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[Dallas Monthly Commission on Disabilities Meeting on June 27, 2023. ]
DISTRICT? NO.AS A REMINDER, UM, I DID ALLOW THREE MINUTES FOR OUR, UM, GUEST SPEAKERS.
HOWEVER, DEPENDING ON THAT, UM, AMOUNTS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY IN THE FUTURE SIGN UP, WE WANNA BE MINDFUL OF THE TIME, UM, OF OUR MEETINGS.
BUT I ALSO WANNA BE CONSIDERATE OF THOSE SPEAKERS WHO MAY HAVE DISABILITIES AND THAT MAY NEED THAT ADDITIONAL MINUTE.
UM, PLEASE BE SURE THAT FOR EACH COMMISSIONER IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND EVEN IF NOT IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE, WHETHER THEY HAVE A DISABILITY OR NOT, AND THEY ARE WANTING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF DISABILITIES IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, PLEASE, UM, LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE WELCOME TO COME TO CITY HALL AND OR, UM, ONLINE TO, UM, SPEAK.
NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO COMMISSION REPORTS.
AS IT READS, OFFICER REPORTS ON THE AGENDA.
I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE VICE CHAIR CONNIE TO SHARE ANY UPDATES FOLLOWED BY THE REMAINING COMMISSION MEMBERS.
SO, IN REFERENCE TO, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL CAN HEAR ME IN REFERENCE TO THE REPORTS THAT I HAVE MORE SO SPECIFICALLY, UM, EVENTS AND OUR MEETINGS, UH, NOT JUST IN DISTRICT EIGHT, WHERE I REPRESENT AS COMMISSIONER, BUT, UM, IN THE CITY OF DALLAS ON JUNE, THE FIRST HERE AT CITY HALL, UM, ALONGSIDE WITH OUR A D A MANAGER.
UM, WE DO HAVE A RETREAT COMING UP FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS IN JULY 25TH.
SO ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY, UM, WE GATHERED SOME LITTLE, UM, ITEMS THAT I'M QUITE SURE THAT EACH ONE OF YOU, UM, WILL ENJOY ON JUNE THE FIFTH.
I ATTENDED THE PUBLIC SAFELY COMMITTEE MEETING HERE AT CITY HALL.
AND TWO OF THE, UM, ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WERE VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION IN DALLAS, POLICE STRATEGIES ON RANDOM GUNFIRE.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE DATA WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR THAT, UM, ENGAGEMENT AND EVEN, AND DEESCALATION, UH, OF PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AND OR DISABILITIES.
ON JUNE THE SEVENTH, I ATTENDED THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM IN DISTRICT EIGHT AT THE S HILLS RECREATION CENTER.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BOND PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE, WHY WE NEED A BOND IN EACH ONE OF OUR PROSPECTIVE DISTRICTS.
IN LAYMAN TERMS, WE NEED THE MONEY TO FUND PROJECTS SUCH AS OUR STREETS, OUR LIBRARIES, FIRE AND POLICE, UM, AND NOT JUST FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, BUT ALL OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UM, ON JUNE THE 13TH, THERE WAS A HOUSING PRESERVATION PROGRAM MEETING IN DALLAS HOME BUYER PROGRAM.
UM, AGAIN, THERE'S THE QUESTION OF HOW DOES THIS LOOK? WHAT ARE THE ACCOMMODATIONS AND PERSPECTIVE AS WE MAY HAVE OUR OWN OPINIONS, BUT WHAT IS THE DATA, UM, IN REFERENCE TO MAKING SURE THAT THE PRESERVATION IS FOR OUR HOMES, EVEN FOR SENIORS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE STABILIZE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, ON JUNE THE 14TH, UM, THE ZOO WAS AT THE POLK WISDOM LIBRARY, AND THERE WAS SOME CHILDREN THERE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES.
150 PLUS INDIVIDUALS WERE AT THAT ZOO.
ON JUNE THE 16TH, I ATTENDED THE POLK WISDOM LIBRARY, D Y EXCUSE ME, D I Y, WHICH IS DO IT YOURSELF.
UH, JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION FOR ARTS AND CRAFTS.
SO IT WAS VERY, UM, GOOD TO SEE SOME ENGAGEMENT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
ON, ON JUNE THE 19TH, UM, THERE WAS A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, FREEDOM AND UNITY AT, AGAIN, AT OUR SENIOR HILLS REC CENTER IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, THERE WAS A JAZZ PERFORMANCE.
SO WE ALL KNOW THAT MUSIC IS CALMING AND SELF-CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
JUNE THE 20TH, UM, I ATTENDED A SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING HERE AT CITY HALL WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING AND HOMELESS SOLUTIONS, BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.
AND THERE WAS A MENTION OF RACIAL EQUITY THAT 59.5%, UM, OF THOSE WHO WERE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND ARE BLACK.
AND SO MY QUESTION TO THAT WAS, WHERE IS THE DATA TO INDICATE IF THEY HAVE DISABILITIES, IF THEY'RE VETERANS, IF THEY ARE SENIORS.
SO, UM, THERE WILL BE A FOLLOW UP.
AND I ATTENDED A LUNCHEON ON THE 23RD OF JUNE.
UM, WITH MEASURE IGNITE AND THEIR RESEARCH AND DATA, ONE OF THEIR, UM, WHAT THEY WOULD CALL THEIR, UM, IGNITE, UM, PER SE PERSPECTIVES FOR THEIR ACTIVISM AND THEIR ORGANIZATION IS TO DRIVE EQUITY CHANGE IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND DISABILITY RIGHTS.
THAT IS WHAT I DO HAVE FOR MY REPORTS.
I WOULD TURN IT OVER TO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU CHAIR PUGA FOR PASSING THIS ALONG TO ME.
UH, FOR THIS MONTH, I'M GOING TO BE REPORTING ON THE WORK THAT I DO AT THE GEORGE W. BUSH
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PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, WHICH CONSISTS OF A LIBRARY AND MUSEUM.THE GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IS A WONDERFULLY DONE INSTITUTION.
IT TEACHES NOT ONLY ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY, BUT ALSO ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY.
UM, IT IS PART OF THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION.
UM, THE INSTITUTE ALSO DOES A LOT OF WORK WITH, UH, VETERANS, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.
THEY ALSO DO WORK ON EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP, UH, WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
SO THEY DO A LOT OF THE SAME, UH, WORK THAT WE SUPPORT, THAT DEAL WITH ISSUES OF EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
ON MARCH 2ND OF THIS YEAR, THE GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER OPENED A NEW SPECIAL EXHIBIT.
THIS IS CALLED FREEDOM MATTERS, AND IT WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE MUSEUM UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR.
THIS IS A WONDERFULLY DONE EX, UH, THIS IS A VERY WONDERFULLY DONE EXHIBIT.
IT NARRATES THE STORY OF FREEDOM, THE CONCEPT IN TERMS OF HOW IT CAME ABOUT.
IT, UH, ADDRESSES SOME PHILOSOPHICAL HISTORY.
SO PEOPLE LIKE JOHN LOCKE, UH, THOMAS HOBBES.
AND AS THE VISITOR GOES THROUGH THE GALLERY, THEY WILL LEARN ABOUT THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, TALKING ABOUT HOW FREEDOM EVOLVED IN THE UNITED STATES, STARTING FROM THE 13 COLONIES.
AND IT ALSO INCLUDES DOCUMENTS SUCH AS THE FEDERALIST PAPERS, THE US CONSTITUTION, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
KEEP IN MIND THAT THE DOCUMENTS DISPLAYED IN THE MUSEUM ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL ONES.
THE ORIGINAL ONES ARE IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES LOCATED IN WASHINGTON, DC.
THESE ARE REPRODUCTIONS THAT THE CURATORS HAVE DONE THEMSELVES.
AND IN FREEDOM MATTERS, THERE IS A SECTION WHICH DEALS WITH, UM, FREEDOMS IN TERMS OF HOW THEY WERE EXPANDED TO PEOPLE.
AND THERE'S A SECTION SPECIFICALLY DEVOTED TO THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
SINCE THE OPENING OF THIS MUSEUM, I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO WORK THERE.
UM, PART OF MY DOCENT WORK NOT ONLY INVOLVES TALKING ABOUT THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND EXPLAINING THE ARTIFACTS IN THE EXHIBIT, BUT IT ALSO INVOLVES INTRODUCING THE COMMISSION OF DISABILITIES TO VISITORS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF VISITORS WHO LIVE IN THE AREA, UM, WHO HAVE NOT HEARD OF THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES BEFORE.
AND FOR ME TO SHARE THAT WITH THEM, THEY ARE REALLY AMAZED.
THEY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK WE DO, AND, UM, THEY MAY COME AND SPEAK TO US.
UM, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON, UH, THE TIMING AND AVAILABILITY OF THEIR SCHEDULE.
AND I AM GOING TO BE STATIONED AT THE EXHIBIT UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR TALKING ABOUT THE DISABILITY RIGHTS.
AND I WILL KEEP, UH, SPEAKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.
BECAUSE WE ARE RELATIVELY NEW.
MY GOAL IS TO, UH, TALK TO MORE PEOPLE ABOUT THE COMMISSION SO THAT WE BECOME VISIBLE AND MORE PEOPLE KNOW WHO WE ARE AND THE WORK THAT WE DO TO MAKE OUR CITY MORE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE.
THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR THIS MONTH.
UM, FOR EACH COMMISSIONER WHO, UM, DOES HAVE A REPORT, PLEASE BE REMINDED TO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR DISTRICT SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND IN THE CITY OF DALLAS KNOWS, UM, WHO'S PRESENTING INFORMATION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER WHO HAS A REPORT? YES.
COMMISSIONER REVY DISTRICT ONE.
ON JUNE 20TH, I RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM A WOMAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA ASKING ABOUT A HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACE AT A RESTAURANT THAT WAS JUST OPENING.
SHE CLAIMED THERE WAS NO SPACE AND THAT THE, UH, USE OF A WHEELCHAIR WAS VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE SLOPE OF THE, UH, PATH LEADING FROM THE PARKING LOT TO THE RESTAURANT ITSELF.
I GOT THERE SEVERAL DAYS LATER AND THERE WAS A HANDICAP SIGN THERE, SO THAT SIGN HAD BEEN ERECTED.
HOWEVER, THE SPACE DOES NOT MEET A D A REQUIREMENTS FOR A HANDICAP SPACE.
THERE'S NO ACCESS FOR A VAN, AND THERE'S NO MARKING FOR A VAN.
AND I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SLOPE.
I'M NOT SURE HOW SOMEONE WOULD GET A WHEELCHAIR OFF OF VEHICLE WHILE THE, WHILE THE VEHICLE'S AT AN ANGLE TO THE STREET.
SO IT, IT'S VERY UNCLEAR TO ME.
UM, I WILL BE TELLING HER THAT IT DOES NOT CONFORM.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS, UH, UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND I HAVE GONE AROUND TAKING PICTURES OF OTHER PARKING SPOTS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
ONE RESTAURANT HAS A BEAUTIFUL PARKING SPACE FOR THE HANDICAP RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR.
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HANDICAPPED VEHICLE PARKED THERE? OH, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.THEY HAVE THEIR DUMPSTER PARKED THERE.
WE NEED TO EDUCATE CITIZENS OF DALLAS ABOUT WHAT A HANDICAP SPACE IS, WHAT IT'S FOR, HOW IT SHOULD BE DESIGNATED, AND HOW IT SHOULD BE USED.
IS THERE ANY OTHER, UM, COMMISSIONER WHO HAS SOME INFORMATION THEY WANNA SHARE AND OR REPORT? YES, MA'AM.
UH, COMMISSIONER WHITE IS YOUR HAND UP? YES, IT IS.
PLAY OFF OF WHAT SHE JUST SAID.
I, UH, I'M ALSO AN ARTIST, BUT I'M ALSO DISABLED.
AND SO I SPENT A LOT OF TIME DOWN IN DEEP ELAM, UH, 'CAUSE IT'S SHOWING AT THE GALLERY DOWN THERE.
AND, UH, I COULDN'T EVER FIND ANY HANDICAP PARKING.
AND I FOUND OUT AFTER TALKING TO VARIOUS PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID, ANY METERED SPOT IS A HANDICAPPED SPOT.
YOU CAN PARK THERE FOR FREE IF I HAD NO IDEA.
AND IF YOU DO HAPPEN TO GET TICKETED, IT WILL BE DROPPED IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED.
AND AS, AS A REMINDER, IF YOU DO HAVE A PLACE CARD, IT DOES HAVE TO BE CURRENT.
SO WHETHER YOU HAVE A RED ONE FOR TEMPORARY AND OR A BLUE ONE FOR PERMANENT DISABILITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, IF, UM, MINES READS DECEMBER, 2023.
SO THEN IN DECEMBER, THE END OF DECEMBER, OR EVEN MID-DECEMBER, YOU GO AND YOU, UM, HAVE IT, YOU KNOW, RENEWED.
BUT IF IT IS EXPIRED, YOU MAY POSSIBLY GET A CITATION.
BUT TO COMMISSIONER WHITE'S POINT, YES.
IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY PLACE CARD AND OR, UM, LICENSE PLATE, YOU CAN PARK AT THE METER.
TO PIGGYBACK ON COMMISSIONER REVE? YES.
AND, UM, BISHOP ARTS DISTRICT MORE SO SPECIFICALLY, UM, 'CAUSE HER AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS.
IT, IT IS PRETTY BAD, ESPECIALLY MORE SO TO HER POINT.
UM, THAT RESTAURANT IN PARTICULAR, THERE IS A TRASH DUMPSTER.
THERE'S TWO HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES THERE, BUT THERE'S A DUMPSTER.
AND THEN RIGHT IN FRONT OF A COFFEE SHOP, UM, THERE IS ONE, UM, ACCESSIBILITY PARKING, BUT EVERYONE PARKS THERE FROM THE AMAZON TRUCK TO THE FEDEX TRUCK.
UM, SO WE'RE JUST WANTING TO GET, YOU KNOW, SOME ASSISTANCE WITH MAKING SURE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND THEN WE HAVE SIGNS AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT'S THERE LEGALLY, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO NEED THAT PARKING SPACE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE, ANY COMMISSIONER WHO WANTS TO, UM, ADD ANY, UM, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE CITY AND FOR THEIR DISTRICT? ANYONE? I HAVE ONE MORE THING.
UH, COMMISSIONER WHITE, UH, YOU, WHAT IS YOUR DISTRICT COMMISSIONER? WHITE.
I'M SORRY, WHAT'S YOUR DISTRICT? DISTRICT NINE? I'M SORRY.
UH, IN ADDITION, UH, YOUR PLACARD HAS TO HAVE THE PERSON WITH PLACARD FOUR HAS TO BE IN THE VEHICLE.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ONE, LIKE I DID FOR MY DAUGHTER WHEN SHE WAS A MINOR, UH, SHE HAD TO BE IN THE VEHICLE FOR IT TO BE LEGAL.
YOU CAN'T USE IT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE IT, BASICALLY.
NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
ON THE AGENDA, WE WILL HEAR FROM A FEW, UM, CITY DEPARTMENTS ON INITIATIVES AND PROCESSES THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE.
SO THOSE RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY WITH DISABILITIES.
I'M GOING TO ASK IF ALL PRESENTERS COULD KEEP THEIR PRESENTATIONS TO 10 MINUTES.
IF I'VE SAID THAT INCORRECTLY, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M SAYING YOUR NAME CORRECTLY.
HOW ARE YOU? UM, YOU, HE'S THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND HE WOULD BE SPEAKING ON THE TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES RELATING TO CROSSWALKS AND, UH, SIGNALED INTERSECTIONS.
AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COMMISSION.
UM, I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, THE TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, UH, HAS ONGOING RELATED TO TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND CROSSWALKS AND HOW IT RELATES, UH, TO OUR EFFORT TO ENHANCE MOBILITY AND SAFETY FOR, UM, OUR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES.
SO, UH, WITH THAT IN MIND, I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DOES.
UH, SO WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL TRANSPORTATION ELEMENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
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TRAFFIC SIGNALS, STREETLIGHTS, SCHOOL FLASHERS, STRIPING, SIGNING CROSSWALK.UH, WE ALSO DO TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.
WE RUN THE VISION ZERO PROGRAM, AND THERE'S SOME, SOME OTHER FUNCTIONS NOT RELATED TO MOBILITY LIKE PARKING AND PARKING MANAGEMENT.
UM, SO, UM, UH, MOVING ON, UH, SOME OF THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENTS THAT WE, UM, ALSO LOOK AT AS ALL PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, UM, THAT GOES ON IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
WE REVIEW THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENTS OF THOSE, UH, PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS ALL OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERTAKEN BY OTHER ENTITIES LIKE TECHSTAR, UM, THE COG, THE COUNTY, UH, DALLAS COUNTY TAR, AND ANY OTHER ENTITY THAT MIGHT HAVE PROJECTS THAT IMPACT OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
WE ALSO REVIEW THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENTS OF EVERY CITY PROJECT, INCLUDING THOSE BY PUBLIC WORKS, D W U OR, UM, OR OTHER, UH, DEPARTMENTS.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING, UH, TO ENHANCE MOBILITY? I MEAN, WE ARE, UH, VERY INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH ALL ASPECTS OF MOBILITY.
UM, I'LL START WITH THE CROSSWALKS.
SO WE HAVE A PRETTY VERSATILE PROGRAM TO REFRESH OUR EXISTING CROSSWALKS AS WELL AS INSTALL NEW CROSSWALKS.
UH, NEW CROSSWALKS ARE INSTALLED WITH PROJECTS, AND WE OFTEN GET REQUESTS FOR NEW CROSSINGS, NEW INTERSECTION CROSSINGS, NEW SCHOOL CROSSINGS.
OUR PEOPLE MIGHT JUST CALL US AND THROUGH THE SERVICE REQUEST PROCESS, 3 1 1 PROCESS THAT DA RUNS, UH, AND ASK HER FOR, ASK US FOR PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, UH, CROSSWALKS.
SO WHEN WE INSTALL THOSE, UH, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE COORDINATE WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO INSTALL B R THE
SO THESE ARE, UH, BASICALLY CROSSWALKS AND EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHEN WE HAVE NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS OR OUR PROJECTS, UH, WE ENSURE THAT THE INTERSECTIONS THAT ARE IN IMPACTED, UH, ALL THE, UM, ALTHOUGH BFIS ARE NOT EXISTING, WE INSTALL NEW ONES.
IF THEY ARE EXISTING, WE MAKE SURE THEY, UH, UH, THEY MEET CURRENT A D A STANDARDS.
IF NOT, WE HAVE THEM REBUILD IT.
WE ALSO LOOK AT THE APPROACHES TO THE INTERSECTION AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE, UM, WE HAVE FREE ACCESS.
WE HAVE A D A COMPLIANT ACCESS.
UM, SO THAT'S, UH, THAT'S OUR EFFORT.
IN TERMS OF CROSSWALKS, I MEAN, WE ARE ALL NEW.
WE INSUR WE ARE ENSURING ALL NEW CROSSWALKS AND INSTALLED WITH BF PARTS.
AND ALL EXISTING CROSSWALKS ARE, ARE ON A RED REGULAR SCHEDULE FOR REPAINTING.
SO THEY'RE VISIBLE, WHICH ENHANCES SAFETY BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT VISIBLE, PEOPLE CAN'T SEE THEM.
UM, WE MIGHT HAVE SOME ISSUES.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, BEEN ABLE TO DEDICATE MORE FUNDS TO, UH, CROSSWALK MAINTENANCE THAN PREVIOUSLY.
UH, WE HAD, WE USED TO PAINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, REFRESH ABOUT 500 CROSSWALKS A YEAR BACK IN 2018.
LAST YEAR WE REFRESHED ALMOST 1300 CROSSWALKS.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THAT UP BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ACTUALLY GO AND REFRESH EVERY CROSSWALK IN THE CITY, UH, EVERY EIGHT YEARS.
UH, WE ARE ALSO NOT PAINTING CROSSWALKS LIKE WE USED TO DO, UH, BACK, UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
UM, WE USE VERY RETRO REFLECTIVE, MORE VISIBLE, UH, UH, THERMOPLASTIC, UH, CROSSWALKS THAT WE INSTALL.
AND, UH, THEY, THEY LAST LONGER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN WE HAVE HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THAT, THAT'S OUR NEXT GOAL ON HEAVY TRAFFIC ROADWAYS, WE, WE PROBABLY NEED TO GO IN AND BE, YOU KNOW, REINSTALL THEM, UH, AT, AT A BETTER, UH, IN, IN A, IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE MONITORING.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE MONEY TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO GO AND, UH, IMPLEMENT THOSE PROJECTS.
UM, TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND SCHOOL FLASHERS AND ALSO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING FLASHERS.
WE HAVE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF THEM, UH, IN THE CITY, AND WE'RE INSTALLING QUITE A FEW OF THEM.
UH, JUST IN THE LAST, UH, THREE YEARS, WE HAVE, UH, ADDED ABOUT 60 NEW TRAFFIC
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SIGNALS, AND WE HAVE RECONSTRUCTED 100 OVER 100 SIGNALS.UM, WE HAVE ABOUT 100 TRAFFIC SIGNALS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER 250 TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DESIGN OR PLANNING.
UH, SO THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S QUITE A NUMBER BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S MORE THAN WHAT WE'VE PUT IN IN, UH, PAST DECADES.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY THE LAST THREE DECADES WE DIDN'T PUT IN AS MANY TRAFFIC SIGNALS AS WE ARE EITHER REBUILDING, UH, OR, UM, BUILDING NEW ONES.
AND WHENEVER WE HAVE A TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROJECT, IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY BRING THE INTERSECTION UP TO A D A STANDARDS.
UH, WE, WE'VE MADE SURE THAT OUR NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS, UM, WHEN THEY GO IN, UH, AGAIN, WE RECONSTRUCT THE SIDEWALK IF IT DOESN'T MEET CURRENT A D A STANDARDS TO A CERTAIN DISTANCE FROM, FROM THE INTERSECTION.
UH, WE INSTALLED NEW BFR AND WE ENSURE THAT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL ITSELF, UH, HAS THE, WHAT'S CALLED A P S, WHICH IS THE ACCESS, UH, ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL, WHICH IS, UH, BASICALLY WITH, WITH THE PUSH BUTTONS AND THE SIGNAL THERE.
SO WHAT THAT DOES, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE OF THESE, THESE ARE, UH, ACTUALLY HELP GIVE NON-VISUAL HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO BE ABLE TO CROSS.
I MEAN, THAT COULD BE A CHIRPING SOUND THAT COULD BE ACTUALLY TALKING, OR THAT WOULD BE VIBRATING BUTTONS.
I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE DO THE AUDIBLE ONES, UH, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, INSTALL BFR ALSO YOU CROSSWALKS.
AND ALSO TO ENHANCE SAFETY, EVERY INTERSECTION THAT WE INSTALL A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND ALSO HAS SAFETY LIGHTING.
SO THIS, UH, AFFORDS BETTER VISIBILITY AT NIGHT.
UH, SO WE HAVE THE INTERSECTION SAFETY LIGHTING INSTALLED.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF INTERSECTIONS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON, UH, RIGHT NOW THAT ARE BEING ENHANCED AS WE MOVE ON.
WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT, RIGHT NOW WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 31 CORRIDOR STUDIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR, UH, CORRIDOR ENHANCEMENT WITH PARTICULAR, UH, EMPHASIS ON PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY.
SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE CORRIDORS, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL BE LOOKING AT IS, UH, CONTINUITY OF THE SIDEWALK, UH, ACCESSIBLE SIDE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE MISSING PORTRAITS OF SIDEWALKS OR IF THE SIDEWALKS ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE, WE WOULD LIKE TO GO IN, REBUILD THEM AND, UH, MAKE SURE THEY ARE, AND ALL THE INTERSECTIONS.
AGAIN, AS PART OF THESE PART OF STUDIES, WE'LL EVALUATE THEM AND SEE WHAT KIND OF RADIO IMPROVEMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE, AS WELL AS SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN TERMS OF STREET LIGHTS, IF ANY SIGNALS ARE NEEDED FOR CROSSING OR IF ANY PEDESTRIAN FLASHES ARE NEEDED, OR IF THERE'S SCHOOL ZONES, WHETHER WE, UH, NEED TO INSTALL SCHOOL ZONES AND SCHOOL PROCESS.
SO THAT IS, UH, JUST OF WHAT WE AS A DEPARTMENT ARE, UH, PURSUING IN TERMS OF PROJECTS.
AND WE ALSO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE IMPLEMENT THE SAME.
WE HOLD THE DEVELOPERS TO THE SAME STANDARDS.
SO THE DEVELOPERS COME IN, UM, PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS ARE NEEDED.
UM, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT IM IS IMPACT ANY INTERSECTION OR ANY SIDEWALK THAT'S IMPACTED BY THEIR PROJECTS, WE ENSURE THAT THEY BRING IT UP TO CURRENT A B A STANDARD OR INSTALL, UM, NEW, UH, DEVELOP, UH, NEW, UH, SIDEWALK OR CROSSWALKS OR, UH, VIA PARTS PER NEW STANDARDS.
SO THAT IN A NUTSHELL IS, UH, JUST A HIGH LEVEL VIEW OF, UH, WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS DOING IN TERMS OF, UH, ENHANCING THE MOBILITY AND, UH, SAFETY OF, UH, OUR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITY AND GENERAL PUBLIC.
AND JILL, WITH THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, WE DID NOT HAVE A VISUAL OF THE PRESENTATION EITHER WORD OR MORE SO P D F I KNOW WE WERE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES, UM, GETTING THAT FROM YOU.
UM, THIS IS JUST ACROSS THE BOARD, IF THAT DOES HAPPEN, WHICH IT WILL HAPPEN SOMETIMES IF WE COULD, UM, EVEN AN HOUR BEFORE OUR MEETINGS HAVE A PRINTOUT, AT LEAST FOR THE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE PRESENT TO FOLLOW THROUGH THAT.
SO WE KEEP TRACK OF WHERE WE ARE AND THAT WAY WE KNOW WHERE OUR QUESTIONS
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CAN BE PLACED, UM, PER THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE, UH, GIVING.BECAUSE SOME OF US ARE AUDIO, SOME OF US ARE VISUAL.
UM, I AS CHAIR, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UM, AND THEN I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP BECAUSE I, I, I SAW MY COMMISSIONER'S WRITING.
THEY, THEY TOO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, YOU MENTIONED, UM, ALL THIS INFORMATION ABOUT THE CROSSWALK AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE DISABILITIES OR JUST DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, WATCH TODAY, WHERE WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO FIND, IS THERE A LINK THAT, THAT YOU CAN TELL US THAT'S PROVIDED, UM, TO INDIVIDUALS TO GO AND READ THIS INFORMATION? UM, NO.
FIRST OF ALL, LEMME APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO SEND YOU, UH, THE PRESENTATION TIME.
WE DID HAVE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
I COULDN'T EVEN PRINT MY PRESENTATION.
BUT ALSO, UH, WE HAD LA A LAST MINUTE STEPPING CHANGES.
SO, UM, AND SO NEXT TIME WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE, UH, BOTH THE PRESENTATION ELECTRONICALLY AND A HARD COPY.
SO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, UM, I'LL, UM, WE HAVE OUR VISION ZERO PROGRAM ON OUR WEBSITE.
SO IF, IF WE GO TO THE CITY OF DALLAS, UH, WEBSITE, YOU WILL SEE, UH, A LINK TO THE VISION ZERO PROGRAM, ALL THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROGRAMS. WE DO HAVE, UM, SOME OF THEM, NOT ALL OF THEM, THE ONES THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION THAT YOU CAN SEE AND, AND ON OUR WEBSITE OR ON THE BOND, A LOT OF THEM ARE BEING DONE FOR THE BOND.
UM, UH, THE BOND, UH, LAST, THE 2017 BOND, UH, PROJECTS, YOU, YOU'LL SEE THOSE THERE.
BUT OTHERS HAVE BEEN, UM, I MEAN, WE DO NOT MAINTAIN AN ONGOING, UH, LIST OF PROJECTS, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD PROVIDE IF ANYBODY, UH, CONTACTS US.
AND COULD YOU PLEASE TELL US IN REFERENCE TO THE RETRO REFLECTIVE CROSSWALKS, UM, IN THE INTERSECTIONS? UM, 'CAUSE YOU SAID WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE, BUT WE'RE, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED AND WHAT DISTRICT.
ARE THEY DOWNTOWN? ARE THEY DISTRICT ONE? LIKE WHERE ARE THEY ALL THEY WERE, UH, SO BACK IN, UH, BACK IN 2015, WE MADE, UH, WE MADE A TRANSITION AS A POLICY TO WHAT'S CALLED HIGH VISIBILITY CROSSWALKS.
'CAUSE OTHERWISE, I MEAN, AND I DON'T KNOW IF, IF, IF YOU REMEMBER THE, UH, PREVIOUSLY OUR CROSSWALKS WERE LIKE TECH STOCKS, WHICH IS TWO STRAIGHT LINES.
AND, UH, SO, BUT NOW WE HAVE THE
SO WE HAVE BOTH THE HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL LINES.
AND THEY'RE NOT BEING, THEY ARE THERMAL, YOU KNOW, VERY HIGHLY RETRO REFLECTIVE THERMAL PLASTIC.
YOU SEE THEM EVERYWHERE, UH, EVERYWHERE WE ARE.
SO FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WE'VE BEEN INSTALLING THEM.
SO IF YOU COME ACROSS CROSSWALKS THAT ARE THE LADDER TYPE, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT, UH, I'M REFERRING TO.
WE MIGHT STILL HAVE SOME OLD ONES THAT ARE JUST THE HORIZONTAL LINES, BUT MORE AND MORE, UH, YOU KNOW,
WELL, I, I, I'M, I'M TRYING TO GET A, A MORE DEFINED ANSWER BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL SAYING EVERYWHERE IN DALLAS IS REALLY BIG.
SO, WHICH YOU SAY THAT MAJORITY OF THESE, WHAT AREA, WHEN YOU SAY EVERYWHERE, 'CAUSE THERE MAY BE ONE DOWNTOWN BY CITY HALL, THERE MAY BE.
UH, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS ALLOWANCE AND, AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS.
SO THERE ARE MORE OF THESE RETROFLECTIVE IN OTHER AREAS THAN, THAN, THAN SOME.
SO LET ME, LET ME ANSWER IT THIS WAY.
AND IN THE LAST, UM, SIX OR SEVEN YEARS, WE'VE PROBABLY REPLACED ABOUT HALF OUR HALF OF OUR 9,000 CROSSWALKS THAT WE HAVE.
SO I CAN ACTUALLY GO AND PULL THE LOCATIONS AND SEND IT TO THIS COMMISSION BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE WOULD BE THE NEW, UH, UH, HIGH VISIBILITY THAT ARE REFLECTIVE CROSSWALKS.
UM, UH, LET, LET ME DO THAT AND SEE WHAT I CAN, YOU KNOW, IF I CAN GET YOU THE SS.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
START WITH MY VICE CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, AND THEN ANY COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
ONCE AGAIN, UM, WE FOUND YOUR PRESENTATION TO BE VERY INFORMATIVE AND ENGAGING.
YOU HAD MENTIONED ABOUT A P S, THOSE ARE AUDIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS, WHICH ARE VERY USEFUL FOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO KNOW TWO THINGS ABOUT THAT.
NUMBER ONE, ARE YOU ABLE TO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT INTERSECTIONS HAVE THEM? AND ARE THERE ANY EFFORTS IN YOUR DEPARTMENT TO EXPAND, UH, THESE AUDIO PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS SO THAT THEY ARE INCLUDED IN EVERY INTERSECTION EXCEPT, ESPECIALLY THE MAJOR ONES IN DALLAS? BECAUSE I FIND THAT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED IS WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE
[00:30:01]
WHEN IT'S SAFE TO CROSS A STREET.UH, WHETHER WE HAVE A CANE OR A GUIDE DOG THAT REALLY DOES NOT MATTER.
I MEAN, WE MAY THINK IT'S SAFE TO CROSS, BUT THEN IT, THEN WE FIND OUT IT'S NOT SAFE 'CAUSE WE FIND CARS COMING.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY THE CASE WITH INTERSECTIONS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE LANES.
SO IF YOU'RE ABLE TO, UH, PROVIDE ME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE IN TERMS OF EXPANDING THE AUDIO PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS FOR ALL INTERSECTIONS IN DALLAS, I WOULD KINDLY APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, SO THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS THAT'S OUR GOAL.
AND, UH, LIKE I'D MENTIONED, UM, THAT ALL OUR NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS THAT WE'RE INSTALLING WILL HAVE A P S AND I CAN GET YOU, UH, I CAN SEND THE PERMISSION LIST OF ALL THE INTERSECTIONS THAT HAVE A P SS.
NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, UM, OUR TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM IS DATED, UH, A MAJORITY OF OUR TRAFFIC SIGNALS WERE BUILT IN THE FIFTIES TO TO THE SEVENTIES.
AND, UH, DUE TO VARIOUS REASON, BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THOSE, UH, UM, WHILE WE HAVE UPDATED THE CABINETS AND THE CONTROLLERS, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO PUT IN A P S SYSTEMS TO RETROFIT THEM WITH A P S BECAUSE OFTEN WHEN YOU HAVE, UH, SIGNALS THAT OLD THE CONDU ACROSS, WE CAN PULL NEW CABLE.
UH, WE BASICALLY HAVE TO REBUILD THOSE SIGNALS, UH, TO BE ABLE TO INSTALL THE A P S AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE PEDESTRIAN COUNTDOWN HEADS.
AND SO WHAT OUR GOAL, UH, IS TO HAVE A, HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE WE GO IN AND REPLACE ALL THE OLDER SIGNALS WHERE WE CAN INSTALL ALL THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST, IT'S NOT JUST THE A P S, IT'S, UH, I MEAN ALL, ALL THOSE SIGNALS WERE, UH, INSTALLED IN THE ANALOG AGE.
AND NOW THAT WE ARE IN THE DIGITAL AGE, I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY PUT IN THE SIGNALS THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PUT THE NEW SIGNALS.
AND ALSO THEY'RE STRUCTURALLY DILAPIDATED NOW.
SO IF WE TRY TO INSTALL ANYTHING, IT MIGHT ACTUALLY IMPACT THE STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF THE SIGNALS.
SO, UH, SO BASICALLY, I MEAN, I, I JUST, UH, LIKE I JUST MENTIONED, WE HAVE ABOUT 400 TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN THE VARIOUS STAGES OF DESIGN OF CONSTRUCTION.
REALLY QUICKLY, JUST FOR, UM, WE'RE AT 2:44 PM I STILL WANNA GIVE OTHER COMMISSIONERS A CHANCE TO ASK A QUESTION.
UM, AND IF WE COULD AND, AND IN RESPONSES, UM, GIVE A QUICK SYNOPSIS.
JUST TO BE FAIR, UM, AFTER OUR COMMISSIONERS, UM, HAVE ALL ASKED THEIR QUESTION, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ALLOW, I'M GOING TO ALLOW, UH, MS. CINDY, UH, SUAREZ, SHE'S ON OUR TECHNICAL PANEL, AND SHE TOO HAS A QUESTION, BUT I THINK VICE CHAIR HAD ANOTHER COMMENT REALLY QUICK, REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, MY COMMENT IS, I, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT SOME OF THE LIGHTS ARE OLD AND THERE IS NO WAY THAT YOU CAN GO AND REPLACE IT, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IS A HUGE DISADVANTAGE.
AND MY SUGGESTION IS THAT YOU DO FIND WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FULLY RETROFITTED WITH THESE A P S SIGNALS.
AND ONE FINAL COMMENT I HAVE IS I WOULD LIKE A MORE DEFINITIVE ANSWER IN TERMS OF WHICH INTERSECTIONS HAVE THE A P S.
I MEAN, YOU STATED THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED TRAFFIC LIGHTS THAT DO, BUT IF YOU'D BE SO KIND TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH US, THAT'D BE VERY HELPFUL.
I, I'M GOING TO SEND YOU THE LOCATIONS OF EVERY SIGNAL THAT ARE CURRENTLY EXISTING THAT HAVE THE A P S AND ALL THE NEW ONES THAT WILL HAVE A P S.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS? I DO BELIEVE WE, UM, COMMISSIONER SHAW, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER SHAW, DISTRICT 12.
COMMISSIONER SHAW, DISTRICT 12.
MY QUESTION, AND IT MAY BE ANSWERED IN THE NEXT SEGMENT, BUT MY QUESTION IS, UM, IN DISTRICT 12, WE DO HAVE A VERY, UM, WE'VE, OUR, OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY DIVERSE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS WHO WALK EVERYWHERE.
UM, AND WITHIN THAT, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
WE ALSO HAVE A VERY HIGH CONCENTRATION OF, UM, RETIREMENT HOMES AND SENIORS WHO ARE ALSO MANY LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.
SO MY QUESTION IS, IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE CITIZENS WHO RECOGNIZE THERE IS A LOCATION THAT, THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE RETROFIT OR NEEDS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE REQUESTED THROUGH, UM, TRANSPORTATION OR THROUGH 3 1 1, HOW, OR WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR AN, FOR A COMMISSIONER
[00:35:01]
OR A, AN AVERAGE CITIZEN TO REQUEST THAT THAT SITUATION, THAT INTERSECTION, THAT SIGNAGE BE LOOKED AT TO BETTER SERVE THE CITIZENS? SO THE BEST WAY FOR, UH, YOU TO REGISTER YOUR REQUEST IS THROUGH THE 3 1 1 SYSTEM, BECAUSE THEN IT GETS ASSIGNED TO THE RIGHT PROJECT MANAGER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.AND THEN AS SOON AS THAT REQUEST IS LOGGED, OUR, UH, CLOCK STARTS TAKING, SO WE HAVE A CERTAIN TIME TO RESPOND TO THAT REQUEST.
I MEAN, IF WE HAVE A TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROJECT, THAT MIGHT TAKE LONGER THAN OUR TYPICAL TURNAROUND TIME, BUT AT LEAST, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET BACK AND SAY, OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO EITHER PUT IT ON ONE OF OUR, UH, CAPITAL PROJECT LIST OR, UH, LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO.
UH, AND SO THE 3 1 1 SYSTEM IS THE BEST SYSTEM.
SO FOR THESE KIND OF REQUESTS, THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT REAL QUICKLY? I DO NOT SEE ANY HANDS UP OR IN THE CHAT MULTITASKING WITH THAT.
UM, MS. SUAREZ, ARE YOU THERE? YES, I AM.
PLEASE PROCEED WITH YOUR QUESTION.
I CURRENTLY WORK WITH UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS AT DALLAS, AND WE HAVE THE COLLEGE OF LAW, WHICH IS LOCATED DOWNTOWN DALLAS, ACROSS FROM THE ELM STREET BRIDGE.
IN THE PAST, WE HAD SOMEONE IN A WHEELCHAIR WHO SAID THAT THE, PARDON ME, EXCUSE ME.
THIS IS WILLOW SANCHEZ FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
YES, MS. SUAREZ, UH, YOUR VIDEO IS NOT ON.
I, I WAS GONNA SAY I'M NOT A COMMISSIONER, BUT OKAY.
ANYWAY, SO WE HAD SOMEONE IN A WHEELCHAIR.
UM, WE HAD SOMEBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR WHO SAID THEY HAD DIFFICULTY CROSSING IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND THAT WOULD LEAVE THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
SO THEY'RE NO LONGER AT OUR UNIVERSITY.
BUT I WAS WONDERING, AS THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS, IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC LOCATION THAT, UM, YOU MAY BE HAVING DIFFICULTY CROSSING OR WHATEVER, IS THERE SOMEONE YOU CONTACT TO MAYBE ADDRESS THAT ISSUE? UM, AGAIN, UM, THE 3 1 1 SYSTEM IS THE BEST SYSTEM TO REQUEST, UM, ALL THESE KIND OF, AND OTHER, UH, IMPROVEMENT RELATED, UM, QUESTIONS OF, UH, COMMENTS.
AND WE, WE ALWAYS FOLLOW UP AND WE MIGHT BE A LITTLE LATE BECAUSE WE HAVE STAFFING ISSUES.
BUT, BUT THAT'S THE BEST FORUM TO ACTUALLY LOG YOUR REQUEST AND HAVE US FOLLOW UP.
SO IS IT POSSIBLE TO INCREASE THE LENGTH ON A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN THE CROSSWALK, OR IS THAT A SET TIME? YES.
YEAH, WE CAN GO AND WE CAN GO AND EXAMINE WHAT THE, UH, WHAT THE TRAFFIC TIMING IS.
AND, UH, JUST REALIZE, I MEAN, WE, UH, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE WHEN WE'RE DOING TRAFFIC SIGNAL TIMING.
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THEY ARE OLDER SIGNALS AND WE DON'T HAVE DETECTORS.
AND WE DON'T HAVE PEDESTRIAN PUSH BUTTONS, SO WE ARE JUST TRYING TO TIME IT BASED ON WHAT WE SEE.
SO IF THERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL, UM, INDIVIDUAL LOCATIONS WHERE WE HAVE TO TWEAK THE TIMING A LITTLE BIT, WE'RE CERTAINLY CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION, UH, WE'LL WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND YES, AS A REMINDER, UH, FOR ALL COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE KEEP YOUR CAMERAS ON AND AUDIO SO THAT WE STAY IN QUORUM.
HOWEVER, IF GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO ADDRESS THE SPEAKERS, UM, PLEASE PUT ON YOUR CAMERA EVEN IF YOU'RE A TECHNICAL SUPPORT OR ADVISORY, UH, UH, STAFF, SO THAT NOT JUST THE COMMISSIONERS, BUT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE WHO WE'RE SPEAKING WITH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR PRESENTATION.
NEXT, WE HAVE A DAISY FAST, THE DIRECTOR OF 3 1 1 SPEAKING ON THE 3 1 1 SERVICE REQUEST AND CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
THANK YOU CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
UM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ADDING ME TO YOUR AGENDA.
UM, I WILL JUST START WITH SLIDE TWO TO GIVE A PRESENTATION OVERVIEW.
UM, I'LL START WITH A QUICK BACKGROUND OF DALLAS 3 1 1, UM, TALK ABOUT THE SERVICE REQUEST
[00:40:01]
PROCESS, SOME OF OUR CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT, AND THEN SOME CURRENT INITIATIVES, UM, THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.ON THE NEXT SLIDE, SOME BACKGROUND.
DALLAS 3 1 1 SERVES AS A RESOURCE FOR RESIDENTS TO CONNECT WITH THEIR CITY FOR NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES.
SO WE WERE ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED IN 1994 AS PART OF THE 9 1 1 DEPARTMENT, UM, 9 1 1 IN THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE WEREN'T CARVED OUT, UM, OR SEPARATED UNTIL 2008 FROM B P D.
UM, AND SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN, UM, OUR OWN STANDALONE, UM, DEPARTMENT THAT ROLLS UP UNDER MANAGEMENT, UH, SERVICES.
SO THREE ONE ONES WERE ESTABLISHED AS PART OF A NATIONWIDE EFFORT, UM, TO REDIRECT PHONE CALL, UH, CALLS TO NINE ONE ONE.
UM, SOME OF THE SERVICES, UM, HERE AT DALLAS 3 1 1, UM, WE, UM, OPERATE A 24 HOUR, SEVEN DAY A WEEK MULTILINGUAL CALL CENTER SERVICE.
WE ALSO ARE YOUR DALLAS WATER CUSTOMER SERVICES.
SO THE PHONE NUMBER ON YOUR WATER BILL, YOU'RE ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO A 3 1 1 AGENT.
UM, THE SAME GOES FOR A DALLAS MUNICIPAL COURT.
IF YOU WERE TO GET A TRAFFIC TICKET AND YOU CALL THE COURT, YOU'RE SPEAKING TO A 3 1 1 AGENT, UM, DALLAS POLICE AUTO POUND.
UM, IF YOUR CAR HAPPENS TO BE TOWED AND YOU WANNA INQUIRE OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING, UM, THE STATUS OF YOUR VEHICLE, WE'RE HANDLING THAT CALL AS WELL.
UM, THE LITTLE, THIS NEXT BULLET, I LOVE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS DON'T REALIZE THAT WE ACTUALLY DO DISPATCH CERTAIN CALLS.
SO CERTAIN CALLS ARE HANDLED AS AN EMERGENCY.
SO THINK ABOUT YOUR WATER MAIN BREAKS, OR, UM, ACTUALLY THE MAJORITY OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICE REQUESTS ARE A CALLS THAT WE DISPATCH BECAUSE IF A TRAFFIC LIGHTS OUT, IF IT'S BLINKING, UM, IF THERE'S NO LIGHTS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S A, UM, A HAZARDOUS SITUATION.
AND SO ALL OF THOSE CALLS WE ACTUALLY TURN AROUND AND DISPATCH OVER THE RADIO TO THE UNITS OUT IN THE FIELD.
UM, AND I THINK A LOT OF OUR, CUS WE DON'T DO A GREAT JOB, I THINK, OF COMMUNICATING ALL THE DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT WE ACTUALLY DO PROVIDE, BUT WE DO PROVIDE DISPATCH SERVICES FOR THE CITY.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO MAINTAIN THE, UM, THE SYSTEM, THE SALESFORCE SYSTEM, AND THEN THE MOBILE APP AND THE ONLINE PORTAL.
WE ADMINISTER ALL OF THOSE FUNCTIONS ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE MULTIPLE WAYS THAT YOU CAN REACH THREE ONE ONE, YOU CAN CALL US AT THREE ONE ONE, UM, OR IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS, YOU CAN DIAL THE 6 7 0 3 1 1 1.
WE HAVE OVER 70 AGENTS THAT ARE HAPPY TO ASSIST.
WE ALSO HAVE AN ONLINE PORTAL WHERE YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR SERVICE REQUEST.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A MOBILE APP, AND THEN WE HAVE A TEAM THAT WE CALL CITY HALL ON THE GO.
UM, WHICH, UM, IS A DEDICATED TEAM THAT GOES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY DRIVE THAT EXACT VEHICLE OUT, UH, TO MINI COMMUNITY EVENTS AND, UM, EXPLAIN WHAT WE DO AND, AND SUBMIT SERVICE REQUESTS ON BEHALF OF REDDIT RESIDENTS WHILE OUT IN FIELD.
ON THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, I'M GONNA EXPLAIN WHAT AN ACTUAL SERVICE REQUEST IS.
SO, UM, SERVICE REQUESTS ARE REQUESTS MADE VIA ANY ONE OF OUR PLATFORMS, LIKE I JUST MENTIONED, REQUESTING ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON ANY ISSUE.
SO EACH SERVICE REQUEST IS ACTUALLY BUILT BY MY TEAM FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, IT'S NOT A SILOED EFFORT.
THE RESPONDING DEPARTMENTS ENGAGE US AND WE BUILD THAT SERVICE REQUEST.
AND THE DESCRIPTION IS EXACTLY HOW THE DEPARTMENT WANTS IT TO BE WORDED.
AND THEN THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED ARE ON BEHALF OF WHAT THE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO ASK.
UM, IN ADDITION, DEPARTMENTS ESTABLISHED WHAT WE CALL E RTSS AND SLAS.
AN E R T IS AN ESTIMATED RESPONSE TIME.
AND THEN AN SS L A IS A SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT AS ESTABLISHED BY EACH DEPARTMENT.
A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS, UM, ACTUALLY THE PARKING VIOLATION THAT TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT NOW HANDLES.
UM, SO IF YOU WITNESS A 24 HOUR PARKING VIOLATION, THERE'S A CAR THAT HASN'T MOVED IT, THEIR E R T IS ACTUALLY FOUR HOURS.
SO TRANSPORTATION HAS, UM, BASICALLY WHAT AN E R T IS, IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME NECESSARY TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND BEGIN WORKING ON A SERVICE REQUEST AS DETERMINED BY THE RESPONDING DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN THE S L A IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME NECESSARY TO THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE IT AND THEN ULTIMATELY CLOSE OUT THE SERVICE REQUEST.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PARKING VIOLATION, EVEN THOUGH THEIR SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT IS 48 HOURS OR TWO BUSINESS DAYS, THE E R T IS FOUR HOURS.
SO PARKING ENFORCEMENT HAS COMMITTED TO GO OUT WITHIN FOUR HOURS, FLAG THE VEHICLE, TAG IT, OR YOU KNOW, TO IDENTIFY IF IT'S MOVED OR NOT.
AND THEN THEY WON'T GO OUT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY, NO LATER THAN 48 HOURS.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN,
[00:45:01]
YOU HEAR US SAY E R T OR, OR SS L A ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, IS A GRAPHIC ON PRETTY MUCH HOW THE SERVICE REQUESTS ARE ROUTED.SO, UH, THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS I'VE MENTIONED.
THE CUSTOMER CAN EITHER CALL 3 1 1 AND THEN IMMEDIATELY THE CUSTOMER IS ENGAGING OUR INTERVAC INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE SYSTEM.
SO DEPENDING ON WHAT THE CALLER SAYS, THERE'S DIFFERENT UTTERANCES THAT THEY, UM, THEY STAY AS THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH THE SYSTEM, IT'LL GET ROUTED TO THE CORRECT 3 1 1 AGENT, AND THEN THE 3 1 1 AGENT WILL ENTER THE SERVICE REQUEST AND THE SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY SENDS IT TO THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND IT'S KIND OF OUT OF OUR HANDS.
I THINK SOMETIMES THERE'S THIS MISCONCEPTION THAT IT'S LIKE SITTING AT 3 1 1 FOR LIKE THREE DAYS AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE FINALLY SEND IT TO THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, SAME WITH USING THE APP OR THE ONLINE PORTAL.
UM, YOU JUST ENTER IT, ENTER THE SERVICE REQUEST, AND IT REALLY GETS SENT TO THE RESPONDING DEPARTMENT.
UM, I DID MENTION EARLIER ABOUT OUR DISPATCH SERVICES AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHY I HAVE THAT ASTRI, UM, NEXT TO THE, UM, THE WORKER THERE.
SO CERTAIN SR TYPES ARE DEEMED EMERGENCIES AND THOSE ARE ROUTED OVER THE RADIO.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE IS, UM, A BREAKDOWN OF FISCAL YEAR 2022.
THE ORIGIN, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD WITH CITY HALL ON THE GO.
DIFFERENT GRAPHICS, UM, THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH TO PROMOTE THE APP AND THE ONLINE PORTAL.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY OUR WHOLE TIMES ARE UNACCEPTABLE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND WE'RE WORKING HARD TO STAFF UP.
BUT WHEN YOU CALL THREE ONE ONE ON AT, DON'T CALL ON A MONDAY BECAUSE ON MONDAYS OR DAYS AFTER A HOLIDAY, I MEAN OUR WHOLE TIMES ARE 15, 20 MINUTES.
UM, THAT'S JUST THE WEEKENDS AND DAYS AFTER HOLIDAYS ARE REALLY BAD.
UM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS.
UM, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.
UM, BUT I DID WANNA PROMOTE THE APP AND THE ONLINE PORTAL IF YOU ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT THAT SERVICE REQUEST.
THERE'S REALLY QUICKLY, I PARDON THE INTERRUPTION.
I BELIEVE WE LOST SOMEONE ONLINE SO THAT WE STAY IN QUORUM, PARDON THE INTERRUPTION.
BUT WE HAVE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMISSIONERS NOT JUST PHYSICALLY PRESENT, BUT ALSO ONLINE THAT THEIR CAMERA IS ON.
IS THERE A TECHNICAL ISSUE? GIVE US JUST ONE BRIEF MOMENT, MS. FAST, IF YOU COULD GIVE US A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, CHECK ON THE COMMISSIONER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING A TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
[00:50:34]
HELLO, THIS IS WILLOW SANCHEZ WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.MAY I GET A COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS PRESENT, COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT, NOT INCLUDING THE TECHNICAL ADVISORS FOR QUORUM PURPOSES.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO ANOTHER ROLL CALL JUST TO MAKE SURE TO, OR TO SEE WHO'S HERE AND WHO'S NOT? YES, PLEASE.
I HAVE COMMISSIONER REVY PRESENT.
PRESENT CHAIRWOMAN OR COMMISSIONER WHITE PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER BILL SHAW PRESENT.
PRESENT VICE-CHAIRMAN CAL CONLEY.
WILLA? WE ONLY HAVE SIX PRESENT COMMISSIONERS AND THREE PRESENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANT.
CHAIRWOMAN PUJA, YOU ARE, UM, HAVING LOST QUORUM, YOUR MEETING DOES HAVE TO, UH, COME TO AN END.
UM, SHE'S WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
SHE KEEPS US GATHERED AND TOGETHER SO THAT WE ABIDE BY, UH, PROTOCOL POLICY AND PROCEDURE, INCLUDING ROBERT RULES OF ORDER AND MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES WHEN WE HAVE OUR MEETINGS, THAT WE STAY IN QUORUM.
I WANNA ADDRESS SOMETHING REALLY QUICKLY, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE A NEW COMMISSION, UM, THAT WAS APPROVED, UM, RESPECTFULLY.
SO WE ARE GRATEFUL AND HONORED TO SERVE, UM, BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UM, IT IS INTEGRAL THAT IN OUR LEADERSHIP THAT WE LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND THAT WE ARE AVAILABLE AND THAT WE ARE PRESENT AND THAT WE ARE PROACTIVE.
I, I REALIZE THAT EMERGENCIES DO COME UP, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PREPARED, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR PUBLIC, UM, DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT, UM, CONTINUE TO MEET QUORUM.
I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO AN END TODAY.
UM, BEFORE I DO THAT, LET ME FIRST THANK THE, UM, PRESENTERS TODAY FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR AVAILABILITY.
UM, AND I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE ABRUPT INTERRUPTION.
UM, WE DO HAVE TO FOLLOW ORDER.
UM, THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ADJOURN AT 3:05 PM I WANT TO, UM, ASK FOR THERE BE A, A SECOND TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
SO THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECOND TO ADJOURN.
UH, THE JUNE 27TH, 2023 COMMISSION ON DISABILITY MEETING DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT CONTINUED TO MAKE FORM AT 3:06 PM ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.