[Park, Trails, and Environment Committee on April 1, 2024]
[00:00:05]
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, VIRTUALLY.
SO, I'LL LISTEN FOR WHO WHO'S SPEAKING UP.
SO GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE APRIL 1ST, 2024, PARKS, TRAILS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING.
I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 904.
OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS APPROVING MINUTES TO HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
AND SECOND. HOW ABOUT A SECOND? YES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
SO, OUR FIRST PRESENTATION IS FROM LORI WILSON, SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR FOR OEQS.
SHE IS PRESENTING AN OVERVIEW OF THE MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION, SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT IN COUNCIL A FEW MONTHS AGO AND IN ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE ED PROGRAMS. SO, LORI, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU AND THANK YOU.
I THINK, CHAIR, I'LL JUST DO A QUICK INTRO.
THEY LEAD THAT ANY TIME WE HAVE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL ISSUES IN PROPERTIES, THEY LEAD THAT ANY TIME WE NEED TO ASSESS AND CLEAN UP PROPERTY, THINK OF BLUE STAR.
THEY LEAD THAT. SO AGAIN, REALLY IMPORTANT TEAM AND LOOK EXCITED FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND WE ALSO HAVE PAUL WHITE WHO'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ED.
YES. EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT WORK.
SO, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
I AM VERY EXCITED TO INTRODUCE MY PROGRAM.
BUT WHAT I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW IS OUR REAL FOCUS IS REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL RISK.
SO, THESE ARE KIND OF THE BIG BUCKET PROJECTS OF WHAT WE DO IN OUR PROGRAM.
SO, WE'VE BEEN AROUND ACTUALLY DOING THIS PROGRAM FOR OVER 18 YEARS.
SO, THIS PROBABLY THIS PRESENTATION HAS BEEN LONG COMING SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO SUPPORT THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND TO SUPPORT PEOPLE EXTERNALLY.
ALL RIGHT. SO, I'M JUST MAINLY THE OVERVIEW PURPOSE MAIN PROGRAMS. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
ALL RIGHT. SO JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
SO, WE'RE ACTUALLY A GROUP THAT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE LEGACY OAK AT THE VERY BEGINNING.
SO, I THINK EXECUTIVES SAW THE NEED TO HAVE A CONSISTENT PROGRAM.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING TO BUY PROPERTIES, WE NEED CONSISTENT ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT REPORT REVIEWS THAT ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH EPA RULES FOR PHASE ONE ESAS AND THE TC RULES FOR SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENTS.
BEFORE WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN OAK WERE DOING THESE ON THEIR OWN.
AND THERE'S RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT NEED TO BE FOLLOWED.
THERE WAS ALSO THIS PROGRAM ESTABLISHED TO HELP HAVE CONSISTENCY FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS AND COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS, BUYING PROPERTIES, DEVELOPING ON THOSE PROPERTIES.
SO, SOME OF THE EARLY PROJECTS THAT WE HAD DONE AT THAT TIME WERE EVEN HENSLEY FIELD, WAY BACK WHEN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS I WAS ASSIGNED TO.
AT THAT TIME, WE HAD THE BIG MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION SITE WAS FOR SINGLETON BOULEVARD.
REDEVELOPMENT. MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION IS A PROGRAM THAT BALANCES PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH WITH REVITALIZATION AND REVITALIZATION FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
WE ALSO WHEN I FIRST CAME ON BOARD, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 18 YEARS.
[00:05:03]
ALSO, THE MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION PROGRAM WAS BRAND NEW.THE CITY ESTABLISHED IT IN 2005.
AND SO NOW SINCE THEN, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF MSD PROJECTS.
SO, I THOUGHT IT'D BE IMPORTANT JUST TO SHOW OUR TEAM.
WE'RE ACTUALLY PRETTY SMALL AND WE HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES.
WE HAVE ALTOGETHER OVER 70 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
FOR US, THE LEAST AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE FOR ONE OF OUR STAFF IS TEN YEARS.
WE ALL HAVE DEGREES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE OR GEOSCIENCE.
I AM ALSO A PROFESSIONAL GEOSCIENTIST.
I CAME FROM ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING BEFORE I CAME ON BOARD HERE.
SOME OF MY OTHER STAFF HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE ALSO.
WE HAVE SKILLS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT, REMEDIATION, COMPLIANCE, STORM WATER.
THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US IN OUR SUPPORT OF THE CITY.
SO, WHAT IS OUR MAIN PURPOSE? OUR GROUP MANAGES OUR ENVIRONMENTAL RISK AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY ACQUIRING NEW PROPERTIES AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THESE NEWLY ACQUIRED PROPERTIES AND EVEN SOME OF OUR EXISTING PROPERTY THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE IN A CLEANUP PROGRAM OR THAT WE'RE REDEVELOPING, THAT WE'VE JUST HAD IN OUR POOL OF PROPERTIES, THAT NOW WE HAVE A NEW FUTURE USE OF THAT PROPERTY.
SO THAT COULD BE PARKS, TRAILS, LEVEES, FIRE STATIONS, LIBRARIES SERVICE CENTERS.
SO, WHO DO WE SUPPORT? WE SUPPORT INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS.
AND THEN ALSO EXTERNAL BECAUSE MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION IS A PROGRAM THAT CAN BE APPLIED FOR BY EXTERNAL PARTY PROPERTY OWNERS, DEVELOPERS, CONSULTANTS, THEY TURN TO US WHEN THEY ARE SEEKING TECHNICAL GUIDANCE, UNDERSTANDING IF PROPERTIES ARE SAFE OR PROTECTIVE FOR THEIR USE, EVEN WHEN THERE'S BEEN HISTORICAL USES AND PREVIOUSLY IN THOSE AREAS.
SO, ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS ACQUIRING PROPERTY OR REDEVELOPING PROPERTY WILL CONTACT US.
WE'LL GIVE THEM SUPPORT WITH THAT ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE.
WHEN WE HAVE NEW GRANTS, WE SUPPORT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WITH HUD GRANT REVIEWS FOR THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS. AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED EARLY IN THE PROCESS.
I'D SAY THIS WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN HUD WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS TECHNICAL OVERSIGHT THAT THEY WERE GETTING CONSISTENT REVIEWS WITH THEIR PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS AND PHASE TWOS, IF THAT WAS NEEDED.
AND WE GIVE REVIEW MEMOS, AND WE GIVE MEMOS WHEN THEIR REPORTS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS.
SOME OF OUR MAIN INTERNAL CLIENTS, PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WE HELP THEM WITH ANY NEW PROPERTY THEY'RE BUYING FOR TRAILS WHEN THEY'RE RENOVATING BUILDINGS.
A LOT OF THE FAIR PARK BUILDINGS WITH THE THOSE ARE OLD STRUCTURES.
WE HIRED THE CONSULTANTS THAT HELP US DO THAT.
AND THEN WE REVIEW THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE.
DALLAS WATER UTILITIES IS ANOTHER REALLY A PRIMARY DEPARTMENT THAT SUPPORTS US.
THAT'S THE DALLAS FLOODWAY EXTENSION, THEIR FLOODWAY PROJECTS.
AND THEN WE EVALUATE THEM TO DETERMINE THAT THEY'RE PROTECTIVE.
[00:10:01]
LET'S SEE. BOND AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, NEW FIRE STATIONS, LIBRARIES, BUILDING RENOVATIONS, PUBLIC WORKS, THEIR LINEAR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.THEY'RE DOING STREET CONSTRUCTION.
WE'RE GOING TO HELP WITH ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE WITH THOSE TWO.
ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT DO WE DO? AS I SAID, IT'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT SERVICE.
WE DO ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES AND BEFORE REDEVELOPMENT.
THAT DUE DILIGENCE IS REALLY IMPORTANT AHEAD OF TIME TO KEEP A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ON SCHEDULE.
AND WHEN WE FIND THAT THERE WERE, THEN WE WILL HIRE THE CONSULTANT THAT WILL DO THE TESTING TO KNOW IN ADVANCE PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION IF THEY NEED TO MANAGE THEIR SOIL OR THEIR GROUNDWATER IN A SPECIAL WAY AND DISPOSE OF IT APPROPRIATELY.
THOSE ARE IN CONSTRUCTION, SOIL AND GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PLANS, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.
SO, WHEN WE DETERMINE THAT THERE'S A NEED TO, LET'S SAY IF WE DO THE SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATION AND WE FIND THAT THERE ARE CHEMICALS IN THE SOIL, OR THE GROUNDWATER AND THEY EXCEED.
WHAT WE CAN TERM ACTION LEVELS, CRITERIA THAT THE STATE HAS SET FOR THE MOST STRINGENT OF CLEANUP, WHICH WE CALL CLEANUP TO RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS.
AND SO THAT IS OUR STRICTEST CLEANUP LEVEL.
THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IS PROMULGATED.
THAT AUTHORITY AND WE WILL ENTER WE HELP DEPARTMENTS, AND WE MANAGE IT TURNKEY TO ENTER THOSE PROPERTIES INTO A CLEANUP PROGRAM AND TO MANAGE THOSE SO THAT THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GET A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION, TO SHOW THAT THAT PROPERTY IS PROTECTED FOR THAT PLANNED USE.
AND I ALSO HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT WE GIVE GUIDE TO THE CONTRACTORS, THE PROJECT MANAGERS, SO THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE DELAYS. THAT COULD BE VERY COSTLY TO A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? WE UTILIZE OUR EXPERIENCE.
WE CONDUCT ALL SERVICES IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO HIRE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS TO HELP US GO OUT AND DO THE FIELD WORK, TO DO THE PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS, TO DO ANY SUBSURFACE TESTING THAT'S NEEDED.
AND THEN IT'S OEQ STAFF THAT WILL REVIEW ALL OF THAT, ENSURE IT'S IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS.
IF WE SEE THAT SOMETHING'S MISSING, WE'RE GOING TO QUESTION THAT.
SO THAT CONSISTENCY, IF WE IF IT ALL COMES THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT, THEN WE'RE ENSURING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT WITH A CONSERVATIVE LENS BECAUSE IT'S THE CITY AND WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE TO THAT PROPERTY.
SO IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT CLEANUP IS DONE IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS.
SO THOSE DEPARTMENTS, THEY CONTACT US, THEY ASK FOR US TO HELP THEM, AND WE DO EVERYTHING TURNKEY FOR THEM. AND THAT WILL BE THAT BEGINNING PHASE ONE, THE PHASE TWO AND A CLEANUP PROGRAM IF NEEDED.
I'VE JUST REALLY KIND OF TOUCHED ON ALL OF THESE ALREADY.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE INCLUDES SOIL AND GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT.
THAT'S ALSO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND IS PART OF THAT ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE WE'RE GOING TO OCCUPY A BUILDING AND RENOVATE IT, THEN THAT'S WHEN THOSE THE TESTING IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT A BUILDING CAN HAVE ASBESTOS IN IT, IN THE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, BUT IT'S THAT IT CAN'T BE DISTURBED. SO, IF IT'S GOING TO BE RENOVATED, THE ASSESSMENT MUST BE DONE TO FIND OUT WHERE IS THERE ASBESTOS MATERIALS HAS BEEN USED OR LEAD BASED PAINT THAT'S BEEN USED AND THEN REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT RENOVATION AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO DISTURB THAT MATERIAL THAT NEEDS TO BE ABATED PRIOR TO THAT DISTURBANCE.
THAT'S WHEN WE NEED TO GO INTO A CLEANUP PROGRAM BECAUSE THERE IS IMPACT TO SOIL OR GROUNDWATER.
[00:15:05]
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION PROGRAM.THAT'S ACTUALLY A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS CLOSURE OF PROPERTIES.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WAS ESTABLISHED A WHILE BACK, AND IT'S REALLY HELPFUL TO HELP CLOSE OUT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, BUT IN A WAY THAT'S PROTECTIVE OF HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
ALL RIGHT. THE ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE PROGRAM NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
AGAIN THIS IS DONE PRIOR TO ACQUISITION PRIOR TO REDEVELOPMENT.
ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE COVERS PHASE ONE.
THERE ARE STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT WE FOLLOW.
WE ALSO HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE THAT WAS FORMALIZED A FEW YEARS AGO, WHICH IS DIRECTING STAFF TO UTILIZE OEQ TO ASSIST WITH THE PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS PRIOR TO ACQUIRING PROPERTY.
WE WANT TO TAKE AS MUCH OFF THE SHOULDERS OF THE DEPARTMENT MANAGER.
THOSE ARE ARCHITECTS OR ENGINEERS.
THEY'RE NOT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS.
WE THEN WILL REVIEW THOSE PROPOSALS, THE REPORTS, THE INVOICES, GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE NEXT STEPS. WE WILL HIRE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT, MANAGE THAT CONSULTANT THAT ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT, THAT PHASE ONE, INITIALLY IT'S VERIFYING THE PRESENCE OR THE ABSENCE OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS FROM HISTORIC USES.
BUT PEOPLE DON'T SEE THAT JUST WITH WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS DUE DILIGENCE AND YOU FIND THERE WERE HISTORICAL USES.
IT'S DOWNTOWN. THERE'S BEEN A LOT THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING.
AND SO, THEN WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROPERTY IS PROTECTED FOR THAT USE AS A PARK.
THAT CONSULTANT IS LOOKING FOR ALL POTENTIAL SIGNS THAT THERE'S BEEN CONTAMINATION ON THAT PROPERTY OR AGAIN, POTENTIAL FOR THERE TO BE THAT IMPACT ON THAT PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S AFTER THE PHASE ONE THAT THAT NEXT STEP IS DONE, THAT PHASE ONE IS DETERMINING WHAT WE CALL RECOGNIZED ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
THAT'S A TERM THAT'S OFFICIAL TO A PHASE ONE.
IT'S REALLY ARE THERE POTENTIAL FOR THIS SITE TO BE IMPACTED BY USES ON SITE OR POTENTIALLY EVEN OFF SITE? OFF SITE COULD AFFECT GROUNDWATER THAT COULD COME UNDER OUR PROPERTY.
THAT'S STILL EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO IDENTIFY.
SO THIS ONE I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THESE ARE ACTUALLY OUR LEVEES.
SO YOU HAVE CADILLAC HEIGHTS LEVEE AND LAMAR LEVEE.
ALL RIGHT. HAZARDOUS BUILDING MATERIALS.
SO WE'D HIRE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT.
THEY DO SURVEYS IDENTIFY WHERE THAT ABATEMENT IS NEEDED AND THEN HAVE THE ABATEMENT OCCUR.
AGAIN PRIMARY CUSTOMERS PARKS BOND OFFICE AND OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS.
WE HELPED THEM ACTUALLY WITH THE 2929 HAMPTON AND ALSO WITH 4150 INDEPENDENCE.
WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROPERTIES THAT WE'VE PUT INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP PROGRAM.
[00:20:06]
AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT TURNKEY MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE ASSESSMENT AND ANY TYPE OF CLEANUP IS IN ACCORDANCE TO THE TEXAS RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM REGULATIONS.SO HERE YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE ENTERED 23 SITES INTO A CLEANUP PROGRAM.
WE'VE CLOSED FIVE OF THEM, AND WE STILL HAVE 18 IN PROCESS.
BUT I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS YEAR WE'RE SO CLOSE WITH THE CLOSING OUT SEVERAL OF THESE THAT I BELIEVE THAT PROBABLY AT LEAST 4 OR 5 WILL GET CLOSED OUT, EVEN JUST THIS YEAR.
THERE'S A LOT OF STEPS IN MANAGING A SITE IN THE VCP, AND WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GETTING A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AND SHOWING THAT ALL CHEMICALS OF CONCERN ARE FULLY ADDRESSED.
JUST AS WE'VE DONE WITH THE OTHER PROJECTS, WE'LL REVIEW PROPOSALS, WILL INTERFACE WITH THE TC.
SO WITH ALL OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAVE, WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TIMELY REVIEWS, THE IMPORTANCE OF A PROJECT WORKING TOGETHER AND MOVING THAT TOWARDS THAT CLOSURE.
SOME OF THESE SITES THAT WE'VE HAD INTO THE VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM DEEP WOOD IS ONE OF THEM.
SIMPKINS. WHERE WE HAD THE TRINITY FOREST GOLF COURSE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY A SITE THAT'S IN THE VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM.
WE HAVE THE FAIR PARK COMMUNITY PARK.
THAT'S ONE THAT WE ACTUALLY STARTED WITH BROWNFIELDS, BUT MOVED INTO THE VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM TO HELP CLOSE OUT THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND THEN TO GET THAT CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION TO SHOW THAT IT IS PROTECTIVE FOR THE USE AS A PARK MULTIPLE OTHER SITES ALSO WE ARE WORKING ON COCKRELL TRACT E, THAT'S ONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER.
THAT'S ACTUALLY ANOTHER PARCEL THAT WE HAVE IN THE VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM.
BLUE STAR IS ANOTHER ONE THAT WE HAD IN THE PROGRAM, TOO.
SO HERE'S JUST SOME OTHER EXAMPLES.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HARWOOD PARK AGAIN STARTED THE BEGINNING.
DID THE PHASE ONE, THE PHASE TWOS TO SEE IF THERE WAS IMPACT.
THERE WAS A SMALL AREA WHERE THERE WERE METALS IMPACT IN THE SOIL THAT GOT REMOVED AND HAULED OFF.
THERE'S EXISTING STRUCTURES FOR THAT AMAZING REDEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN PARK.
AND SO THE ASBESTOS LEAD BASED PAINT ABATEMENT ALL OCCURRED ON THOSE.
AND WE ARE ACTUALLY JUST WAITING FOR THAT CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION.
WE'RE JUST GETTING THAT FINAL CERTIFICATE.
TQS ALREADY SAID IT MEETS CLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR MEETING RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS.
WE JUST NEED THAT CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION.
NEXT SLIDE. ANOTHER PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE IN THE VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM IS CADILLAC HEIGHTS PARK.
HERE YOU CAN SEE THAT WE STARTED ASSESSMENT BACK IN 21, 22.
TO FULLY ASSESS IT, DO THE DO ADDITIONAL PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS.
AND DO SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATION.
ON YOUR SLIDE THERE, YOU'LL SEE THREE GREEN PARCELS.
SO THAT OCCURRED BACK IN MAY AND JUNE OF 2023.
THAT'S ALREADY BEEN REMOVED AND TC APPROVED.
THE ALL THE ASSESSMENT THAT WE COMPLETED AND THE REMOVAL OF THE SOIL IN JANUARY OF 2024.
SO THEY HAVE SAID THAT THIS SITE, WHAT WE HAVE DONE HAS MET THOSE RESIDENTIAL CLEANUP STANDARDS.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT SLIDE. MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION PROGRAM.
THIS IS THE PROGRAM THAT BALANCES REDEVELOPMENT WITH PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND IT'S DONE BY RESTRICTING THE POTABLE USE OF GROUNDWATER.
SO WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WITH MSD IS MSD IS TO ADDRESS HISTORICAL CONTAMINATION.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S ONGOING.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED COULD HAVE BEEN FIVE, TEN, 100 YEARS AGO THAT NOW COULD STILL AFFECT REDEVELOPMENT IF WE WANT TO REVITALIZE OUR CITIES AGAIN, THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WAS FOCUSED.
THEY CALL IT A BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE THE FOCUS IS REVITALIZATION AND REDEVELOPMENT.
ACTUALLY, WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH SOME OF OUR HISTORIC RECORDS, I HAD SEEN THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AT THAT TIME WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT IS TO REVITALIZE, BUT ALSO TO PROTECT THE WITH THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
[00:25:09]
GROUNDWATER. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PROPERTIES SIT THERE.AND THEY'RE SITTING THERE AND THEY'RE BLIGHTED AND THEY'RE NOT BEING USED.
THE PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO HELP FACILITATE REDEVELOPMENT TO WE KNOW THAT THAT SHALLOW GROUNDWATER, WHEN IT'S JUST 0 TO 50FT, THAT GROUNDWATER IS NOT A DRINKING WATER SOURCE, THAT'S NOT A POTABLE USE OF WATER FOR THAT AREA.
AND THE CITY OF DALLAS USES AREA AQUIFER, NOT AQUIFERS, BUT OUR LAKES, OUR RESERVOIRS.
THAT'S THAT'S OUR DRINKING WATER SOURCE.
WE DON'T USE GROUNDWATER AS A DRINKING WATER.
AND EVEN THE USABLE AQUIFERS ARE DOWN 1800 FEET.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE USABLE AQUIFERS.
DALLAS IS ACTUALLY FOR THE MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION PROGRAM, A REALLY GOOD CITY TO UTILIZE THAT, BECAUSE WE CAN THEN SHOW THAT IT'S WE'RE BEING PROTECTIVE.
WE'RE GETTING ALL THIS INFORMATION.
WHERE IS IT, WHAT ARE THE CHEMICALS, HOW FAR DO THEY EXTEND? AND WE'VE CREATED A REALLY GREAT MAP, AN INTERACTIVE GIS MAP TO HELP US, BUT ALSO TO HELP OTHERS THAT ARE DOING WORK.
AND HERE YOU CAN SEE THIS IS JUST ONE IMAGE OUT OF OUR GIS DATABASE.
THERE ARE 157 MSD'S THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT ENCOMPASS ABOUT 8160 ACRES.
THIS MAP THEN WILL SHOW ALL OF THOSE MSD'S.
SOMEBODY CAN PUT IN AN ADDRESS AND SEE HOW CLOSE AN MSD MAY BE TO THEIR HOME.
AND THEN IF ANYONE HAS A QUESTION ABOUT I SEE AN MSD, DOES THAT MEAN THERE'S CONTAMINATION IN THIS GROUNDWATER? THEY CAN CONTACT US AND WE CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION AND HELP PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S JUST AN IMPACT ON AN INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY THAT DOESN'T EXTEND. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASK FOR IS TO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE EXTENT OF GROUNDWATER, SO THAT WE KNOW DOES IT EXTEND OFF THE PROPERTY ON THE PROPERTY, AND WE GET THE FULL INFORMATION? SO FIVE CITY PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN AN MSD WOULD BE LOVE FIELD, THE DALLAS FLOODWAY, UPPER CHAIN OF WETLANDS, THE SINGLETON BOULEVARD CORRIDOR HILL AVENUE, THAT'S PART OF MILL CREEK PEAKS BRANCH.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE THREE OF THEM IN PROCESS THAT ARE CITY PROPERTIES.
OUR URBAN FARM THAT IS ACTUALLY TAYLOR FIELDS.
IT'S A PROPERTY OWNED BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
TRINITY PORTLAND ONE OF DWA'S PROPERTIES FOR A PUMP STATION.
AGAIN, THIS IS TO HELP CLOSE OUT THOSE SITES THAT ARE ALREADY IN A CLEANUP PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER MSD'S THAT WE KNOW WILL BE COMING.
NEXT SLIDE. SO THIS IS JUST A BEFORE AND AFTER.
AGAIN, YOU MAY HAVE SOMETHING THAT HAS AN EMPTY FIELD.
IS THAT THAT ONE THAT WAS ACTUALLY A CLOSED LANDFILL.
THEY ACTUALLY DUG UP THAT ENTIRE LANDFILL TO REMOVE ANY POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND THEN PUT A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT ON THAT PROPERTY.
MSD'S ARE OFTEN USED FOR SITES THAT HAVE MIXED USE.
AND WE DO DIFFERENT ASK A LOT OF PROACTIVE QUESTIONS, SUCH AS IF YOU'RE LEAVING CONTAMINANTS IN PLACE, IF THERE IS A RISK FOR ANYTHING LIKE A VAPOR INTRUSION INTO A STRUCTURE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO BE PROTECTIVE? SO WE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
YOU CAN SEE THERE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PHASE ONES THAT WILL COME THROUGH THE DOOR.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATIONS THERE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GOT A GOOD SNAPSHOT.
SO IN 23 WE HAD 57 PHASE ONES.
[00:30:03]
OTHER JUST VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT WE WERE WORKING ON, WHICH HAVE BEEN SOIL AND GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PLANS NEPA PROJECTS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON HELPING TRANSPORTATION WITH SOME OF THEIR REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.WE ARE WORKING ON A SOIL AND GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL UPDATE FOR DALLAS WATER UTILITIES.
THAT'S SOMETHING THEY USE PRIOR TO THEIR UTILITY LINE REPLACEMENTS OR CONSTRUCTION.
WE HELPED WITH THE UST REMOVAL OUT WITH HAMPTON WITH THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE EVEN DONE AQUIFER CHARACTERIZATION AT ONE OF THE PARKS TENNIS CENTERS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE HELPING WITH THE LAMAR LEVEE AND THE CADILLAC HEIGHTS LEVEE.
THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
AGAIN. THE DOING THINGS IN ADVANCE KEEPS THOSE PROJECTS ON SCHEDULE.
AGAIN, WHILE WE'RE REALLY ENVIRONMENTAL RISK MANAGEMENT, NOT JUST ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE AND MSD, WE HELP REVIEW ZONING CASES TO FIND OUT IF THERE COULD BE WHETHER THAT'S A OLD LANDFILL THAT SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO DEVELOP ON, AND JUST GIVE GUIDANCE ON REGULATIONS THAT THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT OR REVIEWS THEY SHOULD GET FROM THE STATE. IF THEY'RE GOING TO REDEVELOP A OVER A CLOSED SUPERFUND SITE, THEY NEED TO CONTACT TC.
WE JUST HELP GIVE THEM THE GUIDANCE.
ALSO, THE REAL ESTATE ABANDONMENT OR LICENSE REQUEST WILL REVIEW ALL OF THOSE TO TO SEE IF WE'VE HAD HISTORICAL ASSESSMENTS DONE ON THOSE PROPERTIES. ALL RIGHT.
SO AS WE'RE DOING THAT, WE WILL GET DOCUMENTATION OF IN A SEPARATE FILE.
WE'LL SAVE THE INVOICES FOR ALL THE PROJECTS, THE SCOPE OF WORKS, THE CONTRACTS.
THAT'S EVERYTHING THAT THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE NEEDS.
WE HELP THEM WITH REVIEWING THEIR SPREADSHEETS, MAKING SURE THEY'RE ACCURATE.
AND WE'VE DONE THAT FOR PROBABLY ABOUT 12 YEARS.
NEXT SLIDE. I'LL JUST TOUCH ON SOME OF THE OTHER PRIORITY PROJECTS.
HENSLEY FIELD THAT'S ONE AGAIN THAT I'VE BEEN SUPPORTING THEM THAT OK SUPPORTS THEM.
WE ARE THE TECHNICAL EXPERT WITH EVERYTHING WITH INVESTIGATION AND REMEDIATION AND MANAGING THAT AND THE CLEANUP REQUIREMENTS. AND I MEET REGULARLY WITH THE NAVY AND THEIR TECHNICAL TEAM AND SUPPORT CITY MANAGEMENT AND AND WORK WITH THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THE BLUE STAR SITE, THAT'S ONE THAT EVERYBODY IS PROBABLY VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
MY TEAM IS THE ONE THAT HELPED MANAGE FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN THERE WERE SHINGLES AND GET THE SHINGLE REMOVAL HELP PUT THE DASHBOARD UP, MANAGE THE DASHBOARD. ONCE THOSE SHINGLES WERE GONE, WE DID THE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT DETERMINED THAT EVEN BEFORE THOSE SHINGLES WERE EVER OUT THERE, THERE WAS FILLING THAT HAD IMPACT.
JEFFERIES MEYERS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IS ANOTHER ONE.
THAT ONE WAS CITY MANAGER FUNDING WAS ESTABLISHED ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY'S RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.
THAT WAS 500,000 ESTABLISHED WHEN PART OF THAT WAS AN AIR QUALITY MONITORING STUDY IN PART IS THE ASSESSMENT OF THE GROUND WITH THE SOIL, THE GROUNDWATER AND ANY POTENTIAL VAPOR INTRUSION.
WHEN YOU HAVE GASES THAT COULD COME UP INTO A RESIDENCE.
SO WE ARE, I WOULD SAY, 75% COMPLETED, STILL TRYING TO GET MORE PRIVATE OWNERS ON BOARD TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. ALL RIGHT.
[00:35:08]
TO DO A LOT OF TRAINING FOR OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS.WE'VE HAD A LOT OF TURNOVER AND PEOPLE JUST LEAVING, RETIRING.
AND SO I WANT TO REESTABLISH THAT.
TRAINING ON ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE AND MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION.
ONE OF OUR FOCUS IS TO IMPROVING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RELATED TO MSD, WHETHER THAT MEANS PIGGYBACKING ON ANOTHER COMMUNITY MEETING OR ANSWERING QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COORDINATOR AND DETERMINING NEXT STEPS WITH THAT UPDATE THE MSD PUBLIC NOTICE LANGUAGE TO BE MORE SIMPLIFIED.
THAT CAME OUT OF OUR LAST MSD THAT WAS PRESENTED BEFORE COUNCIL.
SO WE HAVE ALREADY DONE SOME OF THAT MODIFICATION AND ARE WORKING.
AND THEN THE INTENT IS TO HAVE MULTIPLE EYES.
LOOK AT THAT FROM THE COMMUNITY, FROM OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
ANY INTERNALLY OTHER GROUPS TO JUST TO SEE.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON THIS? IS THIS MORE CLEAR? DOES IT MAKE SENSE AND PUT MORE OF LIKE A AN FAQ WITH OUR NOTICE SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND MORE CLEARLY WHAT A MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION IS.
ALL RIGHT. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
AND I KNOW IT'S A LOT AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. LET ME JUST OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
CHAIR NARVAEZ YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR.
VERY THOROUGH. I NOTE NEW A LOT OF EVERYTHING IN THERE.
JUST BECAUSE I. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR QUITE A LONG TIME, CHAIR.
AND BUT THE POTABLE WATER IS THE ONE THAT REALLY GOT ME ALL JUMPED IN BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITY TO THE GROUND NOT BEING CLEAN OR THINGS BEING DIRTY IN WEST DALLAS ESPECIALLY.
AND SO WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT.
AS FAR AS WHEN YOU GET THIS NOTICE JUST TO, YOU KNOW, PRE-WARN, MY COLLEAGUES, IN THE EVENT YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE ISSUES HAPPEN, IT REALLY SCARES PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY THINK, OH, CONTAMINATED WATER.
AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, WE WE NEED IT, RIGHT? WE DRINK AND CONSUME AND BATHE OURSELVES AND COOK WITH WATER.
WATER. WELL, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TOO MANY SPOTS LEFT.
STILL DOING WELL WATER IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S WE JUST HAVE TO WARN YOU.
AS YOU KEEP MOVING EVERYTHING ELSE.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GOT I RECEIVED SOME CLARITY THIS MORNING ON SOME THINGS.
AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO TOO FAR INTO THAT WITHOUT LEGAL CHIMING IN.
AND SO AS WE CONTINUE NOW TO LOOK AT DEVELOPMENT, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK NOW ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THAT PROPERTY IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO IT TRANSFORMS THE SKYLINE AND OF COURSE, THAT COMMUNITY.
WHAT GOT ME WAS YOUR CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS.
AS YOU TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL AND PARTNERING WITH THE DEPARTMENT, I NEED TO KNOW JUST HOW STRONG AND HOW STRONG YOUR TEETH ARE IN TERMS OF CLEANING UP AND ADDRESSING THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT I THINK, IN MY OPINION JUST WHERE I AM NOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE REALLY AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH IN CLEANING THOSE AREAS AFTER THE SHUTDOWN, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT IT
[00:40:06]
REALISTICALLY, WE NEED TO BEGIN TO ASK OURSELVES JUST HOW THOSE ENCAMPMENTS ARE IMPACTING THE QUALITY, OUR AIR QUALITY SOIL AND ALL OF THOSE CONTAMINANTS THAT ARE BEING BLOWN THROUGH THE AIR AND IT'S IMPACTING, SURROUNDING INSTITUTIONS IS IMPORTANT.AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT PEOPLE, WHEN LOCATIONS WHERE THEY'RE USING THAT UNDERGROUND UNDER THE BRIDGES FOR THEIR RESTROOM PURPOSES AND DRUGS AND ALL THOSE OTHERS THINGS, WE ARE EXPOSING OUR COMMUNITIES MORE THAN I THINK WE KNOW OR WANT TO ADMIT.
SO CAN YOU CAN YOU PUT THAT? JUST GIVE US BRIEFLY.
DO YOU ALL DEAL WITH THAT RIGHT NOW? WHAT EQUIPMENT ARE YOU USING TO CLEAN UP? SERIOUSLY? THAT'S THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE TYPES OF CLEANUPS THAT WE DON'T COVER.
BUT THAT TOPIC HAS BEEN RECENTLY RAISED BY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THAT PROCESS IS PRIMARILY LED BY THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS AND DALLAS WATER UTILITIES.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE'LL DO INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR A MEETING OR BEFORE THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND REQUEST THAT MEETING BECAUSE I THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE. AND IT'S IMPACTING OUR THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAVE ALREADY THE LEAST AMOUNT OF INFUSION OF RESOURCES.
AND NOW YOU'RE MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S SITTING THERE, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO NOT HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND THEN THE PERHAPS THE CLEANUP IS ON THEM.
THE OTHER PIECE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
SO I'M GOING TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD FOR OUR OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS, AS WELL AS YOUR TEAM.
YOU ALL NEED TO BEGIN TO PULL TOGETHER YOUR DOCUMENTATION.
BECAUSE I ALSO THINK IF WE HAVE TO BRING IN THE STATE, WHICH IS WHAT I'M MORE INCLINED TO DO NOW, IS TO KIND OF CUT THROUGH SOME RED TAPE, IS TO GO AHEAD AND PULL THE STATE IN SO THAT WE CAN, I MEAN, TO PETITION THEM, ESPECIALLY IN MY COMMUNITIES TO CLEAN THAT UP.
ALSO, DOWN IN CADILLAC HEIGHTS, YOU ALL SPOKE OF THAT COMMUNITY.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW AND THIS IS ANOTHER SENSITIVE AREA AND I CAN'T TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WHEN I SEE THAT CHAIRMAN BLACKMON IS ON THE LINE, TOO. WHEN SHE WAS CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE, ONE OF THOSE FOCAL POINTS WAS CLEANING UP.
IT'S IT'S A PERIPHERAL OF CADILLAC HEIGHTS.
AND YOU HAVE WHAT, ALL THOSE ALL CONTAMINANTS.
YOU REMEMBER WE STARTED ON THAT THAT CONVERSATION AND THAT FOCUS.
AND THAT IS A REAL MONSTER DOWN THERE.
AND SO WE REALLY PROBABLY NEED TO GET WITH OUR PARTNERS ON TRYING TO CLEAN THAT UP AS WE PREPARE THAT COMMUNITY FOR THE NEW ROLAND PARISH PARK THAT'S COMING THERE. WE HAVE THE CRICKET TEAM THAT WILL BE PLAYING GAMES IN THAT COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO WILL BE WORKING ON A HEALTH AND WELLNESS FACILITY IN THAT AREA.
AND THEN THEY'RE STILL DEALING WITH ALL THOSE CONTAMINANTS.
SO I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THE OTHER PIECE THAT WE'LL WORK ON IS JUST THE MSD DESIGNATION.
I THINK YOU MENTIONED A MAP OR A LIST AND THAT CAN GO TO MY STAFF.
SO WITH THAT, I THINK THOSE ARE THE MAIN THINGS THAT I WANT TO EXCUSE ME, BRING UP, BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE, WE REVISITED WHERE WE WERE, I GUESS LAST YEAR AT MISS BLACKMON LAST, I GUESS, WOULD BE LAST YEAR WHEN WE KIND OF STARTED THIS CONVERSATION.
SO WE NEED TO BRING THAT TO SOME, SOME TYPE OF FRUITION.
SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST ADDRESS THAT THIS MORNING, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT RESTRICTED BECAUSE OF LEGAL ISSUES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.
LET'S SEE. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM OUR ONLINE PARTICIPANTS? LOOKS LIKE. YES, MADAM.
YES, IT LOOKS LIKE CHAIR MORENO, YOU HAD A QUESTION AND THEN CHAIR BAZALDUA.
THANK YOU. MORE OF A OF A COMMENT JUST TO PROVIDE COUNCILWOMAN ARNOLD SOME GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE. I KNOW THAT YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT VERY ISSUE OF HAVING A JOINT PARKS TRAIL ENVIRONMENTAL AND HOMELESS COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS SOME OF HER
[00:45:05]
CONCERNS. SO IT'S NOTED AND WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.CHAIR BAZALDUA. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I THINK TO THE SAME VEIN, BUT IN A MUCH LARGER SCALE OF WHAT? MR. MORENO AND MISS STEWART, MISS ARNOLD MENTIONED IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE OCCURRING RIGHT NOW FROM NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES INTO WHITE ROCK LAKE.
AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANY COMPREHENSIVE OR HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ADDRESSING WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING FROM OUR NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES RUNOFF THAT IS CONTAMINATING OUR WATER.
YEAH. I THINK THERE WAS A MEMO.
YEAH, THERE WAS A I THINK THERE WAS A MEMO.
OF COURSE, THEY'RE DOING WATER TESTING, WATER SAMPLING.
YOU KNOW, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY THE MEMO I'M TRYING TO SPEAK IN REFERENCE TO THIS CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING NOW SPECIFICALLY, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THERE BEING SOME POINTS BEING BROUGHT UP FROM ESSENTIALLY THE HUMAN IMPACT AT A, AT A SURFACE LEVEL FROM OUR UNSHELTERED.
COUNCILWOMAN. BLACKMON WOULD LIKE TO CHIME IN AS WELL.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY FOR HER TO ENGAGE.
GOTCHA. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO DIRECTOR EVANS, WE CAN LOOK AT PUTTING THAT MAYBE ON ONE OF OUR AGENDAS, UPCOMING AGENDAS, BECAUSE. YEAH, I WANTED TO HEAR FROM COUNCILWOMAN.
GO. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND AND.
YES MR. BASIL, DO IT. I BELIEVE I'VE ASKED IT TO COME TO YOUR COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT THERE'S A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS HERE.
IT'S NOT JUST FIXING A FAULTY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, BUT IT'S ALSO WHAT IT'S DOING.
AND I KNOW T-C-E-Q HAS BEEN WATCHING THIS VERY CLOSELY, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IT LAST WEEK AND THEIR EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I'VE ASKED FOR IT TO COME TO YOUR COMMITTEE BECAUSE.
DWU. BECAUSE THE LAKE IS PART OF DW'S PORTFOLIO.
AND TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS, NOT JUST BUT ALSO TO CAN TALK ABOUT IT IN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE WAY DOWNSTREAM ENVIRONMENTAL OR WATER CONTAMINATION, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT IT FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE BY US AS A CITY THROUGH OUR PARTNERS.
IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. SO THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BRING IT IN APRIL? YES, WE'LL HAVE IT IN APRIL. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS NOT A LACK OF SEIZING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF WORK OUTSIDE OF SILOS BECAUSE IT SEEMS AS IF, JUST AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S A MORE COMPREHENSIVE DEAL THAN JUST WHAT IT IS ON SURFACE.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING UP SPECIFIC PROJECTS AS PRIORITIES I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE IT INTEGRATED WITH THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY WORKING TOWARDS SOLUTIONS FOR SIMILAR.
YES. AND IT SEEMS LIKE OK SHOULD BE IN THAT CONVERSATION, WHETHER IT GOES TO QUALITY OF LIFE OR PERHAPS WE, SOME OF US ON TW CAN COME TO YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME OVERLAP.
YES. AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND SO GW GOES TO QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND SO THAT'S THAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THAT.
BUT IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE WOULD GO INTO THERE'S AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD.
AND THEN AS WELL AS THE CLEANUP DISCUSSION.
GOT IT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO TO TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE UNSHELTERED.
REFERENCE. AND I'D ASK FOR MR., MORENO AND MR. WHENEVER YOU ALL DO TAKE THIS UP ON A COLLECTIVE IF, IF WE CAN ALSO HEAR FROM STAFF, NOT JUST ON REMEDIATION, BUT HOW WE CAN BE PROACTIVE AND MAKE MORE HUMANE AND I GUESS DIGNIFIED
[00:50:06]
SOLUTIONS TO TO HELP SO THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY BEING REACTIONARY TO THESE INSTANCES THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT FORTH INSTEAD HAVING A PLAN OF HOW WE CAN BE MORE PROACTIVE WITH OUR OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS AND WITH OUR OUTREACHES, WITH CONTINUUM OF CARE TO OUR ENCAMPMENTS SPECIFICALLY.OKAY, I WILL MAKE NOTE OF THAT.
I'LL JUST MAKE ONE QUICK NOTE.
I WAS LISTENING TO A PANEL FROM THE TSEC THIS WEEKEND, AND THEY WERE WRAPPING UP AND ONE OF THEIR PANELISTS SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? THE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE WANT IS TO KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY.
AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
AND WHEN IT'S TECHNICAL ISSUES LIKE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ARE, IT'S HARD FOR US TO WALK UP TO A PIECE OF PROPERTY OR TO LOOK AT A BODY OF WATER AND KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY, OR KNOW THAT OUR CLIMATE CHANGE IS GOING TO BE MITIGATED IN CERTAIN WAYS, OR HOW WE'RE DOING THAT SOMETIMES THAT'S JUST NOT PARTICULARLY VISIBLE. SO I FELT A CERTAIN ADDITIONAL SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AFTER HEARING THOSE WORDS THAT IT IS UP TO THE CITY OF DALLAS AS WELL, NOT JUST THE STATE, BUT WE HAVE TO TO DIG INTO ALL OF THESE ISSUES.
AND I'M COMFORTED TO A LARGE DEGREE BY YOUR REPORT, BECAUSE I SEE THAT WE ARE DOING A LOT.
AND SO WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON THAT.
I KNOW YOU ALL ARE A VERY COMMITTED DEPARTMENT, AND AND YOUR TECHNICAL ABILITIES ARE EXTRAORDINARY.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND I THINK YOU'VE GOT AN APPOINTMENT TO GET TO LORI, SO WE SHOULD WE'LL WRAP THIS UP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY, I BELIEVE WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM B.
WE WANT TO WELCOME SABINA CARR, THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE DALLAS ARBORETUM.
SABINA COMES TO THE DALLAS ARBORETUM WITH A BACKGROUND IN NATIONAL GARDEN ORGANIZATIONS AND AN INTEREST IN METRICS AND DEVELOPING THE NEXT VISION FOR THE ARBORETUM. SHE WILL PRESENT AN ANNUAL UPDATE AND LOOKING AHEAD REPORT.
AND I BELIEVE SEAN JACKSON IS JOINING US AS WELL.
SO WELCOME. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND WE'VE GOT YOUR POWERPOINT UP AND READY TO GO.
HELLO, EVERYONE. THAT WAS A LOVELY INTRODUCTION.
I'M THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE DALLAS ARBORETUM.
I WOULD ALSO SAY IT'S PROBABLY TOP FIVE WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUAL ATTENDANCE.
SO ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET, TOP TEN, TOP FIVE ATTENDANCE, AND TOP THREE IN BEAUTY.
I THINK WE'RE A WONDERFUL DISPLAY GARDEN, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF IMPACT ON COMMUNITY AS WELL.
IT'S MAKING SURE THAT NATURE IS PART OF EVERYONE'S LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY OF DALLAS, AND WE DELIVER IT IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS. THERE ARE MORE THAN 3000 PROGRAMS AT THE DALLAS ARBORETUM HAS EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON COMMUNITY THROUGH THAT.
I STARTED DECEMBER 1ST, SO I GIVE SEAN AND THE REST THE FULL CREDIT HERE FOR HAVING WHAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT YEAR FOR THE DALLAS ARBORETUM MORE VISITATION THAN EVER, MORE HOUSEHOLD MEMBERSHIPS THAN EVER, MORE SCHOOL CHILDREN PUT THROUGH THE THE ADVENTURE GARDEN AND MORE PROGRAMS. AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGER BULLET POINTS AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION IS, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 27 YEARS, YOU HIRED A NEW LEADER.
AND I'M SO GLAD THIS IS MY DREAM JOB.
[00:55:04]
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE IN A LITTLE IN A LITTLE BIT HERE.SO WE WE DID SEE A SURPLUS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, AND WE'RE REINVESTING THAT INTO SOME CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THAT WILL HELP THE EMPLOYEES ON SITE AS WELL AS OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS. SO LET'S SEE HOW WE DO IT.
COMMUNITY IMPACT, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CHANGE THE SLIDE ONE MORE TIME.
WHAT'S SUCH AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER ABOUT THE DALLAS ARBORETUM? AND THIS PUTS US ALMOST NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY IS THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLCHILDREN THAT WE PUT THROUGH NEARLY 100,000 CHILDREN.
HALF OF THEM ARE FROM TITLE ONE SCHOOLS.
THE MAJORITY OF THESE CHILDREN COME FROM DISD AND RISD.
SO REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE ARE IMPACTING LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN.
AND THEY ARE SO GOOD AT PUTTING CHILDREN THROUGH.
I'VE NEVER SEEN MORE SCHOOL BUSSES IN MY ENTIRE CAREER.
I STARTED IN ATLANTA AND I ENDED UP IN SAN ANTONIO.
THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE TREMENDOUS.
WE SEE MORE YELLOW SCHOOL BUSSES THAN I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.
SO WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIPS AT THE DALLAS ARBORETUM.
AND JUST SOME OF THE ONES LISTED HERE ARE THE CITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE THE DALLAS ZOO.
ANYTHING WE CAN GIVE IN EDIBLE DONATIONS OUT OF OUR GARDENS? WE DO, PARTICULARLY PUMPKINS.
DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY COMES AND READS TO OUR CHILDREN VISITORS EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
BUT LET'S LOOK AT WHO THE COMMUNITY IS IF YOU'LL TURN TO THE NEXT SLIDE, BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY CRITICAL FOR ANY ORGANIZATION TO KNOW WHO VISITS, BECAUSE OUR MISSION, WE CAN'T SAY IF WE'RE REALLY SERVING MISSION IF WE DON'T HAVE VISITORS.
SO OF THE 1.1 MILLION VISITORS, I WAS ABLE TO GET A SNAPSHOT OVER A 12 MONTH PERIOD, AND I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THE HELP FROM A MARKETING AGENCY BACK IN ATLANTA THAT I HAD BEEN WORKING WITH FOR 12 OR 13 YEARS.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS DATA HAD EVER REALLY BEEN GIVEN TO THE DALLAS ARBORETUM BEFORE.
AND LOOK, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, BUT WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE.
NOW, WE DON'T KNOW YOUR SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL NAME AND WE DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHERE YOU LIVE.
AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT LEGAL.
AND I WAS THE FIRST CULTURAL ORGANIZATION TO USE IT IN THE, IN THE COUNTRY.
AND IT'S A IT GIVES YOU A REALLY GOOD INSIGHT ON WHO'S COMING, NOT WHY THEY'RE COMING.
THAT'S A MARKET STUDY, BUT IT'LL TELL YOU WHO'S WHO'S COMING.
NOW, IF WE COMPARE THAT TO THE DALLAS FORT WORTH MSA, THE STATISTICAL AREA, THAT'S 57%.
SO STILL A LITTLE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
IT'S MORE THAN HALF THE VISITORS ARE NONWHITE.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BREAK THAT NUMBER DOWN.
OF HOW THAT ROLLS IN THE TOP THREE.
LATINO POPULATION IN DALLAS FORT WORTH IS 29%.
BLACK IS 16% IN DALLAS FORT WORTH, AND THE ARBORETUM VISITOR IN THAT YEAR WAS 14%.
SO BOTH OF THOSE CATEGORIES THAT REPRESENT A QUITE A LARGE POPULATION HERE.
IN OUR AREA IS NOT TOO FAR OFF.
AN ASIAN POPULATION IS FLAT AT 8%.
SO WE'RE DELIVERING THAT AUDIENCE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.
ARE THE VISITORS IN HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE MAKING LESS THAN 50,000 A YEAR? THOSE ARE OUR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.
AND WE FOUND THAT DALLAS ARBORETUM IS SERVING 27% OF THOSE FOLKS THAT CAME THROUGH IN A 12 MONTH PERIOD, AND 29% MAKE UP THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA. SO NOT TOO FAR OFF.
AND IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE DO A MARKET STUDY, WE WILL FIND OUT WHY.
FEEL HUMAN AGAIN, LET IT FILL YOUR SOUL AND JUST MAKE MEMORIES.
SO LET'S JUST TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS WHERE THE VISITORS CAME FROM IN THAT 12 MONTH SNAPSHOT.
YOU RARELY SEE A PERFECT CIRCLE LIKE THIS IN ANY MAJOR US CITY.
WE HAVE VISITORS COMING FROM NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST.
WHAT YOU MAY SEE, AND I KNOW I SAW THIS IN ATLANTA AND SAN ANTONIO BOTH.
YOU'LL SEE THE ARK GOING UP TO THE NORTH, SPREADING FROM THE CULTURAL ORGANIZATION.
IT'S USUALLY A NORTHEASTERN ARC.
[01:00:01]
IF THAT MEANS SEAN AND HER TEAM FOR ALL THESE YEARS HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD IN THEIR MARKETING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT THE THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA. NOW, YOU COULD SAY SOME OF THESE ARE SCHOOL CHILDREN, BUT VERY FEW CARRY PHONES.AND WHAT I FOUND OUT IS THAT WE HAVE AN EVOLVING CULTURE.
AND AND WE DO HAVE SOME OF THAT.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, AND I KNOW SEAN DID SUCH A GREAT JOB AS INTERIM CEO AND LEADING AND MARY BRIDGERS FOOTSTEP'S DURING THE SEARCH THERE WHAT WHAT WAS BEEN CREATED IS LIKE A WARY FEELING.
SO MY JOB IS TO GET US THERE TOGETHER, AND IT'S VERY COMMON FOR AN ORGANIZATION TO GO THROUGH THIS.
THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH RECENT CHANGE.
I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON BOARD GOVERNANCE.
THE NUMBER ONE THING I DO HAVE IN PUBLIC GARDENS IN THE COUNTRY, NUMBER ONE, I HAVE THE MOST BOARD MEMBERS IN THE COUNTRY OF ANY OTHER PUBLIC GARDEN, MORE THAN NEW YORK, MORE THAN CHICAGO. SO YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BOARD MEMBERS TO ON BOARD AND GET TO KNOW AND TO SEE THE DIVERSE NATURE OF WHO THEY ARE.
THERE'S A NICE DIVERSE CROWD THERE, BUT WE'LL HAVE THE NUMBERS VERY SOON.
WE JUST GOT THROUGH DALLAS BLOOMS. IT WAS PROBABLY ANOTHER SET, ANOTHER RECORD FOR ATTENDANCE.
BECAUSE MOTHER NATURE WAS VERY KIND THIS YEAR, AND SHE CAME OUT A COUPLE WEEKS EARLY.
NEXT SLIDE IS THE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL.
WE HAD MORE THAN 1500 PEOPLE COME OUT FROM ALL OVER AND ENJOY THE ONE THING THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE TO FOOD AND PLANTS, RIGHT? THOSE TWO THINGS REALLY CONNECT WELL FOR PEOPLE AND RESONATE.
NEXT SLIDE IS ARTSCAPE, WHICH IS COMING UP VERY SOON.
REPRESENTATION OF LOCAL ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY.
I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY MORE QUINCEANERA DRESSES.
YOU WILL FIND THAT AT THE ARBORETUM.
IT WAS VERY POPULAR AT THE SAN ANTONIO GARDEN TO.
WE REALLY LOVE HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS CELEBRATION IS.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE IS OUR COOL CONCERT SERIES THAT HAPPENS ON THURSDAYS.
WE HAVE MORE COVER BANDS IN THE UNITED STATES, I THINK, THAN ANYBODY.
HOPEFULLY YOU ALL GET YOUR TICKETS THIS YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE IS JUST REMINDING YOU HOW BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN AT THE ARBORETUM IS.
YOU SEE THE PUMPKINS ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
THERE WE GO. THE HOUSES? YEAH. THIS YEAR WE'RE CELEBRATING.
TEXAS TOWN. AND NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO DO CELEBRATE MEXICO.
SO WE'RE REALLY DOING SOME WONDERFUL THEMES THERE.
AND THE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES JUST REALLY SHOW OUR VISITORS IN ACTION.
AND WE END THE YEAR WITH THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, OF COURSE.
YOU CAN YOU CAN CHANGE THE SLIDE.
THAT'S FINE. I MEAN, WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY GARDENS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
THAT'S WHAT DALLAS ARBORETUM IS ALSO KNOWN FOR.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS JUST, AGAIN, JUST SOME VISITORS ENJOYING THE ARBORETUM.
ON THE RIGHT IS THE COOL CONCERT SERIES.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH IS THE LAST OF THE BEAUTY SLIDES.
THIS IS A WOMAN'S GARDEN AND IT IS JUST A PHENOMENAL PLACE OF REFLECTION.
BUT I LOVED THIS PHOTO TO TALK TO YOU, BECAUSE SKY'S THE LIMIT FOR THE ARBORETUM'S FUTURE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO END ON THE LAST SLIDE OF WHAT OUR FUTURE INITIATIVES COULD BE.
STRATEGIC PLANNING, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE'RE GOING TO DO.
I SIGNED THE CONTRACT ALREADY WITH AN ORGANIZATION AND WE'RE GETTING INTO THE PROCESS NOW.
[01:05:01]
IT'LL BE INCREDIBLY INCLUSIVE.ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS WILL BE INTERVIEWED FROM OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NEIGHBORS, THE CITY OF DALLAS, AND SO, SO MANY MORE WILL BE ASKED ON WHAT THEY BELIEVE ARE THE CRITICAL GOALS FOR US IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
RIGHT, JOHN? IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THAT GUIDING LIGHT.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT EXTENDING OUR OPERATING HOURS DURING HIGH SEASON, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE CLOSE AT 5:00 AND WE ARE EXCLUDING FOLKS WHO WORK FOR A LIVING. AND TWO THIRDS OF ALL AMERICANS DO WORK FOR A LIVING.
NOW, WE'RE NOT ALL 9 TO 5, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE IF SOMEONE COULD JUST COME TO THE ARBORETUM AFTER WORK AND JUST CONNECT AND HAVE A REALLY NICE TIME WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT A MORE STREAMLINED PRICING SYSTEM FOR OUR ADMISSION TICKETS THAT WILL HELP CREATE ACCESS FOR THOSE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
AND A BIG ONE FOR US ARE THE CREDIT CARD FEES.
I KNOW THIS IMPACTS SO MANY IN YOUR BUSINESS, BUT WE HAVE $750,000 IN CREDIT CARD FEES EVERY YEAR.
IT'S VERY COMMON FOR MUSEUMS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO DO THAT.
I'VE DEVELOPED THEM IN THE PAST.
WE WANT TO INCREASE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE WHEN THE.
SO THE BOND DOLLARS WILL GO TOWARD EXPANSION OF THE VISITOR ENTRY AND EXIT PLAZA, WHICH WHEN IT OPENED IN 2007, WAS ONLY MEANT FOR 350,000 PEOPLE. WE NOW HAVE 1.1 MILLION VISITORS.
THEY'RE GETTING CHOKED INTO A VERY NARROW AREA AND CAUSING BACKUPS.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS AND WILL MATCH THOSE DOLLARS.
WE WANT TO BRING CHIHULY BACK.
WE WANT TO BRING GIANT LIVING SCULPTURES OUT OF ATLANTA, AND WE WANT TO BRING HENSLOWANUM.
SO THERE'S SOME REALLY EXCITING EXHIBITIONS ON THE ON THE DOCKET THAT I'M GOING TO BE TALKING TO.
AND FINALLY, WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS EXPANSION OF OUR PROGRAMS OVER THE NEXT DECADE.
BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE US GO INTO MILITARY PARTNERSHIPS FOR VETERANS.
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AREN'T REPRESENTED AS MUCH AS THEY COULD BE AT THE DALLAS ARBORETUM AND SO MANY MORE, AND CREATING ACCESS PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN GET FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS AND AND FOUNDATIONS TO HELP US, MAYBE WITH A SCHOOL BUS OR SOME KIND OF 36 PASSENGER BUS WHERE WE GO TO COMMUNITY, PICK PEOPLE UP IN UNDERSERVED AREAS AND BRING THEM TO THE DALLAS ARBORETUM.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IS CRITICAL FOR ALL PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS.
AND THAT ACCESSIBILITY PIECE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US.
AND IT'S NOT JUST PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY.
WE'RE EXPANDING. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A POLICY STATEMENT WRITTEN.
WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME TRAINING THIS YEAR AND WE'LL JUST CONTINUE YEAR AFTER YEAR.
SO THAT WAS THE FIRST 90 DAYS OF.
I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME POSITIVE CHANGES SO FAR.
AND THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE OUR BIGGEST DONOR AND WE ALWAYS LOVE SPEAKING TO OUR BIGGEST DONORS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE DALLAS ARBORETUM.
ABSOLUTELY. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
LET ME OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU.
AND I'M SURE THE PUBLIC THAT'S LISTENING APPRECIATE YOUR UPDATE.
I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS A LOVE IN THE AIR FOR THE DALLAS ARBORETUM.
IN TERMS OF MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU THAT I WOULD WE EVIDENTLY NEED TO HAVE A MEETING WITH PARKS AS I CONTINUE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR PROGRAMING AND MARKETING OUTREACH BELOW OUR 30, AS WE SAY, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE SOUTHERN SECTOR AS IT RELATES TO DISTRICT FOUR.
SO I KNOW YOU SAID YOU'RE RELATIVELY NEW, BUT THAT'S BEEN A CONCERN FOR ME SOME TIME.
[01:10:08]
AND IS THAT.WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DO THAT? YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA THAT I'M SPEAKING OF? VAGUELY, YES.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE WANT YOU TO BECOME MORE INTIMATE WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT REALLY LOVES THE ZOO.
I MEAN, I'M ON THE ZOO, TOO, BUT TO THE ARBORETUM.
I KNOW WHEN WE GET A CHANCE TO SHARE TICKETS, THERE'S A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM.
SO WE NEED TO KNOW, BE ABLE TO EVALUATE JUST HOW HOW BENEFICIAL IT IS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WE'RE ASKING TO, TO, TO REVIEW AND MAKE SOME DECISIONS, JUST HOW YOU'RE REACHING THEM IN TERMS OF THE MARKETING AND MARKETING AND OUTCOME, AND ALSO IN LOOKING AT YOUR PROGRAMS. AND PERHAPS I NEED TO FIND ANOTHER SITE, BUT FOR MORE INFORMATION, I JUST KIND OF NOTICED THERE'S NOT A LOT OF REFERENCE TO OR INTEGRATION OR INCLUSION OF PROJECTS THAT KIND OF CELEBRATE DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ONE GARDEN IN TERMS OF HISPANIC HERITAGE, BUT, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THOSE GARDENS ARE NOT INCLUSIVE OF ANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR OR HISTORIANS OR CONTRIBUTORS.
SO WE WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN HAVE A WALK THROUGH AND EXPERIENCE THAT IS ALL INCLUSIVE.
BUT SINCE YOU ARE GETTING BOND MONEY, TAXPAYERS DOLLARS, WE NEED TO WORK ON INCLUSION THERE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S MY MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE OUTREACH, MARKETING AND INCLUSION OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT JUST COMING THROUGH JUNETEENTH OR JUST THERE FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.
AND AS THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED MANY TIMES THE ARBORETUM IS IN D9.
IT'S IN THE HEART OF OF THE DISTRICT.
AND, SABINA, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING ON BOARD AND SEAN, FOR ALWAYS WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES.
AND OF COURSE, MISS ARNOLD, WE WANT TO BE INCLUSIVE AND WELCOME ALL TO THE ARBORETUM.
AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO I KNOW THEY LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU.
AND I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO TALKING WITH YOU AS WELL.
SO I KNOW THAT WE DO GIVE THE ARBORETUM YOU KNOW, IT IS A CITY FACILITY.
AND IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN OR NEVER BEEN TO A THURSDAY CONCERT, COME SEE ME.
BECAUSE I TRY TO GO OFTEN, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HOST ALL OF YOU THERE.
IT IS A FUN, ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE.
NOT TOO HOT YET. THAT'S THE GOOD PART.
AND THE WHOLE POINT IS TO SHARE THIS, I BELIEVE, WITH COMMUNITIES.
SO SABINA, LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK OR LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND SEAN.
I KNOW YOU GET WEIRD TEXTS FROM ME ON A SUNDAY AND YOU ALWAYS REPLY, SO I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT YOUR BOARD IS ALWAYS WILLING AND ABLE TO TO LISTEN AND TALK AND MOVE FORWARD.
SO I LOVE HAVING THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU AND THAT'S IT BECAUSE I HAVE TO RUN.
CHAIR. BAZALDUA. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I WANTED TO JUST SAY THAT I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF Y'ALL WORKING WITH MY OFFICE.
WE'VE HAD TWO SUCCESSFUL DISTRICT SEVEN DAYS AT THE DALLAS ARBORETUM, AND I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT PROGRAM KIND OF GET MORE ROBUST WITH OTHER DISTRICTS.
I THINK THAT THOSE DAYS ARE GREAT, AND THERE'S A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OR EQUITY THAT MY CONSTITUENTS FEEL WHEN WE DO THAT.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR WORKING WITH US AND AND MAKING THAT FEASIBLE.
I WANTED TO GIVE FEEDBACK, THOUGH.
[01:15:01]
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STUCK OUT TO ME ON YOUR FUTURE INITIATIVES WAS THE EXTENDED OPERATING HOURS.BUT I HAVE A QUESTION ON WHAT IT IS THAT Y'ALL.
IT MAY BE TOO PRELIMINARY, BUT WHAT IT IS THAT Y'ALL ARE LOOKING TO DO IN THAT REGARD, HAS THERE BEEN ANY ANALYZING OF THE AVERAGE TIME SPENT THERE? AND IF YOU WERE, IF YOU WERE LOOKING AT EXTENDED HOURS WHAT HOURS WOULD THAT EXTEND TO? AND, AND THEN WITH THOSE THINGS SAID, IF IF WE'RE LOOKING AT GETTING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AFTER WORK AFTER 5 P.M.
IF THEY HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HOURS, ARE YOU LOOKING AT THERE BEING KIND OF A, A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR THAT, SINCE YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEND THE ENTIRE DAY? DO YOU MIND JUST EXPANDING A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT Y'ALL'S THOUGHTS ARE ON THE EXTENDED OUR OPERATING HOURS? YES. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THINK ABOUT AS WELL.
WE WILL NOT SEE A BILLION PEOPLE COME BETWEEN THOSE HOURS.
IT'S JUST TO BE OPEN IN CASE THOSE FOLKS WHO DO WORK WANT TO HAVE RESPITE.
AND WE CAN DO A MARKET STUDY TO SEE IF THERE'S INTEREST IN IT.
WHEN I WAS AT SAN ANTONIO, I DIDN'T NEED TO DO A MARKET STUDY.
I ALREADY KNEW THERE WAS INTEREST.
AND THE MINUTE WE OPENED TILL 7:00 AT HIGH SEASON, WE WOULD SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME.
IT'S ALSO COOLER AT NIGHT, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT GETS HOT IN TEXAS.
SO YOU HAVE THE MORNING HOURS.
AND THEN WE COULD ALSO HAVE THE LATER EVENING HOURS.
SO WE WOULD JUST INSTEAD OF CLOSING AT FIVE DURING HIGH SEASON, WHICH WOULD BE SPRING AND SPRING AND FALL MOST LIKELY, ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT SURE MAYBE BEING OPEN TILL SIX AND POSSIBLY EVEN SEVEN.
AND I DON'T THINK THERE WOULD BE A DISCOUNT FOR THAT.
IT WOULD JUST BE GENERAL ADMISSION.
I THINK THAT THAT'S A GREAT THING TO LOOK FORWARD TO AND TO EXECUTE.
I BELIEVE IT'LL IT'LL GO OVER WELL WITH A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN DALLAS.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF HOW TO EXPAND IT AND MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND EQUITABLE.
AND JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I KNOW YOU'RE NEW TO THIS ROLE.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE LEADERSHIP REALLY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND LOOK AT HOW WE CAN ENHANCE THIS ASSET AND CONTINUING TO MAKE THESE PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ONE THAT THAT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS HOW WE CAN MAKE THE MOST SUCCESS OF OUR ASSETS IN THE CITY.
CHAIR. WEST. THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN, AND I WANT TO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
WELL DONE. AND I KNOW MY MY FAMILY LOVES GOING TO THE ARBORETUM.
USUALLY AROUND THE FALL IS WHEN WE WE ALWAYS MAKE A TRIP OUT THERE FOR PICTURES.
AND THE SPRING IS A GREAT TIME TOO.
IT'S DEFINITELY A FAMILY FAVORITE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN DALLAS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE.
AND THIS ISN'T JUST THE ARBORETUM.
THIS IS THIS IS A QUESTION I HAVE FOR FOR ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THAT RECEIVE SUBSIDIES, IS DO YOU ANTICIPATE A POINT IN THE FUTURE WHEN THE ARBORETUM CAN BE SELF-SUSTAINING WITHOUT WITHOUT CITY SUBSIDIES? YOU KNOW, AS WE MOVE FORWARD LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PAY FOR THE PENSION AND OTHER EXPENSES, LIKE REPAIRING OUR ROADS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO LOOK, LOOK EVERYWHERE.
AND THIS IS A QUESTION, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR ANSWER TO.
I'M JUST GOING TO BE REALLY HONEST AS MUCH AS I CAN BE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO I AM AS A LEADER.
I THINK THAT CITY OF DALLAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT EVERY DOLLAR MATTERS IN OUR BUDGET, RIGHT? AND IN OUR PROCESS OF FUNDRAISING, THE REST IS ALL 100% PRIVATELY FUNDED.
SO THAT'S, OF COURSE, UP TO YOU ALL TO DECIDE.
BUT I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO HOPE THAT YOU WOULD STILL, AS THE CITY OF DALLAS AND AS THE OWNER OF THE FACILITY, AND WE'RE PRIVATELY MANAGING IT, THAT YOU ALL WOULD AT LEAST BE WILLING TO HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME IN THE FUTURE.
[01:20:02]
AND HOPEFULLY WE ARE MANAGING WITH EXCELLENCE AND BEING EXCELLENT FISCAL STEWARDS, AND OUR STRATEGIC PLAN WILL LAY THAT OUT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AS WELL, VERY SPECIFICALLY ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO ACCOMPLISH.YEAH, NO, I THINK YOUR YOUR ANSWER REALLY GOES TO YOU KNOW, A QUESTION WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO DISCUSS, WHICH IS YOU KNOW, THE ARBORETUM IS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN ACROSS THE BOARD, IN YOUR PROGRAMING IN YOU KNOW, YOUR ENHANCEMENTS AND ALSO IN BRINGING IN MONEY. AND THERE ARE OTHER, OTHER PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE THAT DON'T HAVE THE SUCCESS THAT THE ARBORETUM DOES.
AND THAT'S BASED ON DEMOGRAPHICS, A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT THE, THE, THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WE WE DON'T WANT TO PUNISH ONE OF OUR PARTNERS BY TAKING MONEY AWAY JUST BECAUSE THEY DO SUCH A GOOD JOB IN RAISING MONEY.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS TO THAT.
I JUST KNOW IT'S A QUESTION WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH US.
CHAIR WEST. CHAIR MORENO, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. I DO.
I APPRECIATE THAT CHAIRMAN WEST THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE'RE BEGINNING TO HEAR MORE OF IN TERMS OF THE FACT THAT WE DO PARTNER UP WITH SOME OF THESE FANTASTIC GROUPS, BUT AT SOME POINT THE QUESTION BECOMES, HOW DO WE RELEASE YOU FROM THAT? I GUESS INFUSION OF CASH WHEN WE ARE ARE IN SOME POINTS OF TIME OF DISCUSSION.
AND SO IT'S KIND OF A CHALLENGE.
YOU KNOW, WE LOVE THE ARBORETUM, WE LOVE THE ZOO.
WE LOVE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF OTHERS THAT WE HAVE, I GUESS, PRIVATIZED.
IS THAT THE RIGHT WORD TO USE, MISTER O'CONNOR? AND THAT WE MAY VERY WELL HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, JUST STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH WITH THESE CHECKS THAT WE'RE GIVING ESPECIALLY WHEN THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB.
SO, MISTER O'CONNOR, I GUESS I WOULD ASK OF YOU.
HOW IS THAT? DOES THE REQUEST COME FROM THROUGH THE PARK DEPARTMENT TO THE COUNCIL REQUESTING FUNDING, OR HOW DO YOU ALL DECIDE ON HOW BIG THAT CHECK SHOULD BE ON A ON A REGULAR BASIS AS A YEARLY OR WHAT? SO HOW DOES THAT PROCESS WORK? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.
SO THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE DALLAS ARBORETUM, WHICH IS A VERY GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME, HAS BUILT INTO THE CONTRACT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ARBORETUM TO COME REQUEST FUNDING ON A YEARLY BASIS THROUGH THE PARK DEPARTMENT, TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE DALLAS ZOO, WHICH ACTUALLY HAS A CONTRACTUAL STIPEND BUILT IN.
WON'T PROBABLY WON'T BE HERE FOR THE BOND, BUT WE CAN LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THE COUNCIL THAT COMES AFTER US SO THAT WE MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS IN THIS CITY AS WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC DOLLARS BENEFITING THE SUCCESS OF GOING TOWARD THE SUCCESS OF DALLAS.
THANK YOU. OKAY, I THINK THAT'S THE END OF OUR QUESTIONS AND WE SO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
EXCUSE ME AND YOUR PRESENTATION.
DID SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING? YES, CHAIRWOMAN, I'D LIKE TO JUST CHIME IN.
I LOVE WHERE THE CONVERSATION IS GOING IN THAT REGARD, BUT I'D ASK FOR IT TO TO WHEN IT'S BROUGHT TO US, WHETHER IT BE A GFM OR IN WHATEVER.
BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE IF IT COULD BE INCLUSIVE OF A, A DETAILED, A GRANULAR FINANCIAL ANALYSIS INCLUDING PRIOR TO GOING INTO A PRIVATE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE
[01:25:06]
I THINK THAT WE WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO WEIGH THESE THINGS OUT.BUT I ALSO NEED TO REALLY HAVE AS CLEAR OF A PICTURE OF YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE GETTING IN RETURN FOR WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE GIVING.
BECAUSE I PERSONALLY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IN THE INSTANCES THAT WE'RE BRINGING UP THE ARBORETUM, THE ZOO, FOR INSTANCE THAT WE COULD IN ANY WAY PROGRAM THESE ASSETS EVEN COMPARABLE TO WHAT WE HAVE.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A HUGE ADDED IN VALUE TO WHAT EXISTS THERE.
IF THIS WERE TO GO UNDER IN-HOUSE COMPLETELY, WHAT WOULD THAT COST BE? WHAT IS THE RETURN THAT WE'RE ALREADY GETTING? BASED ON, I DON'T KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF RESIDENTS THAT ARE BEING SERVED AND THAT EQUATED TO A DOLLAR AMOUNT PER RESIDENT, ETC..
BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE IT QUANTIFIED IN A WAY THAT THAT COMPARES TO IF THE PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WERE NOT HERE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT HOW IMPORTANT THESE SUBSIDIES ARE TO TO GET THE SUCCESSES THAT WE SEE.
AND THE ALTERNATIVE, I BELIEVE, WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO EVEN ACCOMPLISH.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT THAT IS INCLUDED WHEN THIS IS BROUGHT BACK TO US, PLEASE.
OKAY. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CLARIFY ONE POINT.
WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE ZOO AND THE ARBORETUM.
I'M THINKING THE AUDUBON, ALL OF US JUST.
FOR FOR ALL OF THOSE GOLF COURSES, EVERYTHING.
I WAS JUST SAYING THAT WHAT WAS JUST BROUGHT UP.
BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AT ALL.
ALL THAT WOULD WOULD BE RELEVANT TO THIS CONVERSATION.
SO I MEAN, I WASN'T GOING TO GO THERE, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO GO THERE, I MEAN, THERE'S AN ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THAT GOES WITH THIS INVESTMENT THAT THAT WE MAKE AS A CITY.
THERE ARE THERE ARE BUILDINGS.
AND I THINK I'VE MADE THE COMMENT, YEAH, WE LET WE BUILD IT AND THEN WE LET THEM GO TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET AND, YOU KNOW, AND I'M JUST GOING TO ROUND UP AND SAY 500,000 THAT WE HAVE A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT TO GIVE TO AN ORGANIZATION.
WE SHOULD WE SHOULD HONOR THAT.
NOW, LOOKING AT ALL OF THEM AND SEEING WHAT IS THE ROI WITH OUR INVESTMENT IS A FAIR QUESTION.
BUT YOU PENALIZE FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS ACTUALLY DOING A GOOD JOB.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT WE DO AS A CITY, BECAUSE THE VALUE I MEAN, WE WE ARE THE ARBORETUM.
WELL, THE WHOLE CITY AS A WHOLE IS A VALUE, BUT THERE ARE A DIFFERENT ASSETS THAT BRING VALUE.
AND I THINK TO PUNISH SOMEBODY.
AND SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT, LOOK AT WHAT IS IF WE PUT IN 500,000, WHAT IS THE ROI THAT WE GET FROM THIS? BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU THEY'RE SHOPPING IN OUR CITIES, THEY'RE COMING TO EAST DALLAS, THEY'RE EATING ACROSS THE STREET, THEY'RE BUYING THINGS AT THE GIFT SHOP.
BUT THEN THEY'RE ALSO JUST ENJOYING NATURE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT ON THAT.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS A $500,000 EVEN ENOUGH? I MEAN, LET'S JUST BE HONEST.
THEY'VE GOT THEY FUNDRAISED FOR 3 MILLION, BUT ARE WE PUTTING OUR FAIR SHARE IN? SO I GUESS BE CAREFUL OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE WHAT THE INVESTMENT IS, BECAUSE IT COULD BE THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, MAYBE WE'RE NOT DOING OUR PART.
AND THESE THESE BUILDINGS THAT DO REMAIN PART OF THE CITY NEED MORE LOVE AND CARE FROM THE CITY.
BUT I APPRECIATE THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS COME TO US AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'LL HELP YOU OUT.
AND THE QUESTION IS, IS THE 400 TO $500,000 THE ADEQUATE AMOUNT? SO THAT'S THAT'S MY $0.02.
AND NOW I'M LOGGING OFF. I'M ALREADY LATE.
AND I THINK ANY OF OUR OF THESE PARTNERSHIPS THAT, THAT PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS THAT THAT'S A HUGE VALUE FOR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.
SO I WOULD I WOULD RYAN, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GIVEN YOU A A HUGE TASK HERE.
CAN YOU COVER THIS AND CAN YOU COVER THAT? BUT I'M HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND I'M SURE OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
AND JUST MAKE SURE WE'RE COVERING EVERYTHING.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, LADIES, FOR BEING HERE.
[01:30:05]
OKAY. WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM C.LOOKS LIKE WE'RE WAITING FOR YOUR SLIDE PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL PAUSING FOR THE SAME REASON.
BUSINESS MANAGER, DEPARTMENT OF CODE COMPLIANCE.
AGAIN, THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION IS WILL SHARE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF KEEP DALLAS BEAUTIFUL, AS WELL AS OTHER INITIATIVES STARTED UP UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF KEEP DALLAS BEAUTIFUL.
KEEP DALLAS BEAUTIFUL USED TO FACILITATE ITSELF AS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT BECAME OVERWHELMING FOR THE BOARD AND THE DIRECTOR TO OPERATE UNDER ITS CURRENT AUSPICE DURING THAT TIME.
ALSO, THEY IDENTIFIED THE DEPARTMENT OF CODE COMPLIANCE AS A AS AN ENTITY WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS TO ACCEPT THE PROGRAM AND FELT THAT IT WOULD GIVE MORE FEASIBILITY AND CAPACITY TO COMMUNITIES AT LARGE TO SERVE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE REACHED OUT AND WE MADE CONTACTS AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL AFFILIATE, AND KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL TO SEE IF THEY WOULD SIGN OFF ON THE KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL.
KEEP DALLAS BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM BEING HOUSED UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF CODE COMPLIANCE.
LAST YEAR IN 2022 KEEP DALLAS.
ALSO, WE HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING OUR WASTE IN PLACE CURRICULUM WITHIN 17 DALLAS ISD SCHOOLS.
ALSO LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE INCREASED OUR VOLUNTEER CLEANUPS BY 52% AND OUR F.Y.
24 BUDGET. WE RECEIVED FUNDING FOR THREE NEW POSITIONS, TWO OF THE POSITIONS WE'VE ALREADY FILLED, AS WELL AS SOME ADDITIONAL MARKETING EXPANSIONS FOR THE PROGRAM. AND THE NEW KEEP DALLAS BEAUTIFUL WEBSITE WAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
ALSO IN A RECENT DEVELOPMENT, WE'VE MOVED OUR SILVER STAR STATUS TO GOLD STATUS.
SO THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF OUR PROGRAM OPERATIONS AS WE AS WE'VE BEEN FACILITATING THE PROGRAM AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VOLUNTEER CLEANUPS, WE TALK ABOUT HOURS SPENT AND NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AND THE VALUE TO THE CITY.
YOU CAN SEE, BEGINNING IN FY 2022, WE'VE INCREASED EVERY YEAR IN THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY CLEANUPS WE FACILITATED, AS WELL AS VOLUNTEERS AS WELL AS VOLUNTEER HOURS.
LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE AN IN-KIND VALUE OF JUST OVER $300,000 IN VOLUNTEER SERVICE HOURS TO THE CITY OF DALLAS BY DOING VOLUNTEER CLEANUPS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
[01:35:06]
WE'VE ALSO BROUGHT ON ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL PARTNERS WHO ALSO ASSIST US WITH THIS BY ALLOWING BOTH DEPARTMENTS TO HOST THESE PROGRAMS AT SCHOOL SITES AND PARK SITES AND COMMUNITY SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF DALLAS.THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT OUR KEEP DALLAS BEAUTIFUL WEBSITE LOOKS LIKE.
NEXT SLIDE. A NEW EDITION UP UNDER THE KEEP DALLAS BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM IS OUR ADOPT A SPOT PROGRAM.
THOSE GROUPS ARE ASKED TO DO PERFORM SIX COMMUNITY CLEANUPS NEAR OR AROUND THE AREA, AS WELL AS WE GIVE THEM A SIGN WITH THE ADOPTER NAME UNDER THE BOTTOM.
THIS THIS PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY TAKEN OFF.
WE'RE GETTING ADOPTERS TO SIGN UP AS WELL, AS IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVERTISE FOR SOME AREAS THAT MAY NOT GET A LOT OF LOVE OR ATTENTION THAT SOME AREAS DO. SO WE'RE REALLY BUILDING THIS PROGRAM.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE ENERGY IT'S DRIVING INTO THE CITY FOR OUR VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.
ANOTHER KEY PROGRAM IS I LOVE YOUR BLOCK INITIATIVE.
AND AS WE SAY WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY TO LOVE YOUR BLOCK.
I WILL SAY THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIG PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT COMING UP SOON.
HOPEFULLY YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT IT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS ABOUT OUR LOVE YOUR BLOCK INITIATIVE.
AGAIN, OTHER OPERATIONS THAT WE STILL FACILITATE IS OUR COMMUNITY HAND TOOL PROGRAM.
OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN UP TRAILER ON THE GLOW IS STILL IN OPERATION IN FULL SWING.
SO THIS IS A TRAILER THAT WE HAVE EQUIPPED WITH COMMUNITY TOOLS WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE OUT TO LARGE CLEAN UP EVENTS, AS WELL AS PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS WHO MAY NEED THE EXTRA ASSISTANCE WITH PERFORMING.
THIS PROGRAM TRANSFER TRANSFORMS VACANT LOTS INTO AREAS OF OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WE'VE DONE SEVERAL AS WELL AS OUR DECORATIVE CONTAINERS, OUR ROWE CONTAINERS.
SO WE MAKE THOSE PIECES INTO WHAT WE CALL MURALS ON THE MOVE.
LAST YEAR WAS OUR FIRST YEAR BEING INVOLVED IN THE NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITY CLEANUP CHALLENGE.
AND I KNOW YOU SEE THE NUMBERS HERE.
THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS WE COLLECTED, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF BAGS OF LITTER.
BUT WE DID NOT WIN THE CHALLENGE.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON A NUMERICAL NUMBER OF THE LARGEST.
THE LARGE CITY IS KIND OF IN A SEPARATE CATEGORY, BUT WE'RE ALSO INCLUDED WITH THE SMALLER CITIES.
SO WE GET WE GET JUDGED ON A HIGHER MULTIPLE THAN THE OTHER CITIES.
BUT I'M STILL PROUD OF THE WORK THAT OUR RESIDENTS DID LAST YEAR AND AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THEY GOT INVOLVED WITH RUNNING THE CHALLENGE AGAIN THIS YEAR, SO WE HOPE TO COME OUT ON TOP THIS YEAR.
THIS IS JUST TO SHOW YOU ASKING EVERYBODY TO JOIN US IN THE FIGHT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
THE NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITY CLEANUP CHALLENGE RUNS FROM MARCH 1ST TO MAY 31ST.
SO WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHALLENGE AND WE'RE DOING WELL RIGHT NOW.
LEADERBOARD UPDATES SHOULD COME OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS MONTH.
AND WE'LL AND WE'LL SEE HOW WE'RE DOING IN RANKING AMONG OTHER CITIES.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW OKAY.
DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU.
[01:40:01]
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.FOR I'M EXCITED ABOUT, OF COURSE, THIS PROGRAM.
BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GET WITH OUR OFFICE OR WE'LL REACH OUT TO YOU AS WELL.
I HAVE A LINGERING QUESTION ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE OR OUT THERE.
WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD THAT NO ONE CAN SEEM TO GIVE ME INFORMATION ON WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.
AND I NEED TO KNOW HOW WE CAN BRING THEM BACK AS A PARTNER WITH SOME OF THE MAJOR CLEANUP INITIATIVES THAT WOULD HELP US, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR WITH OUR BLIGHT ATTACK.
YES, MA'AM. ATTORNEYS MIGHT KNOW.
BUT WOULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THAT AND JUST BE ALSO PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS? MAYBE WE COULD PURSUE WITH FUNDING THROUGH A SPONSOR TO TO IMPLEMENT A MORE AGGRESSIVE ATTACK ON SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE THAT WEATHER AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I HAVE ADVERTISED TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT WE GET MORE CALLS, COMMENTS IN DISTRICT FOUR IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE BLIGHTED STRUCTURES AND THE TRASH THAT WE SEE. AND WE KNOW PART OF THIS COMES ALSO WITH EDUCATION, BECAUSE FOLKS NEED TO BEGIN TO GET A TRAINING ON, YOU KNOW, IF IF BULK TRASH IS PICKED UP ON WEDNESDAY, YOU DON'T PUT IT OUT ON THURSDAY.
AND THEN WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, LEAVING YOUR TRASH AND IT'S NOT TRASH.
BUT ALL OF THAT CONTRIBUTES TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES CLEAN.
BUT WE TEND TO HAVE THAT COMMUNITY LABEL AS BEING UNCLEAN.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAN THAT UP.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR THAT INFORMATION WITH PARTNERSHIP, SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO LURE IN MORE DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND PRIDE WHEN THEY BRING THEIR THEIR PROJECT TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO THAT'S WHAT I DID WANT TO MENTION.
WE JUST I JUST KNOW WE HAVE A HAVE A TASK OF TRYING TO BRING IN A BIGGER PRESENCE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.
CHAIR BAZALDUA, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO. OKAY.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING ME IN THIS MEETING.
I APPRECIATE IT, AND YOU ARE KILLING IT.
IT'S TO SEE YOU GO FROM, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE.
FIRST OF ALL, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE I WANT TO PUT INTO ONE BUCKET THE WHOLE CONNECTION OF KEEP DALLAS BEAUTIFUL WITH CRIME AND OUR HOMELESSNESS CHALLENGES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I KNOW WE HAD TALKED AT ONE POINT ABOUT POSSIBLY TAKING A GRID APPROACH TO THIS, ESPECIALLY AROUND JOE'S CREEK AND SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS WHERE IT'S THIS COMBINATION OF SO MANY FACTORS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP WITH.
SO WE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE EXTERNAL ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO MAY LIVE NEAR OR AROUND SOME OF THOSE HIGH CRIME OR HAVE HIGH INCIDENTS OF THE UNSHELTERED POPULATION GATHERING.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING I WOULD SAY A MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL APPROACH WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY TO HELP THOSE ADDRESSED, AND THEN ALSO ALLOWING OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO HELP GUIDE US ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY MAY SEE THAT WE MAY NOT SEE.
SO IN MORE PARTICULAR TO JOE'S CREEK, WE WAS ON A CALL WITH GREEN SPACE AND IDENTIFYING SOLUTIONS TO TO HELP WITH THAT, TO REMEDY THAT SITUATION.
AND, AND WITH OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ON HOW WE MANAGE OUR VOLUNTEERS AND SPECIFIC PLACES AND PLACES BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS THAT EXIST THAT SURFACE THAT WE CAN SEE AND THOSE THAT WE CANNOT SEE BECAUSE WE WANT ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS TO WALK AWAY WITH A GREAT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WE NEED THEM BACK, ADDING MORE VALUE TO OUR CITY.
SO WE ARE CONTINUALLY BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS, ESPECIALLY EXTERNALLY.
SO MAY I FOLLOW UP WITH A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS?
[01:45:02]
OH, OKAY. I'LL MEET WITH YOU AFTERWARDS THEN, I GUESS.THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN. SO I DO NEED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 1249, BUT I DO ENCOURAGE.
THANK YOU. I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
AT 1049 AND READ YOUR BRIEFING MEMOS.
THANKS. BYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.