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[Parks, Trails & Environment Committee on January 6, 2025.]
I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 9:12. WE WILL GET STARTED HERE IN JUST A SECOND.I DO WANT TO CALL EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO PAGE ONE OF THE AGENDA, JUST UNDER THE STATEMENT OF THE NUMBER ONE ITEM, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES, YOU'LL SEE THE COMMITTEE MAY VOTE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING [LAUGHTER] ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA. THAT STATEMENT WILL STAY THERE, I HOPE, FOREVER.
YES SO I WORKED WITH CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON THAT, AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S A PERMANENT ADDITION TO THIS AGENDA.
I'VE ALSO ASKED FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY IN HOW WE POST CERTAIN ITEMS SO THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISCUSS WE JUST HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN OUR, IN OUR DISCUSSION. ALRIGHT. SO LET'S START WITH OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 1ST, 2025 MINUTES. MOVE APPROVAL THANK YOU. OKAY. GOODNESS. EVERYBODY'S READY TO GO.
[LAUGHTER]. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL MOVE TO OUR FIRST BRIEFING ITEM TODAY.
MINUTES APPROVED. THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM A, OUR FIRST BRIEFING ITEM THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU MITCH FOR BEING HERE. I THINK WE HAVE KARISSA AND ONE OTHER PERSON.
I'LL LET YOU MAYBE INTRODUCE YOUR TEAM. SO WE ALL WE KNOW WHO WE'VE GOT.
AND MITCH, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
WELL. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MITCHELL GLIEBER, PRESIDENT OF THE STATE FAIR, TEXAS.
IT'S A PLEASURE FOR US TO BE HERE TODAY TO GIVE A REVIEW OF THE 2025 STATE FAIR.
ALONG WITH ME TODAY IS KARISSA CONDOIANIS OUR SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND LINDSAY CLARK, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. SO WE HAD A GREAT FAIR IN MANY RESPECTS THIS YEAR.
FROM AN EXECUTION STANDPOINT FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, OUR PROGRAMING WAS EXCELLENT.
AND SO WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO OUR ATTENDANCE THIS YEAR WAS 2,020,064. THAT WAS DOWN APPROXIMATELY 15% TO PRIOR YEAR, WHICH WAS ABOUT 2.38 MILLION IN 2023. JUST FOR Y'ALL'S KNOWLEDGE WE WERE AT 2.34 MILLION.
2022 WE WERE AT 2.5 MILLION. THAT WAS OUR PEAK YEAR POST PANDEMIC, WHEN EVERYBODY REALLY FELT COMFORTABLE IN COMING BACK INTO PUBLIC SPACES. AND THEN 2021 WE DID DO 2.2 MILLION.
AND THEN IN 2020 WE ACTUALLY HAD NO FARE, AS YOU KNOW, FROM THE COVID CANCELLATION.
2 MILLION PEOPLE TO DALLAS AND TO FAIR PARK TO ENJOY THE GREAT TRADITION OF THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS, AND FOR THEM TO EXPERIENCE THE MOST TEXAN PLACE ON EARTH.
NEXT SLIDE. SO SOME DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT IMPACTED OUR ATTENDANCE.
THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY.
AND THE THE DIFFICULTY IS REALLY KIND OF ASSESSING WHAT PERCENTAGE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT.
AND SO WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT FIRST.
ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLATION IN THE LABOR MARKET WERE DEFINITELY A FACTOR.
AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, THE COST OF THINGS LIKE GROCERIES AND DINING OUT AND RESTAURANTS ARE SEEING KIND OF A SIMILAR ISSUE AND PEOPLE'S DISCRETIONARY INCOME WAS GETTING SQUEEZED. AND SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE THINK DEFINITELY IMPACTED US.
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WE CONTROLLED JUST SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE STATE FAIR CONTROLS, ADMISSION PRICING AND PARKING PRICING.OUTSIDE OF THAT, OUR VENDORS CONTROL THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRICES, THE RIDES AND THE GAMES.
THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING RELATED TO PRICING.
WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS AT OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT MEETING.
THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY GOING INTO 2026 IS TO DO A DEEP DIVE ON EVERYTHING RELATED TO PRICING AT THE FAIR WORKING WITH OUR VENDORS WHERE WE CAN AND HOW WE CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE WORKING WITH THEM TO TRY TO REIN IN PRICING TO MAKE THINGS MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO FELT LIKE THEY MAY HAVE BEEN PRICED OUT. THE REALITY IS, FROM OUR STANDPOINT IN 2024 OR IN 2025, THE PRICES DIDN'T CHANGE MUCH IN TERMS OF ADMISSION OR PARKING.
THERE WAS A $2 INCREASE ON ADMISSION PRICES. BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES IMPACTING THE INDIVIDUALS ATTENDING THE FAIR CERTAINLY DID CHANGE WITH SOME OF THE FINANCIAL FACTORS. AND WE RECOGNIZE WE RECOGNIZE THAT AND DEFINITELY WILL OWN THAT.
PRIOR TO THE 2025 FAIR, THERE WERE A LOT OF FALSE RUMORS CIRCULATING AROUND SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT ICE HAVING A HEADQUARTERS AT THE STATE FAIR, ABOUT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AT THE FAIR. THERE WERE A LOT OF OTHER HISPANIC EVENTS THAT WERE CANCELED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO GO OUT TO PUBLIC PLACES.
AND SO WE DEFINITELY SAW AN IMPACT ON THAT SIDE AS WELL.
JUST A LOT OF GENERAL UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND THE LABOR MARKET WAS IMPACTED BY THAT.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE WEATHER THIS WAS THE HOTTEST FAIR THAT WE'VE HAD.
TO ANY OF OUR RECOLLECTION AT LEAST GOING BACK 24 YEARS WITH AN AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF OVER 88 DEGREES DURING THE 24 DAY RUN IF YOU CAME TO THE FAIR IT WAS GROUNDHOG DAY.
SO IT WAS VERY HOT. AND I ACTUALLY HAD QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT JUST SAID WE WERE WAITING FOR THE TEMPERATURES TO COOL DOWN, AND THEY JUST NEVER DID. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT IMPACTED US.
SOME OF THOSE ARE EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL.
SOME OF THEM ARE INTERNAL FACTORS, AS I MENTIONED, THAT WE WILL OWN IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT PRICING AND DOING WHAT WE CAN TO HELP ON THAT PARTICULAR FRONT. BUT THAT DEFINITELY IS A HIGH THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR US THIS YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS KIND OF A BUSY SLIDE. BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE NUMBERS RELATED TO THIS YEAR'S FAIR, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THEM. I WON'T GO THROUGH EACH, BUT MORE THAN 13,000 FIRST RESPONDERS AND 34,000 MILITARY MEMBERS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF OUR SPECIAL DISCOUNT TICKET PROGRAMS FOR THOSE PARTICULAR GROUPS.
EACH YEAR WE DO A CANNED FOOD DRIVE WITH THE NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK.
THIS YEAR IT GENERATED 153 POUNDS OF FOOD FOR THE NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK.
ALL OF IT DONATED TO THOSE FOLKS AT A VERY CRITICAL TIME OF YEAR AS THE HOLIDAYS ARE APPROACHING.
AND SO THAT'S ALWAYS THEIR BIGGEST FOOD DRIVE OF THE YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE. MORE THAN $1.3 MILLION WAS PROVIDED TO 220 STUDENTS AS PART OF THE BIG TEX SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. AND THEN WE HAD 3077 ACTIVITIES THAT WERE HELD THROUGHOUT THE FAIR, SPREADING ALL ACROSS THE GROUND.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE TICKET, THE PRICE OF ADMISSION, AND WHAT YOU GET FOR IT.
THERE'S A LOT THERE. THERE'S TONS OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN DO WHEN THEY COME TO THE FAIR.
I THINK IT REALLY JUST KIND OF DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR IDEA OF A FAIR EXPERIENCE IS.
IF YOUR IDEA OF A FAIR EXPERIENCE IS EATING A LOT OF FOOD, WRITING A LOT OF RIDES, SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON THE MIDWAY PLAYING GAMES, YOU KNOW THAT CAN ADD UP VERY QUICKLY. IF YOU COME TO THE FAIR, YOU GET IN ON A DISCOUNT PRICE,
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AND THEN YOU, IN ADDITION TO THAT, SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT A LOT OF THE FREE ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE GROUNDS.YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO IT REALLY ON THE CHEAP. SO IT'S REALLY KIND OF UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND WHAT THEIR IDEA OF THE PERFECT, FAIR EXPERIENCE IS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. JUST SOME KEY STATE FAIR OBSERVATIONS.
AND FROM OUR OPERATIONS STANDPOINT ONE OF OUR BIG AREAS OF FOCUS HAS BEEN ON GUEST ARRIVALS.
WE CREATED SOME NEW OPERATING HOURS FOR OUR PARKING AND OUR PEDESTRIAN GATES.
WE IMPLEMENTED SOME NEW DESIGNS AT THE MIDWAY AND GIRLY GATES, AND WE ADJUSTED OUR LABOR MODEL SO THAT WE COULD OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY WHILE STILL MAINTAINING SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY. AS I SAID IN THE STATE FAIR COMMAND CENTER, THIS WAS THE SECOND YEAR FOR THAT COMMAND CENTER WE OPENED IN THE COLISEUM.
WE BUILT THIS OUT. THIS IS A COMMAND CENTER THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE UTILIZED YEAR ROUND BY FAIR PARK FOR ALL OTHER EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE, STATE OF THE ART IN THE WAY THAT IT'S RUN IT NOW IS REALLY PROVIDING AN ENHANCED ROLE AS THE CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS HUB.
IT IMPROVES OUR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT, OUR OPERATIONAL COORDINATION AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
ROCKY VAZ, WHO MANY OF YOU KNOW FROM THE CITY'S OPERATIONS OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE, ACTUALLY HEADS THAT UP FOR US DURING FAIR TIME AND DOES A REMARKABLE JOB.
AND SO IT'S BEEN A HUGE STEP UP IN THE WAY THAT WE COMMUNICATE AND WORK WITH THE, YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DFR AT THE AT THE FAIR. COLLABORATION BETWEEN MANY DEPARTMENTS PROVIDED CONCESSIONAIRES WITH NEW LOCATIONS FOR STAND REDEVELOPMENT AND THAT SIGNIFICANTLY, SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED REVENUE AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS.
AND THEN IF YOU WENT TO THE FOOTBALL GAMES THIS YEAR, SPECIFICALLY THE RED RIVER GAME YOU NOTICED A VERY DETAILED CHANGE THAT WE MADE IN TERMS OF EGRESS OR INGRESS INTO THE STADIUM DUE TO THE COTTON BOWL RENOVATIONS.
BUT THIS WAS A GREAT PLAN THAT WAS SET UP BY OUR OPERATIONS TEAM AND WAS EXECUTED VERY WELL.
SO A HUGE IMPROVEMENT THERE. NEXT SLIDE. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO TEST SEVERAL NEW INITIATIVES THAT WILL HELP SHAPE OUR PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, INCLUDING PREPAID PARKING CREDIT ONLY PARKING AT SELECT GATES.
WE DID PREPAID TICKETS ONLY AT THE MIDWAY GATE.
WE IMPLEMENTED APPLE PAY AND GOOGLE PAY AT THE ADMISSION GATES.
WE HAD NEW POINT OF SALE TERMINALS AND THEN WE HAD PEDESTAL SCANNERS ALSO.
ANDY FRAIN IS OUR SECURITY COMPANY. THEY EXECUTED A VERY WELL PLANNED AND VERY WELL STAFFED FAIR.
ACT IS OUR CLEAN TEAM. EVERY YEAR WE GET GREAT COMMENTS COMING BACK FROM OUR FAIR GOERS ABOUT HOW CLEAN THE FAIRGROUNDS IS WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE COMING THROUGH, THEY CONTINUE TO DO A GREAT JOB. AND ACT IS IS A GREAT PARTNER OF OURS.
NEXT SLIDE. FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY STANDPOINT DPD AND DFR, OUR PARTNERS THEY DO OUTSTANDING WORK AND WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. THEY PROVIDED A VERY, VERY SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR US AT THE 2025 FAIR.
SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE WERE FOCUSED ON THIS YEAR INCLUDE VEHICLE INCURSION.
WE HAD DRONE TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO US IN REAL TIME THROUGH TETHERED DRONES.
A BAG POLICY. WE DID ATTEMPT A HARDER APPROACH ON CLEAR BAGS THIS YEAR.
IT'S REALLY HELPING US TO CREATE A CULTURE OF ENGAGEMENT ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY.
SO I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS AND DFR AND WHAT A FANTASTIC JOB THEY DID.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL SAW, BUT THERE WAS THERE WERE TWO FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY HAD HEART ATTACKS AT THE STATE FAIR THIS YEAR, AND DFR STEPPED IN AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO THEM VERY QUICKLY AND ACTUALLY SAVED TWO LIVES AT THE FAIR.
AND THEY WE PRESENTED THEM WITH SOME AWARDS AT THE FAIR.
SO JUST AN OUTSTANDING PARTNER. THEY ARE REALLY ON THE BALL FROM A BRAND EXPERIENCE STANDPOINT.
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WE. I'M SORRY. NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU. WE HAD STATE FAIR, NONPROFIT MISSION MESSAGING IN KEY PARK LOCATIONS. WE PARTNERED WITH SELECT CONCESSIONAIRES TO DEVELOP NEW BRAND IDENTITIES FOR STANDS.THAT REALLY IMPACTED OUR REVENUES. WE COLLABORATED WITH CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT TEAM AND KEY CONCESSIONAIRES TO INTRODUCE STATE FAIR, REGISTERED TRADEMARK LICENSED FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRODUCTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE THERE WITH LITTLE LONE STARS DRINKWEAR.
WE EXPANDED OUR SOUND SYSTEM ON NIMITZ AVENUE.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH FAIR PARK, UNLIKE SOME SOMEWHERE LIKE SIX FLAGS OR OTHER PARKS THAT ARE UP YEAR ROUND AMUSEMENT PARKS, THAT IS IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A EMERGENCY SYSTEM THAT WE CAN VERY EFFICIENTLY COMMUNICATE ALL THROUGHOUT THE GROUNDS.
AND SO WE HAVE BUILT THAT AND ARE CONTINUING TO BUILD UPON IT.
AND WE NOW HAVE ABOUT 60% OF THE ENTIRE PARADE ROUTE THAT WINDS THROUGH THE ENTIRE GROUNDS IS COVERED, IN ADDITION TO SOME OTHER SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE ON THE MIDWAY TO HELP US GET THE WORD OUT.
IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY WE DEPLOYED MODIFIED WAYFINDING SIGNAGE TO ENHANCE.
AND WE INTRODUCED ENHANCED GUEST SEATING AND SHADE OPTIONS THROUGHOUT THE GROUNDS.
THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED AND SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN CONTINUING TO WORK ON AND BUILDING OUT THESE AREAS THAT WERE UNDERUTILIZED AND MAKING THEM INTO WHAT WE CALL SOFT AREAS WHERE PEOPLE WILL GO GET A LOAD OFF AND ACTUALLY GRAB SOMETHING TO EAT, GET IN THE SHADE, AND YOU KNOW, IT WILL ACTUALLY EXTEND THEIR STAY.
SO IT'S WORKED OUT REALLY WELL FOR US. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TO BUILD ON THAT.
NEXT SLIDE. ON THE LIVESTOCK AND AG SIDE WE HAD MORE THAN 22,000.
22,000 STUDENTS AND EXHIBITORS THAT PARTICIPATED ACROSS THE FAIR'S LIVESTOCK AND AGRICULTURE EDUCATION PROGRAMS DURING THE 2024 OR 2025 STATE FAIR SEASON. YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER AND BREAKDOWNS HERE ON THE SLIDE OF DIFFERENT PARTICIPANTS THAT PARTICIPATED IN DIFFERENT SHOWS AND HOW ALL THAT WORKED, BUT IT CONTINUES TO BE A BIG FOCUS FOR US.
THE STATE FAIR LOOKS AT OURSELVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE MUCH ACCESS, DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND SEE AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK IN, IN A VERY URBAN AREA TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AT THE STATE FAIR.
IT'S REALLY THE ONE LOCATION WHERE THEY CAN DO THAT.
NEXT SLIDE. WE HAD A LOT OF AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT AT THE FAIR THIS YEAR.
THEY DONATED MORE THAN 28,520 POUNDS OF FOOD.
61,000 FANS PLUS ATTENDED THE RODEO EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE 24 DAYS.
THE FAIR'S LIVESTOCK AND AGRICULTURE EVENTS HOSTED MORE THAN 16,570 LIVESTOCK AND CONTEST ENTRIES, AND WE RAISED MORE THAN $2.2 MILLION FOR OUR YOUTH LIVESTOCK AUCTION AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR THAT IS RAISED FOR THAT PROGRAM IS CONTRIBUTED TO TEXAS STUDENTS FOR FUNDING AWARDS AND COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS LOCALLY AND THROUGHOUT ALL OF STATE. THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE FAIR, ALSO AWARDED 21, HAS NOW AWARDED $21.4 MILLION IN AUCTION AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SINCE 2018 ALONE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE DO HAVE THE LIVESTOCK BIRTHING BARN, WHICH IS A BIG HIGHLIGHT OF THE FAIR. WE HAD 64 LIVE ANIMAL BIRTHS THAT FOLKS, FAIRGOERS WERE ABLE TO WITNESS.
SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS A REALLY NICE EVENT AND EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT AND ATTRACTIONS.
I SEE THE SLIDES ALREADY UP. WE HAVE MORE THAN 25 ACTS THAT WERE ON THE CHEVROLET MAIN STAGE TLC, VILLAGE PEOPLE, PAUL WALL AND THE COLD WAR KIDS REALLY DREW THE LARGEST CROWDS THIS YEAR.
TONS OF FREE TIME SHOWS THROUGHOUT THE FAIR. 2600, TO BE EXACT.
23 UNTIMED EXHIBITS AND ATTRACTIONS THAT WERE OPEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
SIX NEW ENTERTAINMENT OFFERINGS. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MUSIC STAGE DRIVEN BY PARTNERSHIP WITH A SPONSOR AND THEN 30 NEW AGRICULTURE RELATED PRESENTATIONS BY THE BIG TEX URBAN FARMS TEAM IN THE GREENHOUSE, WHICH KARISSA WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE BIG TEX URBAN FARMS PROGRAM.
NEXT SLIDE. ALWAYS A STAPLE AT THE STATE FAIR IS OUR COLLEGE FOOTBALL AT THE COTTON BOWL.
AGAIN THIS YEAR, WE HAD TWO GAMES, THE STATE FAIR CLASSIC FEATURING GRAMBLING AND PRAIRIE VIEW.
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THAT PARTICULAR GAME HAS BEEN PLAYED IN DALLAS SINCE 1925.SO THAT ACTUALLY WAS THE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THAT GAME.
SO ALL IN ALL, MORE THAN 48,300 FANS ATTENDED BOTH GAMES DURING THE FAIR THIS YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE. WE ALSO ADDED A PROFESSIONAL SOCCER GAME IN THE COTTON BOWL, A INAUGURAL STATE FAIR CLASICO HELD AT THE ON THE FINAL SATURDAY OF THE FAIR. THE GAME FEATURED DALLAS TRINITY FC VERSUS CLUB AMERICA POWERHOUSE TEAM FROM MEXICO.
WE HAD 2200 SEASONAL AND PART TIME EMPLOYEES THAT WE HIRED THIS YEAR.
ABOUT 2200. OF THESE, 2200 91.4% WERE RETURNING EMPLOYEES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.
SO A HUGE NUMBER OF OUR FOLKS THAT WORK THE FAIR, YOU KNOW, WANT TO COME BACK EVERY YEAR.
THEY TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN COMING BACK. EACH AND EVERY YEAR 1301 SEASONAL AND PART TIME EMPLOYEES WENT THROUGH GUEST RELATIONS TRAINING, WHICH HAS BEEN A BIG PRIORITY FOR US. AND WE HAD OVER 8360 APPLICATIONS THAT WERE RECEIVED FOR THOSE POSITIONS THAT WE FILLED.
YOU CAN SEE HERE THE AGE RANGE OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WE HIRED THE GENDER BREAKDOWN AS WELL AS THE RACE ETHNICITY BREAKDOWN OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS SKEWING HEAVILY TOWARDS THE BLACK AFRICAN AMERICAN EMPLOYEES AT 48.69%.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM. SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO KARISSA NOW TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WELL HOWDY Y'ALL. THANKS FOR HAVING US TODAY.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR AT LEAST 24 DAYS EACH FALL, THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS PLACES DALLAS ON A GLOBAL STAGE IN A WAY THAT NO PAID CAMPAIGN EVER COULD. IN 2025 ALONE, THE STATE FAIR GENERATED MORE THAN 35,000 EARNED MEDIA MENTIONS, REACHING A POTENTIAL GLOBAL AUDIENCE OF OVER 125 BILLION PEOPLE.
THIS COVERAGE DOESN'T JUST PROMOTE THE STATE FAIR, THOUGH.
IT TELLS THE STORY OF DALLAS AND TEXAS. OUR CULTURE, OUR SCALE, OUR CREATIVITY, OUR RESILIENCE, AND OUR ABILITY TO HOST WORLD CLASS EVENTS. IT'S A RECURRING INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT THAT BENEFITS THE CITY YEAR AFTER YEAR AT NO COST TO TAXPAYERS.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS A DIFFERENT AND VERY IMPORTANT DIMENSION OF THE STATE FAIRS EARNED MEDIA COVERAGE. MORE THAN 450 STORIES THIS YEAR FOCUSED NOT ON RIDES OR FOOD AT THE FAIR, BUT ON THE STATE FAIRS NONPROFIT MISSION SUPPORTING AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY.
THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS. PEOPLE WANT TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THIS COVERAGE REINFORCES THAT THE STATE FAIR EXISTS TO SERVE DALLAS AND TEXANS YEAR ROUND.
AT ITS CORE, THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS IS ABOUT BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR 24 DAYS EACH YEAR TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY 365 DAYS A YEAR. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. DURING THE ANNUAL STATE FAIR OF TEXAS, WE ARE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT USING THIS MOMENT TO BRING OUR SOUTH DALLAS AND FAIR PARK COMMUNITIES TOGETHER IN MEANINGFUL WAYS.
THEY BECOME A GATHERING PLACE FOR FAITH LEADERS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CONNECT, CELEBRATE, AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS THAT EXTEND WELL BEYOND THESE 24 DAYS.
THESE EVENTS REFLECT THAT THE STATE FAIRS ROLE AS A COMMUNITY CONVENER, CREATING A SPACE FOR DIALOG,
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RECOGNITION, OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS. WHETHER THAT'S HONORING CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS LIKE JUANITA CRAFT, SUPPORTING NONPROFIT WORK, INVESTING IN SMALL BUSINESSES, OR SIMPLY ENSURING COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN EXPERIENCE THE FAIR ALONGSIDE THEIR NEIGHBORS.EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS IS INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO ENSURE THE STATE FAIR IS NOT JUST HAPPENING IN SOUTH DALLAS, BUT IT IS HAPPENING WITH OUR SOUTH DALLAS COMMUNITY.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. YOU KNOW, BIG TEX IS MORE THAN A SYMBOL OF THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS.
HE REPRESENTS OUR FRIENDLY TEXAS CULTURE AGAIN, THE RESILIENCE OF TEXANS BECAUSE WHO COULD FORGET THAT HORRIBLE FIRE IN 2012 AND THE STATE FAIRS COMMITMENT TO GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT MAKES THE FAIR POSSIBLE.
BUT THEY RARELY RECOGNIZE THAT HIS HEART IS WHAT HIS BIGGEST OF ALL.
SINCE 2016, WE'VE COMMITTED OVER $20.6 MILLION THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORT EDUCATION, NONPROFITS, NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT, AND ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY.
AND OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE INVESTED NEARLY $42 MILLION INTO FAIR PARK IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING $5.9 MILLION IN 2025 ALONE, HELPING PRESERVE, ENHANCE AND ACTIVATE THIS HISTORIC AND BEAUTIFUL CIVIC ASSET. THESE INVESTMENTS REFLECT A LONG TERM, INTENTIONAL COMMITMENT NOT TO JUST HOSTING A SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL EVENT, BUT TO STRENGTHENING FAIR PARK AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS FOR BIG TEX AND THE STATE FAIR TO GIVE BACK.
SO THIS CHART SHOWS THE. STATE FAIRS CONSISTENT COMMITMENT TO INVESTING IN FAIR PARK WITH NEARLY $44 MILLION CONTRIBUTED TO THE CITY ALONE SINCE 2015. THESE FUNDS COME FROM THE FAIR'S ANNUAL SUCCESS, GIVING THE CITY FULL DISCRETION TO MAINTAIN, IMPROVE AND PRESERVE THE CITY OWNED HISTORIC PROPERTY.
YOU'LL NOTICE 2021 IS ABSENT, AS MITCHELL MENTIONED.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE 2020 FAIR BEING CANCELED DUE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
SO NO EXCESS REVENUES WERE AVAILABLE THAT YEAR.
OVERALL, I BELIEVE THIS DEMONSTRATES THE STATE FAIRS LONG TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO KEEPING FAIR PARK VIBRANT AND WELL MAINTAINED FOR OUR COMMUNITY YEAR ROUND. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. IN 2025, THE STATE FAIR CONTRIBUTED $2.63 MILLION TO THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR FAIR PARK MAINTENANCE AND PROJECTS IN ADDITION TO OUR ANNUAL RENT OF $1.75 MILLION, WHICH IS ALSO DEDICATED TO FAIR PARK. THESE FUNDS SUPPORT MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS LIKE COTTON BOWL RENOVATIONS, AND THE FAIR ITSELF INVESTED MORE THAN $1.25 MILLION DIRECTLY INTO FAIR PARK DURING THE YEAR.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE PAVING REPAIRS, HORSE AND CATTLE BARN UPGRADES THAT SUPPORT YEAR ROUND EVENTS, UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS TO ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS, AND ADDITIONAL HVAC UNITS FOR THE TOWER BUILDING.
THESE INVESTMENTS ARE TANGIBLE PROOF OF THE STATE FAIRS ONGOING COMMITMENT TO KEEPING FAIR PARK SAFE, FUNCTIONAL AND WELCOMING FOR THE COMMUNITY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SINCE 2016, THE STATE FAIR HAS COMMITTED NEARLY $8 MILLION THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS PROGRAMS, DEMONSTRATING OUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK COMMUNITY.
THIS FIGURE DOES NOT INCLUDE OTHER INITIATIVES LIKE BIG TEX, THE BIG TEX SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WHERE WE AWARD COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS, OR BIG TEX URBAN FARMS, WHERE WE PROVIDE FRESH PRODUCE INTO THE COMMUNITY WHICH FURTHER SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND AGAIN, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUCCESS OF OUR ANNUAL 24 DAY EVENT EACH FALL.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS CHART SHOWS THE HISTORICAL GIVING OF THE BIG TEX SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT LOCAL GRADUATES FROM SIX DALLAS ISD HIGH SCHOOLS NEAR FAIR PARK, YOUTH ACROSS TEXAS WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR LIVESTOCK CONTESTS, AND LONG TIME SEASONAL EMPLOYEES OR THEIR DEPENDENTS PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION.
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AS YOU CAN SEE, MORE THAN HALF OF THE TOTAL HAS BEEN AWARDED OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS ALONE.NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPACT OF OUR BIG TEX'S URBAN FARMS PROGRAM, WHICH OPERATES YEAR ROUND ON THE STATE FAIR, MIDWAY AND FAIR PARK. WE ARE EXCITED FOR Y'ALL TO BE THE FIRST TO HEAR THE NEWS OUTSIDE OF OUR TEAM THAT SINCE 2017, BIG TEX'S URBAN FARMS HAS OFFICIALLY GROWN AND DONATED MORE THAN 2 MILLION SERVINGS OF FRESH PRODUCE TO HELP FEED FAMILIES IN NEED IN THE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK COMMUNITY, SUPPORTING HEALTHY, LOCAL ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD THROUGH HIGH YIELD HYDROPONIC PRODUCTION.
THE STATE FAIR IS ESTIMATED TO GENERATE MORE THAN $600 MILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY EVERY YEAR, SERVING AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL ANNUAL EVENTS IN THE NORTH TEXAS REGION.
THE STATE FAIR PROVIDES AN UNPARALLELED PLATFORM FOR HUNDREDS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL VENDORS, FROM FAMILY OWNED FOOD STANDS TO MOM AND POP SHOPS TO NATIONAL BRAND EXHIBITORS, THESE VENDORS COLLECTIVELY GENERATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SALES OVER THE 24 DAY EVENT. EACH YEAR FAIR OPERATIONS ACCOUNT FOR TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN EXPENDITURES RELATED TO STAFFING, MAINTENANCE, UTILITIES, SECURITY, ENTERTAINMENT, CONSTRUCTION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AT FAIR PARK.
THESE INVESTMENTS DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE REGIONAL ECONOMY BY CREATING THOUSANDS OF SEASONAL AND PERMANENT JOBS, GENERATING DEMAND FOR SKILLED TRADES, TRAINING AND SUPPORTING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUCH AS LOGISTICS, MARKETING, AND PUBLIC SAFETY. MORE THAN JUST A FUN DAY, THE STATE FAIR ALSO DELIVERS MEASURABLE AND RECURRING PUBLIC VALUE THROUGH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF STATE AND LOCAL TAX REVENUE FROM SALES TAX, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, BUSINESS AND VENDOR FEES, EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLL TAX. NOW THAT'S A TEXAS SIZED IMPACT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE. AND I WILL PASS IT BACK OVER TO MITCHELL TO WRAP THIS UP.
AND WE'LL OPEN FOR Q&A. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
YES SO EXCUSE ME JUST VALUE AND THE GUEST EXPERIENCE INITIATIVES, SOME OF WHICH WE'VE DISCUSSED.
WE DO HAVE THE NEW STATE FAIR ADMINISTRATION BUILDING THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD AND BEING EXCITED ABOUT GETTING OUR FOLKS INTO A BUILDING THAT WILL SUIT OUR NEEDS AND BE ABLE TO TURN THE CURRENT STATE FAIR ADMINISTRATION BUILDING OVER TO THE PARK DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR USE.
THE LOG FLUME AREA. AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, THE LOG FLUME WE RETIRED THAT RIDE, AND WE ARE BUILDING OUT THAT AREA OF THE MIDWAY TAKES UP A LOT OF SPACE, AND WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP THAT INTO SOMETHING THAT WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF THE SPACE.
UTILITY UPGRADES. THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL ACTIVITIES.
TOUGH WORD TO AMERICA. 250 LIGHTING AND PAVING PARKING, TRAMS, PERIMETER SECURITY, HVAC, AIR QUALITY INVESTMENTS IT INFRASTRUCTURE, MIDWAY RIDES, REHAB. DESIGN OF NEW MULTI-USE FACILITY IN THE LIVESTOCK AREA IS SOMETHING THAT WE DREAM TO BE ABLE TO DO AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. AND THEN PARK BEAUTIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON MOVING FORWARD.
NEXT SLIDE. AND SO THAT'S THE 2025 STATE FAIR IN A NUTSHELL.
OUR DATES FOR THE 2026 STATE FAIR ARE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH THROUGH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18TH.
AND WE'LL BE BRINGING A GREAT STATE FAIR TO THE MOST TEXAN PLACE ON EARTH.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
YOU KNEW WHAT WAS COMING [LAUGHTER]. SO THANK YOU, MITCH AND KARISSA, FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I THINK THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION, BUT WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE COMMITTEE TO ASK QUESTIONS.
CHAIR WEST. OKAY, OKAY. CHAIR RIDLEY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE VERY THOROUGH PRESENTATION.
I DID NEED TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTUAL OMISSION, HOWEVER, ON SLIDE 13, WHICH WAS THE FAILURE TO REPORT THE SCORE IN THE UT-OU GAME, SINCE THIS IS THE MOST TEXAN PLACE ON EARTH, I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING THAT YOU WOULD REPORT. THAT'S A GOOD ONE. YES. THANK YOU.
[00:35:07]
BUT MORE SUBSTANTIVELY, I JUST HAD A FEW QUESTIONS.ONE OF THEM IS THE OVERALL FINANCIAL BUDGET OF THE STATE FAIR.
YOU ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
I SAW THE TABLE THAT SHOWS WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR NET EXCESS REVENUES.
I THINK TWO POINT SOME MILLION THAT WAS GIVEN BACK TO THE CITY.
AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, AFTER YOU PAY ALL OF YOUR EXPENSES AND YOUR CHARITABLE EFFORTS, YOU RETURN YOUR EXCESS REVENUES, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE, TO THE CITY. ARE THERE ANY STRINGS ATTACHED TO THAT MONEY? NO, THERE ARE NOT. WE ACTUALLY TAKE THE EXCESS REVENUES.
IT'S STATED IN OUR AUDITED FINANCIALS AS WELL.
AND WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO IS WE SIT DOWN WITH THE DIRECTOR, JOHN JENKINS, AND WE PRESENT TO HIM, HERE'S WHAT OUR EXCESS REVENUES ARE FOR THIS YEAR.
GOING BACK ABOUT, I GUESS, 12 YEARS AGO WHEN I TOOK OVER IN THIS POSITION, MY ARRANGEMENT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT WAS SET UP TO BE ORIGINALLY, AND THAT WAS THAT THE TWO PARTIES WOULD AGREE TO PROJECTS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO TAKE PLACE AT FAIR PARK.
AND SO MY APPROACH REALLY HAS BEEN WITH DIRECTOR JENKINS TO TAKE THE DOLLARS THAT ARE IN TERMS OF EXCESS REVENUES AND WE WOULD SPLIT THOSE DOLLARS BETWEEN THE STATE FAIR AND GIVE THE CITY 100% DISCRETION ON HOW TO USE THOSE DOLLARS.
SO BASICALLY THERE'S A LIST THAT THEY PROVIDE TO US EVERY YEAR THAT SAYS, THESE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO USE WITH WHATEVER DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THEM. AND WHEN, YOU KNOW, THEY COMPLETE THOSE PROJECTS, THEY THE INVOICES ARE SUBMITTED AND WE PAY THEM PROMPTLY.
SO ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE REINVESTMENTS IN FAIR PARK? YES. OKAY. AND WITH REGARD TO THE PROSPECT OF THE COMMUNITY PARK BEING BUILT OVER YOUR EXISTING PARKING LOT 10 A, I'M CURIOUS WHAT PROVISION YOU ARE MAKING FOR REPLACEMENT OF THAT NECESSARY PARKING.
YOU KNOW, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WHEN THIS IDEA WAS BROUGHT UP, WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF IT JUST BECAUSE IF IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND IF IT'S BENEFICIAL TO FAIR PARK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA.
WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM PARKING THAT'S NEEDED DURING THE STATE FAIR.
THAT'S GONE AWAY. BUT STILL, WE HAVE PLENTY OF PARKING AVAILABLE ON A OUTER LOT THAT THAT WE OWN THAT WE CAN PUSH A LOT OF OUR PARKING TO WHEN THAT SPACE IS TAKEN THROUGH A COMMUNITY PARK.
AND WE'VE ACTUALLY STARTED TO REROUTE SOME OF OUR TRAFFIC AND PUT MORE FOCUS ON THE EXIT OFF OF HASKELL TO ENTER THE GROUNDS AT GATE TWO, WHICH IS KIND OF UP FRONT BY THE WOMEN'S MUSEUM, AND COME BACK TOWARDS DOWN THE RAILROAD TRACKS TOWARDS THOSE LARGE PARKING AREAS.
THANK YOU. CHAIR BAZALDUA. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
HAPPY NEW YEAR. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
I WANT TO GO BACK ON THE COST FOR THE AVERAGE FAIRGOER.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRICES DIDN'T NECESSARILY GO UP.
WE HAD THAT, YOU SAID $2 ON ADMISSION. DID WE NOTICE WITH THE CHANGE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL TICKET DISTRIBUTION THAT THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE IN ATTENDANCE FROM OUR YOUTH? SO I WILL TELL YOU THIS. WE HAD TYPICALLY WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOL TICKET OR WITH OUR TOTAL SCHOOL TICKET PROGRAM, INCLUDING TEACHERS, WE DISTRIBUTED A LITTLE OVER 2 MILLION TICKETS.
[00:40:01]
WITH TAKING AWAY THE 9 THROUGH 12 GRADES, THAT'S ABOUT 400,000 LESS TICKETS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED.WITH THE REMAINING 1.5-ISH TICKETS THAT WE SENT OUT TO SCHOOL TICKETS FOR PK THROUGH 8TH GRADE, OUR RENEWAL PERCENTAGE ON THOSE WAS ABOUT 8%.
SO IF YOU EXTRAPOLATE THAT AND LOOK AT THE SAME SORT OF RENEWAL PERCENTAGE OR REDEMPTION PERCENTAGE, I SHOULD SAY, FOR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, THAT WOULD EQUATE TO ABOUT 40,000 PEOPLE.
OKAY. I WILL SAY THAT I THINK THAT YOU HIT SEVERAL POINTS THAT ARE VERY CRITICAL CONTEXT. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER ONE COMMON ANSWER THAT I GOT THIS YEAR WAS, WE JUST COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
WE JUST COULDN'T AFFORD IT. AND I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CIRCUMSTANCES THERE, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WITH Y'ALL'S PRICES. I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE A PRETTY GOOD USE OF DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR BOTH MILITARY, FIRST RESPONDERS.
WAS THERE ANY DISCOUNT PROGRAMS FOR CITY OF DALLAS RESIDENTS OR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, OR ANY EFFORT TO TRY TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THOSE CLOSEST TO US? YEAH, DO YOU WANNA ADDRESS THAT? IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY RIGHT AROUND US, OUR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, WE LAUNCHED A PROGRAM FOR THOSE THAT REACHED OUT, AND WE'VE WORKED WITH NONPROFITS IN THE AREA BEFORE TO GIVE THEM ADMISSION TICKETS TO USE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, TO DRAW PEOPLE INTO THE FAIR, TO ALLOW THEM THAT ACCESS, TO BE ABLE TO COME WITHOUT THAT BARRIER OF THE ADMISSION PRICE.
SO WE ESCALATED THAT THIS YEAR MORE AND WE ACTUALLY GAVE MORE TICKETS IN ORDER INTO THE DIRECT SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAD ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THE FAIR THIS YEAR. I WILL SAY ON RECORD AS WELL, MADAM CHAIR, THAT THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO MY OFFICE WHEN WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS AND A LOT OF YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS THAT COME UP KIND OF LAST MINUTE EVEN.
SO I AM APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GROUNDS AS A WHOLE, WE HAVE A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO, I THINK, WHEN IT COMES TO FAIR PARK. YOU MENTIONED THE PARKING LOT, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU DID, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT PUTS IT ON THE TABLE FOR US TO SPEAK ABOUT HERE TODAY.
Y'ALL HAVE THE EXTRA PARKING THAT'S UTILIZED.
CAN YOU GIVE US SOME SORT OF BREAKDOWN OF THE DEMAND OF THAT ASSET OF YOU ALL'S AND THEN I GUESS I'D LIKE TO SEE. I KNOW RYAN'S HERE. OH, I SEE JOHN AS WELL.
IF Y'ALL COULD COME ALSO, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM Y'ALL.
WHEN YOU SAY THAT THERE WERE EXCESS REVENUES AND THAT YOU GET DOWN AND YOU FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THESE DOLLARS CAN BE USED, BUT THEN WE ALSO LOOK AT THE TRAJECTORY OF THE PARK, AND WE SEE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN BARRIERS, LIKE THE DEMAND FOR PARKING FOR YOU ALL DURING THE OPERATIONS OF THE STATE FAIR.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START SEEING THOSE DOLLARS TRANSLATE INTO WHAT THE FUTURE OF FAIR PARK CAN LOOK LIKE, AND NOT TAKING CARE OF LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT'S JUST DEFERRED MAINTENANCE NEEDS THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE ABLE TO CHECK OFF.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START UTILIZING THAT REVENUE TO GO BACK TOWARDS HELPING US MAXIMIZE THE ASSET OF THE FAIRGROUNDS, FOR INSTANCE, NOT HAVING SO MUCH OF A NEED FOR SURFACE PARKING OR NOT HAVING A NEED FOR AN OUTSIDE ENTITY TO BRING IN THE COMMUNITY PARK THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF A PARKING STRUCTURE IN ORDER FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH THAT? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY WANT WITH THE COMMUNITY PARK AND THE PROMISES THAT WE'VE MADE TO THEM.
BUT WE'RE STILL LEFT IN THE SAME POSITION HERE.
AND SO HOW DO WE GET TO A BETTER PLACE FOR THE FUTURE? BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY Y'ALL'S ISSUE.
BUT I THINK THAT SURFACE PARKING LOT THAT SITS EMPTY THE MAJORITY OF THE YEAR IS ALSO KIND OF A DETRIMENT TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF WHAT THE FAIR PARK GROUNDS AND STATE FAIR OF TEXAS CAN BE IN THE FUTURE IF THAT WAS BETTER DEVELOPED.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING PROACTIVELY TO GET TO THAT PLACE.
SO AS YOU'RE AWARE, BECAUSE WE HAVE BRIEFED THE BOARD AND COUNCIL THAT WE DO, WE'RE USING EXCESS REVENUES TO PAY BACK THE DEBT SERVICE WHERE WE WANT WITH THE OPTION OF LET'S START BEING ABLE TO ISSUE DEBT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE MORE PROJECTS ALONG A LOT FASTER.
[00:45:07]
SO WE HAVE PLEDGED THE EXCESS REVENUES TOWARDS.WE'RE ALSO USING THE DEBT THAT WE ISSUED FOR MONEY TO GO TOWARDS MUSIC HALL RENOVATION.
AND THEN THERE WAS MONEY TO GO TOWARDS SOME OTHER INSTITUTIONS OUT THERE FOR IMPROVEMENTS, AS YOU JUST MENTIONED. SO THAT IS WHAT THE FIRST TRANCHE OF THE DEBT IS BEING USED FOR.
AND SIR, IF I COULD JUST ADD, AS WAS BRIEFED TO THIS COMMITTEE, I THINK IT WAS IN DECEMBER, IT COULD HAVE BEEN NOVEMBER. BUT WE DID TALK ABOUT THE PARKING LOT SPECIFICALLY AND HOW THAT REPRESENTS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY, IT'S ONE OF OUR FIVE PILLARS, IF YOU RECALL THAT PRESENTATION.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE PARKING IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE STATE FAIR, BUT THAT'S FOR 24 DAYS A YEAR.
NOW, OF COURSE, GARAGES ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED.
THAT'S JUST A GIVEN. BUT AS WE STUDY THE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE DALLAS EDC, WE SEE THOSE PARKING LOTS AS A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FAIR PARK TO BECOME MORE ACTIVATED YEAR ROUND, AS WELL AS PROVIDING DEDICATED REVENUE STREAMS FOR THE CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT OF FAIR PARK.
OKAY. CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, WHERE ARE Y'ALL ON THESE CONVERSATIONS, WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRIORITIZATION OF THE EXCESS REVENUES? AND I GUESS I'LL PREFACE MY QUESTION BY ASKING, I THINK THAT THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS IS DOING WHAT THEY CAN DO, BUT WHENEVER IT COMES TO GETTING EVERYONE IN THE ROOM AND JUST HEARING THE ANSWER THAT I'VE HEARD, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO ANSWER THE QUESTION IN MY COMMUNITY ON HOW WE HAVE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS THAT HAS THESE FINANCIALS THAT WE SEE EVERY YEAR.
AND VERY LITTLE, IF ANYTHING, TO SHOW FOR IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS IS NOT DOING WHAT THEY COULD BECAUSE THEIR CONTRACT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM AS IF WE ARE LEVERAGING THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO BRING IN TANGIBLE CHANGE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S NO COMMUNICATION WITH YOU ALL ON OUTSIDE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD ALSO, IN TURN, IMPROVE THE FAIRGOERS EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD ALSO MAKE IT EASIER FOR TRAFFIC FLOW FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTH DALLAS.
BUT WHEN I HEAR YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHY DO I KEEP SEEING THESE HEADLINES OF THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS BRINGS IN, BUT YET I SEE NO DOLLARS COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, HOW DO I ANSWER THAT? AND WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING PROACTIVELY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS ARE BEING MET FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND NOT JUST GOING BACK INTO DEBT SERVICES AND NOT BRINGING REALLY ANYTHING TANGIBLE? I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I LOVE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN AT FAIR PARK, BUT I'M TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT THEM.
THANK YOU SIR. LIZ CEDILLO-PEREIRA FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
BUT AS THE PARK DEPARTMENT HAS BRIEFED TO THIS COMMITTEE AND HAS COMMUNICATED TO US AS WELL, A LOT OF THIS IS A A REESTABLISHMENT OF PRIORITIES DUE TO THE PARK DEPARTMENT NOW BEING IN THE INTERIM STATUS OF FULLY MANAGING THE GROUNDS, AS WELL AS WHAT OPPORTUNITIES NOW EXIST AS WE LOOK AT THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT THEY'RE GETTING LAUNCHED, ALONG WITH, AS THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED RECENTLY, THESE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY.
WHERE ARE WE BEING VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING IN INFRASTRUCTURE, IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, AND CONNECTING THAT WITH OTHER PIVOT POINTS, AS YOU KNOW AROUND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, AROUND MLK CENTER, ETC. AND DOWN THE ROAD. SO IT RELATES TO ARTS AND CULTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING.
SO NOT TO GET TOO FAR OFF TRACK FOR THIS BRIEFING, BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN BRING THAT BACK TO YOU SO YOU CAN SEE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF OF WHAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT MOVING INTO THIS NEW DYNAMIC.
[00:50:02]
BECAUSE FROM OUR LAST MEETING WE HAD WITH YOU ALL, WHERE YOU ALL MENTIONED ABOUT, YOU WANT TO SEE THE MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, NOT JUST WHAT'S IN THE GATES, WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE THE GATES, AND MAKING SURE THE PARK DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH TRANSPORTATION, ALONG WITH DPD AND ALONG WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HAS MORE OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT YOU ALL BROUGHT UP AT THE LAST MEETING. I APPRECIATE THOSE RESPONSES. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER THE BURDEN THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY, INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE BURDEN TO ONLY FALL ON THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS.IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY TO TRY TO LIFT UP THE STATE FAIR WITH OUR CURRENT SITUATION, WHEN THERE'S VERY LITTLE BEING DONE ON THE CITY'S END TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT MONEYS ARE DOING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
I, AGAIN, DON'T BELIEVE THAT BURDEN SHOULD ONLY FALL ON THEM.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO THEM AS AN ENTITY OR, QUITE FRANKLY, TO ME AS A REPRESENTATIVE TO ANSWER TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE THESE SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH IS GREAT. I LOVE THAT. THE WORK THAT BIG TEX URBAN FARM IS DOING, I LOVE WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY. THOSE AREN'T NECESSARILY TANGIBLE RESULTS WHEN THEY SEE THESE HEADLINES OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY THE ONLY TENANT OVER HERE AT FAIR PARK THAT'S BRINGING IN BEAUCOUP OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR DOESN'T CHANGE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, DOESN'T CHANGE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING IN SOUTH DALLAS.
AND SO I NEED Y'ALL'S HELP ON THAT MESSAGING.
I NEED Y´ALLS HELP, REALLY, ON THE PROACTIVE APPROACH.
I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN VERY REACTIONARY. NOT INTENTIONAL, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU USE THOSE WORDS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, LIZ, BUT I WANT TO SEE THAT BEING MORE PROACTIVE AND INTENTIONAL, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANSWERS.
AND AT THIS POINT, I JUST FEEL LIKE I'M AT A LOSS FOR WORDS AND WE'RE SPINNING OUR WHEELS.
AND AGAIN, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT YOU ALL CAN DO.
AND I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT YEAR AFTER YEAR, YOU ALL BECOME THE TARGET OF THE CONVERSATION FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHEN I THINK Y'ALL ARE DOING WHAT Y'ALL ARE SUPPOSED TO, Y'ALL ARE BRINGING IN MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO BE A PART OF THIS.
Y'ALL ARE BRINGING IN MORE OPPORTUNITY WHERE THE DOLLARS ARE BEING SPREAD.
BUT IF WE'RE NOT MESSAGING THAT RIGHT, AND WE ARE NOT DOING OUR PART TO BEST ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS, AND I DON'T THINK WE ARE, THEN IT'S REALLY NOT FAIR BECAUSE WE'VE WASHED OUR HANDS FROM IT AND WE'VE ALLOWED IT TO BE THEIR PROBLEM.
AND EVERY YEAR WHEN THEY COME BACK, IT'S ANOTHER ISSUE EVERY SINGLE YEAR WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SO I'D LIKE TO GET AHEAD OF THAT. I'D LIKE TO BE PROACTIVE ON THE MESSAGING GOING INTO THIS NEXT FAIR SEASON, TO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY CAN EXPECT FROM THE DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT IN, AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO LEVERAGE THAT TO BE A BENEFIT TO THE ACTUAL COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN HELP CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE, PLEASE. SO NOTED, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COULD I ADD ONE THING, PLEASE, REAL QUICK? YES, SIR. I WOULD SAY THAT AS A STAKEHOLDER AT FAIR PARK IN THE MAJOR TENANT, I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY AT FAIR PARK, THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE VERY EAGER AND CURIOUS ABOUT IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT BRIMER FUNDING.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE MADE AT FACILITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I MEAN, THERE ARE DOLLARS THAT THE STATE FAIR CAN PROVIDE.
BUT ONCE THAT BRIMER FUNDING IS ESTABLISHED AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY AROUND HOW IT CAN BE USED, THEN THAT COULD POSSIBLY FREE UP SOME OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE PROVIDE TO NOT HAVE TO BE PUT INTO SOME OF THESE FACILITIES JUST TO MAKE THEM FUNCTIONAL, AND THEREFORE CAN BE USED FOR MORE CREATIVE PURPOSES.
I'VE BEEN BRINGING UP THE NEED FOR US TO EMPHASIZE THE 20% SO THAT IT'S NOT UP TOO.
NOW, IF THAT MAKES IT WHERE WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE DO AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, SO BE IT.
THE VOTERS DID THEIR PART, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THESE DOLLARS ARE GOING SO THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS AND OTHERS TO REALLY BRING IN IMPROVEMENTS TO FAIR PARK.
BUT WITH THE UNCERTAINTY THAT EXISTS AND THE PRIORITIZATION GIVEN TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE UNCERTAINTY DEFINITELY MAKES IT HARD FOR THE FUTURE OF THE GROUNDS, SO THANK YOU.
[00:55:02]
THANK YOU FOR THAT. LIZ, CAN YOU TAKE THAT BACK TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE? THIS HAS COME UP A COUPLE OF TIMES. CERTAINLY.WE COULD HAVE IT BRIEFED HERE, BUT I THINK IT´D BE MORE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE IT BRIEFED TO COUNCIL.
YEAH, THE FULL COUNCIL. I JUST THINK BECAUSE WE ENGAGE WITH THE FAIR PARK PROPERTY OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
IT DOES COME UP HERE AND WE ARE, I THINK, ON THIS COMMITTEE VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE.
AND I THINK IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE FULL COUNCIL SO THAT ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES ARE AWARE AS WELL AND WE THEN DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THAT POLICY. I WILL FLAG THAT TODAY.
THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR. I'M JUST GOING TO GO ON THE EASY PART.
THE TICKET PRICE. OKAY. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE.
AND HOW MUCH DO THEY SPEND BEFORE THEY EVEN GET TO THE DOOR OR IN THE DOOR? SO FIRST OF ALL, IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER THEY TAKE DART OR IF THEY TAKE RIDESHARE OR IF THEY PARK.
THE CURRENT PARKING FEE THAT WE HAD FOR 2024 AND 2025 WAS $30.
AS FAR AS ADMISSION PRICING GOES, WE ACTUALLY HAVE KIND OF A SOMEWHAT DYNAMIC PRICING MODEL.
SO THE OPPORTUNITIES TO COME AND GET IN THE DOOR FOR LESS DOLLARS CERTAINLY ARE THERE.
THEY'RE MUCH MORE PROMINENT ON WEEKDAYS THAN THEY ARE ON WEEKENDS.
BUT ONE THING I WOULD TELL YOU.
FOR ADMISSION? SO HOW MUCH IS IT FOR A DISCOUNTED TICKET DURING A WEEKDAY? THE LOWEST WE HAVE IS $7. SO $7 PER PERSON, REGARDLESS OF AGE? OKAY. SO WHAT IS THE HIGHEST AMOUNT? YEAH. UNDER THREE IS FREE AND THE HIGHEST AMOUNT PAID, IF YOU DID NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY DISCOUNT PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE.
I GET IT, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THE RANGE. THE HIGHEST WE HAD WAS A $27 TICKET.
SO $27 FOR ADULT? YES. KIDS? LOWER. I THINK IT WAS $17.
I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THAT PRICING. I'M NOT. OKAY, SO IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM $50 TO $100 JUST TO GET IN THE DOOR. I'M GIVING A RANGE.
OKAY. I GUESS, DO YOU WANT ATTENDANCE OR DO YOU WANT DOLLARS? I MEAN, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WRANGLE WITH.
AND BECAUSE I WOULD THINK THAT. AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR BOTTOM LINE.
BUT I'M HOPING YOU'RE DOING SOME ANALYSIS, THAT IT'S NOT JUST THROWING A DART AT A WALL AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, DO WE WANT TO, ON THESE WEEKENDS, WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE CRAZY BECAUSE IT'S TEXAS WEEKEND.
WE DON'T NEED TO DO A DEEP DISCOUNT ON A SUNDAY AFTER FOUR OR WHATEVER.
SO WE ABSOLUTELY ARE. AND ONE THING I WOULD MENTION IS THAT, AS FAR AS PAID TICKET PRICES.
AND I'M TALKING FULL PRICE, WHETHER THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A DISCOUNT OR NOT, OUR AVERAGE PAID TICKET PRICE TO GET INTO THE GATE WAS $16.65. OKAY. AVERAGE PAID TICKET. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE COMP TICKETS.
SO WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF COMP TICKETS, STUDENTS THAT COME ON COMP TICKETS, A LOT OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT COME ON COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS, BUT OUR AVERAGE PAID TICKET PRICE IS $16.65. SO I GUESS IF YOU HAVE THAT DATA YOU SHOWED WHERE PROBABLY WHEN IT WAS FULL PRICE TO GET IN, YOU PROBABLY HAD A LOWER ATTENDANCE ON THOSE TIMES. 100%.
YES. AND SO I GUESS THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE WRANGLING WITH WHOMEVER IS.
I MEAN, DO YOU WANT TO BRING IT ALL, YOU'RE GOING TO BE WRANGLING, DO WE BRING THE TICKET DOWN COMPLETELY DOWN TO A 25 OR 24 AND LET IT BE AND GET RID OF THE DEEP DISCOUNTS, YOU KNOW, OR MAYBE THOSE GO UP TO 8 OR 9.
AND SO I ASSUME THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE.
BUT THE $30 PARKING, THAT PROBABLY SCARES A LOT OF PEOPLE TOO.
[01:00:02]
AND I GET THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET THERE AND IT'S A CONVENIENCE FACTOR.BUT IF YOU'VE GOT FOUR KIDS OR THREE KIDS, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT YOU KIND OF WRANGLE WITH.
OR DO WE PACK UP AND GO ON DART AND MAKE IT AN ADVENTURE? YEAH, AND WE WILL BE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS ON PARKING.
WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THAT AS WELL. AS WE'RE PUTTING OUR BUDGETS TOGETHER FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT, LIKE I SAID, THERE ARE CERTAIN ITEMS WE CONTROL.
THERE ARE CERTAIN ITEMS THAT WE DON'T CORRECT THE ITEMS AS FAR AS VENDOR PRICING GOES FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE AND RIDES AND GAMES, WE DON'T CONTROL THOSE PRICES, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR VENDORS TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO IF YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE FAIR, THEN THEY SHOULD BE SELLING MORE ITEMS, RIGHT? SO THAT MEANS YES, SO THEY CAN BRING DOWN THEIR PRICE JUST A LITTLE BIT, IF YOU ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT MORE ATTENDEES.
CORRECT. AND SO AND IT BECOMES A PARTNERSHIP AT THAT POINT, BECAUSE I THINK.
I MEAN, WE'RE GOING INTO YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMY IS STILL VERY IFFY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY ANYTHING ON SITE THAT'S SHOWING US OTHERWISE OF, YOU KNOW, IT BEING STABILIZED. AND SO I THINK THIS IS, YOU'RE GOING TO STRUGGLE WITH, DO WE WANT ATTENDANCE OR DO WE WANT GATE MONEY. I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ARE ASKING OURSELVES, RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE PLANNING FOR 26.
AND I WOULD SAY I WOULD WANT MORE PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE IT.
THAT'S JUST MY THING. BUT I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO MEET.
AND I MEAN, BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE MORE POLITICAL, YOU KNOW, CAN AFFECT THE WEATHER, YOU KNOW, OR MAYBE IF IT'S A 80 DEGREE WEATHER, THEN YOU GET $5 OFF, YOU KNOW? I MEAN, SOMETHING TO ENTICE PEOPLE TO COME DURING THE TIMES WHEN IT'S NOT YOUR HIGH POINTS.
AND JUST BECAUSE I DO THINK MORE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING IT IS WHAT WE ALL WANT.
YES. AND YOU HAVE A GREAT PRODUCT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABOUT TO GET INTO, WHAT, OUR 200TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY? YOU KNOW, AND I'M HOPING WE'RE MAKING PLAYS AT, YOU KNOW, COME FOR THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT COMES AROUND IN THE.
36. 36. SO TEN YEARS, YOU KNOW. AND SO I JUST HOPE THAT Y'ALL ARE LOOKING AT THIS FROM A VERY ANALYTICAL POINT AND REALLY USING DATA TO SHOW WHAT THE MARKET WANTS.
BUT I DO FEEL THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY. AND I'M GLAD THAT Y'ALL ARE USING DATA AND YOU HAVE GOOD.
IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE GOOD INFORMATION AND THAT YOU ARE WORKING TOWARDS FINDING A GOOD COMMON POINT, A PRICE POINT THAT FAMILIES FEEL COMFORTABLE SPENDING.
AND YOU CAN STILL MAKE YOUR BOTTOM LINE. RIGHT.
WE OPERATE FROM A VERY DATA DRIVEN APPROACH, OUR TEAM DOES.
WE HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM THAT OVERVIEW THAT LOOKS OVER OUR PRICING, DOES ANALYSIS CONSTANTLY, IS LOOKING AT EVERYTHING THAT'S PRICED IN THE REGION, EVERYTHING THAT'S PRICED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THERE'S A LOT OF ANALYSIS THAT IS GOING ON REGULARLY, SO PLEASE KNOW THAT THESE DISCUSSIONS WERE HAPPENING DURING THE FAIR THIS YEAR AND HAVE NOT STOPPED SINCE, SO THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. SINCE WE DO HAVE A SECOND BRIEFING, I'M GOING TO KEEP MY COMMENTS VERY BRIEF.
AND I THINK THAT YOU ALL ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THAT, FOR THE EXPERIENCE, FOR THE PRICING.
AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON WAS GOING WITH THIS WAS, ARE YOU FOCUSED ON ATTENDANCE OR MONEY COMING IN? AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE ATTENDANCE AND PEOPLE ARE REALLY MORE YOUR PRIORITY.
AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU GO WITH THAT. KEEP THAT AS YOUR GOAL.
I THINK THAT IT IS WHAT MAKES YOU ALL UNIQUE AND THE EXPERIENCE UNIQUE.
YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE NOT BEING REACTIVE AT THIS POINT.
YOU'RE BEING PROACTIVE AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
ALL OF THE OTHER EXPERIMENTAL THINGS YOU DID, LIKE PREPAID PARKING AND APPLE PAY AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
SO AGAIN, I THINK YOU'RE FOCUSING ON OPERATIONS, WHICH FOCUSES ON PEOPLE.
AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. SO THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY FOLLOW UP. SO WE WILL JUST LET YOU ALL GO.
AND THANK YOU, NANCY, MITCH AND KRISTA FOR BEING HERE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND AND ALL THAT YOU DO ALL YEAR LONG.
AND OF COURSE, YOU'RE PLANNING FOR THE NEXT ONE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. AND THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
[01:05:01]
ABSOLUTELY. THANKS SO MUCH.ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT BRIEFING ITEM.
WE HAVE A CECAP REPORT. THE COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN REPORT GIVEN BY OUR NEW DIRECTOR, ANGELA HODGES GOTT. ANGIE, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR REPORT.
SO I WILL JUST TURN IT OVER TO YOU. OH, PUSH YOUR BUTTON THERE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR STEWART. SO AS YOU SAID, I'M ANGELA HODGES SCOTT WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
YEAH. THANK YOU. THERE WE GO. AND I AM HERE THIS MORNING TO PRESENT OUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CLIMATE ACTION PLAN REPORT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
THIS IS A LITTLE ROADMAP OF WHERE WE'RE HEADED TODAY.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT OUR FULL FY 25 IMPLEMENTATION REPORT AND OUR FY 26 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ARE AVAILABLE ON THE THE DALLAS CLIMATE ACTION WEBSITE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND NEXT SLIDE. SO I JUST WANTED TO START THIS MORNING FIRST WITH A LITTLE REFRESHER ON CECAP FOR EVERYONE. CECAP WAS ADOPTED BY DALLAS CITY COUNCIL IN 2020.
AND SO FY 25 REPRESENTS THE FIFTH YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION.
BUILDING, ENERGY, TRANSPORTATION, ZERO WASTE, WATER RESOURCES, ECOSYSTEMS, FOOD ACCESS, AND AIR QUALITY. AND UNDER THE EIGHT GOALS, CECAP INCLUDES A TOTAL OF 97 ACTIONS, WHICH ARE BROADLY STATED AND MAY ENCOMPASS MULTIPLE AND VARIED MILESTONES FOR EACH ACTION.
THE MILESTONES ARE SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT LED OBJECTIVES FOR A FISCAL YEAR.
SO LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. GOAL 4 IS DALLAS IS A ZERO WASTE COMMUNITY.
ACTION SEW SIX UNDER GOAL FOUR SAYS THAT IT IS TO EXPAND EFFORTS TO REDUCE ILLEGAL DUMPING BY IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS IDENTIFIED IN THE LITTER AND ILLEGAL DUMPING ASSESSMENT STUDY.
IN FY 26 MILESTONE, UNDER THIS ACTION, SEW SIX ACTION FOR SANITATION IS TO PROVIDE STAFF SUPPORT AT COMMUNITY TRASH OFF EVENTS. EACH FISCAL YEAR, OEQS DEVELOPS AN IMPLEMENTATION WORKPLAN THAT IDENTIFIES WHICH CECAP ACTIONS WILL BE ADVANCED DURING THAT YEAR THROUGH DEPARTMENTAL MILESTONES.
OEQS PERFORMANCE MEASURE IS TO HAVE AT LEAST 75% OF CECAP ACTIONS ACTIVE AND UNDERWAY EACH YEAR, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT 73. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25, OEQS SUCCESSFULLY MET ITS PERFORMANCE MEASURE AGAIN.
NEXT SLIDE. SO HERE WE'VE JUST CHERRY PICKED A FEW ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.
OEQS HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARDS CECAP´S INTENT TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS BY REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, ENHANCING RESILIENCE TO EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO JUST TWO EXAMPLES OFF OF THIS LIST. GOAL TWO FOR ENERGY FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT, ADVANCE THE SOLAR AND BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE PILOT PROJECT BY FINALIZING THE DESIGN FOR THE PILOT SOLAR PROJECT AT BACHMAN RECREATION CENTER. IT'S NOW AWAITING PERMIT APPROVAL TO INITIATE CONSTRUCTION.
UNDER GOAL SEVEN FOR FOOD ACCESS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DALLAS COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, OEQS´S URBAN AGRICULTURE DIVISION LAUNCHED THE GROWER´S EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
[01:10:06]
THE PROGRAM AIMS TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL INTERNSHIPS AND APPRENTICESHIPS ACROSS VARIOUS PRODUCTION SITES IN THE CITY, INCLUDING CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE AND COMMUNITY GARDENS.NEXT SLIDE. AND NOW I WILL PASS IT OFF TO ROSA MENDEZ FOR THIS PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO AS ANGELA MENTIONED, EACH YEAR, OEQS TAKES THE LEAD ON DEVELOPING AN IMPLEMENTATION WORK PLAN, OR IWP, AS WE CALL IT. SO THIS REPORT OUTLINES HOW WE'LL CONTINUE ADVANCING THE GOALS OF THE 30 YEAR CECAP.
FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, WE HAVE 73 ACTIONS ACTIVATED.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO WHEN THE CECAP WAS FIRST DEVELOPED, THE CITY OF DALLAS COMMITTED TO REVIEWING THE PLAN ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THAT WAY, WE CAN ENSURE THAT IT CONTINUES TO REFLECT OUR CITY'S EVOLVING NEEDS AND PRIORITIES.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, OEQS CONDUCTED WHAT WE CALL A FISCAL YEAR 25 CECAP IMPLEMENTATION WORK PLAN ASSESSMENT, AS PART OF THIS ONGOING COMMITMENT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ASSESSMENT WAS TO EVALUATE HOW EFFECTIVELY WE HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN.
WE DID THIS BY LOOKING AT BOTH THE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF EACH MILESTONE.
THIS GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR APPROACH MOVING FORWARD.
THE OVERALL GOAL WAS TO ENHANCE HOW WE PLAN, TRACK AND EXECUTE THE OUTLINED INITIATIVES.
THAT WAY, WE CAN MAKE SURE OUR PROCESS BECOMES MORE METRIC DRIVEN AND GOAL ORIENTED.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THE CECAP TEAM CONDUCTED ONE ON ONE MEETINGS WITH 15 OF THE 16 LEAF DEPARTMENTS TO REVIEW THEIR MILESTONES THAT THEY LEAD. THE FULL LIST OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE LEAF WORKING GROUP IS AVAILABLE HERE ON THIS SLIDE.
SO THESE MEETINGS REALLY PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE DEPARTMENT'S PROGRESS, THEIR CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO CECAP IMPLEMENTATION AND ANY UPCOMING PRIORITIES THAT ARE RELATED TO OUR CECAP.
SO MAKING SURE THAT THE MILESTONE IS SPECIFIC TO WHAT THE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO DO.
HOW ARE THEY MEASURING IT? IS IT ACHIEVABLE? IS IT RELEVANT TO CECAP AND TIME BOUND, KIND OF GETTING MORE OF AN IDEA OF WHEN IS THE ESTIMATE COMPLETION FOR THE MILESTONE. SO USING THIS FRAMEWORK DURING OUR MEETINGS REALLY HELPED ENSURE CONSISTENCY ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS, AND THEN ALLOWED US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CAPTURE THE INFORMATION NEEDED THAT WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. FROM A QUALITATIVE STANDPOINT, WE SAW SEVERAL COMMON THEMES WHEN WE MET WITH THE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES. FIRST PROGRESS ON FISCAL YEAR 25 MILESTONES IS LARGELY DEPENDING ON FUNDING AVAILABILITY.
WHILE SOME MILESTONES CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH STAFF TIME AND EXISTING RESOURCES, THOSE THAT ARE MORE PROJECT SPECIFIC TYPICALLY REQUIRE DEDICATED ANNUAL FUNDING TO MOVE FORWARD.
THIS HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT FACTOR INFLUENCING THE PACE OF IMPLEMENTATION, BUT WE ALSO FOUND THAT SEVERAL MILESTONES APPEAR IN MULTIPLE CECAP IMPLEMENTATION WORK PLANS IN PREVIOUS FISCAL YEARS.
SO WE'VE NOTICED THAT THESE WERE MORE STANDARD OPERATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
[01:15:04]
EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF FOCUSING ON MEASURABLE AND ACTION ORIENTED OUTCOMES.THAT WAY, THIS ALLOWS BANDWIDTH FOR MORE IMPACTFUL INITIATIVES.
DOING SO WILL HELP STREAMLINE REPORTING, ENHANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ENSURE THAT PROGRESS IS ACCURATELY CAPTURED ACROSS THEIR TEAMS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO NOW SHIFTING OVER TO THE QUANTITATIVE RESULTS.
WE CREATED THESE CHARTS TO VISUALIZE HOW THE MILESTONES IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25 WORK PLAN ARE DISTRIBUTED, BASED ON THE ASSESSMENT RESULTS. THE CHART ON THE LEFT SUMMARIZES HOW MILESTONES ARE IMPACTED BY AVAILABLE FUNDING.
IN MOST CASES, THE DEPARTMENTS REPORTED THAT MILESTONES ARE SUPPORTED PRIMARILY THROUGH STAFF TIME.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO WHAT DID WE DO WITH ALL THIS FEEDBACK? YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MILESTONES IS A BIT LOWER THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
THAT WAY, WE CAN FOCUS ON THE INITIATIVES THAT ARE REALLY MOVING THE NEEDLE.
IT WAS MORE AT THE IMPLEMENTATION WORK PLAN LEVEL.
AND THEN ALSO, ALTHOUGH WE REMOVED THE MILESTONES FOR THE WORK PLAN, THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE STILL SHOWED THAT THEY ARE COMMITTED TO MOVING AND IMPLEMENTING THESE MILESTONES, JUST NOT INCLUDED IN THE WORK PLAN ITSELF.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT ON TO OPPONG SO HE CAN COVER THE WORK PLAN FOR THIS YEAR.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO JUST DIVING DEEPER INTO EACH OF THE EIGHT GOALS, I WANT TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE MAJOR MILESTONE HIGHLIGHTS FROM FOR THIS YEAR MOVING FORWARD. SO WITH GOAL ONE, DALLAS BUILDINGS ARE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND CLIMATE RESILIENT.
ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS IS THE MOVEMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECENTLY PASSED CECAP BOND RESOLUTION, WHICH REQUIRES ALL NEW REPLACEMENT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OVER 10,000FT² TO MEET THE LEED GOLD STANDARD.
ONE OF THE OTHER MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IS THE BOND RESOLUTION TALKS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS, OR EPDS. THIS IS FOR MATERIAL MATERIALS NEAR PUBLIC AREAS DISCUSSING THEIR LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT, HOW IT'S PROCURED, PRODUCED AND ULTIMATELY DISPOSED OF AT THE END OF ITS LIFE CYCLE, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE AWARE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR BOTH THE USE IN THE FACILITY AS WELL AS PUBLIC INTERACTION.
AND WITH THE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT WE HAVE GOING ON RELATED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE DESIGN TEAMS IN ALL DEPARTMENTS TO INCORPORATE PASSIVE BUILDING STANDARDS, MAINLY THE LEED STANDARD GOLD STANDARD FOR ALL COMPONENTS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE ENHANCING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND OCCUPANCY COMFORT WHILE MEETING ALL OF THE REGULATED STANDARDS SET FORWARD BY THE CITY.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO GOAL TWO IS FOCUSED ON ENERGY.
DALLAS GENERATES RENEWABLE, RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE ENERGY.
A FOCUS ON THE CITY OPERATIONS STANDPOINT. WE'RE WORKING IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE TECHNOLOGY AT BACHMAN RECREATION CENTER. THAT'S ONE OF SEVERAL THAT ARE SLATED IN THE DISTRICT OR IN THE LONG TERM FUTURE FOR SOLAR WITHIN CITY FACILITIES.
WE'RE ALSO SUPPORTING FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT ON DEVELOPING ENERGY PROJECTS TO INCORPORATE MORE SOLAR, DEPENDING ON DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND APPROPRIATIONS THAT ALLOW US TO DO SO.
FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, WE ARE IN COLLABORATION WITH ORGANIZATIONS, SOLAR UNITED NEIGHBORS, TO RAISE AWARENESS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY BASE ABOUT RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ROOFTOP SOLAR AND THE OPPORTUNITIES OF COST SAVINGS AND INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY THROUGH GROUP
[01:20:09]
PURCHASING OPPORTUNITIES, NOT ONLY WITHIN DALLAS BUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION.SO SUPPORTING RENEWABLE ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES BOTH FOR THE CITY AND ALSO FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. FOR TRANSPORTATION, WE WANT TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE AND PROVIDE MULTIPLE OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE NOT ONLY PEOPLE, BUT PRODUCTS ACROSS OUR GREAT CITY.
SO ONE OF THE MAJOR PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH IS IMPROVING THE REGIONAL AIR QUALITY THROUGH EFFORTS OF ADDRESSING, PARTICULARLY SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES. THIS IS THROUGH THE TRY-PARKING IT PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PROGRAM RAN BY THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS CHAMBER OF COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS TO ALLOW EVERY INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY TO TRACK THEIR COMMUTES AND THEN QUANTIFY THAT WITH A GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION STANDARD, SO THEY CAN THEN UNDERSTAND AND PARTICIPATE IN UNDERSTANDING THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THROUGH THEIR COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK, TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND ANY ASPECT OF IT. WHAT WE ARE DOING IN OEQS IS PROMOTING THIS PROGRAM THROUGH THE CITY EMPLOYEES, FIRST THROUGH OEQS, AND EXPANDING IT TO ALL CITY EMPLOYEES TO BRING AWARENESS TO THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TRACK THEIR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE AND INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THROUGH OUR DAILY COMMUTES, AND IT INCENTIVIZES INDIVIDUALS TO USE THIS PROGRAM THROUGH THE USE OF DIFFERENT INCENTIVES PROVIDED BY COG.
A SECOND MAJOR PROJECT IS THE GRANT FUNDING THAT WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THROUGH COG AGAIN, LOOKING AT VEHICLE ELECTRIFICATION IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE GROWING DEMAND WITHIN OUR CITY.
SO WE'RE UTILIZING THE RESULTS OF OUR EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE STUDY THAT WAS DONE A FEW YEARS AGO AND ALLOWING THAT TO BE THE BENCHMARK IN SOME OF THE INFORMATION AND THE FOUNDATION OF GRANT PROPOSALS UTILIZED AT REGIONAL EFFORTS OF WHERE ARE THE BEST AND MOST EFFICIENT PLACES TO INCLUDE EV CHARGING STATIONS ACROSS THE CITY TO MEET THAT DEMAND THAT'S GROWING FOR OUR RESIDENTS OVERALL.
SO THEY CONTINUE TO HOST COMMUNITY TRASH OFF AND CLEAN UP EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, EDUCATING AND ENGAGING THE RESIDENTS OF WHAT IS THE PROPER WAY TO DISPOSE OF MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRODUCTS TO ALLEVIATE STRESS AND STRAIN ON OUR GROWING SANITATION AND WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM, BUT ALSO ENGAGING WITH RESIDENTS OF HOW TO DISPOSE OF PROPERLY AND REPURPOSE AND REUSE PRODUCTS THAT ARE USED FROM BOTH THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL SIDE.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN A MAJOR CAMPAIGN FOR THE STRATEGIC ILLEGAL DUMPING PLAN THROUGH THE BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS AND COMPANIES ARE AWARE OF THE PROPER CHANNELS AND PROPER LOCATIONS TO DISPOSE OF WASTE IN A EFFICIENT AND LEGAL PROCESS.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO GOAL FIVE IS FOCUSED ON WATER PROTECTING OUR WATER RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES FROM FLOODING AND FROM DROUGHT.
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE ENHANCING DATA COLLECTION AND MONITORING PRACTICES TO LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT THE ENERGY USE WITHIN OUR WATER UTILITY SYSTEM IN WAYS TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, FROM USE TO COLLECTION.
ON TOP OF THAT, THERE HAS BEEN STUDIES TO LOOK AT THE CHEMICAL TREATMENT PROCESS, TO IDENTIFY IMPROVEMENTS OF THE CHEMICALS USED WITHIN OUR TREATMENT SYSTEMS. AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE ENERGY, THE CHEMICALS, THE COST, THE DISTRIBUTION AND THE OVERALL IMPACT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO GOAL SIX IS FOCUS ON ECOSYSTEMS, TREES, GREEN SPACE AND THE OVERALL IMPACT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, OEQS HAS LED THE CHARGE ON THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND STUDY, MAPPING URBAN HEAT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND NOW WE'RE WORKING ON DEVELOPING THE HEAT INTERVENTION GUIDEBOOK, WHICH WILL CREATE STRATEGIES OF US TO MITIGATE AND ADAPT TO EXTREME HEAT THAT WE ALL EXPERIENCE OVER THE SUMMER. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE PLAY AND WILL BECOME A HUGE FACTOR WITH OUR OVERALL ENGAGEMENT FOR MAJOR EVENTS MENTIONED FOR THE STATE FAIR
[01:25:05]
AND ALSO FOR THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP, WHICH IS COMING UP.ON ANOTHER LENS OF GREEN SPACE ACTIVATIONS, THE DALLAS FORESTRY SUMMIT, COMING TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE AND EDUCATE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO SUPPORT URBAN FORESTRY PRACTICES, WHICH IS BIG UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE INFORMATION AND DATA COLLECTED BOTH BY OEQS AND PARKS ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF TREE CANOPY AND FOR OUR USE OF HEAT MITIGATION AND ALSO CARBON SEQUESTRATION FROM OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THAT ARE PRODUCED WITHIN THE CITY PROPER.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO GOAL SEVEN FOCUS ON FOOD ACCESS, WHICH IS REALLY BIG.
THERE'S BEEN A LONG HISTORY OF URBAN FARMING WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS THAT STRETCHES DECADES.
SO PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT FOR THE EXISTING URBAN AGRICULTURE STAKEHOLDERS AND URBAN AGRICULTURE FOOD SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR THOSE TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND EXPAND TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO LOCAL, HEALTHY, GROWN FOOD TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND THEN ALSO WITH THE FIFA WORLD CUP COMING UP, THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN FOR DALLAS, WE RELIED HEAVILY ON CECAP AND USING SOME OF OUR GOALS COLLECTIVELY, HOW DO WE ENGAGE WITH A WIDE RANGING DIVERSE STAKEHOLDER GROUP WITHIN THE CITY AS WELL AS REACHING ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL, SO THAT WE HAVE FIT THAT IN AS A SPECIAL MILESTONE, SPECIAL ACTION FOR OUR CECAP, WHICH IS FITTED KNOWING THAT THE IMPACT THIS EVENT WILL HAVE FOR NOT ONLY OUR CITY, BUT ALL OF OUR VISITORS THAT COME THROUGH OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND THE LAST GOAL, GOAL EIGHT IS FOCUSED ON AIR QUALITY.
WE HAVE A NON-REGULATORY AIR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, 24 MONITORS SPREAD OUT THROUGH ACROSS THE CITY THAT IS TRACKING AIR QUALITY AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL. WITH THE DATA THAT WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, WERE ABLE TO CONVENE WITH OTHER LOCAL ENTITIES ACROSS THE REGION ACADEMICS, OTHER COMPANIES TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH WHAT WE ARE COLLECTING AIR QUALITY WISE, TO DISCUSS THE BEST PRACTICES AND HOW TO DO SO, AND ALSO ENGAGING IN THE COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACH THEM HOW TO INTERPRET AND USE THE DATA IN TERMS OF THEIR OVERALL DAILY LIVES AND OPERATIONS. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE NORTH TEXAS CAMPUS OR NORTH TEXAS CAMPAIGN, EXCUSE ME.
TO EXPAND WHERE NEEDED. THE REGULATORY SYSTEM FROM A REGIONAL STANDPOINT IS VERY ROBUST.
SO WE MEET WITH THEM ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO, AGAIN, DISCUSS BEST PRACTICES, WAYS OF IMPROVEMENT, MITIGATION AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS AIR QUALITY WITHIN OUR GIVEN SHARED COMMUNITY.
NEXT SLIDE. AND NOW I'LL PASS IT BACK TO ROSA.
THANK YOU. SO ANGELA BRIEFLY MENTIONED THIS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION, BUT IN ORDER TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, OEQS´S CECAP PERFORMANCE MEASURE IS TO HAVE 75% OF THE 97 CECAP ACTIONS ACTIVATED.
SO THIS WILL BE OUR GOAL FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO OPPONG WILL COVER OUR NEXT STEPS.
SO ON OUR FINAL SLIDE WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
THIS PLAN IS GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON CITY OPERATIONS, WHEREAS WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS SEVERAL, IF NOT A MAJORITY OF COMMUNITY BASED OPPORTUNITIES AND ACTIONS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON ON A DAILY BASIS.
GIVEN THAT CECAP, SOME OF THE TARGETS GO 2030, 2040 AND 2050, WANT TO REEVALUATE AT THIS POINT TO HAVE A CLEAR SIGHT OF WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WILL LOOK LIKE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, TO HAVE MORE DATA TO MAKE THAT DECISION OF HOW WE ARE TRACKING PROGRESS FROM A CITY
[01:30:06]
FOCUSED ON CITY OPERATIONS MOVING FORWARD. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF OUR MAJOR PRIORITIES FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR, IS TO MAKE A MORE SIZABLE FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR CECAP MOVING FORWARD.OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL START THOSE QUESTIONS.
CHAIR WEST? NO. CHAIR RIDLEY? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
INTERESTING PRESENTATION. WHAT I DIDN'T SEE WAS OUR PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING ANY OF THESE GOALS AFTER FIVE YEARS, AND WHETHER WE ARE ON TRACK FOR MEETING THE 2030 OBJECTIVES.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT? I'LL TAKE THE FIRST THING AND THEN I'LL HAND IT OFF TO OPPONG.
SO THE FULL FIVE YEAR REPORT IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.
THE IMPLEMENTATION SUMMARY FROM OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, IT'S A CUMULATIVE DOCUMENT.
AND SO IT'S BEEN UPDATED IN FULL ON THE WEBSITE.
WHEN CECAP WAS CREATED, IT'S THIS VERY BROAD FRAMEWORK FOR MOVING FORWARD, AND WHAT THE TEAM HAS DISCOVERED OVER TIME IS THAT IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE BROKEN UP INTO MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE BITE SIZES.
WHERE WE'RE NOT MEETING OUR SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES, PART OF THAT WILL BE PRESENTING FOR YOU NEXT MONTH, OUR GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY FROM 2023. THAT ALSO INFORMS A LOT OF THOSE DECISIONS.
BUT THAT'S THE APPROACH GOING FORWARD IS TO MAKE THAT A MORE MANAGEABLE ACTIONABLE TIMELINE WITH MORE SPECIFIC METRICS AND MORE SPECIFIC GOALS. YES. AS THE DIRECTOR MENTIONED, A LOT OF THE CITY OPERATIONS, THE MAIN METRIC IS OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
HOW THEY'RE TRACKED AND HOW THEY'RE CALCULATED, WE DO THAT ON A FIVE YEAR CYCLE. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE AT THE TAIL END OF COMPLETING, AND THAT'S A PRESENTATION WE WILL HAVE FOR THIS COMMITTEE IN THE COMING MONTHS, I BELIEVE. AND THAT WILL GIVE US THE SIZABLE TRANSITION FROM 2015 BASELINE THROUGH THE CREATION OF CECAP AND THEN WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
SO AIR, WATER, LAND. SO MORE DETAIL OF THAT WILL COME RELATIVELY SOON.
MAY I ALSO ADD TO THAT, CHAIR? THANK YOU, CHAIR RIDLEY, FOR THE QUESTION AND THE COMMENT.
JUST TO ADD ON TO WHAT THE TEAM IS SAYING, AS WE LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE IN YEAR FIVE NOW, GOING INTO YEAR SIX, AS OF MAY, WE ARE LOOKING TO DO THOSE BITE SIZE ACTIONS.
AND SO NOW WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT IN WAYS THAT OUR PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WRIT LARGE, WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND THAT WE HAVE MEASURES OF TIMELINES AROUND WHAT WE'RE GETTING DONE.
BECAUSE AS THEY HAVE NOTED DURING THIS PRESENTATION, WHAT WE'RE FINDING FROM DEPARTMENTS IS THAT A LOT OF IT'S CONTINGENT ON BUDGET AND WHAT WE CAN GET DONE. SO AS PART OF THAT, AGAIN, REITERATING WHAT THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THROUGH THESE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY, ONE OF THOSE DOMAINS IS A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, A CLEAN AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
SO WHAT IS THIS TEAM ACROSS 16 DEPARTMENTS HELPING TO LEAD? WHAT DO WE HAVE FULL DOMAIN OF? WHAT DO WE OWN IN TERMS OF JURISDICTION AND BUDGET, ETC.? AND THEN HOW ARE WE PARTNERING WITH THOSE OUTSIDE ENTITIES LIKE THE NCT COG SO THAT THEY CAN HELP US ADVANCE THOSE EFFORTS? SO I THINK THAT WE'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE THE FIVE YEAR PLAN WITH THE WHOLE COMMITTEE BY EMAIL, AND THEN CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS ONGOING DIALOG SO THAT YOU CAN SEE DIRECTLY THE GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN ALREADY TOUCHED UPON AND WHERE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STRENGTHENING THEM MOVING FORWARD. WELL, I'D STILL LIKE SOME INDICATION OF WHERE WE ARE IN OUR PROGRESS TOWARD MEETING THE 2030 GOALS. IN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TODAY YOU CAN'T ENLIGHTEN US ABOUT THAT, AFTER FIVE YEARS OF THE PROGRAM? I DON'T KNOW THAT WE. I GUESS I THINK WE CAN ENLIGHTEN THEM, BUT JUST TO GIVE A BRIEF SNIPPET OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT WITH THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REPORT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT IS A VERY BIG STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR CECAP IS DOING.
[01:35:01]
YES, ABSOLUTELY. SO THE TRAJECTORY WE ARE ON, THE UPPER TRAJECTORY OF PROGRESS BEING MADE WITH CECAP.I THINK WHAT WE'RE FINDING IN OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION INVENTORY REPORT IS LOOKING AT CITY OPERATIONS OVERALL, WE'RE BEING MORE EFFICIENT IN OUR OPERATIONS FROM A CITYWIDE.
AND THAT'S, AGAIN, TALKING ABOUT 16 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
THERE HAS BEEN MAJOR PROGRESS IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY FOR ENERGY, FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THEN ENTIRE DATA COLLECTION OF HAVING A GOOD BASELINE THAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. SO WE HAVE SEEN AN UPWARD TRAJECTORY THAT WE'RE MOVING SIGNIFICANTLY TOWARDS THE 2030 GOALS.
I WOULD WANT TO MENTION THAT THE 2030 BENCHMARKS ARE JUST A STEP AND NOT A CERTIFIABLE MARK TOWARDS THE 2050 OVERALL OVERALL CECAP GOALS. SO IN THE GREENHOUSE GAS PRESENTATION INVENTORY, WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THE DATA AND THE STEPS THAT EACH DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN, AS THE CITY HAS TAKEN. SOME OF THE PIVOTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AND SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF CHANGE OF OPERATIONS THAT HELPED US GO THAT DIRECTION.
BUT YES, THERE HAS BEEN A POSITIVE UPTICK IN TERMS OF OUR SUSTAINABLE PROGRESS FOR THE CITY.
AND DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT YOUR CURRENT BUDGETARY ALLOCATION IS SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE 2030 GOALS, IF IT CONTINUES FOR THE ENSUING FOUR YEARS? SO THAT'S A BIT OF A COMPLICATED QUESTION BECAUSE WHAT THE CITY HAS CONTROL OF IN TERMS OF CITY OPERATIONS.
AND I WOULD SAY IN TERMS OF CITY OPERATIONS WE ARE, IF NOT ON TARGET, PRETTY CLOSE.
WE ARE MAKING GREAT STRIDES EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
WHAT IS HARDER TO ACCOUNT FOR AND TO ADDRESS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING CITYWIDE THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY WITHIN THE CITY GOVERNMENT CONTROL. SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE'LL SEE MORE ABOUT THIS NEXT MONTH.
THERE ARE MORE CARS ON THE ROAD. AND THAT CREATES AN OBSTACLE WHEN IT COMES TO GREENHOUSE GASES.
DO WE ALSO SEE THAT THERE'S A TREND WHERE AS OLDER VEHICLES ARE GETTING OFF THE ROAD IN LOWER EMISSION VEHICLES ARE ARE INCREASING, IS THERE STILL A DECREASE? YES. BUT IT IS A CHALLENGE WHEN THERE'S JUST MORE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, PERIOD. THANK YOU. CHAIR BAZALDUA. CHAIR BLACKMON.
THANK YOU. ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE, AND I DID NOT SEE, MY EYES HAVEN'T, BUT DATA CENTERS ARE GOING TO BE POPPING UP MORE AND MORE. AND ARE WE PLANNING ON ADDRESSING THAT? BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO AFFECT WATER, ENERGY, EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT FIT IN OUR UPCOMING WORK PLAN.
IT'S NOT EXPLICITLY ADDRESSED IN OUR WORK PLAN, AS THEY'RE STILL NEW AND THERE'S DATA COMING OUT EVERY DAY, I THINK. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO.
AND WE'LL HAVE A PLANNED APPROACH MOVING FORWARD.
BUT NOT JUST CITY OPERATIONS. IT'S ZONING. IT'S A LOT OF STUFF.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHOSE PURVIEW THAT'S IN, BUT I WANT TO DEFINITELY PUT IT ON SOMEBODY'S RADAR, BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OTHER CITIES AND IT'S JUST THEY'RE PLOPPING DOWN AND THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, ENERGY CONSUMPTION IS UP, WATER IS BEING.
CHAIR? COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND AS I NOTED, WE HAVE THIS LEAF WORKING GROUP THAT MEETS REGULARLY.
AND SO WE'LL BRING THAT NOTION TO THAT CONVERSATION AND FOLLOW UP WITH THEM.
AND I WOULD SUGGEST TO THE CHAIR, I THINK WE SHOULD PUT A DEADLINE AROUND IT BECAUSE CITY HALL CAN TEND TO TAKE FOREVER IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, IN MAYBE, YOU KNOW, MARCH OR APRIL. BECAUSE I DO THINK WE HAVE TO GO WITH WHAT THE DATA WE HAVE NOW, AND WE COULD ALWAYS AMEND IT, BUT TO WAIT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE, I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT POSITION.
THANK YOU. DULY NOTED. OKAY, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS I HAVE.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW SOME OF THE MILESTONES HAVE BECOME STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.
DO YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF THAT JUST SO WE CAN KIND OF GET OUR HEADS AROUND WHAT THAT.
[01:40:11]
WE'LL SEND A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES TO YOU. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.I THINK JUST AS WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND, JUST WHEN YOU HAVE A TANGIBLE EXAMPLE, 2 OR 3, YOU CAN BEGIN TO SAY, OH, THAT MAKES SENSE. WHY THAT IS A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.
LET'S SEE. ON THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND, I KNOW THAT THE TEXAS TREES FOUNDATION.
AND I KNOW FROM A TRAFFIC PERSPECTIVE THAT NEEDS TO BE ANALYZED, BUT I KNOW THEY'VE HIT SOME ROADBLOCKS IN THE BUREAUCRACY OF THE CITY AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE PLANTING OF THE TREES IN THE MEDIANS.
BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TOWARDS GOAL SIX THAT WE COULD EMBRACE, ESPECIALLY THIS IS A PARTNER, A TRUSTED PARTNER, ONE THAT WE WORK WITH IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY.
THEY NEED A HOME. LET'S JUST SAY THAT THEY NEED A HOME DEPARTMENT THAT THEY COULD PARTNER WITH.
BECAUSE I THINK THEY JUST HAVE HAD THIS IDEA AND LIKE I SAID, HAVEN'T KNOWN HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT ON RECORD.
AND I THINK. I THINK ROSA FOUND AN EXAMPLE FOR YOU IF YOU WANTED TO.
OH, SURE. GO BACK. SO ONE OF THE EXAMPLES IS RELATED TO GOAL ONE AND BUILDINGS.
SO THAT'S MORE OF LIKE WE MONITOR ANY GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND WE KEEP DOING THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO INCLUDE IN OUR WORK PLAN AND TRY TO DEVELOP A METRIC FOR IT? SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE DOING, BUT WE'LL JUST NOT INCLUDE IN THE WORK PLAN ITSELF.
IT WAS FUNDING FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC, THOUGH? IT WAS FUNDING FOR RESILIENCE? FOR RESILIENCE HUBS.
OKAY. AND SO WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE DOING THAT JUST AS A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE, SPECIFICALLY FOR RESILIENCE HUBS? CORRECT. YES.
FRM AND OEQS, WE BOTH KIND OF TEAM ON THAT TOGETHER.
AND IF GRANTS BECOME AVAILABLE, WE LOOK INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF THE CITY APPLYING FOR THEM.
OKAY. WELL, ANY OTHERS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAYBE SEND US, IT WOULD JUST BE, I THINK, HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A SHIFT, OBVIOUSLY, IN HOW WE LOOK AT CECAP. AND SO I THINK AS THE COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THAT US HAVING A GOOD, SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT GOES FROM BEING A MILESTONE TO SOP WOULD BE HELPFUL.
MAYBE JUST IF, ARE THERE LIKE HUNDREDS OF THEM, ARE THERE LIKE.
OKAY I THINK YEAH IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US JUST TO HAVE TUCKED AWAY.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO PULL SOME OF THESE.
I THINK BACK UP WE'VE GOT NOTES ON DIFFERENT ONES TO HAVE A FULL BRIEFING ON.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT, I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. I AM GOING TO MOVE US TO THE BRIEFING MEMO.
AND THIS IS THE BECKLEY-SANER SOLAR PHOTO, SOMETHING.
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO SAY THAT WORD. PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM DESIGN AND INSTALLATION.
ANGIE, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT? I KNOW WE WERE.
YES. I'LL JUST LET YOU SPEAK TO IT. GREAT. THANK YOU.
SO THIS MEMO WAS TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF AN UPCOMING COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM TO SEEK APPROVAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES CONTRACT TO DESIGN AND INSTALL A ROOFTOP SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM AT BECKLEY-SANER RECREATION CENTER.
AND BECKLEY-SANER WAS SELECTED FOR SOLAR INSTALLATION BASED ON THE 2023 SOLAR SIGHTING STUDY,
[01:45:03]
WHICH IDENTIFIED SUITABLE CITY FACILITIES FOR INSTALLATION.SO OEQS AND FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT FRM JOINTLY ISSUED A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS FOR A TURNKEY DESIGN AND INSTALLATION SERVICE. THE PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED FROM FIVE RESPONDENTS, AND THEY WERE EVALUATED BY A FOUR PERSON SELECTION COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF STAFF FROM FRM, OEQS AND TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS. THE PROPOSALS WERE EVALUATED BASED ON PRICE, QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, PROJECT APPROACH AND SCHEDULE ADHERENCE.
METCO ENGINEERING INCORPORATED WAS SELECTED WITH A PROJECT BUDGET NOT TO EXCEED $488,418. THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, ARPA GRANT DIRECTED AT SOLAR INSTALLATIONS SPECIFICALLY ON CITY PROPERTIES.
OKAY, AND WAS THE BACHMANN REC CENTER? WAS THAT PART OF THIS INITIAL TEN BUILDING GROUP, OR DOES ANYBODY KNOW? I WAS JUST. PART OF THE SOLAR SITING STUDY? I BELIEVE IT WAS.
IS THAT? YES, IT WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDED TEN SITES FROM THE INITIAL STUDY.
SO IT WAS JUST ON AN EARLIER TRACK FOR FUNDING? OKAY. THAT'S CORRECT. YES. OKAY. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO WILL THIS CONTRACT INCLUDE WITHIN ITS SCOPE BATTERY STORAGE OR JUST THE COLLECTORS? IT'S JUST FOR THE PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM AND THE INSTALLATION.
AND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE BUILDING'S ENERGY USAGE WILL THESE PANELS SUPPLY? SO IT'S ESTIMATED THAT IT WILL REDUCE THE USAGE BY 72% ANNUALLY.
VERY GOOD. AND YOU MENTIONED THE 2023 SOLAR SITING.
STUDY. STUDY. WHAT CRITERIA WERE USED IN THAT STUDY TO IDENTIFY THE BEST LOCATIONS AMONG CITY BUILDINGS FOR SOLAR INSTALLATIONS? SO I KNOW A FEW OF THE CRITERIA. I'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU FOR THE FULL LIST, UNLESS OPPONG HAS IT, BUT I KNOW IT HAD TO DO WITH THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM OF THE BUILDING, THE AGE OF THE ROOFTOP, THE CONDITION OF THE ROOFTOP. DO YOU REMEMBER OTHER CRITERIA? WHAT ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE FACILITY OR SQUARE FOOTAGE OF ROOF AREA? IS THAT A FACTOR? YES, THAT'S ALSO CORRECT. THE SIZE OF SCOPE, THE BUILDING INTEGRITY, THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE BUILDING AS WELL.
IF IT WAS DUE FOR RENOVATION OR DEMOLITION. ALL OF THOSE WERE CONSIDERED AS FACTORS AS I PULL UP THE FULL LIST, WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU VIA EMAIL. YEAH, I'D BE INTERESTED IN THAT.
THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBERS? NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION AS WELL, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HODGES GOTT.
AND WE WILL SEE YOU GUYS NEXT MONTH. AND I BELIEVE WE I WILL ADJOURN AT 11:01.
SO WE DID OKAY, EVEN THOUGH WE STARTED A BIT LATE.
ALRIGHT. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.