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I'M CHRIS BEARD,[Garland District 2 Town Hall Meeting on March 25, 2026.]
I AM COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT TWO.THIS WILL BE MY LAST TOWN HALL AS DISTRICT TWO, UH, REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE I WILL BE TURNING IT OVER MAY 12TH TO JUSTIN CARAWAY.
BE, UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MEET, GREET, UH, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS TO KNOW EVERYTHING.
HE WILL SIT DOWN
FIRST, LET ME INTRODUCE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE ROOM.
WE HAVE OUR MAYOR, DYLAN HEDRICK, WHO IS DIGGING THROUGH HIS BACKPACK
WE HAVE CITY MANAGER MIKE BETS, UM, OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES.
WE'VE GOT ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, PHIL, PHIL WORKS, WORKS.
I ALWAYS BUTCHER HIS LAST NAME SO MY, UH, TRAVIS.
WE HAVE ANDY HESSER, AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, MATT WATSON.
SO WE HAVE THREE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS HERE.
WE HAVE AMY ROSENTHAL FROM OUR CULTURAL ARTS.
WE HAVE BRIAN MORRIS WHO CODE, AND WE HAVE ALLISON STEADMAN FROM OUR, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS.
ANYBODY, TRAVIS BANKS IT, WHO WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO ANY OF THOSE.
EVERYBODY ELSE IS JUST DRESSING.
HE'S THE ONE THAT KEEPS IT GOING.
UH, HE'S THE ONE THAT RUNS UP ON THE DAIS WHEN SOMEBODY'S BUTTONS DON'T WORK AND GETS US SET UP.
SO THANK YOU TRAVIS, FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I CAN SAY WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH A QUICK PRESENTATION ON WHAT'S GOING ON AND GARLAND AND WHAT WE HAVE TO BE SO PROUD OF AND PROGRESS WE'VE MADE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH THE NEW BOND ELECTION.
AND, UM, THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE JUST A MEET AND GREET WHERE YOU CAN SIT AND VISIT WITH EVERYBODY AND GET TO KNOW JUSTIN.
I WILL LET HIM INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY.
I MET A LOT OF YOU GUYS IN PASSING AND SOME OF THE LATEST EVENTS THAT WE JUST HAD WITH THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE TENNIS COURT.
UM, BUT I'M HERE WITH MY FAMILY.
I HAVE MY YOUNGEST SON, JUSTICE CARAWAY.
I HAVE MY SISTER TRACY CARAWAY, AND I HAVE MY FATHER JB CARAWAY, AND MY SISTER SHALON CARAWAY IN ATTENDANCE AS WELL.
UM, I'M A NATIVE OF GARLAND, GREW UP HERE IN DISTRICT TWO.
GARLAND IS HOME FOR ME, REALLY LOOKING BACK, UH, REALLY JUST LOOKING TO GIVING BACK AND ALSO POURING INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.
I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE'RE MISSING HERE IN THE CITY, IS THE FACT OF WE'RE NOT AS TIGHT KNIT OF A COMMUNITY THAT WE ONCE WERE.
AND TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THAT AND UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITIES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING GARLAND THE HOME THAT WE ALL LOVE AND CARE FOR.
ALRIGHT, WELL, I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO AMY ROSENTHAL AND SHE'S GOING TO, UH, GO OVER ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN GARLAND.
WELL, I'M GONNA GRAB, UM, THE SLIDE ADVANCER.
I'M PROUD TO SERVE AS YOUR CULTURAL ARTS DIRECTOR HERE FOR THE CITY OF GARLAND.
I I'M VERY EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT THE GOOD NEWS.
SO WE'RE ROLLING OUT A PROGRAM TONIGHT CALLED GARLAND DELIVERED.
AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND SOME OF THE CHANGES.
UM, BUT I'M EXCITED TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU, OKAY.
AND, AND WHAT YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE HAPPENING HERE IN GARLAND.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST ALL ABOUT PLANS AND MEETINGS, BUT IT'S ABOUT RESULTS.
OKAY? AND THAT'S WHAT GARLAND DELIVERS IS.
SO IT'S REAL PROJECTS AND IT'S REAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AND SO IT'S THINGS THAT YOU EXPERIENCE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, AND THINGS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ONE INITIATIVE, OKAY? THIS IS ALL ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY.
UM, IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S DOWNTOWN, IT'S STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S PARKS AND RECREATION.
UH, IT'S LIBRARIES, IT'S WHITE.
BARLAND IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
OKAY? AND WE HAVE SO MUCH GOING ON THAT I GOTTA MAKE SURE I'VE GOT MY NOTES AND I ALSO HAVE MY TEAM HERE WITH US TO KIND OF HELP FILL INTO WHERE IT NEEDS, WHERE WE NEED.
BUT THE FIRST THING, UM, THAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT, THE FIRST THING THAT'S, THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US IS PUBLIC SAFETY, RIGHT? AND, UM, WE HAVE SOME REALLY FANTASTIC THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE RECENT, IN RECENT YEARS.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM YOU THAT WHAT YOU WANNA SEE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF OUR NEW, UH, ANIMAL SHELTER
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AND ADOPTION CENTER.LAST YEAR THERE WERE 8,000 PETS THAT WERE ADOPTED, UH, FROM OUR NEW SHELTER.
SO WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF REALLY FUN INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER VOLUNTEERS, WHICH WE HAVE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, AND PLUS THERE'S LIKE A LITTLE DOG TRAIL TO GO AROUND AS WELL TOO.
VACCINE CLINICS, ALL KINDS OF GREAT THINGS.
WE, UH, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FIRE STATIONS ARE IN THE BEST PLACES TO REACH OUR CITIZENS.
AND SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR NEW FIRE STATIONS.
AND WE HAVE A COUPLE THAT ARE IN THE WORKS.
UM, WE HAVE A NEW SIMULATIONS FACILITY.
THIS IS A FACILITY WHERE OUR OFFICERS CAN TRAIN IN REAL LIFE SITUATIONS.
THESE ARE THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY MAINTAINS A SAFE, MAINTAINS A SAFE COMMUNITY FOR OUR CITIZENS.
SO OF COURSE, ALL THE GREAT SAFETY THINGS AND THEN THE FUN STUFF, I'M SURE Y'ALL HAVE BEING DISTRICT TWO, HAVE GOTTEN TO ENJOY ALL OF THE WONDERFUL ENERGY AND THE EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
THIS IS DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN SUCH, UH, TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN SALES TAX FROM SOME OF THE NEW ESTABLISHMENTS IN DOWNTOWN.
AND WE HAVE THINGS THAT ARE IN DEVELOPMENT NOW TOO.
WE'VE GOT THE OWL ICE HOUSE THAT'S COMING ON.
UM, LOCKWOOD HAS JUST OPENED UP, UH, FORTUNATE SUNS HA VINO DEAD WAX RECORDS.
YOU GO DOWN THERE AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE PLAYING AND ENJOYING.
UM, I'M SUPER EXCITED TO SHARE ABOUT SOME OF THE CULTURAL ARTS FACILITIES THAT, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
YOU THANK YOU GARLAND VOTERS ARE HELPING US REFRESH OUR GRANDVILLE ARTS CENTER.
IT WAS BACK IN THE 1980S WHEN GARLAND BUILT THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
THIS WAS SUCH A SPECIAL ADDITION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE RENOVATION FOR, FOR GRAND BALL ARTS CENTER.
WE HAVE A NEW ARTS INCUBATOR COMING ON FIFTH STREET.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, OUR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE COWBOY HAT CAPITAL TEXAS, RIGHT? SO I EVEN WORE MY HAT TONIGHT JUST 'CAUSE UH, I LOVE TO SHARE ABOUT OUR COWBOY HAT CAPITAL.
SO THIS MIGHT NOT BE AS EXCITING, RIGHT? BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND IT MATTERS TO ALL OF US, IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
OKAY? SO BACK IN 2019, WE DID PASS BOND MONEY TO HELP SUPPORT, UM, LOTS OF IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY.
AND MOST RECENTLY IN 2025, UM, A GOOD PORTION OF OUR BOND PACKAGE IS DEDICATED TO ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.
OKAY? SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? SO THIS IS A MAP, 239 PROJECTS PLANNED FOR YEAR ONE, RIGHT? IS THAT RIGHT? ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, MATT WATT, YES.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE TO SEE ALL OF THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY IN TERMS OF ROAD AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, AND HERE'S THE COOL THING TOO.
YOU CAN GO TO GAR ROAD GARLAND.COM AND YOU CAN ZOOM IN TO SEE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOUR STREET, AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WHAT TYPES OF ROAD IMPROVEMENTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN IN YOUR, IN YOUR STREET.
AND, OKAY, SO HERE'S, HERE'S A FUN FACT.
OKAY? SO GARLAND, THERE'S 2000 MILES OF ROAD IN GARLAND.
SO IF YOU WERE GONNA DRIVE 2000 MILES, THAT WOULD BE FROM GARLAND TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.
OKAY? SO THAT IS HOW MUCH ROAD, UM, OUR AMAZING STREET DEPARTMENT HELPS TAKE CARE OF FOR THE CITY OF GARLAND.
OKAY, SO THEN THE NEXT ONE, UM, SO LET'S GET OUTSIDE AND PLAY.
IT'S SPRING, RIGHT? SO LET'S TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE FANTASTIC THINGS HAPPENING, UM, IN TERMS OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION AND OPEN SPACES.
SO, UM, RIGHT HERE IN DISTRICT TWO, WE'VE JUST COMPLETED A CENTRAL PARK LOOP TRAIL.
UM, WE'VE GOT NEW, UH, SPORTS FIELDS.
UM, WE HAVE PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS AT 26 PARKS ACROSS THE CITY.
ALMOST ALL OF OUR PLAYGROUNDS HAVE BEEN REFRESHED FOR THE CITY OF GARLAND.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT IN RIGHT HERE IN DISTRICT TWO, THE DOUGLAS PARK PLAYGROUND, UH, THE RICK ODIN PARK IMPROVEMENTS, THE SKATE PARK, UM, THAT'S ONE OF THE, IT'S, I THINK IT'S THE SECOND LARGEST SKATE PARK IN TEXAS, PROFESSOR, CORRECT? YES.
SO, AND THAT ATTRACTS FOLKS FROM ALL OVER TEXAS JUST TO COME AND ENJOY THE SKATE PARK, WHICH IS SO COOL.
UM, AND THEN THE NEW HOLFORD RECREATION CENTER.
I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE BEEN OUT TO SEE THAT.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE AQUATICS, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT ALL THE SWIM STUFF IN JUST A SECOND.
UM, BUT SUCH A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY WITH GYMNASIUMS AND MEETING ROOMS. UM, AND THIS, WE'RE SUPER PROUD JUST THIS LAST SATURDAY WE HAD THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE BOB DAY TENNIS CENTER.
OKAY? AND SO HERE'S THE THING ABOUT THIS TENNIS CENTER.
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COMING TO GARLAND TO PLAY AT THIS TENNIS CENTER.SO THAT'S PEOPLE, IT'S NOT ONLY GREAT FOR OUR RESIDENTS, RIGHT? WE GET TO ENJOY THE TENNIS CENTER, BUT IT'S BRINGING PEOPLE HERE TO GARLAND TO SPEND THEIR MONEY IN OUR TOWN, UH, AT THE, WITH THE TENNIS CENTER.
SO AGAIN, WE'VE GOT HALABA RECREATION CENTER AND AUDUBON, AND THERE'S MORE THINGS IN THE WORK.
AGAIN, GARLAND DELIVERS REAL IMPROVEMENTS.
OKAY? SO JUST ALL OF THESE, THE SENIOR CENTER, RIGHT? CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT THE SENIOR CENTER IS GONNA BE? AND I LEARNED SOMETHING TODAY TOO.
IT'S NOT ABOUT BINGO, OKAY? OR LUNCHES, RIGHT? IT IS ABOUT, UH, IT'S ABOUT AN INDOOR WALKING TRACK.
IT'S ABOUT LIKE, PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT AND TO BE TOGETHER.
SO YEAH, THE SENIOR CENTERS ARE, ARE PRETTY IMPORTANT.
UM, OKAY, SO DID I GET OTHER SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT TOO? I WANNA MAKE SURE I CAPTURE EVERYTHING.
SO SPLASH, OKAY, IT IS SUMMER.
WE'RE READY TO, TO GET OUT AND, UH, ENJOY A LITTLE WET, IT'S HOT TEXAS SUMMERS.
SO LOOK AT ALL OF THE, THE SPLASH PARKS, OKAY? THE SERF AND SWIM.
I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE HOTTEST THING THAT EVERYBODY IS WAITING FOR.
SO, AFTER MEMORIAL DAY, RIGHT, WE ARE ABOUT TO OPEN SURF AND SWIM.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS A, UM, WAVE MACHINE, RIGHT? SO HEY TO NEWS DUDE, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO CALIFORNIA, GET YOUR SURF ON, YOU KNOW, RIGHT HERE IN GARLAND.
SO, AND OF COURSE WE'VE GOT THE FER AQUATIC CENTER, THE LONG WIND SPLASH PAD, THE EMORY PARK SPLASH PAD, UM, THE WATSON PARK SPLASH PADS.
AND THOSE SPLASH PADS ARE FUN FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S A REALLY SAFE WAY TO HAVE LITTLE ONES WITH YOUR FAMILY OUT AND ENJOYING, UH, A LITTLE REFRESHMENT.
SO, OKAY, THE THING TOO ABOUT THE SERPENT WIND RESIDENTS GET A DISCOUNT, IT'S OPEN TO EVERYBODY, BUT IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF GARLAND, YOU GET A DISCOUNT, UM, NOT ONLY ON YOUR DAY PASS, BUT ON A SEASON PASS AS WELL TOO.
SO, UH, PLUS WE ARE AWARD-WINNING, OKAY?
SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE GREAT THINGS FOR OUR CITIZENS, BUT WE'RE RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE STATE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN GARLAND WALKS INTO THE ROOM, PEOPLE KNOW, UH, PRETTY COOL STUFF.
AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, OUR LIBRARIES.
AND HERE WE ARE IN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, WHICH IS JUST EXTRAORDINARY.
I MEAN, IT'S MORE THAN BOOKS, RIGHT? IT'S A, UM, PODCAST STUDIO.
THERE'S A, A COOKING DEMONSTRATION KITCHEN.
I MEAN, IT'S GREAT MEETING ROOM SPACE, UM, ALL KINDS OF WONDERFUL THINGS.
AND THIS LIBRARY WON AN AWARD, BUT THE TEXAS DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION AS WELL TOO.
SO, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WONDERFUL THINGS FOR OUR RESIDENTS, BUT IT'S NOT JUST CENTRAL LIBRARY.
WE JUST OPEN THE WEST LIBRARY, UM, BRAND NEW WEST LIBRARY, AMAZING PROGRAMS DAY E EVERY DAY, OKAY? SO YOU CAN GO TO THE CALENDAR, YOU CAN FIND A FULL LISTING OF ACTIVITIES FOR, FOR ALL OF OUR LIBRARIES.
UM, WE DID A FUN REFRESH AT NORTH LIBRARY ON THE FACADE, BUT THERE'S, UH, SOME IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR THE INTERIOR.
AND OF COURSE, SOUTH GARLAND LIBRARY TOO IS GONNA GET SOME LOVE COMING UP SOON.
SO AGAIN, LIBRARIES, IT'S MORE THAN JUST BOOKS.
THERE, THERE ARE PLACES OF CONNECTION, LEARNING, AND OPPORTUNITY.
SO I THINK THAT BRINGS ME TO ALL OF, UM, KIND OF A BIG VIEW OF ALL THE REALLY COOL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
UM, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT THAT GARLAND DELIVERS.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT GARLAND DELIVERS MEANS THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY, OKAY? AND, UM, AND IT'S THINGS THAT YOU CAN SEE AND FEEL, UM, AND BENEFIT FROM EVERY DAY.
WE HEARD LAST WEEK, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN IN NOVEMBER, SO ISN'T THAT GONNA BE EXCITING? AND THEY HAVE TWO OUTDOOR PICKLEBALL COURTS.
AND SO MY HUSBAND IS ONE OF THOSE THAT'S LIKE, OKAY, HOW MUCH IS IT GONNA COST ME TO JOIN BECAUSE HE'S READY TO PLAY.
SO WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT ALL THESE NEW EVENTS, OUR NEW LIBRARIES.
HE DOESN'T KNOW THE NAMES, HE CAN'T, BUT HE TELLS ME SOMETHING ABOUT EACH LIBRARY THAT TELLS ME WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.
AND HE, IF HE DOESN'T GET TO PLAY AND GO TO A LIBRARY, HE'S VERY UPSET WHEN HE VISITS.
SO OUR LIBRARIES ARE FABULOUS.
SO GARLAND HAS, JUST OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, GARLAND HAS JUST EXPLODED WITH WONDERFUL THINGS AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF THAT.
NOW, ONE OF THE NEW WONDERFUL THINGS THAT IS COMING INTO PLACE IS WE'RE CHANGING THE WAY CODE IS GONNA BE WORKING.
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GO FOR ALL OF THAT.AND, UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING,
I'M YOUR DIRECTOR OF CO COMPLIANCE HERE AT TON.
AND, UH, WE'RE JUST EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE GOOD THINGS WE HAVE GOING ON HERE IN THE CITY OF RALEIGH.
SO, AMY, THAT'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW, BUT I'M GOING TO DO MY VERY BEST.
ALRIGHT, SO I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS.
AMY JUST WENT OVER A LOT OF REASONS TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF GAR, RIGHT? NEW DEVELOPMENTS, UM, NEW PRIORITIES AND NEW INITIATIVES.
AND SO FROM THE CODE COMPLIANCE STANDPOINT, UH, WE ARE A BIG PART OF THAT, RIGHT? SO WE ARE, UH, A SIMPLE WAY TO PUT IT BECAUSE I EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WE ARE LIKE THE HOA FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
SO OUR MISSION IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, RIGHT? WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FOLKS TO DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ONCE THAT'S, ONCE THAT PART'S DONE, YOU NOW YOU WANT TO LOOK AT YOUR QUALITY LIFE.
HOW DOES YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS LOOK? HOW DO THE CORRIDORS LOOK? AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE? HOW DOES THAT AFFECT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? WHO WANTS TO GO LIVE, PLAY, WORK IN THIS GREAT CITY ABROAD? SO THAT'S OUR TASK AS A TEAM IS TO, UH, JUST ENHANCE THE BEAUTIFICATION OF A CITY TO GO ALONG WITH THESE GREAT INITIATIVES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE PLANNED.
AND SO IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THAT, WE'VE, UH, WE'RE DOING SOME NEW STUFF.
SO, UH, ONE THING THAT'S A HUGE CHANGE IS HOW WE ENFORCE AROUND THE CITY.
UH, SO IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT SILOS OF INSPECTORS.
WE HAD FOLKS THAT WOULD DO COMMERCIAL AND THEY HAD FOLKS THAT WOULD DO RESIDENTIAL AND THEN MOSTLY FAMILIES.
AND SO IF YOU CALLED OFF COMMERCIAL INSPECTOR, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REFER AN ISSUE THAT WAS RESIDENTIAL TO A RESIDENTIAL INSPECTOR.
SO THAT TAKES TIME, THAT TAKES COORDINATION AND IT PROBABLY WASN'T THE BEST USE OF HOW WE ALLOCATE ALL RESOURCES.
AND SO WE DECIDED TO DO LEADERSHIP AND CAME TOGETHER AND WE OUT TO CROSS TRAIN EVERYBODY.
AND SO NOW AT THIS POINT, EVERYBODY CAN DO EVERYTHING.
NOW YOU'RE, YOU ARE A JACK OF ALL TRADE.
SO NO MATTER WHAT YOU CALL US FOR, WHETHER IT'S COMMERCIAL, UH, RESIDENTIAL OR MULTIFAMILY, YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT ISSUE AND WE CAN SERVE YOU BETTER.
UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS CUSTOMER SERVICE.
THAT'S OUR PRIMARY GOAL, IS TO BE THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE ORIENTED DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY.
AND WE FEEL THAT THE RESIDENTS OF GONE DEFINITELY DESERVE THAT.
BUT WE'RE GONNA DO OUR BEST TO GIVE THAT TO YOU.
SO, UH, SO WITH OUR DISTRICT BASED APPROACH, WE HAVE, UH, TEAMS OF, WE HAVE 25 TEAM INSPECTORS.
AND SO WE HAVE TEAMS OF FIVE OR SIX THAT ARE DEDICATED TO EACH GROUP OF DISTRICTS.
AND SO WHAT THAT DOES FOR IS JUST MAKES US THAT MUCH MORE EFFICIENT.
UH, WE CAN GET TO YOUR RESPONSES QUICKER, WE CAN SERVE IT QUICKER, AND WE CAN GET COMPLIANCE A LOT FASTER.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ROLLING OUT THIS YEAR.
UH, WE'VE BEEN CROSS TRAINED FOR LAST SIX, SEVEN MONTHS TO GET EVERYBODY UP TO SPEED SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO ACROSS.
UM, WE PUT A FEW INITIATIVES IN PLACE.
UH, ONE IS OUR TEMPORARY SIGN ENFORCEMENT.
UH, IF YOU GUYS, HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN THE WAVY, UH, THE INFLATABLE MACHINES THAT OUTSIDE OF P WASHES, LAUNDRY MATS, AND THEY'RE JUST 30 FEET TALL AND THEY'RE WAVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE.
SO WE HAVE THOSE, WE HAVE THE TEMPORARY BANNERS THAT JUST CLUTTER UP THE CITY.
AND SO WE'VE ELIMINATED ABOUT 75, UH, WITHIN THE PAST 45 DAYS.
SO A MAJOR INITIATIVE, WE'RE GONNA KEEP GOING.
UH, IT JUST, IT CLEANS UP THE CITY MAKES IT MAKES THE CITY LOOK MORE ATTRACTIVE, UH, BETTER FOR BETTER FOR YOUR, UH, RESIDENTS COMING THROUGH.
WE JUST LAUNCHED ON FEBRUARY 23RD, OUR SALESFORCE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
AND SO THIS, UH, IS A VERY IN-DEPTH PROGRAM THAT HELPS US TO MONITOR, TO REPORT AND TO MORE EFFECTIVELY MANAGE OUR CASE LOADS.
UH, WE WERE PREVIOUSLY WORKING ON A SYSTEM THAT WAS ABOUT, UH, 15 YEARS OLD.
AND SO AS TECHNOLOGY CHANGES, THINGS BECOME OUTDATED.
AND SO NOW WE'VE UPGRADED AND UPDATED AND NOW WE ARE, WE'RE READY TO TAKE TACKLE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAD AS PART OF US AT THIS TIME.
UH, AS WELL AS OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL ENFORCEMENT TRACKING, THAT'S A NEW PROGRAM THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED RACIALLY.
UH, WE'RE ALSO TACKLING, UH, VENDORS, ROADSIDE VENDORS.
UH, Y'ALL SEEN FOLKS OUT THERE WITH THE STUFFED ANIMALS AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY'RE SELLING ON THE WEEKENDS.
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UH, SO WE'RE MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO TACKLE THOSE ISSUES AND JUST CLEAN UP THE CITY IN GENERAL, RIGHT? WE WON'T CATCH 'EM ALL, BUT WE'RE CATCHING ABOUT 90% OF THE ONE THAT COMES FROM OUR, UH, WE'RE FOCUSING HEAVILY, HEAVILY ON OUR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS.THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE SEE THE GATEWAYS WHEN THEY COME INTO THE CITY OF GARLAND.
THAT'S THE FIRST THING THEY SEE IS OUR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS.
WANNA MAKE SURE WE PUT A HEAVY FOCUS ON THAT AND CLEAN THOSE AREAS UP.
UH, DISTRICT TWO IS A VERY ACTIVE AREA FOR US.
IT'S OUR HIGHEST COMPLAINTS, OUR HIGHEST, UH, VIOLATION
SO WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL OFFICER THAT WE'VE INCLUDED IN DISTRICT TWO 10.
SO TO HELP US COMBAT THAT, EXACTLY THAT HIGHER BARGAIN THAT WE RECEIVED IN DIGITAL TWO.
ALRIGHT? SO ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT VIOLATIONS, IT'S ABOUT HELPING THOSE THAT CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES.
UM, SO OUR COLD CARES PROGRAMS, WHAT WE IMPLEMENTED AND WE'RE GONNA GROW AND EXTEND THAT PROGRAM TO HELP SENIORS AND DISABLED RESIDENTS THAT CANNOT COME INTO COMPLIANCE ON THEIR OWN.
UH, WE HAVE A CODE TOOLS TRAILER THAT WE'RE GONNA ROLL OUT, UH, IN LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER.
AND SO THAT WAY IF YOU, IF YOU JUST CAN'T, YOU DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO CUT YOUR GRASS OR TO, YOU KNOW, CUT DOWN SOME LIMBS AND WE CAN COME OUT, BRING THOSE MATERIALS OUT TO YOU AND HELP YOU COME INTO COMPLIANCE, ALRIGHT? SO YOU CAN CHECK THOSE OUT.
WE STARTING SMALL, BUT WE WOULDN'T BE BOARD THAT AS WE GO TO HELP FOLKS THAT CAN'T QUITE HELP THEMSELVES AT THIS TIME.
ALRIGHT? SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND THE SERVICE THAT'S GONNA BRING TO OUR RESIDENTS.
UH, WE'RE PREACHING OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH VOLUNTEER GARDEN, ALONG WITH OTHER NON-PROFITS, CHURCHES, UH, FOLKS THAT JUST WANT TO HELP BUT DON'T KNOW HOW.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN GARLAND THAT WANT TO ASSIST AND, YOU KNOW, HELP THE NEIGHBORS.
SO WE WANT TO BE A CONDUIT FOR THAT AND HELP THEM TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.
SO IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO VOLUNTEER, YOU HAVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT VOLUNTEER GARING WHERE THEY CAN SIGN UP, THEY CAN JOIN THE ROADS AND THEY CAN COME PUT THEIR SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL.
ALRIGHT? UM, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AGAIN, CUSTOMER SERVICE IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY, FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD.
SO, UH, WE HAVE KIOSK IN OUR FACILITIES WHERE YOU GIVE US FEEDBACK, TELL US HOW WE'RE DOING.
IF WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB, WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO, TO DODGE THOSE.
WE WANT TO BE ON THE FRONT END OF IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO BETTER, UH, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO DO THIS, RIGHT? SO DON'T BE AFRAID, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HURT MY FEELINGS AT ALL, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT, IF WE'RE MISSING THE BALL ON SOMETHING, WE'RE DROPPING THE BALL.
UH, WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT EARLY AND OFTEN.
SO DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL US.
UH, ISSUE COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS WILL BE ASSIST.
AND MA'AM, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT AND GET YOU A RESPONSE BACK AS SAB.
ALRIGHT? UM, AND OF COURSE FOR US TO BE THE BEST IF WE CAN BE, WE HAVE TO BE, UH, WELL TRAINED.
AND SO WE ARE CONCENTRATING HEAVILY ON INTERNATIONAL CODE CERTIFICATIONS AND SAFETY TRAINING FOR OUR TEAM.
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE LATEST TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES IN ORDER TO GET, UH, THE MOST COMPLIANCE.
ALRIGHT? AND SO MY LAST SLIDE, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT'S FRESH OFF THE PRESS.
UH, WE'RE STILL STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON CIVIL CITATIONS AND THIS IS A TOTAL APPROACH TO HOW WE DO ENFORCEMENT.
UH, IT'S GONNA MAKE OUR PROCESSES A LOT FASTER, UH, VERSUS THE CRIMINAL CITATION, WHICH TAKES MONTHS TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE.
UH, SUICIDE GIVE US THE ABILITY TO, UH, CYCLE MORE QUICKLY AND BE COMPLIANCE MORE QUICKLY.
SO WE'RE TALKING WEEKS INSTEAD OF MONTHS.
UH, IT SLOWS DOWN WHAT IT, IT DECREASES THE CASE LOAD FOR OUR COURT SYSTEMS AND WE GET ABATEMENTS AND WE GET FASTER
AND SO ULTIMATELY THAT'S THE END, THAT'S THE END GOAL FOR ALL OF US IS TO, UH, GET COMPLIANCE AT A FASTER RATE, UH, BETTER SERVICE AND QUICKER RESPONSE TIMES FOR YOU ALL.
AGAIN, CUSTOMER SERVICE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD IS OUR, OUR PRIMARY CONCERN.
SO, UH, WE'RE HAPPY TO, TO ASSIST IN ANY KINDA WAY.
UH, YOU ASSIST IN A GREAT WAY TO GET IN CONTACT WITH US TO REGISTER YOUR COMPLAINTS AND THE CONCERNS AND, UH, STRIVE TO GET BACK TO YOU, UH, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
90% OF THE CALLS AND EMAILS THAT I GET ABOUT COMPLAINTS, I JUST SEND IT IN THROUGH INNOCENCE.
IT'S VERY EASY TO TAKE CARE OF.
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APP, JUST GO TO YOUR APP STORE, WHETHER THAT'S ON, UM, ANDROID OR IPHONE AND JUST SEARCH GARLAND EIST AND IT'S LITTLE E CAPITAL A-S-S-I-S-T AND IT'LL PULL IT RIGHT UP.IT'S FREE APP, VERY EASY TO USE.
WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE MORE PEOPLE SNEAK IN THAT I WANNA INTRODUCE.
WE HAVE DISTRICT SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBER JOE THOMAS JR.
AND WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT ONE.
SO WE HAVE DISTRICT, DISTRICT ONE.
SO WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE THOSE GUYS ON BOARD.
I'M NOT IN, WOULDN'T MATTER WHO WAS HERE THAT NOT GONNA CAMPAIGN.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA OPEN IT UP NOW JUST TO MINGLE, MEET AND GREET, ASK QUESTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR AMY OR FOR BRIAN, FEEL FREE TO JUST WALK UP TO THEM OR ANY OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, INCLUDING OUR CITY MANAGER WHO'S OVER THERE LOOKING.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE FOOD IN THE BACK.
THERE'S WATER IN THE ICE CHEST.
UM, WE'VE GOT THE ROOM TILL EIGHT O'CLOCK.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO AND DISTRICT.
YOU'VE BEEN A WONDERFUL COUNCIL PERSON AND IT WAS A VERY HARD DECISION FOR ME NOT TO RUN FOR REELECTION.
I AM HAVING SOME HEALTH ISSUES, UM, THAT MY NEUROLOGIST AND MY RHEUMATOLOGIST BOTH FELT THAT IT WAS NOT IN MY BEST INTEREST TO CONTINUE IN THE HIGH STRESS THAT IS REQUIRED FOR CITY COUNCIL.
UM, AGAIN, THAT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION FOR ME TO MAKE.
BUT JUSTIN, AND I'VE BEEN TALKING FOR ABOUT A YEAR, UM, ON WHENEVER I LEFT OFFICE, WHETHER THAT BE AFTER TWO, FOUR OR SIX YEARS THAT WE WANTED HIM TO STEP UP AND, AND FILL IN.
SO I'M SO GLAD HE IS THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR THIS TRANSITION.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT TRANSITION AND I KNOW HE WILL SERVE Y'ALL PROBABLY BETTER THAN I CAN BECAUSE HE'S YOUNG AND ENERGETIC AND I'M OLD AND TIRED,
BUT YOU'VE STILL DONE A GREAT JOB.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH LOUIS.
OKAY, I GUESS THAT'S IT FOR THE DAY, UNLESS THERE'S ANYONE THAT'S GOT A SPECIFIC QUESTION THAT THEY WANNA ASK REAL QUICK.