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OKAY. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 5TH, 2024 PARKS, TRAILS AND THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING.[Park, Trails, and Environment Committee on February 5, 2024.]
I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 9:05.AND OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO APPROVE MINUTES TO HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE.
THANK YOU, PAULA. AND SECONDED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL GET UPDATES FROM BOTH GROUPS AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
WE ESPECIALLY WANT TO WELCOME LISA NEW, OUR NEW CEO OF THE DALLAS ZOO.
AND I THINK OUR FIRST PRESENTATION THIS MORNING.
RYAN, IS THAT RIGHT? EXCUSE ME, MR. O'CONNOR, IS THAT CORRECT? WE'VE GOT WITH THE THE DALLAS ZOO.
SO WE WILL INVITE YOU ALL TO COME DOWN.
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO SIT NEXT TO LISA NEW, AS YOU MENTIONED, OUR NEW ZOO DIRECTOR.
AND I'LL LET HER INTRODUCE HER TEAM, AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO THE PRESENTATION.
FIRST, I WANTED TO TELL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.
THANK YOU FOR NOTING THAT I'M THE FIRST FEMALE DIRECTOR IN 135 YEARS.
IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE.
I SPENT MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER AT THE KNOXVILLE ZOO IN TENNESSEE FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS AS THE CEO, AND, CAME TO DALLAS WAS EXCITED TO COME TO DALLAS, BECAUSE OF ALL THE THE INCREDIBLE INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION THAT THE DALLAS ZOO HAS.
I AM ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS. SO I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THAT BOARD.
AND THAT ORGANIZATION COMPRISES 250 ACCREDITED ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS IN 13 COUNTRIES.
AND SO WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME WORK HERE, IT WAS ONE THAT I COULDN'T OVERLOOK.
YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE ZOO IN YOUR CITY.
AND IT'S MADE IN PART BECAUSE THE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE THINGS THAT, THE INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY HAS MADE AND THE STRONG PARTNERSHIP THAT THAT THE ZOO HAS, WITH ALL OF YOU.
LET ME FIRST INTRODUCE, MY, TWO COUNTERPARTS WHO HAVE MUCH LONGER HISTORY HERE THAN ME.
WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN TO THE FIRST SLIDE.
JUST TO REMIND YOU, OF AND AGAIN, PART OF THE REASON WHY I WAS EXCITED TO COME.
THE OLDEST AND LARGEST ZOO IN TEXAS, ESTABLISHED IN 1888.
100,000 PLUS SCHOOL TICKETS ANNUALLY.
RECOGNIZED CONSISTENTLY AS A TOP TEN BEST ZOOS IN THE COUNTRY.
25% OF THOSE LIVE IN SOUTHERN DALLAS.
AND OVER LAST YEAR, OVER 100,000 FREE TICKETS AND 340,000 DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHO WE ARE.
AND NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SEAN, I BELIEVE.
I'VE BEEN AT THE ZOO SINCE 2007.
IT IS A, INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP.
GREAT ZOOS HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THEIR CITIES.
EVERY MAJOR CITY HAS A ZOO, A GREAT ZOO.
AND YOU LOOK AT THAT TIMELINE, IT'S MARKED BY SOME KEY MOMENTS FOR US IN 2006, THAT TRANSFORMATIONAL, BOND PROGRAM, CAPITAL BOND PROGRAM, MONEY THAT WENT TO SEED THE GIANTS OF THE SAVANNA HABITAT, ALONG WITH OUR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, WHICH FORMED IN 2009, HAS BEEN,
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FULL OF SUCCESSES THAT GIANTS OF THE SAVANNA HABITAT IS AWARD WINNING.IT TOOK THE ZOO INTO A DIFFERENT STRATOSPHERE.
WE BECAME A TOP TEN ZOO IN THE COUNTRY, RANKED, WHICH WAS REALLY EXCITING FOR US.
THAT WAS A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR US IN 2015 AND CONTINUED ALL THE WAY UNTIL COVID.
THE INFLUX OF THE THE BOND DOLLARS IN 2017.
WE'RE PROUD OF THAT. WE'RE PROUD ABOUT THE ANIMAL CARE, THE CONSERVATION THAT WE PROVIDE.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE NUMBERS BEAR OUT WHAT INCREDIBLE GROWTH WE'VE HAD.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IN 2005, THERE WAS 530,000 GUESTS COMING TO THE ZOO.
AND NOW, WE'RE PUSHING THE MILLION MARK EVERY YEAR, EVEN TOPPING OUT WELL ABOVE THAT PRE-COVID.
YOU LOOK AT THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE AT THE ZOO.
IN ADDITION, OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, WHEN YOU ADD ALL THAT UP, WE ALSO HAVE, HUGE THANKS AND GRATITUDE BECAUSE REALLY THAT THAT CATALYST WAS THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN 2009.
AFFORDABILITY, THAT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN WE ENTERED THAT PART, PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP IN 2009. THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, WE'VE HAD WELL OVER 447,000 PEOPLE COME INTO THE ZOO AT REDUCED ADMISSION.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT NEARLY HALF OF THE PEOPLE COMING TO THE ZOO OR COMING IN, AT LESS THAN $10 THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE HAD 10,000 PEOPLE THAT CAME TO THE ZOO. FOR THAT, THAT PRICE.
MY FAMILY AND I JUST WENT AND SAW A MOVIE RECENTLY.
WE STAYED AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES.
YOU CAN COME INTO THE ZOO AND STAY FOR 3.5 HOURS.
THAT'S OUR AVERAGE STAY, FOR LESS THAN THAN YOU CAN FOR GOING OUT TO THE MOVIES.
SO THE AFFORDABILITY PIECE IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY CAN COME.
WE DO $2 DAYS A YEAR WHERE WE HAVE 25 TO 30,000 PEOPLE, THAT ARE ATTENDING AT ONE TIME.
AND IT REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHARE ALL THAT THE ZOO HAS TO OFFER, WITH OUR GUESTS.
AND LAST YEAR, THAT EQUATED TO ABOUT $4.5 MILLION IN REDUCED ADMISSION.
I THINK WE'LL ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE IF WE COULD.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE HOSTED 12.
WE PARTNERED WITH BISHOP ARTS THEATER CENTER TO BRING NEW AUDIENCES OUT TO THE ZOO.
WE HAVE AN ONGOING ROLLOUT OF SPANISH LANGUAGE SIGNAGE AND PRINT MATERIALS.
MORE RECENTLY, OUR ENTIRE CONSERVATION ENGAGEMENT TEAM IS ENROLLED IN SECOND LANGUAGE COURSEWORK ON THE CLOCK SO THAT WE CAN BETTER CONNECT WITH AUDIENCES FOR WHOM ENGLISH MAY NOT BE THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE.
WE HAD 875 PARTICIPANTS WHO TOOK PLACE, WHO TOOK SORRY, WHO PARTICIPATED IN TAKE ACTION WEEKENDS SINCE 2019, WE'VE REMOVED 44,000 POUNDS OF TRASH FROM CITY OF DALLAS PARKS AND SEPARATELY FROM THOSE TAKE ACTION WEEKENDS, WE'VE PLANTED OVER 1,800 NATIVE POLLINATOR PLANTS WITH 700 VOLUNTEERS FROM THE OAK CLIFF NEIGHBORHOOD. ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH CITY OF DALLAS.
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COUNCIL DISTRICT DAYS GO ON YEAR ROUND.IN FALL OF 2023, WE OFFERED COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION TO THE ZOO ON DAYS SELECTED BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, WELCOMING RESIDENTS FROM DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, AND 14 TO THE ZOO.
ON OUR NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL DIVE INTO OUR PASSION FOR EDUCATION.
WE'VE HAD JUST UNDER 200 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN WILD EARTH PRESCHOOL SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
48% OF THOSE STUDENTS CAME FROM SOUTHERN DALLAS, AND THAT BROADER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SEEKS TO QUADRUPLE OUR PRESCHOOL OFFERINGS, AND WE'LL TAKE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT OUR DECADE LONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH BOTH BRYAN ADAMS IN DISTRICT TWO AND ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT FOUR.
THROUGH DISDS P-TECH PROGRAM, DALLAS ISD HAS 18 DESIGNATED P-TECH CAMPUSES.
STUDENTS CHOOSE A CAREER PATHWAY AND TAKE COURSES PROVIDING ACADEMIC AND TECHNICAL SKILLS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO EARN AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE WHILE COMPLETING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS.
WE HELPED TO STEER THIS PROGRAM AND HAVE BEEN AN INDUSTRY PARTNER FOR MANY YEARS NOW.
OUR NEXT SLIDE. YOU KNOW, THE FOCUS OF THIS $100 MILLION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN THAT IS ROLLING OUT NOW, IS IS ORGANIZED AROUND THREE PILLARS DISCOVERING WILDLIFE, INSPIRING GENERATIONS, AND CONNECTING COMMUNITIES.
WITHIN THOSE THREE PILLARS, CITY BOND REQUEST HELPS TO SUPPORT SOME SPECIFIC PROJECTS ON SAFARI TRAIL AND SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY AND SAFETY AND SECURITY THAT WE'RE PROUD TO SHARE TODAY WITH YOU.
ON OUR NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS JUST A VERY, VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE MASTER PLAN THAT WAS PRESENTED TO AND THEN ENDORSED BY CITY OF DALLAS IN 2019. AT THAT TIME, WE HAD ALREADY IDENTIFIED CHALLENGES IN THE FORM OF AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES TO DRIVE POSITIVE IMPACT INTO SOUTHERN DALLAS AND INTEGRATE WITH THE SOUTHERN GATEWAY PARK AS IT WAS DESIGNED AND CREATED.
THE BIGGEST PART OF THIS PROJECT THAT'S OUTLINED IN, THE SECTION MARKED NUMBER EIGHT AS PART OF THE CURRENT PHASE IS SAFARI TRAIL, WHICH WE OUTLINED IN THE NEXT SLIDE. NOT EVERYONE BELIEVES THAT WE ARE THE LARGEST ZOO IN TEXAS, PARTIALLY BECAUSE THE MONORAIL CLOSED IN 2021, AND THE HABITATS THAT PREVIOUSLY VIEWED FROM THE TRAIN HAVE BEEN CLOSED SINCE THAT TIME.
SAFARI TRAIL REACTIVATES 15 ACRES OF PARK LAND.
THIS IS A HALF MILE SAFARI LIKE WALKING TRAIL EXPERIENCE, PROVIDING NEW HOMES FOR 24 ANIMAL SPECIES, INCLUDING UNIQUE BIRDS AND GAZELLES, ANTELOPE, CHEETAHS AND OUR SHOWSTOPPERS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING RHINOS BACK TO DALLAS IN A BIG WAY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THESE GENTLE GIANTS AGAIN RIGHT HERE IN DALLAS.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHARES SOME HIGH LEVEL PHOTOS OF A SIMILAR FACILITY AT OMAHA'S HENRY DOORLY ZOO.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPANDING OUR ELEPHANT SPACE WITH AN ELEPHANT.
ELEPHANTS ARE A BIG DEAL AT DALLAS ZOO.
THEY'RE NOT ONLY A GUEST FAVORITE ATTRACTING CURIOUS VISITORS FROM ALL OVER TEXAS, BUT OUR VETERINARY AND HUSBANDRY TEAMS ARE GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED LEADERS IN ELEPHANT CARE, REGULARLY CALLED UPON TO ADVISE PARTNERS IN AFRICA.
SAN ANTONIO'S ZOO IS HOME TO THE WILL SMITH SCHOOL, WHICH IS A SIMILAR FACILITY.
IT'S A SIMILAR OPERATION TARGETING LITTLE LEARNERS.
THEY HAVE A WAIT LIST THAT INCLUDES 800 FAMILIES.
SO WE KNOW THAT DEMAND IS HIGH.
THERE'S A MULTI-USE AUDITORIUM ON THE LEFT WHICH WILL SERVE AS ORIENTATION SPACE FOR FIELD TRIPS.
LAST YEAR, WE ACTUALLY WELCOMED A BUMPER CROP OF 120,000 FIELD TRIP PARTICIPANTS.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT SOUTH PARKING GARAGE.
IT'S PART OF THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM, THE $3.5 MILLION.
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WE HAVE MULTIPLE DAYS, DOZENS OF DAYS WHERE WE'RE OUT OF PARKING AT THE ZOO.THE CONGESTION THERE, THE INCONVENIENCE.
SO WE REALIZED WE NEEDED SOME CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS IS A 580 SPACE PARKING GARAGE.
IT'S GOING TO UP OUR AVAILABLE SPACES BY 25 TO 30%.
WE SEE THE SOUTHERN GATEWAY PARK COMING ON IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.
HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO ALSO HELP EASE SOME OF THE CONGESTION THERE.
THIS IS A PROJECT THAT, RELIES ON THOSE BOND DOLLARS.
BUT REALLY THE ZOO IS ALSO RAISED $12.5 MILLION FOR THAT GARAGE THROUGH SOME FEDERAL GRANTS FROM THE NORTH SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, AS WELL AS PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY.
THE SECOND SLIDE WE HAVE, AND I SAT IN FRONT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, A YEAR AGO.
THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, IS ON SAFETY, SECURITY AND COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA I REMEMBER YOU SAYING SPECIFICALLY AND I HEARD EVERYBODY WHEN YOU SAID WE NEED TO GET THIS INTO THE BOND PROGRAM. SAFETY AND SECURITY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SAFE, SECURE ZOO, IT'S A RIPPLE EFFECT FOR EVERYTHING AROUND IT.
WE BACK UP IN THE TWO NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE HAVE I-35 AT OUR FRONT DOOR.
WE HAVE MARSALIS BRIDGE CROSSING BETWEEN US.
AND THE ZOO HAS DONE THAT IN THE LAST YEAR.
WE'VE DONE $1.1 MILLION IN INVESTMENT TO INCREASE EVERYTHING FROM FENCE LINES, LIGHTING, NEW SECURITY PROGRAMS, AND THAT CONTINUES TO ADVANCE AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADVANCE IN THE YEARS TO COME.
ON A SORT OF A MULTI YEAR PROCESS.
AND SO AS WE LOOK AT THE BOND PROGRAM, WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THAT SECURITY FOR PEDESTRIANS, FOR OUR GUESTS, FOR OUR ANIMALS AND STAFF. THERE WAS AN ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT, THIS WEEKEND THAT HOPEFULLY HAD A CHANCE TO SEE, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR.
AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE'VE MET THE CHALLENGE.
AND GOING FORWARD, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IS, MAKING THIS NOT ONLY THE SAFEST ZOO IN THE COUNTRY, BUT ALSO A SAFE ENVIRONMENT SO FAMILIES CAN COME OUT AND ENJOY ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, IN SOUTHERN DALLAS.
SO I HOPE YOU CAN SEE FROM THAT BRIEF OVERVIEW THE BIG VISION THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO TRANSFORM DALLAS ZOO FOR ITS COMMUNITY. THAT IS IN LARGE PART WITH YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
WE HAVE AN ENERGIZED STAFF AND BOARD WITH A PASSION FOR WHAT WE DO.
WE'RE EAGER TO BE AN ENGAGED PARTNER WITH THE CITY, AND WE'RE EAGER TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO BE AN INTEGRAL PARTNER IN THE GROWTH OF THIS VISION FOR, FOR THE OAK CLIFF AREA AND FOR DALLAS ZOO.
SO WITH THAT, I THINK WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS.
WHO'S GOT QUESTIONS? DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, CAN I THANK YOU? WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THINGS, OF COURSE, GOING ON.
AND I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND, AND THIS COUNCIL TO, TO UNDERSTAND, MY CONCERN LONG TERM, EVEN PRIOR TO TODAY, IS THAT WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE OUTREACH PROGRAM WITH THE ZOO AND AND DEFINITELY THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY 10TH STREET, BECAUSE I KNOW THE ZOO HAS BEEN THERE, FOR MANY YEARS, AND SO HAVE THOSE RESIDENTS IN TERMS OF THEIR HISTORY.
SO LAND I KNOW THAT BEING PURCHASED, INCLUDED SOME OF THE 10TH STREET PROPERTIES.
AND SO THEY HAVE LOST LAND THAT IS GOING TO LONG TERM BENEFIT US IN TERMS OF THE ZOO.
BUT WE STARTED I DON'T WANT TO GIVE MY FORMER PARK BOARD MEMBER, LARRY HOCHBURG, A SHOUT OUT BECAUSE, HE AND I TALKED, WORKED IN BACK IN 2016 OR SOMEWHERE TO BEGIN WITH, A MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING, WITH THE ZOO IN TERMS OF OUTREACH TO THE LOCAL SCHOOLS.
AND SO I WANT THAT NOT JUST TO BE A MEMORANDUM, JUST OF UNDERSTANDING WITHOUT ANY TEETH TO IT AND WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE THAT WHAT THE BOND THAT YOU ALL HAD WITH THE CITY BEING PRIVATIZED AND THAT THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE GIVING YOU IN TERMS OF OPERATIONAL, THAT THAT THEY REALLY MEAN
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SOMETHING TO THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.I ALSO WANT TO CONTINUE TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY ON THAT BOARD.
THE BETTER TERM WOULD BE IS MORE OR LESS, DIVERSITY, BUT EQUITY.
I KNOW THOSE ARE TERMS WE DON'T WANT TO USE IN TEXAS NOW, BUT WE'RE GOING TO USE THEM IN DALLAS.
AND SO THAT THAT'S MY REAL CONCERN AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROGRAM.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ARE THAT I SEE OFTEN.
I'M GOING TO PASS BY THERE PROBABLY EVERY DAY.
SO WE HAVE A LONG EXPERIENCE WITH THE ZOO.
IT'S NOT LIKE I JUST STARTED GOING SINCE I GOT ON THE COUNCIL, SO I DO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY THERE, BUT I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER A LITTLE MORE, A LITTLE MORE IN TERMS OF PUTTING OUR HANDS ON THOSE WEAK, WEAK AREAS, IF YOU WILL.
YOU GET IN TROUBLE WHEN YOU START CALLING OUT NAMES, BUT I'VE HAD A LONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.
[INAUDIBLE] I CAN QUALIFY THAT BY SAYING I'VE MET HER BEFORE EVERYBODY ELSE, I'LL PUT IT THAT WAY.
BUT THE ADVICE HE GAVE ME ON ANOTHER PROJECT REALLY TURNED OUT TO BE GREAT.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE YOUR FACE UP THERE AS WELL.
SO WITH THOSE TWO, I'M PROBABLY GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE.
BUT I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW I HAVE A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, AND SO I THINK I'M IN A GOOD PLACE TO KIND OF WORK WITH YOU ALL IN TERMS OF STRESSING, THE IMPORTANCE OF US IDENTIFYING THE ZOO AND USING THE ZOO AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, BUT TO CONTINUE TO BE A JEWEL FOR DALLAS.
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO BE ON THE MAP FOR BEING THE WORLD CLASS ZOO.
WE DO WANT THAT, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
SO, CHAIR AND MEMBERS, I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE I PUT THAT ON, ON YOUR MINDS TODAY IN TERMS OF WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO WITH THE ZOO. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IF SOMETHING SHOULD COME UP, I'LL BRING THAT UP.
BUT I HOPE WE DON'T GET ANY MORE SURPRISES ABOUT THE BOND.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN BE STILL IF I HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER CONCERN ABOUT A BOND ITEM.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU GET WHAT YOU GOT, AND.
BUT SHOULD I SAY THAT BECAUSE THINGS MAY CHANGE, BUT WE HOPE THEY DON'T.
SO ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE YOU, CHAIRWOMAN, FOR, ACKNOWLEDGING ME AT THIS TIME.
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MISS NEW ON YOUR APPOINTMENT.
I DO WANT TO JUST SPEAK TO THE DIVERSITY OF OUR BOARD, AND CERTAINLY WE DO HAVE, ROOM TO GROW.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO THAT.
WE HAVE BROUGHT, INCREASINGLY DIVERSE MEMBERS EVEN THIS YEAR, TO THE BOARD.
AND IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PRIORITY TO ME.
I'M EAGER TO BE A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER AND TO TALK AND LISTEN WITH YOU ABOUT THAT.
I WILL SAY THAT THE COMMITMENT TO A DIVERSE AND EQUITABLE BOARD WAS ONE OF THE DRIVING FACTORS IN ME ACCEPTING THIS POSITION AND BEING EXCITED TO COME. IF I MAY, I'D LIKE FOR, HARRISON TO TALK JUST A LITTLE ABOUT SOME OF THE NUMBERS AND THE IMPACT THAT WE'VE HAD IN, IN OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY.
YEAH. I HAVE TO SAY, YOUR COMMENTS ARE MUSIC TO MY EARS BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT DEEPER PARTNERSHIP AND AND DEEPER INVESTMENT IN SCHOOL KIDS IN SOUTHERN DALLAS IS SO COMPATIBLE AND SIMPATICO WITH OUR VISION FOR FOR HOW TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
WITHOUT THE FACILITY, IT'S HARD FOR US TO DO MORE THAN WE THAN WE CURRENTLY ARE.
AND SO THERE'S A REALLY NICE OPPORTUNITY THERE TO, TO TO INVEST EVEN FURTHER, WHETHER THAT'S IN JOBS PROGRAMS AND JOBS READINESS AND CAREER READINESS, OR WHETHER THAT'S IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION OR IN DEEPER PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THE ONE WE HAVE WITH ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL IN DISTRICT FOUR NOW.
THAT P-TECH PROGRAM, I CANNOT SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH OF DISD'S P-TECH PROGRAM.
AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES TIME FOR THE PROGRAM ITSELF TO MATURE.
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NOW WORKING AT THE ZOO, BUILDING THEIR CAREERS WITH US, A COUPLE OF WHOM ARE WERE IN THEIR MORNING MEETING AT 7 A.M.IN THE OFFICE NEXT TO MINE BECAUSE THEY'RE TEACHERS NOW IN OUR WILD EARTH PRESCHOOL.
SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE SOME OF THOSE THOSE KERNELS THAT WE PLANTED YEARS AGO, TURNING INTO JOBS WITH DALLAS ZOO AND, AND CAREERS THAT ARE GROWING WITH US, WITH THIS ORGANIZATION. SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
OKAY. CHAIR. BLACKMON, CHAIR BAZALDUA.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S, LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M A HUGE FAN OF THE ZOO.
NOW, WHEN I GREW UP, WE USED TO HAVE TO TAKE THE TREK TO THE FORT WORTH ZOO.
AND I'M SURE YOU ALL HEARD THIS OFTEN.
WHY CAN'T WE JUST GO TO THE DALLAS ZOO? AND I REMEMBER MY MOM SAYING THE FORT WORTH ZOO IS SO MUCH BETTER.
SO I'VE GOTTEN TO SEE THAT WITHIN MY OWN EXPERIENCES, MY OWN LIFE, AND SEEING THE EVOLUTION.
AND I KNOW THE ASSET THAT THAT IS NOT ONLY, I THINK THAT IS INEVITABLE WITH WHAT WE SEE MOVING DOWN AND AROUND AND THE ECONOMIC ENGINE, BUT THE ASSET FOR A RESOURCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE, WHICH IS WHY I ALWAYS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR DISTRICT, ZOO DAYS, WHICH HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
SO THANK YOU ALL, FOR THAT AS WELL.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S A GREAT PROGRAM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE REACHED OUT TO YOU ALL TO USE IT, BUT WHEN YOU ALL BRING THE DALLAS ZOO TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, OR THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, IT'S BEEN HUGE HITS, EVERY TIME I'VE SEEN IT.
SO I KNOW THE PARTNERS THAT YOU ALL ARE.
AND AND SOMETIMES THAT MAY COME ACROSS AS IF THERE'S A LACK OF SUPPORT.
AND I THINK THAT WE VALUE Y'ALL FOR THE ASSET THAT YOU ARE WITHIN OUR MUNICIPAL PARK SERIES.
WE DID IN KIND OF RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE NEWS THAT WAS HAPPENING.
THERE'S ALSO SOME NEWS THAT I'D REALLY LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO ADDRESS.
AND IT'S WITH THE ELEPHANT, ENCLOSURE.
AND, OF COURSE, IN THE MIDDLE OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE INVESTMENT AND THE RETURN THAT WE HAVE.
AND I'D LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO SPEAK TO HOW QUITE OFTEN WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO SOME NEGATIVE PR, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S KIND OF INEVITABLE WHEN RUNNING A ZOO. I HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT PLEASED WITH THE TREATMENT OF OUR ANIMALS AND SEEING THAT.
AND SO IT WAS REALLY ALARMING FOR ME TO SEE AND, AND FOR HAVE CONSTITUENTS TO REACH OUT ABOUT THAT.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT AT ALL, PLEASE FOR THE PUBLIC? AND BEFORE HARRISON SPEAKS TO THAT, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, BOTH THE STAFF AND THE BOARD, AND I'VE HEARD THIS RESOUNDINGLY, HAS NEVER FELT ANYTHING BUT SUPPORT FROM COUNCIL, AND WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE WHAT A VERY DIFFICULT FEW WEEKS THIS HAS BEEN AND THE HARD DECISIONS THAT YOU'VE HAD TO MAKE.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL LET HARRISON TALK ABOUT THAT REPORT.
I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT ELEPHANTS ANYTIME.
FOR MANY YEARS, WORKING IN ZOOS, BEFORE I CAME TO DALLAS, I AVOIDED WORKING IN ZOOS WITH ELEPHANTS BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN A LOT OF ZOOS AND THE WAY THAT THEY TREATED THE ANIMALS.
DALLAS ZOO WAS UNIQUE, AND WHEN I CAME OUT TO CONSIDER MAKING THE MOVE TO DALLAS 11 YEARS AGO, THE ELEPHANT PROGRAM WAS SOMETHING THAT I LOOKED CLOSELY AT, AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS OF KEEN INTEREST TO ME.
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SPECIES WELL AND KNEW THAT SPECIES IN A WILD ENVIRONMENT TO COME GIVE US FEEDBACK ON WHAT THEY THOUGHT HAD POTENTIAL.AND SO WE DESIGNED THAT SPACE WITH WELFARE, FAMILY GROUPS, MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY GROUPS, THE ABILITY TO LOCOMOTE AND MOVE AROUND IN MIND. AND WE CAME UP WITH A HABITAT THAT IS UNIQUE GLOBALLY.
WE'RE STILL ONE OF THE ONLY ZOOS IN THE WORLD, AND THE ONLY ZOO IN THE COUNTRY THAT MIXES ELEPHANTS WITH OTHER SPECIES, WHICH DOESN'T SOUND MAYBE DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT THE IDEA THAT WHEN AN ELEPHANT WAKES UP IN THE MORNING AND GETS READY TO HEAD OUT INTO THE HABITAT, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO TODAY, OR WHAT WITH WHICH OTHER ANIMALS THEY'RE GOING TO SHARE.
SPACE IS TREMENDOUSLY ENRICHING FOR THE ANIMALS.
BEFORE WE OPENED THAT SAVANNAH, SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A MATRIARCH.
SHE WAS A SINGLE ELEPHANT WHO STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER ELEPHANTS.
SHE'S BEEN THE PERFECT AUNTIE.
JUST LIKE A WILD ELEPHANT WOULD BE AN AUNTIE TO YOUNG CALVES FROM DAY ONE.
AND SO WATCHING HER THRIVE INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL AS THE REST OF THAT HERD THRIVE.
YOU KNOW, OUR YOUNGEST IS ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS NOW, AND OUR OLDEST IS JENNY AT 46, 47.
WE PROVIDE A REALLY OUTSTANDING HOME FOR THEM.
AND IF I COULD JUST ADD, AGAIN, FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, I AM A STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE ELEPHANT STRATEGY TASK FORCE, WHICH IS LOOKING AT HOW, HOW WE HELP ELEPHANTS THRIVE IN ZOOS IN THE UNITED STATES.
DALLAS ZOO IS ALWAYS LOOKED AT AS A MODEL IN TERMS OF HOW WE MANAGE OUR ANIMALS, THE CARE AND CHOICE AND CONTROL THAT WE GIVE, THE SIZE OF THE HABITAT.
AND CERTAINLY WE THE DALLAS ZOO HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST HERDS IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY IS JUST IN SPEAKING TO THE HABITAT, AND I MENTIONED THIS WHEN I SPOKE LAST WEEK, BUT I'LL SAY, I THINK IT BEARS SAYING AGAIN, IN KNOXVILLE ZOO, I CHAMPIONED A PHASE OUT OF ELEPHANTS.
I DID THAT BECAUSE THE FACILITIES WERE POOR.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A MULTIGENERATIONAL HERD WAS MISSING.
AND SO WE MOVED THOSE ANIMALS FROM THEIR CURRENT HABITAT WHERE THEY GOT WONDERFUL CARE BUT WERE LIMITED IN A FUTURE TO SANCTUARY. AND BUT IN MAKING THAT DECISION, WE BROUGHT NOT ONE, BUT TWO BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DALLAS ZOO, TO SEE GIANTS OF THE SAVANNAH.
WE BROUGHT TWO MARES HERE, AT ONCE IN 2017, AND THEN AGAIN JUST IN 2022.
THE POINT BEING, TO SEE THIS QUALITY HABITAT, HOW IT COULD BE EMULATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND TO HELP IN MAKING DECISIONS ACROSS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND ELEPHANT CARE.
SO I THINK THE DALLAS ZOO HAS AN EXCELLENT TRACK RECORD.
THANK YOU. AND JUST, CURIOUS, WITH THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE WITH THE GIANTS OF SAVANNAH, WERE THOSE, AFFORDED BY BOND INVESTMENT? CORRECT. SO THE 2006 BOND WAS 25 MILLION.
WE RAISED ABOUT 8 MILLION PRIVATELY TO DO THAT IN A VERY QUICK TIME, THAT HABITAT, WHAT ELSE IS AMAZING? THAT WAS DONE IN 18 MONTHS.
AND WE SAW A SIMILAR HABITAT DONE ON THE WEST COAST FOR TWICE AS MUCH IN TWICE THE TIME.
THE QUALITY HERE THAT WE HAVE IS UNBELIEVABLE.
THANK YOU. I ACTUALLY ALREADY KNEW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
I WAS JUST KIND OF SOFTBALL AND HOPING THAT I HEARD IT FROM Y'ALL.
BUT, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR Y'ALL'S PRESENTATION.
[00:35:02]
SO YES, I DO REMEMBER JENNY THE DAYS OF JENNY, I WORKED FOR TOM LEPPERT, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS NATIONAL NEWS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.SO I APPLAUD YOU FOR TAKING A BASKET OF LEMONS AND MAKING IT LEMONADE.
AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT JENNY IS CALMED DOWN.
AND NOT THAT SHE'S A GOOD SHE'S A GOOD AUNTIE.
OKAY, SO A COUPLE OF THINGS ON YOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU GIVE 100,000 SCHOOL TICKETS.
ARE THOSE FREE? BECAUSE THEN DOWN BELOW IT'S ANOTHER 100,000.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY 200,000 THAT YOU CIRCULATE TO THE PUBLIC.
SO WE DO, OFFER A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR FIELD TRIPS.
OKAY. WE HAVE FOUND THERE ARE SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT BUCKETS THAT TICKETS FALL INTO.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY GROUPS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, SUMMER EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING PROGRAMS, DISD SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS, WE OFFER THE SAME RATE ACROSS THE BOARD.
THAT BEING SAID, WE'VE ALSO IN THIS LAST YEAR HAD SOME GRANT MONEY THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO HELP US TO COVER ALL OF THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE ZOO, AS WELL AS ADMISSION FOR ANY DISTRICT ONE, I'M SORRY, ANY DISD SCHOOLS ESSENTIALLY.
SO WE'VE USED THAT AND PUT THAT TO GOOD USE TO TO REFUND COST OF TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE WE HEARD FROM SCHOOLS THAT TRANSPORTATION COSTS WERE A HUGE BARRIER TO JUST GETTING KIDS TO AND FROM THE SCHOOL.
SO LAST YEAR WE SAW 120,000 FIELD TRIP TICKETS, ESSENTIALLY.
SO THAT INCLUDES TEACHERS AND STUDENTS COMING OUT TO THE ZOO.
THAT'S SEPARATE FROM ANYTHING LIKE COUNCIL DISTRICT DAYS THAT WE DO AS A SEPARATE TICKET ITEM.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
RIGHT. SO YOU DID 20 FIELD TRIPS, IS THAT WHAT OUR 20,000 FIELD TRIPS? 120,100. OKAY.
STUDENTS OR FIELD TRIP TICKETS TO THE ZOO.
BECAUSE IT WAS JUST I WAS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF, JUST KIND OF RECONCILING WHAT, THE TICKET.
ABSOLUTELY. ON YOUR P-TECH PROJECT OR WITH DISD, WHAT DO THEY COME OUT? ARE THEY IS IT A VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN OR WHAT IS THE, I GUESS THE ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE? SURE. SO THERE ARE 18 DESIGNATED P-TECH CAMPUSES.
EACH OF THEM HAVE DIFFERENT EMPHASES.
SOME OF THEM ARE IN IT, SOME OF THEM ARE IN BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT.
SOME OF THEM ARE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
YOU TELL US AS PARTNERS WHERE YOU THINK WE COULD FIT IN.
ROOSEVELT WAS ONE OF THOSE TWO PROGRAMS. BRYAN ADAMS IN DISTRICT TWO WAS ANOTHER.
AND THOSE WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE OF THEIR EMPHASES.
AND SO THE KIDS ARE COMPLETING AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, SOME OF THEM IN BUSINESS.
AND SO THE KIDS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS FOCUS END UP USUALLY DOING THEIR INTERNSHIPS, SOMETIMES WITH OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SOMETIMES WITH GUEST EXPERIENCE OR GUEST SERVICES, SOMETIMES IN MEMBERSHIP.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS.
SO A LOT OF KIDS WHO'VE COME THROUGH THE P-TECH PROGRAM HAVE DONE THEIR INTERNSHIPS IN OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE KIDS WHO I'VE TURNED AROUND AND HIRED LATER INTO FULL TIME ROLES WITH THE ZOO.
SO KIDS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE RULED OUT OF THE PROGRAM ARE NOT AND ARE INCLUDED IN THAT PROGRAM.
SO IT'S BEEN A REALLY PHENOMENAL PARTNERSHIP.
SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ANIMALS, IT'S MORE OF THE BUSINESS SIDE? CORRECT. IT'S IT'S EDUCATION.
IT'S BUSINESS SIDE. IT'S GUEST EXPERIENCE.
IT'S ALL OF THE OTHER BACK OF HOUSE STUFF.
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT MAKES THE ZOO RUN.
OKAY. ON YOUR PARKING GARAGE, IT'S IS WHERE IS IT IN THE WHOLE SCHEME OF THINGS.
AND WITH THE 25% INCREASE IN CAPACITY WITH THE NEW TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT, ARE YOU GOING TO COME BACK AND ASK FOR A BIGGER PARKING GARAGE? BECAUSE, I MEAN, THAT'S IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME, RIGHT? YEAH. IT'S, IT WAS REALLY THE FOUNDATION OF US, DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGES OF THIS GROWTH THAT'S HAPPENED.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE TRIED TO TO ACQUIRE SOME SURFACE PARKING LOTS ADJACENT TO THE ZOO OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS WHEN WE COULD, YOU KNOW, THIS PARTICULAR GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED HAD TO BE NEAR TRANSPORTATION.
SO IT PLACED IT IN THAT AREA DOWN BY THE DART TRACK AND 580 SPACES TAKES US UP TO ABOUT 1700 SPACES.
[00:40:03]
THE OTHER THING YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF IS THERE'S, PUBLIC WORKS IS DOING A BIG PROJECT RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY'RE, WIDENING EWING, TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE GROWTH THAT'S HAPPENING FROM JEFFERSON DOWN TO THE DART.WE'RE IN CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW ABOUT HOW THAT WILL IMPACT.
THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO IMPACT THE ZOO BY ANOTHER 75 SPACES, BECAUSE PART OF THAT PROJECT WAS NOT GOING TO GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO GRAB LAND THAT'S COMING OUT OF PARKLAND. SO YOU'LL SEE OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE ABOUT 75 SPACES.
SO ALL THAT TO SAY, ARE WE GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU? IT'S VERY SEQUENTIAL.
SOME OF WHAT WE DO WITH THE NEW EDUCATION BUILDING IS GOING TO FREE UP ADDITIONAL, SURFACE PARKING, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE PROJECTS WE HAVE IN THE FUTURE ARE GOING TO ELIMINATE THINGS LIKE OUR ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, WHICH CAN AGAIN BE RETURNED TO PARKING.
EXCUSE ME, RIGHT UP BY I 35 PRIME REAL ESTATE.
BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO.
IT WILL BREAK GROUND. WE THINK, WE HOPE SOMETIME AROUND APRIL OR MAY, I WOULD SAY THIS IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ON PARK BOARD'S AGENDA TO APPROVE THE CONTRACTOR, THIS COMING WEEK AND THEN ALSO ON YOUR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO APPROVE THAT.
WE CAN GET THAT IN MOTION SO THAT IT CAN OPEN SOMETIME IN 2025.
SO HOW OLD HOW TALL WILL IT BE? IS IT THREE STORIES? IT'S FOUR STORIES.
AND THERE IS A HEIGHT RESTRICTION OF HOW HIGH IT CAN GO.
AND SO THERE'S SOME REGULATIONS THERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING WITH IS DART, AS WELL AS THE CITY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SAFE, PEDESTRIAN GROUND LEVEL ACCESS TO AND FROM THE ZOO AND THE OTHER AREAS. AND IT'LL BE NICE IS THAT COMPLETE STREET THAT'S GOING IN THERE? WE'LL PICK UP A NICE PATH UP TO THE SOUTHERN GATEWAY PARK AS WELL.
SO IF MAYBE WE NEED TO GO UP A LITTLE MORE.
I KNOW MISS ARNOLD'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO LIKE THAT CONVERSATION..
BUT, NOTHING SET IN STONE YET.
AND WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO HAVE ABSOLUTELY..
SO. YEAH. AND I THINK WE AGREE WITH THAT.
THERE'S CURRENT, I GUESS THERE'S CURRENT, SURFACE, YOU KNOW, PARKING AREAS THERE, AT THE TIME.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS VERY MALLEABLE.
THAT'S IT. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.
SO I THINK WE'LL BE CONTINUING PARTNERS FOR FUTURE YEARS.
I, TOO HAVE MANY MEMORIES OF THE DALLAS ZOO.
WHETHER THAT WAS AS A CHILD GROWING UP, VISITING ON FIELD TRIPS WITH MY SCHOOL, OR GOING WITH MY FAMILY AS AN ECONOMICAL OUTING TO BEING A PARK BOARD MEMBER AND SEEING THE INS AND OUTS AND HOW A ZOO WORKS, IN PARTICULAR TO THE PARKING GARAGE, GETTING THE HEIGHT DONE CORRECTLY, MAKING SURE THE ANIMALS DIDN'T GET IMPACTED BY SOMETHING THAT WAS TOWERING OVER THEM AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY WERE STILL FELT IN A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RATHER THAN BUILDINGS SURROUNDING THE ZOO.
SO WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE GREAT ACCOLADES AND AWARDS AT THE DALLAS ZOO HAS RECEIVED OVER THE YEARS.
IT'S IT'S HARD TO, GET UP THERE.
SO WHAT DOES IT TAKE? WHAT TYPE OF PARTNERSHIPS DOES IT TAKE FOR THE ZOO TO MAINTAIN, TO BE PREMIER, TO BE ONE OF THE BEST ZOOS IN THE COUNTRY? WELL, IT HAS TO HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY EVERY, I'VE ALWAYS SAID EVERY GREAT ZOO HAS A COMMUNITY THAT EMBRACES IT.
THE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T EMBRACE THEIR ZOOS, THEY DON'T GO TOO FAR.
AND THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT THAT THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY, IS INSTRUMENTAL, OR ANY MUNICIPALITY THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK WE ALL COME AT IT FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES AND OUR EXPERIENCES WITHOUT THE ANIMALS.
IT'S THE NUMBER ONE REASON PEOPLE COME TO THE ZOO.
THEY WANT TO HAVE THAT FAMILY EXPERIENCE.
IT'S FUN AND ENTERTAINING, AND EDUCATIONAL.
AND FRANKLY, WE HAVE TO BE BUILDING SOME, SOME BIG PROJECTS.
[00:45:06]
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE BUILD A MAJOR EXHIBIT IN 2010, THE GIANTS OF THE SAVANNAH.WE CAME BACK IN 2017 AND BUILT THAT SIMMONS HIPPO HABITAT, WHICH IS PHENOMENAL.
AND WE'RE READY AGAIN FOR THAT, TO CATALYZE, WITH A NEW HABITAT, WHICH AGAIN, WE'VE SEEN ABOUT 20 TO 25% BUMP IN ATTENDANCE, WHICH EACH ONE OF THOSE HABITATS. SO THAT'S CRITICAL ALSO TO KEEP SOMETHING FRESH AND NEW SO THAT WE DO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
SO I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, BEING 135 YEAR OLD PARK AND THE LARGEST IN TEXAS, THERE ARE INCREDIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES AND CERTAINLY GIANTS OF THE SAVANNA HIPPOS SHOW THE NEW INVESTMENTS.
BUT WE ALSO ARE CONTINUING TO INVEST OURSELVES AND WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND KEEPING THAT 135 YEAR OLD PARK, UP TO SPEED AND REINVESTMENT IN IN THIS ATTRACTION, IS CRITICAL IN ORDER FOR US TO NOT JUST MAINTAIN, BUT TO CONTINUE TO GROW, BECAUSE JUST MAINTAINING IS ACTUALLY GOING BACKWARDS.
THANK YOU. HOW DOES THE ZOO RATE COMPARE TO OTHER TOP TEN ZOOS ACROSS THE COUNTRY? THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY EQUATE IN SIZE.
AND SO SOME OF THOSE, BUT NOT ALL OF THOSE TOP TEN ORGANIZATIONS ARE NECESSARILY THE LARGEST.
THE LARGEST DOESN'T MEAN THE BIGGEST.
I TEND TO BE A NUMBERS GUY BECAUSE I CAME FROM A SCIENCE BACKGROUND.
SO LISA MENTIONED EARLIER THERE ARE 250 ACCREDITED AZA FACILITIES GLOBALLY.
THERE ARE 2500 USDA LICENSED ZOOS IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO EVEN JUST WITH THAT HALLMARK OF AZA ACCREDITATION, WE'VE ALREADY NARROWED THE FIELD TO TOP 10% IN TERMS OF DALLAS ZOO BEING ONE OF THOSE ACCREDITED FACILITIES. AMONG THOSE 230 ACCREDITED FACILITIES THAT ARE IN THE US SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE FREQUENTLY RANK IN THE TOP TEN FROM A GUEST PERSPECTIVE. BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF SUBJECTIVITY IN THE RANKINGS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, IMPACT GLOBALLY, ON A CONSERVATION SCALE, IMPACT FROM AN EDUCATION PERSPECTIVE, ANIMAL WELFARE DALLAS ZOO IS A ZOO.
HAVE YOU ALL DONE PROUD OF A, ANALYSIS OF HOW THE TYPICAL STAY OF A FAMILY AT THE ZOO.
AND I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THE VALUE OF, YEAH, FAMILY GOING OUT TO THE ZOO AND THAT RETURN FOR THEM.
YEAH. SO WE WE ARE WE HAVE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING FROM CLEANLINESS TO OUR STAFF COURTESY LEVELS.
I CAN SAY THAT WHEN YOU ASK WHAT MAKES IT A TOP TEN ZOO? IT IS ABSOLUTELY.
AND THAT JUST WASN'T HAPPENSTANCE.
THAT DID NOT HAPPEN PRIOR TO 2009.
FAMILY STAY AT, SORRY, I'M SORRY, THE FAMILY STAYED AT THE ZOO WAS 3.5 HOURS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW THAT THIS NEW HABITAT COMING ONLINE, IS GOING TO BE A HALF MILE LOOP.
IT SHOULD ADD ANOTHER 45 MINUTES TO STAY WHEN YOU GET OVER FOR FOUR HOURS AT ANYWHERE.
BUT MY FAMILY JUST WENT AND SAW A BARBIE NOT TOO LONG AGO.
WE DIDN'T SEE OPPENHEIMER YET.
THAT'S 3.5 HOURS, SO IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO THE ZOO STATE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE OVER FOUR HOURS.
AND THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN TRANSLATED INTO, I NEED TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT HERE.
I THINK I'M GOING TO STAY OVERNIGHT.
AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS JUST DRIVE MORE DOLLARS BACK INTO THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
SO WE THINK, AGAIN, THAT VALUE.
[00:50:03]
THANK YOU. AND I DO APPRECIATE THE ZOO DAYS AND THE COUNCIL DAYS THAT YOU ALL PUT FORWARD.WHAT I WOULD ASK, THOUGH, IS THAT, WE GET SOME ASSISTANCE AND HELP IN MAKING SURE WE'RE GETTING THE WORD OUT THAT THERE ARE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE THE PENGUIN DAYS. JUST TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE.
AND I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK ON THESE NEXT ONES.
THE EDUCATION PIECE HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDS.
AND THEN, THIS IS, MORE OF A LOGISTICAL, I GUESS QUESTION IS WHEN I'VE HAD, MY CHILD HAVE, FIELD TRIPS AT THE ZOO, I'VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT LOST.
OF WHAT ENTRANCE DO I MEET THE KIDS AT? YOU KNOW, WHERE IT'S LUNCH HAPPENING.
AND SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND, WHAT'S GOING ON TO TO STREAMLINE THAT AND MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER.
WE HAVE WILD EARTH PRESCHOOL THAT IS A FULL TIME PRESCHOOL.
AND THEN WHEN WE GET INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FIELD TRIPS AND CAMP PROGRAMS ARE A HIT.
AND SO A LOT OF THOUGHT WENT INTO THE DESIGN FOR WILD EARTH DISCOVERY CENTER.
THIS IS THE GATE WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO MEET UP WITH A ZOO CONSERVATION ENGAGEMENT EDUCATOR.
AND THEN. AND THEN BRINGING THOSE FIELD TRIPS THROUGH A SEPARATE GATE FROM THE MAIN LINE SO THAT YOU'RE NOT INTERMINGLING TONS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN ONE MAIN PLAZA, WHERE IT DOES GET CONFUSING. THAT WAS A HUGE BARRIER FOR AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS.
ONCE KIDS ARE ARE THROUGH THE A OR PAST THE AGES WHERE FIELD TRIPS AND CAMP PROGRAMS ARE APPEALING.
WE HAVE A ZOO CREW PROGRAM THAT IS JOB TRAINING, HANDS ON WITH ANIMALS.
IT'S GEARED TOWARDS 13 TO 17 YEAR OLDS.
WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF ZOO CREW KIDS WHO GO ON TO UNDERGRAD, PROGRAMS IN STEM.
SO, WE WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE PIPELINE FROM THE EARLIEST LEARNERS AT AGE THREE, FOUR, ALL THE WAY UP TO TO COLLEGE INTERNS AND SEE ALL OF THAT AS A CONNECTED STRING OF OPPORTUNITIES.
JUST TO ADD TO THAT, THIS GARAGE IS GOING TO HELP THAT BECAUSE INSTEAD OF HAVING AS MANY SPLIT ENTRIES LIKE YOU EXPERIENCED COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT THAT GARAGE IS ALSO GOING TO BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO ONE CENTRALIZED LOCATION.
CHAIR NARVAEZ, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU CHAIR. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
AND, FIRST I WANTED TO START BY.
DO I NEED TO DO SOMETHING? WE BETTER NOW? YES.
SORRY. WE CAN HEAR YOU. VERY GOOD.
VERY GOOD. I JUST HEARD A HUGE ECHO IN THE CHAMBER.
SO, BUT FIRST I WANTED TO WELCOME OUR NEW CEO.
SO WELCOME TO DALLAS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO MEET YOU IN PERSON AND, TOURING THE ZOO WITH YOU AND SEEING THE THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP TODAY AND THAT WE CAN FURTHER DISCUSS AS WE MOVE ON.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND YOU HEAR THIS, I THINK KIND OF SAME THEME THROUGHOUT WHAT EVERYBODY'S KIND OF SAID IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WHICH IS HOW DO WE GET MORE FOLKS THROUGH THE GATES IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE THE DALLAS ZOO? WHEN I MOVED TO DALLAS IN 1998, THE DALLAS ZOO WAS NOT ONE THAT I WAS PROUD OF, OR ONE THAT I, THOUGHT ANY OF US WOULD BE PROUD OF. NOW WE LOOK AT IT 25 YEARS LATER, AND IT IS ONE THAT WE ARE ALL PROUD OF.
[00:55:06]
AND YOU ALL HAVE DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB IN BRINGING THE DALLAS ZOO UP TO THE, EXPECTATIONS THAT DALLAS SITES HAVE ON EVERYTHING THAT WE DO HERE IN THE IN OUR GREAT CITY.ONE OF THE THINGS WAS BROUGHT UP WAS ABOUT ANIMAL HABITATS.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN IMPROVING, AND IT IS UNFAIR THAT, WHAT CERTAIN MEDIA OUTLETS SAY OR WHAT CERTAIN GROUPS SAY BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T LIKE ZOOS, THEY'RE BIASED ALREADY, AND IT GIVES US A BAD RAP HERE AND THERE.
AND THAT'S PROBABLY JUST PART OF ZOO LIFE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, I KNOW THAT THE THE ELEPHANT HABITAT CAME UP FIRST, AND AT FIRST I WAS REALLY UPSET AND ANGRY READING IT. UNTIL THEN, I CALMED DOWN AND WAS LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, LOOK AT ALL THE INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE INTO THE ELEPHANT HABITAT AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE'VE HAD OTHER ISSUES WITH OUR ANIMALS, THERE AT THE DALLAS ZOO.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I KNOW THAT TALKING TO DALLAS ZOO STAFF, NOT JUST THOSE OF YOU IN THE C SUITE, BUT THOSE THAT ARE JUST OUT AND ABOUT, OR THE VETS IN THE ANIMAL CAREGIVERS, THE, THAT THE COMMITMENT TO TAKING CARE OF THESE ANIMALS IS THE UTMOST OF IMPORTANCE TO THEM.
THESE ARE LIKE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT THEY COME AND VISIT EVERY DAY AND THEIR HABITATS, AND THEY, THEY, THEY CARE SO MUCH AND THEY LOVE THESE ANIMALS THAT I KNOW THAT NOTHING NEGATIVE IS HAPPENING TO THEM AND THEY'RE DOING THE BEST POSSIBLE THING.
AND TWO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE HAPPINESS, THE WELFARE, YOU KNOW, THE POSITIVITY FOR ANIMALS THAT ARE IN THESE HABITATS? BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF IT HAS TO DO WITH LIKE, OH, THERE'S ONLY, YOU KNOW, 300 OF THESE IN THE WORLD, AND WE'RE PROTECTING IT SO THAT IT DOESN'T GO EXTINCT VERSUS ANIMALS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE JUST WANT TO SEE RIGHT.
BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, A GIRAFFE OR AN ELEPHANT.
AND FOR ME, NOT HAVING A HIPPOPOTAMUS, WHICH IS MY FAVORITE ANIMAL, IN 17, WHEN THAT HABITAT OPENED, I WAS SO EXCITED BECAUSE I WAS JUST GETTING ON THE COUNCIL AND, IT IS MY FAVORITE SPOT IN THE DALLAS ZOO.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT, SIR.
AND I DO WANT TO, TO TAKE YOU UP AS WELL AS ALL OF THE COMMITTEE ON ANY TIME YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME FOR A TOUR OF THE ORGANIZATION, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO AND HONORED TO SHOW YOU ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT'S THERE.
AND, AND YOU ARE RIGHT THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN ANIMAL CARE.
IF OUR ANIMALS AREN'T HAPPY, HEALTHY AND THRIVING, THEN OUR GUEST CAN CERTAINLY SEE IT.
SO NOT ONLY IS IT OUR PASSION, BUT IT IS OUR BUSINESS MODEL.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US FROM A QUALITATIVE STANDPOINT, BUT ALSO FROM A SCIENCE.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL LET HARRISON TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW WE ASCERTAIN THAT ANIMALS HAVE GOOD WELL-BEING AND THAT THEY'RE HAPPY, HEALTHY AND THRIVING, OR WHEN THEY NEED SOME HELP.
ABSOLUTELY. HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT WELFARE ASSESSMENTS.
THAT'S JUST WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.
SO OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, AN INSTINCT OR A GUT REACTION MAY OR MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY ACCURATE.
IT'S HARD TO SEE THE WORLD THE SAME WAY THAT AN ANIMAL SEES THE WORLD.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF BEING ONE OF THOSE AZA ACCREDITED FACILITIES IS THAT WE HAVE THIS ACCESS TO AN INCREDIBLE NETWORK OF CAREER PROFESSIONALS WHO'VE WORKED WITH ANIMALS FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.
AND THAT GIVES US METRICS AGAINST WHICH TO COMPARE AN ANIMAL AT DALLAS ZOO, OR AN ANIMAL AT ANY OTHER ACCREDITED ZOO, TO REALLY TRY TO OBJECTIVELY FIGURE OUT WHETHER THEIR WELFARE IS AT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR US.
[01:00:01]
WE ALSO CONDUCT AN EVENT BASED ANIMAL WELFARE ASSESSMENT, MEANING IF CONSTRUCTION STARTED JUST DOWN THE PATH AND WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THE NOISE MIGHT UPSET FLAMINGOS, OR IF WE JUST INTRODUCED A NEW TIGER INTO THE TIGER BARN, AND WE'RE NOT SURE WHETHER THE PRESENCE OF A NEW ANIMAL IS THROWING OTHER ANIMALS OUT OF A ROUTINE, WE MIGHT DO AN EVENT BASED WELFARE ASSESSMENT WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT SPECIES SPECIFIC NORMS AND INDICATORS OF WELFARE, AND THEN COMPARING WHAT WE ARE DOING AND THE HABITAT THAT WE HAVE TO SEE WHETHER THERE ARE CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE HABITAT, MODIFICATIONS TO THE SOPS AND THE WAY WE'RE INTERACTING WITH THE ANIMAL. AND IT'S A CONSTANTLY EVOLVING PROCESS.SO EVERY YEAR WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPECIES WITH WHICH WE WORK.
EVERY YEAR WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS THAT CALL DALLAS ZOO HOME.
AND TO THAT, TO THAT INVESTMENT.
YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO SAY EVEN, NOT ONLY ARE WE LOOKING AT THE ANIMALS ON A DAILY BASIS OR WHEN CERTAIN EVENTS MAY AFFECT THEM, BUT, HAVING ANIMALS THAT HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE IS PARAMOUNT AND FOUNDATIONAL TO THE DESIGN OF OUR HABITATS.
SO KNOWING THOSE ANIMALS, HOW THEY HOW THEY ACT IN THE WILD, WHAT BEHAVIOR CHAINS ARE PART OF OF AGAIN, THEIR EXTRAORDINARY AND BEST LIFE, GOES INTO THE DESIGN AND AND THINKING IN THE HABITATS, WHETHER IT'S A NEW HABITAT OR WHETHER IT'S AN OLD ONE. EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU. AND THE REASON I WANTED TO ASK YOU ALL TO, GO INTO THAT WAS BECAUSE THERE IS, SOME OF THIS NEGATIVE ENERGY OUT THERE ABOUT, ZOOS IN GENERAL.
AND, A GREAT, AMAZING ZOO LIKE THE DALLAS ZOO SOMETIMES GETS LUMPED IN THERE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A EXPERIENCE THAT HAPPENS HERE AND THERE, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.
YOU KNOW, NONE OF US WANT TO SEE AN ANIMAL PASS AWAY.
NONE OF US WANT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, A, SOMETHING NEGATIVE HAPPEN.
AND THOSE THINGS UNFORTUNATELY HAPPEN.
AND THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE ROUGH.
BUT IT'S THEY'RE JUST NATURAL THINGS THAT HAPPEN WOULD HAPPEN IN THE WILD AS WELL.
AND I KNOW THAT THE DALLAS ZOO HAS THAT COMMITMENT.
THE NEXT THING THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP WAS, THE PARKING GARAGE, WHICH YOU HEARD A LOT OF, IN ORDER TO EXPAND SPACES AND I DO SIT ON THE, ON THE, COG AS WELL AS MR. BAZALDUA AND MR. MORENO.
AND SO, WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE WERE ABLE THAT OUR, WORK TOGETHER WAS SUCCESSFUL.
AS YOU GO TO DESIGN AND BUILD IT, I'M HEARING ALL KINDS OF REALLY GREAT THINGS.
I WAS WONDERING, IN ORDER TO EXPAND CAPACITY, HAVE YOU ALL THOUGHT ABOUT, GOING UNDERGROUND A LEVEL OR TWO IN ORDER TO KEEP THE THE ONES YOU HAVE ABOVE AND THEN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE TO GAIN SOME MORE SPACES OR IS IT AND I KNOW THAT'S VERY EXPENSIVE, OR IS IT JUST SO EXPENSIVE THAT IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE? YEAH. THANK YOU. THE CURRENT GARAGE IS IS FOUR STORIES.
IT'S GROUND UP. THIS ONE IS NOT BELOW GROUND.
AND THAT REALLY BE SOMETHING COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AS WE DEVELOP.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE HEARD NOBODY WANTS, MORE SURFACE PARKING, FIND WAYS TO DO THAT WITH A LITTLE MORE ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY PIECE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, ETC.. SO WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS.
EXCELLENT. VERY GOOD. AND THEN THE NEXT THING THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP WAS, YOU KNOW, WE ALL TALK ABOUT CONSERVATION, AND THE ENVIRONMENT OBVIOUSLY. IT'S YOUR PARK.
SO IT ALL GOES HAND IN HAND, RIGHT? AND SO YOU HAVE TO BE VERY SENSITIVE TO ALL OF THAT.
CAN YOU GO INTO A PROGRAM THAT, I THINK IS EXCELLENT AND ONE THAT HELPS THE DALLAS ZOO, IN SAVING MONEY AND AS WELL AS HELPING US KEEP OUR ENVIRONMENT CLEAN OUT IN OUR REGULAR AREAS, AND ESPECIALLY AFTER A BIG, GIANT WINDSTORM, TORNADO.
ANYTHING THAT CAN HAPPEN THAT MAKES TREE LIMBS FALL.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT YOU ALL WILL COME PICK IT UP IF NECESSARY? BUT, THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT THE ANIMALS LOVE TO EAT.
AND IF IT'S FALLEN TO THE GROUND, OR YOU'RE TRIMMING YOUR TREES OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
THE DALLAS ZOO IS A GREAT PLACE TO TAKE IT OR GET IT TO.
AND HOW DOES THAT WORK? YES, WE DO HAVE AN ACTIVE BROWSE PROGRAM AT THE DALLAS ZOO.
BROWSE ARE THOSE LEAFY TREE LIMBS THAT COME DOWN? THERE'S INFORMATION ON THE ZOO'S WEBSITE FOR ANYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED.
[01:05:07]
BUT OTHERWISE WE'RE HAPPY WITHIN A CERTAIN GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE TO WORK WITH PARTNERS, WORK WITH NEIGHBORS, TO HELP COLLECT SOME OF THAT IF IT'S SUITABLE FOOD ITEM FOR ELEPHANTS OR GIRAFFES.VERY GOOD. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THAT, WHEN I POSTED OR WE, WE TALK ABOUT IT THAT, PEOPLE GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO THROW IT INTO THE LANDFILL IF WE DON'T HAVE TO.
AND IT, HELPS SAVE BECAUSE THEY EAT A LOT.
THEY NEED TONS AND TONS OF LIMBS.
RIGHT? THE NEXT THING THAT I WANTED TO, ASK ABOUT OR, FINISH UP WITH WAS THE OUTREACH.
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT ALL OF THAT? I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE, SCHOOL PROGRAM IS STILL GOING ON BECAUSE, MAYBE IT WAS A SPONSOR THAT USED TO REACH OUT TO US.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A SPONSOR THAT'S STILL DOING IT OR, IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN JUST CONTACT YOU WITH, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR YEAR FOR A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS WAS TO BRING THE DALLAS ZOO TO THEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND EVEN, I MEAN, I WOULD GO TO ALL OF THEM BECAUSE I LOVE WATCHING THE STUDENTS, GET TO GET EXCITED AND INTERACT AND LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT ANIMALS.
AND OF COURSE, WE WOULD ALWAYS, HIGHLY DISAPPOINT THEM BECAUSE WE DIDN'T BRING A HIPPO OR AN ELEPHANT OR, YOU KNOW, A GIRAFFE TO THE SCHOOL DAYS, BUT, THEY UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHERE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM WANT TO SEE A LION COME OUT OUT THERE.
AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE WHEN WE HAD THAT PROGRAM OR HAVE THAT PROGRAM, WE WERE ABLE TO ASK AND INVITE YOU ALL TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT FESTIVALS THAT WE HOLD THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
AND, AGAIN, IT'S JUST THAT IT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF ANYTHING, GETTING TO SEE A LITTLE PENGUIN RUN ACROSS THE STAGE OR, YOU KNOW, A, I MEAN, YOU NAME IT, THE ANIMALS THAT Y'ALL BRING.
PEOPLE JUST LOVE TO SEE THEM AND TO LEARN ABOUT THEM AND UNDERSTAND THEM A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK WAS IF IT'S POSSIBLE THAT YOU ALL SEND US A DIRECT, EMAIL WHEN THERE ARE BIG EVENTS COMING UP. SO, LIKE, I KNOW THAT WE GET THE ONE FOR DALLAS ZOO LIGHTS.
WE GET ONES FOR OTHER DIFFERENT EVENTS, BUT THE OTHER EVENTS THAT MAYBE AREN'T SO BIG, OR MAYBE THEY ARE BIG IS THAT, WE AS A COUNCIL JUST GET THEM INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE A LOT OF US HAVE, NEWSLETTERS THAT WE PUT OUT.
AND SO ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT YOU CAN DO, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU FOR ZOO DAY, WHEN I DON'T KNOW WHEN THOSE STARTED, BUT IN 17, WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, IT WAS MY FIRST ONE, AND IT WAS THE MOST POPULAR EVENT IN OUR DISTRICT.
AND IT CONTINUES TO BE, THE MOST POPULAR EVENT THAT WE DO.
AND I THINK SHE AND I AND MISTER GRACEY WAS THERE WITH US AS WELL.
AND I THINK SHE AND I HAD MORE FUN THAN, I'D HAD IN YEARS GETTING TO HOST THOSE.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE BECAUSE, OUR RESIDENTS LOVE THEM.
THEY APPRECIATE THEM, AND FOR SOME FAMILIES, THAT IS THE ONE TIME THAT THEY CAN COME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE COST IS I THINK YOU'LL DO AN EXCELLENT JOB AT GETTING A COST THAT'S, AFFORDABLE FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE.
BUT THERE STILL ARE SOME THAT WE LOSE THROUGH THE CRACKS.
AND I THINK THAT THAT ZOO DAY IS SOMETHING THAT IS JUST AN.
AMAZING THING. AND OF COURSE THE THE DOLLAR DAY IS THE OTHER ONE THAT'S AMAZING.
SO, ANYTHING ON THAT WITH OUTREACH, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND THEN LET US KNOW BESIDES BOND MONEY, HOW WE CAN HELP YOU ALL AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN OUR PARTNERSHIP.
YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, I THINK YOU HAD A FOLLOW UP.
I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF MEMBERS MENTION.
AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.
IT WAS VERY, EXCITING AND INTERESTING WITH THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE I THINK IT'S THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND LOOKING FOR. WHEN YOU GO TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU'RE HELPING THOSE STUDENTS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIALLY HIDDEN TALENTS THAT THEY WOULDN'T KNOW.
[01:10:09]
AND UNLESS THERE'S THAT OPPORTUNITY WAS THERE.I THINK IT WAS A SNAKE OR SOMETHING.
AND THEY SHE WAS JUST SO COMFORTABLE.
WHEREAS, YOU KNOW, HER MOTHER MAY NOT WOULD TOUCH IT.
SHE'S LETTING THEM KNOW THIS IS NO PROBLEM.
AND SO I WANTED OF COURSE, I WANT TO SEE MORE OF THAT.
AND WE JUST HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS.
BUT IT'S JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE WHEN WE INVEST IN OUR YOUTH IN PARTICULAR, IT JUST SPEAKS VOLUMES OF WHO WE ARE AS A CITY AND WHAT WE CAN DO JUST TO PARTNER UP AND MAKE SURE THAT ESPECIALLY SOME OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE I HAVE AND I KNOW EVERYONE HAS IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST THEY'RE NOT EXPOSED, DURING THE FAIR DAY, OPEN ZOO DAY.
I WILL MENTION THIS REAL QUICKLY BECAUSE MY FORMER PARK BOARD MEMBER TOLD ME THIS, MR. HOCHBURG, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, HE ACTUALLY HAD A YOUNG LADY WHO I THINK SHE WORKED WITH HIM OR SOMETHING, AND SHE HAD CHILDREN.
SHE HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE ZOO.
NEVER. AND SO SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THAT FREE ACCESS BECAUSE I WAS STUNNED.
I'M LIKE, WHO HASN'T BEEN TO THE ZOO? BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DON'T HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO I JUST WANT TO MENTION THOSE POSITIVES.
AND OF COURSE, WE HAD A GREAT, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITY.
AND I THINK THE MORE PEOPLE SEE US, THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER.
WHEN SHE SAID SHE HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE ZOO, I WAS JUST MY MIND WAS BLOWN ON THAT.
BUT I WANT TO I'LL GET THIS FROM YOU ALL LATER.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, JUST THROUGH A MEMO.
OR WE CAN HAVE A QUICK MEETING, WHERE THERE'S SOME INTEREST IN UNDERSTANDING HOW RESIDENTS OR INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE TO GET CERTAIN SPECIES OF ANIMALS, INTO THEIR HOMES THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED, YOU KNOW, LIKE SOME OF THE TIGERS THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT.
ANY BEARS, ANYTHING YET, BUT MOSTLY THESE TIGERS AND OTHER SPECIES.
HOW ARE THEY GETTING THEM INTO THEIR IN OUR RESIDENTIAL AREAS? WITHOUT BEING, I GUESS, OBSERVED? AND NUMBER TWO, THE OTHER COMPONENT, IF YOU WOULD GIVE THAT TO ME, I WANTED TO JUST GET A SOMEWHAT OF A REPORT FROM YOU ON YOUR YOU SAID YOUR PROGRAMS, BUT I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING THE SCHOOLS AND WHAT YOUR PERFORMANCE INDICES ARE.
BENCHMARKS AND INDICES ARE SHOWING IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ABLE TO TRACK THOSE STUDENTS, IF THEY'RE COMING BACK, TO GOING TO COLLEGE, ENGAGE IN THOSE PROGRAMS. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY ARE, IN TERMS OF THE DIVERSITY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S BASED ON SEX AS, NOT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT, BASED ON JUST THEIR, THE WHOLE PROFILE OF DIVERSITY.
OKAY, SINCE WE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT TIME TO WRAP UP, COULD WE ARRANGE A TIME FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION? THEY'RE DONE. THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO DO OKAY OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THIS.
I THINK WE'VE LEARNED A LOT AND HAD SOME GREAT CONVERSATION.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE BACK.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THE TIME.
MR. O'CONNOR, YOU'VE GOT YOUR NEXT GROUP.
OKAY. RYAN O'CONNOR, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DALLAS PARKS AND RECREATION.
ONE MORE TIME, MELANIE FERGUSON IS COMING DOWN, ALONG WITH DAVID MARQUIS.
WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION VERY QUICKLY.
MELANIE IS THE DIRECTOR OF DALLAS WATER COMMONS.
I KNOW A LOT OF YOU ALL KNOW HER.
AND SHE WILL INTRODUCE MR. MARQUIS. GOOD MORNING STILL, YES.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU A BRIEFING.
I AM JOINED BY THE AMAZING DAVID MARQUIS, WHO, YOU KNOW, IS A LONG TIME ADVOCATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIBRANCY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCY. I ALSO JUST HAVE TO SAY VERY, VERY BRIEFLY, WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS HERE, VICKI MEEK, WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION, WHO IS HERE EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS A FAMILY EMERGENCY.
THAT'S THE KIND OF ADVOCACY WE HAVE ON THIS BOARD.
JOHN DEFILIPPO WITH THE TEXAS CONSERVATION ALLIANCE, ARCHITECT FRED PENA.
[01:15:05]
TERRY ARTERBURN, WHO IS OUR AWARD WINNING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, KAREN CROSON, WHO'S IN CHARGE WITH PLUMMER AND ASSOCIATES OF THE WETLAND, PERMITTING, AND OUR PROJECT MANAGER, TAMMY TIJERINA, JUST AGAIN, A GREAT TEAM WHO, BY THEIR ADVOCACY, MAKES ME FEEL GREAT ABOUT THIS PROJECT EVERY DAY.SO, LET'S JUST GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
I THINK MANY OF YOU, ALMOST ALL OF YOU HAVE COME TO THE WATER COMMONS AND GOTTEN THE TOUR.
WE'LL JUST GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO BE QUICK HERE.
IT IS ALSO A PROJECT WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS.
WE HAVE TWO DANCE PARTNERS, THE DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS DWU AND THEN MATTHEW SOUTHWEST IS THE LAND CONTRIBUTOR AND CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS OVERSEER.
YOU CAN SEE THE TWO SMALL GREEN, AREAS.
THESE ARE THE PONDS THAT THE DALLAS WATER COMMONS FOCUSES ON.
THE PROJECT IS APPROXIMATELY 17 TOTAL COMMON ACRES.
SO THIS IS THE ABLE PUMP SYSTEM AREA OF THE TWO SUMPS THAT AS YOU CAN TELL THIS IS AS IS CONDITIONS.
EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO OR ONTO OUR STREETS ENDS UP IN THE WATER.
AND YOU CAN SEE EVIDENCE OF THAT HERE IN THESE SUMPS.
NEXT SLIDE. SO AGAIN, WE WILL ALWAYS BE MAINTAINING FLOOD PREVENTION AND FLOOD CONTROL.
THAT IS THE NATURE OF THIS AREA AND HAS BEEN SINCE THE LEVEES WERE BUILT OUT.
AND THIS IS TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE LEVEES.
BUT WE ALSO, BECAUSE OF THAT, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A GORGEOUS PARK, A NATURAL PARK THAT ENHANCES WATER QUALITY THROUGH FILTRATION AND CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS THAT WILL BE BUILT. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE GET MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE IN THIS PARK.
THAT'S KIND OF A PARK, PLUS URBAN WATER LAB.
AND AS ALL THE EDUCATORS, INCLUDING ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, BEN MCKEE, WHO'S ON THE DISD BOARD, PEOPLE ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO HELP BOTH LITTLE PEOPLE AND ELECTED OFFICIALS UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF WATER IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF WATER WITHIN THIS NATURAL, BEAUTIFUL SETTING OF A PARK.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS HOW IT WORKS.
AND I'M GOING TO LET DAVID MARQUIS JUMP IN HERE.
I'LL BE GLAD TO. I'LL BE GLAD TO.
THANK YOU MELANIE. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS BUILDING A FUNCTIONING WETLANDS IN WHICH WATER WILL CIRCULATE FROM THE CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS, PONDS, THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE SCREEN.
WE KNOW A NATURE BASED SOLUTION IS ONE IN WHICH WE PUSH WATER THROUGH THESE CELLS.
AND THAT WATER THEN MOVES THROUGH A PIPE UNDERGROUND TO THE NORTH POND.
AND THE NORTH POND IS THE REALLY BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE PARK WHERE IT'S BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED.
AND WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I THINK.
WE'VE GONE INTO TO LOOK AT WHICH PLANTS WORK BEST IN DIFFERENT LEVELS OF WATER.
SOME PLANTS DO WELL IN SIX INCHES OF WATER, SOME IN 12, SOME IN 18, SOME IN FOUR FEET OF WATER.
SO OUR PLANTINGS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT AT EACH LEVEL OF WATER DEPTH, NATURE WILL BE DOING THE WORK WE WANT IT TO DO, TO FILTER THIS WATER AND TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL PARK AT THE SAME TIME.
AND THIS IS WATER THAT'S COMING OFF OF DOWNTOWN AND OTHER SLIDES.
NEXT SLIDE. SO IT IS A PARK THAT IS ALSO A LIVING CLASSROOM.
THE ABILITY TO BE UP CLOSE AND AND IN PROXIMITY TO THE WATER, AND ALSO TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IMPACTS THE RIVER BOTH UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM, IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT.
BOTH OUR TEXAS SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES SAY THAT WATER IS THE ACHILLES HEEL IN TEXAS.
AND SO HOW WE DO WATER, HOW WE THINK ABOUT WATER IS WILDLY IMPORTANT.
[01:20:01]
AND WHILE WE KNOW THAT WE WON'T BE CLEANING THE ENTIRE TRINITY RIVER, OUR ABILITY TO HELP DO SO IN A IN A PUBLIC AND BEAUTIFUL SETTING IS WILDLY IMPORTANT AS A WAY TO EDUCATE EVERYONE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE NEXT TO WATER.NEXT SLIDE. AGAIN, THIS IS AN INDICATION OF THIS AWARD WINNING, LANDSCAPE DESIGN FEATURE. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL TRINITY RIVERBED SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN, EAST OF THE LEVEES THAT WILL BE RESTORED INTO A PARK.
DO YOU WANT TO SAY MORE THERE, DAVID? NO, LET'S KEEP ROLLING. OKAY.
AGAIN BEFORE WE'VE MOVED AN INCH OF DIRT.
WE HAVE RECEIVED THESE AWARDS FROM THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS EXCELLENT AWARD, THE METROPOLIS MAGAZINE, ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN, PLANET POSITIVE AWARDS, AS WELL AS THE GREATER DALLAS PLANNING COUNCIL'S DREAM PROJECT.
THANK YOU. ALSO HAVE RECEIVED GREAT PRESS.
NEXT SLIDE. AND DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDING AGREEMENTS.
THE AGREEMENT IS BETWEEN THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE WETLAND FOUNDATION.
IT'S DESIGNED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE DESIGN IS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE DALLAS WETLANDS FOUNDATION.
DONATED TO THE CITY, IT REQUIRES THE CITY AND ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS REVIEW AND APPROVAL, REQUIRES THE CITY AND ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS APPROVAL, AND BECOMES INTEGRATED INTO THE CITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ANNUAL REGULATORY COMPLIANCE.
THE CONSTRUCTION IS TO BE BID AND AWARDED BY THE CITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FOUNDATION, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CONSIDERED ASSIGNMENT TO DALLAS WETLANDS FOUNDATION FOR MANAGEMENT, WITH OVERSIGHT BY THE CITY.
WE ANTICIPATE TO PERFORM THE O&M IN PERPETUITY, FOR ENHANCEMENTS, AND THE CITY WILL DO ALL OF THE FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT O&M NEXT SLIDE. AGAIN, THE SCHEDULE.
WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE PERMITTING AND THE DETAILED DESIGN DONE.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT SOMETIME THIS YEAR TO BE FOLLOWED BY A GROUNDBREAKING AND CONTINUED FUNDRAISING.
AND THEN THE CONSTRUCTION IS 18 TO 24 MONTHS PER POND, AND THEN THE AMENITIES BUILD UP.
NEXT SLIDE. SO THE FUTURE PHASE OF THE PROJECT, WE ARE PREPARING FOR THAT.
THE CURRENT COST ESTIMATE OF THAT PHASE OF THE PROJECT IS $45 MILLION CAPITAL COST, WORKING WITH THE CITY BUSINESSES, ELECTED OFFICIALS, PHILANTHROPIC AND GRANTING AGENCIES FOR CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS.
AND THE REQUEST IS FOR 4 MILLION AS A MATCHING PROJECT IN THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM FOR PARKS.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
I TYPICALLY DON'T GET EXCITED TOO EXCITED ABOUT PROJECTS OR PROGRAMS THAT THAT WE UNDERTAKE, BUT THIS ONE'S TRULY CLOSE TO HEART AND IT'S TRANSFORMATIVE.
AND FOR ME, WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE IS AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT OUR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, UP TO TO YOUNG ADULTS AND ADULTS, TAKE WHAT THEY LEARN OUT HERE AT THE WATER COMMONS AND TAKE IT BACK HOME TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR AND THEIR HOMES AND DO THEIR LITTLE PART.
AND SO I TRULY APPRECIATE, WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THIS ONE IS ONE THAT JUST, EXCITES ME, AND I YOU GOT MY FULL SUPPORT, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO BE ABLE TO VISIT THE CENTER ONCE IT'S OPEN.
AND I REALLY APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
[01:25:06]
I KNOW SHE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO DOWN AND VISIT.AND SO LET'S LET'S GET THIS DONE.
CHAIR NARVAEZ. I THINK YOU WERE LOOKING FOR, INTERIM DIRECTOR STANDIFER.
IF SHE'S NOT THERE, SOMEBODY FROM THERE? IT'S IT'S IT HAS TO DO WITH WETLANDS.
BUT WE HAVE A WETLANDS IN DISTRICT SIX CALLED THE WETLANDS.
AND, SO THE WETLANDS AND THE NAVAJO IS LIKE A TRASH DUMPSTER.
AND I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT THE WATER COMMONS IS NOT GOING TO END UP LOOKING LIKE THAT.
AND SO I JUST WANT IT'S AN EQUITY ISSUE OF, WHY DO WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH TRASH? ALL INSIDE OF THE SUMP THAT'S THERE.
BUT WE MADE IT A WETLANDS AND WE CALL IT A WETLANDS, BUT WE DON'T TREAT IT AS IF IT'S A WETLAND.
SO, THAT'S MY, QUESTION, AND WE CAN DO THAT AT ANOTHER TIME.
SARAH, I SEE YOU'RE ON, BUT, NOW.
SO WHEN WHEN YOU HEARD MY COMMENT AND THEN, HOW DO WE GET IT FIXED? BECAUSE, WE NEED TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE RESIDENTS OF WEST DALLAS.
SO, IT'S A BAD CECAP THING GOING ON THERE.
SO, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AT ANOTHER TIME.
BUT SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WETLANDS, I WAS LIKE, I NEED TO BRING IT UP.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
I THINK WE'RE RUNNING JUST A TAD SHORT OF TIME SO WE COULD.
I JUST WANT TO ADD MY SUPPORT TO THIS PROJECT.
AND SO IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT.
IT WILL BE EDUCATIONAL TO ALL OF US.
AND ITS LOCATION OBVIOUSLY IS JUST PERFECT.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMING TO COUNCIL ON THE 14TH.
I ASSUME EVERYTHING IS MOVING FORWARD ON THAT.
AND, AND WE WILL CLOSE IT OUT THEN WITH THAT.
OKAY, WE'RE MOVING ON, DIRECTOR EVANS.
SO BEFORE YOU BEGIN, DIRECTOR EMMONS, LET ME JUST HAVE A QUICK COMMENT.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BASED ON GUIDANCE FROM THE FORMER ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE AND CITY COUNCIL, THAT, WHERE APPLICABLE, THE BOND OFFICE HAS ADDED 15% TO THE COST OF EACH BOND PROJECT THEY SCORED TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING FOR COMPLIANT COMPLIANCE WITH CECAP AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS. IT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SINCE 2006, ALL CITY PROJECTS ARE TO MEET LEED GOLD STANDARDS.
DIRECTOR EVANS WILL BRIEF US ON THIS.
IT APPEARS THAT IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE IN THE COMING WEEKS TO PASS A RESOLUTION AT CITY COUNCIL, PULLING TOGETHER THESE POLICIES AND INITIATIVES INTO ONE DOCUMENT THAT ARTICULATES THE POLICIES AND CLARIFIES THE EXPECTATIONS OF CITY COUNCIL WITH RESPECT TO COMPLIANCE UNDER THESE POLICIES.
WE CAN DISCUSS THIS FURTHER AFTER THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. CHAIR STEWART, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I'M GOING TO CUT SOME OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PRESENTATION, BUT WE'RE OBVIOUSLY, AVAILABLE TO SPEAK OFFLINE ABOUT ANY OF THE SLIDES OR ANY OF THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
AND, LET ME ALSO THANK OUR EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS, PARTICULARLY JULIE HIRAMOTO, WHO'S THE D 15 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONER, ALSO A PARTNER AND DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATION AT HKS AND OUR CHAIR OF THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP OF INNOVATION COMMITTEE AT EDC OR OF THE EVC.
SO THANKS TO HER, WE'VE BEEN THINKING, AND HER FRIENDS, WE'VE BEEN THINKING THROUGH HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO BE A LEADER, IN ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENTS, PARTICULARLY JENNY NISWANDER, OFFICER BOND, FOR PARTNERING WITH US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADVANCING THE CECAP.
[01:30:01]
SO NEXT SLIDE, LET'S GO.SO I'LL PROVIDE A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
GET INTO WHAT IN FACT, LET'S GO STRAIGHT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.
I'M SORRY. LET'S GO TO THE SLIDE FOUR, JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVE OVER 40 LEED FACILITIES RANGING FROM LEED PLATINUM TO LEED CERTIFIED.
AND WE HAVE A RANGE OF POLICIES THAT THE COUNCIL HAS PASSED ADOPTED BEFORE CECAP.
SO ESSENTIALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT SLIDES FOUR AND FIVE, GO TO SLIDE FIVE.
YOU SEE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BEFORE THE CECAP.
AND OF COURSE, YOU HAD THE CAP ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED IN 2020.
AND ALSO NOTE THAT A KEY COMPONENT OF WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING IS IN 2022, THIS COUNCIL ADOPTED THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN, WHICH PRIORITIZES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE BIG AUDACIOUS GOALS.
SO NOW LET'S GET TO SLIDE SEVEN.
SO AS YOU'LL SEE HERE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE BASELINE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE IN THE MIDDLE.
THE BUILDING STRETCH GOALS ARE ON THE LEFT.
SO AS YOU MAY RECALL THERE ARE GENERAL RECOMMENDATION.
RECOMMENDATION IS TO SEEK LEED GOLD AS A BASELINE AND THEN THEN SEEK ONE STRETCH GOAL.
SO SEEK SEEK ENVISION OR SITES WHICH ARE NON BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS AND ONE STRETCH GOAL.
ENSURE THAT APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT HAVE A TOP 20% ENERGY ENERGY STAR RATING AND TRACK ENERGY USE THROUGH GREEN BUTTON AND ASK THAT CONTRACTORS DISCLOSE THE AMOUNT OF EMBODIED CARBON AND CERTAIN MATERIALS USED IN OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
SO AGAIN, JUST A LITTLE MORE ABOUT EACH OF THESE PRODUCTS AND PROGRAMS. WE KNOW WHAT LEED IS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN USING USING IT SINCE 2003.
SITES. CITES ADVANCES SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING.
IT INCLUDES CERTIFICATION FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF PROJECTS SUCH AS PLAZAS AND STREETSCAPES.
ENVISION IS FOR LARGE, NON-BUILDING CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY LIKE COMPLETE STREET PROJECTS, THOROUGHFARE EXPANSION PROJECTS, AND CERTAIN DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
GREEN BUTTON IS A NO COST TOOL THAT TRACKS BUILDING ENERGY USAGE.
I NOTE THAT BUILDING SERVICES IS ALREADY USING EPA'S ENERGY STAR PORTFOLIO MANAGER.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE USING ENERGY STAR PORTFOLIO MANAGER INSTEAD OF GREEN BUTTON.
SO I THINK WE'RE COVERED THERE.
AND THEN REGARDING THE CARBON DISCLOSURE, ALSO KNOWN AS ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS, THE EBC RECOMMENDS THAT WE TRACK THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM THE PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION OF CONCRETE, IRON, ASPHALT, ALUMINUM AND GLASS MATERIALS.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT EPDS WILL SOON BE THE NEW INDUSTRY STANDARD, SIMILAR TO HOW WE ALL ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS DISPLAY THE RECYCLED CONTENT AND GOODS THAT THAT WE PROCURE.
SO TODAY, ALMOST EVERYTHING PROUDLY PROCLAIMS A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF RECYCLED CONTENT.
IN THE FUTURE, WE IMAGINE THAT EPDS WILL BE PLAY A SIMILAR ROLE.
REGARDING THE USE OF APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT THAT HAVE A TOP 20% ENERGY STAR RATING.
THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE ENERGY USAGE AND SAVE MONEY.
I'LL NOTE THAT BUILDING SERVICES IS ALREADY FOCUSED ON USING ENERGY EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT.
SO WITH THAT, LET'S, CUT TO SLIDE.
YOU KNOW WHAT THE CECAP IS? YOU KNOW WHAT THE EIGHT GOALS OF THE CECAP ARE.
THERE ARE EIGHT GOALS WITHIN THE CECAP.
SEVEN ARE CAPTURED WITHIN, THE BOND PROGRAM.
SO I'LL JUST NOTE THAT, THE ONE THAT'S MISSING IS, LOCAL AND HEALTHY FOODS.
[01:35:04]
SO, WHICH MAKES SENSE GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF THIS DISCUSSION.SINCE FEBRUARY 2023 OEQS HAS BEEN ASSISTING DEPARTMENTS WITH INTEGRATING CECAP INTO PROJECT SCORING CRITERIA, PROVIDING PROJECT SUPPORT AS NEEDED, AND DEVELOPING IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES WITH DEPARTMENTS.
A SLIDE 16, EVEN THOUGH NOT ALL DEPARTMENTS HAD EXPLICITLY WRITTEN SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR CECAP, THE UNDERSTANDING AMONG DEPARTMENTS WAS THAT WE WOULD ADVANCE THE CECAP DURING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, REGARDLESS OF PROJECT TYPE.
THAT BEING SAID, SOME DEPARTMENTS, LIKE BUILDING SERVICES, GAVE ADDITIONAL POINTS FOR PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE THE CECAP AND SOME PROJECTS INHERENTLY ADVANCED CECAP GOALS LIKE THE FLOOD AND EROSION CONTROL PROJECTS, WHICH HELP ACHIEVE CECAP WATER QUALITY AND STORMWATER CONTROL GOALS.
I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT AS CHAIR STUART SAID THAT THE BOND OFFICE IDENTIFIED AN ADDITIONAL 15% OF FUNDING FOR EVERY PROJECT THEY SCORED, WHICH WILL BE USED DURING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION. SLIDE 17.
SO THE SLIDES REFLECT THE PREVIOUS STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND REGARDING THE EVC RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE DEPARTMENTS.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE EXPERIENCED WITH ADVANCING LEAD.
SOME DEPARTMENTS, LIKE PUBLIC WORKS AND DALLAS WATER UTILITIES HAVE EXPERIENCED ADVANCING.
ENVISION, THE PRIMARY DEPARTMENT THAT TRACKS ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
AS WE SAID, DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH ADVANCING SITES OR ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS AS YOU WILL SEE, DEPARTMENTS WANT TO ADVANCE THOSE TOOLS, BUT OEQS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS WILL NEED TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO CLARIFY WHEN AND HOW TO USE THEM.
SO LET'S GET INTO WHAT DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING OR PLAN TO DO.
AS A GENERAL MATTER, THE CITY HAS ALREADY REVISED DESIGN MANUALS AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS TO INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND STANDARDS CRUCIAL TO FORMULATING SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PLANS.
IF COUNCIL SUPPORTS COMPLETE STREET PROJECTS, THEN THOSE PROJECTS WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE RELATED POLICY, WHICH ENSURES MORE WALKABLE, BIKEABLE, GREEN AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES.
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO TRANSITION TO LED STREETLIGHTS AND BETTER COORDINATE TRAFFIC SIGNALS, WHICH WILL IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE IDLING. GOING BACK TO PUBLIC WORKS, THEY HAVE BEEN PLANNING TO CERTIFY SEVERAL PROJECT MANAGERS AND ENVISION WITH THE GOAL OF EMPOWERING DECISION MAKERS AND PROJECT TEAMS IN IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PHASES OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS ALSO EVALUATING WHETHER TO INCORPORATE ENVISION CERTIFICATION AS A REQUIREMENT IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR HIGH PROFILE STREET PROJECTS THROUGH THE STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS PROCESS.
PARKS HAS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES, MOST OF WHICH WILL REDUCE COST OF UTILITIES SUFFICIENT TO PAY FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS IN A FEW YEARS AND CAN BE FUNDED THROUGH SECO
[01:40:01]
LONESTAR.EXAMPLES INCLUDE LED LIGHTING, LIGHTING CONTROLS, HVAC UPGRADES WHICH INCLUDE NEW HIGH EFFICIENCY SYSTEMS AT RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDED EFFICIENCY RATINGS, HVAC, WATER TO WATER, HEAT PUMPS FOR HEATING POOLS, HVAC, VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOW OR VRF SYSTEMS, ELECTRICAL UPGRADES, POWER FACTOR CORRECTION EQUIPMENT, ENERGY MANAGEMENT, COMMISSIONING, AND BIFACIAL SOLAR PANELS, WHICH WILL INVOLVE RETURN ON INVESTMENT CALCULATIONS FOR NEW BOND FINANCE FACILITIES.
DIRECTOR EVANS, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO WE WANT SOME TIME TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS.
YES. OKAY. AND SO I'M THIS IS ALL VERY IMPORTANT AND I APOLOGIZE FOR HOW THE MEETING HAS UNFOLDED.
OF COURSE. SO LET ME OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
CHAIR BLACKMON. JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON GREEN CEMENT.
IS THAT GOING TO BE CARRIED OUT THROUGH ANYTHING THAT HAS A CEMENT COMPONENT LIKE ANY BUILDING? ANY. BECAUSE IF YOU NOTICE, I MEAN, WHEN WE DO ARTS AND CULTURE LIBRARY, OF COURSE THERE'S CEMENT.
SO AND IT'S NOT LISTED ON THEIR KEY STRATEGY.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING IS IT CARRIED OUT THROUGH ANYTHING THAT IS CEMENT.
WE'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON ON THAT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S THAT'S NEW TO ME.
ANOTHER STATE REQUIREMENTS REGARDING GREEN CEMENT.
SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHEN IT'S HOW IT HAPPENED.
MAYOR MILLER, WHEN SHE WAS HERE, PASSED A GREEN CEMENT POLICY THAT ANY TIME THE CITY USES CEMENT, WE MUST GET IT FROM A PROVIDER THAT DOES NOT POLLUTE.
I'M HOPING THAT IT'S STILL THERE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN RETRACTED.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE A GREEN CEMENT RIGHT HERE, NOT JUST STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION.
THAT'S GREAT POINT. BUT ANY PROJECT THAT WAS REQUIRING CEMENT, SO A, SEE IF IT'S STILL ON THE BOOKS AND THEN B CARRY IT OUT THROUGH ALL OF OUR CEMENT, ANY PROJECT THAT HAS CEMENT, RIGHT.
AND I KNOW THERE MAY BE ISSUES WITH IF THERE'S LIKE PREFABRICATED PRODUCTS ETC., IT'S A DIFFERENT.
YEAH, BUT IF YOU GET IT TRUCKED IN.
BECAUSE I THINK THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO REVOKE THAT AFTER.
CHAIR BAZALDUA. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU, DIRECTOR EVANS, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
IT IS REALLY GOOD INFORMATION.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ACTIONS THAT WAS TAKEN LAST WEEK WAS A COMPLETE ZERO OUT OF CITY HALL.
AND I THINK THAT SOME OF THE GOALS THAT WE'RE MEETING, ON SLIDE 20 SPEAKS TO SOME OF WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING TO HAVE DONE HERE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
IF THERE IS ANY IMPACT TO THAT, IF YOU COULD MAYBE BE READY ON WEDNESDAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON WHAT THAT DOES TOWARDS US MEETING OUR GOALS THAT YOU ALL WERE ALREADY ANTICIPATING. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'D LIKE TO, TO JUST SAY, I THINK THAT IT'S INCREDIBLE TO SEE ALMOST ALL OF THE GOALS BEING TOUCHED, WITHIN THIS BOND PROGRAM.
I THINK IT SPEAKS TO OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CECAP, WHICH IS IT'S HUGE.
HOWEVER, I THINK IT'S TOO BIG OF A, OF A OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO NOT HIT EVERY SINGLE ONE.
AND SO I KNOW THAT THE ONLY ONE THAT WE'RE LACKING TOUCHING IS ACCESS TO FOOD.
AND I THINK THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY WITHIN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE THAT IS SOMEWHAT OF A VAGUE BUCKET, IF YOU WILL, WITH A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY, THAT WE HAVE CLEAR DIRECTION FROM THIS BODY, OR AT LEAST GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR BODY TO TAKE ACTION, TO GIVE DIRECTION SO THAT THERE IS AN EARMARK OR A SET ASIDE WITHIN THAT PROPOSITION.
THAT IS A CHARGE FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO USE SPECIFICALLY TO WHETHER IT BE A GROCERY ANCHORED MIXED USE PROJECT OR, HELPING SUBSIDIZE, VARIOUS PROGRAMS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST CUT A RIBBON ON IN DISTRICT SEVEN THIS PAST WEEK WAS GROCERY CONNECT.
[01:45:02]
AND STUFF. IT WAS A REALLY COOL DEAL THAT WE DID.THAT'S IN SOUTHERN DALLAS AND NOW THIS PROGRAM THAT WE WE JUST LAUNCHED LAST WEEK AT ICDC IS GOING TO BE A WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE BASICALLY GROCERY PICKUP WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE A GROCERY LOCATION.
AND SO WE'VE GOT THREE COMMUNITY LOCATIONS WHERE COMMUNITY LABS HAVE BEEN OUTFITTED.
THE COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO WALK OR HOWEVER GET THERE.
AND KROGER HAS REFRIGERATED VEHICLES ON SITE PERMANENTLY INSIDE OF THESE PARKING LOTS OF THE COMMUNITY ONES AT BONTON FARMS, ONES AT THE BETHLEHEM CENTER, ONES AT ICDC. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND NOT THE CONVENTIONAL WAY OF SUBSIDIZING THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS.
WELL, THAT WAS GOING THE ROUTE OF HAVING TO HAVE A BIG BOX STORE COME INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I'M EXCITED FOR FOR WHAT IT'S GOING TO GIVE.
THEY'VE WAIVED ALL OF THE GROCERY PICKUP FEES, THE GROCERY, THE GROCER FEES THAT, SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE EXACT SAME PRICE AS IF THEY HAD ACCESS TO THE STORE THEMSELVES.
AND IT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I WANT TO SEE US DO MORE OF THAT.
I WANT TO SEE US INVEST MORE IN THAT.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. CHAIR MORENO, QUESTIONS NO? CHAIR NARVAEZ. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
AND, CHAIR BLACKMON WAS THE SECOND.
AND NOW WE HAVE CHAIR STEWART.
AND WITHOUT HER LEADERSHIP, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHY, WHEN WE ORIGINALLY PUT THIS CECAP TOGETHER, CARLOS WAS FOR IT TO BE A BREATHING, LIVING DOCUMENT SO THAT WE COULD SEE THE TECHNOLOGIES, THE THINGS THAT CHANGE.
AND, THAT'S WHY EVERY, I THINK IT'S THREE YEARS, IT GETS RELOOKED AT SO THAT YOU ALL CAN, AND THE COMMITTEE, I MEAN, THE COMMISSION CAN SEND US THE UPDATES THAT IT NEEDS.
AND SOME OF THESE UPDATES HAVE NOW, BROUGHT US EXACTLY WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
SO, I DO LIKE THE 15% ADDED ON, TO EVERY PROJECT THAT, WE MAY NOT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO USE IT OR GET THERE WITH IT, BUT AT LEAST IT SHOWS OUR COMMITMENT TO LOOKING AT IT IF WE CAN.
WE'RE EVEN LOOKING AT THAT IN TRANSPORTATION AND TECH AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, WHERE WE CAN USE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MATERIALS TO BE MORE, SENSITIVE TO ALL OF OUR CECAP GOALS.
WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES.
BUT THE GREAT THING IS, WE'RE SEEING IT IMPLEMENTED, AND, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE MY COLLEAGUES ALL KNOW THAT, THE, BROOKE, BROOKE BROOKINGS, BROOKINGS, INSTITUTE WAS THE, LABELED OR NAMED THE DALLAS CECAP AS THE MOST IMPLEMENTABLE AND THE, THE LIKE ONE OF THE THE BEST CECAPS IN THE NATION.
AND SO IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF.
AND I JUST APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COMMITMENT TO, I KNOW I'M SINGING TO THE CHOIR ON THIS COMMITTEE, MADAM CHAIR, BUT, BUT ALL OF OUR COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ACHIEVE THOSE CECAP GOALS, THAT WE'RE HITTING THEM.
AND, I JUST HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT, LAST WEEK, THE UNDERSECRETARY FOR TRANSPORTATION, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, UNDERSECRETARY MONÉ, VISITED DALLAS, TO AWARD $100 MILLION TO DART.
MICHAEL MORRIS AND, THERE WERE $663 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR THE ENTIRE NATION FOR NEW EV VEHICLES, NEW EV CHARGING STATIONS, AND SOME HYDROGEN FUELING STATIONS.
AND DALLAS GOT 100,000,085 MILLION TO INSTALL NEW EV CHARGING STATIONS, MAINLY IN THE SOUTH AND THE AND SOUTHERN DALLAS IN PUBLIC SPACES THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS, AS WELL AS THREE HYDROGEN FUELING STATIONS FOR THOSE BIG RIGS AND BIG GIANT VEHICLES THAT, CAN'T BE ELECTRIFIED YET.
[01:50:02]
AND SOME NEW AND THE OTHER 15 MILLION IS FOR A 100 NEW, ELECTRIC VEHICLES.AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR DOING IT.
AND, CHAIR STEWART, APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AS YOU TAKE US TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF CECAP AND CARLOS AND YOUR TEAM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMITMENTS AND EVERYTHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID, I AGREE WITH ALL OF THOSE, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE FOOD ACCESS.
BECAUSE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
WE'RE SEEING FOLKS COME UP WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS AND CONCEPTS.
AND AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE UTILIZING DELIVERY TYPE SERVICES, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REALLY EXPERIMENT WITH AND SEE HOW WE EDUCATE AND TEACH AND SHOW FOLKS, THAT MAYBE YOU CAN'T WALK INTO A BIG, GIGANTIC GROCERY STORE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT YOU DO HAVE ACCESS, AND WE JUST GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO, EDUCATE AND GET THAT IMPLEMENTED WITH THOSE FOLKS.
BECAUSE EVEN I, FOR THE FIRST TIME A FEW WEEKS AGO, UTILIZED HOME GROCERY DELIVERY SERVICES, AND I WAS SHOCKED HOW MUCH I REALLY ENJOYED IT. AND I'VE BEEN USING IT MORE.
SO, THANK YOU AGAIN, EVERYBODY.
AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET US OUT OF HERE PRETTY QUICK.
RIGHT UNDER THE WIRE, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU. RIGHT UP TO THE WIRE.
DIRECTOR EVANS, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD? I KNOW WE HAD HAVE MENTIONED AND TALKED ABOUT PULLING TOGETHER A DOCUMENT, A RESOLUTION THAT COULD, SPELL OUT THESE POLICIES AND, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE OF, ESPECIALLY THE CITY COUNCIL IS AWARE OF THE DIFFERENT POLICIES THAT ARE IMPACTING THE BOND.
SURE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT.
IF, THIS BODY, BELIEVES IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT AND APPROPRIATE.
WE CAN DEVELOP A RESOLUTION AND, RUN IT THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND BRING IT BACK BEFORE THE BODY, FOR YOUR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
EVERYBODY ON BOARD WITH THAT WORKING ON THE RESOLUTION? I THINK WE WE CAN JUST TAKE AN INFORMAL HEAD NOD AT THIS POINT.
ALL RIGHT. AND SO WE WILL WORK ON THAT.
EVERYBODY WILL GET DRAFTS OF THAT.
WE, WE NEED TO INCLUDE THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN IN THERE AS WELL.
I THINK THAT'S A PIECE OF IT THAT YOU AND I DIDN'T MENTION WHEN WE WERE HAVING OUR CONVERSATION.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S IN THERE AS WELL.
OKAY. ANY LAST WORDS WE HAVE YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I WOULD, I'LL JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE, COMMISSIONER JULIE HIRAMOTO ON.
DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? NO. ALL RIGHT.
NATALIE [INAUDIBLE] LITTLE ILL.
SHE'S FEELING SICK, BUT SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.
THEY HAVE QUESTIONS. MY BOSS IS PUSHING ME UP, SO HANG ON, DIRECTOR EVANS.
ONE SECOND. I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE MEMOS.
I WE DON'T ALWAYS GET TO THOSE.
YES. SO REAL QUICK ON D, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE TWO MINUTES.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE? IT SAYS MOVING FORWARD, THE CITY IS GOING TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE.
IT CAN BE IN A MEMO IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT WRITTEN OUT.
BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE, NOT JUST TO US, BUT TO THE PUBLIC, LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING WHAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO DO? YEAH.
SO OF COURSE, WE WERE IN THE CONSENT DECREE.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THOSE SYSTEMS, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE COMPLYING WITH OUR PERMIT.
SO IT MEANS THAT WE CAN'T CUT THEM FROM THE BUDGET.
REMIND US WHEN EVERY TIME WE COME AFTER IT.
YES. ON E WE'RE DOING SOME AIR MONITORING.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THE DATA? JUST ONE SECOND.
IT'S PART OF THE, CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
I THINK WE ADDED 11 MORE MONITORS.
THE DATA IS UP ON OUR DASHBOARD, AND, WE'RE USING THAT DATA.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT DATA, WE'RE OFFLINE.
WE'LL OR HERE, WE'RE WILLING TO DO SO HERE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING..
SPECIFICALLY ON THE AIR QUALITY DATA.
YES. SO AND THEN, YES, CONTINUE.
TREE PLANTINGS AT WHITE ROCK LAKE.
[01:55:04]
CHAIR BAZALDUA. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.I WILL PIGGYBACK ON E AND THAT REQUEST FOR THE AIR QUALITY MONITORS.
I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH, DOCTOR NANCE AND WITH THE EPA, AND, SHE'S BEEN ABOVE AND BEYOND TO GIVE HER TIME TO COMMUNITY LEADERS AND JOPPY SPECIFICALLY.
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT, REALLY, IN THIS PAST WEEK'S MEETING WAS A DIGGING INTO THOSE AIR QUALITY MONITOR DATA SETS AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S AT LEAST AN ALIGNMENT ON WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE MONITORING FOR, AND A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT IS, BECAUSE THERE'S QUITE A BIT THAT WE COULD BE.
BUT THEN IN ORDER TO GARNER THE SUPPORT FROM THE EPA WITH SOME OF THE ZONING CHANGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT WITH FORWARD DALLAS SPECIFICALLY, IT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL.
THAT WOULD HELP US, I THINK, WITH SOME LITIGIOUS BACKLASH THAT I THINK WE ALSO ARE ANTICIPATING.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.
I BUT I IT'S YEAH, IT'S GOOD IT'S GREAT DATA TO LOOK AT WHAT I WOULD ALSO LIKE THOUGH SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HEARD FROM I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH COMMITTEE AT THIS POINT, BUT THERE WAS A BRIEFING, FROM DOCTOR WILSON SPECIFICALLY, ON HOW THIS TOUCHED. WAS IT WE ON HOW IT TOUCHED THE BOND? SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU HAVE JUST PRESENTED TO US TODAY? DIRECTOR EVANS. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE, LIZ, IF WE COULD, DO SOME KIND OF SIMILAR, RESOLUTION THAT GIVES CLEAR GUIDANCE ON THE STAMP WE ARE INTENDING TO MAKE ON WITH OUR BOND INVESTMENT SPECIFIC TO THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.
AND HOW THAT TOUCHES AND, AND I HOPE THAT DOCTOR WILSON COULD ALSO SEE, OR WOULD ALSO HURT, MY FEEDBACK REGARDING THE FOOD INSECURITY PIECE AND SEEING IF WE CAN MAYBE GET THAT FIRMED UP, IN THAT RESOLUTION AS WELL.
I THINK THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR SEVERAL GUIDING DOCUMENTS ON HOW THIS INVESTMENT IS REALLY GOING TO BE PUT TO IMPLEMENTATION, AND I THINK THAT THIS WOULD WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL JUST AS MUCH AS C CAP TO SHOW OUR TRUE COMMITMENT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE AS IMPLEMENTATION GETS UNDERWAY.
SO NOTED. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOT SOME WORK TO DO ON THIS DOCUMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
CHAIR. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 11:03.
THANK YOU EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.