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AS I STAND HERE TONIGHT, I'M FILLED WITH A LOT OF PRIDE.
I'M HONORED AND FEEL VERY PRIVILEGED TO ADDRESS THIS INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY.
IMMUNITY BEING YOUR MAYOR NOW, ALMOST 11 YEARS.
IT'S MORE THAN A TITLE, IT'S A SHARED JOURNEY, A PARTNERSHIP.
TONIGHT AS WE EXPLORE THE STATE OF THE CITY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING VITAL TO WHO WE ARE.
I LOVE THE GROWTH, BUT IT'S MORE IN IT THAN GROWTH.
WE STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN WHO WE ARE.
WE CAN'T GET TOO BIG FOR OUR BRITCHES.
WE'VE MAINTAINED OUR FRIENDLY SMALL TOWN CHARM THAT MAKES THIS PLACE SO SPECIAL.
EVEN AT A POPULATION OF 200,000.
WE'RE A COMMUNITY THAT GETS ALONG AS BEST WE CAN, WHICH FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM OTHER MAYORS, WE DO BETTER THAN MOST.
WE CHERISH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, NOT JUST BUILDINGS.
WHILE WE'RE HOLDING ONTO OUR SMALL TOWN CHARM AND THE CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY, IT'S ALL WE ALSO TIME TO GET EXCITED ABOUT SOME NEW THINGS.
WE'RE NOT JUST ABOUT KEEPING THINGS THE WAY THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN.
YOU KNOW WHEN I WAS ELECTED AND HAD MY FIRST STATE OF THE CITY IN 2014, I SAID, I WANT ANYTHING.
AND IF YOU RECALL, SOON AFTER THAT, I WAS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE A SMOOTHIE KING.
WHY? BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE.
THE POINT IS, I WAS SO TIRED DRIVING SOMEWHERE ELSE.
YOU KNOW THERE'S A BUZZ ABOUT OUR CITY JUST LIKE WALKING THROUGH WFA TODAY.
AND WHEN I WALK IN THE RTC MEETINGS, THERE'S A BUZZ ABOUT, ABOUT OUR CITY.
WE'RE NO LONGER JUST A DOT ON THE MAP.
WE ARE LIVING IN AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT AND RAPIDLY BECOMING THE PLACE TO BE.
WE ARE NOT JUST PART OF THE STORY STORY, WE'RE MAKING OUR OWN STORY.
THIS SUMMER WE WILL BE HAVING 13,000.
COME SEE THE ICC MEN'S T 20 WORLD CUP AT GRAND PRIX CRICKET STADIUM.
NOW I NEED TO MENTION CHARLIE AGAIN ABOUT THE CRICKET STADIUM.
HE HAD THE FORESIGHT YEARS AGO TO BRING TO THE VOTERS THE EIGHTH CENT SALES TAX, AN EIGHTH CENTS SALES TAX TO BUILD THE BASEBALL PARK.
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT, BUT IT DID WORK OUT.
HAD WE NOT HAD THAT BALLPARK READY AND AVAILABLE, ROSS PEROT AND HIS PARTNER JANE WOULD NOT HAVE SPENT 20 MILLION OF THEIR OWN MONEY TO RENOVATE IT SO WE COULD PLAY CRICKET AND WE WILL HAVE 13,000 THERE PLAYING THIS JUNE 13,000.
YOU GOTTA BRING A WHISTLE AND A FLAG
SO IT WILL BE HERE THE FIRST MATCH OF JUNE 1ST.
US FACING CANADA, IT'S BEEN ON THE NEWS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAY IT OR NOT.
IT IS A SHOW SPEAKING ECONOMIC IMPACT.
HAVE YOU BEEN AROUND EPIC CENTRAL LATELY? IT'S VIBRANT.
589,000 PEDESTRIANS HAVE VISITED EPIC CENTRAL IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
ONE OF THE REASONS IS THE VEGAS STYLE ELUVIA WATER SHOW AND LIGHT SHOW.
IT'S CRAZY, ISN'T IT? JUST TO BE EXACT.
WE'VE HOSTED 229,000 ELUVIA VISITORS SINCE ITS OPENING.
THEY BRING THEIR KIDS, THEY CAMP OUT, THEY DON'T CAMP OUT, BUT THEY BRING THEIR BLANKETS, THEIR LAWN CHAIRS AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.
OF COURSE NOW WE COULDN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.
WE FINALLY GOT THESE TWO HOTELS OPEN.
OUR TOURISM OFFICE IS PROACTIVELY MARKETING TRAVEL PACKAGES FOR VISITORS TO STAY, DO BUSINESS AND PLAY.
AND THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR OUR RESTAURANTS, RETAIL AND HOTEL PARTNERS IN AND AROUND EPIC CENTRAL.
WE KICKED OFF THE 2024 IN STYLE WITH THE OPENING OF THE HILTON GARDEN INN AND HOMEWOOD SEATS SUITES.
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YOU CAME IN ONE LOBBY CO-SHARE, YOU GO THIS WAY TO STAY AT A HOMEWOOD SUITE.YOU GO THAT WAY AT THE HILTON GARDEN INN.
HILTON GARDEN IS HAS THE FULL RESTAURANT WITH BREAKFAST AND DINNER.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A KEY TO GET IN, HAS THE FREE BUFFET IN THE MORNINGS, ONE POOL.
VERY ECONOMICAL WAY TO DO IT, RUN BY THE CONCORD HOSPITALITY GROUP AND THEY'RE WELL-KNOWN INDUSTRYWIDE THIS YEAR.
WE ALSO OPENED THE RESIDENCE IN.
WHAT WAS NEAT ABOUT IT? JOAQUIN SOTO FROM SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE IS A TEACHER THERE.
THEY COMMISSIONED HIM TO DO ARTWORK OUT IN FRONT OF IT.
YOU GOTTA GO NEXT DOOR TO MAIN EVENT AND SEE HIS ARTWORK OUT FRONT.
THEY OPENED JANUARY 15TH AND DESPITE HAVING ICY CONDITIONS THAT WEEK, THEY MAINTAIN CLOSE TO 80% OCCUPANCY.
THAT'S ALMOST UNHEARD OF WHEN PEOPLE FIRST OPEN.
HERE AT EPIC CENTRAL WE ARE EXCITED TO OFFER VISITORS EVERYTHING THEY NEED FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE.
FROM ADVENTURE, PARKS, FESTIVALS, CONCERTS AND PLAYGROUNDS TO OUR MESMERIZING WATER AND LIGHT SHOW WITH GREAT WATERFRONT DINING.
THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN REBECCA AND I GOT HERE FOR THE POLICE AWARDS BANQUET, WE TOO HAD TO PARK A LONG WAY AWAY.
WE PARKED AT THE SUMMIT AND WALKED ACROSS THAT WALKWAY AND IT WAS REALLY QUITE AN EXPERIENCE 'CAUSE WE GOT TO RA.
THE FINCH OUTSIDE WAS VIBRANT, THE TABLES WERE FULL, THEY WERE LINED UP WATCHING THE WATER SHOW.
I'M GLAD I HAD TO PARK OVER THERE.
AND WHEN WE LEFT AT NINE 30, A COUPLE WAS WALKING FROM THE SUMMIT WITH LAWN CHAIRS IN THEIR HAND, GETTING OVER TO SEE THE WATCH THE WATER SHOW.
MY GOODNESS, WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT? I MEAN REALLY? WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE? I'M GLAD IT'S HERE.
OUR RESTAURANT PARTNERS AT EPIC CENTRAL INCLUDE VIDORA
YOU GOTTA HAVE A RESERVATION,
THE FINCH, LUKE NINE BARBECUE.
THEY ALL OPENED IN 2023 AND NOW THAT THE HOTELS ARE OPEN IS GETTING PLEASANT OUTSIDE, THEY'RE DOING VERY WELL.
ALSO, THIS YEAR WE'RE ADDING TO OUR LIST OF DELICIOUS OPTIONS, SERIOUS EATS, WHICH WILL HAVE SHAKES, SLIDERS, AND SLICES.
IT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO FEDORA.
IT WILL OPEN IN MAY AND DIPPY EGG WILL OPEN THIS FALL BOTH HERE IN EPIC CENTRAL.
WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO WELCOME TO EPIC CENTRAL, A NEW RESTAURANT CONCEPT FROM T 2D CONCEPTS, THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN HOSPITALITY GROUP FOUNDED BY CELEBRITY CHEF TIFFANY DEARIE AND TOM FOLEY.
SO STAFF TELLS ME, MAYOR TIFFANY DEARIE IS BRINGING US A RESTAURANT.
I GOOGLED HER, SAW HER PICTURE.
TWO OR THREE NIGHTS LATER WE'RE REBECCA AND I WATCHED THE FOOD CHANNEL A LOT.
WHAT ELSE IS ON? GIMME A BREAK.
YOU KNOW I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL BASEBALL SEASON.
SO, UH, AND WHO'S IN COMPETITION IN ONE OF THE FOOD FIGHTS.
TIFFANY, I SAID BABY, THAT'S TIFFANY.
THERE ARE RESTAURANTS CALLED RIDI.
THEY'RE OPENING UP THEIR FIRST RIDI AND FARMER'S BRANCH IN ABOUT A MONTH OR SIX WEEKS OR SO.
IT'S ITALIAN AROUND EPIC CENTRAL.
WE'VE ADDED ONE OF REBECCA'S MY FAVORITES.
PAYWAY PAYWAY, EINSTEIN BROTHERS BAGELS AND CRUMBLE COOKIE, ALL BOTH ACROSS THE STREET.
BLUE GOOSE CONTAIN OPENED UP ON I 20 VOODOO BREWERY OPENED UP CLOSE TO IKEA AND SHAKE SHACK ON MAYFIELD AND STATE HIGHWAY 1 61.
OKAY, ANYTIME I POST ANYTHING ABOUT SOMETHING COMING, EVERYBODY ASKS ME, WELL WHAT ABOUT ROSES
I MEAN THE LORD MERCY, THEY TAGGED ME ON IT AND I FINALLY QUIT ANSWERING 'EM.
I WANNA SAY READ WHAT I'VE SAID ABOVE FOUR PAGES BEFORE
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PROPERTY.IF YOU NOTICE, THEY PUT UP THEIR NEW FOOT AND A HALF HIGH SCREENING DEAL, THAT EROSION PROTECTION RECENTLY.
AND THEY'VE TOLD STAFF THE PLANS TO BUILD SHOULD BE READY IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS.
IT'S ANOTHER THING WE AIN'T GOT MOUNTAIN MIKE'S PIZZA WILL ALSO COME.
AND THEN OUT AT MATTHEW LOWE'S, ASIA TIMES SQUARE, MATTHEW'S HERE TONIGHT, HE'S BRINGING US 85 C BAKERY.
HE TELLS ME YOU HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO CARROLLTON TO GET SOMETHING FROM THEM BECAUSE THAT'S THE CLOSEST ONE.
HE'S ALSO BRINGING BB Q CHICKEN AND FROM LINCOLN SQUARE, WHICH MANY OF US HAVE SHOPPED THERE AND EATEN THERE FOR YEARS, IS GETTING A MAKEOVER.
AND NEARLY ALL THEIR TENANTS HAVE EITHER BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE OR THEY'RE GETTING THEIR BUILDING TORN DOWN.
SO ONLY KOREAN BARBECUE FROM LINCOLN SQUARE IS OPENING UP AT ASIA TIMES SQUARE.
IF YOU WERE HERE FROM A 2017 STATE OF THE CITY, YOU WOULD'VE SEEN THAT SIGN.
THAT WAS PART OF MY SPEECH THAT NIGHT.
'CAUSE I WAS CONCERNED THAT WE WERE SO USED TO DRIVING NEXT DOOR.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LOVE ARLINGTON.
IF ARLINGTON AT AND T STADIUM GLOBAL OUTFIELD SIX FLAGS GO DOWN THE LIST, WE WOULD NOT BE WHO WE ARE WITHOUT THEM.
I TOLD THIS STORY AT A TRANSPORTATION EVENT THAT WALTER ATTENDED A COUPLE, COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND WE HAD THE CITY MANAGER AND THE ECONOMIC DIRECTOR FROM ARLINGTON NEXT TO ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I GOT, I LOVE BEING NEXT DOOR DOOR TO Y'ALL.
I'M GETTING WHAT Y'ALL AIN'T GOT ROOM FOR
I SAID, IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG RAISING FAMILY, YOU CAN'T AFFORD A SWIM AND POOL, BUT YOUR BEST FRIENDS NEXT DOOR WITH ONE AND HE GIVES YOU THE KEYS TO THE FENCE.
I LOVE THAT THEY HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE THERE WATCHING A FOOTBALL GAME SOMETIME.
MANY OF 'EM NOW WILL STAY HERE, EAT HERE AND PLAY HERE.
SO I WILL NEVER COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT ARLINGTON GETS.
'CAUSE WE HAVE LAND AVAILABLE.
THEY DON'T, THEY AIN'T GOT A HOBBY LOBBY.
MY WIFE REMINDS ME THAT ALL THE TIME.
YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY DON'T HAVE A MARSHALS AND SOME OTHER THINGS IN THE MAIN EVENT OR AT A ANDRETTIS OR A BASS PRO OR AN IKEA.
SO I SAID DON'T TURN AROUND AND EAT HERE.
WE DO HAVE A HOBBA LOBBY AND I TELL YOU I GOT LOTS OF COMPLIMENTS ABOUT IT AND NEXT DOOR'S POP SHELF SENT AHOLIC AND SOME OTHERS.
ANDRETTI'S, INDOOR CART GAMES NEXT DOOR TO IKEA WILL OPEN THIS MAG.
THERE'S ONLY TWO IN THE AREA, THE ONE IS IN GREENSCAPE.
GREENSCAPE HAS WHAT YOU UM, WE'RE GETTING SOME THINGS THEY AIN'T GOT, BUT I'D TAKE, I'D TAKE THE OTHERS, YOU KNOW.
SPEAKING OF IKEA, PETER AND ANYA WE'RE HERE TONIGHT FROM IKEA.
WHERE Y'ALL AT? RIGHT HERE MARY.
LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.
THE CITY HAS INVESTED AROUND $200 MILLION IN EPIC CENTRAL.
THE QUARTER SENT SALES TAX TO BUILD EPIC CENTRAL.
I MEAN TO BUILD THE EPIC, EPIC WATERS PLAY GRAND ADVENTURES.
WE SPENT A, WE'VE SPENT BORROWED 75 MILLION SPENT.
ANOTHER 25 IS A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
WE FLOATED ANOTHER $75 MILLION BOND PACKAGE TO BUILD THESE TWO HOTELS AND THE RESTAURANT PAD SITES AND EVERYTHING.
BUT IF YOU ADD EVERYTHING UP, INCLUDING WHAT CHICKEN AND PICKLE PUT IN, CHICKEN AND PICKLE CAME IN, PUT IN $13 MILLION OF THEIR OWN MONEY, 13 MILLION OF THEIR OWN MONEY, THEY'RE KILLING IT.
DON'T YOU? AREN'T YOU PROUD OF CHICKEN AND PICKLE BEE RIGHT THERE ON 1 61? BUT HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR A MAJOR CORPORATION TO BELIEVE IN OUR VISION 'CAUSE UP TO THEN IT WAS OUR MONEY.
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AND BUY INTO OUR VISION WITH THEIR OWN MONEY AT RISK.AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, IN TODAY'S ECONOMICS, IT'S AT RISK.
IKEA WAS THE FIRST ONE, THANK Y'ALL.
THE DAY I WAS ANNOUNCING IKEA, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ANNOUNCING TONIGHT.
AND I SAID, WELL GOOD FOR YOU
TELL ME, TELL ME WHAT I'M ANNOUNCING.
I ANNOUNCED IKEA THE DAY I LEARNED THAT BRASS PRO WAS COMING.
I CALLED TWO OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ASKED ME YEARS AGO, CAN I TELL YOU A SECRET? I'M ANNOUNCING IT TOMORROW BUT KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT
WE ANNOUNCED THAT THE NEXT DAY FOLKS, A HUNDRED THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT BASS PRO IS BEING BUILT RIGHT HERE.
NOW THIS IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD.
WE TABLED AN ITEM THE OTHER DAY.
IKEA OWNED SOME MORE LAND THERE AND THEY BROUGHT FORTH SOME DEVELOPMENTS, SOME WE LIKED, SOME WE DIDN'T.
AND SO WE TABLED IT ON THAT SITE PLAN WAS BIG SHOTS.
WELL YOU ALL KNOW BIG SHOTS GOT BOUGHT OUT BY TOP GOLF.
WE'RE CALLING IT TOP SHOTS RIGHT NOW UNTIL THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.
ANOTHER THING ON THAT LIST OF THINGS WAS A MEMBERSHIP ONLY RETAIL STORE.
AND SO I GET THE RUMORS ALL IT HAS A COSTCO, IT'S A SAN, I CAN'T TELL YOU, WE WILL ANNOUNCE IT SOMEDAY, HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY SOON.
BUT THAT WAS ON THE AGENDA THAT NIGHT.
AND SO I'M NOT TELLING YOU ANY SECRETS, BUT MOST OF YOU DON'T READ THE AGENDA.
SO IT'S NEWS TO YOU TONIGHT,
WE'RE CREATING SPACES THAT BRING US CLOSER AND GIVE US NEW PLACES TO HANG OUT AND NEW WAYS TO ENJOY OUR CITY.
SOMETHING I MENTIONED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IS RIVER CENTRAL FOLKS.
IT COULD BE CLEAR FOR IT, IT COULD BE NOTHING.
IT'S A HUGE PROJECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH THE DEVELOPERS TO MAKE HAPPEN.
BUT THERE AGAIN, IT TAKES MONEY.
IT'S IN THE FLOODPLAIN, IT'S 400 ACRES OF FLOODPLAIN AND THEY'RE TELLING US IT COST ABOUT $170 MILLION TO GET A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING ACRES OUT OF THE 400 ACRES TO HAVE 170 ACRES OF DEVELOPABLE LAND.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HELP 'EM
IT'S OVER ON 360 PEOPLE THINK IT THINK IT'S IN ARLINGTON, BUT IT'S NOT EVEN THE GOLF COURSE ACROSS THE STREET ON THE WEST SIDE OF 360 THERE RIVERSIDE.
AFTER YEARS WE'RE FINALLY WORKED OUT THE DETAILS TO GET TDOT TO GIVE US MAIN STREET.
WHAT'S TDOT GOT TO DO WITH IT? WELL, IT'S HIGHWAY 80.
BUT THEY REALIZED YEARS AGO THAT SOME OF THEIR OLD HIGHWAYS GOING THROUGH CITIES WERE INTERFERING WITH DEVELOPMENT.
AND IF CITIES COULD SHOW THEM AN ALTERNATE ROUTE FOR THAT TRAFFIC, THEY WOULD GIVE IT TO THE CITY.
THE CITY HAS TO TAKE OVER THE MAINTENANCE OF IT, BUT THE CITY THAT WANTS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE WE DO WITH DOWNTOWN, WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE WANT TO AT DOWNTOWN GRAND PRAIRIE UNTIL WE GET THE 18 WHEELERS OFF OF IT AND GET IT CHOKED DOWN TO TWO LANES.
THAT'S BLUNT, YOU KNOW THAT'S TRUE.
IT WILL BE CHOKED DOWN TO TWO LANES THAT I HAVE.
TWO ROUNDABOUTS ON EACH ONE ON EACH END.
THE MAIN ONE ON THE FAR EAST END WILL DIVERT ALL THE TRUCK TRAFFIC TO JEFFERSON AT A SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC WALKING.
AND WE HOPE IT WILL DEVELOP OVER THE YEARS AND SPUR SOMETHING LIKE
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WHAT'S IN GRAPEVINE.IT WON'T BE FAST, BUT WE GOTTA START SOMEWHERE.
AND YOU GOTTA START BY CHOKING THAT ROAD DOWN TO TWO LANE.
THE NORTH TEXAS INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE IS DIVIDED INTO THE SUBMARKETS AND GRAND PRAIRIE IS KNOWN AS THE GREAT SOUTHWEST SUBMARKET.
WELL WE GREW UP GREAT SOUTHWEST INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.
THIS SUBMARKET CONTINUES TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN GRAND PRAIRIE'S THRIVING ECONOMY IN 2023, UH, 128 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF INDUSTRIAL SPACE AND 3 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF NEW PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THE TOP LEASE TRANSACTION IN 2023 WAS 396,000 SQUARE FEET WITH FLEXING GATE FOR A TOTAL OF 9,000 CUBIC SQUARE FEET.
SO NO FOR A TOTAL OF 900,000 SQUARE FEET IN FLEXING GATE WITH ALL THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT LEASING UNDERWAY, WE WANTED TO ENSURE OUR BUSINESSES, INCLUDING OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND MINORITY BUSINESSES, WERE CAPITALIZING ON OPPORTUNITIES.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE KICKED OFF A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS TO HELP FOSTER AND GROW SMALL, MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES AND INCREASE BID OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING WE HELD OUR FIRST SMALL BUSINESS AND SUBCONTRACTORS ASPO THAT WAS HELD LAST YEAR, ATTRACTING A COUPLE OF HUNDRED ATTENDEES WHO LEARNED ABOUT AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.
THIS YEAR OUR GOAL IS TO ATTRACT EVEN MORE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND SUBCONTRACTORS.
WE'RE DOING IT AGAIN MARCH 21ST.
OTHER SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUR ENTREPRENEUR, YOU AND FRANCHISE YOU CLASSES.
WE'RE TRYING TO EDUCATE THOSE THAT WANNA WORK HOW TO WORK AND GET BIDS AND GO TO WORK ON CITY PROJECTS AND OTHER PROJECTS.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK OUT THERE TO BE HAD.
WE RECENTLY HELD OUR FIRST BLACK OWNED BUSINESS MIXER.
IT ATTRACTED OVER 150 ATTENDEES AND 12 BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS IS SERVED AS A NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY FOR AREA ENTREPRENEURS, BUSINESS OWNERS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.
WE ARE MAKING BUSINESS RESOURCES AVAILABLE ONLINE AND ON OUR WEBSITE.
LAST YEAR WE HOSTED LIVE SESSIONS FOR VENDORS ON HOW TO USE OUR PLANET BID SOFTWARE FOLKS.
PEOPLE GET IN BUSINESS AND THEY ALWAYS WANNA KNOW, HOW DO I BID ON CITY STUFF? BUT SOMETIMES THEY'RE SCARED THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WE HELP WALK 'EM THROUGH THE PROCESS, TELL 'EM WHAT INSURANCE THEY HAVE TO HAVE AND HELP 'EM.
'CAUSE ONCE YOU'RE IN THE SYSTEM, YOU'RE IN THE SYSTEM.
THROUGH OUR RETAIL REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WE'RE EXPEDITING EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS FOR AGING RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, INCLUDING REDEVELOPMENT.
A PLACE I'VE BEEN SHOPPING AT FOR YEARS AGE HARDWARE BUILDING ON SOUTH CENTER STREET AND THE DOLLAR TREE, MULTI-TENANT BUILDING ON MAIN STREET.
DID YOU KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE? THAT WAS NICE BOY.
AM I THAT BORING?
DID YOU KNOW WE ARE THE 17TH, THE LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
ANYBODY WANT TO GUESS HOW BIG WE ARE IN THE WHOLE US 126? YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
HUNDRED 26TH LARGEST CITY AND WE ARE THE LONGEST CITY IN TEXAS MEASURING 25 MILES FROM THE NORTH CITY LIMITS TO THE SOUTHERN MOST ETJ BROWN, UH, BOUNDARY.
AND SPEAKING OF THE ETJ BOUNDARY DOWN SOUTH, A FEW YEARS AGO, THE CITY ADOPTED THE SOUTHGATE PLAN FOR CITY'S SOUTHERN ETJ.
CITY STAFF HAS PARTNERED WITH PROVIDENCE TO MAKE THAT PLAN A REALITY.
THROUGH A DEVELOPMENT KNOWN AS GOODLAND.
GOODLAND WILL CONSIST OF APPROXIMATELY 5,000 ACRES OF LAND OFFERING COMMUNITY FILL THROUGH A TECH MIXTURE OF RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE BUSINESS PARK COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMPLETE WITH PARKS AND WALKING TRAILS.
IT'S ALL, IT'S DOWN ALL SOUTH OF 2 87 FOLKS.
ONE DAY IT'LL BE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
WE CAN ANNEX IT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS DOWN IN THAT SAME AREA, OUR STAFF HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE ESTEEMED DEVELOPER HUFFINES COMMUNITIES TO TRANSFORM OVER 1200 ACRES IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR AND A
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VIBRANT MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY CALLED LAKES SONG.LAKES SONG WILL BOAST 330 ACRES OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACES.
A 15 MILE TRAIL SYSTEM, A SERIES OF LAKES INCLUDING ONE 100 ACRE PADERA LAKE.
THIS EXCITING DEVELOPMENT WILL OFFER 3000 HOMES AND MAY WELL GROW TO 10,000 RESIDENTS.
TO ACCOMMODATE THIS GROWTH, OUR CITY OPENED UP A NEW PUMP STATION.
JUST WHAT Y'ALL CAME TO HEAR TONIGHT.
WELL, IT'S PART OF RUNNING A CITY.
IT'S PROVIDING 6 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY TO HOUSEHOLDS AND GP.
BY THE WAY, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS READY TO EXPAND AND ADD BEATS DOWN THERE.
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO AHEAD OF THE GAME WITH CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY FOR THE NEW STATION 11.
SEEMS LIKE WE JUST OPENED STATION 10, NEW STATION 11 WILL BE AT 360 AND 2 87.
IT'S SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN THE SPRING, WHICH MEANS FALL OF 2025
HAS ANYTHING YOU EVER BOUGHT, BUILT OR DONE FINISHED EARLY? WELL, MAYBE SOMETHING, LET ME BRAG A LITTLE BIT MORE.
WE ARE ONE OF ONLY THREE CITIES IN THE ENTIRE STATE THAT FOR EIGHT YEARS IN A ROW HAVE HELD THE BEST POSSIBLE INSURANCE RATING OF ISO ONE.
I REMEMBER THE NIGHT I WAS ABLE TO PUT THAT ON THE BOARD.
IF YOU WERE HERE, YOU REMEMBER WE WERE A THREE AMONGST OUR, ALL THE CITIES AROUND US HAD TWOS.
WE HAD A ONE WITH ALL THE CITIES AROUND US.
WE WENT FROM A THREE TO A ONE THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
SO WHAT HAVE WE DONE FOR EIGHT YEARS IN A ROW? WE HAVE HELD THAT I ISO ONE RATING AND THE AMERICAN HEART GOLD PLUS AWARD.
OKAY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? REAL SIMPLY, IF I HAVE A HEART ATTACK RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, BY THE TIME THEY BREACH THAT DOOR AND GET ME, THEY HAVE 90 MINUTES TO GET ME INTO A HOSPITAL WITH A CALF IN ME.
90 MINUTES INTO THE HOSPITAL ON THE CALF TABLE WITH A CALF IN ME.
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE THAT 100% OF THE TIME FOR EIGHT YEARS.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK.
BUT IF YOU CAN PLAN IT, HAVE IT IN GRAND PRAIRIE
I GET COMPLAINTS ALL THE TIME.
WELL, WHY DON'T WE HAVE A HOSPITAL? AND I WISH WE DID, BUT SOMETIMES I DON'T WISH WE, I MEAN THE ONE WE HAD RECENTLY, I WISH WE NEVERMIND
IF YOU EVER SPENT THREE HOURS THERE AND GOT A $90,000 BILL, YOU KNOW WHY I'M P****D.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU THIS, OUR CITY'S SO LONG AND SLENDER.
IF WE HAD ONE HOSPITAL, IT WOULD ONLY SERVE A THIRD OF OUR POPULATION.
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, EVERY, EVERY ENGINE, EVERY TRUCK, EVERY LADDER, EVERY AMBULANCE HAS A PARAMEDIC ON IT.
IF YOU CALL 9 1 1 AND SEE AN IN A FIRE ENGINE OUT FRONT, DON'T BE DISTURBED.
THE AMBULANCE WILL COME BE THE TAXI.
THE GUY, THE GIRLS AND MEN THAT LADIES THAT GET IN IN THERE, THE THE GIRLS AND BOYS, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT GET IN THERE, THEY ARE EQUIPPED AND ARE READY TO TAKE CARE OF YOU AND THE AMBULANCE WILL COME PICK YOU UP AND TAKE YOU.
SO I NEED TO MENTION TONIGHT, I'M GLAD TO ANNOUNCE WE HAVE RECEIVED THE IO ONE RATING AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS.
I ALSO HAVE TO PAUSE AND CONGRATULATE MAYOR ENGLAND.
WE WOULD NEVER BE AN ISO ONE RATED CITY AND WOULD NEVER, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, A GOLD RATED CITY HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR MAYOR ENGLAND'S AND TOM HART'S VISION YEARS AGO TO SAY WE NEED TO TAKE CONTROL AND BRING THE FIRE AND AMBULANCE SERVICE IN-HOUSE.
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THANK YOU CHARLIE.SEE UP UNTIL THAT TIME WE WERE JUST LIKE ARLINGTON AND FORT WORTH.
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE TIMES WE DO, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
YES, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THEIR EQUIPMENT IS HERE TO TAKE CARE AND THEY HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES.
SO THIS SPRING, AFTER A MUCH NEEDED RENOVATION, WE WILL BE REOPENING STATION SIX LOCATED IN SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE, NEAR SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAD THE, YOU YOU, YOU CAN'T GET THE NEW ENGINES IN SOME OF OUR OLD ONES.
WE'RE BUILDING A NEW EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, WHICH WE HOPE WE NEVER USE, BUT Y'ALL KNOW THINGS HAPPEN.
TORNADOES COME, WE GET THOSE HURRICANES THAT COME AND JUST BLOW IN.
NOW IF I'M GONNA BRAG ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I MUST BRAG ABOUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I HAVE PLENTY TO BRAG ABOUT.
JUST RECENTLY TOMMY WYNN HAD A FIRE OUT AT HIS SALVAGE YARD AND I MEAN TO TELL YOU, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT GOT ON IT AND THEY ALREADY HAVE A NUMBER ONE SUSPECT.
OUR FIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE SUCH.
AND THIS DID NOT HAPPEN BY CHANCE.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY AND EV EVIDENCE BASED POLICING MODELS TO PREDICT AND STOP CRIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
CHIEF SHARED SOMETHING WITH ME.
IF A POLICE CAR SPENDS 15 MINUTES IN AN AREA, IT REDUCES CRIME FOR HOURS.
SO THEY MAKE IT AN EFFORT, THEIR BEACH TO TRAVEL AROUND, ESPECIALLY ON SEGMENTS WHERE WE'VE SEEN CRIME.
IT'S NOT YOUR OLD WAY OF FIGHTING CRIME, FOLKS.
YOU COULDN'T KEEP DECREASING CRIME IF YOU STAYED THE SAME.
SOMEBODY COMMENTED ABOUT A THEFT AT HOME DEPOT.
THE NO, THEY COMMENTED ABOUT, WELL ALL THE EXPENSIVE TOOLS ARE LOCKED UP FOLKS WE'RE ON I 20.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT NEED MONEY FAST.
I, I'M SORRY, THEY'RE DRUG ADDICTS AND OTHERS.
AND SO THEY ROB INSTILL ON OPPORTUNITY ALONG I 20 ESPECIALLY IF WE CAN KEEP 'EM OUT OF OUR CITY, THEY'LL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE ALONG I 20 CRIME IS GOING TO BE ABOUT THE SAME.
WE JUST WANT 'EM TO THINK, I CAN'T DO IT IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
I DON'T WANT 'EM GOING NEXT DOOR.
I SURE DON'T WANT 'EM COMING HERE.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS LOTS OF INITIATIVES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THEIR BRAZILIAN JUUJITSU PROGRAM IS NOT ONLY PRODUCING CHAMPIONS, BUT THE PROGRAM HAS YIELDED A 35% REDUCTION IN THE NEED TO USE FORCE.
A 77% REDUCTION IN OFFICER INJURY AND A 20% REDUCTION IN SUBJECT INJURY.
IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING YOUNG TALENT, THEY HAVE HOSTED FREE SPORTS CAMPS FOR OVER 200 CHILDREN, EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTSMANSHIP, WHICH IS SOMETIMES LOST AND TEAMWORK.
MOREOVER, IN A HEARTWARMING ACT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT, GPPD PROVIDED FREE SHOES THROUGH THE BLUE SHOES PROGRAM TO OVER 400 CHILDREN WHO NEEDED SHOES.
NOT EVERY DEPARTMENT DOES THAT.
THEIR THREAT ASSESSMENT, BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS TEAM HAS NOT ONLY HELPED KEEP OUR CITY AND STUDENTS SAFE, BUT HAS ALSO IDENT BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE FBI
[00:35:01]
AS A MODEL FOR POLICE AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.WE'VE EXPERIENCED ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SEASONS AT PRAIRIE LIGHTS IN ITS 18 YEAR HISTORY WITH OVER 31,000 VEHICLES GOING THROUGH THIS YEAR'S EVENT.
ANOTHER VERY POPULAR EVENT IS COMING UP MAIN STREET FEST.
THE THREE DAY EVENT IS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
APRIL 26TH THROUGH 28TH IS JUST OFF OF MAIN STREET BY CITY HALL.
GEORGE CLINTON, MARK CHESTNUT AND MICHAEL SALGADO WILL BE THERE.
SOME OF THE HEADLINERS, THEY'RE FINE.
AT THE EPIC WE'VE HIT RECORD NUMBERS IN MEMBERSHIP AND REVENUE REFLECTING OUR COMMITMENT TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES TO OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AND SOME OF OUR PARKS.
THIS YEAR WE JUST COMPLETED PHASE ONE IMPROVEMENTS AT TURNER NEW FAMILIAR AND TYREE PARKS FUNDED BY $6.1 MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANTS FROM A NUMBER OF SPOTS BUT MOST A BUNCH OF IT FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS TURNER, ALSO ALYSSA COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
BEFORE YOU GOT THERE, DEVIN HARRIS HELPED US GET SOME FUNDING FROM TARRANT COUNTY.
MANY OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS WERE LISTED AS HIGH PRIORITY IN THE EXISTING PARKS RECREATION, OPEN SPACE TENURE MASTER PLAN.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE ADDING SOMETHING THAT CA DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TIMM CLEMSON HAS BEEN AFTER US FOR YEARS TO ADD, WE'RE ADDING A STAR SHAPED CANOPY AT VETERANS MEMORIAL FOR HIS 20TH ANNIVERSARY.
GIVE US SOME SHADE AND WE'RE ADDING A SENSORY ART WALL AT PLAYGROUND ADVENTURES.
HAVE YOU EVER DRIVEN BY PLAYGROUND ADVENTURES ON A PLEASANT SATURDAY AFTERNOON? IT'LL WARM YOUR HEART.
KIDS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES ARE IN THEIR PLANE.
OUR LIBRARIES HAVE SEEN AN IMPRESSIVE INCREASE IN VISITORS WITH OVER 106,000 MORE PATRONS IN 2023 COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THIS SEPTEMBER WE WE ARE REMODELING THE MAIN LIBRARY, LOBBY AND ENTRANCE AIMING TO CREATE A MORE WELCOMING IN MODERN SPACE.
ALSO, THIS YEAR WE'RE INTRODUCING TWO NEW MOBILE LIBRARIES TO COME TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WIFI HOTSPOTS, BOOKS RIGHT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT'S TO HELP ENHANCE ACCESS AND TECHNOLOGY AND GET READY FOR IT.
MARCH 15TH THROUGH 17TH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE EXTRAORDINARY DINO FEST AT EPIC CENTRAL.
THE LIBRARY PROGRAM WILL BRING AN INTERACTIVE DINOSAUR EXPERIENCE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BLENDING EDUCATION WITH AN ENTERTAINMENT.
THIS IS ONLY ONE OF THE MANY EXCITING EVENTS THIS YEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE A LIST OF LOCAL AND OUT OF TOWN ARTISTS PERFORMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT THE JAMBOX.
OKAY, WHERE'S THE JAMBOX? IT'S PART OF SIRIUS EATS NEXT DOOR TO VIDORA.
THAT BIG GARAGE DOOR THAT OPENS UP.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TALENT THERE ALL SUMMER LONG ALONG VIA WHAT IN THE HECK IS VIA.
WE WANT TO MAKE THESE DESTINATIONS ACCESSIBLE.
IN THE 1980S WE VOTED NOT TO JOIN DART.
ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS THE CITY EVER MADE HAD WE JOINED DART, WE WOULD'VE SPENT OVER $500 MILLION AND STILL WOULDN'T HAVE RAIL IN THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE.
WE USED THAT PENNY TO BUILD LOANS TO OUR PARK, THE BASEBALL FIELD, THE SUMMIT, A NUMBER OF THINGS.
EPIC CENTRAL IS GOT USED A QUARTER FOR THE BUILDING, THE EPIC, EPIC WATERS AND PLAYGROUND ADVENTURES.
A QUARTER OF IT GOES PERPETUALLY TO THE PARKS AND A QUARTER OF IT GOES TO STREETS AND A QUARTER OF IT GOES TO OUR CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT TO HELP FUND OUR POLICE.
VIA IS A MICRO TRANSIT SYSTEM.
IT'S A CHEAP UBER BUT NOT DOOR TO DOOR.
[00:40:02]
DART, IT WOULDN'T BE DOOR TO DOOR.YOU'D HAVE TO WALK BLOCKS, MAYBE MILES TO GET TO THE BUS STOP VIA WILL COME CLOSE TO YOUR HOUSE, USUALLY A BLOCK OR TWO AWAY, AND SOMETIMES TAKE YOU RIGHT TO THE DESTINATION MANY TIMES AT AN INTERSECTION CLOSE BY.
WAIT TIME'S ABOUT 20 MINUTES FOR THREE BUCKS A TRIP OR $2 FOR SENIORS VIA WILL TAKE YOU TO MOST DESTINATIONS WITHIN OUR CITY.
WELL, IT'LL TAKE YOU EVERYWHERE WITHIN OUR CITY, BUT IT FOR THAT SAME AMOUNT.
IT CAN TAKE YOU TO TARRANT COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
IT CAN TAKE YOU TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON.
JOIN ARLINGTON'S VIA, GO TO UTA, THEN TAKE IT TO TEXAS LIVE
GOTTA PAY VIA TWICE OURS AND THEIRS.
BUT IF YOU GOTTA GET THERE, GET THERE AND FOLKS, THAT'LL TAKE YOU TO THE WEST IRVING TRE STATION.
AND THEN YOU CAN GET ALMOST ANYWHERE VIA CAN GET YOU THERE FOR THREE BUCKS FOR AN ADDITIONAL DOLLAR YOU CAN GET TO DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY, MOUNTAIN VIEW MEDICAL CITY, ARLINGTON, USMD HOSPITAL AND METHODIST MANSFIELD.
I'M ALSO THRILLED TONIGHT THAT WE HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THE COMMUNITY CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY INDEX BY THE ESTEEMED ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND.
THIS RECOGNITION HIGHLIGHTS OUR PROACTIVE STANCE IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE.
IT'S A PROUD MOMENT FOR US AS IT ACKNOWLEDGES OUR INITIATIVES TO UNDERSTAND AND MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
IN ADDITION TO THIS, WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATIVE BLOCK GRANT, NOT JUST A GRANT.
IT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR RELENTLESS EFFORT IN ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PRACTICES.
THIS GRANT WILL ENABLE US TO IMPLEMENT CRITICAL ENERGY SAVING MEASURES TO REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT, ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOWN CAMP WISDOM ROAD LATELY FROM ROBINSON ROAD TO BELTLINE, YOU HAVE NOTICED A DIFFERENCE.
IT'S MUCH WIDER, SMOOTHER, NO GRAVEL ON IT, AND SAFER TO DRIVE.
LAST YEAR WE HELD A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE $29.4 MILLION MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL PROJECT BETWEEN DALLAS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF DALLAS, ALONG WITH MONEY FROM GRAND PRAIRIE.
THIS PROJECT FEATURES INCLUDE A CYCLING PEDESTRIAN TRAIL AND REINFORCED GIRDER BRIDGE OVER THE MOUNTAIN CREEK.
TWO ARCH BRIDGES, STORM DRAINAGE AND NEW UPGRADE TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
SO YOU HAVE A DUNKING DONUT AT LAKE RIDGE.
YOU GET ON YOUR BIKE AND YOU GET OVER TO CAMP WISDOM, GO ALL THE WAY OVER TO 1382, BUT THEN YOU SEE OFTEN ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF, SOME MORE PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS HEADING ALL THE WAY TO CEDAR HILL.
THERE WAS A GAP, IT WAS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS AND WE JUST BROKE GROUND FOR THAT 1.2 MILE SEGMENT TO CONNECT THE TWO.
SO SOON YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET THAT DONUT AND GO ALL THE WAY TO BABES IN CEDAR HILL ON YOUR BICYCLE.
AND THERE'S MORE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, COMPLETE EXPANSION.
YOU KNOW, ROAD IMPROVEMENTS ARE BORING, BUT JUST THINK ABOUT IT, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE GEORGE BUSH TURNPIKE, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.
WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT IF THE GEORGE BUSH TURNPIKE WASN'T RUNNING RIGHT BY OUT THERE.
WE'RE A RAT SMACK DAB IN A MILLION OF, IN THE MIDDLE OF 8 MILLION PEOPLE.
WE'RE COMPLETING THE EXTENT EXPANSION OF WILDLIFE PARKWAY FROM BELTLINE ALL THE WAY OVER TO 1 61.
WE'RE FINISHING RECONSTRUCTION OF LOWER TARRAN ROAD AT THE 1 61 SIGNAL AND WE'RE BEGINNING RECONSTRUCTION OF JEFFERSON STREET EAST OF 1 61.
THAT'S CRITICAL FOR THE TURNBACK PROGRAM.
TXDOT REVIEWED OUR JEFFERSON STREET AND SAID IN ORDER TO GET THE TRUCK TRAFFIC OFF OF MAIN STREET, WE HAD TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO JEFFERSON.
[00:45:01]
PLANS WITH TDOT FOR IMPROVEMENTS ON HIGHWAY 2 87 IN THE FAR SOUTH CITY SECTOR.THE OTHER NIGHT AFTER A COUNCIL MEETING, I WAS DRIVING HOME AND I SAW THIS MOVIE SCREEN IN FRONT OF ME ON THE LEFT.
I SAID, WHEN DID WE PUT A MOVIE THEATER OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD? I GOT DOWN THERE, WELL IT WAS THIS SUCKER ON THE GROUND.
THE ROBINSON PUMP STATION NEXT DOOR TO THE NEW FIRE STATION.
AND THIS YEAR WE, WE BE DOUBLING FROM 1 MILLION GALLONS TO 2 MILLION GALLONS OF STORAGE THERE.
IF THEY HAD UH, FOLKS THAT THAT'S ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED, WE'LL TEAR DOWN THE OLD ONE NEXT DOOR TO IT.
WE ANTICIPATE BEING COMPLETE, COMPLETE IN SEPTEMBER.
WE'VE GOT IT RAISED, WE'VE GOT IT PAINTED NOW WE JUST GOTTA GET IT ALL SEALED UP.
I THINK THEY'RE USING THAT STUFF SHOWN ON HOME DEPOT THAT YOU, YOU SPRAY THE BLACK STUFF, SEALS, ANYTHING
IT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN SEAL ANYTHING.
THEY PUT IT IN CARDBOARD BOXES AND YOU FLOAT.
THEY PROBABLY DO IT IN SEGMENTS, FOUR CARDBOARD BOXES BACK TO BACK TO BACK TO BACK AND PIECE 'EM TOGETHER.
IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS THERE FOR 10 MINUTES.
THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND UPGRADES.
I'M SO GLAD WE ARE SUPPORTED BY OUR TEAM, THE PROFESSIONALS FOLKS.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE.
LET'S GIVE 'EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
IT IS NOT BY CHANCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AWARDED US THE CERTIFICATE FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR PHYSICAL YEAR 2022 S AND P AWARDED US AAA RATING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 FOR THE $53 MILLION CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
WE SOLD THAT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
WE'VE ALSO TRIED TO HELP YOU WITH PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE 20 23 20 24 BUDGET.
WE MAINTAINED THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.66.
WE FINALLY DID AWAY WITH THOSE TRAILING FIVE NUMBERS.
IT USED TO BE 0.6 7 2 5 3 6 9 8
I SAID, MY GOSH, LET'S ROUND THAT OFF IN 2021 AND 2022, WE CUT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BY A HALF CENT AND INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION BY TWO AND A HALF PERCENT.
OKAY, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? IF WE REDUCE THE TAX RATE BY A HALF A PENNY? IT CUTS OUR INCOME BY A MILLION DOLLARS.
IF WE RE INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD BY TWO AND A HALF PERCENT, IT REDUCES OUR INCOME BY THE SAME MILLION DOLLARS.
BUT THE EFFECT TO THE CITIZEN IS LIKE GETTING A TWO PENNY REDUCTION IN TAXES.
'CAUSE THE 2.5% REDUCTION, UH, INCREASE IN HOMESTEAD ONLY AFFECTS THOSE IN HOMES.
THE HALF A PENNY REDUCTION IS FOR EVERYBODY.
SO YOU WANT THAT TWO POINT HALF PERCENT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION INCREASE.
WE'RE FIXING THE TOP OUT IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WE WANT TO GET THAT TOP INCREASED.
I'M THINKING AS GENEROUS AS THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT REDUCING TAXES, THEY OUGHT TO BOTH SIDES OF THE PARTY HELP US GET THAT DONE.
GRAND PHRASE THAT REMAINS A SELLER'S MARKET FOR HOMES.
THIS MEANS THAT THERE ARE MORE BUYERS THAN SELLERS.
THE MEDIUM LIST HOME PRICE RIGHT NOW IT'S $389,000.
THIS FIGURE IS HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR'S MEDIAN PRICE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE FOCUSED ON THRIVING, CREATING A THRIVING, ECONOMICALLY BALANCED CITY THAT CARES FOR ITS RESIDENTS.
OUR MISSION REMAINS THE SAME TO CREATE RAVING FANS BY DELIVERING WORLD CLASS SERVICE.
TO CONTINUE DOING THIS, WE MUST PLAN FOR THE FUTURE AND WE ARE YOUR CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY MET TO IDENTIFY TOP 10 PRIORITIES.
CONTINUE THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN.
DEVELOP AN INFRASTRUCTURE MASTER PLAN THAT WILL CONSIST OF HAVING SOME ATTAINABLE HOUSING DOWN SOUTH ON 2 87 AND IN THE GYP MODE.
OKAY? MOST OF YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD
[00:50:01]
OF THE GYP NERD WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN I 30 AND ON YOUR LEFT IS TEXAS TRUST CU THEATER.AND JEFF, SOME OF MY COUNSEL WANNA GO SEE KAT WILLIAMS TONIGHT.
CAN YOU CALL ROBIN AND HAVE HIM DELAYED?
UH, I'M SURPRISED TWO OF 'EM ARE STILL HERE.
BUT THE GYP NERD EAST OF LONE STAR PARK IS A VAST WASTE STAND.
WASTELAND OF FLOODPLAIN, APPROXIMATELY A THOUSAND ACRES.
THE GYP BIRD, WHICH IS UNDER THE CITY'S CONTROL, HAS FOUR TO 500 OF THAT ACRES ON THE WEST SIDE OF THAT.
WE SHOULD BE GETTING THE HYDROLOGY STUDY BACK PRETTY SOON, WHICH WOULD TELL US WHERE'S THE BEST PLACE TO MOVE THE WATER.
SO YOU CAN'T JUST MAKE IT ALL DEVELOPABLE.
YOU GOTTA THE WATER THAT'S THERE.
YOU GOTTA SOME FIND SOMEPLACE FOR IT.
SO WHAT YOU DO, YOU HAVE TO DIG DEEPER PONDS OR LAKES TO TAKE CARE OF THE WATER.
THEY'RE SPREAD OVER THE WHOLE VAST AREA.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YOU JUST, THAT GALLON OF WATER'S GOTTA GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND SO THAT HYDROLOGY STUDY WILL TELL US THAT THAT'S A VERY VALUABLE PIECE OF LAND, BUT IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE PIECE OF LAND TO GET OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.
JUST LIKE I SAID ABOUT THE PRIVATE INVESTOR TRYING TO DO IT OVER ON 360.
WE'LL START LOOKING FOR GRANTS TO HELP FUND IT, BUT THAT IS A LOT OF LAND RIGHT ALONG I 30.
PART OF IT IS TRANSPORTATION AND BRIDGES, FIBER OPTICS AND LOW INCOME AREAS ESPECIALLY.
WE NEED FASTER INTERNET CREATING JOBS AND HIGHER EDUCATION.
NUMBER THREE, PROVIDE INCENTIVES AS NEEDED TO ATTRACT MORE INDEPENDENT, UNIQUE RETAIL STORES THROUGHOUT GRAND PRAIRIE.
IT'S EASY TO INCENTIVIZE AN IKEA.
THIS COUNCIL IS OPEN TO INCENTIVIZING THINGS THAT WE NEED, EVEN IF IT'S A MUCH LONGER PAYBACK.
WE NEED AND WANT UNIQUE STORES, ESPECIALLY GROCERY STORES WHICH AREN'T IN NEED UNIQUE, BUT WE NEED 'EM.
FUND AND BUILD A MULTICULTURAL CENTER.
INCREASE DIVERSITY IN CITY CONTRACTS AND PLANNING PROJECTS, FUND AND BUILD A PICKLEBALL COURT THAT MEANT COMPLEX.
IT'D BE EASY TO BUILD ONE COURT, WOULDN'T IT? DOROTHY
FUN FUTURE PHASES OF TURNER PARK WORK TO ATTRACT GROCERY STORES, PARTICULARLY IN THE FOOD DESERT.
AND THERE AGAIN, GROCERY DOOR STORES DON'T PAY MUCH SALES TAX, BUT IN THE RIGHT GROCERY STORE IN THE NEEDED AREA, WE WOULD PROBABLY HELP 'EM SEEK AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS TO ATTRACT KEY WORKERS IN OUR CITY PURSUE STRONGER GREEN INITIATIVES AND MAINTAIN GREEN SPACE DURING DEVELOPMENT.
FOLKS, LET'S BE HONEST, WE GOT A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US, BUT AS I STAND HERE TONIGHT, WE'VE COME A LONG WAY.
HAD YOU TOLD ME AFTER MY 20 14, 20 14 STATE OF THE CITY THAT WE WOULD HAVE WHAT WE HAVE NOW, I WOULDN'T HAVE BELIEVED YOU.
I GUARANTEE YOU AN IKEA, A BASS PRO AND ANDRETTI'S, THE LIVING SPACES, THE LIST GOES ON.
YOU CAN'T GET IN SOME RESTAURANTS ALONG 1 61.
THEY MUST BE GIVEN THE BEER AWAY AT TWIN PEAKS,
THEY'RE PARKING IN DUTCH BROTHERS PARKING LOT.
THEY'RE PARKING IN THE FIELD EXCEPT WHEN IT'S MUDDY.
WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT LOCATION WITH AVAILABLE DIRT.
[00:55:03]
IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO STRIVE.AS I STAND HERE TONIGHT AND COME TO MY CLOSING, AGAIN, I'M HONORED, HUMBLED, THRILLED, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT TO BE YOUR MAYOR.
I LOVE IT WHEN I SEE YOUNG CHILDREN, PARENTS, ANYBODY OUT IN THE PUBLIC THE OTHER NIGHT, WE NEVER HARDLY EVER GO TO SPROUTS.
WE WALKED IN THE SPROUTS AND BEFORE I COULD GET IN THE DOOR, A THIRD GRADER WAS TUGGING AT HER DADDY'S SHIRT TAIL AND LOOKING AT ME AND I KNEW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT.
I WALKED OVER AND I SAID, HAVE I BEEN TO YOUR SCHOOL? AND SHE SAID, YES SIR.
I GO TO SALLY MOORE AND THE DADDY SAID, SHE CAME HOME AND TOLD ME THAT DAY WHEN YOU CAME TO SEE HER BEFORE WE GOT INTO SPROUTS, THREE OTHER PEOPLE SAID, HEY MAYOR, WHAT ARE YOU COMING TO GET TONIGHT INSIDE THREE OTHER PEOPLE.
I'VE NEVER, I'VE NEVER RUN INTO THAT MANY AT ONE TIME AT TOM THUMB.
BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT, THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY FEEL LIKE I'M APPROACHABLE AND I AM.
I DON'T GET A LOT OF EMAILS ANYMORE.
I GET TAGGED
EVEN IF IT'S THE ONE THAT MAYOR, I'M TIRED OF HAVING THESE RESTROOMS THAT AREN'T LABELED MEN AND WOMEN.
I INSTEAD THEY'RE ABLE LABELED BOTH.
HE TAGGED ME AND WE'VE HAD AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION, BUT I DON'T JUST ANSWER THE ONES I WELL, YOU GET THE POINT,
I DON'T EVER WANT US TO LOSE SIGHT OF BEING FRIENDLY.
THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES THAT CAN DIVIDE US OUT THERE TODAY.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE COMMENTS LEADING UP TO AN ELECTION, QUITE FRANKLY, I GET TIRED OF IT.
I PAUSE IT, SKIP THROUGH TO THE END, AND WHAT REBECCA AND I TRY TO DO IS FOCUS ON WHAT'S BEST FOR HERE.
I DO NOT WORRY MUCH ABOUT AUSTIN UNLESS IT AFFECTS THIS CITY.
AND I WILL BE DOWN THERE NEXT SESSION ON THINGS THAT AFFECT THIS CITY.
YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER TALKED TO YOU ABOUT ANYTHING POLITICAL PERSONALLY OR ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE, THE OTHER.
AND I'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT FOR OUR CITY.
AND I WOULD CHALLENGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO DO MORE OF THAT IN YOUR OWN LIVES.
IF YOU GET CAUGHT UP IN THE RHETORIC GOING ON TODAY, YOU WILL BECOME TIRED AND POSSIBLY DISENCHANTED.
MY DADDY TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN A GATHERING, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING AT THE TABLE EXCEPT TWO THINGS, RELIGION AND POLITICS, SPORTS, CHILDREN, RELIGION AND POLITICS GET HEATED FAST.
AND I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T NEED TO BE POLITICALLY ACTIVE, BUT DON'T FOLKS, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
DON'T LET IT OVERTAKE WHO YOU ARE AND TRY TO CONVINCE ME OF WHO I AM.
YEAH, I GET SO TIRED OF SPEAKERS.
I'LL SAY SPEAKERS PIGEONHOLING ME AND OTHERS ON MY COUNCIL TO WHO WE ARE.
WE'RE THERE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOU ON THINGS THAT AFFECT YOU.
I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WASHINGTON DC SO THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT.
I'M GOING TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE RIGHT NOW.
MAYOR ENGLAND, IF YOU CAME TO HIS STATE OF THE CITIES IN 2007, 2010, AND 2013,
[01:00:01]
HE ALWAYS HAD HIS STATE OF THE CITY THE WEEK BEFORE FILING DEADLINE.I AM MAKING MY ANNOUNCE BEFORE NEXT YEAR'S FILING DEADLINE.
I AM RUNNING FOR MAYOR IN 2025.