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>> WE'RE GOING TO CALL MEETING TO ORDER [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE ONE MORE
[1. PRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC]
[INAUDIBLE] CAMERA?>> A SLIPPING HAZARD AS [OVERLAPPING] DID YOU CONTACT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT?
>> LET ME LOOK INTO WHAT RESOURCES AS [OVERLAPPING].
>> HEY, I'M GOING TO TRY AND GET SOME [INAUDIBLE]
>> WE DO [INAUDIBLE] TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> MIGHT HAVE TO INFORM THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> [OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND] [INAUDIBLE]. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT DRINKING WATER [OVERLAPPING].
>> [INAUDIBLE] 20-002. [INAUDIBLE] FURTHER DISCUSSION AND THAT [INAUDIBLE] THE 2020 [INAUDIBLE].
>> [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] FROM DECEMBER.
[A. Consider the approval of the minutes of December 19, 2019.]
>> DO YOU HAVE A MOTION THERE?
[B. Receive a report, hold a discussion and give staff feedback regarding the 2020 Denton Mobility Plan Update with emphasis on the proposed roadway cross-sections and pedestrian plan.]
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE.
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COORDINATOR AND STAFF LIAISON FOR THE COMMITTEE.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK HERE.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE MOBILITY PLAN.
SORRY. THE MOBILITY PLAN AND HOW THAT IS GOING.
AS YOU RECALL, I BELIEVE IT WAS CAMERA OCTOBER, WE HAD AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MOBILITY PLAN AND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
BASICALLY, IT HAS THREE MAJOR ELEMENTS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ROADWAYS, THOROUGHFARES, BICYCLE PLAN, AND PEDESTRIAN PLAN.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT.
WE'VE BEEN GOING TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE WERE ACTUALLY THERE THIS WEEK.
WE DIVIDED THE CITY INTO FIVE AREAS AND WE'VE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY GOING THROUGH EACH AREA WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.
HERE ARE THOSE THREE MAJOR SECTIONS OF THE PLAN.
WE HAVE DONE THE NORTHERN, WESTERN, AND DOWNTOWN AREAS SO FAR.
NEXT WEEK WILL BE THE EASTERN, AND THE FOLLOWING WEEK WILL BE THE SOUTHERN AREAS.
SO WE BROKE IT DOWN TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE DIGESTIBLE.
SO I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS THOROUGHFARE PLAN.
BASICALLY, ONE OF THE BIG REASONS THAT WE WANTED IS TO TELL US WHERE WE'RE GOING TO NEED ROADWAYS IN THE FUTURE, AND ALSO HELP US PLAN FUNDING FOR DOING THAT, AND IT HELPS US GET FUNDING IN THE FUTURE FROM OTHER ENTITIES, THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE DRAFT PROPOSED, THE PLAN THAT WE ARE PROPOSING HERE.
REALLY, THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF MAIN CATEGORIES.
THE ROADS, FREEWAYS, WE KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE.
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PRIMARY ARTERIALS, WHICH ARE YOUR HIGH VOLUME, HIGHER SPEED ROADWAYS, SECONDARY ARTERIALS, WHICH ARE A LITTLE LOWER VOLUME, LOWER SPEEDS, AND THEN COLLECTORS.SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THE CITY BREAKS OUT THAT WAY.
FOR EXAMPLE, UNIVERSITIES ARE PRIMARY ARTERIAL, LINGO IS A SECONDARY ARTERIAL, AND THEN THE COLLECTORS ARE SOME OF THESE SMALLER ONES LIKE [INAUDIBLE] , OR AT LEAST NORTH OF THE UNIVERSITY, THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST TO GIVE YOU A PICTURE.
ONE THING WE REALLY WANTED TO LIST, THESE COMPLEX ENGINEERING DEFINITIONS, I WON'T GO INTO THIS, BUT HERE'S THIS INFORMATION IF YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT IT, AS FAR AS SPEEDS AND VOLUMES OF HOW WE WROTE THOSE DOWN.
WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO LOOK AT WITH THE COMMITTEE TODAY IS THESE CROSS-SECTIONS.
SO PART OF THE DESIGN IS WE HAVE DRAFT CROSS-SECTIONS FOR EACH ROADWAY TYPE, AND WE'D ESPECIALLY LIKE TO GET YOU TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING AS FAR AS TRAILS, SIDEWALKS, SIDE-PATHS NEXT TO THE ROADWAYS.
SO YOU'LL SEE HERE ON THE LEFT, WE HAVE EXISTING, AND WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE SIDEWALKS, BUT IDEALLY, WE DO.
SO THIS IS FOR A PRIMARY ARTERIAL LIKE UNIVERSITY, THREE LANES.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE A BIKE LANE, SOMETIMES NOT.
IT'S REALLY NOT IDEAL ON A HIGH-SPEED ROADWAY LIKE THAT.
OVER HERE ON THE RIGHT ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
SO ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES ON THE TOP RIGHT THERE, YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A WIDER MULTI-USE TRAIL.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON MAYHILL LATELY, BUT WE HAVE CONSTRUCTED THERE.
INSTEAD OF THE NARROWER SIDEWALK, WE'RE GOING FOR AN EIGHT OR A 10 FOOT WIDE PATH THAT CAN BE USED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS BY WALKERS AND CYCLIST.
IT'S A SAFE AND PROTECTED QUARTER NON-MOTORIZED TRAVELERS.
THEN ON THE BOTTOM TWO, THESE ARE MORE RURAL AREAS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DEVELOPED YET, AND YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A LOT OF GREEN SPACE THERE.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE WANT TO RESERVE SPACE, WIDTH, SO THAT IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN COME BACK AND BUILD IT LIKE ON THE TOP THERE.
SO THAT'S JUST ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING WITH THAT.
HERE ARE SOME OTHER FOR URBAN AREAS AND THE ALTERNATIVES.
SO WE HAVE AGAIN, SIDEWALKS, ON THE BOTTOM THERE IS A BUFFERED BIKE LANE.
SO IT'S A BIKE LANE THAT HAS EXTRA SPACE BETWEEN IT AND MOTOR VEHICLES.
HERE ARE OUR SECONDARY ARTERIAL CROSS-SECTIONS.
ON THE RIGHT ARE SOME OF OUR PROPOSED DESIGNS, AGAIN.
SO THIS HAS SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES, BUFFERED BIKE-LANES ON THE BOTTOM.
SAME THING, WHERE WE ARE PRESERVING BASE SO THAT THE ROAD CAN BE WIDENED IN THE FUTURE AS NEEDED, AND AS IT DEVELOPS.
THIS IS MORE AREAS WHERE WE ARE RECONSTRUCTING THE RIGHT OF WAY. SO LET'S SEE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP RIGHT, PROBABLY A 10 FOOT WIDE SIDEWALKS.
SO ESSENTIALLY, MUCH WIDER SIDEWALKS.
I THINK IF THERE'S ONE THING I WANT THIS COMMITTEE TO TAKE AWAY IS THAT THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING IN AS FAR AS PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SO FORTH.
I DON'T WANT TO GO TOO DEEPLY INTO THIS, BUT WE'RE ABSOLUTELY INCLUDING SIDEWALKS IN ALL OF THESE DESIGNS SO THAT WE DON'T END UP WITH ROADWAYS MISSING SIDEWALKS, COLLECTORS HERE.
THIS WOULD BE LIKE [INAUDIBLE] OR SOMETHING.
I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BIKE PLAN, BUT I'LL JUST TOUCH ON IT BRIEFLY.
WE ARE GOING FOR A VERY WIDE AND COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE DOING THEIR OVERALL PARKS AND REC MASTER PLAN, BUT THAT ALSO INVOLVES A TRAILS MASTER PLAN.
IN THIS, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS THREE GENERAL CATEGORIES, WHICH IS ON-STREET BIKE FACILITIES OR TRADITIONAL BIKE LANES, OFF-STREET, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF THE TWO CURVES, AND WE'RE PLANNING FOR THOSE FACILITIES TO BE ALMOST ALWAYS FRIENDLY FOR ALL USERS.
SO WALKERS, MOBILITY DEVICES, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS CAN USE THOSE,
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AND 10 FEET IS THE STANDARD THAT WE'RE COUNTING FOR, LIKE THAT THAT MADE MAYHILL SIDE PATH.SO I WON'T GO TOO DEEP INTO THAT, BUT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PEDESTRIAN PLAN.
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU GUYS OUR DYNAMIC MAP IS THERE A QUESTION? FAIR.
>> SO BASICALLY, WHAT WE DID IS, REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT OUR ADA TRANSITION PLAN WHERE WE WENT AND INVENTORIED ALL THE EXISTING SIDEWALKS AND THE CITY.
WE COMPARED THAT MAP LAYER WITH A LAYER OF ALL OUR ROADS AND WE DID A CLIP.
SO EVERYWHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE SIDEWALKS, WE CREATED A LAYER, AND THEN WE DIVIDED THOSE INTO TWO MAIN CATEGORIES.
THE RED IS THE HIGHER PRIORITY SIDEWALKS AND THE YELLOW IS LOWER PRIORITY.
HIGHER PRIORITY WAS DETERMINED IF IT WAS CLOSE TO SCHOOLS, THE CAMPUSES, HIGHER RIDERSHIP, TRANSIT STOPS, AND ON BUSIER ROADWAYS.
SO IT'S A SIMPLE BREAKDOWN OF WHERE CAN WE FOCUS OUR RESOURCES AND FUNDING IN THE FUTURE FOR PRIORITY SIDEWALKS.
[NOISE] THIS IS THAT FORMULA THAT WE USED.
SO IT WAS BASED ON PROXIMITY TO THESE DIFFERENT RESOURCES.
SO THAT'S A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE MOBILITY PLAN.
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ABOUT THIS.
WE'RE ABSOLUTELY LOOKING FOR THIS COMMITTEE'S FEEDBACK AS FAR AS HOW [NOISE] USEFUL THIS PLAN IS GOING TO BE FOR DENTON RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY DEMOGRAPHICS ON WHERE [NOISE] PEOPLE THAT, LET'S SAY, RENT? THERE ARE SOME STATS WHERE PEOPLE WHO RENT THAT [NOISE] HAVE DISABILITIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE ADA APARTMENTS AROUND, AND THEY'D HAVE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
DO YOU HAVE STATS ON THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO USE EITHER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR SIDEWALKS? HAVE YOU FACTORED THOSE IN?
ACTUALLY, LATER TODAY WE'RE HEARING [NOISE] FROM THE COMMUNITY SERVICES, BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT SOME OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING AND SO FORTH.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
LATER TONIGHT I WILL ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT TO MY COLLEAGUE TO FIND OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ALL OF THE UNIVERSITY DRIVE, IT'S LOW PRIORITY FOR PEDESTRIAN TRAVEL?
>> LET'S SEE. [NOISE] OVER HERE?
>> I'M SORRY. I'M ON THE RIGHT. OVER HERE, ON THAT FAR SIDE OF MINGO, IT DOES COME OUT AS LOW PRIORITY.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE ELSE IT'S COMING THROUGH AS TIE, EXCEPT THERE'S A SMALL SEGMENT OVER HERE, WHICH MAYBE WE CAN TALK ABOUT.
THIS IS OVER NEAR THAT RAYZOR RANCH AREA, ANOTHER TOPIC FOR TONIGHT.
BUT GENERALLY, ALL OF THESE ARE ON UNIVERSITY BECAUSE IT'S A HIGHER VOLUME ROAD.
>> [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] EVEN MORE. IT'S OKAY.
>> WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME? SO THIS MOBILITY PLAN THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN PLACE, HOW OFTEN ARE YOU GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IT? IT'S A FIVE-YEAR PLAN, A 10-YEAR PLAN? [NOISE]
EVERY FIVE YEARS [NOISE] IS OUR GOAL TO UPDATE IT.
NOW BECAUSE SOMETHING IS IDENTIFIED ON THE PLAN IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE FUNDING RIGHT NOW.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY A VERY HELPFUL PLANNING TOOL TO HELP US PRIORITIZE AND IDENTIFY, AND SO AS PROJECTS COME UP IN THE FUTURE WE'LL TURN BACK TO THIS AS A RESOURCE OF WHERE DO WE WANT TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION? DOES THAT ANSWER EVERYTHING? YEAH.
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS JUST BOARDINGS BY STAFF.
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>> THAT [NOISE] INTERVENTION BY [INAUDIBLE] WHERE I KNOW THAT THEY WOULD COME TO [INAUDIBLE].
SO WE DON'T HAVE NUMBERS OF DISABLED USERS BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] IS NOT ACCESSIBLE.
BUT IF THE [INAUDIBLE] WAS ACCESSIBLE WOULD THERE BE AN INCREASE NUMBER?
>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE A DCTA REPRESENTATIVE HERE TONIGHT, SO AT SOME POINT I WILL TOUCH BASE WITH THAT PERSON AND SEE IF THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.
>> THANK YOU. WHERE DID YOU SAY YOU GUYS ARE WITH THIS, AND THE COUNCIL?
>> SO TIMELINE. SO WE'RE GOING TO DO TWO MORE AREAS, IF YOU REMEMBER FROM THAT TOP SLIDE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO DO EAST THIS COMING WEEK, SOUTH I BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
THEN WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING BACK TO THE PUBLIC.
WE'RE DOING SEVERAL MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO PRESENT OUR DRAFT PLAN TO THE PUBLIC AND RECEIVE FURTHER COMMENTS.
WE ARE HOPING OPTIMISTICALLY, MAYBE NOT REALISTICALLY, LATE APRIL FOR AN ADOPTION TIME FRAME.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO AN AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE TO GET IT ADOPTED.
>> YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THE MAP AND LOOK AT BONNIE BRAY?
>> THE ONE NEAR BONNIE BRAY IS LOW PRIORITY.
>> FURTHER UP. I WILL SHOW ONE OTHER LAYER AND MAYBE THIS WILL HELP CLARIFY.
SO THIS BLUE LAYER, THESE ARE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE NOT YET BUILT BUT THEY ARE EITHER FUNDED, ALMOST UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
EVERYTHING IN BLUE IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE HAVE MONEY FOR IT, WE HAVE A TIMELINE, AND SO FORTH.
SO A LOT OF BONNIE BRAY IS GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE OF THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THAT ONE, WHY IS IT LOW?
>> WHY DID IT COME OUT AS LOW?
>> SO WE USED A FORMULA AND WE USE SOFTWARE TO DO THE INITIAL CATEGORIZING.
SO YOU CAN USE THIS MAPPING SOFTWARE AND IT SAYS SELECT ALL SIDEWALK SEGMENTS THAT ARE WITHIN A CERTAIN PROXIMITY.
SO THAT'S HOW WE BROKE IT DOWN.
SO WE CAN CHANGE IT BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS BODY.
SO I'M HEARING FROM THIS COMMITTEE THAT THIS AREA OF UNIVERSITY IS A PRIORITY.
>> IF IT'S RAINING AND MUDDY, NOT PASSABLE.
WELL, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE'RE COMING TO SPEAK TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> I HAVE SEEN BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED RETAIL OF BUSINESS BEING BUILT IN THAT AREA THERE'S MORE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA AND I AGREE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED THERE BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM MOST DEPARTMENTS IN THE AREA AND THEY WALK TO THOSE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS.
MAYBE THE ALGORITHM HASN'T TAKEN THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
>> YEAH. WE DID USE A FAIRLY SIMPLE CRITERIA.
SOMETIMES IN THE PAST WE'VE DONE, WHEN WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FOR SIDEWALKS, VERY COMPLEX FORMULAS THAT DETERMINE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
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MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD FORMULA HERE, IN JUST THE TWO CATEGORIES.BUT THANK YOU. THOSE ARE GOOD FEEDBACK.
>> I THINK WHAT [INAUDIBLE] SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND RENTALS THAT CAN BE A BIT MORE ADA ACCESSIBLE SHOULD BE MORE HIGHLY CONSIDERED.
NOT THAT DISABLED PEOPLE DON'T OWN HOMES BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF FINDING AN ACCESSIBLE APARTMENT [INAUDIBLE]
>> [INAUDIBLE] ANY OTHER QUESTION?
>> WITH THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL, CAN YOU SCROLL DOWN SO I CAN SEE-
>> -WHAT PLANS, JUST THE BLUE, THE NEW STUFF.
HIGH SCHOOL IS IN THIS GENERAL AREA.
>> CORRECT. JUST NORTH OF WINDSOR THERE.
>> YEAH. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS SEGMENT OF WINDSOR AS A PRIORITY.
I KNOW THERE IS ALSO SPECIFIC TALKS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ABOUT THAT ACCESS, AND THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP.
SO IT'S NOT REALLY EXPLICITLY SHOWN HERE BUT THAT CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING.
>> WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO UPDATE NEXT MEETING FOR THE SOUTH AND EAST?
I WILL SAY SO FAR THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HASN'T HAD SPECIFIC CHANGES ON THE AREAS.
WE'VE BEEN GIVING THE UPDATES, HERE'S WHERE WE ARE, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING, AND THEY'VE GIVEN US BROADER GUIDANCE AND HAD SOME BROADER QUESTIONS.
BUT YEAH, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ARE PUSHING FOR APRIL, THE FINISH DATE.
WE'LL DO A MONTHLY UPDATE ON THIS. ABSOLUTELY.
>> I CAN SEE [INAUDIBLE] FUTURE ACCESSIBILITY PLANS FOR IT.
[C. Receive a report, hold a discussion and give staff feedback regarding the Rayzor Ranch Development and current and future accessibility plans for it.]
I'M HAYLEY ZAGURSKI WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
SO I PREPARED A FEW SLIDES JUST TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF RAYZOR RANCH AND THE ONGOING PROJECTS THERE AT THE MOMENT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO TRY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU-ALL MIGHT HAVE.
SO JUST AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT RAYZOR IS, RAYZOR RANCH SPECIFICALLY REFERS TO TWO AREAS ON EITHER SIDE OF 380 OR UNIVERSITY.
I'VE OUTLINED IN YELLOW ON THIS MAP SO YOU CAN SEE THOSE GENERAL BOUNDARIES.
NORTH OF 380 IS WHAT CHANNELS THE MARKETPLACE, AND THEN THE ENTIRE SOUTH SIDE WHERE THE TOWN CENTER IS, IS JUST KNOWN AS THE SOUTH CAMPUS.
IT'S A FAIRLY UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT FOR DENTON.
IT IS MANAGED BY AN OVERALL MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT HAS DEEP RESTRICTIONS ON THE LAND CONTROLS LIKE LANDSCAPING, ARCHITECTURE, AND THOSE THINGS.
THEN IT DOESN'T HAVE A ZONING OVERLAY WITH THE CITY AS WELL, SO IT GETS AN EXTRA LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT AND THAT ALL OF THE SITE PLANS FOR ORIGINAL RANCH HAVE TO GO TO THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL.
AS OVERLAY DISTRICT, IT WAS FIRST APPROVED IN 2007.
I THINK THE OWNER, [INAUDIBLE] HAVE WORK ON RAYZOR FOR A LOT LONGER THAN THAT, BUT IT FIRST CAME TO THE CITY IN 2007.
SO THIS WAS PROVIDED IN YOUR BACKUP, IT'S JUST AN OVERVIEW WHAT THE ZONING MAP IS TO SHOW YOU THE GENERAL INTENT.
THE NORTH CAMPUS IS MORE OF THE BIG BOX STORES LIKE SAM'S AND WALMART.
THEY STILL HAVE A VACANT PARCEL HERE THAT'S INTENDED FOR SOME BIG BOX TYPE STORE IN THE FUTURE.
THEY DO HAVE A RESIDENTIAL PIECE HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE THAT'S ABOUT TO GET UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THEN THE SOUTH CAMPUS IS A LITTLE SMALLER SCALE, THIS IS INTENDED TO BE A TOWN CENTER AREA, AND THEN THIS EASTERN HALF OF IT IS PRIMARILY RESIDENTIAL.
SO JUST TO LOOK AT WHAT'S ACTIVE AT RAYZOR RIGHT NOW, MOST OF THE NORTH CAMPUS IS BUILT OUT.
THIS NORTH PART HERE THAT I SHADED IN ORANGE IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED WITH A SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND TOWN HOMES SO THAT'LL BE A PRETTY DENSE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF RAYZOR.
IN THE SOUTH CAMPUS, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN TERMS OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO STAFF WITHIN THE TOWN CENTER RIGHT NOW.
IT HAS RECENTLY CHANGED OWNERSHIP SO I THINK THERE'S STILL GETTING THEIR HANDS AROUND WITH WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THAT AREA.
THE EAST SIDE, HOWEVER, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THIS IS VERY ACTIVE.
THEY'VE RECENTLY PUT IN THE STREETS AND UTILITIES FOR THE ENTIRE EAST SIDE.
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SO PANHANDLE, I BELIEVE IT'S LINDEN IN CRESCENT STREET AND THEN A NEW STREET CALLED EAST PARK BOULEVARD, HAVE ALL BEEN INSTALLED.I DON'T THINK THOSE HAVE BEEN OPENED TO PUBLIC YET, THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON A FEW PIECES, BUT THEY DO HAVE A LOT OF INTENDED DEVELOPMENT FOR THAT AREA THAT WILL BE COMING IN QUICKLY.
THIS GREEN AREA IS INTENDED TO BE A PARK.
THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY PARKS DEPARTMENT ON THE PLANS FOR THAT, AND THAT WILL BE GOING TO COUNCIL TO SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS CITY WANTS TO TAKE OVER.
THEN HERE IN YELLOW IS A NEW AGE-RESTRICTED MULTIFAMILY.
SO THAT'LL BE SENIOR HOUSING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THEY'RE GETTING READY TO START ON THAT PROJECT.
THEN THE AREA IN RED IT'S JUST A STANDARD MARKET RATE MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL BE GOING IN.
AGAIN, THEY'VE GOT SITE PLANS OF [INAUDIBLE] SO THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THEIR PERMITS NOW AND I EXPECT THEY'LL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION FAIRLY SOON.
THE REST OF THE EAST SIDE ALONG BONNIE BRAY FOR SINGLE FAMILIES.
SO AT SOME POINT, I EXPECT WE'LL SEE PROBABLY SOME SMALLER COTTAGE, THAT ALL SINGLE-FAMILY GOING IN THERE.
THEN THE REST OF THIS AREA IS INTENDED FOR EITHER MULTIFAMILY OR OFFICE-TYPE USES.
SO NOT THE RETAIL COMPONENTS THAT WE SEE HERE AT THE TOWN CENTER, THIS WILL BE MORE OF AN OFFICE AND RESIDENTIAL AREA.
THIS IT SHOWS YOU THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S BEING PUT IN WITH THAT EAST SIDE, SO IT COMPLETES THE STREET NETWORK THROUGH RAYZOR RANCH.
EVERYTHING IN RED WILL BE CITY STREETS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THEY DO HAVE SIDEWALKS ON MOST OF THEM AS WELL AS ON-STREET PARKING.
THEN THIS IS JUST A LOOK AT WHAT THAT PARK CONCEPT IS CURRENTLY.
LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE STILL WORKING WITH COUNCIL ON IT.
NORTH IS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF YOUR MAP HERE FOR ORIENTATION SO UNIVERSITY WOULD BE UP HERE.
IT WOULD BE BETWEEN HERITAGE TRAIL AND A NEW STREET THAT THEY'RE CALLING EAST PARK BOULEVARD.
THIS AREA IS INTENDED TO BE INTEGRATED THAT SLOPE TO EVENTUALLY IT COULD HOUSE A STAGE OR FOR AMPHITHEATER TYPESETTING, IF SOMEONE WANTED TO HOST LARGE EVENTS THERE.
THEN THIS AREA IS MORE JUST OPEN PLAY SPACE.
THESE ARE LARGE FIRMS THAT YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IF YOU'VE DRIVEN DOWN HERITAGE TRAIL, THAT WOULD AGAIN JUST BE FOR A PASSIVE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY, NOT NECESSARILY PROGRAMMED WITH PLAYGROUNDS AND THAT THING, BUT IT WILL HAVE A SIDEWALK AND TRAIL NETWORK THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
THAT'S ALL THE SPECIFICS I, AND HAVE I'M HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU-ALL MAY HAVE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE.
>> ONE THING I WAS WONDERING IS WHAT'S THE TIMELINE? I DIDN'T GET THAT ON THE PARK, SPECIFICALLY.
>> IF YOU'VE DRIVEN OUT THERE, THE PARK IS MOSTLY CONSTRUCTED AT THIS POINT.
THEY HAVE A SIDEWALKS IN, THEY'RE WORKING ON THE LANDSCAPING I BELIEVE.
AT THIS POINT, THEY'RE WORKING WITH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT TO FINALIZE THE COST OF EVERYTHING, WHAT WOULD THE TURNOVER IF THEY DO DEDICATE IT TO THE CITY, HOW LONG WOULD THEY MAINTAIN IT, AND THAT THINGS.
SO WE'RE NEGOTIATING THOSE CONTRACTS IN MORE DETAILS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT I EXPECT IT WOULD BE WITHIN THIS YEAR PROBABLY THAT SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN THERE HAVE IT OPENED.
>> IF YOU WANTED TO DRIVE THAT WAY TO GET ON A SCOOTER, WOULD IT BE ACCESSIBLE AND IS THIS ALLOWED RIGHT NOW TO GET TO [INAUDIBLE] AREA?
>> LAST I HEARD, THE STREETS THAT ARE IN RED HERE ARE BUILT, BUT THEY AREN'T CITY'S PROPERTY YET.
SO THEY AREN'T OPEN TO THE PUBLIC JUST YET, BUT THEY SHOULD BE WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
SO ALL OF THESE STREETS WILL BE COMPLETELY WITH SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES.
>> HE DOESN'T WANT TO GET ARRESTED.
>> RIGHT. WHAT PRICE RANGE HOMES ARE THESE GOING TO BE?
>> THE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, I HAVEN'T HEARD YET.
THE CONCEPT THAT I HEARD IS THERE ARE GOING TO BE SMALLER COTTAGE STYLE HOMES, ZERO LOT LINE.
IT'S A VERY SMALL YARD AND TEND PROBABLY FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT CHILDREN OR JUST SINGLE OCCUPANT OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, BUT I DON'T KNOW A PRICE RANGE YET.
>> WITHIN THE PARK ITSELF, THE SIDEWALKS I MEAN, JUST THROUGH [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] OR ARE THEY THE WIDER [INAUDIBLE]
>> I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT, BUT I CAN CALL UP THE PLANT AND GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
I COULD SEND THAT TO WORK SO MAKE SURE THAT GETS TO YOU-ALL.
>> I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION, I BELIEVE.
SO I THINK UP THERE THERE'S A BROWN LOT RIGHT UP AGAINST UNIVERSITY THAT THE SIDEWALK ISN'T BUILT THROUGH YET.
SO CAN YOU TELL THE COMMITTEE JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS?
[00:30:01]
SO I SUPPOSE THE TENANT [NOISE] BEING IDENTIFIED AND THE BILL OF BUILDING IT, HOW IS THE PROCESS WORK FOR PERMITTING TO GET BACK, THE SIDEWALK WILL BE BUILT WITH ANYWAY?>> YEAH. SO THIS PIECE, I UNDERSTAND, DOESN'T HAVE SIDEWALKS TODAY.
THE TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, ONCE THE OWNERS OF RAYZOR HAVE A TENANT IN MIND FOR THAT, THEY WOULD BRING THEIR SITE PLANS FORWARD TO THE CITY.
WE WOULD REQUIRE THAT THEY MATCH THE SIDEWALK SEGMENTS ON EITHER SIDE TO PROVIDE THAT COHESION THROUGH THE AREA.
THEN THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED OF THE DEVELOPER AS PART OF THEIR PERMITTING TO PROVIDE THAT SIDEWALK ALONG UNIVERSITY THAT'S MISSING.
SO THAT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT TO THIS COMMITTEE THAT THAT'S DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE IF GOOD SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES OF GAP.
IS THERE ANY MECHANISM THAT SEE OR THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CAN USE TO GET DEVELOPERS TO BUILD SIDEWALKS FIRST OR ANYTHING?
>> I WILL SAY THAT LAW IS UNIQUE.
IT'S NOT MY UNDERSTANDING FROM WORKING WITH DEVELOPER.
IT'S NOT UNDER THE SAME OWNERSHIP AS THE REST OF THE EAST CAMPUS, SO THAT'S WHY IT WASN'T CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF THIS SPACE.
I BELIEVE THAT IS TIED TO THE OWNERSHIP OF THE NORTH SIDE.
SO THEY DO THINGS A LITTLE MORE PIECEMEAL ON THAT SIDE OF EACH LOT GETS CONSTRUCTED AS IT GOES ALONG.
I WOULD SAY IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COULD PROBABLY WORK WITH THEM ON IF THAT IS IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY ON OUR ADMINISTRATING PLAN.
THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH [INAUDIBLE].
>> ANY OTHER QUESTION? THANK YOU.
[D. Receive a report, hold a discussion and give staff feedback regarding the City of Denton’s Community Development program and how it serves persons with disabilities.]
>> WE'LL GO TO [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND HOW IT SERVES [INAUDIBLE]
I'M THE COMMUNITY SERVICES MANAGER THAT NOW COMPRISES OF TWO DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT SERVICES.
MARK ASKED US TO COME IN AND GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT KINDS OF PROGRAMS THE CITY OFFERS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE.
SO WE'LL GO THROUGH A PRESENTATION.
I DID GIVE YOU A LARGER PRESENTATION TO REVIEW AND INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT HOMELESSNESS DAY.
[NOISE] I WON'T THROUGH THAT TODAY BUT I'M GOING TO BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AS WELL IF YOU HAVE ANY.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TAKES IN AND ITS PRIMARY FORMATION ORIGINALLY WAS TO RECEIVE THE FEDERAL ENTITLEMENT FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP GRANT.
THESE FUNDS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO CITIZENS AT A CERTAIN SIZE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP SUPPORT LOW OR MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES WITH THEIR NEEDS.
EACH CITY THAT RECEIVES THESE FUNDS THEN, WORKS THROUGH A PROCESS OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND OTHER EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE EVEN IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THEN DEVELOP PROGRAMS AROUND THAT.
THIS SLIDE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE TYPICALLY RECEIVE.
SO IN '19/20, A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ALLOCATION TO THE CITY IS $1,019,588.
THEN, OUR HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP FUNDING, WHICH IS ALSO FEDERAL FUNDING FOR JUST LIKE IT SOUNDS FOR HOME DEVELOPMENT IS 650,000.
THEN, THE CITY ALSO CONTRIBUTES GENERAL FUNDS TO ONE PART OF THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER AND THAT'S OUR HUMAN SERVICES GRANT.
SO THOSE PROGRAMS THAT HELP NONPROFITS DELIVER SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME, AND RIGHT NOW, THAT AMOUNT IS 350,000.
THESE PROGRAMS, AS IS LISTED HERE, ARE DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME, BUT THERE ARE SOME [NOISE] OTHER THINGS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE.
THE ELIMINATION OF SLUM AND BLIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY OR TO MEET AN URGENT EMERGENCY NEED.
SO IF WE HAD A NATURAL DISASTER, SO THESE FUNDS COULD BE REDIRECTED TO THAT IN ORDER TO ASSIST THEM, THE COMMUNITY WITH THAT.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE UTILIZED THE FUNDS IN THE PAST.
IT'S BROKEN INTO TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS.
THE REASON WE DO THAT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME FEDERAL GUIDELINES.
LET'S SAY, ONLY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF OUR CDBG FUNDS, 15 PERCENT CAN BE USED FOR WHAT WE CALL THE HUMAN SERVICES ACTIVITY, SO WE CAN'T USE ALL OF THE FUNDS NOT ELIGIBLE AND THE REST OF THE FUNDS GET UTILIZED FOR WHAT WE CALL MORE OF OUR RECENT [NOISE] PROJECTS.
[00:35:01]
INFRASTRUCTURE, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENTS ON FACILITIES, AND THEN, THE HUMAN SERVICES ARE THOSE SERVICES THAT PROVIDE RESOURCES TO PEOPLE.OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE CONTRIBUTED ABOUT 45 PERCENT OF OUR FUNDS FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE, SO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THEIR HOME WHO HAVE SOME NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT HOME STAYS SAFE AND STABLE SO THAT THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR HOME.
WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE HOMEOWNERS TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN.
SO PART OF OUR GOALS IS IN THE PRESERVATION AND CREATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ONE OF THOSE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE HOMEOWNERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS.
SO WE PROVIDE DOWNPAYMENT, CLOTHES AND COST OF SYSTEMS THERE.
WE ALSO DO PUBLIC FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, THINGS LIKE MAKING AN ADA ACCESSIBLE FOR ADDING ADDITIONAL [NOISE] SQUARE FOOTAGE TOOLS SO THAT THEY COULD SERVE MORE PEOPLE OR MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO AREAS WITHIN THE FACILITY [NOISE] SO THAT THEY CAN DO SERVICES MORE EFFECTIVELY, AND THEN, SOME INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AS WELL.
SO THIS IS JUST AN OVERVIEW IN OUR HUMAN SERVICES GRANT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
YOU CAN SEE THE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED AND THE TYPES [NOISE] OF SERVICES AND NONPROFITS THAT WE PROVIDE FUNDING FOR IN A PARTNERSHIP SO THAT THEY CAN DELIVER THOSE SERVICES.
SO PRIMARY FOCUS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN FOR CHILDCARE SERVICES, MAKING SURE PARENTS HAVE AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE ACCESS SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO GO TO SCHOOL OR TO WORK WITHOUT HAVING THE PRESSURE OF CHILDCARE COSTS, ELDERLY SERVICES, THAT'S PRIMARY IN THE [NOISE] SPEND AND IT;S FOOD.
[NOISE]. WE DO INVESTED QUITE A BIT IN HOMELESSNESS AND AT-RISK, SO BOTH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND THOSE WHO MIGHT BE AT RISK OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE OF AN URGENT NEED.
ADDITIONAL FAMILY RESOURCES, SOME HEALTH CARE FUNDING FOR DISABILITY HAS BEEN IN THE PAST, AND THEN, SOME OF OUR OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES OR JUST BASIC ASSISTANCE.
THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF HOW WE DID LAST YEAR IN MARCH 1 IN OUR FISCAL YEAR, 2018/19.
THE PORTION OF THE FUNDS DESK GO TO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE WORK BUT THESE ARE THE PUBLIC [NOISE] FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE DID.
WE HELPED DENTON CITY COUNTY DAY SCHOOL EXPAND THEIR GYM SO THAT KIDS WOULD HAVE A SAFER PLACE TO PLAY.
THEN, WITH FRED MOORE, WE EXPANDED THEIR SITE [NOISE] AS WELL TO GIVE ADDITIONAL ROOMS FOR CHILDCARE TO HAPPEN.
[BACKGROUND] THEN, WE PROVIDED SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING ASSISTANCE.
IN OUR HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, WE HELPED THREE FAMILIES WITH EITHER RENOVATION OR RECONSTRUCTION.
SO WE EITHER COMPLETELY PUT THE HOME DOWN AND WE BUILT IT BACK UP, SO THEY HAVE THAT SAME STABLE HOME OR WE RENOVATED IT SO THAT THEY ALSO HAD THOSE RESOURCES.
OUR MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM IS OUR LARGEST PROGRAM.
IT'S A SMALL DOLLAR ASSISTANCE, BUT IT'S TO HELP WITH THAT EMERGENCY NEED TO SOMEONE WHO THEIR HVAC BREAKS DOWN OR THEY LOST RESOURCES THEY NEED ACCESS TO, COULD ALSO BE ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS, ANY OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WITH UNDER $10,000.
OUR HOME BUYERS ASSISTANCE, WE HAVE FOUR PREVIOUSLY RENTERS BUY A HOME.
THEN, WE ALSO GAVE MONEY TO SOME OF OUR LOCAL NONPROFITS WHO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO DENTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORP. HAS 92 RENTAL UNITS IN THE CITY AND WE HELP THEM MAKE SURE THOSE RENTAL UNITS STAY MAINTAINED WELL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THEM.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO HELP WITH 10 OF THOSE UNITS LAST YEAR.
FAIROAKS, IN THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, WE HELPED WITH SOME FIRE SUPPRESSION IN THEIR KITCHEN.
THIS YEAR, WE'LL BE ADDING HVAC SYSTEMS IN SOME OF THEIR UNITS.
SO THAT'S A SAMPLE OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
SO THE GOAL OF THESE FUNDS IS TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE THAT EFFECTIVELY IN THE COMMUNITY, SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO GET COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO.
WE DO PUBLIC HEARINGS A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR.
WE DO PUBLIC HEARINGS AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AS WELL.
WE DID FOCUS GROUPS WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, GETTING IN THERE AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE FOLKS LIKE OUR COMMUNITY COALITIONS, DID A HUNGER COALITION, DID TAKING CARE OF HOMELESSNESS COALITION.
SO LOTS OF DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT WE TRY TO GET INTO AS WELL, AND THEN, WE ALSO TAKE COMMENTS BY PHONE AND E-MAIL, MAKING SURE WE HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY WHAT'S NEEDED.
WE ALSO BENEFIT FROM BEING IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THERE ARE LOTS OF GROUPS DOING NEEDS ASSESSMENTS.
SO WE WORKED WITH THE UNITED WAY WITH MAKING THEIR COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
WE WORK WITH DENTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY DO THEIRS, WITH TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCE WHEN THEY DID THEIRS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
AGAIN, BECAUSE THESE GROUPS ARE ALSO GOING OUT AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY NEEDS, WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE COLLABORATIVELY.
WE DO SIT ON A LOT OF COMMUNITY COALITION AND ADVOCACY GROUPS.
SO MYSELF AND MY STAFF, IT'S IN THOSE MEETINGS REGULARLY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HEARING ON AN ONGOING BASIS WHAT'S GOING ON FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY SERVING PEOPLE ON THE COMMUNITY.
THEN, OUR TEAM ACTUALLY HAS TWO DIFFERENT CITY COUNCIL APPOINTED COMMITTEES WHO ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL ABOUT HOW THESE FUNDS SHOULD BE UTILIZED AS WELL.
[00:40:03]
HERE'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE [NOISE] WENT THROUGH IT WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, BUT JUST IN GENERAL.WE HAVE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. AGAIN, OUR GOAL IS TO EITHER PRESERVE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT EXISTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, OR TO CREATE NEW, OR TO CREATE THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO OUR HOME BUYERS ASSISTANCE IS THAT DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR SOMEONE TO GET INTO A MOMENT OF BEING A HOMEOWNER FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THE MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM IS TO HELP WITH THAT EMERGENCY NEED FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT THEMSELVES BUT NEEDS ASSISTANCE TO MAKE SURE IN THEIR HOME IS SAFE.
THEN, FULLY HOME RENOVATION OR RECONSTRUCTION FOR THOSE FOLKS WHOSE HOMES HAVE BEEN OR ARE OLDER OR IN DISREPAIR, HAVE NOT BEEN MAINTAINED, BUT NEED A LITTLE HELP IN THERE AS WELL.
IT'S ALSO OUR ROLE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IMPROVING NEIGHBORHOOD FACILITIES SO THAT WHEREVER OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEED TO ACCESS SERVICES, THEY CAN DO SO EASILY AND SAFELY.
THEN, SOCIAL SERVICES, BECAUSE THE CITY CAN'T DELIVER SOCIAL SERVICES, BUT WE KNOW THOSE WHO NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE FUNDED IN SUCH A WAY AS THEY CAN CONTINUE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED.
[NOISE] WE ALSO PARTNER WITH DEVELOPERS.
AGAIN, ANOTHER PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND SO OUR DENTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORP, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, OR OTHER PARTNERS THAT ARE CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE'RE HELPING USE THESE FUNDS TO INVEST IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
MAKING SURE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS A GREAT PLACE TO ACCESS SERVICES AND RESOURCES AND HAVE OPPORTUNITY.
SO AS I SPOKE UP EARLIER, PUBLIC FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS, NON-PROFIT FACILITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, SIDEWALKS, SEWERS, IF THOSE WERE HAPPENING IN RURAL MODERN [INAUDIBLE] NEIGHBORHOODS, THOSE ARE IMPROVED [NOISE] TO HELP THAT NEIGHBORHOOD GET BETTER.
HERE'S SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.
THERE'S A PICTURE OF A HOME THAT WAS RENOVATED.
ACTUALLY, THAT WAS RECONSTRUCTED AND THEN WE HELP PUT IN A QUICKER TOWN PARK SIDEWALKS.
FEW YEARS AGO, HELPED WITH ADA ACCESSIBILITY AND MLK RECREATIONS CENTER.
SO THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF HOW WE ARE ABLE TO USE FEDERAL FUNDS AND NOT LOCAL TAX DOLLARS TO DELIVER THESE RESOURCES.
AGAIN, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
MAKING SURE THEY HAVE RESOURCES AND WORKING WITH MANAGING A PART OF THAT PROCESS [NOISE], THAT IS THE SAME AS SIDE I READ EARLIER, THAT THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT CURRENTLY ARE RECEIVING FUNDING FROM THE CITY TO HELP WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
WE ALSO WANT TO HELP INCREASE ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE INTERNET, THE CITY HAS A COUPLE OF RESOURCES THAT YOU CAN ACCESS AT ANYTIME, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.
THERE'S AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING RENTAL LIST THAT LISTS ALL THE RENTAL UNITS THAT ARE CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE.
IT ALSO DOES BREAK IT DOWN BY ELDERLY AND DISABLED.
SO IT'S NOT [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] IT'S A MAP, A GIS MAP THAT YOU CAN PINPOINT.
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD AND LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LIVE, THAT IS AVAILABLE.
WE ALSO HELP WITH FAIR HOUSING COMPLAINTS.
IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, YOU MAY CALL OUR OFFICE AND WE CAN HELP WITH [INAUDIBLE] , DRAFT A COMPLAINT IF NECESSARY.
WE'VE ALSO PULLED SOME INFORMATION FROM DCTA AND CREATED A MAP ON OUR WEBSITE SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SERVICES CAN ALSO PLOT THE DCTA ROUTE TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES ON THAT MAP, AND THEN OTHER SYSTEMS AS NECESSARY.
WE ALSO WORK IN THE HOMELESSNESS SPACE.
IT'S A COUNCIL INITIATIVE RIGHT NOW, SO IMPORTANT.
OUR MAIN GOAL RIGHT NOW IS TO MAKE SURE HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF, AND NONRECURRING.
THEY ARE THREE WAYS IN WHICH THE CITY IS INVESTING SPECIFICALLY IN THAT RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE FUNDING COMMUNITY EFFORTS WITH SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF FUNDING THAT GOES INTO HELPING THOSE AGENCIES THAT ARE PROVIDING THOSE SUPPORTS.
WE'RE ALSO VERY KEEN ON MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF HOMELESSNESS.
SO DATA'S A VERY KEY PART OF THAT, MAKING SURE WE KNOW THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND ALSO WHAT THOSE IMPACTS ARE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEN MAKING SURE WE ARE HELPING FACILITATE AND MOBILIZED STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY ONE ENTITY CAN DO ALONE.
SOME OF THE WORK WE DID STARTED WHEN WE WERE BEGINNING WITH [INAUDIBLE] CAN BE THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT HOW WE COULD IMPROVE HOUSING SOLUTIONS WHERE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THAT RESULTED IN TWO MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS.
ONE, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY, MONSIGNOR KING WAS PRIMARILY AN EMERGENCY SHELTER THAT POPPED UP IN LOCATIONS ACROSS THE CITY, IT DIDN'T HAVE ITS OWN HOME AT THE TIME, AND WAS ABOUT TO LOSE THE SPACE IT WAS CURRENTLY USING.
SO ONE OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO FIND A PERMANENT HOME FOR MONSIGNOR KING.
SO THE CITY COUNCIL DID ALLOCATED A BUILDING THAT WAS AVAILABLE THAT WERE UNUSED, GAVE MONSIGNOR KING A LEASE ON THAT.
THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN IT AND IMPROVE IT, AND THAT'S OVER ON WOODROW NOW.
[00:45:03]
SO THAT WAS THE FIRST PIECE.THE SECOND PIECE WAS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO COULD SPEND THEIR FULL TIME WORKING ON THIS INITIATIVE AND COORDINATING OUR PARTNERS.
SO THAT RESULTED IN SOME FUNDING WITH UNITED WAY IN COLLABORATION TO HIRE SOME FOLKS AND THAT'S ONLY GROWN SINCE THEN.
IN 2016, WE THEN HIRED THAT COORDINATOR.
THE UNITED WAY DID, WE WORKED WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL STILL.
WE LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE CALLED THE DENTON COUNTY HOMELESSNESS LEADERSHIP TEAM.
THAT GROUP IS A QUASI GOVERNMENTAL GROUP, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYORS, PUBLIC LEADERS, SHRINE CHAMBER, HOSPITALS, A WIDE SWATH OF DIFFERENT SECTORS AND PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM.
IT'S BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE AND THIS CONTINUE TO CREATE SOLUTIONS IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS, WHETHER THEY WERE EMERGENCY OR LONG-TERM.
THERE'S SOME OTHER JARGONY THINGS ON HERE THAT I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL.
SO THE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO BOUNCE AROUND FROM PLACE TO PLACE.
WE COORDINATE THAT SO NO MATTER WHERE SOMEONE GOES AND THEY'RE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THEY GET TO HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION COLLECTED AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION IN ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT PLACES.
IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE FOR THE CLIENT WHO'S SEEKING RESOURCES AND SERVICES.
WE'VE ALSO ADDED PIECES TO OUR SYSTEM.
SO HOMELESSNESS IS NOT JUST ABOUT PROVIDING SHELTER, IT'S ABOUT PROVIDING THOSE OTHERS RESOURCES TO HELP THEM, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE A HOUSING PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MOVE FROM HOMELESSNESS TO HOUSE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
OVER TIME, WE'VE ADDED SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
MONSIGNOR KING WENT FROM NOT HAVING A PERMANENT LOCATION, TO A TEMPORARY LOCATION, TO A PERMANENT LOCATION, TO 40 BEDS, AND NOW THEY ARE AT 92 BEDS.
SO WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME SIGNIFICANT GROWTH.
AS 2017 AND 2018, THEY WERE STILL JUST OPENING IN [INAUDIBLE] , BUT IN 2019, I'LL TALK ABOUT IT JUST BRIEFLY, ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS PROVIDED AND NOW MONSIGNOR KING IS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS SHELTER.
COUPLE OF OTHER ACTIVITIES WE'VE OFFERED AS THIS INVESTMENT HAS GROWN, THIS THE BARRIERS FUND.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE NEVER WORKED WITH FEDERAL FUNDS, THEY CAN OFTEN HAVE A LOT OF RULES THAT GO WITH THEM.
THEY MAKE IT A LITTLE HARD TO HELP IN THE UNIQUE SITUATIONS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING A CRISIS SITUATIONS HAVE.
SO WE DID LAUNCH A SPECIALISTS FUND THAT ISN'T FEDERALLY FUNDED CALLED THE BARRIERS FUND THAT ANYONE CAN GIVE TO, BUT THAT FUND ALLOWS US TO DO SMALL THINGS TO HELP SOMEONE OVERCOME THEIR EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS OR PREVENT THEIR HOMELESSNESS THAT WE COULDN'T DO WITH FEDERAL FUNDS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE CAN DECREASE THE RENT ON A UNIT SO THAT WE CAN THEN USE FEDERAL FUNDS.
SO FOR $20, THE LANDLORD REDUCES THAT RENT AND NOW WE CAN THEN USE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THAT. THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE.
PAYING SOMEONE'S REPAIR COSTS ON THEIR VEHICLE SO THEY CAN KEEP THEIR JOB AND MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WOULDN'T TYPICALLY BE AVAILABLE.
THEN WE'VE DONE SOME INITIATIVES WHERE WE'RE DOING OUTREACH TO LANDLORDS TO OPEN DOORS AND HELP MORE DOORS GET OPEN TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE WHAT WE CALL HIGHER BARRIERS.
THEY'VE BEEN EVICTED BEFORE, THEY MAY NOT BE CURRENTLY WORKING, THEIR INCOME DOESN'T MAKE THE 30 PERCENT THRESHOLD THAT MOST LANDLORDS REQUIRE.
THOSE ARE KIND OF BARRIERS THAT KEEP THIS POPULATION, ESPECIALLY OUT OF HOUSING.
SO WE'RE OUT REACHING THE LANDLORDS TO TRY TO GET THAT TO OPEN THOSE DOORS [NOISE] AND HELP US OVERCOME SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS FOR THOSE WHO ARE HARDEST TO HOUSE.
WE ALSO HAVE A DASHBOARD THAT ANY OF YOU CAN GO ON AND LOOK AT TO SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AT ANY GIVEN TIME NOW, AND HOW WE'RE IMPROVING THAT OVER TIME.
WHAT ELSE? WE DO HAVE A CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE WORKING ON TO TRY TO END HOMELESSNESS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
A COMMUNITY IS LIMITED IN OUR HOUSING RESOURCES, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS OUR GOAL FOCUSING ON SPECIALIZED POPULATION BECAUSE WE THINK THAT IF WE CAN GET OUR SYSTEMS WORKING WELL, THAT WE CAN THEN SCALE THAT UP TO SERVE EVERYONE WHO'S EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AS WELL.
I WON'T GO INTO ALL OF THOSE PIECES BUT I WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE REST OF THAT.
JUST A QUICK THING THOUGH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCIL HAS DONE RECENTLY IS INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHICH ALLOWED MONSIGNOR KING TO BE OPEN SO THAT OVER THIS YEAR ALONE, COUNCIL IS INCREASE THE FUNDING MORE THAN $600,000.
SO WE'RE SIGNIFICANTLY INVESTING IN HOMELESSNESS AT THIS POINT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IMPROVING THAT SITUATION AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
IT'S LITTLE SNAPSHOT OF WHAT OUR DASHBOARD LOOKS LIKE.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, IN OCTOBER 31ST OF 2019, THERE WERE 439 PEOPLE ACTIVELY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN DENTON COUNTY.
OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS, WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY REDUCED THAT TO 394.
AGAIN, THIS IS A DASHBOARD THAT YOU CAN GET ANY TIME [INAUDIBLE].
I DID PUT THE POINT-IN-TIME COUNT DATA.
[00:50:01]
THE POINT-IN-TIME COUNT IS FEDERALLY MANDATED BECAUSE WE RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS.WE HAVE TO DO IT IN THE LAST 10 DAYS OF JANUARY, SO WE PICK ONE DAY WHERE WE GO OUT AND WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE A COUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WE ASK A LOT OF GREAT QUESTIONS JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, WHY THEY MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF HOW WE DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND SOLUTIONS AND ALSO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THOSE PLANNING APPEALS THAT WE NEED TO GET THE DOLLARS THAT WE NEED HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THAT DATA JUST TO SEE WHAT THEY TOLD US IN 2019.
WE JUST COMPLETED THE 2020 SO THAT DATA IS NOT AVAILABLE YET.
BECAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION, WE ALSO INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT STUDENT HOMELESSNESS.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT DEFINITION SO THERE IS A LARGER NUMBER THAT QUALIFY UNDER THE STUDENT HOMELESSNESS DEFINITION BUT IT IS GOOD TO GIVE THAT CONTEXT TOO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT AS WELL.
THIS IS HOW WE ARE COLLABORATING IN COMMUNITY CURRENTLY.
IT'S ABOUT MY LAST SLIDE BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION. YES.
>> MY HOME [NOISE] TOWN IS IN [INAUDIBLE] FALLS AND I STILL GET MENTIONED IN THAT EVERYDAY.
THEY RECENTLY DID A PROJECT WHERE THEY TOOK IN A CITY, RECLAIMED THE NURSING HOME PROTECTS PURPOSES THAT WAS ABANDONED.
THEY OPENED IT UP AND THEY STAFFED IT WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE TO WORK IT AND PROVIDED IT AS A HOMELESS SHELTER, AS A STEPPING OFF POINT TO GET THEM OFF THE STREETS BUT THEY HAD TO WORK IN IT, CLEAN IT UP AND MAKE IT AS A STEPPING OFF TO GET OFF THE STREETS.
BUT THEY HAD TO WORK FOR IT AND IT'S BECOMING SUCCESSFUL.
THERE'S NO REAL LONG-TERM DATA YET BUT AT LEAST THE BUILDING IS NOW OCCUPIED.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING. THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES OUT THERE THAT WE BORROW FROM FREQUENTLY.
THE FIRST ONE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE SO I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING ANOTHER IDEA IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY AND SPREADING IT HERE.
>> IN REFERENCE TO THE HOMELESSNESS CONTEXT, DO YOU KNOW OR CAN YOU TELL ME THE PERCENTAGE OF MONEY OR RESOURCES THAT ARE BEING PUT TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH SO FAR?
>> IT'S NOT FROM THIS PARTICULAR FUNDING SOURCES.
THERE ARE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO THE UNITED WAY FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.
CAN YOU OFFER SOME CONTEXTS THERE FOR ME? I KNOW YOU'RE NOT THERE ANYMORE [LAUGHTER].
>> AM NOT THERE ANYMORE [LAUGHTER].
SIMILAR TO THE HOMELESSNESS LEADERSHIP TEAM, UNITED WAY HAS A DIFFERENT COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP TEAM.
THEY HAVE BEEN AWARDED SOME GRANT DOLLARS TO TRY TO WORK ON IMPROVING SYSTEMS ESPECIALLY RELATED TO JAIL DIVERSION AND TRYING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CRIMINALLY OR JUSTICE INVOLVED BUT ALSO EXPERIENCING THE MENTAL ILLNESS AND TRYING TO IMPROVE SYSTEMS RELATED TO THAT.
I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY IT'S SIMILAR TO THE THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS.
THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES TO KEEP THROWING.
>> I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION TO ANSWER WITH A SPECIFIC NUMBER BECAUSE I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT DENTON COUNTY HAS A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM CALLED THE CONNECTIONS PROGRAM THAT HAS 22 BEDS IN IT CURRENTLY.
THAT'S FUNDING THAT HELPS PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING SOME SORT OF CHRONIC DISABILITY OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY, THEN THEY NEED PERMANENT SUPPORT WHICH MEANS THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.
THAT'S FUNDING THAT'S ABOUT $400, 000.
THERE'S MONEY THAT'S GOING INTO MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING OFFERED THROUGH UNITED WAY AND COUPLE OF OTHER GROUPS.
SOME OF IT'S TARGETED SPECIFICALLY TO VETERANS SO IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY A SPECIFIC NUMBER BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE BEING INVESTED IN.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT LESS FUNDING IN THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PART OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RIGHT NOW WHICH IS ANOTHER AREA WE'RE TRYING TO TARGET BUT AGAIN WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO ALL OF THAT CURRENTLY.
>> DANNY, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF YOU GO BACK TO THE HOMELESSNESS BREAKDOWN REASONS, TOP REASONS PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
MENTAL HEALTH IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE.
I DON'T KNOW IT IN THAT DEFINITION WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, ARE THEY INCLUDING SUBSTANCE USE OR IS THAT A SEPARATE QUESTION?
>> IT IS A SEPARATE QUESTION IN A SURVEY.
THESE ARE SELF-REPORTED SO WHEN OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY SITTING IN FRONT OF SOMEONE WHO'S EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS,
[00:55:03]
THAT INDIVIDUAL IS REPORTING BACK TO THAT INDIVIDUAL WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE FACING.YOU CAN TAKE THAT INFORMATION BUT WE DO WATCH IT YEAR AFTER YEAR TO SEE THAT TRENDING, TO SEE IF IT'S INCREASING OR DECREASING.
SO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND PHYSICAL MENTAL DISABILITIES STAY RELATIVELY CONSISTENT IN WHAT'S BEING REPORTED AND OUR CHRONIC HOMELESS NUMBERS STAY RELATIVELY CONSISTENT.
SO TO ME, THOSE TWO DATA POINTS ARE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER TO SAY, WE DEFINITELY HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE INFLICTED BY THIS.
IT'S ALSO A BARRIER TO HOUSING AND ACCESSING SERVICES BUT I THINK THE DATA IS PRETTY CONSISTENT.
SO OUT OF THE 100 AND SOME ODD IN THIS YEAR, IT WAS A 199, 7.3 PERCENT INDICATED A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY.
>> JUST TO TAG ALONG WITH THAT CHART THERE.
TO ME IT WOULD BE INTERESTING, UNEMPLOYMENT IS DEFINITELY THE TOP REASON.
BUT HOW MUCH OF UNEMPLOYMENT MIGHT BE ATTRIBUTED TO PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY?
>> THAT'S A GREATER POINT. IN THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION, THEY CAN GIVE MORE THAN ONE RESPONSE.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT UNABLE TO PAY RENT OR MORTGAGE YOU CAN PROBABLY ATTRIBUTE IT TO THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE RESULT OF UNEMPLOYMENT.
THERE'S ALSO INTERESTING DATA JUST ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED WHO ARE STILL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THAT NUMBER'S GOING DOWN. I THINK THAT'S AN ECONOMIC INDICATOR, MEANING LESS PEOPLE ARE UNEMPLOYED.
BUT AS OF TWO YEARS AGO, THAT WAS ALMOST 50 PERCENT OF OUR FOLKS WHO WERE EMPLOYED AND STILL NOT ABLE TO AFFORD HOUSING.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF INTERESTING DATA POINTS TO LOOK AT AS FAR AS THE EXPERIENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THE SHELTERS, HOW ARE THEY SERVING INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY?
>> WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WHEN WE PUT THE FUNDING IN THE MONSIGNOR KING, THE FUNDING WAS PRIMARILY FOR STAFF RESOURCES, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL VOLUNTEER DRIVEN.
THEN IF IT WAS TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT WHAT WE CALL AN ENHANCED SHELTER MODEL.
SO INSTEAD OF JUST BEING AN EMERGENCY PLACE AND A BED FOR SOMEONE TO GO, THE MODEL SAYS THERE'S A CASEWORKER THERE WORKING WITH EVERYONE WHO'S EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND CREATING A HOUSING PLAN FOR THEM WITH GOALS TO BECOME HOUSED AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE WITH OUR DATE AND TIMELINE.
BUT WHAT THEY FOUND OUT AS SOON AS THEY IMPLEMENTED WAS, THERE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT 15 PEOPLE WHO ARE WITH SOME SORT OF DISABILITY WHO ARE UNABLE TO BE HOUSED BUT STILL CAN'T EVEN WORK ON A HOUSING PLAN.
SO THEY'VE SET ASIDE A FEW BEDS IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE RIGHT NOW TOO.
I THINK THAT'S THE DATA THAT WE'RE GOING TO START TO GET BETTER AT BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE A CONSISTENT PLACE TO STAY WHERE THEY DIDN'T BEFORE.
BUT I THINK AS I MENTIONED AS WELL, SEE THAT CHRONICALLY HOMELESS NUMBER IS STAYING RELATIVELY CONSISTENT REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THOSE FOLKS ARE JUST STILL ON THE STREET BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A PERMANENT PLACE TO PUT THEM.
WITH OTHER NUMBERS, IF IT'S JUST A SHORT-TERM RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THAT'S IT, WELL, SO IT'S EASY, BUT THAT'S EASIER, BECAUSE WE CAN THREE TO SIX MONTHS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE BUT THEY WILL ULTIMATELY LIKELY LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.
BUT WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, EVERY SINGLE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BED IS FULL.
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO AFTER.
>> YES. THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS IN WHICH COLLABORATION IS HAPPENING WITH CHURCHES, SOME OF IT IS INFORMALLY AND SOME OF IT IS MORE INTENTIONAL.
MANY OF THEM ARE DELIVERING SERVICES OR HOUSE RELATIONSHIPS, WHETHER IT'S OUR DAILY BREAD OR FIRST REFUGE OR WHATEVER.
BUT THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE CHURCHES WHO ARE PROVIDING OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES TOO: FOOD, SHELTER.
>> ALSO COLLABORATED WITH BEST OF DENTON?
>> SORRY, I'M NOT SURE WHO THAT IS.
>> OH, BEST OF DENTON. I'M NOT SURE WHO THAT IS.
I AM SORRY. THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT ISN'T HAPPENING, I'M JUST NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT.
>> JUST REAL QUICKLY, CAN YOU TELL US WHERE YOUR OFFICE IS LOCATED?
>> YES. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION AND THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT SERVICES DIVISION ARE BOTH AT CITY HALL EAST.
>> THEN THAT'S JUST ACROSS THE BAKERY FROM THE TRANSIT CENTER?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S RIGHT. WE'RE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE TRAIN STATION.
OUR OFFICES ARE ACCESSIBLE ON RAILROAD WHICH IS A ONE-WAY STREET.
>> YOU SHOWED A VIDEO OR PIE CHART AND THAT'S 3.9 PERCENT FOR DISABILITIES.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHERE THAT GOES TO OR ABOUT THAT?
>> OKAY. I THINK IT WAS [OVERLAPPING]
[01:00:03]
>> RIGHT. IN THAT INSTANCE THAT WAS FUNDING THERE WAS ACTUALLY THREE YEARS AGO.
IT'S NO LONGER WITH THEM. THAT PROGRAM IS NO LONGER FUNDED.
IT IS NO LONGER OPERATING IN DENTON.
WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES GRANT, THAT IS A GRANT APPLICATION THAT FOLKS FILL OUT AND THEN THE COMMITTEE REVIEWS IT AND RECOMMENDS.
SO IF WE'RE NOT RECEIVING GRANT APPLICATIONS, WE CAN'T AWARD FUNDING.
IN THIS INSTANCE, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY GROUP COME FORWARD IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT'S PROVIDING DISABILITY SERVICES SEEKING FUNDING THROUGH THIS GRANT PROGRAM AND WE HAVE NOT DENIED ANY GRANT APPLICATIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE AND IT WAS IN THE CHILDCARE AREA.
>> PERHAPS YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT'S [INAUDIBLE]
>> CORRECT. YOU CAN SAY THAT IT DOESN'T FIT IN HERE BUT SPAN IS ALSO DOING FOOD FOR FOLKS WHO ARE DISABLED, NOT JUST THE ELDERLY.
SO WE DO FUND THAT PROGRAM AND THAT BENEFITS PEOPLE BUT WE'RE NOT SPECIFICALLY LISTED IN THIS CATEGORY.
WE ARE ACTUALLY LISTED WITH ELDERLY SERVICES.
>> WHEN DO YOU TYPICALLY PUT OUT YOUR GRANT SO AGENCIES CAN APPLY AT WORK?
>> GREAT QUESTION. YOU NOTICE WITH FUNDING AVAILABILITIES FOR BOTH OF THESE GRANT PROGRAMS TYPICALLY GO OUT IN NOVEMBER AND THEN THEY'RE DUE IN JANUARY.
RIGHT NOW, THE COMMITTEES HAVE RECEIVED THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR 2021 AND ARE ABOUT TO START MEETING TO HEAR THOSE PRESENTATIONS FROM THOSE GROUPS AND THEN MAKE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS TYPICALLY BY APRIL.
SO IT'S A WELL IN ADVANCE OF WHEN THE FUNDING STARTS, WHICH WOULD BE IN OCTOBER.
BUT WE DO IT EARLY SO WE CAN GET THE BUDGET CYCLE EARLY.
>> IT DOES NOT ACTUALLY. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
IT HAS TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY.
>> TREE REMOVAL? NOT CURRENTLY.
YEAH. IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT THAT AS AN OPTION, WE WOULD HAVE TO TELL HUD, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANTED TO DO AND WE'D HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RELATE IT TO [INAUDIBLE] TYPICALLY.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT BEFORE, BUT I'LL WRITE IT DOWN JUST TO CHECK INTO IT.
>> YEAH. SO IF IT'S A BARRIER?
SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS CAN ALL BE REPORTED TO US EITHER BY PHONE OR IF YOU'RE ALREADY ENGAGED IN AN APP, AND WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.
THEY FALL DOWN AN THEY [INAUDIBLE]
>> YEAH. WE'D PROBABLY NEED TO KNOW WHERE IT IS AND WHERE IT'S CREATING A BARRIER AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO WITH IT. ABSOLUTELY LET US KNOW.
>> SO ON SOME OF THE PROJECTS YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT, LIKE ACCOMMODATIONS, HELPING WITH THE ACCOMMODATIONS.
SO HOW DID PEOPLE APPLY FOR THAT TYPE OF FUNDING OR TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS?
>> SO ANY OF THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, ALL IT TAKES IS GIVING US A CALL ANYTIME.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GRANTS, THAT HAS A CYCLE.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A HOUSING ASSISTANCE NEED, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS, YOU LET US KNOW.
COME IN AND WE'LL SEE IF YOU QUALIFY AND SEE WHAT YOUR HOUSING NEED IS, WHETHER IT'S JUST A SMALL REPAIR NEED OR IF IT'S A LARGER NEED TO HELP YOUR HOME, AND OUR STAFF WILL WORK WITH YOU TO IDENTIFY WHAT THAT IS, AND THEY'LL COME OUT AND VISIT YOU.
THEY CAN ACTUALLY BRING THE APPLICATION OUT TO YOU AS WELL IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO GET INTO OUR OFFICES, AND THEN A COUPLE OF STAFF ARE ABLE TO SPEAK SPANISH, SO IF THERE'S FOLKS WHO NEED THAT KIND OF RESOURCE AS WELL, WE'RE AVAILABLE.
>> THANK YOU. ON THE HOME OWNERSHIP COMPELLMENT, WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA? AT ONE TIME, THERE WAS A BARRIER BECAUSE HOUSING IN DENTON WAS SO HIGH, AND [OVERLAPPING] THE AMOUNT AVAILABLE IN THE HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAM DIDN'T ALWAYS MEET THE STANDARD. HOW IS THAT LOOKING?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW FOR 2021.
ACTUALLY, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH OUR FEDERALLY REQUIRED CONSOLIDATED PLAN, WHICH IS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
IT'S GENERALLY FIVE YEARS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO THREE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE AMOUNT OF SYSTEMS WE'RE PROVIDING BECAUSE ANY OF OUR HOMEOWNERS WHO MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS CAN'T AFFORD A HOME IN DENTON RIGHT NOW.
SO WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY HELPED A HOMEOWNER IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
[01:05:03]
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO SEE IF WE CAN BRING THE COST OF THAT HOME DOWN EVEN MORE.YOU JUST HAVE TO BE LIVING IN DENTON OR WORKING IN DENTON, AND THEN INCOME-QUALIFY FOR THAT PROGRAM.
AFTER THAT, THEN IT'S JUST YOU WORKING WITH YOUR REALTOR AND LENDER TO FIND A HOME.
WE DO HAVE TO TRAIN THE LENDERS AND REALTORS, AND WE OFFER TRAININGS FOR THAT, SO THEY KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH US AND THE PROGRAM.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER STIPULATION.
BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S 149 DOWNPAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE.
WE'RE LOOKING TO UP THAT 50,000.
>> SOUNDS GREAT. NOW, DO THE LENDERS AND REALTORS HAVE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH DENTON OR DENTON COUNTY?
>> THEY DO NOT, BUT THEY DO NEED TO TRAIN WITH US FOR THIS, AND THE HOME HAS TO BE HERE, AND YOU HAVE TO BE HERE OR HAVE A REASON TO BE HERE, WHETHER YOU'RE WORKING HERE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S MY DIRECT NUMBER TOO ON THE BOTTOM.
SO IF YOU'VE GOT A COPY OF THE SLIDES, YOU'RE WELCOME TO CALL. [NOISE]
[E. Receive a report, hold a discussion and give staff feedback regarding the upcoming Adapted Recreation programs that will be offered by the Parks Department.]
>> WE WILL GO INTO FIVE [INAUDIBLE] DISCUSSIONS AND FEEDBACK REGARDING THE OUTCOMES IN ESTABLISHING [INAUDIBLE].
>> HELLO. THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK OUT.
I AM A REC COORDINATOR FOR PARKS AND REC.
I WORK OUT AT A NORTHLAKE AND I'M OVER THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS AND ALL THE ADAPTED REC HERE IN TOWN.
MARK IS HANDING OUT OUR UPCOMING SPRING-SUMMER FLYER.
IT'S GOT ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ON THERE.
FOR SPRING AND SUMMER, I GENERALLY KEEP IT A LITTLE LIGHT BECAUSE 85 PERCENT OF MY TIME IS SPENT WITH SUMMER CAMP.
SO THESE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE DOING WELL, AND SO THAT IS WHAT I FOCUS ON THE MOST.
SO TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK MORE ABOUT FALL AND WINTER.
WORKING FOR PARKS AND REC, WE'RE ALWAYS THINKING WAY AHEAD LIKE THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
WE HAD OUR SWEETHEART BALL ON FEBRUARY 8.
LAST YEAR WAS MY FIRST YEAR PLANNING THAT OUT.
THIS LAST ONE, WE HAD 87 PEOPLE SHOW UP.
SO IT WAS REALLY A GREAT TIME AND I WAS REALLY SUPER HAPPY ABOUT THAT. LET'S SEE.
IN MARCH, THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH, I'M GETTING TOGETHER AND MEETING WITH UNT, TW, DENTON ISD, ALONG WITH AQUATICS AND ATHLETICS, TO WORK ON SOME PROGRAMMING BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN VOICED A LOT THAT WE ARE NEEDING HERE INN DENTON.
I FOCUS MORE ON ART THERAPY, ART DANCES, OUR MONTHLY DANCES, HIKING, OUTDOOR, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO THAT'S JUST A FEW THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON THERE.
REGARDING SUMMER CAMP, LAST YEAR WAS MY FIRST YEAR RUNNING THAT.
IT WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE, AND WE DID COME ACROSS A FEW CHILDREN THAT I SAW THERE WAS A NEED FOR BETTER TRAINING FOR OUR STAFFS.
SO THIS YEAR, I THINK WE HAVE FOUR DAYS OF TRAINING IN MAY.
I KNOW MYSELF, I WILL HAVE THREE CAMP COUNSELORS, THE CAMP SUPERVISOR, AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, AND THEN MYSELF, JUST IN OUR FACILITY.
BUT THEN THERE'S THE CIVIC CENTER AND THEY HAVE, I THINK UP TO 100 CAMP COUNSELORS, SUPERVISORS, ALL OF THAT NATURE.
SO I'VE GOT MORGAN MCKAY WITH 29 ACRES.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH HER OR THAT PROGRAM.
THEY'RE DOING SOME REALLY WONDERFUL THINGS RIGHT NOW. BUT SHE'S GOING TO COME IN.
SHE HAS OFFERED TO COME IN TO HELP TRAIN OUR STAFF, TO BETTER HELP US THIS SUMMER, AND WE'RE STILL CONTINUOUSLY WORKING ON THAT TO MAKE THAT BETTER FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED THERE, AND I'M HOPING TO ALSO GET TRAINING FOR OUR STAFF AS WELL IN THE CITY PARTS OF REC, MAYBE EVEN BIGGER THAN THAT, TO HELP US AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO ANY SUGGESTIONS,
[01:10:02]
ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE.IT FELT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SEE? ANY SUGGESTIONS? ANY COMPLAINTS? YES, MA'AM. [LAUGHTER]
>> WHAT KIND OF ATHLETICS PROGRAMS ARE YOU BRINGING AND WHAT APPLICATIONS ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT MAKING?
>> SO BOCCE BALL HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED A LOT, AND SO THAT'S EXCITING, AND WE'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE ABOUT THAT.
OVERALL, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE EVERYTHING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE STRUGGLED WITH IT IS THE RIGHT FACILITIES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ARE IN DISCUSSIONS AT THE MOMENT.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ALL OF THIS THROUGH.
UNFORTUNATELY, MY DEPARTMENT IS NOT ATHLETICS. THAT IS NOT ME.
DON'T PUT A BASKETBALL IN MY HAND BECAUSE [LAUGHTER] IT'S REALLY BAD.
SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO BRING IN ATHLETICS TO HELP US OUT WITH THAT.
>> THANK YOU. HAVE YOU ALL CONSIDERED FORMING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LIKE THE ISD AND MAYBE SOME OF THE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS WITH THEIR SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAMS?
>> SO THAT'S ONE THING I THINK THAT WE WILL DISCUSS.
WE HAD THE FOCUS GROUP BACK IN OCTOBER, I BELIEVE THAT WAS SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, AND WE SPOKE A LOT WITH UNT, AND, TW, AND DENTON ISD.
BUT I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THESE MEETINGS NOW, WE CAN FOCUS MORE SPECIFICALLY ON MAYBE SOME COLLABORATIONS AND SEE WHERE WE CAN GO WITH IT.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION. IS THE GOAL TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, INCLUDING WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE DISABILITIES?
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE.
>> IN REGARDS TO THE TRAINING EARLIER, IS ANY OF THAT TRAINING INCLUDE TRAINING ON DISABILITY CULTURE, OR [INAUDIBLE] , OR COMMUNICATION?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT IS HIGH ON THE LIST FOR SURE.
>> YEAH. WELL, WHERE ARE THEY GETTING THAT TRAINING FROM?
>> SO I'VE SPOKEN WITH MORGAN MCKAY. I'M ALWAYS OPEN.
I FORGOT THEM LAST TIME, SO I'M GOING TO HAND THESE OUT OR I'LL JUST LEAVE THEM HERE FOR YOU.
IF YOU WOULD JUST LET ME KNOW, CONTACT ME, E-MAIL ME IS THE BEST WAY BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT THERE, ALWAYS.
I'M HORRIBLE AT CHECKING MY VOICEMAILS.
ANYONE YOU HAVE, ANY SUGGESTIONS, I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO THAT, FOR SURE.
>> JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON VAL'S QUESTION.
WHAT IS THE MAIN FOCUS OF THIS UPCOMING TRAINING YOU'RE DOING [NOISE] WITH [INAUDIBLE]?
>> SO MAINLY, [NOISE] THIS PAST SUMMER, IT WAS INTERESTING.
THE WAY THE KIDS CAN SIGN UP FOR PRETTY MUCH ANY CAMP THEY WANT.
THEY CAN JUMP AROUND FROM NORTHLAKE'S ONE WEEK TO AT THE CIVIC CENTER, ANOTHER [INAUDIBLE] THE NEXT WEEK.
SO WE'VE GOT THESE KIDDOS IN THERE AND THEY'RE HAVING BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS, AND YOUR STAFF'S NOT TRAINED, AND THEY HAVE A CERTAIN THREE MARKS AND YOU'RE OUT.
SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.
WE HAVE STAFF THAT'S TRAINED TO RECOGNIZE THOSE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES AND KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THEM.
THAT WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD RATHER THAN SAYING, "THIS KID IS A PROBLEM. WE'RE DONE." SO THAT'S THE MAIN FOCUS FOR US, IS TO BE ABLE TO HELP EVERYONE AND INCLUDE EVERYONE, AND JUST HAVE THAT TRAINING AND THAT KNOWLEDGE.
>> MAY I ASK A QUICK QUESTION, AND I'M LOOKING FOR THE OPINION OF OUR BODY HERE, SO I'M LEARNING ABOUT THIS.
I THINK THERE'S TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT, ONE IS HAVING SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT ARE TARGETED TO HELP PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER SCHOOL OF THOUGHT WHICH IS INTEGRATING EVERYONE.
CAN ANYONE HERE SPEAK TO THAT AND THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH OR ANYTHING?
[01:15:01]
JUST TO ENLIGHTEN ALL OF US.>> I THINK FOR ME, IT DEPENDS ON THE PROGRAM.
IF YOU HAVE AN ATHLETIC COMPETITIVE PROGRAM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE OKAY TO HAVE AN ADAPTIVE BASKETBALL LEAGUE, A RUGBY LEAGUE, OR POWER SOCCER.
NOW, IF WE'RE TALKING YOUNGER AGES WHERE IT'S MORE LIKE A CAMP, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WHERE YOU ARE INTEGRATING, THAT'S LIKE COMPETITIVE, IT'S NOT BASED ON [INAUDIBLE].
BUT THEN THAT WOULD REQUIRE GOOD TRAINING AND A KNOWLEDGE OF ALL DISABILITY, NOT JUST BEHAVIOR, BUT UNDERSTANDING EVERYTHING.
I'VE SEEN THE ADAPTIVE PROGRAM THAT'S SPECIFICALLY ATHLETICS OR COMPETITIVE, OR YOU RUN LIKE A COMPETITIVE BALLGAME.
IT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT'S SPECIFIC FOR THAT, DEPENDING ON THE REACH FOR THE YOUNGER ADULT.
BUT YEAH. [INAUDIBLE] SO TO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT REALLY DEPENDS.
>> THOSE SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT, AND I THINK I STARTED ON THE FENCE.
SIMILAR TO WHAT VAL HAS SAID, I THINK IF WE WANT SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO GET A BETTER EXPERIENCE, THAT IT MIGHT BE THROUGH A SPECIAL OLYMPICS ACTIVITY WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO UNDERSTAND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR DISABILITIES AND HOW TO ENHANCE THEIR ABILITIES TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THEIR ATHLETIC EVENTS.
HOWEVER, IF WE'RE DOING INCLUSIVE CAMP-LIKE PROGRAMS, DAY PROGRAMS, I SUPPORT THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN ONE OF THE CLASS AND HAVE A GOOD RATIO WHERE THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL STAFF.
SO IT CERTAINLY GOES TO [NOISE] PROBABLY THAT, YOU NEED MORE PERSONNEL UNITS, INDIVIDUALS WITH KNOWLEDGE, AND FLEXIBILITY TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH MORE THAN JUST BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME OTHER CHALLENGES THAT [OVERLAPPING] SOME ADULT STAFF MIGHT BE FITTED TO INITIALLY, SO THAT TRAINING WOULD HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN [NOISE] THAT PERSON ENJOYING THE PROGRAM BETTER, AND PARENTS BEING MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
>> IF I COULD REAL QUICK. I THINK THE ONE WORD I CAN TELL YOU IS "CHOICE." IT'S THE INDIVIDUAL'S CHOICE TO CHOOSE IF THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ADAPTIVE PROGRAM OR [NOISE] IF THEY WANT TO BE INTEGRATED OR COULD BE A PARENTAL CHOICE. THEY'RE YOUR CHILD.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING] THEY COULD HAVE A GOOD CHOICE.
>> YEAH. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO BRING UP TO THAT, I THINK THAT IT'S AWESOME THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON GETTING SOME BEHAVIORAL THINGS ADDRESSED AND DEALT WITH, AND ADDRESS WITH YOUR STAFF TOO.
BUT I THINK THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP, TOO, THAT VAL'S GOT A REALLY GOOD POINT ABOUT COVERING ALL DISABILITIES.
>> BEING PREPARED FOR ANY ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS.
>> THEN ALSO, ON THE ADAPTIVE RECREATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I DON'T KNOW.
I DID GO TO THE PARKS AND REC MEETING, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS INTERESTING IS THAT A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY WAS ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THINGS LIKE BOCCE BALL, EVEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE ABILITY ISSUES.
THAT'S STILL SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT TOO, IS THAT INTEGRATION CAN GO BOTH WAYS.
>> SO I'M JUST GOING TO POSE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED.
WE HAD OUR LEISURE SERVICES MEETING TODAY AND OUR EVENTS COORDINATORS CAME UP TO ME BECAUSE THEY HAVE, I THINK IT'S CALLED AN EXTRAVAGANZA, THEY HAVE IT EVERY YEAR.
LAST YEAR, THEY HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE ASK FOR A SEPARATE AREA FOR KIDDOS THAT MIGHT HAVE DISABILITIES OR WHATNOT.
THEY CAME TO ME ASKING ABOUT IT AND I SAID, "I THINK IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE PARENT AND THE CHILD." I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR FEEDBACK AS WELL BECAUSE I THINK IT'S NICE TO HAVE THAT CHOICE, BUT OF COURSE, WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO UPSET ANYONE AND MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE GO TO THAT SPECIFIC AREA.
I DIDN'T HAVE A STRONG ANSWER FOR HER AT THAT MOMENT.
I TOLD HER I WANTED TO TALK TO SOME PEOPLE AND SEE WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK I GOT.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT IT HURTS TO HAVE TWO SEPARATE AREAS.
THAT WOULD BE ONE ADAPTIVE AND ONE NOT.
I THINK THAT IT'S MORE ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN EITHER.
[01:20:02]
I THINK THAT ANOTHER THING THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT IS JUST TO NOT NECESSARILY, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE ADAPTIVE PLAYGROUND OR DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NON-ADAPTIVE PLAYGROUND, RIGHT? I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAYBE ASK EVERY PERSON THAT COMES UP FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THAT, AS OPPOSED TO JUST SINGLING OUT PEOPLE THAT WALK IN AND YOU CAN MAKE AN ASSUMPTION ABOUT IT.>> YES, EXACTLY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK THEY HAVE QUITE A BIG CROWD THAT COMES OUT.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE NUMBERS ON THAT ARE, AND I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO REGISTER.
IT'S JUST YOU WALK UP, AND HERE'S YOUR AGE GROUP, AND YOU GET IN A LINE, AND THEY'D LET YOU GO, AND YOU JUST GO.
IN YEARS PAST, I HAVEN'T DONE IT IN A LONG TIME, BUT IT WAS AT QUAKERTOWN PARK, AND IT WAS JUST SEGMENT SECTIONED OFF ALL THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
I GUESS IF WE JUST COULD GET THE WORD OUT THAT THAT IS AVAILABLE PRIOR, IF WE COULD GET OUR MARKETING DONE WELL WITH THAT, THEN THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN THAT WAY.
>> I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS, IEPS, [INAUDIBLE] HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS AND CAMPS.
>> YES. I HAVE A LOT OF CONTACTS, BUT I'M ALWAYS WANTING MORE BECAUSE THAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO REACH PEOPLE, IS TO GET THOSE NAMES.
I HAVE AN ONGOING E-MAIL LISTING THING, PROBABLY A GOOD TURN HERE FOR ME.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A RESOURCE OR SOMEONE THAT YOU THINK WOULD WANT OUR INFORMATION, PLEASE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO REACH THE COMMUNITY AND TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.
I THINK THAT'S THE HARDEST PROBLEM THAT I HAVE, IS GETTING ALL THAT, GOT IT FILL OUT. YES, MA'AM.
>> JUST ONE SUGGESTION THAT I WOULD HAVE IS REACHING OUT TO EVEN SOME PARTS, FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE EVEN THE PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHIATRY DEPARTMENTS IN THE UNIVERSITIES, ANY SERVICE LIKE DEPARTMENT IN THE UNIVERSITY AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S THIS DISABILITY STUDIES BOTH AT TW AND AT UNT, THAT MAYBE THAT SOME OF THEIR GRADUATE STUDENTS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, AND FOR JUST GAINING [INAUDIBLE].
DEFINITELY A LOT OF PROGRAMS TO HELP IN JUST THE TWO UNIVERSITIES.
MAYBE JUST REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BOTH OF THOSE UNIVERSITIES FOR THAT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? [NOISE] [BACKGROUND] THANK YOU.
[F. Staff Reports 1. Staff Report Memo 2. Future Agenda Items/Areas of Concern/Topics of Interest 3. MHMR Information Staff Report]
>> ALL RIGHT. DOING A GREAT JOB, MOVING RIGHT ALONG. LET'S SEE.
[NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH JUST A FEW ANNOUNCEMENT QUICKLY.
>> JUST A COUPLE THINGS TO REVIEW.
THESE ARE JUST MEMOS IF YOU RECALL.
THEY'VE MODIFIED THE WAY THAT THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS ARE IN THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE SQUARE.
SIX MONTHS, I THINK LET'S SAY APRIL IS WHEN WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE YAY OR NAY.
IF YOU HAVE FEEDBACK I'M NOT GOING TO GET VERBAL FEEDBACK RIGHT NOW BUT E-MAIL ME OR SOMETHING.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE HAVE SOME GOOD INFORMATION FROM OUR COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU ABOUT THE CENSUS COMPLETE COUNT EFFORTS.
SO THIS IS A CENSUS YEAR AND THIS COMPLETE COUNT IS THE CITY'S EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THE CITY GETS COUNTED BECAUSE WE GET FUNDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT BASED ON THE POPULATION.
WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS NEXT MONTH THAT'S UPCOMING.
WE DID INCLUDE IN THE AGENDA THERE'S A LINK TO A REPORT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL THAT JUST HAS SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MHMR WHICH IS THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT THE COUNTY RUN.
SO THAT INFORMATION IS THERE TO LOOK AT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE CITY RUNNING IT.
ALSO WANT TO JUST LET YOU KNOW WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE BIKE SHARE PROVIDER AND THAT'S WITH THE INTENTION TO MAKE SURE THE BIKES DON'T GET PARK BLOCKING SIDEWALKS OR PREVENTING ACCESS OR ANYTHING.
I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY CREATED A VIDEO THAT'S BEEN SHARED ON OUR BIKE WEB AND FACEBOOK PAGE.
[01:25:02]
IT'S A QUICK ONE-MINUTE VIDEO FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT PROPERLY PARKING THE BICYCLES.THIS IS A NEW SCREEN ON THE APP THAT HAS A REMINDER EVERY TIME YOU CHECK OUT THE BIKE ABOUT PROPER PARKING.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH US AND WE HAVE HEARD THEIR SUGGESTION FOR THEM.
I CAN CERTAINLY PASS THOSE ALONG.
COUPLE UPCOMING EVENTS; KDB, KEEP DENTON BEAUTIFUL, HAS THIS GREAT AMERICAN CLEAN UP A MONTH FROM TODAY BASICALLY.
I NOTE TOO THAT YOU CAN FORM A TEAM AND YOUR TEAM, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, AND YOU GET ASSIGNED AN AREA TO CLEAN UP BUT IT'S JUST CLEANING TRASH.
ALSO UPCOMING REDBUD FESTIVAL, ALSO KEEP DENTON BEAUTIFUL DOING THAT.
REMEMBER, WE HAD THEM COME AND SPEAK TO US.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS GOING TO BE THURSDAY, MARCH THE 19TH.
LET'S TALK ABOUT FUTURE TOPICS.
FOR NEXT MONTH, I HAVE FOUR POTENTIAL TOPICS.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT GETTING THE ADA COORDINATOR FROM THE HR DEPARTMENT TO COME.
THEY'VE HAD SOME TURNOVER IN THAT DEPARTMENT BUT THAT'S ALL SETTLED NOW.
WE HAVE THE NEW DIRECTOR AND SO FORTH.
JUST SPOKE TODAY WITH THE ANIMAL SHELTER, THAT'S STILL AN INTEREST AND SO FORTH.
I TALKED TO HER ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD BE AN INTERESTED IN HEARING.
WE'RE REALLY GETTING TO THE CRITICAL TIME WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WITHIN DENTON ARE COUNTED AND THAT'S GOING TO HELP DRIVE THE FUNDING TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
SO THIS IS IMPORTANT, AND I WANTED TO GO INTO A LITTLE DETAIL HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU WENT BACK SINCE WE STARTED RECORDING OUR MEETINGS AND HAVE LOOKED AT WHAT OUR MEETINGS LOOK LIKE ON CAMERA, BUT IF WE GO BACK TO THE DECEMBER MEETING, OUR DTB, THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN CHARGE WITH AUDIO VIDEO FOR THE CITY, THEY ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO THE COMPANY THAT'S DOING THIS AND THEY HAD THEM CAPTION.
GO BACK AFTER THE FACT AND ADD CAPTIONING TO OUR DECEMBER MEETING.
SO THE VIDEO FOR THAT IS HERE AND IN PREPARATION FOR NEXT MONTH'S CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SORT OF WHAT'S INVOLVED, WHAT THE COSTS WOULD BE, WHAT DO WE AS A COMMITTEE WHAT POSITION DO WE WANT TO TAKE.
I'D LIKE YOU TO GO BACK HERE AND I CAN SEND OUT THIS LINK TO EVERYONE AND TAKE A LOOK. WHY IS IT NOT SHOWING UP [INAUDIBLE]?
>> OKAY, THERE [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU, CECE.
SO THEY WENT BACK AND ADDED CAPTIONS.
JUST A REMINDER, THE MICROPHONES ARE UP TOP AND THEY SAID IF WE JUST SPEAK FORWARD IN A NORMAL VOICE THEY SHOULD PICK EVERYTHING UP.
ANYWAY, SO I'LL SEND THAT LINK OUT.
YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT, SEE IF YOUR VOICE IS BEING PICKED UP AND WERE THEY ABLE TO GET THE CORRECT TRANSCRIPTION FROM YOUR VOICE AND THINGS LIKE SO.
JUST IN PREPARATION FOR THAT NEXT ONE, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
I THINK THAT'S AN EXCITING THING TO HAVE THE COMPANY DO THAT AS A TEST AND WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND BASED ON THAT WE CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING FORWARD AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY MAJOR THOUGHTS OR IDEAS FOR OTHER TOPICS THAT YOU WANT TO HEAR? I ACTUALLY HAVE ENOUGH LOTS OF THINGS COMING IN HERE FROM THE CITY SIDE[OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH RIGHT NOW
>> I'M NOT [LAUGHTER] DON'T DIG TOO DEEP IN YOUR HEAD BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS HERE THAT'S OCCURRED TO YOU THAT SAID, "WE SHOULD AT THIS." PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME OR ANYTHING.
THEN JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THIS IS OUR ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, SO CONGRATULATIONS, WE'VE DONE A YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF BEING RECOGNIZED AND NOT SPEAKING OVER EACH OTHER.
EVERYONE HAD BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. GOOD WORK.
WE ARE ANNOUNCING THESE NOW, NOT JUST BY A STANDARD EMAIL, BUT WHAT WE'RE SENDING OUT IS A MEETING INVITE ESSENTIALLY.
[01:30:02]
SO IT COMES TO YOUR INBOX AND I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN CLICK ON THAT THAT SAYS I WILL ATTEND OR SOMETHING.IF YOU CAN DO THAT, WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
I EXPECT THAT UNLESS I HEAR OTHERWISE, YOU'LL COME, BUT EVERYONE'S BEEN GREAT ABOUT LETTING US KNOW WHETHER THEY CAN BE HERE OR NOT, BUT YOU CAN CLICK ON THAT AND SAY "YES, I PLANNED TO ATTEND" AND THAT WILL MAKE IT EASY FOR US.
I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING AS FAR UPDATES FROM ME, MR. CHAIR. SO THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS [INAUDIBLE]?
WHEN WE FIRST FORMED THE COMMITTEE, YOU SAID THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT WOULD ROTATE OFF IN A YEAR AND OTHERS HAVE ROTATED OFF IN TWO YEARS, SO THIS IS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY.
I DON'T KNOW WHO ROTATES OFF THIS YEAR AND I DON'T KNOW WHO ROTATES OFF IN TWO YEARS, BUT I GUESS WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.
>> WE CAN DO A REMINDER ABOUT THAT.
MAYBE IN THE ANNOUNCEMENTS NEXT MONTH.
I DON'T THINK IT'S UNTIL THE FALL, IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY.
I THINK IT'S LIKE WITH THE FIRST TWO YEARS LIKE SEPTEMBER.
>> SO WE HAVE AT LEAST SIX OR SO MORE MONTHS FOR OUR COMMITTEE AND EVERYONE IS ELIGIBLE TO BE REAPPOINTED IF YOU WANT TO.
>> SO WE'RE NOT PUSHING ANYONE OUT.
WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO BE REAPPOINTED.
I THINK YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WHO NOMINATED YOU WITH LOVE.
I HAVEN'T COMPLAINED ABOUT ANY OF YOU.
[LAUGHTER] SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
IT'S MOSTLY A FORMALITY AND IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATING, PLEASE, WE'D LOVE TO KEEP YOU ON HERE, BUT THANKS FOR THE REMINDER.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? I WANT TO READ THE MOTIONS TO ADJOURN? [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]. [INAUDIBLE]
>>THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.