[2024 Capital Bond Program CBTF Meeting on October 3, 2023. ]
[00:00:04]
IT IS 6 0 9 AND WE CONVENE OUR DALLAS, UH, UH, DALLAS BOND TASK FORCE MEETING TO ORDER.
UH, AS UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN SAYING PUBLIC INPUT HAS BEEN A VERY KEY PART OF THIS PROCESS AND BETWEEN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND HERE WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST, UH, 11 TOWN HALLS SO FAR, AND THEY'RE BEING VERY ROBUST AND WE ARE HEARING EVERY, EVERY OPINION, WHICH, WHICH WILL HELP US TO DECIDE WHAT WE RECOMMEND TO, UH, COUNSELING MAYOR.
WITH THAT, I COME TO, UH, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT SEEING LOTS OF OUR MEMBERS, BUT THERE ARE FIVE OF THEM WHICH ARE VIRTUAL, SO THEY ARE LISTENING WHAT YOUR DISTRICT PRIORITIES ARE.
SO, UH, THEY, YOU, YOU ARE VERY WELL BEING REPRESENTED.
WITH THAT, I'LL DO FIRST POINT OF ORDER OF BUSINESS APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 19TH AND SEPTEMBER 26TH.
DO I HAVE MOTION, MS. MARK AND I HAVE SECOND FOR MR. CONNOR.
WITH THAT, WE PROCEED WITH OUR PUBLIC SPEAKER.
SO I'LL ANNOUNCE THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS AND IF, UM, YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE FRONT.
UH, SO THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS ARE GONNA BE KIRK THOMAS, SUSAN WILLIAMS, UH, GALA CHEYENNE.
KRISTEN JAMES AND DAVID MARQUIS.
AND TONIGHT YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, DISTRICT TWO.
UH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU AGAIN.
UH, MY GOAL IS TO SHARE WITH YOU, UH, THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT IS ACHIEVED, UH, WHEN WE PRIORITIZE HOME REPAIRS TO MAINTAIN THE AVAILABILITY, UH, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
PREVIOUSLY I SHARED WITH YOU THE SHORTAGE OF 33,600 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
THAT WAS DONE IN A STUDY BY CHILD POVERTY ACTION LAB, THE AND THE SKYROCKETING COSTS AND MATERIAL AND LABOR, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEFERRED HOME MAINTENANCE THAT CAN HAVE ON THE HOMEOWNER, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND OUR CITY.
THE FOLLOWING RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED IN SUMMARY BY REBUILDING TOGETHER A NATIONAL NON-PROFIT THAT I VOLUNTEER WITH THAT PROVIDES CRITICAL HOME REPAIRS AND ACCESSIBILITY MODIFICATIONS FOR LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS IN NORTH TEXAS.
REBUILDING TOGETHER HAS BEEN OPERATING SINCE 2001 AND HOSTED OVER 500 PROJECTS WITH 15,000 VOLUNTEERS.
THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WHEN $1 IS INVESTED INTO SUSTAINABLE HOUSING, $2 AND 84 CENTS IN SOCIAL VALUE IS GENERATED THROUGH IMPROVED HEALTH, SAFETY, INDEPENDENCE, AND COST SAVINGS.
SOCIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS A METRIC THAT IS ADAPTED FROM TRADITIONAL R O I AND IS USED TO MEASURE SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC GAINS THAT RESULT FROM INVESTMENT.
THE LARGEST SS R O I ARE THE AVOIDED COSTS OF ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES AND IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE.
ADDITIONALLY, HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURES IS DECREASED.
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IMPROVES.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ARE REDUCED AND DEATHS FROM FALLS AND FIRES ARE REDUCED.
POLICE CHOOSE TO INVEST IN DALLAS'S RESIDENTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE SOCIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT HELPS HOMEOWNERS NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE CITY OF DALLAS.
YOU CAN PRESERVE AND INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
DALLAS IS BIG ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE, AND YOU CAN MAKE A D MAKE DALLAS A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND COMPASSION.
SUSAN WILLIAMS. HI, I'M KIRSTEN JAMES.
I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I LIVE AT 1 0 0 2 2 ROBIN HILL LANE IN DISTRICT 10, LAKE HIGHLANDS.
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE FULL ALLOCATION FOR CULTURAL FACILITIES IN THE BOND PROGRAM FACILITIES THAT SERVE THE ENTIRE CITY OF DALLAS.
THESE FACILITIES, WE ARE REQUESTING THE FULL 6% ALLOCATION THAT IS, UM, BEING PROPOSED.
THERE'S, THIS IS FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS.
THERE ARE NO NEW PROJECTS IN THIS ALLOCATION.
THIS IS FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
A LOT OF OUR BUILDINGS HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES.
PERSONALLY, I'M ON THE BOARD OF ECHO THEATER WHO PERFORMS AT THE BATHHOUSE CULTURAL CENTER AT WHITE ROCK LAKE.
WHITE ROCK LAKE IS ONE OF OUR CITY'S GREATEST AMENITIES AT GYM, AND THE BATHHOUSE
[00:05:01]
IS A GREAT FACILITY FOR SMALLER THEATER COMPANIES, FOR LOCAL ARTISTS, FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER ALL OVER TO WHITE ROCK LAKE.AND ONCE AGAIN, THOUGH, THE FACILITIES THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR THE FULL ALLOCATION FOR ARE THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO REALLY IT'S PART OF THE CULTURAL ARTS ADVOCACY COALITION AND ALSO FROM THE BOARD OF ECHO THEATER, I JUST URGE YOU TO PLEASE LOOK AT THAT FULL 6% ALLOCATION FOR THE CULTURAL FAC FACILITIES.
AND ONCE AGAIN, IT'S NOTHING NEW.
JUST DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS FOR THESE BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
SUSAN WILLIAMS, OR GALA SHEHAN.
MY NAME IS DAVID MARKUSS, 31 10 WEST KEITH BOULEVARD IN BEAUTIFUL OAK CLIFF TEXANS.
SO GOOD TO BE WITH YOU TO THIS EVENING.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT, NOT ONLY ON BEHALF OF THE PARSH COALITION AND SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE DALLAS WATER COMMONS.
I'M REALLY HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF MY GRANDCHILDREN.
AX SEEN ABIGAIL, ASHER AND LUNA 23, 19, 16, AND NINE MONTHS OLD BECAUSE TONIGHT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THEIR FUTURE, NOT JUST OUR FUTURE.
AND THEIR FUTURE HAS TO DO WITH OPEN SPACE, IT HAS TO DO WITH LAND, IT HAS TO DO WITH WATER.
I'M GONNA TAKE YOU THE NEXT THREE MINUTES FROM WHERE WE WERE TO WHERE WE ARE NOW AND BRING IT HOME.
FROM THE BEGINNING OF RECORDED HISTORY.
UNTIL 12 YEARS AGO, IT TOOK THAT LONG TO GET 7 BILLION PEOPLE ON THE PLANET.
IN THE LAST 12 YEARS, WE'VE ADDED A BILLION PEOPLE.
THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WE'RE GONNA ADD ANOTHER BILLION PEOPLE.
70% OF THIS EARTH IS COVERED IN WATER.
AS WE ADD PEOPLES, WE ADD TEXANS AS WE ADD PEOPLE IN DALLAS ON A DAILY BASIS.
THE AMOUNT OF WATER WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH HAS NOT CHANGED WHAT WE NEED.
WE NEED OPEN SPACE, 'CAUSE OPEN SPACE HELPS US CLEAN OUR WATER AS IT FLOWS THROUGH OUR WATERWAYS, OVERWHELMED BY THE NATURE'S ABILITY TO FILTER WATER.
SO WHAT WE PLAN TO DO WITH THE DALLAS WATER COMMONS IS NUMBER ONE PLAN.
FLOOD WATER MITIGATION, TWO STORM WATER FILTRATION THREE AND URBAN WATER LAB TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF URBAN WATER FILTRATION IN THE FUTURE OF WATER FILTRATION.
AND WITH THE URBAN WATER LAB AND THE DALLAS WATER COMMONS, WE ARE ABLE TO STUDY URBAN WATER EFFECTS AND CREATE A BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE IN NATURE.
AND WE CAN DO THIS THROUGH A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT BENEFITS ALL OF US IN THE WHOLE CITY.
WE CAN STUDY WATER ON A GLOBAL BASIS AND MAKE IT REAL AND PERSONAL WALKING DISTANCE FROM THIS BUILDING THROUGH A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DALLAS WETLANDS FOUNDATION, WITH MATTHEW SOUTHWEST AND WITH THE DALLAS PARKS DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TONIGHT.
AND PLEASE REMEMBER PARKS COALITION DALLAS WATER COMMONS.
THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS ARE TIFFANY DIVIS, RYAN SHERMAN, MICHELLE SABINE, VICTORIA PHELPS, AND JARED GRECO.
GOOD EVENING TO THE COMMITTEE AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS TIFFANY DIVIS AND I AM THE PRESIDENT, C E O OF TURTLE CREEK CONSERVANCY.
FIRST, AS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE DALLAS PARK COALITION, WE ARE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE PARK BOARD FUNDING REQUEST IN THE 2024 BOND ELECTION.
WE KNOW THAT INVESTMENT IN PARKS, TRAILS, AND OPEN GREEN SPACES WILL HELP DALLAS BE A HEALTHIER, HAPPY, AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SU, SUBSTANTIAL CITY.
WE WANT DALLAS TO BE GREENER AND GREATER FOR YEARS TO COME.
WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR FULL FUNDING OF $399 MILLION FOR DALLAS PARKS AND TRAILS.
THE TOTAL CREEK CONSERVANCY WAS FOUNDED IN 1998 AND MODELED AFTER THE CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY IN NEW YORK CITY AND ACTS AS A CONSERVATIVE OF THE PARK IN ARLINGTON HALL.
WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO THE CONSERVATION, PRESERVATION AND EXCEPTIONAL CARE OF TURTLE CREEK PARK AND ARLINGTON HALL, WHILE CREATING A PUBLIC SPACE FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLNESS, CONNECTION, ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WITH 20 ACRES OF NATURAL BEAUTY.
TURTLE CREEK PARK AS A SERENE RETREAT IN THE HEART OF DALLAS, FREE AND OPEN TO ALL.
DID YOU KNOW THAT TURTLE CREEK PARK IS THE SECOND OLDEST PARK IN DALLAS AND HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1892? PURCHASED BY THE CITY OF DALLAS IN 1909, THE PARK HAS OVER 500,000 OR FIVE 500,000 VISITORS A YEAR WITH OVER 14,000 RESIDENTS LIVING WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK OF THE PARK EACH YEAR.
WE HOST 200 PLUS EVENTS IN TURTLE CREEK PARK, INCLUDING CONSERVANCY MEMBER EVENTS AND FREE SIGNATURE COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE EASTERN TURTLE CREEK PARK, KIDS
[00:10:01]
FISHING DERBY, MOVIE NIGHT, LIGHT UP, TURTLE CREEK PARK.WE ALSO OFFER, UM, MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERS TO COME AND CLEAN UP THE PARK.
WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR THIS TO BE A PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR THE SOUTH PARCEL ACTIVATION IN TURTLE CREEK PARK.
A FIVE ACRE CITY BLOCK OF TOTAL GREEN SPACE ALONG THE TURTLE CREEK BOULEVARD BETWEEN HALL BOWEN AND IT BACKS UP TO THE KATY TRAIL.
WE, IT INCLUDES A, UH, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE THAT WILL, THAT WILL, UH, MAKE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS FROM TURTLE CREEK BOULEVARD INTO THE PARK AND THEN ACCESS ONTO KATY TRAIL, UH, SCENIC OVERLOOKS AND EN ENHANCED TEXAS NATIVE LANDSCAPING.
WE'D ALSO LIKE TO DEVELOP A ONE TO TWO MILE TRAIL SYSTEM WITHIN THE PARK THAT CAN CONNECT TO THE DALLAS TRAIL SYSTEM.
I LIVE IN OAK CLIFF AND I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU KEEP THE TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THE BOND FOR SKATE PARKS.
I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, UH, AND I SKATE AT LEAST AN HOUR EVERY DAY.
UH, THIS MORNING I DROVE TO FARMER'S BRANCH.
UH, I CAN BASICALLY PICK ANY DIRECTION AND DRIVE 30 MINUTES AND GET A GOOD SKATE PARK.
UM, I CAN DO THIS BECAUSE I HAVE, I SET MY OWN WORK SCHEDULE, UH, BUT ALSO I HAVE A CAR.
AND, UH, WHAT WE REALLY NEED, UH, IS A LOCAL SKATE PARK FOR THE KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION.
UH, THE PROPOSED PARK IN OAK CLIFF IS IN WESTMORELAND PARK AND THAT IS ON THE DART BUS LINE, WHICH IS GREAT.
UM, IT'S A PLACE WHERE KIDS CAN COME EXERCISE, UH, ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS AT A SKATE PARK.
PEOPLE JUST, UH, ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER, UH, TO DO NEW TRICKS, LEARN NEW THINGS, UM, AND BUILD COMMUNITY.
UM, A SKATE PARK IS A MELTING POT.
IT'S DIFFERENT AGES, DIFFERENT RACES, DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS.
UH, AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT I CHERISH MOST ABOUT SKATEBOARDING IS MY GROUP OF FRIENDS.
I WOULD NOT KNOW IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR SKATEBOARDING.
AFTER SKATING FOR 25 YEARS, I'VE ALSO COME TO APPRECIATE HOW IMPORTANT EXERCISE IS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
IT HELPS ME FOCUS ON OUR BUSINESS AND OUR FAMILY AND OUR KIDS.
UM, BUT IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE EXERCISE.
IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE OUTSIDE HAVING FUN WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
AND, UM, I JUST ASK THAT YOU PLEASE MAKE SKATE PARKS IN DALLAS TO SERVE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SO WE CAN TRICK THE KIDS INTO EXERCISING AND BUILDING THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
HI, MY NAME IS MICHELLE SABAN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
I REMEMBER STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE SKATE PARK WITH MY THEN NINE YEAR OLD HOLDING A NEW SKATEBOARD, PUTTING ASIDE MY FEARS AND LETTING HIM TRY THIS RISKY CHOICE.
THAT WAS A SIGN OF REBELLION WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.
IT DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG BEFORE HE FELL OFF HIS BOARD AND MY VIEWS ON SKATEBOARDING CHANGED IMMEDIATELY.
ONE OF THE BIGGER OLDER SKATEBOARDERS AT THE PARK.
WALKED UP TO HIM, HELPED HIM UP, ASKED HIM IF HE WAS OKAY, AND SHOWED HIM WHERE HE COULD PUT HIS FEET ON THE SKATEBOARD TO BE MORE STABLE.
THAT WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE DALLAS SKATING COMMUNITY, THE CULTURE OF INCLUSIVENESS AND WILLINGNESS TO HELP WHENEVER NEEDED.
YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT CULTURE OF SUPPORT IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
'CAUSE WE SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER.
IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE THAT FIRST EXPERIENCE, AND I'VE BEEN OUT SUPPORTING THE SKATE PARK COMMUNITY EVER SINCE.
LAST NIGHT, SOMEONE FROM A DISTRICT TOWN HALL ASKED, WHY DOES DALLAS NEED A SKATE PARK? WHY NOT PICKLEBALL SOFTBALL? WHY AM MY NEIGHBORHOOD? IT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT HOW SKATEBOARDING IS DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER SPORT.
SKATEBOARDING IS NOT AN EXPENSIVE SPORT TO GET INTO.
IT DOESN'T REQUIRE UNIFORMS TO BE PURCHASED OR FOR PARENTS TO HAVE TO TAKE OFF WORK TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO GAMES.
ALSO, MANY CHILDREN DON'T ENJOY GROUP SPORTS.
MAYBE THEIR SCHOOL DOESN'T OFFER IT TO THEM.
MAYBE THEY HAVE TO PAY A MONTHLY GYM FEE IN ORDER TO BE ON A TEAM SPORT.
AND NEURODIVERGENT KIDS ALREADY FEEL DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS.
AND GROUP SPORTS CAN OFTEN MAGNIFY THOSE DIFFERENCES FOR THEM.
THE BEAUTY OF SKATEBOARDING IS THAT YOUR ONLY COMPETITION IS YOURSELF AND YOUR PEERS.
GOALS ARE JUST THERE TO SEE YOU GET BETTER.
THERE IS NO MORE INCLUSIVE SPORT WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALL GENDERS, ECONOMIC STATUSES, ETHNICITIES, AND WALKS OF LIFE ALTOGETHER AS EQUALS, YET COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES OF ITS SIZE, DALLAS'S, ESCAPE, PARK DESERT, WE'D LOVE FOR NEIGHBORHOODS TO HAVE BEAUTIFUL, WELL-DESIGNED CONCRETE SKATE PARKS FOR THE YOUTH WHO HAVE OUTGROWN THE CURRENT PARK EQUIPMENT.
ONES THEY CAN ACTUALLY ACTUALLY SKATE TO FROM THEIR HOMES.
FULLY FUND PARKS AND RECREATION, INCLUDING THE THREE SKATE PARKS.
IT'S A CRUCIAL STEP IN MAKING THAT EXPERIENCE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.
IT WILL FOSTER A LOVE OF NATURE, ENABLING
[00:15:01]
KIDS TO BE OUTSIDE AND ACTIVE, CREATING COMMUNITY AND ENHANCING SOCIAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH AND CONFIDENCE, ALL WHILE HAVING FUN SKATEBOARDING.MY NAME IS VICTORIA PHELPS AND THIS IS MY SON JULIAN.
WE ARE HERE FOR SKATE PARKS FOR DALLAS.
UH, MY SON JULIAN STARTED SKATEBOARDING WHEN WE LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY AND THERE WERE CITY RUN SKATE PARKS IN ALMOST EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE HAD SUCH A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE AT THESE SKATE PARKS FROM MEETING OTHER FAMILIES, GETTING EXERCISE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND JUST BEING INVOLVED IN THE SKATE COMMUNITY WAS FUN FOR EVERYONE.
AND, UM, MY SON IS THE ONLY ONE IN OUR FAMILY WHO SKATEBOARDS, BUT WE ALL STILL ENJOY GOING OUT TO THE SKATE PARK.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER OUTSIDE.
SO WE WERE SURPRISED WHEN WE MOVED BACK TO DALLAS TO OAK CLIFF AND THERE WERE NO PLACES TO SKATE LATER I LEARNED THAT FOR THE 2015 DALLAS PARKS AND RECREATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE 18 SKATE PARKS BY 2024 AND WE HAVE ONE AND IT'S ANTIQUATED AND IT'S OVER IN FAR EAST DALLAS.
SO, UM, WE AS A CITY ARE WAY BEHIND.
AND THIS, IN THIS BOND, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THREE NEIGHBORHOOD SKATE PARKS, WHICH WOULD BE A GREAT START.
SO PLEASE HELP TO ENSURE THIS MONEY STAYS FOR SKATE PARKS, UM, ON THE BOND.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JULIANN PHELPS AND I'M 10 YEARS OLD.
I'VE BEEN SKATING FOR THREE YEARS.
I LIKE GOING TO SKATE PARKS BECAUSE I MAKE FRIENDS AND LEARN COOL TRICKS, OTHER SKATE PAR, OTHER SKATERS ARE ALWAYS HELPFUL AND GIVE ME TIPS, TIPS ON HOW TO GET BETTER.
SKATEBOARDING HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT, LIKE NEVER GIVE, NEVER GIVING UP AND TRYING IT UNTIL I GET IT.
I REALLY WISH WE HAD MORE SKATE PARKS IN DALLAS BECAUSE I'M WORKING ON MY KICK FLIP AND WOULD LIKE TO MEET OTHER SKATERS.
PLEASE KEEP THE MONEY FOR SKATE PARKS ON THE BOND.
AND THEN I'LL, UH, CALL OUT THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS.
STEPHANIE BERG, LAUREN COLEMAN, ZACH STERN, CATHERINE MCGOVERN AND RYAN GARCIA.
I LIVE AT 2061 WHITE GROVE IN FAR EAST DALLAS IN THE FERGUSON ROAD CORRIDOR.
AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO NOT ONLY SUPPORT SKATE SKATE PARKS, WHICH I, I JUST LEARNED A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT ABOUT THAT, THAT I WAS NOT ANTICIPATING AND I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL MY FRIENDS AT WORK TOMORROW.
UM, BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FERGUSON ROAD, UM, WHITE ROCK HILLS RECREATION CENTER THAT FERGUSON ROAD INITIATIVE HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR AT SOME OF THE OTHER MEETINGS ON THE SAME COURT AS MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE TURTLE CREEK CONSERVANCY AND THE SKATE PARK TEAM HERE.
I MOVED HERE FROM NEW YORK CITY AND THE TOP FOUR METROS ARE NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO, DALLAS-FORT WORTH, METROPLEX.
SO THOSE ARE OUR COMPETITORS I'VE EITHER LIVED IN OR SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING IN AND TRAVELING TO ALL FOUR OF, OF THOSE CITIES COLLECTIVELY.
AND I'VE LIVED IN DALLAS FOR EIGHT YEARS.
MY FRIENDS IN NEW YORK MADE FUN OF ME WHEN I WANTED TO MOVE HERE.
AND THEY SAID, YOU'RE MOVING TO A CONCRETE JUNGLE, WHICH WAS FUNNY COMING FROM MY NEW YORK FRIENDS.
AND THE THE COMMENT REALLY STRUCK HOME WHEN I LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE RECREATION DESERT THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED TONIGHT.
THE PARKS LACKING IN THE CITY COMPARED TO OUR PIERCE CITY AND OUR, OUR COMPETITORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD BACKS UP TO WHERE THE WHITE ROCK HILLS REC CENTER WOULD GO.
THE LAND'S BEEN PURCHASED, IT'S BEEN PURCHASED FOR ABOUT A DECADE.
THE THE LOT THAT I LIVE ON WAS PREVIOUSLY A ABANDONED DUMP SITE, NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THE TAX BASE OF OF DALLAS CITY AND COUNTY.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS IN SUPPORT OF THE RECREATION CENTER AND IT WOULD SERVE A DIVERSE GROUP ACROSS FAR EAST DALLAS, WHICH IS A RECREATION DESERT.
I SEE THE, THE KIDS WHEN I'M GOING TO AND FROM WORK AND THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.
IT, IT WAS, THE AREA WAS DEVELOPED IN THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES AND IT WASN'T DEVELOPED WITH, WITH WALKING AND RECREATION IN MIND.
WE ARE, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE CENTER AND ADVOCATE FOR THE CENTER.
STEPHANIE HEDBERG NOT PRESENT.
[00:20:06]
HI, GOOD EVENING.I LIVE AT 9 1 4 BRIDGET DRIVE, AND I HAVE BEEN IN D NINE DISTRICT NINE FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
UH, MOST RECENTLY I SERVED
UM, MOST RECENTLY I SERVED AS THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR UPLIFT WHITE ROCK HILLS THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
UM, MY DAUGHTER ALSO ATTENDED THERE, AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF OVER 3000 KIDS JUST IN THAT FERGUSON ROAD CORRIDOR AT UPLIFT, WHITE ROCK HILLS, CONNOR, SANGER BALES.
UM, THEY ALL, THERE'S SO MANY KIDS RIGHT THERE IN THAT AREA, AND I'M JUST LEFT WONDERING WHY HAS THE CITY NEGLECTED THE RECREATION CENTER NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN LIVING IN THIS AREA? I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN.
AND I AM AWARE THAT THE LAND FOR THE WHITE ROCK HILLS REC CENTER HAS BEEN PURCHASED AND IT'S A PART OF A COMMUNITY DRIVEN STRATEGIC PLAN THAT INCLUDES A NEW PARK STREET AND TRAIL AT UPLIFT.
UH, AND THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS, WE HAD OVER 90% POVERTY LEVEL.
UM, AND WHICH MEANS THAT FAMILIES IN THAT AREA DESPERATELY NEED, UM, EDUCATION, HEALTH, SPORTS, CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMS, AND HAVING THE SAME ACCESS AS EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY.
UM, MY DAUGHTER'S IN KINDERGARTEN OR IN FIRST GRADE NOW, AND I LOOK AT MY, ALL MY FRIENDS AND OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE THEY CAN WALK TO REC CENTERS, THEY CAN WALK TO ALL OF THESE AMENITIES.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE CHILDREN IN EAST DALLAS AND FAR EAST DALLAS AREA DESERVE THE SAME THING.
SO I CLOSE BY ASKING YOU TO REMEMBER THOSE CHILDREN.
REMEMBER THE FAMILIES THAT ATTEND UPLIFT AND ALL THE SURROUNDING DALLAS S D SCHOOLS.
PLEASE PLACE THE WHITE ROCK HILLS REC CENTER ON THE BOND THIS YEAR.
THIS COMMUNITY HAS WAITED FOR OVER 28 YEARS.
UM, AND SO LET'S NOT LEAVE THE LAND VACANT ANYMORE AND FUND THE REC CENTER.
AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TONIGHT.
CATHERINE MCGOVERN? NO, I'M, I'M PRESENT.
CAN EVERYONE SEE? HELLO? IS THAT ZACH STERN? YES, THIS IS ZACH.
I KNOW I'M THE FIRST, UH, VIRTUAL PRESENTER.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE AS YOU GUYS CAN SEE, YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
UM, SO I, I AM ZACH, UH, I'M HERE WITH MY DAUGHTER OLIVE AND, UH, I'M OUT OF DISTRICT 10 OH.
AND I'M HERE TO VOUCH FOR $8 MILLION FOR THE WIDENING RENOVATION OF THE WHITE ROCK CREEK TRAIL.
UM, THE WHITE ROCK CREEK TRAIL IS AN EIGHT MILE TRAIL THAT PERVERTS IS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF DALLAS AND IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE IT WAS BUILT.
SO IT'S REALLY NOT UP TO CITY STANDARDS FOR, UH, WIDTH AND FOR SAFETY.
AND WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS BOND, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, I WANT MY DAUGHTER TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY USE THIS TRAIL AND RIGHT NOW SHE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN AS CITIZENS TO KEEP THE TRAIL CLEAN.
WE'VE ORGANIZED MULTIPLE CLEANUPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT WE NEED HELP, UM, FROM THE CITY TO WIDEN THE TRAIL AND MAKE IT SAFER FOR PEOPLE TO USE.
SO THERE'S NOT BIKING ACCIDENTS AND, UM, AND OTHER INCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED ON
SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE SOME TIME AND SPEAK.
OBVIOUSLY I CAN'T BE THERE BECAUSE I'M WITH OLIVE, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, STEVE.
I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE COURTESY.
I MEAN, I REALIZE I'M KIND OF LIKE AN OLD SHOE 'CAUSE I KEEP COMING BACK, BUT THE PRESTON ROYAL LIBRARY IS REALLY IMPORTANT NOW, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE, I'M THE ONE YOU SEE MORE FREQUENTLY.
I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS SUPPORTING THE LIBRARY AND ASKING YOU TO CHOOSE THE PRESTON ROYAL LIBRARY TO, UM, FINANCE THE NEEDS WE HAVE TO EXPAND.
YOU MAY RECALL THE FIRST TIME I CAME UP, I GAVE YOU A READING MATTER ABOUT SOME POTENTIALS.
THIS WAS A CONTRACT THAT WE HAD, UM, THE FRIENDS HAD, UM, FINANCED IN ORDER TO HAVE THE
[00:25:01]
BUILDING LOOKED AT.'CAUSE IT IS 50, IT WAS 58 YEARS OLD THEN, SO WE DIDN'T WANNA BE COMING AND ASKING FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.
STRUCTURALLY, OUR BUILDING IS VERY, VERY SOLID.
IT STANDS ON THE COLUMNS, NOT, NOT THE WALLS.
SO IN TERMS OF AN ARCHITECTURAL EFFORT, YOU'RE REALLY JUST TALKING ABOUT MOVING THE WALLS OUT AND, AND ADDING TO THE, THE SPACE.
AND I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE FASTER.
I SEE THAT THERE ARE TWO LIBRARY PROJECTS THAT ARE ON YOUR LIST FOR CONSIDERATION.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PUT THE PRESTON ROYAL LIBRARY FIRST.
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE, UH, HAVE A MATCHING CAMPAIGN OR PUT TO MORE WORK THAN ANY OTHER LIBRARY THAT HAS ASKED FOR FUNDING FROM THE CITY.
THAT'S REALLY UNFAIR AND CONTRARY TO THE EX, THE RUMOR THAT IS GIVEN OUT.
MOST PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA ARE NOT RICH PEOPLE WITH FOUNDATIONS.
THEY'RE JUST ORDINARY PEOPLE WITH ORDINARY FAMILIES AND ORDINARY INCOMES.
AND SO WE CANNOT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO FUND HALF OF YOU KNOW, THE COST OF RENOVATING THIS LIBRARY.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LISTENING TO ME, BRIAN GARCIA.
UM, THE NEXT SIX SPEAKERS ARE TABITHA URIEL, MARK MELTON, JUAN GARCIA, UH, DELILAH BINA, JUANITA OR, UM, ARVEO.
I APOLOGIZE FOR MSPE AND SARAH BETH MOFFITT.
I BROUGHT, UM, A SHORT PAPER OR ONE PAGER.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A ONE PAGER, BUT IT'S TWO, UM, ABOUT DALLAS CENTER FOR ART AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE PUBLIC GROVE AREA.
BEFORE I GO, BEFORE I START ON THAT THOUGH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M REITERATING THAT I WOULD LIKE THE GATEWAY PARK, UM, PLAYGROUND TO BE, UM, REPLACED.
AND, UM, THAT'S MY NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYGROUND AND IT GETS USED ALL THE TIME.
AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, WE NEED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE BUILDINGS WE HAVE, THE ARTS BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE ASKING FOR 6% AND, UH, IT IS OUR TURN TOO.
UM, BECAUSE WE WEREN'T FUNDED THE LAST TIME AND SO IN THE LAST BOND.
SO, UM, WE DON'T WANT TO NEGLECT SOME OF THE REALLY BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS ACTUALLY, UM, THAT WE NEED TO CARE FOR.
NOTHING NEW AS FAR AS THE, UH, NOTHING, NO NEW BUILDINGS AS FAR AS ARTS FUNDING GOES.
AND I THINK THAT'S NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK.
AND, UM, FOR DALLAS CENTER FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY, UM, THIS IS AN ECO DEV ASK.
TECHNICALLY IT'S AN ECO DEV ASK, BUT, UM, FOR ME, AND I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS OVER AND OVER, SO MUCH OF WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR OVERLAPS, PARKS OVERLAPS INTO A HEALTH AND WELLNESS, THE QUALITY OF LIFE, UM, I BELIEVE D CT OVERLAPS IN HOUSING.
UM, IT IS A ECO DEV DEVELOPMENT THAT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY HOUSING, BUT IT WILL ACTUALLY CREATE HOUSING.
UM, IT WILL ALSO BE A CATALYST FOR TRAINING FOLKS FOR ABOVE THE LINE AND BELOW THE LINE, UH, PRODUCTION IN THE FILM AND MEDIA INDUSTRY AND FROM OUR AREA SO THAT WE CAN LEARN HOW TO TELL OUR OWN STORIES, THAT WE CAN BE IN THE SPACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE TELLING STORIES.
ALSO CREATE, YOU KNOW, AN INCOME, A GOOD SIZED INCOME WITH THE NEW INCENTIVES THAT THE, UH, THE NEW BILL THAT THE, UH, GOVERNMENT, UH, THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED.
AND ALSO WITH THE NEW, UM, SIDE STUDIOS THAT ARE BEING RENOVATED RIGHT NOW.
AND WE JUST ASK THAT YOU GIVE US THE FUNDING.
I'M MARK MELTON, DISTRICT SEVEN.
UH, AS SOME OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW, UM, I'M A LAWYER AND I FOUNDED THREE YEARS AGO THE DALLAS EVICTION ADVOCACY CENTER.
AND AT THE CENTER WE HAVE A BUNCH OF LAWYERS.
WE'RE BASICALLY A NONPROFIT LAW
[00:30:01]
FIRM AND WE REPRESENT TENANTS FACING EVICTION ALL OVER DALLAS COUNTY FOR FREE.OF COURSE, IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE REPRESENTED MORE THAN 12,000 FAMILIES, UH, WITH A MORE THAN 90% SUCCESS RATE, HELPING PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE ARE HAVING A FRONT ROW SEAT, UH, TO THIS HOUSING CRISIS.
THREE YEARS AGO AS WE TRIED TO REHOUSE PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN EVICTED, IF YOU TRIED REALLY HARD, YOU COULD FIND APARTMENTS FOR 800, $900,000 A MONTH TO REHOUSE PEOPLE INTO.
I CHALLENGE EVERYONE THAT I SPEAK TO AROUND THE CITY TO GO HOME AND GET ON APARTMENTS.COM OR ANY OTHER SIDE OF YOUR CHOOSING AND TRY TO FIND APARTMENTS ANYWHERE IN THE CITY, WHETHER IT'S IN A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD OR A NEIGHBORHOOD YOU WOULD NEVER WANNA LIVE IN FOR UNDER A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH.
AND IF YOU FIND THEM, PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME BECAUSE I HAVE A LONG LIST OF PEOPLE THAT I CAN PUT IN THEM AS SOON AS THEY'RE IDENTIFIED.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT DEALT WITH IN THE PAST.
I KNOW THERE IS SOME CONCERN ABOUT SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DALLAS RIGHT NOW.
UH, BUT THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY CONCERN.
UNPRECEDENTED SPENDING IS REQUIRED WHEN WE HAVE UNPRECEDENTED PROBLEMS. AND WE DO, I'M SURE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU THE RECENT AL STUDY SHOWED WE'RE SHORT 33,000 UNITS IN THE LOWER END OF THE MARKET.
WE'VE SEEN RENTS INCREASE ALMOST 40% IN THOSE LOWER BANDS IN THE MARKET.
PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE PLACES TO LIVE AND THEY NEED TO, OR THE $400 MILLION THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO SPEND ON PARKS IS GONNA FILL THEM UP WITH TENTS.
AND IN MY LAST 10 SECONDS, I LIVE FIVE BLOCKS FROM THE SKATE PARK IN EAST DALLAS.
I GOT MENTIONED EARLIER, MY KIDS LOVE THAT THING.
YOU SHOULD PUT 'EM EVERYWHERE.
UH, DELILAH BINA, I GOT THAT RIGHT.
CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.
CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM.
IS THAT JUANITA? NO, THIS IS SARAH BETH MOFFITT.
UM, I'M ADVOCATING ON
UM, RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOT MUCH OF ANYTHING.
THERE'S A BUNCH OF NEFARIOUS ACTIVITY THAT COULD CURRENTLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WE HAVE ABOUT, UM, BETWEEN NOW AND NEW BABIES ABOUT, AND THERE ARE OF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO A PARK, A GREAT PLACE FOR KIDS TO GET OUTSIDE WITH NATURE, LOOK AT CLOUDS, BUT UM, LEARN THINGS
YOU'RE, YOU'RE COMING IN AND OUT IF THAT'S OKAY? YES.
UH, THE NEXT SPEAKERS ARE BILL EUBANKS, RAQUEL GEHRING, DANIEL SMITH, BILL PARKER, AND ASHLEY BRU.
I'M C E O OF DALLAS AREA HABITAT.
UM, AND WE ARE HERE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE, UH, SUBCOMMITTEE AND THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION, UH, IN THEIR REQUEST FOR 200 MILLION IN HOUSING AND 35 MILLION FOR HOMELESSNESS THROUGH AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, FINANCIAL EDUCATION, UH, ADVOCACY EFFORTS, NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS, DALLAS HABITAT, UH, HAS TRANSFORMED FAMILIES AND REVITALIZE NEIGHBORHOODS WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD A BETTER DALLAS.
WHILE WE ARE FORTUNATE TO ENJOY CORPORATE SUPPORT, UM, AND HAVE A STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS, UH, THAT SUPPORT JUST DOESN'T QUITE GO FAR ENOUGH IN TERMS OF DOLLARS AND CENTS.
[00:35:01]
RECEIVED A GRANT FROM DALLAS COUNTY, UH, TO DO INFRASTRUCTURE WORK, INCLUDING ROADS AND SIDEWALKS AND SEWER IN UTILITIES IN SUPPORT OF A 30 MINUTE, A 30 UNIT DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSES IN SOUTH DALLAS.WITHOUT FUNDING THIS PROJECT JUST WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING FROM DALLAS COUNTY.
UM, AND SO COMPANIES LIKE OURS REALLY RELY ON PUBLIC FUNDING TO HELP DRIVE OUR MISSION OF PROVIDING AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
UM, IN FACT, THE 80 MILLION OF THE $200 MILLION THAT WE HAVE EARMARKED FOR THE HOUSING, UM, PROGRAM IS FOR SPECIFICALLY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP.
SO WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT, UH, TO LEVERAGE PUBLIC FUNDING, UM, WITH CORPORATE AND PHILANTHROPIC SOURCES, UH, TO PUT MORE PROPERTIES LIKE HABITATS, PROPERTIES ON THE TAX ROLLS TO REDUCE THE BLIGHT IN OUR CITY.
UH, WE BUILT OVER 2000 HOMES, UH, IN THE LAST 35 YEARS WE'VE BEEN HERE KIND OF DOING THE WORK, IF YOU WILL, ON THE GROUND.
UM, AND WE'VE CREATED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF, OF WEALTH FOR OUR HOME BUYERS.
SO, UM, PLEASE, WE WOULD ASK, ASK FOR YOUR HELP, UM, IN SUPPORTING THE BIGGEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT DOLLARS CAN MAKE, AND THAT'S INVESTING $200 MILLION IN HOUSING THROUGH THE BOND AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN MAKING DALLAS A BETTER DALLAS.
HI EVERYONE, MY NAME IS RACHEL NELSON GEARING.
UM, I AM A DALLAS RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO AND I'M ALSO ON THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR THE CITY.
AT FIRST, I ACTUALLY WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I KNOW YOUR VOLUNTEERS JUST LIKE OUR COMMISSION IS, AND, UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GIVING UP YOUR EVENINGS.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK.
UM, I'LL TELL YOU THREE REASONS WHY DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES NEEDS A NEW SHELTER.
DESPERATELY NEEDS A NEW SHELTER.
FIRST IS WHEN THE CURRENT FACILITY WAS DESIGNED ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO.
IT WAS DESIGNED ONLY AS A FACILITY TO HOUSE ABANDONED AND STRAY DOGS IN THE CITY BACK WHEN THE CITY POPULATION WAS MUCH, MUCH SMALLER.
ANIMAL WELFARE HAS CHANGED AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE CHANGED.
THE CURRENT FACILITY IS AT 169% CAPACITY RIGHT NOW, WHICH MEANS EUTHANIZING ANIMALS FOR SPACE EVERY DAY.
UH, THE SECOND REASON IS DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES HAS TAKEN ON A BUNCH OF ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
AS SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, THE SS B C A OF TEXAS DECIDED THEY WERE NO LONGER GOING TO HELP WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES.
DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES HAS STEPPED UP AND THEY NOW, UM, SUPPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES IN DALLAS.
WORKING WITH THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT JUST SINCE SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, THEY HAVE TAKEN IN OVER 3,300 SUSPECTED ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES, AND THAT'S INCLUDING LIVESTOCK, UM, ROOSTERS, HORSES, DOGS, EVERYTHING, 3,300 ANIMALS AT A FACILITY THAT'S ALREADY 169% AT CAPACITY.
UM, SO OBVIOUSLY WE NEED THE NEW SPACE FOR THAT ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
THE THIRD REASON IS DALLAS HAS A PROBLEM WITH DOG BITES, BREEDING, C**K FIGHTING, DOG FIGHTING.
I SERVED ON THE DANGEROUS DOG ORDINANCE TASK FORCE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN A WOMAN IN SOUTHERN DALLAS WAS MAULED TO DEATH.
A VETERAN WAS MAULED TO DEATH BY A PACK OF STRAY DOGS.
THIS PROBLEM IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY UNLESS WE CAN EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.
WE NEED TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOUNG DALLAS SITES.
THIS NEW FACILITY WILL HAVE RECREATION SPACE FOR FIELD TRIPS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND WILL BE A PLACE FOR EDUCATING YOUTH AND SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT PROPER ANIMAL ADVOCACY AND ANIMAL WELFARE.
UH, IN SUMMARY, D A S IS AT CAPACITY.
THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES RIGHT NOW AND WE NEED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.
THERE ARE OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECTS, HOMELESSNESS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OF COURSE, AND OUR STREETS, BUT THIS IS ALSO CRITICAL, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU WOULD'VE GOTTEN THIS HANDOUT PREVIOUSLY WHEN ZACH SPOKE A FEW, UH, SPEAKERS AGO.
MY NAME'S BILL PARKER AND I'M WITH THE FRIENDS OF WHITE WALK CREEK TRAIL.
UH, THE HANDOUT WILL GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE REASONS WHY WE THINK THAT THE TASK FORCE SHOULD STRONGLY SUPPORT FUNDING THE WHITE WALK CREEK TRAIL UPGRADE.
BUT TONIGHT I WANNA TALK ABOUT THREE TRAIL SAFETY FACTORS, TRAIL WITH SURFACE DISREPAIR AND SILT BUILDUP.
FIRST, MOST OF THE WHITE ROCK CREEK TRAIL IS EIGHT FEET WIDE VERSUS THE CURRENT STANDARD OF 12 TO 15 FEET.
COMBINE THAT WITH THE DISREPAIR OF THE SURFACE AND THE USABLE WIDTH OF MANY PARTS OF THE TRAIL IS EVEN, IS EVEN NARROWER.
SIR, CYCLISTS THAT ARE GOING 15, 20 MILES AN HOUR OR MORE ARE ATTRACTED TO OUR TRAIL BECAUSE THERE IS NO CROSSING STREET TRAFFIC,
[00:40:01]
A WIDER TRAIL WILL BE INHERENTLY SAFER, PARTICULARLY WHEN CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ARE COMBINED.IN THE ALMOST 40 YEARS SINCE THE TRAIL WAS BUILT, LAYERS OF SILT HAVE ACCUMULATED TO THE POINT WHERE SPOTS OF THE TRAIL ARE NOW UP TO TWO FEET BELOW THE CURRENT GRADE.
THIS MEANS THAT EVEN A MODEST RAIN CAN LEAVE SECTIONS MUDDY AND SLICK.
IN YOUR HANDOUT ON PAGE THREE, THERE'S AN IMAGE OF AN AMBULANCE ATTENDING TO A RIDER THAT SLIPPED ON THE TRAIL.
NO STATS ARE KEPT, BUT WE KNOW OF AT LEAST THREE AMBULANCE CALLS SO FAR THIS YEAR.
NOW THE TRAIL IS MOSTLY IN A FLOOD PRONE AREA.
THAT'S NOT REALLY A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE NOW KNOW HOW TO BUILD TRAILS THAT ARE BETTER COEXIST WITH NATURE.
BEING IN A FLOOD PRONE AREA IS A BENEFIT BECAUSE IT MEANS PEOPLE ARE CLOSER TO NATURE IN THE 800 ACRES OF CREEK AND NATURE RESERVE THAT SURROUNDS THE TRAIL.
EVEN WITH THESE CURRENT ISSUES, THIS IS THE MOST HEAVILY USED BIKE TRAIL IN THE PARK SYSTEM AND OVER 620,000 RIDERS IN 2020, WHICH IS THE LAST YEAR THAT WE HAVE STATS FOR.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE TRAIL FOR ITS FULL $8 MILLION FUNDING AND IT WILL BE A GREAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
BRENDA, BRENDA, I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT FEW SPEAKERS AS WELL.
UM, ERIN GUAS, MAURICE WEST SHELBY, UM, BOBOWSKI, LISA FAULKNER DUNE AND HECTOR GARCIA.
THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
I WORK FOR UNITED WAY DALLAS AND I'M ACTUALLY GONNA TURN MY TIME OVER TO CHRIS KLEINER, WHO IS A DONOR AND SUPPORTER OF UNITED WAY DALLAS WITH HIS WIFE.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 12 AND I'VE BEEN A DALLAS RESIDENT SINCE 1992.
I'M C E O OF HUNT REALTY INVESTMENTS BASED HERE IN DALLAS, AND ONE OF MY PASSIONS IS SERVING ON THE BOARD AT AUSTIN STREET CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS.
AS YOU KNOW, ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, AUSTIN STREET SHELTERS 400 INDIVIDUALS, AND YET IT DOES SO MUCH MORE FOR THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY.
AUSTIN STREET'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE HOPE, HEALING AND HOME.
AS YOU KNOW, FACILITATING THE TRANSITION BACK INTO A HOME HAS GOTTEN MUCH MORE DIFFICULT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
DALLAS AND THE METROPLEX HAVE BEEN THE BENEFICIARIES OF INWARD MIGRATION BECAUSE OF OUR HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE AND LOW COST OF LIVING.
HOWEVER, THIS TRUTH IS CHANGING AND DOING SO AT A RAPID PACE.
INWARD MIGRATION HAS CREATED INCREASED DEMAND FOR AVAILABLE HOUSING, THEREBY DRIVING UP RENTAL AND OWNERSHIP COSTS.
DEVELOPERS HAVE ALSO SEEN CONSTRUCTION COSTS GO UP AND INTEREST RATES RISE TO THE POINT THAT IT'S SEVERELY IMPACTING THE AMOUNT AND THE ABILITY TO COST EFFECTIVELY DEVELOP AFFORDABLE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND APARTMENTS.
THESE ISSUES ARE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A MASSIVE RENTAL HOUSING SUPPLY GAP OF 33,000 UNITS AND GROWING TO 80,000 BY 2030 IF LEFT UNCHECKED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE SEEING HOW FAILURE TO OFFER AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS IS SQUEEZING OUT THE CRITICAL WORKFORCE EMPLOYEES FROM CITIES INTO THE SUBURBS.
PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN.
HELP ADDRESS THIS CRITICAL SUPPLY GAP ISSUE BY ALLOCATING $35 MILLION FOR HOMELESS SOLUTIONS AND $200 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS MONEY IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF OUR GREAT CITY.
DALLAS'S FUTURE IS TIED TO SOLVING THIS CHALLENGE.
MY SINCERE THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR BEING PART OF THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT SOLUTION.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR VOLUNTEERISM AND ALL OF YOUR HELP.
YOU'VE GOT A BIG DECISION TO MAKE WITH ALL THESE AMAZING REQUESTS.
I'M A DALLAS RESIDENT AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER COMMISSION.
PART OF MY DAY JOB IS TO TOUR SHELTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR DALLAS RESIDENTS WHO NEED AND DESERVE A FUNCTIONING ANIMAL SHELTER.
UM, DUE TO NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN, UH, UNFORTUNATELY THE BOND PROCESS HAS ALL BUT EXCLUDED DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT DALLAS NEEDS TO FUND
[00:45:01]
A NEW ANIMAL SHELTER.DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES IS THE ONLY DALLAS SHELTER REQUIRED TO TAKE EVERY ANIMAL THAT HAS DROPPED OFF IN ITS CARE.
SO RACHEL TALKED ABOUT THOUSANDS OF ROOSTERS, LIVESTOCK DOGS, CATS, EVEN TWO TIGERS THAT HAVE, THAT THEY'VE RECENTLY CARED FOR.
THE SHELTER IS CURRENTLY OVER CAPACITY BY 147%.
THEY'RE AT 447 DOGS TODAY AND OVER 500 IN, UH, FOSTER.
IT WAS DESIGNED 20 YEARS AGO AND THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS OUTGROWN IT COMPLETELY.
THE ANIMAL SHELTER HAS LIMITS ON CAPACITY, ON DRAINAGE, ON SPACE.
WE SIT ON ONE ACRE AND THERE'S NO UPWARD OR OUTWARD GROWTH.
I WAS THERE RECENTLY AND THE ENTIRE ADOPTIONS TEAM DOING THEIR BEST TO TRY TO GET EVERY SINGLE DOG ADOPTED WAS HOVERING IN A CLOSET.
THERE'S AN URGENCY OF ADDRESSING CRITICAL NEEDS OF THE PETS IN DALLAS AND THE CITIZENS THAT OWN THEM.
AND AS ANIMAL SERVICES WAS NOT ADDED TO THE CITYWIDE SURVEY, WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD'VE RANKED.
BUT IN A RECENT STUDY, OVER 67% OF PEOPLE STATED THAT THE RESEARCH IN HOW CITIES TREAT THEIR ANIMALS EVEN BEFORE THEY MOVE THERE, SAN ANTONIO HAS A NEW SHELTER, AUSTIN HOUSTON FORT WORTH, AND IT SHOWS THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEIR CITIZENS CARE ABOUT ANIMALS.
UM, ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY, 64% OF DALLAS SITES OWN PETS, 64%, BUT YET ANIMAL SERVICES WAS LEFT OFF THE SURVEY.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER WHAT OUR CITIZENS WANT A NEW ANIMAL SHELTER.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF OUR D A S EMPLOYEES.
THEY WORK SO HARD TO ADOPT FOSTER AND RESCUE, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM.
THANK YOU LISA FAULKNER DOON NOT PRESIDENT.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE DOG PROJECT, WHICH IS A LOCAL RESCUE, AND I'M ALSO THE DISTRICT 12 REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DALLAS ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
AS SHELBY SAID, WE DON'T REALLY EVEN KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE REALLY WENT TO THE DALLAS ANIMAL SHELTER BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T EVEN GIVEN THAT OPTION WHEN THE POLL WAS TAKEN.
UM, BUT I'M IN THE DALLAS SHELTER OFTEN I KNOW THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACED BY STAFF AT THIS OUTDATED FACILITY.
IT WAS NOT DESIGNED AS AN ADOPTION CENTER.
AND THE OPEN LAYOUT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR QUARANTINE OF SICK ANIMALS, WHICH ARE BOTH HUGE ISSUES FOR TRYING TO GET ANIMALS OUT THE DOOR.
POTENTIAL ADOPTERS TURNED TO MORE WELCOMING FACILITIES THAT OTHER NEWLY DESIGNED MUNICIPAL OR PRIVATE SHELTERS.
GARLAND IS BUILT A BEAUTIFUL SHELTER RESULTING IN EVEN MORE OVERCROWDING, FEWER ADOPTIONS, AND THE NEED TO MAKE DRASTIC DECISIONS WHEN THE ILLNESS BREAKS OUT AS IT DID IN 2022.
RESCUES WERE HESITANT TO PULL DOGS AS THEY THREW THE SICK DOGS AND SPREAD CARBO TOPER CANINE GLUE TO THEIR OWN PETS AND FOSTER FAMILY PETS.
THAT RESULTED IN EVEN MORE DOGS BEING EUTHANIZED BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THEM OUT.
THE NEW FACILITY WOULD FEATURE FIVES OF EIGHT DOGS.
SO IF THE DOG BECOMES ILL, ONLY THE DOGS IN THEIR POD OF EIGHT WOULD BE EXPOSED.
RIGHT NOW, ALL 400 DOGS COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME ILL FROM ONE SICK DOG COMING IN THE DOOR.
AND OBVIOUSLY SICK DOGS COME IN THE DOOR BECAUSE WE CAN'T TURN ANYONE DOWN.
DALLAS IS A WORLD-CLASS CITY WITH AN AN AVERAGE OF 300 PEOPLE PER DAY MOVE HERE MANY WITH THAT WE DESERVE A WORLD-CLASS ANIMAL SHELTER.
I ASK THAT YOU RECOMMEND THE NEW D D I S FACILITY TO INCLUDE IN WITH 2024 ON PACKAGE AND LOOK AT WHERE, HOW WE TREAT OUR ANIMALS.
UH, THE WAY THAT PEOPLE, THE WAY THAT CITIES TREAT THEIR ANIMALS.
IT'S DEFINITELY A REFLECTION OF THEIR CHARACTER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING.
WE KNOW IT'S A TOUGH DECISION.
I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT FEW NAMES AS WELL.
CHRIS LUNA, UH, MARIANNA VER, UM, ARCHIBALD, BEATRICE MARTINEZ, APRIL ALLEN AND LILY WEISS.
MR. CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE.
I'M HECTOR GARCIA, DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC SERVICES AT THE AT AND T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR AT LEAST 6% OF THE 2024 TOTAL BOND PROGRAM FOR THE CULTURE FACILITIES OR, UH, PROPOSITION F.
WHEN YOU THINK OF THE AT AND T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, YOU PROBABLY THINK OF GRAND OPERA AND BALLET AND THE BIG BROADWAY SHOWS COMING THROUGH IN THE MAJOR, MAJOR ARTISTS.
UH, BUT WHAT YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IS THAT THROUGH OUR PROGRAM, THE ELEVATOR PROJECT, THE CENTER IS ALSO AN INCUBATOR FOR SMALL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE EMERGING IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
MOST OF THESE ARE ETHNIC FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS FROM HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
THEY PERFORM IN OUR SMALL BLACK BOX THEATERS,
[00:50:01]
FLEXIBLE SPACES INSIDE THE WIND SPEAR AND THE WILEY OR HAMMOND HALL AND, AND THE STUDIO THEATER AND THE WILEY.UM, IN ONE OF MY ROLES AS THE PRODUCER OF ELEVATOR PROJECT, I SEE FIRSTHAND THE INCREDIBLE CREATIVE CHURN.
WE'RE ENTERING OUR NINTH SEASON WITH THIS PROJECT.
BETWEEN JANUARY AND JUNE, WE WILL HAVE EIGHT FULL PRODUCTIONS, AT LEAST 40 PERFORMANCES, MOST OF WHICH WILL BE SOLD OUT.
AND THEY'RE TELLING THE STORIES THAT NEED TO BE TOLD.
IN THE CITY OF DALLAS THAT OFTEN HAVEN'T BEEN HEARD.
THESE SMALL VENUES CREATE, FILL A CRITICAL ROLE FOR THE SMALL ARTS GROUPS BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY PERFORMANCE SPACES IN THE DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT.
AND THERE ARE NO OTHER SPACES IN THE DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT OR EVEN REALLY IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS THAT CAN FULFILL THAT NEED FOR THESE GROUPS.
WE WORK HARD TO TAKE CARE OF THESE SPACES YEAR IN, YEAR OUT, BUT OUR VENUES WERE BUILT OVER 15 YEARS AGO AND ALL THOSE SYSTEMS ARE AGING OUT, LIGHTING, RIGGING, SOUND ROOFS, THE HVAC AND THE WINDSCREEN, AND THE WILEY ALL AGING OUT THE ELEVATORS THAT GET YOU UP TO THE SIXTH FLOOR STUDIO THEATER AGING OUT.
AND WHEN THEY GET STUCK AND BROKEN WITH PEOPLE IN THEM, SOMETIMES EVERYTHING HAS TO STOP.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO MAJOR REPAIRS AND UPDATES AND REPLACEMENTS LIKE THESE, WE NEED FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, OUR PARTNER TO STEP IN WITH BOND PROGRAMS. THIS IS WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR AT LEAST 6% OF THE TOTAL BOND PACKAGE FOR THE CULTURAL FACILITIES.
IT WILL ONLY ADDRESS A SMALL PORTION OF THE $120 MILLION CRITICAL NEEDS INVENTORY, BUT IT'LL GO A LONG WAY.
WE REQUEST 6% OF THE BOND PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOND TASK FORCE.
AND LET ME FIRST THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOND TASK FORCE.
WHEN I WAS ON THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, I HELPED DEVELOP THE BOND PROGRAM AND SO UNDERSTAND COMPETING NEEDS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK TO BALANCE THOSE COMPETING NEEDS.
I'M CHRIS LUNA, BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE DALLAS THEATER CENTER.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT AT LEAST 6% OF THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM BE ASSIGNED TO CULTURAL FACILITIES.
AS YOU KNOW, DALLAS HAS A DIVERSE AND VIBRANT CULTURAL COMMUNITY.
THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE HAS 15 VENUES ALL OWNED BY THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THESE FACILITIES IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, GENERATE ECONOMIC IMPACT, SUPPORT THOUSANDS OF JOBS, AND BRING T TO TOWN.
BUT NONE OF THAT HAPPENS IF THE BUILDINGS ARE NEGLECTED AND FALLING APART.
ONE OF THE VENUES THAT DALLAS THEATER CENTER PERFORMS IN IS HISTORICALLY THE HUMPHREYS THEATER DESIGNED BY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, AN ARCHITECTURAL GYM, BUT ONE THAT IS DEEPLY SIED FROM NEGLECT.
IT NEEDS NEW HVAC, A ROOF LIGHTS, SEATS, A D A A D A ACCESS.
THERE'S MOLD GROWING BACKSTAGE DUE TO FAILING PLUMBING INFRASTRUCTURE.
ARTISTS AND AUDIENCE ARE USING THIS THEATER NOW, AND PLEASE COME SEE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.
AND WE NEED THESE VITAL REPAIRS TO KEEP IT CLEAN AND SAFE.
WE ALSO USE THE WILEY THEATER, AGAIN, ANOTHER ARCHITECTURAL GYM, BUT IT WAS BUILT 15 YEARS AGO AND ITS SYSTEMS ARE ALSO AGING OUT AND NEEDS, UPDATES, REPAIRS, AND REPLACEMENTS.
FOR INSTANCE, THE ELEVATORS IN THE WILEY, WE CAN'T GET TO OUR THEATERS, OUR COSTUME SHOP OFFICES WITHOUT THEM.
BUT THESE WORK CORE SYSTEMS ARE AT REPLACEMENT AGE.
THEY'RE STRUCK, THEY'RE STUCK MORE FREQUENTLY AND HAVE BECOME UNRELIABLE.
ALL OF THE VENUES AND THE CULTURAL FACILITIES BOND PROGRAM ARE LIKE THIS.
THEY NEED CRITICAL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS.
NO NEW CONSTRUCTION, JUST TAKING CARE OF WHAT WE GOT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL ART SUPPORTERS IN THE AUDIENCE AND ASK THAT THEY WOULD PLEASE STAND UP, UH, TO SHOW YOU, UH, THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS.
AND IN CLOSING, WE ASK THAT AT LEAST 6% OF THE BOND FOR CULTURAL FACILITIES.
PLEASE THANK YOU AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR GREAT CITY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MARIANA ARCHIBALD AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR.
AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER, I GET EXCITED WHEN I COME ACROSS MULTIFACETED PROJECTS THAT AREN'T AFRAID TO TAKE ON SOME OF OUR MOST PRESSING ISSUES AND WORK WITH NATURE IN ORDER TO DO SO.
THIS IS WHY I AM THRILLED TO BE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE ALLOTMENT FOR PARKS IN THE BOND DISCUSSIONS AND ADVOCATING SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DALLAS WATER COMMONS, A BOLD URBAN WETLAND AND PARK PROJECT THAT SETS A NEW BAR FOR HOW CITIES CAN FACE URBAN DEVELOPMENT WITH NATURE-BASED INFRASTRUCTURE.
PROTECTING OUR CITY AGAINST FUTURE CLIMATE DISASTERS IS CRUCIAL, AND DOING THIS THROUGH RESILIENT DESIGN IS VERY IMPORTANT.
HOWEVER, SMART RESILIENT DESIGN GOES BEYOND THAT AND ACTIVELY SERVES AND IMPROVES THE COMMUNITY
[00:55:01]
EVEN WHEN WE'RE NOT FACING A CLIMATE DISASTER.THIS IS, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE DALLAS WATER COMMONS DOES.
IT NOT ONLY STRENGTHENS THE WORK OF DALLAS WATER UTILITIES TO PROTECT THE CITY AGAINST EXTREME PRECIPITATION EVENTS, BUT IT ALSO CREATES AN INTERACTIVE NATURAL PARK THAT EDUCATES THE PUBLIC THROUGH AN URBAN WATER LAB ENCOURAGES DYNAMIC NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS AND CLEANS OUR AIR AND WATER EACH AND EVERY DAY.
THROUGH THIS PROJECT, DALLAS HAS THE PRIVILEGE OF NOT ONLY INSPIRING, BUT EDUCATING OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ON HOW TO MOVE BEYOND CONVENTIONAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND IMPLEMENT AN INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE NATURE-BASED SOLUTION THAT BRINGS WITH IT SO MANY OTHER CO-BENEFITS.
AGAIN, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE ALLOTMENT FOR PARKS IN THE BOND DISCUSSIONS, AND SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DALLAS WATER COMMONS.
THIS PARK PROJECT POSITIONS DALLAS AS A REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEADER IN INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS WATER REMEDIATION, EDUCATION AND RECREATION IN A COMPELLING WAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BEATRICE AL, ALMA MARTINEZ, NOT PRESENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LENDING YOUR TIME AND TALENT TO THIS, UH, COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR VOLUNTEERISM AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS APRIL ALLEN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE IN OAK CLIFF.
I'M ALSO PRESIDENT AND C E O AT SOUTHERN GATEWAY PARK DALLAS'S NEXT DECK PARK OVER I 35 E IN OAK CLIFF.
AND I'M ALSO CO-FOUNDER AND TRUSTEE OF THE DALLAS PARKS COALITION AT THE DALLAS PARKS COALITION.
WE ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING DALLAS GREENER AND GREATER.
WE KNOW THAT PARKS MEAN MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVED HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR NEARBY RESIDENTS, AND REDUCTION IN URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS.
THAT'S WHY WE SUPPORT FULLY FUNDING THE PARKS BOND TASK FORCE REQUEST FOR 399 MILLION IN THIS BOND ELECTION.
IF YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT SUPPORTING THE PARKS BOND REQUEST A PARK OR TRAIL, PLEASE STAND UP.
I KNOW WE LOST SOME FOLKS EARLIER, BUT THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ALL FOR BEING HERE AND SHOWING THAT DALLAS RESIDENTS SUPPORT PARKS.
I THINK ALL OF US RECOGNIZE THAT LIVING NEAR PARKS IS A GOOD THING.
IT GIVES OUR KIDS A PA PLACE TO PLAY.
REC CENTERS PROVIDE GREAT PROGRAMMING CLASSES, AFFORDABLE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER CAMPS THAT MY KIDS ATTEND.
AND MANY OF OUR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PARKS LIKE THE DALLAS ZOO, CLYDE WARREN, AND SOON SOUTHERN GATEWAY PROVIDE GREAT ENTERTAINMENT CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EXCITING NEW PROGRAMS ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT ON A HOT SUMMER AFTERNOON, BEING IN A SHADY PARK IS SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE THAN HOT ASPHALT.
BY FULLY FUNDING THIS BOND REQUEST, YOU'D BE EXPANDING AND IMPROVING EXISTING PARKS AND ADDING NEW ONES, MAKING PARKS AND THEIR PROGRAMMING MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL DALLAS RESIDENTS, AND THEREFORE, MULTIPLYING THESE BENEFITS CITYWIDE WITH MORE PEOPLE OUTSIDE EXERCISING.
HEALTH OUTCOMES IMPROVE, PLANTING MORE TREES PROVIDE SHADE AND REDUCTION IN CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS.
AND PAST STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON PARKS IS RETURNED SEVEN FOLD IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I HOPE YOU'LL KEEP THESE GREAT BENEFITS IN MIND AND VOTE TO FULLY FUND THE PARKS REQUEST FOR 399 MILLION, INCLUDING SKATE PARKS FOR KIDS LIKE JULIAN.
IF YOU DO, YOU'LL BE HELPING US MAKE DALLAS GREENER AND GREATER.
AND I'LL NAME OFF THE NEXT FEW SPEAKERS.
AYA OXENDINE, PHILLIP KINGSTON, STEPHANIE CHAMPION, COLIN FITZGIBBONS AND BILLY LANE.
I'M LILY WEISS AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT AND DISTRICT 14.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AGAIN FOR YOUR HARD WORK TOWARDS THIS 2024 BOND.
THERE IS A TREMENDOUS NEED FOR INFRAS INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT IN THE ARTS DISTRICT, MUCH OF WHICH STATES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SUZAKI PLAN.
THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE NEW CONNECT MASTER PLAN IN 2021, AND THIS REQUEST FOLLOWS THE PRIORITY OBJECTIVES IN THAT PLAN.
ONE OF THESE GOALS IS TO REINVIGORATE FLORIST STREET AS THE CULTURAL CORE OF THE DISTRICT AND TO CREATE A SAFE, A D A ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN FACT, IF YOU TRY TO GUIDE A WHEELCHAIR THROUGH THESE AREAS, FOR EXAMPLE, ON PEARL STREET BESIDE THE MYERSON SYMPHONY CENTER, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SMALL SQUARE PAVERS NO LONGER REQUIRED IN THE CONNECT MASTER PLAN AND THE EXTREME VERTICAL
[01:00:01]
MISALIGNMENTS IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS THAT CREATE A SAFETY ISSUE.WE INITIALLY SUBMITTED A SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER REQUEST, BUT HAVE AMENDED OUR ASK TO PRIORITIZE AND FOCUS ON THE GOAL OF CRITICAL NEEDS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS IMPORTANT INVESTMENT OF 8.5 MILLION IN CITYWIDE STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE BOND FUNDS IN THE DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES 1.7 MILLION FOR OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY SIDEWALKS.
WEARING MY HAT AS AN ART SUPPORTER, I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT AT LEAST 6% FUNDING FOR THE ART OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE TOWARD CRITICAL ARTS FACILITIES IN NEED OF SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS, UPGRADES AND REPLACEMENTS.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE ARTS FACILITIES IN A BOND PROGRAM SINCE 2006.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE ARTS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS REFLECTS NEARLY 900 MILLION.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SUPPORT.
I, UH, OXEN NOT PRESIDENT, PHILLIP KINGSTON.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, THANKS FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.
YOUR TASK FORCE IS, UH, FORMIDABLE, A VERY, VERY GOOD GROUP.
SO I FEEL SURE THAT YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNSEL PROBABLY JUST SAIL THROUGH WITH NO AMENDMENTS,
UM, I AM HERE, UH, ON THE, ON BEHALF OF THE DOWING DALLAS HOUSING COALITION.
UM, THERE'S FAIRLY BROAD AGREEMENT AMONG PEOPLE WHO STUDY SUCH THINGS THAT, UH, LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DALLAS IS ACTUALLY THE NUMBER ONE THREAT TO THE HEALTH OF OUR CITY AND THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS.
UM, AND SO I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE ENTIRE HOUSING AMOUNT.
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME PROJECTS I'M WORKING ON RECENTLY, THE THE CYPRESS CREEK PROJECT IN IN DISTRICT 10 AND THE CABANA HOTEL PROJECT IN DISTRICT SIX.
THESE ARE TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO PROVIDE WELL OVER A HUNDRED DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS.
THE 30% A M I, THE 50% A M I UNITS THAT GO DOWN TO LESS THAN $500 A MONTH FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED THAT.
UM, I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THIS HAS NOT BEEN COVERED IN THE NEWS THAT ALONG WITH MY PARTNER MELISSA KINGSTON, WE INVEST IN SMALL INFILL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WITH A FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
OVER 50% OF OUR UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE AND THERE IS CURRENTLY ONLY A BRAND NEW PROGRAM FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS TO SUPPORT SMALL DEVELOPERS LIKE US TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ALL PREVIOUS INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN FOR MUCH LARGER DEVELOPERS.
I HAVE SEEN THE PROFORMAS OF THE BIG PROJECTS AND THE SMALL PROJECTS, AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO FILL THE GAP TO PROVIDE ACTUAL AFFORDABLE UNITS.
WITHOUT THIS BOND FUNDING, WE WILL RUN OUT, USED PROPERLY, $200 MILLION, WILL LEVERAGE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AFFORDABLE UNITS.
UH, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
LASTLY, SINCE I HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT, I ALSO WANT THIS SKATE PARK AT GLENCO PARK
IT'S THE, IT'S THE SMALLEST ONE BEING PROPOSED.
IT'S LIKE $500,000 AND IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
CAN I GET A PICTURE OF MY SKATERS?
GOOD EVENING TASK FORCE MEMBERS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY.
MY NAME IS BILLY LANE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE INNER CITY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK.
UH, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE AND I'M ALSO, UH, ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION.
UH, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST $200 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, AS ECHOED BY MR. KINGSTON.
UH, WANT THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION TO, TO STAND BEHIND ME.
SO, REAL QUICKLY, UM,
THAT IS THE IMPORTANT THING TO UNDERSTAND.
WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE PREPARED AND THAT ARE READY TO GO AND IN NEED OF THIS FUNDING RIGHT NOW.
NUMBER TWO, CDCS LIKE I C D C ALSO HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE PREPARED TO ADDRESS
[01:05:01]
THE GREATEST NEED, UH, AS IT RELATES TO AFFORDABILITY IN OUR CITY, WHICH IS HOUSEHOLDS, 50% TO 80% OF A M I.THAT IS THE GREATEST NEED ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH WE HAVE.
UH, AND OTHER PROJECTS ARE COMING ONLINE TO ADDRESS THAT SAME NEED.
NUMBER THREE, THERE WE ARE AT A 8,000 UNIT DEFICIT.
IF YOU JUST CONSIDER THE 50% TO 80% A M I OF HOUSEHOLDS WHO WANT OWNERSHIP.
WE ARE AT A 8,000 UNIT DEFICIT.
LASTLY, THESE ARE NOT STARTER HOMES.
THE HOMES THAT CDCS BUILD, THEY'RE NOT STARTER HOMES.
A LADY CAME TO ME, UH, A FEW WEEKS AGO, SHE'S BEEN IN ONE OF OUR HOMES FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
SHE SAYS, I PAID OFF MY SOFT LENGTH.
WHAT DO I DO? I SAID, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? SHE SAYS, I WANT TO STAY IN MY COMMUNITY IN SOUTH DALLAS.
WE ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT OUR REQUEST FOR $200 MILLION.
THE NEXT SET OF SPEAKERS, NEXT SET OF SPEAKERS ARE LISA MARSHALL, VALERIE BALLARD, AUTUMN GARRISON, MARK ISHMAEL, AND BARBARA COHEN.
I'M AUTUMN GARRISON, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT THE AT T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR AT LEAST 6% OF THE BOND PROGRAM TO GO TO THE CITY OWNED CULTURAL VENUES, AND THAT INCLUDES OUR VENUES AT THE CENTER.
I'M HOPING YOU'VE BEEN TO SEE SHOWS IN THE WIND SPEAR WILEY OR STRAU SQUARE FILLED WITH AUDIENCES.
BUT I ALSO WANTED YOU TO KNOW HOW HEAVILY UTILIZED THESE BUILDINGS ARE FOR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, MOST OF WHICH WE OFFER FOR FREE.
THESE BUILDINGS ARE TRULY WORKHORSES.
WE BRING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS TO OUR CAMPUS EACH YEAR, AND THESE STUDENTS DO SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST SEE SHOWS.
THEY LEARN FROM TEACHING ARTISTS.
THEY LEARN ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF THE ARTS.
WE TEACH THEM HOW TO BUILD SETS, RUN A SOUNDBOARD AND DESIGN SCENERY AND LIGHTING PLOTS, OFFERING HANDS-ON CLASSES AND JOB TRAINING.
WE HAVE A GROWING BALLET FOLKLORICO COMPETITION FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
OUR YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE TEACHES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH THE ARTS AND HAS FEATURED MICHELLE OBAMA, SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, AND TV PRODUCER WENDY CALHOUN.
AS SPEAKERS, WE PRESENT STEAM CAMPS TO TEACH HOW THE ARTS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF STEAM EDUCATION.
WE HAVE A SOUND STUDIO IN THE WILEY, WHERE LOCAL ARTISTS RECORD VIDEOS THAT SHOW OFF THEIR WORK ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
WE PRESENT SEVERAL FREE FESTIVALS ON OUR CAMPUS, SUCH AS LAI DODD TWO WEEKS AGO, WHICH HIGHLIGHTED LATIN AMERICAN CULTURES AND ATTRACTED 3000 PEOPLE.
BUT ALL OF THIS TAKES A TOLL ON OUR BUILDINGS.
WE WORK TO CARE FOR THESE ALL YEAR, BUT AFTER 15 YEARS, IT'S TIME TO REPLACE AND REPAIR AGING SYSTEMS BEFORE THEY FALL INTO DISREPAIR.
THESE ARE BUILDINGS OUR CITY TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN.
LET'S KEEP THEM IN SHAPE BY DEDICATING AT LEAST 6% TO THE 2024 BOND FOR CULTURAL VENUES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UH, THE NEXT SET OF SPEAKERS ARE LISA MARSHALL, JOHN O. CALLAHAN, SCOTT GUN GUNTHER, SORRY.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF LYRIC STAGE.
WE ARE A 30 YEAR OLD 5 0 1 C THREE NON-FOR-PROFIT THEATER COMPANY, AND OUR FOCUS IS, IS ON PRODUCING CLASSICAL MUSICALS FOR THE STAGE.
[01:10:01]
OUR CURRENT HOME, UH, FOR PERFORMANCES IS THE MAJESTIC THEATER.THIS IS A CITY OWNED AND OPERATED VENUE ON ELM STREET.
AS YOU KNOW, THE MAJESTIC IS A PRIZED POSSESSION OF DALLAS STANDING FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AND HOSTING GREATS LIKE JIMMY STEWART AND EVEN HARRY HOUDINI OVER THE YEARS.
RECENTLY, LYRIC STAGES PRODUCED SHOWS LIKE CABARET AIDA, MAMA MIA NAVITA, BUT THE MAJESTIC IS IN SERIOUS NEED OF HELP.
THE LAST RENOVATION THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE MAJESTIC WAS IN 1983.
SINCE THAT TIME, UH, NO SUBSTANTIAL FUNDS HAD BEEN SPENT ON THE CULTURAL VENUES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 2006 BOND, AND THE MAJESTIC RECEIVED A SMALL AMOUNT AT THAT TIME.
THE MAJESTIC NEEDS NEW SEATING.
IT NEEDS A MODERN ELEVATOR IN ITS LOBBY.
IT NEEDS RESTROOM WORK, IT NEEDS ROOFING REPAIRS, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER FINISH OUT THROUGH THE VENUE TO MAINTAIN THIS A HUNDRED YEAR OLD VENUE.
THESE ARE NOT NEW ITEMS OR ADDITIONS.
THESE ARE SIMPLY MAINTENANCE NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN DEFERRED AS BUDGETS HAVE BEEN STRETCHED THIN OVER THE YEARS.
I'M ASKING ON BEHALF OF THE DALLAS ARTS COMMUNITY THAT THE COMMITTEE PLEASE FUND THE, THE CULTURAL FACILITIES AT 6% OF THE OVERALL BOND PACKAGE.
PLEASE HELP US PRESERVE OUR HISTORICAL TREASURES, LIKE THE MAJESTIC THEATER.
I'M THE PRECINCT CHAIR FOR THAT AREA.
SO I REPRESENT ABOUT 2200 PEOPLE.
UM, I'M WANTING TO TALK ABOUT, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THE CANADA DRIVE STREET IMPROVEMENT, UH, FOR THE BOND PROJECT, BUT I WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD ADD SOMETHING TO IT.
MY CONCERN IS THAT CANADA DRIVE AND WEST ALLISON GENERAL HAS BECOME A PLACE FOR A LOT OF STREET RACING.
UM, WHERE I CURRENTLY LIVE AT 1903, THE SPEED LIMIT'S 35 MILES PER HOUR.
IT'S A SINGLE LANE GOING IN EACH DIRECTION, AND I CAN TELL YOU ROUTINELY EVERY SINGLE DAY, THE MINIMUM SPEEDS I'M WATCHING ARE PEOPLE GOING 50 TO 60 MILES AN HOUR, AND THEN IF RACING STARTS, IT'S EVEN FASTER.
UM, AND SO, UH, I'VE CALLED 9 1 1 MANY TIMES.
IT'S, IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CITY, WITH THE STREET RACING.
UM, AND I'M WANTING TO SEE IF WE CAN ADD IT TO THE CURRENT, UM, FLOOD PROTECTION AND STORM DRAINAGE AND STREET AND TRANSPORTATION THAT'S BEEN ALLOCATED.
IF WE COULD ADD SOME ROAD HUMPS TO PHYSICALLY SLOW PEOPLE DOWN, UM, OBVIOUSLY, UM, YOU KNOW, A STREET SIGN ISN'T WORKING.
I DON'T THINK LIGHTS WILL EVEN BE OF HELP, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, STREET LIGHTS.
I THINK ROAD HUMPS WILL BE PHYSICALLY WHAT WE NEED TO STOP THEM RACING AND DOING STUNTS IN THE STREETS.
UM, ANYONE CAN WALK DOWN OR DRIVE DOWN CANADA, DRIVE BETWEEN HAMPTON AND SYLVAN, AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE, THE SKID MARKS AND ALL THE, ALL THE ACTIVITY THAT GOES ON MOSTLY AT NIGHT.
UM, SO I WAS WANTING TO SEE IF WE COULD ADD ROAD HUMPS TO THE CANADA DRIVE PROJECT.
UH, KIDDE GERMA, I, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT SET OF NAMES REAL QUICK.
UH, JAMES PERKINS, JAYLENE, SALVADOR, TAMARA, UH, WOOTEN FORSYTH, AND THEN SARAH BETH MOFFITT.
I LIVE IN D 14, SPECIFICALLY IN EAST DALLAS, AND I'M A MEMBER OF SUNRISE MOVEMENT DALLAS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF US, WE'RE A LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE ACTION GROUP.
UH, WE RECENTLY WON FUNDING TO MAKE DART FREE FOR K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS BY GETTING FUNDING FROM BOTH THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BUT TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOUSING AND ABOUT COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS.
BEFORE I GO THERE, I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.
UM, I'M ORIGINALLY FROM AABA, ETHIOPIA, AND WHEN I WAS EIGHT, MY FAMILY MOVED TO DALLAS.
UH, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY.
UH, WE MOVED INTO A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT IN VICKERY MEADOW.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE VICKERY MEADOW IS, IT'S A LARGELY, UH, IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORHOOD IN LIKE NORTHEAST DALLAS, CLOSE TO 75.
UM, BUT, UH, AS I SAID BEFORE, WE DIDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH FUNDING.
UH, AND SO FOR A VERY LONG PERIOD OF TIME IN MY CHILDHOOD, WE STRUGGLED TO SECURE, UH, HOUSING.
UH, AND ONCE WE SECURED HOUSING, SOMETIMES WE, UH, STRUGGLED TO SECURE GAS OR WATER SOME MONTHS.
UM, AND SINCE THEN, THE HOUSING CRISIS IN OUR CITY HAS GOTTEN MORE DIRE AND MORE
[01:15:01]
DESPERATE.UH, WE ARE SHORT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF, UH, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, AND THIS BOND PROCESS AND OUR CITY COULD REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
UH, AND TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST PROGRAM THAT THE CITY HAS.
UH, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS ARE, UH, THERE A MECHANISM WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER AND CREATE COMMUNITY CONTROLLED HOUSING.
UH, SO IT'S NOT JUST UNITS, IT'S ALSO JUST LIKE CREATING COMMUNITY BONDS.
UH, AND IT WOULD PROVIDE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE DEMOCRATICALLY RUN HOUSING FOR TENANTS AND HOMEOWNERS.
UM, AS A ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, WE'RE ALSO DEEPLY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE RETROFITTED IN GREEN.
UH, AND SO WE RECENTLY LAUNCHED A PETITION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO REACHING OUT TO Y'ALL TO TALK FURTHER, UH, AS WELL AS CITY STAFF.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF SUNRISE MOVEMENT DALLAS.
UH, AND JUST TO REITERATE, WE ARE A YOUTH LED, UH, CLIMATE GROUP, UH, FOCUSED ON CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND SOLVING, UH, SOCIAL.
UH, UH, I ALSO, UH, UH, ORGANIZED WITH, UH, SEVERAL MUTUAL AID AND HARM REDUCTION GROUPS, UH, THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS IN DALLAS.
UM, EVERYTHING FROM, UH, NARCAN, CLEAN NEEDLES, CLOTHES, UM, FOOD AND, AND ESSENTIALLY ALL NIGHT LIFE NECESSITIES.
UH, WE ASSIST THE UNSHELTERED POPULATION WITH DALLAS WITH, UH, I I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT, UH, SIMPLY, UH, ASSISTING THEM WITH BASIC NECESSITIES IS TANTAMOUNT TO PUTTING OUT A FOREST FIRE WITH A WATER GUN.
UH, IT'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH TO ASSIST THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH BASIC NECESSITIES WITHOUT, UH, DOING, UH, EVERYTHING I CAN TO ALSO IMPACT POLICY AND PROGRAMS. AND AS SUCH, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST FUNDING FOR, UH, A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST PROGRAM THAT, UH, ENSURES THAT, UH, UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS AND PEOPLE OF LOW AND UH, MODERATE INCOME, UH, ARE PROVIDED HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE, THAT IS COMMUNITY CONTROLLED, UH, THAT IS GREEN.
AND, UM, AS SUCH, UH, WE REALLY REQUEST THAT YOU, UH, IN EARNEST TAKE OUR, OUR PLEA FOR THIS PROGRAM, UH, SERIOUSLY, AND, UH, PROVIDE US, UH, AND THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS, UH, THOSE THAT NEED IT MOST WITH A PROGRAM THAT WOULD TRULY, UH, TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES AND, UH, PROVIDE THEM WITH, WITH MORE THAN BASIC NECESSITIES.
UH, AND THAT'LL RESTORE THEIR DIGNITY AND, UM, THEIR, THAT WILL, UH, SHOW, UH, THE WORLD, THE, THE HUMANITY OF, UH, THE GREAT CITY OF DALLAS THAT WE ALL LOVE.
UH, SO, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MY NAME IS TAMARA WOOTEN FORSYTH.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10, AND I'M THE MARCUS ROSE FAMILY DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I HAVE SPENT THE LAST 23 YEARS OF MY CAREER AT THE D M A, INCLUDING THE LAST SIX, OVERSEEING D M A OPERATIONS.
IT IS FOR THAT REASON THAT I PERSONALLY FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO JOIN YOU TONIGHT TO SHARE JUST HOW CRITICAL OUR NEEDS ARE AT THE D M A, WHICH IS NOW APPROACHING OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY IN THE DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT.
LIKE SO MANY CITY OWNED FACILITIES ACROSS DALLAS, OUR BUILDING IS IN DIRE NEED OF REPAIR.
WHILE THE D M A IS KNOWN AS A BEAUTIFUL DESTINATION FOR A COMMUNITY AND FOR AUDIENCES ACROSS THE GLOBE, THE REALITY BEHIND THE SCENES IS THAT WE ARE MOVING CLOSER AND CLOSER TOWARDS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IF WE DO NOT TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES TO ADDRESS OUR FACILITY.
WITH THAT IN MIND, WE JOIN THE REST OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE ARTS TO REQUEST AT LEAST 6% OF THE BOND PACKAGE BE ALLOCATED TO ADDRESS EXISTING ARTS AND CULTURE FACILITIES ACROSS DALLAS, INCLUDING OUR NEEDS AT THE D M A.
THE D M A IS RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING $36 MILLION IN BOND FUNDS TO ADDRESS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS AND UPGRADES.
TO PAINT A PICTURE FOR YOU OF THE URGENCY BEHIND THIS REQUEST, ROUGHLY 25 MILLION OF THAT
[01:20:01]
WOULD GO DIRECTLY TOWARDS FIRE CONTROL AND SPRINKLERS ACROSS OUR BUILDING, OUR END OF LIFE HVAC SYSTEM AND SWITCHGEAR THAT IS CURRENTLY AT RISK OF FAILING.IF THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL BE FORCED TO STOP ALL OPERATIONS.
WE PLAN TO MATCH THE FUNDS REQUESTED FIVE TO ONE THROUGH A ROUGHLY $175 MILLION DONOR FUNDED CAMPAIGN TO RENOVATE AND MODERNIZE THE MUSEUM FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR VISITORS AND STAFF, AND THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD CLASS ART COLLECTION IN OUR CARE.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR REQUEST IN THE BOND PROGRAM AND FOR THE ENTIRE ARTS IN DALLAS.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND TO THE STAFF AS WELL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING DURING THIS.
SO WE'RE GONNA CIRCLE BACK TO SARAH BETH MOFFITT ONLINE.
CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME NOW? WE CAN, YOU CAN BEGIN.
I DIDN'T KNOW Y'ALL ARE VOLUNTEERS, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, MY NAME IS SARAHBETH MOFFITT AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.
WE ARE REQUESTING, UM, FUNDING FOR A PARK, UM, FOR ORBITER PARK TO, UM, TO PROVIDE A PLAYGROUND FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN A WALKING TRAIL AND A PAVILION.
UM, WE HAVE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, LIKE BY JANUARY, THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AT LEAST 10 CHILDREN BORN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE.
AND THERE ALREADY A TON OF YOUNG FAMILIES, UM, CURRENTLY HERE.
UM, WE'RE LOCATED BY AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BUT AS YOU KNOW OR MIGHT KNOW, UM, THAT PARK IS UNACCESSIBLE TO, UM, RESIDENTS FOR SAFETY, OUT OF CONCERN FOR THE, UM, SCHOOL CHILDREN.
UM, BUT WE WOULD JUST LOVE A PLACE TO GO.
AS YOU MIGHT RECALL FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD.
UM, A PARK IS A PLACE WHERE YOU LEARN A BUNCH OF LIFE LESSONS, HOW TO SHARE, UM, HOW TO PLAY, HOW TO ENJOY NATURE, DISCOVER BUGS.
UM, YOU MIGHT GET A FEW BUMPS OR BRUISES ALONG THE WAY, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.
AND, UM, WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU GIVE CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW IN THE COMMUNITY TO, UM, ENGAGE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
I'M A MOTHER OF FIVE CHILDREN, AND I CAN TELL YOU IT'S NICE TO BE OUT OF THE HOUSE WHERE I'M NOT LOOKING AT LAUNDRY PILES OR ASKING OR HAVING MY CHILDREN ASK ME FOR THE NEXT MEAL, BUT JUST, UM, ENJOYING SUNSHINE AND, UM, THE BIRDS CHIRPING.
AND SO, UM, WE WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO ALLOCATE, UM, A LARGE PORTION OF THE BUDGET AVAILABLE TO THAT SPECIFIC PARK IS A LOT OF PARKS ARE REQUESTING UPDATES, BUT THIS IS SPECIFICALLY, UM, A NEW BUILD WHERE CURRENTLY MANY NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES ARE OCCURRING.
AND WE KNOW THAT IF PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND OUT, UM, THAT WILL DETER CRIME THAT IS CURRENTLY, UM, GOING ON THERE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND YOU'LL HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR PARTICIPATION.
AND AGAIN, UH, YOU KNOW, SEEMS, YOU KNOW, KEEP ON EMPHASIZING, I THINK WE ARE HAVING, UH, ALL THESE, UH, TOWN HALLS IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS TOO.
SO I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE TO ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT AS WELL.
WITH THAT, UH, UH, IT'S 7 33 AND WE ADJOURN OUR, UH, DALLAS TASK FORCE MEETING.
UH, WE ADJOURN OUR MEETING TODAY.