK TO THE PARK FOR BEAUTIFICATION.
SO, UH, I AM ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT'S DISTURBED ABOUT THE DALLAS CEDAR CENTER'S MEGA 308 MILLION PROPOSAL FOR DEAN PARK.
WHEN I VISITED WITH MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, THEY SAID WE HAD NO CLUE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND CUZ THERE HAVE BEEN COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND A LOT OF PRESS ABOUT IT.
BUT IN ANY EVENT, UH, WE HAVE STARTED HAVING MANY PRESENTATIONS IN EACH HIGH RISE.
THERE'S LIKE 11 HIGH RISES ON TERMINAL CREEK BOULEVARD AND I'M GONNA SHARE IT WITH YOU.
THESE ARE COMMENTS FROM WHAT PEOPLE THAT ATTENDED THE PRESENTATION SAID ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
I'D RATHER I HAVE NOTHING THAN THIS PLANNED MONSTROSITY.
WHY WOULD ANYONE SPEND 308 MILLION ON ONE OF THE PRETTIEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN DALLAS WHEN THERE'S SO MANY OTHER NEEDS? THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT AN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
DON'T DESTROY OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
SHOCKED AT THE NUMBER OF TREES THAT WOULD COME DOWN.
WE'VE HEARD APPROXIMATELY 200 NEW BUILDINGS ARE COMING AT US FROM EVERY DIRECTION.
TURTLE CREEK BOULEVARD, UPTOWN, HALT STREET, FIFTH KNOX.
WE DON'T WANT FOUR NEW BUILDINGS AND TWO PARKING GARAGES.
FIND AN ALTERNATIVE SITE IN DALLAS FOR THESE VENUES.
SURELY IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE CITY TO INVEST THE MONEY IN UNDERSERVED AREAS OR HOW ABOUT PLACING THESE DOWNTOWN IN THE UNDERPERFORMING PERFORMING ARTS DISTRICT.
OKAY, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBERT PR CHIN.
I HOPE I PRONOUNCE THAT CORRECTLY.
SIR, YOU'RE TWO MINUTES SPEAKING.
I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF OF LAWN.
I HAVE THE LAST TWO LADIES FEET.
I'VE LIVED THERE WITH MY ENTIRE 68 YEARS
SO I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, COMMENT ABOUT THIS.
I'LL TRY TO KEEP THIS ONE, TWO MINUTES.
SO I URGE YOU TO REJECT THE CURRENT PARK PLAN PROPOSAL FOR DEAN PARK.
REASON GREATER DENSITIES THAT WE'RE SEEING AROUND THE PEARL CREEK QUARTER QUA AREA, UPTOWN AREA.
WE NEED MORE PARK SPACE, NOT THE CURRENT PARK SYSTEM PARKS.
WE HAVE SHIPPED AWAY THE PROPOSED FACILITIES.
FACILITIES SHOULD BE PLACED IN OTHER DALLAS COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT DALLAS THAT DON'T HAVE SUCH FACILITIES AND THEY BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR IT.
OUR PARTS SHOULD BE NOT, SHOULD NOT BE COMMERCIALIZED.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT AS A KID, I USED TO WANDER IN THAT REGULAR LITTLE PARK SPACE.
YOU KNOW, JUST WANDERING THROUGH ALL THE UNDERSTORY AND SUCH, LISTENING TO THE BIRDS AND SUCH.
INSTEAD OF WHAT WE HAVE NOW FROM PAST PARK IMPROVEMENTS WITH ADDED PARKING, WE HAVE A PARK THAT'S ALREADY A MINI HEAT ISLAND, BASICALLY.
SO ANY FUTURE PARK PLANS THAT YOU CONSIDER GOING FORWARD FOR DEAN GARNER, I URGE YOU TO RESTORE THE PART BACK HIS NATURAL CONDITIONS.
THE NEXT PERSON IS DEBBIE LACHER.
MA'AM, YOU'RE TWO MINUTES BEGIN.
MY NAME IS DEBBIE LACHER STALER AND I'M THE NATIVE DALLAS SITE OF 63 YEARS.
AND MY HUSBAND MARTY, WHO IS 65, IS HERE FROM FORT WORTH ME WITH ME TODAY.
WE STARTED PLAYING PICKLEBALL ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS NOT AS POPULAR AS IT IS TODAY.
PICKLEBALL IS THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN AMERICA WITH 35 BILLION PEOPLE PLAY.
SPORT HAS GROWN IN EVER AVERAGE OF A HUNDRED.
AND I'M SORRY I THE DOOR HAS TO BE REMAINED OPEN FOR PUBLIC CASE.
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GROWN AN AVERAGE OF 159% OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATION OF PICKLEBALL PROFESSIONALS WITH PEOPLE 18 TO 34 YEARS OLD, MAKING UP THE LARGEST PERCENTERS PERCENTAGE OF PLAYERS.
I CONTACTED FRANK GARCIA IN 2019 AND REQUESTED HE LIVED AT COAL PARK, WHICH HAD EIGHT TENNIS PARTIES AND SUGGESTED TWO COURTS BE CONVERTED INTO PICKLEBALL.
ONCE I MADE THIS REQUEST SEVERAL TIMES TO THE YEARS AND LAST MAY SIX FABULOUS CLERKS WERE INSTALLED.
I I HAD TOLD THE CITY IT WOULD BE POPULAR THAT PEOPLE WOULD COME AND PLAY AND POPULAR AND HAS BECOME SINCE LAST MAY.
MARTY BRANDON BARBER, CHAD RICKS AND MYSELF HAVE WORKED WITH THE CITY TO IMPROVE COLD PARK.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE FRANK'S HEALTH AS WELL AS RUDY'S.
THEY THE FACILITY BY MOVING THE ENTRANCE GATE FOR SAFER, SAFER PLAYER ENTRY, ADDING MULTIPLE PICKLEBALL RACKS, ADDING A CEMENT PACK, SEVERAL BENCHES AND TRASH CREWS.
THE POPULARITY OF THE GAME HAS GROWN SO QUICKLY THAT THERE ARE 40 TO 70 PLAYERS EVERY EVENING THAT WANT TO PLAY A GAME ON ONLY SIX COURTS.
THE WAIT TIME VARIES BETWEEN GAMES FROM 12 TO 40 MINUTES WITH A CURRENT NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE SPORT.
THESE WAIT TIMES WILL ONLY INCREASE.
WE CREATED A PETITION ON CHANGE.ORG LAST FRIDAY FOR SIX PER COURTS AND HAVE RECEIVED 504 SIGNATURES IN LESS THAN A WEEK.
AND MEASURE BASED LARGE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES WE HAVE SHOWN THE DEMAND AND PARTICIPATION LEVEL IS THERE.
UM, DID EBONY BROCK MAKE IT IN? OKAY, MR. CHAIR.
THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE TODAY.
YEAH, I THINK WE HAD QUITE A FEW SPEAKERS AND, UH, DIRECTOR JIMS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
YEAH, JUST WANNA REASSURE BOARD, EVEN THOUGH WE HIT A LOT OF SPEAKERS TODAY, A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP TODAY.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND, EITHER MYSELF OR BOARD MEMBERS THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN ENGAGED ALONG WITH MY STAFF WITH SOME OF THE SPEAKERS TODAY.
UH, NOT ALL THE SPEAKERS, BUT I JUST WANNA REASSURE THIS BOARD THAT WE, WE ARE ADDRESSING ISSUES AND WE, I'VE BEEN ON THE GROUND FIRSTHAND WITH SOME OF THESE CONCERNS TODAY.
I KNOW MY STAFF HAVE AND I KNOW PARTICULARLY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE AS WELL.
THAT'S A GREAT REASSURANCE AND OUR STAFF FOLKS, BUT APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK FROM PUBLIC ALWAYS.
WITH THAT WE MOVE TO NEXT, UH, POINT OF BUSINESS.
SO WE HAVE TWO BOARD MEETINGS TO APPROVE AND PROVIDE IT.
LET'S DO APPROVAL OF BOARD MEETINGS FOR MARCH 9TH.
YES, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO OH, PRESS THE TABLET REQUEST.
UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT THE APPROVAL OF THESE MINUTES WITH THE SMALL EXCEPTION THAT ON THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, THE MOCKINGBIRD PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, UH, IT SAYS THAT AON BLAIR, UH, MOVED AND SECONDED THAT.
SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL WITH GIVING MR. BECKER TIME TO GO BACK AND CHANGE THAT.
I DON'T THINK YOU DID TO BOTH THE MOST.
THANK YOU MR. DICKEY FOR CALLING THAT OUT.
NO, I JUST SAW US VERY MR. CHAIR.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? UH, MS. SPEN, ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSE? AYES HAVE IT NOW WE MOVE TO APPROVAL FOR THE MINUTES OF APRIL 11TH, 2023.
DO I HAVE A MOTION MR. LAUGHTER? AND SECOND MS HAS ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UH, WITH THAT WE MOVE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
VOTING ITEMS. NUMBER ONE, BACHMAN CENTER, UH, TO GO HAVE A MOTION.
MR. WOOD, I MAKE A MOTION AMEND.
THIS IS THE ONE WHERE WE'RE CORRECTING.
ARE WE APPROVED IN COMMITTEE WITH THE, UH, AMENDMENT TO CORRECT JR.
WARD'S NAME TO HIS FIRST GIVEN NAME.
AND WITH THAT CORRECTION WE MOVE FOR SECOND.
AND ANY DISCUSSION? UH, EXCUSE ME.
TO JR'S FIRST GIVEN NAME, CAN YOU PLEASE SAY THAT
[00:30:01]
YEAH, IT'S A LOT EASIER SOMETIMES.
SO ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM AT ALL? IN FAVOR? SAY ANY OPPOSED HAVE GO TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.
DO I HAVE MOTION? UH, MR. KAMI? MS. UH, ESP SECONDED.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL FAVOR SAY AYE.
HAVE IT MOVE TO ASSEMBLE FORM.
MOTION HAS MR. ANY DISCUSSION? AYE, ANY APPROVAL? AYE HAVE WITH THAT, NOW WE CAN GET TO OUR SECOND SPECIAL RECOGNIZATION.
WE ARE WAITING FOR THIS TO APPROVE.
SO AGAIN, FROM TEXAS PARK AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE ROSS IS YOURS.
SO I HAVE WITH ME TODAY, UH, MR. ADAM LEWIS WITH THE NORTH TEXAS REGION OF THE TEXAS WOULD LIKE TO DO A PRESENTATION TO OUR, UH, SAMUEL FARM OUTDOOR VENTURES PROGRAM.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, GOOD MORNING.
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT SAME OF FARMS, UM, WITH A, UH, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND, UM, CO-OP GRANT FOR $55,497 TO GO TOWARDS THEIR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PROGRAM THAT WILL FUND THEIR, UM, STATE CAMPING, UM, PROGRAM AS WELL AS THEIR ARCHERY, UH, OUTDOOR ARCHERY AND BOAT FISHING PROGRAMS AT, THEY'RE CONTINUING AT SAMUEL FARMS. UM, TEXAS PARK AND WILDLIFE HAS BEEN A PARTNER FOR, UH, SIX YEARS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED, UH, PARTNERSHIP AND THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING OUT AT SAMUEL FARMS.
WE, I'LL WAIT TILL THE CASINO
BUT BEFORE WE PROCEED TO THE NEXT VOTING ITEM, I THINK SINCE THAT HAS, UH, THE LITTLE UPDATE ON, UH, THE LEGAL ASPECT OF IT, I THINK I WOULD LIKE OKAY.
FIRST TIME TO GO WITH THE MOTION BEFORE.
IF THERE ANYONE WANTS TO GO INTO, SO I'M GOING TO VOTING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
DO I HAVE A MOTION MR. WARD? SECOND.
MR. BLACK, ANY QUESTIONS? AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ANYONE WANTS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, IF
[00:35:01]
WE NEED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE HAVE VERY ARE YOU, ARE THESE FOR QUESTIONS ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR? NO.SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE DISCUSSION STAGE WITH THE MOTION.
SO IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ITEM, THIS IS THE TIME TO ASK SINCE THERE IS A LITIGATION ON, I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT ONLY, THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE CAN'T DISCUSS THAT IN PUBLIC HEARING.
WE CAN GO INTO EXACT SESSION, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING THAT COULD BE OPEN.
YEAH, THAT CAN BE OPEN BEFORE THAT ANYONE SEES, UH, GOING TO, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, ACTUALLY I THINK I WILL PROPOSE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION SO WE CAN GET A BRIEF ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO, UH, HOW DO I DO THAT? OKAY, HOLD ON.
HELLO, CHRISTINE BANNERS WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
RIGHT NOW THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THIS DEDUCTIVE CHANGE ORDER.
SO IF THERE ARE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CHANGE ORDER, IT CAN BE OPEN.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE LITIGATION PERTAINING TO THIS MATTER, THEN WE CAN GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
SO DEPENDING ON THE QUESTIONS COMING FROM PARK BOARD MEMBERS, WE CAN GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
BUT RIGHT NOW, BUT DOESN'T ONE MR. JENKINS? YEAH, THAT, THAT'S MY CONCERN, UH, CHRISTINE, IS THAT, UH, UH, I NEED THE BOARD TO UNDER UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ACTION IS EVEN ON THE AGENDA WHILE WE'RE MOVING THIS ACTION FORWARD.
SO, SO RELATED TO THE LITIGATION? SURE.
SO JUST TO FOLLOW OPEN MEETINGS PROTOCOL, UM, I I WOULD, IT WOULD BE BETTER IF A PARK BOARD MEMBER LET'S DISCUSS THE ITEM AND IF THE, DEPENDING ON THE QUESTION, WE CAN GO INTO OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION RIGHT NOW BEFORE YOU, IS THE ITEM OF DEDUCTIVE CHANGE ORDER.
SO WE DON'T EVEN HAVE, NO ONE HAS BEEN DISCUSSING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.
WELL,
LITTLE MORE ROBUST ABOUT IT ONCE THE BOARD GOES ABOUT THE, UH, OPEN, UH, OUTSTANDING LITIGATION, WHICH IS THERE.
SO HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN? WOULD WE NEED, YOU NEED A PROPOSAL FROM A BOARD MEMBER ON MEETING? BECAUSE I WANT BOARD TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO THE DISCUSSION IS MORE ROBUST.
SO THE, I AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, THE, THE MATTER BEFORE YOU IS THE DEDUCTIVE CHANGE ORDER, WHICH IS RELATED CAN BE RELATED, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT IS THE MATTER BEFORE YOU THE DEDUCTIVE CHANGE ORDER.
SO DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT? YES, LET'S TALK WITH THAT.
I THINK IT, THIS IS A NUTS AND BOLT.
JUST, JUST, YEAH, YOU'RE FINE.
UM, SO ONE OF THE REDUCTIONS IS ABOUT THE BURIED ELECTRICAL.
UH, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE, UH, THIS MEDIAN'S ENCORE SIGNIFICANTLY PRESENT IN THIS MEDIAN.
UH, AND IS, DOES THIS MEAN, WHAT, WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT MEAN THAT TO SAVE THAT MONEY? UH, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING SOMETHING TO THAT INVOLVES NOT VARYING ELECTRICAL.
AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY HOW THAT'S GONNA LOOK.
IF WE DON'T, WE MAKE THAT CHANGE.
SO ESSENTIALLY THE, THE CHANGE ORDER HAS TWO COMPONENTS TO IT.
UM, WE HAVE COST INCREASES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO COVER, AND THEN WE HAVE DEDUCTIVE ITEMS. AS YOU'VE MENTIONED.
ONE OF THE DEDUCTIVE ITEMS IS, UM, ELIMINATING THIS OVERHEAD TO UNDERGROUNDING OF ON FOUR POWER.
AND AS FAR AS WHAT WE WERE DOING, IT WAS AN AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENT, UM, TO UNDERGROUND THE POWER.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT DUE TO THE COSTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE IN THIS CHANGE ORDER, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO RIGHT NOW WITH THIS PROJECT.
SO WHAT ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS YOU'RE GOING TO REMAIN SEEING THAT OVERHEAD ELECTRIC WILL REMAIN OVERHEAD AND IT JUST WILL NOT BE UNDERGROUND THERE.
I MEAN, I, UH, DON'T KNOW HOW THAT AFFECTS, UH, BUT UH, FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE LOOKING AT UNDER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AESTHETIC ON THIS PART OF THE TRAIL.
UM, I'M A BIG FAN OF UNDERGROUND POWER LINES IN EUROPE.
THEY BURY THEM EVERYWHERE AND WE NEVER DO.
AND SO IF THIS WAS A MILLION DOLLARS OR SOMETHING, BUT FOR THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, PERSONALLY, THIS IS JUST GONNA BE MY COMMENT AND OPINION.
I THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO FIND THE MONEY ELSEWHERE AND KEEP THAT AESTHETIC OF UNDER, OF BURIED POWER LINES.
CAUSE IT'S A BIG, THEY'RE GIANT IONS OVER THOSE OPEN TREES ON THE MEDIAN, ON THE HIGH LINE.
[00:40:02]
JUST KEEP GOING.JUST IGNORE ME IN THE BACKGROUND, NOT YOU.
SO THE, IT'S A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS CHANGE ORDER, BUT YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE DISCUSSED CHRIS OUTSIDE OF THIS, JUST LET EVERYBODY KNOW ABOUT THIS, THIS ITEM.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY REDUCING THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT BY 2 MILLION, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO WE BID THIS PROJECT IN 2021.
THE PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE LAWSUIT, WHICH I TOLD YOU NOT TO GO VERY FAR, UM, HAS BEEN DELAYED.
I KEEP TALKING OR NOT KEEP GOING.
THE, THE PROJECT'S BEEN DELAYED CAREFUL, AND NOW WE ARE TRYING TO GO FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT, BUT NOW THERE'S A $2 MILLION ADDITIONAL COST TO THE PROJECT BECAUSE OF CONCRETE.
THE THE PRIMARY COST INCREASES THAT WE'VE HAD ARE IN CONCRETE PAVEMENT.
AND BASICALLY, UM, IN, IN ORDER TO OFFSET THAT $2 MILLION INCREASE, WE HAVE TAKEN OUT ACCENT LIGHTING AND THEN THIS OVERHEAD TO UNDERGROUND, UM, UTILITIES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
SO YOU CALL IT ACCENT LIGHTING.
I, I CALL IT SECURITY LIGHTING.
LIGHTING IS GONNA BE SECURITY, UM, IN, IN ANY TRAIL IN E PARK.
SO I, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY THIS IS WORDED, UM, THAT IT'S ONLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY A $2.1 MILLION REDUCTION AND WE JUST BID THIS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND, AND WE'RE LOSING $2 MILLION OF SECURITY LIGHTING ON A, ON A TRAIL THAT, UM, NEEDS SECURITY LIGHTING.
OUR, OUR TRAILS NEED SECURITY LIGHTING.
SO I AM QUESTIONING THE CONTRACTORS.
UM, I'M QUESTIONING THE COST OF THE CONCRETE TO THE TUNE OF $2 MILLION THAT IT WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE SECURITY LIGHTING FOR, FOR THIS TRAIL IN THAT SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WHEN THIS WAS BID, WHEN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX WAS AT THE HIGHEST IT'S EVER BEEN IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
I DON'T MIND TOUCHING ON THAT.
AND I KNOW CHRIS MENTIONED CONCRETE, BUT IT'S 300 I 301 ITEMS IN MY UNDERSTANDING FOR US RELATED TO THIS CHANGE ORDER, I ASKED STAFF TO GO BACK YOUR ANALYSIS ON WHAT ARE THOSE TOP, YOU KNOW, SEVEN OR EIGHT THINGS THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO MOST OF THE INCREASE OR DECREASE IN THIS CHANGE ORDER.
SO SHE MENTIONED C BUT I KNOW THERE'S PROBABLY FIVE OR SIX OTHER THINGS THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO THE CHANGE ORDER EITHER WAY.
DO WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT 2 MILLION IS? UH, YEAH, IT'S 301 LINE ITEMS THAT, THAT A BREAKDOWN AT TWO POINT TO YOUR 0.2 0.1 MILLION.
BUT I ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE THOSE BIG THINGS THAT ARE PROBABLY MAKE UP 30 OR 40% OF THAT IN OR 50% INCREASE IN COST.
SO CHRIS, DO YOU HAVE, UH, SOME OF THOSE ITEMS? I, I DO BASICALLY, AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM WE HAVE VEHICULAR PAVEMENT ON BOTH NORTH VICTORY, UM, AND ON HIGHLINE AND BASICALLY THE, UM, CONTRACTOR ORIGINALLY BID, UM, IN 2021, AS WE MENTIONED, WE ARE NOW BASICALLY IN 2023, WE HAVE TALKED WITH MATT WITH TWO DIFFERENT CONCRETE SUPPLIERS WHO'VE INDICATED THAT THE TYPICAL CONCRETE PRICE IN 2023 RIGHT NOW IS 160 TO 180 CUBIC YARDS.
UM, WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN RIGHT NOW IS 150 SQUARE YARDS.
AND WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THIS IS 11 INCH CONCRETE PAVEMENT AND YOU CALCULATE THAT OUT, A BID APPROXIMATELY $137 AND 50 CENTS PER CUBIC YARD, WHICH IS WELL WITHIN WHAT THE, WHAT THE, UM, CONCRETE SUPPLIERS ARE INDICATING TO US, OUR CURRENT PRICES.
THE ORIGINAL BID ON THAT ONE WAS WHAT? THE ORIGINAL, THE ORIGINAL BID DATE WAS DECEMBER 3RD, 2021.
SO IT WENT FROM THIS PRICE TO WHAT PRICE? IT WENT FROM BASICALLY 158,000.
UM, TH WE HAVE 158,000 INCREASE IN THE 11 INCH CONCRETE PAVEMENT.
WENT FROM 150 SQUARE YARDS OR $150 PER SQUARE YARD TO A HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN FIFTY PER CUBIC YARD.
JOHN REYNOLDS IS SITTING BEHIND ME AND I'M HOPING THAT HE HAS THE ORIGINAL CONCRETE PRICE THAT IF THIS WAS BID IN 2021.
CAUSE I'M LOOKING AT WEBSITES SINCE OUR PLANNING, AND ACTUALLY THIS ISN'T ABOUT PLANNING DESIGN, BUT SINCE THIS FIRST GOT BROUGHT UP AND YOU'RE ON CONCRETE NETWORK.COM, THE AVERAGE, AND THIS IS PRETTY, I'M JUST USING THIS THE FIRST THING THAT CAME UP, BUT EVERY OTHER WEBSITE THAT I'M LOOKING AT HAS A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF A CUBIC YARD OF CONCRETE AT $137, WHICH IS NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT IT WAS IN 2021.
SO FOR THIS TO GO UP BY $2 MILLION IN A YEAR AND A HALF IS SHOCKING.
[00:45:04]
SO AS I WAS A, AND I'VE, I'M TALKING TO A COUPLE FOLKS AND I UNDER, I CAN GO OUT THERE NOW AND SEE CERTAIN PRICES THAT YOU MAY GET IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.WE DON'T GET IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
THERE IS AN ESCALATION OF COSTS.
SO I'M JUST SAYING, AND SOMETIME WHAT YOU MAY SEE ON THAT COST HASN'T WORKED ITSELF IN THE MARKET OVER HERE ON THE CITY SIDE OR MUNICIPALITY SIGNS OR STATE SIZE.
DO WE, IS THIS IS THIS CON AND I KNOW I'M ABOUT TO BE OUT OF TIME.
HAVE WE USED THIS CONTRACTOR BEFORE? YES, WE HAVE.
AND THIS GOES BACK TO ISSUES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST WHERE WE HAVE BIDS ON THINGS AND PEOPLE COME IN FOR THE LOWEST BID AND THEN WE GET CHANGE OVER ORDER AFTER CHANGE ORDER.
AND NOW EVEN, EVEN THE, THE LOW BIDS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE ARE IT'S NOW DOUBLE SOMETIMES.
WHAT, SO HAVE THESE PEOPLE EVER COME BACK AND NOT, IS THIS THE FIRST TIME THEY'RE, THAT THEY'RE HAVING A CHANGE ORDER WITH THIS, WITH ANY TYPE OF INCREASE THAT THEY'VE EVER DONE ANYTHING WITH US? OR IS THIS, IS THIS HABITUAL? UH, I MEAN, I I WILL ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
SO, SO THE ANSWER IS HAVE THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACTOR WHO'S DONE WORK FOR US OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS HERE CHANGE YOURS ANSWERS.
DO I HAVE THE SPECIFICS WITH ME? THE ANSWER IS NO.
UH, BUT, BUT THIS SITUATION IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE HAD A BID, IT WAS BIDED OUT A YEAR AGO THAT A CONTRACTOR AGREED TO A CERTAIN PRICE.
YEAH, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA GO INTO LEGAL HERE, I'M HOPING HERE IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE THERE IS CONSIDERATION GIVEN WHEN THE CONTRACTOR WASN'T ALLOWED TO START WORK A YEAR AGO.
THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE A YEAR AGO.
THERE'S SOME PRICES THAT WENT UP THERE, SOME PRICES THAT THAT CAME DOWN.
AND SO CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN THIS IS NOT THE NORM, IF WE BID A CONTRACT OUT AND WE SAY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO START ON JANUARY THE FIRST, THAT YOU CAN COME BACK TO US AND ASK FOR A PRICE INCREASE.
I I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT THEY'RE ABOUT THE LAWSUIT.
AS OF PERTAIN TO THIS CALL, YOU CAN CALL EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'D LIKE TO CALL FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO, UM, SO I HAVE TO READ THIS STATE.
UH, LET'S SEE WHAT TIME IT, IT'S CLOSE THE DOOR.
IT'S 10 54 ON APRIL 20TH, 2023.
THE PARTNER BOARD NOW WILL GO INTO CLOSE SESSION UNDER SECTION 5 51, 71 OF THE TEXAS OPENS MEETING A CYCLES MEMOS.
LIKE FOR THIS YARD SALE BEGINS ALL FIVE A PIECE.
MY MEETING THIS MORNING CAUGHT MY MEETING.
LOOK MARIA MARIAK YOU, I WILL GET, THIS IS 12:46 PM AND THE CREATION BOARD MEETING.
UH, WITH THAT, NOW WE GO BACK TO OUR ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, HIGHLIGHT CONNECTOR TRAIL.
UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION? THE MOTION, THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR WAS MR. VO.
THERE WAS MOTION ON, UH, THIS MR. WOOD AND MR. BLAIR, ANY DISCUSSION? I MY MOTION, I AMEND MY MOTION AT THIS POINT? YES.
SO MR. WOOD, I'D LIKE TO AMEND MY MOTION.
YOUR HONOR, I'D LIKE TO AMEND MY MOTION TO TAKE THIS BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND WORK WITH THE, UM, VENDOR TO SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS LESS IMPACTFUL OF THE HUMANITIES, BUT TO BRING IT BACK AND HAVE A DISCUSSION SO THAT WE CAN MAYBE BRING IT BACK TO PLANNING AND DESIGN OR TO FINANCE.
MR. WOOD, UM, THE, THE, THIS MOTION WOULD ACTUALLY BE A MOTION TO DEFER.
CAN I MAKE A MOTION DEFER TO A SET DAY? YOU NEED TO, WHAT'S IT? IT'S UP TO THE BOARD.
SO ARE YOU, ARE YOU, ARE YOU ASKING TO SEND THIS BACK TO THE COMMITTEE TO, TO WORK THROUGH SOME DETAILS? ARE YOU ASKING THE STAFF? WELL, LEMME JUST SAY THIS.
SO I'M WANNA MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR.
[00:50:01]
WE EITHER PROVE CHANGE ORDER, SES, OR YOU'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THE STAFF GO BACK AND NEGOTIATE FURTHER WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO SEE IF WE CAN UH, BASED ON SOME OF THE CONCERNS YOU ALL MENTIONED TODAY, RIGHT? EITHER NEGOTIATE SOME MORE PRICING OR TO NEGOTIATE CERTAIN COMPONENTS.Y'ALL WANNA MAKE SURE IT STILL REMAINS IN THE CONTRACT MOVING FORWARD.
I MEAN, THE THIRD IS YOU CAN JUST OUTRIGHT VOTE IT DOWN TODAY.
I DON'T, I DON'T NECESSARILY WANNA VOTE IT DOWN CUZ WE COULD DO THAT IF THE NEGOTIATIONS DON'T BECOME FRUITFUL.
SO I, I'D LIKE TO STAFF TO SETTLE UP, GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE OPTIONS AND TRY TO RENEGOTIATE UM, THE CHANGES FOR THE S THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT SECOND.
SO THE MOTION TO THE AFFIRM ITEM TO, UH, FEATURE PART FOUR JUNE OF WHEN? JUNE, YOU WANT A JUNE DATE? YES.
HOW LONG DO YOU NEED DO YOU THINK CHRIS? UM, PROBABLY, I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY GET IT BACK AT THE END OF MAY.
YOU DOING JUNE 1ST? SO THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE MEETING, CAN WE STILL DISCUSS TODAY? WE HAVE OKAY.
SO THERE'S THE MANDATE MOTION, WHICH MR. SLAUGHTER HAS SECONDED AND I SEE MR. TIKI IS FIRST IN QUEUE.
MR. TIKI, SO YOU KNOW WHAT MOTION WE ARE DISCUSSING HERE.
UM, AND SO ON THAT I JUST WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON, I WOULD, IF THIS MOTION PASSES THAT WE DO A MORE COMPREHENSIVE JOB ON THE BACKGROUND.
CAUSE I SCOURED THE BACKGROUND ON THIS AND I NEVER SAW A MENTION OF THE $2 MILLION CHANGE IN SCOPE ANYWHERE.
AND THIS IS IN MY DISTRICT ALSO DISTRICT TWO.
I HAVEN'T BEEN BRIEFED ON THE CHANGE, ON THE LOSS OF AMENITIES.
I'M VERY INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT, TRINITY STRAND TRAIL AND HIGHLIGHT AND UH, EXCUSE ME, I JUST REALLY FELT, UH, BLINDSIDED MR. CONNOR TODAY MENTIONED 2 MILLION AND I DON'T KNOW HOW HE FOUND OUT, BUT NOBODY TOLD ME IT WASN'T IN THE BACKGROUND.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO ASK THE MORE ATTENTION BE GIVEN TO, UH, IN THE BACKGROUND EXPLAINING THE FULL PICTURE AND THEN SPECIFICALLY WITH THE BOARD MEMBER, IT AFFECTING THE MASTER SCOPE PAGE OF THE PROJECT IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT I BE CALLED OR TOLD, UH, AND BRIEFED ON WHAT'S ON WHAT'S ON THE TABLE.
UH, IN TERMS OF THE PROJECT'S SCOPE, CAN SOMEONE, WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS $2 MILLION, THIS DIFFERENCE, BUT CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME SPECIFICALLY WHAT'S DIFFERENT NOW ABOUT THE PROJECT AND LIKE WHAT WE'VE BEEN, WHAT WE'VE HAD INCLUDE IN THE BID THAT'S NOT BEING INCLUDED NOW? IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THIS MOTION? YES, I WOULD TO SUPPORT MR. KITNER INTO 80 20.
IS THERE SOMETHING WHICH IS 80% OF THE 2 MILLION? WHAT, WHAT ARE THE BIG PIECES? WELL, I JUST WANNA KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE ARE.
BUT I DON'T WANNA KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE ARE LOSING OUT ON BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL BID.
AND NOW EXACTLY SPECIFICALLY WHAT HAS BEEN ELIMINATED ARE UPLIGHTS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE I 30 BRIDGE UPLIGHTS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE NORTH DALLAS TOOL WEDDING UPLIGHTS ON SOME I-BEAM SCULPTURES AND ON ENCORE TRANSMISSION TOWERS.
AND BASICALLY THESE ARE AESTHETIC LIGHTING, SO WE'RE LOSING APPROXIMATELY THIRD 380 LIGHT FIXTURES.
AND THEN BASICALLY, UM, IN TERMS OF REROUTING OVERHEAD ELECTRIC ONE TELECOMMUNICATION LINES INTO BELOW GRADE CONDUITS, THAT ALTERNATE WAS TIED TO THE BASE BID SCOPE, WHICH WAS DELETED.
SO THAT ALTERNATE WAS ALSO DELETED.
SO WE'RE LOSING SOME OVERHEAD TO UNDERGROUND ELECTRICITY AND WE'RE LOSING ABOUT 380 AESTHETIC LIGHT FIXTURES AT THIS POINT.
WE'RE NOT LOSING, BUT WE'RE JUST SO I UNDERSTAND, WE'RE NOT LOSING ANY ACTUAL TRAIL CONCRETE, NO TRANSPORTATION AVENUES? THAT IS CORRECT.
I SEE PHILIP HHA IS HERE AND I WOULD LOVE TO GET, IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, GET HIS PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IF HE THINKS IT'S APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE.
I THINK, UH, YEAH, I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME.
YEAH, YOU'LL HAVE TO COME HERE, STAY SURE IF IT'S OKAY, THE SHORT FIELD WILL COME UP.
WE'RE, WE'RE STILL TALKING WITH THE CIRCUIT TRAIL FOLKS AS WELL.
[00:55:01]
ALL MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE LOCKED IN.I MEAN, THIS IS NOT COSTING THE PARK DEPARTMENT NOT ONE ADDITIONAL DIME REGARDLESS.
UH, IT'S THE FEDERAL MONEY AND THEN IT'S THE CIRCUIT TRAIL AND WE'RE STILL IN, IN DISCUSSION WITH HIM ON THE THINGS THAT'S BEING CUT OUT RIGHT NOW.
BUT THEY MAY WANNA RAISE MONEY, CONTINUED TO GET THOSE OTHER THINGS BACK IN THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, BUT MAYBE NOT WITH THIS CONTRACTOR AFTER IT'S FINISHED.
SO I'M, I'M NOT SAYING THESE THINGS ARE NOT BEING ELIMINATED, IS WE'RE STILL TALKING WITH THE CIRCUIT TRAIL ABOUT THEM PAYING FOR THESE ADDITIONAL MINUTES OR LIKE YOU SAID, IF Y'ALL DECIDE TO SWAP SOME THINGS OUT THAT THEY COVER THAT ADDITIONAL COST.
WELL THAT, AND THAT'S PART OF THE RE THAT'S THE REASON I WANT TO HEAR FROM PHILLIP.
UH, PHILLIP P HEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOOP DALLAS.
UM, SO I THINK THE MAIN THING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO EXPRESS IS THAT THE LITIGATION DELAY HAS CAUSED FINANCIAL DAMAGES TO THE PROJECT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE THE ACTUAL SCOPE, UH, REDUCTION IS ROUGHLY AS MENTIONED ABOUT 2 MILLION.
AND THE ITEMS THAT WERE REMOVED, UM, FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES ARE ITEMS THAT CAN BE ADDED BACK LATER ON IN THE PROJECT.
SPECIFICALLY THINGS THAT DON'T NEED TO BE DONE DAY ONE WHEN CONSTRUCTION BEGINS.
AND THAT WAS INTENTIONAL BECAUSE THERE IS AN EFFORT TO, UH, FULLY FUND THE PROJECT AS IT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN MAY OF 2021.
SO THERE IS A FINANCIAL DAMAGE AND WE ARE WORKING, AS JOHN MENTIONED, WITH THE PARK DEPARTMENT TOO AND THE CITY AT LARGE.
UM, BECAUSE ONE REASON, UH, OR ONE THING SPECIFICALLY IS THAT WE STILL HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE TIFF AWARD FOR ALL THE ITEMS THAT ARE WITHIN THAT VICTORY TIFF AREA.
AND SO WE HAVE TO FILL THOSE, SOME OF THOSE UPLIGHTS THAT WERE MENTIONED UNDER I 35, UM, BY THE TIME THE PROJECT IS DONE IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT REIMBURSEMENT.
SO WE WILL BE, UH, CONTINUING TO SEEK FUNDING TO MAKE THE PROJECT WHOLE.
UM, AND I ALSO WANNA APPRECIATE, UH, PARK BOARD MEMBER LANE'S, UH, CONNOR'S COMMENTS ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE AESTHETIC LIGHTING IN THEIR DESCRIPTION.
UM, BUT PART OF THAT IS TO MAKE THE TRAIL FEEL OPEN, WELCOME AND SAFE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE PASSING UNDERNEATH AN ACTIVE RAIL LINE, UH, I 35, UH, CORRIDOR THAT PEOPLE CURRENTLY DON'T FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE GOING UNDER.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU'RE CONNECTING ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE TRAILS IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE KATY TRAIL TO THE DESIGN DISTRICT THAT PEOPLE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCE THAT MAKES THEM FEEL VERY SAFE AND THAT IT IS ONE THAT PEOPLE ENJOY AND IS ALSO REACHES THE SAME LEVEL OF AMENITY THAT PEOPLE EXPECT OF THESE TWO DISTRICTS.
SO, SO, UH, IF I CAN ADD, AND THEN MR. CON AND THEN I'LL CONCLUDE.
SO, UH, WHAT MR. JENKINS STATED, MR. HAIG, ARE YOU IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT, THAT THIS SO-CALLED, LET'S SAY IF WE HAVE TO DO THE TRAIL AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED, THE THE LOOP WILL COME UP WITH ADDITIONAL 2 MILLION? WELL, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FILLING THAT GAP RIGHT NOW WITH OUR PARTNERS BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY'S GONNA COME FROM YET.
UM, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE AWARE OF AND THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
SO IT'S STILL SO, BUT IT TAKES AWAY FROM $2 MILLION YOU COULD HAVE USED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THIS, THIS DOES TAKE AWAY FROM, IT'S NOT FREE MONEY.
UH, WE WILL, YOU KNOW, THEN IT'S NOT MONEY WE ACCOUNTED FOR IN OUR FUNDING SCHEDULE.
UH, MR. CONNOR? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, I I TRANSITIONED OUTTA THE OFFICE OUTTA THERE ABOUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO YEAH, REITERATE WHAT, UH, PHILLIPS SAID IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT SAFETY IN OUR PARKS AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT SAFETY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THE GROWING SAFETY CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.
AND THEN WE NEED LIGHTING IN MY TIME ON THE PARK BOARD, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CAMERAS AND LIGHTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.
AND WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE CROSSING UNDERNEATH OVERPASSES AND SUCH AND YOU'RE TAKING AWAY LIGHTING IN MY HEAD THAT REDUCES SECURITY.
UM, SO WE CAN CALL THESE AESTHETIC LIGHTS, BUT I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, THAT, UH, THAT CHARACTERIZATION.
THANK YOU MR. HY HAG AND MR. TURNER NOTE WHERE I, I THINK THAT, UM, COMPONENT IS REALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT THE AMENITIES THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED AS PART AS RECEIVING THE TIF FUNDING BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF UNUSUAL FOR A PARK PROJECT.
UM, AND THAT'S REALLY PROVES THE, UM, THAT THIS IS A, A HIGHLY VALUABLE, UM, TRAIL CONNECTION BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS OF THE K TRAIL.
WE WANT THE BETTER CONNECTIVITY TO WEST DALLAS.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, ADDITION TO THAT AND, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA HAVE TO
[01:00:01]
TAKE FUNDS FROM EITHER ANY OF YOUR OTHER PROJECTS OR GIVE YOU AN UNDUE BURDEN OF NOW HAVING TO GO RAISE $2 MILLION BECAUSE OF ITS COST ESCALATION.UM, SO CHRIS, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU ABOUT OUR CONTRACTS.
BY THE TIME, AS WE'VE NOW BEATEN THE DEAD HORSE AND LEARNED ABOUT THE CONTRACT AWARD, THE 150 DAYS AND, UM, HOW LONG WE HAVE TO AWARD A CONTRACT AND THEN COST ESCALATION IS ALMOST ALWAYS GOING TO CHANGE.
THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE SOME VARIANCE BETWEEN WHEN A PROJECT IS BID VERSUS WHEN IT GETS CONSTRUCTED, CORRECT.
SO HOW MUCH IN OUR CONTRACT, HOW MUCH WIGGLE ROOM, SO TO SPEAK, IS THERE THAT WE ALLOW FOR, UM, A COST VARIANCE FROM BID TO GR GROUNDBREAKING? WELL, THE OTHER, THE OTHER ISSUE I WANNA BRING UP ON THIS THAT I DID NOT MENTION WAS THE NOTICE TO PROCEED WAS NOT ISSUED TO THE FAME GROUP.
WE AWARDED THE CONTRACT AT CITY COUNCIL, BUT THEY WERE NOT AWARDED A NOTICE TO PROCEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.
SO THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE THE AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD TO START ORDERING THEIR MATERIALS OR DOING ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE AT THE TIME THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED.
THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE THAT AUTHORIZATION UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY, EARLY FEBRUARY WHEN WE GAVE THEM A NOTICE TO PROCEED.
SO IF THE CONTRACTOR HAD BEEN GIVEN THE, HAD BEEN GIVEN A NOTICE TO PROCEED AND THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO START ORDERING THEIR MATERIALS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, SOME OF THIS COST ESCALATION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AS MUCH, BUT BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION WE WERE IN, WE COULD NOT GIVE THEM A NOTICE TO PROCEED.
SO WE DO NOT TYPICALLY ALLOW COST ESCALATIONS LIKE THIS IN OUR CONTRACTS, BUT THIS BEING A SPECIAL CASE AND THE FACT THAT THEY'VE BEEN DELAYED, YOU KNOW, NINE TO 12 MONTHS THROUGH, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, THIS WAS A SPECIAL CASE THAT WE WERE WORKING WITH THE PAIN GROUP TO TRY AND EQUAL THIS OUT TO MAKE THIS, UM, TO MAKE EVERYBODY WHOLE, ALTHOUGH WE ARE LOSING AMENITIES ON THE PROJECT.
UM, ON THE DEFERRAL, HOW REALISTICALLY, HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK IS GONNA CHANGE IN THAT $2 MILLION DELTA IN THE NEXT SIX WEEKS? HOW MUCH IS THERE? SOME OF THESE ARE FIXED COSTS, RIGHT? THEY'RE COMMODITIES.
THEY'RE CAN ONLY BUY SO MANY LIGHTS, SO MUCH CONCRETE, SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH FUNGIBILITY WITHIN THAT 2 MILLION, RIGHT? SO HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK COULD REALLY BE, COULD REALLY CHANGE WHEN THIS CAME BACK TO US IN JUNE? UM, WELL, WELL ALL WILL ALWAYS DO WHAT THE BOARD WANTS US TO DO AND, AND WE WILL GO BACK AND, AND TALK TO THE CONTRACTOR AGAIN.
UM, FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, WE FEEL THAT WE'VE NEGOTIATED RIGHT NOW THE BEST PRICES THAT WE CAN.
THEY ARE WITHIN THE CURRENT MARKET, UM, PRICE PRICES THAT ARE EXPECTED ON CONCRETE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE MAIN COST INCREASES WERE IN CONCRETE.
AND, UM, THE PRICES THAT THE CONTRACTOR HAS GIVEN US ARE WELL WITHIN THE RANGE OF WHAT CONCRETE SUPPLIERS ARE INDICATING TO US.
CONCRETE IS COSTING NOWADAYS IN 2023.
AND SO LASTLY, I THINK, UM, PRESIDENT AGARWAL SAID THERE WERE MAYBE MR. JENKINS THAT THERE WERE LIKE 300 ITEMS AS YOU LOOK BACK AT THE SURVEY OF THIS PROJECT.
AND SO YOU PRIORITIZED, UM, THE SUBTERRANEAN UTILITY LINES, THE AESTHETIC SECURITY LIGHTING AND SOME OTHER, SOME OTHER ITEMS BECAUSE THEY WERE, IN YOUR VIEW, UM, LESS IMPORTANT TO THE PROJECT OR COULDN'T HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE OR IT COULD BE DELAYED.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN COME BACK AND DO IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT MUST MUCH DISRUPTION BECAUSE WE CAN PUT THE SLEEVES IN FOR THE LIGHTING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE SO THAT IT CAN BE DONE IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT TOO MUCH CONSTERNATION.
SO THAT WAS WHY THE UPLIGHTING AND, AND THAT LIGHTING WAS THE PORTION THAT WAS CHOSEN TO BE ELIMINATED.
BUT THE SECURITY LINES, WHICH ARE ABOUT, OR I'M SORRY, NOT, UM, UTILITY LINES ARE ABOUT 400,000 AND THOSE, THOSE CAN'T BE ADDED, YOU CAN'T BURY THEM LATER, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, UH, MR. SLAUGHTER.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, YOUR HONOR, YOUR HONOR, HOW LONG I'VE BEEN WITNESS TO THIS HAPPY NEW YEAR? OH, FIRST OF ALL, UH, I COMMEND CHRIS AND STAFF.
I MEAN YOU, TODD, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT I'M SAYING, IN A PROJECT LIKE THIS, IF YOU WERE TO COME FROM HER OFFICE THAT WE'RE GONNA HOLD THIS UP, WE WOULD'VE WANTED TO TAR AND FEATHER HER.
NOW I THINK SHE GONNA MOVE THIS PROJECT ALONE AND SHE'S GETTING IN THAT SAME SITUATION.
ONE THING WAS I WAS KIND OF SLIGHTED WHEN THIS WASN'T REPORTED BY THE $2 MILLION.
AND THEN WHEN I WAS HAPPY WHEN I SAID THE MONEY WASN'T COMING FROM US, TRILL GROUP WAS GONNA,
[01:05:01]
UH, HAVE TO COME UP WITH THIS MONEY AND WE'RE GETTING $2 MILLION CHANGE ORDER.I THINK IF YOU'RE DOING, IF YOU ARE A PARTNER, YOU SHOULD SAY, WELL, I THINK I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND ADD THE SECURITY LIGHTS OTHER UNDERGROUND CABLE, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A YOGI, UH, ON BOTH SIDES.
UH, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS THERE ARE CHANGE ORDERS, BUT I'M TRYING TO SEE HOW CAN WE GET TO A PLACE WHEN WE GIVE A CONTRACT WITH SOMEONE WE HAVE PIECE TO THE FIRE.
BECAUSE IF THIS MONEY WAS NOT COMING FROM THE STATE OF THE COUNTY, IT WOULD EVENTUALLY COME FROM US.
AM I RIGHT OR WRONG IF WE'RE GONNA DO THIS? SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY ISSUE.
UH, AND I'M HAPPY THAT THE, UH, $2 MILLION IS NOT GONNA COME FROM US, BUT ARE, WE'RE GONNA KEEP PUTTING OURSELF IN THIS SITUATION.
I THINK THIS IS A PROJECT THAT, THAT ALL OF US WANT TO SEE HAPPEN.
UH, BUT I'M, I'M WONDERING HOW CAN WE HOLD PEOPLE FEET TO THE FIRE? AND YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT THIS 150 DAYS, UH, WE, WE'VE HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE WE HAD A CONTRACTOR, UH, IN DISTRICT EIGHT.