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>> WELL, HELLO AND WELCOME TO THIS LIVE CITY OF PLANO TELEPHONE TOWN HALL MEETING.
[Town Hall on April 18, 2024. ]
JUST A FEW FOLKS ON RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ARE DIALING OUT RIGHT NOW TO 27,267 OF YOUR FELLOW CITY OF PLANO RESIDENTS FOR THIS LIVE VIRTUAL FORUM TONIGHT.WE'LL BE FINISHED DIALING OUT IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MAYOR MONS TO GET US STARTED.
AGAIN, HELLO AND WELCOME TO OUR LIVE CITY OF PLANO TELEPHONE TOWN HALL MEETING TONIGHT.
OUR FORUM WILL FOCUS TONIGHT ON PARKS AND RECREATION IN PLANO.
THE CITY HOLDS THESE TELETOWN HALL FORUMS THREE TIMES EACH YEAR TO UPDATE RESIDENTS ON CITY BUSINESS AND TO GET FEEDBACK.
STAY TUNED FOR A QUICK REVIEW OF PLANO PARKS AND RECREATION, AS YOU ARE LISTENING TO THOSE UPDATES, IF YOU THINK OF A QUESTION THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SUBMIT FOR THE Q&A PORTION OF OUR FORUM, JUST PRESS ZERO TO GIVE THAT QUESTION TO AN OPERATOR.
YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK YOUR QUESTION ALIVE OVER THE AIR.
BUT IF YOU PREFER TO HAVE ME READ YOUR QUESTION INSTEAD, JUST LET YOUR OPERATOR KNOW THAT WHEN YOU PRESS ZERO TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WATCHING TONIGHT'S FORUM ON PLANO TV, OR ON FACEBOOK LIVE.
YOU CAN SUBMIT QUESTIONS VIA X USING THE HASHTAG PLANO TOWN HALL, OR IN THE COMMENTS OF THE FACEBOOK LIVE FEED.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND START THIS INTRO AGAIN, AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MAYOR MONS IN ABOUT 60 SECONDS HERE.
AGAIN, HELLO AND WELCOME TO OUR LIVE CITY OF PLANO TELEPHONE TOWN HALL MEETING TONIGHT.
WE ARE JUST FINISHING DIALING OUT TO OVER 27,000 PLANO RESIDENTS.
OUR FORUM TONIGHT WILL FOCUS ON PARKS AND RECREATION IN PLANO.
THE CITY HOLDS THESE TELE TOWN HALL FORUMS THREE TIMES EACH YEAR TO UPDATE RESIDENTS ON CITY BUSINESS AND TO GET FEEDBACK.
TONIGHT, OUR REVIEW WILL FOCUS ON PLANO PARKS AND RECREATION.
AS YOU'RE LISTENING TO OUR UPDATES, IF YOU THINK OF A QUESTION THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SUBMIT FOR Q&A, JUST PRESS ZERO TO GET THAT QUESTION TO AN OPERATOR, YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK YOUR QUESTION LIVE OVER THE AIR.
BUT IF YOU PREFER TO HAVE ME READ YOUR QUESTION INSTEAD, JUST LET YOUR OPERATOR KNOW THAT YOU WANT ME TO READ IT WHEN YOU PRESS ZERO TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION AND I'LL GLADLY DO THAT FOR YOU.
WHATEVER'S MORE COMFORTABLE FOR YOU.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING TONIGHT FROM PLANO TV OR FACEBOOK LIVE.
YOU CAN SUBMIT QUESTIONS FOR THIS FORUM VIA X, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER, USING THE HASHTAG PLANO TOWN HALL, OR IN THE COMMENTS OF THE FACEBOOK LIVE FEED.
AGAIN, WE WILL REVIEW PLANO PARKS AND RECREATION.
THEN WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THOSE OF YOU IN OUR LIVE AUDIENCE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION AND YOUR FEEDBACK TONIGHT.
ONCE MORE, IF YOU'RE PARTICIPATING BY PHONE, PRESS ZERO AT ANY TIME TO SUBMIT A QUESTION OR COMMENT ABOUT PLANO PARKS AND REC.
IF YOU'RE WATCHING BY LIVE STREAM, YOU CAN SUBMIT QUESTIONS ON X USING THE HASHTAG PLANO TOWN HALL.
IF YOU'RE IN OUR LIVE AUDIENCE THERE AT DAVIS LIBRARY, WE HAVE A PODIUM MICROPHONE WHERE YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE HEARD BY EVERYONE IN OUR VIRTUAL AUDIENCE AS WELL.
IF YOU ARE IN PERSON AT DAVIS LIBRARY AND WANT TO ASK A QUESTION, SIMPLY RAISE YOUR HAND TO FLAG DOWN CITY STAFF AND THEY'LL GUIDE YOU TO THAT MICROPHONE TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION WHEN WE GET TO Q AND A TONIGHT.
THE CITY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED ON PARKS AND RECREATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, THE BUDGET, AND OTHER IMPORTANT PROJECTS IN PLANO.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET AN E-MAIL UPDATE FROM THE CITY, PRESS SEVEN NOW AND GIVE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS TO ONE OF OUR OPERATORS SO WE CAN KEEP YOU BETTER UPDATED.
WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH OCCASIONAL E-MAILS ON PLANO CITY BUSINESS.
AGAIN, ZERO TO SUBMIT A QUESTION IF YOU'RE THERE WITH US ON THE PHONE, WE'LL ALSO BE GLADLY TAKING QUESTIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH X, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER, USING THE HASHTAG PLANO TOWN HALL.
WITH THAT, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO KICK OFF TONIGHT'S LIVE FORM WITH PLANO RESIDENTS ON PARKS AND RECREATION BY TURNING IT OVER TO MAYOR JOHN MONS. MAYOR, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S PLANO TOWN HALL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR TOWN HALL, OUR VIEWERS WHO ARE WATCHING THE LIVE STREAM AT PLANO TV.ORG OR ON THE CITY OF PLANO FACEBOOK OR YOUTUBE PAGE, AS WELL AS OUR GUESTS JOINING BY PHONE AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. TONIGHT, WE WILL TAKE YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT PLANO PARKS AND RECREATION.
HERE AT THE DIAS WITH ME, ARE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER JACK CARR, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER SHELLY SEMER, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, DOCTOR RON SMITH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RECREATION, SUSIE URGENER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS, DAVE ANGELUS, AND PARK PLANNING MANAGER RENEE JORDAN.
PLANO HAS AN EXCEPTIONAL PARKS AND RECREATIONAL SYSTEM.
THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND ONCE NAMED THE PLANO PARKS AND RECREATION FIRST IN TEXAS AND 16TH IN THE UNITED STATES PER THEIR ANNUAL PARK SCORE RANKINGS.
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PLANO HAS 85 PARKS, MORE TO COME, 98 MILES OF TRAILS, FIVE RECREATION CENTERS, AND NINE PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS.PLANO PARKS AND RECREATION HAS BEEN NATIONALLY ACCREDITED SINCE 1994.
WE'VE BEEN A TREE CITY USA FOR 34 YEARS AND 77% OF OUR RESIDENTS LIVE WITHIN A 10-MINUTE WALK OF A PARK.
IAN, LET'S BEGIN TAKING QUESTIONS FROM OUR VIEWERS.
>> GLADLY. THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR MONS FOR LEADING US IN THIS FORUM TONIGHT.
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO'S ALREADY JOINED US.
A REMINDER THAT IF YOU'RE ON THE PHONE, YOU CAN PRESS ZERO TO SUBMIT A QUESTION FOR Q&A.
YOU CAN GET THAT QUESTION TO AN OPERATOR.
I'LL TAKE DOWN SOME NOTES, AND YOU CAN GO LIVE WITH YOUR QUESTION OR YOU CAN LET YOUR OPERATOR KNOW IF YOU PREFER TO HAVE ME READ YOUR QUESTION INSTEAD, WHATEVER'S MORE COMFORTABLE FOR YOU.
ADDITIONALLY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS FROM OUR PLANO TV AUDIENCE, FROM THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE FOLLOWING ON FACEBOOK LIVE? YOU CAN SUBMIT THOSE AS WELL.
IF YOU'RE ON FACEBOOK, JUST SUBMIT IT IN THE COMMENTS OF THE FACEBOOK LIVE FEED.
IF YOU'RE JOINING US TONIGHT BY WATCHING ON PLANO TV, YOU CAN SUBMIT THEM VIA X, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER, USING THE HASHTAG PLANO TOWN HALL.
WE'VE GOT OUR FIRST QUESTION COMING TO US SUBMITTED FROM NEXT DOOR FROM TERRE WHO'S ASKING ANY PLANS ON RENOVATING TX PARK.
WHO CAN WE GO TO FOR THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION FROM TERRE NEXT DOOR?
I'M THE PARK PLANNING MANAGER.
THANKS, TERI FOR YOUR QUESTION. IT'S VERY TIMELY.
WE'VE ACTUALLY JUST WRAPPED UP OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH ON TX PARK, AND THE RENOVATION IS PLANNED FOR EARLY 2025.
IF YOU GO TO GOOGLE AND SEARCH PLANO PARKS PROJECTS, YOU'LL GET A RESULT THAT WILL SHOW YOU A SUMMARY OF ALL OF THE PARK PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY.
IF YOU CLICK THROUGH TO TX PARK, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE MASTER PLAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE MEETINGS AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT ANSWER.
THANKS TO TARA ON NEXT DOOR FOR SUBMITTING THAT QUESTION.
I REMIND YOU THAT TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON PARKS AND RECREATION.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS AND OTHER TOPICS, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO LEAVE A VOICEMAIL AT THE END OF THIS FORUM TONIGHT, AND IF YOU LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION, WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY WITH THE CITY REACH BACK OUT TO YOU WITH AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON PARKS AND RECREATION.
OUR FIRST QUESTION FROM THE PHONES COMES FROM JD, AND HE'S ASKED ME TO READ IT ASKING, ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR ANY ADDITIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS IN THE PARKS NETWORK IN ADDITION TO THE ONE THAT CURRENTLY RUNS AS A TWO MILE LOOP AT ARBOR HILLS NATURE PRESERVE.
WHO CAN SPEAK TO MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS THERE WITH THE CITY?
>> THIS IS DAVE ANGELS. I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL LOOP AT ARBOR HILLS.
THAT IS ACTUALLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DORBA AND SO THEY LEASE THE LAND FROM US.
CURRENTLY, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS ON THE EAST SIDE OF PLANO.
WE DO PLAN AND HOPE TO HAVE AN OFFERING SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A TIMELINE ON THAT AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.
>> APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT ANSWER.
THANKS FOR OUR LAST QUESTION COMING TO US FROM JD.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO A QUESTION SUBMITTED VIA REEDIT NEXT, AND THE QUESTION GOES LIKE THIS.
INDOOR VOLLEYBALL COURTS FOR ANY REC CENTERS ON THE WAY.
THIS CITY IS REALLY LOW ON VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE SPACE, CONSIDERING IT'S A SPORT PLAYED BY GIRLS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL STARTING IN THE SEVENTH GRADE.
THERE ARE OUTDOOR COURTS, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT GAME.
WHO CAN SPEAK TO THIS QUESTION ON INDOOR VOLLEYBALL FACILITIES?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
THIS IS SUSIE URGENAER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RECREATION.
WE DO OFFER OPEN PLAY VOLLEYBALL AT SEVERAL OF OUR RECREATION CENTERS, OAK POINT RECREATION CENTER, CARPENTER RECREATION CENTER, AND LIBERTY RECREATION CENTER IN THE EVENINGS ON VARIOUS DAYS AND TIMES.
THOSE TIMES AND DAYS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AT PLANO PARK.
THOSE TIMES ARE AVAILABLE FOR VOLLEYBALL OPEN PLAY FOR 14 YEARS AND OLDER.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE YOUNGER, WE DO OFFER A SPECIAL TIME ON THURSDAYS 3: 30-6:00 O'CLOCK AT LIBERTY RECREATION CENTER.
THAT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE FOR YOUR DAUGHTER TO GO AND PRACTICE AND PLAY WITH OTHERS VOLLEYBALL AT LIBERTY RECREATION CENTER. THANK YOU.
>> MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT ANSWER.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE PHONES HERE, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS ONE LIVE FROM SAHID.
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SAHID WE'VE GOT YOU LIVE. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION FOR US, PLEASE.>> I'M SORRY. YES. SO HE LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION ON PLAYGROUNDS.
YOU'RE LIVE ON THE LINE WITH THE MAYOR AND CITY STAFF.
DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ASK YOUR QUESTION AGAIN HERE?
>> SURE. SAY HI TO MAYOR AND ALL THE STAFF.
I GO TO TOO MANY PARKS WHERE THE PLAYGROUND KIDS PLAYING.
MOST OF EQUIPMENT IS MORE THAN 15 YEARS OLD AND, OUT OF USE ACTUALLY.
ALSO THE SOIL AND THE SAND UNDERNEATH THE PLAYGROUND.
IT'S A LOT OF STUFF MIXED WITH ALL THESE NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND RENEWED, ESPECIALLY THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
MAYBE THE KIDS GET HURT THAT COME LOOSE.
ALSO THE WATER DRINKING PANELS MOST IS NOT WORKING.
THAT ALSO NEED ATTENTION TO FIX THOSE GETTING HURT AFTER THIS MONTH AND KIDS MAY NEED TO DRINK WATER.
THAT'S MY QUESTION THE STAFF WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? THEY'VE NOTICE THESE PROBLEMS OR NOT?
>> THANK YOU, SAHID APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.
WHO CAN WE GO TO FOR THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION FROM SAH'ED?
>> THIS IS RON SMITH, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS REGARDING OUR PARKS INVENTORY.
WE CERTAINLY TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN OUR PARK SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE CITIZENS OF PLANO.
SO IF THERE ARE PARTICULAR ISSUES, DRINKING FOUNTAIN SPECIFICALLY THAT IS NOT OPERATIONAL OR IF THERE IS PLAY EQUIPMENT THAT IS THAT APPEARS TO YOU TO BE UNSAFE.
WE CERTAINLY WANT TO KNOW WHERE THOSE LOCATIONS OR THOSE AMENITIES THAT ARE MALFUNCTIONING ARE UNSAFE, WHERE THOSE ARE LOCATED, SO WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMENT ABOUT THE AGE OF THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST 55 YEARS IS A DEPARTMENT THAT APPROXIMATELY 20 YEARS IS ABOUT THE AVERAGE LIFE CYCLE FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, BOTH IN ITS USAGE AND ALSO THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO REPLACE PARTS FROM MANUFACTURERS.
ABOUT 20 YEARS IS OUR GOAL TO REPLACE PLAY EQUIPMENT AT OUR PARKS, AND WE HAVE A SCHEDULE THAT WE WORK OFF OF.
WE ARE VERY DILIGENT IN MAKING SURE THAT ONCE WE HIT THAT 20-YEAR MARK WITH OUR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, WE NOT ONLY REPLACE THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, BUT AT THAT TIME, USUALLY THOSE PARKS ARE IN NEED OF A FULL RENOVATION, WHICH IS WHAT WE STRIVE TO ACCOMPLISH.
REGARDING DRINKING FOUNTAINS, WE DO WINTERIZE MANY OF OUR DRINKING FOUNTAINS THAT ARE OUT ALONG OUR PARK TRAILS AND THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE MAJOR RUPTURES, IF WE HAVE ANY LATE FREEZE EVEN IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH, BUT I SUSPECT, HAVE THOSE ALL TURNED ON AGAIN.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE DAVE ANGELS, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OVER PARKS TO ADDRESS THE METHOD THAT WE USE TO TRACK AND ALLOW CITIZENS TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK REGARDING DRINKING FOUNTAINS THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONING.
>> YEAH, DAVE ANGELS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS.
I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT SOME OF OUR DRINKING FOUNTAIN INVENTORY IS FREEZE RESISTANT, AND SOME OF IT IS NOT.
DURING THE MONTHS OF MID-NOVEMBER TO MID-MARCH, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF DRINKING FOUNTAINS THAT ARE TAKEN OFFLINE TO PREVENT PLUMBING DAMAGE.
WE DO HAVE SOME THAT ARE FREEZE RESISTANT AND ARE OFFERED YEAR ROUND.
ONCE WE HIT ABOUT MID MARCH, ALL THE DRINKING FOUNTAINS SHOULD.
I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE FREEZE RESISTANT DRINKING FOUNTAINS, THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THEM.
YOU ACTUALLY DO HAVE TO HOLD THE BUTTON DOWN IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN USED IN A WHILE FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS BEFORE YOU START GETTING A FLOW, AND THAT IS WHAT ALLOWS THEM TO BE FREEZE RESISTANT.
BUT IF YOU DO HAVE A NOTICE DRINKING FOUNTAIN THAT NEEDS SERVICE OR YOU'D LIKE US TO INVESTIGATE IT, YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE THE FIX IT PLANO APP IF YOU'D LIKE, OR YOU CAN E-MAIL US AT LET ME CHECK THAT E-MAIL ADDRESS.
AT PARKS INFO AT PLANO.GOV OR GIVE US A CALL AT 972-941-7263,
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AND WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.REGARDING PLAYGROUNDS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE EYES ON ALL OF OUR PLAYGROUNDS EVERY TWO WEEKS WITH THE GOAL OF NOT LETTING ANY GO BEYOND ONE MONTH.
WE DO HAVE INSPECTORS THAT USE A SOFTWARE TO MANAGE AND TRACK WHAT THEY'RE FINDING.
ALSO PLEASE REACH OUT TO US IF YOU SEE, THERE'S WORK THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE, AND WE CAN DEFINITELY ADDRESS THAT. THANK YOU.
>> MUCH APPRECIATED. I BELIEVE WE'LL BE GOING TO AN IN PERSON AUDIENCE QUESTION THERE AT DAVIS LIBRARY NEXT HERE, BUT I WANTED TO REMIND FOLKS THAT IF YOU WANT TO GET E-MAIL UPDATES FROM THE CITY OF PLANO, YOU CAN PRESS SEVEN AND GIVE US YOUR BEST E-MAIL ADDRESS.
ALSO, IF YOU NEED ANYTHING REPEATED, WE MENTIONED AN E-MAIL ADDRESS THERE AND A PHONE NUMBER.
IF YOU NEED THAT REPEATED FOR YOU AT A PACE, YOU CAN WRITE IT DOWN, PRESS SEVEN, SPEAK TO AN OPERATOR, LET THEM KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU MISSED SO THAT THEY CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU SO YOU CAN WRITE IT DOWN.
ARE WE READY WITH OUR IN PERSON AUDIENCE QUESTION THERE AT DAVIS LIBRARY.
>> YES. THIS QUESTION IS ABOUT LAS RIO'S PARK.
WHEN WILL THE WORK ON THE NEW TRAILS AND BRIDGES BEGIN AND WHEN WILL IT FINISH?
>> HI, I'M RENE JORDAN, I'M THE PARK PLANNING MANAGER.
WE ARE WORKING THROUGH OUR CONSTRUCTION PLANS ON LAS RIOS PARK, AND WE ANTICIPATE FINISHING THOSE WITHIN THE NEXT 3-4 MONTHS AND GETTING UNDER CONSTRUCTION LATE SUMMER EARLY FALL.
THAT CONSTRUCTION TIME WILL LAST ABOUT A YEAR AS WELL.
>> IT'S BEEN DELAYED A FEW TIMES NOW.
>> WE ARE GOING THROUGH FEMA REVIEW FOR SOME OF OUR FLOODWAY STUDIES THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO FOR OUR BRIDGES, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT A SPECIFIC TIMELINE.
WE'RE JUST SUBJECT TO WHATEVER FEMA NEEDS US TO DO.
>> IT'LL START IN ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS, YOU SAY.
>> WE'RE HOPING THAT IT'S GOING TO START LATE SUMMER EARLY FALL.
>> IN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT JUST TO CLARIFY THAT THE FIRST PHASE OF THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE THE TRAIL THAT WILL GO AND NOT THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK.
I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RIGHT AFTER COVID AND IN THAT AREA WHERE WE DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN FOR THAT SITE.
THE FIRST PHASE OF THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
>> GREAT INFO. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION FROM OUR IN PERSON AUDIENCE, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO OUR LIVE AUDIENCE ON THE PHONES FOR OUR NEXT QUESTION HERE.
LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET THIS ONE CUED UP FROM ASHLEY IN LEGACY WEST.
HEY, ASHLEY, WELCOME TO THE CALL.
>> HI. THERE'S A PLOT OF LAND BETWEEN IT'S BASICALLY AT LEGACY WEST.
IT'S BETWEEN JC PENNEY AND LEGACY WEST.
IT'S OFF OF LEGACY AND COMMUNICATIONS.
THERE'S BEEN SOME WORK WITH THE PARK AND RX DEPARTMENT JUST GETTING FEEDBACK ON WHAT A PARK COULD LOOK LIKE.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT THE STATUS OF THAT WAS AND IF THAT PROJECT WAS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ASHLEY. WHO CAN TAKE THIS ONE FROM ASHLEY AND LEGACY WEST?
>> HI, ASHLEY. THIS IS RENE JORDAN.
I'M THE PARK PLANNING MANAGER.
YOU'RE REFERRING TO BRUCE GLASSCOCK PARK.
WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE FUNDING FOR THAT PARK.
BUT WHEN WE DO, WE WILL GET IT DEVELOPED WHEN IT'S FUNDED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CALL.
>> THANK YOU, RENEE. APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER.
THANKS TO ASHLEY FOR THE QUESTION.
WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE PHONES HERE.
WE'VE GOT A QUESTION FROM JIM, AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ IT FOR HIM.
HE'S ASKING LAKE OFF BIG LAKE PARK USED BY A LOT OF FAMILIES.
THE LAKE HAS GOTTEN VERY MURKY AND THEY HAD SAID THEY WERE GOING TO CLEAN IT UP.
WHEN WILL THAT HAPPEN? THIS IS LAKE OFF BIG LAKE PARK USED BY A LOT OF FAMILIES.
WHO CAN TAKE THIS ONE ON FROM JIM?
>> HI, THIS IS RENEE JORDAN, THE PARK PLANNING MANAGER.
THE BIG LAKE DE-SEDIMENTATION PROJECT IS ACTUALLY CURRENTLY BIDDING AND IS GOING TO OPEN IN ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME.
ONCE THAT PROJECT IS OPEN, BIDS WILL BE EVALUATED AND WORK SHOULD GET UNDERWAY ABOUT TWO MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THAT OPENING.
IT'S COMING SOON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CALL.
THANKS TO JIM FOR OUR LAST QUESTION THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD. YOU KNOW WHAT? ACTUALLY, RENEE, IF YOU COULD REPEAT THAT INFORMATION, I THINK JIM WAS ACTUALLY WITH ONE OF OUR DATA COLLECTORS, HE'S GIVING US HIS EMAIL ADDRESS, AND I JUST SAW HIM POP BACK IN.
LET ME SEE IF JIM WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO HEAR YOUR ANSWER.
JIM, WERE YOU AND ONE OF OUR DATA COLLECTORS GETTING SOMETHING REPEATED?
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DID YOU HEAR THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION?>> NO. I DID NOT HEAR THE ANSWER.
I WAS GIVING MY EMAIL ADDRESS.
THANK YOU FOR GETTING BACK TO ME.
>> OF COURSE. RENEE, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT FOR JIM, PLEASE?
>> SURE. JIM, THE BIG LAKE PARK DE-SEDIMENTATION PROJECT IS CURRENTLY BIDDING.
WE ARE GOING TO BE CLOSING THOSE BIDS IN ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME.
WE WILL NEED ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO REVIEW AND AWARD THAT AND GET UNDERWAY, SO EXPECT THAT COMING SOON THIS SUMMER.
>> APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR REPEATING THAT. THANK YOU, JIM.
APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION, AND FOR GIVING US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THOSE UPDATES.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ANOTHER QUESTION THAT WAS SUBMITTED VIA REDDIT NEXT HERE.
THIS ONE IS, ARE THERE ANY DEFINITE PLANS AT THIS TIME TO CONNECT TO THE BRECKINRIDGE PARK TRAIL IN RICHARDSON EITHER ALONG THE RAIL LINE EAST FROM THE NEW SHILOH STATION OR ALONG ROWLETT CREEK, FROM THE NEW LOS RIOS TRAIL THROUGH PECAN HOLLOW GOLF COURSE.
I KNOW THERE IS AN EVENTUAL, VERY LONG TERM PLAN TO DO THIS.
IS THERE CURRENTLY ANY FUNDING FOR OR LIKELY TIMING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECTIONS THAT WOULD CONNECT PLANO TRAILS TO RICHARDSON? THIS WOULD KEEP ME AND OTHERS FROM HAVING TO CYCLE ACROSS PLANO PARKWAY AND 14TH STREET ON LOS RIOS, WHICH IS A BIT DANGEROUS TODAY.
WHO CAN TAKE THIS QUESTION ON AND LET ME KNOW IF I NEED TO REPEAT ANY PORTION OF IT?
>> HI. THIS IS RENEE JORDAN, PARK PLANNING MANAGER.
PARKS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN AWARDED FUNDING FROM TXDOT IN ORDER TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT THIS FUTURE PATH.
IT'S ABOUT 1.6 MILES IN LENGTH.
WE'VE RECEIVED A GRANT IN ABOUT $4.1 MILLION.
THIS IS GOING TO CONNECT BETWEEN THE DART FUTURE SHILOH ROAD STATION TO THE WESTERN TERMINUS OF THE EXISTING BRECKINRIDGE TRAIL, WHICH IS AT BRADSHAW DRIVE.
THIS PROJECT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO GET UNDER DESIGN PROBABLY THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.
WE ARE ACTUALLY JUST ABOUT TO RELEASE AN RFQ FOR A DESIGNER.
THEN YOU DID HAVE A SECOND PART TO YOUR QUESTION, WHICH WAS THE LOS RIOS TRAIL PROJECT, WHICH I HAD MENTIONED, IS NEARING THE FINAL STAGES OF DESIGN AND COULD BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION WE HOPE LATE SUMMER EARLY FALL.
FURTHER, YOU ASKED ABOUT A CONNECTION THROUGH PECAN HOLLOW GOLF COURSE, THAT IS ACTUALLY PROPOSED IN PLANO'S BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION MAP, BUT IS CURRENTLY NOT PLANNED FOR DESIGN. THANK YOU.
>> MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU AGAIN TO RENEE.
THANKS TO THAT QUESTION FROM REDDIT.
A REMINDER TO THOSE OF YOU ON THE PHONE.
WE'VE GOT QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS LINED UP AND THANKS FOR THOSE.
YOU CAN PRESS ZERO WITH A QUESTION OF YOUR OWN.
IF YOU'RE ON PLANO TV WATCHING US TONIGHT, YOU CAN SUBMIT QUESTIONS VIA X FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER USING THE #PLANO TOWN HALL.
IF YOU'RE ON FACEBOOK LIVE, JUST DROP YOUR QUESTIONS INTO THE COMMENTS FEED ON THAT LIVE STREAM.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE PHONE AUDIENCE HERE FOR WALDO'S QUESTION.
WALDO, WELCOME TO THE CALL. WHAT CAN WE ANSWER FOR YOU?
>> GOOD EVENING. QUICK CALL. QUICK QUESTION.
MY FAMILY SPENDS A LOT OF TIME AT ARCHGATE PARK, ESPECIALLY THE BASKETBALL COURTS PRACTICING SHOOTING, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS PLAY THERE.
IT'S JUST A VERY POP IN PLACE.
BUT THE BLACKTOP IS COMING APART, AND I'M NOT SAYING SOMEONE COULD GET HURT, BUT THERE IS SOME CONCRETE MISSING FROM THE TOP.
ALSO, THE BASKETBALL GOALS ARE IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE.
LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES.
I MET A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS REPLACING ONE OF THE HOOPS LAST YEAR, BUT HE SAID THERE'S NO EXPECTED TIME TO REPLACE THOSE HOOPS.
I WAS WONDERING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET AN ETA AND MAYBE WE CAN REPLACE THOSE AND ALSO RESURFACE THAT BASKETBALL COURT.
IT'S THE ONLY ONE AROUND, SO IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY NICE TO HAVE THAT THERE. THANK YOU.
>> APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, WALDO, FOR YOUR QUESTION.
WHO CAN TAKE THIS ONE ON FROM WALDO?
>> THIS IS DAVE ANGELES, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS.
I DEFINITELY AGREE THAT THE ARCHGATE COURTS ARE A WONDERFUL AMENITY.
I MADE A NOTE TO MYSELF TO HAVE OUR STAFF GO AHEAD AND HEAD OUT THERE AND INVESTIGATE THE ACTUAL PLAYING SURFACE, AND THEN ACTUALLY THE POLE STRUCTURE AS WELL THE HOOP.
SOMETIMES THE ACTUAL POLE AND BACKBOARD STRUCTURE DOES NEED TO GET REPLACED AT A DIFFERENT TIME FRAME THAN THE RIMS. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND INVESTIGATE IT.
IF YOU LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION,
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WE CAN ACTUALLY SET UP A OPEN WORK TICKET WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY FOLLOW THAT OR HAVE A CONTACT IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW UP.BUT WE APPRECIATE THE CALL. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, WALDO APPRECIATE YOU.
THANKS AGAIN FOR THE ANSWER THERE, DAVE.
LET'S GO TO ANTHONY LIVE ON THE PHONES NEXT, AND I THINK WE'LL HAVE A QUESTION FROM OUR FACEBOOK LIVE AUDIENCE AFTER THAT.
ANTHONY, THANK YOU FOR WAITING. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION FOR US?
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. IT'S TWO PARTS ACTUALLY.
I'M GOING TO START WITH THE RECREATION CENTER PROBABLY HAS AN ADULT SWIM CLASS THAT ACTUALLY GETS POSTED, AND IT HAS CAPACITY AROUND 20 OR 24.
AFTER IT POSTS, PROBABLY WITHIN THE FIRST 10 OR 15 MINUTES IT IS IMMEDIATELY FULL.
ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OR THAT CAPACITY? THAT'S THE FIRST PART. THE SECOND PART IS THE WINDHAVEN PARK.
IT'S A VERY NICE PARK TO GO TO, VERY QUIET, VERY SCENIC, ETC.
BUT I'VE NOTICED THAT THERE IS A NUMBER OF FOXES THAT ARE THERE NOW, MORE THAN USUAL.
MY QUESTION IS, ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO CONTROL THAT POPULATION BY EITHER DOING A CATCH AND RELEASE OR IF THIS IS EVEN KNOWN, AND I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR BACK TO SOMEONE ELSE.
>> THANK YOU, ANTHONY. WHO WANTS TO TAKE THIS ONE ON FROM ANTHONY?
>> THANK YOU, ANTHONY. THIS IS SUSIE HERGENRADER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RECREATION.
YES. OUR AQUATIC SWIM CLASSES ARE EXTREMELY POPULAR.
WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO HIRE ADDITIONAL SWIM INSTRUCTORS.
IF YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW SOMEBODY WHO IS INTERESTED IN TEACHING SWIM LESSONS, WE'D BE HAPPY TO GET THEM TRAINED AND CERTIFIED.
WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN GOING AS QUICKLY AS WE'D LIKE IT TO POST COVID.
BUT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST, WE CONTINUE TO RECRUIT.
WE DO KNOW THAT THESE ARE VERY POPULAR CLASSES, AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ADULT CLASSES.
THOSE ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE POPULAR.
I WILL MAKE A NOTE THAT YOU CALLED ABOUT THOSE THIS EVENING, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUR BEST TO OFFER MORE AS WE CAN HIRE MORE INSTRUCTORS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> EXCELLENT. ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS QUESTION FROM ANTHONY BEFORE WE MOVE ON?
>> YEAH. THANK YOU. THIS IS RON SMITH, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
THIS IS ABOUT THE WILDLIFE THAT YOU SEE AT WINDHAVEN MEADOWS PARK.
THAT IS ONE OF OUR LARGER PARKS IN THAT SIDE OF THE CITY, AND IT IS ALSO HEAVILY WOODED.
HALF OF THE PARK HAS BEEN DEVELOPED, AND THE OTHER HALF OF THE ACREAGE IS A WOODED CREEK BED.
IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO ME TO HEAR THAT YOU'VE SEEN WILDLIFE THERE, FOXES, COYOTE, ANY OTHER TYPES OF WILDLIFE THAT WOULD BE TYPICALLY FOUND IN A WOODED AREA HERE IN NORTH TEXAS.
WE MAKE SURE THAT WE COMMUNICATE AND WORK WITH OUR ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
BUT OUR PHILOSOPHY WHEN IT COMES TO MANAGING WILDLIFE IS TO GIVE THEM THE SPACE THAT THEY NEED TO DO WHAT THEY DO.
THAT'S WHY MOST OF OUR PARKS ARE CLOSED AT NIGHT BUT OUR NATURE PRESERVES AT OAK POINT PARK AND AT ARBOR HILLS.
THOSE TRAILS CLOSE AFTER SUNSET TO GIVE THE WILDLIFE THAT LIVES IN OUR PARK SYSTEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORAGE AND SOCIALIZE AND DO WHAT THEY DO.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE ACTIVELY TRAPPING AND REMOVING WILDLIFE FROM THOSE WOODED AREAS.
WE ACTUALLY WOULD RATHER THEM BE IN THE WOODS THAN UNDER OUR CARS AND OUR DRIVEWAYS OR OUR DECKS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE WOODED AREAS IN OUR PARK SYSTEM PROVIDE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR OUR URBAN WILDLIFE.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU, ANTHONY. THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU TO SUSIE AND DAVE FOR THE ANSWERS THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO A QUESTION FROM FACEBOOK LIVE.
HE SAYS, I LIVE CLOSE TO BUZZ RASOR PARK AND DURING LAST STORM, A LOT OF THE WATER ACCUMULATION WAS VERY BAD IN THE PARK.
DOES PLANO PLAN IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO IMPROVE BUZZ RASOR PARK, TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE OR UPDATE THE PARK IN THE NEAR FUTURE? WHO CAN TAKE THIS FROM CHRIS ON FACEBOOK?
>> THIS IS RENEE JORDAN PARK PLANNING MANAGER. HI, CHRIS.
I AM NOT QUITE SURE WHERE BUZZ RASOR IS ON OUR LIST,
[00:30:01]
BUT WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHERE IT IS AND TRY TO HAVE STAFF MAKE AN OBSERVATION OF THE WATER ACCUMULATION AND SEE IF THERE IS A SEPARATE PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO ADDRESS THAT SEPARATE FROM OVERALL RENOVATION PROJECT. THANK YOU.>> APPRECIATE THAT. WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN QUESTION FROM, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS SAME CHRIS ASKING FROM PHONE AUDIENCE, BUT HE'S ASKING ME TO READ HIS QUESTION FROM THE PHONE.
HIS QUESTION IS, WE HAVE SUCH A FANTASTIC VENUE HERE ON RED TAIL AMPHITHEATER ON OAK POINT PARK.
HOW CAN WE GET MORE OF THOSE CONCERTS? I WANT TO KNOW IF WE CAN HAVE MORE BANDS WHO CAN SPEAK TO RED AMPHITHEATER FOR CHRIS?
>> THIS IS SUSIE JURGEN RADER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RECREATION.
YES, I AGREE WITH YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
RED TAIL IS A FANTASTIC VENUE.
WE HAVE A NEW MANAGER WHO IS OVERSEEING THAT FACILITY WHO HAS PLANS TO OFFER FOUR CONCERTS EACH YEAR.
YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT CURRENTLY WE ONLY HAVE ONE, AND THAT IS THE BEATLES CONCERT IN THE FALL, THAT'S ALWAYS A BIG HIT.
BUT HE INTENDS TO ADD THREE ADDITIONAL CONCERTS, ONE THAT'S COMING UP.
IF YOU VISIT PLANO STAGES.ORG, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT SCHEDULE THERE.
THE PROBLEM IN THE PAST THAT I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO RUN INTO AGAIN, BUT WE'RE GIVING IT A GO IS THE WEATHER.
YOU KNOW IT CAN BE QUITE CHALLENGING HERE IN TEXAS.
WHEN YOU SECURE A LARGE BAND TO PLAY AT A FACILITY LIKE RED TAIL, THEY TYPICALLY NEED TO BE PAID, WHETHER IT'S A GO OR NOT.
IT IS A RISK WITH EVERY CONCERT.
BUT LIKE I SAID, WE DO HAVE PLANS TO OFFER FOUR CONCERTS EACH YEAR, AND WE WILL MONITOR FROM THAT AND SEE HOW IT GOES.
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THAT BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANKS, CHRIS. THANKS FOR THE ANSWER.
THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR THE FIRST 30 MINUTES OF OUR FORUM, OR AT THE HALFWAY MARK OR REMINDER, IF YOU WANT TO GET EMAIL UPDATES FROM THE CITY OF PLANO ON THINGS LIKE PARKS AND RECREATION, THE BUDGET, INFRASTRUCTURE.
PRESS 7, SPEAK TO AN OPERATOR, GIVE THEM YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, AND WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED IN THE FUTURE.
NEXT QUESTION COMES TO US FROM REDDIT.
THE QUESTION IS, PLEASE REQUIRE WIDER SIDEWALKS ADJACENT TO SCHOOLS AND PARKS.
THREE FEET, WHATEVER IS ACCEPTABLE IN GENERAL.
BUT SCHOOLS AND PARKS HAVE A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC AND NARROW SIDEWALKS ARE SUBPAR.
YOU CAN BARELY WALK SIDE BY SIDE WITH A PARTNER WHILE WALKING ON A THREE-FOOT SIDEWALK.
WHO CAN TAKE ON THIS CONCERN ABOUT SIDEWALKS?
>> HI. THIS IS RENEE JORDAN, I'M THE PARK PLANNING MANAGER.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE JURISDICTION OUTSIDE OF PARK PROPERTIES, SO WE CAN'T REALLY AFFECT THAT CHANGE ON SCHOOL PROPERTIES.
HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO A PARK LOCATION, WE CAN.
IF YOU HAPPEN TO LIVE NEAR A PARK WHERE THERE IS A FUTURE RENOVATION PLAN, WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THAT, WE'LL ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND GET FEEDBACK.
BUT IF WE HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT IN A FUTURE RENOVATION AND PUT IN SOMETHING THAT'S MUCH WIDER, FOR EXAMPLE, A 6-8 FOOT TRAIL OR PATH THROUGHOUT THAT PARK IN A FUTURE RENOVATION. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU AGAIN, RENEE.
THANKS FOR THAT LAST QUESTION FROM REDDIT.
WE'RE GOING TO GET ANOTHER QUESTION FROM REDDIT IN A MOMENT.
BUT WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE PHONES FOR THIS ONE FROM ANN, WHO'S ASKED ME TO READ IT.
SHE SAYS, I LIVE CLOSE TO ALMA WHERE COLLIN CREEK MALL USED TO BE.
SOMEBODY TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO BUILD A PARK THERE.
IS THIS CORRECT? WHO CAN TAKE THIS ONE ON FROM ANN?
>> THIS IS RON SMITH. I'M YOUR PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
YOU'VE HEARD RIGHT THAT THERE WILL BE NOT JUST ONE PARK, BUT THERE WILL BE TWO PARKS ON THE PROPERTY THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED WHERE COLLIN CREEK MALL USED TO RESIDE.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE EXPANDING OR EXTENDING THE CHISHOLM TRAIL FROM 15TH STREET SOUTH TO PLANO PARKWAY.
THERE WILL BE WHEN ALL OF IS DONE, THERE WILL BE TWO PARKS AND ADDITIONAL TRAIL WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT IS COMPLETE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GREAT QUESTION.
LET'S GO TO THIS NEXT ONE FROM REDDIT.
THE QUESTION IS, ANY CONSIDERATION OF PLANTING AREAS FOR FLOWERS OR NATIVE PLANTS RATHER THAN JUST TREES AND GRASS AT SOME OF THE PARKS,
[00:35:05]
SIMILAR TO THE PLANTING AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER, BUT IN A LOCATION MORE REGULARLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL POPULATION? WHO CAN TALK ABOUT THE PLANTS IN OUR PARKS?>> YEAH, THIS IS DAVE ANGELS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS.
DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF AESTHETIC DRIVEN PLANTINGS AND THE DESIRE FOR THOSE.
WE DO HAVE LANDSCAPE BEDS THAT ARE PRESENT IN SOME OF OUR DOWNTOWN PARKS AND PUBLIC AREAS, SUCH AS HAGGARD PARK AND MCCALL PLAZA.
ADDITIONALLY, WE DO MANY NATIVE PLANTINGS AND WILDFLOWER PLANTINGS THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM INCLUDING OAK POINT NATURE AND RETREAT CENTER, WHICH IS AT THE OAK POINT PARK AND NATURE PRESERVE.
THEN WE HAVE WILD FLOWERS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS.
WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IS GO TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. WE POST THAT INFORMATION THERE.
YOU CAN ALSO GO TO PLANOPARKS.ORG AND FIND THOSE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
>> APPRECIATE YOU. THANKS AGAIN, AND A REMINDER, FOLKS, IF YOU MISSED A WEBSITE OR PHONE NUMBER, PRESS 7 TO GET THAT FROM ONE OF OUR OPERATORS.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS NEXT QUESTION UP FROM EVELYN ON THE PHONES, WHO'S ALSO ASKED ME TO READ IT.
QUESTION IS, PLANO HAS BEAUTIFUL PARKS.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION, WHAT IS BEING DONE, AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT? WHO CAN GIVE AN UPDATE TO EVELYN HERE?
>> HI, EVELYN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
MY NAME IS RENEE JORDAN. I'M THE PARK PLANNING MANAGER.
AT BOB WOODWARD'S PARK SOUTH, THERE IS A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT GOING ON ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE DOG PARK, AND THAT IS A PROJECT TO REMOVE AND REPLACE TRAIL.
WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THAT PROJECT IS THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS OVER THERE WITH DRAINAGE AND STANDING WATER, AND THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS. THIS PROJECT IS AT ABOUT 85% COMPLETION AND SHOULD WRAP UP IN THE NEXT 30-60 DAYS. THANK YOU.
>> APPRECIATE IT AGAIN. THANKS FOR THE QUESTION FROM EVELYN, AND LET'S GO BACK TO OUR FACEBOOK AUDIENCE FOR THIS QUESTION FROM COREY.
HE SAYS, I PLAY SQUASH AT CARPENTER PARK REC CENTER THAT LIVE CLOSER TO OAK POINT.
IS THERE USAGE DATA THAT WOULD SUPPORT CONVERTING ONE OF THE RACQUETBALL COURTS AT OAK POINT TO A SQUASH COURT? AGAIN, THAT'S FROM COREY ON FACEBOOK.
>> HI, COREY. THIS IS SUSIE JURGEN RADER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RECREATION.
THANK YOU FOR PLAYING SQUASH AT CARPENTER PARK RECREATION CENTER.
I ACTUALLY DO NOT HAVE THE DATA IN FRONT OF ME TO LET YOU KNOW RIGHT OFF HAND, WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD SUPPORT A CHANGE FROM RACQUETBALL TO SQUASH OF ONE OF THE COURTS.
BUT I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO LOOK INTO THAT.
I CAN'T GET BACK WITH YOU IF YOU COULD LEAVE YOUR INFORMATION, OR YOU CAN EMAIL ME THAT INFORMATION AT SUSIE H, AND THAT'S SPELLED S-U-S-I-E-H@PLANO.GOV, AND WE CAN CONNECT OFFLINE, AND I CAN GET YOU THAT AND WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION.
IT IS THE DATA THAT DRIVES OUR DECISIONS REGARDING THE USE OF OUR FACILITIES, AS WELL AS THE AREAS WITHIN OUR FACILITIES.
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION OFFLINE AND SEE IF A CHANGE IS WARRANTED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CALL.
A REMINDER ON SUBMITTING QUESTIONS IF YOU'RE ON THE PHONE, PRESS 0.
IF YOU'RE IN OUR IN PERSON AUDIENCE THERE AT DAVIS LIBRARY, RAISE YOUR HAND AND FLAG SOMEONE DOWN, AND WE CAN GET YOU ON THE MIC THERE TO ASK YOUR QUESTION, SO OUR VIRTUAL AUDIENCE CAN HEAR IT AS WELL.
IF YOU'RE WATCHING ON PLANO TV, YOU CAN SUBMIT USING X OR FORMERLY NOTICED TWITTER USING THE HASHTAG PLANO TOWN HALL, AND OF COURSE, FACEBOOK LIVE FOLKS KEEP SUBMITTING THOSE QUESTIONS IN THE COMMENTS, AND WE'LL GLADLY READ THEM AND ANSWER THEM HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR NEXT ONE COMING TO US FROM REDDIT.
THE QUESTION IS ANY CHANCE OF GETTING A LOOP SIDEWALK AROUND LIBERTY PARK? THERE'S NO WALKING CONNECTION TO THE NORTH OTHER THAN WALKING ALONG 15TH STREET.
WHO CAN SPEAK TO LIBERTY PARK HERE?
>> HI. THIS IS RENEE JORDAN, PARK PLANNING MANAGER.
LIBERTY PARK IS IN LINE FOR A RENOVATION IN THE FUTURE ON THE NEXT BOND PROGRAM.
WHEN WE RENOVATE THAT PARK, WE WILL SEEK INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AT THAT TIME, WE WILL DO ANY RENOVATIONS THAT REQUIRE A LOOPED TRAIL. THANK YOU.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM OUR IN-PERSON AUDIENCE THERE AT DAVIS LIBRARY.
[00:40:05]
ARE YOU READY TO ASK YOUR QUESTION?>> I THINK I'M READY. ANTHONY ROMAN WITH APR GROUP, WE'RE A COMMERCIAL GENERAL CONTRACTOR.
ON YOUR POINT ABOUT CONCRETE MALL, ARE THOSE GOING TO BE NEW BID PACKAGES THAT COME OUT, OR ARE THEY GOING TO BE PART OF THE CURRENT ACTIVITY?
>> RENEE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT.
I BELIEVE THAT THOSE AGREEMENTS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE. GO AHEAD.
THAT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD CHECK WITH CENTURION THEY'RE THE DEVELOPER THERE.
>> I KNOW OF THEM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU AGAIN. APPRECIATE THAT.
LET'S GO TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM REDDIT NEXT.
THE QUESTION IS ANY CHANCE OF UPDATING SOME OF THE PARKS WITH CLIMBING, PLAY THINGS FOR KIDS OLDER THAN 10 YEARS.
KIDS AGE OUT OF THE SLIDES, ETC, PLAY EQUIPMENT PRETTY QUICKLY, UNFORTUNATELY.
ALAN HAS SOME CLIMBING ROCKS AS AN EXAMPLE AND MAYBE SOME SLIGHTLY TALLER CLIMBING BARS.
ANY PLANS FOR THAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE?
>> HI. THIS IS RENE JORDAN AGAIN, PARK PLANNING MANAGER.
AGAIN, WHEN WE UPDATE OUR PLAY EQUIPMENT, IT IS WITH A RENOVATION AND SO DURING THAT PROCESS TO RENOVATE, WE ENGAGE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND GET FEEDBACK AND WHEN WE HEAR THINGS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'D LIKE THE TALLEST PLAY EQUIPMENT THAT IS OUT THERE, WE WILL GET THAT PLAY EQUIPMENT BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SIMPLY REPLACING PLAY EQUIPMENT OUT OF THE SEQUENCE, WE'RE REALLY NOT IN A POSITION TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET THE COMPLETE VALUE OUT OF THE PLAY EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE INSTALLED AT THE TIME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S GET ANOTHER QUESTION IN HERE FROM KEN LIVE ON THE PHONE.
HEY, KEN. WELCOME TO OUR CALL. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?
>> HI. THANKS FOR TAKING MY CALL.
JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE TIMETABLE IS FOR THE RENOVATIONS ON TEJAS PARK, WHEN IT MAY BEGIN AND ABOUT HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE TO COMPLETE.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
>> HI, KEN. THANKS FOR YOUR CALL.
THIS IS RENEE JORDAN PARK PLANNING MANAGER.
WITH TAY HOUSE PARK, WE JUST WRAPPED UP THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND THAT PROJECT IS GOING THROUGH CONSTRUCTION PLAN DEVELOPMENT NOW, AND WE SHOULD GET TO CONSTRUCTION ON THAT LATE THIS YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR, AND IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 12 MONTHS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU, KEN. GREAT QUESTION.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM REDDIT.
QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANY WAY TO CONTROL THE EROSION OF SOIL FROM UNDER TREES AT RUSSELL CREEK SOCCER FIELDS? DURING ANY GOOD RAIN, SOIL WASHES OUT FROM UNDER TREES ONTO THE BIKE PATH ALONG GIFFORD DRIVE.
THE MAINTENANCE CREW DOES A GOOD JOB OF CLEARING THE PATH EVENTUALLY, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE SOME PREVENTIVE METHODS MIGHT BE BETTER.
YOU CAN SPEAK TO THIS CONCERN AROUND THE RUSSELL CREEK SOCCER FIELD.
>> THIS IS DAVE ANGELS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS.
WE ARE DEFINITELY AWARE OF THE SECTION ALONG GIFFORD ROAD THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF MAINTENANCE.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE TRIED A FEW TECHNIQUES.
OUR NEXT EFFORT IS GOING TO BE PLANTING A ZOISHA GRASS TO SEE IF WE CAN GET IT TO HOLD.
WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE SOME LANDSCAPE BUMPS THAT HAVE SOME TREES, AND AS THOSE TREES MATURED, THE SHADE IS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE COMMON BERMUDA TO HOLD.
PRIOR TO US DOING A MORE EXTENSIVE OR CONSIDERING A MORE EXTENSIVE RENOVATION AND INVESTMENT, WE'RE GOING TO TRY DIFFERENT EFFORTS THAT ARE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE FIRST.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU NOTICING OUR STAFF'S EFFORT TO KEEP THOSE CLEAN.
THAT IS IMPORTANT TO US, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE WORK THROUGH TRYING TO FIND A PERMANENT LONG-TERM RESOLUTION THERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET TO OUR NEXT ONE HERE FROM REDDIT.
THE QUESTION IS, CAN WE ADD AN EASY ENTRY GATE SOMEWHERE ALONG DENHAM WAY FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO ACCESS THE SOCCER FIELDS WITHOUT HAVING TO WALK ALL THE WAY TO THE REC CENTER'S PARKING LOT? WHO CAN TAKE THIS ONE ON FOR US?
>> THIS IS RON SMITH, THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS QUESTION.
I WAS VERY INVOLVED WHEN CARPENTER PARK WAS RENOVATED IN 2018, '19, 2020, AND WHEN IT RE-OPENED, AND THE CONVERSATION ABOUT INSTALLING THE FENCE ALONG THAT NORTHERN BORDER OF THE PARK AT DENHAM WAY WAS SOMETHING THAT WE LOOKED AT LONG AND HARD.
[00:45:01]
WE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT ABOUT THE FENCE AND WHETHER WE SHOULD INSTALL IT OR NOT, WE RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM OUR YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS THAT PROGRAM HEAVILY AT CARPENTER PARK AND ALSO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR POLICE, AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.WE RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM ALL OF THESE ENTITIES, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC, AND THE DETERMINATION WAS THAT THE HABIT OF PARK GUESTS THAT DIDN'T LIVE ACROSS THE STREET AND COULD JUST WALK OVER, BUT THOSE THAT DROVE TO A SPORTING EVENT WITH THEIR CHILDREN, FOR EXAMPLE, AT CARPENTER PARK, TENDED TO PARK INSTEAD OF USING THE PARKING LOT THAT WAS PROVIDED, THEY WOULD USE WHATEVER STREET WAS NEAREST TO THE FIELD THAT THEIR CHILDREN WERE SCHEDULED TO PLAY AT AND MANY OF THOSE ARE RIGHT ALONG THE NORTHERN BORDER OF THE PARK ALONG DENHAM WAY.
WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND THIS WENT ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS THAT THE RESIDENTS ALONG DENHAM WAY WERE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE FACT THAT THEIR STREET WAS OVERCROWDED WITH CURB PARKING, BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET GOING EAST AND WEST, CURB PARKING, CHILDREN DARTING IN AND OUT OF PARKED CARS, MOTORISTS, VERY LEERY AND WEARY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE CHILDREN WERE RUNNING IN AND OUT, SOME OF THEM CROSSING THE STREET TO GET TO THEIR PARKED CARS THAT WERE POINTED WEST.
WE INSTALLED NO PARKING SIGNS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD TRY TO ENFORCE AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO INDICATED THAT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT IF BOTH CURBS HAD PARKING AND ESPECIALLY WHEN A FIELD WAS CHANGING OVER FROM ONE GAME TO ANOTHER, THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES COULD NOT ACCESS THE LENGTH OF DENHAM WAY.
WE MADE THE DECISION THAT WE WOULD PUT UP A FENCE AND THAT FENCE SPECIFICALLY DOES NOT HAVE AN ENTRY POINT, BECAUSE IF IT DID, IT WOULD FRUSTRATE THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF NOT ENCOURAGING CURB PARKING ON DENHAM WAY BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD PARK THERE AND THEN JUST ACCESS THE GATE.
THERE IS NO ENTRY POINT THERE.
I RECOGNIZE AND UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY THAT FOR THOSE THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT CAN WALK TO THE PARK AND MANY THAT LIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET THAT IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A HASSLE BUT WHEN WE COMPARE THAT OR BALANCE THAT OUT WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY FACTOR, EVEN THOUGH INCONVENIENT FOR SOME, WE HAD TO MAKE THAT DIFFICULT DECISION.
I UNDERSTAND HOW A CHALLENGE IT IS FOR YOU PERSONALLY AND FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS BUT IN THE BIG PICTURE, WE HAD TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND WE'VE DONE SO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
>> I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE ANSWER AS WELL.
THIS IS YOUR LAST CALL, TO GIVE US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET EMAIL UPDATES ON CITY BUSINESS FROM THE CITY PRESS SEVEN HERE.
SPEAK TO AN OPERATOR, GIVE THEM YOUR BEST EMAIL ADDRESS, AND WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AGAIN ON PARKS AND RECREATION, THE BUDGET, INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON ALL OF THAT VIA EMAIL.
SEVEN FOR EMAILS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE KEPT UPDATED.
WE'VE GOT ONE MORE QUESTION HERE FROM FACEBOOK.
QUESTION IS FROM GRACIELA, WHO IS ASKING SOME TIME AGO, THE CITY WAS SEEKING INPUT REGARDING HAGGARD PARK CONCEPT A AND B.
WHAT IS THE STATUS ON THAT? WHO CAN TAKE THIS ONE ON FROM GRACIELA ON FACEBOOK?
>> HI. THIS IS RENE JORDAN, PARK PLANNING MANAGER.
GRACIELA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MESSAGE.
REGARDING THE ENGAGEMENT ON CONCEPT A AND B, THE FINAL VERSION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET, SO STAY TUNED.
IT WILL COME OUT SOON. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS AGAIN. APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER.
THANKS FROM THAT ONE FROM GRACIELA ON FACEBOOK.
FOLKS, WE DO HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS IN OUR PHONE AUDIENCE HERE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OFF THE TOPIC OF PARKS AND REC TONIGHT.
LISA, I SEE YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION ON COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
I SEE EVOLA, WHO'S ASKING A QUESTION ON PUBLIC HEALTH, BRIANE ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT CONSTRUCTION.
I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY ON THE LINE HERE.
LEAVE YOUR QUESTION AS A VOICEMAIL, JUST BY STAYING ON THE LINE AS WE WRAP UP THIS CALL IN A MOMENT HERE AND LEAVE YOUR NAME AND YOUR PHONE NUMBER SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOMEBODY FROM
[00:50:01]
THE CITY CALL YOU BACK AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY.ALSO SEEING ESTELE WITH A QUESTION ON SWIMMING POOLS.
IF YOU LEAVE A VOICEMAIL MESSAGE AT THE END OF THIS CALL, AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND TRY TO HELP YOU FIND SOME RESOURCES NEAR YOU.
THAT GOES FOR ANYBODY ELSE ON THE PHONES AS WELL.
IF YOU NEED TO STAY ONLINE AND LEAVE A VOICEMAIL MESSAGE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS STAY ON AS WE CLOSE OUT THIS EVENT, AND THEN YOU'LL LEAVE A VOICEMAIL MESSAGE.
AGAIN, BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOMEBODY WITH THE CITY GET RIGHT BACK TO YOU.
STAND ON THE LINE AND LEAVE THOSE VOICEMAIL MESSAGES.
OTHERWISE, LET ME TURN IT BACK OVER TO MAYOR MONS. TAKE US TO THE CLOSE HERE.
>> THANK YOU, IAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENING'S TOWN HALL.
WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
IF THERE WERE ANY THAT WERE NOT ADDRESSED TONIGHT, PLEASE SUBMIT THEM ONLINE AT FACEBOOK.COM/CITYOFPLANOTX, AND STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP.
THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR OUR TOWN HALL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.