[PRELIMINARY OPEN MEETING]
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THE COUNCIL WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IN TRAINING ROOM A TO HOLD A CLOSED EXECUTIVE MEETING PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF VERNON'S TEXAS CODES ANNOTATED GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551. THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY CONTAINED IN SECTION 551.071, TO CONSULT WITH THE ATTORNEY TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE AND DISCUSS LITIGATION AND SECTION 551.087 TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MATTERS. THANK YOU. I NOW DECLARE THAT THE PLANO CITY COUNCIL PRELIMINARY OPEN MEETING IS RECONVENED IN OPEN SESSION, THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE PRELIMINARY AGENDA IS CONSIDERATION AND ACTION RESULTING FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
NEXT ITEM IS DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW. [INAUDIBLE] FIRE AND RESCUE CHIEF BIGGERSTAFF.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT.
OFTEN PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AND THEY'LL SAY, CHIEF, WHAT'S NEW IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT'S THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? AND WE'LL LOOK AT SOME OF THAT AS WE GO THROUGH HERE. BUT THE TRUTH IS, WE DO THE SAME THING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS.
AND THAT IS WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WE FOLLOW. DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVE OR HAVING A HEART ATTACK OR IF YOU'RE HAVING YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE, OR IF YOU'RE A BUSINESS OWNER, THAT NEEDS US TO COME OUT AND DO AN INSPECTION SO THAT YOU CAN OPEN YOUR BUSINESS.
OR IF YOU'RE A SOMEBODY THAT WANTS A CPR CLASS.
OUR GOAL IS TO GET THERE QUICK, DO GOOD WORK WHEN WE GET THERE, AND SHOW COMPASSION.
SO FOR US, WE HAVE 447 POSITIONS. AND RIGHT NOW, IN ANY GIVEN TIME, WE'VE GOT 100 PEOPLE ON DUTY AND 13 STATIONS AND 33 APPARATUS IN SERVICE. SO IF IT'S 2:00 ON CHRISTMAS MORNING, YOU'RE STILL IN LUCK.
WE'VE GOT 100 PEOPLE THERE READY TO GO AND ALL THOSE APPARATUS IN SERVICE AS WELL.
WE WERE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE COME LOOK AT OUR DEPARTMENT FROM THE OUTSIDE, THE TWO OUT THERE THAT YOU SEE ON TOP, CFA AND THE CAAS ACCREDITATIONS, THE TOP ONE, THAT'S THE GOLD STANDARD FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
THE NEXT ONE IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR EMS, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
THE LAST ONE THERE IS THE CLASSIFICATION FOR ISO THAT AFFECTS THE INSURANCE RATINGS FOR THE FOR THE CITIZENS, FOR THE BUSINESSES. AND WE HOLD ALL THREE OF THOSE.
THERE YOU CAN SEE OUR CALL VOLUME. YOU GO BACK TO 2016, YOU LOOK ALL THE WAY TO 2025.
WE'RE AT 35,407 CALLS NOW THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.
OVER THOSE YEARS IT'S ABOUT 3% A YEAR TYPICALLY IS WHAT WE SEE GOING UP THIS IF YOU KNOW WHICH DISTRICT I MEAN, WHICH FIRE STATION IS, BY YOUR HOUSE THERE, THEN YOU'LL KNOW YOU CAN LOOK AND YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT EACH ONE OF THEM MAKE.
WELL THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ALL RECOGNIZE THAT.
AND WE'LL HAVE A STATION 14 THAT WILL BE DIRECTLY IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO STATIONS, PULLING CALLS OFF OF BOTH OF THEM AND GETTING THEM CLOSER TO IN LINE WITH THE REST OF THE STATIONS THERE. I SAID EARLIER, OUR PLAN IS ALWAYS TO GET THERE QUICK, AND WE MEASURE THAT CONSTANTLY.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, THE AVERAGE TIME RESPONSE TIME FOR US IS FIVE MINUTES AND 41 SECONDS.
IF YOU'VE WATCHED THIS AS YOU GO THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, WE'VE REMAINED RIGHT THERE IN THAT AREA.
AND IT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT THOUGH. IT'S YOU ALL HAVE BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTERS.
IN 22, YOU ADDED AN AMBULANCE IN 23 YOU ADDED AN AMBULANCE SO THAT WE COULD MAINTAIN THOSE.
YOU ALSO NOTICED THERE THAT THE BREAKDOWN OF OUR INCIDENTS RIGHT THERE.
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I GET THIS QUESTION ALL THE TIME, CHIEF. WHY WHEN I CALL I HAVE A CHEST PAIN AND I AND I CALLED, WHY DID A FIRE ENGINE SHOW UP AT MY HOUSE? AND SO I SHOWED YOU EARLIER THAT WE HAVE 33 APPARATUS IN SERVICE.WELL, ALL OF OUR ENGINES, ALL OF OUR TRUCKS, ALL OF THEM HAVE PARAMEDICS ON THEM AND ALL OF THEM HAVE BASICALLY THE SAME EQUIPMENT AS AN AMBULANCE. SO IN OUR DISTRICT, THIS IS STATION ONE RIGHT HERE.
AND IF MEDIC ONE HAS TRANSPORTED SOMEBODY OVER TO THE HOSPITAL, BUT ENGINE ONE OR TRUCK ONE'S IN SERVICE, WHEN THAT CALL COMES IN, THEY MAY BE HERE 2 OR 3 MINUTES PROVIDING ADVANCED EMS SERVICE BEFORE THE AMBULANCE EVER GETS HERE.
THE QUESTION I HAD WRITTEN ON TOP OF THIS ONE IS HOW DO WE DELIVER PROFESSIONAL SERVICE 35,407 TIMES IN A YEAR? YOU DON'T DO IT WITHOUT A LOT OF PREPARATION.
THERE'S A LOT OF PRACTICE THAT GOES INTO IT. AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE.
WE HAD TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GO TO TRAIN.
AND THAT REALLY LIMITS THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT YOU CAN TRAIN.
THAT'S FORMAL CLASSES RIGHT THERE, 150 FORMAL CLASSES.
AND WE HAVE THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT NOW. SO IT'S THAT'S BEEN A HUGE BENEFIT TO US.
OUR COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE GROUP, THAT'S ONE OF PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE.
AND ONE OF THE, WAYS THAT THEY DO THAT PRIMARILY IS BY WATCHING THE NUMBER OF TIMES THEY CALL 911, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WITH THESE HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER AVENUE TO GET INTO THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WE IDENTIFY THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THEY MAY BE CALLING 911, 5 TIMES IN A MONTH.
THEY MAY CALL TEN TIMES. SOMETIMES THEY GET UP TO 30 TIMES IN A MONTH.
AND OUR, COMMUNITY PARAMEDICS, THEY GO OUT AND WORK WITH THEM.
AND ALMOST EVERY TIME YOU'LL SEE THAT NUMBER COME WAY DOWN.
IT MAY BE ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH AFTER THAT, THEY'RE ABLE TO HELP THEM HELP THEM GET IN THERE AND GET THE, HEALTH CARE THAT THEY NEED. OUR SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP, THAT'S OUR HAZMAT TEAMS, OUR USAR TEAMS THAT DO ALL THE DIFFERENT WORK.
IF YOU SEE THE PICTURE ON, ON THERE, THE ONE ON THE IN THE CENTER THERE, THAT'S THAT'S IF YOU REMEMBER THE KERRVILLE FLOOD, THAT'S OUR PEOPLE DOWN THERE WORKING TRYING TO SEARCH DOWN THERE.
AND SO THAT WAS FUN TO WATCH HIM DO THAT. SO WE ALSO HAVE A FIRE PREVENTION OR FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND THEY'RE GOING TO, THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO AN INSPECTION OF EVERY BUSINESS IN THE CITY EVERY YEAR.
THAT WAS OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM. IF YOU STAND STILL LONG ENOUGH, ONE OF THEM WILL COME UP TO YOU AND ASK YOU, CAN I TEACH YOU CPR? CAN I YOU KNOW TEACH YOU FIRE SAFETY OR CHANGE OUT THE BATTERY IN YOUR SMOKE DETECTOR SOMETHING.
I MEAN, THEY'RE ALWAYS HELPING SOME GROUPS IN THE CITY.
SO THIS, GOES BACK TO THE BOND ELECTION. AND AND WE WERE ABLE TO, TO GET THE LAND FOR STATION THREE, THE MONEY TO FINISH THE EXPANSION OF STATION EIGHT AND THEN ALSO FOR STATION 14.
AND ALL THOSE DOTS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF CALLS THAT WOULD BE IN THAT DISTRICT, ABOUT 2500 CALLS.
SO YOU GET THE BENEFIT OF IT, PULLING IT OFF OF STATION ONE AND TWO, BUT YOU ALSO GET THE BENEFIT OF A DECREASED RESPONSE TIME BECAUSE FROM THAT STATION THERE AT THAT LOCATION TO THE COLLIN CREEK AREA, THERE IS, IS ABOUT A 3.5 MINUTE IMPROVEMENT ON YOUR RESPONSE TIME.
EVERY YEAR I STAND UP HERE, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THANK YOU BECAUSE IT'S THAT BIG OF A DEAL.
THIS IS REALLY JUST AN OUTLINE OF REAL BASIC ONE OF FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
SO YEAR ONE, THAT'S THE ONE WE'RE OPERATING IN RIGHT NOW.
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WE'VE ALREADY HIRED THOSE 22 PEOPLE. AS YOU SEE, WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM 121 SHIFTS DOWN TO 115.OUR NUMBER OF HOURS PER WEEK IS GOING TO DROP TO 53.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, EACH YEAR YOU'LL SEE THAT SAME THING.
YOU'LL SEE THAT SAME THING TAKE PLACE THERE UNTIL WE GET DOWN TO A 42 HOUR WORKWEEK.
22 OF THOSE ARE PEOPLE FOR THE THE NEW SCHEDULE AND THE REST OF THEM WERE TO REPLACE RETIREES.
SO THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GET HIRED AND TRAINED UP.
IT WAS HERE. AND THEY WERE THEY HAVE BEEN VERY EXCITED, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
AND I'LL HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES AT THE END IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT KELLY DAY.
SOMETIMES YOU THROW THAT OUT THERE LIKE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT A KELLY DAY IS. AND, AND I'M HAPPY TO, TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. AND THEN I'LL JUST FOR TIME REASONS, I'LL JUST TALK ABOUT ONE OF THESE CALLS RIGHT HERE, THE ONE ON THE TOP TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER THERE.
YOU'LL SEE THAT GENTLEMAN AND HIS WIFE THERE THAT WAS A CPR CALL.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT'S SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS IS WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MEDICAL CENTER OF PLANO, WHERE THEY HAVE A WHAT THEY CALL ECMO AND WHAT THAT ECMO IS.
IF YOU. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, IT, IT'S A HEART BYPASS MACHINE.
HEART AND LUNG BYPASS MACHINE. AND SO WE WORKED OUT A PROTOCOL WITH THEM WHERE WE DID CPR, CERTAIN KINDS OF PATIENTS. YOU COULD TAKE THEM TO MEDICAL CENTER, PLANO. THEY'LL PUT THEM ON THE ECMO MACHINE. THEN THEY'LL DO THE WORK THAT THEY NEED TO DO ON THAT PATIENT BEFORE MOVING BACK OVER. WE WERE THE FIRST DEPARTMENT IN NORTH TEXAS THAT THAT DID THIS, ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY THAT HAD THIS PROTOCOL TO WHERE WE WERE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE HOSPITAL ON THAT.
AND THAT'S JUST OUR EMS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION FOR THE YEAR.
AND I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT OR ANYTHING ELSE RELATED TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU CHIEF. ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF? COUNCIL MEMBER KEHR.
FIRST OF ALL, I DO WANT TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT KELLY DAYS, BUT I WANT TO JUST MAKE A COMMENT FIRST.
YOU KNOW, OUR CITIZENS HAVE COME TO EXPECT PLANO FIRE TO BE THE FIRST IN THE STATE IN THE COUNTRY.
YOU CONTINUE TO DO THAT. I'M ALWAYS AMAZED AT THE NUMBERS YOU COME FORTH.
YOU KNOW, I'M EXPECTING PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT FIGHTING FIRES AND, YOU KNOW, REMOVING DEBRIS, WHATEVER THAT IS. BUT IT'S THE DATA THAT SHOWS UP.
AND OUR CITIZENS TELL US OVER AND OVER THROUGH BOND THAT WE WANT THAT.
THANK YOU. AND WE DO. WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
WE SURE DO. IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO KELLY DAYS, I'D LOVE THAT.
OKAY, SO SO THE THE KELLY DAY, SOMEBODY ASKED ME BEFORE WE GOT DOWN HERE WHO WAS THAT NAMED AFTER? AND IT WAS NAMED AFTER A, A FIREFIGHTER IN PITTSBURGH.
A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS USE THEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF NOT PAYING FLSA.
SO THEY THEY HIRE ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS.
IN OUR CASE, IT'S AS WE TRANSITION TO THE NEW SCHEDULE YOU HIRE 22 PEOPLE.
EACH TIME WE HIRE 22 PEOPLE, IT ALLOWS FOR SIX KELLY DAYS FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT'S HOW YOU, WHEN YOU START TO SEE THE REDUCTION IN SHIFTS AND THE REDUCTION IN HOURS, IT'S BECAUSE OF THOSE KELLY DAYS. AND SO YEAR ONE YOU'LL SEE YOU'LL SEE SIX KELLY DAYS BECAUSE THOSE 22 PEOPLE.
YEAR TWO, IT'LL BE 12, YEAR THREE, 18. AND THEN YEAR FOUR, YOU'LL SEE US FLIP OVER INTO THE 24/72 SCHEDULE SO THAT THAT'S HOW WE WORK, ARE WORKING OUR WAY TO THAT THAT SCHEDULE AS WE HIRE THOSE 22 EACH YEAR.
YES. SO CHIEF, I ACTUALLY WANT TO COMMENT ABOUT THE 24/72 AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR CITY STAFF.
AS YOU KNOW, THE PREVIOUS CITY WHAT IS IT. THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND OUR CITY MANAGER AND WORKING IN GETTING TO THAT. I'M, VERY GRATEFUL THAT EVERYTHING WORKED OUT AND, BUT I WANTED TO ASK, SO DOES IT HELP WITH
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RETENTION AS WELL AS HIRING AND AND HOW IS IT WORKING OR HOW IS IT BEING TRANSITIONED INTO THAT? NO, THAT'S, A GREAT QUESTION. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY I AGREE WITH YOU.I APPRECIATE THEM THINKING THAT WAY FORWARD THINKING ON THEIR PART AS WELL.
BUT AS FAR AS THE HIRING AND THE RETENTION PIECE OF IT, THE, HIRING PIECE OF IT WHEN WE GAVE THE TEST LAST YEAR, BECAUSE WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GET AHEAD OF IT IF WE WERE GOING TO DO IT.
SO WE ACTUALLY GAVE THE TEST PRIOR TO HAVING SIGNED THE CONTRACT, BUT WE STILL SAW A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE 40 FIREFIGHTERS, WHICH IS KIND OF UNHEARD OF TO BE ABLE TO HIRE THAT MANY IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND IT'S BECAUSE A LOT OF, IN PART THE SCHEDULE AND THE ATTRACTION FOR THAT.
WELL, THAT WAS PRIOR TO US EVEN ACTUALLY FINALIZING THE DEAL.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GUYS SAY, I'M PROUD.
I'M GOING TO EVEN STAY LONGER THAN I'M GOING TO STAY LONGER AS A RESULT OF THE SCHEDULE.
I FEEL LIKE I CAN PHYSICALLY DO THIS LONGER BECAUSE OF THE SCHEDULE.
SO I THINK IT'LL ULTIMATELY IT WILL HELP WITH RETENTION AND WITH THE RECRUITMENT FOR SURE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER QUINTANILLA.
I WAS TELLING MARK, SORRY, I HAD A LOT OF COFFEE BACK UP AND START OVER AGAIN.
AND I SEE THAT YEAR ONE, WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.
DO WE HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR TWO OR YEAR THREE OR MAKING SURE WE STAFF UP COMPLETELY FOR 24/72? COULD YOU REPEAT THE LAST PART? DO WE HAVE ANY CONCERNS MAKING SURE WE FILL ALL THE VACANCIES THAT WE HAVE TO MEET OUR GOAL FOR 24/72 OVER THE YEARS? BECAUSE I KNOW YOU SAID WE HIRED, WHAT, 24 PEOPLE, 40? 40. DO WE THINK WE'LL RUN OUT OF APPLICANTS OR DO YOU THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO FILL IT COMPLETELY? YEAH. THE OUT YEARS CHIEF. NOW SINCE WE HAD THAT SUCCESS IN THE FIRST YEAR, DO YOU FEEL LIKE IN YEAR TWO, THREE AND FOUR, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMANDS TO BE ABLE TO FILL? ACTUALLY ANTICIPATE IT EVEN IT EVEN BEING BETTER NOW THE, OUR TRAINING STAFF AND OUR HIRING STAFF, THEY MAY WANT TO HURT ME [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE HAVING TO PROCESS ALL OF THEM.
RIGHT. AND THEN GET THEM THROUGH THERE. BUT AS FAR AS THE NUMBERS GO, I THINK YOU'LL SEE THIS AUGUST WHEN WE GIVE OUR NEXT TEST, I THINK YOU'LL SEE THE NUMBERS ARE EVEN BETTER BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SEEING THAT, YES, IT DID TAKE PLACE.
THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION. CHIEF, I HAD ONE. YES.
THERE ARE NO OTHER CAREER DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TO DO THIS.
I KNOW MR. ISRAELSON GETS CALLS, MAYBE HATE MAIL, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT, FROM THE FIRE CHIEF PERSPECTIVE I GET A LOT OF PHONE CALLS ON HEY, WHAT IS THE, WHAT'S THE TRICK OR WHAT'S THE MAGIC? AND I TELL THEM, ONE, YOU GOT TO HAVE A GREAT CITY MANAGER AND A GREAT CITY COUNCIL, AS I SAID, BUT THERE'S NO TRICK. IT'S A COMMITMENT THAT THE CITY WAS WILLING TO MAKE FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS.
BUT YEAH, IT WAS A TRUE TEAM EFFORT FROM EVERYBODY.
YES. THANK YOU CHIEF. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW OF ANIMAL SERVICES, MR. CANTWELL. GOOD EVENING.
I AM IN THE UNFORTUNATE POSITION OF FOLLOWING THE FIRE CHIEF.
NOBODY WANTS TO COMPETE WITH THE FIRE. BUT I DO HAVE TO SHOW PUPPIES.
JUST SHOW PUPPIES. YOU'RE GOOD. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
I HAVE UNFAIR ADVANTAGES AS WELL. SO AND I WILL TELL EVERYBODY, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS.
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YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO COME ALSO. SO THE FIRST THING I ALWAYS TELL EVERYBODY IS A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL US ANIMAL CONTROL.AND THAT'S A MISNOMER BECAUSE IF WE COULD CONTROL THE ANIMALS, THERE'D BE NO REASON FOR OUR DEPARTMENT TO BE THERE. WE DEAL WITH PEOPLE PROBLEMS, AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY GOOD AT DEALING WITH PEOPLE PROBLEMS. OR THOSE PROBLEMS JUST CONTINUE OVER AND OVER AND OVER, OR THEY SNOWBALL AND GET WORSE.
SO THE ANIMALS JUST DO WHAT THEY DO AND THEY'RE EASY TO DEAL WITH.
WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC. WE'RE A PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION. WE ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT IF AN ANIMAL IS RUNNING LOOSE, THAT WE GET IT PICKED UP BEFORE IT BITES SOMEONE, BEFORE IT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT.
IT'S ALSO NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO BE OUT ON THE STREETS.
ANY NUISANCE ISSUES THAT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO THAT INVOLVE ANIMALS, WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE AND BE THE ONES TO TRY TO GET THOSE TAKEN CARE OF FOR YOU. AND ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT WE DO WILL BE PUT INTO ONE OF THOSE THREE CATEGORIES.
YOU CAN SEE THINGS THERE. LOCAL RABIES CONTROL INCIDENTS.
THOSE ARE WHENEVER AN ANIMAL BITES A PERSON. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE, IT'S ACTUALLY THE ONLY THING THAT WE ARE MANDATED TO TAKE CARE OF BY THE STATE OR I AM CONSIDERED THE CITY'S LOCAL RABIES CONTROL AUTHORITY.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE DANGEROUS ANIMAL COMPLAINTS WE DEAL WITH AS WELL.
AND YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ONE THAT IS, IS, HAS BEEN SOMEONE OR HAS ATTACKED OTHER ANIMALS, YOU KNOW, WE GO INTO A PROCESS AND WE'RE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING WHERE WE ARE ESSENTIALLY COULD BE TAKING THEIR PROPERTY AWAY.
SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW DUE PROCESS AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY AND FOLLOW THE LAWS WHEN WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AS FAR AS ADOPTIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT, EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU CAN COME TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THINGS LIKE ALEX HERE. IT'S NOT JUST DOGS AND CATS. WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING SOONER OR LATER. BUT IF IT'S AN ANIMAL RELATED ISSUE IN PLANO, IT'S GOING TO FALL UNDER OUR PURVIEW.
SO YOU CAN SEE HERE FOR THE LAST YEAR, WE TOOK IN ALMOST 4500 ANIMALS JUST UNDER 2000 DOGS, ABOUT 1600 CATS. YOU CAN SEE THERE'S 773 ANIMALS WERE RETURNED TO THEIR OWNER.
WE HAD ANIMALS THAT WERE TRANSFERRED OR RELEASED PRIMARILY THOSE ARE RELEASED.
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE LIKE OUR WILDLIFE FOR THE MOST PART, WHERE WE WERE ABLE, THEY WERE HEALTHY. SO WE'RE ABLE TO PUT THEM BACK OUT INTO NATURE WHERE THEY BELONG. WE HAD 17, NEARLY 1800 ADOPTIONS, WHICH IS GOOD, BUT WE STILL WANT TO DO BETTER.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, 303 WERE REQUESTED BY THEIR OWNER.
SO THOSE ARE ONES WHERE THE PEOPLE HAVE SAID, MY PET IS SUFFERING.
IT NEEDS TO BE EUTHANIZED. IT'S OUT OF KINDNESS AND WE'RE THERE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.
A LOT OF CITIES DON'T PROVIDE THAT SERVICE. YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A VETERINARIAN.
THAT CAN BE A VERY EXPENSIVE PROCESS. WE DO RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE GO TO THEIR VETERINARIANS, BUT THERE ARE I MEAN, THE REALITY IS THERE ARE CITIZENS IN PLANO THAT SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THAT DONE AT A VETERINARY CLINIC.
AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE ANIMAL SUFFER DUE TO THE OWNER'S LACK OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
AND YOU CAN SEE THERE ZERO WERE FOR SPACE LIMITATIONS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVEN'T EUTHANIZED FOR SPACE SINCE SEPTEMBER 18TH OF 2010.
SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE IN THAT REGARD BECAUSE MOST CITIES ARE NOT THAT WAY.
IF YOU DO THE STATS THAT SAYS WE HAD ABOUT A 10.2 EUTHANASIA RATE FOR ALL DOGS AND CATS, AND EVERYBODY ALWAYS ASKS US, IS PLANO A NO KILL SHELTER? AND I SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT.
THERE IS AN ARBITRARY NUMBER THAT SAYS THAT IF YOU'RE 10% OR LESS, WHICH WE WERE AT 10.2, THEN YOU'RE CONSIDERED NO KILL. WE COULD HAVE A 1% EUTHANASIA RATE.
AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CLAIM TO BE NO KILL. WHAT THAT DOES IS CONFUSE PEOPLE. BECAUSE WE ARE A CITY SHELTER, OUR JOB IS TO GET DANGEROUS, SICK, AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS OFF THE STREET.
AND THOSE ARE NOT THE TYPE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT UP FOR ADOPTION.
THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT WILL PUT ANIMALS THAT THEY KNOW ARE NOT GOOD WITH PEOPLE, NOT GOOD WITH OTHER PETS, AND THEY'LL PUT THEM UP FOR ADOPTION. AND I'M LIKE, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? AND THEY'LL SAY, WELL, IF WE CAN FIND THE RIGHT HOME FOR THEM, I'M LIKE, GREAT, THAT HOME IS THE RIGHT ONE. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HOMES NEXT DOOR TO THEM? YOU KNOW, WOULD YOU WANT THAT LIVING NEXT DOOR TO YOUR GRANDKIDS, LIVING NEXT DOOR TO YOUR PETS? SO WE DON'T MAKE THOSE DECISIONS LIKE THAT. WE LOOK AT WHAT'S BEST FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL ANIMAL.
I ALSO WILL TELL YOU THAT WHAT IT DOES IS IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL GOOD ABOUT DUMPING THEIR ANIMALS ON YOU IF THEY WALK IN THE SHELTER LIKE, OH, IT'S A NO KILL. WELL, HERE, TAKE THIS. THEY FEEL GOOD WALKING OUT THE DOOR.
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AND THEN SIX MONTHS LATER, WHEN THERE'S ANOTHER PUPPY THAT THEY SEE THAT THEY'RE LIKE, OH, THAT'S SO CUTE. THEY TAKE IT AND THEY DON'T EVEN CONSIDER IT BECAUSE THEY KNOW IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, THEY JUST BRING IT TO THE SHELTER AND WE DEAL WITH IT AGAIN.SO FOR ME WHENEVER CITIES TRY TO CLAIM THAT NO KILL STATUS, WHAT IT DOES IS IT INCENTIVIZES US TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON STATISTICS AND NOT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE ANIMALS. AND SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE DON'T LOOK AT AT NO KILL AS BEING A GOAL OF OURS AT ALL.
WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL ANIMAL AND THE STATISTICS ARE WHAT THEY ARE.
LIKE I SAID, THOSE ARE FANCY WAY OF SAYING BITE CASES.
WE HAD OVER 26,000 VISITORS TO THE SHELTER AND WE STERILIZED NEARLY 1500 ANIMALS LAST YEAR AS WELL.
OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IS VERY, VERY GOOD. YOU CAN SEE THAT OVER 12,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS.
WE KEPT A VERY SMALL CORE GROUP AND WE'RE REBUILDING NOW.
SO EVERY YEAR SINCE COVID, WE'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE HOURS AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER, BUT WE STILL WANT TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE PRIOR TO COVID AS WELL.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, YOU CAN SEE THERE ON THE CITIZEN SURVEY, WE HAD A 77% OF OUR CITIZENS RATED US AS VERY SATISFIED OR SATISFIED, AND THAT IS 24% ABOVE NATIONAL AND STATE AVERAGES.
SO WE FEEL LIKE THE WAY THAT WE ARE RUNNING THE PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITIZENS APPRECIATE AND THAT WE'RE MEETING THEIR NEEDS AND WHAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS AS WELL. WE ALSO HAVE A PET REGISTRATION PROGRAM.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT AS AWARE OF.
YOU CAN SEE THERE, WE HAD ABOUT NEARLY 7000 PETS WERE REGISTERED AND BROUGHT IN ABOUT $70,000.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO DO MORE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT WHY THAT'S THERE.
I TELL PEOPLE, IT'S JUST LIKE HAVING YOUR VEHICLE REGISTRATION EVERYBODY BENEFITS FROM SAFE ROADS.
AND THAT'S WHAT THAT REGISTRATION HELPS PROVIDE.
BUT PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DRIVE CARS PAY MORE TO, TO HELP WITH THOSE ROADS.
AND SO THE SAME THING, THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DOGS AND CATS THEY NEED TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR THEIR, WITH THEIR PET REGISTRATION TO HELP US OUT AS WELL.
AND DUKE IS READY FOR COMING UP ON, ON I GUESS WHAT IS SAINT PATRICK'S DAY? THEY'RE ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ALREADY GOT THAT. SO HE'S A GREAT GUY IF ANYBODY'S LOOKING FOR A GOOD DOG AS WELL.
WILDLIFE ISSUES. NOW, CODY IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A WILDLIFE.
WE GET A LOT OF CYCLICAL COMPLAINTS FROM WILDLIFE DURING THE SPRING IN PARTICULAR AND LATE FALL, WE WILL GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOBCATS AND COYOTES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ALL YEAR ROUND WE WILL HAVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT RATS AND RABBITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND BASICALLY BACK IN 2009 WHENEVER THERE WAS A, THE CITY WAS GOING THROUGH A RECESSION WE, OUR FIRST ITERATION OF THE CORE BUSINESS MATRIX.
AND CITY MANAGEMENT AT THAT TIME LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE FUNCTION BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO SAY, OKAY, WHAT CAN WE ELIMINATE OUT WHAT IS NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS A GOOD USE OF CITY RESOURCES? AND IN LOOKING AT ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, THERE WAS ONE PROGRAM THAT WAS ELIMINATED AT THAT TIME AND THAT WAS WILDLIFE TRAPPING. WE HAVE LOOKED AT IT EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN.
IT'S KIND OF A RUNNING JOKE THAT I HAVE WITH MARK.
HE FINALLY TOLD ME LAST YEAR, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT IT BACK IN THERE ANYMORE. THE COST FOR US TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE, YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE OVER $150,000 AND IT HAS ZERO TO NO IMPACT ON THE WILDLIFE POPULATION.
THERE WOULD BE NEW WILD ANIMALS IN PLANO TOMORROW.
AND WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS ENCOURAGE THOSE THINGS TO STOP ATTRACTING THEM INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
DON'T LEAVE WATER SOURCES, MAKE SURE YOUR YARD IS KEPT NICE AND CLEAN SO THAT THERE'S NOT PLACES FOR RATS TO HIDE BECAUSE THE RATS END UP ATTRACTING THE BOBCATS AND THE COYOTES UP INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL. SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP PEOPLE TRY TO ELIMINATE THOSE ATTRACTANTS IS WHAT WE TRY TO FOCUS ON NOW,
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AS OPPOSED TO TRAPPING. SIMPLY BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, TRAPPING IS A NEVER ENDING, NEVER GOING TO HELP IN THE PROBLEM.I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ALL COME FOR A TOUR AT SOME POINT.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AND WE'LL GET THAT SET UP.
WE WERE EXPANDED THE SHELTER IN 2010. BUT COMING UP ON, YOU KNOW, THIS LONG FOR AN ANIMAL SHELTER, THAT'S, IT'S, A PRETTY OLD BUILDING. YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW IT WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THERE BECAUSE THE STAFF THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE DOES SUCH A TREMENDOUS JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT OF TAKING CARE OF THE ANIMALS THERE AND CLEANING THE BUILDING AND GETTING IT ALL READY FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND, IT DOES START TO HAVE PROBLEMS THAT YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS.
YOU CAN SEE THERE, THIS IS OUR MAIN VESTIBULE.
SO THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT THERE, THAT'S ONE OF OUR SPECIAL ROOMS FOR DOGS THAT HAVE GREAT PERSONALITIES, BUT MAYBE DON'T ATTRACT THROUGH THEIR PHYSICAL FEATURES.
AND WE'LL PUT THEM UP THERE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN, THAT'S THE ONE OF THE ONLY ROOMS IN THE SHELTER WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST WALK IN AND HAVE CONTACT WITH THE ANIMALS. AND SO WE FOUND THAT WHEN WE PUT THAT TYPE OF DOG IN THERE, IT TAKES ABOUT 2 TO 3 WEEKS BEFORE THEY GET ADOPTED.
YOU CAN SEE OUR COMMUNITY CAT ROOM AS WELL, AND THEY LOVE THAT.
AND IT HELPS PEOPLE GET TO SEE THEIR PERSONALITIES A LITTLE BIT WHEN THEY'RE THERE. LIKE I SAID, THAT'S ONE OF THE FEW PLACES THOUGH, WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE CONTACT. ALL OF OUR ANIMALS ARE BEHIND GLASS. AND THAT'S AN INTENTIONAL DESIGN FEATURE BECAUSE WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE SHELTER, YOU CAN HAVE A NORMAL CONVERSATION AND NOT HAVE TO YELL OVER THE BARKING AND NOISE AND STUFF THAT YOU TYPICALLY ASSOCIATE IN AN ANIMAL SHELTER.
BECAUSE IN A LOT OF PLACES YOU GO, YOU TAKE THE KIDS IN AND THEY'RE IMMEDIATELY OVERWHELMED BY THE SIGHTS, THE SOUNDS, THE SMELLS, EVERYTHING. AND IT'S VERY HARD TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ON A PET WHEN YOU HAVE THAT TYPE OF AN EXPERIENCE.
WE ALSO, YOU CAN SEE THE THINGS HERE. WE HAVE A PUBLIC ART PIECE.
WE HAVE COLOR EVERYWHERE. AND THAT'S ALSO INTENTIONAL.
SO WE HAVE COLOR, WE HAVE VERY FEW BARS IN THE SHELTER.
SO WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.
SORRY. GO AHEAD. GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
MORE PEOPLE NEED TO GO TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER AND FIND THEIR FOREVER PET.
BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. HOW'S THE CHICKEN COOP? IT'S BEEN HOW HOUSING ANIMALS SINCE IT WAS FINALLY FINISHED WITH EVERYTHING.
SO YOU KNOW, THE DONATIONS THAT FUNDED THAT WERE PUT TO GOOD USE.
WE'VE HAD, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT WE'VE HAD HUNDREDS OF CHICKENS GO THROUGH THERE AND OTHER ANIMALS AS WELL. IT'S NOT JUST, I KNOW WE CALL IT A CHICKEN COOP, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY SUITABLE FOR A VARIETY OF OTHER ANIMALS AS WELL THAT DON'T DO WELL INSIDE OF A SHELTER ENVIRONMENT.
AND IT'S NOT UNCOMMON NOW TO GO THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD EARLY MORNING WALK AND YOU'LL HEAR A ROOSTER.
ARE THE CITIZENS SUPPOSED TO CALL YOU OR DO THEY CALL NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES ABOUT THIS ROOSTER PROBLEM? NO, SIR. THEY DO NEED TO CALL US IF THEY KNOW WHERE IT IS, AND WE WILL GO OUT AND TELL THE PERSON THAT THEY HAVE TO REHOME THAT ROOSTER OUTSIDE THE CITY OF PLANO. YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT BECAUSE WHENEVER PEOPLE BUY THEM YOUNG, WHETHER THEY'RE CHICKS OR PULLETS, IT'S VERY HARD FOR IT'S REALLY MORE OF A GUESS WHENEVER YOU'RE, IT'S WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG, THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME. THEY CAN'T REALLY TELL THEM APART. THERE'S NOT YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE, LIKE WITH PEOPLE WHERE YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY TELL WHAT A BABY IS THAT CHICKS ARE NOT THAT WAY.
SO WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WHEN THEY BOUGHT THEM AS THEY GREW UP, THEY MAY HAVE THOUGHT THEY WERE GETTING HENS, BUT SOME OF THOSE WERE GOING TO BE ROOSTERS.
[00:35:03]
AND WHEN WE GET THOSE CALLS, WE DO GO OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THOSE ANIMALS OUT OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.OKAY, THANKS. MY LAST QUESTION REALLY IS THERE WERE SOME TIMES IN THE PAST WHEN OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH OF 121 WOULD BRING DOWN ANIMALS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE AN ANIMAL SHELTER.
ARE THEY STILL DOING THAT, OR DO WE HAVE SAFEGUARDS TO TELL THEM THEY NEED TO GO BACK NORTH OR DO WE HAVE A SOLUTION TO THAT PROBLEM? WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD SOLUTION. WHENEVER PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY SAY, I'VE FOUND AN ANIMAL OUTSIDE THE CITY OF PLANO, THEN ABSOLUTELY WE TELL THEM, WE CAN'T TAKE IT HERE. YOU NEED TO GO BACK TO WHEREVER IT WAS FOUND.
WE GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES, WHERE TO TAKE IT TO THINGS LIKE THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT. AND SO THEY WALK IN AND THEY SAY, I FOUND THIS, THIS DOG ON PLANO PARKWAY AND WE KNOW THEY'RE LYING TO US BECAUSE HONESTLY, IT FOR US, IF THERE'S A DOG THAT'S RUNNING LOOSE SOMEWHERE, WE TEND TO GET PHONE CALLS ABOUT IT VERY QUICKLY.
OUR CITIZENS ARE REALLY GOOD ABOUT REPORTING THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IF WE'VE GOTTEN ABSOLUTELY NO CALLS ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY IN A VERY BUSY AREA, BUT THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF PLANO FOUND IT JUST HAPPENED TO FIND IT IN THIS ONE AREA, AND THEY BROUGHT IT TO US. WE KNOW THEY'RE PROBABLY LYING.
NOW WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL GO THROUGH AND WE'LL SEARCH LIKE THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA AND THINGS.
TYPICALLY THEY DO IT WHILE THEY'RE THERE. OUR STAFF IS VERY GOOD AT DOING THAT, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES WHERE WE'VE FOUND SOMEONE WHERE WE KNEW THEY WERE LYING, AND WE WERE ABLE TO POINT TO THEM LIKE, WELL, YOU, YOU SAYS HERE ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE, YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND A HOME FOR YOUR DOG THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE THIS ONE.
AND SO WE'LL, WHEN WE FIND THOSE THINGS, WE WILL ADDRESS IT.
BUT I MEAN, THE REALITY IS UNLESS WE HOOKED EVERYONE UP TO LIE DETECTORS WHEN THEY CAME IN, THERE'S NO WAY FOR US TO KNOW FOR SURE. ABOUT HOW MANY CASES DO YOU THINK YOU GET THAT A MONTH BALLPARK? AS FAR AS WHERE PEOPLE ARE LYING TO US? WELL, COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY AND TRYING TO BRING THEIR PETS OR ANIMALS.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF IT.
WE ALWAYS HAVE THOSE FEELINGS. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, PEOPLE LIE TO US ABOUT EVEN THEIR PLANO RESIDENTS, THEY'LL SAY, I FOUND THIS DOG AND WE GO TO TRY TO GET IT FROM THEM AND IT'S BARKING AND GROWLING AND TRYING TO ATTACK US, BUT YET WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS ABLE TO GET IT, PICK IT UP, RUNNING LOOSE ON THEIR OWN AND BRING IT TO US WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.
SO WE KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY THEIR DOG. SO WE SEE PEOPLE LIE TO US ALL THE TIME ABOUT STUFF, BUT WE JUST THERE'S NO WAY FOR US TO REALLY KNOW FOR SURE IN THOSE CASES.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER LAVINE.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT PET REGISTRATION.
YOU SAY IT COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT REVENUE SOURCE FOR YOU.
IS THERE ANY COST EFFECTIVE PROCESS THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH OR HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, SUCH AS PUTTING UP A STATION AT THE DOG PARKS OR GOING TO VETERINARIANS OFFICES OR SOMETHING TO ENCOURAGE REGISTRATION.
WE HAVE OUR PROCESS IS SOMETHING WHERE IT CAN BE DONE ONLINE.
AND WE HAVE ASKED THE VETERINARY CLINICS IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO ISSUE THE REGISTRATIONS FOR US BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, THEY'RE LIKE, OH, YEAH, I GOT EVERYTHING DONE AT MY VET CLINIC. THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THE VETS DON'T SELL THE REGISTRATIONS.
WE HAD AT ONE POINT A COUPLE OF VETERINARY CLINICS THAT WERE DOING THAT.
SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE ALL JUST SAID, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO COLLECT TAX MONEY, QUOTE UNQUOTE, FOR THE CITY. SOME CITIES DO HAVE ORDINANCES THAT REQUIRE VETERINARIANS TO SEND THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY GIVE RABIES VACCINATIONS TO. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED A LONG TIME AGO.
WE DIDN'T FEEL THAT THAT WAS WHAT WE WANTED, THE ROUTE WE WANTED TO GO WITH OUR VETERINARIANS.
THAT IS ALWAYS AN OPTION THOUGH, AND SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL COULD CONSIDER. BUT YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME, NEARLY ALL VET CLINICS WERE OWNED BY PRIVATE VETERINARIANS HERE IN PLANO.
SINCE THEN, MOST VET CLINICS IN PLANO ARE NOW OWNED BY CORPORATIONS.
YOU KNOW, IT IS COMPLETELY IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS HAS COMPLETELY FLIPPED AROUND.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE SOMETHING NOW WHERE WE SAY WE'RE NOT AFFECTING SMALL BUSINESSES BY MAKING, PUTTING THIS REQUIREMENT ON THEM BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY A, YOU KNOW, MULTI-BILLION CORPORATION THAT OWNS THE CLINIC.
THANK YOU. SO I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, JAMIE.
SO SINCE WE PASSED THE BACKYARD CHICKEN ORDINANCE, WHAT HAS THE DEMAND BEEN LIKE IN REGARD TO,
[00:40:03]
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS IT WAS BIG RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING.AND I'M SURE IT'S, YOU KNOW, EBBED AND FLOWED.
BUT WHERE, DO YOU THINK THE DEMAND IS FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO CONTINUE TO.
IT HAS STAYED THERE. THERE WERE THERE'S BEEN A CONSISTENT GROUP THAT I'M SURE WERE PROBABLY SOME OF THE ONES THAT WERE ORIGINALLY INVOLVED IN WANTING THAT CHANGE MADE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE EVERY YEAR WE GET SOME NEW ONES THAT COME ON EVERY YEAR AS WELL.
EVERY SPRING, TYPICALLY WE GET SOME NEW PEOPLE COME IN.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE DON'T COME BACK FOR A SECOND ONE.
SO IT'S NOT GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.
IT HAS GROWN A LITTLE BIT AND SOMETIMES IT GOES DOWN SOME, SOMETIMES IT GOES UP A LITTLE BIT.
YEAH. IT'S WE'RE STAYING UNDER 100 EVERY YEAR.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
THANKS, JAMIE. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT ITEM DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING COMMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST. SO WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND OUR RESIDENTS BEING ABLE TO TALK TO THE COUNCIL DIRECTLY AND WITH PROBLEMS THAT WOULD AFFECT THE COMMUNITY.
AND SOMETIMES IT NEVER GOES IN THAT DIRECTION.
IT GOES WAY BEYOND WHAT THE CITY OF PLANO HAS ANY EFFECT ON, HAS ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO.
AND SO I, I THINK FOR THIS DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION, I'D LIKE TO ASK COUNCIL THEIR THOUGHTS ON BEING ABLE TO STILL HAVE GOOD TRANSPARENCY WITH OUR PUBLIC, BUT AT THE SAME TIME TRY TO AVOID SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE STUFF THAT WE GET THAT CAN NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR OUR CUB SCOUTS OR OTHER VISITORS THAT ARE HERE.
SO I'D APPRECIATE IT IF WE COULD GET SOME FEEDBACK AND GIVE STAFF A DIRECTION ON WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO TO MAYBE TRY TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT PROBLEM. SO I'LL START WITH YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS IN NO WAY WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO INFRINGE ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO EXPRESSION. THIS IS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS PRODUCTIVE AS WE CAN FOR THE CITIZENS.
AND WE'RE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO LIMIT THE ABILITY OF THE CITIZENS TO REACH OUT TO US.
THEY CAN REACH US BY PHONE, BY TEXT AND BY EMAIL.
THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE. AND WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN.
YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO CALL ME, TEXT ME, EMAIL ME.
AND I WOULD DARE SAY THAT'S PROBABLY THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL.
AND WE'VE SEEN THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN. SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT AS EFFICIENT AS WE CAN FOR THE ENTIRE STAFF THAT'S HERE, THAT SITS THROUGH THIS, THROUGH ALL THE OTHER CITIZENS THAT HAVE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT ITEMIZED ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, STILL BEING COMPLIANT, I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TIMES WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO ONCE A MONTH AND SAVE IT TOWARD THE END OF THE MEETING, AS WE HAD DONE DURING THE COVID OR DURING THE RENOVATION OF CITY HALL WHEN WE WERE AT DAVIS. SO THAT WOULD BE MY OPINION. WE WOULD HAVE IT AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH, AND THAT WOULD BE A TIME THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PICK IT AND THEN STILL GIVE PLENTY OF NOTICE TO THE CITIZENS AND HAVE IT TOWARD THE END OF THE MEETING SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF CITY BUSINESS EARLY.
AND THEN LISTEN TO AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THAT COMMENT.
SO THAT'S MY OPINION AND I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
I ALSO WANT TO ADD THOUGH I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HAVE ZOOM AVAILABLE AT THIS POINT.
[00:45:08]
WHEN WE WERE IN THE LIBRARY WHEN THIS PLACE WAS BEING REMODELED AND THAT WAS CAUSING SOME INCONVENIENCE.SO I THINK THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE ELIMINATED.
I ALWAYS ADVOCATED THE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO BE AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL OBVIOUSLY DISAGREED WITH ME AND MOVED IT BACK IN THE FRONT.
BUT I ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT YOU KNOW, IF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS IF WE'RE ABLE TO STAY ON COURSE, THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING. BUT HOWEVER, BECAUSE WE ARE RESPECTING THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF EVERYONE WE REALLY CAN'T CONTROL WHAT IS SAID, AND SOMETIMES I CRINGE WHEN THERE'S BOY SCOUTS OR GIRL SCOUTS SITTING THERE.
SO I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT WHAT DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM IS SUGGESTING.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KEHR. I'M GOING TO REALLY ECHO WHAT WE'VE HEARD ALREADY.
I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US CHANGE THE FREQUENCY TO ONCE A MONTH.
AND I REALLY LIKE THE, AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
AND THE MAIN REASON FOR ME IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE JUST PRODUCTIVE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO CITY COUNCIL.
AND SO IF WE WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE MEETING, AFTER ALL THAT BUSINESS IS DONE, THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH COMMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER LAVINE.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I ALSO AGREE WITH THE IDEA OF ONCE A MONTH AND END OF MEETING.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE GIVE SOME LEEWAY TO THE STAFF TO DECIDE WHICH OF THOSE MEETINGS. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING STACKED WITH COMMENTS FOR SOME MAJOR DECISION BEING DISCUSSED THAT WE PERHAPS COULD MOVE IT TO THE OTHER MEETING.
AND WHEN WE KNOW THAT SO WE CAN KEEP THE MEETINGS FROM RUNNING TOO LONG.
OKAY. I OBVIOUSLY, THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS OKAY WITH THAT? DO WE HAVE, I MEAN, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH ZOOM, TAKING ZOOM AWAY? PAIGE. OH, YEAH. AND THIS WOULD, THIS NEW PROCEDURE WOULD WOULD APPLY TO OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT ALSO HAVE COMMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST. SO THEY WOULD MIRROR WHATEVER THE COUNCIL IS DOING.
IF THAT'S OKAY WITH THE COUNCIL. ANY THOUGHTS? COUNCIL MEMBER QUINTANILLA HAVE YOU GOT ANY THOUGHTS ON ZOOM? OR, OR THE OTHER ONE? I'M FINE WITH REMOVING ZOOM.
I AGREE WITH YOU. IT'S HARD TO HEAR IT HERE SOMETIMES WITH THE CONNECTIONS WE GET LOST IN. MY INPUT WAS JUST GOING TO BE I WAS FINE WITH THE END OF THE MEETING. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WOULD JUST COMPLICATE THINGS, WHETHER THEY COULD KIND OF HAVE A REASON TO BE ON ZOOM AND, AND ALLOWING THAT, OR DO WE JUST ELIMINATE IT? AND OBVIOUSLY THEY CAN COMMUNICATE WITH US IN MANY OTHER WAYS.
HOLD ON. SO I ACTUALLY, I DID HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
HOWEVER, WE COULD ACTUALLY ASK THEM TO MAKE SPECIAL REQUESTS IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT THEY NEED TO DO, OR THEY CAN REACH OUT TO CITY OR TO US DIRECTLY.
I MEAN, I REMEMBER THIS AS BEING ADDRESSED MULTIPLE TIMES THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR EMAILS ARE AVAILABLE, OUR PHONES FOR BOTH, YOU KNOW, IN-PERSON CALLS OR TEXT MESSAGES AVAILABLE.
WHERE IN PERSON A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE CAN'T GET HOLD OF ME BY PHONE.
THEY JUST COME UP TO ME IN PERSON, IN MY FACE AND TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT THEY FEEL.
BUT. AND THAT'S FINE WITH ME TOO. SO I THINK THERE'S MULTIPLE CHANNELS, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I SEE A LOT OF THE EMAILS COMING IN, A LOT OF THEM ARE ADDRESSED TO CITY COUNCIL IN GENERAL.
SO THAT MEANS ALL EIGHT OF US GET THE SAME EMAIL AND SOMEBODY WILL RESPOND.
[00:50:09]
CONCERN THAT THEY CAN, HOW THEY CAN REACH US, THAT PUBLIC COMMENTS REALLY SHOULD BE FOR SPECIFIC ITEMS OF SPECIFIC CONCERNS THAT MAYBE WE HAVE JUST OVERLOOKED. HOWEVER, I'M NOT GOING TO PUT A RESTRICTION ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH, SO. OKAY. ANYWAY, ZOOM YOU KNOW THAT THAT WOULD BE AN OPTION.I WAS THINKING ABOUT. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS DIRECTION.
I AGREE WITH EVERYONE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT IF IN THE EVENT THAT SOMEONE EXPRESSES HAS AN EXPRESSION THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE OR OFFENSIVE TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THAT WE KEEP THAT IN MIND AND THAT WE LET THEM KNOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW THEY FEEL, AND WE MAY NOT BE IN AGREEMENT WITH WHAT WAS PRESENTED BEFORE US.
SO I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WELL.
OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER DOWNS. I CONCUR WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS'S LAST COMMENT ABOUT THE NEED FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LISTEN TO ALL CITIZENS AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, BUT WE ALSO MAKE SURE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY OUR VALUES THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE DAIS.
REGARDING ZOOM, I'M AMBIVALENT ON THAT. IN FULL DISCLOSURE, I SEE THE NEED FOR IT WITH INDIVIDUALS OF THE SENIOR COMMUNITY OR SPECIAL NEEDS WANTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN A MEETING DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I ALSO SEE WHERE WE CANNOT HEAR SOMETIMES ON IT, SO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL CAN DECIDE ON ZOOM.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE A STRONG OPINION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
NOW, OVERALL, AS FAR AS MOVING TO ONCE A MONTH AND AT THE END I SUPPORT THAT.
SO THAT WE HAVE MORE TIME FOR BUSINESS AND WE'RE FOCUSED ON THAT.
AND THEN WE STILL HAVE ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITIZENS TO COME AND SPEAK TO US.
AND WE WILL I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED A KIND OF A PROCESS OF ELIMINATING ZOOM OR WHETHER WE CAN BASICALLY COLD TURKEY AND STOP IT AT THE, FIRST MEETING IN APRIL.
OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS THE DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.
CURTIS HOWARD. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. CURTIS HOWARD, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.
SO LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES. WE HAVE THREE DIVISIONS. SO OUR BEST NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, WHICH DOES OUR SOCIAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND THEN PROPERTY STANDARDS, WHICH IS THE ENFORCEMENT ARM OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND OUR VISION IS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BE THE MOST DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE IN, IN THE NATION. OUR MISSION IS BECAUSE AS WE ARE AN AGING.
SO PEOPLE ARE PROUD TO CALL PLANO HOME. SO JUST KIND OF A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE DYNAMICS HERE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH. OF COURSE, OUR POPULATION IS JUST A LITTLE BIT UNDER 300,000.
UNDER THE HUD REGULATIONS, LOW INCOME FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR IS EQUAL TO OR BELOW 93,000 A YEAR.
AND WE ALSO HAVE HOMELESSNESS HERE IN THE CITY OF PLANO.
AND LAST YEAR WE HAD 178 PEOPLE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND.
THIS YEAR WE WON'T GET THOSE NUMBERS UNTIL ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF MAY.
AND LAST YEAR, AT LEAST, WHEN WE FOUND THOSE PEOPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD INTERVIEW THEM, AND WE FOUND THAT 31% OF THEM ACTUALLY HAD A JOB.
SO THEY WERE LIVING IN THEIR VEHICLE OR LIVING OUT ON THE STREET, BUT THEY WERE STILL WORKING.
SO JUST SOME OF THE DYNAMICS THAT WE'RE SEEING AMONG THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
[00:55:05]
ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE'RE SEEING IS JUST BASICALLY THE AGING STRUCTURES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.SO 75% OF OUR HOUSING STOCK IS 25 YEARS OR OLDER, 21% IS 45 YEARS OR OLDER.
YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT THAT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU LIVE IN A HOUSE AND WHAT HAPPENS, AND ESPECIALLY AS THOSE HOUSES AGE AND, AND HOW THAT IMPACTS AS WE GET, AS WE HAVE OUR AGING POPULATION, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT JUST DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO KEEP IT UP LIKE THEY USED TO.
AND JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, YOU KNOW, HOUSING BURDEN. SO HOMEOWNERS, 37% OF OUR HOMEOWNERS THEY'VE GOT LESS, THEY SPEND YOU KNOW, OVER A THIRD OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING.
SO HOPE OUR PILLARS HERE THAT WE WORK UNDER IS HELP OUTREACH PARTNER AND ENFORCE.
AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HELP, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE REALLY DEPENDENT UPON IS NOT ONLY OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM HERE AT THE CITY OF PLANO, BECAUSE THEY DO A GREAT JOB OF OF PROVIDING THOSE VOLUNTEERS FOR US.
BUT ALSO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OUR FAITH BASED COMMUNITY AND OUR CORPORATE COMMUNITY AND JUST OUR CITIZENS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED HERE. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF NEIGHBORHOODS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION. AND THAT'S NOT ONLY THE PHYSICAL TRANSFORMATION OF SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE AGING, BUT IT'S ALSO TO DO THE SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION AND PROVIDE COMMUNITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'VE GOT NEIGHBORS AND THOSE NEIGHBORS ARE CONNECTING WITH EACH OTHER, THAT HELPS RESOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE SEEING.
AND WE'VE GOT SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT DO THAT. ONE OF THEM IS LOVE, WHERE YOU LIVE, WHERE FOR A YEAR WE TAKE CONCENTRATE ON A ON A NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE DO TWO BIG SERVICE DAYS A YEAR WITH OUR VOLUNTEERS. AND THEN WE DO SOCIAL PROGRAMS THROUGH IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO TRY AND BUILD THAT COMMUNITY AND TRANSFORM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THAT WE'RE SEEING AS IT AGES.
AND THEN PLANO CARES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IS, IS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE AS AN ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION AND WE'RE GOING OUT TO SOME OF THESE HOUSES THAT MAY HAVE CODE VIOLATIONS OR OTHER ISSUES THAT WE FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CALL UPON AND WE DO THIS ALL THE TIME.
WE CALL UPON THOSE VOLUNTEERS, OUR FAITH BASED GROUPS TO PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE, WHETHER IT'S A TREE, WHETHER IT'S SOME PAINTING, WHETHER THEY NEED SOME LIGHT WORK DONE.
WE USED OVER 210 VOLUNTEERS. AND WHEN WE DO THOSE SERVICE DAYS, WE GO AROUND AND WE CLEAN UP THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL THE TRASH AROUND, ESPECIALLY AROUND THOSE CREEKS.
AND WE HAD OVER WE GOT OVER SIX TONS OF TRASH DURING THOSE SERVICE DAYS.
SO WE HAVE CLASSES FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S MORE DIFFICULT HERE IN THIS AS OUR THE COST OF HOUSING IS PRETTY HIGH, BUT EVERY MONTH WE HAVE A CLASS TO TRY AND HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE GETTING INTO WHEN THEY BUY A HOME. WE ALSO DO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE WORKSHOPS, SO WE CAN TEACH PEOPLE TO DO SOME OF THOSE MINOR THINGS, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A LEAKY FAUCET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND SO WE PROVIDE THAT SORT OF ASSISTANCE TO THEM.
AND SOMETIMES WE DO IT, WE'LL HAVE FEMALE ONLY WORKSHOPS OR ONES THAT FOCUS FOR SENIORS.
AND THAT'S JUST A WAY TO DEAL WITH THOSE COMMUNITY LEADERS.
AND THAT THAT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO, TO TALK AND COMMUNE AND KIND OF LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.
AND SO THAT REALLY HELPS OUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITIES.
AND THEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM. SO IF YOU ARE NEW TO AN HOA, THEN YOU PROBABLY DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. AND SO WE'VE GOT OUR HOA LEGAL CLINIC.
AND WE DO THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY OF GARLAND.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT, WHICH STARTS AT 8:30 ON SATURDAY.
IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED, I THINK, MAYOR, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE. AND SO IT'S A TIME WHERE YOU CAN GO IN AND, AND LEARN HOW TO DO YOU KNOW, HOW TO DO OUTREACH WITHIN YOUR HOA OR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP? AND, AND IT REALLY TEACHES THEM KIND OF, AGAIN, THAT, THAT HOW TO LEAD AND DEVELOP THAT COMMUNITY.
[01:00:08]
AND THEN WE PARTNER WITH OUR RESIDENTS. SO WE'VE GOT VARIOUS, PROGRAMS TO PARTNER WITH RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE EITHER GRANT FUNDING OR PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN PAYING FOR TO GET HOUSES KIND OF CLEANED UP AND DO THINGS LIKE THAT.AND SO WHAT THIS DOES IS THIS PROVIDES FUNDING, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE FORMAL HOA GROUPS, THOSE CORNERS THAT YOU SEE THAT SOMETIMES NEED A LITTLE LOVE. AND WE'LL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THEM TO GO IN AND CLEAN THAT UP.
AND YOU KIND OF SEE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE DID AND THEN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT, AGAIN, THAT ENGAGEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS.
SO OUR PARTY TRAILER, I'VE GOT A GROUP JUST IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO EVERY DECEMBER, I SEE OUR PARTY TRAILER JUST OUT JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE.
I LOVE TO SEE THAT. AND SO, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR MINI GRANT PROGRAM.
SO IF YOU'RE AN HOA OR GROUP, WHAT YOU COULD DO IS YOU CAN IT'S A $500 GRANT AND YOU CAN USE THAT FOR GIFT BASKETS OR TO HAVE KIND OF AN HOA DINNER OR A COMMUNITY GROUP DINNER AND JUST A LITTLE BIT TO REALLY TRY AND DEVELOP THAT COMMUNITY.
AND THEN REHABILITATION. YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE ARE EMERGENCY REPAIR PROGRAM, WHICH IS USUALLY $10,000 OR LESS. AND AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS IF WE HAVE A SENIOR CITIZEN WHO IN THE SUMMERTIME, ALL OF A SUDDEN THEIR AC WENT OUT AND THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO PUT IN A NEW AC.
AND THEN OUR HOUSING REHAB, AND WE CAN DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.
AND THAT IS FOR EXTERNAL EXTERNAL CHANGES ONLY.
SO IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN SEE FROM THE STREET, BECAUSE WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE STILL LOOKING GOOD. WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING BY THAT, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THAT CURB APPEAL. AND THEN, OF COURSE, AS SEVERAL OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE THE CRC THAT WE HAVE THAT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING TO OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS.
AND SO AGAIN, WE HAVE A GREAT NONPROFIT COMMUNITY.
AND THROUGH OUR FEDERAL FUNDING, THROUGH OUR HUD FUNDING AND ALSO THROUGH THE BUFFINGTON GRANT, WHICH WE ARE OF COURSE, VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU PROVIDE THAT FUNDING FOR US TO PROVIDE OUT TO OUR NONPROFIT COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE JUST NOT FINDING THIS SORT OF PROGRAM ANYWHERE ELSE.
WE HAD A COUNCIL MEMBER FROM A CITY THAT WAS FAIRLY CLOSE BY COME TOUR IT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, AND HE WAS BROUGHT THERE BY A CITIZEN OF HIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WHY ARE WE DOING THINGS SO WELL? HOW CAN WE GET THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS AN EFFECTIVE USE OF PROVIDING LABOR TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THAT SORT OF SERVICE.
AND SO HE WAS HE WAS EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH THE PROGRAM WE HAVE GOING ON OUT THERE.
AND SO IT'S A GREAT, ADDITION TO THE CITY OF PLANO.
HOMELESSNESS, WE CONTINUE WORKING WITH OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF BEING HOMELESS AND SALVATION ARMY, CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND THE ASSISTANCE CENTER OF COLLIN COUNTY WILL ADMINISTER THESE PROGRAMS FOR US TO REALLY TRY AND PREVENT TO EITHER GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING OR PREVENT PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT THERE ON THE VERGE OF BECOMING HOMELESS TO KEEP THEM FROM FROM BECOMING HOMELESS.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT POPULATION TO DEAL WITH, RIGHT? THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SUCCESS IN THAT, BUT IT TAKES TIME. IT TAKES EFFORT. IT TAKES ENERGY BECAUSE YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO DEVELOP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO TRY AND GET PEOPLE WHO MAY BE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WHO MAY BE SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES OFF THE STREET AND INTO SOME SORT OF HOUSING.
[01:05:01]
AND IT'S JUST A LOT OF WORK. BUT WE DO HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE NOT ONLY TRYING TO DEVELOP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, BUT PROVIDE THAT ASSISTANCE, WHETHER IT'S A FOOD PACK, JUST SO THEY CAN GET SOME FOOD AT SOME POINT.AND AGAIN, VOLUNTEERS WILL PROVIDE THOSE PACKETS FOR US.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR OTHER FAITH BASED PARTNERS HERE TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH CAPACITY TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE HAVE A WINTER WEATHER EVENT, THAT WE HAVE A PLACE FOR THOSE FOLKS TO GO SO THEY REMAIN SAFE.
SO BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR PARTNERS THERE BECAUSE WE JUST, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT WE HAD IN JANUARY WAS WAS A SIGNIFICANT EVENT NINE DAYS THAT THEY WERE OUT THERE 24 HOURS A DAY. SO IT WAS, IT WAS A BIG DEAL.
AND SO A COUPLE OF THINGS WE DO PROPERTY STANDARDS.
OF COURSE, THE ORDINANCE IS SET BY COUNCIL AND WE ENFORCE THOSE.
AND THEN OUR NEWEST ONE IS OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAM.
SO JUST KIND OF A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT ASPECT.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE GET NUISANCE VIOLATIONS.
WE'RE ABOUT READY TO ENTER THE HIGH GRASS SEASON, WHERE ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET A LITTLE RAIN, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? THAT GRASS IS GOING TO EXPLODE AND WE WILL GET WHEN WE COME IN ON MONDAY MORNING.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF CALLS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CALLING ON NEIGHBORS OR WHOEVER ELSE AND SAYING, HEY, THEY HAVEN'T CUT THEIR LAWN YET. SO HIGH GRASS AND WEEDS TRASH AND DEBRIS PEOPLE LEAVE OUT OPEN STORAGE IS ALSO A BIG ONE TREE LIMBS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THAT IMPACTS OUR OUR TRASH PICKUP.
AND WHEN PEOPLE PARK ON THE LAWNS, NOT IN THE APPROPRIATE SPOTS AND THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE VIOLATIONS, AND WE'RE LOOKING MORE LIKE AT STRUCTURES. SO IT CAN BE EXTERIOR WALLS, WHETHER ROOF ISSUES WHERE RODENTS MAY HAVE GOTTEN INTO, SOME OTHER PROBLEMS. BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING THINGS LIKE HOARDING.
AND WHEN WE FIND THOSE FOLKS OUT. AND THEN ZONING VIOLATIONS.
SO WHETHER IT'S PARKING LOTS, OPEN STORAGE PEOPLE, PARKING SEMIS WHERE THEY SHOULDN'T BE COMMERCIAL TRASH DUMPSTERS, AND THEN THOSE DONATION CONTAINERS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL JUST PUT A BUNCH OF TRASH THERE AND IT JUST LOOKS TERRIBLE.
SO WE GET CALLS ON THAT. SO AS AN ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO NOT ALWAYS LIKE WHEN THEY GET NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS FROM US.
AND SOMETIMES THE LANGUAGE WE HAVE MAKES PEOPLE UPSET.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID THIS LAST YEAR IS WE WENT OUT AND WE HAD KIND OF A COMMUNITY LISTENING, SEVERAL COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS. WE HAD THREE OF THEM, WHETHER IT WAS OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT IS OUR LEADERS OR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND OR WHETHER IT WAS OUR JUST OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS.
AND THEN WE ALSO SENT OUT A SURVEY. AND SO WE TOOK THAT FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT AS WE SHOWED THEM WHAT WE DID, AND WE CHANGED THE WAY WE DID THINGS TO TRY AND SOFTEN IT UP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE COMMERCIAL VIOLATIONS THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE ACTUALLY SEND PEOPLE IN THERE AND TRY AND GET THAT FACE TO FACE COMMUNICATION BEFORE WE START ISSUING NOTICES AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO IT WAS JUST KIND OF A WAY OF PROACTIVELY GOING OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WE'RE NOT OUT THERE TO HAMMER THEM, BUT WE'RE OUT THERE TO TRY AND GAIN COMPLIANCE THROUGH JUST THROUGH THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
AND WE'VE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE AT IT. AND OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAM.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN WE STARTED THIS, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE CERTAINLY A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. IT WAS A HUGE ISSUE THAT NOT ONLY THE CITY OF PLANO WAS DEALING WITH, BUT THAT WE SAW THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS AND ELSEWHERE.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS IS THE DATA THAT WE HAD, WHICH WE KNEW WAS NOT VERY GOOD.
AND AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND DEVELOPED THIS REGISTRATION PROGRAM AND GOT THE DATA AND ACTUALLY PAID FOR COMPANIES THAT WILL PROVIDE US THE DATA THAT'S OUT THERE, WE END UP HAVING ABOUT 231 ACTIVE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
A LOT OF TIMES, MAYBE THE PROPERTY OWNER WAS NOT ON SITE, SOMEBODY ELSE WAS LIVING THERE AND THEY WERE USING IT IN VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL. SO THOSE WENT AWAY. SO 13 OF THE STR REGISTRATIONS WERE THOSE APPLICATIONS WERE DENIED IN THE INITIAL
[01:10:03]
PROCESS. AND WE'VE GOT NINE ACTIVE CASES RIGHT NOW INVOLVING STR REGISTRATION VIOLATIONS.DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE CONDUCTED 48,000, ALMOST 49,000 INSPECTIONS.
WE TRY AND TURN AROUND THOSE COMPLAINTS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN ONE DAY.
WE ADDRESSED 22,000 VIOLATIONS AND 96, WE HAVE A 96% VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE RATE.
SO THAT WAY WE'RE NOT SENDING THOSE CASES UP TO THE JUDGE AND THE COURTS AND THAT SORT OF THING.
WE TRY AND REALLY WORK THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES AND PROVIDE THE ASSISTANCE NEEDED.
AND AND JUST KIND OF AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THESE THINGS COME TOGETHER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID IS WE HAD A CODE VIOLATION WHERE A LADY HAD VERY HIGH GRASS IN HER YARD. SO WE WENT OUT THERE TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SHE HAD A FRIEND THAT WOULD TAKE HER. AND SO WE WENT OUT THERE.
WE BROUGHT HER SOME FOOD TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE WAS OKAY.
WE CALLED ONE OF OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO COME OUT AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE WERE ABLE TO FIND OUT THAT SHE HAS A NIECE.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FAMILY, BUT SHE HAS A NIECE THAT LIVES IN A CONTIGUOUS STATE.
PEOPLE WERE TAKING TAKING HER MONEY. THAT'S WHY SHE DIDN'T HAVE A CAR.
AND SHE WAS ABOUT READY TO LOSE HER HOUSE. WE GOT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INVOLVED, AND ONE OF THEIR DETECTIVES HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HER AS THOSE SCAMMERS WERE TRYING TO TAKE HER MONEY. SHE ENDED UP SELLING HER HOUSE BECAUSE OF ALL THIS.
AND NOW SHE IS HOMELESS AND SHE CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS. SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE IT'S REALLY A DIFFICULT POPULATION TO WORK WITH, AND SHE SEEMED TO HAVE ALL OF HER MENTAL FACULTIES AND SHE WAS JUST MAKING TERRIBLE DECISIONS.
BUT JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CONTINUE TO TRY AND WORK THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE, THAT ARE HAVING THOSE PROBLEMS AND BRING IN OUR PARTNERS, WHETHER NONPROFIT OR WITHIN THE CITY OF PLANO, TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND THEN THAT LEADS ME TO MY LAST SLIDE, WHICH IS CONNECT PLANO.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS OUR VISION OF PROVIDING A NONPROFIT HUB TO BRING OUR NONPROFIT COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND, WORK ON MISSION. AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT GO ALONG WITH TRYING TO FIND OFFICE SPACE AND TRYING TO DEAL WITH INTERNET ISSUES OR COPIER AND THAT SORT OF THING. SO WITH THAT, THAT IS THE LAST.
SO I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
THANK YOU CURTIS. APPRECIATE IT. YES SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER KEHR.
ACTUALLY, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. I JUST HAVE A COMMENT.
I THINK COMMUNITY IS ONE OF THE TOP COMPONENTS THAT WE OFFER AS A CITY.
I THINK COMMUNITY IS HOW WE GET THINGS DONE. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
YES, SIR. I APPRECIATE THE WORDS. MAYOR PRO TEM.
SO, CURTIS, I ACTUALLY WAS VERY IMPRESSED WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT IN-PERSON CONTACT WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE VIOLATIONS OR CONTINUOUS COMPLAINTS BEING POSED BY OTHERS.
I THOUGHT THAT THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST AMAZING.
SO WHAT I'M, MY QUESTION IS WITH YOUR STAFF, ARE YOU DIVIDING UP THE PLANO INTO DIFFERENT AREAS? I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE A NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE A, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU FIGURING OUT LIKE THERE'S THE WEST SIDE, MAYBE DON'T NEED THE TYPE OF STUFF THE EAST SIDE DOES.
AND, DO YOU DIVIDE UP YOUR, YOUR ATTENTIONS, AND NEEDS BASED ON, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT LOCATIONS? YES. SO THE WAY WE, WORK OUT IS SO IT'S NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES HAS 62 EMPLOYEES, ABOUT 30 OF THOSE WORK IN PROPERTY STANDARDS.
AND, SO YOU KNOW, WE GOT ABOUT 20, 24 THAT WILL WORK ACTUALLY OUT IN THE FIELD.
AND SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY DIVIDE UP THE CITY OF PLANO UP INTO SECTORS.
AND SO THEY WILL BE ASSIGNED SECTORS FOR THOSE THAT ARE JUST DEALING WITH KIND OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IT'S MORE OF A SECTOR AS OPPOSED TO A NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT THEN WE'VE GOT THOSE THAT SPECIALIZE IN, THE APARTMENT COMMUNITIES.
AND, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE, WHERE THE AREA IS, YOU KNOW.
SO WE'VE GOT ONE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. SO AS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT MORE DENSITY DOWN THERE.
[01:15:07]
RIGHT? FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD PERSPECTIVE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE THINGS IN THOSE AREAS. SO THAT CENTRAL PORTION AND EASTERN PORTION OF PLANO.SO DO THE STAFF GET LIKE ASSIGNED TO LIKE A CERTAIN AREAS, OR ARE YOU GUYS JUST SORT OF COLLABORATE AND TRY TO WORK TOGETHER? THE SECTOR, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR OWN SECTOR, SO THAT'LL BE THEIR AREA.
AND YOU KNOW, EVERY SECTOR HAS ITS OWN PERSONALITY.
SO YOU JUST KIND OF TRY AND DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES IN THAT SECTOR.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER QUINTANILLA. THANK YOU MAYOR.
CURTIS ON SLIDE 70, YOUR SECOND TO LAST SLIDE UNDER CONNECT PLANO.
YES. SO THE THE ONES THAT, ARE GRAY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REQUESTED WAS A LETTER OF INTENT.
AND SO THOSE THAT ARE GRAY FOR, VARIOUS REASONS HAVE NOT SIGNED THE LETTER OF INTENT YET.
BUT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS FOR A LONG TIME.
SO YOU KNOW, WITH JUST KIND OF WITH THE TUMULTUOUSNESS THAT WE HAVE OF FUNDING AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON OVER THE PAST YEAR, THAT'S AT AN IMPACT. GOTCHA. IT'S BECAUSE I SAW THAT AND I DIDN'T SEE A KEY.
I'M SORRY. AND THE PLAN IS TO GROW THIS OVER TIME AND ADD ADDITIONAL PEOPLE.
YES. WELL, SO SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF THE THE STUFF THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.
WHAT IS THE GOVERNANCE GOING TO LOOK LIKE? AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THE GROUP, THE COALITION WANTS TO ADD AND OTHER NON-PROFITS THAT WILL BE PART OF THAT DECISION MAKING PROCESS. PERFECT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. THANK YOU. I AM TOO.
THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU CURTIS. ALL RIGHT.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU MAYOR. OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE PAUL MCNULTY. WELCOME.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PAUL MCNULTY.
I'M THE CHIEF JUDGE FOR THE CITY OF PLANO MUNICIPAL COURT AND TECHNICALLY, THE COURT OF RECORD.
I THINK IT'S SELF-EXPLANATORY WHAT A MUNICIPAL COURT DOES AND IT'S A COURT, YOU CAN'T.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PUT PICTURES OF PUPPIES AND KITTENS UP THERE, BUT IT WOULD BE MISLEADING AND IT WOULD SHOW THAT WE'RE HAVING A LOT MORE FUN OVER THERE THAN WE'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE FAIR AND EFFICIENT PROGRAM FOR DISPOSITION OF CLASS C MISDEMEANORS.
THAT IS THE LOWEST LEVEL OF CRIMINAL OFFENSE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THERE ARE FINE ONLY OFFENSES. WE ARE THE ONLY COURT OF RECORD IN COLLIN COUNTY.
CONSEQUENTLY, THAT THROWS A LOT OF EXTRA WORK ON US FROM OTHER COUNTIES FOR DOING THINGS THAT ONLY COURTS OF RECORD CAN DO, AND THEY PASS IT ON TO US. IT'S FINE. IT'S THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT HAD MADE THAT DECISION THIS PAST TERM.
SO WE ACCEPT THAT READILY. WE BECAME A COURT OF RECORD IN 2012.
AND THE MAIN REASON WE BECAME A COURT OF RECORD, AND I KNOW THAT'S AN ITEM OF CONTENTION A LOT OF TIMES, BUT WE BECAME A COURT OF RECORD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THE CASES THAT WE HAD FILED.
CITY OF PLANO POLICE DEPARTMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES, PROPERTY STANDARDS, ANIMAL SERVICES.
ALL FILE CITATIONS WITH THE CITY OF PLANO MUNICIPAL COURT.
PRIOR TO BECOMING A COURT OF RECORD, THE CITY OF PLANO WAS NOT A COURT OF RECORD.
AT THAT POINT, IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60% OF THE CASES THAT WE WERE LOSING TO THAT, AND I KNOW A LOT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS RESENTFUL OF THAT BECAUSE THEY DID ALL THE WORK AND NOW IT'S BEING DISMISSED AT A HIGHER LEVEL COURT WHO JUST DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE.
WE FOUND THAT WHEN WE BECAME A COURT OF RECORD, THE CASES WERE TREATED BETTER.
AT LEAST THERE WAS SOME JUSTICE THAT WAS BEING DONE THAT EITHER DISMISSED OR PROSECUTED.
[01:20:01]
BUT THEY WERE BEING TAKEN CARE OF MUCH BETTER THAN THEY WERE FROM 2005, 2007 UNTIL 2012.A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT IT BECAME A COURT OF RECORD, PRIMARILY FOR MONEY.
THAT WAS NOT A CONSIDERATION AT ALL. THAT WAS MADE AT THE COURT.
IT WAS MAINTAINING CONTROL OVER THOSE CASES FOR THE COURT AND FOR THE CITY OF PLANO.
CITY OF PLANO MUNICIPAL COURT, COMPRISED OF A CHIEF MUNICIPAL JUDGE, SENIOR ASSOCIATE JUDGE AND ASSOCIATE JUDGE, A JUVENILE CASE MANAGER, COURT DOCKET SUPERVISOR AND SENIOR ADMIN ASSISTANT WHO DEDICATES HALF OF HER TIME TO JCM AND THE YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM, WHICH WE'LL GET INTO LATER AND TO THE COURT.
THE COURT HAS THE BENEFIT OF BEING ABLE TO DRAW ON FOUR DEDICATED FUNDS.
THOSE DEDICATED FUNDS ARE THE TECHNOLOGY FUND, THE COURT SECURITY FUND AND TEEN COURT, AND THE YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM, WHICH IS FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGER PROGRAM.
THESE ARE DEDICATED FUNDS, WHICH MEANS THAT THE MONEY THAT GOES TO FUND THOSE FOR PARTICULAR PROGRAMS DOES NOT COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY. IT COMES FROM THE RESOLUTION OF CITATIONS THAT ARE ISSUED AND RESOLVED, WHICH BY JUDGMENT, DEFERRED DISPOSITION. ANY OTHER WAY THAT GO RIGHT INTO CERTAIN PERCENTAGES OF EACH DEPARTMENT.
IT'S FUNDED THROUGH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 133.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE THE ONLY SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THOSE FOUR PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTS IS FROM CITATIONS THAT ARE RESOLVED IN COURT. YOU'LL SEE THAT BUILDING SECURITY, WE USE IT FOR A MULTITUDE OF REASONS. WE USE IT FOR TRAINING.
WE USE IT FOR INTERPRETERS, FOR THE COURT. NOW THAT THE STATE HAS MANDATED THAT INTERPRETERS HAVE TO BE MASTER INTERPRETERS FOR TRIALS IS GOING TO BE A BIGGER DRAW ON THE COURT.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE A BIGGER DRAW ON THE COURT SECURITY FUND.
THAT IS IT'S A BIG, BIG EXPENSE THAT WE HAVE TAKEN ON.
AND WE'RE FORTUNATELY, WE'RE BEING ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
TECHNOLOGY FUND WE USE FOR ALL MANNER OF TECHNOLOGY.
WE FUND OUR TYLER TECHNOLOGY PAYMENTS THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY FUND.
ANY KIND OF TECHNOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENTS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE OVERDOING THE COURT AUDIOVISUAL SYSTEM IN BOTH COURTROOMS. WE ARE ABOUT 20 TO 25 YEARS OLD. THEY ARE FAILING.
WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID THAT. THAT SHOULD START IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.
I'M TOLD THAT IT WON'T TAKE LONG, BUT THAT IS 100% BEING FUNDED OUT OF THE COURT TECHNOLOGY FUND.
WE FOUND THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT TO DO IT THAT WAY.
AND OF COURSE, A BIGGER BENEFIT TO THE CITY BECAUSE IT WON'T BE FUNDED THROUGH THE CITY FUND.
TEEN COURT IS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY RESOLUTIONS FOR JUVENILE CASES UP UNTIL JUVENILE DIVERSION. IT IS A JUVENILE ONE AND ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF ITS CASE AT A TEEN COURT FOR A REDUCED AMOUNT. THEY DO COMMUNITY SERVICE, SO IT HELPS EVERYONE.
BUT TEEN COURT HAS BEEN AROUND IN THE CITY OF PLANO FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.
AND IT'S A TREMENDOUS PROGRAM. WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF IT.
AND WE HOLD IT TWICE A MONTH. IT'S EVERY MONDAY FROM 5:30 TILL 8:00.
[01:25:02]
AND I SAY THIS EVERY TIME I MEET WITH YOU ALL.COME AND SEE IT. I THINK YOU'D BE VERY IMPRESSED IF YOU WATCHED IT.
OUR FOURTH FUND IS CALLED THE LOCAL YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM.
IT USED TO BE THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGER FUND.
IT IS ALSO FUNDED FROM CITATIONS THAT ARE RESOLVED AND $50, WHICH IS OPTIONAL BECAUSE WE HAVE TO INTERVIEW THE INDIVIDUALS, THE PARENTS AND THE CHILDREN TO DETERMINE IF THEY CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD $50.
IF THEY CAN'T, IT'S WAIVED AND THEY'RE STILL GIVEN DIVERSION.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MODIFIED SINCE THE 88TH LEGISLATURE, BUT JUST MINOR MODIFICATIONS.
IT IS A CHARGE AS FILED. AND WE'VE ADOPTED ONE OF TWO WAYS.
WE'VE ADOPTED THE INTERMEDIATE DIVERSION, WHICH MEANS THAT THE TECHNICALLY, THE JUVENILE DOESN'T EVER HAVE TO HAVE ANY CONNECTION OR ANY EXPOSURE TO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM WHATSOEVER. THEY MEET WITH THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGER.
THEY'RE GIVEN A DIVERSION PROGRAM, THEY COMPLETE IT, THE CASE IS DISMISSED.
AND TECHNICALLY IT'S NOT EVEN A CASE. IT'S A CHARGE.
THAT PAPERWORK IS ACCUMULATED AND PHYSICALLY DESTROYED ONCE THEY TURN 18.
IF THEY DON'T COMPLETE IT, THEN THEY GO TO A NON-ADVERSARIAL HEARING.
GET TO THE RIGHT PAGE HERE. THEY GO TO A NON-ADVERSARIAL HEARING WHERE A JUDGE MEETS WITH THEM AND THE PARENT AND THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGER TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS SOME COMPELLING REASON WHY THEY COULDN'T COMPLETE IT.
IF THERE IS, WE CAN GIVE THEM EXTENSION UP TO ONE YEAR.
IF THERE'S NOT, OR IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP, THE CASE IS IMMEDIATELY REFERRED TO THE PROSECUTION OFFICE, AND THEY MAKE A DETERMINATION WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD FILE THAT CASE WITH THE COURT.
WE HAVE HAD 192 FILINGS, WHICH IS PROBABLY THREE TIMES OUR CLOSEST COMPETITOR.
WE'VE HAD OUR JUVENILE CASE MANAGER SOLICITED FOR EMPLOYMENT.
SHE'S DEDICATED TO PLANO. SHE'S DEDICATED TO THE PROGRAM, AND SHE WOULDN'T LEAVE FOR ANYTHING.
THE OTHER PART OF JUDICIAL IS JUDICIAL DIVERSION.
JUDICIAL DIVERSION MEANS THAT THE CHARGE IS ACTUALLY FILED.
THE CHILD IS THEN BROUGHT TO COURT BY THE PARENT AND GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER A PLEA IN THE CASE. IF THEY PLEAD GUILTY, THEN THEY'RE GIVEN DIVERSION.
ONCE THEY COMPLETE THE DIVERSION, THE CASE IS DISMISSED.
WHEN THEY TURN 18, ALL FILES ARE PHYSICALLY DESTROYED.
WE'VE ADOPTED INTERMEDIATE BECAUSE I THINK IT IS MORE IN LINE OF WHAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS REALLY, REALLY INTENDED THIS PROGRAM TO BE. INITIALLY, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO EVEN HAVE THE PROSECUTION OFFICE INVOLVED IN IT.
THERE WAS A STRONG LOBBY FOR THE PROSECUTORS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD.
EVENTUALLY THEY RELENTED AND THEY KEPT IT IN THE LEGISLATION.
AND IT'S JUST ANOTHER STEP IN THE WHOLE PROGRAM THAT MAKES IT A MUCH STRONGER PROGRAM.
FOUR PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE FIVE, ACTUALLY. AND MARK, I THINK IT'S MARCH OR MAY 11TH THAT WE HAVE DESIGNATED AS A. I'M GOING TO BRING THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGER AND HER ASSISTANT IN TO MAKE A FULL PRESENTATION ON THE YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM, BECAUSE IT REALLY, REALLY IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND SHE'LL GIVE YOU A DEEP IN THE WEEDS, DOWN AND DIRTY DESCRIPTION OF EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN YOUTH DIVERSION. PROBABLY A LOT MORE THAN YOU REALLY WANTED TO KNOW.
OTHERWISE, WE'VE GOT OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS. BY OUR STANDARDS WE'VE GOT THE AV SYSTEM IN THE COURTROOMS, WHICH WE ARE COMBINED WITH THE PROSECUTIONS OFFICE AND FACILITIES.
WE JUST HAD OUR BID MEETING THIS MORNING. WE ARE GETTING READY TO GO.
WE SHOULD BE READY TO START THE CONVERSION IN THE AUDIO VISUAL, PROBABLY WITHIN A MONTH.
WE'VE GOT THE BIG PROJECT IS THE FRONT LOBBY.
[01:30:03]
BUILDING. WE PROBABLY HAVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF PEOPLE WHO COME IN OUR FRONT DOOR THAN ANY OTHER FACILITY IN THIS CITY.WE THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT THEY BE PROTECTED.
I'VE BEEN IN MANY, MANY COURTROOMS AND COURTHOUSES THAT ARE COMPLETELY INSUFFICIENT AS FAR AS SECURITY GOES, AND THEY DON'T HAVE NEARLY THE DEDICATION THAT THE CITY OF PLANO HAS TO THE SECURITY THAT WE ARE DEVOTING TO THIS PROJECT.
I THINK THE CITY OF PLANO MUNICIPAL COURT IS NOT REALLY, AND IT'S NOT A PRODUCT OF WHAT WE INTENDED.
IT'S A PRODUCT OF WHAT THE LEGISLATURE INTENDED, AND WE HAVE MOVED OURSELVES INTO IT THAT WE'RE MORE INCLINED TO HAVE HOMELESS, INDIGENT POPULATION COME INTO COURT.
WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH CURTIS AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.
I CAN'T PROMISE THAT THEY ALL SHOW UP OVER THERE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY DO.
WE SEE IT EVERY DAY IN THE JAIL, AND IT'S SAD.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD A WHOLE LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPOSURE TO THAT PARTICULAR POPULATION, BUT WE SEE IT ON A DAILY BASIS. WE SEE IT IN THE JAIL.
THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR TRANSITIONS IN THE LAST THREE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.
THEY ARE BECOMING MORE OF A COMPLIANT WITH THE HOMELESS PROGRAMS, WHICH WE DEVELOPED FOUR YEARS AGO, AND LESS SO IN COLLECTION OF FINES, ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS.
AND WE ARE AT THE STAGE RIGHT NOW WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS VERY CLOSE, PROBABLY TWO STAGES AWAY FROM ELIMINATING ALL TYPES OF WARRANTS WHATSOEVER AND JUST MAKING PEOPLE OR COURTS, MAKING COURTS COMPLY WITH HOMELESS INITIATIVES, AND WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST THAT DEVELOPED ONE OF THE HOMELESS INITIATIVES IN THIS REGION.
AND THAT WAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. AND AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A PUPPY AT THE END, BUT I DON'T.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU JUDGE. APPRECIATE THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MY FRIEND. THAT'S IT.
YES. OKAY. WE ARE AT THE 7:00 HOUR. I WILL GO ON CONSENT AND REGULAR AGENDAS. IS THERE ANY ITEM A COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE? I KNOW THERE'S A SPEAKER FOR ITEM K. ANY OTHERS? OKAY. ANY ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS? DISCUSSION.
AND WE WILL BEGIN TONIGHT'S REGULAR MEETING. COME ON IN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.