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Connecting You With City Information, News, and Resources
Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn

Council appointments:
*Chairman, Government Performance and Financial Management Committee
*Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on General Investigations and Ethics
*Vice Chairman, Public Safety Committee
*Housing and Homeless Solutions Committee
*Transportation Committee
*Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19
*Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs
*Regional Transportation Council Member
*North Central Texas Council of Governments Executive Committee

Other city-related appointments/elected positions:
*National League of Cities Youth, Education, and Families Council
*Board of Directors, National League of Cities Women in Municipal Government
Happy Fall!

Below are many updates, resources, and ways you can get involved. Every day I am reminded that YOU, the residents of Dallas, are what make Dallas such a great city.

District 12 is so lucky to have the Dallas Animal Services Everyday Adoption Center inside the Petsmart on Coit and Campbell. Adoptions are open to all, including residents of surrounding cities, and right now, all pets are free. The shelter is quickly running out of kennels for dogs 35 lbs or more. If you are interested in adopting or fostering, they'd love to connect with you. Stop by to see them or view all pets at: http://BeDallas90.org/pets.

If you need assistance from a city department, please call 311. If they are not able to help, or do not help to your satisfaction, please reach out to our office so we can follow up.

In-person office hours return! You're invited to drop by the North Central Police Station community room on Friday, 12/10, 2-4 and Friday, 12/17, 2-4, 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.

Best, Cara
ps-District 12 continues to spend some days at city hall and some work-from-home. Calls are forwarded but email is easiest for follow up.

Council Liaison: Madison.Johnson@dallascityhall.com
Council Assistant:
Luis.Delgado@dallascityhall.com
Poker Room - Lawsuit Filed
The poker room saga continues... Here's the update.

Champions, who leased the old III Forks property, applied for a Certificate of Occupancy that included a poker use. The city's building official denied the application. Champions reapplied as a restaurant with bar, and the Certificate of Occupancy was issued. Champions appealed the decision of the building official to the city's Board of Adjustment. They upheld the ruling of the building official (meaning no poker).

Recently, Champions has filed a lawsuit against the city. The city has not yet been served papers. The city will defend the building official and board of adjustment rulings.

Another Dallas poker room has appealed their denial of a Certificate of Occupancy to the Board of Adjustment. It is in the interest of neighbors to speak up on this appeal. There will be a hearing on November 17th at 1 pm. Like the last time, residents can sign up to speak and voice their opinion by emailing pokerrooms@dallascityattorney.org.
Campbell Green Park
Hillcrest Road - Changes Coming
(Note: The DART update on construction is near end of this email)

Above are drawings that show the changes coming to Hillcrest, between McCallum and Campbell, as the DART construction begins. If you live near this stretch of Hillcrest, you received a notice of the thoroughfare amendment that was voted on at the City Plan Commission and City Council. The amendment passed unanimously. I have shared these changes previously in the enews, on social media, and held a special town hall on the changes to Hillcrest. I will note for those who are unaware, my home is in the affected area.

Here is what is happening on Hillcrest:
Hillcrest will be torn up near the railroad tracks. Rebuilt, it will go down about 16 feet. The train will go over the road on a bridge, generally following the same grade as the ground. There will be large retaining walls holding up the bridges for the train and the bridge for the hike and bike trail.

With the design changes, there will now be sidewalks on both sides of Hillcrest, and we will no longer need a pedestrian HAWK signal to help residents get across the street. There will be a solid median on the south side, meaning vehicles entering Hillcrest from Wester Way will only be able to make right turns.

Headed southbound on Hillcrest, the descent will begin at the edge of the crosswalk at McCallum. Southbound Hillcrest will be two lanes between McCallum and Wester Way. Exiting from the west side of Wester Way on to Hillcrest, vehicles will only be able to go south. When making that turn, there will be a “lambchop,” creating a protected southbound turn and opening the street up to three lanes headed southbound to Campbell.

Heading north on Hillcrest from Campbell, the three lanes will continue with the far-right lane becoming a right-turn only onto Blythdale, Dye, McKamy and Wester Way. The actual pavement for the far-right lane will continue, but be “crosshatched." Northbound traffic will continue in two lanes under the railroad, and then two additional lanes, one for turning left at McCallum and one for turning right at McCallum, will open up before the McCallum intersection.

To protect visitors and officers at the police station, the median blocking access from exiting the station and heading southbound on Hillcrest will be adjusted to allow for left turns out of the station.

DART has purchased the commercial property on the southeast corner of McCallum and Hillcrest and will be building a pump station to address Hillcrest and some McCallum drainage. At some point in the construction, Hillcrest will have to be shut down completely for at least 6 months, possibly longer.

Traffic Signals: There will be new traffic signals at Hillcrest/McKamy and a newly reconstructed signal at Hillcrest/McCallum. Both McKamy and McCallum traffic signals will start out temporary, as the signal heads will need to move as the construction changes lanes.

Hike and Bike Trail: The Cotton Belt Hike and Bike Trail will also have a bridge that will go over Hillcrest. We have negotiated to have this installed with the bridge for the train.

Why I supported the changes to Hillcrest:
  1. Hillcrest is already 4 lanes north of McCallum, two in each direction. This change continues the two south bound lanes from McCallum to Wester Way, and then opens to 3 south bound lanes. All 6 lanes are available at Campbell. This pushes the 4 lane concept just one full block south.
  2. This will create turn-only lanes into the residential streets headed north bound, which is safer.
  3. The design change means we will have sidewalks on both sides of the street between Wester Way and McCallum. Previous plans showed sidewalks only on the west side of the street with a HAWK signal to help pedestrians cross Hillcrest outside of the intersection.
  4. The design change means we will have crosswalks on all four parts of the Hillcrest/McCallum intersection. Previous plans showed crosswalks only on three parts of the intersection.
  5. The change allows for less impact of the DART retaining wall to adjacent owners. The previous design was extremely close to their homes and increased risks to their property from the anchoring system.
  6. The change eliminates a key AT&T utility relocation, meaning a shorter overall construction time for the entire project, a shorter construction time on Hillcrest, and less outages for AT&T customers in the area.
  7. This change means Hillcrest will be fully closed during construction for a shorter length of time.

I don't often agree with DART about this rail project, but these changes are an improvement to safety and their construction plans. While the rail was already approved before I was elected to office, my goals remain improving safety and reducing the effect on quality of life for Far North Dallas residents.

The construction period, which is nearing, will be extremely difficult and you will likely need to allow more driving time and consider alternative routes.

You may have noticed the mobile signage alerting drivers to the impending construction have had the dates moved back month after month. DART is submitting plans to the City of Dallas, which is reviewing them to ensure they are engineered for safety and according to all agreements. Once the plans are approved, permits will be issued. DART stated at a public event last week they expect to start construction in January.
New Dog Park
The new dog park on the RISD land on the corner of La Manga and Meadowcreek has been approved unanimously by City Council. It's working name is Parkhill Dog Park. Thank you to our wonderful RISD partners, community members that asked for improvements, and Lane Conner, our Park Board representative, for helping make this happen! You'll see more benches, trash disposal, fencing so dogs don't go in the creek, water fountains for both people and pets, and a little bit of fun for the dogs... coming soon!
 Redistricting
The State of Texas has completed redistricting, where the boundaries for your state representatives, state senators, and congressmen have been redrawn. The city of Dallas is embarking on that process now. No matter where you live in D12, you'll have a new state rep and maybe a new state senator and congressman. You can see the changes to your state and federal districts with a tool embedded in this article: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/25/2021-texas-redistricting-explained/

Like the state and federal districts, the city is also undergoing a redistricting process to make sure each city council district represents approximately the same number of residents. District 12 has more residents than the ideal number. You can give input to the redistricting committee by submitting information that includes areas that outline who they should NOT break up (you could show the boundaries of your HOA, for instance) or communities with something else in common (the eruv, a school attendance boundary, etc...) or you could submit a complete redistricting map for them to consider.

The City of Dallas redistricting website is now live. Residents are encouraged to visit DallasRedistricting.com for the latest information on the redistricting process, getting involved, communicating directly with Redistricting Commissioners and submitting their very own maps. 
 Branching Out - A Tree Planting Success!
What an amazing community! 150+ volunteers planted 50 trees at Salado Park in Far North Dallas last Saturday. Each will have memories of this beautiful day for decades to come as they watch these trees grow. The park is located along the Preston Ridge Trail and next to Bowie Elementary School and will provide a shady respite for walkers and cyclists as well as a beautiful place for neighbors to enjoy.

Great cities start with strong neighborhoods and how wonderful for so many neighbors in Highlands North and Estates West to be part of this effort. Special thanks to YMSL, North Dallas Neighborhood Alliance, Dallas Police - North Central Neighborhood Patrol Officers, State Farm, Lane Conner, and all the volunteers that came out & especially Texas Trees Foundation and Dallas Park and Recreation Department!
 City of Dallas Ethics Policy
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra Concert Truck
What a glorious day! Thank you to all who were able to attend the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's Concert Truck event last Sunday. It was a real treat and hundreds of people showed up to enjoy the outstanding 4-hand piano pieces and fabulous weather. Thank you to District 12 Arts Commissioner Jo Trizila for her support of this innovative program to share the arts all over Dallas, the Dallas Symphony for funding this program, and YOU for being part of such a special day.
Hillcrest Village Changes
As you have probably heard or noticed, LADA has closed. We will miss it, but look forward to whatever will replace it.

Sushi Box just opened and if you haven't tried Haute Sweets, you're missing something delicious! Coming soon... Starwood Cafe, Andy's Frozen Custard, Don Pepe's and Cane Rosso.

The park area can be reserved on the City of Dallas Parks Department website at: https://www.dallasparks.org/365/Make-a-Reservation
Donations for the Holidays
Dedication to Sergeant Michael Smith - North Central
Yesterday the law enforcement building at Love Field was dedicated to Sergeant Michael Smith. Dallas Police Chief Garcia shared lovely words of remembrance, honor, integrity, service, and respect for Sgt Smith, who was noted for his dedication to public safety. He served in the US military before joining DPD. His sevice included 7 years at Love Field and he was the first officer to be killed in the line of duty at the North Central station. He was killed in downtown Dallas on 7/7/16.
Helping to Support Family Gateway North
District 12 residents are so caring and thoughtful. Many have reached out to see how they can get involved in supporting Family Gateway North (the new family homeless shelter). Here are three ways:

  1. Sign up to be part of the Neighborhood Advisory Group. To volunteer, email Ellen Magnis, CEO, at emagnis@familygateway.org.
  2. Help spread some holiday hope and cheer! They are gearing up for their Holiday Store by collecting donated toys for families in their program to “shop” for their children completely free of charge. Sign up to organize a Holiday Drive of toys, gift cards, gift wrapping supplies, or donate items from their Amazon Wish List or Walmart Registry. If you are going to host a Holiday Drive, register it with Family Gateway so they know what to expect. Questions? Email holidays@familygateway.org or call Kathy Kidwell at 214-823-4500 x106.
  3. There are numerous opportunities for you and your corporation, organization, neighborhood, or place of worship to get involved including making a financial donation at www.familygateway.org.
Connecting Hike & Bike Trails
We already knew how much fun our hike and bike trails can be, but Covid showed us how incredibly valuable our trails are to physical and mental health. We're focused on CONNECTIONS to what we already have that will allow for greater mobility and opportunities for exercise and enjoyment.

In the last two weeks, we've gone on a tour with Jacobs Engineering, who has been contracted to help design the connection between the Timberglen Trail and the Preston Ridge Trail. This connection will be the farthest north trail in the city, and it is tricky because so much of the area is already built out. They joined me and Lane Conner, our D12 parks board representative, for an afternoon excursion of all points under consideration to understand the pros/cons before they come back to us with a recommendation for the route.

In the morning, the Preston Ridge Trail gained up-close scrutiny on a bike trip down the trail all the way to District 11's Valley View park and back. Missing signage, striping, and other safety concerns were noted for attention. The goal was to find a safe way for cyclists and pedestrians to connect with all the other trails in Dallas. There was no apparent easy way to make this happen, but several ideas are being explored. Many thanks to the Park Department and several members of the Park Board who rode the trail to see the challenges first-hand!
Food Insecurity - Resources are Available
The holidays are coming soon, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and more... and those special days usually include holiday meals. If you or someone you know is struggling with food insecurity, there are resources available. Please go to www.ntfb.org to find nearby food distribution events and food pantries for ongoing needs.

If you would like to donate to assist a food pantry, there are many organizations that would love your assistance. The North Texas Food Bank, United Way, are good choices, or consider giving directly to our local food banks with food or financial donations:
Network of Community Ministries: www.thenetwork.org
Jewish Family Service: www.jfsdallas.org
Metrocrest Services: www.metrocrestservices.org
The Storehouse (St. Andrew UMC): www.thestorehousecc.org
In the News
Building Permits


Panhandling



City of Dallas Data Loss/Technology:



Violent Crime Reduction Plan



Code Compliance - City Efficiency


Crime in Apartments


City of Refuge - Ethical Concerns





Naming of Love Field Building - Sgt Michael Smith Law Enforcement Center


Hiding of data from DPD Open Data Portal:
Low Cost Internet Available
North Central Police Station Neighborhood Patrol Officers
Last week Councilmembers Willis, Schultz and I hosted breakfast with the neighborhood patrol officers at the North Central station. We are continuing to build the relationships that help increase safety and security in our area. A big topic was how we communicate with each other and how we're addressing panhandling and homelessness. Our goal is for all to be aligned and informed to serve our North Dallas residents.
Demonstration Projects & Innovation in City of Dallas
The City of Dallas Government Performance and Financial Management committee was briefed on demonstration projects and best practices associated with them.

Krista Nightingale, Managing Director of the The Better Block and Chris Sinclair, VP Government Relations of CableRunner, who have each completed demonstration projects with the city shared information with the committee.

Currently the city has many demonstration projects in the works including:
Public Works - Asphalt Zipper (make repairs faster, cheaper, and stronger)
Water Dept - Multi-layered manhole lining for 8 manholes
Water Dept - RFI will be released for vegetation management along creeks and floodplains utilizing goats
Sanitation Dept - Brush & Bulk Trash Separation Pilot
Multiple collaborating departments - two in the planning stages
Other demonstration projects/pilots are in the works!
Halloween Trunk or Treat at Campbell Green Rec Center
Thank you to all the volunteers and donors who helped provide a fun and safe Halloween event for the kids in District 12!
Safe Driving Initiative - Reduce Serious Crashes & Deaths
Slow Down, Don't Drink & Drive, Put Down the Phone!
Speeding was the top contributor to serious-injury and fatality crashes on North Texas roadways in 2020, figuring into one-third of such incidents across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The next three leading factors – Impaired driving, failure to drive in a single lane and distracted driving – accounted for a combined 31% of such crashes.
 
The North Central Texas Council of Governments is undertaking an effort to make the roads safer by reducing these and other leading causes of serious incidents, with the launch of the Drive Aware North Texas campaign. This is an educational campaign aimed at improving negative driver behaviors that are the leading contributing factors for serious-injury and fatality crashes in North Texas.
 
NCTCOG and its transportation partners work daily to ensure the transportation system provides residents with the capacity needed as the region grows. Roadway construction and maintenance are visible contributors to system reliability. But safety is also a significant part of the equation. Drive Aware North Texas encourages motorists to be part of the solution to safer roadways by avoiding certain risky behaviors while behind the wheel.
 
The campaign website, www.driveawarentx.org, focuses on four main causes of serious and fatal traffic incidents: speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving and wrong-way driving. It examines data over the past five years related to each category, including crashes by time of day and gender, presenting the data in easy-to-read graphs.
 
Speeding
 
Speeding crashes occur when drivers either exceed speed limits or drive at unsafe speeds for road conditions. Speeding was an identified factor in over 150,000 crashes, including 1,252 fatal injury crashes, and 4,619 suspected serious-injury crashes from 2016-2020. While speeding can cause serious crashes any time of day, the most common time for them to occur was 5 p.m.
 
Impaired Driving
 
Driver impairment – by alcohol, illegal drugs, legal medication or drowsiness – has remained a leading contributing factor in serious roadway crashes in both Texas and the region. Although driver impairment continues to be a significant problem in North Texas, there is some good news. The number of crashes involving impaired driving decreased by 4% from 2016-2020. There was also a decline in the number of crashes where medication was a factor. Alcohol remains the leading cause in this category. But there are fewer alcohol-related serious-injury and fatality crashes than in 2016, according to the data.

Distracted Driving
 
Distracted driving includes texting, talking on a mobile device, using social media or any other activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the roadway. There were over 77,000 distracted driving crashes in the region from 2016-2020, with most occurring in the early evening, according to the data. Drivers are encouraged to focus on the roadway and avoid potentially dangerous distractions when behind the wheel. Following a few simple tips could help make the roads safer for everyone.
 
  • Always give driving your full attention.
  • Pull off the road entirely and come to a complete stop before talking or texting.
  • Put your phone away, turn it off, or use an app to block texts and calls while driving.
  • Tell friends, family and co-workers you won't respond to texts or calls while driving.
  • Remember that all distractions are dangerous, so pay full attention when behind the wheel.
 
Wrong-Way Driving
 
Wrong-way driving incidents occur less frequently, but when they happen, they are more likely to result in serious injuries or fatalities than the other factors. NCTCOG continues to work with its transportation partners to implement strategies to reduce wrong-way driving throughout the region.
 
By avoiding risky behaviors while driving and paying attention to the road in front of them, North Texans can make the transportation system safer for themselves and their neighbors. To learn more about the Drive Aware North Texas campaign visit www.driveawarentx.org. 
Deck the Plaza 2021 - 11/27, 5:30-8:30 pm
The City of Dallas will host the 4th Annual Deck the Plaza on Saturday, November 27th. The event will begin at 5:30 PM with the official tree lighting by Mayor Johnson and continue until 8:30 PM. Like last year, Deck the Plaza will be a public holiday drive-thru event at City Hall Plaza. The proposed route will begin eastbound along Young Street at Griffin Street and turn south on Browder Street, adjacent to the Plaza. The caravan will enter City Hall Plaza on Marilla Street and proceed through holiday entertainment, socially distanced waves of good cheer from volunteer city staff and elected officials, a festival of decorations, and end with a view of 35-foot holiday tree.

DART Cotton Belt/Silver Line Construction Update
This week you may see additional clearing in the DART right of way and removal of center median street lighting.

Below are approved lane closures for utility work. These lanes could be closed until December 31, 2021. All are for single right lane closures:
  • 17300 Meandering Way
  • 6000-6300 Davenport
  • 17200-17500 Hillcrest
  • 6900-7100 McCallum
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