WEBVTT

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 All right, it is 6.01 and we're going to call the meeting to order. We do have a quorum present.

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 Val Vera and Valerie Morgan have been excused for the evening due to reasons they've explained to Mark.

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 Because of the new sound recording system, I want to let you know that we need to make sure that

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 I recognize you by calling your name and that we don't interrupt or talk over each other.

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 Because it messes up that captioning that we fought so hard to get.

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 All right, so this is the meeting of the Committee on Persons with Disabilities

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 for Thursday, November 21st, 2019. And we have determined that a quorum is present.

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 First is presentations from members of the public. Am I the only? Okay.

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 I have signed up to speak as a member of the public, not as a member of the committee.

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 I am speaking to represent my neighborhood. I live in Idiots Hill.

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 And in our neighborhood is Wilson Elementary. And the school is being rebuilt while school is in session.

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 So what was the playground is gone and is being built on and the original building is still standing.

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 And eventually the teacher's parking lot will be removed.

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 So they are putting the teacher's parking lot. We have two park systems that connect together.

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 And right where the walkway is across the street, they are going to put what they're calling a temporary parking lot.

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 Temporary is estimated to be two years. This is going to increase traffic, it's going to screw with visibility.

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 And as a disabled member of the neighborhood, it is going to make it a lot more unsafe.

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 And there's not anything keeping people from parking there at night when the teachers are gone.

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 So the visibility problem and the traffic problem is an all-day problem, not just an early morning problem.

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 The crosswalk also crosses at an angle, which decreases visibility and even works.

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 Now if this plan is in place, that means planning and zoning knows and the school department knows.

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 The parks and rec department knows. You know who didn't know about it? The disability committee.

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 And to me that's a problem because I know a lot of people in my neighborhood that are disabled.

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 And we didn't get told about this until it was already a done deal.

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 We didn't even have time to make comments to our city council member.

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 We found out through the neighborhood Facebook page that it was a done deal.

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 And that just seems like not enough notice for the neighborhood,

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 not enough time for you to give feedback to the plan,

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 and a real inconvenience for every disabled person in that neighborhood, and to me a danger.

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 So I just wanted to express the concern that things are being done that maybe neighborhoods aren't aware are being done,

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 or maybe other committees aren't aware of what is being done in the school board committee and the planning and zoning committee and other committees.

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 There needs to be some resolution for us to communicate with other committees

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 and to know about things that are going to happen in our town so that we can give input as disabled people when a plan like that happens.

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 Okay, that's my two cents for it itself.

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 It's been requested that we move item A first.

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 Consider the approval of meeting minutes.

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 I motion to, can I motion?

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 Make a motion.

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 Do you need seconds?

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 Alright, we'll accept the minute meetings.

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 And then we're...

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 I'm sorry, I may have made a mistake.

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 I think you have to take a vote.

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 We had a second.

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 All those in favor?

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 Aye.

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 Any opposed?

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 Sorry, first timer.

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 No, you're good.

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 Alright, we are going to move item F to now so that the speaker can get on the road.

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 Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding the implementation of an exclusive pedestrian-based pilot program

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 at certain downtown intersections around the square.

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 And our speaker is Brian John, city traffic engineer.

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 Good evening, Brian John, city traffic engineer.

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 So, I'm here to talk to you tonight about traffic signals in cars and pedestrians

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 and how we're supposed to make a few of them a little more safe around the downtown square.

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 So, before I get into a proposal, I want to give a little bit of background on traffic signals and pedestrians

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 and how the vehicle and pedestrian mix works historically and still at many locations.

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 When the traffic signal goes green for the cars, the walk signal comes on at the same time.

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 Now, this is problematic in certain instances where you have high turning volumes

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 because as soon as that pedestrian steps off the curb, you've got a car that wants to turn right.

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 They're not always looking for the pedestrian, they're looking for cars, so there's a conflict there.

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 Similarly, as the car proceeds through the intersection and tries to turn left,

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 pedestrians may be stepping off the curb going the opposite direction, again, a conflict point.

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 So, what we have done in the last few years is introduce what we call the initial pedestrian interval,

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 five or six or seven seconds of walk time before the car gets to green.

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 This allows the pedestrian to get into the crosswalk much more visible.

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 It does not eliminate that conflict, but it helps because it, again, makes the pedestrian more visible.

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 So, as pedestrian volumes increase, or at locations where you have high pedestrian volumes

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 and high turning movements, such as the downtown square, we're trying to isolate those movements even more.

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 And what we're proposing is what we call an exclusive pedestrian phase,

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 or as our public affairs group has termed it, the all-walk crosswalks.

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 So, what happens during the all-walk crosswalks is a pedestrian will activate the button,

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 and this is a requirement, must push the button, and then when that phase comes up,

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 when that time is being served, all of the crosswalks will indicate a walk signal at the same time.

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 You can cross in any direction that you want.

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 And so, no cars are moving, no turns on red, all the signals are indicating a red for the vehicle,

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 so there's no conflict between the pedestrians and the vehicles.

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 Not a new concept, first used in the '40s, and then after World War II,

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 when people fell in love with the car and what person, what car, it kind of fell out of favor,

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 because very few people were walking anymore.

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 So now, as we've seen a resurgence in the complete streets concept, we're providing for all modes,

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 we're trying to get people out of their cars and walking,

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 we're seeing a lot more of these pedestrian-only phases introduced.

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 A lot of them are in very urbanized centers, but we think that we have a great opportunity around the square.

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 So, it increases the convenience for pedestrians that no longer have to conflict with the cars.

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 Definitely promotes and improves the safety.

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 We've eliminated the possibility of the cars and the pedestrians moving at the same time.

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 Each has their own turn, no conflicts again.

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 And the other thing it does is it really, what we're trying to do, we're really trying to promote walking,

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 trying to make it comfortable and attractive to walk around the square, park two blocks away, and walk.

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 And so, this is our pilot program, the four intersections around the square,

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 but we want to consider, if this is successful, then we want to be able to take it on the road

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 and put it elsewhere where we think it's appropriate.

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 Where do we go now?

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 Excuse me?

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 What locations?

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 What locations?

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 Where?

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 When.

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 When.

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 I'll get there in a minute.

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 We've got a couple of slides on some timeline and some implementation.

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 It's sooner than you think.

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 So again, it increases the pedestrian visibility even more than the initial pedestrian interval,

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 because all the pads are moving at the same time in the same direction.

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 Cars don't have to wonder, can I go now?

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 Is this person going to step off the curb?

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 They have a red light.

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 Conflicts are eliminated.

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 We can actually reduce the overall pedestrian crossing time and vehicular crossing time,

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 because we've taken that conflict away.

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 You don't have to wait for a pedestrian to clear the crosswalk.

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 The pedestrian doesn't have to wait for the car who doesn't want to wait and goes in front of them,

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 so we can actually shorten the time for both the crossing of pedestrians and the clearance of vehicles.

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 Yes?

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 With this plan, is there still the initial pedestrian interval?

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 No, we've eliminated the need for that.

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 It takes that away.

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 So some of that time we're getting back to the – actually it's going to go to the vehicular phase,

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 but we're trying to maintain adequate walking times.

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 I'm going to throw a twist in here at you, even though we don't – let me get to the photos here.

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 So we can increase vehicular delay.

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 There are some locations where we might need more time for the pedestrians,

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 and because of the way we're serving traffic, a little bit of increase in the delay.

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 We've looked at these four intersections.

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 We don't see – we're going to have a significant change,

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 because we're able to move the green around the intersection for the cars,

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 because we can use a shorter time.

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 We do eliminate the turns on red, left and right.

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 So around the square, we do have some one-way configurations where some –

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 right now you can make a left turn on red, you can make a right turn on red.

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 With this, that has to stop, because we don't want the conflict.

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 Again, people looking for vehicular traffic and making a right turn and turning into pedestrians.

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 So we may have – we may introduce some driving frustration.

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 Now, what we're hoping is that as this program continues,

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 people get a little bit used to it, everybody lures to take their turn,

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 and that frustration will die down.

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 I don't have my assistant – Todd Estes and I have been doing kind of a pinch hitting.

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 Todd actually drove an intersection in Vancouver this past summer.

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 He didn't know that he was going to come across this,

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 and it had only been in place for a few weeks.

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 But I'll put it in a short summary.

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 What he said – what he found is that it was the most comfortable intersection that he drove through,

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 because there was no chaos.

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 It was – there was order.

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 Everybody knew they had a turn.

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 You might have to wait your turn, but when you got your turn,

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 you wonder, am I going to be in conflict with the pedestrian?

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 Am I going to be in conflict with another car?

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 So it kind of brings some order out of the chaos of everybody getting the right-of-way at the same time.

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 So here's the intersections that we're talking about.

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 Oak and Locust, Oak and Allen, Hickory and Locust.

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 We have taken this to the Main Street Association, Traffic Safety Commission, DEDC.

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 We went to the Mobility Committee.

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 We presented to Council, and Council approved, subject to your responses.

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 So they wanted to hear from this committee and get your feedback prior to us initiating this program.

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 We were looking originally at the 21st, 22nd.

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 We've now pushed that to the 25th, Monday, implementation.

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 We want to start it on a Friday and then have some conflict with staff.

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 We want to be able to be in the field.

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 As this is kicking off, we want to have a lot of observation, a lot of hands-on,

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 be able to put people at these locations to help pedestrians and inform drivers of the proper way to run this.

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 So we're going to run this program for five to six months.

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 Again, we were originally going to run it just for the holidays, but we want to get a lot of feedback.

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 I think we're going to have an initial curve of people not really knowing.

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 How do I do this? Is this working? I don't know.

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 But we want to give it enough time to settle down and get some rhythm so that people can -- they've got an established pattern.

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 They're used to it.

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 Sometimes that takes more than two months.

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 Sometimes it takes a lot longer.

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 So we're going to run this for six months.

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 We're going to be out there collecting data.

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 The Public Affairs Group has put together a fantastic website.

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 There's a survey.

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 We're going to try and get feedback from property owners, from pedestrians, from drivers, just as much as we can.

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 We've got cameras at each of these locations.

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 We'll be watching the activities.

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 And we'll be assessing, as best we can, the success of this program through the feedback and through our observations.

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 And then we'll bring that back to counsel.

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 We'll present our information.

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 They'll deliberate and determine whether or not they want this to stay as a permanent condition or if they want to terminate the program,

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 go back to the way it's operating now with that leading pedestrian interval and sharing the same direction right away with the vehicles.

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 So with that, I'll take questions.

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 I was an embassy officer in Paris and I was also in Tokyo where they have this art.

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 They've implemented it for decades.

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 And they not only had it to where you could walk in a square, but they also had it in an X where you could go across the intersection.

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 And it was met with great success, especially if you're an elderly or handicapped person.

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 You could get across the intersection instead of having to walk around the intersection.

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 And that way you didn't have the time where the person got as far as one intersection and then had to wait for the cycle to go through.

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 And what they did, as I remember, in Tokyo, near the Tokyo Tower, they had a diagonal pedestrian light that would flash red

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 and count down and tell them, "You're not going to go diagonal here shortly. It's going to cut off."

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 So we're doing this in kind of a Texas two-step.

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 Right now the accessible ramps around the square are directional, so they go straight across.

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 The reason we're not implementing the diagonal, it's legal.

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 We're going to say you can do it. We're going to provide enough time to do it.

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 But we don't have the ramps and we're not going to paint the crosswalks until council makes this a permanent program.

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 So if council determines that they want to stay with this, then we'll go back, we'll create a plan, find somebody, fix those,

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 create the corner-loaded ramps and paint the diagonal crosswalks so that you can go anywhere you want to inside that box.

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 And so we will be providing enough time.

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 We ran a test this past week and we'll be providing enough time, and we are using the countdown timers,

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 that you will be able to make potentially two moves more diagonal.

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 Two moves for an average person, but an elderly or disabled person.

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 Right. If you're moving at a slower pace, then you may only get one.

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 But we are extending the time from what it is today. We're adding about four seconds.

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 So, and we're going to be out in the field washing and making adjustments if we see the vehicular backups.

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 Well, I think vehicular traffic also will begin to avoid the downtown square.

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 You know, because there's a lot of people that just drive through there.

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 And it's like getting on I-35, eventually people locally are avoiding it.

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 And it's a balance, it's a trade-off. It's the square, we're going to kind of try and focus on accessibility

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 and making it pad-friendly.

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 You can get there, you can still move around the square in your car.

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 It may take you ten seconds longer to make the entire block.

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 But, if you're just going through, there may be a better route.

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 And we're hoping that people, if they're not, if that's not their destination.

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 And they're just cutting through to get to Bell or to Carroll,

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 then they'll go a block south or two blocks north or whatever.

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 But we're really trying to bring that pedestrian element and focus on that around those four intersections.

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 Ali had a question.

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 My question is, as far as the no turn right or left,

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 do you have a strategy in place for the implementation of that because we're creatures of habit?

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 Right, we're going to have signage and enforcement.

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 We've talked with PD and we will have enforcement during this initial phase and periodic enforcement after that.

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 So there's a public information campaign that's going to go out and the no turn on reds in there.

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 We're going to have these little A-frame signs for the pedestrians.

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 It'll be a media blitz. There's a DTV spot. I think UNT is trying to do a spot.

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 We're going to try to get the message out as well as we can, but it is going to fall to enforcement.

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 They're probably not going to write tickets. They're probably going to give warnings.

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 Because we are creatures of habit and this is something new.

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 We'll have the little flags on the signs and we'll make it obvious that something has changed.

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 But it's going to take a little nudge and a little tap on the shoulder and say, "Eh, we don't do that anymore."

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 Charlie, did you have another question? Yes. [inaudible]

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 So our plan, my plan, is to, if we're successful

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 and council decides to leave this in place, then anywhere we have the right combination

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 of pedestrian traffic and turning movements, we'll try this.

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 UNT, TWU, any of the commercial areas where we can improve pedestrian safety and vehicular safety

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 because there's no conflict, we'll consider it.

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 [inaudible]

00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:34.000
 And so there are studies that show that this is very effective even when you have very long walking distances.

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:42.000
 And so because it takes a pedestrian a lot longer to get across, you have more of an impact on the vehicular load.

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:49.000
 But again, it's a trade-off. We try to balance the safety versus the efficiency,

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:57.000
 the movement of vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic.

00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:00.000
 Tammy, did you have a question?

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:05.000
 Ally asked, well, mine relates to Ally's.

00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:09.000
 You're saying that you want to start this on November 25th?

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:12.000
 Has anyone on the committee heard of this program before?

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:14.000
 No.

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:22.000
 Okay. I'm concerned about having enough time to educate people on the fact that this is about to happen.

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:29.000
 Like with the new turn-style thing on Bonny Bray, we got a lot of notice and maps and it was in the paper.

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:36.000
 I haven't heard about this or seen it, so I'm a little concerned about how you're going to get it set up that quickly.

00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:42.000
 So one of the advantages, and I appreciate that, but one of the advantages here is that you're not going to see anything

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:46.000
 as a pedestrian or as a driver that you haven't seen every day.

00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:51.000
 You're going to get a red light, you're going to get a green light, you're going to get a walk and you're going to get a don't walk.

00:20:51.000 --> 00:21:02.000
 The thing that hopefully, it won't be transparent, but the changes that we're making won't change how you cross the street.

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:08.000
 When we put the roundabout in Bonny Bray, that was a major change. So that's not something that a lot of people are used to.

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:14.000
 But the advantage of this program is you're going to walk up, you're going to push the button,

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:18.000
 you're going to get a walk and you're going to cross the street the same way you do it today.

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:22.000
 The only difference is you're not going to have a car trying to turn across your path.

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:33.000
 Starting tomorrow, the media blitz will go out. We've been waiting because we wanted to bring it to this committee.

00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:40.000
 We missed last month because of the timing. I was out of town. So council was considering that as well.

00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:43.000
 They were very concerned that we hadn't had a chance to bring this to you.

00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:48.000
 We wanted to get to council because the next meeting is the third.

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:56.000
 It's a timely thing, but we definitely are sensitive to the input and responses from this group.

00:21:56.000 --> 00:22:01.000
 I was just going to say, to your point, Beth, I think that because it's going to be holidays right now,

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:07.000
 a lot of the school is going to be out, so we're going to get the locals started in it and maybe students can follow suit.

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:15.000
 Our plan was to try and beat the holidays because we know the pedestrian volumes around the square are going to go up.

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:19.000
 We're going to have events. You're going to have shoppers and people going out for dinner.

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:24.000
 We wanted to have this protection in place for that pedestrian traffic.

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:32.000
 There's a learning curve, without a doubt. As far as I'm concerned, we can't get started soon enough.

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:39.000
 I think it's actually helpful to have it implemented sooner than later because we can talk about it all the time,

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:49.000
 but if it's not happening and people can't go see it, a lot of people will ignore it and say, whatever, it's not happening yet.

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:56.000
 We'll have the media campaign starting tomorrow. It'll hit the websites and the newsletters.

00:22:56.000 --> 00:23:02.000
 There's a big package that's going out. We'll have the weekend for that to filter out.

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:10.000
 Monday morning, we'll probably wait until after rush hour. We'll implement the plan and then we'll have people stationed

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:17.000
 at each of those intersections to assist and help reinforce the proper behaviors.

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:22.000
 I understand it's going to be a learning curve, but we wanted to roll it out before the holidays for that very reason

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:27.000
 because the pedestrian traffic is going to go up in the next month.

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:35.000
 Any other questions? How many of us think that this is a really good idea for pedestrians?

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:37.000
 Definitely.

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:40.000
 But that gives council some feedback.

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:47.000
 I've been in countries all over the world where this is being done and it's great.

00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:50.000
 I've seen it used as well and I think it's very good.

00:23:50.000 --> 00:24:01.000
 Yeah, there's been a couple of times where we almost got hit.

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:06.000
 Yep. I think this is a great idea. It looks like we're all okay with it.

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:07.000
 Thank you very much.

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:10.000
 Thank you for coming.

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:19.000
 All right. Item B, receive a report and hold a discussion about the Park and Recreation Department's adaptive recreation program.

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:26.000
 Carolyn Seward and Melissa Jimenez-Bowlin.

00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.000
 Hi.

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:29.000
 I hope I didn't mind you tonight.

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:34.000
 No, you're fine. My name's Caroline Seward. I'm the program area manager at Parks and Recreation.

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:39.000
 So I oversee our leisure services at the rec center's program summer camps and items.

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:43.000
 And we're here today to talk to you about our adaptive recreation programs.

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:46.000
 And to do that, I want to introduce Melissa Jimenez-Bowlin.

00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:49.000
 She is our adaptive recreation coordinator.

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:57.000
 Hello. If you would please bear with me, I do not like a boat speaking at all.

00:24:57.000 --> 00:25:04.000
 So yes, we have our adaptive recreation programs. I teach art therapy twice a week.

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:12.000
 We have a monthly dance. We had about 60 plus people come to our last one.

00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:24.000
 We do adaptive yoga once a week. We do adaptive hikes and kayaking, archery, social connections.

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:33.000
 We go bowling, picnics in the park, movies. We have lots of different programs in the past.

00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:36.000
 Do you all have any questions on our current program offerings?

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:38.000
 Yes.

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:46.000
 I'd like to know if you have any programs specifically geared towards older disabled people?

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:51.000
 Not at the moment. I'm definitely open to talk to anyone.

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:54.000
 I've been trying to grow the program the last year and a half.

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:57.000
 So we definitely have a lot more than what we started with.

00:25:57.000 --> 00:26:01.000
 I know when I first started, I think the first dance that I went to, there was two people.

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:06.000
 So it's slowly getting bigger, but I love the input.

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:09.000
 Can you tell me about adaptive yoga?

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:12.000
 I don't know much about it. I don't teach it.

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:18.000
 But I do have someone that I can definitely give you the contact so that you can talk to her.

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:19.000
 Okay.

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:21.000
 And she's fantastic.

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:23.000
 Okay. Ally had a question.

00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:26.000
 Yeah. Hi.

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:33.000
 We had a meeting. Y'all had a meeting last month about adaptive recreation at adaptive recreation programs.

00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:39.000
 Did a little community outreach. I wanted to know what suggestions you guys have taken from that meeting

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:41.000
 and what you're thinking about implementing.

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:47.000
 So the purpose of that meeting was to kind of gather information for our master plan,

00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:50.000
 which we're in the process of redoing.

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:52.000
 It's been about 10 years since our last master plan.

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:55.000
 And then to get ideas for future programming.

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:59.000
 So the topics that we covered, the first one was an inclusive playground.

00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:02.000
 We don't have a 100% inclusive playground. It didn't.

00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:06.000
 So we spent a lot of time talking about the safety features that would need to be in place

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:10.000
 or features that people wanted to see in an inclusive playground,

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:14.000
 as well as a location that might be best for a playground.

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:18.000
 A lot of ideas were thrown out as far as like colors of the playground equipment,

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:25.000
 the type of features that would be available, the type of surfacing that would be on the ground,

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:32.000
 the location considerations were not close to railroad tracks or bodies of water,

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:36.000
 making sure that it's away from a major intersection or street.

00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:39.000
 But a lot of that information was shared.

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:42.000
 And then the discussion kind of switched into programming.

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:46.000
 What kind of programs would you like to see us expand on?

00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:52.000
 A lot of them were sports oriented, team sports, athletic programs.

00:27:52.000 --> 00:28:04.000
 We had some requests for quiet spaces for people to have a place to go hang out.

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:07.000
 More adaptive programs for all ages.

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:10.000
 Right now we currently focus mainly at 16 and up.

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:14.000
 So it is more adult adapted recreation versus for the children.

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:18.000
 So there was that family friendly events.

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:21.000
 So the whole family would be included in those recreational opportunities.

00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:22.000
 Cool.

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:30.000
 Adapted rock climbing, adapted workout equipment in the actual facilities.

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:32.000
 Tell us more.

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:36.000
 We did have, and I do not remember who the suggestion came from,

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:40.000
 but it was a professor at one of our local universities who offered to help partner,

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:42.000
 to help show us what equipment would be best.

00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:44.000
 A recumbent bike.

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:45.000
 A recumbent bike.

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:46.000
 Yeah.

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:50.000
 A recumbent bike is the best thing you can do for the disabled people of our community.

00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:52.000
 A recumbent exercise bike.

00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.000
 Okay.

00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:55.000
 So yes, looking at how we can.

00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:57.000
 I know it does not work for everybody.

00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:58.000
 Rex.

00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:05.000
 Adaptive yoga, the VA offers it for, like myself, combat wounded.

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:11.000
 They do it based on your disability.

00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:21.000
 It is still yoga, but people who have lost limbs or unable to stand like myself and others,

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:27.000
 they do it, I do not know if this is the same as it may or may not be,

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:31.000
 but the VA has that, unfortunately.

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:34.000
 It is a long trip to Dallas.

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:35.000
 Yes.

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:42.000
 And when I worked in rehabilitation, we had a program that was, it was not called yoga,

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:45.000
 it was called chair level exercise.

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:54.000
 And that is a really great way to help serve the older disabled population especially,

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:59.000
 is to have a chair level exercise class where all the exercises are able to be done,

00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:05.000
 sitting down in a wheelchair, but it is, you know, good exercise.

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:09.000
 And everyone just, you know, adapts to what they can do.

00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:12.000
 Melissa is writing down suggestions right now as we go through it.

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:14.000
 Joe.

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:22.000
 Have you ever been to Scottish Rite after one year?

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:24.000
 Scottish Rite, have you been?

00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:25.000
 I have not been.

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:29.000
 You don't have to go there.

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:32.000
 I know a lot about social work.

00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:34.000
 Okay.

00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:37.000
 Do you like to go to Scottish Rite?

00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:40.000
 We'll have to schedule a tour so we can check it out.

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:44.000
 I have a tour every semester.

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:46.000
 He has a tour every semester.

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.000
 Who goes with his class?

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.000
 Me.

00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:50.000
 Tamer.

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:54.000
 Sound like you are doing my teaching, you are doing my teaching me today.

00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:57.000
 We are trying to, you know, we have the senior center,

00:30:57.000 --> 00:31:00.000
 and they do have some of the chair yoga classes there,

00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:04.000
 but anything else we can do to make them more accessible.

00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:06.000
 What about pool?

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:09.000
 Pool, that was brought up that we need more pool space.

00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:14.000
 Currently we have an auditorium, but there is always a demand for multiple users,

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:18.000
 so that did come up also, additional pool space and time.

00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:22.000
 TWU actually has the best handicap accessible pool in town.

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:30.000
 That's where I did a lot of my aquatic therapy after my accident.

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:32.000
 It's a really great facility.

00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:37.000
 So some of the other things that were brought up were a lot of just training for staff.

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:40.000
 How can we better train, so we are using the proper terminology,

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:44.000
 and you know, with children with cognitive disabilities.

00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:47.000
 So we spent a lot of time at the end of the meeting just talking about

00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:51.000
 different training opportunities for staff to be, to better help.

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:57.000
 An excellent training opportunity would be to meet with

00:31:57.000 --> 00:32:00.000
 the therapeutic recreation staff at Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation.

00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:04.000
 They are outstanding.

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:06.000
 Tamara?

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:10.000
 How do we get involved?

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:12.000
 How do you get involved?

00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:15.000
 Well we are always, we are still in the process of updating our master plan,

00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:18.000
 so any feedback you would like to give us as far as suggestions

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:21.000
 for future programs or facilities,

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:25.000
 we are gathering that information right now to update our master plan.

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:29.000
 But some of these items we know we can put into place sooner rather than later.

00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:33.000
 As we look to switch out fitness, switch out this fitness equipment,

00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:38.000
 what can we do right now to make those more accessible?

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:41.000
 Joe?

00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:43.000
 Scroll down.

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:53.000
 Scroll down?

00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:58.000
 I think that covers it.

00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:03.000
 Social connections are opportunities to get together and do different activities,

00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:06.000
 and then the monthly dances are at the North Lakes Recreation Center.

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:14.000
 Actually those are changing to the Civic Center because we can outgrow our space.

00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:19.000
 The monthly dances that are moving to the Civic Center building,

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:22.000
 because we got around the space at North Lakes, they've continued to grow.

00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:25.000
 But they will continue as monthly dances just now at the Civic Center.

00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:28.000
 As of what date will the December 13th be at the Civic Center?

00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:31.000
 Yes, that's the first one in the morning.

00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:35.000
 You mentioned the Senior Center, and I know it's a great facility,

00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:41.000
 but there's kind of a gap of people that are disabled and aren't old enough for the Senior Center.

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:44.000
 Right.

00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:50.000
 So that's where I'd like you all to try to get some programming.

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:52.000
 Yes, exactly.

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:55.000
 So Dewey and Tamara and I can go.

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:58.000
 People that aren't old enough to go to the Senior Center,

00:33:58.000 --> 00:34:01.000
 but want to be involved in some activities,

00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:05.000
 that's the age group of disabled people that I think gets overlooked.

00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:08.000
 That was my point, not to get me held.

00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:11.000
 Is there something in specific that you're looking for?

00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:17.000
 Because I feel like a lot of these programs, I feel like I am offering this.

00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:24.000
 I think the chair level exercise program and having us come and see the yoga would be great.

00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:34.000
 And then I can help you with ideas for the chair level exercise class.

00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:35.000
 Allie?

00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:38.000
 I just wanted to, these programs that they've got,

00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:42.000
 they did say that they're going to start working on our younger,

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:45.000
 like our under the age of 16 community,

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:51.000
 but also these programs are geared towards 16 to senior age.

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:54.000
 So I think that that's kind of like a really good thing,

00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:59.000
 is that we're not marginalizing that little window between like child and senior,

00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:01.000
 which is actually a really huge window.

00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:03.000
 So thanks for that.

00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:09.000
 Melissa's contact information is down on the bottom of this flyer in your agenda.

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:14.000
 And she is always looking for suggestions and ideas for programming.

00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:17.000
 So if you hear of anything or think of anything yourselves,

00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:19.000
 please feel free to reach out to her.

00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:22.000
 We're always looking to add new and exciting things to our offerings.

00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:23.000
 Rex?

00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:33.000
 I can go to the Cinemark for a senior ticket for $6 for a movie and have a recliner.

00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:35.000
 You want $15?

00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:39.000
 Well, and that's something too, you know, that I think needs to be discussed.

00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:42.000
 You know, all that information, that would be food as well.

00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:44.000
 That's almost three times as much.

00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:48.000
 Do you all have scholarships for people that cannot afford those prices?

00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:49.000
 So we do.

00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:51.000
 We offer Parks and Rec scholarships.

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:56.000
 Our current policy is you are eligible based on income,

00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:59.000
 and you can apply at any of our recreation centers.

00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:04.000
 It's a $150 scholarship to be applied towards any Parks and Rec program,

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:07.000
 and the scholarship covers half the cost of the program,

00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:15.000
 and then the participant covers the other half of the cost of the program.

00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:17.000
 Any other questions?

00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:19.000
 Yes.

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:20.000
 Mark.

00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:21.000
 Mark Ollison.

00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:23.000
 I'm the staff liaison.

00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:25.000
 Just a couple questions.

00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:31.000
 Do you think it might be appropriate for us to, maybe every six months or something,

00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:33.000
 this committee check in with you all?

00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:38.000
 Because it doesn't seem what you're doing is absolutely in line with what the committee does.

00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:41.000
 Do you schedule these?

00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:44.000
 Is it like winter, spring, or what's your...?

00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:48.000
 So our registration programs are January 1st through the end of July,

00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:51.000
 and then August 1st through the end of December,

00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:55.000
 but currently Melissa's planning for the spring as we get ready,

00:36:55.000 --> 00:37:01.000
 so I think it'd be great to get together every few months and look and see what you all have.

00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:02.000
 Allie.

00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:06.000
 I just wanted to add to that because Mark brought it up and I just thought of something else.

00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:10.000
 If you are going to be working on like registration and things like that,

00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:14.000
 I would be interested if you are coming back to see some data on like

00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:18.000
 how many members of the community that are disabled have taken advantage of these programs

00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:21.000
 and if it's increased or decreased depending upon what you do.

00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:24.000
 Okay.

00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:25.000
 Mark.

00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:31.000
 Are there any partnerships with the school district at all?

00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:32.000
 Good question.

00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:41.000
 So I have spoken with a few people, you know, we've gotten together and met, and yes, I have reached out.

00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:45.000
 It's been kind of one of those things where it just hasn't happened.

00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:51.000
 So, I mean, I will reach out to anyone that wants to talk to me, so it just...

00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:55.000
 I know when we had our focus group meeting a few weeks ago,

00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:59.000
 the school district felt like they were really covering, you know, the school time activities

00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:03.000
 and one of the areas they thought we could focus on are after school and weekends

00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:07.000
 for programming specifically for school aged kids

00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:10.000
 because that's not a market we're currently hitting.

00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:14.000
 And during the summer, speaking about children also, during summer break,

00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:18.000
 I know there are summer camps out of the Civic Center.

00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:24.000
 Is the adaptive recreation portion integrated with the larger summer camps

00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:27.000
 or are there any particular programs in the summer?

00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:28.000
 Good question.

00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:30.000
 There's not a specific program in the summer.

00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:34.000
 We do try to accommodate as best we can in our camps.

00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:38.000
 With some limitations, we aren't able to provide one-on-one care

00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:41.000
 just because of the amount of kids we have in our summer camps.

00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:48.000
 But Melissa and one of our other camp counselors are looking at specialty camps for that population.

00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:49.000
 Correct.

00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:54.000
 We have a large number of veterans returning to the community,

00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:57.000
 and some of them are disabled, others are not.

00:38:57.000 --> 00:39:04.000
 Have you contacted the community-based outreach clinic to see what you can do to coordinate with them

00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:12.000
 to get them involved in reaching out to those veterans and bringing them into the community?

00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:15.000
 A lot of them feel left out completely.

00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:23.000
 That's one of the things I work with quite regularly is trying to re-assimilate them into the community.

00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:29.000
 A lot of them feel totally left out and they just kind of lock themselves in their rooms and don't come out.

00:39:29.000 --> 00:39:33.000
 I think this would be a good way to re-assimilate them into the community.

00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:35.000
 That's a great idea. No, we have not reached out to them.

00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:44.000
 It would be cool to see a veterans group, where it was just a veteran hangout day.

00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:48.000
 Some of these people are emotionally or physically wounded,

00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:53.000
 and they just don't feel like they belong anywhere anymore.

00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:56.000
 I know I did when I came back from Vietnam.

00:39:56.000 --> 00:40:03.000
 I just did not feel like I belonged anywhere, and I kind of closed myself off.

00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:10.000
 If something like this were available back then, it would have been of immense help.

00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:15.000
 I could see this in your monthly dances, your movies, your lunch with friends.

00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:19.000
 All these sorts of things would be of great help.

00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:28.000
 The manager of the community-based outreach clinic, her name is Ashley French,

00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:33.000
 and I can give you her number if you'd like.

00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:36.000
 Not that I did not want to do that.

00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:39.000
 We can get it from you.

00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:47.000
 Do you have another question?

00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:50.000
 What kind of classes do you offer?

00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:53.000
 Art.

00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:59.000
 Our art therapy is every Monday and Thursday from 10.15 to 11.15,

00:40:59.000 --> 00:41:04.000
 and I teach those classes, and it's one of my favorite parts of my job.

00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:07.000
 I'd love to see you in there.

00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:09.000
 We do all kinds of different things.

00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:11.000
 We use paint, crayons, anything.

00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:13.000
 We can get our hands on what we're doing in there.

00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:14.000
 I'm sorry.

00:41:14.000 --> 00:41:15.000
 Granite.

00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:17.000
 But not quite.

00:41:17.000 --> 00:41:19.000
 What about wood burning?

00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:20.000
 Wood burning?

00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:21.000
 Wood burning?

00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:23.000
 No, but that would be fun.

00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:24.000
 It's really fun.

00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:27.000
 I'd love to see you work.

00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:29.000
 Tamara.

00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:39.000
 I'm aware of a campsite in Brenham.

00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:41.000
 Do you have anything right there?

00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:43.000
 We currently don't.

00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:46.000
 But we can look at that camp and check it out.

00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:48.000
 It's in Brenham, Texas.

00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:50.000
 It's huge.

00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:52.000
 Everything's for the disability.

00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:54.000
 They can do anything.

00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:56.000
 Yeah, we'll definitely check it out.

00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:59.000
 Tamara, we could not hear you.

00:41:59.000 --> 00:42:01.000
 Do you mind repeating?

00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:02.000
 The camp.

00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:05.000
 There's a camp in Brenham, Texas for the disability,

00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:07.000
 and you can go down there during the summertime,

00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:10.000
 and it's rooms for you.

00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:14.000
 They cook for you, and then they have everything that you want to do.

00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:16.000
 It's all disability.

00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:18.000
 Y'all can do anything.

00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:19.000
 You can get in canoes.

00:42:19.000 --> 00:42:21.000
 The canoes are set up.

00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:24.000
 They can go in safely, and out of it, it's awesome.

00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:25.000
 It's really good.

00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:30.000
 I know a group that uses that facility for their annual camp.

00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:32.000
 It's a really neat place.

00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:34.000
 Did you have another question?

00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:37.000
 I just wanted to bring up just a point in the thought to keep in mind,

00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:42.000
 is that for all these activities and these things that you're doing that are so helpful,

00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:45.000
 I just think it is important to remember that more than anything,

00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:49.000
 it's important to adapt and include, as opposed to secluding.

00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:51.000
 So just keep that in mind.

00:42:51.000 --> 00:42:57.000
 I'm originally from Wichita Falls, and we have a similar program up there,

00:42:57.000 --> 00:43:01.000
 and one thing I didn't see on there was cooking classes,

00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:05.000
 and that was probably the most popular thing,

00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:12.000
 because a lot of people are older or younger people.

00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:16.000
 We no longer have home economics classes in schools,

00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:18.000
 so they don't even know how to cook,

00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:22.000
 and this is an opportunity for them to learn to cook,

00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:27.000
 and that was the most popular thing we had up there,

00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:29.000
 and a lot of local restaurants got involved,

00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:36.000
 sending their head chefs over and teaching people their signature dishes.

00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:40.000
 So actually, I do have something like that set up in the spring already,

00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:43.000
 and so I love hearing that feedback,

00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:48.000
 because that means that that's something that hopefully will work out well and that we can start doing.

00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:51.000
 Call me, because I have a master's degree in hotel restaurant management

00:43:51.000 --> 00:43:54.000
 with a minor in dietetics and a minor in culinary arts in Cornell.

00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:56.000
 Oh, absolutely.

00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:58.000
 And I did work in rehabilitation.

00:43:58.000 --> 00:44:00.000
 I'm a speech language pathologist,

00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:03.000
 and I was the rehabilitation director for several facilities,

00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:05.000
 so I can help you as well.

00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:10.000
 But I really like Mark's idea of this committee working directly with you

00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:14.000
 as you plan your activities.

00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:16.000
 Is that something y'all are receptive to?

00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:18.000
 Yes, for sure. I love that.

00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:21.000
 Mark, can we do like, it doesn't have to be for Mark,

00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:24.000
 can we do like a work session with them?

00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:27.000
 A brainstorming work session with them.

00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:29.000
 That works so well for me.

00:44:29.000 --> 00:44:31.000
 All right.

00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:34.000
 And how do we schedule that?

00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:36.000
 They'll get a talk with us.

00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:38.000
 You'll get with them.

00:44:38.000 --> 00:44:41.000
 I really do like the idea of this group working with your group.

00:44:41.000 --> 00:44:43.000
 I think that can go places.

00:44:43.000 --> 00:44:45.000
 Thank you so much for having us.

00:44:45.000 --> 00:44:47.000
 Thank you so much for coming.

00:44:47.000 --> 00:44:48.000
 Oh, Mark has one more.

00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:50.000
 One more question.

00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:55.000
 Our committee has discussed several times volunteer opportunities in the city,

00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:58.000
 and we have talked to some departments.

00:44:58.000 --> 00:45:03.000
 So does the Parks and Rec Department use volunteers?

00:45:03.000 --> 00:45:09.000
 If so, how does that happen and perhaps are there opportunities

00:45:09.000 --> 00:45:11.000
 for persons with disabilities to do so?

00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:13.000
 We thrive off of volunteers.

00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:15.000
 That's what makes a lot of our programs happen.

00:45:15.000 --> 00:45:19.000
 So we have a lot of our special events, we use volunteers.

00:45:19.000 --> 00:45:25.000
 So we do our Halloween Harvest, Halloween Carnival, our Fourth of July Jubilee.

00:45:25.000 --> 00:45:32.000
 We have MLK Day, a Black History Month program that we utilize with a lot of volunteers

00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:35.000
 to help pass out information and direct traffic.

00:45:35.000 --> 00:45:40.000
 So we would love for you all to come out and help volunteer for some of our events.

00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:41.000
 Can I ask one more question?

00:45:41.000 --> 00:45:43.000
 Yes, you can ask one more question.

00:45:43.000 --> 00:45:45.000
 One more question on that.

00:45:45.000 --> 00:45:52.000
 Is there any sort of maybe, as far as that goes, volunteer age restrictions?

00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:57.000
 If so, is there somewhere online or in the media that we can find certain age restrictions

00:45:57.000 --> 00:46:01.000
 for volunteer opportunities, for example, like if you've got a 10-year-old kid

00:46:01.000 --> 00:46:05.000
 that has a disability, do they have the opportunity to volunteer at something like this

00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:09.000
 or is it just for adults, just kind of like a different idea of what volunteers you're looking for?

00:46:09.000 --> 00:46:14.000
 So currently our volunteers do have to be adults, but that is definitely something we can look at.

00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:19.000
 We have a specific volunteer, sometimes we'll do large groups, we'll do a volunteer project for us

00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:24.000
 and then it will be ages, you know, kids and adults, park clean up, you know,

00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:29.000
 something along those lines where it is up at all ages, but these special events I was speaking of

00:46:29.000 --> 00:46:31.000
 tend to be more adult volunteers.

00:46:31.000 --> 00:46:36.000
 Thank you so much for having us.

00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:39.000
 And I'm sorry I didn't make the meeting last month.

00:46:39.000 --> 00:46:40.000
 Sorry.

00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:41.000
 Oh, it's okay.

00:46:41.000 --> 00:46:42.000
 I advertised it for you.

00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:43.000
 Thank you so much.

00:46:43.000 --> 00:46:44.000
 I appreciate it.

00:46:44.000 --> 00:46:45.000
 That's beautiful.

00:46:45.000 --> 00:46:46.000
 All right.

00:46:46.000 --> 00:46:48.000
 Moving on.

00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:52.000
 Receive a report, hold a discussion and give staff input about current and future projects

00:46:52.000 --> 00:46:58.000
 of the city's capital projects department and how they can be inclusive for persons of all abilities

00:46:58.000 --> 00:47:03.000
 and our speaker is Preetam Deshmukh.

00:47:03.000 --> 00:47:04.000
 Welcome.

00:47:04.000 --> 00:47:05.000
 Good evening.

00:47:05.000 --> 00:47:07.000
 Thank you, Chair, members of the committee.

00:47:07.000 --> 00:47:14.000
 My name is Preetam Deshmukh, Deputy City Engineer, and I will be talking on the next two items,

00:47:14.000 --> 00:47:16.000
 starting with the first one.

00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:18.000
 Let me open up my presentation.

00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:26.000
 That looks like every streetman dancing.

00:47:26.000 --> 00:47:27.000
 That's why it's up here.

00:47:27.000 --> 00:47:30.000
 There are no construction.

00:47:30.000 --> 00:47:33.000
 So this is an update on all the capital projects.

00:47:33.000 --> 00:47:38.000
 It's not at full inclusive list, but I will highlight the important ones.

00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:45.000
 A few of them are textile projects, but the smaller ones are also included that are city projects.

00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:48.000
 Start with one of our large projects.

00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:49.000
 This is a city project.

00:47:49.000 --> 00:47:51.000
 It has seven phases.

00:47:51.000 --> 00:47:57.000
 It was not -- it didn't start as a seven-phase project, but as it has evolved,

00:47:57.000 --> 00:48:02.000
 it is the segment of Bonnie Bray that starts all the way south at Finch,

00:48:02.000 --> 00:48:08.000
 and it goes all the way through the city, north-south, and then connects to Loop 288.

00:48:08.000 --> 00:48:17.000
 So the ultimate connection will be an interchange over-crossing with fronted roads at Loop 288.

00:48:17.000 --> 00:48:18.000
 I'll start with phase one.

00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:20.000
 Phase one is already constructed.

00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:24.000
 You can see some of the pictures here when it was under construction.

00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:29.000
 There are two bridges over the creek and the flip planes.

00:48:29.000 --> 00:48:31.000
 So phase one is almost complete.

00:48:31.000 --> 00:48:37.000
 We're going through a punch list item, which is like the last step of the project,

00:48:37.000 --> 00:48:40.000
 before we take over the project and open the roads.

00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:42.000
 Phase two has already been let out.

00:48:42.000 --> 00:48:47.000
 The council awarded a contract this past Tuesday.

00:48:47.000 --> 00:48:51.000
 It will be soon under construction, I think, right after the holiday season,

00:48:51.000 --> 00:48:55.000
 starting first month of the year.

00:48:55.000 --> 00:48:57.000
 Next year, it will begin construction.

00:48:57.000 --> 00:49:02.000
 That phase includes Vintage Road between 35W and 377.

00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:06.000
 So this will be completely widened to a four-lane divided.

00:49:06.000 --> 00:49:11.000
 Phase three, as you can see, some portion of it is under construction.

00:49:11.000 --> 00:49:17.000
 It is a phase between the Rose Lawn and 35E.

00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:19.000
 A portion of it, utilities are currently under construction.

00:49:19.000 --> 00:49:21.000
 There's a lot of utility work going on.

00:49:21.000 --> 00:49:26.000
 Once the utilities are done, it will follow by the roadway widening project.

00:49:26.000 --> 00:49:32.000
 Phase four, we split phase four into two projects.

00:49:32.000 --> 00:49:36.000
 You've seen already that the roundabout is almost done.

00:49:36.000 --> 00:49:40.000
 That was the roundabout at Scripture and Bonnie Gray.

00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:42.000
 That was pulled out of phase four.

00:49:42.000 --> 00:49:49.000
 So the remaining phase four is between Scripture south of the roundabout to 35E.

00:49:49.000 --> 00:49:54.000
 Phase five is from Scripture to University Drive.

00:49:54.000 --> 00:49:55.000
 So that's the phase five.

00:49:55.000 --> 00:50:00.000
 And these are all the timelines that we want to hit.

00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:06.000
 And then phase six is between University and US 77.

00:50:06.000 --> 00:50:11.000
 And then from US 77 to Luke 288 is phase seven.

00:50:11.000 --> 00:50:13.000
 Phase seven is currently taken over by TechStop.

00:50:13.000 --> 00:50:16.000
 They will be designing it.

00:50:16.000 --> 00:50:19.000
 They will be constructing it as part of their project.

00:50:19.000 --> 00:50:23.000
 They've picked up the project and they said, "We'll help you do it."

00:50:23.000 --> 00:50:26.000
 Phase sixes are currently our priority.

00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:30.000
 And then in my next presentation, I'll talk about bond projects.

00:50:30.000 --> 00:50:35.000
 But phase six is currently our priority because Denton High School is moving in this area.

00:50:35.000 --> 00:50:38.000
 Their timeline is 2022.

00:50:38.000 --> 00:50:40.000
 It's somewhere here.

00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:45.000
 And the classes will begin in 2022, which means we have to be done.

00:50:45.000 --> 00:50:47.000
 And our timeline is around this.

00:50:47.000 --> 00:50:51.000
 We should be wrapping things up as they move in.

00:50:51.000 --> 00:50:54.000
 So it's currently under design.

00:50:54.000 --> 00:51:02.000
 And with the bond passing, we receive some money to get this thing going in the construction phase as well.

00:51:02.000 --> 00:51:08.000
 So the total cost of the project, approximately $120 million from phase one all the way to phase seven.

00:51:08.000 --> 00:51:13.000
 And then all phases we're anticipating being completed by 2024.

00:51:13.000 --> 00:51:20.000
 This, as TechStop has taken phase seven over, we don't really control that timeline anymore.

00:51:20.000 --> 00:51:24.000
 So it may go into beyond 2024.

00:51:24.000 --> 00:51:27.000
 Next project is Teasley.

00:51:27.000 --> 00:51:37.000
 And I have received many calls on this as the project started and stopped and started and stopped and finally.

00:51:37.000 --> 00:51:40.000
 So it said schedule to be determined.

00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:45.000
 It originally had a two-year schedule, 500 plus days.

00:51:45.000 --> 00:51:52.000
 And when the contractor first started, they did part of the utilities.

00:51:52.000 --> 00:51:57.000
 Then the contractor went bankrupt. They pretty much lost everything.

00:51:57.000 --> 00:51:59.000
 They're out. The bond company jumped in.

00:51:59.000 --> 00:52:02.000
 Now they have a new contractor on board.

00:52:02.000 --> 00:52:06.000
 But the new contractor still has two years to complete this project.

00:52:06.000 --> 00:52:11.000
 So the negotiations were it was negotiated that they get the whole time back.

00:52:11.000 --> 00:52:18.000
 They don't. So at least the contractors on board and they will be starting construction.

00:52:18.000 --> 00:52:23.000
 I think this week or next week, pretty much they were required when they signed the agreement,

00:52:23.000 --> 00:52:25.000
 they were required to start within a month.

00:52:25.000 --> 00:52:29.000
 And I think it's about 27 or 26 is when it comes up.

00:52:29.000 --> 00:52:34.000
 November is when the contractor should be starting back.

00:52:34.000 --> 00:52:36.000
 So that will be under construction soon.

00:52:36.000 --> 00:52:37.000
 Any questions?

00:52:37.000 --> 00:52:40.000
 Can we go back to the last one, to Bonnie Bray?

00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:41.000
 Absolutely.

00:52:41.000 --> 00:52:47.000
 Kind of in relation to what Joe said earlier, this is going to cross some pretty major intersections.

00:52:47.000 --> 00:52:55.000
 How is pedestrian traffic going to be handled under the new design that we're putting in?

00:52:55.000 --> 00:53:00.000
 So at all intersections, pedestrians, so if it's a signalized intersection,

00:53:00.000 --> 00:53:03.000
 pedestrian traffic will have pedestrian phases.

00:53:03.000 --> 00:53:08.000
 It will be ADA compliant. It will have audibles, messages,

00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:14.000
 and it will have the push buttons and everything that goes to countdown heads.

00:53:14.000 --> 00:53:19.000
 So anything that you see on square today, the countdown heads, the push buttons, the audible sounds,

00:53:19.000 --> 00:53:23.000
 everything will be added to all the new signalized intersections.

00:53:23.000 --> 00:53:24.000
 Very good.

00:53:24.000 --> 00:53:27.000
 So, I mean, we are making sure.

00:53:27.000 --> 00:53:33.000
 And as part of this project, there is a 12-, I want to say 10-foot side path,

00:53:33.000 --> 00:53:41.000
 which is a trail, bike trail, on one side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the other side of this project, all the way.

00:53:41.000 --> 00:53:47.000
 So starting all the way to the south here, it will extend through this area.

00:53:47.000 --> 00:53:52.000
 And then the other connection is between UNT campus and their north campus.

00:53:52.000 --> 00:53:56.000
 We want to see that bicycle traffic moving up and down.

00:53:56.000 --> 00:53:57.000
 Sonia?

00:53:57.000 --> 00:54:02.000
 So will the sidewalk just be on one side?

00:54:02.000 --> 00:54:04.000
 So there will be sidewalks on both sides.

00:54:04.000 --> 00:54:08.000
 One will be 5 feet wide. The other will be 10 plus.

00:54:08.000 --> 00:54:13.000
 And I think where it goes through McKenna Park and the Bonnie Ray Scripture area,

00:54:13.000 --> 00:54:17.000
 it will wide into the park and get through the park.

00:54:17.000 --> 00:54:23.000
 There will be some type of shading and landscaping around it to make it feel more like a trail.

00:54:23.000 --> 00:54:27.000
 Similar scenario with when it passes through this North Lakes area.

00:54:27.000 --> 00:54:32.000
 We'll pull it in a little bit and make sure that, you know, they can get into the park area.

00:54:32.000 --> 00:54:36.000
 So that's our plan that's under design.

00:54:36.000 --> 00:54:38.000
 Yes?

00:54:38.000 --> 00:54:50.000
 So how will that affect his property?

00:54:50.000 --> 00:54:53.000
 So we are currently reviewing that. That's under phase 5.

00:54:53.000 --> 00:54:57.000
 I think I've been to a place. Yeah, it's in phase 5.

00:54:57.000 --> 00:55:02.000
 And currently we're trying to stay within our existing footprint, not take more right-of-way.

00:55:02.000 --> 00:55:05.000
 So you currently have an existing sidewalk in front of your house.

00:55:05.000 --> 00:55:12.000
 We're trying to put this up. We have up-wired right-of-way on the other side, on the razor-edge side.

00:55:12.000 --> 00:55:16.000
 So most likely then that would be the side that would impact more in the future.

00:55:16.000 --> 00:55:23.000
 We're currently under design. I don't know exactly how much impact your house will have.

00:55:23.000 --> 00:55:26.000
 We'll reach out to you once we get to that stage.

00:55:26.000 --> 00:55:30.000
 Thanks for backtracking for us.

00:55:30.000 --> 00:55:47.000
 What are you going to put in the middle of the razor-edge?

00:55:47.000 --> 00:55:49.000
 In the middle of the four lanes?

00:55:49.000 --> 00:55:50.000
 The roundabout.

00:55:50.000 --> 00:55:52.000
 The roundabout. Are you all going to do it?

00:55:52.000 --> 00:55:54.000
 In the middle of the roundabout?

00:55:54.000 --> 00:55:56.000
 Where Bonnie braids?

00:55:56.000 --> 00:56:01.000
 Right, so roundabout is currently, they're designing the inside.

00:56:01.000 --> 00:56:07.000
 A portion of it will be stamped concrete, but they're adding bushes and trees and features.

00:56:07.000 --> 00:56:10.000
 We're working with our parts department.

00:56:10.000 --> 00:56:21.000
 We've ordered, there will be some plants and some trees and shrubberies within the roundabout itself.

00:56:21.000 --> 00:56:33.000
 So this is 377. The limits of this project, 35, from 35 all the way to just south of 1830.

00:56:33.000 --> 00:56:40.000
 And it also includes the small segment of 1830 and Hobson intersection widening.

00:56:40.000 --> 00:56:43.000
 So there are some improvements at this intersection. It's pretty congested.

00:56:43.000 --> 00:56:45.000
 We all know that. We're trying to fix it.

00:56:45.000 --> 00:56:50.000
 And it will be fixed as part of the 377 project.

00:56:50.000 --> 00:56:55.000
 There will be turn lanes added onto that segment on 1830 between Hobson.

00:56:55.000 --> 00:56:59.000
 There's lanes added on Hobson for left turn and right turn.

00:56:59.000 --> 00:57:03.000
 So there's considerable improvement at these intersections.

00:57:03.000 --> 00:57:08.000
 One will be signalized and you can see, I don't know if you can see it here,

00:57:08.000 --> 00:57:15.000
 but James Street in that area will be realigned as the fourth leg on the north side.

00:57:15.000 --> 00:57:21.000
 So there will be a fourth leg at the intersection of 1830 and 377.

00:57:21.000 --> 00:57:27.000
 It's currently under construction. I think there are 85% done with the utilities.

00:57:27.000 --> 00:57:30.000
 Once the utilities are done, I think the city park will be out.

00:57:30.000 --> 00:57:35.000
 Most of the remaining portion will be textile roadway traffic.

00:57:35.000 --> 00:57:39.000
 Their schedule is November of next year, so one more year of construction.

00:57:39.000 --> 00:57:42.000
 And they're moving pretty at a pretty good pace.

00:57:42.000 --> 00:57:47.000
 I think they demolished the bridge, the old bridge.

00:57:47.000 --> 00:57:51.000
 They've created a shoe fly. It's called a bypass.

00:57:51.000 --> 00:57:55.000
 It's called shoe fly, but it's a bypass for the trains.

00:57:55.000 --> 00:57:58.000
 So they've created a separate bridge. They demolished the older one.

00:57:58.000 --> 00:58:03.000
 They'll now start constructing the old bridge.

00:58:03.000 --> 00:58:06.000
 All right. I-35 improvements.

00:58:06.000 --> 00:58:10.000
 It feels like we've been under construction for years on I-35.

00:58:10.000 --> 00:58:17.000
 I started driving it in 1958.

00:58:17.000 --> 00:58:24.000
 So currently we have one project that has three interchanges.

00:58:24.000 --> 00:58:27.000
 One is the Loop 288.

00:58:27.000 --> 00:58:30.000
 There is a new interchange on Brinker. You can see that.

00:58:30.000 --> 00:58:33.000
 And then Mayhill. Mayhill was a really small upgrade.

00:58:33.000 --> 00:58:37.000
 It was a Texas U-turn that they recently installed.

00:58:37.000 --> 00:58:43.000
 Brinker is a full interchange with Signals. They're currently working on it.

00:58:43.000 --> 00:58:50.000
 Based on their schedule, I think this project should be completed end of the year,

00:58:50.000 --> 00:58:52.000
 before the end of the year.

00:58:52.000 --> 00:58:54.000
 I will agree.

00:58:54.000 --> 00:58:56.000
 [laughter]

00:58:56.000 --> 00:59:04.000
 But there is a brand new project coming in on Mayhill Road.

00:59:04.000 --> 00:59:07.000
 So this is the second Mayhill job that's coming in.

00:59:07.000 --> 00:59:12.000
 So you can imagine Loop is going to be 10 lanes under the bridge right now.

00:59:12.000 --> 00:59:14.000
 You can see how wide and tall the bridge is.

00:59:14.000 --> 00:59:19.000
 Then after the Mayhill interchange is built, it's going to be 12 lanes under the bridge.

00:59:19.000 --> 00:59:23.000
 So it's going to be bigger than the Loop interchange.

00:59:23.000 --> 00:59:26.000
 Because 2499 comes in and joins in.

00:59:26.000 --> 00:59:31.000
 And then Mayhill, we have another project, the DCT railroad bridge.

00:59:31.000 --> 00:59:34.000
 So we have widened Mayhill. There is a bridge coming in.

00:59:34.000 --> 00:59:37.000
 And this becomes a large interchange for us.

00:59:37.000 --> 00:59:40.000
 So this interchange is under design.

00:59:40.000 --> 00:59:42.000
 Go ahead.

00:59:42.000 --> 00:59:45.000
 You had a question? No? Okay.

00:59:45.000 --> 00:59:48.000
 So this interchange is under design.

00:59:48.000 --> 00:59:54.000
 And it will, I want to say it will start construction next year.

00:59:54.000 --> 00:59:56.000
 Because they're coming back.

00:59:56.000 --> 01:00:00.000
 So it will feel that you're still back to back under construction.

01:00:00.000 --> 01:00:05.000
 I live there.

01:00:05.000 --> 01:00:08.000
 Yes. And as part of this interchange project,

01:00:08.000 --> 01:00:17.000
 they are going to redo the frontage road on this side between the Loop and Mayhill.

01:00:17.000 --> 01:00:20.000
 So it will still feel that it's under construction.

01:00:20.000 --> 01:00:30.000
 When are we going to quit narrowing down the lanes of 35 when we go into,

01:00:30.000 --> 01:00:35.000
 when you get up there to the Loop, you know, narrow to two lanes.

01:00:35.000 --> 01:00:38.000
 Both north and south, they narrow to two lanes.

01:00:38.000 --> 01:00:41.000
 We have all these accidents every day there.

01:00:41.000 --> 01:00:45.000
 They'll be completely open end of the year.

01:00:45.000 --> 01:00:49.000
 When this project is done, when these three interchange projects are done.

01:00:49.000 --> 01:00:51.000
 I think they're getting ready.

01:00:51.000 --> 01:00:55.000
 Their deadline was sometime end of November.

01:00:55.000 --> 01:00:57.000
 But you know the way that goes.

01:00:57.000 --> 01:01:00.000
 That's why we're still holding them on to end of December.

01:01:00.000 --> 01:01:04.000
 What year?

01:01:04.000 --> 01:01:06.000
 Just a thought.

01:01:06.000 --> 01:01:11.000
 Typically when we get answers from TxDOT, they say it's going to be spring.

01:01:11.000 --> 01:01:13.000
 I'm like, spring of what year?

01:01:13.000 --> 01:01:14.000
 Yeah.

01:01:14.000 --> 01:01:16.000
 That's the question we always have.

01:01:16.000 --> 01:01:19.000
 So the lanes will be open.

01:01:19.000 --> 01:01:24.000
 And also the Dallas Drive underpass that is currently closed,

01:01:24.000 --> 01:01:28.000
 that will be open as well to get on southbound ramp.

01:01:28.000 --> 01:01:29.000
 This year?

01:01:29.000 --> 01:01:31.000
 This year.

01:01:31.000 --> 01:01:32.000
 It's happening this year.

01:01:32.000 --> 01:01:34.000
 We hold you to that.

01:01:34.000 --> 01:01:35.000
 They're wrapping up.

01:01:35.000 --> 01:01:37.000
 I think they're very close.

01:01:37.000 --> 01:01:41.000
 The middle guardrail was the only thing, or the concrete barrier was the only thing.

01:01:41.000 --> 01:01:44.000
 I see a new sign that says Bucky Drive.

01:01:44.000 --> 01:01:49.000
 No, but let's not go there.

01:01:49.000 --> 01:01:51.000
 Continue.

01:01:51.000 --> 01:01:55.000
 I don't think you were going to explain that to me.

01:01:55.000 --> 01:01:59.000
 So there are two projects here.

01:01:59.000 --> 01:02:04.000
 One project is just this merge area of 35W and 35E.

01:02:04.000 --> 01:02:06.000
 It's going to be upgraded.

01:02:06.000 --> 01:02:10.000
 And then there's 35 all the way to 77.

01:02:10.000 --> 01:02:12.000
 That's the second project.

01:02:12.000 --> 01:02:14.000
 This is fully funded.

01:02:14.000 --> 01:02:17.000
 It's currently going through the environmental clearance

01:02:17.000 --> 01:02:20.000
 as well as going through the design phase and acquisition,

01:02:20.000 --> 01:02:22.000
 right-of-way acquisition.

01:02:22.000 --> 01:02:28.000
 All of that said, it should start to begin construction in 2023.

01:02:28.000 --> 01:02:30.000
 So the construction is not going to go away.

01:02:30.000 --> 01:02:32.000
 It's going to continue.

01:02:32.000 --> 01:02:36.000
 As we further go north, there's another project that's not listed,

01:02:36.000 --> 01:02:39.000
 but north of here up to the state line,

01:02:39.000 --> 01:02:42.000
 there's another project that has received funding.

01:02:42.000 --> 01:02:46.000
 So the total funding on this piece of 35

01:02:46.000 --> 01:02:48.000
 is close to $800 million.

01:02:48.000 --> 01:02:51.000
 And it will continue this way.

01:02:51.000 --> 01:02:54.000
 And that project has expedited deadline.

01:02:54.000 --> 01:02:56.000
 I think that project begins in 2022.

01:02:56.000 --> 01:03:00.000
 So we need Bonnie Bray as a bypass,

01:03:00.000 --> 01:03:03.000
 because a lot of people are going to get on Bonnie Bray.

01:03:03.000 --> 01:03:06.000
 And if it's still a two-lane, we're in trouble.

01:03:06.000 --> 01:03:11.000
 So we want to make sure that Bonnie Bray is completely widened.

01:03:11.000 --> 01:03:16.000
 And then we have alternative routes to go through this area.

01:03:16.000 --> 01:03:19.000
 This is a city project, Mayhill, as I mentioned.

01:03:19.000 --> 01:03:20.000
 We're wrapping it up.

01:03:20.000 --> 01:03:23.000
 That project should be wrapped up early next year.

01:03:23.000 --> 01:03:28.000
 I want to say February should -- we would have everything open up and normal.

01:03:28.000 --> 01:03:35.000
 If you see the blue line is what phase one is, it's a long project.

01:03:35.000 --> 01:03:38.000
 And there is a second phase to it.

01:03:38.000 --> 01:03:41.000
 That's the DCTA bridge I was talking about.

01:03:41.000 --> 01:03:44.000
 This project was supposed to wrap up December,

01:03:44.000 --> 01:03:46.000
 but there has been many weather delays

01:03:46.000 --> 01:03:48.000
 and other delays that happened with this project.

01:03:48.000 --> 01:03:51.000
 So we should -- I think the timeline has pushed a couple months,

01:03:51.000 --> 01:03:55.000
 but we should be able to wrap it up early next year.

01:03:55.000 --> 01:03:58.000
 On the DCTA bridge, that will follow immediately.

01:03:58.000 --> 01:04:00.000
 Next year, we should begin construction,

01:04:00.000 --> 01:04:03.000
 and that's two-year construction for the bridge.

01:04:03.000 --> 01:04:11.000
 So that way, this whole piece will be four-lane divided all the way to I-35E.

01:04:11.000 --> 01:04:15.000
 There is a lot of traffic that currently uses the loop,

01:04:15.000 --> 01:04:23.000
 and that will be lessened, and most of the traffic will move to Mayhill.

01:04:23.000 --> 01:04:24.000
 Total market.

01:04:24.000 --> 01:04:25.000
 Yes.

01:04:25.000 --> 01:04:28.000
 Just a quick -- can you tell us about the sidewalks next to Mayhill?

01:04:28.000 --> 01:04:29.000
 Yes, it's the same thing.

01:04:29.000 --> 01:04:31.000
 If you can -- if I can zoom in.

01:04:31.000 --> 01:04:37.000
 If you see, this is a larger or wider sidewalk, trail/trail.

01:04:37.000 --> 01:04:40.000
 So one side, it's 10-plus feet.

01:04:40.000 --> 01:04:42.000
 Sometimes it's 10 or 12 feet.

01:04:42.000 --> 01:04:44.000
 And then the other side is a regular sidewalk.

01:04:44.000 --> 01:04:49.000
 So all our corridor projects for the city, like Mayhill and Bonnie Bray,

01:04:49.000 --> 01:04:52.000
 have that included as a feature.

01:04:52.000 --> 01:04:55.000
 The other feature that we also include is streetlights.

01:04:55.000 --> 01:05:02.000
 That way, all the corridors are lit and are safe to walk and drive.

01:05:02.000 --> 01:05:04.000
 So that's the second portion.

01:05:04.000 --> 01:05:06.000
 And the third one is landscaping.

01:05:06.000 --> 01:05:12.000
 So we're also including landscaping and all our corridor projects moving forward.

01:05:12.000 --> 01:05:14.000
 Rex.

01:05:14.000 --> 01:05:20.000
 I was at a tech stop briefing, and they had their own plans.

01:05:20.000 --> 01:05:26.000
 They said that Mayhill was eventually going to go up to Sanger.

01:05:26.000 --> 01:05:33.000
 You know, go beyond, you know, 380 and curve over to Sanger.

01:05:33.000 --> 01:05:41.000
 Yes, so -- it's not going to be Mayhill, but yeah, Mayhill will join into --

01:05:41.000 --> 01:05:43.000
 if you look at this area.

01:05:43.000 --> 01:05:45.000
 So Mayhill comes in here.

01:05:45.000 --> 01:05:50.000
 What's going to happen is 380 is going to loop around here and directly connect there.

01:05:50.000 --> 01:05:55.000
 So they're going to create a bypass, limited access facility.

01:05:55.000 --> 01:05:57.000
 So it will be 380.

01:05:57.000 --> 01:06:00.000
 And then Mayhill will come in and connect to this.

01:06:00.000 --> 01:06:01.000
 And that's their plan.

01:06:01.000 --> 01:06:02.000
 You're right.

01:06:02.000 --> 01:06:03.000
 You're correct.

01:06:03.000 --> 01:06:06.000
 That this becomes a bypass, and then it connects all the way back here.

01:06:06.000 --> 01:06:10.000
 There's another project they're working on loop on the west side.

01:06:10.000 --> 01:06:11.000
 Right.

01:06:11.000 --> 01:06:17.000
 I was at that meeting with the tech stop, and they're going to make a loop all the way around the other -- completely around the city.

01:06:17.000 --> 01:06:21.000
 Completely around and then connect to 2449 down here.

01:06:21.000 --> 01:06:24.000
 I've been hearing about that since 1988.

01:06:24.000 --> 01:06:29.000
 Yeah, I was listening to it in 1958.

01:06:29.000 --> 01:06:32.000
 I'm old.

01:06:32.000 --> 01:06:35.000
 I was born before here.

01:06:35.000 --> 01:06:37.000
 I do have a question.

01:06:37.000 --> 01:06:54.000
 If they're redoing Mayhill, what's going to happen to the part closer to town where it gets really scary and hairy between 380 and the Civic Center?

01:06:54.000 --> 01:06:56.000
 That's McKinney.

01:06:56.000 --> 01:06:58.000
 Oh, no.

01:06:58.000 --> 01:07:00.000
 There's a section of Mayhill there.

01:07:00.000 --> 01:07:16.000
 That goes from suburban propane running on the railroad tracks along TWEU.

01:07:16.000 --> 01:07:18.000
 Different road.

01:07:18.000 --> 01:07:19.000
 Different road.

01:07:19.000 --> 01:07:20.000
 That's Mingo.

01:07:20.000 --> 01:07:21.000
 Mingo.

01:07:21.000 --> 01:07:22.000
 Oh, Mingo.

01:07:22.000 --> 01:07:23.000
 Thank you.

01:07:23.000 --> 01:07:24.000
 I'm sorry.

01:07:24.000 --> 01:07:25.000
 Brain fog is bad tonight.

01:07:25.000 --> 01:07:27.000
 This is the road you're talking about.

01:07:27.000 --> 01:07:28.000
 That's Mingo.

01:07:28.000 --> 01:07:31.000
 I don't guess that one's getting fixed, is it?

01:07:31.000 --> 01:07:33.000
 No, that does not.

01:07:33.000 --> 01:07:36.000
 Why bother?

01:07:36.000 --> 01:07:37.000
 Shh.

01:07:37.000 --> 01:07:40.000
 So I can update you on that one.

01:07:40.000 --> 01:07:47.000
 We are currently conducting a study in conjunction with TWEU to look at the whole area.

01:07:47.000 --> 01:07:52.000
 They have their expansion plans for the previous gold course.

01:07:52.000 --> 01:08:01.000
 So we're working with them on what capacity do we need and how much we need to ride.

01:08:01.000 --> 01:08:04.000
 Joe, did you have a question?

01:08:04.000 --> 01:08:05.000
 Yes.

01:08:05.000 --> 01:08:31.000
 Are the roads from Bonnie Rae to all the way over there going to connect to the movie theater?

01:08:31.000 --> 01:08:35.000
 Like Alamo?

01:08:35.000 --> 01:08:36.000
 Right.

01:08:36.000 --> 01:08:37.000
 Alamo.

01:08:37.000 --> 01:08:38.000
 Yes.

01:08:38.000 --> 01:08:39.000
 So within the Razor Ranch development.

01:08:39.000 --> 01:08:40.000
 Yes.

01:08:40.000 --> 01:08:45.000
 So within the Razor Ranch development, Panhandle is going to punch through all the way.

01:08:45.000 --> 01:08:51.000
 Then Linden is going to go half ways and it dead ends within the development.

01:08:51.000 --> 01:08:54.000
 And then there is another street north of Linden that continues.

01:08:54.000 --> 01:09:08.000
 So there are going to be three intersections.

01:09:08.000 --> 01:09:10.000
 McKinney Street, we have a lot of construction going on.

01:09:10.000 --> 01:09:16.000
 This is, we just, we have a two, it's a two phased project.

01:09:16.000 --> 01:09:19.000
 Red phase is currently under construction.

01:09:19.000 --> 01:09:28.000
 We just let it on Tuesday, we awarded a contract to widen McKinney from Loop 288 all the way

01:09:28.000 --> 01:09:30.000
 down here to Fork Drive.

01:09:30.000 --> 01:09:33.000
 I think we've already worked on the piece from Fork to Grissom.

01:09:33.000 --> 01:09:36.000
 So this will be completely widened.

01:09:36.000 --> 01:09:42.000
 Most of it will be a four lane with a turn lane in the middle.

01:09:42.000 --> 01:09:46.000
 So two-way left turn lane in the middle and a four lane widened project.

01:09:46.000 --> 01:09:50.000
 The reason this piece was chosen first is because of the high school.

01:09:50.000 --> 01:09:56.000
 The high school here, part of this project also includes a 12 foot trail on the north

01:09:56.000 --> 01:09:59.000
 side of McKinney that is next to the high school.

01:09:59.000 --> 01:10:03.000
 On the south side there will be a five foot sidewalk as part of this project.

01:10:03.000 --> 01:10:11.000
 So from the Loop all the way to the high school it will have trail and sidewalk as part of

01:10:11.000 --> 01:10:13.000
 this project.

01:10:13.000 --> 01:10:18.000
 The blue segment, we don't have funding for that and that will follow.

01:10:18.000 --> 01:10:22.000
 But yeah, we understand that portion of it also requires widening.

01:10:22.000 --> 01:10:27.000
 There's a lot of development happening around, closer to Loop 288.

01:10:27.000 --> 01:10:31.000
 So we understand that this project needs funding.

01:10:31.000 --> 01:10:36.000
 The sidewalks for Ryan High School, that was huge in my neighborhood.

01:10:36.000 --> 01:10:41.000
 All our kids went to Ryan and we were so proud that the city put those sidewalks in.

01:10:41.000 --> 01:10:45.000
 Thank you.

01:10:45.000 --> 01:10:48.000
 This is still the FM428.

01:10:48.000 --> 01:10:56.000
 This is our next area that's going to expand and explode, meaning in terms of the amount

01:10:56.000 --> 01:11:00.000
 of interest that we're seeing in this particular area.

01:11:00.000 --> 01:11:06.000
 Several branches have come forward with plans for changing them to residential subdivisions

01:11:06.000 --> 01:11:08.000
 and commercial and stuff like that.

01:11:08.000 --> 01:11:16.000
 So given that there's a lot of interest and there's a lot of new development coming to

01:11:16.000 --> 01:11:23.000
 town, we approached Tech Start and Tech Start currently owns, all the way from here in this

01:11:23.000 --> 01:11:27.000
 point, where it bends, to Loop 288.

01:11:27.000 --> 01:11:29.000
 They currently own that piece.

01:11:29.000 --> 01:11:37.000
 One of the things that we found in our future forecast that this was projected to have incredibly

01:11:37.000 --> 01:11:42.000
 high volumes, the reason being there's a future loop, outer loop that travels here.

01:11:42.000 --> 01:11:48.000
 There's a freeway in the future that has been planned and is on the books.

01:11:48.000 --> 01:11:52.000
 So from that outer loop to inner loop, there are not that many connections.

01:11:52.000 --> 01:11:53.000
 35 is here.

01:11:53.000 --> 01:12:02.000
 But given that this area is completely expanding and adding more people as they move through

01:12:02.000 --> 01:12:03.000
 the city, we wanted to make it easy.

01:12:03.000 --> 01:12:09.000
 So Tech Start has taken this over and they're thinking or planning or looking at the feasibility

01:12:09.000 --> 01:12:15.000
 of converting this as a spur, meaning that would be a limited access freeway facility

01:12:15.000 --> 01:12:19.000
 from the outer loop to Loop 288.

01:12:19.000 --> 01:12:24.000
 So Tech Start is currently working on the feasibility study, but that's how much traffic

01:12:24.000 --> 01:12:26.000
 is getting attracted.

01:12:26.000 --> 01:12:32.000
 As Denton grows, we're the employment center for a lot of other people that are on the

01:12:32.000 --> 01:12:37.000
 outside, so there's a lot of traffic coming in.

01:12:37.000 --> 01:12:42.000
 Small transportation projects, you must have seen smaller intersections closed down.

01:12:42.000 --> 01:12:45.000
 I believe this intersection was Dallas and Teasley.

01:12:45.000 --> 01:12:52.000
 It was shut down for a while to get a facelift, add some turn lanes, and redo the signal.

01:12:52.000 --> 01:12:58.000
 So we have identified 13 intersection projects that would fix congestion, at least get some

01:12:58.000 --> 01:13:01.000
 relief while you were going through Denton.

01:13:01.000 --> 01:13:07.000
 And we've completed, I want to say six or seven of these we've already completed.

01:13:07.000 --> 01:13:13.000
 I'm sorry, this is not completed yet, but we're working on the remaining.

01:13:13.000 --> 01:13:17.000
 They're either in design or right of way phase.

01:13:17.000 --> 01:13:25.000
 A lot of the intersections you can see, Loop 288, anything Old North and universities and

01:13:25.000 --> 01:13:30.000
 other intersections, these were Tech Start facilities, so it takes a while to get them

01:13:30.000 --> 01:13:33.000
 permitted through Tech Start, so we're moving through that.

01:13:33.000 --> 01:13:41.000
 And most of these projects should be completed in the next 12 months' time frame.

01:13:41.000 --> 01:13:43.000
 Any questions?

01:13:43.000 --> 01:13:45.000
 There are a lot more projects, but I can.

01:13:45.000 --> 01:13:46.000
 Tamra?

01:13:46.000 --> 01:13:57.000
 I don't mean it doesn't exist, but how many women did I have on that committee for the

01:13:57.000 --> 01:14:00.000
 roads?

01:14:00.000 --> 01:14:01.000
 Committee for the roads?

01:14:01.000 --> 01:14:08.000
 And position for the roads, and how many women?

01:14:08.000 --> 01:14:10.000
 Project managers?

01:14:10.000 --> 01:14:12.000
 Oh, project managers we have.

01:14:12.000 --> 01:14:15.000
 I think we have half and half.

01:14:15.000 --> 01:14:22.000
 I think we have three project managers that are managing a lot of these projects.

01:14:22.000 --> 01:14:28.000
 So yes, we have one, our program manager is, one of the program managers is a woman.

01:14:28.000 --> 01:14:30.000
 Now, okay.

01:14:30.000 --> 01:14:31.000
 Yes.

01:14:31.000 --> 01:14:37.000
 Tamra, did you think the women might have designed some of it different?

01:14:37.000 --> 01:14:39.000
 We do get input from everyone.

01:14:39.000 --> 01:14:43.000
 So basically what you're telling us, you have two types of roads here.

01:14:43.000 --> 01:14:49.000
 Those that are under construction, the rest are obsolete.

01:14:49.000 --> 01:14:53.000
 No, those that are under construction and those that will be under construction in the

01:14:53.000 --> 01:14:55.000
 next few years.

01:14:55.000 --> 01:14:57.000
 I have a question.

01:14:57.000 --> 01:15:03.000
 There has been a ton of utility replacement in my neighborhood, water lines, gas lines,

01:15:03.000 --> 01:15:05.000
 atmosphere going through, water lines going through.

01:15:05.000 --> 01:15:10.000
 And so the roads are just, in my neighborhood, are just destroyed.

01:15:10.000 --> 01:15:16.000
 Is there a plan when the utility construction happens to put the roads back?

01:15:16.000 --> 01:15:20.000
 Because we have not seen any roads get redone after the utility.

01:15:20.000 --> 01:15:24.000
 If you can send me the roads, I can find out typically what happens is if the utilities,

01:15:24.000 --> 01:15:29.000
 Atmos, and water and wastewater are coming in and doing their job, which means it is

01:15:29.000 --> 01:15:33.000
 definitely followed by a street project coming right after them.

01:15:33.000 --> 01:15:39.000
 So unless they clear a certain segment, streets cannot get in and out of that segment.

01:15:39.000 --> 01:15:41.000
 So I think it should be on the list.

01:15:41.000 --> 01:15:45.000
 If you can send me the list, there are a lot of neighborhoods that are getting built and

01:15:45.000 --> 01:15:49.000
 that was part of the 2012-2014 contract.

01:15:49.000 --> 01:15:58.000
 This is an old neighborhood that is having utilities replaced that are real old lines.

01:15:58.000 --> 01:16:03.000
 Some of them might be capital projects for utilities, but if Atmos is moving them,

01:16:03.000 --> 01:16:07.000
 which means that we are following it by the street.

01:16:07.000 --> 01:16:11.000
 Because what typically happens is if we are doing a street project, we don't want to go

01:16:11.000 --> 01:16:17.000
 back for another 20-25 years, so we ask all the utilities to be looked at and replaced

01:16:17.000 --> 01:16:20.000
 if there is new connections, if there is older utilities.

01:16:20.000 --> 01:16:28.000
 So they go in and do that, and then we just follow it by the street department redoing the street.

01:16:28.000 --> 01:16:35.000
 So if you send me the list of the streets that you are talking about, I can get you

01:16:35.000 --> 01:16:41.000
 which ones, and a schedule for them as far as when the streets department will show up

01:16:41.000 --> 01:16:42.000
 and start working on that.

01:16:42.000 --> 01:16:49.000
 I'd love to know about Misty Wood and the area around Nutty Schultz Park.

01:16:49.000 --> 01:16:50.000
 Alright, Mark has a question.

01:16:50.000 --> 01:16:54.000
 I just want to quickly say something.

01:16:54.000 --> 01:16:58.000
 So as a committee, we can give feedback to Pre-Tim.

01:16:58.000 --> 01:17:04.000
 So he is in charge of a whole team of project managers who are executing these projects

01:17:04.000 --> 01:17:11.000
 and so it's great to have him here, but what does he need to hear from our committee?

01:17:11.000 --> 01:17:19.000
 And one thing I might suggest is so each time that they close a roadway and also close sidewalks,

01:17:19.000 --> 01:17:31.000
 they need to have a detour plan for both vehicles and pedestrians.

01:17:31.000 --> 01:17:37.000
 And I know they work very hard, but if we've encountered anything that maybe you want to give them feedback about,

01:17:37.000 --> 01:17:39.000
 this is an opportunity.

01:17:39.000 --> 01:17:44.000
 That's exactly what I was going to ask on any of these projects.

01:17:44.000 --> 01:17:49.000
 The addition of sidewalks, because I know a lot of areas didn't have that, so that was good to see.

01:17:49.000 --> 01:17:56.000
 But the plans for detours or rideways, those types of things.

01:17:56.000 --> 01:18:01.000
 I live in Robinson Oaks and on Robinson when you come out,

01:18:01.000 --> 01:18:11.000
 it was supposed to be a four-lane road that never was built and there's no sidewalks.

01:18:11.000 --> 01:18:16.000
 You're talking about the segment close to 2181 Robinson?

01:18:16.000 --> 01:18:17.000
 What?

01:18:17.000 --> 01:18:21.000
 You're talking about the piece of Robinson that's next to 2181?

01:18:21.000 --> 01:18:27.000
 2499 and then goes over to Teasley 2181.

01:18:27.000 --> 01:18:29.000
 Next to Teasley it's two lanes.

01:18:29.000 --> 01:18:38.000
 Yeah, and there's nothing but a bar ditch and a mobile home park and no sidewalks.

01:18:38.000 --> 01:18:43.000
 As part of our discussion for projects for the bond when we vetted through the committee,

01:18:43.000 --> 01:18:50.000
 one of the projects was Robinson and yeah, it didn't rise high up because there's a really small section.

01:18:50.000 --> 01:18:54.000
 So we're looking for other opportunities for funding.

01:18:54.000 --> 01:18:59.000
 There's also impact fees collected in that particular zone.

01:18:59.000 --> 01:19:01.000
 So we're looking for options.

01:19:01.000 --> 01:19:02.000
 We understand.

01:19:02.000 --> 01:19:04.000
 I think we heard that from...

01:19:04.000 --> 01:19:06.000
 I'm kind of trapped in there, you know.

01:19:06.000 --> 01:19:10.000
 Especially once the school starts and then there's turning movement.

01:19:10.000 --> 01:19:16.000
 Yeah, we know it's on our list and radar to find funding and get that thing done.

01:19:16.000 --> 01:19:18.000
 That's what they said ten years ago.

01:19:18.000 --> 01:19:21.000
 We can keep repeating that all day.

01:19:21.000 --> 01:19:22.000
 Joe?

01:19:22.000 --> 01:19:28.000
 [INAUDIBLE]

01:19:28.000 --> 01:19:29.000
 You what?

01:19:29.000 --> 01:19:32.000
 [INAUDIBLE]

01:19:32.000 --> 01:19:35.000
 Oh, you love your sidewalk and body break?

01:19:35.000 --> 01:19:36.000
 Thank you.

01:19:36.000 --> 01:19:38.000
 [INAUDIBLE]

01:19:38.000 --> 01:19:40.000
 He gets a sidewalk, I don't.

01:19:40.000 --> 01:19:42.000
 [LAUGHTER]

01:19:42.000 --> 01:19:44.000
 That's why you brought it up.

01:19:44.000 --> 01:19:46.000
 But you're holding a radar.

01:19:46.000 --> 01:19:47.000
 All right, order, order, order.

01:19:47.000 --> 01:19:48.000
 I have a question.

01:19:48.000 --> 01:19:52.000
 The 13 small intersections to be done in the next 12 months,

01:19:52.000 --> 01:19:58.000
 are they going to have the type of ADA stuff like the square has

01:19:58.000 --> 01:20:01.000
 with all the bells and whistles and ramps and...

01:20:01.000 --> 01:20:05.000
 So when we get at an intersection and we're doing any changes,

01:20:05.000 --> 01:20:08.000
 we typically look at the ADA compliance.

01:20:08.000 --> 01:20:09.000
 We put in ADA ramps.

01:20:09.000 --> 01:20:13.000
 It's a minor cost when you look at the big picture.

01:20:13.000 --> 01:20:17.000
 But there are some intersections like Hickory Creek at 1830.

01:20:17.000 --> 01:20:20.000
 There's no way, there's nothing that we can do it.

01:20:20.000 --> 01:20:22.000
 It's a stop control intersection.

01:20:22.000 --> 01:20:25.000
 So in cases like those, we typically don't.

01:20:25.000 --> 01:20:28.000
 But in cases where it's within the city

01:20:28.000 --> 01:20:32.000
 and there is no ADA compliant ramps, we do install an ADA.

01:20:32.000 --> 01:20:35.000
 If you look at even Dallas and Teasley,

01:20:35.000 --> 01:20:38.000
 there is an ADA compliant ramp on one corner

01:20:38.000 --> 01:20:40.000
 where there's no sidewalk on either sides,

01:20:40.000 --> 01:20:41.000
 but the ramp is there.

01:20:41.000 --> 01:20:44.000
 So that people can actually use that corner to circulate around

01:20:44.000 --> 01:20:47.000
 if they have to.

01:20:47.000 --> 01:20:50.000
 And then obviously everything, if it's in signal,

01:20:50.000 --> 01:20:53.000
 we put in all the bells and whistles,

01:20:53.000 --> 01:20:56.000
 put in the buttons and put in the audible signs.

01:20:56.000 --> 01:21:01.000
 Did those smaller intersections have the initial pedestrian delay

01:21:01.000 --> 01:21:03.000
 on the timers?

01:21:03.000 --> 01:21:06.000
 I don't think, most of the signals, most of our signals don't.

01:21:06.000 --> 01:21:10.000
 It's just on the square that we had installed that.

01:21:10.000 --> 01:21:12.000
 But most of our signals don't have that.

01:21:12.000 --> 01:21:13.000
 That's something you can discuss.

01:21:13.000 --> 01:21:15.000
 I mean, our city traffic in New York City,

01:21:15.000 --> 01:21:16.000
 you can discuss with them.

01:21:16.000 --> 01:21:20.000
 And Brian can bring back another item that can talk about that.

01:21:20.000 --> 01:21:21.000
 That's a good item.

01:21:21.000 --> 01:21:22.000
 Yeah.

01:21:22.000 --> 01:21:25.000
 That seems like a good plan for a lot of intersections.

01:21:25.000 --> 01:21:31.000
 Other questions, y'all?

01:21:31.000 --> 01:21:33.000
 All right, thank you very much.

01:21:33.000 --> 01:21:35.000
 Thank you.

01:21:35.000 --> 01:21:36.000
 Oh, okay.

01:21:36.000 --> 01:21:38.000
 I'm still hearing it one more time.

01:21:38.000 --> 01:21:41.000
 All right, receive a report, hold a discussion,

01:21:41.000 --> 01:21:47.000
 and give staff input regarding the city's 2019 general obligation bond package

01:21:47.000 --> 01:21:50.000
 and specifically discuss the sidewalks.

01:21:50.000 --> 01:21:52.000
 So when I talked to Mark,

01:21:52.000 --> 01:21:55.000
 one of the things that he had requested is talk about the bond program.

01:21:55.000 --> 01:22:00.000
 But I don't have a whole list of projects that are in the bond program,

01:22:00.000 --> 01:22:04.000
 but the list includes Bonnie Ray, Hickory Creek Road, and Ryan Road.

01:22:04.000 --> 01:22:05.000
 Those are the corridor projects.

01:22:05.000 --> 01:22:10.000
 There are several street segments that will be upgraded as part of the bond.

01:22:10.000 --> 01:22:15.000
 But I think primarily the focus for this particular session and the committee was sidewalks.

01:22:15.000 --> 01:22:23.000
 So I really wanted to go over what was our thinking behind selecting the sidewalks.

01:22:23.000 --> 01:22:29.000
 Everything that you see in green currently -- this is a GIS database that the city currently has.

01:22:29.000 --> 01:22:32.000
 Anything green are the places that we have sidewalk.

01:22:32.000 --> 01:22:36.000
 And if you zoom in closely, you can see most of these are double lines.

01:22:36.000 --> 01:22:39.000
 That means you have sidewalks on both sides.

01:22:39.000 --> 01:22:41.000
 Some of them are single.

01:22:41.000 --> 01:22:45.000
 But you can see most of the older neighborhoods don't have sidewalks.

01:22:45.000 --> 01:22:51.000
 So you can identify pockets that really need work.

01:22:51.000 --> 01:23:01.000
 So what we did is when we went to the bond committee for suggesting projects,

01:23:01.000 --> 01:23:05.000
 we had a list of sidewalks based on concerns from citizens,

01:23:05.000 --> 01:23:11.000
 based on priority, based on the usage, the sidewalk usage.

01:23:11.000 --> 01:23:15.000
 That list was created as part of the previous bond package.

01:23:15.000 --> 01:23:18.000
 The previous bond package had $2 million for sidewalks.

01:23:18.000 --> 01:23:19.000
 The list was created.

01:23:19.000 --> 01:23:22.000
 The money was not enough to complete the list.

01:23:22.000 --> 01:23:27.000
 So there is a remnant sidewalk segments within the downtown area.

01:23:27.000 --> 01:23:33.000
 You can see some of these are there that require a million dollars from a --

01:23:33.000 --> 01:23:34.000
 there's a sidewalk funding.

01:23:34.000 --> 01:23:37.000
 There's about two miles of sidewalk.

01:23:37.000 --> 01:23:39.000
 This is already designed.

01:23:39.000 --> 01:23:43.000
 So there's $1 million here required and another $2.2.

01:23:43.000 --> 01:23:45.000
 So we've already designed the sidewalk.

01:23:45.000 --> 01:23:48.000
 All we need to do is go start constructing.

01:23:48.000 --> 01:23:53.000
 And what we suggested to the bond committee is starting year one,

01:23:53.000 --> 01:23:59.000
 we'll go ahead and start constructing some of these already designed sidewalks.

01:23:59.000 --> 01:24:02.000
 But in the following years, starting this year,

01:24:02.000 --> 01:24:05.000
 we'll design next year that will be under construction.

01:24:05.000 --> 01:24:09.000
 So that's the cycle that we're going to set it up.

01:24:09.000 --> 01:24:15.000
 What was our -- how did we identify what segments or what sidewalks we wanted to do?

01:24:15.000 --> 01:24:17.000
 It was pretty simple.

01:24:17.000 --> 01:24:18.000
 Our focus was schools.

01:24:18.000 --> 01:24:22.000
 A lot of the elementary schools in the older neighborhoods do not have sidewalks.

01:24:22.000 --> 01:24:27.000
 We've heard one too many times from residents, from parents,

01:24:27.000 --> 01:24:34.000
 from citizens about kids walking in the street or kids walking in someone's front yard.

01:24:34.000 --> 01:24:39.000
 And then also parents choosing not to have their kids walk,

01:24:39.000 --> 01:24:45.000
 even if it's a couple blocks, because of the sidewalks not being in place.

01:24:45.000 --> 01:24:47.000
 So we heard that.

01:24:47.000 --> 01:24:51.000
 What we did is we started laying out these bubbles.

01:24:51.000 --> 01:24:58.000
 If you see this darker color is a quarter mile from the center of the school.

01:24:58.000 --> 01:25:05.000
 Half a mile is a little bit more -- less darker segment is half a mile from the school.

01:25:05.000 --> 01:25:08.000
 And then one mile from the school is all the yellow.

01:25:08.000 --> 01:25:12.000
 You can see everything within one mile almost covers the city.

01:25:12.000 --> 01:25:15.000
 So this was our basis.

01:25:15.000 --> 01:25:22.000
 We said we're currently deficient about 28 miles of sidewalk or deficient within a quarter mile.

01:25:22.000 --> 01:25:24.000
 And that's considered a walkable distance.

01:25:24.000 --> 01:25:28.000
 A lot of people tend to walk more.

01:25:28.000 --> 01:25:36.000
 If it's less than a quarter mile, they will walk as opposed to taking a bus or driving a car.

01:25:36.000 --> 01:25:38.000
 So we targeted that.

01:25:38.000 --> 01:25:43.000
 And eventually we'll go to half a mile segment and then we'll go to one mile.

01:25:43.000 --> 01:25:48.000
 But for this particular bond, we said we want to target on the quarter mile.

01:25:48.000 --> 01:25:55.000
 So this is a quick snapshot of how it looks close in when you close into any particular area.

01:25:55.000 --> 01:25:58.000
 It's about three miles of sidewalk within this area.

01:25:58.000 --> 01:26:02.000
 And there's one elementary school here and then middle school here,

01:26:02.000 --> 01:26:05.000
 and approximately $2 million worth of sidewalk.

01:26:05.000 --> 01:26:07.000
 And the sidewalks will be on both sides.

01:26:07.000 --> 01:26:10.000
 So these red lines will be both sides of the sidewalk.

01:26:10.000 --> 01:26:20.000
 So this is a quick snapshot of how each of these neighborhoods are identified

01:26:20.000 --> 01:26:27.000
 and we will be, as part of the bond, coming in and doing all the sidewalks within this one quarter mile.

01:26:27.000 --> 01:26:33.000
 Just to give you an idea, people think that, hey, sidewalks should be simple.

01:26:33.000 --> 01:26:36.000
 It's a piece of concrete that you just plop and you're done.

01:26:36.000 --> 01:26:41.000
 It is. I want to show there is a variable.

01:26:41.000 --> 01:26:45.000
 Some are really simple, and this is an example of real simple.

01:26:45.000 --> 01:26:48.000
 It will cost really low.

01:26:48.000 --> 01:26:55.000
 This is a sidewalk that we have already constructed, but this is that bridge that goes over Loop 288.

01:26:55.000 --> 01:26:58.000
 It's a DCTA bridge and a trail.

01:26:58.000 --> 01:27:05.000
 And then from that bridge to this particular driveway, this is a driveway for the Chipotle Grill.

01:27:05.000 --> 01:27:08.000
 This piece was missing, so there was no sidewalk.

01:27:08.000 --> 01:27:11.000
 The right of way exists. It's very simple.

01:27:11.000 --> 01:27:19.000
 You excavate, you add concrete, 400 feet sidewalk, 28,000, we can get it done.

01:27:19.000 --> 01:27:21.000
 This is a simple sidewalk.

01:27:21.000 --> 01:27:24.000
 On the other end of the spectrum, you want to see the complexity.

01:27:24.000 --> 01:27:26.000
 There are some that are complex.

01:27:26.000 --> 01:27:33.000
 And a clear example, this is down in the south neighborhood near Creek Elementary.

01:27:33.000 --> 01:27:35.000
 The elementary school is down here, you can imagine.

01:27:35.000 --> 01:27:38.000
 This is Swisher Road.

01:27:38.000 --> 01:27:42.000
 And then Edwards Road is down here.

01:27:42.000 --> 01:27:46.000
 No, I'm sorry.

01:27:46.000 --> 01:27:51.000
 The Apocris Bridge is down here, and then Edwards is up north.

01:27:51.000 --> 01:27:59.000
 So if you look at this segment of Swisher, a lot of kids actually walk from this neighborhood in subdivision north.

01:27:59.000 --> 01:28:03.000
 Currently they're getting dropped by their parents because there's no sidewalk that goes down.

01:28:03.000 --> 01:28:10.000
 So if a request comes in that we want a sidewalk, there are several issues.

01:28:10.000 --> 01:28:14.000
 We need to design it. We need right of way.

01:28:14.000 --> 01:28:18.000
 There's no right of way. I'll zoom in into a street view.

01:28:18.000 --> 01:28:21.000
 We need right of way. We need construction easements.

01:28:21.000 --> 01:28:23.000
 We have to acquire right of way.

01:28:23.000 --> 01:28:30.000
 And then if you look at it, there's no drainage. So then we have to look at drainage improvements.

01:28:30.000 --> 01:28:33.000
 Then we have to put in curb and gutter.

01:28:33.000 --> 01:28:38.000
 If you can see here, there is electric utility right behind.

01:28:38.000 --> 01:28:42.000
 So there might be utility relocation.

01:28:42.000 --> 01:28:47.000
 It starts getting complex that someone is asking for a quick sidewalk,

01:28:47.000 --> 01:28:52.000
 but I can't really lay a sidewalk in the drainage ditch or anywhere close to the street

01:28:52.000 --> 01:28:57.000
 because if I want kids to be walking, it better be safe. It cannot be next to it.

01:28:57.000 --> 01:29:01.000
 And then you're getting onto private property if you're on the other side of the ditch.

01:29:01.000 --> 01:29:04.000
 So these are all the issues that we have to tackle.

01:29:04.000 --> 01:29:08.000
 And all of a sudden this price tag keeps on going up for the same 400 feet.

01:29:08.000 --> 01:29:11.000
 So there are some sidewalks that are really involved.

01:29:11.000 --> 01:29:21.000
 A lot of times when sidewalks are requested, citizens forget or people forget that some of them are complicated.

01:29:21.000 --> 01:29:25.000
 The other thing is not everyone wants a sidewalk in their front yard.

01:29:25.000 --> 01:29:29.000
 So a group of people want sidewalks, but some of them don't.

01:29:29.000 --> 01:29:32.000
 So it becomes challenging. Where do you put them?

01:29:32.000 --> 01:29:36.000
 And how do you work with the community as a whole to implement them?

01:29:36.000 --> 01:29:42.000
 So we're going to go through all of this challenge while we move forward on our sidewalks.

01:29:42.000 --> 01:29:50.000
 So as I mentioned, we'll design and acquire right of way year one and then start constructing the following year.

01:29:50.000 --> 01:29:53.000
 So that's previous year, we'll design next year.

01:29:53.000 --> 01:29:59.000
 Part of our plan is also to leverage whatever the bond dollars we have with safer access to school funding.

01:29:59.000 --> 01:30:02.000
 So there's a lot of federal funding.

01:30:02.000 --> 01:30:10.000
 I think we have one or two projects that have received that funding and are still in the process.

01:30:10.000 --> 01:30:12.000
 I think Mark can talk about that.

01:30:12.000 --> 01:30:15.000
 But those projects are still moving forward.

01:30:15.000 --> 01:30:20.000
 We have funding from COG to construct sidewalks.

01:30:20.000 --> 01:30:25.000
 What we're going to try and do is leverage our bond dollars and attract more funding.

01:30:25.000 --> 01:30:30.000
 Once we get them designed or they're ready to appoint, we'll go look for funding.

01:30:30.000 --> 01:30:39.000
 As we put the application together, these are all SRTS routes where they're really close to school.

01:30:39.000 --> 01:30:46.000
 So safe routes to school is primary and I don't believe there would be any issues getting the funding.

01:30:46.000 --> 01:30:48.000
 That's the plan.

01:30:48.000 --> 01:30:50.000
 Any questions?

01:30:50.000 --> 01:30:51.000
 Mark?

01:30:51.000 --> 01:30:54.000
 Well, I just want to say I think this is really exciting.

01:30:54.000 --> 01:30:59.000
 So this was the bond that just a few weeks ago passed here in the city.

01:30:59.000 --> 01:31:05.000
 And previously we have not had annual dedicated funding for new sidewalks.

01:31:05.000 --> 01:31:08.000
 We have had some for maintenance and things like that.

01:31:08.000 --> 01:31:16.000
 So we are set up for many years into the future to build these improvements and to catch up.

01:31:16.000 --> 01:31:21.000
 I think in the future as specific projects are identified,

01:31:21.000 --> 01:31:29.000
 we can bring some of those back to the committee and just let you know about them.

01:31:29.000 --> 01:31:31.000
 Rex?

01:31:31.000 --> 01:31:39.000
 I know we didn't vote for the bond and I know the city is growing.

01:31:39.000 --> 01:31:45.000
 How soon will we have to go back and get another bond to keep up with the growth of the city?

01:31:45.000 --> 01:31:48.000
 So that's a good question.

01:31:48.000 --> 01:31:51.000
 I don't have a real answer right now.

01:31:51.000 --> 01:32:02.000
 But I think we are trying to catch up on 30 years of no growth or no development or not neglect,

01:32:02.000 --> 01:32:07.000
 but more of very little funding allocated to maintain our streets.

01:32:07.000 --> 01:32:13.000
 So the street department had for the past 30 years barely any funding to keep up with the maintenance.

01:32:13.000 --> 01:32:17.000
 So we are catching up on that as well as we are looking into the future.

01:32:17.000 --> 01:32:21.000
 So we are kind of playing a catch up on a lot of years worth.

01:32:21.000 --> 01:32:23.000
 A couple of things.

01:32:23.000 --> 01:32:30.000
 I think the reconstruction or redoing or resurfacing of the street is one aspect.

01:32:30.000 --> 01:32:37.000
 And after six years if we have to, we can go back for reconstruction of streets.

01:32:37.000 --> 01:32:43.000
 But as far as the larger projects, we are constantly looking for funding from COG

01:32:43.000 --> 01:32:47.000
 and other agencies to fund some of our larger projects.

01:32:47.000 --> 01:32:54.000
 There are corridor projects that we can go to COG and say these are regional connectivity projects.

01:32:54.000 --> 01:32:58.000
 Fund us, give us funding to make these projects happen.

01:32:58.000 --> 01:33:02.000
 So for the larger corridor we are trying to get funding from outside.

01:33:02.000 --> 01:33:08.000
 To give you a real timeline on when we are going back, I don't have that answer right now.

01:33:08.000 --> 01:33:16.000
 The growth in the city, do you anticipate tax revenues to help compensate for that?

01:33:16.000 --> 01:33:17.000
 Correct.

01:33:17.000 --> 01:33:22.000
 And whatever growth is coming in, the other component to that also we are collecting impact fees.

01:33:22.000 --> 01:33:28.000
 So once the impact fees come in, we are trying to add more capacity to some of the roadways.

01:33:28.000 --> 01:33:34.000
 So definitely we have some mechanisms in place at this point to address that.

01:33:34.000 --> 01:33:38.000
 And as I mentioned, FM428 is a prime example.

01:33:38.000 --> 01:33:39.000
 That area is growing.

01:33:39.000 --> 01:33:42.000
 We are already seeing that people are coming in.

01:33:42.000 --> 01:33:44.000
 So we are already planning for the future.

01:33:44.000 --> 01:33:48.000
 We are working with TxDOT, getting that design, feasibility study and design going.

01:33:48.000 --> 01:33:56.000
 And by the time actual houses and everything start building, TxDOT will be out there starting their expansion project.

01:33:56.000 --> 01:34:02.000
 So we are looking in the future and anticipating some of these projects.

01:34:02.000 --> 01:34:05.000
 Could you quickly explain impact fees?

01:34:05.000 --> 01:34:06.000
 Yes.

01:34:06.000 --> 01:34:07.000
 So roadway impact fees.

01:34:07.000 --> 01:34:10.000
 Currently the city has roadway impact fees.

01:34:10.000 --> 01:34:21.000
 And what that covers is back in 2015, they had identified different, they broke up the city into different zones.

01:34:21.000 --> 01:34:26.000
 And within each of those zones, they identified capital projects.

01:34:26.000 --> 01:34:31.000
 So say for example, Robinson Road needs widening or Ryan Road needs widening.

01:34:31.000 --> 01:34:36.000
 So they identified those roads, identified the cost to fix those roads.

01:34:36.000 --> 01:34:39.000
 And then they identified how much growth is coming to town.

01:34:39.000 --> 01:34:48.000
 So based on the amount of growth coming to town, they did a proportionality of this much of the growth will require this much capacity additional.

01:34:48.000 --> 01:34:52.000
 And based on that proportionality, they defined the roadway impact fees.

01:34:52.000 --> 01:35:03.000
 These were adopted in 2015 and we currently assess roadway impact fees. I think it's about $2,000 per household.

01:35:03.000 --> 01:35:15.000
 So if one single family home goes in, they have to pay $2,000 roadway impact fee to fix those roads.

01:35:15.000 --> 01:35:18.000
 Any other questions?

01:35:18.000 --> 01:35:20.000
 Thank you so much.

01:35:20.000 --> 01:35:21.000
 Thank you.

01:35:21.000 --> 01:35:24.000
 Your job sounds hard.

01:35:24.000 --> 01:35:27.000
 It sounds stressful.

01:35:27.000 --> 01:35:29.000
 It's stressful.

01:35:29.000 --> 01:35:37.000
 Yeah, well, yeah, it's fun too.

01:35:37.000 --> 01:35:39.000
 All right.

01:35:39.000 --> 01:35:48.000
 We receive a report and hold a discussion regarding updates from the Denton County Transportation Authority and how it interacts with persons with disabilities.

01:35:48.000 --> 01:35:50.000
 This is something we've visited before.

01:35:50.000 --> 01:36:06.000
 And Michelle Bloomer is here to speak with us.

01:36:06.000 --> 01:36:07.000
 Why Mark's doing that.

01:36:07.000 --> 01:36:08.000
 Thank you for having us.

01:36:08.000 --> 01:36:15.000
 Mark asked me to come and just give an update on the DCTA training program.

01:36:15.000 --> 01:36:18.000
 I don't want to be on camera.

01:36:18.000 --> 01:36:24.000
 DCTA's training program in general and specifically with individuals with disabilities.

01:36:24.000 --> 01:36:29.000
 So DCTA actually operates all of its service through contractors.

01:36:29.000 --> 01:36:38.000
 On our rail side, we contract with First Transit and they provide all the frontline staff, so the conductors, engineers, and the supervisors.

01:36:38.000 --> 01:36:59.000
 So First Transit has their own training program of how they onboard their new conductors, engineers, and supervisors as well as annual refresher training that covers a variety of issues related specifically to operation of the vehicle customer service as well as interacting and assisting individuals with disabilities.

01:36:59.000 --> 01:37:15.000
 On the bus side, we also have a contractor called the North Texas Mobility Corporation that employs all of the frontline administrative, so it's all the administrative staff, supervisors, dispatchers, mechanics, fuelers, service attendants, and the operators.

01:37:15.000 --> 01:37:21.000
 With the bulk of the staff being the operators who are the individuals that are driving our vehicles every day.

01:37:21.000 --> 01:37:22.000
 And same thing there.

01:37:22.000 --> 01:37:26.000
 They do regular onboard or new hire training.

01:37:26.000 --> 01:37:30.000
 It's generally four weeks with the first two weeks being classroom training.

01:37:30.000 --> 01:37:57.000
 It goes over everything related to the service, customer service, how to operate the vehicle, how to do a proper tie-down, what to do in case of an incident or an accident.

01:37:57.000 --> 01:38:20.000
 Specifically related to individuals with disabilities, they go over general guidelines of how to best interact with individuals with disabilities, customers who use a mobility device, service animals, what questions they can ask, what questions they can't ask, pre-trip vehicle accessibility.

01:38:20.000 --> 01:38:32.000
 So before you leave the yard with the bus, make sure the lift works, make sure the ramp works, what are the things they should be doing to make sure that when they go out, that vehicle is ready to transport individuals.

01:38:32.000 --> 01:38:36.000
 Seating priority and then calling out stops.

01:38:36.000 --> 01:38:39.000
 Can we teach them or I don't teach them.

01:38:39.000 --> 01:38:56.000
 I want to introduce Louise. Louise Francois is the NTMC or North Texas Mobility Corporation manager of safety, security and training. So she's responsible for getting all of our staff as they come onboard as well as annual refresher training to make sure they're up to date.

01:38:56.000 --> 01:39:14.000
 We also have what I would call after the fact training. So if we have an incident where an individual forgot what the policy or procedure was, we bring them back in and Louise will retrain them to make sure that they're aware of what our policy is, what the fare structure is.

01:39:14.000 --> 01:39:19.000
 And it's, as you can imagine, it's an ongoing job.

01:39:19.000 --> 01:39:31.000
 But we did have an incident and Mark asked us to come back specifically. I think Val had asked DCT to come and respond to the incident. So just want to lay the background as to what the incident was.

01:39:31.000 --> 01:39:40.000
 And then I'm going to ask Louise to come up and just explain to you the process we go through when we get customer complaints or issues are brought to our attention like that.

01:39:40.000 --> 01:39:57.000
 So the incident was we had a passenger who is ADA certified, so they're Americans with Disabilities certified, and so they have an access card. You have an access card with a photo ID, you are able to ride DCTA services, our fixed route services free of charge.

01:39:57.000 --> 01:40:06.000
 So we had a customer who was ADA certified, they took their card, they tried to board the bus, and the driver told them, no, you have to pay the fare.

01:40:06.000 --> 01:40:15.000
 And so it got to the point where the driver and the passenger could not agree on what the policy was, so the driver called the supervisor.

01:40:15.000 --> 01:40:23.000
 The supervisor came out and said, no, you have an ADA access card, you can ride the services for free, and the individual was able to ride.

01:40:23.000 --> 01:40:36.000
 But again, that's the situation that shouldn't happen, because they're trained that when they're hired, and they're trained that on a regular basis. But like I said, there's a lot of things they have to remember, and we all forget sometimes.

01:40:36.000 --> 01:40:43.000
 So when this came to our attention, come up here Louise, I know you don't like public speaking, but come on up here.

01:40:43.000 --> 01:40:44.000
 She's nice.

01:40:44.000 --> 01:40:47.000
 She is very nice. Just don't get on her bad side.

01:40:47.000 --> 01:40:50.000
 Right.

01:40:50.000 --> 01:41:01.000
 Good evening. My name is Louise, I am pretty new to Texas, so that's a good day.

01:41:01.000 --> 01:41:11.000
 The process that we go through when we have a complaint come in, the complaint come in, it depends on what's the circumstances of the complaint.

01:41:11.000 --> 01:41:24.000
 It calls for an investigation. It depends on the circumstances of who it goes to. If it's just something simple as an operator behavior, conduct, it'll go to an operation manager.

01:41:24.000 --> 01:41:40.000
 If it's a safety issue, it'll get addressed to me. And the process is once the investigation goes on, you'll usually contact the person that's making the complaint, and then you'll speak to the operator, and then you get the two sides, and you do your investigation and find out what happened.

01:41:40.000 --> 01:42:01.000
 In that time of investigating, you'll go through the policies and the procedures, and then you'll go look at their training records to see when the last time they had training, and what was they trained on, to see if it was a behavior problem, or the person just haven't been dealing with that situation in a while and might have forgot.

01:42:01.000 --> 01:42:17.000
 In that incident, when we got involved in it and we spoke to the operator, it's been a while since that operator had to deal directly with somebody coming on with an ADA certification, so it was a while.

01:42:17.000 --> 01:42:39.000
 So we are right now in the process of doing a whole bunch of retraining for operators that it's time for them to be retrained within a year, within two years, whatever the line of scope that need to be done. So that operator was what it taught to reprimand to the highest level that needed to be done, accountable for that situation.

01:42:39.000 --> 01:42:54.000
 And also, it's going to be brought back in again because his name felt in that spot to be retrained on other topics that we do on a daily basis when we're doing a new higher-energy pressure training.

01:42:54.000 --> 01:43:06.000
 So, again, I do apologize for it because that's one thing. I mean, I have the love, and I've been in the transit world since 1996. I started as an operator myself.

01:43:06.000 --> 01:43:16.000
 So when it comes to disability, I'm strong on it. I think that's why Michelle had me come here because when it get there, I get really, really passionate.

01:43:16.000 --> 01:43:27.000
 I mean, because like I told them, and I do it constantly, is that no matter what your disability is, everybody is human. Everybody belongs to somebody.

01:43:27.000 --> 01:43:43.000
 And you could be healthy today, and you could be in that situation tomorrow. So you have to do unto others as you want them to you. And if you see the operators, they'll tell you that is one of the things that I say constantly over and over and over again.

01:43:43.000 --> 01:43:53.000
 That no matter what the situation is, and when you look at reality, we all have a disability. It depends on the level of your disability, how it impact your life.

01:43:53.000 --> 01:44:05.000
 So nobody should have to go and identify their disability to you. Do your job with the policies and procedures says, and treat them nice.

01:44:05.000 --> 01:44:07.000
 Are there any questions? Sure.

01:44:07.000 --> 01:44:16.000
 First, I would just like to say that I think all of us appreciate how well DCTA has responded when we brought concerns to y'all.

01:44:16.000 --> 01:44:29.000
 Y'all have been great about taking our concerns seriously, and we all appreciate that. My second question is, if an incident like this happens, do y'all have like a monthly employee meeting?

01:44:29.000 --> 01:44:41.000
 Yes. Where you could say, okay, just a reminder if somebody has this car. So if an incident comes up that y'all resolve, can you then at the monthly meeting kind of remind everyone?

01:44:41.000 --> 01:44:54.000
 Yes. Louise holds monthly safety meetings for operators. One thing we also did, if we see sort of a continuing trend, we were having some issues and concerns on UNT.

01:44:54.000 --> 01:45:05.000
 Because UNT is a little bit different in how the service is provided, most of our didn't connect routes. Passengers board through the front door and exit the back door at UNT.

01:45:05.000 --> 01:45:15.000
 They go in and out the front and back doors simultaneously. It's not when the doors open, you let the people off first and then you let the doors open and people are going both ways.

01:45:15.000 --> 01:45:25.000
 So we were having, one student was having an issue that she required, she needed to be able to sit. She wasn't able to stand while the vehicle was moving.

01:45:25.000 --> 01:45:32.000
 But because she was being polite and letting people off before she got on, she was never able to get on and get a seat.

01:45:32.000 --> 01:45:39.000
 And so we were having issues addressing that and the driver didn't feel comfortable asking the individuals what priorities she needed to move.

01:45:39.000 --> 01:45:51.000
 So we brought that individual in to a safety meeting, to multiple safety meetings to talk to our drivers to help explain what her disability was and why it was important for her to be able to sit.

01:45:51.000 --> 01:46:00.000
 And why she needed them to help her so she could sit. And I think that helped the driver sort of personalize the situation a little bit more.

01:46:00.000 --> 01:46:08.000
 Yeah. But we do. Every time we start seeing continuous issues or things that keep popping up, it's like, let's put that on the safety meeting agenda.

01:46:08.000 --> 01:46:18.000
 That is so cool that you brought the woman in to explain her disability and how it affected her life during the bus ride. That's cool.

01:46:18.000 --> 01:46:20.000
 Rex?

01:46:20.000 --> 01:46:25.000
 Hi sweet thing. Not that I don't know you or anything.

01:46:25.000 --> 01:46:28.000
 Wait, what about mine?

01:46:28.000 --> 01:46:34.000
 One of the things, you know that I take a lot of veterans down to the VA hospital on their first trip.

01:46:34.000 --> 01:46:46.000
 And one of the things that I've done in the past, and it's been very helpful, and I haven't had an opportunity to keep with you yet, but I hope to,

01:46:46.000 --> 01:47:02.000
 as I introduce these new veterans to the engineer and the conductor on the trains and the buses, and it helps them to get a personal relationship with your staff,

01:47:02.000 --> 01:47:17.000
 DCTA staff, and especially the ones that have disabilities, so that your staff understands that this person has a particular disability, whether it's visible or invisible,

01:47:17.000 --> 01:47:26.000
 so they know how to help that person, especially to navigate the systems. You know, you need to get off this train and get on this bus,

01:47:26.000 --> 01:47:39.000
 and this bus will take you to your destination, or you need to get on the dark trains and I help them navigate the dark trains to get to the VA hospital.

01:47:39.000 --> 01:47:54.000
 And I do appreciate DCTA finally honoring VA disabilities for reduced fares. It only took a couple years, but it was wild, but we got it done.

01:47:54.000 --> 01:48:04.000
 But it's done, and I'm so proud. Y'all have really been so responsive, and as a committee, we really appreciate it.

01:48:04.000 --> 01:48:16.000
 Yeah, but I really appreciate that, and I appreciate you, because you've been doing a lot, a lot behind the scenes there, and I continue to support you down there for what you do.

01:48:16.000 --> 01:48:26.000
 Thank you, and I do appreciate that. We do, and we really do care. I know it's hard, but our operators are human.

01:48:26.000 --> 01:48:35.000
 They have good days. Some days aren't so good, but Louise will whip them into shape, but it doesn't matter what kind of day you're having.

01:48:35.000 --> 01:48:41.000
 You're our face, and you're on stage when you're in that vehicle, and you're representing DCTA.

01:48:41.000 --> 01:48:46.000
 Joe, did you have a question?

01:48:46.000 --> 01:48:55.000
 Why did you get rid of stop number 7 on Brownie Bray?

01:48:55.000 --> 01:49:01.000
 Why did you get rid of stop number 7 on Brownie Bray?

01:49:01.000 --> 01:49:04.000
 Is this the one that serves MHMR?

01:49:04.000 --> 01:49:08.000
 By a cabin?

01:49:08.000 --> 01:49:11.000
 Is it only when it's doing a circle?

01:49:11.000 --> 01:49:15.000
 No, it's not that one. Brownie Bray doesn't know.

01:49:15.000 --> 01:49:17.000
 Something with it?

01:49:17.000 --> 01:49:21.000
 No, I'm not sure about that one.

01:49:21.000 --> 01:49:23.000
 I'm not sure about that one.

01:49:23.000 --> 01:49:27.000
 The University and Brownie Bray?

01:49:27.000 --> 01:49:34.000
 Which side of, we can, let me give you my card, and if you can email me the specifics, I can get back to you.

01:49:34.000 --> 01:49:39.000
 It was either due to construction, or a safety issue.

01:49:39.000 --> 01:49:46.000
 (inaudible)

01:49:46.000 --> 01:49:51.000
 There's two of them on both sides, and both sides are gone?

01:49:51.000 --> 01:49:52.000
 Yeah.

01:49:52.000 --> 01:49:55.000
 Okay, we can look into that.

01:49:55.000 --> 01:50:00.000
 Looking at the map, it looks like it's just south of University on Brownie Bray,

01:50:00.000 --> 01:50:09.000
 where there's a stop there for number 7, and I would guess that that's construction on Brownie Bray.

01:50:09.000 --> 01:50:12.000
 But we can absolutely communicate.

01:50:12.000 --> 01:50:17.000
 The construction, I'm glad to see there's been a lot of construction going on, but it is wreaking havoc

01:50:17.000 --> 01:50:23.000
 and making our driver's life difficult, and our ability to stay on time very, very difficult.

01:50:23.000 --> 01:50:25.000
 No.

01:50:25.000 --> 01:50:31.000
 So we're doing the best we can given the current situation, but as soon as the construction is complete

01:50:31.000 --> 01:50:37.000
 and the City of Denton gives us the green light to start running again, because I know they had opened up portions,

01:50:37.000 --> 01:50:42.000
 but they're like, because our buses are fairly heavy, we don't want to damage the road.

01:50:42.000 --> 01:50:46.000
 I know they were coming back, so we're going to wait to come down Brownie Bray.

01:50:46.000 --> 01:50:50.000
 We're ready, but we're waiting until we get the green light from the city,

01:50:50.000 --> 01:50:54.000
 and then we can put those stops back in service.

01:50:54.000 --> 01:50:57.000
 Rex.

01:50:57.000 --> 01:51:04.000
 Robert Lindley, you know the deputy, don't believe what you see on Facebook.

01:51:04.000 --> 01:51:10.000
 Robert knows Ronan, my little 125-pound German Shepherd.

01:51:10.000 --> 01:51:16.000
 He got down on the floor with wrestling with him, and somebody took video of it and says,

01:51:16.000 --> 01:51:24.000
 "My dog attacked the deputy on the train and posted it on Facebook."

01:51:24.000 --> 01:51:27.000
 They were playing.

01:51:27.000 --> 01:51:38.000
 Of course, those of us who know know what was going on, but he got a few thousand hits.

01:51:38.000 --> 01:51:43.000
 And I was wondering when Raymond was going to call me.

01:51:43.000 --> 01:51:46.000
 We didn't get any go requests or complaints.

01:51:46.000 --> 01:51:47.000
 Tracy called me.

01:51:47.000 --> 01:51:50.000
 We're good, okay.

01:51:50.000 --> 01:51:52.000
 Thank you all so much.

01:51:52.000 --> 01:51:56.000
 We really appreciate all you've been doing for us.

01:51:56.000 --> 01:52:00.000
 All right, GE staff reports.

01:52:00.000 --> 01:52:06.000
 Staff update regarding agenda, accommodation language, bus stops, meeting, captioning.

01:52:06.000 --> 01:52:09.000
 Propose a dedicated pedestrian phase on the square and upcoming events.

01:52:09.000 --> 01:52:14.000
 All right, Mark Oliphant, I am the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for the city.

01:52:14.000 --> 01:52:18.000
 I am also the staff liaison for this committee.

01:52:18.000 --> 01:52:31.000
 And I'm going to try to get through this quickly so that we can finish as close to 8 p.m. as possible.

01:52:31.000 --> 01:52:34.000
 Oh, yes.

01:52:34.000 --> 01:52:43.000
 Allie and Jessica and I would like to bring up the remote access to meetings.

01:52:43.000 --> 01:52:47.000
 I've already talked to you about it, but I want the committee to know.

01:52:47.000 --> 01:52:52.000
 We had one member tonight that could have participated remotely if we knew how to do that.

01:52:52.000 --> 01:52:57.000
 And we think that there is a provision that the city council has used before.

01:52:57.000 --> 01:53:03.000
 Maybe the recording doesn't pick it up, but at least that person can FaceTime or whatever.

01:53:03.000 --> 01:53:06.000
 And they can contribute to the conversation and whatever.

01:53:06.000 --> 01:53:08.000
 So can we put that on our agenda, please?

01:53:08.000 --> 01:53:09.000
 Yes.

01:53:09.000 --> 01:53:10.000
 To figure out.

01:53:10.000 --> 01:53:11.000
 Yes.

01:53:11.000 --> 01:53:18.000
 So the two topics we're going to discuss right now are future meeting topics.

01:53:18.000 --> 01:53:21.000
 So that's a possible one.

01:53:21.000 --> 01:53:24.000
 We had hoped to do emergency management this month.

01:53:24.000 --> 01:53:27.000
 It turns out the city emergency manager was out of town.

01:53:27.000 --> 01:53:31.000
 But I already have him tentatively lined up for December.

01:53:31.000 --> 01:53:41.000
 So they're going to talk about the city emergency plan and how it factors in helping persons with disabilities.

01:53:41.000 --> 01:53:47.000
 Another topic would be to get parks and recreation back here to discuss projects.

01:53:47.000 --> 01:53:50.000
 So we discussed some of their programs today,

01:53:50.000 --> 01:53:57.000
 but upcoming projects that are in the works by the Parks Department and just get some information

01:53:57.000 --> 01:54:03.000
 and give some feedback about what they're doing and any input that our committee might have.

01:54:03.000 --> 01:54:07.000
 The volunteer information, that's been on there many months.

01:54:07.000 --> 01:54:13.000
 But if the committee is still interested, we can try that and reach out.

01:54:13.000 --> 01:54:21.000
 This will be third week of December, week before Christmas week, I think.

01:54:21.000 --> 01:54:23.000
 So it may...

01:54:23.000 --> 01:54:26.000
 We might want to weed that list down for December.

01:54:26.000 --> 01:54:31.000
 Yeah, well, and a lot of times we decide on three or four things in here,

01:54:31.000 --> 01:54:34.000
 and I only end up being able to get one on the agenda.

01:54:34.000 --> 01:54:36.000
 It's going to be hard to get people to do that.

01:54:36.000 --> 01:54:38.000
 Things change, yeah.

01:54:38.000 --> 01:54:44.000
 Another possible topic that we're looking at maybe for January is the Census Complete Count Committee.

01:54:44.000 --> 01:54:49.000
 If you remember, Ryan Adams spoke to us about that.

01:54:49.000 --> 01:54:53.000
 And I know it's been about six months, they've been doing a lot of things.

01:54:53.000 --> 01:54:58.000
 I could speak about the ADA Transition Plan.

01:54:58.000 --> 01:55:05.000
 It's kind of on hold because we're trying to incorporate it into our Mobility Plan,

01:55:05.000 --> 01:55:09.000
 which has a pedestrian component.

01:55:09.000 --> 01:55:15.000
 So it's sort of for a good way that we haven't quite finished it.

01:55:15.000 --> 01:55:20.000
 I know Rex has brought up the disabled veterans topic.

01:55:20.000 --> 01:55:22.000
 He has put me in touch with someone.

01:55:22.000 --> 01:55:27.000
 One of the issues I am running into with that though is the city,

01:55:27.000 --> 01:55:31.000
 because we are a committee of the city of Denton,

01:55:31.000 --> 01:55:37.000
 and we are charged with dealing with topics that the city of Denton has control over,

01:55:37.000 --> 01:55:48.000
 the city of Denton does not directly right now have a disabled veteran program or something like that

01:55:48.000 --> 01:55:53.000
 because it is offered by the federal government, the VA and so forth.

01:55:53.000 --> 01:56:03.000
 The interface between the city and the VA, I haven't found the right question.

01:56:03.000 --> 01:56:07.000
 My question was to assimilate these veterans back into the community.

01:56:07.000 --> 01:56:09.000
 Into the community.

01:56:09.000 --> 01:56:19.000
 We have it in other cities that I've gone to where they try to assimilate that disabled veteran back into the community

01:56:19.000 --> 01:56:31.000
 to make them part of a citizen of the community rather than an isolated person.

01:56:31.000 --> 01:56:37.000
 Because right now most of the disabled vets that I run into are absolutely isolated.

01:56:37.000 --> 01:56:45.000
 They do not communicate with anyone else in the community outside of other veterans.

01:56:45.000 --> 01:56:51.000
 How about I get in touch with you and we talk a little bit about a little more of your knowledge of what other cities have done.

01:56:51.000 --> 01:56:58.000
 Because we just need to find the right topic title for that.

01:56:58.000 --> 01:57:03.000
 There's other things on here.

01:57:03.000 --> 01:57:05.000
 We've got lots of topics.

01:57:05.000 --> 01:57:07.000
 And I've got one more for tonight.

01:57:07.000 --> 01:57:08.000
 Yes please.

01:57:08.000 --> 01:57:19.000
 I really think that we should write up a proposal, discuss and write up a proposal to make the initial pedestrian delay a citywide thing.

01:57:19.000 --> 01:57:21.000
 Okay.

01:57:21.000 --> 01:57:26.000
 Does anybody else agree that that's something that should just be citywide?

01:57:26.000 --> 01:57:29.000
 Let's walk before we run though.

01:57:29.000 --> 01:57:32.000
 Let's see how well it works downtown.

01:57:32.000 --> 01:57:34.000
 They've already been doing that downtown.

01:57:34.000 --> 01:57:36.000
 Yeah, clarification there.

01:57:36.000 --> 01:57:41.000
 So the ped delay is being used currently downtown.

01:57:41.000 --> 01:57:48.000
 And what that is, is when the vehicles perpendicular to you have got the red light,

01:57:48.000 --> 01:57:52.000
 before you get a green for vehicles in this direction,

01:57:52.000 --> 01:57:59.000
 the pedestrian, the white walking individual comes on for two seconds

01:57:59.000 --> 01:58:07.000
 and it gives the pedestrians a head start in crossing the street so that they're not competing with the vehicles.

01:58:07.000 --> 01:58:13.000
 So that is done currently, but what they did say is that right now it's only on the square that that's done.

01:58:13.000 --> 01:58:16.000
 So yeah, we could bring that up.

01:58:16.000 --> 01:58:22.000
 You know, get the city engineer back and talk about the positives and negatives of that.

01:58:22.000 --> 01:58:25.000
 You know, why it's not done everywhere.

01:58:25.000 --> 01:58:32.000
 I will say too, Val did reach out to me.

01:58:32.000 --> 01:58:39.000
 He wasn't able to be here, but he did have two topics that he wanted to let the committee know about.

01:58:39.000 --> 01:58:41.000
 One is horse-drawn carriages.

01:58:41.000 --> 01:58:46.000
 Those have recently been discussed by the city council.

01:58:46.000 --> 01:58:53.000
 But as far as he knows, and I know, they are not generally accessible to citizens with disabilities.

01:58:53.000 --> 01:59:01.000
 So if that is something that the committee would like to take a position on, because...

01:59:01.000 --> 01:59:03.000
 I got a dog drawn.

01:59:03.000 --> 01:59:08.000
 I don't know what the city council ended up, what their decision was about that,

01:59:08.000 --> 01:59:13.000
 but it is something that we could take a position on.

01:59:13.000 --> 01:59:21.000
 And the second thing, well so, is there interest in taking a position about horse-drawn carriages from others?

01:59:21.000 --> 01:59:23.000
 I'd like to discuss it.

01:59:23.000 --> 01:59:26.000
 It's just not a primary thing right now.

01:59:26.000 --> 01:59:29.000
 Rex, did you say you needed to go catch the bus?

01:59:29.000 --> 01:59:30.000
 Pretty quickly.

01:59:30.000 --> 01:59:33.000
 They send that access dentin to pick me up.

01:59:33.000 --> 01:59:36.000
 All right, if I'm not there, then they leave me.

01:59:36.000 --> 01:59:39.000
 It's a long way to the south end.

01:59:39.000 --> 01:59:41.000
 Yeah, okay.

01:59:41.000 --> 01:59:48.000
 Second thing Val brought up, so there is a neighborhood in the city known as Idiot's Hill,

01:59:48.000 --> 01:59:59.000
 but the term "idiot" is deeply rooted in ableism and stigmatizes individuals living with mental illness.

01:59:59.000 --> 02:00:08.000
 And that neighborhood is currently being considered for historic designation.

02:00:08.000 --> 02:00:13.000
 So is this a concern that is shared by other members of the committee?

02:00:13.000 --> 02:00:18.000
 I can share that I live in Idiot's Hill and a poll was posted as to whether or not

02:00:18.000 --> 02:00:25.000
 we should keep the name Idiot's Hill or change to something called Nottingham Woods,

02:00:25.000 --> 02:00:31.000
 which really recognizes the other side of the neighborhood, or pick a new name.

02:00:31.000 --> 02:00:38.000
 And overwhelmingly, the answer on that survey was keep the name Idiot's Hill.

02:00:38.000 --> 02:00:40.000
 Okay.

02:00:40.000 --> 02:00:44.000
 And there were over 100 votes on the poll.

02:00:44.000 --> 02:00:48.000
 Anyone else want to make?

02:00:48.000 --> 02:00:53.000
 You can't fix everything, and not everything needs to be fixed.

02:00:53.000 --> 02:01:04.000
 Are there other opinions about that from other members of the committee?

02:01:04.000 --> 02:01:06.000
 Anyone else want to?

02:01:06.000 --> 02:01:11.000
 I think Ben knows right, Ben helps me.

02:01:11.000 --> 02:01:12.000
 What?

02:01:12.000 --> 02:01:16.000
 I think you know best.

02:01:16.000 --> 02:01:21.000
 We cannot fix everything, and we've got major things we need to be doing.

02:01:21.000 --> 02:01:25.000
 We can talk about this statue or something else.

02:01:25.000 --> 02:01:27.000
 Okay.

02:01:27.000 --> 02:01:30.000
 And then just a couple of very quick updates.

02:01:30.000 --> 02:01:35.000
 We're in the process of making that accommodation language change

02:01:35.000 --> 02:01:37.000
 that we worked on.

02:01:37.000 --> 02:01:42.000
 I want everyone to know that DCTA, as a result of suggestions by this committee,

02:01:42.000 --> 02:01:47.000
 has poured new concrete sidewalks to access the bus stops on McKinney Street

02:01:47.000 --> 02:01:51.000
 in front of the veranda and fountain apartments.

02:01:51.000 --> 02:01:53.000
 Captioning will still be happening.

02:01:53.000 --> 02:01:55.000
 We talked about pedestrian phasing.

02:01:55.000 --> 02:01:57.000
 Our next meeting is Thursday the 19th.

02:01:57.000 --> 02:02:00.000
 That is all, Madam Chair.

02:02:00.000 --> 02:02:03.000
 The meeting is adjourned.