* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] WELCOME TO MY MAYOR'S MESSAGE FOR SEPTEMBER, 2024. I'M MAYOR RON CHIEN AND I HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS. BIG CHANGERS ARE COMING TO GRAND PRAIRIE'S EVENT CALENDAR. TEXAS MONTHLY IN THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE HAVE TEAMED UP FOR AN INCREDIBLE MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP. THEY WILL BRING SOME TRULY EPIC CELEBRATIONS OF TEXAS CULTURE TO OUR CITY. THE SERIES OF EVENTS WILL KICK OFF WITH A BRAND NEW BARBECUE EXTRAVAGANZA THAT WILL HEAT UP EPIC CENTRAL TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE DEBUT OF TEXAS MONTHLY TACO FESTIVAL WHERE EVERYONE WILL HAVE THE CHANCE OF SAVOR THE FINEST TACOS TEXAS HAS TO OFFER. OH, I LOVE TACOS. AND THEN WE WILL GET READY TO HOST THE FIRST EVER TEXAS COUNTRY REPORTER FESTIVAL, WHICH WILL BE RELOCATING FROM WAXAHATCHEE TO DOWNTOWN GRAND PRAIRIE NEXT SPRING. AND WITH THE EXCITING ADDITION OF THESE NEW EVENTS, OUR VERY POPULAR MAIN STREET FEST WILL SWITCH FROM THE SPRING TO THE FALL IN 2025. MAIN STREET FEST 2025 WILL STILL FEATURE ALL THE FUN FOOD AND FANTASTIC ENTERTAINMENT THAT HAS MADE IT SUCH AN EXCEPTIONAL EVENT AT A BRAND NEW TIME OF THE YEAR. MEANWHILE, RIGHT NOW, DOWNTOWN GRAND PRAIRIE IS GEARING UP FOR TWO NEW EVENTS THAT PROMISE, FOOD, FUN, AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT. THE FIRST EVER PICKLE FEST WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH, AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE OUT THE MONTH BY HOSTING A BARBECUE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL CALLED MEET ON MAINE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH. HERE'S OUR SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER, EMILY AIRE, TO TELL US MORE. WE'RE SO EXCITED TO BRING PICKLE FEST TO DOWNTOWN GRAND PRAIRIE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'LL BE HOSTING THIS EVENT IN THE CITY, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BUZZ ONLINE ABOUT IT. WE'VE GOT OVER 60 PICKLE RELATED PICKLEBALL RELATED VENDORS. WE'LL BE HOSTING A PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT FOR ADULTS AND THERE'LL BE A FREE OPEN PLAY COURT FOR KIDS, AS WELL AS SOME BOUNCE HOUSES AND PETTING ZOOS LIVE MUSIC AND ACTIVITIES. UH, THAT'LL BE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH FROM 8:00 AM TO 1:00 PM MEET ON MAINE IS OUR WAY OF KICKING OFF FALL WITH A TAILGATE STYLE EVENT IN DOWNTOWN GRAND PRAIRIE. WE'LL BE FEATURING A LOCAL BARBECUE SMOKE OFF COMPETITION FEATURING AMATEUR CHEFS COMING OUT ON SITE, UM, TO CREATE SOME REALLY SPECIAL DISHES FOR US. WE'LL ALSO BE HAVING A CAR SHOW IN THE CITY HALL PARKING LOT AND A CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT FOLKS CAN PRE-REGISTER FOR TO PLAY. WE'LL BE FEATURING BETWEEN 30 AND 50 LOCAL ARTISAN VENDORS. SO WE'RE EXCITED TO GET EVERYONE DOWN TO CELEBRATE FALL AND KICKING OFF THE SEASON OF HANGING OUT AND EATING A LOT OF BARBECUE TOGETHER. THANKS, EMILY. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE EVERYONE AT THESE NEW EVENTS THIS MONTH. JOIN DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JR. ZANU FOR A TOWN HALL MEETING WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH FROM SIX TO EIGHT AT THE MAIN LIBRARY, LOCATED AT 9 0 1 CONOVER DRIVE. AND THEN JOIN COUNCIL MEMBER KURT JOHNSON FOR HIS TOWN HALL ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, AND IT WILL BE AT THE GRAND PENINSULA CLUBHOUSE. HIS WILL BE FROM SIX TO EIGHT. ALSO, TOWN HALLS ARE ALWAYS A GREAT WAY TO MEET FRIENDS, DISCUSS COMMUNITY INTERESTS, AND HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. BOTH OF THESE EVENTS ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE AND BOTH WILL BE VIRTUALLY AVAILABLE ON ZOOM. YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE@GPTX.ORG. MEANWHILE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO ADD A FURRY NEW ADDITION TO YOUR HOME, GRAND PRAIRIE ANIMAL SERVICES IS OFFERING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THE PERFECT CHANCE TO DO JUST THAT. WITH OUR CLEAR THE SHELTER EVENT ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO BRING HOME A PET WITHOUT ANY ADOPTION FEES FROM 10:00 AM TO 5:00 PM. TO FIND OUT MORE, GO TO GTX.ORG FORWARD SLASH PAUSE. AND IT'S ALSO TIME TO GET READY TO CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY SPIRIT AT THE GDS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT KICKOFF PARTY. IT'S ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST AT EPIC CENTRAL. THIS IS ALWAYS A FANTASTIC ANNUAL EVENT WHERE ANYONE CAN REGISTER TO HOST A NATIONAL NIGHT OUT NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY ANYWHERE IN THE CITY. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS CELEBRATED EACH FALL AROUND THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE. IT'S ALWAYS A FUN AND FESTIVE NIGHT WHEN NEIGHBORS MEET AND GREET EACH OTHER AND ALSO HOST THE GREAT MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR CITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE KICKOFF PARTY IN THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. OCTOBER 1ST IS ALSO AVAILABLE@GRANDPRAIRIEPOLICE.ORG. AND GET READY TO LIGHT UP YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON AS REGISTRATION FOR THE 16TH ANNUAL PRAIRIE LIGHTS SNEAK. A PEAK RUN AND WALK IS NOW OPEN. SIGN UP TO JOIN US AT LYNN CREEK PARK FOR A DAZZLING EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER ON NOVEMBER 23RD. IT'S A TIMED 5K RACE, PERFECT FOR RUNNERS AND JOGGERS. AND THEN ON THE 24TH, EVERYONE WILL ENJOY A LEISURELY THREE MILE WALK AND STROLL THROUGH OUR AWARD-WINNING HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW. THEN JOIN ME FOR MY ANNUAL CYCLING WITH THE MAYOR EVENT THROUGH PRAIRIE LIGHTS ON MONDAY NIGHT, NOVEMBER 25TH, AND MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR OUR COMMUNITY FAIR AND CYCLING [00:05:01] WITH THE MAYOR BIKE RIDE AT FISH CREEK PARK ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH. THE COMMUNITY FAIR KICKS OFF AT FIVE 30 FEATURING GREAT ACTIVITIES, LOCAL VENDORS, AND LOTS OF FUN FOR ALL AGES. AND THEN WE WILL GET ON OUR BIKES FOR A CASUAL RIDE ALONG THE SCENIC TRAILS OF FISH CREEK STARTING AT SIX 30. YOU CAN GET ALL THE INFORMATION YOU WANT@GPTX.ORG AND THEN GRAB YOUR SNEAKERS AND JOIN US FOR THE HEROES ON THE RUN, 5K AND FUN RUN AT EPIC CENTRAL ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH. IT'S A CHANCE TO DRESS UP AS YOUR FAVORITE SUPERHERO AND HELP OUR GREAT GRAND PRAIRIE SANTA COP CAMPAIGN PREPARE IT FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON WHEN THEY WILL ONCE AGAIN PROVIDE GIFTS AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE. GO TO GPTX.ORG TO FIND OUT MORE, AND YOU CAN ALSO HELP KICK OFF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AT THE FIESTA RIOS PARADE AT FARMER'S MARKET ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, STARTING AT NINE. AND I'M THE GRAND MARSHALL. TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PARADE AND LOTS OF OTHER HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATIONS, VISIT OUR BRAND NEW AND MORE GP WEBSITE, A NEW SPACE ON GPTX.ORG THAT CELEBRATES OUR VIBRANT HISPANIC CULTURE. OH, AND SPEAKING OF THAT, CHECK OUT THIS VERY SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM A FAMOUS GRAND PRAIRIE RESIDENT. WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD OF. HEY, WHAT'S UP GUYS? IT IS VIRGIL ORTIZ, THE WBC INTERIM LIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE WITH ME. JOIN ME AT THE HISPANIC HERITAGE AMBASSADORS DFW FIESTAS S PARADE, SEPTEMBER 14TH. HELP US MAKE GRAND PRAIRIE PROUD, AND I'LL SEE YOU THERE. THANKS, VIRGIL. CAN'T WAIT TO CELEBRATE GRAND PRAIRIE'S, PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS. AND FINALLY, IF YOU WATCH THE 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN PARIS LAST MONTH LIKE I DID, YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT GRAND PRAIRIE'S OWN JASMINE MOORE MADE US ALL EXTREMELY PROUD. NOT ONLY DID SHE MAKE THE US OLYMPIC TEAM FOR THE SECOND TIME IN FOUR YEARS, SHE WON TWO BRONZE MEDALS, BUT SHE ALSO BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN IN HISTORY TO WIN A MEDAL IN THE TRIPLE JUMP WHILE ALSO BRINGING HOME A BRONZE IN THE LONG JUMP. SO JASMINE, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE AND ALL OF NORTH TEXAS, CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU GRACIOUS. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER. I'M MAYOR RON JENSEN. SEE YOU NEXT MONTH. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.