Dallas City Hall
District 12
Enews
January 9, 2022
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Connecting You With City Information, News, and Resources |
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Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn
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Happy New Year!
May 2022 be a wonderful year for all. Here's to a happy and healthy year ahead and a wish for all your hopes and dreams to come true.
In-person office hours return! You're invited to drop by Campbell Green Recreation Center 01/14, 2-4pm to get help with any city issues, give input, or just say hello! It's first-come, first-served, but pre-Covid, nobody waited more than 10 minutes.
My top city-wide priorities for 2022:
-Understand and improve issues with IT
-Continued Improvement on Ethics Reform
-Fixing the Building Permit Process
-Reducing Property Taxes
-Improving Government Efficiency
-Investing in infrastructure (roads, traffic signals, bike lanes, trails) and good repair of our city-owned assets.
-Supporting public safety efforts
Best, Cara
ps-a separate Cotton Belt/Silver Line update is coming in a different email.
Council Liaison: Madison.Johnson@dallascityhall.com
Council Assistant:
Luis.Delgado@dallascityhall.com
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Your City Council District May Change Through Redistricting |
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District 12 has more people than ideal for dividing up council districts and some will likely move to another council district for the next municipal election. You can make your voice heard on how you think council district boundaries should be drawn. The most important thing you can share is what communities your neighborhood is connected to, either by HOA, school attendance boundary, religious affiliation, or other connecting factor.
Redistricting is the process of balancing out the city council boundaries, and just like the state, new boundaries will be based on the US Census data, public input, and (probably) some politics.
You can get involved by attending in-person or virtual meetings (see schedule below), or click the link below to draw a portion of the map you'd like to see, or just show on the map the areas you think should be considered together. Here is an example: some of the suggested maps posted on the redistricting webpage show Highlands North split in two, with the southern portion in District 11 and the northern portion in District 12.
Because of redistricting at the state level, every person in all parts of District 12 will have a new state representative and new state senator. If you live in the Collin County portion of the district, you'll also have a new US Congressman. You can check on the changes based on your specific address by inputting your address to the box embedded in this article:
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Intermittent Recycling Collection Delays |
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Sanitation Services is experiencing moderate personnel and equipment availability issues attributable to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases. At this time, service impacts have been intermittent, and generally limited to blue roll cart collection of recyclable materials.
Routes unable to be completed on the scheduled service day are prioritized for collection the next morning. Several areas were delayed longer last week due to the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Recycling routes may continue to be delayed by 1 day in various areas of the city, on a rotating basis, over the next few weeks, until staffing levels stabilize. It is not necessary for neighbors to report missed recycling collection to 311 unless materials have not been collected after more than 48 hours.
Also, please remember WHERE your carts should be put out. Trash is picked up by a mechanical arm and it is not precise. Bins should NOT be placed against your fence like they are in the photo above, they should NOT be placed next to your gas meter, and please leave room between the bins. City regulations require bins be placed 3 feet from the fence or gas meter. It also takes our trash collectors much longer to maneuver the truck and mechanical arm when the bins are too close together, delaying pick up for the whole route. Thank you!
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North Dallas Chamber of Commerce |
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The City of Dallas Councilmembers from North Dallas sit on the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce board. The chamber invited all locally elected officials to a holiday event with business leaders to have a chance to hear about how they are operating and ways we can help as we kick off 2022. Thank you to the Westin Galleria for hosting the event and conducting a toy drive for Santa Cops! |
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Park Improvements Happening! |
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It has been so fun to watch the Pickleball courts being built at Campbell Green Park! This has been the most requested amenity for our area.
We're waiting on the park plan from the Parks and Recreation Department for the new dog park at Meadowcreek and LaManga, and then we'll have a town hall meeting to get your input. STAY TUNED!!!
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What Needs to Be Addressed?? NOW is the time to speak up! |
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Do you think there should be improvements for pedestrians or cyclists in Dallas? How about roadway issues that are unsafe or in poor condition or designed poorly? Problems with transit? Now is the time to submit your comments.
I hear from people often on these issues, but NOW IS THE TIME to submit your comments and suggestions officially to the The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTOG). This will actually get attention if you fill it out. There have been approximately 300 comments so far, mostly from Plano. Take a minute and speak up for what your neighborhood needs or what you see needs improvement on your daily commute.
*Protected bike lanes needed? (connections to safely get to White Rock Lake, Richardson, Plano, daily activities)
*Pedestrian safety issues sidewalks, signal timing, road striping, road speed, etc... (near school zones on Arapaho, Coit at LaManga, Campbell, Frankford, Preston, Rosemeade, Vail, Trinity Mills)
*Roadway issues (vehicles drive too fast, high number of accidents on street, racing on the street, street is not designed properly, road is in poor condition, especially tollway @ Frankford, Midway, Coit, Marsh @ Frankford)
*Transit issues (buses not available, no bus route where needed, bus doesn't run the hours needed, need bus shelter, need sidewalk leading to bus stop, and all things Cotton Belt/Silver Line)
Interactive Public Input: Map Your Experience:
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Welcome to Andy's Frozen Custard (Arapaho at Meadowcreek), Designer's Consignment Shop (Preston at Lloyd Drive) and Scrambler's Cafe (Preston at Frankford)! We love having you in District 12! |
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Great meeting with our D12 Animal Services Commissioner, Donna Magro, and D8 Commissioner to hear issues to be addressed, hopes for the future, and help strategize how to get things done. It is remarkable and inspiring to see such dedication and care in these volunteer leadership positions. Thank you for your service! |
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Saving Water Now Saves You Money Later |
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Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) calculates your sewer charges for next year based on your water use during the winter.
Water use fees pay for the costs to obtain, clean and deliver safe, high-quality drinking water to customers. Sewer fees pay for the costs to collect wastewater from homes and businesses, transport it to a wastewater treatment plant, and then clean it to almost drinking quality before it is released into the
Trinity River.
DWU uses water meters to measure water use, but it's not cost effective to meter sewer use, so sewer charges are estimated. DWU calculates your sewer charge based on your average water use during the months of December, January, February and March.
These months are chosen since most water used in this period will go into the sewer system, rather than being used outdoors. Your winter months average will be the basis of your sewer charge for the whole year. However, if your water use during any month is lower than your winter months average, your sewer charge will be based on your actual water use for that month.
There are many ways to save water! The American Water Works Association estimates that toilets account for almost 30 percent of water used indoors. If your toilets were installed prior to January 1, 1994 you may be eligible for a voucher to redeem up to two free toilets.
To apply for our free toilet program or schedule an irrigation check up, visit
us at SaveDallasWater.com or call us at 214-670-3155. Find other water saving tips at: SaveDallasWater.com.
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Thank you to the Church of the Holy Communion in District 12 for inviting me to participate in the Christmas Lessons and Carols program. The music and setting of this service is truly extraordinary. It was great to see the congregation in person again. |
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Is Your Home Ready For The Winter? |
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Automatic sprinklers
If you have an automatic sprinkler system, be sure it has a rain and freeze sensor installed. These sensors have been required by City ordinance since 2005 and prevent your
irrigation controller from coming on if temperatures drop below freezing. Watering during a freeze can cause sheets of ice to form on your property or on the street creating extremely dangerous conditions for drivers
and pedestrians. In addition to damaging your property,
there could be liability issues should anyone be injured.
Preparing pipes for freezing weather
When temperatures drop below freezing, the water in your pipes can freeze. Frozen water expands which can burst pipes and cause extensive damage to your home. In addition to the costs to repair your plumbing system, the flooding from burst pipes can damage carpeting, furniture and much more.
Before a freeze:
• Wrap all exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of your home, including the attic.
• Drain and remove garden hoses from outside faucets.
Insulate outdoor faucets with hard foam covers or wrap with cloth.
• If you have a pier and beam foundation, cover vents around the foundation of your home.
• Learn where your private water cut-off valves are and how to operate them.
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In sub-freezing weather:
• Let hot and cold water drip slowly from inside faucets during a hard freeze.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls.
If you’re not going to be home:
Turn off water at your private valve and drain all outside water faucets if your house will be unoccupied for several days. If a freeze occurs while you are gone, you may return home to find your home flooded.
Find your private water cut-off valve:
Frequently, private water cut-off valves can be found near an outside faucet and close to your house. Some homeowners with inground irrigation systems may
find their private cut-off near the irrigation system valves, frequently close to the property line.
Older homes may have their cut-off valve buried in the ground. A quarter-inch piece of iron with a 90-degree angle protrudes from the buried valves and serves as a handle. The iron piece looks like an upside down “L” and turning the handle will stop the water flow to your home.
If you need help:
For emergency assistance in turning your water off or
on, you can reach the City of Dallas 24 hours a day by
calling 311.
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The library is open and staff is ready to assist you, but there are still some missing items due to supply chain issues. We're hoping the library will be 100% finished with repairs and remodeling soon! A special event will be held with the Friends of Renner Frankford Library to celebrate when we hit full completion! |
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Racial Equity Audit Report |
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The City commissioned a report on Racial Equity. Your input on this report and its findings are important to give context from the North Dallas perspective. As you can see below, there are no meetings north of LBJ. If you are able to attend one of the meetings, I think you will find it interesting and informative.
I believe District 12 is one of the most diverse and equitable, with residents of every color, religion, income, age, and ability living and interacting in close proximity. I don't know of another part of town where low-income apartments, moderate homes and very expensive homes all live within a block or two of each other. District 12 has a very large stock of low-income apartments that were built in the 1980s, comprising about 65% of our total housing, allowing every income level to easily move to this area. Racially, our district is about 18% Black, 18% Hispanic, 10% Asian, about 50% White, and the rest is other/mixed races. All the schools in the Collin and Denton County portions of the district are Title 1 (meaning they have a substantial enrollment of kids eligible for free/reduced lunch).
If you are not able to attend and would like to read the report and email your comments, here are links:
Email comments to: Equity@dallascityhall.com and District12@dallascityhall.com
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Campbell Green Holiday Event |
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Thank you to all that were able to join us for the holiday event at Campbell Green hosted by the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department. It was a fun, community-filled way to start the holidays and a great time was had by all! Special shout out to Luis, who was our friendly Santa and to Ann Christiansen who donated the Santa costume to the City of Dallas! |
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Code Compliance Ride-Along |
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Luis and I spent an afternoon with the Far North Dallas Code Compliance team that included Director Carl Simpson. We visited "hot spot" areas, talked about challenges residents face with timely resolution of code issues, illegal dumping, 18-wheelers parked on public streets and on commercial property (not allowed!), and or new pilot program.
Here's what you should know: Please call 311 to report issues! If you see an 18-wheeler parked in a lot overnight or on a street overnight, please call 311. If there is an area with illegal dumping or trash, please call 311 so the property owner can be instructed to clean it up. The photo below is of signage and cameras being used in one of our hot spot areas to deter and catch anyone in a frequent dumping location.
The pilot program - You can now drop off bulk items 24/7 at the Renner Frankford library parking lot containers. You can put in anything you would normally put in bulk trash (landscape debris, bricks, small and big appliances, furniture, boxes, etc...) but 1) it MUST be put in the trash container. You can't leave it next to the container and 2) NO HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS OR PAINT can be put in the container. The site has cameras monitoring the usage and who is putting items in, so please do not put in hazardous chemicals or paint. Just to clarify, regular bulk trash continues as it always has, this is in addition to your monthly curb service.
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Dallas Police Academy Graduation |
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This police academy graduation ceremony highlighted the hard work the cadets put in over the last 9 months to become a DPD officer. The four officers pictured with the chief below are coming to the North Central Police Station. These graduation ceremonies are a favorite event. Welcome class #377! |
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Holiday Giving - Thank You! |
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Thank you to all the residents who donated to Promise House this holiday season. Promise House is a wonderful organization focused on homeless youth and your contribution of items for their shelter and financial donations really help make the difference for these kids. Most have been removed from their families for neglect or abuse and don't have a CPS placement, some have been kicked out of their households once they discover they are gay or pregnant. All of them are in terrible situations and your kindness and generosity means so much. I was honored to represent the City Council at their staff appreciation luncheon and share the Mayor's proclamation in support for the Council Cares initiative. www.promisehouse.org
Many D12 residents also participated in the DPD winter bundle drive to collect warm jackets, and your generosity and support is very appreciated.
At Christmas time, Luis, Madison and I were able to deliver some care packages with hams and distribute games and baked goods to families in one of the District 12 Dallas Housing Authority properties.
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Oncor Pruning - District 12 |
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We have strong winds coming with the winter weather. The wind, moving tree branches more than we expect, is the main culprit for power outages in our area. PLEASE see below for Oncor tree pruning. If your area is on the list, they will notify you with a door hanger before they cut your trees if it is needed to protect the electric lines. They use an arborist, safety protocols, and they have the legal right to cut branches that are near electrical wires, even those on your property. Thank you for your cooperation. |
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WINTER BREAK SERVICE CREW
These are some cool kids. On their school winter break they're not sitting home playing computer games or binging Netflix, they went out to learn about needs in the community and putting in the work to make the world a better place. They delivered Meals on Wheels to local seniors, packed food boxes for Crossroads Services, served a meal at Austin Street Shelter, did a park clean up at Campbell Green, and more! They concluded with a tour of city hall, asking great questions. Special thanks to their adult advisor, Chana Ben-Abraham, of NCSY Dallas for planning such an impactful program.
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Construction on Hillcrest and Campbell |
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The current construction on Hillcrest and Campbell is not part of DART Silver Line work, it's just fixing the roads. With the DART construction coming soon, we'll be glad to have this done before it begins! Please drive safely as the lanes shift for closure. |
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Trees on Coit in Front of Adventure Landing |
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The big, mature trees in front of Adventure Landing will be removed because they sit on top of utilities that have to be moved with the DART Cotton Belt/Silver Line construction. The City of Dallas continues to work with DART to pay into a special mitigation fund to restore trees along the Cotton Belt/Silver Line as close to the place they were removed as possible. |
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Sexually Oriented Businesses |
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Police Chief Garcia has proposed to city council to close Sexually Oriented Businesses from 2 am - 6 am to reduce violent crime. He has presented an in-depth analysis of this issue to the Quality of Life committee, the Public Safety Committee, and a briefing to the full council. The Mayor has put the item on the city council agenda for the end of the month. Here is more information about it:
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You may have noticed there are "hoods" over the bus stop signs around town. DART is revamping the bus routes, and some routes will end soon and some will expand service. If you ride the bus, please make sure you are checking the DART website to stay in the loop about the changes. Their goal is to reduce routes with very low ridership and expand frequency (how often the bus comes) for higher ridership routes.
As a member of the transportation committee, Regional Transportation Council, and board member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, I am hoping we will see greater coordination and service levels for Dallas residents in ways that provide meaningful transportation alternatives for our residents. With the $1.9 billion dollar Silver Line/Cotton Belt as the major expansion effort for DART, we are sadly locked in a project that will not provide ridership, improve air quality, or set DART on a course for stability or growth. I believe we need to seriously rethink our Dallas transportation priorities.
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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
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