Plastic is very bad, and I'm going to see different kinds of things.
I'm going to see different kinds of things.
Say you don't have the thing that you need,
we know where a lot of things are.
We find the things and we help people work together.
What I say a lot is I help people talk,
I help people collaborate, I help people come together,
especially inside the city of Denton.
With this cycle, with preparedness,
some of the things we do,
we develop emergency plans,
we conduct risk assessments,
we establish communication protocols,
we train emergency personnel,
and public education campaigns.
The objective there is to enhance
the community's ability to respond effectively
before an emergency occurs.
That's that preparation before.
In response, this is where you see us a lot,
but it's a very tiny portion of what we do.
We mobilize emergency personnel,
we deploy resources,
we implement emergency plans,
we coordinate with agencies and organizations.
The objective there is to save lives,
protect property, and stabilize the situation in that order.
Our primary objective is always saving lives,
then protecting property,
and then stabilizing the situation.
Then we move into recovery.
After a disaster occurs,
we'll conduct damage assessments,
provide assistance to affected individuals and businesses,
repairing infrastructure,
restoring essential services.
Again, the objective there is to restore
affected communities to their pre-disaster conditions
or better.
Depending on the disaster,
this can take a few weeks to months or years.
Katrina still is in the recovery phase,
Hurricane Ian is still in the recovery phase,
so it just depends on the disaster.
Katrina is still in recovery?
Yes.
Technically, it's still in recovery.
The community has not gone back to the pre-disaster state,
so it's considered to be still in recovery.
And then mitigation.
This is where we implement building codes and zoning regulations.
We don't implement them,
but we work with cities and organizations
to make sure that they're bettering.
Especially when you think about floodplains,
we want to make sure those building codes are better
to prevent those disasters.
We invest in infrastructure improvements,
or we help find grants to help invest in infrastructure improvements.
We conduct hazard mitigation projects.
We promote community preparedness and education.
And again, this is to reduce the risk
and impact of future disasters.
We know they're going to happen,
so how do we mitigate those disasters?
So how does E.M. help those with disabilities?
First of all, they hired me.
So my background,
I worked for the American Red Cross.
In the past, I still volunteer with them.
My primary focus was reunification.
I deployed to several deployments across the country,
including Hurricane Ian.
I went there for three weeks, held out after.
I've done the Allen Outlet Mall shooting.
I've worked with the FBI for their family assistance center.
I've opened countless shelters in the DFW area.
And I was also on the disability integration team.
So my primary focus was to make sure that the shelters that we opened
were inclusive to those with disabilities,
functional, and access needs.
So the primary reason I was hired
was sheltering.
So to beef up the city of Ditton's sheltering,
make sure that we're ready to go in case a disaster strikes.
When I worked for the Red Cross, I was a disaster program manager,
and I covered Tarrant County.
And what I would tell them is,
since COVID, volunteering has gone down a lot.
And so the best that the Red Cross could do was open five.
If there was a widespread disaster across the Metroplex,
no notice disaster, it would probably be like a string of tornadoes.
The best that the Red Cross could do would be to open five shelters
across the Metroplex.
And honestly, that would probably be two in Fort Worth,
one in Arlington, two in Dallas.
And so these smaller communities, I would work with them like,
how can we prepare you?
How can we make sure you're ready to go?
Because I know that we, as the Red Cross,
do not have the capability to serve every single community,
because we just don't have the resources.
So with the City of Fort Worth, I worked with them.
I trained all their staff in sheltering with the expectation of,
if you can run it for 72 hours, we'll get you the supplies,
we'll get you the food, we'll get you the cots.
If you can run it for 72 hours,
by 72 hours the Red Cross can have people from all over the country here.
But can you sustain it for 72 hours?
So that's my primary goal with the City of Denton.
Once Bob gets back, I can focus on that.
Right now I'm doing his job in mine.
But that is my primary goal of where I'm trying to get Denton to,
is can we sustain, can we shelter our community for 72 hours?
So my primary focus was sheltering and then public education.
I have been able to do a lot of public education speaking,
and so that's kind of what my focus will be once he comes back,
is doing a lot of public education, a lot of outreach.
So educating the public.
So some of the things that we do is we help nursing homes
and full-time care facilities with education and planning assumptions.
I presented at the Texas Advocates Conference in July of last year
for about 120 people over two sessions,
and I worked with Denton State School with their hazard vulnerability assessment,
and that's just in the last six months while doing two jobs,
so I'm really excited to be able to jump full-time into this.
And then one thing that I don't know if you all guys know a lot about is,
this is the next project I'm working on is STEER,
which is State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry.
So it's a free registry that provides local emergency planners
and responders with additional information about the needs in their community.
And so we have 208 people registered within the city of Denton,
and those who are registered are people with disabilities,
they're medically fragile, access and functional needs,
limited mobility or communication barriers,
require medical assistance during an emergency event,
transportation assistance or personal care assistance.
So with this registry, not only are we able to plan
and make planning assumptions about where are the most vulnerable parts of our community,
where do we need to focus,
but with the last year's legislative session, Senate or sorry,
Senate bill or state bill, 968 was passed, which requires wellness checks.
So it requires the local government to conduct,
to check on medically fragile persons who are registered with STEER
and ensure they have continuity of care and the ability,
and the ability to continue using electronically powered medical equipment.
This came out of winter storm Uri when we had that long period,
and there was around 300 people in the state of Texas who unfortunately passed.
I was working 9-1-1 at that time, I was a 9-1 dispatcher,
I spoke with several people who were in desperate need of assistance,
and it was really heartbreaking.
And so I'm really glad that this was passed because it allows,
it forces local jurisdictions to make a plan for what are we going to do
with our medically fragile people.
So some of the events that require welfare checks is going to be extended power,
water or gas outages, an emergency disaster declaration,
or any other time it's deemed necessary.
What I've been working on is, oh sorry, the requirements for these wellness checks
are also an automated phone call or text, a personalized phone call,
and then if they don't answer either one of those,
we have to actually go in person and check on those people.
And it almost be done within 24 hours of the qualifying event.
So not after 24 hours, within that first 24 hours.
So some of the things we're doing, this plan is still in the works,
we're using AlertDent, which is an EverBridge.
We use it right now to send out typically weather alerts,
which you'll see.
We also use it for missing persons.
But we'll send out a message and you can reply back to that saying,
"Yes, I'm good," or, "No, I need help."
Step two, our staff is going to call anybody who didn't answer.
Like I said, we have 208 people currently registered.
And then step three is fire staff will actually go out and check
on the remaining persons not accounted for.
We've also partnered with DME and CoServe to ensure we're being
notified any time there's a power outage longer than four hours
so we can start that process.
So any time there's any power outage that's longer than four hours
for anybody on that steer list,
we're going to start making those notifications,
make sure that they have a week.
So I'm sorry I ran through that really fast.
But do you all guys have any questions about what we're doing,
any concerns, any ideas?
So the steer that's volunteer, voluntary?
Yes, it's voluntary.
It says on there that it doesn't -- I think it says on there somewhere
where it's like it's not a guarantee that you're going to get help,
but with that state bill, we're going to be out there and check on it.
Well, I'm just saying, so people don't want to, they don't have to?
They don't have to. No, no, no.
This is just one to help with planning and then so that we can come
and check on you in the case of a disaster.
The other side of it, is there a way -- because I know that during a disaster,
you know, our personnel are going to be busy.
Is there a way if you can't get hold of the person,
it learns contacting a neighbor, is there an option in there to contact this person?
Yeah, there's an emergency contact on the steer list.
Okay. Yeah, so they've thought of that.
So we'll try to contact them if we don't hear from them because, you know,
one of the things in my head is if the power is out,
what if these people don't have a cell phone?
So we can contact their friends or family, their emergency contact, and make sure.
And a lot of the things I talk about in my presentations too, you know,
I do presentations for people with disabilities and their families is having a plan.
You know, checking on your neighbors, talking with your neighbors, saying,
"Hey, will you be my buddy? Will you come check on me?
If something bad happens, I'll come check on you."
They replied that they are fine at first and then something happens for that situation to change.
How do they contact you? Are they not?
Do they know how to get back in contact? Does the text message have something?
It has something along the lines of if you have an immediate emergency, call 911.
So I think 911 is always a good -- because we're going to be in direct contact with them of,
"Hey, what are your needs looking like?"
So I think 911 is always a valid option.
But definitely put maybe the emergency number -- the emergency management number up there.
Yes, ma'am.
Is documentation required to what disability?
No.
Do you think, like, where you're going or what the disability is when you head to their house?
It'll list, like, what -- I think there's a section for notes.
So they can put on there that they are bedbound, that they don't --
and it gives some information about what to put in there.
They're bedbound. They don't communicate verbally.
What's the best way -- you know, they're on oxygen, that kind of stuff.
So blindness and not being -- all those count?
Yeah, they will all be on there.
Well, they have the opportunity to put on there.
They're not required to disclose what the disability is.
So people that require transportation assistance, how is that provided?
So we -- the fire department, obviously, we can transport.
We do have a transport van.
And then I'm working hopefully with parks.
They have several vans, including ADA vans.
And then if it needs to ramp up to, you know, a large transport issue,
we have contacts with DCTA as well with their mobility assistance.
Okay.
And I can't remember the man's name that's deployed.
Well, when he was here, he said that I was asking about how we were going to --
I don't know if it was his program or not,
but he talked about putting something in libraries, like for example,
and it would be, you know, one of those signs,
and it would have, you know, a website or, you know, scanning it,
and you could go to it, and I've never seen it.
Yeah, I think that that kind of -- it got jumbled up.
But it's part of actually my education plan.
It's going to involve a lot in the libraries,
a lot of outreach in the nursing homes and the extended care facilities.
So that's definitely part of our plan.
I have some flyers created,
just kind of waiting for the time when I can throw all my force behind it.
That's a great idea.
And then the -- like, I don't meet any of the other criteria,
but I ride a bike for transportation.
So is there another -- I mean, would I need to sign up for this?
You know, my neighbor is probably going to watch out for me, but --
But if you need help getting to a shelter,
we're going to make sure you get to a shelter, if that's the case.
If you need help, we're going to do whatever we can to make sure that you do.
So -- but I would need to sign up.
You don't have to -- I mean, you don't have to sign up for this.
You could all -- anybody can always call 911.
This is just like -- we just want to make sure that nobody gets lost
in the system.
Nobody feels like they don't have anywhere to go or anywhere to call.
There's a lot of people who just sat at home
and were called and didn't call for help.
And so we want to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to call --
or even if they don't have the opportunity
or they don't have the idea to call for help,
we're there to check on them.
Yeah, and DCTA would be great, you know, to have a big bus.
Yeah, yeah.
So we've been -- I've been working with them a lot
for some of our plans, so for emergency.
And then I'm guessing, like, within the state of Texas,
that all places that serve, like, nursing homes --
I worked at a rehab center for the blind in Austin,
a school for the blind, school for the deaf, different things like that.
So all of those places would then be linked?
They have the opportunity to register.
They're urged to register.
We're trying to get the word out there to register.
That's part of my plan is when I'm talking with nursing homes,
and I have one nursing home I'm meeting with at the end of this month.
And so one thing that I plan on bringing up is making sure
that you have your people register for this.
That way, it helps us with our planning.
Okay, thank you.
How do you register?
So you can either go online and register,
or you can also call 2-1-1, and they will register you for you.
I was thinking maybe the Social Security Office
or something like that might be a good place to do that.
Oh, yes.
Yeah, definitely.
And I know 2-1-1.
I just had a meeting with them.
So they are pushing this.
They actually have a whole -- when you call them,
you go one for English, two for Spanish.
And I can't remember if it's option four or five,
but it's literally they will register you.
Do we have 2-1-1 here?
Yes.
There's 2-1-1 in all of Texas.
Anybody can call 2-1-1 for any resources.
Yes, ma'am.
Is it only the city of Denton, or is it Denton County,
like PowerPoint, Tioga, and all that?
That goes off -- that's the county's plan.
So it falls under -- we're responsible for the city of Denton.
I know Denton County is working on their plan.
I'm not sure what their plan is yet.
So I could definitely follow up on that for you if you'd like.
So I think -- adding to the question.
So this is -- it's the entire state?
Mm-hmm.
Cities saying, okay, I'll get involved in this,
and then this is just --
This is just basically a way for us --
it's an easy way for us to get those people to follow this bill.
And it's in your best interest if you have this bill to --
Absolutely.
It's one thing that as soon as I'm able to,
I want to push this out in the community a lot,
get it in the community newsletters,
do some social media campaigns that I have working on
to try to make sure that people know about this,
because I feel like there's definitely more than 208 people
in the city of Denton with disabilities
who would benefit from this.
So it's a new thing.
It just came out last year.
And so it's something that even emergency managers --
we talk about this all the time every time we get together.
Hey, what's your plan?
Trying to come up with the best way to serve the population.
So we're learning, too.
Is there any plans in the future that you're aware of
to treat the streets so that people can get out?
I know that our streets does do --
they have a huge responsibility to treat the streets,
and they have a priority list that they go down.
So they're primary -- TechStat's responsible for 35 and --
380?
Don't quote me on that.
I have it listed in my office.
But then other than that, it falls on our streets department.
So I know anytime we have a winter weather event,
I start doing calls a couple days before with every department,
the directors, the deputy directors, the city manager's office,
and we talk through all of the needs of the community.
And I know that they work around the clock 24 hours
to try to treat the streets as quickly as possible.
But if it's still falling, sometimes it's really hard.
So I know that they have a priority list
that they have to go down for streets.
But it's one thing that we would love to, I think,
have all the streets perfect as well as possible.
So it seems like we're getting more and more
and come up with a better idea.
So I just want to thank you.
And I think the city of Denton,
guys coming from other cities, they're on it.
Good.
Well, the bad part about the streets
is that you mentioned a couple of them.
So Dallas Drive is owned by the state.
380, the state.
Locust and Elm, by the state.
Those are not city streets.
So they're different priorities.
But they're going to fall way under
what the state's priorities are,
what time stocks' priorities are, right?
Those are going to be like a level 3 priority.
And so, honestly, them getting to them is down there.
It's just that mixture that we have in our city.
Is there a way we can salt it for them
and send them a bill?
I know that they actually do maintain
a lot of those streets you're listing.
I know our streets does go ahead and maintain them
a lot of times just to make sure that the citizens are safe.
Now, the word is that once they're finished,
they ever get finished,
the state ever actually finishes their parking,
they're wanting to turn it over to the city.
They want to turn Dallas Drive and Elm over to the city.
That would be their responsibility.
But they need to finish filling the holes first.
And then turn it over.
Definitely, definitely.
Dreamer.
But I'm always, y'all guys can, my information is here.
Feel free, you can snap a picture of it.
Send me an email.
If y'all guys have any ideas,
you have any places you would like a presentation,
information.
Like I said, I'm doing,
I'm meeting with the nursing home later this month.
I'm doing a tabletop exercise with them.
So what a tabletop exercise is, is we go through questions.
It's a facilitated discussion.
And we talk about what does it look like for a winter weather event
or a heat event or a tornado?
And we talk with their staff and so that they can work through it.
Because the more you talk about it,
the more you go through it in your head.
When it actually happens, it feels more second nature.
It doesn't feel like, oh my gosh, what do I do?
No, we've had this conversation.
We've talked about it.
We've thought through it.
And it also may, you know,
open up some gaps you didn't know of.
Like, oh, maybe we should have, you know, had XYZ.
So.
And then of course the 211 signing up is,
is accessible for hearing impaired.
Absolutely.
And also they have 150 languages, hearing impaired.
So anybody can use,
that's what I usually direct people to is 211 because it's the easiest way.
Thank you.
Any other questions?
Thank you for being gentle with me.
Good afternoon, everyone.
I thought I heard you say we don't have to stay fixed to behind the podium.
I'm Justin Sternbeck, the city's chief communications officer.
And joining me today is our deputy director of marketing and communications.
Kayla Herron.
You let the comms people have a mic.
You may be up here for a little while.
But really excited to present our website integration tool that we have
recently launched for the city's website.
Just to give you a little background about the marketing and communications
structure.
We've recently undergone a lot of changes in the space of marketing and
communications, a lot of new hirings.
So we have a very new team over there.
And part of that initial wave of what we want to focus on was building some
solid infrastructure so that we can not only build momentum for year one,
but enhance our reputation in the community, become industry leaders.
And two of the bullet points I want to point out on the right-hand side is
that we want to implement clear processes that benefit all stakeholders.
And secondly, to diversify our communications output for all of
community.
And during our assessment period, we identified our website as not being as
friendly to, you know, inaccessible for all of community.
Recently we have purchased and implemented a number of new technologies.
Clearly we're here today to talk about the first one, ReciteMe, which is our
disability and accessibility website integration tool.
But we have a number of other tools just to let folks know where we're just
trying to get better.
So it is an ongoing process, and we are certainly committed to delivering the
best marketing and communications products for our residents and visitors.
So ReciteMe, what is this?
Why is there this new button that travels on our website?
And how can it benefit everybody?
In the space of being inclusive in the digital arena, there are some features
and capabilities that we are pointing out.
There are additional features of the site that Kayla will go over in a minute.
But some of the things that this new tool does offer is multi-language ability.
So it will translate in over 100 languages for folks.
We have customized text size and font so you can expand your text and your font
so it's easier to read.
We have reading assistants so that -- and reading aids -- that it keeps everything
on one line and it really just is customizable to the user.
And then color.
Not everybody sees the same in terms of the color.
So having the ability to change it to really benefit you as the end user.
So thank you.
I'll give you a demo.
Do I need to use that keyboard?
So like Justin said, this tool has so many features.
And so I definitely encourage you all when you have some time to go in and click around
if you have any feedback or questions to let us know.
But I am going to go through a few of them with the wall today.
So this is the recycle button.
So if you see it on the corner of the website, it does follow you whenever you go from page
to page.
And it is mobile friendly.
So whether you're on your desktop, you're on your favorite iPad or your cell phone,
it does travel in each of those spaces.
So like he said, you can increase the font size, which is really nice.
I'm to a point where I'm having to make things very big for me to be able to see.
So this is really nice to have that functionality.
You can zoom back out if you need to.
Here's kind of the color background, if that is something they need to help it stand out,
which is really great.
And then if you can click around and see what works for you.
And then if for whatever reason you want to just reset it to how it looks on the homepage,
you can do that as well.
Here is the language tool.
So I will I know there's a time, as he said, a time, a time of options.
And so you can convert this into Spanish.
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.
When your speakers just to show that it will bring it to you.
Really, really excellent.
And so then if you were to exit out of the website and come back as soon as you hit the recite me toggle,
it would save everything that you have turned on.
Good.
Denton nombrada entre las mejores ciudades de Texas para hacer negocios por Scout.
Can you do the speed of that?
I'm guessing the speed.
Yes, you can.
You can speed it up as well.
You can even if you prefer to hear a male voice recited in Texas, April 9th, 20.
Stop it.
It jumps into it.
But yes, you can change the type of voice that you want to hear also.
And then search.
There we go.
We have it turned on.
And then you can always exit out if you would like.
And then it just returns you to the homepage as usual.
Does this exist, the blind at all?
It has a reading aid, so.
But how would they know which to point, what to point to?
I have a friend that just went blind in the last two years.
So she's struggling with this kind of stuff.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'll have to follow up to figure out what their recommendations are for folks.
About how to navigate that.
I guess we can follow up with the vendor on that to get clear instructions.
I imagine it would show up on the screen reader.
As a verbal command?
Yeah, as a prompt.
Well, I think you're so completely blind, just leaving the line.
Completely.
So that would be a different set visual with me.
Right.
But the hearing part, you know.
It would, so it's something that would get you asking about prompts, right?
So if you go across where it says public meetings, it says public meetings, right?
To get you that point.
Right.
I'm with you.
Yeah.
Does she have a plug-in that she's integrated into the browser that tells anything?
She has a communication board on her computer that Austin gave her for the score for the blind.
So depending on what that product is, if they hovered over the static image or the traveling image of the icon,
it should tell them, you know, this is the recite me a disability accessibility tool.
Now, there is one, I guess, limitation I would want to point out.
Anything that is a static image, it will not integrate with.
So that is the one limitation of the tool.
What's the search command?
I'll put, but I mean, couldn't, or find, isn't there like a, yeah, control find so that you could do that.
You could do control find and then type in what you're, but you'd have to know what you're looking for.
That is a very brief overview of the tool.
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.
We're certainly open to take anybody's questions or feedback about.
And it's called recite.
So if somebody were to, for example, do a search for disability settings, would that pull up recite?
Would you clarify the search for these type in disability settings?
That's a great question.
I would have to ask just only because it lives on the homepage right here.
I don't know that it is so we can confirm that.
I think that would be helpful.
I don't believe it would work if you're typing into that search bar because the search bar is linked to navigation.
This is an external tool.
It would pick up our press release that we issue, not necessarily the.
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.
Are we being careful on here on our actual website about patterns, flashes, things like that?
I don't understand what you're asking.
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.
I was like, please stay here all the time.
So is there a way to get to something that's less visually distracting?
For some people, we were talking about the patterns when you walk into the library, making sure that there weren't.
Flashing, when the flashes come up, that can affect people.
And I'm just making sure that when we're building our website, I'm not necessarily talking about the site.
I'm talking about the whole website that we're making careful.
Are we being careful that we're not going to overstimulate people?
It's just something.
I mean, this is why we're here.
Absolutely.
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.
And then we can certainly look at options.
I don't know about visually impaired people in the settings that they might use,
but it could be something that you tie into as they're navigating to this site if they have something enabled in their browser.
And you can sense that programmatically.
You could surface these tools instead of having this page, if that makes sense.
So they're already navigating with a visual aid, something engaged through the browser.
You can sense that and maybe redirect them to something, not this, where it's more provisional people, but something where you start out.
Here's our tool that you can start browsing with first.
So that using their screen reader would naturally link it to something.
I don't even know if that's possible, but it might be, you know.
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.
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.
I don't either.
I would assume that if you're browsing and you're completely blind, it just starts reading the page front to the bottom.
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.
Emails are that way.
I mean, as soon as she pulls that up, she has Braille, so she knows how to pull that up.
And then the emails start reading it, you know, immediately.
I think, you know, we just want more information about how the screen reader would interact with the website.
Maybe they've already thought about that.
Yeah, and you just don't know. It sounds like some research.
My father and the reason why my father-in-law was legally blind.
He had different pieces, but that was 20 years ago.
Technology has changed.
Thank you.
Well, thank you so much.
We look forward to hearing about the interaction with the screen reader.
Thank you.
Yeah, it makes sense that once you get it set up, it just automatically does.
So it really is just that one time.
The first time and then you get your default settings.
Yeah, that's right.
Thank you.
You didn't find me.
You didn't find Chuck.
Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Chris Escoto.
I am the park planning manager for the park department.
It's a pleasure to be here today.
Today I'll be here to talk about the inclusive playground project.
For those that don't know about the inclusive playground project,
I'll cover a little bit of the information of where we've been.
We have kicked off the public engagement stage,
and I'm here in front of you today to get your feedback.
So today we're going to be talking about just the various, again,
goals, information, the analysis of the site itself, location,
what we're looking to deal with in the project site.
There is a namesake of the Lily Cantu playground,
actually named after Lily Cantu.
The park itself is located at North Lakes Park,
and I'll cover a little bit of the site specifics,
as well as get you a little bit more of an understanding of where we are
with the project timeline.
So a little bit about the project team.
Again, my name is Chris Escoto, parks and recreation staff.
We have maintenance staff, we have our planning staff.
We have our recreation users when we have the programming standpoint.
So a lot of those players have been participating in this,
in these efforts to try to get all this feedback gained
in order for us to get this over to our consultant.
Our consultant is Mesa Design.
They have partnered with a local organization,
Star Institute for Sensory Processing.
Their portion, or their part in this project itself,
is they're going to be analyzing every specific element of playability
within the playground itself on how the inclusivity speaks
from the occupational therapist's perspective.
So that's something that we're tying into this project,
as well as we have a focus group.
The focus group itself, we did have a prior member
from this committee that served on that.
I do want to invite that opportunity to you guys to be a part of that as well.
I know we've been communicating with Mr. Joe this past summer,
including that focus group.
However, we do have occupational therapists.
We have UNT, Dent County, and HMR.
We have various subject matter experts.
What this focus group focuses on, I'm intended,
was more or less us using them as a sounding board.
They're the subject matter experts.
How do all these different elements that we're trying to incorporate,
how does that look like from the other lens?
So that's something that was very heavily involved with this process
as far as what we've gotten to today.
We have had two meetings with that individual focus group.
Last but not least, I talked about the namesake of the playground.
Lila Lili Cantu, she recently has passed,
and I'll talk a little bit more about her story.
But we do have siblings that have been involved in reviewing the design,
and they've been very instrumental in giving us more of that information
when it comes to what they want this playground's legacy to be in her namesake.
So you might be asking, what's an inclusive playground?
By definition, it's a universally designed sensory-rich environment
that enables all children to develop physically, socially,
and emotionally in the same space.
What we're trying to get out of this playground,
and we like to use this imagery that you see here with the scatterplot,
there is misconception that all of our playgrounds are ADA-accessible,
or I should say they are all-inclusive, they are all ADA-compliant,
but it doesn't necessarily mean that they take into account the physical, intellectual,
all those different abilities.
So what we like to show within the scatterplot is an illustration
on how inclusion speaks to making sure that they're integrated within the play space,
rather than excluding them on the axial perimeter
or segmenting them into a specific area within the park.
So as an inclusive playground, we're trying to accomplish this inclusivity for everyone.
We want to make sure that everyone plays, ultimately.
So within that platform itself, that's what our vision is.
And here's some general statistics that support some of those components
when it comes to the hidden disabilities that exist out within the community.
Like I mentioned, we did kick off our community engagement stage about a month ago,
but where we've been with this project,
this all came in fruition from our Parks, Recreation, and Trail System Master Plan,
where there was heavy emphasis on the accessibility, inclusivity within our park spaces.
So that was something that was captured within the Master Plan,
which then we identified funding to go ahead and start this design project.
If you haven't heard already, the bond program that passed this past November
did allocate funding for the inclusive playground.
That's $3.45 million directly towards the construction of the playground.
So I do want to emphasize that the design money is not getting used out of that construction money.
That was something that was allocated outside of that.
So we are trying to get those dollars to go fully into the construction of the project.
Do you know where it's going to be yet?
It will, and I'll cover that here in the next few slides.
So multi-sensory play.
One of our consultants and really that agency that I spoke about,
their biggest part is how does this play to the overall sensory play.
We want to make sure that there's a heavy emphasis on the inclusivity standpoint,
knowing as well that overstimulation does exist within the park spaces.
So how do we go ahead and factor in all those variables that exist?
Everyone has far senses, but not everybody gets to understand
or know those near senses as they're calling with the vestibular,
proprioceptive, and the interception inputs that are gathered.
So that is something that within this web diagram,
you're able to see how all these different eight senses that they're calling,
how you're able to implement them within the physicality of the play
or the social experience and all those different sensory elements.
So this is something that our consultants will be assessing,
and that's what the occupational therapist will be touching on
within the different play experiences.
So just general project goals that we have.
Ultimately, we want to make sure that this is a space that everyone is welcome,
that everyone gets to play.
We want to make sure that it's decided for wide ranges of ages, abilities.
Make sure it's sensory rich, comfort, convenience.
There's been a lot of input from the committee on like adult changing tables.
Making sure that the surfacing, the materials that we use are very specific
to keep in mind the different uses and the different oil-less experiences.
We want to make sure that if we incorporate water into the space,
making sure that it's somewhat specific in regards to the location
and keeping in mind that we're not just putting it everywhere
because for those that have medical devices, want to make sure that we're not--
those are heavy dollars that we're not ruining those devices.
So that's more or less what this is covering here.
We do want to make sure that we are engaging with our local resources,
and that factors in partnering with UNT, TWU,
and really that focus group that we have set in place.
In addition, knowing that this dream, this vision that we have,
that 3.45 can only go so much so far.
So one of the components that we're looking at is how do we face this project?
We want to make sure that we capture as much as we can within this first phase.
And there are other opportunities for us to get sponsors, to get grants,
to get those dollars to go a little bit further.
So that's something that we're looking to do as well as the sustainability
when it comes to the site maintenance and the staffing itself,
not only from the product that we're putting on the ground, but from a maintenance standpoint.
We want to make sure that what we put in there is sustainable,
lasts a long time, low maintenance,
ultimately saving dollars when it comes to having to make repairs.
Project location is at North Lakes Park.
North Lakes Park is one of our city parks.
If you are aware with North Lakes Park,
there is a lot of current issues from a mobility accessibility standpoint.
There was an accessibility assessment that was conducted
with the ADA transition plan a couple years ago, or I guess now three years ago.
And what you see here on screen gives you the variables and the different assessments
when it comes to violations, excessive slopes,
how it's not currently accessible for the most part.
So what our plan is, we're looking into this diagram here,
and how can we correct as much as we can from the space that we're creating
to make sure that that's something that ultimately,
with the inclusivity standpoint, everyone is able to access.
So you're looking at the problem areas to make sure that the problems are repeated.
Is that what you're saying or you're doing the whole park?
We are, so the park, you'll see what the imagery here will be,
but we are trying to connect.
The North Lakes Rec Center is located on this side.
Our programming that does go to the park itself currently cannot access
in a good manner without having to get on the parking lot,
and that's not really safe.
So that's something that we're looking to improve,
connection from this location to the playground itself.
But all these different elements, there is going to be a restriction, of course,
as you go further down south, perhaps.
That's not something that's going to be captured in this plan,
but the City of Denton does have the ADA transition plan, like I did say,
and that is something that Parks and Recreation is focused on
for the next five years to try to implement some of those high, medium, low risks.
Just since you're mentioning North Lakes Park,
I have a friend that uses a wheelchair that asked if there was a way
to make parking for people with disabilities closer to the park,
because that path is just difficult for her to, you know,
it's just a long way to go with the walk or whatever.
Yeah, and you're thinking right in line with what we're trying to do,
so you'll see here in a few slides how that's going to be incorporated into the design.
The slope analysis that you see here shows, the relevance of this is showing,
just the variables on how it changes in grade and how excessive it can be,
even just from accessing the parking lot, as you mentioned.
So that's something that we're looking to identify.
This gives you a sense of the slope and the drainage with the issues that we have on site.
So how are we going to make these corrections?
There are going to be some challenges with the topography that you see on screen.
However, our consultant has provided a general conceptual plan
that we'll see on the next few slides on how we're going to be improving that access.
So a little bit about Lilly, as I mentioned,
this was a recently named playground that was adopted by Council in 2022.
Lilly did grow up in Denton, and we have had conversations with her family, like I mentioned,
and really from the stories that created from this were truly inspirational, more or less,
where she truly had a passion to serve kids.
Her mom was actually a special education teacher, so she grew up in an environment
that was always caring, that was always giving,
where she ultimately ended up using all her savings to go to a mission trip,
or to go, not a mission trip, but to go volunteer at a home for medical financial kids in Peru.
And that's, unfortunately, where she ended up passing.
So she is no longer with us.
However, as I've mentioned, her family does remember her
as someone with a humility, open mind, always willing to help.
So what factored into this design heavily influenced from those conversations.
What ended up happening was the consulting group, based on her story,
provided two or three conceptual plans where ultimately we went to the family and said,
out of these three stories, which one do you think portrays her legacy
in a manner where you feel speaks to her nature?
So with that information developed, what you see with the pollinator's patch,
based on her stories, and how she has pollinated all these different individuals,
helped identify this theme where her commitment to a better world for children
is ultimately celebrated in this concept.
And one of the components that we're looking to do,
usually you have different play zones within the playground.
Well, in this scenario, there's going to be different hives, different active zones.
So that's something that you'll get to see within the design here
on how they're able to implement this.
There is a lot on the screen, and I'll walk through it.
As I mentioned with the connection from the rec center to the playground,
figuring out how are we able to make that connection more accessible,
add more accessible parking, as we talked about along the front edge of the park,
as well as restrooms having accessible paths from the surfacing to the playground.
We are looking to do, rather than having that rubberized mulch,
or not rubberized mulch, but just that wooden mulch, it's going to be synthetic grass.
And the synthetic grass product that we're using is anti-static, anti-microbial.
So there's different elements that we're looking to implement from the inclusivity standpoint.
You keep in mind different abilities that exist out within a play space.
We are integrating these play spaces, as I mentioned,
not trying to seclude specific ages in a certain area,
or maybe not ages, but maybe more or less the abilities.
So we're trying to sprinkle those within.
Out of the input, there is a bathroom, if you're familiar with North Lakes Park,
there's a bathroom on this section here.
Based on the feedback, that is a little bit too far for the playground.
So from that, we are looking to implement a bathroom within the premises as well.
So that's something that we're looking to do with, as I mentioned, adult-sized changing tables,
making sure that we have wash stations outside of the areas, have cooling stations.
So there is a lot into account to how we are designing this.
However, this is just conceptual.
So this is just the beginning for us to start getting that feedback from everyone
on what we want this play space to be.
Here is some illustrations on how this space can show inspiration on what they're looking to accomplish.
However, keep in mind, as you see here, this climber here, that's not accessible.
So it's going to be something that we're looking to be different,
be a destination from everywhere else within the city.
As of right now, there is no playground out there that has this mega structure that is truly accessible.
So we're looking to add and be that city that does this for the first time.
So we are challenging those playground manufacturers, more or less,
to try to be creative with those designs, and it's something that truly speaks to the community.
There is thematic opportunities. So with Lily's namesake, with Lily's itself,
she really loved flowers, so we can incorporate Lily flowers as pavilions.
Her middle name is Rose, so can we do roses?
There's different variable things that we can incorporate just to give a little bit more of that identity to Lily.
So I mentioned here is a family style accessible restroom that has those exterior wash stations.
There have been conversations of misters just from the sense of being in Texas, we want to make sure that we have shade.
But not only that, is there an opportunity from a sensory standpoint that we can implement water in some format,
whether that's misters or that's water tables.
One thing that is not going to go on this site is going to be a splash pad.
That's something that doesn't necessarily fit this project.
But we do want to see how can we put all these different sensory items into context within the playground.
The only thing with misters is it's just so human already.
And it just seems like misters are more for places where it's not as human.
Yeah, and that's a good point. Like I said, this is just opportunities that have been discussed,
more or less just trying to get a sense of what is it the community thinks this space should be.
So this is just purely conceptual just right now at the very early stages.
So as I mentioned, we're in the public engagement stage.
We have had, I actually gave this presentation a couple weeks ago for our first community meeting.
We have presented to our park board. We do plan on going to the schools and trying to hear from the kids.
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.
There is currently a survey out that I'll send over to Carlotta that she can provide over to you guys.
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.
So there's different experiences, there's different questions that will help our designers with that input.
We do seek to get final adoption later this fall where we can go straight into construction.
So with the bond program, we are getting that dispersed within what they call year one.
So we're going to go straight into construction anticipated to be sometime next summer.
With that being said, we are also looking grants. So depending on some of those grant timelines could push it a little bit.
But I think we're we know that we can potentially get started with this out in the ground by next summer.
So hopefully we'll be ready and cutting this within a year in summer 2026.
And so, as I mentioned, there is an active survey out there and I'll get this over to Carlotta.
There is a link here. If there are any questions, we do have a discussed at and project page on discuss that.
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.
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.
That need to not be here any parents are that they need to get get that information out there.
So with that, I'll open up for questions.
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.
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?
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?
Yeah, the data that we're collecting is not necessarily what what wouldn't work or what will work.
It's more or less what is the experience that we want it to be from a sensory level.
Do we want to make sure that from the different zones, what's the playability, how active do we want them to be?
So it's more of the experience. There are examples, like I mentioned, just within the play structures on how you can incorporate that.
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.
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?
You're talking about Casey's. Yes. Yeah, I have not. We did have and that's more an amusement park.
So that's an amusement park that's a little bit different than we're looking to accomplish here.
Probably the closest thing to this playground is going to be the Dream Park in Fort Worth or you have Grand Prairie.
They have the Grand Adventures or next to the Epic Recreation Center. They have about 30,000, 40,000 square foot inclusive playground.
So that's similar to what we're looking to accomplish here. But again, those different, sorry, those.
It's a great adventures park in Grand Prairie and then the Dream Park in Fort Worth.
And that's right next to the Rose Garden.
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.
It really is a bit of a walk to get to them.
And for someone with, you know, with a disability that makes it difficult, it discourages people.
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.
We are looking to improve the surfacing over at the dog park. Right now you have the decomposed granite.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Yeah, I just want to make you make sure you know it is. It is a concern. No, I appreciate that. Thank you.
Questions guys. Otherwise, again, I appreciate your time. I'm going to come back and give you more information. This is just the beginning.
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.
All right.
Good afternoon, everyone. I am Carlotta Cowan, your new staff liaison.
I just wanted to give you all a few updates. A couple of these items are follow ups from last meeting.
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.
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.
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.
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.
They apply for the grant and they should be announcing who won that grant in June, by the end of June this month.
The next item is a follow up from our solid waste presentation the group that was here last meeting.
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.
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.
And so the residents will need to resubmit their application every 18 months, if the permanent box is not checked every 18 months.
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.
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.
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.
That was the replacement for the yellow.
Right, yes, yes, they actually got the app up when they're driving around.
It's checked off permanent, but they still check in every 20 every two years. Yes, every 18 months. Okay, right.
Yes, and if it's not check that is every 18 months.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
And so lastly, reporting on grievances and grievances there were none. And so our next meeting will be Thursday, May 16 at the repeal.
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.
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.
So the meeting's always here? Yes ma'am.
I'm going to read it and then read.
All right, thank you.
Thank you so much.
About three more months.