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OUR INVOCATION THIS EVENING IS PASTOR
[State of the City 2024 on February 8, 2024.]
ISAIAH JOSHUA, SENIOR PASTOR OF SHILOH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.SHALL WE PRAY, MOST GRACIOUS, KIND, AND LIVING AND LOVING GOD WHO IS THE CREATOR OF ALL MANKIND? WE CALL UPON YOU ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF PLANO.
WE'RE REQUESTING THAT YOU HEAR OUR PRAYER AND BLESS THIS CITY.
WE ASK A SPECIAL BLESSING UPON MAYOR MON AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF PLANO, TEXAS.
PLEASE KEEP A HEDGE OF PROTECTION AROUND OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR CHURCHES, AS WELL AS OUR SCHOOLS, BLESS THOSE WHO WORK SO DILIGENTLY TO PROTECT US AND CARE FOR OUR WELLBEING.
DEAR GOD, WHEN YOU HAVE DONE THESE THINGS, WE ASSURE YOU THAT WE WILL BE MINDFUL TO GIVE YOU THE PRAISE AND THE GRATITUDE FOR THAT WHICH YOU HAVE DONE.
WE RESPECTFULLY SOLIDIFIED THIS PRAYER IN YOUR SON'S NAME, A MAN, A MAN, AND A MAN.
PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS BY THE PLANO POLICE, HONOR GUARD PLEA FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT JOINING.
I'M HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU IN THE BEAUTIFUL ROBERTSON FINE ARTS CENTER.
WHAT ONCE WAS A DREAM HAS NOW BECOME A REALITY AT THIS CROWN JEWEL OF PLANO FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, OUR POSTERITY WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS EXTRAORDINARY VENUE AS WE GATHER TO SUPPORT THE ARTS IN OUR RISING GENERATIONS.
FOR PLANO, ISD AND THE PLANO COMMUNITY, THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF OUR HOSTS, DR. THERESA WILLIAMS, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THE EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP AND STAFF FROM PLANO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, PLEASE RISING AND BE RECOGNIZED, DR. WILLIAMS AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM THE STATE AND THE COUNTY WHO HAVE JOINED US TONIGHT ALONG WITH MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IN FACT, PLEASE RISE ALL OF YOU AND AND AND LET US RECOGNIZE YOU AS WELL
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AND COUNCIL, KEEP STANDINGI'M HONORED TO WORK WITH YOU AND I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL TO BE SURROUNDED BY THE HARDWORKING MEMBERS OF OUR COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEM, MAYOR PROM PRINCE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM TWO, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK ELLI, COUNCIL MEMBER HORN COUNCIL MEMBER HOLMER, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS AND COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH.
LET'S GIVE THEM A REAL ROUND OF THE APPLAUSE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, YOUR INVESTMENT OF TIME, ALONG WITH YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING IMPORTANT ISSUES ARE ESSENTIAL.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKE PLANO THE CITY OF EXCELLENCE.
THANK YOU TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, OUR EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, PLANOS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFIT AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, AND OF COURSE OUR CITY LEADERSHIP.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO YOU, THE PEOPLE THAT CALL THIS GREAT CITY HOME.
TONIGHT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO REFLECT ON OUR PROGRESS AND TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT IS COMING NEXT.
WHEN I ADDRESSED YOU LAST YEAR, WE REFLECTED ON PLANOS HISTORY AND THE OPPORTUNITY AHEAD OF US.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EMBRACE POSSIBILITY TO REMAIN RELEVANT BY FOCUSING ON ESSENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO RESPECT OUR CITY'S HISTORY AND CULTURE, TO BE INNOVATIVE IN HOW WE MANAGE OUR UNDEVELOPED LAND AND AND AS WELL AS OUR REDEVELOPMENT OF MATURING INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO REMAIN ON OUR PATH OF EXCELLENCE NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE MADE PROGRESS ON THE CHALLENGES SET BEFORE US.
WE STILL HAVE WORK AHEAD, BUT THERE IS MUCH TO CELEBRATE FROM JOBS AND HOUSING TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
SUCCESS CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT OUR CITY AND I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER IN 2023.
FROM OUR EARLIEST YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE CONSTANTLY GATHERED IN OUR CITY AND THAT IS DOWNTOWN PLANO.
DOWNTOWN HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HEARTS, AND THANKS TO CAREFUL PLANNING, WE'RE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF THIS HISTORIC AREA.
THIS GROWTH IS HAPPENING IN ALL DIRECTIONS FROM THE NORTH WITH AVENUE K LOFTS HEADING WEST TOWARDS CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY TO THE EAST WITH THE NEW HOUSING COMMUNITY ON THE SITE OF THE FORMER FIRST BAPTIST CAMPUS, AND SOUTHWARD WILL SOON SEE CONNECTIVITY AT DART'S 12TH STREET STATION TO THE SILVER AND RED LINES, AND LATER THIS YEAR, WE WILL WELCOME AMERICA'S FASTEST GROWING SPORT TO DOWNTOWN PLANO WITH PICKLEBALL PLAZA.
WITH SO MUCH GOING ON, CITY LEADERSHIP RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OUR DOWNTOWN BRINGS AND THE GROWTH ON THE HORIZON.
IN FACT, TO HELP WITH THE TREMENDOUS RENEWAL YOU ARE SEEING, WE RECENTLY CREATED A DEDICATED POSITION OF DOWNTOWN MANAGER TO ENSURE IT CONTINUES TO BE A PLACE OF GATHERING AND CELEBRATION IN OUR CITY.
AS WE SEE THE SUCCESS IN OUR HISTORIC SPACES, WE WILL SOON WITNESS A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DEVELOPMENT RISE.
QUITE LITERALLY, THE LONG AWAITED REDEVELOPMENT OF COLLIN CREEK MOVES FORWARD.
CONTRACTORS CONTINUE WORK REINFORCING THE CRITICAL CULVERT INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER THE PROPERTY AND MEANWHILE, THE UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE AND ROADS ARE NOW IN PLACE, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE EXCITED THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WILL BE FINALLY GOING VERTICAL.
JUST UP THE ROAD FROM COL CREEK IS AN ENVISION OAK POINT.
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IT'S TAKING GREAT SHAPE AND IT WAS ADOPTED IN 2018.ENVISION OAK POINT IS A COMMUNITY BASED LONG RANGE PLAN SERVING OUR NORTHEAST GATEWAY.
WE'RE NOW SEEING THE FIRST ROOTS OF THE PLAN WITH THE COMPLETION OF TRITONS BEAUTIFUL ASSEMBLY PARK PROJECT AT THE SIDE OF THE FORMER OUTLET MALL.
IN COMING YEARS, WE'LL SEE EVEN MORE EXCITING PROJECTS LIKE THE GROUNDBREAKING OF A LONG PLAN HOTEL AT THE PLANO EVENT CENTER, PLANO REMAINS HOME TO INCREDIBLY ROBUST BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
LAST YEAR WE SAW DEVELOPMENT OF 1.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF NEW OFFICE SPACE TO THE MARKET.
ANOTHER 639,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW OFFICE SPACE IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND WITH NEARLY 500,000 SQUARE FEET CURRENTLY BEING MODERNIZED.
WITH THIS DEMAND, WE'RE FOCUSED ON EXTENDING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR JOB BASE.
HAVING A WIDE VARIETY OF JOB TYPES AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY KEEPS PLANO RESILIENT.
A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS LAST YEAR WHEN THE COUNCIL APPROVED A TRANSFER TRANSFORMATIONAL REDEVELOPMENT, CONVERTING THE FORMER EDS CAMPUS ALONG VACANT PROPERTY TO A LIFE SCIENCES COMPLEX.
WE CONTINUE TO BE A PLACE WHERE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES WANT TO CALL HOME.
A TRUE ECONOMIC FORCE IN PLANO IS OUR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DISTRICT.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF DEMAND IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE COMPANIES WITH MUCH NEEDED SPACE.
FOR EXAMPLE, LAST SUMMER WE WELCOMED SK SIGN'S NEW PLANO FACILITY, WHICH EXPANDS US-BASED MANUFACTURING AND R AND D FOR CUTTING EDGE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING EQUIPMENT.
IT WAS AN HONOR TO SEE SK CIT RECOGNIZED AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION FOR THE IMPACT THEY WILL MAKE ON AMERICA'S EV INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ALSO WELCOMED CORE WEAVE, WHICH OPENED ITS FIRST TEXAS DATA CENTER FACILITY AND INVESTED $1.6 BILLION INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE INCREDIBLE GROWTH OF INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES COMING TO PLANO.
WE ARE A GLOBAL CITY WITH AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY REPRESENTING TRANSPORTATION, FINANCIAL SERVICES, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, MEDICINE, AND MANY MORE.
WITH OUR LARGE COMPANIES, THEY TEND TO GET THE HEADLINES THEY MOVE TO OUR CITY, BUT NONE OF PLANOS PROSPERITY COULD OCCUR WITHOUT THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MAKE UP THE FOUNDATIONAL FOOTING OF OUR ECONOMIC SUCCESS.
WE'RE DEDICATED TO RETAINING OUR GREAT PLANO BUSINESSES, BOTH LARGE AND SMALL.
IN FACT, THIS PAST YEAR WE EXPANDED OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO ALLOW GREATER FOCUS ON SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE'RE ALSO ASKING OUR BUSINESSES TO HIRE LOCAL BY RE REPRIORITIZING OUR INCENTIVES TO FOCUS ON EMPLOYING PLANOS WORKFORCE.
THE CITY HAS CREATED NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS TO FURTHER REVITALIZATION EFFORTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH OUR UNDERUTILIZED FOUR CORNER RETAIL CENTERS.
CITY COUNCIL IS EXPLORING HOW WE CAN REVITALIZE THESE AREAS THROUGH A RETAIL REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
OVERALL, WE'RE TAKING A STRONG PARTNERSHIP APPROACH WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
ONE CONSTANT ISSUE FOR COMPANIES ALL OVER THE WORLD IS WORKFORCE.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT WE CAN DO TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OUR HOMEGROWN TALENT, WHICH BENEFITS BOTH OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, BUT PLANO IS MORE THAN JUST A HAVEN FOR BUSINESS.
WE HAVE A DIVERSE POPULACE COMING FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES, AND WE AIM TO CREATE CONNECTIONS AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN OUR RESIDENTS.
THIS HELPS AMPLIFY VOICES FOR ALL WHO CALL PLANO HOME, CREATING A SENSE OF INCLUSION AND BELONGING.
I TALK ABOUT ALL THESE AMAZING THINGS NOT TO BOAST, BUT TO SHOW WHAT AN INTERNATIONAL INCLUSIVE AND ECONOMICALLY ROBUST CITY CAN BE WELCOMING, SUCCESSFUL, AND COMPASSIONATE.
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STAR FOR A COMMUNITY THAT THANKS TO OUR OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, PLANO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS LONG BEEN THE LIFEBLOOD OF SO MANY GOOD THINGS TO PLANO.OVER THE YEARS, OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT ONLY THE BEST IN THIS REGION AND STATE, THEY'RE THE BEST IN THE NATION.
OUR HIGH ACADEMIC RANKINGS ARE BECAUSE OF THE DEDICATED WORK OF OUR STUDENTS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE CITY.
FOR INSTANCE, WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH PISD AND ITS NEW CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM WHERE KNOWLEDGE IS BLENDED WITH ACADEMICS AND CAREER SKILLS TO PRODUCE WELL-ROUNDED LIFE READY GRADUATES.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW $100 MILLION CAREER IN TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CENTER THAT IS BEING BUILT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE WE ARE THIS EVENING.
THIS EXCITING NEW VENTURE IS YET ANOTHER WAY.
PLANO IS DEVELOPING A CAREER READY WORKFORCE.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WORKING TOGETHER IS THAT FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, WE HOSTED THE PLANO MAYOR'S SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, NEARLY 1000 PISD.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE RECEIVED INTERNSHIPS AT SMALL AND LARGE COMPANIES AS WELL AS NONPROFITS AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, STUDENTS LEARN IMPORTANT SKILLS THAT WILL LEAD TO FUTURE SUCCESS.
I'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT JOBS AND EDUCATION AND THESE TWO AREAS SUSTAIN PLANOS FORMULA FOR ACHIEVEMENT BUT ARE ONLY A PART OF THE EQUATION FOR OUR CONTINUED SUCCESS.
WHAT TRULY MAKES PLANO EXTRAORDINARY IS OUR FOCUS ON WELLBEING THROUGH STRONG PUBLIC SAFETY, A WELL-RESOURCED LIBRARY, GREAT ACCESSIBLE OUTDOOR PARKS AND PLACES IN A SUPERBLY MANAGED CITY.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE TASKS AS MAYOR IS TO PROMOTE THE CITY OF EXCELLENCE, AND LET ME TELL YOU, IT'S AN EASY SELL.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE KNOW THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS ESSENTIAL.
IN FACT, IT'S AN EXPECTATION OF OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR AWARD-WINNING LIBRARY SYSTEM PROVIDES LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
MANY OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR FANTASTIC PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES.
WHAT YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF IS HOW OUR LIBRARIES FOCUS ON PROVIDING ACCESS FOR ALL THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
THE LIBRARY HAS CREATED HIGH QUALITY ADAPTED PROGRAMS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR PUBLIC, INCLUDING THOSE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS.
RECENTLY, ONE OF OUR LIBRARY PATRONS WAS LAID OFF FROM A LONG CAREER IN PROGRAMMING.
A CHALLENGE HE FACED WAS THE FAST MOVING NATURE OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES AND HE NEEDED TO REDEVELOP HIS SKILLS IN ORDER TO FIND A NEW JOB.
THE MAN WENT TO HARRINGTON LIBRARY TO FIND TOOLS TO HELP HIM, AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF STAFF DISCOVERED AN ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM AVAILABLE FOR FREE TO LIBRARY CARDHOLDERS.
HE WAS DELIGHTED TO LEARN THE LIBRARY HAD EVERYTHING HE REQUIRED TO LEARN A NEW PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE FOR HIS NEXT JOB.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY EXAMPLES HOW PLANO LIBRARIES PROVIDE IMPORTANT SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND JUST AS OUR LIBRARIES OFFER MORE THAN BOOKS, OUR PARKS AND TRAIL SYSTEM IS MORE THAN JUST OUTDOOR SPACE.
THIS YEAR, OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WAS RECOGNIZED WITH A GOLD MEDAL AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION, A PRESTIGIOUS AWARD THAT RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE IN DELIVERING SUPERB PARK AND RECREATION SERVICES WITH FISCALLY SOUND BUSINESS PRACTICES.
THIS IS A WELL-DESERVED FIFTH WIN FOR PLANO.
SINCE EARNING THE AWARD IN 1979, A MAJOR REASON FOR OUR EXCELLENCE IN PARK SERVICES IS OUR PARKS AND TRAILS PLANNING.
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, WE HAVE MADE IT A PRIORITY FOR PLANO RESIDENTS TO HAVE EASY ACCESS TO OUR PARKS WITH 80% OF OUR POPULATION WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK TO OUR AWARD-WINNING OUTDOOR SPACES AND WE'VE GOT LOTS OF OPEN SPACE.
TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, OAK POINT NATURE PRESERVE IS AS LARGE AS CENTRAL PARK IN NEW YORK CITY.
PROPERTY OWNERS WILL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THIS ABUNDANCE OF OPEN SPACE RESULTS IN INCREASED
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MARKET VALUE FOR YOUR PROPERTIES NEAR PARKS AND TRAILS AND THE HEALTH BENEFITS OUR PARKS AND RECREATION CENTERS BRING TO OUR RESIDENTS IS ONE OF THE MANY REASONS WHY WE ARE KNOWN AS ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST CITIES IN AMERICA.OF COURSE, HAVING BEAUTIFUL SPACES TO ENJOY IS COMPLIMENTED BY THE FEELING OF SAFETY WITHIN THE CITY, AND I'M NOT EXAGGERATING WHEN I SAY OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF POLICE CHIEF ED DRAIN AND FIRE RESCUE CHIEF CHRIS BIGGERSTAFF, WHO TOGETHER LEAD AN INCREDIBLE TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
CHIEF DRAIN, CHIEF BIGGERSTAFF, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
THIS YEAR, FIRE RESCUE COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC PROGRAM WAS RECOGNIZED WITH A NATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY AWARD.
THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS SKILLED PARAMEDICS TO MAKE SCHEDULED VISITS TO PROVIDE CARE AND FOLLOW UP CASES OF CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND MORE REDUCING THE NEED TO CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE AREA.
HOSPITALS AND INSURANCE SYSTEMS PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM PREVENTING A BUDGETARY IMPACT ON THE CITY AND ENSURING LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO COM COMMUNITY POLICING.
THE THE DEPARTMENT HAS ESTABLISHED SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS ALL AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR CRIME PREVENTION UNIT PARTNERS WITH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS.
THESE PARTNERSHIPS HELP BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FINALLY, PLANO POLICE TAKES A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH.
WE HAVE INVESTED IN A DEDICATED MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR WHO IS FOCUSED ON HELPING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY.
I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THIS EVENING RECOUNTING STORIES OF THE WAY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS SERVED OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I WANT TO SHARE A REAL QUICK STORY OF THE SMALLER WAYS THEY HAVE IMPACT.
DURING THE PAST HOLIDAY SEASON, A MOTHER TOOK HER YOUNG CHILDREN TO LUNCH AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT.
A PLANO POLICE OFFICER WAS ALSO WAITING IN THE DRIVE THROUGH TO GET SOME FOOD WHEN THE CHILDREN EXCITEDLY ROLLED THEIR WINDOW DOWN TO SAY HI TO THE OFFICER AND THANKED HIM FOR HIS SERVICE.
WHEN THE FAMILY ARRIVED AT THE PAYMENT WINDOW, THEY LEARNED THE OFFICER HAD PAID FOR THE KIDS' LUNCH.
THE MOTHER SAID, AND I QUOTE, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT SAFE PEOPLE.
THAT TINY ACT WILL BE ONE THEY REMEMBER FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, AND THIS ACT OF SERVICE FROM OUR POLICE OFFICER WILL LIVE WITH THAT FAMILY FOREVER.
FROM LIFE SAVING HELP TO SIMPLE ACTS OF KINDNESS, WE'RE ABLE TO ENJOY THESE WONDERFUL AMENITIES AND PERSONAL SAFETY.
THANKS TO THE EFFORT OF OUR CITY LEADERSHIP, PLANO IS WELL MANAGED, CONSISTENTLY DELIVERING HIGH VALUE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR THE TAX DOLLARS WE PAY.
YOUR CITY LEADERS ARE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING EXCELLENT SERVICE.
ONE EXAMPLE I'D LIKE TO MENTION RELATES TO SOMETHING WE'RE ALL INTERESTED IN DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING IN THE CITY.
PLANO RECEIVED A MUNICIPAL EXCELLENCE AWARD THIS YEAR FOR ITS ZONING ALERTS AND ZONING RESPONSE MAP.
THIS ALERT TO ALLOW CITIZENS TO SIGN UP FOR EMAILS ABOUT NEWS ZONING PROJECTS IN THE CITY, AND THE RESPONSE MAP LETS YOU VIEW THE LOCATION OF THE PROJECTS, GIVE COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OPPOSITION OR NEUTRALITY, AND BOTH TOOLS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRANSPARENCY AND ALLOW EASIER PARTICIPATION THROUGHOUT THE ZONING PROCESS.
WITH SO MUCH GOING ON, YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHAT'S NEXT? WELL, THE ANSWER IS A LOT.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY THINKING THROUGH THE NEEDS OF THE FUTURE WHILE DEALING WITH THE NEEDS OF NOW.
WE'RE ALSO, WE ALSO KNOW YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN AN ORANGE CONSTRUCTION CONE OR TWO.
IN FACT, WE'RE CONSIDERING DESIGNATING THE CONSTRUCTION CONE AS THE OFFICIAL FLOWER OF PLANO.
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FIRST STEP TO REVITALIZATION BEGINS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.IT'S A DELICATE BALANCE FOR A CITY TO KEEP THINGS MOVING WHILE IMPROVING AGING ASSETS.
IN RECENT YEARS, THE CITY HAS PLACED AN EMPHASIS ON INCREASING CAPACITY FOR OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND DUE TO GROWING DEDICATED STAFF AND PROJECT FUNDING, WE'RE NOW ADDRESSING NEARLY THREE TIMES THE WORKLOAD.
CONSTRUCTION CONES ARE A SIGN OF PROGRESS AND WE'RE ACTUALLY MOVING THROUGH OUR PROJECT WORKLOAD MUCH FASTER.
SEVERAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH WORK HAPPENING NORTH TO SOUTH AND EAST TO WEST.
MANY OF OUR ROADS ARE BETWEEN 25 AND 40 YEARS OLD, WHICH MEANS IT'S TIME FOR WORK TO KEEP THEM IN EFFECTIVE CONDITION.
THE SAME IS TRUE FOR WHAT'S UNDERGROUND.
WATER AND SEWER LINES ARE AGING AND THEY MUST ALSO BE ADDRESSED.
I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT OR YOU WILL SEE PROGRESS IN 2024.
THIS YEAR, WE'VE CONTINUED A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF SHILOH ROAD ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CITY.
SHILOH WILL SOON FEATURE PLANOS FIRST DEDICATED BIKE LANES.
SIGNIFICANT WORK IS HAPPENING ON SEVERAL OF OUR ARTERIAL ROADS, INCLUDING PARKER PARK, PLANO PARKWAY MIDWAY, AND INDEPENDENCE.
MANY OF THESE PROJECTS INVOLVE REHABBING CONCRETE IN ADVANCE OF ASPHALT OVERLAYS FROM OUR FIRST TEST PROJECT OVERLAY ON INDEPENDENCE ON INDEPENDENCE PARKWAY SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
THIS HAS RAPIDLY BECOME ONE OF OUR MOST ABANDONED ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.
BY THE END OF 2024, WE EXPECT TO HAVE A TOTAL OF 38 MILES OF ROAD WITH ASPHALT OVERLAY.
THIS YEAR ALONE, WE HAVE REHABILITATED 18 MILES OF ROAD ROADWAY, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.
WE'RE ALSO EXPANDING INTERSECTIONS TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW AND INCREASE CAPACITY.
THIS PAST YEAR WE COMPLETED 14 INTERSECTIONS AND WE'LL ADDRESS ANOTHER 15 IN 2024.
AND TO MAKE YOUR COMMUTE EVEN MORE EFFICIENT, WE UPGRADED OUR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CENTER TO HELP US EFFECTIVELY MANAGE OUR NETWORK OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AS PART OF THIS IMPROVEMENT PROCESS, WE'VE CONVERTED 42% OF OUR TRAFFIC INTERSECTION SYSTEM TO A MORE RELIABLE, FASTER FIBER NETWORK.
BUT WORK ISN'T JUST HAPPENING ON OUR ARTERIAL ROADWAYS AND INTERSECTIONS.
SIGNIFICANT NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION IS UNDERWAY TO ADDRESS ROADS, SIDEWALKS, AND ALLEYS.
THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE A DA IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL.
WE'RE ALSO ADDRESSING AGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM.
JUST LAST YEAR, PARKS TEAM MANAGED 43 PROJECTS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION WORK HAS STARTED AT JACK CARTER PARK TO BRING THE MASTER PLAN FOR THIS BELOVED PARK IN THE HEART OF PLANO TO LIFE AND WHO CAN FORGET THE REOPENING OF OAK POINT POOL WITH ITS UNIQUE DUAL ENTRY WAY POOL, THIS BEAUTIFUL FACILITY IS ACCESSIBLE TO PATRONS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.
I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, INFRASTRUCTURE WORK IS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE CITY, FROM ROADS TO PARKS TO NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT WILL FEEL DISRUPTIVE AT TIMES, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THIS WORK IS NEEDED FOR THE VITALITY OF OUR CITY TO MAINTAIN THE VALUE OF OUR LONG-TERM ASSETS AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
I'VE BEEN IN PLANO FOR NEARLY ALL MY LIFE.
IT'S BEEN MY GREAT JOY AND HONOR.
TOOK ALL THIS COMMUNITY HOME FOR SO MANY YEARS.
I GREW UP IN OUR GREAT SCHOOLS.
I LIVE IN OUR GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS.
I RAISED MY FAMILY HERE AND I CONTINUE TO FIND MANY WAYS TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY.
PLANO IS MY HOME AND I THINK OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHTER THAN EVER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO CREATE A COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A LOT TO DO AND I BELIEVE WE CAN DO IT.
SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THE STATE OF OUR CITY IS STRONG BECAUSE WE ARE GUIDED BY A STRONG VISION AND FUELED BY STRONG VALUE-BASED DECISION MAKING.
WE COMMIT TO YOU TO CONTINUE LISTENING, CONTINUE WORKING,
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AND CONTINUING OUR IMPORTANT OBLIGATION TO STAY TRUE TO OUR COMMUNITY VALUES NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE.