‌
Connecting You With City Information, News, and Resources
COVID-19, City Budget & more!
Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn

Current Council appointments:
*Government Performance and Financial Management, Vice Chair
*Public Safety Committee
*Housing and Homeless Solutions
*COVID-19 Ad Hoc
*Legislative Ad Hoc
*Regional Transportation Council
*City Council Representative to Texas Municipal League Policy Summit

I also selected to serve on the National League of Cities Youth, Education, and Families Council and am a member of Women in Municipal Government.
Hello District 12,

The city council recess will be over at the end of July. For those who have contacted the office, you know we have not stopped working, we've just stopped having city council meetings.

August at city hall is dedicated to the city budget for the coming year, and there is more information about it below. Watch for important discussions and decisions to be made about property tax rates, the funding of public safety, and other priorities.

Council committee meetings, agenda meetings, and briefings reconvene in August. Originally, the reopening plan called for in-person meetings in August, but that has not been confirmed. All District 12 town halls will be virtual.

If you need help with anything, please let us know and we will try to resolve your city issues and connect you to assistance for things beyond the city.

The City Council is in recess for the month of July. Navaz, Elysia, and I continue to work from home, answering emails and calls.

Regards, Cara
A Bunch of Miscellaneous Things...

  • Do you have a child in school but don't know what is happening with your school district? Call or email us and we'll connect you.
  • Dashboard that displays zip code data from the start of federal testing sites to this week. Data will be updated daily. Testing numbers by zip code https://arcg.is/18qWaP0.
  • If you work for or are involved in a local non-profit and have capital or public improvement needs, please make sure the organization is signed up in Bonfire to receive the Request for Information that is coming out very soon. You'll only have 1 week to respond. To sign up for a Bonfire account (free), go to https://dallascityhall.bonfirehub.com/login.
  • At-Home Summer Activities for the Whole Family
  • Need help with anything COVID-related? Call the City of Dallas 24-hour hotline for lots of recorded information and resources. (214) 670-INFO
  • Rental and mortgage assistance through the City of Dallas is still available through JFS Dallas and Catholic Charities.
  • Dallas Public Libraries have 1 location in each council district that is open for Library-to-go. Your closest libraries are Timberglen and Fretz Park. Please check out the extensive classes and activities coordinated online - there is everything from piano lessons, urban farming, job clubs, family ancestry, to trivia nights. You can view the calendar at bit.ly/DPLevents.
  • The Mayor puts out a daily email with a lot of COVID information. If you would like to sign up, send an email to dallasmayornews@gmail.com.
  • There are lots of mosquitoes this summer after a wet spring and a temperate winter. The City of Dallas sprays the mosquitoes when a positive West Nile case is returned from one of the collection sites in the city. If you would like to opt out of your home being sprayed, please call 311.
  • If your street has cars driving at an excessive speed and you would like to see if there are ways to slow the traffic, or if there are turn lanes that are not managed in a safe and efficient manner, please contact 311 to ask for the transportation department to do an assessment. If you do not get satisfaction, please contact us. We recently got the turn lane at Davenport/Keller Springs switched and we are still working on La Manga/Coit which is a little bit trickier because it is controlled by Richardson.
  • Accessory Dwelling Units - these could be anything from granny pods, to tiny houses, back houses, she-sheds, to building garage apartments. To add one, a property owner currently applies and goes through the board of adjustment to get approval. There was a city-wide survey to restart the conversation about allowing ADUs by right on any property. There are positive and negative aspects to ADUs. This little bullet point is to make you aware that it is a coming discussion for the city council that you may want to pay attention to. My opinion is we are a very big and diverse city and there aren't a lot of mandates that I believe are good for every neighborhood. Going through the board of adjustment process insures that property rights of the owner, and the rights of the neighbor are all met.
  • MetroCrest Services is looking for volunteers to assemble food boxes. Contact them at https://www.metrocrestservices.org/volunteer.php
  • Just for fun... Do you hear a lot of noises outside at night? Maybe you think the sounds are birds or something else, but it's probably frogs. The State of Texas has a website where you can see pictures of frogs native to Texas and hear their sounds to try to identify them. It's pretty cool! https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/texas_nature_trackers/amphibian_watch/amphibian_species/
Local Restaurants
Every restaurant in the area is struggling these days with limited seating, if any, and a change to a take-out food model, which is much less profitable. If you are looking for a place to order from, please consider your Dallas independent restaurants. We want them to be here for us when we can all get out and about. Remember, the sales tax you pay for your food helps maintain the roads, pay for police and libraries of the city you are in - so if you order from Addison, Richardson, Plano or Carrollton, you're helping fund that city's needs. In Far North Dallas, we are so close to all of those cities it is easy to forget the distinction, but as I look at the budget each month, it is really critical to think #DallasFirst.

Here's a great article about the urgency of support needed for our local restaurants and it features a District 12 favorite, Crossroads Diner.



Here are some suggested independently-owned restaurants in District 12:
Blu's BBQ, Bubalas, BurgerFi, Coffee House Cafe, Lekka, Irishman's Pub, Cadot, Lavendeau, Cindy's NY Deli, Deli News, Fajita Pete's, Crossroads Diner, Carmine's Whistle Britches, Banana Leaf, Cowboy Chicken, Speranza, Fino, Casa Don Luis, Another Broken Egg, Maguire's, III Forks, 12 Cuts, Ruth's Chris, Norma's Cafe, Alfredo's Pizza, Sweet Basil, Nelson's, Sky Rocket Burgers, Casa Mama's, Grandma's Bakery, and Hot & Creamy Donuts. (Let us know if we're missing any!)
Dallas Youth Commission
Do you know a high schooler interested in governance? ​Each council member appoints one person to the Dallas Youth Commission, and applications to serve are now being accepted (must live in the district) through 7/31. Learn more about the commission here: https://dallascityhall.com/government/meetings/Pages/youth-commission.aspx.

To apply, send a resume and email to cara.mendelsohn@dallascityhall.com by July 31. Please answer these questions in your email: 1) Why do you wish to serve in this role? 2) What do you think would be your greatest contribution to this body? 3) What are your career goals 4) How do you define good governance?

Thank you to Jack Minigutti, our D12 Youth Commissioner who just graduated from JJ Pearce, for his distinguished representation of our area and contribution to the commission. Good luck at the University of Virginia!
July 7, 2016
It wasn't too long ago that we were mourning the loss of our 4 DPD officers and 1 DART officer. This year, our law enforcement officers are reeling from the effects of COVID-19 and the daily protests in downtown Dallas (more than 45 days of protesting in a row) that have left many stations with fewer officers and more overtime needs. At our North Central station, we lost officer Michael Smith in the 7/7 ambush. We remembered our officers this year with a show of support by tying ribbons on trees around the station and at the downtown headquarters and training academy.
Cotton Belt Rail and Hike & Bike Trail
Thank you to all who participated in the virtual meeting to give input on the hike and bike trail that will be along the Cotton Belt rail. Additional meetings have been held by the city leaders along the Cotton Belt from Fort Worth to Plano to talk about funding issues and priorities with building elements. Our request to move the trail from the south/east side between Davenport and Campbell to the north/west side was noted and the change would provide greater privacy to the homeowners and better crossing safety for the walkers/bikers. The trail will leave the side of the tracks at the Preston Green park to minimize the size of the bridge needed over the creek and enhance the park. Additional comments about the Coit crossing, prioritizing safety and preventing homeless encampments, were shared with the Regional Transportation Council.

The city has not issued any permits to DART's contractor or subcontractors for building the rail. The signing of an Inter Local Agreement that will prohibit freight and codify other elements is expected in August, which will release the permits. We will see huge impacts with the construction of the rail. Hillcrest Road at the rail will be closed for at least 6 months. While the street is closed, no work will be allowed at Meandering Way or Davenport, and only one lane on Coit may be closed. Additional walls have been secured to protect the children at Ivy Montessori and Fairhill, and an additional sound panel off of Rocky Top. There are quarterly Cotton Belt/Silver Line meetings (virtual) coming up. You can get the link by going to www.DART.org/SilverLine. The meeting scheduled for Dallas is 8/27, 6:30-8:30 pm, but you can attend meetings for other areas (scheduled 8/6-8/20) if you prefer.
Fire Station #7
Welcome back Fire Station #7! (Davenport @ Preston) After several months of repairs and refresh, the station looks and smells a lot better!

Station#7 was in very bad shape. Mold, broken floor tiles, ceiling tiles that were seeping from leaks and possibly dead rodents, bad mattresses, a kitchen that was falling apart, and an obvious pest control problem. Today they have a roof that doesn't leak, concrete floors, fresh paint, all new ceiling tiles, new mattresses, a cool stainless steel kitchen island made from tool dressers, refreshed kitchen cabinets, and new window coverings & a/c system are coming soon.

The building is not open to the public because of COVID-19, but we dropped off some "welcome home" brownies & cases of Gatorade to B shift. The crew is now fully operational and they've cleaned all the construction dust from every nook & cranny of the building. They are very happy to be back in their own station (without the rodents & pests) after several months of being doubled up with the crews at stations #10 & #13.

Hillcrest Village
The park remains on track to open in the fall of 2020. The bathroom has been installed (bottom left photo), tile installation has begun, the furniture is arriving, and lighting should begin in the next few weeks. The developer reports that leasing is going well, even with COVID-19. Here are some cool drone photos of the park from last week.

The City Budget - 2020-2021
There is a lot of attention on the city budget:
  • Decrease in sales tax due to COVID-19
  • Increased social service needs
  • Calls for defunding/reimagining policing
  • Significant debt
  • Unfunded liabilities like pension obligations
  • Lack of investment in maintaining infrastructure (streets, traffic signals) and city assets (sanitation trucks, city buildings) that are deteriorating
  • Calls for investment in specific parts of the city

Things you should know: The city gets revenue from 3 main sources. First, property tax. While homeowners feel this tax directly, renters also pay property tax as part of their rent, and their landlord remits the payment. Second, from sales tax. When you buy goods and services within the City of Dallas, we receive 1% of the sale. Meaning, when you pay 8.25% sales tax, 1% of that comes to the City of Dallas. Another 1% goes to DART (by contract, we can't get out of it), and the other 6.25% goes to the State of Texas. If possible, try to shop/eat in Dallas, not a surrounding city. Third, from franchise fees. This revenue stream has also decreased significantly due to state legislation.

The City Manager, along with the CFO, is tasked with developing a draft budget for the city council based on our input. The draft budget will be released to council and the public in early August. Throughout August, there will be Budget Town Hall meetings with the public in all council districts. The city council will have budget workshops where we will be able to publicly ask questions and offer amendments to the budget. The budget will be passed by the end of September for the October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2021 fiscal year.

If you would like to review the current budget, you can find it at: https://dallascityhall.com/departments/budget/financialtransparency/Pages/Current-Budget.aspx. I am proud to have pushed the city to provide greater transparency by providing the budget at the object code level with the ability to download it in Excel.

I would love to hear from you with your suggestions for prioritization of needs and suggestions of items to cut. Here is how to best give that input:

Panhandling & Homelessness
Panhandling - Thank you to the residents who have STOPPED GIVING money to panhandlers. We are seeing a decrease in the number of people standing on corners asking for money. You are not being mean or selfish to not give a panhandler money. You may be saving their life from a fatal overdose, a robbery by another panhandler trying to take away their money, or saving a neighbor from having a criminal element in the neighborhood. If you have a chance to talk about panhandling with your neighbors, please commit to NOT give panhandlers money. It is the best way to rid them from our area. As many of you know, most are not actually homeless and are part of a ring that drops them off and picks them up in vans daily. Mobile electronic signs that will have a message to deter panhandling have been ordered and will begin with messages at Frankford and the Tollway.

Homelessness - The City of Dallas' plan is to put a homeless facility in every council district. District 12 has already had several virtual town halls to discuss this issue and the consensus is to support a family homeless center with wrap around services. Family homelessness is very different than chronic homelessness and a question and answer session is set up this Wednesday, July 29th, at 7 pm for you to ask questions of the experts. Two featured guests will be available to you - Diane Nilan, a national expert on family homelessness and James Thomas, Plano ISD Homeless Liaison. Diane has been a leading advocate for enhanced services for families experiencing homelessness and James will share with you the data on homelessness in Plano ISD and specifically, in Far North Dallas (1/2 of District 12 is in Plano ISD). The reality is many homeless families are already living in District 12, mostly living in hotel rooms week-to-week, and they need support. If there is going to be a homeless facility in D12, it makes sense to serve the people with kids already enrolled in the schools, already living, shopping, and employed in the area.

To register for the Ask-An-Expert family homeless session, please email Elysia.Martin@dallascityhall.com.


At the recent D12 Imagination Session on homelessness, there was discussion about the kinds of programmatic elements the community would like to see, questions about funding, timeline, and ways the community could engage with this facility. Here is more information that addresses some of those questions:
  • The funding will come from the CARES Act, so it must be spent by 12/30. I expect this program will be operational by Christmas.
  • This project will likely go to the City Council in September.
  • I have told the city that 1) I do not want the city to operate the facility. I want a qualified, experienced, non-profit with demonstrated success in working with families to regain their independence 2) Staff must be present at the site 24-hours a day 3) No walk-up admission to the facility. Candidates must go through an off-site coordinated intake process.

Additional things to know are that the facility will shelter approximately 50 families, children may remain at their current school and be bused which is required by federal law, the wrap around services available will likely include financial management, mental health services, case management, job training, job search, as well as programs and services for children like reading groups, camps, and case management.

This facility may be the first non-profit actually located in District 12. The location has not been announced, but it is not adjacent to any single family homes. As soon as the location can be released, we will hold a self-guided tour day that is COVID-compliant, so you can come take a look. In the meantime, I hope you will start thinking about if you would like to be involved in this project. Your church may want to sing at Christmas, you may want to go help serve a meal, be part of reading groups with kids, mentor a mom, do a collection drive, adopt one of the rooms to be decorated when a new family moves in, or do a service project to prepare the facility. Our caring and generous community can welcome and support the children and families at their time of greatest need. I hope this facility will be a blessing to both the families that turn to them for help, as well as the volunteers and supporters who live out the morals and commandments taught by the faith community.

In Dallas, there is only one facility for homeless families, and it is Family Gateway. The CEO was a speaker for an event we held in February, and I know she impressed many residents with how they were serving families and the outcome measures presented. I expect Family Gateway will respond to the RFP to run this facility as well as other non-profits from outside Dallas with very positive reputations for success.

If you would like to be involved with this project and you were not signed up as a participant in the virtual town halls related to this, please email me so we can add you to the list of people in this interest group. If you have questions about the project, you are welcome to email me directly or join us for the Ask-An-Expert session on Wednesday.

Additional City-wide homeless sessions:

Expert panel discussion on homelessness hosted by Guudwear (virtual)
Tuesday, July 28th 6 -7 pm
Panelists: Cara Mendelsohn, Dallas City Council, Daniel Roby, CEO Austin Street, Brenda Snitzer, Executive Director of The Stewpot, FPC Dallas

Dallas Area Young Lawyers - Addressing Homelessness in Dallas (virtual)
Tuesday, July 28th, noon
Moderated by: The Honorable Paula M. Rosales; Panelists: Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn, Michelle Heron-City Square Law Center, Edd Eason-City Square, and Ellen Magnis-Family Gateway
F ree for DAYL members, or $10 non-member fee
RSVP at: www.dayl.com/join-or-renew, or remit a $10 non-member fee at https://secure.lawpay.com/pages/dayl/association.
Thank You Navaz & Elysia!
Working from home sounds pretty great until the reality of trying to remotely coordinate many moving parts becomes your daily life. Many residents talk with Navaz and Elysia to resolve resident issues and I know you join me in thanking them for their professionalism, great follow through, and extra hard work during COVID-19.

District 12 is lucky to have THE BEST staff and I am lucky to work with them every day! Thank you Navaz & Elysia!
Census - Yes, it is still going on & why we need help!
Census Day was 4/15, but it has been extended to 10/31 because of COVID-19. Right now, District 12 has had about 70% of the population respond. In the City of Dallas, we've had about 50% of the population respond. Yikes! We need everyone to fill out the census! If you can, please encourage your friends and neighbors to do it. Every person that does it helps contribute to the funding we receive in this area for SCHOOLS, ROADS, MEDICAL CARE, SOCIAL SERVICES, and CITIES.

To complete the census, just go to www.2020census.gov or call (844) 330-2020 for English, (844) 468-2020 for Spanish. Many other languages are also available.

If someone doesn't complete the census, Census enumerators will start going door to door to get the information. This seems like a BAD IDEA during COVID, and it is very expensive to get information that way! So, if you don't want people coming to your door to ask you personal questions, please fill it out.

If you know a spot to hang a Census poster (store window, house of worship, community bulletin board), please email us. Also, there are flyers available for anyone giving out food or supply kits to folks that would like to add them. Please contact the office and we will drop them off to you.

Looking for a community service project? There are door hangers available for any groups that wish to distribute them in the District 12 apartment complexes. Again, contact the office for more information.
Need help, got a question, or want to give input?

Email: Cara.Mendelsohn@DallasCityHall.com
Office phone: (214) 670-4067
Text phone: (214) 490-1036