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WELCOME TO THE 2023 STATE OF THE CITY SHOW FOR GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS.
WE'RE SO EXCITED TODAY TO HAVE TWO OF THE GREATEST GUYS IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
THEY'RE BOTH VERY IMPORTANT GENTLEMEN.
AND WE HAVE THE MAYOR RON JENSEN AND OUR CITY MANAGER, STEVE DYE.
YES, IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT SHOW BECAUSE THERE ARE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
YES, MAYOR, GET US STARTED WITH THE, THE GREAT THINGS.
WELL, COUNCILMAN CLEMSON, EVERY TIME I THINK THINGS ARE GONNA SLOW DOWN AND WE'RE NOT GONNA GET ANYTHING, UH, THINGS POP UP.
SINCE OUR LAST STATE OF THE CITY, MY GOODNESS, BASS PRO DECIDED TO COME ANDRETTI'S INDOOR CARTING BIG SHOTS, AND JUST THE OTHER DAY WE WERE ALL SURPRISED STEAK AND L'S COMING BACK AND WHERE ARE THEY COMING TO THE FIRST PLACE IN TEXAS, GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON, BUT THOSE ARE THREE BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS.
JUST REAL RECENTLY, THE THE 1 61 CORRIDOR IS A HOT CORRIDOR.
IT'S FILLING UP, UH, WE DON'T HAVE TO SELL IT ANYMORE.
IT REACHED A TIPPING POINT A FEW YEARS AGO, AND IT'S JUST FILLING UP.
AND, UH, OUR SALES TAX REVENUE SHOWS THAT.
AND MANY, MANY, MANY THINGS HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN OPENED YET.
AND IT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW AND GIVE OUR CITIZENS CHOICES THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
YES, MAYOR AND OUR CITY HAS GROWN AS WELL, HASN'T IT? YES.
OUR LAST CENSUS, WE'RE OUT AT 200,000, GIVE OR TAKE A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE THE 17TH LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WE'RE THE HUNDRED 26TH LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
UH, WHEN I'M INVITED TO THINGS IN WASHINGTON, IT'S THE TOP ONE 50 CITIES AND I CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE TOP 150 CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO COME TO GRAND PRAIRIE RATHER THAN US BEGGING THEM TO COME TO GRAND PRAIRIE, THAT IS, I THINK THAT IS A TURNING POINT FOR OUR CITY.
UM, OF COURSE, YOU WERE PART OF THE DREAM WHEN WE KICKED IT OFF, UH, BACK IN 2014, TO INVEST IN EPIC CENTRAL STARTED WITH EPIC WATERS, THE EPIC PLAYGROUND ADVENTURES.
THE CITIZENS APPROVED THAT EPIC WATERS JUST CELEBRATED THEIR FIFTH YEAR OF BEING OPEN.
WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER, IKEA CELEBRATED THEIR FIFTH YEAR OF BEING OPEN WITHIN A MONTH OF EPIC WATERS BEING OPEN.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT GOT THE BALL ROLLING.
AND MAYOR, I LOVE THE WAY EPIC IS DEVELOPING.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, FUTURE SPOTS IN GRAND PRAIRIE THAT MAY BE DEVELOPED AS WELL.
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE FRONTAGE ROADS ON I 30 AND I 20, CORRECT.
THE STAKE AND L THAT'S COMING IN, IN BENNIGAN'S WILL BE, IN MY OPINION, THE FIRST BIG THING THAT'S GOING IN ALONG I 30 STEVE AND I CANNOT DISCLOSE THE LOCATION YET.
WE HAVE CONFIRMED THE LOCATION.
THAT'S THE FIRST THING WE DID WHEN WE SAW THAT DALLAS MORNING NEWS ARTICLE.
I EVEN WAS ASKED BY WFA MAYOR, IS THIS REAL? AND ALL I CAN SAY IS WE HAVE CONFIRMED WITH THE LANDOWNER THAT YES, STAKEN L'S COMING, BUT HE WILL NOT DISCLOSE NOR WILL THE STAKEN L PEOPLE DISCLOSED THE EXACT LOCATION.
YET WE WILL BE ABLE TO, I WOULD SAY, WITHIN THE NEXT 60 DAYS, BUT IT IS ALONG THE I 30 QUARTER ALONG THE FRONTAGE ROADS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE HAD IT NOT BEEN FAR GETTING THOSE FRONTAGE ROADS IN.
AND, YOU KNOW, UM, THE WHOLE CITY IS CELEBRATING THAT, BUT ESPECIALLY THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN IN DISTRICT ONE ESPECIALLY.
NOW ALL I GOTTA DO IS GET 'EM A GROCERY STORE UP THERE,
AND STEVE DYE, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
YOU HAVE TAKEN OVER THE CITY MANAGER'S POSITION AND KEEP MOVING US FORWARD EVERY DAY.
SO GIVE US SOME OF YOUR INSIGHT ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE STATE OF THE CITY.
WELL, AS YOU ALL HAVE ALLUDED TO AND MENTIONED, I MEAN, WE'RE A A VERY LARGE CITY NOW.
WE'RE OVER 200,081 SQUARE MILES.
UH, OUR COLLECTIVE ANNUAL BUDGET'S ALMOST A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS.
UH, SO THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS GOING ON, AND YOU ALL HAVE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PARADIGM SHIFT IN THE
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.NOW, THOSE, THOSE, UH, ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND RESTAURANTS ARE COMING TO US.
WE'RE NOT HAVING TO GO OUT AND AND BEG THEM TO COME TO GRAND PRAIRIE.
THEY WANT TO COME TO GRAND PRAIRIE.
SO IT IS AN EXCITING TIME, BUT I THINK EQUALLY EXCITING IS OUR EMPHASIS ON REDEVELOPMENT.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST CAME OUT WITH SEVERAL NEW PROGRAMS TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES SUCCEED AND OPEN IN OUR CITY.
WE'VE JUST NOW COME UP WITH A NEW PROGRAM, OUR RETAIL REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT IS REALLY GONNA HOPEFULLY ADDRESS SOME OF OUR BLIGHTED STRIP CENTERS AND GET THOSE OLDER CENTERS, UH, IN OUR OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS LOOKING A LITTLE BIT NICER.
YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A CLEAN, SAFE PLACE TO SHOP.
UH, PUBLIC SAFETY IS STILL DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL.
UH, WE ARE ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES, LARGE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
OUR CRIME RATE IS EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF ABOUT PLANO AND, AND CERTAINLY WE'RE AN OLDER CITY IN SOME PARTS, WHICH DOES CREATE MORE CHALLENGES.
SO VERY PROUD OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, NOT ONLY FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, BUT AS THEY CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY EMPHASIZE THE COMMUNITY POLICING PHILOSOPHY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US, THAT EVERYBODY FEELS TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT EVERYBODY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THAT SAME QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND THEN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THAT, THAT SOUGHT AFTER IS OH ONE RATING THAT HELPS ALL OF OUR HOMEOWNERS OWNER'S INSURANCE BE A LITTLE BIT, UH, LESS EXPENSIVE.
UH, BUT DOWN THERE AT 2 87 AND 360, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, WE'RE, WE'VE BRANDED THAT, THAT AREA SOUTHGATE OVER TIME, WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE 30 TO 50,000 MORE PEOPLE MOVING INTO THAT AREA OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS OR SO.
SO WE'RE REALLY WORKING HARD FROM THE STAFF LEVEL WITH THOSE DEVELOPERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES ARE VERY NICE, THAT MEETS THE HIGH QUALITY OF ALL OF OUR OTHER NEW NEIGHBORHOODS IN TOWN.
AND WE ALREADY HAVE PLANS TO OPEN FIRE STATION 11.
THEY'RE AT 2 87 AND 360, WHICH WILL EXTEND THAT IS OH ONE RATING TO THE NEW RESIDENTS THAT ARE NOW BUILDING IN OUR ETJ, OUR EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, WHICH OVER TIME WILL BECOME PART OF OUR CITY.
SO THOSE CITIZENS DOWN THERE WILL ENJOY THOSE SAME GREAT CITY SERVICES THAT ALL OF OUR OTHER CITIZENS CURRENTLY ENJOY.
WE HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL AMENITIES THAT OUR CITIZENS CAN ENJOY IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND OF COURSE WE SAY LIVE LIFE GRAND, AND WE CAN, AND WE LOVE LIVING LIFE GRAND IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
UM, WHAT ELSE DO YOU THINK THAT OUR CITIZENS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, MAYOR? WELL, SINCE YOU MENTIONED NORTH GRAND PRAIRIE, I THOUGHT I OUGHT TO MENTION WHAT'S GOING ON AT OUR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, UH, AROUND LONE STAR PARK.
UM, A EG RUNS TEXAS TRUST CU THEATER.
UH, IT ORIGINALLY WAS NEXT STAGE YEARS AGO.
AND THEN NOKIA AND VERIZON, NOW IT'S TEXAS TRUST.
SO THEY'RE RENEWING THEIR LEASE TO STAY THERE ANOTHER NINE YEARS.
THE BASEBALL FIELD, THE OLD QT PARK, THE MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, WE'RE TRANSITIONING IT TO A MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER.
STEVE AND I WILL BE TRAVELING DOWN TO HOUSTON, UH, LATER ON THIS MONTH IN MARCH TO, UH, VISIT AND BE THERE FOR THE DRAFT, THE CRICKET DRAFT.
SO WE'LL BE PLAYING CRICKET AT THAT STADIUM THIS JULY.
AND THEN IF YOU KEEP UP WITH THE NEWS, THE RACETRACK HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS RECENTLY BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME BILLS FILED IN AUSTIN TO BRING CASINO GAMBLING TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.
NOW WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON IT PASSING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION BECAUSE, UH, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DAN PATRICK CAN STOP MOST ANYTHING HE WANTS TO.
AND HE SAID HE'S NOT INTERESTED IN THAT BILL THIS TIME.
HOWEVER, THE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED GIVE US A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
EVERYBODY THINKS CASINO GAMBLING WILL COME TO THE STATE OF TEXAS SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.
WHETHER YOU WANT THAT OR NOT, IT WILL COME.
AND THE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED ALLOW THE RACETRACKS KIND OF PRIORITY TO APPLY FOR THE LICENSE AND THE, TO GET CASINO GAMBLING.
THE CHICKASAW NATION HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE LANGUAGE.
AND LISTEN TO THIS FOLKS, IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE DEAL, THEY HAVE TO STEP UP, UP AND BE WILLING TO SPEND NEW DOLLARS, NOT OLD DOLLARS, NEW DOLLARS, $2 BILLION, NEW INVESTMENT IN THE FACILITIES IN ORDER TO GET IT.
THE CHICKASAWS HAVE SAID THEY'RE, THEY APPROVE THAT LANGUAGE.
SO SOMEDAY IN THE FUTURE, WE COULD HAVE A $2 BILLION PROJECT OUT THERE AT BELTLINE.
AND I 30 MAY NOT HAPPEN, I DON'T THINK IS GONNA HAPPEN.
THIS SESSION MAY HAPPEN IN 2025.
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AND SEE.ANOTHER THING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE KIND OF THE NORTH SIDE, OLD NORTH SIDE IS THE HOSPITAL HAS A NEW OWNER.
THEY'RE DOING SOME UPGRADES TO IT.
I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO BE IN THE TOP FIVE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND, UH, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
IT WOULD HELP OUR TURN RATE ON OUR AMBULANCES IF WE HAD AN EMERGENCY ROOM THERE THAT COULD TAKE SOME OF OUR TRANSPORTS.
IT GETS OUR AMBULANCES BACK ON THE ROAD FASTER.
IT HELPS OUR TURN RATE, HELPS US RETAIN THAT GOLD STANDARD THAT WE HAVE KEPT FOR SIX YEARS IN A ROW.
SO THERE ARE SOME NEAT THINGS HAPPENING DOWN SOUTH, AS STEVE WAS MENTIONING, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN DOWN THERE AND SOME REDEVELOPMENT AND SOME NEW THINGS HAPPENING UP IN THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN.
AND MAYOR, YOU KNOW, THAT SPOTLIGHT HAS BEEN ON EPIC CENTRAL AND IT SHOULD BE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.
BUT I BELIEVE, AS YOU SAY, IN THE FUTURE, THE SPOTLIGHT IS GOING TO TURN OVER TO THAT I 30 AND BELTLINE CORRIDOR.
AND, UH, YOU MAY HAVE SOME THINGS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON BEHIND THE SCENES THAT YOU CAN'T REVEAL AT THIS TIME, CORRECT? WE DO.
AND YOU, YOU'RE AWARE OF THEM AND WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE IT THIS YEAR.
WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON TWO THINGS.
WE'RE WORKING ON SOMETHING UP THERE AND WE'RE WORKING SOMETHING DOWN SOUTH THAT WE WE'RE THIS CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO ANNOUNCE.
WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE IT THIS YEAR.
UM, FOLKS, WE WORK ON THESE DEALS AND SOMETIMES WE WORK ON 'EM FOR MONTHS, YEARS.
SOMETIMES THINGS HAPPEN REAL QUICK.
AND, UH, BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC THING SLOWED DOWN, FINANCING, BARRING MONEY HAS CHANGED.
SO, UH, HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE SOME EXCITING THINGS AND BENEFIT EVERYBODY.
AND THERE'S, UH, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH US HAVING TWO AREAS OF, OF FUN PLACES TO DO.
ONE RIGHT THERE AT THE INTERSECTION OF BELTLINE AND I 30 AND THE OTHER IN OUR EPIC CENTRAL AREA.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE FUN WHEREVER WE ARE IN BRANDON PRAIRIE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE KIND OF TOWN WE ARE.
STEVE DYE, WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION TODAY? WELL, GREAT, GREAT CONVERSATION SO FAR.
AND A COUPLE OTHER, OTHER PROJECTS THAT I WANNA MENTION IS OUR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION THAT IS MOVING FORWARD.
SO WE HOPE TO HAVE THE ROADWAY RECONSTRUCTED AND OPEN IN LATE 25 OR EARLY 2026, WHICH WILL BE JUST ONE LANE EACH WAY IN THE CORE OF OUR MAIN STREET DOWNTOWN.
AND THAT'LL MAKE IT MUCH MORE WALKING FRIENDLY, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, AND HOPEFULLY BRING A LOT MORE COMMERCE, RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS TO THAT AREA.
AND SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION.
AND THEN THE SECOND PROJECT IS ONE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT, WHICH IS OUR INTERNATIONAL CORRIDOR PROJECT.
WE'VE BEEN QUIETLY WORKING WITH, UH, OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE CITY OF ARLINGTON ON REALLY REVITALIZING A PIONEER 3 0 3, IF YOU WILL, TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE WALKING WALKABLE, A LITTLE BIT SAFER FROM A TRAFFIC STANDPOINT, AND REALLY TO TRY TO RENEW AND MAKE SOME OF THAT RETAIL, UH, AND THOSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT CORRIDOR MORE VIABLE AND, AND MORE, UH, EXCITING.
SO, UH, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT AS WELL.
SO LOOK, LOOK FOR CHANGES TO COME DOWN OFF OF PIONEER PARKWAY AS WELL AS, UH, ON MAIN STREET.
AND I THINK OUR VIEWERS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT LIKE THE ROUNDABOUTS AND ABOUT REDIRECTING THE TRUCK TRAFFIC.
SO, UH, THIS IS A PRETTY COMPLICATED PROJECT BECAUSE AS, AS MANY OF THE VIEWERS KNOW, AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, UH, MAIN STREET HAS BEEN A STATE HIGHWAY FOR YEARS.
AND SO THE, THE STATE IS GONNA GIVE THAT BACK TO THE CITY.
IT WILL NO LONGER BE A STATE HIGHWAY.
AND SO PART OF THAT PROCESS IS WE STILL HAVE TO ALLOW FOR THAT THROUGH TRAFFIC AND THAT TRUCK TRAFFIC TO GET THROUGH OUR CITY.
WELL, WE WERE BLESSED IN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE JEFFERSON.
SO, UH, THE TRUCK TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED TO JEFFERSON, WHICH HAS MORE LANES CAPABLE OF HANDLING MORE TRAFFIC.
SO IT SHOULDN'T BE A BURDEN TO JEFFERSON, UH, BECAUSE IT CAN, UH, SUSTAIN THAT TRAFFIC.
SO ON THE FAR EAST SIDE OF OUR CITY WHERE MAIN STREET AND JEFFERSON COME TOGETHER, THERE'LL BE A VERY LARGE ROUNDABOUT, WHICH WILL PUSH THE THROUGH AND HEAVY TRAFFIC TO JEFFERSON.
AND THEN ON THE, UH, WEST SIDE OF OUR CITY, THERE'LL BE SOME LANE RECONFIGURATION THAT ALSO PUSHES THAT TRAFFIC TO JEFFERSON PRIOR TO REACHING 1 61.
THE OTHER COOL THING THAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, TWO TO THREE ROUNDABOUTS THAT ARE GONNA HAVE ART ON TOP OF THEM.
THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CLEMSON, YOU'RE ON OUR ART COMMITTEE.
SO YOU AND A COUPLE OF OUR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE REALLY GIVING US INPUT ON NOT JUST MAKING THOSE ROUNDABOUTS, BUT MAKING THEM REALLY A, A PUBLIC ART OPPORTUNITY.
SO THAT'S GONNA BE REALLY COOL.
AND I CAN TELL YOU ALL, AND AND, AND VIEWERS, PLEASE DON'T GET NERVOUS.
UH, I WAS THE CHIEF OF POLICE IN COLLEYVILLE WHEN COLLEYVILLE PUT IN THEIR FIRST ROUNDABOUT.
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WAS A LOT OF ANXIETY ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT THEM.WELL, AFTER THAT ONE HAD BEEN OPEN FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS, THEY WANTED MORE ROUNDABOUTS.
SO ROUNDABOUTS ACTUALLY BEAUTIFY THE SPACE, BUT THEY MAKE THE TRAFFIC FLOW MUCH MORE EFFICIENT, MUCH LESS OF A WAIT TIME.
AND THE BACKUP QUEUING IS NOT NEAR WHAT IT IS IN SIGNALIZE INTERSECTIONS.
SO AS YOU GO THROUGH THE FUTURE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE THOSE SIGNAL LIGHTS.
YOU'RE GONNA SEE ROUNDABOUTS AT MOST OF THOSE INTERSECTIONS, WHICH AGAIN, MORE BEAUTIFUL, MORE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, AND MUCH MORE EFFICIENT FOR THE MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC.
IT'S GONNA BE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT LOOK, UH, WHICH WE KNOW WILL BRING A LOT MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT ALL THE TIME, AREN'T WE, AS FAR AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT AREA? YES, MA'AM.
AND AS THE MAYOR ALLUDED TO, I MEAN, SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE TAKE YEARS.
WE STARTED ON THE TURNBACK DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECT IN 2017.
AND IT GOT, UH, DELAYED SLIGHTLY BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT WE'VE PRETTY MUCH KEPT THAT MOVING THE ON THE ROADWAY PIECE.
AND NOW WE'RE BRINGING IN THE DEVELOPERS TO TRY TO NOW GET THAT CATALYST PROJECT.
AS YOU KNOW, UH, THE CITY ACQUIRED THE CALVARY BAPTIST PROPERTY, SO THAT WILL BE ONE OF OUR CATALYST PROJECTS TO BRING SOME, SOME NICE RESIDENTIAL AND, AND HOPEFULLY SOME MORE COMMERCIAL RETAIL INTO THAT, INTO THAT SPACE.
SO WHEN THE ROADWAY IS OPEN, THAT CATALYST PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED AND, AND IT'LL ALL KIND OF BE ROLLED OUT AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, I DON'T THINK OUR CITIZENS ALL COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THE ROOFTOPS TO BRING IN ATTRACTIONS THAT THEY ALL WANT AMENITIES.
WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO US? WELL, EVERYBODY LOOKS AT A FIVE MILE RADIUS.
UH, BUT FOLKS REALLY, UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BOGGING US DOWN.
PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE OUR FIVE MILE RADIUS.
AND SO WE PURPOSEFULLY TALKED TO BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE IN THE SMACK DAB METAL OF 8 MILLION PEOPLE.
WE HAVE I 30, I 2360, LUKE 12.
AND THEN WHEN THE GEORGE BUSH OPENED UP, GAVE US ACCESS TO HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF ACRES OF LAND COMPANIES LIKE IKEA, BASS PRO ANDRETTIS, EVEN THEY DON'T LOOK AT THE FIVE MILE RADIUS.
AND, BUT TO GET THE AMENITIES, LIKE THE SMALLER RESTAURANTS LIKE OLIVE GARDEN, LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE, BLACK BEAR, THEY DO STILL LOOK AT THE FIVE MILE RADIUS.
SO WE HAD TO GET THE ROOFTOPS THE COUNTS UP.
AND THAT BRINGS IN A WHOLE NEW DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE.
UH, OUR GRANDDAUGHTERS HAS A GOOD FRIEND THAT GRADUATED FROM ARKANSAS WITH HER.
HE, HE WORKS IN THE EAST SIDE OF, SHE WORKS IN THE WEST SIDE.
AND THEY CHOSE TO MOVE INTO ONE OF OUR BRAND SPANKING NEW APARTMENTS.
AND I KNOW APARTMENTS, NO ONE LIKES APARTMENTS.
WE'RE, WE'RE SLOWING DOWN ON THEM.
BUT FOLKS, IF THE DIRT IS ALREADY ZONED MULTIFAMILY, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
AND CITIZENS DON'T SEE THE APARTMENTS THAT WE SAY NO TO BECAUSE STEVE AND I ARE WORKING WITH ONE RIGHT NOW THAT WANTS TO BRING SOMETHING FORWARD AND WE'RE TELLING WE CAN'T APPROVE IT RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE IT'S A ZONING CHANGE.
SOMETIMES I WISH THEY'D GO AHEAD AND BRING IT TO US SO WE COULD SAY NO AND GET IT ON THE RECORD THAT WE SAID NO.
'CAUSE THEY DON'T HEAR ABOUT THE ONES THAT COUNCIL MEMBER LOPEZ AND I HAVE TALKED TO AND TALKED OUT OF COMING TO US.
COUNCIL MEMBER HEAD AND I HAVE TALKED TO AND TOLD 'EM NOT TO COME.
RIGHT NOW, THE CITIZENS DON'T SEE THOSE, UH, BECAUSE WE STOP 'EM BEFORE THEY EVEN GET TO THE PROCESS.
AND I'M GONNA OFFEND, I'M GONNA DEFEND YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS TAKE A LOT OF HEAT, LIKE YOU SAID, SOMETIMES FOR APPROVING ALL OF THESE APARTMENTS.
BUT I'M GONNA REITERATE WHAT YOU SAID.
IF THE LAND IS ALREADY ZONED MULTIFAMILY CITIZENS, THERE'S NOTHING COUNCIL CAN DO TO STOP IT.
THEY DO A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE IT'S HIGH QUALITY.
THE GOOD PART ABOUT THOSE APARTMENTS THAT DID HAVE THAT ZONING THAT DID HAVE TO BE APPROVED IS THAT IS PART OF WHAT'S HELPING ATTRACT THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT'S GIVING US THE DENSITY OF POPULATION WHERE NOW A LOT OF THESE RESTAURANTS AND ENTERTAINMENT MENUS ARE COMING HERE.
SO THERE IS A BENEFIT TO THAT.
SOME OF THESE PROJECTS WE MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH DENSITY IN POPULATION.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC IN THE CITY, BUT I, I WANT OUR CITIZENS TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR COUNCILS CAN AND CANNOT LEGALLY DO BECAUSE I THINK YOU ALL ARE UNFAIRLY CRITICIZED.
BUT I ALSO WANNA MENTION THIS IS HAPPENING EVERYWHERE IN NORTH TEXAS, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, 8 MILLION PEOPLE OUT-OF-STATE TRANSPLANTS MOVING HERE EVERY DAY.
SO THE, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH TRAFFIC AND POPULATION INCREASE ARE WE'RE SEEING, UH, ALL
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ACROSS OUR REGION.I TALKED TO THE OTHER CITY MANAGERS, UH, ON, ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
THEY'RE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES IN THEIR CITIES.
SO THIS IS NOT A GRAND PRAIRIE SPECIFIC ISSUE.
ALL THE CITIZENS HAVE TO DO IS DRIVE DOWN SOUTH ON 360, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE GRAND PRIX ON THE LEFT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE ARLINGTON ON THE RIGHT.
YOU GO DOWN A LITTLE FURTHER, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE MANSFIELD MM-HMM
THERE'S APARTMENTS ALL THE WAY DOWN THAT 'CAUSE YEARS AGO THAT 360 CORRIDOR WAS ZONED WITH PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS THAT INCLUDED MULTIFAMILY.
AND SO WE'RE ALL SEEING IT NORTH TEXAS.
THE NORTH TEXAS REGION IS ONE OF THE HOTTEST REGIONS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR GROWTH.
PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE FOR JOBS, AND WE HAVE THE BEST LOCATION IN THE METROPLEX, AND NOW WE HAVE ACCESSIBILITY.
SO WHAT A GREAT TIME TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS.
AND MAYOR, I HAVE TO THROW IN ONE MORE GOOD AMENITY AS THE BLUE GOOSE CANTINA BECAUSE I HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE WERE SO EXCITED THAT THAT WAS COMING TO GRAND PRAIRIE.
WELL, I'D NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT AND DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I THINK YOU AND DAN ATE ONE THE OTHER DAY.
I SAW YOUR POST UHHUH AND UH, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER, WE LOVED, UM, TEXAS ROADHOUSE EXPANDING YES.
AND MOVING DOWN, BUILDING THEIR OWN BUILDING THAT THEY WANTED TO OWN.
BUT THEN YOU HAVE THAT VACANT BUILDING THERE.
WHAT'S IT GONNA DO? WHAT'S IT GONNA BE? UH, GOODNESS.
THERE'S YOU, YOU KIND OF GET NERVOUS.
'CAUSE THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT GO IN THERE WITHOUT OUR APPROVAL.
WE DID NOT APPROVE BLUE GOOSE CANTINA.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT THAT BUILDING WAS ZONED FOR THAT COULD HAVE COME IN THERE.
UH, I'M NOT GONNA MENTION ALL THE ONES.
I DIDN'T WANT TO GO IN THERE, BUT I YOU GET THE PICTURE.
AND WE WERE EXCITED, LESS DESIRABLE.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE ICONIC COLORS OR WHITE AND BLUE.
AND OF COURSE, REBECCA LOVES ANYTHING THIS WHITE SHE'D.
AND SO THEN ON DOWN THE ROAD, UH, THE BLACK BEAR DINER, IT'S A FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT.
IT'S GONNA BUILD DOWN CLOSE TO, UH, TEXAS ROADHOUSE.
THAT'S ANOTHER RESTAURANT GOING IN ALONG, UH, THE ALONG I 20, THE FRONTAGE ROADS ALONG I 20.
SO, UH, THAT'S GONNA GIVE US QUITE A FEW RESTAURANTS ALONG THAT.
I 20 FRONTAGE ROAD TO GIVE OUR CITIZENS MORE CHOICES AND IT BRINGS IN TAX DOLLARS YES.
AND JOBS AND OUR NEIGHBORS THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING TO THEIR, THEIR HOUSE FOR A LONG TIME,
LIKE I SAID, YEARS AGO IN ONE OF MY STATE OF THE CITIES, I REMEMBER IT SO WELL, I SAID, I'M GONNA HAVE TO PUT A SIGN UP ON I 20 HEADING WEST.
I SAID, TURN AROUND, EAT, STAY, AND EAT HERE.
BEFORE WE HAD ALL THE RESTAURANTS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PLENTY OF CHOICES.
YOU GO DOWN I 1 61 ON FRIDAY EVENING, THEY'RE THE PARKING, PARKING LOT'S PACKED FULL.
AND ESPECIALLY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS, THEY'RE WAITING AT FIRST WATCH.
I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF RESTAURANTS THERE ARE HAPPY TO BE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
UH, MORE ARE COMING WHILE WE, WHILE I HAVE A MINUTE, I WANNA THINK TDOT FOR GETTING OUTTA THE BOX AND EVEN ALLOWING CITIES LIKE OURS THAT HAVE AN OLD MAIN STREET, BUT AS PART OF THE OLD HIGHWAY 81 80 SYSTEM MM-HMM
TO EVEN ALLOW US TO TAKE IT OVER AND GO FROM FOUR LANES TO TWO LANES.
IT MEANS SO MUCH TO A CITY LIKE OURS.
WELL, OUR MAYOR SERVES ON OUR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
MISS GEORGIA, YOU SERVE ON A, ON COG COG ON A COG, UH, COMMITTEE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH COG AND, AND THOSE DECISIONS THAT DO AFFECT US.
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT, YOU ALL TAKE THAT EXTRA TIME AND EFFORT TO GO BE INVOLVED AND, AND GO TO THOSE MEETINGS, AND THAT DIRECTLY HELPS OUR CITY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL DO.
I REMEMBER GOING DOWN TO AUSTIN, UH, FOR A TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS TURN BACK.
UH, MAYORS ON THE COMMITTEE WERE KIND OF SHOCKED AT FIRST.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE OVER THE, UH, MAINTENANCE REPAIR MM-HMM
WELL, YES WE ARE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO.
AND IF IT'S BENEFICIAL TO OUR CITY, THIS IS A GREAT BENEFIT TO OUR CITY TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE IT DOWN, GIVE US WALKABILITY.
BUT THAT, THAT STARTED A LONG TIME AGO.
TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HAD HEARINGS ON IT AND DOWN IN AUSTIN.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT THING FOR US.
AND MICHAEL MORRIS HAS BEEN A GOOD FRIEND AND, UH, ADVISOR FOR US AS WELL.
WELL, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO AT THIS TIME, WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU GENTLEMEN, UH, IN LEADERSHIP IN THE POSITIONS THAT YOU ARE IN.
AND WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH GOOD FAMILIES THAT SUPPORT YOU.
SO TELL US JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, STEVE.
[00:25:01]
WELL, UH, FAMILY'S DOING GREAT.UM, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE, I COULD NOT HAVE EVER DONE WHAT I'VE DONE PROFESSIONALLY.
IT DE DEFINITELY TAKES THAT TEAM AND THAT SUPPORT.
SO WE HAVE OUR HEALTH, UH, THANK GOODNESS.
UH, BOTH OF OUR DAUGHTERS ARE GROWN AND IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AND THAT MAKES US VERY PROUD.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, A NEW GRANDDAUGHTER, SO WE'RE SPOILING HER EVERY CHANCE WE GET.
SO GOD HAS BLESSED, UH, ME PROFESSIONALLY AND, AND US AS A FAMILY BEYOND WHAT WE COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED.
AND WE'RE JUST SO THANKFUL EVERY DAY.
AND MAYOR, I KNOW YOUR FAMILY, BUT YOU TELL US ABOUT 'EM ANYWAY.
WELL, REBECCA AND I ARE KINDA LIKE YOU AND DAN.
WE CELEBRATE OUR 51ST ANNIVERSARY LAST YEAR.
UH, PEOPLE EXPECT HER TO BE WITH ME.
SHE, SHE GOES EVERYWHERE WITH ME.
I GO THROUGH THE CAR WASH SOME DAYS LATER AND SHE'S NOT WITH ME.
THE GUY LOOKS WHERE SHE AT, YOU KNOW,
BUT, UH, REBECCA AND I ARE BLESSED 51 YEARS.
WE HAVE THREE KIDS, FOUR GRANDKIDS.
WE'RE GETTING TOGETHER FOR LUNCH TODAY TO CELEBRATE ONE OF OUR DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAYS.
AND WE JUST, UH, I CAN'T THINK, UH, MY PARENTS AND MR. AND MRS. HANKS ENOUGH FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY GAVE ME TO BE WHAT I AM TODAY.
UH, AND THE, UH, YOU SENT ME THE VIDEO OF YOUR MOTHER INTERVIEWING NOT ONLY MY MOTHER AND DAD, BUT H WAYNE, VIRGINIA HANKS.
WHICH THOSE FOUR PEOPLE WERE SUCH AN IMP HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON MY LIFE.
AND I I, ONE OF THE THINGS MY MOM HAD SAID AT THE END OF THAT, AND THIS WAS BACK IN A LONG TIME AGO, AT THE END OF THE MEETING, SHE SAID, UH, AT, AT THE END OF THE TAPING, SHE SAID, EVERYBODY'S SOMEBODY.
AND, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THEY TAUGHT ME.
AND IT'S COME IN GOOD STEAD FOR ME.
EVERYBODY'S SOME SOMEBODY MM-HMM
AND, UH, WE, WE, UH, I'M THANKFUL THAT I HAVE THE TIME AND HAVE TO DO AND BE THE MAYOR I WANTED TO BE AND THE MAYOR THAT I THINK THIS CITY NEEDS TO HAVE RIGHT NOW IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND WE ARE SO BLESSED BECAUSE YOU ALL BOTH SERVE WITH EXCELLENCE AND WITH A PASSION AND LOVE FOR OUR CITY AND OUR CITIZENS.
AND I AM VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT YOU'RE MY FRIENDS, YOU'RE, UM, MY COWORKERS AND, UM, THAT WE CAN LIVE AND LOVE LIFE GRAND TOGETHER HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
WHAT A GREAT YEAR AND A GREAT SHOW.
THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS YOU.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON, AND I HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED THE 2023 STATE OF THE CITY SHOW.