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GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY TAX DAY.
[Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee on April 15, 2024.]
THE TIME IS NOW 9:03 AND I CALL TO ORDER THE QUALITY OF LIFE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING OF APRIL 15TH, 2024. FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 26TH, 2024 QUALITY OF LIFE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE.WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR BRIEFING ITEM B, LIBRARY STRATEGIC FACILITIES PLAN.
HEATHER LOWE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, WILL BE LEADING US TODAY.
GOOD MORNING, HEATHER LOWE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR AND PULL THE MIC CLOSER TO YOU? YES. IS THAT BETTER? I CAN HEAR IT. IT'S BETTER.
I'M WITH GROUP FOR ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH AND PLANNING.
BENJE FEEHAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUILDING COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, BASED HERE IN DALLAS.
VERY HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU HERE TODAY TO SUMMARIZE THE PURPOSE PROCESS AND PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR WORK ON DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY'S NEW STRATEGIC AND LONG RANGE FACILITIES PLAN.
MY FIRM, GROUP FOUR, IS THE PRIME CONSULTANT FACILITATING THIS PLANNING PROCESS.
OUR TEAM WAS ASKED TO FACILITATE A COMPREHENSIVE NEW PLAN FOR THE LIBRARY TO REPLACE THE LIBRARY'S LAST STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED PRE-COVID AND THE LAST FACILITIES MASTER PLAN FROM THE EARLY 2000.
NEXT. SORRY, I'M BEHIND ON MY NEXT.
OKAY. NEXT AGAIN, OUR APPROXIMATELY YEAR LONG PROCESS BEGAN IN EARLY 2023.
I WILL NOT TAKE YOU THROUGH THE DETAILS OF OUR PROCESS, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT IT AFTER THE PRESENTATION, BUT I WILL HAND IT OFF TO BENJE TO TALK ABOUT OUR ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES NEXT.
FOLLOWING THAT, AND WHILE THAT WAS ONGOING, WE HAD FIVE PRIMARY KICKOFF MEETINGS AT FIVE OF THE BRANCHES ACTIVATING THE BLACK BOX THEATERS IN EACH OF THOSE WHERE WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FOLKS ATTEND, WHERE WE INTRODUCED WHAT WE WERE GOING TO BE DOING, AS WELL AS HOW THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS OF THE ENGAGEMENT, ALL THIS CULMINATED AND CONTINUED TO INFORM THE STRATEGIES AS THEY CONTINUE TO DEVELOP, AS WELL AS MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS WITH STAFF, CITY DEPARTMENTS, ETC..
FOLLOWING THE DRAFTING OF THE STRATEGIES, WE HAD TWO LIVE LISTENING SESSIONS THAT WERE BROADCAST THROUGHOUT THE CITY VIRTUALLY, AND HERE WE ARE WITH OUR PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS TO QUALITY OF LIFE AND NEXT CITY COUNCIL.
IF WE GO NEXT, WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS LOOKED LIKE.
THE FEEDBACK STATIONS THERE AGAIN, ONE IN EACH BRANCH.
I THINK WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD KIND OF TURNOUT ON THOSE GATHERING OVER 530 ANALOG RESPONSES THERE, AS WELL AS COLLABORATING WITH LIBRARY MANAGERS ON SOME ADDITIONAL COLLECTION OF INFORMATION WITH COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.
THERE'S OUR FIVE WORKSHOP SESSIONS WHERE WE HAD ALMOST 70 PARTICIPANTS, AND THEN THE OUTREACH IN COLLABORATION AGAIN WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS BRANCH LIBRARY, ALL IN ALL, CULMINATING IN CLOSE TO 5000 RESIDENT RESPONSES.
NEXT. SO, WHAT DID WE HEAR FROM ALL OF THIS PARTICIPATION? FIRST AND FOREMOST STAKEHOLDERS AND DALLAS COMMUNITY MEMBERS REALLY LOVE AND APPRECIATE AND HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF RESPECT FOR THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
NEXT. THE LIBRARY INSPIRES CURIOSITY AND SETS DALLAS COMMUNITIES UP FOR A LIFETIME LOVE OF LEARNING.
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NEXT. DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A PLACE TO MAKE THE KINDS OF CONNECTIONS THAT CREATE STRONG AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITIES.NEXT. THE LIBRARY IS SEEN AS A MODEL OF WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE SERVICE NOT JUST BY DALLAS COMMUNITIES BUT ALSO BY MANY OF DPL'S URBAN LIBRARY PEERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
MANY PEOPLE TOLD US ABOUT THE GROWING NEED FOR PEOPLE, PLACES THAT ARE FREE AND OPEN TO ALL, NOT JUST TO WORK AND STUDY, BUT ALSO TO MEET, GATHER AND COLLABORATE, AND I FAILED ON NEXT AGAIN. SO NEXT, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS, AND THERE ARE MANY DALLASITES WHO CREDIT THE LIBRARY FOR HELPING THEM ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN THEIR EDUCATION AND CAREER. SO NOW I WILL HAND IT TO HEATHER LOWE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THESE VALUES HAVE SHAPED THE LIBRARY'S NEW STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO WE ACTUALLY LARGELY KEPT OUR VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT VERY SIMILAR.
WE FEEL LIKE IT CAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF THE LIBRARY.
SO LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES START AT DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT, WE ALTERED A LITTLE BIT BY BRINGING EQUITY TO THE FOREFRONT.
SO IT'S NOW DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES AND BUILDS EQUITY BY CONNECTING PEOPLE, INSPIRING CURIOSITY, AND ADVANCING LIVES AND OUR VALUES THAT WE IDENTIFIED THAT HELP INSPIRE OUR STAFF AND KEEP US GOING AND KEEP US FOCUSED.
OUR COMMUNITY LEARNING, ACCESS AND INNOVATION.
SO I KNOW THIS IS A JAM PACKED SLIDE HERE.
SO WE CAME UP WITH EIGHT STRATEGIC GOALS, AND THEY ARE HERE PRESENTED, AND PRIORITY ORDER.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND DISCOVERY.
WE KNOW OUR ADULT CLASSES ARE IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE IMPROVING THEIR WORKFORCE OUTCOMES. WE HAVE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO LEARN AND CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP.
SECOND IS TO PROVIDE CUSTOMER RESPONSIVE TECHNOLOGY.
THE LIBRARY REALLY SERVES AS A LINK FOR FOLKS WHO MAY NOT HAVE INTERNET CONNECTION AT HOME, MAY NOT HAVE DEVICES AT HOME, AND SO WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON BRINGING CUSTOMER USER EXPERIENCE OF OUR TECHNOLOGY TO THE FOREFRONT.
THIRD IS CULTIVATE A VIBRANT MATERIALS COLLECTION.
HERE IN DALLAS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE COLLECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR COLLECTION, WHETHER IT'S PHYSICAL OR DIGITAL, REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
FOURTH IS TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO ACCESS, AND THAT IS ACROSS THE BOARD WHETHER IT IS A CULTURAL BARRIER, A PHYSICAL BARRIER OR ANY OTHER KIND OF BARRIER, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
IN FACT, WE ARE IN THE THROUGH ARPA FUNDS AND THE BOND PROCESS, WE ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE ADA ACCESS TO OUR BUILDINGS PROVIDE INSPIRING AND WELCOMING FACILITIES.
OBVIOUSLY THE WORK OF A LIBRARY IS NOT DONE ALONE.
WE HAVE TONS AND TONS OF PARTNERS, AND OUR PARTNERS REALLY ARE THE ONES WHO HELP US PROVIDE WONDERFUL, RICH PROGRAMING AND CONNECTIONS TO SOCIAL SERVICES AND REALLY, THE LIBRARY OFTEN SERVES AS A SCAFFOLDING TO RESIDENTS TO ACCESS OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES. WE ALSO WANT TO FOCUS ON COMMUNICATING THE LIBRARY'S VALUE.
IT'S CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY NOT NOT IMPORTANT TO US, BUT TO DEVELOP FUTURE READY STAFF, WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A GREAT IN-HOUSE TRAINING PROGRAM, BUT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON NEW WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP SUPPORT STAFF, AND NEXT.
SO HERE WE HAVE A REFLECTION OF HOW THESE GOALS ALIGN WITH CITY PRIORITIES.
I WON'T GO THROUGH AND READ ALL OF THEM, BUT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND DISCOVERY OBVIOUSLY OVERLAPS WITH A LOT OF OUR EQUITY INDICATORS AND MAKING HEADWAY ON THOSE AS WELL AS WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND IT SHOULD SAY EQUITY THERE INSTEAD OF EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT.
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PROVIDING CUSTOMER RESPONSIVE TECHNOLOGY OBVIOUSLY ALIGNS WITH OUR DIGITAL EQUITY GOALS.CULTIVATING A VIBRANT MATERIALS COLLECTION CONNECTS TO MAKING SURE RESIDENTS ARE SATISFIED WITH THE LIBRARY, AND THEN REDUCING BARRIERS TO ACCESS AGAIN ALIGNS WITH THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN AND PROVIDING INSPIRING AND WELCOMING COMMUNITIES OR WELCOMING FACILITIES DOES POINT TOWARDS HAVING SATISFACTION WITH GOVERNMENT SERVICES, AND NEXT SLIDE AND SO WE DID PART OF OUR GOALS ARE IMPROVING TECHNOLOGY.
THERE WAS A TECHNOLOGY PLAN THAT WAS INCLUDED, BUT WE HAVE SINCE PULLED THAT.
IT NEEDS A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ABOUT 900 PUBLIC COMPUTERS THAT DOESN'T EVEN GET TO STAFF NEEDS FOR COMPUTING.
SO WE PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE IT DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO MAKE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE BETTER AND BE MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE NIMBLE MOVING FORWARD.
SO WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU LATER WITH THAT, AND I BELIEVE I'M HANDING IT BACK OVER TO JILL NOW.
WHAT DOES THAT VISION FOR LIBRARY SPACES AND FACILITIES LOOK LIKE NEXT? LIBRARIES IN DALLAS WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO READ, WORK AND STUDY.
NEXT. THEY ALSO PROVIDE PLACES FOR LEARNING AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH OTHERS.
NEXT. THE LIBRARY IS AN EXCITING DESTINATION FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN AND DISCOVER NEXT, AND A PLACE FOR THEM TO ENGAGE AND DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS AS THEY GROW INTO TWEENS AND TEENS.
NEXT, AND SPACES BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY MAXIMIZE THE LIBRARY'S CAPACITY AND REACH.
NEXT. DALLAS CURRENT LIBRARY BRANCHES PROVIDE A REALLY STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THIS FUTURE VISION.
THEY'RE GENERALLY IN GOOD CONDITION.
DALLAS POPULATION IS GROWING AND MORE LIBRARY SPACE WILL BE NEEDED TO KEEP UP.
NEXT. SO THE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET, THE J.
HOW CAN THIS BE WHEN THE CITY AND THE FRIENDS OF DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY HAVE PARTNERED TO KEEP SO MANY OF THE PUBLIC FLOORS LOOKING FRESH? IN PART, IT'S BECAUSE MANY OF THE BUILDING'S KEY SYSTEMS, SUCH AS ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING AND ELEVATORS, ARE BEYOND THEIR EXPECTED USEFUL LIFE.
THE LONGER THEY GO WITHOUT UPGRADE AND REPLACEMENT, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO FAIL.
CENTRAL LIBRARY IS ALSO DUE FOR MODERNIZATION OF SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY, OPERATIONS AND CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS, ALL OF WHICH HAVE EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THAT BUILDING OPENED MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO.
YOUR CENTRAL LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE NATION.
IT'S OVER 600,000FT², AND I WILL NOT TELL YOU THAT RENOVATION WOULD BE A SMALL JOB BUT YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
THERE'S MANY OTHER US MAJOR CITIES THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THIS RENOVATING THEIR BIG MAIN LIBRARIES BOSTON, AUSTIN, CINCINNATI ARE ALL DOING THIS TOO, AND THEY'RE SEEING VERY POSITIVE RESULTS.
THERE ARE LIBRARIES SHOWN HERE IN GREEN, WHICH ARE YOUR NEWEST AND MOST RECENTLY RENOVATED.
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO JUST NEED GOOD MAINTENANCE OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
THE ONES IN PURPLE ARE THOSE RECOMMENDED FOR MORE ROBUST RENOVATION AND REINVENTION, INCLUDING CENTRAL LIBRARY, AND THOSE COATED IN ORANGE ARE THOSE THAT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR MODERATE TO SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION, WHICH MAY IN SOME CASES REQUIRE A NEW SITE AND MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOINT DEVELOPMENT WITH PARTNERS.
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NEXT. SO THIS SUMMARY OF THE PRIMARY RECOMMENDATIONS UP HERE ON THIS SLIDE IS THE IS WHERE WE END OUR PRESENTATION.YOU CAN LEAVE IT TO THE LIBRARIES TO HAVE IT NICE AND CONCISE.
I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN SLIDES WRITTEN AND READ THAT CONCISE BEFORE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND THIS WORK.
I THINK IT'S GREAT, AND WE'LL NOW OPEN IT UP TO THE BODY FOR QUESTIONS.
I'LL GO TO VICE CHAIR RESENDEZ VIRTUALLY FIRST.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
HOW WAS THE COMMUNITY INPUT SOLICITED AND INCORPORATED INTO THE INTO THIS PLAN? ABSOLUTELY, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COMMUNICATION FROM THE LIBRARY MANAGERS THEMSELVES.
SO WE HAD A REALLY GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THE LIBRARY MANAGERS.
SO WE UTILIZED A LOT OF THEIR EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS ADVERTISING UPCOMING EVENTS ADVERTISING UPCOMING EVENTS THROUGH ESTABLISHED LIBRARY, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, ESTABLISHED LIBRARY COMMUNICATIONS LISTS, EMAILS, ETC.
AS WELL AS THE ANALOG FEEDBACK STATIONS, AND I'LL JUST ADD THAT THE SURVEY WAS PUBLISHED IN SIX LANGUAGES, AND WE DID COMMUNITY.
WERE THERE ANY NOTICEABLE TRENDS OR PREFERENCES EXPRESSED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS REGARDING LIBRARY SERVICES AND FACILITIES? YEAH. SO WITHIN THE PLAN, THERE'S A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT APPENDIX, WHICH KIND OF GOES THROUGH ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES AND THE KEY THEMES AND ALL THE OUTREACH, ETC..
THE HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY IS CATEGORIZED INTO THREE THEMES, WHICH IS RESIDENCY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LIBRARY TO EXPAND ITS ROLE IN EDUCATION, ARTS AND SERVICE RELATED PROGRAMMING.
SO THEN KEY THEME TWO THE LIBRARY CAN IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY TO RESIDENTS BY EXPANDING HOURS, METHODS OF PUBLICIZING LIBRARY SERVICES AND DIGITAL SERVICES AND MEDIA, AND THEN THE FINAL THEME WOULD RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE SPACES IN THE LIBRARY THAT ARE COMFORTABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND ALLOW FOR GATHERING OR PROGRAMMING? SO, I MEAN, IN GENERAL KIND OF WHEN WHEN YOU'RE IN THE ROOM TALKING TO FOLKS ABOUT THE LIBRARY, THEY LOVE IT, RIGHT? AND THEY JUST SEE THESE AS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND ON THINGS THE LIBRARY'S ALREADY DOING.
OKAY. YOU MENTIONED ACCESS ACCESSIBILITY.
DO WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES OR LANGUAGE BARRIERS? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY, WE MEAN IT IN BASICALLY EVERY FORM OF ACCESSIBILITY, WHETHER THAT'S PHYSICAL OR A LANGUAGE BARRIER OR A LEARNING DIFFERENCE OR, YOU KNOW, A DIFFERENCE IN OUR NEURODIVERGENT PATRONS AS WELL, AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE WORKING ON THE PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT OF THE LIBRARIES.
THERE'S A BOND PROJECT TO IMPROVE EIGHT OF OUR BUILDINGS, RESTROOMS TO BE ADA COMPLIANT, AND THEN THERE'S ARPA FUNDING FOR, I WANT TO SAY, 12.
I CAN GET THE NUMBER FOR YOU, BUT TO IMPROVE OUR ENTRANCES TO BE ADA COMPLIANT AS WELL.
IN TERMS OF THE CONDITION OF THE FACILITIES, WHAT CRITERIA WAS USED TO ASSESS THE CURRENT STATE OF THE FACILITIES? WE RELIED ON THE CITY'S FACILITY CONDITION ASSESSMENT STUDY, WHICH WAS DONE SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
IT SEEMED IT WASN'T JUST LIBRARIES.
IT WAS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, MOST OR ALL OF THE CITY'S FACILITIES, AND THOSE STUDIES SET UP A RATING SYSTEM OF IT IS BASED ON THE ASSUMED VALUE OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE COMPARED TO THE ASSUMED REPLACEMENT VALUE OF THE BUILDING.
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POOR, AND MOST OF THE LIBRARIES FELL IN THE GOOD TO EXCELLENT CATEGORY.THE ONLY TWO THAT DIDN'T WERE CENTRAL LIBRARY AND MLK.
OKAY. THANK YOU, AND I WON'T MONOPOLIZE THE WHOLE TIME.
I KNOW OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS PROBABLY HAVE QUESTIONS.
I JUST HAVE ONE MORE RELATED TO SUSTAINABILITY.
DOES THE PLAN INCORPORATE ANY SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES IN THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF LIBRARY FACILITIES? THE PLAN DIDN'T GO INTO SPECIFIC DESIGN.
THIS IS WHERE THE COMMUNITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN, BUT IT DOES CALL THE VISION IS FOR FACILITIES THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT TO HELP YOU KNOW, WEATHER DISRUPTIONS AND SERVICE, HAVE THE LIBRARIES BE A PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE TO COME EVEN WHEN THE POWER'S OUT OR SOMETHING ELSE IS HAPPENING AND TO HELP THE CITY WORK TOWARD ITS CLIMATE ACTION PLAN GOALS AS WELL.
GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH ONCE AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE INFORMATION.
LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS DISCUSSION.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. RESENDEZ. MR. RIDLEY.
WHAT METRICS DO YOU COLLECT ON THE USAGE OF BRANCH LIBRARIES? SO WE ACTUALLY STARTING TOMORROW WE WILL BE INSTALLING THERMAL PEOPLE COUNTERS.
WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH OUR PEOPLE COUNTERS.
WE ALSO LOOK AT FIRST TIME CIRCULATION OF MATERIALS WITHIN A BRANCH PROGRAM NUMBER OF PROGRAMS, PROGRAM ATTENDANCE AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AS WELL, AND COMPUTER COMPUTER SESSIONS AS WELL.
THANK YOU, JILL. SO YOUR MAP INDICATES THAT 11 LIBRARY BRANCHES NEED EXPANSION OR REPLACEMENT, AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT IN GENERAL YOU BASE THAT PLANNING ON IN TERMS OF THE NEED TO EXPAND THOSE FACILITIES? THE WORK THAT WE DID FOUND THAT THE LARGER LIBRARIES CAN PROVIDE MORE SERVICES.
MORE SPACE FOR PROGRAMS, MORE SPACE FOR TECHNOLOGY.
YOU KNOW, MORE SPACE TO JUST JUST BE IN THE LIBRARY FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE THERE.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU ADD TO KEEP UP WITH YOUR POPULATION GROWTH OVER THE NEXT 10 TO 20 YEARS, WE HAD A COUPLE OF OPTIONS.
ONE IS TO SIMPLY ADD MORE BRANCHES.
EACH ONE OF THOSE COMES WITH A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL OPERATING COST.
SO YOU'RE GETTING TWO THINGS OUT OF THAT STRATEGY.
YOU'RE GETTING A LARGER LIBRARY THAT CAN PROVIDE MORE SERVICE, AND YOU'RE GETTING SOMETHING THAT CAN BE STAFFED MORE OR LESS WITH THE STAFF THAT YOU HAVE NOW IF THEY'RE WELL DESIGNED, AND I'LL JUST ADD THAT I THINK SOME OF THE TRENDS FROM THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ARE THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR PLACES WHERE THEY CAN MEET WITH THEIR COMMUNITY. THERE ARE SO FEW FREE PUBLIC SPACES AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT LIBRARIES ARE REALLY SHIFTING FROM BEING A RESEARCH RESOURCE TO BEING A COMMUNITY HUB, AND SO YOU DO JUST LITERALLY NEED THIS SPACE FOR FOLKS TO COME.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO STARTING TO WORK FROM LIBRARIES MORE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S RELIABLE INTERNET.
WE HAVE GREAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE GREAT INTERNET IN OUR LIBRARIES THANKS TO THE FEDERAL E-RATE PROGRAM.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION IN THE NATIONAL LIBRARY COMMUNITY ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON THE NEED FOR MORE FLOOR SPACE IN LIBRARIES AND I'M, OF COURSE, REFERRING TO LONGER TERM PERHAPS 20 YEARS OUT SUCH THAT WE WON'T HAVE AS MUCH DEMAND FOR LARGER LIBRARIES, BUT MORE DEMAND FOR ONLINE SERVICES LIKE YOU DID DURING THE PANDEMIC.
I THERE THERE IS A DISCUSSION NATIONALLY.
I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE IN LIBRARIES IS THAT LESS OFTEN FOLKS ARE RELYING ON OUR DEVICES AND RATHER THEY ARE COMING AND RELYING ON OUR INTERNET.
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SO WE'RE LOOKING MORE AT HAVING FEWER FIXED PUBLIC COMPUTERS AND MORE SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR OWN LAPTOP, TO BRING THEIR TABLET AND WORK OR STUDY FROM THE LIBRARY.SO HOW IS THAT AFFECTING YOUR LONG TERM PROJECTION ABOUT THE NEEDS TO REPLACE OR EXPAND THE 11 BRANCH LIBRARIES? WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR 20 YEARS FOR THE EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE THE DEMAND ON LIBRARIES FOR SPACE. IT WAS PREDICTED IN 1995.
IT WAS PREDICTED AGAIN IN 2000.
THE DEMAND FOR TECHNOLOGY, AS HEATHER MENTIONED, HAS CHANGED OVER TIME.
PEOPLE ARE NOW BRINGING THEIR OWN DEVICES, BUT EVEN WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, THOUGHT THE NUMBER OF DESKTOP PCS AND LIBRARIES WAS JUST GOING TO KEEP GROWING BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO BE INFINITE DEMAND, THAT SPACE WAS STILL BASED ON PEOPLE.
THE DEMAND FOR SPACE FOR PEOPLE IN THE LIBRARY IS REALLY WHAT HAS DRIVEN THIS, AND I'LL JUST ADD TO WHAT JILL SAID, THAT WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO LOOK AT COLLECTION USE AND A LOT OF OUR COLLECTION USE IS MOVING TO DIGITAL, AND SO WE HAVE ALREADY, IN MANY OF OUR LIBRARIES, REMOVED SHELVING, CREATED MORE SPACE FOR SEATING, AND WE IMAGINE THAT THOSE KIND OF REALLY SMALL INTERVENTIONS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IN OUR BRANCHES.
SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU EXPECT THE ACQUISITIONS REQUIREMENTS OF THE LIBRARIES TO DECLINE OVER TIME? THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT, IF ANYTHING, OUR ACQUISITIONS PROCESS IS GOING TO BECOME MORE AND MORE COMPLICATED.
SO THAT IS A LOT OF DEMAND ON OUR E-RESOURCES, BUT I THINK WHEN WE LIVE IN A CITY THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIGITALLY DIVIDED WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE AN EQUITABLE COLLECTION ACROSS PHYSICAL MATERIALS AND DIGITAL MATERIALS IS A REALLY TRICKY QUESTION, AND SO WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON HOW TO MAKE THOSE PROJECTIONS ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BUY AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT THE CITY WITH OUR COLLECTION.
SO DO YOU KEEP METRICS ON THE USAGE RATE FOR MATERIALS? WHAT'S THE TREND THERE? SO WE ABSOLUTELY DO AND WE HAVE STARTED TO WE'VE RESPONDED TO CIRCULATION, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR PHYSICAL AUDIOBOOKS, THOSE, YOU KNOW, BIG CASES WITH 12 CDS THAT PEOPLE USED TO USE.
SO WE LOOK AT PHYSICAL CIRCULATION IN TERMS OF TYPES OF MATERIALS, AND OUR PHYSICAL CIRCULATION HAS DECLINED SOMEWHAT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOOK AT FIRST TIME CHECKOUTS ONLY.
LAST YEAR OUR CHECKOUTS WERE ABOUT HALF DIGITAL AND HALF PHYSICAL.
MISS BLACKMON. THANK YOU, AND THIS IS REALLY LOTS OF GOOD INFORMATION.
SO MY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, THE STRATEGIES SEEM TO BE ON KEY, BUT I'M WONDERING WHAT ARE THE TACTICS LIKE? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THOSE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, BECAUSE I DO THINK A LIBRARY HAS CHANGED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION, AND IN SOME PLACES I COULD SEE THIS BECOMING LIKE A COFFEE SHOP OR AN INCUBATOR FOR A SMALL BUSINESS, OR BRINGING TOGETHER A COMMUNITY GARDEN OR EVEN A FARMERS MARKET TYPE SITUATION.
SO I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION, IS, HAVE YOU GOTTEN INTO THE SPECIFICS OF ALL THE STRATEGIC GOALS? SO WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE NOT PUT ANYTHING TO A DEFINITE DRAFT YET BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING FOR GENERAL APPROVAL, BUT WE HAVE SURVEYED STAFF ON OBJECTIVES UNDER EACH OF THOSE GOALS, AND WE HAVE WE DO HAVE A DRAFT OF THOSE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE ALREADY HAVE A TON OF THOSE.
I THINK WE REALLY IT'S KIND OF A AND ALL APPROACH.
OBVIOUSLY BRANCH LIBRARIES ARE HYPER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
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SO OUR MANAGERS KNOW WHO THE PARTNERS WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY ARE, AND SO THEY'RE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO FORGE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL PARTNERSHIPS, BUT THEN ON A SYSTEM LEVEL, WE HAVE ADMINISTRATORS THAT, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH EQUAL HEART TO PROVIDE USDA MEALS AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING THE SUMMERS.SO, WE TAKE A--IT'S EVERYTHING IN ALL? YES, EXACTLY.
I NOTICED A COUPLE OF MINOR LIKE REIMAGINING WE THEY'RE USUALLY ON A NICE PIECE OF LAND ON A CORNER.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME HOUSING ON TOP OF IT.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME MICRO BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.
I MEAN, THIS IS A REAL ESTATE DEAL, IF YOU WILL.
SO I THINK EVERYTHING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT, LIKE YOU SAID, THERE ARE COMMUNITY DRIVEN EXPERIENCES, AND SO WHATEVER THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS AND EXPECTS, I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, WITHIN REASON AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION OF DOES IT MAKE SENSE AND NOT BE SO? NO, IT'S GOT TO BE FITTING IN THIS BOX, AND SO, I MEAN, I REMEMBER MY KIDS WERE LITTLE, WE WOULD GO TO BORDERS BOOKSTORES, RIGHT, AND I WOULD GET A MASSAGE WHILE THEY WOULD HEAR AND GET, YOU KNOW, GET HOT CHOCOLATE, AND THEN THEY WOULD BE HEARING STORY TIME.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT IN OUR LIBRARIES, IS IT TO BE AN EXPERIENCE, AND SO YOU HAVE TO COMMENT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'VE TOLD MY APPOINTEE, IS TO THINK OF EVERYTHING AND NOT BE SCARED TO EXPRESS IT AND TO THROW IT TO THE WALL AND SEE IF IT STICKS.
IF IT DOESN'T, THEN THAT'S FINE TOO.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT COMMENT.
SO WE'RE ALREADY TALKING WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS ABOUT HOW DO WE BETTER UTILIZE THE LAND THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS TOGETHER? THANK YOU, MISS BLACKMON.
MISS SCHULTZ, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FIRST OF ALL, I THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT WORK, AND, YOU KNOW, THE LIBRARY IS DEFINITELY ONE OF OUR THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE CITY'S TREASURES, AND SO WE HAVE TO TREAT IT AS SUCH, THOUGH NOT ON A PEDESTAL.
A COUPLE THINGS. ONE IS IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IS THERE THE OPPORTUNITY, AS YOU REFERRED IN THE LAST COMMENT, TO HAVE ALMOST A THAT HYPER LOCAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR EACH ONE IN WORKING WITH OUR YOUR LIBRARY BOARD SO THAT EVERY LIBRARY CAN HAVE ITS OWN PLAN OF HOW IT'S GOING TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND MAXIMIZE ITS ASSETS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE LIBRARIES THAT ARE NOT UNDERTAKING MAJOR CHANGES.
ABSOLUTELY. I THINK YOU KNOW, THAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS EIGHTH ON THE LIST, IT'S STILL VERY IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP FUTURE READY STAFF, AND PART OF THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC FACING STAFF ON THE GROUND ARE EQUIPPED TO UTILIZE DATA, MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT MAYBE WHO'S NOT COMING TO THE LIBRARY.
WE ALREADY SEND THEM STATISTICS.
WE HELP THEM USE THINGS LIKE POLICY MAP TO LOOK AT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, TO UNDERSTAND MAYBE WHICH WHICH POCKET COMMUNITIES AREN'T SHOWING UP IN THE LIBRARY AND PINPOINT THOSE FOR OUTREACH, AND SO THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR PROCESS, AND ALSO, DO YOU COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT I SAW ONE OF THE KEY PRIORITIES IS THE PARTNERSHIP PIECE, AND SO I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE ISDS. SURE.
I MEAN, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE ISDS.
I MEAN, MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN ALIGN VERY CLOSELY WITH K-12 CURRICULUM.
OUR SMART SUMMER PROGRAM VERY MUCH IS FOCUSED ON CLOSING THAT SUMMER ACHIEVEMENT GAP.
OUR KICKOFF PARTIES ARE ALWAYS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ISD EVENTS.
WE EACH BRANCH VISITS THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR.
THANKS, AND THEN FINALLY, COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TWO THINGS? I'M SORRY. FROM THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE PLANNING TO FEED BACK AND CREATE AN ONGOING LOOP WITH THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF
[00:35:06]
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? OR WILL IT SHIFT TO THE LOCAL, OR WILL IT STAY CENTRALIZED, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THIS KIND OF PLANNING PROCESS? SO THE LIBRARY, WE GET LOTS AND LOTS OF FEEDBACK, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH SURVEYS THAT WE DO ON A MORE CENTRALIZED BASIS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH DISCUSSIONS WITH PATRONS.EACH LIBRARY HAS A COMMUNITY NEEDS TRACKING SHEET THAT STAFF USE TO RECORD NEEDS THAT THE COMMUNITY MENTIONS DURING, YOU KNOW, THEIR DAY TO DAY INTERACTIONS.
SO WE ARE PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS GETTING FEEDBACK.
I THINK WE YOU KNOW, PART OF OUR GOAL OF TELLING THE LIBRARY STORY AND COMMUNICATING THE LIBRARY'S VALUE IS NOT JUST COMMUNICATING THAT TO COUNCIL AND PARTNERS, BUT ALSO COMMUNICATING IT TO THE COMMUNITY AND LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY'S FEEDBACK ON WHAT MAKES THE LIBRARY VALUABLE TO THEM AND BOTH ON A SORT OF SYSTEMWIDE SCALE, BUT ALSO ON THAT MICRO-LOCAL SCALE.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? RIGHT, I GUESS THERE'S NOT AN OVERALL OVERARCHING PLAN FOR FEEDBACK.
WE DO HAVE WE HAVE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEYS.
STAFF ARE TRAINED TO GET THAT SORT OF QUALITATIVE FEEDBACK FROM VISITORS, BUT IN TERMS OF A FEEDBACK, AN OVERALL FEEDBACK STRATEGY, WE COULD CERTAINLY WORK MORE ON THAT.
WELL, I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE THE BOARD.
YOU KNOW, THEY COULD DO THAT AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KEEP ASKING THE SAME QUESTIONS YOU ASKED TO DEVELOP THE PLAN, ASK IN SIX MONTHS, IN A YEAR OR WHATEVER IT IS, AND THEN FINALLY, MY QUESTION IS TO THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE PLANS FOR CONNECTIVITY OR INTERACTION WITH THE PLANS FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER? BECAUSE THIS WHOLE AREA IS GOING TO COMPLETELY CHANGE, AND SO WHERE DO YOU SEE THE CENTRAL LIBRARY'S ROLE IN ALL OF THAT? I'M SORRY I MAY HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
IT MAY HAVE NOT COME UP YET, AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING I'M EXPECTING OF YOU, SO DON'T TAKE IT THAT WAY AT ALL, BUT I DO THINK IT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE, BECAUSE IT WILL BE ONE OF THE PRIMARY VISITOR SPOTS, THIS PART OF TOWN FOR EVERYONE WHO COMES INTO DALLAS, AND SO TO REALLY DESIGN PROGRAMMING AND POSSIBLY EVEN SPACE, THIS MAY BE A WAY TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT TO GET SOME OF THE REPAIRS AND THE IMPROVEMENTS YOU WANT FOR THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, BECAUSE IT'LL BE CONNECTING SOMEHOW TO THE, TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AND ALL OF ITS PLANS.
SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE, AND I THINK THERE ARE REALLY WONDERFUL EXAMPLES OF CITIES THAT HAVE LOVELY GIANT BRUTALIST BUILDINGS LIKE OUR CENTRAL LIBRARY AND THE INTERVENTIONS THAT THEY'VE DONE.
I THINK THE MLK LIBRARY AND DC IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
I WAS JUST IN COLUMBUS FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, AND THEY HAD A RENOVATION IN A FEW YEARS AGO THAT REALLY OPENED UP THE SPACE.
I ACTUALLY THINK OUR CENTRAL LIBRARY HAS GREAT BONES.
WE HAVE WONDERFUL LIGHT WONDERFUL NATURAL LIGHT, AND SO THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THAT BUILDING, RIGHT? INCLUDING MEETING SPACES, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO MONETIZE AS WELL.
WE HAVE CITY DEPARTMENTS USE THE USE THE SPACE OUR ISDS USE THE SPACE.
MISS WILLIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE THE PLAN COMING TOGETHER.
THIS IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE TREASURE AND RESOURCE.
I THINK WE'VE CONTINUED TO SAY, AND I KNOW MISS LOWE HAS HEARD ME SAY THIS MANY TIMES AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE I TELL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY D13 RESIDENTS, ANYBODY AND I WILL TELL MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT WE I THINK OF OUR LIBRARIES AS A REC CENTER FROM THE NECK UP.
[00:40:01]
I MEAN, THE LIBRARIES ARE EVERY BIT OF THAT AND MORE, AND SO FOR THE PRESTON ROYAL LIBRARY, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS UPCOMING BOND PROGRAM, ETC., AND WHAT, WHAT PEOPLE WANTED, WE HAD A REALLY ROBUST RESPONSE TO A SURVEY, AND WHAT PEOPLE CAME BACK WITH MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WAS MORE OF THE QUIET, PERSONAL USES OF A QUIET READING SPACE OR A SMALLER ROOM TO HOLD SOME KIND OF MEETING, NOT A GRAND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, BUT JUST TO CONVENE AND MAYBE FOR BUSINESS AS WELL, AND SO THERE'S DEFINITELY A VALUE HERE, AND TO SOME OF THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, I KNOW PARKS IS ALSO UNDERGOING A MASTER PLANNING OF REC CENTERS, AND THE THOUGHT OF COMBINING THESE SPACES AND HAVING SUCH A COMMUNITY HUB FOR THE PHYSICAL AND THEN ALSO JUST SORT OF THE, YOU KNOW, CEREBRAL SIDE AND THE COMMUNITY CONNECTION SIDE IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO KIND OF BUST SOME SILOS AND THINK ABOUT BETWEEN PARK AND CITY.I LOVE THE WAY THAT THIS ADDRESSES THE FUTURE PREPPING OF STAFF, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR LIBRARIES ARE ALMOST SOCIAL SERVICE ENTITIES AS WELL.
BECAUSE OF THE POPULATIONS, THE POPULATION, THE DOORS ARE WIDE OPEN, I MEAN, TO ANYONE, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT HAVE TRAINED IN ONE IDEA OF WHAT THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREER MIGHT BE WITH IS ACTUALLY HAVING TO EXPAND THAT INTO SOME OTHERS, AND SO I THINK IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THE STAFF IS ABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT, TO HELP ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IN ADDRESSING THE EQUITY ASPECT OF OPPORTUNITY THAT'S HERE, AND IT MAY BE IN THE PLAN, BUT ANOTHER THING THAT WE TOUCHED ON, IT TALKS ABOUT ADVANCING LIVES, AND WE KIND OF HAVE SILOED THOSE INTO OUR YOUTH AND CHILDREN AND TO OUR ADULTS AND CAREER AND EDUCATION, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS THE STRONGEST IS THE GENERATIONAL ASPECT OF THIS MOMMY AND ME READING CLASSES AND GRANDPARENTS TAKING THEIR CHILDREN IN FOR STORY TIME, AND I'M ALWAYS BLOWN AWAY.
WHATEVER LIBRARY I WALK INTO WHEN I SEE THE OFFERINGS OF SO MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, I MEAN, THAT RUN THE GAMUT, AND I JUST THINK TO MYSELF, WHO PUT ALL OF THIS TOGETHER? I MEAN, THIS IS LIKE INCREDIBLE, AND I KNOW IT'S OUR THE AMAZING STAFF AT THE LIBRARY.
SO THAT SAID, IN LOOKING AT PAGE 28 AND I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HOW MANY LIBRARIES NEED REPLACEMENT, I KNOW WE'VE GOT IN THE BOND TOO REPLACEMENT AND ALSO TO THE POINT RAISED, WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE THINKING ABOUT OUR MIXED USE ON ALL OF THESE AND HOW WE MAKE THAT REAL ESTATE.
THE MOST IT CAN BE WITH REGARD TO HOUSING OR WHATEVER ELSE THE MIX MIGHT NEED, BUT I MEAN, WE'VE JUST GOT TWO IN THAT PLAN, AND I SEE THAT YOU'VE GOT SEVERAL MORE THAT WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT. SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING I THINK, FOR RESIDENTS TO KNOW IS THAT WE'RE KIND OF CHIPPING AWAY AT THIS REPLACEMENT, BUT IT'S EXPENSIVE, AND I HOPE WE CAN EXPLORE SOME SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE BUILDINGS OR NAMING RIGHTS OR WHATEVER, BUT FINALLY, ON THE MISSION, VISION AND VALUES.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHEN I LOOK AT THE VISION AND I THINK OF FUTURE ACHIEVEMENT, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY.
I'M NOT COMING AWAY WITH THAT ON THIS, IS THERE, CAN YOU TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT THAT? SO LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES.
I THINK FOR US, THE THING THAT MAKES A LIBRARY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IS THAT IT REALLY IS A CENTER OF LEARNING, BUT UNLIKE OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, YOU KNOW, UNIVERSITIES THERE'S NO CURRICULUM.
THERE'S NO SACRED TEXTS AT A LIBRARY.
THE OPPORTUNITIES AT A LIBRARY ARE REALLY SELF-DIRECTED.
SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO A LIBRARY AND ASK WHATEVER QUESTION IT IS THEY HAVE AND SO THAT'S WHY WE THINK THAT LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES REALLY SPEAKS.
IT SPEAKS TO US, TO OUR STAFF IN TERMS OF HOW THEY UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY TO USE THE LIBRARY AS WELL AS IT'S A MESSAGE THAT WE WANT TO CONVEY TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT THE LIBRARY IS THE PLACE TO COME WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHO TO ASK YOUR QUESTION TO.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU.
MR. GRACEY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
IN TERMS OF LEARNING HOW TO FLY AN AIRPLANE OR MAKE AIRPLANES, PAPER AIRPLANES, LEARNING HOW TO SKETCH ALL OF THOSE THINGS CAME FROM THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, AS WELL AS MY AMATEUR DJING SKILLS.
I SCRATCHED A COUPLE OF THOSE RECORDS BACK IN THE DAY.
[00:45:01]
AND THINGS IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THESE LIBRARIES AS MIXED USE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL, BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD CENTERED AROUND THOSE THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE KIND OF CONNECTED TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK DID YOU GET IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY NEED? TRACTION AND ALL OF THAT, THOSE THAT ARE RELATED.I THINK IT WAS THE ARCADIA PARK AND MAYBE HAMPTON, ILLINOIS.
I MEAN, I CAN SPEAK TO THAT JUST THROUGH THROUGH EXPERIENCE.
I KNOW--OR I GUESS TO IN A MORE GENERAL DIRECTION, HAS THERE BEEN BETTER FEEDBACK FROM THOSE SCHOOLS OR THOSE LIBRARIES THAT ARE CONNECTED TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OR, YEAH, JUST SPEAK TO THAT.
YEAH. I THINK YOU KNOW, THOSE THOSE TWO LOCATIONS ARE ACTUALLY PRETTY UNIQUE.
I MEAN, NOT NOT JUST FOR THE SYSTEM, BUT FOR TEXAS, EVEN THERE'S NOT THERE AREN'T VERY MANY CO-LOCATED PUBLIC LIBRARIES WITH SCHOOLS, AND IT REALLY DOES FORM A REALLY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THAT SCHOOL AND THE LIBRARY.
YOU KNOW, THE STUDENTS USE OUR LIBRARIES AS THEIR LIBRARY.
THEY INTERACT WITH OUR STAFF JUST LIKE THEY DO WITH ISD STAFF.
IT GIVES US AN INCREDIBLE REACH WITH PARENTS BECAUSE IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR US TO SEND FLYERS HOME ABOUT SMART SUMMER BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP. I THINK THE REQUEST THAT WE SEE IN THOSE TWO LOCATIONS IN PARTICULAR, ESPECIALLY IN ARCADIA PARK, IS FOR MORE FAMILY PROGRAMING.
YOU KNOW, THE ESPECIALLY AT ARCADIA PARK, WE SEE THE FOLKS THAT COME IN ARE LARGELY ASSOCIATED WITH WITH THE SCHOOL ITSELF. IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AT HAMPTON BECAUSE THAT'S A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE.
WE SEE A LOT OF FOLKS COME INTO THAT LIBRARY, AND WE'VE BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE TWO LIBRARIES, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LIKE 8:30 A.M.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASS AT ARCADIA PARK BECAUSE THE MOMS, YOU KNOW, THE PARENTS CAN DROP THEIR KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL AND THEN GO TO AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASS, AND SO I THINK WE WILL JUST CONTINUE TO KEEP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS STRONG AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS THERE.
OKAY, AND I JUST THINK AS WE GO FORWARD AND CONTINUE THINKING ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE IDEA OF POTENTIALLY DOWN THE ROAD, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BOND PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THE IDEA OF POTENTIALLY TRYING TO ALIGN SOME OF THESE EXPANSIONS WITH SOME OF THE DISD BOND PROGRAMS COULD BE SOMETHING TO EXPLORE, AND THE SAME GOES REALLY, QUITE HONESTLY, FOR SOME OF THE PARKS AND THE REC CENTERS POTENTIALLY BEING CONNECTED TO SCHOOLS TOO.
I SEE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THERE AND SOMETHING I THINK I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE DOWN THE ROAD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. GRACEY. MR. MORENO.
OKAY. WELL, I THIS WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION.
I THINK THAT IT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO HOW PRIZED OF A POSSESSION OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM IS.
THERE'S ALL THE NOSTALGIA, ETC., BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REALLY MAXIMIZING THESE AS AN ASSET NOT ONLY AS AN ASSET TO BRING IN MORE REVENUE SO THAT IT IS MORE SUSTAINABLE, BUT AN ASSET THAT REALLY ADDRESSES A LOT OF WHAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE STRATEGIC GOALS.
YES, YOU'VE IDENTIFIED HOW IT TOUCHES SOME OF OUR CITY'S GOALS AND HOW IT'S ALIGNED IN SPECIFICALLY RACIAL EQUITY PLAN. HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FEASIBILITY OF WHAT WE CAN REALLY ACCOMPLISH.
NOW, A LOT OF THE GOALS THAT I SEE HERE ARE BIG, AUDACIOUS GOALS, RIGHT, AND I WANT TO SEE BIG, AUDACIOUS GOALS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'D LIKE TO SEE A PRETTY BASIC.
ONE IN PARTICULAR IS I DON'T REALLY AGREE NECESSARILY WITH INVESTING A TON OF DOLLARS IN INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF THE SIZE OF OUR LIBRARIES, ETC.
IF ALL OF OUR LIBRARIES ARE STILL CLOSING AT 5 P.M..
[00:50:07]
BRING THIS AS AN ASSET TO THE PUBLIC.I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE, AND I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF THE PUBLIC THAT IT'S HARD TO GET THERE BY FIVE AND IF WE'RE LOOKING AT EQUITY AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS BEING AN ASSET OR A RESOURCE TO THOSE WHO ARE THAT HAVE GAPS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CLOSE UP, I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE MEETING THAT NEED.
A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS AREN'T LEAVING THEIR CAMPUSES UNTIL 5 P.M.
BECAUSE OF WHATEVER, AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES THAT THEY HAVE, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT, AND I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ON A HIGH LEVEL THAT THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLABORATION. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT NOT JUST WITH DISD, BUT ALSO WITH DALLAS COLLEGES.
DALLAS COLLEGES ARE STRATEGICALLY PLACED ALL AROUND OUR COUNTY, RIGHT? IT'S A COUNTY FUNCTION.
HOWEVER, THERE'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE BRANCHES WITH HOW MANY MORE THERE ARE THAN THE CAMPUSES THAT EXIST TO BE SERVING OUR RESIDENTS IN THAT CAPACITY.
SO THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE AT YOUR CAMPUS CLEAR ACROSS THE COUNTY, BUT MAYBE AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BRANCH, AND IT IS COEXISTING WITHIN THE DALLAS COLLEGE SYSTEM AND ACTING AS A RESOURCE BRANCHED OFF FROM THEIR ENTITY, NOT JUST THE CITY OF DALLAS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT THOSE TYPES OF GRANULAR GOALS IN WHAT YOU ALL PRESENT.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST AS WHAT YOU'VE, YOU'VE HEARD WITH THE HOUSING, RIGHT? INSTEAD OF IT JUST BEING MENTIONED, I KNOW THAT A LOT DURING THE BOND CONVERSATION AND WE'VE EVEN GOT SOME DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR DISTRICT SPECIFIC FUNDS GOING TOWARDS INCREASING WHAT IS BEING OFFERED AT THESE LOCATIONS TO INCLUDE MIXED USE, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY KIND OF DESCRIBED. THERE'S NO REASON FOR US TO GET OUT OF OUR LANE OR TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
WHENEVER WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE CONCEPTS THAT COULD BE COEXISTENT IN OUR LIBRARY SYSTEMS THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO MANAGE WHETHER THAT BE COMMUNITY WORKSPACE, WHETHER THAT BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COFFEE SHOPS OR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BE PARTNER TO NOT ONLY DRIVE TRAFFIC, BUT TO HELP THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THESE ASSETS, BUT I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THE HOURS PIECE ENOUGH.
THAT, TO ME, NEEDS TO BE OUR PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR LIBRARY SYSTEMS. WHEN I HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY UP TO VICKERY MEADOW FROM FAR SOUTH DALLAS BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY PLACE THEY CAN GO TO A LIBRARY ON SUNDAYS, THAT'S A GAP THAT IS A MUCH MORE ACCOMPLISHABLE GOAL FOR US TO REACH, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US BE FOCUSED ON THOSE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE FORMAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR DALLAS COUNTY COLLEGES AND DISD.
I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
SO ACTUAL ILAS, ACTUAL PROGRAMMING THAT IT'S NOT JUST ASKING THEM TO PROMOTE WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WE ARE GOING TO COEXIST IN OUR OWN SILOS, BUT INSTEAD BREAKING THOSE SILOS DOWN AND SEEING HOW THE BRANCH CAN ACTUALLY BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CAMPUSES GOALS OR RESOURCES AND HOW YOU KNOW, THE BURDEN, THE FINANCIAL BURDEN CAN BE SHARED IN THOSE CASES.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED THEM FOR CAPITAL WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TYPES OF EXPANSIONS.
INSTEAD, FOR THE PROGRAMMING, THAT'S WHERE AN ILA COULD COME IN AND THEY COULD PROBABLY CONTRIBUTE FUNDING TOWARDS US MAXIMIZING THESE HOURS OF OPERATION, MAXIMIZING THE LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT'S WHERE I WOULD REALLY WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE A BIGGER FOCUS ON.
I'M NOT DISCOUNTING WHAT'S HERE.
I JUST THINK THAT WE I'D LIKE TO SEE IT ADDED TO, AND I THINK THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO ALL BE SUCH BIG GOALS, AND THEN OF COURSE, JUST DISTRICT SEVEN SPECIFIC, I WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING LIBRARY, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THERE WITH THE MIXED USE.
IF THE VOTERS APPROVE THE BOND IN MAY, THERE'S GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITY I, BELIEVE, FOR US TO USE FUNDS IN HOUSING FACILITIES AND PARKS DEPARTMENT WITH THAT CAMPUS ALONE, AND I'D LOVE FOR US TO MAYBE SIT DOWN AND SEE IF WE CAN USE THAT AS A BLUEPRINT OF HOW WE CAN CROSS INVEST THROUGH DEPARTMENTS AND JUST MAXIMIZE THE, THE ASSET THAT WE HAVE. THAT'S REALLY THE FEEDBACK I HAVE OTHER THAN ON SLIDE 28.
[00:55:02]
I THINK THAT IT'D BE GREAT TO SEE IT.I DON'T LOVE THAT IT WAS PRESENTED TO US ALPHABETICALLY.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS CROSS REFERENCED TO OUR NEEDS INVENTORY LIST, AND EVEN WITH SIDE NOTES THAT INCORPORATE WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS ON YOU ALL'S OWN INTERACTIONS, AND ALSO WHAT WE'VE HEARD ON RECORD WITH NORTH OAK CLIFF LIBRARY, WITH INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, WITH VICKERY MEADOW WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING. I'D LOVE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH AND SEE HOW THE OVERALL NEEDS AND THE FEEDBACK OF THIS BODY, HOW IT GETS INCORPORATED INTO YOU ALL'S STRATEGIC PRIORITY LIST, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL I HAVE, IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY RESPONSE, THAT'S.
I APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK, AND I THINK I WOULD JUST SAY IT IS A 20 YEAR FACILITIES PLAN AND A FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND YOU KNOW, WE AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU ON HOURS.
WE'VE TRIED TO BE AS STRATEGIC AS POSSIBLE.
WE YOU KNOW, WE DID EXPAND HOURS AGAIN IN JANUARY.
REGARDING HOURS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES WITH DISD SPECIFICALLY.
THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY OR THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A DESIRE FOR EDUCATORS WITH WHAT THEY ARE PAID IN OUR STATE AND TO HAVE OTHER JOBS.
WHEN I TAUGHT IN DISD, I DROVE UBER AND LYFT.
I WAS A BARISTA AT STARBUCKS, AND I THINK THAT'S THE REALITY FOR A LOT OF OUR EDUCATORS.
I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF THAT TYPE OF AGREEMENT COULD BE SPREADING THAT FINANCIAL BURDEN WITH GIVING AN OVERTIME OPPORTUNITY TO OUR TEACHERS IN OUR IN OUR DISTRICT TO HELP WITH THE MANPOWER.
MAYBE THAT IS FUNDED BY THE DISTRICT WITH THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES, BUT WORKED OUT WITH US.
SO LET'S TRY AND BE A LITTLE INNOVATIVE, THINK A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF THE BOX THAN EXACTLY WHAT WE KNOW IT WOULD COST US, AND HOW WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT WITH KIND OF NOT PUTTING THAT BURDEN SOLELY ON THE CITY OF DALLAS, AND I'D LOVE TO MEET WITH YOU ALL OFFLINE AND SEE IF WE CAN MAYBE WORK THROUGH A PLAN, BUT THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS BRIEFING, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU ALL'S WORK, AND HAPPY LATE LIBRARY, NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK AS WELL.
WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO BRIEFING ITEM C.
THIS IS HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE UPDATE.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM DIRECTOR CARRENO WITH AVIATION AND.
I BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO RUN THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AS WELL.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE AN OLD FAMILIAR FACE AS WELL, MR. CHRIS [INAUDIBLE]. NOT AGE, BY THE WAY.
PATRICK CARRENO. DIRECTOR OF AVIATION REPRESENTING TRANSPORTATION REGULATION TODAY, AND WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE.
THIS IS A FOLLOW UP FROM OUR DECEMBER QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING.
DIRECTOR CARRENO, CAN I JUST REQUEST.
I KNOW THAT A LOT THAT THIS GETS REAL GRANULAR IN THIS, AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE MAJORITY OF THE GRANULAR COMPONENTS WHEN IT COMES TO YOU KIND OF DUMBING DOWN, LIKE THE BREEDS AND ALL OF THAT.
I WANT TO BE CONFIDENT THAT WE'VE ALL GOTTEN THAT PART OF OUR EDUCATION.
I'D LIKE TO REALLY FOCUS TODAY ON THE UPDATE OF OUR NEXT STEPS.
ANY ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM MEMBERS LAST TIME WE GOT THE BRIEFING, ETC..
SO I JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HEAR THIS FROM BEGINNING TO END FOR REDUNDANCIES.
NEXT SLIDE. OH, SO WE'RE GOING TO RUN THROUGH WHAT WE'VE DONE SINCE THEN, AND WHAT WE'VE COME BACK TODAY WITH SOME FOLLOW UP TO THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD THE LAST TIME.
SO WHAT WE DID WAS, GOING BACK THROUGH THE CARRIAGE OPERATIONS, CURRENT CARRIAGE REGULATIONS, MORE DETAILS ON THOSE AND SPECIAL INITIATIVES THAT WE DO.
[01:00:02]
THERE'S MEMBERS FROM NORTH STAR HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.THERE'S FIVE CARRIAGE PERMITS ISSUED TO DATE FOR THEM.
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS PARTICULARLY WITH THE TEXAS HUMANE LEGISLATION NETWORK.
WE'VE MET WITH NORTH STAR CARRIAGE AND WE'VE MET WITH THREEJAYS CARRIAGE ON THESE ITEMS SINCE THE LAST MEETING, AND NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS JUST A FOLLOW UP TO THE DECEMBER 5TH MEETING.
SO SOME MORE DETAILS ON WHAT WE'VE DONE.
WE TYPICALLY WE WILL DO RANDOM FIELD INSPECTIONS.
40% OF ALL THE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS ARE 2 47A SO THAT WOULD BE EVERYTHING.
THAT WOULD BE TAXIS, AMBULANCES HORSE CARRIAGES.
HORSE CARRIAGES AMOUNT FOR ABOUT LESS THAN 1% OF OUR TOTAL INSPECTIONS.
THAT'S ONE INSPECTION OF A HORSE CARRIAGE FOR EVERY 100 TAXIS.
WE TYPICALLY TARGET LATE AFTERNOON EVENING FIELD INSPECTIONS ON NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLE OPERATIONS.
NEXT SLIDE. AREAS OF INSPECTION DEPEND ON THE EVENTS.
THIS WOULD BE FOR ALL OF TRANSPORTATION REGULATION.
THIS INCLUDES TAXIS, AMBULANCES AND SUCH.
THIS CAN INCLUDE FUNERALS, BIRTHDAYS, QUINCEANERAS, SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
THEY'RE RANDOM. THEY'RE ON NIGHTS.
SO IT'S TYPICALLY WE WOULDN'T HAVE AN INSPECTOR OUT CATCHING THESE TYPES OF OPERATIONS.
SOME SPECIFIC ACTIVITY ON NORTH STAR.
NORTH STAR, AGAIN, IS THE ONLY OPERATOR IN THE CITY OF DALLAS THAT'S PERMITTED.
THEY AVERAGE 6 TO 12 RIDES A NIGHT THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
IT'S BASED ON WEATHER AND STAFFING.
80% OF THEIR RIDES ARE IN DALLAS.
WITH THE REST BEING IN HIGHLAND PARK.
FOR NORTH STAR, THEIR HORSES ARE ALLOWED TO WORK A MAXIMUM OF EIGHT HOURS IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD.
THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 47A.
REVENUE THEY PROVIDED WAS TYPICALLY 900 TO JUST OVER 1000 A NIGHT.
THEY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT LENGTHS OF TRIPS FROM 20 MINUTES TO AN HOUR.
WE WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HORSE BREED COMPARISONS, SO WE PUT TOGETHER SOME INFORMATION ON THIS, WHICH WE'LL GO THROUGH RIDING VERSUS DRAFT HORSES, AND TYPICALLY WHAT THEY'RE USING IS DRIVING HORSES, WHICH WILL GO THROUGH IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.
SO, YEAH, PERCHERON, CLYDESDALE, TENNESSEE, WALKER, THESE ARE THE SPECIFICS.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO TOO MUCH IN DETAIL ON THIS BUT YOU CAN SEE THE WEIGHT AND HEIGHT COMPARISON, AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE WE HAVE A HORSE DESCRIPTION.
SO ONE HAND IS FOUR INCHES, THREE HANDS IS ONE FOOT.
COMMON HORSE BREEDS FOR DRIVING, BELGIAN, PERCHERON, SHIRE, CLYDESDALE.
PRIMARY BREED BY NORTH STAR IS PERCHERON.
DUE TO THE STRENGTH IN THE TOLERANCE TO SUMMER TEMPERATURES.
PULLING CAPACITY SIZE, WEIGHT HEALTH SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMPONENTS GOING INTO THE PULLING CAPACITY.
NEXT SLIDE. DURING NORMAL WORK EIGHT HOURS DRAFT HORSES CAN PULL MORE THAN TWICE THEIR OWN WEIGHT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE A 2,000 POUND HORSE CAN PULL 5,000 POUNDS.
THE AVERAGE CARRIAGE WEIGHTS 1,000 POUNDS.
JUST A COMPARISON VERSUS DRY DIRT VERSUS CONCRETE.
SOME OF THE CONDITIONS WITH DRY DIRT.
BETTER CUSHIONING AND SHOCK ABSORPTION.
DISADVANTAGE INCONSISTENT OR UNEVEN.
NEXT SLIDE. CONCRETE WHICH YOU'D SEE IN THE CITY.
[01:05:04]
MORE OF A STABLE SERVICE.AT A SLOW PACE IT'S EASIER THAN DIRT.
DISADVANTAGES THE STRESS AND DISCOMFORT OVER TIME TO THE HORSE.
BENEFITS OF THE HORSE CARRIAGE.
THIS IS A NOSTALGIC HISTORIC TOURING OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
ADDITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT OPTION, AND THEY DO PROVIDE SOME EQUINE EDUCATION ELEMENTS TO THAT.
ALTERNATIVES. THERE ARE HORSELESS CARRIAGES.
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY JUST A MECHANICAL VERSION OF A CARRIAGE.
ONCE WE GET THAT GUIDANCE WE CAN DO POSSIBLE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS, AND WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH A BRIEFING TO COMMITTEE PRIOR TO ANY CITY COUNCIL ACTION, IF NEEDED.
NEXT SLIDE, AND THAT COMPLETES OUR PRESENTATION.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ON THE THIS PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MR. CARRENO, CAN YOU BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THE TYPE OF REGULATIONS CURRENTLY CONTAINED IN CHAPTER 47A? SURE. I'M GOING TO HAVE CHRIS [INAUDIBLE] ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
SO CURRENTLY IN 47A, AN OPERATOR HAS TO HAVE AN OPERATING AUTHORITY.
SO WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE TO MAKE AN APPLICATION.
WE HAVE TO APPROVE THEM TO OPERATE WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS ON PUBLIC STREETS.
THE DRIVER OF THAT CARRIAGE ALSO HAS TO GET A DRIVER'S PERMIT AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE ITSELF.
THE CARRIAGE IN THIS CASE HAS TO HAVE A VEHICLE PERMIT.
SO THERE'S THREE TYPES OF PERMIT TO BE LEGALLY OUT ON THE STREET.
THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS FOR REFLECTORS FOR A SIGN INDICATING SLOW MOVING VEHICLE FOR INSURANCE.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT APPLY TO ALL NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLES OPERATING IN THE CITY.
SO THAT INCLUDES PEDICABS AND OTHER TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION AS WELL.
WHAT ABOUT REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO THE HORSES THEMSELVES? THERE ARE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES.
SO FOR EXAMPLE 99 DEGREES IS THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE.
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHES OVER 99 DEGREES THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE A VETERINARIAN EXAMINATION EVERY SIX MONTHS.
WHEN THEY MAKE APPLICATION, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE US PROOF THAT THEY'VE HAD THAT EXAMINATION DONE BY A LICENSED, REGISTERED VETERINARIAN THAT SPECIALIZES IN EQUINE HEALTH CARE. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.
SO ARE THERE ANY GAPS IN OUR CURRENT REGULATIONS OR REGULATIONS THAT YOU THINK NEED TO BE CHANGED IN ANY POSSIBLE CODE AMENDMENTS? STAFF IS NOT PROPOSING ANY CODE AMENDMENTS AT THIS TIME.
I KNOW ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT'S COME UP IS THE HEAT IN TEXAS.
SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF REDUCING THAT 99 DEGREE TEMPERATURE, THAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE ORDINANCE, WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT, BUT AT THIS POINT STAFF IS NOT RECOMMENDING ANY CHANGES.
SO THERE ARE REGULATIONS ON HOW MANY HOURS A HORSE CAN WORK IN 24 HOURS.
THAT'S CORRECT, AND ANY OTHER REGULATIONS ABOUT NUMBER OF DAYS THAT THEY CAN WORK OR THEIR WORKING HOURS? OUR TRANSPORTATION REGULATION MANAGER, CANDICE BRYANT, WILL ADDRESS THAT ONE.
GOOD MORNING. SO YES, WE DO HAVE LIMITS ON HOW LONG THE HORSE CAN WORK.
AT WHAT INTERVALS? IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WORK ONE DAY, AND THEN THEY GET 36 DAYS OFF? 36 HOURS OFF? CORRECT. OKAY.
HAVE YOU ANY RECORD OF VIOLATIONS OF THESE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 47A? WHAT'S THE HISTORY THERE? SPECIFICALLY FOR HORSE CARRIAGE.
WE DO NOT HAVE A RECORD OF THE VIOLATIONS.
WE HAVE RECORDS OF VIOLATIONS OF OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, BUT WE DID RESEARCH ON THIS, AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND SPECIFIC ACCIDENTS OR WRITE UPS BY THE INSPECTORS DURING THE PERIODS THAT WE HAVE ON FILE.
[01:10:02]
A SPECIAL INITIATIVE WHERE WE WENT OUT.WE DID FIND TWO CARRIAGE DRIVERS WHO DID NOT HAVE PERMITS.
SO THEY STOPPED OPERATING AT THAT POINT AND CAME AND GOT PERMITS.
SO THOSE WERE THE ONLY INFRACTIONS THAT WE FOUND WHILE DOING THAT SPECIAL INITIATIVE.
OKAY. SO YOU HAVE NO RECORDS OF WIDESPREAD CODE VIOLATIONS OF CHAPTER 47 A.
OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. RIDLEY. MISS BLACKMON.
THANK YOU. YOU LISTED A BUNCH OF CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HORSES.
DO WE HAVE THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE HORSES? WE DO NOT HAVE THE AVERAGE AGE, BUT THERE ARE MEMBERS FROM NORTH STAR HERE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT COULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION IF YOU'D LIKE THAT, BUT WE DO NOT SPECIFICALLY HAVE THAT ON OUR FILES.
OKAY, AND YOU SAY THE MAXIMUM IS 99 DEGREES.
HAVE YOU LOOKED AT OTHER ORDINANCES AND IS THAT ON PAR? BECAUSE, I MEAN THERE IS LIKE A CERTAIN LIKE, IF IT'S THIS TEMPERATURE, YOU ADD THIS MUCH FOR YOUR DOG, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S GOT A FUR COAT, AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF 99 IS THAT REALLY 109 TO THEM, 110, WHATEVER IT IS, AND WHAT IS THE VETERINARY STANDARD OF SAYING THAT'S BEYOND THE THRESHOLD OF SAFE? I KNOW THAT WE HAVE BENCHMARKED OTHER CITIES.
THERE ARE SOME THAT LOWER TEMPERATURES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE HAVE NOT SPECIFICALLY GONE TO GET A VET KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE ACTUAL TEMPERATURE FOR THEM? THAT IS SOMETHING WE COULD FOLLOW UP ON, AND I GUESS THIS IS ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE VERSUS THE RADIATION FROM THE CONCRETE IN THE BUILDINGS.
IT'S THE DEW POINT, I GUESS, OR WHATEVER.
IT'S THE FEELS LIKE TEMPERATURE.
I MEAN, SO WE COULD EVEN CAVEAT IT BY SAYING, IF IT FEELS LIKE IT'S 95 DEGREES, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE 90, THEN YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE TOURS.
SURE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A MENTION OF THE HEAT INDEX.
WE BENCHMARKED OTHER CITIES IN THE LAST PRESENTATION, AND FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN IT IS 95 DEGREES AS THE MAXIMUM, AND FOR NEW YORK IT'S 90 DEGREES OR LESS, AND YOU SAID 90 IN NEW YORK? YES, MA'AM, AND THAT'S ACTUAL ATMOSPHERIC, NOT HEAT INDEX.
THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY, AND THEN HOW DO YOU MONITOR THAT? THESE HORSES ARE FOLLOWING THE REGULATION THAT WE HAVE SET UP.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE EIGHT HOURS ON AND THE 36 HOURS OFF.
I BELIEVE THAT'S PART OF OUR INSPECTION PROCESS, BUT I'LL HAVE CANDICE ANSWER THAT.
THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS A PART OF THE INSPECTION PROCESS.
WHENEVER WE ARE ABLE TO CATCH THEM, AND DO THEY KEEP A LOG LIKE 18 WHEELERS, KEEP A LOG OF THEIR HORSE ACTIVITY? WE RECOMMEND THAT THEY DO, AND IF THEY DON'T? IF THEY DON'T, THEN THERE'S GENERALLY NO WAY FOR US TO CATCH UNLESS WE'RE OUT THERE FOR AN EIGHT HOUR PERIOD AND WE MONITOR THEM, AND DO WE ASSESS ANY FINES FOR NOT ADHERING TO OUR REGULATIONS? IT'S A CITATION THAT WE ISSUE ONLY ONLY, AND WHAT IS THE AMOUNT? I THINK THE MAXIMUM IS $500.
THE MINIMUM? I DO NOT KNOW THE MINIMUM, AND THEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE VET RECORD EVERY SIX MONTHS ON FILE AND YOU GO OUT AND DO AN INSPECTION, IT'S JUST STILL THE SAME PROCESS. THEY GET A CITATION.
THAT IS CORRECT, AND THERE'S NO LIKE THREE STRIKES YOU'RE OUT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
YES. THERE IS A INSPECTION CHECKLIST THAT WE FOLLOW FOR THE CARRIAGES.
OKAY, AND ON THE EIGHT HOUR MAX, IS THAT TYPICAL OF ANOTHER CITY, OR DO THEY DO SIX HOURS? DO THEY DO FOUR HOURS? WHAT IS OTHER CITIES OR WHAT ARE THEY DOING? DO WE KNOW? I'LL HAVE CANDICE ANSWER THAT.
AUSTIN CURRENTLY HAS A MAX OF SIX HOURS PER DAY FIVE DAYS TOTAL, WITH A MINIMUM 24 HOURS REST.
NINE HOURS? NINE HOURS, AND THEN DO THEY HAVE ANY REST PERIODS STATED IN THAT? NO REST PERIODS FOR NEW YORK? ACTUALLY, JUST TO CORRECT THAT, NEW YORK DOES HAVE A 15 MINUTE REST PERIOD PER TWO HOURS OF WORK.
[01:15:02]
OH THAT'S INTERESTING, AND WE HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR.WE HAVE TEN MINUTES PER 50 MINUTES OF WORK.
CAN YOU ALL GET ALL THESE REGULATIONS? THAT WAS IN THE LAST BRIEFING.
OH, WE DIDN'T INCLUDE THEM AGAIN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY BRIEFINGS WE'VE HAD. YEAH WE DIDN'T INCLUDE THEM AGAIN BECAUSE OKAY BECAUSE, I MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN A WHILE, A HOT MINUTE.
SO OKAY, THEN I GUESS THAT'S IT FOR NOW.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BLACKMON.
THANK YOU. SO I'D LIKE TO, WELL, I'VE GOT ONE QUESTION THAT STILL PERTAINS TO CARRIAGE ACTIVITY ON PAGE NINE, WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT UNLICENSED CARRIAGE OPERATIONS, AND THEN YOU'RE SAYING IT'S ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
WHEN THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE, LIKE WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, WHATEVER.
SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT THIS IS ENTIRELY SELF-CONTAINED, THAT YOU GO FROM A DOOR TO THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY, AND THEN THE CARRIAGE NEVER GOES TO THE ROADWAY? CORRECT. SO THE QUESTION WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, AT ANY POINT, DOES THAT CARRIAGE GO TO THE CITY RIGHT AWAY OR PARK ON THE CITY RIGHT AWAY? AND I BELIEVE THERE'S A PARKING ENFORCEMENT CAN ENFORCE THAT, AS WELL AS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM DOCTOR KHANKARLI, AND ALSO WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ENFORCE IT FROM A ORDINANCE 47A STANDPOINT IF THEY ENTER THE RIGHT OF WAY.
WE WOULDN'T KNOW UNLESS IT'S REPORTED AND WE CAUGHT IT, BUT TYPICALLY YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW OF ALL THE WEDDINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT GOING ON.
OKAY, AND DO WE KNOW IF ON OUR SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS, IS THERE ANY PLACE TO INDICATE USE OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS, LIKE IF SOMEONE'S HAVING A PARTY OR, I MEAN, NEEDS A PERMIT OR.
I'M NOT SURE ON THAT ITEM FOR THE SPECIAL PERMIT.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, BUT THEN WE'VE ALSO GOT, I MEAN, I'M ASSUMING WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, QUINCEANERAS SPECIAL OCCASIONS ARE HAPPENING AT PLACES OF WORSHIP AND CEMETERIES AND EVENT VENUES ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AND FOLLOW UP ON THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THERE NEEDS TO BE A MECHANISM OF IF THERE'S A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT THAT'S A TRIGGER THAT OUR OFFICES KNOWS THAT'S A POSSIBLE VENUE THAT A HORSE CARRIAGE COULD BE OPERATING AT, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE I MEAN, IF IT'S A WEDDING AT A CHURCH OR A FUNERAL AT A CEMETERY, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
DO WE KNOW IF SOMEONE GOES FROM A CEMETERY, THE CHURCH TO THE CEMETERY USING A CARRIAGE OR CAISSON? IN THAT CASE, THEY WOULD NEED TO BE PERMITTED BY US TO CONDUCT THAT OPERATION.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO.
THINK ABOUT SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY ON HAVING TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND WHAT'S CONCERNING ME IS I'M LOOKING AT THIS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, AND THAT IS OUR ROADWAYS.
I MEAN, WE SIT HERE AT THIS HORSESHOE AND WE TALK ABOUT VISION ZERO AND MINIMIZING TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND TRAFFIC INJURIES, AND THEN WE'RE ADDING SOMETHING TO OUR MIX THAT IS NOT SEEMING VERY OPTIMAL.
SO MR. KHANKARLI, OKAY, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, WOULD YOU COME UP? I'VE JUST GOT SOME QUESTIONS.
MORE FROM THAT STANDPOINT OF OUR ROADWAYS.
SO, I MEAN, YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD SOME OF THIS.
WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CARS AND TRUCKS AND SCOOTERS AND PEOPLE AND BIKES.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOTTEN SKATEBOARDS.
I MEAN, A PERSON BEHIND A WHEEL.
I MEAN, AN ANIMAL, WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THAT KIND OF ABILITY WITH.
SO AS FAR AS THAT MIX GOES ON OUR CITY STREETS, I MEAN, IS THIS WHAT YOU WOULD DRAW UP AS A PERFECT PLAN? GOOD MORNING, GUS KHANKARLI, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO THERE ARE I WOULD LET ME CATEGORIZE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.
[01:20:09]
OPERATE ON.NOW, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AND MIGHT HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF OPERATION OUTSIDE THOSE ROUTES.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS MORE OF AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE, AND SOME OF THESE ROUTES ARE LOW SPEED, LOW VOLUME TYPE OF ROUTES THAT AT THIS POINT, BASED ON OUR CURRENT DATA, THERE IS NO PROOF THAT HAS BEEN OR NO DATA THAT SHOWS THAT HAS BEEN ANY ISSUES WITH THEM.
NOW, HAVING SAID THAT IN ONE OF MY LAST SLIDES IN THE VISION ZERO PRESENTATION, I NOTED THAT IN THE FUTURE, AS PART OF OUR APPROACH TO HANDLING THE VISION ZERO OR SAFETY ON OUR ROADWAYS IS THE PROACTIVE APPROACH, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE EMPLOYMENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ITEMS THAT COULD COME UP. SO WE DO HAVE THE HISTORICAL DATA AS WELL AS THE FUTURE PLAN ON HOW TO ADDRESS AND HELP WITH THE TACKLING THE SAFETY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS.
OKAY. WELL, I MEAN, TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE LOOKING FOR A RECORD OF INCIDENCES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HAPPEN AT 10 OR 15MPH.
I'M MORE IN YOUR REALM OF TRANSPORTATION AND ROADS, AND EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT PUBLIC WORKS, I'M NOTICING SOME SLIDES THAT ARE VERY MUCH AROUND, BUT THEY APPLY TO TRANSPORTATION, WHERE WE TALK ON ON PAGES 18 AND 19.
A DISADVANTAGE TO DIRT IS INCONSISTENT AND UNEVEN, AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS SAME AS OUR STREETS.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ISSUES OUT THERE.
WE KNOW IN OUR NEEDS INVENTORY, WHAT, $7 BILLION WORTH OF STREET ISSUES.
MANY OF THEM ARE RIGHT HERE DOWNTOWN, AND SO EVEN IF YOU'RE MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED, I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT AN UNEVEN SURFACE AND THEN THE VARIABLE OF AN ANIMAL, AND I'M JUST CONCERNED OF WHAT THAT COULD LEAD TO.
WITH REGARD TO THE REST OF OUR TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, AND THEN ON PAGE 19, WE TALK ABOUT CONCRETE, AND I ASSUME THIS WOULD APPLY TO ASPHALT AS BEING A STABLE SURFACE. WELL, THAT'S INCONSISTENT TOO.
I MEAN, WE'RE THAT'S THE IDEAL SCENARIO AND WE ARE FAR FROM IT, AND WHEN WE DO UTILITY WORK OR WE DON'T DO IT, THE CITY DOESN'T DO IT, BUT THE FOLLOW UP AND INSPECTION HAS MOST RECENTLY BEEN NOTED AS LACKING.
SO THAT MEANS STEEL PLATES AND UNEVEN SURFACES AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO I'M JUST AGAIN, I'M WONDERING, I MEAN, IF EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT, MAYBE, BUT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS VARIABLE AND OUR CONDITIONS OF OUR STREETS. SO THAT'S A FAIR OBSERVATION, AND I THINK THE INTENT OF THE PRESENTATION TO SHOW THAT IN A COMPARING THE TWO CONDITIONS OF CONCRETE OR ASPHALT RIDING SURFACE VERSUS THE DIRT, HOWEVER, OBVIOUSLY WE DO HAVE SOME CHALLENGES IN ON THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SOME OF THE LOCATIONS AND THE TEMPORARY COVERAGE.
SO THOSE ARE FAIR QUESTIONS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK INTO AND ASSESS THE SAFETY, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT IS ASSESSING THE, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE SAFE OPERATION OF SUCH MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO GOING BACK TO THE OPERATIONS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, WHERE THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE UNLICENSED ACTIVITY MAY BE OCCURRING. SO IF SOMEONE WAS TO TAKE THIS CARRIAGE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE CHURCH TO AN EVENT VENUE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND GOT ON A ROADWAY OR EVEN JUST GOT ON THE ROADWAY TO CONCLUDE, YOU KNOW, THE CEREMONY WHAT WOULD WE NEED TO DO TO BE SURE THAT WAS SAFE FOR OUR DALLAS DRIVERS? SO, AS NOTED, ANY OPERATION ON THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY REQUIRES A ROUTE APPROVAL.
SO IN ESSENCE, BASICALLY IS THAT IF ANY ACTIVITY THAT IS TAKING PLACE ON THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY WILL REQUIRE A ROUTE APPROVAL, A ROUTE REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
SO AS MY COLLEAGUE PATRICK MENTIONED EARLIER, IS THE FACT THAT IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT; IT
[01:25:02]
NEEDS TO BE PERMITTED AND AND IT NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED.I MEAN, THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE WE SEEM TO TALK ABOUT EVERY WEEK IS SPEEDING.
SO SOMEONE'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUT AND ASSESS THAT.
SO ALL TO SAY IS WE HAVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT A ROUTE HAS TO BE APPROVED AND BEFORE ANY PERMIT IS TO BE ISSUED, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT NOW, THE MECHANICS OF SUCH THING AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE VETTED, BUT DEFINITELY IT REQUIRES A PERMIT.
SO, I MEAN, DO WE KNOW WHAT THE COST RECOVERY IS ON THAT? ARE WE AT 100% COST RECOVERY ON THESE PERMITS, GIVEN THAT YOU'VE GOT TO GO AND APPROVE.
CURRENTLY, WE PUT THAT PART OF THE BURDEN ON THE APPLICANT IN THE SENSE THAT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE A SIGNED AND SEALED REPORT FROM A LICENSED ENGINEER, BASICALLY TO TELL US I HAVE REVIEWED THE ROUTE, AND I BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR ABOUT THE SAFETY.
HOWEVER, AGAIN, THIS IS SUBJECT TO THE MECHANICS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH IT, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND PROPERLY VETTED BEFORE ANY CONSIDERATION FOR A PERMIT IS GIVEN, AND WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ENSURE A ROADWAY IS SAFE AND CAN HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS AT ONE OF THESE OTHER LOCATIONS, OR MAYBE EVEN IN DOWNTOWN, IS THAT THE COST OF THE PERMIT IS GOING TO HAVE TO RECOVER THAT ASSESSMENT THAT HAS TO BE DONE TO APPROVE THAT ROUTE, WHICH IS ONLY GOING TO DRIVE PEOPLE TO NOT GET PERMITS BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE COST PROHIBITIVE.
I MEAN, IN LOOKING AT THE RATES THAT ARE CHARGED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RECOVERY WOULD BE.
I MEAN, THERE, YOU'RE NOT DEALING WITH AN ANIMAL'S FORELEG.
I MEAN, THAT JUST SOUNDS BETTER TO ME.
I WOULD RESPECTFULLY NOT TAKE A POSITION ON THE MODE OF OPERATION.
HOWEVER LIKE I SAID, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, A CARRIAGE IS A CARRIAGE THAT IS SITTING OUT THERE AND OCCUPYING A A SPOT ON THE ROADWAY, WHETHER IT BE IN ELECTRICAL OR PULLED BY A HORSE.
IF THE QUESTION IS ABOUT THE PREFERENCE, I MEAN, AGAIN, THAT'S WELL, IT'S NOT SO MUCH A PREFERENCE.
IT'S, I MEAN, I DON'T LOOK AT IT AS PREFERENCE.
I MEAN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, ALL THE BENEFITS.
THE CHARM OF THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH A MORE UPDATED METHOD THAT IS MORE BEFITTING OF OUR ROAD CONDITIONS. SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A VEHICLE THAT HAS SOME KIND OF SHOCK ABSORPTION, THAT HAS A RUBBER TIRE THAT IS MORE MALLEABLE TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE UNEVEN SURFACES VERSUS A HOOF AND A FORELEG? IT'S JUST SOUNDING LIKE THAT IS A WAY TO KEEP THE BENEFITS THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLINED, YOU KNOW, ALL ALL OF THE CHARM AND THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE LIKE AND ALL OF THAT, BUT TAKE OUT AN ELEMENT THAT IS YOU KNOW, CAN'T REALLY RESPOND AS WELL TO OUR OWN ROAD CONDITIONS.
I MEAN, I'M TURNING THIS BACK TO OUR ROADWAYS AND OUR TRANSPORTATION MIX.
AGAIN, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY THAT IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE REGULATION OR THE ORDINANCE CHAPTER 47 NEEDS TO KIND OF ADDRESS OR INCORPORATE, I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING.
[INAUDIBLE] YEAH, TO GUS'S POINT, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING YOU KNOW, THE ELECTRIC OPTION IS THERE. IT'S THE SAME TYPE OF CARRIAGE.
I THINK IT BECOMES, YOU KNOW, THE PROTECTION TO THE HORSES.
[01:30:02]
YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, IT'S A IT'S A HORSE DRAWN.SO ARE THERE YOU KNOW, IN 47 A, IS THERE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR THE CARRIAGE, BUT I THINK CARRIAGE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ELECTRIC, I THINK THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR.
JUST ONE HAS AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, ONE IS BEING PULLED BY A HORSE.
WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S A DIFFERENCE TO ME AS FAR AS HOW IT RESPONDS ON THE ROADWAY.
I'M JUST THINKING IT MAY BE TIME FOR US TO UPDATE OUR PRACTICE ON THIS.
MR. GRACEY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.
I THINK IT WAS ALONG SLIDE NINE.
I'LL LET CANDICE TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY WE WILL DO THINGS AS CHRIS HAD MENTIONED EARLIER, AROUND SPECIAL EVENTS OR MAYBE SPECIFIC TIMES OF THE YEAR WHERE WE KNOW THERE MAY BE AN UPTICK IN A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION, BUT CANDICE COULD PROBABLY DESCRIBE THAT BETTER FOR US.
ALONG THE SAME LINES OF THE ELECTRIC CARRIAGES, HAS THERE BEEN AN INTEREST HAVE YOU ALL BEEN APPROACHED WITH AN INTEREST IN THOSE ELECTRIC CARRIAGES? WE HAVE NOT BEEN APPROACHED SPECIFICALLY WE HAVE TALKED TO DIFFERENT PARTIES, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE AN INTEREST ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS, AND THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN APPROACHED BY AN OPERATOR TO OPERATE THE ELECTRIC CARRIAGES AT THIS POINT.
OKAY, AND IF YOU WERE, WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS, I GUESS, TO EITHER INTRODUCE AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, I'M JUST KIND OF FROM A EVEN IF IT WERE A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE OPERATOR AS WELL, WHAT WOULD BE THE APPROACH TO ACTUALLY INSERT THEMSELVES INTO THE MARKET? SO CURRENTLY THEY'RE CATEGORIZED AS A NON-MOTORIZED.
OUR ORDINANCE TALKS TO NON-MOTORIZED CARRIAGES.
IF THEY BECOME ELECTRIC AND THEY USE THAT CARRIAGE IT WOULD BECOME ONE OF OUR MOTORIZED CARRIAGES.
SO THEY'D BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME REGULATIONS THAT OTHER MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION IS IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. GRACEY. THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
THERE'S A VARIABLE IN IN AN ANIMAL AND HOW IT REACTS.
SO I THINK IT'S COMPLETELY INACCURATE TO SAY THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY DIFFERENCE.
OF COURSE, IT WOULD BE EITHER CARRIED BY AN ANIMAL OR IT WOULD BE DIRECTLY CONTROLLED BY A HUMAN.
YOU KNOW, REGULATING IS HUMANS ON THE ROADWAY.
IF YOU LOOK, I'VE DONE A LOT OF DIGGING AND RESEARCHING, AND I THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK AT PROBABLY 90 TO 95% OF THE INCIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IT HAS TO DO WITH THE HORSE REACTING OR BEING SPOOKED.
OF COURSE, MODERNIZING TECHNOLOGY IS GREAT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE.
SAFER STREETS IS SOMETHING, AS MISS WILLIS MENTIONED, THAT WE HAVE INVESTED A LOT IN AND EMPHASIZED A LOT, AND I THINK THAT THIS CONVERSATION, JUST BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT BECOMES HIGH PROFILE, HAS WENT TO A DIRECTION THAT IS NOT IN OUR LANE, AND THIS ISN'T ONLY ABOUT THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, OF COURSE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE LED ABOUT.
THIS CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE LED ABOUT US CONTINUING THE WORK THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING WITH MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND INVESTMENTS IN MAKING OUR STREETS SAFER FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DRIVING ON IT, AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WALKING ON IT, FOR THE PEDESTRIANS OF THIS CITY, AND SO I DO NOT LIKE THAT YOU ALL HAVE SAID THAT THERE AREN'T ANY INCIDENTS, BECAUSE IN MY OWN RESEARCH, AND I'M NOT EVEN THE EXPERT, AND I'M NOT THE ONE THAT'S OVER A DEPARTMENT THAT'S ISSUING THESE TYPES OF PERMITS.
[01:35:08]
IN HIGHLAND PARK SPECIFICALLY, IN 2019, A DRIVER REPORTED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET BETWEEN TWO PARKED CARS AND A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE CARRYING 8 TO 10 PEOPLE TRIED TO DO THE SAME, AND THEY STRUCK EACH OTHER HEAD ON.ANOTHER INCIDENT IN HIGHLAND PARK.
ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS WOULDN'T HAVE OCCURRED IF IT WAS A HUMAN DRIVER WITH AN ELECTRIC CARRIAGE.
THESE ARE THE VARIABLES THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON, AND IN MY OPINION, THE QUESTION REALLY NEEDS TO BE TO WHAT EXTENT DOES AN INCIDENT NEED TO HAPPEN FOR US TO TAKE ACTION? ARE WE GOING TO BE PRUDENT AND PROACTIVE AS A CITY? ARE WE GOING TO MODERNIZE AND CONTINUE OUR INVESTMENTS SO THAT WE ARE TRULY ALIGNED IN A GOAL TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER? ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW FOR NOSTALGIA TO BREAK LOGIC? THAT'S REALLY THE ULTIMATE QUESTION HERE.
WE CANNOT ALLOW FOR HIGH PROFILE CONVERSATIONS IN THE MEDIA TO CONTROL WHERE IT IS THAT WE GO.
WE CANNOT LET FEELINGS OR EMOTIONS BE WHAT DRIVES OUR GOVERNING DECISIONS.
THOSE WERE JUST THE EXAMPLES THAT I PICKED OUT THAT WERE HERE LOCAL, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IN ALL THE OTHER MARKETS THAT YOU ALL HAVE EVEN MENTIONED AS BEST PRACTICES OR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THESE CITIES, THE SAME EXACT INSTANCES, WHETHER IT BE BEING SCARED FROM BUSSES, AIR BRAKE SYSTEM, WHETHER IT BE BEING SPOOKED FROM PEOPLE OPENING AN UMBRELLA, YOU CAN READ AN ARRAY OF DIFFERENT INCIDENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I WANT TO KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT ARE WE WAITING FOR INCIDENT TO HAPPEN, FOR US TO BE WILLING TO TAKE ACTION? THANK YOU. SO GOING BACK TO THAT, WHAT WE TRIED TO HIGHLIGHT WAS ONLY IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I THINK FROM OUR RESEARCH AS WELL, THERE ARE EXAMPLES THAT YOU EXPLAINED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IN OTHER CITIES, AND WE DID LOOK BACK IN OUR DEPARTMENT WHEN TRANSPORTATION REGULATION CAME OVER TO AVIATION, BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO KIND OF BRING ALL THE INFORMATION WE CAN ON WITHIN THE CURRENT GUIDELINES OF THE ORDINANCE AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE OPERATING SAFELY OR NOT, AND THAT'S BEEN THE PERSPECTIVE.
CERTAINLY, IF THIS COUNCIL AND THIS COMMITTEE WANTS US TO LOOK IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, WE'LL BE OPEN TO THAT, AND WE'LL TAKE THAT DIRECTION, BUT AT THIS TIME, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED THIS ON SAFE OPERATION.
WHAT DO WE HAVE KNOWN EXAMPLES OF FROM OUR TEAM AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE ORDINANCE IS HOW WE APPROACH THIS PRESENTATION, AND I GET THAT I JUST I THINK THAT, AS I MENTIONED, I THINK THE CONVERSATION HAS GONE MORE TOWARDS OUR CONCERN FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE ANIMAL, AND I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN BE SAID THERE, TOO.
I THINK THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT IN MY OPINION, I THINK WHAT I HEAR MOSTLY IS A THEME OF SAFETY AND CONSISTENCY AND WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO REGULATE AS A CITY AND SOMETIMES THAT'S GOING TO MEAN EVOLVING AND CHANGING AND ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT HAS OCCURRED, AND IN MY OPINION, IF ANY OF THOSE INCIDENTS THAT I JUST MENTIONED TO YOU HAD RESULTED IN A HIGH PROFILE DEATH, AN ACTUAL FATALITY, AND I'VE HEARD IT FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, EVEN ABOUT OUR NEED FOR SIGNAGE, WE DO NOT NEED TO BE GOVERNING AS A REACTIVE MEASURE ONCE A FATALITY HAPPENS.
NOW, ONE LIFE HAS SHOWN US THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT, OR WE COULD ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE DATA AND PREVENT, AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO HERE, IS PREVENT ANY OF THESE MISNOMERS FROM COMING UP AND BEING THE NORM, FROM US NOT JOINING THE LIST OF THE OTHER MANY CITIES IN THE MARKETS THAT HAVE HAD FATALITIES AND HAD TO DEAL WITH THEM, IN MANY CASES BY BANNING HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES AND GETTING RID OF THAT VARIABLE.
SO I AM OF THE OPINION THAT I BELIEVE THERE IS MORE MODERN TECHNOLOGY.
[01:40:02]
I THINK THAT THERE IS A WAY THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE INDUSTRY SPECIFICALLY THAT, YES, THE EQUINE COMPONENT OF THE INDUSTRY WOULD BE TAKEN OUT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO GET RID OF IT ALTOGETHER.AND IN THE END, OF COURSE, THE ANIMALS WOULD ALSO BE SAFER AS A BYPRODUCT.
I WANT TO GO TO MR. RIDLEY FOR ROUND TWO.
MR. KHANKARLI, YOU RECENTLY BRIEFED THE COUNCIL ON VISION ZERO IN A VERY THOROUGH AND LENGTHY BRIEFING, AND IN THAT BRIEFING, I BELIEVE YOU CITED APPROXIMATELY 200 FATALITIES ON DALLAS STREETS EACH YEAR.
THAT IS CORRECT. HAVE ANY OF THOSE INVOLVED HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES? THE RECORD DOES NOT SHOW THAT IT DOES.
OKAY, AND ARE YOU AWARE PERSONALLY OF ANY FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH HORSE DRAWN VEHICLES IN DALLAS? I AM NOT, SIR, AND SO IF WE HAVE 200 VEHICULAR FATALITIES A YEAR OVER THE COURSE OF TEN YEARS SINCE THE LAST ALLEGED INCIDENT OF ANY CONSEQUENCE WITH HORSE DRAWN VEHICLES, THERE ARE 2000 PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED IN THAT TEN YEARS BECAUSE OF MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. WOULD THAT BE A FAIR APPROXIMATION? IT WOULD. NOW, OBVIOUSLY I CANNOT COMMENT ON THE TIME BEFORE MY TIME AT THE CITY.
I MEAN, I ONLY STARTED IN 2018 IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN 2019.
SO, OKAY, SO HAVE THE FATALITIES SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE IN 2019 APPROXIMATED 200 PER YEAR.
YES. OKAY, AND SO I DON'T SEE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES AS BEING A MAJOR THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS OR VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND IF WE'RE TO REPLACE THE HORSES WITH PEOPLE AS DRIVERS THAT'S NOT THE SAFEST ALTERNATIVE EITHER, GIVEN OUR RECORD OF FATALITIES FROM MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS, GIVEN OUR RECORD OF DWIS, AT LEAST WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE HORSES IMBIBING. THERE ARE SO FEW HORSES ON OUR STREETS, ON REGULATED ROUTES, THAT I JUST DON'T SEE THIS AS BEING A MAJOR TRAFFIC ISSUE.
IN TERMS OF OUR REGULATIONS THERE MIGHT BE A NEED FOR SOME TWEAKS TO THE TREATMENT OF HORSES POSSIBLY REDUCING THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE AT WHICH THEY CAN WORK, POSSIBLY REQUIRING A LOG BE KEPT OF THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT THE HORSES WORK AND THE INTERVALS FOR REST.
I MIGHT SUPPORT THOSE, BUT I AM NOT IN SUPPORT OF BANNING THEM.
I JUST THINK THAT WOULD BE A LOSS TO DALLAS, AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT THE NOSTALGIC EXPERIENCE OF RIDING IN A HORSE DRAWN VEHICLE.
THANK YOU, MR. RIDLEY. I DO WANT TO JUST SAY, FOR THE RECORD IN PUBLIC THAT THE EXAMPLES THAT WERE MENTIONED WERE APPLES AND ORANGES, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT A FATALITY LIST, CITYWIDE, IT'S MUCH LARGER OF A GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO INCORPORATE THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES THAT ARE GIVING TOURS ON OUR HIGHWAY SYSTEMS, WHICH A MAJORITY OF OUR ACCIDENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE FOR FATALITY, AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CONTEXT TO ADD TO THE DATA THAT WAS JUST SHARED IN MR. RIDLEY'S COMMENTS.
I MEAN, I WILL GO TO MISS WILLIS.
I MEAN, WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING COOLANTS ON STREETS NOW TO TRY TO BRING THE TEMPERATURES DOWN IN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SO WHEN I SEE THAT, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF AMBIENT TEMPERATURE YOU'D NEED TO GET THAT TO BE A REASONABLE LEVEL AT THE STREET HEAT EMISSION LEVEL.
SO, I MEAN THAT WOULD PROBABLY HURT THE INDUSTRY IF WE WERE TO DO SOMETHING THAT FIT IN THAT, BUT ANYWAY, I THINK THAT IN DISCUSSING THIS AND IN TALKING WITH YOU MR. KHANKARLI, FROM A TRANSPORTATION STANDPOINT, OUTSIDE OF THIS ORDINANCE NECESSARILY THAT WE HAVE GOT TO EXAMINE THIS FROM OUR ROADWAYS AND VISION ZERO AND ALL OF THE GOALS THAT WE'VE OUTLINED ABOUT WHAT IS OUR OPTIMAL MIX OF MARKINGS AND SIGNALS AND SPEED LIMITS AND YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN REGULATE THINGS ON OUR ROADWAY, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT.
[01:45:05]
ON MAKING THAT CONVERSION.THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S NOT A FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO THE CITY FOR THIS, OTHER THAN SORT OF AMBIANCE AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF ADDED ATTRACTION.
IS THAT CORRECT? BECAUSE THIS IS AN ENTERPRISE.
SO THERE'S NO OTHER BENEFIT, RIGHT.
IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH. WE DO NOT MONETARILY BENEFIT FROM THIS.
THERE IS ECONOMIC BENEFIT THAT'S BROUGHT TO THE CITY FROM A TOURIST AND A RESIDENT PERSPECTIVE OF BEING LED AROUND DOWNTOWN AND SEEING THE SIGHTS AND THAT KIND OF THING, BUT NOTHING DIRECT TO THE CITY, AND WE HAVE NO DATA ON THAT.
CORRECT? BECAUSE OF THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES, WE RAISED X LIKE WE CAN FOR THE ARTS, YOU KNOW, AND SOME OF THE OTHERS IN TERMS OF JOBS CREATED FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, RESTAURANT REVENUE, BECAUSE THE CARRIAGE STOPS AND THEY WHATEVER.
DO WE HAVE ANY FINANCIAL DATA OF ANY FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO THE CITY ON THIS? WE HAVE NOT CONDUCTED ANY SORT OF ECONOMIC STUDY OF THAT.
THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE OUT THERE FROM AN INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE THAT TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS TO A CITY, BUT NOTHING WE'VE NOT CONDUCTED THAT, AND I THINK TO COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY'S POINT ABOUT THIS BEING DE MINIMIS, THAT WOULD BE THE SAME WITH ANY REVENUE AS WELL.
IF THERE WAS ANY, IT WOULD BE ANCILLARY AT BEST.
SO I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
I JUST DON'T SEE ANY BENEFIT TO OUR CITY TO CONTINUE TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION AND THEN WE COULD AND THEN WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS THAT THE ELECTRIC CARRIAGE, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WANTS TO EXPLORE IN TERMS OF ALLOWING, THAT COULD BE A FUTURE ITEM, WHETHER IT'S FOR THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE OR ELSEWHERE.
MR. RIDLEY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'M STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS MOTION.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD REQUIRE US TAKING ACTION WITHOUT EVEN HEARING FROM THE INDUSTRY THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO BAN FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING.
ALL WE'VE HEARD FROM ARE THE REGULATORS.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD ONE WORD FROM THE INDUSTRY, FROM THE COMPANIES THAT CONDUCT THIS BUSINESS, AND BEFORE WE MAKE ANY KIND OF DECISION LIKE THIS, IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT WE HEAR FROM INDUSTRY.
MR. CHAIR, CAN WE DO THAT? WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? CAN WE HEAR FROM THE INDUSTRY ABOUT THIS PROPOSED? I PERSONALLY HAVE HEARD HUNDREDS OF CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE INDUSTRY, WHETHER IT BE OPERATORS, WHETHER IT BE FORMER OPERATORS, WHETHER IT BE EVEN ADVOCATES FOR OR AGAINST.
I HAVE GOTTEN QUITE A BIT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC, IN ADDITION TO THE OPEN MIC CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HEARD OR COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD ON RECORD ALMOST ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR MONTHS NOW.
SO I DO BELIEVE THAT PUTTING THIS INTO THE BODY'S HAND AS A WHOLE AND MAKING ACTIONABLE ITEMS WILL OPEN UP MORE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, BUT TO SAY OR INSINUATE THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM OR EVEN SEEN THE INDUSTRY PRESENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS NOT VERY ACCURATE, IN MY OPINION.
WELL, THEY'RE HERE BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE SAME LEVEL AS OUR REGULATORS, AND I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS AND PERHAPS REBUT SOME STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE HERE.
SO, AGAIN THIS IS OUR SECOND BRIEFING AT A COMMITTEE LEVEL.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOUR OFFICE RECEIVED THE CERTIFIED LETTERS, THE OVERNIGHT PACKAGES, THE DIFFERENT EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE, AND I KNOW THAT OTHER OFFICES HAVE. SO IT'D BE VERY INTERESTING IF ONLY ONE DIDN'T, AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO HOST MEETINGS FROM NOW UNTIL WE CAN GET THIS ON THE DATE FOR THE FULL COUNCIL TO TAKE UP TO HOST ANY COMMUNITY INPUT MEETINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO, AND GIVE THE INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT.
SO, MR. CARRENO CURRENTLY, ELECTRIC CARRIAGES WOULD NOT BE GOVERNED BY OUR CHAPTER 47A, IS THAT CORRECT? BECAUSE THEY'RE MOTOR DRIVEN.
THEY WOULD BE CONSIDERED A MOTORIZED VEHICLE, SO THEY FALL UNDER 47.
OH SO 47A GOVERNS ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.
47A COVERS TRANSPORTATION FOR HIRE, WHICH IS CONSIDERED TAXIS, LIMOS, SHUTTLES, AS WELL AS NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLES LIKE PEDICABS AND HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES. OKAY, AND CURRENTLY DOES 47A ALLOW ELECTRIC CARRIAGES ON OUR STREETS.
WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ANY ELECTRIC CARRIAGES.
MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANY PROHIBITION OF THEM IN 47A.
[01:50:05]
IF WE LOOK AT SEATING CAPACITY, WE HAVE A LIMIT ON THE SEATING CAPACITY AND WHETHER THEY ARE ABLE TO OBTAIN LICENSE PLATES BE YOU KNOW OUR TEXAS MOTOR VEHICLES.SO SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO OPERATE AN ELECTRIC CARRIAGE TODAY COULD APPLY FOR LICENSE PLATES, PUT A SLOW VEHICLE SIGN ON THE BACK AND THEY WOULD BE LEGAL. CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY.
SO WE DON'T NEED TO CHANGE OUR ORDINANCES TO ALLOW ELECTRIC CARRIAGES ON OUR STREETS, DO WE? THAT IS CORRECT.
MISS WILLIS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND.
YES. BASED ON THE INPUT FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, AND NOT JUST TODAY, BUT OVER WHAT WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WITH REGARD TO VISION ZERO.
IT'S TO BAN HORSES ON OUR STREETS.
OKAY. I THINK WE JUST OUGHT TO CALL IT WHAT IT IS.
OKAY, WELL, I'M OPPOSED TO IT.
MISS WILLIS. I JUST WANTED TO WEIGH IN AGAIN, AND WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE INDUSTRY.
I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE HAVE PROBABLY SPOKEN AT OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS AND SENT CORRESPONDENCE AND EMAILS AND LETTERS AND THAT SORT OF THING, AND, YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S ALSO VERY MUCH IN THE LANE OF A BUSINESS THAT YOU'RE MAKING REVENUE FROM.
BOX, BUT THEY'RE NOT DALLAS-BASED, AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR DESIRE TO GENERATE REVENUE AND CONTINUE IN YOUR BUSINESS, BUT IT'S THAT PART OF IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I MEAN, THERE AREN'T PROPERTY TAXES BEING PAID HERE, AND SO THERE'S A PERMIT FEE, AND SO THIS ALSO DOES NOT AFFECT HIGHLAND PARK WHERE THEY THEY CAN TAKE THIS UP ON THEIR OWN.
SO THAT PART OF THE REVENUE EXISTS AS LONG AS YOU CAN OPERATE IN HIGHLAND PARK, AND MAYBE THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO EXPAND IN HIGHLAND PARK, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE HAVE HAD PUBLIC INPUT.
IT'S VERY FOCUSED ON THE BUSINESS ITSELF AND NOT LOOKING AT WHAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO LOOK AT WITH REGARD TO THE IMPACT ON OUR STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION AND STREET TEMPERATURE AND THAT SORT OF THING AND THAT MIX, AND THAT IS WHERE WE COME IN AND WHY, AFTER LOOKING AT THIS AND READING THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
THAT'S WHY I MADE THIS MOTION.
MISS BLACKMON. SO I KIND OF WANT TO STAFF'S NOT MAKING A RECOMMENDATION, RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU'RE THE REGULATOR, BUT YOU'RE NOT REALLY RECOMMENDING.
YOU'RE NOT RECOMMENDING ANYTHING.
YOU'RE JUST GIVING US THE FACTS.
THAT'S CORRECT. WE WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU ALL THE FACTS IN THIS MATTER.
SO WE, AS THE BODY CAN LOOK AT ALL THE FACTS, TALK TO WHOMEVER WE WANT, AND COME UP WITH OUR OWN CONCLUSION, AND THEN WORK WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AROUND THE HORSESHOE TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING THAT IS SUITABLE.
OKAY, SO IT'S NOT LIKE ANY OTHER PROCESS THAT WE HAVE HERE.
I THINK WE ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE AND WE ARE BALANCING A DECISION OF WHAT ARE THE WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY WANT, WHAT IS THE NEEDS OF A BUSINESS, BUT WHAT IS THE NEEDS OF A OF OUR GENERAL PUBLIC SAFETY.
I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AND IT'S VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT 47A IS.
SO I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE OTHER PRESENTATION.
SO I GUESS THAT'S MY FEELING IS THAT, YES, I MEAN, BRING IT TO FULL COUNCIL.
LET'S HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. THERE'S MANY WAYS TO CREATE A BETTER PROGRAM, I THINK.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO TALK SAY HERE AS A COMMUNITY, AS A COUNCIL IS WE PROBABLY NEED TO UPDATE AT MINIMUM SOME OF THE REGULATIONS THAT WE HAVE AT A MINIMUM AND THEN GO BEYOND THAT IS HOW DO WE OVERHAUL IT COMPLETELY IF WE WANT TO GET A CERTAIN IF ANOTHER OUTLOOK IS NEEDED.
THANK YOU, MISS BLACKMON, AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.
I THINK IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE ASKED FROM YOU ALL.
WITH THAT SAID, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION.
[01:55:06]
THAT IS INCLUSIVE, OF COURSE, OF THE PROCESSES WE'VE HAD HERE IN THE COMMITTEE.ALSO WITH WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WOULD LOOK LIKE.
ALTHOUGH THAT THIS WOULD BE A RECOMMENDATION FOR US TO TAKE UP IN ELIMINATING THE ABILITY FOR HORSES TO BE ON OUR STREETS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT COUPLED WITH HOW WE CAN TAKE ACTION AGAIN TO ALLOW FOR A MORE MODERNIZED OPPORTUNITY SO THAT WE AREN'T TAKING ACTION THAT IS DIRECTLY IMPACTING AN INDUSTRY, BUT INSTEAD REQUESTING FOR A SHIFT IN THE MODEL OF THE INDUSTRY, IF YOU WILL.
WE CAN WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THOSE NEXT STEPS WOULD LOOK LIKE AND HOW WE COULD ROLL SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITH WORKING WITH THE INDUSTRY IN ACCOMPLISHING THAT BUT I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU ALL'S WORK.
WITH THAT, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. WE'VE GOT ONE NAY.
YEP, ONE NAY, AND THE MOTION PASSES.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BRIEFING ITEM C.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL, AND I WILL READ THAT IT IS NOW 11 A.M.
ON APRIL 15TH, 2024 THE QUALITY OF LIFE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 551.071 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON THE FOLLOWING MATTER DESCRIBED ON TODAY'S AGENDA NORTH TEXAS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW UPDATE.
THANK YOU. THE QUALITY OF LIFE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE HAS COMPLETED ITS CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 551.071 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, AND AT 11:28 A.M..
ON APRIL 15TH, 2024, WE HAVE RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION.
WITH THAT IF THERE IS ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM MEMBERS REGARDING BRIEFING MEMO D.
I ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO LOOK AT THE UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS, AND THE TIME IS NOW OR STILL 11:28 AND THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.