[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] [Music] Dr. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat. [Music] [Music] Down. [Music] Down. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] I feel like [Music] I feel you. [Music] Well, good afternoon everyone. Uh welcome to the Thursday July 10th 2025 uh work session. Uh the first item are on our agenda is citizens comments. Chenet, do we have residents who would like to speak to us today? Yes, we just have one resident and she knows the threeminut rule. So it is Laura Anderson. Good afternoon mayor and council. I'm Laura Anderson, 1425 West Pioneer number sweet 114. Um, aren't we all interested in combating the devastating effects of homelessness in our city? If you are, here's where you start. I've sent you an email and attached a link to a website that offers homelessness response systems mapping workshops. These workshops have been very successful at not only identifying the problems but also having all the participants coordinate to come up with tangible solutions. I would ask that this be headed up by citizens of Irving including the housing and human services board and not be staff driven. It is imperative that the person responsible for the growth and development of downtown Irving should not also be in charge of providing solutions to the homelessness problem. We don't need to balance the needs of the businesses in downtown with the solutions ending homelessness. Because if we come up with ways to lessen the burden of homelessness in Irving, then downtown businesses will thrive. If you in fact choose to do this, it will need to be done pretty quickly for two reasons. First, you can determine the best use of the 2.9 million ARPA funds. And second, because the 20 2526 action plan that you are receiving today is seriously lacking on the opportunities to address homelessness, we've spent two years debating how to spend $2.9 million in ARPA funds, and we're no closer. Once this mapping is done, you can stop arguing about whether we need a non- congregate shelter for the homeless or an emergency shelter for domestic violence. because both domestic violence victim needing temporary emergency services and those who are considered traditionally homeless are reviewed in the mapping. So you will be able to determine if in fact we do needed emergency domestic violence shelter or not on June 12th. You authorized 191,000 to create a new vision for the main street called Downtown Irving Reimagined. you immediately approved the expenditure and we had our first meeting on June 24th of which about 75 people showed up to listen to the new plan for downtown Irving. The very first question asked by my friend Kathleen Olsen was what are we going to do about the homeless? The city staff's reply was that we would be speaking to city council on Thursday and it wasn't the focus so we moved on. Gentlemen, the workshop cost $30,000. Couldn't we spend $30,000 more to answer the question, what are we going to do about the homelessness in Irving? Again, I'm ready to assist you in tackling this devastating problem. The economic cost of homelessness far outweigh the nominal cost of beginning to understand the totality of homelessness problems. So, we will have the opportunity to fix it. Thank you, gentlemen. The next item Next item is the city operations update. Thank you, mayor. We have two, April. We have our last month on ICTN and then our Sparks and Stripes recap. Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. April Riley, director of communications. Pleased to present last month on ICTN for the month of June. [Music] Your ICTN team produced 44 videos in the month of June. I've been around Irving for a long time, but I thought I knew everything that was here. No, this is blowing my mind. I still can't drive past that intersection where Texas Stadium was without a little bit of a heart tug. Irving certainly holds a special place for us. The cool thing about this project is it's a 120day process. So, not only are we moving quick on this community engagement piece, but we're taking those ideas and making action on them right away. I've been celebrating Junth since I've been a very young child. So, now that the city does it, especially here in the open park, I have to bring my family and friends. Just grab your phone and head to the App Store or Google Play. Search Irving TXV and download the app. It's familyowned. There's a lot lots of warmth, lots of compassion. This is not just any taco shop in Irving. It is the taco shop in Irving. We work with victims of violent crime, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and making sure that they have that continuum of care is very important. [Music] I want to be a police officer because I want to help um the citizens and feel more comfortable and safe in their community. [Music] The kids always love science programs. We've got some young scientists here that come to Valley Ranch. This is a massive effort. We're moving 4,500 people into those two gorgeous buildings across the street starting in August and will be finished by the end of September. Stay up todate by subscribing to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/the city of Irving. Thank you. And I'll invite my friends from parks and recreation to come on up if they'd like to co-present the Sparks and Stripes update. Scott Crossno. Um, mayor and council, before I show you a quick video just of some highlights from July 3rd and 4th, I wanted to share some stats. Um, the city of Irving Sparks and Stripes celebration generated widespread media attention, reaching a combined audience of more than 280 million across TV, radio, online, and print with an estimated publicity value exceeding $3.23 million. The total we had 67 media mentions with the majority of our audience reach online. However, all local broadcasters covered both of our events. We had 277 million online audience, 1.8 million TV audience, and 670,000 people via radio audience. The website stats for July 3rd and 4th, we had over 102,000 hits on the website, over 445,000 views, meaning they visited multiple pages while they were there. And the top countries that we got visitors from were USA of course we had 100,000 people, India with 530 pe people, Germany with 440 people, Canada 260 people, and Ireland 180 people. Just some unique fun facts there. on social media. Um July 3rd and 4th across Facebook, Instagram, and X, we posted 16 different uh times, a combination of both photos and videos. Six of those were videos. Uh over 74,800 people engaged with our content, and 1.48 million people were reached via our content for July 3rd and 4th. The top performing video was on July 3rd uh during the uh the drone show when we announced the Guinness World Records title and that video reached 835,000 people that one video alone. So some some significant reach on social. Um as you know we live streamed the event on YouTube. Um, we had 16 or or currently as of today, right now, we have 16,263 views on YouTube with over 2,000 hours watched. We had 207 people like our YouTube and a lot of really engaging comments on our YouTube stream. We did reach 65,000 impressions. So, 65,000 people scrolling along YouTube saw our our video. And some fun facts, um, we had 8,827 views on July 3rd on YouTube. And our peak time was during the fireworks and drone show where we had 865 live viewers tuning in. 18.6% of our viewers were in Irving at the time that they were viewing. 5.7% were outside of the USA. And we did generate 103 new subscribers on July 3rd and 35 more on July 4th. Um, so we are almost at 15,000 subscribers on our YouTube channels. We're we're within about 200 subscribers to reach that 15,000 mark. So, some outstanding coverage and a big shout out to the communications team um and Urban Community Television Network who not only live streamed the event, but they also programmed that wonderful video wall that you all saw. Um, we had five cameras deployed out there and a team of about 20. So, they put in a lot of really hard work. So, thank you to the communications team. And um with that, I'm going to show a quick video and then hand it over to Chris. Scott, sorry, I was looking at Chris. We came last year. It was our first time because we had just moved to Irving and we really enjoyed it. So, we were pretty excited to bring my parents and my niece and the rest of the family. [Music] And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that fight to me. And I glad they stand up next to you and defend her still today. Cuz there ain't no doubt I love this land. God bless the US. [Applause] [Music] My daughter's first parade. So, we're going to have fun getting candy and spending time with the community. [Music] We come here every year and it's really fun watching all the cars. It just brings us all together and then we see what Irving is and like their people. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] All right. Good afternoon, uh, Mayor, Council, uh, staff. Scott Crossno, assistant director of parks. I want to give you a quick update on our, uh, Sparks and Stripes events for 2025. Um, first I want to thank April and the communications team for providing that great video for us. I think that was fantastic. Have to thank all the other um departments who who provided assistance for this this these great two-day event. Um, we we remember the days when we kind of had to shoulder everything ourselves in parks and it's much nicer now that we have a lot of colleagues that are assisting. spoke to several uh people that were out there from different departments and not only was everybody doing great work, they had great attitudes and really represented the city very well. So, appreciate all the help everyone. And as you know, it was a two-day event. Uh Thursday, July 3rd, all of our activities were at the Levy Event Center and then uh our Levy Event Plaza rather, sorry, excuse me. Uh Friday, July 4th, we uh had our parade and and moved the events down to Heritage Park. At Levy Event Plaza, uh we had a a great venue uh to kick off all our in Independence Day holiday festivities. Uh the biggest thing, and I think this played into to things for the whole weekend, we had great weather. Um, and and yes, we're going to take credit for that because uh but it was unseasonably cool weather. I've been around a minute and I don't remember a Fourth of July like like we just had. So, uh, very very nice weather. Uh, we also had at 7:00 the T28 Trojan flyover. I thought that was a great kickoff to the event. Kind of got things going on a patriotic level. Uh, the concerts were fantastic. I think um our headliner cough a Anderson he um he did a great job of blending his own music with cop uh covers um and kept the energy level really high. So uh I thought that was fantastic. Uh the drone show um I mean I guess if we're going to do it we might as well do it big and we got our uh uh Guinness World Record uh certificate here. Um I think it was fantastic. those guys. We've been um working with Sky Elements really almost since their inception. So, we've kind of been growing this drone show as they've been growing. Uh that company is a local company and we've we've been a big player for them. Uh actually on the 4th they had 26 shows that they they did across the country. So, uh they're they're getting big now and and each time they come to Irving they do a great job for us. Our fireworks of course were fantastic. I I think it's always impactful when we have the fireworks going off the barges over Lake Caroline and uh just just a beautiful time that we had there. Just a photo collage here. You may see some faces you recognize uh from the night. I was being really annoying going around and asking all of you for pictures, but um it it was a great night. I think the uh the the attendance um um April talked a lot about a lot of the technical numbers. One of the guesstimates that we have um and that's really all we can do with attendance is that maybe there were between 10 and 15,000 people in Levy proper um uh behind it up towards 114 probably another 10,000 and then around the prominade and and in people's residence it's really hard to tell exactly how many. So it's a it's a guesstimate but I I think we can safely say we we entertain 25 to 30,000 people on the third. So, great job uh by everybody that was involved and and I think everybody had a great time. Our crowd was well behaved, too. And it may be related to the temperature because uh we really didn't have a lot of issues. It was uh when you have that many people around, the restrooms are crowded, the the lines for food were crowded, but people were getting along great. We didn't have a lot of issues, so that was great. Uh moving on to the fourth, we had our parade and the Heritage Park celebration. Again, unseasonably cool temperatures. Um we had uh 52 parade entries, nice parade with versatile um um offerings. When we got to uh Heritage Park, the music and family activities, there were a lot of things for folks to do. Uh bounce houses, face painting, all that type of stuff. We had the dunk tank. I understand the mayor dunked Joe. Is that correct? Yes, sir. Nice. Nice pitch. Very good. And then the p eating contest. You were involved in that as well. I I love the fact that we've got a mayor that likes to get engaged. So, um but it was a great day. Um over rather quickly so that everybody could enjoy time with their families as well, but um a great day down there at Heritage Park. And here's some photos from uh the July 4th. Uh again, might see some faces you recognize there, but it was a great time uh for all of us uh there on the third and the fourth. And I appreciate everybody that was was helpful during this family. Let's go ahead and move on to questions. That's quite a shot right there. It's It's dark, which makes it look really nice, but you can see how many people are crammed into the Levy Plaza there. I'd love to take any questions you might have. Questions? It was It was a You did a fantastic job. It uh it was interesting to visit with the people that were doing the drone shows and they were very appreciative of how the city of Irving is always willing to work with them when they're trying new things out. And so, and we're always willing to be the the test case to have something different than other people have. And uh we had a great great crowd. The music was well and and the food was well. Uh really a subdued crowd. I was really surprised that we weren't going to have uh we had great coverage by the police and uh fire department, emergency management. Everybody was was available. But uh everything went very smooth and it worked out well. We were off all pretty much out of the park by noon on the next day which gave everybody a chance to go home and spend some time with their family. So, you know, just a great job by all the staff. Thank you, Chris. Thanks, Mayor Scott. Thanks to you, Joe, and your entire team for putting on a great event. April, thank you for your team as well going out there and helping to broadcast it and getting all the great social media views. On two Facebook posts alone, there was over 35 million views of particularly the drone show just on two Facebook posts. So, we know it hit out there. And I'm just going to say thank you to the entire team from public safety to the streets to um traffic. We also had solid waste. Everybody was out there. The entire city team was out there and it takes the entire team to get it done. Uh two things. One, I I I was going to have you go back. Could you go back to the slideshow? I apologize. I just want to highlight two quick things. There's a story behind one of the pictures I think is also important to note. And while he's pulling that up, I talked to Joe specifically about the fireworks show and I said, "Joe, a little bit facicious. I said, Joe, in the grand finale, I want to feel concussions." In fact, I said, "I want I want car alarms going off." And I had a video sent to me from a friend of mine who was on the apartment in the apartment complex across from the lake and during the grand finale. And I'm going to try and play this while he's pulling that up [Music] during the grand finale. So I saw Joe the very next day and I said, "Joe, mission accomplished. Thank you." You you see mayor and council a picture sort of on the bottom right there of a a duck with some some nice headphones there. There's a little bit of a story behind that. We had there was a mother duck along Lake Carolyn who was nesting uh her babies and it had been online and it there was hundreds and hundreds of people following Mama Duck and we were concerned that Mama Duck was going to be disturbed during with thousands and thousands of people coming along. So I called up Joe said, "Joe, could you please help out?" And Scott, you and your crews went out there. They cordoned off the entire area, said nesting area, and we made sure Mama Duck, we didn't provide her the headphones, but we made sure Mama Duck was taken care of. And that's just I appreciate the great effort and it just really shows how connected and concerned and community- based we are. So I just want to say thank you to your crews for help on Mama Duck. No problem. And enjoy the show there. Thank you. Team effort. Appreciate everybody. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, we'd have been in the news if something would have happened to Mama Duck. Okay, we're going to go out of order here a little bit because we have some people with us uh on a couple of the items. So, we're going to do the uh 360 update first and then after that, we're going to go into executive session. So, we'll move item number six up next and talk about Senate Bill uh 840. All right. Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. I'm Jocelyn Murphy, director of planning. This is a a tag team effort. Uh we have several different departments that have been working on this. Um, so we'll kind of give an introduction and um, bring up a few different people to discuss a few different topics. Um, Senate Bill 840, of course, was a bill that was passed by the state legislature this session. Uh, the governor did sign it and will be effective on September 1st. Um 840 requires that cities allow construction of multif family and mixeduse development residential mixeduse development in uh mixeduse districts in most of the non-residential districts. So those are the commercial districts where we would allow restaurants, retail service, uh light industrial. Those are areas where um the multif family mixeduse would be um would have to be allowed. The bill does not allow cities to require any type of discretionary approval. So that includes zonings or special exceptions, a conditional use permit, um anything that would require an action from the governing body, the bill does not allow. Um it also preempts many of the typical zoning regulations, things like height and density and setbacks. um things the whole uh any type of development would have to go through the building permit process and all of the reviews would be uh considered at the building permit process and would either have to uh it would have to meet all the regulations of the city. There are also other preeemptions for when when a non-residential like an office building is converted to a residential multif family building. Um and those mostly revolve around traffic and the inability to require a traffic study, additional parking or any type of uh mitigation be it construction or be it any type of fee. So we have spent a lot of time reviewing 840 uh what we uh can still regulate, what we can't regulate. So we have uh four different focuses that we uh want to present to you today. So the first one is to look at the zoning standards um de and development standards um and look at chapter 3.13 which is our multif family concept plan standards and enhance the the standards for multif family and residential mixed use the ones that are not preempted. Um we have several building codes that we will present to you to that will promote energy efficiency and sustainable construction. We are considering or proposing to amend the land development code to and add an adequate public facilities ordinance requirement. Um that would need to be in the land development code and not in the subdivision ordinance. So that would apply to properties that at the time of development and not just the time of plat. Um the purpose there is to make sure that any new development uh is able to provide the adequate or the minimum capacity is what the bill says of any of our utilities. And then finally to look at those different infrastructure codes such as water and traffic uh drainage and see if there are any amendments that we may need to uh start to prepare and bring forward to you. Joselyn, if I can just interject here, we have um we have looked at this internally. I I think come up with a lot of good solutions and creative ideas. We've also engaged uh Friezen Nichols uh to assist us with that evaluation. And we have some representatives from Frieza Nickels here today. Uh just to kind of listen in on this presentation, listen to what kind of feedback you have. But Frieza Nichols is an engineering firm does work all over the country. Really certainly very involved in Texas. Has a long history with Irving has developed our water wastewater storm drainage master plans. They do land planning consulting all over the state. So they're very uniquely positioned to provide us some additional insight and suggestions that we may have missed or may not have thought about. Um this is a very accelerated process. They're in the early stages of their evaluation. They provided some initial feedback, but but certainly uh a lot of that work is still yet to go. Um but wanted you to be aware that in addition to our internal expertise, we're we're looking at outside sources as well. So first some of the zoning or development standards and processes we've looked at um is to revise the definitions. The Senate Bill 840 um actually has definitions for mixed-use residential and heavy industrial. We already define multif family today. So, we'll kind of meld those different definitions together and make sure that we're consistent with chapter 218. We also want to define mixed use just in general because we have had many mixeduse proposals over the years and is there's been some confusion actually to what mixed use itself is with or without that residential component. Uh we would also add big use as an allowed use and non-residential use chart. So we acknowledge it as a use um in the in the in the the core of our uh unified development code. We think that we need to uh provide or create some type of application or declaration process. So at the time that an application for building permit is submitted, it is very clear. There's almost a checklist to where the applicant understands the things that they are responsible for ensuring are completed. um primarily focused on the studies, the infrastructure studies that need to ensure whether there's adequate capacity uh for the development they're proposing. Uh we also something Frieza Nichols brought up which is a great idea is making sure the community engagement is uh very clear and activate our um or inform people around the development to know what is what is happening and what is going to be built. If we don't have the zoning process where we normally would send notices out to 300 feet, uh we would notify our neighborhood associations and have our public hearing process with signs and the whole nine yards. We won't be able to do that anymore. Uh but we can at least people let let people know there's going to be something built next to you. Um this is what's what it's going to be and this is why it's going to be there. And then finally, um I'm working with Lauren on our consolidated fee schedule to provide some fees to make sure that um the time that the staff is going to have to take especially infrastructure uh will be covered through the application process. So in the section 3 uh3 which again is the multif family concept plan standards um we will revise the applicability section to make sure that it is clear that it provides it applies to all multif family and mixeduse buildings. Right now it is only multif family. So that's been a struggle in the past is we did not have any regulations for any type of mixeduse development. Um we'll reorganize the section. Um there's actually a section called review criteria that has some great uh just guidelines, just some thoughts about, you know, things that would make a better development. We can't require those, but we don't I don't want to lose those. I think those are really great for them to um think about when they're designing their their development. Um the section 3.13 also has concept plan standards which are discretionary. So those are what we do today and um have to bring those often through city council but definitely through P&Z that we can't use anymore. So I compared the concept plans to the detailed plans and made sure that the detailed plan standards that we will compare the building permit against are they encompass everything we're looking for. So, uh there's a little bit duplicate in there now, but that way it it's a very comprehensive um checklist that we'll be going through at the time of building permit. And finally, just reviewing several of the different standards um to increase the quality of the resident living experiences. Um looking at parking, making sure that the parking is covered. Um providing for uh not having compact spaces. Um well, I've got that next page, excuse me. um to where we can make sure that people have trucks or larger vehicles, they'll be able to fit. Um let me start up top though. So for minimum height, the city cannot regulate the height of the development. Um it's either the maximum of whatever that base district is or 45 ft. So say we have an office district that's 30 feet or 35 feet. Um they could be up to 45 feet. Uh but if we have another district that allows say 65 feet then we have to allow the 65 feet. Uh what we are thinking about what we're proposing is possibly doing a minimum height. We can't regulate maximum height but setting a minimum height of 10 stories citywide unless it is within a 500t buffer of an R single family, a duplex or a townhouse district. And again that would be for new construction. Um there are pros and cons to that concept, but it is in order to protect the residential from some of the taller buildings. Um that is something that we want to to talk through that with y'all today and get your direction on those ideas and uh how you would like for us to proceed with determining you what we should propose in the ordinance for height. for open space. Uh we currently have a requirement for uh 30% of the gross area and 25% of the net floor area for usable. So I'm looking into how to um beef that up a little bit, change how the open space is calculated. Um increase or at least make sure that the program space that it's basically the constructed area for ball courts and playgrounds is pretty solid. Um, and also mayor's mentioned several times about making sure that uh they have a dog park because that's something that's very common in apartments now is to uh for people to have dogs and to make sure that um that those are clearly required separate from any type of human play area. Um back to the parking require 50% of the parking spaces to be covered. uh not allow any compact spaces, which we do allow in other areas, but um if we're going to have um one space per unit, we want to make sure those spaces are adequate and then not allow any shared parking offsite. And then also for non-residential uses and mixeduse districts, uh think about whether we want to set a minimum non-residential, a minimum amount of commercial in those mixeduse areas. and I will turn it over to Wayne. While while Wayne is making his way up, we we really this is kind of three separate areas of regulatory structure we're looking at. We're looking at the the zoning and development requirements which Jocelyn just covered. We're looking at building code standards. We're also looking at infrastructure requirements. So those are the three key areas. Mayor Philip maybe maybe should we ask questions of previous and that way we so we don't get lost in the shuffle. You had three or four things you wanted us to comment on. Al. Yeah. Thank you, mayor. Can we also consider adding um EV parking as to what we may want to have in these new developments? per part of the discussion we had this morning with the with our fire chief. So just a this is a suggestion. Okay. Thank you. So any questions you all had on what she had mentioned earlier about height or open space or any of that? She was wondering if we were okay with the 10tory minimum mark. Yeah. Um, I think I think we like the 10 story minimum. I I think that uh we talked yesterday a little bit about um the buffer and not doing that buffer because um for different reasons. And um and I think you were looking for the I think you raised the issue of like the percentage of commercial for mixed use. I think the statute allows 65% commercial. Correct. I mean sorry 35% commercial. And what was what was the other thing? Um well the other let's see oops yeah those were the main things I I needed your guidance from. These are the proposals that we would have um so the others was just the parking the different parking options that we were considering and there may be some others that as we continue through this process that we identify but right now these are kind of the primary ones we're looking at. Yeah. And I appreciate that and I just wanted to make sure as as she finished up that we answered a few of her questions. It looks like everybody's pretty much on board with what you're recommending. So, we appreciate uh the opportunity and as you say, Philip, as we go through the process, we may identify some other things. Just just to clarify, Councilman Croninwood had indicated that maybe not requiring a or allowing a buffer uh where that 10- foot or or 10 story minimum would be required. Um is that uh we we can do that. Um that may be something we want to think about but uh certainly that's that's doable. I I think that we just my my take on it and I don't know how we there are things we've done in the past based upon height setbacks so that you know from from your residential. So you know if it's this high you can be this close but if it's this high you got to okay I'm not explaining it properly. No, I I understand um the relationship, you know, height relationship, distance relationship, we can we can look at that and explore that concept as well. Looking at my friends with freeze and nickels and they're nodding. I Yeah, I I I don't think there's much of a challenge if it's next to commercial, but if it's next to a residential, I we may want to have some type of it. And again, I'm not saying that's what we do, but I'd like to look at that and see uh how that would look. Is that okay, Mark? if we look at it. Yeah, let yeah, let's look at that and then um we can talk about talk talk talk to KO about what the statute allows at some point and then um figure that out. Okay, Chris, thank you. Mayor Joselyn Phillip relative to the minimum 10 story height. Has there been any discussions on how that would be defined specifically from a pedestal type development versus a non-pedestal development? It it would be our intent to define that as 10 stories above a pedestal. So that this is we're not counting pedestal parking into the height calculation. It would be 10 stories above. We would we would be clear with that. And could you please define a pedestal and what that is? A pedestal would be, you know, a structured parking. Sometimes a multif family concept will build a couple levels of structured parking and then put um apartments on top and in front of uh that uh that pedestal. So, um that's what we're talking about pedestal wise. Thus, the the 10 stories would might be five stories of parking structure and then maybe another five stories of actual apartment. No, it would be 10 stories above the pedestal. Yes, but I'm saying that's what a developer could come in to say, I would meet my 10 story if I just have five stories. And that's what we're not looking at. We're looking at the 10 stories above. Correct. We would try to Yes. Yes, sir. Yeah. We can amend the definition of height to say it starts at the top of the podium. Any other questions or comments, Joselyn, before we move on? Thank you. Thank you. All right. Good afternoon. Wayne Snow. I'm your director of inspections and we're here to walk through some proposed new set of uh performance standards for multifamily and residential mixeduse construction within the city. Uh these standards are designed to help our city grow responsibly, protect our infrastructure, and create healthier, more efficient places to live. So, multifamily and uh residential mixeduse developments can have a significant impact on city infrastructure, including our utilities, drainage, and transportation. These proposed standards aim to proactively address these impacts by promoting sustainable high-performance building practices that benefit both residents and the city system. This ordinance would apply to all new multifamily and residential mixeduse developments, projects that convert existing buildings to residential use, and major reconstruction of existing multifamily or residential mixeduse buildings. However, it's important to note that staff's proposal includes a 5-year exemption for projects that have already been approved and entitled by city council, such as those with an approved site plan zoning, multifamily concept plan, to concept plan, or a detail plan, provided those entitlements were granted prior to the ordinance's effective date of August 30th, and routine maintenance, interior remodels and minor repairs would not trigger these requirements. So, here's what we're focusing on. We're focusing on saving energy, creating healthier indoor environments, conserving water, improving roofing and storm water per performance, cutting down on the construction waste and pollution, and making it easier to get around and stay safe doing so. And each of this is supported by best practices and national code references with the goal of minimizing impact and maximizing livability. Uh this section outlines how new development will have to reduce long-term energy use and utility costs. First, we're requiring at least a 10% improvement over the baseline energy code, which is a practical step that leads to meaningful energy savings. Second, building must be a net zero ready, which means that they're built to be extremely efficient and set up to easily add those solar panels or batteries storage later on if they choose. And even if those systems aren't installed right away, it's a way to prepare for clean energy without requiring the full investment upfront. Third, all HVAC HVAC systems, air conditioning and heating systems and appliances must be all electric and this eliminates fossil fuels and supporting a shift to cleaner energy sources. And finally, those airond air conditioning and heating systems must must meet a higher efficiency rating. And we're looking at requiring a sear rating of 16 or above to reduce the energy use and lower operating costs for th for those residents. Next, uh indoor air quality really matters and especially in apartments. So, we're requiring strong air filters, good ventilation systems, and building materials that give off fewer harmful chemicals. And we're also addressing noise. Walls and floors would need to be built to block most of the sound from neighbors. And things like voices, music, or footsteps uh don't become a daily nuisance. We're encouraging smart water use that includes ultra- lowflow toilets, faucets, and showers to save water. We're also asking builders to include the setup for rainwater or grain gray water reuse, even if the full systems aren't installed right away. And for landscaping, we're requiring smart irrigation systems that only water when needed, not on a timer. Rooftops. Rooftops can do more than just cover a building. We're proposing reflective roofing that helps reduce the amount of heat a building absorbs. And we're keeping units cooler and cutting air conditioning use. Roofs would uh also be required to include systems that hold and slowly reduce rainwater to prevent flooding and reduce the runoff. And we want to we want them to be built to be hail resistant which protects both the both the building and the residents uh during those storms. Construction creates a lot of waste and it can affect our air quality as well. We're requiring builders to recycle or reuse at least 75% of their construction waste. We're also asking them to follow a plan to manage dust, fumes, and indoor air quality during the construction. So when residents move in, the air inside is already safe and clean. We're also looking uh or planning for smarter transportation access. New developments must provide bike parking, and that would be at least one space for every five residential units. And this supports active transportation and helps reduce car traffic and parking demand. Next, we are requiring that 15% of the parking spaces be EV ready. That means the electrical infrastructure will be in place to add EV chargers later. It's a cost-effective way to save to support future electric vehicle use without requiring every charger to be installed up front. And lastly, exterior lighting must follow the crime prevention through environmental design. This ensures lighting is uniform and strategically placed to improve visibility and help residents feel safe at night. Safety starts with smart design. We're asking for consistent lighting at all entrances and pathways, landscaping that doesn't block views, and clearly marked entries and clear boundaries between public and private areas. These simply, this simple but thoughtful changes help reduce crime and improve the feeling of safety across the entire property. We're also setting a high bar by uh aligning with lead platinum performance standards but without mandating the formal certification. LEAD as many of us know is a nationally recognized green building program and platinum is its highest level. It covers areas like energy use, indoor air quality, water efficiency and responsible design. By holding projects to these same standards, even without the paperwork or cost of certification, we help ensure that buildings in Irving aren't just co-compliant, they're future ready, resilient, sustainable, and built to a higher level of performance. This approach provides the full benefits of lead platinum level outcomes, healthier buildings, lower environmental impact, and improve longterm resilience while maintaining a more flexible and accessible process for builders. So, as we move forward, there are a few key dates to keep in mind for adopting these new standards. First, we need to post the public notice about this proposed changes on our city's website today. This gives us the required 21 days of public notice before city council can take action. Next, we need to hold a public hearing uh which we plan on scheduling if uh we do proceed on Monday, July 14th. We're recommending the construction board of appeals host that hearing, which is how we've handled similar hearings in the past. And then on July 31st, the city council would have the opportunity to vote on whether to adopt a new ordinance. And if it is adopted, those new standards would go into effect 30 days later on August 30th. So in closing, these standards aren't just about rules, they're about outcomes. They help protect our city's infrastructure, reduce long-term cost, improve health and safety for our residents, and supports a greener future. And by adopting these performance standards, Irving shows that it's ready to grow with intention, care, and sustainability. Before we move on, any questions? Mayor, any follow-up questions on the building code proposals? Mark. Yeah, I I I know there's the greater concern is the mixed use in the in the multif family. There's some concern too about um tiny homes with the change to the lot size. I mean, for instance, if um containers were put on properties, they would not have this energy efficiency, which um for all the uh policy reasons that you identified for multif family, they also exist for the tiny homes. So, is the would the posting today be broad enough to cover that? Well, the posting or the notice does not include that. So, what I would say, Councilman Cronin Wet, is give us some time to work through that. We did have some internal discussions after you raised that issue to kind of think through how that would really apply here. I think as we talked about previously at least the information that staff has provided is that there are limited parcels today that are available for that use. But um as you um we have to do some work. I think just the time frame today to just apply these same standards to tiny homes would not be applicable. Um and then just to answer the question about the storage containers when the state law changed and we could not um regulate materials that did give the opening for um other items such as storage containers to be used for construction. Um and Wayne may want to provide some more insight, but there's still requirements for when you're building building a home in terms of minimum square footage and other requirements that are required in a home. Thanks, KO. So, there are minimum requirements for rooms, especially for bedrooms and whatnot. Uh, even if it were a container, Councilman, they will still need to meet the minimum standards that are in the current code, which do include efficiency ratings, it wouldn't apply in in in regards to this because if they build it as a single family home, they would still have to meet those minimum requirements uh for a single family home. We did not adopt a tiny house appendix. Uh, and that appendix is just to allow for additional provisions that don't exist in the in the code. So, hypothetically speaking, someone couldn't just build a tiny home as it is uh in they would still have to meet stair requirements. If they build stairs, they still have to meet insulation requirements, etc. So, I hope that answers your question. Any other questions before we move on to Jocelyn again? Thank you. Oh, so so this is kind this is a transition over the infrastructure discussion. Perhaps one of the largest concerns with the requirement to accept multif family and mixeduse development is the infrastructure. Um the all of the the water and the sewer and the traffic, everything has been planned. We just went through the impact fee process has been planned on uh has been based on the city's land use plan. So all the capacities and down to specific areas and different uh drainage, you know, uh zones and things like that um have been planned for the uses that were expected. And so we are proposing to create an adequate public facilities ordinance that would apply to all the different all the types of developments. Uh data centers of course are a concern as well and Todd will talk about that in a second. But we also want to make sure that it's clear of what the developers are responsible for. So there's a whole list of developer responsibilities inside this adequate public facilities ordinance. Um it'll also clarify that they have to meet the minimum capacity and if they can't meet that they have to do studies and if they can't meet the minimum capacity then they will have to be very clear about what they will intend to do in order to meet those minimum capacities. Um and again there are certain things that can't be required for building conversions but we we see that this is probably one of the most significant um ramifications but also one of the significant amendments that we're doing is in order to make sure that this process is clear. So, I'll turn it over to uh Todd and Dan and Trevor to go through all those different topics. So, good afternoon. Todd Rec, water utilities director, and I'm going to cover just a couple of slides. I think Joselyn's already set it up really well, but we have a number of requirements we have to meet with the TCQ on the Texas Administrative Code. Chapter 290 talks about our water system. And if you look at chapter 217 that covers the wastewater system. So you'll see here number of things related to elevated storage total system storage water supply uh pressure is is certainly a big one um and pumping capacity. And you get to wastewater side. It's a whole lot simpler. It's just no unpermitted discharges. So making sure our system is big enough to accommodate any flows that we might add to it. So the way we have planned uh for the current system is we have master plans for both the water system and the wastewater system. Those have been developed by freeze and nickels through the years. Uh very detailed, I'd say complicated hydraulic models for both of those systems. The water systems going to have all the pumps and tanks and pipes and all that built into it. Uh and the wastewater system is going to have all the pipes for that system. So we when we're building those models, we work with the planning department. Um so we pull together data on population, employment, land use, zoning, and look at not only what's needed today, but looking out 10, 20, 30, 40 years in the future and and making sure that we're planning and staying ahead of what where we think the growth is going to occur and how we think the city's going to grow. So this is a just a simple um graphic that shows how we progress through some of these evaluations. So what we're proposing is if we have something that's different than what's in the current master plans. So uh we mentioned data centers. That's one that we're seeing a lot of now and they certainly can use a lot more water than what we may have planned for. Um, but certainly a multif family moving into a commercial area could use a whole lot more water than what we planned for. But having that just trigger an automatic analysis with our consultant to plug those new demands, those new loads into the model and and see what we uh see see what we need to do to the system. So just some basic assumptions on how many gallons per capita per day, you know, for apartments both in the water and wastewater side. There's different peaking factors, different considerations with pressure zones. So all that would be pulled into the model. We'd run the analysis or our consultant would some of the things like storage. It's a simple desktop analysis. It's a calculation. Uh but when you start looking at pressures and and flows and things, it's it's all connected and and you have pumps running that you have to simulate. And so it gets a whole lot more complicated to determine can the system that we have today and what we plan for you know actually accommodate you know whatever type of development we're talking about. And so you you go through that process and then you start looking at sometimes you have to play games put in larger pots different things in the system to come up with uh you know the infrastructure needed to be able to accommodate whatever development is we're talking about. Uh, another thing that we'd want to consider is we have uh treatment agreements with Dallas and TRA. Um, checking in, reviewing those agreements, checking in with those two entities and making sure there's no impacts there. Y'all are familiar with our agreement with Dallas. If we buy more water, it triggers a a demand fee that we have to pay every year whether we use it or not. So, that would certainly be a consideration. But anyway, compiling all that, the consultant would give us a technical memo, uh, summarizing their findings, making recommendations, and then those would be part of the discussions with the developers. So, if we have to come in and and add a pipe, add add pumps, add uh storage capacity, similar to what we're doing with our elevated tank now, you know, those would be considerations for the the uh developer to to pay for. there'd be an expectation that they would cover the cost for us to be able to expand our systems to meet that demand that we haven't planned on. So that's just a simple quick overview. Um certainly when you start evaluating these things, there's a whole lot more to it than that, but just to give you a feel for for how that would work. We do this sometimes now when we have changes on how things are going to be developed. You know, we have developers today that'll come in with something different than what we planned for that we've had to do this. And typically, we'll refer them to our consultant for them to get with them, freezing nickels, and then they would come back and make a recommendation. Sometimes it doesn't require anything. Our system is big enough and robust enough that we don't have to do anything. But uh anyway, we'd certainly want to go through this process and make sure we're meeting all the the regulatory requirements and uh we're not going to have impacts on um other customers that are surrounding this area. So be glad to answer any questions that you might have. Any questions of Todd? Thank you, sir. Thank you, Dan. Are we going to goof up your traffic? No, sir. That would never happen. Dan Federal, traffic and transportation director. There's a few things that we have going a little bit in our favor. One is in Irving, the majority of your road systems already built out to capacity. Now, what that would mean is even if they did create a development which really significantly hits us and the legislation says you can't have a traffic study, so you know, don't look at the train coming at you. But it is what it is. Um the only way to upgrade that system is to buy right away and property and so it becomes economically unfeasible. I would say like with Todd and water and sewer they utilize the city's master land plan. The theare plan is a sub plan of the master plan and we do roads the bigger roads for the bigger areas in town with the higher uh intense use. We can go back to the 80s was the first plan and it's been updated all the way up until just the last few years ago. So, that's up to date. I would tell you though, the things that kind of concern me is one space per unit. We don't have many parking problems in Irving, but if we did, we at least have the ability uh to control that. We can, and the the legislation does not comment on, we don't have to allow parking adjacent to these developments. Now, if you're going to change a building out, whether it's industrial or office warehouse, if you're going to change that out to parking uh or to to multif family, these are usually on larger roads anyway. But, you know, we're not they'd still have to come in and permit if they wanted or request parking. And I don't see us offering up public rideway and public roads for a private business or a private uh residence there. It just wouldn't be a very good uh use. I'd also say that also invokes other questions. Would you allow tandem parking? Would you allow head-in parking off a major street? It becomes a safety issue at that point. So I, you know, the these are all things that would be outside of this process. They'd have to come through. Things that help us out in the traffic and transportation world is we already have an access management manual. We have lighting plans. We have all this already addressed where you can and cannot allow that. And that's been in place. The access management plan plan has been in place for six years. It's established. It's been utilized here in the city for a long time. It was took a number of years to get to that. So, we already have exhibits. We already have what we will or will not accept as a city on that. They're all al also available online. So, um the infinite wisdom in Austin is what it is, but parking will be the big issue. Other things that concern us is when you put a residential land use from a transportation perspective. I'm sure there's no quality of life issues in and around that development. So, how are kids, moms and dads? How are you going to walk? How you going to get to the park? Is there a sidewalk system? Things like that. Uh we can get we can ask and get the developer to build a sidewalk system in front of their development, but then it goes nowhere. So, it invokes a lot of other questions. that invokes uh would you take a lane out on the road to make it a hike and bike lane a capacity? Well, now you're reducing capacity. So once again, that would have to come before this group, planning and zoning commission and other committees for approval. And I'm, you know, I don't know that staff would approve that. But right now, we're very carentric as a society. I don't see that changing. So, um, but what I do know is we do have policies and procedures in place to at least give us a chance here to address a lot of these issues on driveway, driveway spacing, access gates, and things like that that can affect ingress and egress into and out of these facilities. I'm available for any questions. Any questions of Dan? Dan, you're getting away. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, Trevor Crane, director of CIP. Um, so I'm going to talk a little bit about storm storm drainage. Um, so just to start off, our drainage department has been engaged with uh freezing nickels. We're in the final stages of wrapping up our storm water master plan and that's uh the amendments that storm water or creation of that storm water master plan led is leading to some um amendments in our uh design for storm water anyway. So I say all that to say a lot of the concerns that we have um with 840 were already being addressed as a part of those revisions anyway. Um so a couple of the things that we were concerned about um and that we would do to uh to fix these or to address these things is defining what are what constitutes adequate drainage infrastructure and establishing wind mitigation whether that's on-site or um drainage improvements is required that it's currently already going to be established in our in our updates. um clarifying when a downstream assessment identifies a lack of capacity or adverse impacts. And then mitigation should be provided on site with the developer having the option to install a storm drain meeting the city's fully developed capacity standard. And then as we've kind of talked about before, making sure that um those studies are being um those studies are being triggered not by platting but by any type of redevelopment or anything like that. That's that's really the main main thing that we're concerned about is making sure that we get a chance to look at these plans um for whether it's a green field development or whether it's a a redevelopment of an existing existing u building. And lastly, um, considering adding any low impact design requirements, so landscape islands with parking lots and sidewalks for storm water quality and slower runoff. But just to kind of wrap up, a lot of a lot of the concerns that we that we would have with 840 were currently already going to be addressed as a part of our updates. Um, so these are just a couple of things that we would want to make sure that we address moving forward. Questions? Okay. Thank you. All right. So, finally, we wanted to try to summarize since we are in a very compressed time period. Uh just to be very clear of of what is going to happen and when. Um so, on Monday, uh PNZ will be getting the same presentation that you are getting today and we will have a discussion with them. I always want to make sure PNZ has a work session to see uh the amendments that are coming forward before they are being asked to make a recommendation. Um Wayne had talked about the public hearing for the building codes, the construction board of appeals also on Monday. That'll be Monday afternoon. Uh we'll we have to publish the notice for the UDC amendments. Um it has to be at least 15 days before because of the rambler. Uh that will be next Saturday on the 19th. Um July 31st would be the city council adoption of the building code amendments. August 4th P&Z hearing for the unified development code amendments. And then August 28th is when everything uh will come together on the city council agenda. So the UDC amendments, the adequate public facilities ordinance and any other uh codes that may be identified between now and then. And then of course August 30 is 30th is when the building codes would be applicable or effective um which is the minimum 30 days from adoption. So those are kind of some of the upcoming dates that we'll be working toward. I'll be happy to answer any questions. Abdul, thank you Mayor. Um this is a good presentation. It's a lot of work involved in this to come up with this presentation. and I really appreciate uh the team's efforts. Um just a quick question on this. Do we have an idea where these multif family and residential mixed use development can come or most likely the sites in the city of Irving? They can come in any commercial district or any light industrial district. They can't be within 1,000 ft of a heavy industrial use, but other than that, they can be and they can't be within 3,000 ft of the airport, but other than that, they can be in any essentially non-residential use. Uh, what we expect maybe some of the older office properties might be identified for redevelopment. My second question is, do we have the infrastructure needed for those most likely sites? Probably not. I mean that that would be a case by case, a sight by sight kind of what Todd had talked about. Some areas may have larger infrastructure, but if it was an office, you know, with with uh you know, maybe 10 floors worth of toilets, that's very different than when you have 300 uh multif family units. So in other words, if the infrastructure is not there as of now. Mhm. So whenever these sites will come for consideration, the city has to put resources into developing the infrastructure. Well, they'll be Oh, yeah. Uh the the idea councilman is that when they when they approach the city with a development application and they say I want to convert this office building or I want to build a multifamily in this commercial district we would require them to analyze all the infrastructure the water and sewer capacity the roadway capacity or storm drainage capacity and determine what the impact of that development will be on that infrastructure and answer the question does the infrastructure have the minimum capacity to serve what they're proposing. If the answer is no, they have two choices. They can either say, "Well, I'm I'm not going to build my project because there's no capacity," or they could choose to pay for the capacity. We would not take on the responsibility to build infrastructure just to satisfy the demand of their development. I said that. All right. Thank you, Mark. On that question to capacity, I mean, are we allowed to have some buffer so that we don't actually have to like get to the max of what our capacity is for a new development? It seems like we ought to, you know, it would be a it would be a a good policy to allow that buffer there so that we're not just pressed up against our max whenever a new development might come along. It's an interesting question with a legitimate concern. There's some nuances in how 840 was written that we need to consider as to where that where's the threshold of minimum capacity. How's that defined? Um it it's a good question that we'll need to make sure we consider. Al. Yeah. Thanks, Mayor. This is probably for you KO and that is during this period of time uh beginning on the 14th because see PNZ is going to look at the UDC and then make a decision that evening. Am I correct? No, on the 14th on Monday they will just have the presentation that you're getting today. It will actually come back on the 4th for their recommendation. Okay. Then let me take it to the 4th. from the fourth on or even during that period of time, is there any exposure for any kind of lawsuit or any kind of legal action? Well, the new law doesn't go into effect until September 1. I know that. So, I'll say that during our process all the way to what is it the 30th. Then we take it to the end of while we're going through this process. I would I to answer that I would prefer to do that in executive session than out here in a public meeting. Good. Thank you, Chris. Thank you, Mayor Abdul. To follow up on your good question, you would be we'd be looking for council to adopt an adequate facilities ordinance. And so, by law, by your ordinance, developers would have to go through this analysis process. We don't have that now. Philip, could you please walk through the the general approach we take with developers now relative to adequate facilities, especially with water and sewer? Yeah, we we go through a similar process already today um where a developer comes to the table. We have a pre-development meeting um and discuss the scope of their project. Um each of the departments will get an understanding of the impact that they might have on the system. If there are concerns about capacity, um we'll typically um ask them to do some kind of analysis to prove up that capacity, whether that's running the hydraulic model that Frieza Nichols holds. Um so we we have an informal process today to determine that capacity. I I think in the past um there's probably been a uh a kind of a a philosophy that if we don't have the capacity or if it's marginal, we'll build it at some point in a CIP project. I mean, we've we've not had a a a strict up or down policy on maybe a borderline project, but what this ordinance would require is a very formalized process uh with definitions of what constitutes that minimum capacity because that's a term that's in the law that we need to pay attention to and how that's defined. So that if and when we come to a point to say we don't have capacity, it's based on a defined process and defined um criteria in an ordinance. Well, I think everybody's done a great job of putting this stuff together. I think, you know, it's while the the 840 is is out there and we're looking at some potential different uses than we anticipated, I think it a lot of what we've talked today is probably good good uh to be looking at. Anyway, we've talked at several of our meetings in the past about being more green, being more efficient and effective with our our uh infrastructure as far as what we build and things of that nature. And I think we've, you know, there's this perception about apartments. I mean, there's today plenty of land available to build apartments on. We, there's, uh, probably 10 to 15,000 apartments could be built today just on the zoning categories that are open and ready to be built on. Uh the thing that I appreciate is looking at our infrastructure because realistically the bond dollars that we we're spending for building a bigger water tank or you know money that we're spending to buy bigger compactors at the landfill because of waste that's coming out. All those things are being done to accommodate the growth that we've already had. And uh now that we've kind of reached a level I would hate to spend as we'll see $14 million for a a water tower and in 10 years from now need it to be uh twice as big or even bigger than it is when we have already spent the dollars. So I think knowing that we only had so many acres of land left to be developed, we had reached a point where we were pretty well aware that we were putting in three lanes where roads where we needed them and two lane roads where we needed them and uh bike lanes where we could put them in and and you know the the basic things that we're going through today on MacArthur. One of the major components of that is not the road, it's the drainage. It's hooking it into and then bringing it back through all the neighborhoods and creating a way to to control the volume and the velocity of the water that's been created because of the land that's been built on up in the northern sector that we don't have the ability to absorb the water through through the ground because of cement and and the footprints of uh buildings and things of such. I mean, and it gets to a point where anybody that drives MacArthur, you'll you'll see that instead of having the the curbs are at a certain height so that potentially if they're if it's done right, the water will will not go over the curbs and they'll be able to drain it off in a certain amount of time instead of always being there for a certain amount of time. And so I think the drainage thing to me has been a big issue because we've taken over 2,000 homes out of the flood plane that had been there for years because of the increase in the water uh volume and velocity that was created by the development. I think of the fact that when Lavalita was built and we built the single family homes and the apartment complexes up in that area, it blew out the sewer system. So all of a sudden there all the sewage from Valley Ranch was backing up because it wasn't big enough to handle that that development. And that's why we spent emergency I think it was 6 or 8 million to trench that all up and and upsize that pipe. That's why every once in a while we have something blow out because of the size of the connectors that haven't but now they've been upsized so we have less and less. So the city's done to me my belief for me they have done an amazing job of getting us back to a point where we have safe drainage. We have safe streets, we have the proper flu flow of our sewage. Pipe busting has increased our water capacities within those areas where it was reduced. And so and we've anticipated that there's going to be some more growth and development. We've anticipated there's going to be more apartments. But if we build even more and we lose uh then we've a lot of what we've done is for not. So to me it's important that we uh see what we can do to make sure that it's not on the back of the rest of the residents as it has been here recently based on the development. So for me, I'm very uh happy with each and every department and what they've brought forward and how they've looked at the opportunities that we have to to maintain the standard that we have now of of uh of uh flow in our water and our sewer and our streets and and uh and to to look at things from a more green perspective as we talked about earlier in the in the subcommittee earlier. Look at at the what we're using for landscaping. look at the fact that we've, you know, are now putting together the program where people can get green initiatives uh by saving runoff water and using it and things of that nature and and in zero landscaping and things of that nature. So, I think the things that we're asking for are just just an evolution of where we are as a city and how we need to move forward with what what we've done. So, I I appreciate everything and look forward to everybody working together to get it done. So, Philip, your team did a Chris and the and all the department has did a great job. Mark, one thing we I know we talked about before was uh the max density and I didn't see that as part on the UDC proposed changes. I'm looking at KO. Can I say that there, as Philip mentioned, there are an array of things that we are also considering, but we've kind of there there's some particular challenges with some of these. So, we're just kind of weighing options. So, we will kind of bring that back and kind of talk to you and when we go in executive session, I can kind of give you some context of how those will be briefed to you. Thank you. Yep. Any other questions? Philip, just just one final in in context. We have been because of the timeline Jocelyn laid out, the building code piece is the most time critical. That's the thing where Wayne and Carolyn with the when KO's department and his legal team have been working on that ordinance because that's going to have to be done first. Um, we have been developing concepts on the zoning piece of it. That'll be the next critical path is to flesh out those zoning amendments and get those done because we have postings and hearings we have to hold in early August. And then along with that but the the the final piece will be that adequate public facilities ordinance. It does not require advanced posting or anything and that can be you know at the end of August. So that's that's the the order of importance in which we're looking at these. We're identifying those things that are most critical to be responsibly responsive to Senate Bill 840 and the new chapter 218 in the local government code. Um there are going to be other things that uh aren't as critical that we maybe come back later uh to take care of, but u in because of the timeline, we need to look at and make some choices about what are those things that are most critical, get those done, get those across the finish line. Um and that's that's how we're approaching it, mayor. And I I want to be I think one of the purpose of this presentation is just be completely transparent with the council about what our strategies are and uh and and let you know and and hopefully uh if there's a consensus to continue with these strategies and implement these on the schedule that we've talked about uh you know that's our I guess that's the big question and we're just looking for that confirmation. Yep. Al, thank you. Mayor Chris, when you're meeting with your counterparts, uh, the other mayors, I assume, and I'm not asking for an answer, uh, that you are discussing their issues so that we're trying to figure out what kind of alignments we might have in the future. So, Yep. Okay. Well, I think we have a consensus, Philip, for everybody to move forward with what you're doing. All right, Kale, you want to read us into executive session? We can have a couple items we can ret talk about on this and then collective bargaining negotiations where we're at. Yes, sir. Happy to do that. The time is 2:20. The Irving City Council will convene into a closed executive session to receive legal advice pursuant to open meetings act section 551.071. And KO, did you want to read in for what we just did on A40 and talk about Okay. Thank you. [Music] God bless the US. The fireworks finale. Irving Sparks and Stripes delivers the thrill people came to see. The kids, they love fireworks. Watch the fireworks and have fun with the family. And the drone show is more spectacular than ever before. Whatever we do, we always do it big. People get excited about the Fourth of July. It has really, really been a home run because people really look forward to coming out here. This is by far the best event every year. Irving Sparks and Stripes is so much more than lighting up the night. There will even be some surprises for this crowd. This sky behind you is about to come alive with history. First up, T28 Trojan aircraft fly over the crowd at Levy Event Plaza. That fly over earlier was just amazing. It was just a tremendous way to kind of open up the night. Next up, Midtown 10 performed hits to pump up the crowd. Hy. [Music] The music's great. The food's great. So, it's a wonderful thing for the community. People are having a great time. You can see they're enjoying themselves. And this is what Irving is all about. Country music singer and headliner Cafe Anderson performed his hits and popular covers. I'm so excited because I live in North Texas. So being here with Irving, I'm excited to come in and entertain. I've been married here a long time ago. Where did it go? Where did you come? [Music] Next, all eyes are on the sky for the drone show produced by Sky Elements. Well, if you ask me where I come from, remember we talked surprises. Minutes before this, the crowd learned there is a reason to watch this show especially closely. Tonight, we are going to have an official Guinness World Records attempt. The attempt is going to be the largest aerial image of a cowboy hat made out of drones. And here comes that moment. You had a total of 519 drones in your hat. It's a new Guinness World Records title. Fireworks cap off tonight. [Applause] What do you hope the community takes away from this? Appreciation for everyone. Appreciation for your neighbors. appreciation for the country, what it means to be here in America. It's cool that we have this. This is a neat thing for our community to offer this great space to do it in. Great way to celebrate our birthday. A night to celebrate country and community at Irving Sparks and Stripes. Everybody just coming together as one and just enjoying everything that's out here. Thomas Gandandy for City Source. [Applause] Sparks and Stripes. We head downtown to celebrate Independence Day at the city's annual Fourth of July parade, followed by music and fun. People really love it and look forward to it. The community engagement is fantastic. So, you know, you what else can you ask for? Akuna Matata. No worries. The Irving Youth Theater returns to the Art Center for another showstoppping performance of a Disney classic. They have just done an amazing job. So, we're super excited to share it with the community. And in Feature Flick, I review the newest installment to the Jurassic Park franchise, Jurassic World Rebirth, starring Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey. If we get this DNA, millions of lives are saved. Maybe we should uh make this quick, huh? Hello everyone. Welcome to Irving Spotlight. I'm Susan Stevens. We begin tonight with one of the city's favorite summer events. The annual Sparks and Stripes parade brings families together to enjoy the sights and sounds of marching bands and floats, followed by live music, games, and much more. The sounds of beating drums and bag pipes kick off a patriotic celebration at the city's annual Sparks and Stripes parade. I've been here for a long time doing this parade and it never gets old. Good morning. Happy for you guys. You know, people really love it and look forward to it. The community engagement is fantastic. So, you know, you what else can you ask for? We come here every year and it's really fun watching all the cars. We're going to have fun getting candy and spending time with the community. It just brings us all together and then we see what Irving is and like their people. I get to drive through and see all the diversity that we have within our community. When you really take the time, I'm driving slow enough. I can really look at the crowd and you see that we have people from every country, every every area of the of the world here and they're residents of Irving and this is their hometown. And it really gives your heart a lot of excitement because it is Independence Day and they they're happy to be in America. [Applause] After all the festive floats go by, the community heads to Heritage Park for music, food, and an expanded carnival. The rides that are out there this year are fantastic. We stepped it up a little bit. [Music] Just really trying to make that make it something different every year for our residents to look forward to. And we have tremendous support from our mayor and city council. That support and camaraderie is evident, especially as Irving Parks and Recreation Director Joe Moses takes to the dunk tank to have the mayor take the first hit. He's a good sport. But it was just fun. You know, it's all fun. It's all about engaging ourselves in the community and, you know, being able to laugh at ourselves. And the mayor had no problem laughing at himself when participating in the second annual pie eating contest. Well, I love pie, so it's not a hard thing to for me to get excited about. The Sparks and Stripes parade in downtown Celebration invites laughter and a sense of unity to the community. I think America is a big quilt that is weaved together with all the different individual cultures that we have in this country. And I think Fourth of July is a time to celebrate that and to get to know your all the different cultures that make America great. I think it's more and more important than it's ever been for us to come together as a community. These are the kind of events you have to bring society together. We're all we're all Americans and we all love the Fourth of July. So, it's just such a great time to celebrate all together. The last two Jurassic World films were a convoluted mess, a disappointing misfire after such a promising start to the revived franchise. After nearly three years, director Gareth Edwards tries his hand at a new installment with a brand new cast. And while it is miles better than Fallen Kingdom and Dominion, that may not be saying much about Jurassic World: Rebirth. On the island we're headed to, two dozen species have survived there alone. The film is set 5 years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion. Dinosaurs are on the brink of extinction again as our ecosystem is not built for them and they are struggling to survive. Those still alive have made a home for themselves in a more tropical environment similar to where they once thrive. Three of the most colossal creatures carry genetic material that could be the key to a life-saving drug that could benefit humankind. Q. Zora Bennett, a highly skilled operative, is hired by a pharmaceutical company to form a team and courageously extract DNA from the wild prehistoric reptiles. And like all Jurassic Park movies, this initial expedition quickly turns into a fight to survive. If we get this DNA, millions of lives are saved. From the get-go, you can appreciate Edwards bringing the story back to the basics and trying to capture the essence of the original 1993 Jurassic Park. Less is usually more, but when it comes to the script of Jurassic World Rebirth, I could have used a lot more. There's hardly any character development. With a talented cast featuring Scarlett Johansson, Mahersela Ali, and Jonathan Bailey, I expected to care about at least one of them. Unfortunately, there was not much effort to make them more memorable, and we only scratched the surface, if that, with most of the characters. The only people you might care about in this story are members of the unexpected yet endearing family the team rescues from a capsized boat accident. However, where the film and Edward succeed is in its action and filmmaking. Visually, Jurassic World Rebirth is a hit, returning to focused thrills instead of chaos that allows you to appreciate the true beauty of the incredible CGI and the stunning landscapes of Thailand. Spielberg's influence is evident throughout several frames, providing a little nostalgia for fans. And perhaps what Edwards does best is create tension. After a slow 40minute setup, the film keeps up the momentum and engagement with back-to-back nail-biting confrontations with the dinosaurs that are sure to make audiences squirm and want to yell at the screen. If you can look past the lack of depth to the story and characters, you might be enthralled by the entertaining adventure. [Music] Jurassic World Rebirth is now showing. Check AMC Irving Mall and Alamo Draft House Cinema Lost Cleanest for Showtimes. While Jurassic World Rebirth roars into theaters, the Irving Youth Theat's production of The Lion King Jr. sets the stage for the community to feel the love from its talented young performers. I am so excited to see this show come together. We are presenting Lion King Jr. It's the culmination of an 8-day summer camp for kindergarten through 8th grade students and they have just done an amazing job. So, we're super excited to share it with the community. [Music] It's basically about Simba who was blamed for the death of his father. So he ran away and he met Timone and Pumba. The king is dead and if it weren't for you, he'd still be alive. And learns the way of Hakuna Matata, which means no worries. And he was in this like carefree world until Nala came and told him about Scar and how he took over the Pride Lands. So he went back to face his past and reclaimed the rightful throne. I am really excited to actually like be part of the tech tech crew this time. I think it's the music helping all the kids with the music and their lines. It's a new experience because then it also helps me uh like grow as a person too with like helping all the little children. you. I've always loved Lion King and one of my dream roles was to be Simba and like when I was like 5 years old, I like watched the animation and now I look back at my 5-year-old self, I'm like, "Hey, we did it." I would say Irving Youth Theater, it really like inspired me to do bigger things. Before I went into it, I was scared like nervous to speak in front of the class and I wasn't being myself when I met new people. But now I feel more confident. I'm a de and the king's major domo. It looks more like to me the king's major do. You're not just supporting uh IYT or just like community supporting these children that are working so hard for these shows. Also, they get to enrich their own lives because theater is an awesome opportunity to be joyful, have a great time listening to a wonderful story and and also so show support so that we can keep doing this with kids in the future. [Music] [Applause] In addition to movies and musicals, there's lots of fun things to do around the city. Levi Gomez, our man about town, shares his suggestions. The summer camp program has returned to the Irving Arts Center. Lots of options are still available for kids and teens ages 4 through 16. From art to theater, go online to find the right camp for your youngster. Calling all puzzle pros, it's time for Puzzle Palooa. It's a head-to-head jigsaw showdown where strategy, speed, and community spirit meet. The action begins on July 18th at 5:30 p.m. here at Northwest Park Rec Center. And you got to love the entry fee. Just donate a bag of candy to play. Get ready for Texas Author Con, a showcase of writers from the Lonear State. The fourth annual event includes live readings, question and answer sessions, and panels about writing and the book industry. You'll have two days to experience it all July 19th and 20th here at the Irving Convention Center. Noises Off takes a fond look at the follies of theater folk. Mainstage presents a play within a play starting July 18th here at Dupri Theater. Don't miss the behindthescenes look at flood lines, miscues, and friction between cast members. It's time once again for one of our favorite events, the Quilt Expo. It's the place to find the latest techniques and products and learn new skills with cutting edge education. The 3-day event starts on July 31st here at the Irving Convention Center. The exhibition Rooted Vision showcases 25 self-taught southern black artists. Come to the Irving Art Center to see their innovative use of found objects and everyday materials. Stop by in the afternoon Tuesday through Saturday until October 18th. And that wraps up this episode of Irving Spotlight. Join us next time as we stay cool at an Irving Cares event that is helping seniors beat the heat with a special giveaway. And we watch our city's young actors show off their theater skills at the community's annual oneact play competition. As always, tell us stories you'd like to see on the show. You can email us at ictnvingtex.gov or connect with us on social media. So, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like us on Facebook, and follow us on X and Instagram. We'd love to hear from you. Thanks so much for tuning in and have a great evening for Irving Spotlight. I'm Susan Stevens. Banking on the future. It was designed for us because we deserve it. Wells Fargo employees get some insight into the progress of their new Irving campus and we're showing you how they are giving back. They want to be a part of this community more than just a building. Pops and classes. I find it really fun and cool experience to learn. It helps the community to understand what we do. Young people are learning about all that it takes to work for Irving PD. Go inside the Junior Police Academy. Plus, progress at the Irving Golf Club. And we remember former mayor Marvin Randall. Now on City Source [Music] Locales make the latest Fortune 500 list. As some call Irving, the headquarters of headquarters. Hello and welcome to City Source. I'm Thomas Gandandy. Those rankings are coming up later, but we begin with other economic development news. The massive new Wells Fargo campus is just about ready for employees to move in. The team cannot go inside just yet, but they are getting as close as they can. We have an update on the project and found out how employees are already getting involved in the community. 3 2 1 posing for pictures in front of their new buildings and chatting with the Irving mayor. It's going to be street. These Wells Fargo employees find that the patio at the Irving Convention Center provides great access to get the perfect shot of the buildings they will be moving into. The nearly $500 million campus will bring together Wells Fargo employees from a lot of smaller sites across the region and add jobs. I'm super excited with the new campus inside the Irving Convention Center. Employees got some updates. This is a massive effort. We're moving 4,500 people into those two gorgeous buildings across the street starting in August and will be finished by the end of September. You are very, very fortunate that you are literally 2 to 3 months away from kind of migrating to in space that's a bit eh average, not great to something that's kind of world class. I was able to go into some of the floors and it's amazing. It's great. It's prestigious. But there is another big part of this story. Today is really about community. [Music] Today is our biggest backpack build we've ever had. We're partnering with our friends at Wells Fargo and we're building over 3500 backpacks. That's a record for the Irving Schools Foundation. Thank you. They are filling backpacks as part of the annual Supplies for Success campaign. As we show you each year, the Irving Schools Foundation distributes backpacks to local families to help them out. This year, the foundation believes this effort will help them serve a record number of families. Each year, we grow and grow uh with the need growing in our community. And so, our goal this year is to build at least 7,500 backpacks. Along with supplies, the students will receive handwritten notes created by these Wells Fargo employees for inspiration and encouragement. And it's clear these team members are motivated and make quick work of all of this. 29 minutes. Can you all believe it? 3,500 backpacks in 29 minutes. Five. Six. The employees also take part in some fun team building with the MacArthur High School Cards. Many of you have never met other people who you might be on the same line of business. And this may be a way to bring them all in step. Oh, I see you in the back. Yeah. On this day, they are feeling all of the superlatives. It's going to be fantastic. It's going to be It's gorgeous. It's beautiful. It's nice. As they prepare to make their move into these buildings in Irving, something that I generally believe is a worldclass campus. The annual collection of supplies for the Irving Schools Foundation Supplies for Success campaign continues. Drop off donations at any Irving fire station. Find out more at irvingtx.gov/supplies. Donations that do not go into backpacks are used to restock the community to classroom store at the Irving Schools Foundation warehouse. Teachers can go there to pick up supplies they need for their classrooms. Irving has a new mobile app. You can download it from your app store by searching for Irving TXV. One of the main benefits of the new app is to make it easier to report concerns such as high grass and weeds or abandoned vehicles. After creating an account, select a type of concern. Add your comments, photos, and the location. Then choose how you would like to be notified. Once submitted, city staff will respond and provide updates. Again, find the app through the app store at Irvingtx.gov. Also, through the app, you can easily access commonly used services. And keep in mind, you can also report concerns through the new city website at irvingtx.gov. This is a look at the homepage. You will notice the vibrant colors and updated design. Right in the middle is a good place to start. It's called Choose Your Adventure, and it will connect you with popular attractions and activities. You will also find more eye-catching links to ICTN videos in the video section. Again, the new website is irringtx.gov. There are a lot of different divisions to the Irving Police Department and that means there are a lot of lessons the community can learn about what officers do. An annual program offered by the department is specially created for young people during the summer and we checked it out. Anything you enjoyed about the class thus far? It's a different type of summer school. It's called the Junior Police Academy and it's an opportunity for young students grade levels of sixth through 8th grade that are interested in policing. The Wolfpack were bunch of motorcycles. During this week-long academy here at Buouie Middle School, the young people get to learn about a lot of the divisions of the Irving Police Department. This session is about the motorcycle unit. Teach you from the ground floor of just how to ride a motorcycle to doing advanced maneuvers, high speeded maneuvers. Let's start off with this. Right. Students also get to see what the tactical team uses, including this robot and the huge vehicle known as the bear. There's about 10 to 15 of us in here with all of our behind. I think it's great. It teaches a lot about the police and the stuff they do like the bear. It's really cool vehicle. The classes are often hands-on and interactive except when it comes to this next part. But I'm excited to see the K9 dogs. This is K9 Veto. He's from the Netherlands. He's in. The students have a lot of questions about Veto. They'll usually work up to 10 years. All his commands are in Dutch. Most ones for police departments are going to be like your Belgians, German Shepherds, and your Duchies. And then we learned Veto is not into being on TV. She don't look good. So our crew stayed back when it came time for Veto to show how he can help nab suspects. Sharp skills demonstrated for sharp students. These particular students are chosen to be in this program based off the school resource officer. So the schools that they go to, they're nominated to come. And a lot of these participants have similar career goals in mind. I'll be a police officer or a SWAT team. I want to be a police now. I like it. I want to be a K9 officer when I'm older. I want to be a police officer because I want to help um the citizens and feel more comfortable and safe in their community. We will need the help even when there is their opportunity to become police officers. So that's great. What's been your favorite thus far? The bear. Who? the bear. Okay. Did you guys go up in the bear? You climbed up. Okay. Even if the young people ultimately choose other careers, they are building their understanding of police work and its role in the community. All as a result of their involvement in Irving's Junior Police Academy. The fact that they're interested. They have a level of respect for police officers. It's inspiring. It's inspiring for sure. Yeah. In addition to what you saw in that story, students learned about drone and crime scene operations, found out about the bomb squad, and more. Learn about other initiatives of the Irving Police Department on our IPD playlist at youtube.com/theity of Irving. The Irving Police Department's Family Advocacy Center is working to move forward after a tornado severely damaged the building back in March. The team there is planning a fundraising lunch on Saturday, July 12th. It's called Let's Talk About It. And the event is not only about tornado recovery. It's also about sharing the story of the work that happens at the Family Advocacy Center every day. Yeah. The Let's Talk About It event is really talking about all the services that the Family Advocacy Center provides and the programs that we are able to offer. Things like Camp Hope and our awareness events. Those are big things we want to make sure that the community knows that the Family Advocacy Center is doing for residents of Irving. Heather spoke with me at the temporary new home of the FAC, 500 East John Carpenter Freeway, Sweet 250, and we will be giving you a complete tour on an upcoming edition of City Source. Meanwhile, here are the details on that fundraiser. It's Saturday, July 12th from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at that building on State Highway 114. Plates are $25 and extras, including car washes, are available at an additional charge. If you're watching on YouTube, you will find the really long link for the tickets in the description. The Omni Lascalas is sharing these pictures now that it has completed a propertywide renovation. The latest phase included the redo of all 421 guest rooms, including more than 100 luxury suites, also the Los Kolina ballroom. Earlier phases of the project updated the common areas and restaurants. In all, it's a $33 million property investment. The general manager said in a statement that Omni successfully elevated the guest experience while remaining true to the spirit of Los Kolinus. Irving has eight companies on this year's Fortune 500 list. McKessan ranks ninth on the national list. It is also the highest ranked of all companies in DFW. Caterpillar is at number 64. You can see some of the other companies headquartered here and where they landed. The annual Fortune 500 list ranks companies by their revenue. A new effort is focusing on revitalizing downtown Irving. The nonprofit Better Block is working with the city on a temporary transformation that may provide some ideas for the future. Megan Gordon is the city of Irving's redevelopment coordinator and she joins us now. Thanks so much for being here. Thanks for having me. Of course. Tell me about the overall goal and vision for this project. So, as we discuss revitalizing downtown, what we want to make sure is to a involve the community and b do effective change that people can see. So, the great thing about this project is not only are we getting that community engagement, but we're taking those ideas and making actionable changes to downtown Irving that people can see and feel. And we've heard about initiatives before to revitalize downtown. What makes this project different? So, the cool thing about this project is it's a 120day process. So, not only are we moving quick on this community engagement piece, but we're taking those ideas and making action on them right away. So, you'll see these temporary transformations in the fall time. It is going to be interactive, in your face, so the community can feel and actually get a sense of what they want the identity of Main Street and downtown Irving to be. That leads it right into my next question about this temporary transformation. What will that actually look like and entail? So really, it's going to be up to the community exactly the specifics of that, but think additional lighting, art, events, making a feel and a vibe for the area. So, we can see anything from our Main Street Plaza area to having more activations, whether that be a Pilates class at Main Street Plaza, whether that be a bit more music, just really kind of looking at different elements that help make a place a place. And as that happens, what's going to be the kind of the temporary impact on traffic and parking? So for the main weekend, the opening weekend, we're looking at more of that main event where you might experience some closures, but kind of post that, it really is working with our businesses to ensure that parking is the main priority for everyone and everything remains accessible and that we're adding to the charm of downtown and not taking away anything. So although there will be some, you know, temporary closures with all those activations, uh nothing too large or impactful. And again, the point of this is to find that happy medium of creating that community space while also making sure our businesses are really engaged in that process so we have that combination of people stored in our businesses and enjoying Main Street as a whole. And there are some things happening right now. Tell me what you're looking for in this public input process. We want to know why you want to come down to downtown Irving. If you want to eat at a restaurant, what's going to make you stay there when you walk outside? Do you want to have a seat and have lemonade outside? Do you want to hear a little live music? What's gonna make you stay and enjoy this this space? Megan Gordon, thanks for being here. Thanks so much. And this project is moving. As Megan mentioned, there will be a community kickoff meeting on Tuesday, June 24th at 700 p.m. at the Huffman Building. Input will also be accepted through a survey that is posted at irvingtx.gov/down. The deadline to complete the survey is July 13th. Planning for Irving's next fiscal year is underway. City leaders and the budget team are looking for suggestions, feedback, and opinions on what should be considered in the next budget. A public input session is set for Thursday, June 26th at 7 p.m. at Irving City Hall. Adoption of the budget is scheduled for September. Then the new fiscal year begins on October 1st. Learn more about the current budget at irvingtx.gov/ GV/budget. The Irving Golf Club is attracting more visitors. Robert Sheik looks at what is making it so popular. Local golfer Mike Bayis loves teeing it up at Irving Golf Club. Greens are great. Fairways are cutwell. So much so that he regularly makes the roughly halfhour trips from his home and trophy club to play here. The price for what you get, it makes it worth the drive. All of us came from all different parts of the area just to come to Irving to play golf. Mike's not alone. Since reopening in 2019, following an extensive renovation, Irving Golf Club now hosts more than 40,000 rounds of golf annually, nearly 7 times more than before. It's no longer a secret. The hottest golf course in the Metroplex, I would say, is right here at the Irving Golf Club. This April, crews completed the replacement of the course's cart paths. more than 17,000 linear feet or nearly three and a half miles. It's all the difference in the world. It used to be real bad. Now it's real good. You can see the drastic change as these paths have gone from a rough ride to what now feels like a smooth 3-wood down the middle of the fairway as Irving Golf Club climbs to the top of the leaderboard of public courses in North Texas. It's a big bragging point for us. I would match our course up to any municipal course in the area. The upgrades to Irving Golf Club have clearly been a birdie. But there's still some potential areas for improvement. As you can see by these puddles, the ground here in the driving range hitting area is clearly not level. We want to come back and level that off. We also noticed that, you know, it gets hot out here. So, we want to add potentially a couple shade structures on half the driving range. Want to come back, want to do some more renovations to the clubhouse at some point. really want to give it a more comfortable restaurant type feel so that even if you're not a golfer, you can come out here, you can watch a game or just socialize with friends. That's pretty. The increases in rounds played and food and beverage revenue have Irving Golf Club operating in the black as golfers like Mike continue to rave about Irving's commitment to municipal golf. Nice. Thanks. It's great that the city spends the money on it because a lot of municipalities don't, but Irving does a great job. That's why we're here. A drive well worth making for golfers in Irving and all across North Texas. And a boy, great play. Robert Chic for City Source. Registration for the fall session of the Irving 360 Civic Academy opens on June 23rd. As you see in this archive video, the academy provides an inside look at how city government operates. It's 11 weekly evening classes that are free. Register at irvingtx.govingacademy. The deadline to register is July 18th. Irving marks the passing of former mayor Marvin Randall. Voters elected him to city council in 1971. Then he served as mayor from 1977 until 1981. Beyond local politics, he founded Irving Countertop, a business still operating today. Randall was involved in a number of nonprofits and civic organizations. Education, his church, and the Irving Heritage Society were among the causes important to him. ICT featured him on profiles in 2000. Sometimes I sit down and I think I might have missed something because I haven't moved and have to start meeting new people or all together in a new community. But I'm so comfortable where I am and I've had the opportunity to to grow to to form a business uh to make it as successful as I want to make it by hard work. Uh, and Irving has afforded me that opportunity. In 2023, current Irving mayor Rick Stoer honored Randall at State of the City with the corporate award of excellence. I want to say thank y'all for what y'all have done. And it's been uh my family means everything in the world to me and it's really been nice and I just want to say thank you. More recently, the city of Irving named the downtown clock tower for him. Former mayor Marvin Randall was 88 years old. [Music] Hello and welcome to ICTN's pets of the week from the animal care campus. I'm with Egan Dobson from Irving Animal Services. And if you're looking for a little sunshine in your life, we have the perfect pup named Soul. Tell us about Soul. Yeah, Soul is about a year old, just a little bit over a year. She is super dog friendly. We're pretty sure she's actually potty trained and she is obsessed with a tennis ball. Good girl. So, this is going to be a playful dog. Good for her family, right? Yeah. She's going to be very chill. She likes to do her own thing, which is this when she has her ball. Yeah. And how did Soul come to Animal Care? Yeah. Soul was found as a stray. She was microchipped, but the owner never came and got her. So, she's been with us since. Yeah. Yeah. And we talk about responsible pet ownership, things like having your pet microchip and of course there's a voucher program right now. We want to talk about vouchers like these. We'll get a closeup of this. And tell me about what this program involves. Yeah, so here at Irving Animal Services, we provide all Irving residents a free service for them to get their animals spayed, neutered, microchipped, and rabies vaccinated. You would just call either one of the companies on the voucher, make an appointment with them, and it will be free to do so. Free. That's everyone's favorite word. And talk to us about why this is so important. Microchipping can get your pet returned, but spay and neutering is especially important right now, too. It helps 100% with the population here. Um, obviously, right now, we are just swimming in puppies. We have so many litters of puppies. Um, spaying and neutering not only helps prevent accidental litters from happening, but also future health issues with your pets. And of course, here in the city of Irving, we actually require all animals to be microchipped and to be rabies vaccinated. Important to know those regulations. And we always like to pass along the happy updates, too. Talk about pudding. He got adopted and we're so happy for him and his new family. So, there's an adopted special going on for a few more days to coincide with the holiday. Tell me about that. Absolutely. It's a red wolf amu. Uh, if you're feeling extra patriotic is what I keep telling everybody, come on down and adopt. All right, get all those puns in there and get a perfect pup like Soul here who hasn't stopped playing with her ball the whole time we have been talking. There she goes. The animal care campus. She'll get her ball. We'll keep having fun here at the animal care campus. Thanks a lot, Egan. Of course. Thank you so much. And you can find more adoptable animals at the website on your screen or visit the animal care campus, 4140 Valley View Lane in Irving. New restaurants are open at the Toyota Music Factory. On the next edition of City Source, see the ribbon cutting celebration. Also, get a look inside the temporary headquarters of Irving's Family Advocacy Center after a tornado forced the relocation of the staff. And we'll have highlights of Sparks and Stripes. Those stories and much more next time on City Source. Here is how to connect with us. And please make note of our new email address. It's ictn@ irvingtx.gov. Our YouTube channel is youtube.com/the city of Irving. We hope you will subscribe and hit that like button on the videos you watch, and we always appreciate it when you leave us some positive comments. And you could look for updates on events and initiatives across the major social media platforms at the city of Irving. And that's it for this edition of City Source. Thanks for watching. Stay safe and we'll see you next time. [Music] Are you or someone you know interested in sharing your concerns? Well, good news. The city of Irving has just made it easier than ever for you to report those concerns thanks to the new Irving TXV app. Just grab your phone and head to the App Store or Google Play. Search Irving TXV and download the app. Then create an account with your name, email, and password. From there, it's as simple as tapping report a concern and entering your non-emergency issue. Again, non-emergency issue. Select the type of concern and add any important details like the location or relevant photos you've taken. If you'd like to be notified of the city's response, go into account details and set up notification preferences. And while you're on the app, be sure to check out the latest news and upcoming events right here in Irving. At home or on the go, the Irving TXV app keeps you in the know and engaged with your city. So download the app today. [Music] Stance knock. Hitting targets for growth. Shoot. Irving's golden sneaker games are back and bigger than ever. Grab your arrows. Archery is one of this year's new additions. Oh, nervous cuz I'm not very good at this. No, don't worry about it. The only thing you have to worry about is uh just the not shooting anybody. I do not know the technique yet, but I'm having fun. Awesome. Woo. These are the 30 lb bows, so they have to really pull it back. Oh, you have to have good upper body strength to pull the bows. Woo! I've decided to challenge myself. It's been nothing but great. Another new draw. One star. Cycling. I haven't done much riding since I moved to Irving. It was sort of a goal to prove to myself that I still had it. Get a little exercise. All the good things in life. Starts. Rosie Ming is competing in the Golden Sneaker Games for the first time. She was one of those people who just started signing up for everything. You can do this. Our GoPro picked up how she kept herself motivated. Do not get while pushing for the best time. It speaks to my competitiveness. Along with providing these challenges, you always pass on the left. Organizer David Martinez also wants to show off Irving attractions such as the city's trail system. No cars, a safe place to ride anytime. And they're like, "Oh, wow. There's some back here." You know, sometimes some people say it takes courage to do things you don't normally do. Glad I did this. The Golden Sneaker games are about more than strong bodies. You can use your mind, your brain. Time team puzzle making is another new addition this year. It actually went pretty quick. Those activities join familiar favorites. We are playing miniature golf and I am defending my title from last year. Don't do it. Don't do it. The competition stays friendly and fun. Oh yes. On film. And that's part of the games, too. Just kind of um being funny and just, you know, not taking everything so super serious. Come on. Come on. This is great. Just to do stuff like this makes you feel so much better. I think David should give us a cart. Here on the pickle ball court, action can get more intense. Pretty competitive when uh the better players are on the court. Got it. It gets very competitive, but I'm not in it for winning. I'm in it just to have fun. Carolyn Gordon figures she's the oldest player here. I played tennis way back 60 years ago. And pickle ball is giving her a way to stay athletic. Oh, I think it's important that you get out there and just keep at it no matter how old you are. I'm 78 years old, but I don't mind playing against younger guys because that way it helps me improve my game. Two weeks of competition. Woo! You guys are the real stars here. Wrap up with an awards banquet at the Heritage Senior Center. There she is. Even with medals and prizes at stake, competitors say they gain a lot more from all of these games. self-righte, okay? I mean, and to to get out and enjoy the company. And it's good for my health. It means that I may be independent longer and that I can function and keep up with people who are younger than me. So, I'm not letting age define me. Really? We are still engaged in life and that we still have things to offer. We can do anything we want to do. We just have to get up there and try. Making a lasting impact for participants in Irving's Golden Sneaker Games. I am so thankful for the city of Irving to put on this for us because we just have a fantastic time. Congratulations. Awesome. Thomas Gandandy for city source. [Music] Your ICTN team produced 44 videos in the month of June. I've been around Irving for a long time, but I thought I knew everything that was here. No, this is blowing my mind. I still can't drive past that intersection where Texas Stadium was without a little bit of a heart tug. Irving certainly holds a special place for us. The cool thing about this project is it's a 120day process. So, not only are we moving quick on this community engagement piece, but we're taking those ideas and making action on them right away. I've been celebrating Junth since I've been a very young child. So, now that the city does it, especially here in the open park, I have to bring my family and friends. Just grab your phone and head to the App Store or Google Play. Search Irving TXV and download the app. It's familyowned. There's a lot lots of warmth, lots of compassion. This is not just any taco shop in Irving. It is the taco shop in Irving. We work with victims of violent crime, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and making sure that they have that continuum of care is very important. I want to be a police officer because I want to help um the citizens and feel more comfortable and safe in their community. [Music] The kids always love science programs. We've got some young scientists here that come to Valley Ranch. [Music] This is a massive effort. We're moving 4,500 people into those two gorgeous buildings across the street starting in August and will be finished by the end of September. Stay up todate by subscribing to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/the city of Irving. God bless the fireworks finale. Irving Sparks and Stripes delivers the thrill people came to see. The kids, they love fireworks. Watch the fireworks and have fun with the family. And the drone show is more spectacular than ever before. Whatever we do, we always do it big. People get excited about the Fourth of July. It has really, really been a home run because people really look forward to coming out here. This is by far the best event every year. Irving Sparks and Stripes is so much more than lighting up the night. There will even be some surprises for this crowd. The sky behind you is about to come alive with history. First up, T28 Trojan aircraft fly over the crowd at Levy Event Plaza. That fly over earlier was just amazing. It was just a tremendous way to kind of open up the night. Next up, Midtown 10 performed hits to pump up the crowd. H T O G O. You can take me. The music's great. The food's great. So, it's a wonderful thing for the community. People are having a great time. You can see they're enjoying themselves. And this is what Irving is all about. [Music] Country music singer and headliner Cafe Anderson performed his hits and popular covers. I'm so excited because I live in North Texas. So, being here with Irving, I'm excited to come to entertain. Good night Joe. I've been married here a long time ago. Where did you come from? Where did you go? Where did you come? America. Next. All eyes are on the sky for the drone show produced by Sky Elements. Well, if you ask me where I come from, remember we talked surprises. Minutes before this, the crowd learned there is a reason to watch this show especially closely. Tonight, we are going to have an official Guinness World Records attempt. The attempt is going to be the largest aerial image of a cowboy hat made out of drones. And here comes that moment. You had a total of 519 drones in your hat. It's a new Guinness World Records title. Fireworks cap off tonight. Please stand up. What do you hope the community takes away from this? Appreciation for everyone. Appreciation for your neighbors. Appreciation for the country. What it means to be here in America. It's cool that we have this. This is a neat thing for our community to offer this great space to do it in. Great way to celebrate our birthday. A night to celebrate country and community at Irving Sparks and Strikes. Everybody just coming together as one and just enjoying everything that's out here. Thomas Gandandy for City Source. [Applause] Sparks and Stripes. We head downtown to celebrate Independence Day at the city's annual Fourth of July parade, followed by music and fun. People really love it and look forward to it. The community engagement is fantastic. So, you know, you what else can you ask for? Akuna Matata. No worries. The Irving Youth Theater returns to the Art Center for another showstoppping performance of a Disney classic. They have just done an amazing job, so we're super excited to share it with the community. And in Feature Flick, I review the newest installment to the Jurassic Park franchise, Jurassic World Rebirth, starring Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey. If we get this DNA, millions of lives are saved. Maybe we should uh make this quick, huh? Hello everyone. Welcome to Irving Spotlight. I'm Susan Stevens. We begin tonight with one of the city's favorite summer events. The annual Sparks and Stripes parade brings families together to enjoy the sights and sounds of marching bands and floats, followed by live music, games, and much more. The sounds of beating drums and bag pipes kick off a patriotic celebration at the city's annual Sparks and Stripes parade. I've been here for a long time doing this parade and it never gets old. Good morning. Happy 4th guys. Happy. You know, people really love it and look forward to it. The community engagement is fantastic. So, you know, you what else can you ask for? We come here every year and it's really fun watching all the cars. We're going to have fun getting candy and spending time with the community. It just brings us all together and then we see what Irving is and like their people. I get to drive through and see all the diversity that we have within our community. When you really take the time, I'm driving slow enough I can really look at the crowd and you see that we have people from every country, every every area of the of the world here and they're residents of Irving and this is their hometown and it really gives your heart a lot of excitement because it is Independence Day and they they're happy to be in America. After all the festive floats go by, the community heads to Heritage Park for music, food, and an expanded carnival. The rides that are out there this year are fantastic. We stepped it up a little bit. [Music] Just really trying to make that make it something different every year for our residents to look forward to. And we have tremendous support from our mayor and city council. That support and camaraderie is evident, especially as Irving Parks and Recreation Director Joe Moses takes to the dunk tank to have the mayor take the first hit. He's a good sport, but it was just fun. You know, it's all fun. It's all about engaging ourselves in the community and, you know, being able to laugh at ourselves. And the mayor had no problem laughing at himself when participating in the second annual pie eating contest. Well, I love pie, so it's not a hard thing to for me to get excited about. The Sparks and Stripes parade in downtown celebration invites laughter and a sense of unity to the community. I think America is a big quilt that is weaved together with all the different individual cultures that we have in this country. And I think Fourth of July is a time to celebrate that and to get to know your all the different cultures that make America great. I think it's more and more important than it's ever been for us to come together as a community. These are the kind of events you have to bring society together. We're all we're all Americans and we all love the 4th of July. So, it's just such a great time to celebrate all together. The last two Jurassic World films were a convoluted mess, a disappointing misfire after such a promising start to the revived franchise. After nearly three years, director Gareth Edwards tries his hand at a new installment with a brand new cast. And while it is miles better than Fallen Kingdom and Dominion, that may not be saying much about Jurassic World Rebirth. On the island we're headed to, two dozen species have survived there alone. The film is set 5 years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion. Dinosaurs are on the brink of extinction again as our ecosystem is not built for them and they are struggling to survive. Those still alive have made a home for themselves in a more tropical environment similar to where they once thrive. Three of the most colossal creatures carry genetic material that could be the key to a life-saving drug that could benefit humankind. Q. Zora Bennett, a highly skilled operative, is hired by a pharmaceutical company to form a team and courageously extract DNA from the wild prehistoric reptiles. And like all Jurassic Park movies, this initial expedition quickly turns into a fight to survive. If we get this DNA, millions of lives are saved. From the get-go, you can appreciate Edwards bringing the story back to the basics and trying to capture the essence of the original 1993 Jurassic Park. Less is usually more, but when it comes to the script of Jurassic World Rebirth, I could have used a lot more. There's hardly any character development. With a talented cast featuring Scarlett Johansson, Mahersela Ali, and Jonathan Bailey, I expected to care about at least one of them. Unfortunately, there was not much effort to make them more memorable, and we only scratched the surface, if that, with most of the characters. The only people you might care about in this story are members of the unexpected yet endearing family the team rescues from a capsid's boat accident. However, where the film and Edward succeed is in its action and filmmaking. Visually, Jurassic World Rebirth is a hit, returning to focused thrills instead of chaos that allows you to appreciate the true beauty of the incredible CGI and the stunning landscapes of Thailand. Spielberg's influence is evident throughout several frames, providing a little nostalgia for fans. And perhaps what Edwards does best is create tension. After a slow 40minute setup, the film keeps up the momentum and engagement with back-to-back nailbiting confrontations with the dinosaurs that are sure to make audiences squirm and want to yell at the screen. If you can look past the lack of depth to the story and characters, you might be enthralled by the entertaining adventure. [Music] Jurassic World Rebirth is now showing. Check AMC Irving Mall and Alamo Draft House cinema Lost Cleanest for showtimes. While Jurassic World Rebirth roars into theaters, the Irving Youth Theat's production of The Lion King Jr. sets the stage for the community to feel the love from its talented young performers. I am so excited to see the show come together. We are presenting Lion King Jr. It's the culmination of an 8-day summer camp for kindergarten through 8th grade students and they have just done an amazing job. So, we're super excited to share it with the community. It's basically about Simba who was blamed for the death of his father. So he ran away and he met Timone and Pumba. The king is dead and if it weren't for you, he'd still be alive. And learns the way of Hakuna Matata, which means no worries. And he was in this like carefree world until Nala came and told him about Scar and how he took over the Pride Lands. So he went back to face his past and reclaimed the rightful throne. I am really excited to actually like be part of the tech tech crew this time. I think it's the music helping all the kids with the music and their lines. It's a new experience because then it also helps me uh like grow as a person too with like helping all the little children. you. I've always loved Lion King and one of my dream roles was to be Simba and like when I was like 5 years old, I like watched the animation and now I look back at my 5-year-old self, I'm like, "Hey, we did it." I would say Urban Youth Theater, it really like inspired me to do bigger things. Before I went into it, I was scared, like nervous to speak in front of the class and I wasn't being myself when I met new people. But now I feel more confident. I'm a dev and the king's major domo looks more like to me the king's major do. You're not just supporting uh IYT or just like community supporting these children that are working so hard for these shows. Also, they get to enrich their own lives because theater is an awesome opportunity to be joyful, have a great time listening to a wonderful story and and also so show support so that we can keep doing this with kids in the future. [Music] [Applause] In addition to movies and musicals, there's lots of fun things to do around the city. Levi Gomez, our man about town, shares his suggestions. The summer camp program has returned to the Irving Arts Center. Lots of options are still available for kids and teens ages 4 through 16. From art to theater, go online to find the right camp for your youngster. Calling all puzzle pros, it's time for Puzzle Palooa. It's a head-to-head jigsaw showdown where strategy, speed, and community spirit meet. The action begins on July 18th at 5:30 p.m. here at Northwest Park Rec Center. And you got to love the entry fee. Just donate a bag of candy to play. Get ready for Texas Author Con, a showcase of writers from the Lonear State. The fourth annual event includes live readings, question and answer sessions, and panels about writing and the book industry. You'll have two days to experience it all July 19th and 20th here at the Urban Convention Center. Noises Off takes a fond look at the follies of theater folk. Mainstage presents a play within a play starting July 18th here at Dupri Theater. Don't miss the behindthescenes look at bloodlines, miscues, and friction between cast members. It's time once again for one of our favorite events, the Quilt Expo. It's the place to find the latest techniques and products and learn new skills with cutting edge education. The 3-day event starts on July 31st here at the Irving Convention Center. The exhibition Rooted Vision showcases 25 self-taught southern black artists. Come to the Irving Art Center to see their innovative use of found objects and everyday materials. Stop by in the afternoon Tuesday through Saturday until October 18th. And that wraps up this episode of Irving Spotlight. Join us next time as we stay cool at an Irving Cares event that is helping seniors beat the heat with a special giveaway. And we watch our city's young actors show off their theater skills at the community's annual one-act play competition. As always, tell us stories you'd like to see on the show. You can email us at ictn@erving texas.gov or connect with us on social media. So, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like us on Facebook, and follow us on X and Instagram. We'd love to hear from you. Thanks so much for tuning in and have a great evening for Irving Spotlight. I'm Susan Stevens. Banking on the future. It was designed for us because we deserve it. Wells Fargo employees get some insight into the progress of their new Irving campus and we're showing you how they are giving back. They want to be a part of this community more than just a building. Pops and classes. I find it really fun and cool experience to learn. It helps the community to understand what we do. Young people are learning about all that it takes to work for Irving PD. Go inside the Junior Police Academy. Plus, progress at the Irving Golf Club. And we remember former mayor Marvin Randall. Now on City Source [Music] Locales make the latest Fortune 500 list as some call Irving the headquarters of headquarters. Hello and welcome to City Source. I'm Thomas Gandandy. Those rankings are coming up later, but we begin with other economic development news. The massive new Wells Fargo campus is just about ready for employees to move in. The team cannot go inside just yet, but they are getting as close as they can. We have an update on the project and found out how employees are already getting involved in the community. 3 2 1. Posing for pictures in front of their new buildings and chatting with the Irving mayor. It's going to be sweet. These Wells Fargo employees find that the patio at the Irving Convention Center provides great access to get the perfect shot of the buildings they will be moving into. The nearly $500 million campus will bring together Wells Fargo employees from a lot of smaller sites across the region and add jobs. I'm super excited with the new campus inside the Irving Convention Center. Employees got some updates. This is a massive effort. We're moving 4,500 people into those two gorgeous buildings across the street starting in August and will be finished by the end of September. You are very very fortunate that you are literally 2 to 3 months away from kind of migrating to in space that's a bit eh average not great to something that's kind of world class. I was able to go into some of the floors and it's amazing. It's great. It's prestigious. But there is another big part of the story. Today is really about community. [Music] Today is our biggest backpack build we've ever had. We're partnering with our friends at Wells Fargo and we're building over 3,500 backpacks. That's a record for the Irving Schools Foundation. Thank you. They are filling backpacks as part of the annual Supplies for Success campaign. As we show you each year, the Irving Schools Foundation distributes backpacks to local families to help them out. This year, the foundation believes this effort will help them serve a record number of families. Each year, we grow and grow uh with the need growing in our community. And so, our goal this year is to build at least 7500 backpacks. Along with supplies, the students will receive handwritten notes created by these Wells Fargo employees for inspiration and encouragement. And it's clear these team members are motivated and make quick work of all of this. 29 minutes. Can you all believe it? 3,500 backpacks in 29 minutes. Five. Six. The employees also take part in some fun team building with the MacArthur High School Cardettes. Many of you have never met other people who you might be on the same line of business. And this may be a way to bring them all in step. Oh, I see you in the back. Yeah. On this day, they are feeling all of the superlatives. It's going to be fantastic. It's going to be It's gorgeous. It's beautiful. It's nice. as they prepare to make their move into these buildings in Irving. Something that I generally believe is a world-class campus. The annual collection of supplies for the Irving Schools Foundation Supplies for Success campaign continues. Drop off donations at any Irving fire station. Find out more at irvingtx.gov/supplies. Donations that do not go into backpacks are used to restock the community toclassroom store at the Irving Schools Foundation warehouse. Teachers can go there to pick up supplies they need for their classrooms. Irving has a new mobile app. You can download it from your app store by searching for Irving TXV. One of the main benefits of the new app is to make it easier to report concerns such as high grass and weeds or abandoned vehicles. After creating an account, select a type of concern. Add your comments, photos, and the location. Then choose how you would like to be notified. Once submitted, city staff will respond and provide updates. Again, find the app through the app store at Irvingtx.gov. Also, through the app, you can easily access commonly used services. And keep in mind, you can also report concerns through the new city website at irvingtx.gov. This is a look at the homepage. You will notice the vibrant colors and updated design. Right in the middle is a good place to start. It's called Choose Your Adventure, and it will connect you with popular attractions and activities. You will also find more eye-catching links to ICTN videos in the video section. Again, the new website is irringtx.gov. There are a lot of different divisions to the Irving Police Department and that means there are a lot of lessons the community can learn about what officers do. An annual program offered by the department is specially created for young people during the summer and we checked it out. Anything you enjoyed about the class thus far? It's a different type of summer school. It's called the Junior Police Academy and it's an opportunity for young students grade levels 6th through 8th grade that are interested in policing. the Wolfpack for a bunch of motorcycles. During this week-long academy here at Buouie Middle School, the young people get to learn about a lot of the divisions of the Irving Police Department. This session is about the motorcycle unit. Teach you from the ground floor of just how to ride a motorcycle to doing advanced maneuvers, high speeded maneuvers. Let's start off with this, right? Students also get to see what the tactical team uses, including this robot and the huge vehicle known as the bear. There's about 10 to 15 of us in here with all of our behind. I think it's great. It teaches a lot about the police and the stuff they do like the bear. It's really cool vehicle. The classes are often hands-on and interactive except when it comes to this next part. I'm excited to see the K9 dogs. This is K9 Veto. He's from the Netherlands. He's in the students have a lot of questions about Veto. They'll usually work up to 10 years. All his commands are Dutch. Most ones for police departments are going to be like your Belgians, German Shepherds, and your Duchies. And then we learned Veto is not into being on TV. She don't like that. So our crew stayed back when it came time for Veto to show how he can help nab suspects. Sharp skills demonstrated for sharp students. These particular students are chosen to be in this program based off the school resource officer. So the schools that they go to, they're nominated to come. And a lot of these participants have similar career goals in mind. I'll be a police officer or a SWAT team. I want to be a police now. I like it. I want to be a K9 officer when I'm older. I want to be a police officer because I want to help um the citizens and feel more comfortable and safe in their community. We will need the help even when there is their opportunity to become police officers. So that's great. What's been your favorite thus far? The bear. Who? the bear. Okay. Did you guys go up in the bear? You climbed up. Okay. Even if the young people ultimately choose other careers, they are building their understanding of police work and its role in the community. All as a result of their involvement in Irving's Junior Police Academy. The fact that they're interested. They have a level of respect for police officers. It's inspiring. It's inspiring for sure. Yeah. In addition to what you saw in that story, students learned about drone and crime scene operations, found out about the bomb squad, and more. Learn about other initiatives of the Irving Police Department on our IPD playlist at youtube.com/the city of Irving. The Irving Police Department's Family Advocacy Center is working to move forward after a tornado severely damaged the building back in March. The team there is planning a fundraising lunch on Saturday, July 12th. It's called Let's Talk About It. And the event is not only about tornado recovery. It's also about sharing the story of the work that happens at the Family Advocacy Center every day. Yeah. The Let's Talk About It event is really talking about all the services that the Family Advocacy Center provides and the programs that we are able to offer. Things like Camp Hope and our awareness events. Those are big things we want to make sure that the community knows that the Family Advocacy Center is doing for residents of Irving. Heather spoke with me at the temporary new home of the FAC, 500 East John Carpenter Freeway, Sweet 250, and we will be giving you a complete tour on an upcoming edition of City Source. Meanwhile, here are the details on that fundraiser. It's Saturday, July 12th from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at that building on State Highway 114. Plates are $25 and extras, including car washes, are available at an additional charge. If you're watching on YouTube, you will find the really long link for the tickets in the description. The Omni Lasas is sharing these pictures now that it has completed a propertywide renovation. The latest phase included the redo of all 421 guest rooms, including more than 100 luxury suites, also the Los Kolina ballroom. Earlier phases of the project updated the common areas and restaurants. In all, it's a $33 million property investment. The general manager said in a statement that Omni successfully elevated the guest experience while remaining true to the spirit of Los Kolinus. Irving has eight companies on this year's Fortune 500 list. McKesen ranks ninth on the national list. It is also the highest ranked of all companies in DFW. Caterpillar is at number 64. You can see some of the other companies headquartered here and where they landed. The annual Fortune 500 list ranks companies by their revenue. A new effort is focusing on revitalizing downtown Irving. The nonprofit Better Block is working with the city on a temporary transformation that may provide some ideas for the future. Megan Gordon is the city of Irving's redevelopment coordinator and she joins us now. Thanks so much for being here. Thanks for having me. Of course. Tell me about the overall goal and vision for this project. So, as we discuss revitalizing downtown, what we want to make sure is to a involve the community and b do effective change that people can see. So, the great thing about this project is not only are we getting that community engagement, but we're taking those ideas and making actionable changes to downtown Irving that people can see and feel. And we've heard about initiatives before to revitalize downtown. What makes this project different? So, the cool thing about this project is it's a 120day process. So, not only are we moving quick on this community engagement piece, but we're taking those ideas and making action on them right away. So, you'll see these temporary transformations in the fall time. It is going to be interactive, in your face, so the community can feel and actually get a sense of what they want the identity of Main Street and downtown Irving to be. That leads it right into my next question about this temporary transformation. What will that actually look like and entail? So really, it's going to be up to the community exactly the specifics of that, but think additional lighting, art, events, making a feel and a vibe for the area. So, we can see anything from our Main Street Plaza area to having more activations, whether that be a Pilates class at Main Street Plaza, whether that be a bit more music, just really kind of looking at different elements that help make a place a place. And as that happens, what's going to be the kind of the temporary impact on traffic and parking? So for the main weekend, the opening weekend, we're looking at more of that main event where you might experience some closures, but kind of post that, it really is working with our businesses to ensure that parking is the main priority for everyone and everything remains accessible and that we're adding to the charm of downtown and not taking away anything. So although there will be some, you know, temporary closures with all those activations, uh nothing too large or impactful. And again, the point of this is to find that happy medium of creating that community space while also making sure our businesses are really engaged in that process so we have that combination of people stewarding our businesses and enjoying Main Street as a whole. And there are some things happening right now. Tell me what you're looking for in this public input process. We want to know why you want to come down to downtown Irving. If you want to eat at a restaurant, what's going to make you stay there when you walk outside? Do you want to have a seat and have lemonade outside? Do you want to hear a little live music? What's going to make you stay and enjoy this this space? Megan Gordon, thanks for being here. Thanks so much. And this project is moving. As Megan mentioned, there will be a community kickoff meeting on Tuesday, June 24th at 7 p.m. at the Huffman Building. Input will also be accepted through a survey that is posted at irvingtx.gov/down. The deadline to complete the survey is July 13th. Planning for Irving's next fiscal year is underway. City leaders and the budget team are looking for suggestions, feedback, and opinions on what should be considered in the next budget. A public input session is set for Thursday, June 26th at 7 p.m. at Irving City Hall. Adoption of the budget is scheduled for September. Then the new fiscal year begins on October 1st. Learn more about the current budget at irvingtx.gov/ GV/budget. The Irving Golf Club is attracting more visitors. Robert Sheik looks at what is making it so popular. Local golfer Mike Bayis loves teeing it up at Irving Golf Club. Greens are great. Fairways are cutwell. So much so that he regularly makes the roughly halfhour trips from his home and trophy club to play here. The price for what you get, it makes it worth the drive. All of us came from all different parts of the area just to come to Irving to play golf. Mike's not alone. Since reopening in 2019, following an extensive renovation, Irving Golf Club now hosts more than 40,000 rounds of golf annually, nearly 7 times more than before. It's no longer a secret. The hottest golf course in the Metroplex, I would say, is right here at the Irving Golf Club. This April, crews completed the replacement of the courses cart paths. more than 17,000 linear feet or nearly three and a half miles. It's all the difference in the world. It used to be real bad. Now it's real good. You can see the drastic change as these paths have gone from a rough ride to what now feels like a smooth 3-wood down the middle of the fairway as Irving Golf Club climbs to the top of the leaderboard of public courses in North Texas. It's a big bragging point for us. I would match our course up to any municipal course in the area. The upgrades to Irving Golf Club have clearly been a birdie. But there's still some potential areas for improvement. As you can see by these puddles, the ground here in the driving range hitting area is clearly not level. We want to come back and level that off. We also noticed that um you know, it gets hot out here, so we want to add potentially a couple shade structures on half the driving range. We want to come back, want to do some more renovations to the clubhouse at some point. really want to give it a more comfortable restaurant type feel so that even if you're not a golfer, you can come out here, you can watch a game or just socialize with friends. That's pretty. The increases in rounds played and food and beverage revenue have Irving Golf Club operating in the black as golfers like Mike continue to rave about Irving's commitment to municipal golf. Nice. Thanks. It's great that the city spends the money on it because a lot of municipalities don't, but Irving does a great job. That's why we're here. A drive well worth making for golfers in Irving and all across North Texas. And a boy, great play. Robert Chic for City Source. Registration for the fall session of the Irving 360 Civic Academy opens on June 23rd. As you see in this archive video, the academy provides an inside look at how city government operates. It's 11 weekly evening classes that are free. Register at irvingtx.govingacademy. The deadline to register is July 18th. Irving marks the passing of former mayor Marvin Randall. Voters elected him to city council in 1971. Then he served as mayor from 1977 until 1981. Beyond local politics, he founded Irving Countertop, a business still operating today. Randall was involved in a number of nonprofits and civic organizations. Education, his church, and the Irving Heritage Society were among the causes important to him. ICT featured him on profiles in 2000. Sometimes I sit down and I think I might have missed something because I haven't moved and have to start meeting new people or all together in a new community. But I'm so comfortable where I am and I've had the opportunity to to grow to to form a business uh to make it as successful as I want to make it by hard work. Uh, and Irving has afforded me that opportunity. In 2023, current Irving Mayor Rick Stoofer honored Randall at State of the City with the corporate award of excellence. I want to say thank y'all for what y'all have done. And it's been uh my family means everything in the world to me and it's really been nice and I just want to say thank you. More recently, the city of Irving named the downtown clock tower for him. Former mayor Marvin Randall was 88 years old. [Music] Hello and welcome to ICTN's Pets of the Week from the Animal Care Campus. I'm with Egan Dobson from Bourbing Animal Services. And if you're looking for a little sunshine in your life, we have the perfect pup named Soul. Tell us about Soul. Yeah, Soul is about a year old, just a little bit over a year. She is super dog friendly. We're pretty sure she's actually potty trained and she is obsessed with a tennis ball. Good girl. So, this is going to be a playful dog. Good for her family, right? Yeah. She's going to be very chill. She likes to do her own thing, which is this when she has her ball. Yeah. And how did Soul come to Animal Care? Yeah. Soul was found as a stray. She was microchipped, but the owner never came and got her. So, she's been with us since. Yeah. Yeah. And we talk about responsible pet ownership, things like having your pet microchip and of course there's a voucher program right now. We want to talk about vouchers like these. We'll get a closeup of this and tell me about what this program involves. Yeah, so here at Irving Animal Services, we provide all Irving residents a free service for them to get their animals spayed, neutered, microchipped, and rabies vaccinated. You would just call either one of the companies on the voucher, make an appointment with them, and it will be free to do so. Free. That's everyone's favorite word. And talk to us about why this is so important. Microchipping can get your pet returned, but spay and neutering is especially important right now, too. It helps 100% with the population here. Um, obviously, right now, we are just swimming in puppies. We have so many litters of puppies. Um, spaying and neutering not only helps prevent accidental litters from happening, but also future health issues with your pets. And of course, here in the city of Irving, we actually require all animals to be microchipped and to be rabies vaccinated. Important to know those regulations. And we always like to pass along the happy updates, too. Talk about pudding. He got adopted. And we're so happy for him and his new family. So, there's an adopted special going on for a few more days to coincide with the holiday. Tell me about that. Absolutely. It's a red wolf amu. Uh, if you're feeling extra patriotic is what I keep telling everybody, come on down and adopt. All right, get all those puns in there and get a perfect pup like Soul here who hasn't stopped playing with her ball the whole time we have been talking. There she goes. The animal care campus. She'll get her ball. We'll keep having fun here at the animal care campus. Thanks a lot, Egan. Of course. Thank you so much. And you can find more adoptable animals at the website on your screen or visit the animal care campus, 4140 Valley View Lane in Irving. [Music] New restaurants are open at the Toyota Music Factory. On the next edition of City Source, see the ribbon cutting celebration. Also, get a look inside the temporary headquarters of Irving's Family Advocacy Center after a tornado forced the relocation of the staff. And we'll have highlights of Sparks and Stripes. Those stories and much more next time on City Source. Here is how to connect with us. And please make note of our new email address. It's ictn@ irvingtx.gov. Our YouTube channel is youtube.com/thecity of Irving. We hope you will subscribe and hit that like button on the videos you watch, and we always appreciate it when you leave us some positive comments. And you could look for updates on events and initiatives across the major social media platforms at the city of Irving. And that's it for this edition of City Source. Thanks for watching. Stay safe and we'll see you next time. [Music] Are you or someone you know interested in sharing your concerns? Well, good news. The city of Irving has just made it easier than ever for you to report those concerns thanks to the new Irving TXGV app. Just grab your phone and head to the App Store or Google Play. Search Irving TXV and download the app. Then create an account with your name, email, and password. From there, it's as simple as tapping report a concern and entering your non-emergency issue. Again, non-emergency issue. Select the type of concern and add any important details like the location or relevant photos you've taken. If you'd like to be notified of the city's response, go into account details and set up notification preferences. And while you're on the app, be sure to check out the latest news and upcoming events right here in Irving. At home or on the go, the Irving TXV app keeps you in the know and engaged with your city. So download the app today. [Music] Stance knock. Hitting targets for growth. Shoot. Irving's golden sneaker games are back and bigger than ever. Grab your arrows. Archery is one of this year's new additions. Oh, nervous cuz I'm not very good at this. No, don't worry about it. The only thing you have to worry about is uh just the not shooting anybody. I do not know the technique yet, but I'm having fun. Awesome. Woo. These are the 30 lb bows, so they have to really pull it back. Oh, you have to have good upper body strength to pull the bows. Woo! I've decided to challenge myself. It's been nothing but great. Another new draw. One star. Cycling. I haven't done much riding since I moved to Irving. It was sort of a goal to prove to myself that I can still head it. Get a little exercise. All the good things in life. Darts. Rosie Ming is competing in the Golden Sneaker Games for the first time. She was one of those people who just started signing up for everything. You can do this. Our GoPro picked up how she kept herself motivated. While pushing for the best time. It speaks to my competitiveness. Along with providing these challenges, you always pass on the left. Organizer David Martinez also wants to show off Irving attractions such as the city's trail system. No cars. A safe place to ride anytime. And they're like, "Oh, wow. There's some back here." You know, sometimes some people say it takes courage to do things you don't normally do. Glad I did this. The Golden Sneaker games are about more than strong bodies. You can use your mind, your brain. Timed team puzzle making is another new addition this year. It actually went pretty quick. Those activities join familiar favorites. We are playing miniature golf and I am defending my title from last year. Don't throw it. Don't throw it. The competition stays friendly and fun. Oh yes. On film. And that's part of the games, too. Just kind of um being funny and just, you know, not taking everything so super serious. Come on. Come on. This is great. Just to do stuff like this makes you feel so much better. I think David should give us a cart. Here on the pickle ball court, action can get more intense. Pretty competitive when uh the better players are on the court. Got it. It gets very competitive, but I'm not in it for winning. I'm in it just to have fun. Carolyn Bordon figures she's the oldest player here. I played tennis way back 60 years ago. And pickle ball is giving her a way to stay athletic. Oh, I think it's important that you get out there and just keep at it no matter how old you are. I'm 78 years old, but I don't mind playing against younger guys because that way it helps me improve my game. Two weeks of competition. Woo! You guys are the real stars here. Wrap up with an awards banquet at the Heritage Senior Center. There she is. Even with medals and prizes at stake, competitors say they gain a lot more from all of these games. self-righte, okay? I mean, and to to get out and enjoy the company. And it's good for my health. It means that I may be independent longer and that I can function and keep up with people who are younger than me. So, I'm not letting age define me. We are still engaged in life and that we still have things to offer. We can do anything we want to do. We just have to get up there and try. Making a lasting impact for participants in Irving's Golden Sneaker Games. I am so thankful for the city of Irving to put on this for us because we just have a fantastic time. Congratulations. Awesome. Thomas Gandandy for city source. [Music] Your ICTN team produced 44 videos in the month of June. I've been around Irving for a long time, but I thought I knew everything that was here. No, this is blowing my mind. I still can't drive past that intersection where Texas Stadium was without a little bit of a heart tug. Irving certainly holds a special place for us. The cool thing about this project is it's a 120day process. So, not only are we moving quick on this community engagement piece, but we're taking those ideas and making action on them right away. I've been celebrating Junth since I've been a very young child. So, now that the city does it, especially here in the open park, I have to bring my family and friends. Just grab your phone and head to the App Store or Google Play. Search Irvingtx gov and download the app. [Music] It's familyowned. There's a lot lots of warmth, lots of compassion. This is not just any taco shop in Irving. It is the taco shop in Irving. We work with victims of violent crime, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and making sure that they have that continuum of care is very important. I want to be a police officer because I want to help um the citizens and feel more comfortable and safe in their community. The kids always love science programs. We've got some young scientists here that come to Valley Ranch. This is a massive effort. We're moving 4,500 people into those two gorgeous buildings across the street starting in August and will be finished by the end of September. Stay up tod date by subscribing to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/the city of Irving. God bless the fireworks finale. Irving Sparks and Stripes delivers the thrill people came to see. The kids, they love fireworks. Watch the fireworks and have fun with the family. And the drone show is more spectacular than ever before. Whatever we do, we always do it big. People get excited about the Fourth of July. It has really, really been a home run because people really look forward to coming out here. This is by far the best event every year. Irving Sparks and Stripes is so much more than lighting up the night. There will even be some surprises for this crowd. The sky behind you is about to come alive with history. First up, T28 Trojan aircraft fly over the crowd at Levy Event Plaza. That fly over earlier was just amazing. It was just a tremendous way to kind of open up the night. Next up, Midtown 10 performed hits to pump up the crowd. H T O G O. You can take me. The music's great. The food's great. So, it's a wonderful thing for the community. People are having a great time. You can see they're enjoying themselves. And this is what Irving is all about. Country music singer and headliner Cafe Anderson performed his hits and popular covers. I'm so excited because I live in North Texas. So, being here with Irving, I'm excited to come in and entertain. Good night Joe. I've been married here a long time ago. Where did you come from? Where did you go? Where did you come in? Next. All eyes are on the sky for the drone show produced by Sky Elements. Well, if you ask me where I come from, remember we talked surprises. Minutes before this, the crowd learned there is a reason to watch this show especially closely. Tonight, we are going to have an official Guinness World Records attempt. The attempt is going to be the largest aerial image of a cowboy hat made out of drones. And here comes that moment. You had a total of 519 drones in your hat. It's a new Guinness World Records title. Fireworks cap off tonight. Please stand up. What do you hope the community takes away from this? Appreciation for everyone. Appreciation for your neighbors. Appreciation for the country. What it means to be here in America. It's cool that we have this. This is a neat thing for our community to offer this great space to do it in. Great way to celebrate our birthday. A night to celebrate country and community at Irving Sparks and Strikes. Everybody just coming together as one and just enjoying everything that's out here. Thomas Gandandy for City Source. [Applause] Sparks and Stripes. We head downtown to celebrate Independence Day at the city's annual Fourth of July parade, followed by music and fun. People really love it and look forward to it. The community engagement is fantastic. So, you know, you what else can you ask for? Akuna Matata. No worries. The Irving Youth Theater returns to the Art Center for another showstoppping performance of a Disney classic. They have just done an amazing job, so we're super excited to share it with the community. And in Feature Flick, I review the newest installment to the Jurassic Park franchise, Jurassic World Rebirth, starring Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey. If we get this DNA, millions of lives are saved. Maybe we should uh make this quick, huh? Hello everyone. Welcome to Irving Spotlight. I'm Susan Stevens. We begin tonight with one of the city's favorite summer events. The annual Sparks and Stripes parade brings families together to enjoy the sights and sounds of marching bands and floats, followed by live music, games, and much more. The sounds of beating drums and bag pipes kick off a patriotic celebration at the city's annual Sparks and Stripes parade. I've been here for a long time doing this parade and it never gets old. Good morning. Happy 4th, you guys. You know, people really love it and look forward to it. The community engagement is fantastic. So, you know, you what else can you ask for? We come here every year and it's really fun watching all the cars. We're going to have fun getting candy and spending time with the community. It just brings us all together and then we see what Irving is and like their people. I get to drive through and see all the diversity that we have within our community. When you really take the time, I'm driving slow enough I can really look at the crowd and you see that we have people from every country, every every area of the of the world here and they're residents of Irving and this is their hometown and it really gives your heart a lot of excitement because it is Independence Day and they they're happy to be in America. After all the festive floats go by, the community heads to Heritage Park for music, food, and an expanded carnival. The rides that are out there this year are fantastic. We stepped it up a little bit. [Music] Just really trying to make that make it something different every year for our residents to look forward to. And we have tremendous support from our mayor and city council. That support and camaraderie is evident, especially as Irving Parks and Recreation Director Joe Moses takes to the dunk tank to have the mayor take the first hit. He's a good sport, but it was just fun. You know, it's all fun. It's all about engaging ourselves in the community and, you know, being able to laugh at ourselves. And the mayor had no problem laughing at himself when participating in the second annual pie eating contest. Well, I love pie, so it's not a hard thing to for me to get excited about. The Sparks and Stripes parade in downtown Celebration invites laughter and a sense of unity to the community. I think America is a big quilt that is weaved together with all the different individual cultures that we have in this country. And I think Fourth of July is a time to celebrate that and to get to know your all the different cultures that make America great. I think it's more and more important than it's ever been for us to come together as a community. These are the kind of events you have to bring society together. We're all we're all Americans and we all love the 4th of July. So, it's just such a great time to celebrate all together. The last two Jurassic World films were a convoluted mess, a disappointing misfire after such a promising start to the revived franchise. After nearly three years, director Gareth Edwards tries his hand at a new installment with a brand new cast. And while it is miles better than Fallen Kingdom and Dominion, that may not be saying much about Jurassic World: Rebirth. On the island we're headed to, two dozen species have survived there alone. The film is set 5 years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion. Dinosaurs are on the brink of extinction again as our ecosystem is not built for them and they are struggling to survive. Those still alive have made a home for themselves in a more tropical environment similar to where they once thrived. Three of the most colossal creatures carry genetic material that could be the key to a life-saving drug that could benefit humankind. Q. Zora Bennett, a highly skilled operative, is hired by a pharmaceutical company to form a team and courageously extract DNA from the wild prehistoric reptiles. And like all Jurassic Park movies, this initial expedition quickly turns into a fight to survive. If we get this DNA, millions of lives are saved. From the get-go, you can appreciate Edwards bringing the story back to the basics and trying to capture the essence of the original 1993 Jurassic Park. Less is usually more, but when it comes to the script of Jurassic World Rebirth, I could have used a lot more. There's hardly any character development. With a talented cast featuring Scarlett Johansson, Mahersela Ali, and Jonathan Bailey, I expected to care about at least one of them. Unfortunately, there was not much effort to make them more memorable, and we only scratched the surface, if that, with most of the characters. The only people you might care about in this story are members of the unexpected yet endearing family the team rescues from a capsized boat accident. However, where the film and Edward succeed is in its action and filmmaking. Visually, Jurassic World Rebirth is a hit, returning to focused thrills instead of chaos that allows you to appreciate the true beauty of the incredible CGI and the stunning landscapes of Thailand. Spielberg's influence is evident throughout several frames, providing a little nostalgia for fans. And perhaps what Edwards does best is create tension. After a slow 40minute setup, the film keeps up the momentum and engagement with back-to-back nail-biting confrontations with the dinosaurs that are sure to make audiences squirm and want to yell at the screen. If you can look past the lack of depth to the story and characters, you might be enthralled by the entertaining adventure. [Music] Jurassic World Rebirth is now showing. Check AMC Irving Mall and Alamo Draft House Cinema Lost Cleanest for Showtimes. While Jurassic World Rebirth roars into theaters, the Irving Youth Theat's production of The Lion King Jr. sets the stage for the community to feel the love from its talented young performers. I'm so excited to see this show come together. We are presenting Lion King Jr. It's the culmination of an 8-day summer camp for kindergarten through 8th grade students and they have just done an amazing job. So, we're super excited to share it with the community. [Music] It's basically about Simba who was blamed for the death of his father. So he ran away and he met Timone and Pumba. The king is dead and if it weren't for you, he'd still be alive. And learns the way of Hakuna Matata, which means no worries. And he was in this like carefree world until Nala came and told him about Scar and how he took over the Pride Lands. So he went back to face his past and reclaimed the rightful throne. I am really excited to actually like be part of the tech tech crew this time. I think it's the music helping all the kids with the music and their lines. It's a new experience because then it also helps me uh like grow as a person too with like helping all the little children. you. I've always loved Lion King and one of my dream roles was to be Simba and like when I was like 5 years old, I like watched the animation and now I look back at my 5-year-old self, I'm like, "Hey, we did it." I would say Irving Youth Theater, it really like inspired me to do bigger things. Before I went into it, I was scared like nervous to speak in front of the class and I wasn't being myself when I met new people. But now I feel more confident. I'm a de and the king's major domo. It looks more like to me the king's major do. You're not just supporting uh IYT or just like community supporting these children that are working so hard for these shows. Also, they get to enrich their own lives because theater is an awesome opportunity to be joyful, have a great time listening to a wonderful story and and also so show support so that we can keep doing this with kids in the future. [Music] [Applause] In addition to movies and musicals, there's lots of fun things to do around the city. Levi Gomez, our man about town, shares his suggestions. The summer camp program has returned to the Irving Arts Center. Lots of options are still available for kids and teens ages 4 through 16. From art to theater, go online to find the right camp for your youngster. Calling all puzzle pros, it's time for Puzzle Palooa. It's a head-to-head jigsaw showdown where strategy, speed, and community spirit meet. The action begins on July 18th at 5:30 p.m. here at Northwest Park Rec Center. And you got to love the entry fee. Just donate a bag of candy to play. Get ready for Texas Author Con, a showcase of writers from the Lonear State. The fourth annual event includes live readings, question and answer sessions, and panels about writing and the book industry. You'll have two days to experience it all July 19th and 20th here at the Irving Convention Center. Noises Off takes a fond look at the follies of theater folk. Mainstage presents a play within a play starting July 18th here at Dupri Theater. Don't miss the behindthescenes look at flood lines, miscues, and friction between cast members. It's time once again for one of our favorite events, the Quilt Expo. It's the place to find the latest techniques and products and learn new skills with cutting edge education. The 3-day event starts on July 31st here at the Irving Convention Center. The exhibition Rooted Vision showcases 25 self-taught southern black artists. Come to the Irving Art Center to see their innovative use of found objects and everyday materials. Stop by in the afternoon Tuesday through Saturday until October 18th. And that wraps up this episode of Irving Spotlight. Join us next time as we stay cool at an Irving Cares event that is helping seniors beat the heat with a special giveaway. And we watch our city's young actors show off their theater skills at the community's annual oneact play competition. As always, tell us stories you'd like to see on the show. You can email us at ictnvingtex.gov or connect with us on social media. So, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like us on Facebook, and follow us on X and Instagram. We'd love to hear from you. Thanks so much for tuning in and have a great evening for Irving Spotlight. I'm Susan Stevens. Banking on the future. It was designed for us because we deserve it. Wells Fargo employees get some insight into the progress of their new Irving campus and we're showing you how they are giving back. They want to be a part of this community more than just a building. Pops and classes. I find it really fun and cool experience to learn. It helps the community to understand what we do. Young people are learning about all that it takes to work for Irving PD. Go inside the Junior Police Academy. Plus, progress at the Irving Golf Club. And we remember former mayor Marvin Randall. Now on City Source [Music] Locales make the latest Fortune 500 list. As some call Irving, the headquarters of headquarters. Hello and welcome to City Source. I'm Thomas Gandandy. Those rankings are coming up later, but we begin with other economic development news. The massive new Wells Fargo campus is just about ready for employees to move in. The team cannot go inside just yet, but they are getting as close as they can. We have an update on the project and found out how employees are already getting involved in the community. 3 2 1 posing for pictures in front of their new buildings and chatting with the Irving mayor. It's going to be street. These Wells Fargo employees find that the patio at the Irving Convention Center provides great access to get the perfect shot of the buildings they will be moving into. The nearly $500 million campus will bring together Wells Fargo employees from a lot of smaller sites across the region and add jobs. I'm super excited with the new campus inside the Irving Convention Center. Employees got some updates. This is a massive effort. We're moving 4,500 people into those two gorgeous buildings across the street starting in August and will be finished by the end of September. You are very very fortunate that you are literally 2 to 3 months away from kind of migrating to in space that's a bit eh average not great to something that's kind of world class. I was able to go into some of the floors and it's amazing. It's great. It's prestigious. But there is another big part of this story. Today is really about community. [Music] Today is our biggest backpack build we've ever had. We're partnering with our friends at Wells Fargo and we're building over 3500 backpacks. That's a record for the Irving Schools Foundation. Thank you. They are filling backpacks as part of the annual Supplies for Success campaign. As we show you each year, the Irving Schools Foundation distributes backpacks to local families to help them out. This year, the foundation believes this effort will help them serve a record number of families. Each year, we grow and grow uh with the need growing in our community. And so, our goal this year is to build at least 7,500 backpacks. Along with supplies, the students will receive handwritten notes created by these Wells Fargo employees for inspiration and encouragement. And it's clear these team members are motivated and make quick work of all of this. 29 minutes. Can you all believe it? 3,500 backpacks in 29 minutes. Five. Six. The employees also take part in some fun team building with the MacArthur High School Cardettes. Many of you have never met other people who you might be on the same line of business. And this may be a way to bring them all in step. Oh, I see you in the back. Yeah. On this day, they are feeling all of the superlatives. It's going to be fantastic. It's going to be It's gorgeous. It's beautiful. It's nice. as they prepare to make their move into these buildings in Irving. Something that I generally believe is a world-class campus. The annual collection of supplies for the Irving Schools Foundation Supplies for Success campaign continues. Drop off donations at any Irving fire station. Find out more at irvingtx.gov/supplies. Donations that do not go into backpacks are used to restock the community to classroom store at the Irving Schools Foundation warehouse. Teachers can go there to pick up supplies they need for their classrooms. Irving has a new mobile app. You can download it from your app store by searching for Irving TXV. One of the main benefits of the new app is to make it easier to report concerns such as high grass and weeds or abandoned vehicles. After creating an account, select a type of concern. Add your comments, photos, and the location. Then choose how you would like to be notified. Once submitted, city staff will respond and provide updates. Again, find the app through the app store at Irvingtx.gov. Also, through the app, you can easily access commonly used services. And keep in mind, you can also report concerns through the new city website at irvingtx.gov. This is a look at the homepage. You will notice the vibrant colors and updated design. Right in the middle is a good place to start. It's called Choose Your Adventure, and it will connect you with popular attractions and activities. You will also find more eye-catching links to ICTN videos in the video section. Again, the new website is irringtx.gov. There are a lot of different divisions to the Irving Police Department and that means there are a lot of lessons the community can learn about what officers do. An annual program offered by the department is specially created for young people during the summer and we checked it out. Anything you enjoyed about the class thus far? It's a different type of summer school. It's called the Junior Police Academy and it's an opportunity for young students grade levels of sixth through 8th grade that are interested in policing. The Wolfpack were bunch of motorcycles. During this week-long academy here at Buouie Middle School, the young people get to learn about a lot of the divisions of the Irving Police Department. This session is about the motorcycle unit. Teach you from the ground floor of just how to ride a motorcycle to doing advanced maneuvers, high speeded maneuvers. Let's start off with this. Right. Students also get to see what the tactical team uses, including this robot and the huge vehicle known as the bear. There's about 10 to 15 of us in here with all our behind. I think it's great. It teaches a lot about the police and the stuff they do like the bear. It's really cool vehicle. The classes are often hands-on and interactive except when it comes to this next part. But I'm excited to see the K9 dogs. This is K9 Veto. He's from the Netherlands. He's in. The students have a lot of questions about Veto. They'll usually work up to 10 years. All his commands are in Dutch. Most ones for police departments are going to be like your Belgians, German Shepherds, and your Duchies. And then we learned Veto is not into being on TV. She don't like that. So our crew stayed back when it came time for Veto to show how he can help nab suspects. Sharp skills demonstrated for sharp students. These particular students are chosen to be in this program based off the school resource officer. So the schools that they go to, they're nominated to come. And a lot of these participants have similar career goals in mind. I'll be a police officer or a SWAT team. I want to be a police now. I like it. I want to be a K9 officer when I'm older. I want to be a police officer because I want to help um the citizens and feel more comfortable and safe in their community. We will need the help even when there is their opportunity to become police officers. So that's great. What's been your favorite thus far? The bear. Who? the bear. Okay. Did you guys go up in the bear? You climbed up. Okay. Even if the young people ultimately choose other careers, they are building their understanding of police work and its role in the community. All as a result of their involvement in Irving's Junior Police Academy. The fact that they're interested. They have a level of respect for police officers. It's inspiring. It's inspiring for sure. Yeah. In addition to what you saw in that story, students learned about drone and crime scene operations, found out about the bomb squad, and more. Learn about other initiatives of the Irving Police Department on our IPD playlist at youtube.com/the city of Irving. The Irving Police Department's Family Advocacy Center is working to move forward after a tornado severely damaged the building back in March. The team there is planning a fundraising lunch on Saturday, July 12th. It's called Let's Talk About It. And the event is not only about tornado recovery. It's also about sharing the story of the work that happens at the Family Advocacy Center every day. Yeah. The Let's Talk About It event is really talking about all the services that the Family Advocacy Center provides and the programs that we are able to offer. Things like Camp Hope and our awareness events. Those are big things we want to make sure that the community knows that the Family Advocacy Center is doing for residents of Irving. Heather spoke with me at the temporary new home of the FAC, 500 East John Carpenter Freeway, Sweet 250, and we will be giving you a complete tour on an upcoming edition of City Source. Meanwhile, here are the details on that fundraiser. It's Saturday, July 12th from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at that building on State Highway 114. Plates are $25 and extras, including car washes, are available at an additional charge. If you're watching on YouTube, you will find the really long link for the tickets in the description. The Omni Lascalas is sharing these pictures now that it has completed a propertywide renovation. The latest phase included the redo of all 421 guest rooms, including more than 100 luxury suites, also the Los Kolina ballroom. Earlier phases of the project updated the common areas and restaurants. In all, it's a $33 million property investment. The general manager said in a statement that Omni successfully elevated the guest experience while remaining true to the spirit of Los Kolinus. Irving has eight companies on this year's Fortune 500 list. McKessan ranks ninth on the national list. It is also the highest ranked of all companies in DFW. Caterpillar is at number 64. You can see some of the other companies headquartered here and where they landed. The annual Fortune 500 list ranks companies by their revenue. A new effort is focusing on revitalizing downtown Irving. The nonprofit Better Block is working with the city on a temporary transformation that may provide some ideas for the future. Megan Gordon is the city of Irving's redevelopment coordinator and she joins us now. Thanks so much for being here. Thanks for having me. Of course. Tell me about the overall goal and vision for this project. So, as we discuss revitalizing downtown, what we want to make sure is to a involve the community and b do effective change that people can see. So, the great thing about this project is not only are we getting that community engagement, but we're taking those ideas and making actionable changes to downtown Irving that people can see and feel. And we've heard about initiatives before to revitalize downtown. What makes this project different? So, the cool thing about this project is it's a 120day process. So, not only are we moving quick on this community engagement piece, but we're taking those ideas and making action on them right away. So, you'll see these temporary transformations in the fall time. It is going to be interactive, in your face, so the community can feel and actually get a sense of what they want the identity of Main Street and downtown Irving to be. That leads it right into my next question about this temporary transformation. What will that actually look like and entail? So really, it's going to be up to the community exactly the specifics of that, but think additional lighting, art, events, making a feel and a vibe for the area. So, we can see anything from our Main Street Plaza area to having more activations, whether that be a Pilates class at Main Street Plaza, whether that be a bit more music, just really kind of looking at different elements that help make a place a place. And as that happens, what's going to be the kind of the temporary impact on traffic and parking? So for the main weekend, the opening weekend, we're looking at more of that main event where you might experience some closures, but kind of post that, it really is working with our businesses to ensure that parking is the main priority for everyone and everything remains accessible and that we're adding to the charm of downtown and not taking away anything. So although there will be some, you know, temporary closures with all those activations, uh nothing too large or impactful. And again, the point of this is to find that happy medium of creating that community space while also making sure our businesses are really engaged in that process so we have that combination of people stored in our businesses and enjoying Main Street as a whole. And there are some things happening right now. Tell me what you're looking for in this public input process. We want to know why you want to come down to downtown Irving. If you want to eat at a restaurant, what's going to make you stay there when you walk outside? Do you want to have a seat and have lemonade outside? Do you want to hear a little live music? What's gonna make you stay and enjoy this this space? Megan Gordon, thanks for being here. Thanks so much. And this project is moving. As Megan mentioned, there will be a community kickoff meeting on Tuesday, June 24th at 700 p.m. at the Huffman Building. Input will also be accepted through a survey that is posted at irvingtx.gov/down. The deadline to complete the survey is July 13th. Planning for Irving's next fiscal year is underway. City leaders and the budget team are looking for suggestions, feedback, and opinions on what should be considered in the next budget. A public input session is set for Thursday, June 26th at 7 p.m. at Irving City Hall. Adoption of the budget is scheduled for September. Then the new fiscal year begins on October 1st. Learn more about the current budget at irvingtx.gov/ GV/budget. The Irving Golf Club is attracting more visitors. Robert Sheik looks at what is making it so popular. Local golfer Mike Bayis loves teeing it up at Irving Golf Club. Greens are great. Fairways are cutwell. So much so that he regularly makes the roughly halfhour trip from his home and trophy club to play here. The price for what you get, it makes it worth the drive. All of us came from all different parts of the area just to come to Irving to play golf. Mike's not alone. Since reopening in 2019, following an extensive renovation, Irving Golf Club now hosts more than 40,000 rounds of golf annually, nearly 7 times more than before. It's no longer a secret. The hottest golf course in the metroplex, I would say, is right here at the Irving Golf Club. This April, crews completed the replacement of the course's cart paths. more than 17,000 linear feet or nearly three and a half miles. It's all the difference in the world. It used to be real bad. Now it's real good. You can see the drastic change as these paths have gone from a rough ride to what now feels like a smooth 3-wood down the middle of the fairway as Irving Golf Club climbs to the top of the leaderboard of public courses in North Texas. It's a big bragging point for us. I would match our course up to any municipal course in the area. The upgrades to Irving Golf Club have clearly been a birdie. But there's still some potential areas for improvement. As you can see by these puddles, the ground here in the driving range hitting area is clearly not level. We want to come back and level that off. We also noticed that, you know, it gets hot out here. So, we want to add potentially a couple shade structures on half the driving range. Want to come back, want to do some more renovations to the clubhouse at some point. really want to give it a more comfortable restaurant type feel so that even if you're not a golfer, you can come out here, you can watch a game or just socialize with friends. That's pretty. The increases in rounds played and food and beverage revenue have Irving Golf Club operating in the black as golfers like Mike continue to rave about Irving's commitment to municipal golf. Nice. Thanks. It's great that the city spends the money on it because a lot of municipalities don't, but Irving does a great job. That's why we're here. A drive well worth making for golfers in Irving and all across North Texas. And a boy, great play. Robert Chic for City Source. Registration for the fall session of the Irving 360 Civic Academy opens on June 23rd. As you see in this archive video, the academy provides an inside look at how city government operates. It's 11 weekly evening classes that are free. Register at irvingtx.govingacademy. The deadline to register is July 18th. Irving marks the passing of former mayor Marvin Randall. Voters elected him to city council in 1971. Then he served as mayor from 1977 until 1981. Beyond local politics, he founded Irving Countertop, a business still operating today. Randall was involved in a number of nonprofits and civic organizations. Education, his church, and the Irving Heritage Society were among the causes important to him. ICT featured him on profiles in 2000. Sometimes I sit down and I think I might have missed something because I haven't moved and have to start meeting new people or all together in a new community. But I'm so comfortable where I am and I've had the opportunity to to grow to to form a business uh to make it as successful as I want to make it by hard work. Uh, and Irving has afforded me that opportunity. In 2023, current Irving mayor Rick Stoer honored Randall at State of the City with the corporate award of excellence. I want to say thank y'all for what y'all have done. And it's been uh my family means everything in the world to me and it's really been nice and I just want to say thank you. More recently, the city of Irving named the downtown clock tower for him. Former mayor Marvin Randall was 88 years old. [Music] Hello and welcome to ICTN's pets of the week from the animal care campus. I'm with Egan Dobson from Irving Animal Services. And if you're looking for a little sunshine in your life, we have the perfect pup named Soul. Tell us about Soul. Yeah, Soul is about a year old, just a little bit over a year. She is super dog friendly. We're pretty sure she's actually potty trained and she is obsessed with a tennis ball. Good girl. So, this is going to be a playful dog. Good for her family, right? Yeah. She's going to be very chill. She likes to do her own thing, which is this when she has her ball. Yeah. And how did Soul come to Animal Care? Yeah. Soul was found as a stray. She was microchipped, but the owner never came and got her. So, she's been with us since. Yeah. Yeah. And we talk about responsible pet ownership, things like having your pet microchip and of course there's a voucher program right now. We want to talk about vouchers like these. We'll get a closeup of this. And tell me about what this program involves. Yeah, so here at Irving Animal Services, we provide all Irving residents a free service for them to get their animals spayed, neutered, microchipped, and rabies vaccinated. You would just call either one of the companies on the voucher, make an appointment with them, and it will be free to do so. Free. That's everyone's favorite word. And talk to us about why this is so important. Microchipping can get your pet returned, but spay and neutering is especially important right now, too. It helps 100% with the population here. Um, obviously, right now, we are just swimming in puppies. We have so many litters of puppies. Um, spaying and neutering not only helps prevent accidental litters from happening, but also future health issues with your pets. And of course, here in the city of Irving, we actually require all animals to be microchipped and to be rabies vaccinated. Important to know those regulations. And we always like to pass along the happy updates, too. Talk about pudding. He got adopted. And we're so happy for him and his new family. So, there's an adopted special going on for a few more days to coincide with the holiday. Tell me about that. Absolutely. It's a red wolf amu. Uh, if you're feeling extra patriotic is what I keep telling everybody, come on down and adopt. All right, get all those puns in there and get a perfect pup like Soul here who hasn't stopped playing with her ball the whole time. We have been talking. There she goes. The animal care campus. She'll get her ball. We'll keep having fun here at the animal care campus. Thanks a lot, Egan. Of course. Thank you so much. And you can find more adoptable animals at the website on your screen or visit the animal care campus, 4140 Valley View Lane in Irving. New restaurants are open at the Toyota Music Factory. On the next edition of City Source, see the ribbon cutting celebration. Also, get a look inside the temporary headquarters of Irving's Family Advocacy Center after a tornado forced the relocation of the staff. And we'll have highlights of Sparks and Stripes. Those stories and much more next time on City Source. Here is how to connect with us. And please make note of our new email address. It's ictn@ irvingtx.gov. Our YouTube channel is youtube.com/the cityof Irving. We hope you will subscribe and hit that like button on the videos you watch and we always appreciate it when you leave us some positive comments. And you could look for updates on events and initiatives across the major social media platforms at the city of Irving. And that's it for this edition of City Source. Thanks for watching. Stay safe and we'll see you next time. [Music] Are you or someone you know interested in sharing your concerns? Well, good news. The city of Irving has just made it easier than ever for you to report those concerns thanks to the new Irving TXV app. Just grab your phone and head to the App Store or Google Play. Search Irving TXV and download the app. Then create an account with your name, email, and password. From there, it's as simple as tapping report a concern and entering your non-emergency issue. Again, non-emergency issue. Select the type of concern and add any important details like the location or relevant photos you've taken. If you'd like to be notified of the city's response, go into account details and set up notification preferences. And while you're on the app, be sure to check out the latest news and upcoming events right here in Irving. At home or on the go, the Irving TXV app keeps you in the know and engaged with your city. So download the app today. [Music] Stance knock. Hitting targets for growth. Shoot. Irving's golden sneaker games are back and bigger than ever. Grab your arrows. Archery is one of this year's new additions. Oh, nervous cuz I'm not very good at this. No, don't worry about it. The only thing you have to worry about is uh just the not shooting anybody. I do not know the technique yet, but I'm having fun. Awesome. Woo. These are are the 30 lb bows, so they have to really pull it back. Oh, you have to have good upper body strength to pull the bows. Woo! I've decided to challenge myself. It's been nothing but great. Another new draw. One star. Cycling. I haven't done much riding since I moved to Irving. It was sort of a goal to prove to myself that I can still head it. Get a little exercise. All the good things in life. Darts. Rosie Ming is competing in the Golden Sneaker Games for the first time. She was one of those people who just started signing up for everything. You can do this. Our GoPro picked up how she kept herself motivated. While pushing for the best time. It speaks to my competitiveness. Along with providing these challenges, you always pass on the left. Organizer David Martinez also wants to show off Irving attractions such as the city's trail system. No cars. A safe place to ride anytime. And they're like, "Oh, wow. There's some back here." You know, sometimes some people say it takes courage to do things you don't normally do. Glad I did this. The Golden Sneaker Games are about more than strong bodies. You can use your mind, your brain. Timed team puzzle making is another new addition this year. It actually went pretty quick. Those activities join familiar favorites. We are playing miniature golf and I am defending my title from last year. Don't do it. Don't throw it. The competition stays friendly and fun. Oh yes. On film. And that's part of the games, too. Just kind of um being funny and just, you know, not taking everything so super serious. Come on. Come on. This is great. Just to do stuff like this makes you feel so much better. I think David should give us a cart. Here on the pickle ball court, action can get more intense. Pretty competitive when uh the better players are on the court. Got it. It gets very competitive, but I'm not in it for winning. I'm in it just to have fun. Carolyn Bordon figures she's the oldest player here. I played tennis way back 60 years ago. And pickle ball is giving her a way to stay athletic. Oh, I think it's important that you get out there and just keep at it no matter how old you are. I'm 78 years old, but I don't mind playing against younger guys because that way it helps me improve my game. Two weeks of competition. Woo! You guys are the real stars here. Wrap up with an awards banquet at the Heritage Senior Center. There she is. Even with medals and prizes at stake, competitors say they gain a lot more from all of these games. self-righte, okay? I mean, and to to get out and enjoy the company. And it's good for my health. It means that I may be independent longer and that I can function and keep up with people who are younger than me. So, I'm not letting age define me. We are still engaged in life and that we still have things to offer. We can do anything we want to do. We just have to get up there and try. Making a lasting impact for participants in Irving's Golden Sneaker Games. I am so thankful for the city of Irving to put on this for us because we just have a fantastic time. Congratulations. Awesome. Thomas Gandandy for city source. [Music] Your ICTN team produced 44 videos in the month of June. I've been around Irving for a long time, but I thought I knew everything that was here. No, this is blowing my mind. I still can't drive past that intersection where Texas Stadium was without a little bit of a heart tug. Irving certainly holds a special place for us. The cool thing about this project is it's a 120day process. So, not only are we moving quick on this community engagement piece, but we're taking those ideas and making action on them right away. I've been celebrating Junth since I've been a very young child. So, now that the city does it, especially here in the open park, I have to bring my family and friends. Just grab your phone and head to the App Store, Google Play, search Irving TXV, and download the app. It's familyowned. There's a lot lots of warmth, lots of compassion. This is not just any taco shop in Irving. It is the taco shop in Irving. We work with victims of violent crime, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and making sure that they have that continuum of care is very important. I want to be a police officer because I want to help um the citizens and feel more comfortable and safe in their community. [Music] The kids always love science programs. We've got some young scientists here that come to Valley Ranch. [Music] This is a massive effort. We're moving 4,500 people into those two gorgeous buildings across the street starting in August and will be finished by the end of September. Stay up tod date by subscribing to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/the city of Irving. God bless the fireworks finale. Irving Sparks and Stripes delivers the thrill people came to see. The kids, they love fireworks. Watch the fireworks and have fun with the family. And the drone show is more spectacular than ever before. Whatever we do, we always do it big. People get excited about the Fourth of July. It has really, really been a home run because people really look forward to coming out here. This is by far the best event every year. Irving Sparks and Stripes is so much more than lighting up the night. There will even be some surprises for this crowd. The sky behind you is about to come alive with history. First up, T28 Trojan aircraft fly over the crowd at Levy Event Plaza. That fly over earlier was just amazing. It was just a tremendous way to kind of open up the night. Next up, Midtown 10 performed hits to pump up the crowd. H O T O G O. You can take the music's great. The food's great. So, it's a wonderful thing for the community. People are having a great time. You can see they're enjoying themselves. And this is what Irving is all about. [Music] Country music singer and headliner Cafe Anderson performed his hits and popular covers. I'm so excited because I live in North Texas. So, being here with Irving, I'm excited to come in and entertain. Hot night. I've been married here a long time ago. Where did it come from? Where did it go? Where did you come in? Next. All eyes are on the sky for the drone show produced by Sky Elements. Well, if you ask me where I come from. Remember, we talked surprises. Minutes before this. The crowd learned there is a reason to watch this show especially closely. Tonight, we are going to have an official Guinness World Records attempt. The attempt is going to be the largest aerial image of a cowboy hat made out of drones. And here comes that moment. You had a total of 59 drones in your hat. It's a new Guinness World Records title. Fireworks cap off tonight. Please stand up. What do you hope the community takes away from this? Appreciation for everyone. Appreciation for your neighbors. Appreciation for the country. What it means to be here in America. It's cool that we have this. This is a neat thing for our community to offer this great space to do it in. Great way to celebrate our birthday. A night to celebrate country and community at Irving Sparks and Strikes. Everybody just coming together as one and just enjoying everything that's out here. Thomas Gandandy for City Source. [Applause] Sparks and Stripes, we head downtown to celebrate Independence Day at the city's annual Fourth of July parade, followed by music and fun. People really love it and look forward to it. The community engagement is fantastic. So, you know, you what else can you ask for? Akuna Matata, no worries. The Irving Youth Theater returns to the Art Center for another showstoppping performance of a Disney classic. They have just done an amazing job, so we're super excited to share it with the community. And in Feature Flick, I review the newest installment to the Jurassic Park franchise, Jurassic World Rebirth, starring Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey. If we get this DNA, millions of lives are saved. Maybe we should uh make this quick, huh? Hello everyone. Welcome to Irving Spotlight. I'm Susan Stevens. We begin tonight with one of the city's favorite summer events. The annual Sparks and Stripes parade brings families together to enjoy the sights and sounds of marching bands and floats, followed by live music, games, and much more. The sounds of beating drums and bag pipes kick off a patriotic celebration at the city's annual Sparks and Stripes parade. I've been here for a long time doing this parade and it never gets old. Good morning. Happy 4th, guys. You know, people really love it and look forward to it. The community engagement is fantastic. So, you know, you what else can you ask for? We come here every year and it's really fun watching all the cars. We're going to have fun getting candy and spending time with the community. It just brings us all together and then we see what Irving is and like their people. I get to drive through and see all the diversity that we have within our community. When you really take the time, I'm driving slow enough I can really look at the crowd and you see that we have people from every country, every every area of the of the world here and they're residents of Irving and this is their hometown and it really gives your heart a lot of excitement because it is Independence Day and they they're happy to be in America. After all the festive floats go by, the community heads to Heritage Park for music, food, and an expanded carnival. The rides that are out there this year are fantastic. We stepped it up a little bit. [Music] Just really trying to make that make it something different every year for our residents to look forward to. And we have tremendous support from our mayor and city council. That support and camaraderie is evident, especially as Irving Parks and Recreation Director Joe Moses takes to the dunk tank to have the mayor take the first hit. He's a good sport. But it was just fun, you know. It's all fun. It's all about engaging ourselves in the community and, you know, being able to laugh at ourselves. And the mayor had no problem laughing at himself when participating in the [Music] Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] [Music] so that way it's it's fresh on everybody's mind what we just walked through. Is that all right? All right. [Music] Okay, we're back ready to go. We're going to go to number five, which is the city hall and Huffman renov renovations update. Uh, we just were all over there. So, this should be fresh in our mind of what we're looking what we saw and what we're going to do. Thank you, mayor. My presentation tonight is on the critical updates to the city hall complex and the utilization of the Jack D. Huffman building. Our city hall space is currently at capacity which necessitates strategic expansion and renovations to the second floor of the Jack D. Huffman building. We've started in 2023 by creating new office space for the parks and recreation department on the building. Once that was done in January, housing and redevelopment then moved into the vacated space on the first floor of city hall that parks and recreation had moved out of. Following their move, we renovated their space and the economic development department moved into it in February of 2025. This followed a master plan for the city complex that was completed in August of 2022. The first phase of it, which we are underway on, had the human resources and communications departments identified as the two teams which would benefit from moving to the empty space on the second floor of Jack D. Huffman building. Kamatsu Architecture and the CIP staff's project managers have been working with those two departments to utilize and design effective space that'll allow them to function. The design was completed in June of 2025 and we're currently underway working to get that out to bid. The construction is expected to be completed in early 2026 with the departmental movein scheduled for the summer of that year. While that's underway, we're also engaging in design and redesign of the current buildings, going through schematic and design development for city hall to appropriately use the spaces available in the basement, second floor, third floor, and fourth floor of city hall. Currently, the communications department located on the fourth floor of city hall has 2,100 square foot available to them. The picture that you see is the new space that'll be available to them in the Jack D. Huffman building. They'll be gaining 2,700 square foot for more than double their space at 4,800. The human resources department currently occupies 6,200 square foot on the third floor of city hall. They'll be taking the majority space on the second floor, which will give them an additional 2,900 square ft for 9,100 ft total. In addition to this, we're also going to be adding a break area and a conference space to the lobby outside the stairwell to better utilize that open space. By doing this, it provides us the best square footage utilization possible of the second floor of Jack D. Huffman. While that's under construction, we're designing the utilization of the city hall space. Renovations will pre- major renovations be performed to the basement, second, third, and fourth floors of city hall. Construction scheduled to begin after human resources and communications move out in 2026. We'll be renovating the former human resources space on the third floor and accommodating a portion of the IT department into that area. The IT department is currently located in the basement and the majority of their personnel will be moved up to the third floor. The fourth floor space will be renovated and reconfigured once communications has vacated. In addition to this, we'll be renovating the restrooms on all five floors of city hall. Currently, we're looking about 70,000 square foot of space renovated, and the cost of the renovations is going to be $26.5 million. This works out to $379 a square foot. This is a reasonable price as currently renovations generally running anywhere from $380 to $410 a square foot in the metroplex right now. The money will be coming from these bond sources. We're using 7 and 3/4 of non-bond and 18.7 of BRRF funding for it. In addition to what we're doing with the renovations that we've looked at, we also have a supplemental budgetary request as part of the finance process this year to do mechanical, electrical, and plumbing repairs. These have been identified as necessary, though they are not emergency. However, we can save value and time by conducting these renovations and repairs while we're doing the other renovations to the building. Ashley, if I may, again, council, the 26 and a half million that you see there, that is all cash. We are not borrowing any dollars to do this. So, these are dollars that we've been able to save up in our non-bonded in our building repair and replacement fund, the BURF. So, again, or the BARF, depending on how you want to look at it. Um, the three and a half million, it is a supplemental request. We have not yet identified the dollars yet to do that. So, that's what we're looking at right now. We'll see how the budget plays out and that's what we're reviewing right now as part of the city manager's proposed budget. But again, we have not identified the money for that yet. Bathroom renovations as discussed in all five floors will go through a modernization removing the existing tile, plumbing, and fixtures and bring them up to current codes and standards. The ceiling on all five floors as well is currently outdated. Uh it is obsoleted by the manufacturer. It is not produced. This leads to issues whenever we have damage issues or just general wear and tear on the building systems. So, as part of the $26.5 million, we'll be replacing all of the lighting with new energy efficient LED fixtures, as well as replacing the acoustical ceiling tiles with modern versions. About 2/3 of the basement is going to get renovated. The three areas we're not going to touch in this. At the top right is the existing print shop. To the northwest is our mechanical area and at the south is the existing server room. So those will not be in the scope. The rest of the area will get updated and redesigned. The picture you see is currently part of the schematic development design. It has not been finalized yet. It's just showing possibilities for what's going to happen with the space. Second floor is a relatively simple renovation compared to the rest. Two of the conference spaces on the floor are going to be subdivided and used for additional officing for our staff expansions. Third floor renovations uh the most hefty in the building. The entire human resources space is going to get demolished and rebuilt uh as the needs of the IT department demand. On the northwest side of the building where we have Irving University currently that will be turned into offices for the field inspectors for code enforcement. They're very much pressed into the space they have now and any breathing would would be appreciated by the team. Fourth floor renovations take place to the middle east of the building. That is the communications department space. Uh current usage of that is still being decided during this process. And then as you saw on each floor we'll be updating the bathrooms. Are there any questions? questions on the ground floor or the basement floor. The uh area when where the now the uh the employees eating area is that that's being redone with a circular. The current break space for the employee area. The plan, one of the plans we've been looking at is turning that into a larger conference room that teams from the building will better utilize. And then we're going to move the break area down. Yes, sir. To the southwest side of the building. Okay. That's what I was just trying to figure out. As I've said, this you're doing for a break area down. Mayor Mayor, I think majority of the basement is going to be exactly what you're saying. It's going to be a cafeteria for our for our employees. So, it's going to be pretty massive. It's going to be nice. We have like little blog breakout rooms and breakout areas and stuff like that. So, it's going to be more of an amenity that the employees actually need and deserve. So, that's majority of that's going to be happening in the basement. That's that's what I was trying to figure out. I'm assuming all that on our left from the middle over is is all new for the employees facility. Correct. I was just trying to get that straight in my head. I mean, I think we should do it. I just wanted to make sure that's what we that's where it was going. Yes. on on this plan it shows that some details still need to be worked out during the schematic design phase. So this is this is a option. It's not the exact plan that we're going to bring to you. I've just, you know, I've had this conversation with Chris several times that we've got to get a decent breakout area for the employees that that doesn't look like they're in a dungeon. It and it's got some things other than four vending machines and a microwave. It is very high on the priority list that we've given the architect. Okay. Thank you. Yes, sir. Any other questions? Abdullah, any plans for the renovation on the chambers? Unfortunat chambers. Unfortunately, the first floor is excluded from this space. We're mostly focusing on employee areas as part of this renovation. So, uh first floor will be touched when it comes to the bathrooms and the ceiling tiles and lighting, but that's the extent that we currently have planned for the first floor. Uh we do have additional possibilities as an ad alternative should budget allow but it's currently not in the set scope the base scope at least to renovate some of the lighting that is what I sometime get feedback from that we have very low lighting in the in the chamber area. So but I don't see it any anything here. So let's say alternate add alternate. Oh, no, sir. The uh the the lighting on all spaces is going to get addressed. Okay. Thank you. It's Yes, sir. Any other questions? Okay. I think you wore us out. Excellent. No, it was great to go see what these areas and see how that we can fix them up. And really the ceilings and the lighting is huge. All right, we'll go then to the uh regular agenda. Uh item two is a public hearing gathering input on the 2025 20 26 annual action plan for federal funds. Item number three and four and five are minutes work session and uh the regular meeting minutes. Item number six is a resolution suspending the July 31st, 2025 effective date of Encore Electric Delivery Company's request rate changed to permit the city time to study the request and establish reasonable rates and approval with the uh steering committee of cities served by Encore. Item number go ahead Abdul. On this item number six, there is a quite a change request from the encore to increase the the um the average rate. Um is that yearly or is it uh how is that contract works? Kale. Yeah, I'll answer this question. This is a rate case that has been filed with the city. The city retains original jurisdiction for these rates in the city, but the city is also a member. There's 170 cities that are part of a coalition. So, in response, I just kind of give that context because um it's important. This is the rates are adopted by the council and once the rates are put in effect, they are for a duration of time. This is the first rate case since 2022. Um I would highlight there there are two components to this one is the 12.3% increase in residential rates and you can see they provide an average of if that is what and and generally it is the parties will negotiate and we bring back a settled rate case for the council to consider and adopt. it will be less than generally it is less than that amount but at the 12.3% increase in residential rates um they anticipate it would increase the bill a little under $8 per month um this rate case I just would highlight this for you all um there is a 51% increase in street lighting rates we are not the only city lots of cities are incredibly concerned about that increase um we work with an outside law firm firm Wood Gosslink. They've helped us for decades in all these cities for decades. They have engaged a very specific consultant to review the basis and the rationale for that rate piece. So, we will keep you posted um on developments with that. But generally um you know just answering your question once they can't change the rates unless they come to us and once the rates are in effect they generally are in effect for a duration of a few years. this one. I mean, it's been since 2022. So, the current rates have been in effect for three years. Um, and the 12.3% increase, you know, they're estimating it'll be about 88 $8 per month. Um, you know, for an average residential customer. So, these increases are for both for the city as well as for the residents. That's correct. These are Yes, these are the rates. This is the distribution piece on the electric side. Probably the biggest impact uh for us will be the street lighting rates. Um you know just quickly chatting with Dan about this. It's about 250 thou th000 to $300,000 per month. We have 14,000 street lights that we pay for. So that is one it I mean just think about that for every community. Um there's 455,000 street lights in this service area. So it's not just city of Irving. Um and so their rationale for the the rate increase is repairs and replacements. They want to phase out the high pressure sodium lights uh and replace them with LED lights um which is what they use for their new build, but they're going to go back and update all the lighting. So that that is the rationale for this. Um although I think this piece this is very different than some of the rape cases y'all have seen in more recent years. This is extraordinary. So I think there will be a lot of scrutiny on this. Uh I know John attends these you know regular meetings um with the coalition so we should have some updates kind of as that goes on and then we'll continue to kind of monitor that. Um I do get copied on these emails so I will be monitoring it as well. Um generally we will get kind of an update probably in the next couple of months. Usually these rate cases they get filed in the late spring early summer with resolution typically typically the September October time frame is my recollection. We'll keep you guys posted. So my actual query is this rate increase is for the city usage as well as for residents that's correct to pay. That is correct. 176 right so we are approving if we approve this we are approving on behalf of the city as well as on behalf of residents no sir what you're doing today is they I'm going to go back the way the the process works is they file their rate request with the city what you're doing today is you're suspending the rates like you're suspending the rate increase from going into effect and so um there is a period of time it is 90 days after the rate change goes into effect. It suspends it for that entire period of time. So that's usually the window for getting a negotiation. Uh the way it's worded in your resolution is it doesn't say 90 days. It says the maximum amount allowed by law because Encore has the ability to extend that period beyond the 90 days. Um so if that helps, you're not putting the rights in effect. that will come back to you likely in the form of a settlement um and you will have two readings of that before the rates actually go into effect. So generally they ask here we negotiate them down there is a settlement that comes back to you and you have two readings and you implement that. All right. Thanks. This one's a little different just because of the street street lighting piece. Al Ko, if I understand this correctly, what we're doing is we're just suspending it, correct? At this point to give us that 90-day period to decide what we want to do, or do we need to make a call before that period of time? Um, what you're doing, there's two things. You're suspending the rate, but you als you are already the city of Irving is a member of this 170 city coalition. So the second part of your resolution is you are authorizing the lawyers and the consultants to engage in in in negotiations, right? And they will have to bring that back to you. Okay. And I think that um Abdul that was you were right on on the question. Can we get a last I don't know maybe 10 years maybe I'm asking for two months maybe five years. Yep. What's been the increase over the period of time? So, we get a kind of a understanding of what we're really buying into. Yes. Okay. Thank you, David. But we really have no choice for encore delivery. I mean, what's the other option for our street lights? There is not one, right? Or what about residents? You still have to have encore delivery, right? There's a delivery charge. They they are wheeling the electrical power. Yes. So, so there's no decision other than to approve whatever the lawyers negotiate negotiate. Correct. That's right. Yes. Yeah. Basically, you have touched upon the the the issue the quagmire we are in, right? They get to ask, they have to justify what their ask is. And so that that becomes the touch point. But right, we're not in a competitive market with respect to this. This is the delivery and distribution piece of Encore. Yeah. Basically, what what's happening is that uh uh we've added street lights and we've done those type of things. So now they're raising the rates and on us and going through that. We're basically to David's point, we have no other provider. So the reality of it is that we've got to work with them, but we have the ability to negotiate and say, you may think it's costing you this much. prove to me that your expenses are there and that's how it's so we're basically we got to pay whatever their increases are. We just gota we're just holding our feet to fire saying explain to us and show us and prove to us that those dollars are what are needed. And I will mention that the cost associated with this is not borne by the city. The process those costs are reimbursed by the company obviously they are passed on to the rateayers. Um but the economy of scale of 70 cities negotiating together rather than us each individually doing that. Um that's how this process has been set up. So you'll see it on this is with Encore. We do it also as well with Atmos. Okay. Number seven is a Mark. Can we have a presentation on this one? Number seven. Yep. Okay. Number seven is a resolution approving the first of four renewals to the agreement for Crossing Guard Services between the city of Irving and All City Management Services, Inc. in the total estimated amount of $915,151.80 for School Crossing Guard Management Services for a one-year term. Yes, sir. This is uh Sam Hall, assistant chief police department. Uh this is to renew the crossing guard agreement we have. Uh it's actually gone down from our previous has gone down $53,61810 I believe. Uh part part of that is due to the uh uh some a few school closures. We've Britain Elliot and Desabala. So uh it's reduced four positions uh from 66 down to 62. Um the uh so the city provides the the crossing guards for the Irving ISD schools. Is that right? Uh through this vendor. Yes, we used to employ as the part-time uh uh direct city employees, but now we've been using this uh vendor service. Does the does the city provide the service for Capel ISD or Carolton Farmers Branch ISD? I believe it's for just the Irving on U. I'd have to check that. I I believe it's just on the on the Irving one. So, it's the one I It's actually Irving, but it's Capel. It's a Capel school. Yeah, that's one up right up at Valley Ranch if I'm not, right? There's Yeah, there's two the other school district. Okay, thank you. Now, is this a shared cost with the the resource officers are a shared cost, but the crossing cards are not? Yes, these is this 100% on the city. Okay. Abdul mayor, to your question, is it shared or not? It's not shared, right? No, it's completely taken by city, the police department and the city. So, um you say there is 62 positions currently, right? the the there has been but with the school closures of the three schools is it's reduced four of those positions. There was three schools but four of the positions. So So currently it's 62. 62. This this will go to 62. Yes. It's almost um $14,500 a year approximately. Right. Uh 14,000 you talk about per perition. Yeah. the the hourly rate has actually gone up a $1.25 25 uh to I believe it's almost 2690ish. For some reason I was in the impression that it is the shared cause by ISD but it is not. No. Okay. No provider. Okay. Okay. Sometime let's figure that all out have a little presentation on school crossings and the Yes, sir. It it actually is all three school districts. So it's all schools in Irving on the public side. Yeah. Yeah. There's So we do Capel, Carolton Farmers Branch, Filton Farmers Branch, Irving ISD, and Cupel. Al Mark, you finish. Go ahead, Mark. I'll go ahead. Yeah. So, um, the school crossing guards could be paid for by the ISDS themselves. I mean, it's a it I'd like to know like the standard practice. I mean, this is a it's a million dollars a year and it's it's if it's something that the ISD should pay for themselves, then I think that they should. Is is there do we have any any information on that? Because it's city streets, it would be the city's responsibility. City streets. It's our city streets. Yeah. Yes, sir. There there's a public safety element to this, you know, trying to get make sure the kids get across the street and and we do have accidents. This past year, we did have one of the crossing guards did get hit seriously and eventually uh passed away. uh they're typically elderly folks that they that they are for these vendors. So uh you know the the ISDs have their police they have police departments too but these are but these are city streets and so that's the rationale. Yeah. All right. Thank you. Okay. Cities. Yes. In in the in different states that I've worked in as well. It's the city's responsibility to manage the crossing guards and the safety on the streets. Okay, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Uh item number eight is a resolution awarding a contract to CCGMG LLC series B for the amount of $22,000 for construction of the Criminal Justice Center Security Fence on the South L lot. Item number nine is a resolution approving and accepting the bid by Landmark Structures 1LP in the amount of uh $14,62,000 for the bid of the ERS elevated storage tank replacement. We had that this morning. We talked about item number 10 is renewing the annual contract with CC GMG LLC series B in the amount not to exceed $2 million for concrete repair of sidewalks, utility cuts, streets, and alleys. And that brings us to our zoning cases. There we go. There we go. He's about to bring the slides up. There we go. Uh, the first case is a special offense plan case. the excuse me, the PNC actually postponed it this past Monday. So therefore, the city council cannot take action on it. Um we were trying to we split our cases which is why it's even on your agenda. We're trying to reduce the load. Um so it does need to be postponed to the August 28th meeting so that council or so that P&Z can take action. Okay, that's an easy one. Uh the next case is 861 Hope Lane. It's a request in an R six district to um have a variance to the rear yard setback. They did an expansion. Staff finds no unnecessary hardship. PNZ recommended approval 8 to zero. We have one letter in support and one in opposition. Uh so here's the property on Hope Lane. The the last I believe it's four houses are in an SP site plan. So they have some reduced setbacks, but they uh or they have I believe it's a reduced lot size, but some of the setbacks still are consistent with the R six district. So they do have a 20 foot rear yard setback. Yeah. So it's these in here are an SP. Uh so we do have the letter in opposition. We just got this yesterday from the property in the rear. Um, from what we could tell, we looked at it and he had some type of patio cover as well, but he was he was concerned about the appearance of the one behind him. So, here's the request. Again, it was supposed to be a 20ft uh deep rear yard setback. They uh want to do a storage room and a covered patio. They have already started to build it. It's actually almost complete. Um but in the where it is built they would need approximately 7 and 1/2 ft um of depth. So there' be a 12 and a half foot variance. So here's the property. So this these were some pictures that the applicant sent us. Um I understand they started building without knowing they needed a permit. Kind of got it done. Yeah. Because I think they if I'm correct this is one where they came in and got some information. They may have submitted a permit but didn't get it released. And sometimes people will apply for a permit and think all they need to do is submit and not realize it needs to be issued. So they have done some pretty significant work. What we've noticed and and I thought had staff had a map in here. Let me go back to this other one. Um, if you go kind of up and down the street, I don't know if these are permitted or not, but it's not inconsistent for people to have some encroachments into their rear yards. Uh, again, I don't know if they were legal or not, but it it wouldn't be completely inconsistent with what's already in the area. Well, that's a prime example of when we do an SP for six homes and we give variances and then they get sold and no one realizes that that they're in an area where there's six homes that have an SP that has variances in it. Yep. So, I'll be happy to answer any questions. Abdul, do they have a permit now? They well the permit can't be issued until they get the variance approval. So they they've submitted for the permit that is in in the system but it can't be issued until they're able to encroach into the 20 foot setback. Mark, do we know if the other neighbors got SP approvals? I don't believe so. I I didn't see in looking at that map, I didn't see any other variances into those into the 20 foot setback. Okay. But we can see if there's there's um they're violating the setback rules in those other properties. Are those being looked at as well? So yeah, I mean like here I'm going to go to the zoning. So this is where normally if like other people would have a variance, they would have had their own little SP rectangle. Yeah. Um, so I'm not seeing that any got specific variances. Could code look into those? Sure. I think what happened here is they they tried to go in through the process and then the inspections staff went back and looked because it was a it's been a stagnant or a pending case and they went to see what was going on and realized it had been built. So what what is the process when we become aware that there's a violation like that of the setback rules for code enforcement? Afternoon, mayor, members of council. Shane Diller, your code enforcement director. The uh the process is pretty straightforward. uh in a situation like this when this is brought to our attention, we'll attempt to communicate with the property owner, uh advise them of the violation that uh we're observing, see if in fact they do have some documentation maybe that we're missing in regards to uh previous permits or construction that was uh approved. and then if not uh give them a short but reasonable time frame to connect with the city and apply for either permits to make it legal construction or if variances are needed then work with uh planning and zoning to accomplish that through this process. So for this case apparently there's neighboring properties that have violations and so would that cause you then to investigate those? Yes, as you were all speaking I was making some notes as to uh the streets and uh we're going to have a look at those. We'll we'll update you as to what we find. Shane, aren't you limited based on what you can observe from a public rideway? Yes, there's some limitation there, but uh we we by all means we would would take a look at the properties and see if in fact we can develop a case and and if we can, we'd enforce it. But if not, then uh then then we wouldn't be able to pursue it. Is Google Maps fair? It's not. No, Google Maps is is typically not uh something we could use. It's something that we could use to start a conversation with the property owners. But if that's it's that's all we ended up with in the end, we probably would not pursue a case. Okay. Thank you. Is this one that uh you think we ought to sit on till the next meeting or do it postpone it to so that if in fact their permit even though they have not received it, they'll have the ability to perfect it or what's your what's your thought? So they will not there the permit is pending your action. So not acting on this will will just freeze this case. It will just stop the case. So they they need to know if they're going to get their variance or not. And then if they do get their variance, the permit can be issued. They'll get double feed for work without the permit. Um if they don't get the variance, then the action would probably would be to remove it back to the 20 foot. So that they there's there's no there's no benefit to delaying the decision for this one for them. Okay. David, what did you say the PNZ vote was? PNZ was 8 and zero in support. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Adam. Uh thank you, Mayor. Um yeah, just actually two quick questions. Excuse me. The the overall city map that one. Yeah. I was just going to ask is uh do you do aerial surveillance like could you do does the department have drone um surveillance that would help? No, no sir, not generally. Uh the the fourth amendment protections uh get in our way there and I'm mean that in a good way. Uh we generally are able to uh we can use what we can see from public rightway. we're we're not permitted to use uh technological advances or things like drones. We can't use ladders, uh those sorts of things. Uh so in that situation there, what what's in a backyard is is fairly well protected. Uh but we often find that when we make contact with owners and discuss it, they they kind of let us know what's going on and we advise them on the process. So, we do uncover these even in backyards semi-regularly just through conversations with the property owners without having to develop the the firsthand knowledge ourselves ahead of time. I see. So, um I'm just wondering how if there's a way we can determine how temporary or like whether they're temporary structures in the other adjacent properties, but it but it also seems that one way or another that if we deny this, right? Yeah. But if we deny this case, am I correct in thinking that essentially we would be like punishing the homeowner who's trying to go through the correct processes and the ones that didn't got away with it? Yeah, they got away with, you know, and I don't know. It seems like a sticky one to to turn down, but but anyhow, that's just my comment. Thank you. No good deed goes unpunished. I think this is to me this is one of the challenges we really have is there's all these different categories and there's variances and today people are building out everything they can because they're trying to get as much space to live in and and uh actually our our lot lines that are the five foot sideyards and the 10ft rear yards and the 20ft front yards at least they can't build outside of them. But I think you're going to see pretty much every lot that's got a little bit of a backyard is going to eventually be built back. It's just a matter if we catch them before they get to the 20 foot or the 12T or the 5- foot. Al, yeah. Did I hear you say that um even though we received a letter against or opposition? Am I correct? Yes. The lot behind the one that can't seem which one. Oh, okay. Why they sent the letter? Okay. The one that now has it in their backyard. I don't want to look at each other. Next one. All right, thank you. Um, the next case is uh Diorani at 105 South Main Street. They are in the Heritage Crossing District, but they are requesting to go to RAB. Uh, we will keep the Heritage Crossing District standards within the RAB. Staff recommended approval. PNZ recommended approval 7 to1. One letter in support and none in opposition. Um, so Rosanis of course is downtown on our central main street and they are just wanting to start to serve alcohol. Um, so with this case we see let me go back to this map. Um, we did find there was a question we we were very careful to look for churches in this area. Uh, one of the churches sorry I'm going to go to the aerial. Um there is a church over here to the east and that was beyond the 300 foot area. I believe it was about 325. Uh but we found we we weren't sure if it was open or not and so we tried to do a little bit of soouththing to find out and from what we can tell there there is a church that uh meets I think they have like a monthly lease on this property. Um but we have to assume that there is uh going to be a church operating. This is the old believe it's old pigeon pole if I'm correct. And um so we have informed the applicant that they will need to complete that alcohol distance variance process that will go only to the city council not PNZ before they can get their TABC license. So that's not something that particularly has to be done before they get the RAB. They just can't get their TAB license until they get that distance variance. John, is there uh is there additional cost to the property owner for just the the uh alcohol distance variance? I believe it's $400. So, we got a two-step process. We got Anybody have a problem? This is a big This is one of our biggest challenges with with South Irving at trying to get something into them because pretty much every I'll just say it. pretty much everything that's going to be successful is going to sell some type of alcohol and you have all these churches on every corner and it just gets tougher and tougher for them to do business. I mean I he he needs us I think to really continue to stay in business. Mark, yeah, I mean you have these churches and these like retail spaces and so um it's a very it's not going to it's not all that permanent and yeah, you're right. If we if we don't approve those, then we can't actually have restaurants down there with alcohols. Exactly. Okay. Next one. Next one's 506 Collins. Uh they're requesting a solidwood fence in the sideyard setback uh which is on a reverse frontage lot. PNZ or staff found no unnecessary hardship. PNZ recommended approval a 7 to1 with conditions that they have a fiveyard I'm sorry five foot setback a corner clip on the east side and that the owner trim the hedges uh PNZ or I'm sorry public comments we had none in support and one in opposition and so the one in opposition was the property directly behind so this is the location where they want to do the fence and here is the opposition you do have that letter. Uh the concern was visibility as you would expect. Uh there was also some discussion about the hedges having grown a little taller than was agreed upon and therefore they had a hard time seeing out um especially with the curb on the street. So here's the proposal that was submitted for PNZ's consideration. Um it it's in the red and then down here it would be on the property line. There is a it's about a 2 to three foot um retaining wall and so they want to replace a chain link with the uh wood fence and what PNC's recommendation was is to carry it down the five foot. Uh there is a 10-ft utility easement here. We checked with water and there's nothing in it. So they would need to do an encroachment agreement, but if they put the fence in that easement, it would not affect any existing uh water lines in the middle. Um, the request too was to put a corner clip here on the This is the east side so that the neighbor could see when they're pulling out of the driveway. So, this is just the property. Again, chain link today. They want to put the wood fence up and here's a retaining wall. So, they would be just they' be the five feet from the retaining wall. And this is the neighbor who u submitted an opposition. I'll be happy to answer any questions. David. Yeah. Can you go back to that photo right before that? So the fence line is going to stay on that fence line right there. Yeah. It would be So here would be uh So this is the chain link that's on the retaining wall. It would be 5t back and then this is where there would be more of a corner clip is what was requested. Okay. So it's not continuing on down to the next door neighbor's house. No, no. This is this is the neighbor's property. Okay. So this is a chain link. They're going to replace it all the way around, but the variance is for the street side. Thank you. John, thank you, Mayor. Okay, so yeah, I was uh I was also very concerned about the visibility and all of those issues with this uh and seeing the seeing the neighbors letter uh just confirms. So, but so now the site plan has been updated. You said like five feet back from the retaining wall. So the site plan hasn't been that we have notes on the site plan. So we did update with those notes with the the actual location on of the fence has not been updated yet on the site plan but the three conditions that PNZ put on it we have put on the notes it's not in your um packet because this was PNZ on Monday. Yeah. Okay. But so so the new location it's not reflected in the drawings on the site plan but it is reflected in the notes. The new location is five feet into the property from the retaining wall. Correct. How big is the corner clip? Uh, we would work with traffic on that. I don't know, Dan. Are they typically 10 foot corner clips? Whatever the standard corner clip is to make sure that Yeah. Okay. Uh, yeah. Well, like I said, the visibility is is a big concern. Um the neighbors already telling us like it's already a problem and you know that that street's not as uh not as much of a speedway as Shady Grove, but it it can get pretty pretty hairy up uh right there on Fifth. Well, it's kind of where Fifth and Sixth turn into each other. Um, yeah, if you if you could get the I don't know the I I have a bit of a problem with this one, you know, just because of because of that that visibility problem. David. Oh, I should be off. Sorry. Yeah, that it's pretty crazy how big that tree is. It's sticking out there in the middle. Yeah. Part of what the neighbor said at PNZ was that when it was chain link, you could see through it. But even it, you know, it's solid now because the vegetation hadn't been cut back. So that was part of his concern. And apparently was an agreement with the old neighbor that they would trim it down and they didn't. So this is almost solid just with the ve vegetation. Yeah. You can't see. All right. Uh this is next case 301 regent uh suites 140 and 150. They're SP2C and SP1RB to SP1RB. Staff recommends approval. PNZ approval 8 to nothing. No opposition or support. Um so this is here on belt line and was royal. So, it's obviously a a tenant space in a shopping center and they are in the existing green space which is uh SP1RB and they're wanting to expand into the the yellow into the adjacent space. Um they're connected they're sharing a kitchen so they're connected essentially through the kitchen but they cannot expand without having the same zoning. So they are having to reszone this to RAB in order to be consistent within the the larger restaurant. Um, the ironic thing is is they don't plan to sell alcohol, but the owner who has this reb zoning wanted to keep it. So, it was either all or none for both of them because they are now one expanded restaurant. So, this is the the green is the existing and they're just wanting to expand into this next door tenant space. And I'll be happy to answer any questions. Al, yeah, thank you, mayor. I went up and looked at it and so it's a it's a going concern. So I understand what they're trying to do. So questions other than that. All right. All right. So the next case, the last case is our Delaware crossing phase three. Um this is on Rendy Street, Sixth Street, and Hilltop. Uh the request is to reszone to Heritage Crossing neighborhood mixeduse. The staff recommends approval. PNZ recommended approval 7 to one. We have three letters in support and one in opposition. Uh so y'all know well where the location is of Delaware 3 on Sixth Street and Hilltop. Um the city owns the majority of the property. The there's a the property owner who's the developer owns two of the lots and so together all of those will be um developed into one uh one development. The reason we have chosen the heritage crossing district is the uh everything in here in color is the heritage crossing district itself. I thought I had another map in here. Um the red is the transit mixed use because it is adjacent to the U TR station. The pink or purple is the commercial mixeduse. And then the the brown or the orange is the neighborhood mixeduse which is intended to be a much more neighborhood heavy with some small offices. uh but to maintain that residential uh character of the area. So the intention here is to extend the neighborhood mixed use the residential excuse me the residential uses um out of the heritage crossing district and uh that the entire area is the heritage district and so bringing the heritage crossing zoning into it is consistent with the future development of the area. So, this would be colored brown just like this is. Again, here's the location of the property on Delaware Creek. And one property owner across the street. We had someone speak. I think he was number three and some number one. He spoke at PNZ. I don't think he submitted anything in writing. He he was just concerned about losing the trees behind him and had some questions for the developer Dr. important as to how this was going to affect him, what was going to be behind him, the fencing and that type of thing. So, here again is a picture of a heritage crossing district. As a reminder, or for those of you who are not aware, it was approved in November 2017. It is a formbbased code which the intention is to be a walkable pedestrian area uh where the buildings are up to the street where you have a mix of uses um and we encourage um some density here in order to provide that energy for the restaurants and the retail and for the the redevelopment of the area. Um it's also again it's a form-based code so we it allows some consistency for the area and then again we do have the character districts which are have unique intents um in terms of the um redevelopment intent of patterns. Again this is neighborhood mixeduse. This is the uh development agreement illustrative exhibit. It is intended to be uh zero lot line homes. So, these would be platted for sale homes. They will have a 10-ft separation in between, which um over the last few years, this is y'all have seen this several times, and that was one thing that council did ask for is to make sure that we had that spacing of 10 foot um in between each building. Also, that was something the fire wanted as well. Um each of these will be fronting a green, they call it a muse, but a green space. And they will all have two garage, two parking spaces in the garage. The garages will be required to be the 20 by 20 400 ft. Um, this of course is along the creek and so they will be I believe it's either initi putting the first trail in or rebuilding the trail and so they will be contributing to the trail system along Delaware Creek. The larger street here is a public street. These others are um essentially private streets, private driveways will be full fire lanes uh with no parking. That again was another part of the agreement with the developer. So here's just some pro um pictures of the property, Sixth Street, and I'll be happy to answer your questions. Alda is here as well. This is actually her baby. So if you have any detailed questions, I'm sure she'd be happy to come up and answer those. Mark It's a it's great to see the project. Obviously, Delaware Creek has been successful. All those have sold out and the zero lot lines is a popular product. Um parking, you know, was has been a concern with Delaware Creek and um could you address that? And then um another issue too is that um you have the the walking trail there in some in a green belt there, but um I don't see any playgrounds or park space for in this area. And so I think that's something that needs to be provided as well. I'll let her hit the details. So this site plan here reflects again the site plan that was in the approved development agreement. So that did not include park space, but included the rebuilding of the trail from Sixth Street down to Rendy in order to connect the trails along the western side of Delaware Creek down to the trail here to get to Center Park. Um, in some of the earlier phases of negotiations, there were ideas of a of a public park, but we did not want to pursue that because that would have been an additional um cost on the city to have to maintain a new park system. But we did work with them to be able to do the trail. And so we will be responsible for just maintaining the pavement of this trail. So and then in regards to the parking um there are uh the two uh parking spaces in the garages and then throughout the development we'll have an additional 60 designated visitor parking spot spaces to help address visitor parking. Can you can you identify those spaces? Sure. So there are some right here that are headin parking. There are these are on street parking. we could have the on street um because we made this wide enough for a public road and then all the parking off of the muse alley streets are all headed in order to um not be on street here. So they are placed throughout the development to have access for for parking throughout. Yeah. Okay. Well, I think I think it's unfortunate that there's not parks. I mean I think that um we're putting a lot that's a lot of houses and um and So we have the development agreement and it's not provided for. So I understand that and but yeah, thanks for answering my questions. Other questions? Okay, that should be our last case. Oh, I'm sorry. How many units are there? 76. 76. And there's a total of how many spaces? 212 spaces. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Thank you. Thank you. Uh item number 17 is confirming uh the appointment of by the city manager to a commission to serve on the firefighters and police officers civil service commission for a term expiring July 10th, 2028. Chris, you've got somebody there. Um that takes us to the mayor's report. I've got uh I'll get the committee rosters out to everybody. CeCe's got them put together for me. I went over everything with her this morning. Uh boards and commissions. Uh Al and and David and myself are going to work on that. Uh I want to really look at these boards and commissions and see the ones that we're really using and the ones that were just placeholders because it's getting to be uh a challenging I I mean, I don't know how to say this without sounding like I'm picking sides, but uh I've gotten several calls from different committees where they feel like there's people are being placed on because of their beliefs on one side and it's one person's being put on because they don't want to have more people that agree with them on this one. And I really want to get it so we're not dividing residents. uh there's got to be a way where we can put people on these boards and commissions and they don't feel like there's there's one group working against another group. But I think if we go through it, we we can figure it out. I'm not not uh too worried about it. I think we can reach an agreement. So I think between the three of us, we'll really evaluate the board commissions and then we'll see where we go with the with the new applications and get them lined up for everybody. All right, that takes us to the future and focus. We have uh three of those. We can knock out a couple before. Which ones do you prefer, Chris? That'll get us that we can get to in a relatively easy. If we can focus first on fire, then we'll go it and then comms and we'll go as far. Mayor, is there a certain break time that you wanted to go to? Well, probably if we could break like 6:15, so we got at least 45 minutes to eat and Very good. We'll focus on fire, the night, then communications. Awesome. All right. Good afternoon, mayor, council, city manager of staff. It's my privilege today to bring you an updated presentation of our future in focus. If you have any questions along the way, please speak up. First of all, I want to remind each and every one of you, we're more of an allhazards mitigation department. There's many disciplines within the fire department outside of just being fire. And so, I'm going to go through and share some of those different branches within the fire department with you today. These are some of the pictures for this past year, ice storm and some of the training that we go through and various responses. First of all, our department overview. Our mission is real simple. It's to reduce or mitigate hazards to life and property and to serve the public and their needs. Our key services are broken down into four parts. fire suppression, emergency med medical services, fire prevention, and administration. Within our fire suppression division, we've got emergency mitigation, fire suppression, hazardous material responses, technical rescue team, our swiftwater rescue team. Specialty programs include honor guard, bike medics, tactical medics that assist PD in their SWAT program, task force 2 deployments. Of course, our paramedic program is on our fire apparatus and our ambulances. Fire prevention, we have life safety inspections, arson investigation, and public education. And within administration, we have our clerical staff support training, secondary public safety answering point or dispatch center. Some of you know it, our quartermaster, community risk reduction, recruitment team, and public information officer. Altogether we have 425 personnel in the fire department of which 412 are sworn. This is our basic structure. Here's some pictures of our fire prevention and public interactions. We've got about half of our fire prevention on the left. In the middle are some of our suppression personnel out mixing with the public for public education. In the far right, we do a lot of show and tells. So, performance information within the fire prevention inspections. This year, we've done well over 13,000 inspections. About 2,700 of those have been reinspections. Arson, we have total of seven working cases. Our closure rate for 2324 was right at 30%. current physical year, we're running a closure rate of about 40%. Arson cases are extremely difficult to convict. You pretty much have to have a eyewitness, a video. They're they're extremely hard. But I will say this, our fire prevention division does a very exceptional job investigating. So much so that the district attorney has asked us to teach other cities on how to put these cases together. We also patrol private streets that have fire lanes within them. So 23 24 we spent 447 hours patrolling these streets and current year we're about 267 hours. So inspections on the chart you can see the 5-year chart here and 23 24 is the latest one. We had several personnel leave our department in fire in fire prevention. We were down quite a few folks. I had them focus on the high hazards. So the red bar on the left that you're looking at here is high hazards. We do those every year. The one in the middle is our moderate hazards. We do them once every two years. And the far right, the black one, we do once every three years. So we've got them broken down in those categories. Specialty teams, we have a hazmat team, swiftwater rescue team, technical rescue team. And here's some pictures of some of the things that they've been doing. So, call out information. As of April of this year, in the previous 12 months before that, we had eight deployments of our technical rescue team. Uh the task force team and state mutual aid deployments were suspended. For those of you that don't know, back in 2023, we actually had a fire captain that was injured. The state was paying him about 48% of his salary. I shut down the program. Dallas, Fort Worth, and Metroplex joined me and eventually the Texas fire chiefs across the state of Texas shut down the program. We made Nim Kid, he actually came here to Irving to work out a deal in order to get those deployments back up. Once we worked through that, we got the verbiage updated in in the contracts. We reinstituted the program. and this past legislation, they passed House Bill 4464 to codify that language and and put it in stat statute. So, I'm very proud of the coordination that we went through to get that done. It was very difficult cuz the first step when I pulled out, it was an oh well. And then when I got my peers to do the same thing in Dallas and Fort Worth, it was oh crap. And then when the state pulled out is okay, let's meet and so we got it done. and and that's what I'm proud of. Our swiftwater rescue team has been deployed four times over the past year. Technical rescue team has been deployed over 176 times. That includes regionally throughout the state and within the city of Irving. And our hazardous material team 58 times. So, we implemented a recruitment team and they've done an excellent job. Our numbers were getting down below 200. Uh Chris supported this program. time we implemented it and our last test we we had right at 900 showed up at at our last test. I'll give you some of those numbers here in a minute. I want to talk about performance measures for dispatch recruiting and our training. So, our dispatch center is a secondary dispatch for those of you that don't know that. Primary is within the police department. anything fire or EMS related, they transfer over to our dispatch center and then we take the call, get the information and get the equipment out on scene. Total dispatch calls was right at 47,000. We had 911 calls were right at 20,000, incident numbers 26,000 and apparatus responses over 52,000. And the difference there, we have some single apparatus responses and as some of you know or probably all of you, when we have a structure fire, we have multiple apparatus. So that's the difference. That's why the numbers reduced to 26,000 incident numbers, but our individual apparatus is over 52,000. Our recruitment team, they've hit 46 job fairs and they've actually had face-to-face contact with over 3,100 individuals. Social media is well over half a million and social media is hitting 633,000 views. The results of that is last September, like I said, they increased the attendees by 51% from 600 to 900 showed up for the test and their goal is to maintain that 900. I can tell you right now, we got well over 2,000 actually signed up for the test and we give it every September. Training hours, we spent a lot of training on EMS and fire as you can see. Total hour is well over 12,600 hours just in EMS training. A lot of this is required CE training by the state and the federal government that to maintain our paramedic and EMT certifications. And then fire, we do well over 116,000. Not all that's required by the state, but a lot of it is. And the rest of it training our new recruits to meet our expectations. Fire suppression. some of the activity this past year performance chart. So if you see the line on the bottom, this is our average. This is our median. 50% of the time we're hitting our target which is at 5 minutes and 20 seconds. That 5 minutes and 20 seconds is comprised of 4m minute response. A minute and 20 seconds to put our bunker gear and get on the apparatus and get out of the station. That might be from a dead sleep at 2 in the morning. Doesn't matter. That's where we measure it from. And we measure each individual discipline as we go through that. And that's an NFPA requirement. So when PD receives a call, we measure that. When it's transferred to our secondary dispatch, we measure that. When it goes to the station, when we dispatch equipment, we measure that from the time they pull out of the station till they pull up in front of your house. We measure that. So we track every one of those in our measurements. 50% of the time we're hitting that, as you can see, at 5 minutes and 19 seconds. The federal government or NFPA wants us to hit it 90% of the time. That's the top line. Now, we went through and did some international studies on where our stations are located and what it would take in order to hit that target. And we basically would need twice the amount of stations in this city in order to hit that target. But we're hitting it 50% of the time, and we're proud of that. Here's another indicator. We always track property saved. We don't track property lost. Property saved is based upon decad and the value of the property. If we not have shown up, the whole apartment building would have burnt down or the whole warehouse would have been lost. And so we track the value of that property not on the contents but on the exterior value of the property. Current year to date we're sitting at about 37 million. This was as of April mid year. And you can see the previous years. You can see in 22 23 it always grabs people's attention. And we had several warehouse fires that year that we extinguished the fire and saved the property. EMS, our bike medic, we got a pretty good bike medic program. So like July the 4th, these paramedics were patrolling through the crowds if they were needed and they were able to respond really quick. And that's new medicate that uh you guys put in service this year. So our performance chart for EMS responses. Once again, the bottom line is our average, our medium 50% of the time. The top line is what NFPA would like for us to do 90% of the time. We're hitting the target at 501. Response time is 5 minutes, and that's made up four minutes once again to respond, 1 minute to get out the door. cardiac arrest. We measure these been running right around 26 to 27. Current year, midyear, we're sitting at 20%, but we're still hitting about three three times the national average on our cardiac return to sp spontaneous circulation. That's a rosque score that we measure. So, we track that. Our targets to hit 30%. specialty programs. On the left is some of our attack medics that respond with IPD SWAT team. On our right is our honor guard and some of you are familiar with some of the things that they can do. So, give you a little update future and focus accomplishments to this point. So, back in 24 Central Fire Station, we added the three captains and the three drivers to the personnel that were needed to open that station. the 12 firefighters that are assigned to that station, we were able to get a safer grant. That's a federal grant to supplement the city. It pays their salary benefits for three years. So that saved the city roughly $4.2 million over that three years. As of midyear in 26, that grant will be fully utilized. So city manager has rolled that into the payroll and benefits of the city as we move forward. So it won't be such a huge impact. And he's been able to do that prior to that. So we were able to purchase our apparatus straight out of cash funds rather than having to finance it on a three or five year note. So in 25 current year we added six drivers and three firefighters. This was to put medic 8 in service. We received a new ambulance medic 8 just back in May. So that program is fully implemented. We were using a backup ambulance starting this physical year, but as of May, they are on the brand new ambulance in service in medic 8 district, which is up around Lake Carolyn entertainment venue. It's taken us roughly a year and a half to two years to get some of these ambulances in service. Further update, station 8, some of you are aware, but uh it's at the old bus stop for DART up at Northwest Highway and Riverside. Uh the completion date still projected to be March of 2026. Uh they're going vertical at this time. They finished pouring most of the concrete. Is about 55 yards of concrete poured out there at that location. That station will house a truck and engine and the ambulance. So it'll be a three company house. In addition, it's our high-rise station. So they they go out and collaborate with all the highrises, learn the systems, what's going on the floors. They had I think they've had two to three exercises over the past 18 months where the building management has allowed us to come in there and do drills and get familiar with the building and train. Also, it's our hazardous material response team which is deployable throughout the region and in in Dallas County. We have an off-road ambulance there that we can respond on the trail or through crowds when we have parades and such. Blocker eight's there. Fireboat 8 will be out behind the station on the water. Currently, the fireboat 8 that we have, we're using a dart facility on Lake Carolyn. Update on fire station 9. We're working with DFW and their team to try to get secure a piece of property to rebuild station 9 from the unfortunate accident. I think we're getting pretty close. I've talked to Chief White out there yesterday or day before. He's he's taken it up to his boss at the top management level formally trying to figure out the process of what we need to go through. And I'll bring those updates to the city managers as they come available. But I'm hoping over the six next 60 days we can get that thing locked up and settled in. But we'll see how it how it moves forward. 26. Uh once again we need a lot of help in our administrative staff. Our department has increased in size by over 35%. And our support staff has not grown. And I've gone out and benchmarked with cities the same size of us. That's Lach, Laredo, Plano, Arlington. And on average, we're sitting about 22 people less than what they utilize to run their department from support staff. City manager is going to help me work on this support staff this year. We're asking for eight personnel. We'll see how it works out in the budget what we actually get. We'll be asking for two administ administrative chief officers, two lieutenants, two firefighters for our training, a clerical staff, and a property tech going in our quarter master program. 27. Our goal is to continue to strive for four firefighter staffing. This was actually put in place years ago. This has nothing to do with collective bargaining. We were pursuing this years ago. This was part of our five-year future and focus. And now it's down to three. And so we're pursuing that future and focus because of NFPA standards, best practices, and a safer work environment. It follows national studies. There's plenty of statistics that supports for firefighter staffing. So, the second year of the future and focus, we'll be requesting 14 firefighters and that is to bring all of our ladder trucks up to four firefighter staffing. Currently, we have five ladder trucks. Two of them have four firefighter staffing. This will bring the other three into compliance with that. The third year is yet to be determined based upon collective bargaining. And with that, I'll be answer be happy to answer any questions. questions to the chief. I made it quick and as painless as I possibly could. Sorry. And we appreciate that. Yes, sir. Chris. Yeah. Thank you, Chief. Mayor, let's do I and then April's okay. We'll push communications and then we'll wrap with it. Thank you on the seven arson residential versus It can be anywhere from vehicle fires, domestic disturbances to houses. I can get that for you. Okay. Yeah. I just be curious versus commercial. Not many commercials. I don't think so. Okay. Thank you. All right. Good evening. Uh Chad Powell, your chief technology officer. I'm here to present the information technology department's future and focus. Uh IT department. and we deliver reliable and innovative technology solutions. We manage the city's systems, networks and cyber security. Essentially, our goal as a support department is to provide all of the technology software and solutions that empower all the other departments to be able to deliver exceptional services to the residents, visitors, and businesses. Um some of our key services we provide uh obviously that uh cyber security uh is something that's never going to go away and we're at the forefront of making sure that our systems are secure and available. Uh we have a customer service team that supports uh all of the uh devices and equipment that the staff use. We have the infrastructure team that uh ensures that all the connectivity and the backend infrastructure is up and running. Uh we now have a project management uh team that supports all of the customer requested projects. And then we have two software services teams. Uh those are divided uh into our enterprise software services that deliver um the software that everyone in the city use or general government departments. And then we have a dedicated public safety software services team that supports the software used by fire, police, and the municipal court. And then last we have the communications team which provides uh primarily the support for our radio system as well as vehicle outfitting. That's all the technology that goes into those vehicles as well as a number of other systems. We have a total authorized staff of 40 uh full-time equivalents and then we do have a part-time intern. Here's a look at our uh organizational chart. uh I have three director reports senior budget specialists and then two assistant directors or deputy CTO's and then the department the rest of the department's divided equally amongst our deputy CTO's. So uh one one deputy CTO has the two software teams as well as our project management team and then the other has our customer service infrastructure and our wireless and communications team. Um, taking a look at some of the statistics, uh, we on average, uh, run about 8 8,650, uh, support requests. Those are, uh, help desk tickets or calls into our, uh, support center, uh, for help and assistance. We have a total of 51 connected facilities uh, throughout the city, and those are either connected via our city-owned fiber or leased circuits from the telecommunication providers. Uh we uh we have almost 2200 email enabled user accounts, 2500 user devices uh those are laptops and desktops. Uh we have about a little over 1,400 infrastructure devices. Those are uh switches and routers and wireless access points. And then currently we have 36 miles of city fiber. We're currently undergoing a a bond project from the 2021 bond. Uh we'll be more than doubling our footprint and that's expected to be completed in uh 2028. We have 270 networkorked fleet vehicles. Those are vehicles that have computers and routers in them that allow them access back to our network. And we are in terms of our on premise data uh we have 939 terabytes of data. So we're just under that one pabyte range. But if you do take into account our cloud services that we don't directly support such as uh the storage for email and then the Axon and car video and bodywn camera. Uh we're well over a pabyte. Uh some of our key performance measures uh obviously being customer service focused, our satisfaction rating is very important. Uh each time a ticket is uh resolved or completed uh the employee will receive a link to a survey and our goal is that 95% of all of those survey responses result in a good or better rating. Uh for this current fiscal year, we are sitting at 98%. And then the chart below is just a uh to give you an idea of the uh workload in terms of service requests completed uh over the last five years counting this midyear we're averaging 7500 but to get that 8600 calculation I did the last three f full fiscal years. Um next is uh the next few um measures are our system availability. So network system availability, that's our routers and switches and the things that make all those 51 connected facilities continue to operate. And our goal is to be at 99% available. And we achieve that every single year. This year we're sitting at 99.2. And then we also uh measure the availability of our key uh software systems, our our most important ones. We look at 25 of them. And for the last uh year and a half, we've been at 100% availability. And then last but not least, our radio system availability. Uh our our goal here is to be always 100% available. Um and we have a very resilient and uh reliable radio system with our current Motorola and we are at 100%. Uh that gets rounded up. We do have about 45 seconds of planned maintenance that we do uh uh on on a quarterly basis. Uh but that's so minuscule it just rounds up to 100%. Uh taking a look at our accomplishments uh we've established a cyber security governance committee. Uh that committee is comprised of our executive leadership team as well as directors and subject matter experts throughout the city that has an influence or an input into uh cyber security. Uh the goal here with this committee is not only to provide in uh account organizational accountability with respect to uh our cyber security uh posture and direction but it's also to ensure that uh as a whole we're taking the right approach and making decisions that uh benefit the entire organization. Uh this year we in October we did on board a IT business analyst to join that project management team. Uh this position provides a proactive outreach uh to uh the the departments. Uh it really frontloads our project request process uh that we do uh every year during the budget season and it we've had uh great success with this. So the idea here is uh we the business analyst routinely meets with departments to uh understand uh what challenges they're facing with technology uh to gather the needs and then also to provide them and find solutions and and sometimes maybe even many times we're able to uh help a department understand that we already have a solution that another department's using that they can uh that they can utilize with instead of going out and buying a entire ire brand new uh solution. Uh also uh you saw all the uh or many of the copers in the basement during your tour today. We were uh very uh we're about 50 to 60% complete replacing all of the um Xerox uh printers and copers with uh um CA with our Canon provider. And uh I wanted to point out that um that resulted in a $348,000 cost savings per year for the next five uh years. And then I've also listed here a number of the customer requested projects that we've completed. I won't go through them all for time, but just understand that each one of those bullet points on average takes from procurement to to closing out a project that the life cycle is about a year and a half to two years. So they they are significant projects. Uh in terms of our departmental outlook over the next three years, we obviously want to continue our strategic plan initiatives. Uh we're always looking for ways to uh uh provide cost savings and and uh I believe during the our last community services meeting uh with the respect to our discussion on broadband needs, we we mentioned public private partnerships. So we'll continue to take a look at opportunities to uh provide those public private partnerships. We want to implement a chargeback model for our radio support for our neighboring cities. And then we also have a need to address uh a better inventory management within it. Not only for the customer uh equipment such as laptops and phones, but also at our radio shop with making sure that we have the proper inventory and replacement cycle for our uh portable radios. And as always, we want to take a look at costsaving opportunities. So, a good example being the um the lease the lease model that we use for our copers and printers. Uh we want to take a look at um seeing if that will work for our uh desktops and laptops that we deploy that we currently purchase them. We want to see if we can identify some cost savings uh there. And then also with our our print new contract for printing, uh we have access to um improved data analytics in terms of seeing how much printing is being done and by whom. And we have our eye on helping to reduce the amount of printing that the city's doing, which will save us money and also help the environment. For this coming fiscal year, we are requesting an additional communications technician. uh that position does vehicle make ready and outfitting of the technology in the vehicles. We partnered with the innovation and performance office uh this year to take a look at uh measuring uh the amount of vehicles that and this and the how long it takes to outfit those vehicles. So uh what we found is that we currently are at a a pace of being able to outfit 6.8 patrol vehicles. We specifically we looked at patrol since we had so many uh in in the queue and it what we found is that if we were to add an an additional communications technician we can get that output to eight vehicles per month. And then a couple of work sessions ago I presented uh on the recommendation to move from Motorola to EF Johnson for our land mobile radio system. Uh I since I gave that presentation recently, I won't go too deep into it, but I just want to point out that uh with the Motorola that we've seen rising cost and to renew a contract with them would be substantially more than taking a look at uh switching to EF Johnson. uh but in not only in terms of uh cost reduction uh we currently operate four Motorola broadcast sites and as the urban area has developed over the years with additional highrises we've seen a decrease in the ability to get good radio coverage and penetration into buildings in the urban areas doubling the EF doubling the uh amount of broadcast sites here in Irving with an EF Johnson solutions going to go a long way to making sure that we have good in building coverage which is very important for our police and fire uh because it can become a life safety issue if the radios are not working. Uh the transition does uh uh it requires a shift in in how we support uh the radio system. So with Motorola today uh it's almost completely turnkey support. They do all the heavy lifting and we'd be switching to a self-support model in which we do most of the heavy lifting and we have access to res uh to AFJ resources if we need it. Uh that change does require additional personnel. So we are uh rec requesting nine additional personnel and then a recclass of that manager position um for the additional reports as well as uh that position would then be doing outreach to neighboring cities to see if we can um uh get some uh get get other cities on a chargeback model where we can help support them and recover some of our costs. And then the big picture of things over a 10-year period, the conservative estimate is that we'd be saving $12.7 million over that period. Switching uh we will be in year two. So this year we purchased 80 mobile data uh computers. Those are the incar computers for our police department. Uh year two will consist of the last batch of 80s totaling 160 overall. and 2627 will be requesting an additional support specialist. Uh the key takeaway here is that as we continue to add staff in other departments throughout the city, it's necessary for us to be able uh to increase our support staff to be able to support the growing numbers. And we also want to uh use that position um to support that inventory control and replacement process improvement that we'll be working on. Um, we uh purchased we we had a bond project in 20 I believe 2018 or 2019 using bond funds. We replaced all of the routers and switches in the city that were long overdue and needing to be replaced. And so the average lifespan of that equipment is about 10 years. So that's coming up in 2028. And in lie of not having a large capital u funding source, uh we're going to be splitting up the the load of replacing it. So we'll start proactively by doing the first of a three-year uh refresh of those routers and switches at $500,000 for that year. And then I did note here, I already spoke to it, but we want to explore transition of switching from the own city-owned computers to lease computers in the hopes of providing uh cost savings as well as perhaps improving our ability to quickly replace uh computers. In 2728, again, we'll be asking for another support specialist. Uh this one uh we want to focus on having a backup uh for all of the growing audiovisisual needs that we have currently we uh we have Fernando who you are all familiar with that run these meetings but there's more to it than just running these meetings. Uh there's there's maintenance and we just went through last year and replaced all of the audiovisisual equipment within uh all of our branch libraries. That's just an example. There's many more. So it as that AB uh continues to grow in in in footprint, uh we need to be able to support it with additional staff. Our project load, we currently run about 25 of those one and a half to twoyear projects at any one given time and we only have one person, our project manager that is facilitating uh and running all of those projects. So we identified a need for a project specialist to offset some of that growing load on the high number of projects that we have. And then similar to the AV, similar to projects growing, uh we have a team of five people that um support half that support roughly 40 to 50 different enterprise level softwares. We see a need to add an additional software service analyst to support a growing number of softwares that we add each year. And then uh in 2728 would be year two of that network refresh. And with that I'll take any questions. Questions. Thank you sir. Okay. We'll call it a day. Grab a quick bite and see everybody at 7. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music]