1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,920 Plastic is very bad, and I'm going to see different kinds of things. 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:07,220 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 3 00:00:07,220 --> 00:00:10,120 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 4 00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:13,300 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 5 00:00:13,300 --> 00:00:17,260 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 6 00:00:17,260 --> 00:00:19,940 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 7 00:00:19,940 --> 00:00:23,140 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 8 00:00:23,140 --> 00:00:26,880 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 9 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,080 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 10 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,040 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 11 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,480 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 12 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:40,240 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 13 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,760 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 14 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,960 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 15 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,160 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 16 00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:53,440 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 17 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:56,800 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 18 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,680 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 19 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,720 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 20 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,760 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 21 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:08,880 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 22 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,840 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 23 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:14,880 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 24 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:18,000 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 25 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,040 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 26 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,000 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 27 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,200 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 28 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,400 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 29 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,680 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 30 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,960 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 31 00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:40,160 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 32 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,280 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 33 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:46,240 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 34 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,360 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 35 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,160 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 36 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,360 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 37 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,240 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 38 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,360 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 39 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,320 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 40 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,200 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 41 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,240 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 42 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,200 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 43 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,160 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 44 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,200 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 45 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,240 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 46 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:25,280 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 47 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,160 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 48 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,120 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 49 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,240 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 50 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,280 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 51 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,240 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 52 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,280 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 53 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,320 I'm going to see different kinds of things. 54 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,360 Say you don't have the thing that you need, 55 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,360 we know where a lot of things are. 56 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,400 We find the things and we help people work together. 57 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,400 What I say a lot is I help people talk, 58 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,400 I help people collaborate, I help people come together, 59 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,360 especially inside the city of Denton. 60 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,400 With this cycle, with preparedness, 61 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,400 some of the things we do, 62 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,400 we develop emergency plans, 63 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:10,400 we conduct risk assessments, 64 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:12,400 we establish communication protocols, 65 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,400 we train emergency personnel, 66 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:16,400 and public education campaigns. 67 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,400 The objective there is to enhance 68 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,360 the community's ability to respond effectively 69 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,360 before an emergency occurs. 70 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,360 That's that preparation before. 71 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:29,360 In response, this is where you see us a lot, 72 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,400 but it's a very tiny portion of what we do. 73 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:34,400 We mobilize emergency personnel, 74 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,400 we deploy resources, 75 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,400 we implement emergency plans, 76 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,400 we coordinate with agencies and organizations. 77 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,400 The objective there is to save lives, 78 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,400 protect property, and stabilize the situation in that order. 79 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,400 Our primary objective is always saving lives, 80 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,400 then protecting property, 81 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,400 and then stabilizing the situation. 82 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,400 Then we move into recovery. 83 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,400 After a disaster occurs, 84 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,400 we'll conduct damage assessments, 85 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,400 provide assistance to affected individuals and businesses, 86 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:04,400 repairing infrastructure, 87 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:06,400 restoring essential services. 88 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,400 Again, the objective there is to restore 89 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,400 affected communities to their pre-disaster conditions 90 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,400 or better. 91 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,400 Depending on the disaster, 92 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,400 this can take a few weeks to months or years. 93 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:18,400 Katrina still is in the recovery phase, 94 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:20,400 Hurricane Ian is still in the recovery phase, 95 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:22,400 so it just depends on the disaster. 96 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,400 Katrina is still in recovery? 97 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,400 Yes. 98 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,400 Technically, it's still in recovery. 99 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,400 The community has not gone back to the pre-disaster state, 100 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:36,400 so it's considered to be still in recovery. 101 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:38,400 And then mitigation. 102 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:42,400 This is where we implement building codes and zoning regulations. 103 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,400 We don't implement them, 104 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,400 but we work with cities and organizations 105 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:50,400 to make sure that they're bettering. 106 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:52,400 Especially when you think about floodplains, 107 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,400 we want to make sure those building codes are better 108 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:58,400 to prevent those disasters. 109 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,400 We invest in infrastructure improvements, 110 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:04,400 or we help find grants to help invest in infrastructure improvements. 111 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,400 We conduct hazard mitigation projects. 112 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:10,400 We promote community preparedness and education. 113 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,400 And again, this is to reduce the risk 114 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,400 and impact of future disasters. 115 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,400 We know they're going to happen, 116 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,400 so how do we mitigate those disasters? 117 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,400 So how does E.M. help those with disabilities? 118 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:22,400 First of all, they hired me. 119 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,400 So my background, 120 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:26,400 I worked for the American Red Cross. 121 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,400 In the past, I still volunteer with them. 122 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,400 My primary focus was reunification. 123 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:32,400 I deployed to several deployments across the country, 124 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:34,400 including Hurricane Ian. 125 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:37,400 I went there for three weeks, held out after. 126 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:39,400 I've done the Allen Outlet Mall shooting. 127 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,400 I've worked with the FBI for their family assistance center. 128 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,400 I've opened countless shelters in the DFW area. 129 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,400 And I was also on the disability integration team. 130 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:53,400 So my primary focus was to make sure that the shelters that we opened 131 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:57,400 were inclusive to those with disabilities, 132 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,400 functional, and access needs. 133 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,400 So the primary reason I was hired 134 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:04,400 was sheltering. 135 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,400 So to beef up the city of Ditton's sheltering, 136 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:10,400 make sure that we're ready to go in case a disaster strikes. 137 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,400 When I worked for the Red Cross, I was a disaster program manager, 138 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,400 and I covered Tarrant County. 139 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,400 And what I would tell them is, 140 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:22,400 since COVID, volunteering has gone down a lot. 141 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,400 And so the best that the Red Cross could do was open five. 142 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,400 If there was a widespread disaster across the Metroplex, 143 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:33,400 no notice disaster, it would probably be like a string of tornadoes. 144 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,400 The best that the Red Cross could do would be to open five shelters 145 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:39,400 across the Metroplex. 146 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,400 And honestly, that would probably be two in Fort Worth, 147 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,400 one in Arlington, two in Dallas. 148 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,400 And so these smaller communities, I would work with them like, 149 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:48,400 how can we prepare you? 150 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:50,400 How can we make sure you're ready to go? 151 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:52,400 Because I know that we, as the Red Cross, 152 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,400 do not have the capability to serve every single community, 153 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,400 because we just don't have the resources. 154 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:01,400 So with the City of Fort Worth, I worked with them. 155 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:05,400 I trained all their staff in sheltering with the expectation of, 156 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:09,400 if you can run it for 72 hours, we'll get you the supplies, 157 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,400 we'll get you the food, we'll get you the cots. 158 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,400 If you can run it for 72 hours, 159 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,400 by 72 hours the Red Cross can have people from all over the country here. 160 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,400 But can you sustain it for 72 hours? 161 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,400 So that's my primary goal with the City of Denton. 162 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,400 Once Bob gets back, I can focus on that. 163 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,400 Right now I'm doing his job in mine. 164 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,400 But that is my primary goal of where I'm trying to get Denton to, 165 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:34,400 is can we sustain, can we shelter our community for 72 hours? 166 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:38,400 So my primary focus was sheltering and then public education. 167 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,400 I have been able to do a lot of public education speaking, 168 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:47,400 and so that's kind of what my focus will be once he comes back, 169 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,400 is doing a lot of public education, a lot of outreach. 170 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,400 So educating the public. 171 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,400 So some of the things that we do is we help nursing homes 172 00:07:56,400 --> 00:08:00,400 and full-time care facilities with education and planning assumptions. 173 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:04,400 I presented at the Texas Advocates Conference in July of last year 174 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,400 for about 120 people over two sessions, 175 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:11,400 and I worked with Denton State School with their hazard vulnerability assessment, 176 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,400 and that's just in the last six months while doing two jobs, 177 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,400 so I'm really excited to be able to jump full-time into this. 178 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:22,400 And then one thing that I don't know if you all guys know a lot about is, 179 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,400 this is the next project I'm working on is STEER, 180 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,400 which is State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry. 181 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:31,400 So it's a free registry that provides local emergency planners 182 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:35,400 and responders with additional information about the needs in their community. 183 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:39,400 And so we have 208 people registered within the city of Denton, 184 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,400 and those who are registered are people with disabilities, 185 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:45,400 they're medically fragile, access and functional needs, 186 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,400 limited mobility or communication barriers, 187 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,400 require medical assistance during an emergency event, 188 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:55,400 transportation assistance or personal care assistance. 189 00:08:55,400 --> 00:09:00,400 So with this registry, not only are we able to plan 190 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:04,400 and make planning assumptions about where are the most vulnerable parts of our community, 191 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:06,400 where do we need to focus, 192 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:12,400 but with the last year's legislative session, Senate or sorry, 193 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:17,400 Senate bill or state bill, 968 was passed, which requires wellness checks. 194 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:21,400 So it requires the local government to conduct, 195 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,400 to check on medically fragile persons who are registered with STEER 196 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,400 and ensure they have continuity of care and the ability, 197 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:31,400 and the ability to continue using electronically powered medical equipment. 198 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:38,400 This came out of winter storm Uri when we had that long period, 199 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:42,400 and there was around 300 people in the state of Texas who unfortunately passed. 200 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,400 I was working 9-1-1 at that time, I was a 9-1 dispatcher, 201 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:49,400 I spoke with several people who were in desperate need of assistance, 202 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,400 and it was really heartbreaking. 203 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:55,400 And so I'm really glad that this was passed because it allows, 204 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:59,400 it forces local jurisdictions to make a plan for what are we going to do 205 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,400 with our medically fragile people. 206 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:07,400 So some of the events that require welfare checks is going to be extended power, 207 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:11,400 water or gas outages, an emergency disaster declaration, 208 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,400 or any other time it's deemed necessary. 209 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:18,400 What I've been working on is, oh sorry, the requirements for these wellness checks 210 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:23,400 are also an automated phone call or text, a personalized phone call, 211 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,400 and then if they don't answer either one of those, 212 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,400 we have to actually go in person and check on those people. 213 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,400 And it almost be done within 24 hours of the qualifying event. 214 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:37,400 So not after 24 hours, within that first 24 hours. 215 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:42,400 So some of the things we're doing, this plan is still in the works, 216 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:46,400 we're using AlertDent, which is an EverBridge. 217 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:49,400 We use it right now to send out typically weather alerts, 218 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:50,400 which you'll see. 219 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,400 We also use it for missing persons. 220 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:57,400 But we'll send out a message and you can reply back to that saying, 221 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,400 "Yes, I'm good," or, "No, I need help." 222 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,400 Step two, our staff is going to call anybody who didn't answer. 223 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:07,400 Like I said, we have 208 people currently registered. 224 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,400 And then step three is fire staff will actually go out and check 225 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,400 on the remaining persons not accounted for. 226 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,400 We've also partnered with DME and CoServe to ensure we're being 227 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,400 notified any time there's a power outage longer than four hours 228 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,400 so we can start that process. 229 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,400 So any time there's any power outage that's longer than four hours 230 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:26,400 for anybody on that steer list, 231 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:28,400 we're going to start making those notifications, 232 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,400 make sure that they have a week. 233 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,400 So I'm sorry I ran through that really fast. 234 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,400 But do you all guys have any questions about what we're doing, 235 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,400 any concerns, any ideas? 236 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,400 So the steer that's volunteer, voluntary? 237 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:44,400 Yes, it's voluntary. 238 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:49,400 It says on there that it doesn't -- I think it says on there somewhere 239 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,400 where it's like it's not a guarantee that you're going to get help, 240 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:56,400 but with that state bill, we're going to be out there and check on it. 241 00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:00,400 Well, I'm just saying, so people don't want to, they don't have to? 242 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:01,400 They don't have to. No, no, no. 243 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,400 This is just one to help with planning and then so that we can come 244 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:08,400 and check on you in the case of a disaster. 245 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:13,400 The other side of it, is there a way -- because I know that during a disaster, 246 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:17,400 you know, our personnel are going to be busy. 247 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,400 Is there a way if you can't get hold of the person, 248 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:26,400 it learns contacting a neighbor, is there an option in there to contact this person? 249 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,400 Yeah, there's an emergency contact on the steer list. 250 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:30,400 Okay. Yeah, so they've thought of that. 251 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,400 So we'll try to contact them if we don't hear from them because, you know, 252 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,400 one of the things in my head is if the power is out, 253 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,400 what if these people don't have a cell phone? 254 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:43,400 So we can contact their friends or family, their emergency contact, and make sure. 255 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:48,400 And a lot of the things I talk about in my presentations too, you know, 256 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:53,400 I do presentations for people with disabilities and their families is having a plan. 257 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,400 You know, checking on your neighbors, talking with your neighbors, saying, 258 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,400 "Hey, will you be my buddy? Will you come check on me? 259 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:02,400 If something bad happens, I'll come check on you." 260 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:08,400 They replied that they are fine at first and then something happens for that situation to change. 261 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,400 How do they contact you? Are they not? 262 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:15,400 Do they know how to get back in contact? Does the text message have something? 263 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:20,400 It has something along the lines of if you have an immediate emergency, call 911. 264 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:24,400 So I think 911 is always a good -- because we're going to be in direct contact with them of, 265 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:26,400 "Hey, what are your needs looking like?" 266 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,400 So I think 911 is always a valid option. 267 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:36,400 But definitely put maybe the emergency number -- the emergency management number up there. 268 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:37,400 Yes, ma'am. 269 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:40,400 Is documentation required to what disability? 270 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:41,400 No. 271 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:45,400 Do you think, like, where you're going or what the disability is when you head to their house? 272 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,400 It'll list, like, what -- I think there's a section for notes. 273 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:53,400 So they can put on there that they are bedbound, that they don't -- 274 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:55,400 and it gives some information about what to put in there. 275 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:59,400 They're bedbound. They don't communicate verbally. 276 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,400 What's the best way -- you know, they're on oxygen, that kind of stuff. 277 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:06,400 So blindness and not being -- all those count? 278 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:08,400 Yeah, they will all be on there. 279 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,400 Well, they have the opportunity to put on there. 280 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:16,400 They're not required to disclose what the disability is. 281 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:22,400 So people that require transportation assistance, how is that provided? 282 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,400 So we -- the fire department, obviously, we can transport. 283 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,400 We do have a transport van. 284 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,400 And then I'm working hopefully with parks. 285 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,400 They have several vans, including ADA vans. 286 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:38,400 And then if it needs to ramp up to, you know, a large transport issue, 287 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:43,400 we have contacts with DCTA as well with their mobility assistance. 288 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:44,400 Okay. 289 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:48,400 And I can't remember the man's name that's deployed. 290 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:54,400 Well, when he was here, he said that I was asking about how we were going to -- 291 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:56,400 I don't know if it was his program or not, 292 00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:03,400 but he talked about putting something in libraries, like for example, 293 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,400 and it would be, you know, one of those signs, 294 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:10,400 and it would have, you know, a website or, you know, scanning it, 295 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,400 and you could go to it, and I've never seen it. 296 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:16,400 Yeah, I think that that kind of -- it got jumbled up. 297 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:19,400 But it's part of actually my education plan. 298 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:21,400 It's going to involve a lot in the libraries, 299 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:27,400 a lot of outreach in the nursing homes and the extended care facilities. 300 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:29,400 So that's definitely part of our plan. 301 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,400 I have some flyers created, 302 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:35,400 just kind of waiting for the time when I can throw all my force behind it. 303 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:36,400 That's a great idea. 304 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:40,400 And then the -- like, I don't meet any of the other criteria, 305 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,400 but I ride a bike for transportation. 306 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:49,400 So is there another -- I mean, would I need to sign up for this? 307 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,400 You know, my neighbor is probably going to watch out for me, but -- 308 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:54,400 But if you need help getting to a shelter, 309 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:57,400 we're going to make sure you get to a shelter, if that's the case. 310 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,400 If you need help, we're going to do whatever we can to make sure that you do. 311 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,400 So -- but I would need to sign up. 312 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,400 You don't have to -- I mean, you don't have to sign up for this. 313 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,400 You could all -- anybody can always call 911. 314 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:12,400 This is just like -- we just want to make sure that nobody gets lost 315 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:13,400 in the system. 316 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:17,400 Nobody feels like they don't have anywhere to go or anywhere to call. 317 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:19,400 There's a lot of people who just sat at home 318 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,400 and were called and didn't call for help. 319 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,400 And so we want to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to call -- 320 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:27,400 or even if they don't have the opportunity 321 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,400 or they don't have the idea to call for help, 322 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:32,400 we're there to check on them. 323 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:36,400 Yeah, and DCTA would be great, you know, to have a big bus. 324 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:37,400 Yeah, yeah. 325 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,400 So we've been -- I've been working with them a lot 326 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:43,400 for some of our plans, so for emergency. 327 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:46,400 And then I'm guessing, like, within the state of Texas, 328 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:50,400 that all places that serve, like, nursing homes -- 329 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,400 I worked at a rehab center for the blind in Austin, 330 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:57,400 a school for the blind, school for the deaf, different things like that. 331 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:01,400 So all of those places would then be linked? 332 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:03,400 They have the opportunity to register. 333 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:05,400 They're urged to register. 334 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,400 We're trying to get the word out there to register. 335 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:11,400 That's part of my plan is when I'm talking with nursing homes, 336 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:16,400 and I have one nursing home I'm meeting with at the end of this month. 337 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:19,400 And so one thing that I plan on bringing up is making sure 338 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:21,400 that you have your people register for this. 339 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,400 That way, it helps us with our planning. 340 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,400 Okay, thank you. 341 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:37,400 How do you register? 342 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:38,400 How do you register? 343 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,400 So you can either go online and register, 344 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:46,400 or you can also call 2-1-1, and they will register you for you. 345 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,400 I was thinking maybe the Social Security Office 346 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,400 or something like that might be a good place to do that. 347 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:52,400 Oh, yes. 348 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:53,400 Yeah, definitely. 349 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,400 And I know 2-1-1. 350 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,400 I just had a meeting with them. 351 00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:58,400 So they are pushing this. 352 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:00,400 They actually have a whole -- when you call them, 353 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:02,400 you go one for English, two for Spanish. 354 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,400 And I can't remember if it's option four or five, 355 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,400 but it's literally they will register you. 356 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:08,400 Do we have 2-1-1 here? 357 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:09,400 Yes. 358 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:10,400 There's 2-1-1 in all of Texas. 359 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,400 Anybody can call 2-1-1 for any resources. 360 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:15,400 Yes, ma'am. 361 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:17,400 Is it only the city of Denton, or is it Denton County, 362 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,400 like PowerPoint, Tioga, and all that? 363 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:23,400 That goes off -- that's the county's plan. 364 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:27,400 So it falls under -- we're responsible for the city of Denton. 365 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,400 I know Denton County is working on their plan. 366 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:32,400 I'm not sure what their plan is yet. 367 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:36,400 So I could definitely follow up on that for you if you'd like. 368 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:39,400 So I think -- adding to the question. 369 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,400 So this is -- it's the entire state? 370 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:42,400 Mm-hmm. 371 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:44,400 Cities saying, okay, I'll get involved in this, 372 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,400 and then this is just -- 373 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,400 This is just basically a way for us -- 374 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:56,400 it's an easy way for us to get those people to follow this bill. 375 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:00,400 And it's in your best interest if you have this bill to -- 376 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:01,400 Absolutely. 377 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:02,400 Absolutely. 378 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,400 It's one thing that as soon as I'm able to, 379 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:07,400 I want to push this out in the community a lot, 380 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:09,400 get it in the community newsletters, 381 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:15,400 do some social media campaigns that I have working on 382 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:17,400 to try to make sure that people know about this, 383 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,400 because I feel like there's definitely more than 208 people 384 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,400 in the city of Denton with disabilities 385 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:24,400 who would benefit from this. 386 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,400 So it's a new thing. 387 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,400 It just came out last year. 388 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,400 And so it's something that even emergency managers -- 389 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,400 we talk about this all the time every time we get together. 390 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:34,400 Hey, what's your plan? 391 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:38,400 Trying to come up with the best way to serve the population. 392 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:40,400 So we're learning, too. 393 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:44,400 Is there any plans in the future that you're aware of 394 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:49,400 to treat the streets so that people can get out? 395 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:52,400 I know that our streets does do -- 396 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,400 they have a huge responsibility to treat the streets, 397 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,400 and they have a priority list that they go down. 398 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:03,400 So they're primary -- TechStat's responsible for 35 and -- 399 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:04,400 380? 400 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:05,400 Don't quote me on that. 401 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:07,400 I have it listed in my office. 402 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:10,400 But then other than that, it falls on our streets department. 403 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:13,400 So I know anytime we have a winter weather event, 404 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:17,400 I start doing calls a couple days before with every department, 405 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,400 the directors, the deputy directors, the city manager's office, 406 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,400 and we talk through all of the needs of the community. 407 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:25,400 And I know that they work around the clock 24 hours 408 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,400 to try to treat the streets as quickly as possible. 409 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,400 But if it's still falling, sometimes it's really hard. 410 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:33,400 So I know that they have a priority list 411 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,400 that they have to go down for streets. 412 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,400 But it's one thing that we would love to, I think, 413 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:42,400 have all the streets perfect as well as possible. 414 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:44,400 So it seems like we're getting more and more 415 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:46,400 and come up with a better idea. 416 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,400 So I just want to thank you. 417 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:50,400 And I think the city of Denton, 418 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,400 guys coming from other cities, they're on it. 419 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:54,400 Good. 420 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,400 Well, the bad part about the streets 421 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:59,400 is that you mentioned a couple of them. 422 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:03,400 So Dallas Drive is owned by the state. 423 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:05,400 380, the state. 424 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,400 Locust and Elm, by the state. 425 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:10,400 Those are not city streets. 426 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,400 So they're different priorities. 427 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:15,400 But they're going to fall way under 428 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,400 what the state's priorities are, 429 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:19,400 what time stocks' priorities are, right? 430 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,400 Those are going to be like a level 3 priority. 431 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:27,400 And so, honestly, them getting to them is down there. 432 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:31,400 It's just that mixture that we have in our city. 433 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:36,400 Is there a way we can salt it for them 434 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:38,400 and send them a bill? 435 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,400 I know that they actually do maintain 436 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:43,400 a lot of those streets you're listing. 437 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,400 I know our streets does go ahead and maintain them 438 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:49,400 a lot of times just to make sure that the citizens are safe. 439 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,400 Now, the word is that once they're finished, 440 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,400 they ever get finished, 441 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:56,400 the state ever actually finishes their parking, 442 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:58,400 they're wanting to turn it over to the city. 443 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:02,400 They want to turn Dallas Drive and Elm over to the city. 444 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:06,400 That would be their responsibility. 445 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:09,400 But they need to finish filling the holes first. 446 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:10,400 And then turn it over. 447 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:12,400 Definitely, definitely. 448 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:15,400 Dreamer. 449 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:19,400 But I'm always, y'all guys can, my information is here. 450 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:21,400 Feel free, you can snap a picture of it. 451 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:22,400 Send me an email. 452 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:23,400 If y'all guys have any ideas, 453 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,400 you have any places you would like a presentation, 454 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:27,400 information. 455 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:28,400 Like I said, I'm doing, 456 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:30,400 I'm meeting with the nursing home later this month. 457 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:32,400 I'm doing a tabletop exercise with them. 458 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:35,400 So what a tabletop exercise is, is we go through questions. 459 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,400 It's a facilitated discussion. 460 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:41,400 And we talk about what does it look like for a winter weather event 461 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,400 or a heat event or a tornado? 462 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,400 And we talk with their staff and so that they can work through it. 463 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:48,400 Because the more you talk about it, 464 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,400 the more you go through it in your head. 465 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:52,400 When it actually happens, it feels more second nature. 466 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:54,400 It doesn't feel like, oh my gosh, what do I do? 467 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:55,400 No, we've had this conversation. 468 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:56,400 We've talked about it. 469 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:57,400 We've thought through it. 470 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:59,400 And it also may, you know, 471 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,400 open up some gaps you didn't know of. 472 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:06,400 Like, oh, maybe we should have, you know, had XYZ. 473 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:07,400 So. 474 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:11,400 And then of course the 211 signing up is, 475 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:14,400 is accessible for hearing impaired. 476 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:15,400 Absolutely. 477 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,400 And also they have 150 languages, hearing impaired. 478 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:20,400 So anybody can use, 479 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:24,400 that's what I usually direct people to is 211 because it's the easiest way. 480 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:26,400 Thank you. 481 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:29,400 Any other questions? 482 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:34,400 Thank you for being gentle with me. 483 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,400 Good afternoon, everyone. 484 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:08,400 I thought I heard you say we don't have to stay fixed to behind the podium. 485 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,400 I'm Justin Sternbeck, the city's chief communications officer. 486 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:16,400 And joining me today is our deputy director of marketing and communications. 487 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:17,400 Kayla Herron. 488 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:20,400 You let the comms people have a mic. 489 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:22,400 You may be up here for a little while. 490 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:27,400 But really excited to present our website integration tool that we have 491 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:31,400 recently launched for the city's website. 492 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:34,400 Just to give you a little background about the marketing and communications 493 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:35,400 structure. 494 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:39,400 We've recently undergone a lot of changes in the space of marketing and 495 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:42,400 communications, a lot of new hirings. 496 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,400 So we have a very new team over there. 497 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:51,400 And part of that initial wave of what we want to focus on was building some 498 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:56,400 solid infrastructure so that we can not only build momentum for year one, 499 00:24:56,400 --> 00:25:00,400 but enhance our reputation in the community, become industry leaders. 500 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:04,400 And two of the bullet points I want to point out on the right-hand side is 501 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:09,400 that we want to implement clear processes that benefit all stakeholders. 502 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:14,400 And secondly, to diversify our communications output for all of 503 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:15,400 community. 504 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:20,400 And during our assessment period, we identified our website as not being as 505 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:27,400 friendly to, you know, inaccessible for all of community. 506 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:31,400 Recently we have purchased and implemented a number of new technologies. 507 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:35,400 Clearly we're here today to talk about the first one, ReciteMe, which is our 508 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:38,400 disability and accessibility website integration tool. 509 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:44,400 But we have a number of other tools just to let folks know where we're just 510 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:45,400 trying to get better. 511 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:51,400 So it is an ongoing process, and we are certainly committed to delivering the 512 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:56,400 best marketing and communications products for our residents and visitors. 513 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,400 So ReciteMe, what is this? 514 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,400 Why is there this new button that travels on our website? 515 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:06,400 And how can it benefit everybody? 516 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:11,400 In the space of being inclusive in the digital arena, there are some features 517 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,400 and capabilities that we are pointing out. 518 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:19,400 There are additional features of the site that Kayla will go over in a minute. 519 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:25,400 But some of the things that this new tool does offer is multi-language ability. 520 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:30,400 So it will translate in over 100 languages for folks. 521 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:35,400 We have customized text size and font so you can expand your text and your font 522 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:36,400 so it's easier to read. 523 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:41,400 We have reading assistants so that -- and reading aids -- that it keeps everything 524 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:47,400 on one line and it really just is customizable to the user. 525 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,400 And then color. 526 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:53,400 Not everybody sees the same in terms of the color. 527 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:58,400 So having the ability to change it to really benefit you as the end user. 528 00:26:58,400 --> 00:26:59,400 So thank you. 529 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,400 I'll give you a demo. 530 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:14,400 Do I need to use that keyboard? 531 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:18,400 So like Justin said, this tool has so many features. 532 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:22,400 And so I definitely encourage you all when you have some time to go in and click around 533 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:25,400 if you have any feedback or questions to let us know. 534 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:29,400 But I am going to go through a few of them with the wall today. 535 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:31,400 So this is the recycle button. 536 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:35,400 So if you see it on the corner of the website, it does follow you whenever you go from page 537 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:36,400 to page. 538 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:38,400 And it is mobile friendly. 539 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:43,400 So whether you're on your desktop, you're on your favorite iPad or your cell phone, 540 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:47,400 it does travel in each of those spaces. 541 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:53,400 So like he said, you can increase the font size, which is really nice. 542 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:57,400 I'm to a point where I'm having to make things very big for me to be able to see. 543 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:01,400 So this is really nice to have that functionality. 544 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:05,400 You can zoom back out if you need to. 545 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:11,400 Here's kind of the color background, if that is something they need to help it stand out, 546 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:12,400 which is really great. 547 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:18,400 And then if you can click around and see what works for you. 548 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:23,400 And then if for whatever reason you want to just reset it to how it looks on the homepage, 549 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:27,400 you can do that as well. 550 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:29,400 Here is the language tool. 551 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:35,400 So I will I know there's a time, as he said, a time, a time of options. 552 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:39,400 And so you can convert this into Spanish. 553 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:48,400 And I don't know if the speakers are working in here, but you can let it play and it will read it to you. 554 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:55,400 When your speakers just to show that it will bring it to you. 555 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:56,400 Really, really excellent. 556 00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:05,400 And so then if you were to exit out of the website and come back as soon as you hit the recite me toggle, 557 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:10,400 it would save everything that you have turned on. 558 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:23,400 Good. 559 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:28,400 Denton nombrada entre las mejores ciudades de Texas para hacer negocios por Scout. 560 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:32,400 Can you do the speed of that? 561 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:33,400 I'm guessing the speed. 562 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:34,400 Yes, you can. 563 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:37,400 You can speed it up as well. 564 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:44,400 You can even if you prefer to hear a male voice recited in Texas, April 9th, 20. 565 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:45,400 Stop it. 566 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:46,400 It jumps into it. 567 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:50,400 But yes, you can change the type of voice that you want to hear also. 568 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,400 And then search. 569 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:54,400 There we go. 570 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:55,400 We have it turned on. 571 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:59,400 And then you can always exit out if you would like. 572 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:02,400 And then it just returns you to the homepage as usual. 573 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:05,400 Does this exist, the blind at all? 574 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:07,400 It has a reading aid, so. 575 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:10,400 But how would they know which to point, what to point to? 576 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:13,400 I have a friend that just went blind in the last two years. 577 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:15,400 So she's struggling with this kind of stuff. 578 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:16,400 Yeah. 579 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:20,400 Yeah, I'll have to follow up to figure out what their recommendations are for folks. 580 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:24,400 About how to navigate that. 581 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:28,400 I guess we can follow up with the vendor on that to get clear instructions. 582 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:34,400 I imagine it would show up on the screen reader. 583 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:36,400 As a verbal command? 584 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:38,400 Yeah, as a prompt. 585 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:42,400 Well, I think you're so completely blind, just leaving the line. 586 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:43,400 Completely. 587 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:47,400 So that would be a different set visual with me. 588 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:48,400 Right. 589 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:50,400 But the hearing part, you know. 590 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:54,400 It would, so it's something that would get you asking about prompts, right? 591 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:59,400 So if you go across where it says public meetings, it says public meetings, right? 592 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:00,400 To get you that point. 593 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:01,400 Right. 594 00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:02,400 I'm with you. 595 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:03,400 Yeah. 596 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:07,400 Does she have a plug-in that she's integrated into the browser that tells anything? 597 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:16,400 She has a communication board on her computer that Austin gave her for the score for the blind. 598 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:24,400 So depending on what that product is, if they hovered over the static image or the traveling image of the icon, 599 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:30,400 it should tell them, you know, this is the recite me a disability accessibility tool. 600 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:36,400 Now, there is one, I guess, limitation I would want to point out. 601 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:42,400 Anything that is a static image, it will not integrate with. 602 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:46,400 So that is the one limitation of the tool. 603 00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:48,400 What's the search command? 604 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:57,400 I'll put, but I mean, couldn't, or find, isn't there like a, yeah, control find so that you could do that. 605 00:31:57,400 --> 00:32:08,400 You could do control find and then type in what you're, but you'd have to know what you're looking for. 606 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:12,400 That is a very brief overview of the tool. 607 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:22,400 We did sign a three-year contract with the vendor, and then we would want to renew that as that comes up on a basis. 608 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:28,400 We're certainly open to take anybody's questions or feedback about. 609 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:29,400 And it's called recite. 610 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:41,400 So if somebody were to, for example, do a search for disability settings, would that pull up recite? 611 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:58,400 Would you clarify the search for these type in disability settings? 612 00:32:58,400 --> 00:32:59,400 That's a great question. 613 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:05,400 I would have to ask just only because it lives on the homepage right here. 614 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:08,400 I don't know that it is so we can confirm that. 615 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:11,400 I think that would be helpful. 616 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:18,400 I don't believe it would work if you're typing into that search bar because the search bar is linked to navigation. 617 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,400 This is an external tool. 618 00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:28,400 It would pick up our press release that we issue, not necessarily the. 619 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:40,400 So I have a question I want to ask Heather, because we talked about the libraries and about the patterns that are going on there. 620 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:51,400 Are we being careful on here on our actual website about patterns, flashes, things like that? 621 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:55,400 I don't understand what you're asking. 622 00:33:55,400 --> 00:34:07,400 Something that's just really visually busy maybe is just to have it be less like when you went, for example, to that black screen with the yellow. 623 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:10,400 I was like, please stay here all the time. 624 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:18,400 So is there a way to get to something that's less visually distracting? 625 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:28,400 For some people, we were talking about the patterns when you walk into the library, making sure that there weren't. 626 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:31,400 Flashing, when the flashes come up, that can affect people. 627 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:35,400 And I'm just making sure that when we're building our website, I'm not necessarily talking about the site. 628 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:38,400 I'm talking about the whole website that we're making careful. 629 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:47,400 Are we being careful that we're not going to overstimulate people? 630 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:48,400 It's just something. 631 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:49,400 I mean, this is why we're here. 632 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:50,400 Absolutely. 633 00:34:50,400 --> 00:35:00,400 I think we would look to a committee like this to really help provide feedback on what elements of our existing site are areas that could be improved. 634 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:06,400 And then we can certainly look at options. 635 00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:10,400 I don't know about visually impaired people in the settings that they might use, 636 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:18,400 but it could be something that you tie into as they're navigating to this site if they have something enabled in their browser. 637 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:22,400 And you can sense that programmatically. 638 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:27,400 You could surface these tools instead of having this page, if that makes sense. 639 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:33,400 So they're already navigating with a visual aid, something engaged through the browser. 640 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:41,400 You can sense that and maybe redirect them to something, not this, where it's more provisional people, but something where you start out. 641 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:45,400 Here's our tool that you can start browsing with first. 642 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:50,400 So that using their screen reader would naturally link it to something. 643 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:57,400 I don't even know if that's possible, but it might be, you know. 644 00:35:57,400 --> 00:36:03,400 I'm not sure on the first time you experience it, I mean, once you lock in your preferences and settings and then it saves it for you. 645 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:16,400 But in that first user experience, I don't have a lot of experience with already existing reading aids or tools that are in place. 646 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:17,400 I don't either. 647 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:23,400 I would assume that if you're browsing and you're completely blind, it just starts reading the page front to the bottom. 648 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:32,400 So instead of getting to the bottom and then saying, here's recite me, when they're using those auto readers, it should be the first thing that is found. 649 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:35,400 Emails are that way. 650 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:39,400 I mean, as soon as she pulls that up, she has Braille, so she knows how to pull that up. 651 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:53,400 And then the emails start reading it, you know, immediately. 652 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:59,400 I think, you know, we just want more information about how the screen reader would interact with the website. 653 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:01,400 Maybe they've already thought about that. 654 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:09,400 Yeah, and you just don't know. It sounds like some research. 655 00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:15,400 My father and the reason why my father-in-law was legally blind. 656 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:21,400 He had different pieces, but that was 20 years ago. 657 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:28,400 Technology has changed. 658 00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:31,400 Thank you. 659 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:32,400 Well, thank you so much. 660 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:37,400 We look forward to hearing about the interaction with the screen reader. 661 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:39,400 Thank you. 662 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:44,400 Yeah, it makes sense that once you get it set up, it just automatically does. 663 00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:46,400 So it really is just that one time. 664 00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:48,400 The first time and then you get your default settings. 665 00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:49,400 Yeah, that's right. 666 00:37:49,400 --> 00:38:03,400 Thank you. 667 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:04,400 You didn't find me. 668 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:23,400 You didn't find Chuck. 669 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:25,400 Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Chris Escoto. 670 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:28,400 I am the park planning manager for the park department. 671 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:30,400 It's a pleasure to be here today. 672 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:34,400 Today I'll be here to talk about the inclusive playground project. 673 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:37,400 For those that don't know about the inclusive playground project, 674 00:38:37,400 --> 00:38:40,400 I'll cover a little bit of the information of where we've been. 675 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:43,400 We have kicked off the public engagement stage, 676 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:46,400 and I'm here in front of you today to get your feedback. 677 00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:50,400 So today we're going to be talking about just the various, again, 678 00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:54,400 goals, information, the analysis of the site itself, location, 679 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:57,400 what we're looking to deal with in the project site. 680 00:38:57,400 --> 00:39:00,400 There is a namesake of the Lily Cantu playground, 681 00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:02,400 actually named after Lily Cantu. 682 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:05,400 The park itself is located at North Lakes Park, 683 00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:08,400 and I'll cover a little bit of the site specifics, 684 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:11,400 as well as get you a little bit more of an understanding of where we are 685 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:13,400 with the project timeline. 686 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:16,400 So a little bit about the project team. 687 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:21,400 Again, my name is Chris Escoto, parks and recreation staff. 688 00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:23,400 We have maintenance staff, we have our planning staff. 689 00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:29,400 We have our recreation users when we have the programming standpoint. 690 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:32,400 So a lot of those players have been participating in this, 691 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:35,400 in these efforts to try to get all this feedback gained 692 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:38,400 in order for us to get this over to our consultant. 693 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:40,400 Our consultant is Mesa Design. 694 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:44,400 They have partnered with a local organization, 695 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:46,400 Star Institute for Sensory Processing. 696 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:50,400 Their portion, or their part in this project itself, 697 00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:55,400 is they're going to be analyzing every specific element of playability 698 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:59,400 within the playground itself on how the inclusivity speaks 699 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:01,400 from the occupational therapist's perspective. 700 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:04,400 So that's something that we're tying into this project, 701 00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:07,400 as well as we have a focus group. 702 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:10,400 The focus group itself, we did have a prior member 703 00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:13,400 from this committee that served on that. 704 00:40:13,400 --> 00:40:18,400 I do want to invite that opportunity to you guys to be a part of that as well. 705 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:22,400 I know we've been communicating with Mr. Joe this past summer, 706 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:24,400 including that focus group. 707 00:40:24,400 --> 00:40:27,400 However, we do have occupational therapists. 708 00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:29,400 We have UNT, Dent County, and HMR. 709 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:31,400 We have various subject matter experts. 710 00:40:31,400 --> 00:40:35,400 What this focus group focuses on, I'm intended, 711 00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:40,400 was more or less us using them as a sounding board. 712 00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:42,400 They're the subject matter experts. 713 00:40:42,400 --> 00:40:45,400 How do all these different elements that we're trying to incorporate, 714 00:40:45,400 --> 00:40:48,400 how does that look like from the other lens? 715 00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:51,400 So that's something that was very heavily involved with this process 716 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:54,400 as far as what we've gotten to today. 717 00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:57,400 We have had two meetings with that individual focus group. 718 00:40:57,400 --> 00:41:01,400 Last but not least, I talked about the namesake of the playground. 719 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:06,400 Lila Lili Cantu, she recently has passed, 720 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:09,400 and I'll talk a little bit more about her story. 721 00:41:09,400 --> 00:41:13,400 But we do have siblings that have been involved in reviewing the design, 722 00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:17,400 and they've been very instrumental in giving us more of that information 723 00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:23,400 when it comes to what they want this playground's legacy to be in her namesake. 724 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:26,400 So you might be asking, what's an inclusive playground? 725 00:41:26,400 --> 00:41:29,400 By definition, it's a universally designed sensory-rich environment 726 00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:33,400 that enables all children to develop physically, socially, 727 00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:36,400 and emotionally in the same space. 728 00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:38,400 What we're trying to get out of this playground, 729 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:43,400 and we like to use this imagery that you see here with the scatterplot, 730 00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:48,400 there is misconception that all of our playgrounds are ADA-accessible, 731 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:52,400 or I should say they are all-inclusive, they are all ADA-compliant, 732 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:56,400 but it doesn't necessarily mean that they take into account the physical, intellectual, 733 00:41:56,400 --> 00:41:58,400 all those different abilities. 734 00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:02,400 So what we like to show within the scatterplot is an illustration 735 00:42:02,400 --> 00:42:07,400 on how inclusion speaks to making sure that they're integrated within the play space, 736 00:42:07,400 --> 00:42:10,400 rather than excluding them on the axial perimeter 737 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:13,400 or segmenting them into a specific area within the park. 738 00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:19,400 So as an inclusive playground, we're trying to accomplish this inclusivity for everyone. 739 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:22,400 We want to make sure that everyone plays, ultimately. 740 00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:26,400 So within that platform itself, that's what our vision is. 741 00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:30,400 And here's some general statistics that support some of those components 742 00:42:30,400 --> 00:42:36,400 when it comes to the hidden disabilities that exist out within the community. 743 00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:41,400 Like I mentioned, we did kick off our community engagement stage about a month ago, 744 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:43,400 but where we've been with this project, 745 00:42:43,400 --> 00:42:47,400 this all came in fruition from our Parks, Recreation, and Trail System Master Plan, 746 00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:53,400 where there was heavy emphasis on the accessibility, inclusivity within our park spaces. 747 00:42:53,400 --> 00:42:56,400 So that was something that was captured within the Master Plan, 748 00:42:56,400 --> 00:43:01,400 which then we identified funding to go ahead and start this design project. 749 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:06,400 If you haven't heard already, the bond program that passed this past November 750 00:43:06,400 --> 00:43:08,400 did allocate funding for the inclusive playground. 751 00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:13,400 That's $3.45 million directly towards the construction of the playground. 752 00:43:13,400 --> 00:43:19,400 So I do want to emphasize that the design money is not getting used out of that construction money. 753 00:43:19,400 --> 00:43:22,400 That was something that was allocated outside of that. 754 00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:29,400 So we are trying to get those dollars to go fully into the construction of the project. 755 00:43:29,400 --> 00:43:31,400 Do you know where it's going to be yet? 756 00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:34,400 It will, and I'll cover that here in the next few slides. 757 00:43:34,400 --> 00:43:36,400 So multi-sensory play. 758 00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:42,400 One of our consultants and really that agency that I spoke about, 759 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:47,400 their biggest part is how does this play to the overall sensory play. 760 00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:52,400 We want to make sure that there's a heavy emphasis on the inclusivity standpoint, 761 00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:56,400 knowing as well that overstimulation does exist within the park spaces. 762 00:43:56,400 --> 00:44:00,400 So how do we go ahead and factor in all those variables that exist? 763 00:44:00,400 --> 00:44:05,400 Everyone has far senses, but not everybody gets to understand 764 00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:08,400 or know those near senses as they're calling with the vestibular, 765 00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:12,400 proprioceptive, and the interception inputs that are gathered. 766 00:44:12,400 --> 00:44:15,400 So that is something that within this web diagram, 767 00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:18,400 you're able to see how all these different eight senses that they're calling, 768 00:44:18,400 --> 00:44:22,400 how you're able to implement them within the physicality of the play 769 00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:26,400 or the social experience and all those different sensory elements. 770 00:44:26,400 --> 00:44:30,400 So this is something that our consultants will be assessing, 771 00:44:30,400 --> 00:44:34,400 and that's what the occupational therapist will be touching on 772 00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:36,400 within the different play experiences. 773 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:39,400 So just general project goals that we have. 774 00:44:39,400 --> 00:44:43,400 Ultimately, we want to make sure that this is a space that everyone is welcome, 775 00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:45,400 that everyone gets to play. 776 00:44:45,400 --> 00:44:50,400 We want to make sure that it's decided for wide ranges of ages, abilities. 777 00:44:50,400 --> 00:44:54,400 Make sure it's sensory rich, comfort, convenience. 778 00:44:54,400 --> 00:44:59,400 There's been a lot of input from the committee on like adult changing tables. 779 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:04,400 Making sure that the surfacing, the materials that we use are very specific 780 00:45:04,400 --> 00:45:09,400 to keep in mind the different uses and the different oil-less experiences. 781 00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:12,400 We want to make sure that if we incorporate water into the space, 782 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:16,400 making sure that it's somewhat specific in regards to the location 783 00:45:16,400 --> 00:45:18,400 and keeping in mind that we're not just putting it everywhere 784 00:45:18,400 --> 00:45:22,400 because for those that have medical devices, want to make sure that we're not-- 785 00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:25,400 those are heavy dollars that we're not ruining those devices. 786 00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:28,400 So that's more or less what this is covering here. 787 00:45:28,400 --> 00:45:32,400 We do want to make sure that we are engaging with our local resources, 788 00:45:32,400 --> 00:45:35,400 and that factors in partnering with UNT, TWU, 789 00:45:35,400 --> 00:45:39,400 and really that focus group that we have set in place. 790 00:45:39,400 --> 00:45:44,400 In addition, knowing that this dream, this vision that we have, 791 00:45:44,400 --> 00:45:48,400 that 3.45 can only go so much so far. 792 00:45:48,400 --> 00:45:51,400 So one of the components that we're looking at is how do we face this project? 793 00:45:51,400 --> 00:45:55,400 We want to make sure that we capture as much as we can within this first phase. 794 00:45:55,400 --> 00:46:00,400 And there are other opportunities for us to get sponsors, to get grants, 795 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:03,400 to get those dollars to go a little bit further. 796 00:46:03,400 --> 00:46:07,400 So that's something that we're looking to do as well as the sustainability 797 00:46:07,400 --> 00:46:10,400 when it comes to the site maintenance and the staffing itself, 798 00:46:10,400 --> 00:46:15,400 not only from the product that we're putting on the ground, but from a maintenance standpoint. 799 00:46:15,400 --> 00:46:18,400 We want to make sure that what we put in there is sustainable, 800 00:46:18,400 --> 00:46:20,400 lasts a long time, low maintenance, 801 00:46:20,400 --> 00:46:26,400 ultimately saving dollars when it comes to having to make repairs. 802 00:46:26,400 --> 00:46:29,400 Project location is at North Lakes Park. 803 00:46:29,400 --> 00:46:32,400 North Lakes Park is one of our city parks. 804 00:46:32,400 --> 00:46:35,400 If you are aware with North Lakes Park, 805 00:46:35,400 --> 00:46:41,400 there is a lot of current issues from a mobility accessibility standpoint. 806 00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:45,400 There was an accessibility assessment that was conducted 807 00:46:45,400 --> 00:46:50,400 with the ADA transition plan a couple years ago, or I guess now three years ago. 808 00:46:50,400 --> 00:46:56,400 And what you see here on screen gives you the variables and the different assessments 809 00:46:56,400 --> 00:46:59,400 when it comes to violations, excessive slopes, 810 00:46:59,400 --> 00:47:03,400 how it's not currently accessible for the most part. 811 00:47:03,400 --> 00:47:07,400 So what our plan is, we're looking into this diagram here, 812 00:47:07,400 --> 00:47:11,400 and how can we correct as much as we can from the space that we're creating 813 00:47:11,400 --> 00:47:14,400 to make sure that that's something that ultimately, 814 00:47:14,400 --> 00:47:17,400 with the inclusivity standpoint, everyone is able to access. 815 00:47:17,400 --> 00:47:24,400 So you're looking at the problem areas to make sure that the problems are repeated. 816 00:47:24,400 --> 00:47:27,400 Is that what you're saying or you're doing the whole park? 817 00:47:27,400 --> 00:47:31,400 We are, so the park, you'll see what the imagery here will be, 818 00:47:31,400 --> 00:47:33,400 but we are trying to connect. 819 00:47:33,400 --> 00:47:36,400 The North Lakes Rec Center is located on this side. 820 00:47:36,400 --> 00:47:42,400 Our programming that does go to the park itself currently cannot access 821 00:47:42,400 --> 00:47:46,400 in a good manner without having to get on the parking lot, 822 00:47:46,400 --> 00:47:48,400 and that's not really safe. 823 00:47:48,400 --> 00:47:50,400 So that's something that we're looking to improve, 824 00:47:50,400 --> 00:47:53,400 connection from this location to the playground itself. 825 00:47:53,400 --> 00:47:57,400 But all these different elements, there is going to be a restriction, of course, 826 00:47:57,400 --> 00:47:59,400 as you go further down south, perhaps. 827 00:47:59,400 --> 00:48:02,400 That's not something that's going to be captured in this plan, 828 00:48:02,400 --> 00:48:06,400 but the City of Denton does have the ADA transition plan, like I did say, 829 00:48:06,400 --> 00:48:09,400 and that is something that Parks and Recreation is focused on 830 00:48:09,400 --> 00:48:14,400 for the next five years to try to implement some of those high, medium, low risks. 831 00:48:14,400 --> 00:48:16,400 Just since you're mentioning North Lakes Park, 832 00:48:16,400 --> 00:48:21,400 I have a friend that uses a wheelchair that asked if there was a way 833 00:48:21,400 --> 00:48:26,400 to make parking for people with disabilities closer to the park, 834 00:48:26,400 --> 00:48:30,400 because that path is just difficult for her to, you know, 835 00:48:30,400 --> 00:48:33,400 it's just a long way to go with the walk or whatever. 836 00:48:33,400 --> 00:48:36,400 Yeah, and you're thinking right in line with what we're trying to do, 837 00:48:36,400 --> 00:48:41,400 so you'll see here in a few slides how that's going to be incorporated into the design. 838 00:48:41,400 --> 00:48:45,400 The slope analysis that you see here shows, the relevance of this is showing, 839 00:48:45,400 --> 00:48:50,400 just the variables on how it changes in grade and how excessive it can be, 840 00:48:50,400 --> 00:48:54,400 even just from accessing the parking lot, as you mentioned. 841 00:48:54,400 --> 00:48:57,400 So that's something that we're looking to identify. 842 00:48:57,400 --> 00:49:02,400 This gives you a sense of the slope and the drainage with the issues that we have on site. 843 00:49:02,400 --> 00:49:04,400 So how are we going to make these corrections? 844 00:49:04,400 --> 00:49:08,400 There are going to be some challenges with the topography that you see on screen. 845 00:49:08,400 --> 00:49:12,400 However, our consultant has provided a general conceptual plan 846 00:49:12,400 --> 00:49:17,400 that we'll see on the next few slides on how we're going to be improving that access. 847 00:49:17,400 --> 00:49:20,400 So a little bit about Lilly, as I mentioned, 848 00:49:20,400 --> 00:49:26,400 this was a recently named playground that was adopted by Council in 2022. 849 00:49:26,400 --> 00:49:32,400 Lilly did grow up in Denton, and we have had conversations with her family, like I mentioned, 850 00:49:32,400 --> 00:49:37,400 and really from the stories that created from this were truly inspirational, more or less, 851 00:49:37,400 --> 00:49:41,400 where she truly had a passion to serve kids. 852 00:49:41,400 --> 00:49:47,400 Her mom was actually a special education teacher, so she grew up in an environment 853 00:49:47,400 --> 00:49:50,400 that was always caring, that was always giving, 854 00:49:50,400 --> 00:49:56,400 where she ultimately ended up using all her savings to go to a mission trip, 855 00:49:56,400 --> 00:50:02,400 or to go, not a mission trip, but to go volunteer at a home for medical financial kids in Peru. 856 00:50:02,400 --> 00:50:04,400 And that's, unfortunately, where she ended up passing. 857 00:50:04,400 --> 00:50:06,400 So she is no longer with us. 858 00:50:06,400 --> 00:50:10,400 However, as I've mentioned, her family does remember her 859 00:50:10,400 --> 00:50:13,400 as someone with a humility, open mind, always willing to help. 860 00:50:13,400 --> 00:50:18,400 So what factored into this design heavily influenced from those conversations. 861 00:50:18,400 --> 00:50:23,400 What ended up happening was the consulting group, based on her story, 862 00:50:23,400 --> 00:50:28,400 provided two or three conceptual plans where ultimately we went to the family and said, 863 00:50:28,400 --> 00:50:32,400 out of these three stories, which one do you think portrays her legacy 864 00:50:32,400 --> 00:50:36,400 in a manner where you feel speaks to her nature? 865 00:50:36,400 --> 00:50:42,400 So with that information developed, what you see with the pollinator's patch, 866 00:50:42,400 --> 00:50:50,400 based on her stories, and how she has pollinated all these different individuals, 867 00:50:50,400 --> 00:50:57,400 helped identify this theme where her commitment to a better world for children 868 00:50:57,400 --> 00:50:59,400 is ultimately celebrated in this concept. 869 00:50:59,400 --> 00:51:02,400 And one of the components that we're looking to do, 870 00:51:02,400 --> 00:51:05,400 usually you have different play zones within the playground. 871 00:51:05,400 --> 00:51:10,400 Well, in this scenario, there's going to be different hives, different active zones. 872 00:51:10,400 --> 00:51:15,400 So that's something that you'll get to see within the design here 873 00:51:15,400 --> 00:51:18,400 on how they're able to implement this. 874 00:51:18,400 --> 00:51:20,400 There is a lot on the screen, and I'll walk through it. 875 00:51:20,400 --> 00:51:25,400 As I mentioned with the connection from the rec center to the playground, 876 00:51:25,400 --> 00:51:29,400 figuring out how are we able to make that connection more accessible, 877 00:51:29,400 --> 00:51:34,400 add more accessible parking, as we talked about along the front edge of the park, 878 00:51:34,400 --> 00:51:41,400 as well as restrooms having accessible paths from the surfacing to the playground. 879 00:51:41,400 --> 00:51:45,400 We are looking to do, rather than having that rubberized mulch, 880 00:51:45,400 --> 00:51:49,400 or not rubberized mulch, but just that wooden mulch, it's going to be synthetic grass. 881 00:51:49,400 --> 00:51:54,400 And the synthetic grass product that we're using is anti-static, anti-microbial. 882 00:51:54,400 --> 00:51:59,400 So there's different elements that we're looking to implement from the inclusivity standpoint. 883 00:51:59,400 --> 00:52:05,400 You keep in mind different abilities that exist out within a play space. 884 00:52:05,400 --> 00:52:08,400 We are integrating these play spaces, as I mentioned, 885 00:52:08,400 --> 00:52:13,400 not trying to seclude specific ages in a certain area, 886 00:52:13,400 --> 00:52:16,400 or maybe not ages, but maybe more or less the abilities. 887 00:52:16,400 --> 00:52:19,400 So we're trying to sprinkle those within. 888 00:52:19,400 --> 00:52:23,400 Out of the input, there is a bathroom, if you're familiar with North Lakes Park, 889 00:52:23,400 --> 00:52:26,400 there's a bathroom on this section here. 890 00:52:26,400 --> 00:52:31,400 Based on the feedback, that is a little bit too far for the playground. 891 00:52:31,400 --> 00:52:36,400 So from that, we are looking to implement a bathroom within the premises as well. 892 00:52:36,400 --> 00:52:42,400 So that's something that we're looking to do with, as I mentioned, adult-sized changing tables, 893 00:52:42,400 --> 00:52:49,400 making sure that we have wash stations outside of the areas, have cooling stations. 894 00:52:49,400 --> 00:52:54,400 So there is a lot into account to how we are designing this. 895 00:52:54,400 --> 00:52:56,400 However, this is just conceptual. 896 00:52:56,400 --> 00:53:00,400 So this is just the beginning for us to start getting that feedback from everyone 897 00:53:00,400 --> 00:53:03,400 on what we want this play space to be. 898 00:53:03,400 --> 00:53:11,400 Here is some illustrations on how this space can show inspiration on what they're looking to accomplish. 899 00:53:11,400 --> 00:53:16,400 However, keep in mind, as you see here, this climber here, that's not accessible. 900 00:53:16,400 --> 00:53:20,400 So it's going to be something that we're looking to be different, 901 00:53:20,400 --> 00:53:24,400 be a destination from everywhere else within the city. 902 00:53:24,400 --> 00:53:30,400 As of right now, there is no playground out there that has this mega structure that is truly accessible. 903 00:53:30,400 --> 00:53:37,400 So we're looking to add and be that city that does this for the first time. 904 00:53:37,400 --> 00:53:41,400 So we are challenging those playground manufacturers, more or less, 905 00:53:41,400 --> 00:53:46,400 to try to be creative with those designs, and it's something that truly speaks to the community. 906 00:53:46,400 --> 00:53:53,400 There is thematic opportunities. So with Lily's namesake, with Lily's itself, 907 00:53:53,400 --> 00:53:57,400 she really loved flowers, so we can incorporate Lily flowers as pavilions. 908 00:53:57,400 --> 00:54:00,400 Her middle name is Rose, so can we do roses? 909 00:54:00,400 --> 00:54:06,400 There's different variable things that we can incorporate just to give a little bit more of that identity to Lily. 910 00:54:06,400 --> 00:54:12,400 So I mentioned here is a family style accessible restroom that has those exterior wash stations. 911 00:54:12,400 --> 00:54:18,400 There have been conversations of misters just from the sense of being in Texas, we want to make sure that we have shade. 912 00:54:18,400 --> 00:54:24,400 But not only that, is there an opportunity from a sensory standpoint that we can implement water in some format, 913 00:54:24,400 --> 00:54:28,400 whether that's misters or that's water tables. 914 00:54:28,400 --> 00:54:32,400 One thing that is not going to go on this site is going to be a splash pad. 915 00:54:32,400 --> 00:54:36,400 That's something that doesn't necessarily fit this project. 916 00:54:36,400 --> 00:54:44,400 But we do want to see how can we put all these different sensory items into context within the playground. 917 00:54:44,400 --> 00:54:48,400 The only thing with misters is it's just so human already. 918 00:54:48,400 --> 00:54:55,400 And it just seems like misters are more for places where it's not as human. 919 00:54:55,400 --> 00:55:00,400 Yeah, and that's a good point. Like I said, this is just opportunities that have been discussed, 920 00:55:00,400 --> 00:55:05,400 more or less just trying to get a sense of what is it the community thinks this space should be. 921 00:55:05,400 --> 00:55:10,400 So this is just purely conceptual just right now at the very early stages. 922 00:55:10,400 --> 00:55:13,400 So as I mentioned, we're in the public engagement stage. 923 00:55:13,400 --> 00:55:19,400 We have had, I actually gave this presentation a couple weeks ago for our first community meeting. 924 00:55:19,400 --> 00:55:25,400 We have presented to our park board. We do plan on going to the schools and trying to hear from the kids. 925 00:55:25,400 --> 00:55:33,400 We are also looking to be out at the different events as well as host more of these public engagement sessions so we can get that information. 926 00:55:33,400 --> 00:55:39,400 There is currently a survey out that I'll send over to Carlotta that she can provide over to you guys. 927 00:55:39,400 --> 00:55:44,400 But it's an active survey that's out in the city right now and ultimately is what do we want this place space to be. 928 00:55:44,400 --> 00:55:51,400 So there's different experiences, there's different questions that will help our designers with that input. 929 00:55:51,400 --> 00:55:57,400 We do seek to get final adoption later this fall where we can go straight into construction. 930 00:55:57,400 --> 00:56:03,400 So with the bond program, we are getting that dispersed within what they call year one. 931 00:56:03,400 --> 00:56:08,400 So we're going to go straight into construction anticipated to be sometime next summer. 932 00:56:08,400 --> 00:56:15,400 With that being said, we are also looking grants. So depending on some of those grant timelines could push it a little bit. 933 00:56:15,400 --> 00:56:22,400 But I think we're we know that we can potentially get started with this out in the ground by next summer. 934 00:56:22,400 --> 00:56:28,400 So hopefully we'll be ready and cutting this within a year in summer 2026. 935 00:56:28,400 --> 00:56:35,400 And so, as I mentioned, there is an active survey out there and I'll get this over to Carlotta. 936 00:56:35,400 --> 00:56:42,400 There is a link here. If there are any questions, we do have a discussed at and project page on discuss that. 937 00:56:42,400 --> 00:56:50,400 And we have all the different information, all the presentations that we've been giving the public meeting that we recorded was a virtual meeting. 938 00:56:50,400 --> 00:57:01,400 And we did that on purpose because we did get an American Sign Language interpreter that is on screen and recording for those that are visually impaired. 939 00:57:01,400 --> 00:57:08,400 That need to not be here any parents are that they need to get get that information out there. 940 00:57:08,400 --> 00:57:12,400 So with that, I'll open up for questions. 941 00:57:12,400 --> 00:57:22,400 Is there anything else available of any of this like the playground and trail that you see above, you know, like a drone taking just certain images like that. 942 00:57:22,400 --> 00:57:33,400 I mean, that would be good to look over and you might get some ideas, you know, about that is that since it's in just the early stages, is it even possible to get a pretty much like 3D renders? 943 00:57:33,400 --> 00:57:43,400 Get further down that give you the experience or what exactly are you? Well, aren't you still collecting like data on what would work or what you wouldn't work or anything like that? 944 00:57:43,400 --> 00:57:48,400 Yeah, the data that we're collecting is not necessarily what what wouldn't work or what will work. 945 00:57:48,400 --> 00:57:52,400 It's more or less what is the experience that we want it to be from a sensory level. 946 00:57:52,400 --> 00:57:59,400 Do we want to make sure that from the different zones, what's the playability, how active do we want them to be? 947 00:57:59,400 --> 00:58:08,400 So it's more of the experience. There are examples, like I mentioned, just within the play structures on how you can incorporate that. 948 00:58:08,400 --> 00:58:20,400 But we haven't gotten that far. Once we collect that information, then that's where we're going to produce those renders and those play experiences and say, hey, this playground here or this amenity here spinner, whatever that may be. 949 00:58:20,400 --> 00:58:30,400 The swing set gives this and accommodates this. So that's something that we're looking to get further for the longer process. You've been to the one in San Antonio. Have you seen that one? 950 00:58:30,400 --> 00:58:39,400 You're talking about Casey's. Yes. Yeah, I have not. We did have and that's more an amusement park. 951 00:58:39,400 --> 00:58:42,400 So that's an amusement park that's a little bit different than we're looking to accomplish here. 952 00:58:42,400 --> 00:58:50,400 Probably the closest thing to this playground is going to be the Dream Park in Fort Worth or you have Grand Prairie. 953 00:58:50,400 --> 00:58:59,400 They have the Grand Adventures or next to the Epic Recreation Center. They have about 30,000, 40,000 square foot inclusive playground. 954 00:58:59,400 --> 00:59:04,400 So that's similar to what we're looking to accomplish here. But again, those different, sorry, those. 955 00:59:04,400 --> 00:59:13,400 It's a great adventures park in Grand Prairie and then the Dream Park in Fort Worth. 956 00:59:13,400 --> 00:59:21,400 And that's right next to the Rose Garden. 957 00:59:21,400 --> 00:59:32,400 Could you tell me about when I asked about the dog park about having puttered thoughts on making it so it's not as both of the dog parks. 958 00:59:32,400 --> 00:59:35,400 It really is a bit of a walk to get to them. 959 00:59:35,400 --> 00:59:43,400 And for someone with, you know, with a disability that makes it difficult, it discourages people. 960 00:59:43,400 --> 00:59:51,400 Yes. So one of the things that I've heard from this project that we have parts of our region has multiple projects that we're currently working on right now. 961 00:59:51,400 --> 00:59:56,400 We are looking to improve the surfacing over at the dog park. Right now you have the decomposed granite. 962 00:59:56,400 --> 01:00:03,400 This is where we are looking to get that concrete. We actually just finished our plans. So that will help with some of that connectivity. 963 01:00:03,400 --> 01:00:14,400 There have been conversations about adding parking lot spaces. Another bond program that was funded from the bond is the expansion of the animal shelter. 964 01:00:14,400 --> 01:00:25,400 So is there a sense of, does it make sense that whatever they're looking to do, can we install, if they're going to do parking, is there a sense that that makes sense for us to share that to get it closer? 965 01:00:25,400 --> 01:00:36,400 So those are just conversations that we've been having. Not to say that's going to happen, but that's those are just items that we're looking to try to get to that to have to make this better experience. 966 01:00:36,400 --> 01:00:45,400 Yeah, I just want to make you make sure you know it is. It is a concern. No, I appreciate that. Thank you. 967 01:00:45,400 --> 01:00:55,400 Questions guys. Otherwise, again, I appreciate your time. I'm going to come back and give you more information. This is just the beginning. 968 01:00:55,400 --> 01:01:17,400 If you have any questions, follow ups again, discuss Stanton is that project page where we have that information, but thank you for your time. 969 01:01:17,400 --> 01:01:35,400 All right. 970 01:01:35,400 --> 01:01:43,400 Good afternoon, everyone. I am Carlotta Cowan, your new staff liaison. 971 01:01:43,400 --> 01:01:55,400 I just wanted to give you all a few updates. A couple of these items are follow ups from last meeting. 972 01:01:55,400 --> 01:02:14,400 So I spoke with the library. One of the things I wanted to follow up with them on was accessibility and additional hotspots. So they did confirm that the planning for the hotspots that budget item is going through this upcoming year's budget process. 973 01:02:14,400 --> 01:02:33,400 And let's see if the planning for the accessibility updates is expected to begin Q1 of 2027 as far as when they are beginning to remodel or the building for their new building anyway. 974 01:02:33,400 --> 01:02:49,400 So that'll start with the design phase, which they will see input from you all, and they will be back to ask about that. Touched on the 30 more hotspots. They expect that that will begin circulating early 2025. 975 01:02:49,400 --> 01:03:07,400 So the next item is a, so we did the library reached out to us to for a support letter they did apply for a special projects grant. And so, thank you, Joe for and Sally for your contributions on that so we did get that letter of support to them. 976 01:03:07,400 --> 01:03:16,400 They apply for the grant and they should be announcing who won that grant in June, by the end of June this month. 977 01:03:16,400 --> 01:03:23,400 The next item is a follow up from our solid waste presentation the group that was here last meeting. 978 01:03:23,400 --> 01:03:38,400 Let's see this service assistance program so one of the things they touched on was the permanent box that can be marked by position, and also, if they want to keep it at 18 months, or if it should go to 24 months. 979 01:03:38,400 --> 01:03:53,400 When that that permanent box is checked. It's 24 months is when it needs to be reevaluated. So if it is not checked, then it is still an 18 month process. 980 01:03:53,400 --> 01:04:01,400 And so the residents will need to resubmit their application every 18 months, if the permanent box is not checked every 18 months. 981 01:04:01,400 --> 01:04:15,400 Can you explain that a little more what are they talking about what. Yes, so this the assistance program service assistance program basically there is a application that if you need it is available it will be mailed to you. 982 01:04:15,400 --> 01:04:33,400 And I can provide additional information from the last meeting, as well on that for you so the application has a section of it where you can mark if this is temporary or if this is permanent by position, if the additional services so those services include. 983 01:04:33,400 --> 01:04:48,400 If someone needs assistance bringing their trash bin from the from up by their house out to the street. So our, our staff is is able to assist with that when they have this application on file for that particular address. 984 01:04:48,400 --> 01:04:52,400 That was the replacement for the yellow. 985 01:04:52,400 --> 01:05:03,400 Right, yes, yes, they actually got the app up when they're driving around. 986 01:05:03,400 --> 01:05:10,400 It's checked off permanent, but they still check in every 20 every two years. Yes, every 18 months. Okay, right. 987 01:05:10,400 --> 01:05:17,400 Yes, and if it's not check that is every 18 months. 988 01:05:17,400 --> 01:05:27,400 And these are everything that you all saw today is attached to the agendas that I sent that I sent back to you so you help you all have access to this as well. 989 01:05:27,400 --> 01:05:48,400 So another update here at the sidewalk segment on university so we talked a little bit about the gap between Albertson supermarket and heritage trail. So we got an update on that, that the sidewalk gap has been added to the sidewalk plan. 990 01:05:48,400 --> 01:06:04,400 So that's going to be a priority on that plan so glad to have that update and this is from our construction team, who provided this update so now is that I'm sorry, is it also including not just the gap, because I know we mentioned the gap between Albertson's 991 01:06:04,400 --> 01:06:19,400 street and heritage, but then gap going up heritage or south on heritage is also because you have to get into the street before you can actually walk the first day of the day, walk down heritage and then get to that. 992 01:06:19,400 --> 01:06:32,400 And then walk up to there's that little path right there that people have walked and created, but it's getting down that road, you can't get to university without getting into the street. 993 01:06:32,400 --> 01:06:46,400 So what I'll do is confirm that that is a part of the plan as well, or part of future development in that area so I'll confirm that and let you all know during our next meeting next month. 994 01:06:46,400 --> 01:07:12,400 And so lastly, reporting on grievances and grievances there were none. And so our next meeting will be Thursday, May 16 at the repeal. 995 01:07:12,400 --> 01:07:27,400 Just a quick reminder. So, on the meetings that we just approved from our last meeting, the minutes that we approved from our last meeting, there's an item regarding our issue priorities for 2024. 996 01:07:27,400 --> 01:07:40,400 And it was supposed to be brought back for this meeting, but it will be brought back the next meeting. I know we touched on a couple of those topics already but we'll vote on that for the last three meetings of the year. 997 01:07:40,400 --> 01:07:46,400 So the meeting's always here? Yes ma'am. 998 01:07:46,400 --> 01:07:56,400 I'm going to read it and then read. 999 01:07:56,400 --> 01:08:08,400 All right, thank you. 1000 01:08:08,400 --> 01:08:14,400 Thank you so much. 1001 01:08:14,400 --> 01:08:18,400 About three more months.