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WELCOME TO IT'S HAPPENING, STATE OF THE CITY 2024.
I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON, AND I HAVE TWO OUTSTANDING GUESTS HERE TODAY.
THEY'RE TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GENTLEMEN IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS.
AND WE HAVE BILL HILLS, OUR CITY MANAGER.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO ALWAYS BE WITH YOU.
AND DO YOU KNOW YOU, BETWEEN YOU TWO GUYS, YOU KNOW NEARLY EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE OR THAT HAS HAPPENED IN 2023, SO WE'RE GONNA ENJOY HEARING THAT AND I KNOW OUR GUESTS WILL LOVE HAVING THAT.
MAYOR, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN 2023? WELL, YOU KNOW, GEORGE AND BILL AND AUDIENCE, UM, WE GET DEVELOPERS THAT COME AND GO.
THEY TELL US THEY'RE COMING, WE APPROVE IT.
BUT I AM WORRIED UNTIL THEY BREAK GROUND.
OH YES, WE KNEW ANDRETTI'S INDOOR CARTING WAS COMING.
WE KNEW BASS PRO WAS COMING, BUT THE BIG THING THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, THEY BROKE GROUND AND STARTED CONSTRUCTION.
AND THAT MEANS THEY'RE GONNA OPEN AND THEY'RE FIXING TO OPEN UP.
SO BREAKING GROUND, OPENING UP THE RESTAURANT'S.
LUKE NINE, THE FICH, THE DORA CHICKEN AND PICKLE WAS ALREADY THERE HAVING SIRIUS EATS ABOUT TO OPEN, HAVING RIDI THE NEW ITALIAN RESTAURANT ON THE FAR SOUTH END OF EPIC CENTRAL.
SIGNED THE LEASE WITH THEM, DRIPPY EGG, AN ALL DAY BREAKFAST DOWN ON THE SOUTH END OF EPIC CENTRAL SIGNING THE LEASE.
NOW AGAIN, I CAN'T WAIT TILL THEY MOVE IN, UH, BUT THEY'VE SIGNED LEASES AND WE'RE GOING FORWARD.
WE BUILT AND FINISHED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TWO HOTELS AND CONFERENCE CENTER AND HAD OUR FIRST CONFERENCE IN IT JUST RECENTLY.
SO THE MAJOR WORK, OF COURSE, WAS DONE IN 2023 AND WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN IT EARLY 2024.
SO NEW RESTAURANTS, UH, SHAKE SHACK, YOU KNOW.
THINGS LIKE THAT THAT YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY I'D LIKE ANYTHING WE DON'T HAVE.
AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A SHAKE SHACK
AND UH, WHETHER YOU LIKE SHAKE SHACK OR NOT, IT GIVES EVERYBODY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHOICES AND UH, THEY'RE SO A LOT OF LITTLE RESTAURANTS OPEN UP THE BIG ONES.
BUT I'M SO EXCITED FOR ANDRETTI'S AND BASH PRO.
AND AGAIN, WE THINK WE KNOW THAT BIG SHOTS AND OUR TOP GOLF IS COMING.
WE DID A DEAL WITH THEM LAST YEAR AND THE REASON I SAY BOTH IS WE DID THE DEAL AND APPROVED BIG SHOTS.
SOON AFTER THAT, TOPGOLF BOUGHT BIG SHOTS.
WE JOKINGLY CAUGHT, CALL IT TOP SHOTS
NOW THAT'S ON LAND OWNED BY IKEA.
THEY BOUGHT MORE LAND THAN THEY NEEDED FOR THEIR BUILDING.
IKEA IS IN CONTACT WITH TOP GOLF AND TOP GOLF IS STILL GONNA CLOSE ON THE LAND.
BUT THERE AGAIN, I'M HOPEFUL THAT I CAN ANNOUNCE THAT AT A FUTURE IT'S HAPPENING THAT THEY'VE STARTED CONSTRUCTION.
SO THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE, YES.
AND I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT IKEA.
THEY BOUGHT THE LAND AROUND THEM.
THEY CAN CONTROL WHAT GOES THERE.
AND THAT'S A GOOD LESSON FOR ALL OF US, RIGHT? YEAH.
FOLKS, IF YOU DON'T OWN, OWN THE LAND NEXT TO YOU, BEHIND YOU OR ACROSS THE STREET FROM YOU, DON'T ASSUME IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING BUILT THERE THAT YOU LIKE.
YOU BETTER GO COME TO CITY HALL AND ASK WHAT THE ZONING IS.
AND I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID ALSO ABOUT WE CAN CELEBRATE WHEN THEY START BREAKING GROUND AND WE SEE IT GOING UP BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS GOING ON.
NOW
THEY WENT AND PUT THE UH, BARRIER AROUND IT THE OTHER DAY.
THE EROSION BARRIER AND FRESH DIRT.
'CAUSE REBECCA AND I COULD TELL IT WAS FRESH DIRT 'CAUSE IT WAS STILL IN CLUMPS.
THE RAIN HADN'T CLOGGED IT ALL TOGETHER.
THAT MEANS THEY ARE PROBABLY FIXING TO START THE GROUNDWORK, WHICH THEY CAN DO THAT BEFORE THEY GET THE
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BUILDING PERMIT.WE GIVE PEOPLE A GRUBBING AND CLEARING PERMIT.
SO AGAIN, I'M HOPEFUL THEY STILL OWN THE LAND.
THEY'RE TELLING US THEY'RE COMING BUT RIGHT.
WELL, WHY DON'T WE GO OVER TO MR. BILL HILLS WHO IS OUR NEW CITY MANAGER, BILL HILLS.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THAT POSITION? I'VE BEEN IN THE CITY MANAGER'S POSITION FOR ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS NOW.
SO MA'AM THAT WAS PART OF 2023.
AND YOU'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY HOW LONG? 36 YEARS NOW.
AND THAT IS AMAZING THAT YOU HAVE THAT HISTORY WITH OUR CITY AND THAT YOU'VE MOVED TO THE TOP.
WELL IT'S, AS I SAY TO FOLKS WHEN THEY ASK ME HOW I LIKE IT, I SAY IT'S PROBABLY BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING SEVERAL MONTHS OF MY LIFE.
BUT IT'S ALSO BEEN THE MOST REWARDING AND MY LOVE FOR GRAND PRAIRIE BECAUSE GRAND PRAIRIE IS MY WHOLE, IS WHAT DRIVES ME ON A DAILY BASIS TO MAKE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE GRAND PRAIRIE BIGGER, BETTER, AND A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
AND WHAT A CHALLENGE THAT CAN BE SOMETIMES.
AND UH, IN YOUR POSITION FOR THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST EXCITING? THE MOST EXCITING PART IS BEING ABLE TO LITERALLY HAVE A HAND IN WATCHING AND HELPING TO TAKE THE COUNCIL'S VISION AND BRING THE COUNCIL'S VISION TO FRUITION.
WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT WE HAD A VISIONING SESSION WITH THE COUNCIL.
AND THE COUNCIL GAVE US 10 GOALS.
AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING THAT AS WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS A PRIORITY TO THEM ENDED UP BEING ONE OF THE GOALS THAT WAS ON THE 10 GOAL SHEET.
AND SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING LITTLE THINGS LIKE LOOKING FOR A PICKLEBALL COMPLEX, UH, WANTING TO DO MORE ATTAINABLE HOUSING, UH, GOING THROUGH AND KNOWING THAT MAIN STREET IS COMING.
BUT THAT ENDED UP BEING THE NUMBER ONE GOAL OF THE COUNCIL IS WE KNOW IT'S COMING.
WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA WORK ON IT, BUT WE WANT IT TO BE SOMETHING VERY, VERY SPECIAL.
AND SO WORKING TOWARD THAT GOAL HAS BEEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE TRULY ENJOYED BEING.
AND MORE THAN THAT, I ENJOY BEING ABLE TO LEAD THE STAFF.
WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF IN GRAND PRAIRIE AND THEY HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE AND THEY HAVE HELPED ME TO DO A BETTER JOB IN LEADING THEM.
YES, WE DO HAVE A WONDERFUL STAFF AND I'M GLAD YOU EXPLAINED YOUR ROLE BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALLY KNOW THE CITY MANAGER'S ROLE.
UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN THE CITY.
AND IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT YOUR ROLE THAT YOU COULD TELL THEM THAT THEY MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY, UH, HOW YOU WORK WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR? WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS FOR IN, IN A COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT, OUR CITY COUNCIL MAKES A POLICY AND SETS THE COURSE BASICALLY FOR THE CITY.
MY JOB AS THE CITY MANAGER IS TO FULFILL THOSE GOALS, TO MAINTAIN THAT COURSE AND TO PUT IN PLACE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, HIRE THE FOLKS, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST TALENT AVAILABLE TO MOVE US FORWARD.
AND ONE OF OUR INITIATIVES LATELY HAS BEEN GRAND PRAIRIE PROUD BECAUSE WE WANT EACH AND EVERY EMPLOYEE THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY OF GRAND PRIX TO BE PROUD TO SAY I'M FROM GRAND PRIX.
NOT THAT, UH, FROM A LITTLE CITY NEXT TO DALLAS.
WE'RE PROUD OF GRAND PRIX AND WE'RE GONNA WEAR IT PROUDLY ALL OVER OUR LAPELS, ON OUR SHIRTS, ON OUR CARS.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ASPECTS OF THE CITY MANAGER'S JOB IS TO MAKE GRAND PRAIRIE THE BEST IT CAN BE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SAY OFTEN IS WE WANT TO WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE GRAND PRAIRIE IS THE BEST GRAND PRIX CAN BE.
AND THROUGH THE GUIDANCE AND THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR COUNCIL GIVING ME THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT I CAN TO DO THAT IS MORE THAN ANYONE CAN EVER ASK IN A JOB.
AND I LOVE THE WAY YOU'VE, UH, GIVEN US THE CHALLENGE OF GETTING THE TOP 10 PRIORITIES BECAUSE WE CAN, OUR GOALS AND PRIORITIES, WE CAN GO BACK AND VISIT AND SEE WHERE WE ARE AND HOW WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON THAT.
SO APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH IN YOUR LEADERSHIP.
NOW, MAYOR, YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER OUR CITY BECAUSE YOU HAVE HISTORY AS WELL.
TELL US JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR HISTORY AND UH, WHAT MAKES YOU SUCH A GREAT LEADER BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE.
WELL, GEORGIA, BEFORE I GO THERE,
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I WANNA MENTION SOMETHING TO OUR RESIDENTS.BILL IS THE LEADER OF ONE OF THE TOP 150 CITIES IN AMERICA BY SIZE.
FOLKS, LET THAT SINK IN A MINUTE.
GRAND PRAIRIE'S IN THE TOP ONE 50 BY SIZE IN THE WHOLE US.
SO BILL'S NOT JUST RUNNING A A SMALL CITY.
UH, GOD'S LOTS OF MOVING PARTS.
AND UH, BILL HAS DONE A GREAT JOB 'CAUSE CITIES HAVE TURNOVER.
UM, I WAS SURPRISED HOW MUCH TURNOVER WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED 'CAUSE I DON'T SEE THAT MUCH TURNOVER IN OUR CORPORATE WORLD.
BUT SINCE THERE'S SO MUCH COMPETITION IN JUST THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA, FAR GOOD EMPLOYEES, WE DO LOSE GOOD EMPLOYEES SOMETIMES BECAUSE THEY CAN GET STEPPED UP AT A NEIGHBORING CITY.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO MOVE THE RETIREMENT PLAN TRANSFERS WITH THEM.
SO JUST IN BILL'S SHORT SEVEN MONTH TERM, HE'S HAD TO DEAL WITH SOME MOVEMENT AND HE AND HIS STAFF HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB FILLING NEW POSITIONS.
SO BACK TO ME AND, AND REBECCA, MY WIFE OF 52 YEARS, SHE'S BORN AND RAISED HERE.
I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 63 WHEN I WAS 12.
SO, UM, I'VE SEEN WHAT WE WERE, I LOVED BEING HERE, BUT I LIKE YOU, YOU'VE GROWN UP HERE.
WE HAD TO GO EVERYWHERE ELSE TO GO DO ANYTHING.
YOU COULDN'T TAKE, IF YOU WANTED TO GO OUT FOR A FINE DINING EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR ANNIVERSARY, WE HAD NO RESTAURANT.
WE EITHER WENT TO DALLAS-FORT WORTH OR ARLINGTON.
AND EVEN BACK THEN, ARLINGTON DIDN'T HAVE A, UH, WHAT I WOULD CALL A FINE DINING STEAKHOUSE.
THEY DO NOW, UH, A A COUPLE AND THE MAYOR OVER THEIR OWNS ONE OF THEM.
WE HAD NO SHOPPING FOR SPORTING GOODS.
WE HAD NO, I MEAN WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE MUCH.
AND, UM, SO TO SEE WHERE WE WERE AND WHERE WE ARE NOW, UM, HAS BEEN A, A REAL PLEASURE TO WATCH.
AND IT HAS EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS.
GEORGIA VERY, UH, HAS EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS.
AND MAYOR, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN OUR MAYOR? SINCE 2013.
UH, KEEP TRACK OF THE, UH, AND I WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE COUNCIL WHEN YOUR MAMA WAS ON COUNCIL BACK IN 2002.
AND I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE CLEMSON ACTUALLY GOT TO SERVE WITH HER MOTHER ON COUNCIL FOR TWO MONTHS, VERY SHORT TIME BEFORE HER MOTHER PASSED.
SOME PEOPLE THINK GEORGIA REPLACED MS. RUTHIE.
UH, GEORGIA WAS IN A DISTRICT ONE AND MS. RUTHIE WAS IN AT LARGE.
UM, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN DISTRICT.
WE HAVE A MOTION IN THE SECOND EIGHT MAYBE, BUT I MATH I KNOW WHAT I DON'T REMEMBER.
THE LARGE ONES WERE SEVEN AND EIGHT.
SO, UM, YOU GOT TO SERVE WITH HER A VERY SHORT TIME.
FROM MAY WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO AUGUST WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY.
AND SHE WAS AT OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING, UH, BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY.
WELL, THAT TUESDAY NIGHT, SHE WAS, SHE PASSED AWAY THAT FRIDAY, CORRECT? MM-HMM
AND THEN WE LOST ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EIGHT DAYS LATER MM-HMM
BUT WE'VE MOVED ON AND, UH, WE ARE SO BLESSED TO LIVE IN THIS CITY.
I DON'T BELIEVE OUR VIEWERS REALLY REALIZE THAT.
SOME OF THEM, JUST BECAUSE WE'RE SO ACCUSTOMED AND ENJOY SO MANY BLESSINGS WITH OUR CITY AND OUR LEADERSHIP AND, UM, I JUST THINK THAT, UM, IT'S AMAZING THAT WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT CITY AND I KNOW IT'S DUE TO OUR LEADERSHIP AND WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL SO MUCH.
NOW, MAYOR, I WANT YOU TO, UH, THINK AGAIN ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT 2023.
PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT ARE, UM, UH, HOTELS AND THE EPIC CENTRAL AREA.
BUT IS THERE ANYTHING WE'RE DOING, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE WISE OR ANYTHING THAT OUR VIEWERS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT? TO MAINTAIN A GROWING CITY STAFF HAS TO DO A FIVE YEAR PLAN CONTINUOUSLY.
UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR THE WATER AND SEWER, GAS AND THE ELECTRIC.
THAT'S THE BIG, BIG BIG CORPORATION.
BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE INFRASTRUCTURE ROADS
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AND SOME OF THE NEAT THINGS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO, UH, RECENTLY IS THE CAMP WISDOM EXPANSION.WE, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF CITIZENS DOWN SOUTH THAT NEED TO GET OVER THE BELTLINE AND DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GET ON I 20.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN UP CAMP WISDOM.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL ROAD.
WE WE'RE WORKING ON THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BELTLINE ALL THE WAY OVER TO 1 61 NOW BY THE RACETRACK WILDLIFE.
UH, JUST WE, WE NEED MORE CROSS EAST WEST CONNECTIONS, UH, BECAUSE I 20 AND I 30 GETS BACKED UP, WE NEED ALTERNATE ROUTES AND PEOPLE BE ABLE TO GET FROM 1 61 OVER TO OUR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT WITHOUT NECESSARILY GETTING ON I 30.
AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO A LOT OF JOINT, UM, THINGS WITH THE COUNTIES AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE DID LAST YEAR THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF.
HAVING MENTIONED THE WORD COUNTIES, HELPING US TRIGGERED MY MEMORY.
WE'VE SPENT OVER $6 MILLION UPGRADING THREE OF OUR PARKS.
TURNER PARK, TYREE PARK, AND ME FAMILIAR PARK, WHICH WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE STATE AND THE COUNTIES GETTING MONEY ALONG WITH OUR MONEY.
WE SPENT ROUGHLY $2 MILLION ON EACH ONE OF THOSE PARKS.
AND WE HAVE MORE MONEY COMING IN AND WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN TO DEVELOP THEM MORE.
BUT WE DID THE FIRST PHASES ALL LAST YEAR.
AND PARKS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR CITIZENS.
AND, UH, WE DO HAVE AWARD-WINNING PARKS AND WE'RE JUST WORKING ON MAKING THEM BETTER NOW.
I WAS JUST THINKING, UH, AS YOU WERE TALKING SO MANY PEOPLE, UH, IN CENTRAL GRAND PRIX AND NORTH GRAND PRIX, WANT TO KNOW, UM, DID ANYTHING HAPPEN IN 2023 OR WERE WE WORKING ON ANYTHING BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE FULL DETAILS ON FOR BELTLINE? UM, I 30, NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THE FRONTAGE ROADS OPEN MM-HMM
WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE CAN ANNOUNCE FIRST.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU A TEASER ON WHAT WE CAN'T.
WE BUILT THE BASEBALL FIELD YEARS AGO USING IT EIGHTH CENT SALES TAX TO BUILD THE BALLPARK COST, UH, 20 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND, UH, FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS IT WAS GREAT.
IT WAS DECENT ATTENDANCE AND ALL THAT.
AND THE LAST TWO YEARS IT WAS FAMILY AND GIRLFRIENDS
SO, UM, OUR FARMER DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MARTY WEEDER HAD SOME PEOPLE CONTACT HIM ABOUT CRICKET.
REBECCA AND I HAD HEARD ABOUT CRICKET BECAUSE WE'D BEEN TO LONDON BEFORE AND WE SEE 'EM PLAYING IT OUT IN THE PARK.
UH, JUST LIKE WE PLAY BALLS AND BASEBALL FLIES AND SKINNERS AND AS A KID GROWING UP HERE, THEY PLAY CRICKET OUT IN THE FIELD.
IT DOESN'T TAKE ANYTHING TO SET UP A CRICKET FIELD.
SO WE KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, EXCEPT I THOUGHT IT WAS A THREE DAY EVENT.
I WOULD NEVER HOW THEY, THEY AMERICANIZED IT AND IT'S CALLED T 20, UM, ABOUT A THREE HOUR GAME.
SO WE HAD SOMEONE, UM, ROSS PER AND MR. JANE COME TO US AND THEY INVESTED $20 MILLION OF THEIR OWN MONEY TO RENOVATE OUR BASEBALL FIELD TO MAKE IT A CRICKET STADIUM.
AND IT GOT OFF TO US INAUGURAL SEASON LAST YEAR.
AND, UH, 7,000 PEOPLE THERE THAT FIRST WEEK, THAT FIRST NIGHT, OVER 7,000, THERE'D NEVER BEEN 7,000 IN THAT STADIUM.
WE WILL BE HOSTING THE MAJOR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP THERE THIS HERE IN THE COUPLE OF MONTHS IN JUNE, JULY.
AND WE HAVE HOW MANY, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY SEATS WE HAD TO ADD TO? UH, WE'RE, WE'RE HAVING TO ADD AT MINIMUM TO A 10,000 SEATING CAPACITY FOR THE WORLD CUP.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE 10 AT A MINIMUM OF 10,000 OUT THERE.
WE MAY ADD MORE SEATS, UH, AT OUR OLD BASEBALL FIELD.
LONE STAR PARK STILL, UH, FIXING TO OPEN UP IN APRIL.
TEXAS TRUST CU THEATER RANKED NUMBER NINE IN THE WORLD AS IN THEIR CATEGORY NINTH BEST THEATER IN THEIR SIZE CATEGORY IN THE WORLD.
AND THEY'RE WANTING TO MAKE IT, UH, MOVE UP THE LIST TO A HIGHER RANKING AND HAVE SOME PLANS TO DO THAT.
AND, UH, WE JUST ENDED, THEY, THEY JUST EXERCISED THEIR OPTION TO EXTEND THE LEASE.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DEVELOPERS FAR AT THE I 30 13 82 CORRIDOR.
SOMETHING THAT WILL BE REALLY BIG.
AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN ANNOUNCE IT BY
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THE END OF THIS YEAR, BY THE END OF 2024.AND I THINK EVERYBODY WILL BE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
AND THAT COULD SPUR MORE, UH, DEVELOPMENT AT THE I 30 13 82 CORRIDOR.
NOT VERY MANY HOUSES AROUND IT.
YOU GO SOUTH ON 1382, IT'S TRUCKING BUSINESSES.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE HAVING TO BRING SOMETHING THERE THAT IS REGIONAL, A BIG REGIONAL DRAW.
AND THIS IS ALSO, I'LL PRICK YOUR INTEREST A LITTLE BIT.
THERE'S A THOUSAND ACRES TO THE EAST OF LONE STAR PARK.
THE CITY HAS CONTROL OF MAYBE 40 TO 50% OF THAT THOUSAND ACRES.
WE SHOULD GET THE HYDROLOGY STUDY ANY DAY NOW ON WHAT THE ENGINEERS THINK WE CAN GET AS USABLE LAND OUT OF THAT THOUSAND ACRES.
ONCE WE GET THAT AND FIND OUT WHERE IT'S AT, WE WILL BE TRYING TO GET GRANTS TO HELP US DO SOME DEVELOPMENT THERE.
'CAUSE IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO GET FLOODPLAIN LAND INTO USABLE LAND.
BUT THE PRIME LOCATION IT'S AT, WE THINK IT'S WORTH IT.
SO WE, THAT'S A LONG-TERM GOAL THERE AT THAT INTERSECTION TO EXPAND AND GIVE US MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT.
AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THAT 37% OF GRAND PRIXS IN THE FLOODPLAIN AND MOST OF THAT'S IN THE NORTHERN SECTOR.
SO THAT IS A, DEFINITELY A FACTOR.
AND UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CAN TAKE THAT LAND AND MAKE SOMETHING FABULOUS OUT OF IT.
SO WE'RE EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FOR OUR NORTH SIDE OF THE CITY.
AND, UM, MR. BILL HILLS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TOUCH ON, SINCE WE'VE BEEN FAR NORTH, COULD WE GO FAR SOUTH, FAR SOUTH? AND JUST GIVE US SOME VAGUE, VAGUE IDEAS OF WHAT MIGHT BE DEVELOPING DOWN THERE.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, THE HUFFINES GROUP THAT IS PUTTING IN A DEVELOPMENT.
THEY HAVE ALREADY ENTERED INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY.
AND A LARGE PORTION OF THAT AREA.
IT'S GONNA BE A DEVELOPMENT OF OVER 200 ACRES.
AND A LOT OF IT IS GETTING READY TO BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
SO OUR CITY IS GROWING TO THE SOUTH.
WE'RE THE LONGEST CITY IN THE STATE.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE PROVIDENT GROUP WHO IS GOING TO BE PUTTING IN A, A SUBDIVISION CALLED GOODLAND, WHICH IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER AREA WHERE IT'S GONNA BE AN INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL MIX.
BUT IT'S GOING TO ADD TO OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE QUALITY UPPER END HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
PLUS WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT IN SOME INDUSTRIAL IN THAT AREA, WHICH ALSO HELPS WITH THE TAX BASE YES.
TO MAKE THINGS CONSIDERABLY EASIER ON OUR CITIZENS.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, I REALLY WANTED TO SAY, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR COUNCIL WORKS DILIGENTLY AND OUR COUNCIL LAST YEAR LOWERED THE TAX RATE FROM 66 9 9 9 TO STRAIGHT 66 CENTS.
AND THAT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S EASY TO DO, BUT OUR COUNCIL MADE IT A POINT TO DO THAT AS WELL AS TO RAISE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TO THE MAXIMUM IS 20.
SO IT'S REALLY A LOT OF THINGS AND IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DANCE THAT HAS TO OCCUR BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND STAFF.
WE ALL HAVE TO BE IN CONCERT BECAUSE THE COUNCIL SETS THE POLICIES AND WE MAKE IT HAPPEN.
AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A STAFF THAT TRULY MAKES IT HAPPEN.
AND, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A COUNCIL THAT IS GIVING US QUALITY DIRECTION TOO, THAT SAYS, HEY, CAN YOU, AND I'M ONE OF THESE FOLKS THAT I'M A CAN-DO GUY.
SO IF YOU SAY, CAN YOU, I SAY, WE WILL AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SAY YES BEFORE WE SAY NO.
'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA FIND A WAY.
I HAVE EXTREMELY TALENTED STAFF.
THEY HAVE WORKED DOWN SOUTH WITH THE HUFFINES GROUP AND WITH THE PROVIDENT GROUP TO DEVELOP WHAT IS GONNA BE OVER 5,000 ACRES OF LAND THAT OVER THE NEXT TWO 20 YEARS WILL BE ADDED TO THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE.
WE WILL ACTUALLY EXTEND AS FAR AS VENUS.
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BE A, IT'S A TASK.AND WE'RE, I FEEL FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THE FRONT END BECAUSE THEN I CAN GO HOME ONE DAY, SIT BACK AND WATCH IT HAPPEN.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO, BUT NOT YET.
BILL, TALKING ABOUT THAT, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE HOW FAR THAT IS DOWN SOUTH.
61 TO 81 MILES WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE.
IT'LL BE ABOUT 61 MILES WHEN WE GET TO VENUS.
THE, UH, IT'S THE OTHER SIDE IS 2 87.
SO IF YOU, IF YOU GO 360 AND GET ON 2 87 TO HEAD OVER TO MIDDLE LITHIUM, UH, YOU'RE IN OUR CITY AT THAT INTERSECTION AND YOU'RE GONNA STILL BE IN OUR CITY FOR A LONG WAYS TO PAST THAT.
AND SINCE OUR CITY IS GROWING TOWARD THE SOUTH, DO WE HAVE ANY PLANS FOR, WE KNOW WE NEED SERVICES OUT THERE.
SO LIKE FOR FIRE STATIONS, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ON THE PLANS FOR A FIRE STATION? WE DO.
YOU KNOW THAT, I KNOW THAT WE PLAN AND WE GOT IT IN THE BUDGET TO DO FIRE STATION NUMBER 11.
AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? WE HAVE NOW, UM, ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO WE REACHED AN I-O-O-I-S-O RATING OF ONE.
WE WERE A THREE, WE JUMPED TO A ONE.
THAT'S THE HIGHEST RATING YOU CAN HAVE FOR FIRE.
THAT MEANS YOU GET THE LOWEST RATES AVAILABLE FOR YOUR INSURANCE ON YOUR HOME.
IS THAT CORRECT? WE JUST DID A RE HAD A REEVALUATION.
AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, AND I'LL ANNOUNCE IT AT MY STATE OF THE CITY, WE ARE A NUMBER.
WE RECEIVED A NUMBER ONE ISO RATING OF NUMBER ONE AGAIN.
SO TO MAINTAIN THAT ISO RATING IN THE FUTURE, WE HAVE TO BUILD FIRE STATION NUMBER 11, WHICH WILL BE DOWN, UH, JUST NORTH OF 2 87 7 ON THE EAST SIDE OF 360, ABOUT THE 2 87 360 INTERSECTION.
AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA BREAK GROUND ON IT PRETTY SOON.
WE SHOULD BE BREAKING GROUND ON IT WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
AND IT'S ON A TWO ACRE SITE, WHICH IS GONNA ALSO ALLOW US TO PUT A, UH, RADIO TOWER THERE TO EXTEND OUR COMMUNICATION BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT OUR FIRE AND POLICE HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE.
AND SO WE'LL BE DOING THAT AND WE'RE ADDING A POLICE BEAT OUT THERE.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND WE'RE HAVING A GREAT TIME DOING IT.
I I, I JUST FIRMLY BELIEVE IN HAVING FUN.
'CAUSE YOU'RE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO CHIEF ROBERT FIGHT FOR MAKING THAT A PRIORITY.
AND HIS TEAM, THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
NOW THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRE A LITTLE BIT, WE HAVE TO BRAG ON OUR FABULOUS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT NUMBER ARE WE HAVE WE MOVED UP NOW IN THE SAVET CITY, WE'RE NUMBER NINE IN OUR SIZE CITY, WHICH IS THE BIG, WE'RE IN THE, WE'RE NOT IN THE BIGGEST CITY SIZE, BUT WE'RE AT A, ONE OF THE BIG CITY SIZES.
WE'RE NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS THE TOP RANKING OF ANY OF THE CITIES AROUND US IN OUR CATEGORY.
SO, UH, THAT'S NOT EASY TO DO.
UH, AS I SAID TO THE YOUNG KIDS THIS MORNING THAT ARE ON MY MAYOR'S TEAM COUNCIL, THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN.
AND I THINK ANY MAYOR WOULD SAY THIS IS THE SAFETY, WELLBEING AND ATTITUDE, QUITE FRANKLY, OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE THE ONES, UH, BILL DOESN'T COME IN CONTACT WITH CITIZENS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
OUR WATER DEPARTMENT MAY, BUT WE HAVE LOTS OF STAFF THAT DON'T COME IN CONTACT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
THEIR PEOPLE BELIEVE ABOUT THEIR CITY, WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE ABOUT THEIR CITY.
SOMETIMES THE TONE IS SET BY THE INTERACTIONS FROM THE POLICE OFFICER AND THEY HAVE A EXTREMELY HARD JOB TO DO.
AND WE CONTINUE TO LOWER OUR CRIME RATE, EVEN IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
IT'S BECAUSE WE DO IT SMARTER.
THEY KNOW HOW TO PICK THE SPOTS THAT HAVE HAD INCIDENCES AND THEY SET UP PLANS TO LOWER THE CRIME RATE THERE.
IT'S BEEN SAID THAT IF A POLICE OFFICER CAN SPEND 15 MINUTES IN AN AREA, IT REDUCES CRIME FOR A GOOD TWO HOURS AFTER THAT.
UH, SO OUR GOAL IS ISN'T THEIR GOAL, OUR GOAL
[00:30:01]
IS THOSE AREAS, WE MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO HAVE A SQUAD CAR KNOWN.THEY WANNA BE VISIBLE IN THOSE AREAS WHERE WE'VE SEEN CRIME TO WHERE THEY'LL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
ARE WE GONNA STOP PEOPLE FROM BREAKING INTO CARS? NO.
THERE'S TOO MANY NEEDS OUT THERE.
THEY'VE GOTTA GET THEIR NEXT HIT.
UH, I HATE IT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT CYCLE AND, UH, BUT IT GETS 'EM TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT SINCE WE'RE SO LONG AND SKINNY MANY TIMES THAT MEANS THEY'RE GOING EAST OR WEST OF US TO OTHER CITIES.
UM, AND WE, WE, BUT WE ARE DRIVING DOWN CRIME EVERY YEAR AND I KEEP SAYING, WELL, WHEN IS IT GOING TO GO BACK UP? AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T.
UH, CHIEF SESAME AND THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY POLICING THAT YOU REFERRED TO.
OH, I LOVE OUR COMMUNITY POLICING.
SOME CITIES DO NOT EMBRACE CITIZENS ON PATROL PEOPLE.
THEY DON'T WANNA MESS IN THEIR DEPARTMENT.
THEY, Y'ALL ARE JUST VOLUNTEERS.
OUR POLICE PARTNERS WITH THEM.
AND SEE, WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND TOWN AND YOU SEE A POLICE CAR, YOU HAVE TO GET REALLY CLOSE TO IT TO DECIDE, NOTICE THAT IT'S CITIZENS ON PATROL VERSUS A POLICE CAR, RIGHT? MM-HMM
SO THEY EXTEND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT BY DRIVING IN, JUST DRIVING THROUGH AREAS.
AND WE HAD MEN AND WOMEN, UH, BOB AND THE OTHER NIGHT GOT GOT, UH, AN AWARD FOR HOW MANY HOURS HE'S PUT IN.
AND THERE'S NOT, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THEM THAT WAS AWARDED THE OTHER NIGHT AT THE POLICE AWARDS BANQUET.
BUT THAT, THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.
UH, WE FOSTER IT, WE WANT IT, WE WANT YOU TO BE COME VOLUNTEER.
WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS AND THEY'RE SO VALUABLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING THEM A PLUG AS WELL.
NOW, UM, WE'LL NEED TO START WRAPPING UP, BUT I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE WITHOUT MENTIONING WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN OUT NORTH 360 SINCE WE'VE BEEN BOTH ENDS OF GRAND PRAIRIE, RIGHT.
IS THERE, IT'S NOT A DONE DEAL.
AND GEORGIA, I WANT YOU TO CLOSE WITH TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT YOUR BIG EVENT.
THE RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE ON 360 IS ACTUALLY IN GRAND PRIX.
THE APARTMENTS NEXT TO IT ARE TWO.
THEN AT 360 WE'VE ALL GROWN UP THINKING THE WEST SIDE'S.
ARLINGTON, THE EAST SIDE'S GRAND PRAIRIE.
BUT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.
THE OLD FARM MALLS ON THE EAST SIDE, BUT IT WAS IN ARLINGTON.
SO THE WEST SIDE, WE HAVE SOME, BUT WHAT GEORGIA IS REFERRING TO IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE RIVERSIDE GOLF CLUB.
IT'S FLOODPLAIN, JUST LIKE I WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE FLOODPLAIN TO THE EAST OF LONE STAR PARK.
HE'S IN, HE'S BROUGHT PLANS TO THE CITY.
THE PLANS ARE OH MY GOSH, FOLKS.
UH, WE'RE HOPING THAT HE CAN GET THE FINANCING.
SEE, IT'S, YOU CAN HAVE A VISION.
YOU GOTTA HAVE PEOPLE BUY INTO THAT VISION.
IT'S GONNA COST HIM A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS JUST TO GET 140 ACRES OUT OF THE 400 ACRES OF FLOODPLAIN AREA.
BUT HE DIDN'T PAY MUCH MONEY FOR THE LAND.
'CAUSE YOU KNEW HE'D HAVE TO SPEND A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS TO GET IT OUT.
SO YOU, YOU PAY WHAT IT'S WORTH.
BECAUSE IT AIN'T WORTH MUCH OF ANYTHING UNDERWATER.
UH, I WOULD SAY IN THE NEXT 24 MONTHS, WE'LL KNOW WHETHER HE WILL BE ABLE TO GET ENOUGH EQUITY MM-HMM
AT RISK MONEY TO BE ABLE TO GET A LOAN.
UM, THERE'S, THERE'S INVESTORS THAT WILL LOAN YOU MONEY IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH AT RISK YOURSELF THAT YOU'RE GONNA LOSE FIRST BEFORE THEY LOSE IT.
SO I WOULD SAY WE'LL KNOW IN THE NEXT 24 MONTHS, TWO, FOUR MONTHS OR SO, WHETHER HE WILL BE ABLE TO DO WHAT HE WANTS VERSUS DEVELOP A LITTLE BIT OF IT THAT'S ALREADY OUT OF THE FLOOD PLAIN.
WE CAN DEVELOP A LITTLE BIT OF IT RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT.
I MEAN, WE'LL TAKE IT RIGHT NOW TO GET IT BOOST STARTED.
[00:35:01]
GET MORE ADDITIONAL FINANCING.SO IT IS A POSSIBILITY THAT IF IT DOES COME TO PASS ON THE NORTH SIDE, WE MIGHT GET A GROCERY STORE.
AND WE'RE NOT SAYING WHICH ONE.
WHICH ONE WE WANT OR WELL, WE'RE HOPING TO GET A GROCERY STORE A LONG TIME BEFORE THIS.
UH, HIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BE MORE LIKE, I, I LIKE TO THINK COMPARED TO CLEAR FORK, IT COULD BE OH YES.
AIN'T A GROCERY STORE AT CLEAR FORK.
NO, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT THINGS
AND THEN THE, UH, PEOPLE WHO, UH, KEEP REQUESTING CERTAIN GROCERY STORES IN GRAND PRAIRIE, WELL, WE'RE NEVER GONNA GIVE UP AND WE'RE NEVER GONNA GIVE UP.
BUT IF THEY DON'T SHARE OUR VISION RIGHT NOW, THEY JUST DON'T.
IM SORRY FOR WELL, THEY'RE, THEY'RE A PRIVATELY OWNED COMPANY.
THEY KNOW WHERE THEY WANT TO GROW.
AND, UH, THE GOOD NEWS IS FOR EVERYBODY, THEY ARE STILL GROWING.
THEY HAVEN'T SAID WE'RE DONE GROWING AND THEY'RE STILL GROWING UP IN THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA.
YEARS AGO, THEY WEREN'T EVEN UP HERE.
YOU'D SEEN WE'D IN FREDERICKSBURG RIGHT.
SO THEY ARE, I I HOLD OUT HOPE THAT, UH, ONCE UH, THEY CONTINUE DEVELOPING, UH, THAT THEY WILL SEE, UM, THE REASONABLE RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT IF THEY BUILT HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND THERE'S OTHER ONES THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO GET TRADER JOE'S WE'D LOVE TO GET.
UH, SOME OF THOSE, UH, I, THERE'S A LOT OF THEM.
MARKET STREET GROCERY STORES ARE TOUGH.
THEY ARE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY CAN CALL, UH, DIAL UP OR GO ONLINE AND GET 'EM DELIVERED.
YOU GO AND PICK UP REBECCA AND I ALWAYS GO TO THE BACKSIDE OF WALMART YES.
THERE'S THREE OR FOUR CARS OUT THERE.
WITH THE DELIVERY PEOPLE BRINGING THEIR BLUE BOXES, PEOPLE STARTED DOING THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THEY GOT USED TO IT.
AND, UH, ONE THING WE DIDN'T TOUCH ON VERY MUCH IS THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT.
AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY, UH, WE COULD BRIEFLY GIVE A SYNOPSIS.
BILL, WHY DON'T YOU GIVE A QUICK SYNOPSIS? 'CAUSE BRIEF SYNOPSIS IS THIS, WE ARE DILIGENTLY WORKING ON THAT.
WHERE WE ARE IS THAT WE EXPECT TO BE TWO CONSTRUCTION BY 2025 COMPLETED BY 2028.
AND THAT IS FOR THE, FOR THE ROAD ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE ROAD THAT IS IN THE CORE AREA OF DOWNTOWN.
WE'VE ALREADY DONE SOME WORK IN THE BACK OF THE PARKING LOTS THAT ARE BEHIND THE BUSINESSES.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT DONE.
UH, THERE ARE, SONIC IS ALREADY BROUGHT LAND WHERE THEY WILL PROBABLY BE RELOCATED, THEY'LL BE RELOCATING SOON.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO, COORDINATE THIS DANCE SO THAT BY 2028 EVERYTHING IS DONE.
AND WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL NEW DOWNTOWN THAT IS STILL HOLDS THE CHARM OF GRAND PRAIRIE DOWNTOWN.
BILL GIVE A, SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING TO THE ROAD.
WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH AND WE'LL BE ADDING A ROUNDABOUT AT WHAT THE OLD COUNTY BUILDING WAS RIGHT IN THAT AREA.
THERE'LL BE ANOTHER ROUNDABOUT AT ABOUT FIFTH STREET, NORTHEAST FIFTH STREET.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE BIG ROUNDABOUT TO DIVERT TRAFFIC OFF OF MAINE ONTO JEFFERSON DOWN BY THE, AT THE END OF MAINE, WHERE JEFFERSON AND MAINE COME TOGETHER.
UH, IT'S A EXCITING, EXCITING PROJECT.
WE'RE WORKING WITH SOME, SOME RE DEVELOPERS TO DO SOME REDEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.
UM, WE, WE OWN NOW CAL, WHAT WAS THE FORMER CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH WHERE WE'LL BE DOING SOME REDEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA.
SO IT'S, IT'S AN EXCITING TIME.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO.
UH, IT, IT'S JUST, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA BE GREAT FOR GRAND PRAIRIE, BUT IT'S THE SAME FOR ME.
IT'S THE SAME AS LOOKING AT EPIC CENTRAL.
EPIC CENTRAL CAME OUT OF THE GROUND AND THEN IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
WE BELIEVE THAT DOWNTOWN GRAND PRAIRIE CAN ALSO BE A DESTINATION.
EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE DOING FROM FOUR LANES TO TWO.
WE'RE MAKING DOWNTOWN MORE WALKABLE.
YOU WILL HAVE A MEDIAN, BUT YOU'LL HAVE, WE'RE GOING DOWN TO TWO LANES.
YOU WANNA BE ABLE TO HAVE PEDESTRIANS AND CARS COMING THROUGH BECAUSE WE HOPE TO HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF BEAUTIFUL
[00:40:01]
LITTLE SHOPS AND ECLECTIC FORMS OF SHOPS.PLACES WHERE YOU CAN GO BUY ANTIQUES.
PLACES WHERE SOMEONE IS, YOU LOOK IN THE DOOR, YOU LOOK THROUGH THE, THE GLASS AND SOMEONE'S IN THERE MAKING CANDLES.
OR THEY'RE MAKING SOAP OR, OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
WE HAVE A DESIGN BUSINESS, A HOME DESIGN BUSINESS GOING IN DOWNTOWN NOW IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS.
SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS ON OUR PLATE AND WE HOPE TO HAVE SMALL, WHAT I CALL INTIMATE DINING RESTAURANTS.
PLACES TO TAKE MISS REBECCA MAYOR FOR FOR A REAL ROMANTIC DINNER.
BUT, BUT WE, I HAVE TO CONGRATULATE THE STATE OF TEXAS AND TXDOT.
SEE MAIN STREET IS A TXDOT ROAD.
WE HAD TO GET THEIR PERMISSION AND THEY GAVE IT TO US AND THEY HA AND AND THEY'RE HELPING US PAY FOR IT.
SO KUDOS TO TEXAS, TXDOT AND THE RTC, UH, FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN.
AND THAT'S THE FIRST THING WE HAD TO DO TO MAKE DOWNTOWN VIABLE.
YOU HAD TO GET IT FROM FOUR LANES TO TWO AND GET THE 18 WHEELERS OVER ON JACKSON.
IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT, GET THE 18 WHEELERS, DIVERT THEM OVER TO JEFFERSON AND THEN WE HAVE A LITTLE QUIET AREA TO ENJOY.
THAT'S WHY I CALL IT, IT'S NOT, MAY NOT BE SO QUIET.
IT MAY BE VERY ACTIVE, BUT IT'S GONNA BE EXCITING
AND THIS HAS BEEN AN EXCITING SHOW AND YOU ALL HAVE, UH, BEEN SUCH WONDERFUL LEADERS FOR US.
WE ARE SO BLESSED IN THE CITY OF GRAND PRIX TO HAVE OUTSTANDING MAYOR WITH EXPERIENCE AND ALSO OUR NEW AND, UH, EXPERIENCED CITY MANAGER.
UH, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND TO YOUR FAMILIES AS WELL.
WE EXTEND OUR THANKS AND, UM, MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND OUR CITY CONTINUING TO, UH, GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
PLEASE MENTION YOUR BIG EVENT.
JUST BRIEFLY, WE WILL HAVE THE BIG EVENT MARCH 23RD.
AND THAT IS, UH, COME ON GUYS.
UH, DAY THAT VOLUNTEERS COME TOGETHER AND HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP WITH THEIR PROPERTY OR WITH THINGS GOING ON IN THEIR YARD, ET CETERA.
AND UH, WE'LL HAVE OVER A THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL COMPLETE OVER 100 JOBS.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND APPRECIATE ALL WHO VOLUNTEER AND TAKE PART IN THAT.
THANK YOU MAYOR FOR REMINDING US OF THAT.
WELL, MY GRANDSON GAVE ME THE IDEA.
BLAKE GARCIA, THANK YOU BLAKE.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR VIEWERS WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY FOR THIS WONDERFUL STATE OF THE CITY 24 SHOW.
I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON, AND REMINDING YOU THAT IT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.