Council Approves Debris Hauler, Bucket Truck, Traffic Safety Grant

In regular business, these major items were approved during the Sept. 11 City Council Meeting.

2023-24 Property Tax Rate, Budget & Community Investment Program

The City of Plano's fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

For FY 2023-24, City Council approved:

• A tax rate of 0.4176 cents per $100 of assessed property value
• The Operating Budget totaling $728.8 million
• The Community Investment Program (CIP) totaling $341.8 million

Construction Debris Hauling

Street and utility line repairs generate construction debris that is collected at the public works yard. Under this contract, a company is hired to appropriately haul and dispose of the debris. The $293,000 1-year contract includes a renewal for one period not to exceed a total cost of $586,000. By having hauling handled by a third party, it frees up equipment and crews to focus on maintenance of the City.

Crew Cab Bucket Truck 

This 4x4 truck replaces a unit that was damaged beyond repair in May 2023. It is one of nine bucket trucks assigned to the Traffic division of Public Works. These trucks are used to maintain and repair traffic signals. The lead time for a new truck is 2 years. However, Fleet Services found this truck that meets our needs available for $185,000 and purchased it to expedite the delivery. 

Texas Highway Traffic Safety Program

In our efforts to reduced red light crashes a several problem intersections, the Plano Police Department has applied for Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) grant funds. City Council approved accepting the FY 2023-24 grant of just under $139,000 for traffic enforcement, $31,000 of which is the required City match. This grant is a 77.72%/22.28% matching grant. The match dollars, coming from the City’s Traffic Safety Fund, will be applied toward salaries and benefits. 

Plano has participated in this program since 2002, which allows additional enforcement at these intersections where red light crashes have resulted in injuries and deaths. 

The next regular City Council meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7 pm. The agenda becomes available after 5 pm on the Wednesday leading up to the meeting. Watch the meeting live on Facebook, YouTube or PlanoTV.org.

Find City Council agendas online at Plano.gov/Agenda.

Kick Off Fall with the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival

Experience Plano's signature community event, the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival. More than 30 hot air balloons take to the sky. The festival starts Thursday, Sept. 21 with the Plano Symphony Orchestra family-friendly concert. Enjoy colorful special shapes, balloon glows, balloon activities and parachute team exhibitions. Watch live performances by Party Machine and Ice House. 

Find plenty of food, arts and crafts. Hop over to the Kids Fun Zone and visit the free Kids Korner Make-and-Take Craft Tent. Rides are $2.50-$5 or get an All-Day-Play Wristband for $20. On Friday and Saturday nights, the festival closes with professional fireworks. 

Festival hours:  

• Thursday, Sept. 21, 5-10 pm 
• Friday, Sept. 22, 4-10 pm  
• Saturday, Sept. 23, 6 am-10 pm
• Sunday, Sept. 24, 6-11 am 

Admission Fees:

• Adults - $10 per ticket
• Children (3-12 years old) - $5 per ticket  
• Seniors (65 and older) - $5 per ticket  
• Children under 36 inches tall – FREE  
• Military (including retired), first responders (police, firefighters, nurses and doctors – 1 free ticket per valid ID  

Purchase tickets online. If you plan to pay at the gate, prepare for a cashless experience with either a credit card, debit card or Apple Pay. Follow the signs to prime parking for $15 or off-site parking at Plano Event Center for $10 – also cashless. The event address is 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway. 

Show guests your Plano-welcome smile as a Plano Balloon Fest volunteer. 

Celebrate Local Art and Library Bookmark Contest Winners

Like to make or experience art? Come to our Community Art Celebration, featuring the 2023 Bookmark Contest Award Ceremony. Bring the family and be creative with these engaging activities: 

• Learn the basics of cross-stitch on a giant pegboard with yarn, with help from Sit & Stitch members. Cross-stitch, a type of embroidery stitch, can create a pixel-like effect to form an image when input into a pattern. 

• Get a crash-course in puppetry. Make a puppet talk and move. Challenge yourself to perform actions with puppets.

• Explore the beauty of poetry through a couplet, or two successive lines of verse that rhyme. Be inspired by famous works of art and write your own verse.  

• Build a Play-Doh character and add to our community stop motion film. 

• Use your unique fingerprints to create a one-of-a-kind bookmark, postcard or other work of art.

Community Art Celebration 

Thursday, Sept. 20, 6:30-8 pm 

Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd. 

Meet representatives from Plano Parks and Recreation, ArtCentre of Plano, Sustainability and Environmental Education division and Plano Arts & Events and hear what’s happening around town as we celebrate local art in our community.

Is Your Older Loved One Ready for a Disaster?

Older adults face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies we now face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability or live in rural areas. September is National Preparedness Month and the theme for 2023 is “Take Control in 1, 2, 3.” If you are older or a caregiver of an older adult, this is your call to make a plan.  

FEMA has put together resources in English and Spanish to help you prepare before the disaster occurs. 

Register for Plano City Call to receive local disaster alerts by call, text or email.

North Texas Food Bank Peanut Butter Drive 

All September 

Discover how you can donate, as an individual or as a team, to the annual peanut butter drive and help feed hungry children in North Texas. This is the 10th year Plano has collected peanut butter (or other nut butters).

Get donation details.

Save 25% on Texas Pure Products

Ends Sept. 30

Custer Road Retail Store

9901 Custer Rd., Plano

(enter the NTMWD gate)

During the Texas Pure Products Annual Customer Appreciation Sale, get 25% off bagged and bulk products. Purchase and pick up products at the Custer Road Facility or Regional Composting Facility. 

Find the right Texas Pure Products for your planting project. 

Community Garage Sale

Saturday, Sept. 16  

8-11 am 

Oak Point Recreation Center  

6000 Jupiter Rd. 

Kick off the fall season with unique and affordable finds. Admission is free. 

Follow the Plano Parks and Recreation Facebook page. 

Global Reflections - Art: The Universal Language 

Daily Viewing: 

Sept. 6-Oct. 15 

Opening Reception:  

Wednesday, Sept. 27 

7-8:30 pm

Courtyard Theater 

1509 H Ave. 

This multicultural art exhibit features original artwork from the Plano Art Association and other local artists. It leads up to the Plano International Festival on Saturday, Oct. 14.

RSVP for the reception by Sunday, Sept. 24.

Property Maintenance Workshop 

Saturday, Sept. 23 

9 am-Noon 

Neighborhood Services Building 

777 E. 15th St.

Learn how to upkeep and maintain your home and property. Topics include: 

• Electrical 
• Foundations 
• Grading and erosion 
• Hiring a contractor 
• Plumbing 
• Tree trimming 
• And more 

Great for first-time homeowners!

Sign up for this free workshop today!

2023 Clear the Shelter Results

Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2023 Clear the Shelters event! Together in August, we were able to find forever homes for: 

• 79 dogs
• 136 cats 
• 8 cockatiels 
• 2 geese 
• 1 bunny 
• 1 tortoise 
• 1 chicken

We appreciate our staff, volunteers and everyone involved in making this event a success!

Still looking for a pet? Visit Share.Plano.gov/

PetsForAdoption 

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