Dallas City Hall
District 12
Enews
October 4, 2021
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Connecting You With City Information, News, and Resources |
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Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn
Council appointments:
*Chairman, Government Performance and Financial Management Committee
*Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on General Investigations and Ethics
*Vice Chairman, Public Safety Committee
*Housing and Homeless Solutions Committee
*Transportation Committee
*Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19
*Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs
*Regional Transportation Council Member
*North Central Texas Council of Governments Executive Committee
Other city-related appointments/elected positions:
*National League of Cities Youth, Education, and Families Council
*Board of Directors, National League of Cities Women in Municipal Government
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Renner Frankford Library, Poker Rooms & the latest with Cotton Belt/Silver Line Construction
So much is going on, we've already got another enews!
The Mayor's Ethics Reform Task Force has released its recommendations and it is an impressive document. I'm looking forward to helping lead the discussion on city council about ethics reform. We'll be looking for ways to engage the public to seek your suggestions on changes to the city code. If you would like to read the press release, which links to the report, it is here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXDALLAS/bulletins/2f4c66d
Like other government entities, the City of Dallas is going through a redistricting process to account for changes in population based on the census. The first, introductory meeting for the commission was held last week. The city council will get a full briefing on the 2020 Census and redistricting on October 20th.
The dashboard shows vaccination data by zip code, with darker colors indicating a higher percentage of vaccination. If you hover over your zip code, additional information is shown.
Best, Cara
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Supply chain disruptions may have impacted the construction and repairs at Renner Frankford Library, but now construction is coming finally coming to a close! Here's the schedule for the remaining construction milestones:
This week - shelving re-built and positioned, ceiling tile installation, fire inspection
10/7 - seating delivery scheduled
10/11 - carpet installation
10/15 - delivery of materials to be shelved and library staff moves back in!
10/19 - tentative opening... STAY TUNED - any of the dates could change if materials are delayed!!!!!
Pssssssttttt... we're going to have a p-a-r-t-y!!!!
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National Night Out - Tuesday, Oct 5 |
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All across Dallas and the US, people will be stepping outside to say hello to their neighbors. Take a chair or two outside and take a few minutes to get to know your neighbors. This is a proven crime deterrent strategy, and you may just meet a new friend. The weather will be lovely and it's a great feeling to be part of a community. Dallas Police Department will be attending known events and cruising around to say hello to folks they find outside. Enjoy! |
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DART Cotton Belt/Silver Line Construction Update |
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Construction update is below (zoom in if the text is too small). Please know that DART may cut down more trees in its right of way and may TRIM YOUR TREES if they are hanging in their right of way! We have asked them to contact any property owner before cutting, but you may want to trim your own tree before DART/Archer Western does it.
Information on the sound wall color and finish will be coming soon.
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The Cotton Belt/Silver Line will run along the same route as the current tracks, but will have double-track. Here is a map of the route. |
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There are many great programs offered by the City of Dallas library and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability. To learn more about them, visit: https://dallaslibrary.librarymarket.com
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The date for the appeal by Champions for a Certificate of Occupancy that includes poker has been scheduled for November 15, 16, or 17, depending on which panel is selected. If you would like to be contacted about the appeal hearing, please email pokerrooms@dallascityattorney.org. As directed by the city attorney, I am not allowed to talk with residents about the poker room. Please direct any questions to district 12 staff, madison.johnson@dallascityhall.com or luis.delgado@dallascityhall.com.
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SAVE THE DATE! The DSO Concert Truck is coming back to District 12! Sunday, November 7, 2:00 pm. Location TBD.
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Sign up for #D12 Tree Planting - Saturday, October 30! Join us at Salado Park (next to Bowie Elementary) for coffee & donuts, and planting some big trees with guidance from city's arborist. Need 50+ volunteers. RSVP to District12@dallascityhall.com.
- Over 200 people were impacted by the explosion in Southern Dallas and the city is ensuring they have hotel rooms until the landlord can find them suitable housing. Many people have asked about about collection drives and donations of items and I am not aware of any group coordinating activities like that at this time. Monetary donations are being encouraged to the Dallas Foundation's City of Dallas Emergency Fund or Red Cross. Thank you!
- Would you like to purchase an engraved brick along the Preston Ridge Trail? They make a great gift and cost just $50 per brick or $75 for the large size. You can learn more at www.fprt.org. If you'd like to get involved in the Friends of Preston Ridge Trail, please contact Cori Pratt, VP Beautification, coripratt57@yahoo.com or Rod Scales, President, rodscales78@gmail.com.
- There are lots of great events and classes offered by the city. You can access the city calendar at www.dallascityhall.com, choose calendar, and note that the top menu has several categories. Many are virtual and most are free.
- Free concert tickets! Mrs. Wells, orchestra director from Parkhill Jr. High and Jo Trizila, D12 Arts and Culture Commissioner, passed this along: "New Texas Symphony Orchestra is offering "Free music for all". ALL of our season concerts this year are FREE! If you are looking for a musical experience this fall, I am pleased to invite you to NTSO's season opener on Sunday, Oct. 17 at 3PM at the Moody Performance Hall in the Dallas Arts District. No tickets required-- just show up and come on in. It's general seating. There are several options for parking in the area, including underground garage parking. Students and their families will have an opportunity to meet with some of the musicians after the concert, take pictures, ask the musicians questions, etc. It's a very family-friendly event. Even if you're not especially a Classical music enthusiast, this opportunity is an inexpensive way to introduce your child to the wide-angle view of orchestra at the community level. The NTSO is a community orchestra, an all-volunteer group dedicated to providing Dallas communities with an excellent symphonic experience."
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Foster homes for dogs and kittens needed! Dallas Animal Services continues to look for people willing to foster some adorable dogs and kittens. If you are interested, please contact them at bedallas90.org/foster.
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Dallas residents 18 and older can get free tickets to Shakespeare Dallas' performance of Romeo & Juliet September 8 - October 16 at Samuell-Grand Park, 1500 Tenison Parkway, Dallas, TX 75223. Tickets available at City of Dallas recreation centers. For recreation center locations, go to http://dallasparks.org/160/Recreation-Centers.
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One Dallas student will be named Youth Poet Laureate of Dallas next year and receive a $1,000 scholarship as part of Dallas Public Library’s long-running Express Yourself! Youth Poetry Competition and Cover Art Contest. The new Youth Poet Laureate program is designed to support the literary talent of Dallas young people and to amplify youth voices. The Express Yourself! contest is open to Dallas students in grades 2 through 12, but the Youth Poet Laureate must be between the ages of 13 and 18. Applications are being accepted September 20 to January 31 at www.dallaslibrary.org/poetry.
- The City of Dallas was awarded a $175,000 grant for Police Reform & Racial Justice that will help pay for the expansion of the Right Care teams. These teams put one paramedic, one crisis intervention social worker, and a police officer together to respond to mental health calls that don't involve violence.
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- Tennis Courts at Campbell Green resurfaced!
- Dog park at La Manga & Meadowcreek on the corner of Park Hill Jr. High/RISD property - approved by Park board, will be on agenda for city council this month
- 4 new pickleball courts at Campbell Green - work to begin late October
- Columns for shade structures at Campbell Green splash pad and in the soccer fields - work to begin late October, actual canvas installed in spring
There are a bunch of other efforts already in the works for the parks, trails, and recreation centers throughout District 12. From new benches, additional trash bins and pick up, dog stations, water fountains, public art, lighting, and special access, we're working hard to improve the parks, trails, and rec centers we have, and we're looking to add additional parks!
Do you have a suggestion that would improve the quality of your life? Email District12@dallascityhall.com or our park board representative for District 12, Lane Conner at lane.conner@dallascityhall.com.
Congrats to Dallas Park and Recreation Department! They earned national accreditation in the field of parks and recreation through the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Dallas is among 20 municipal park and recreation departments in Texas to be accredited, first earning the distinction in 2016.
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If you're a junior in high school, live in District 12, and are looking for an exciting experience providing input and learning about city government and service to the community, you can apply to be appointed to the Dallas Youth Commission.
It's a 2-year commitment that is a great way to learn how cities work, meet young people from all over the city, and work together to provide input on the needs of our youth.
Please apply by 10/15. Send your resume and why you would like to be selected to: cara.mendelsohn@dallascityhall.com
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For many ways that residents need assistance, your request can start with 311. Contact 311 by phone (evening has shortest hold times) or by using the Our Dallas app, available for free in the App Store. If you call 311 and don't get the level of service you expect, please reach out to Madison.Johnson@Dallascityhall.com or Luis.Delgado@dallascityhall.com.
There are some service requests not available on the app. One example is to report a traffic signal that is dark. The reason is because of the urgent nature of the call. For requests not available on the app, please call 311 (always call 911 for emergency needs).
Frequent reasons people call 311 in District 12? Missed sanitation, code compliance issues, report homeless encampment or panhandling, downed traffic sign, request striping of the street or crosswalk, report a pothole.
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Need help, got a question, or want to give input?
Email: Cara.Mendelsohn@DallasCityHall.com
Office phone: (214) 670-4067
Text phone: (214) 490-1036
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