Sunday, July 9, 2023

Good evening,

:

July 4th is one of the busiest days of the year for our city's police and fire departments. If you looked at the sky from the Downtown area after dark on Tuesday night, you could see why. Fireworks filled the air in all directions. It was beautiful -- and

mostly illegal

.

As noted above, the good news is that Dallas Fire-Rescue reported a major decrease in calls "potentially" related to fireworks this year as compared to July 4, 2022. The decrease was driven by a major drop in grass fires. I'm no Smokey Bear, but I would guess last year's higher numbers had something to do with the prevalent drought conditions all over Dallas at that time.

Dallas police and fire also boosted enforcement this year. The departments worked together to confiscate 1,310 pounds of illegal fireworks, up from 938 pounds in confiscated in 2022.

Read more in

this memo from Dallas Fire Chief Dominique Artis to the Dallas City Council

.

📝 Also in the City Hall Friday memos:

• Your chance is coming to weigh in on potential improvements for how cars, delivery trucks, valets, scooters, pedestrians, and others can better access and use curb lanes in Downtown and other parts of the city. The draft "On-Street Parking and Curb Management Policy" will be published online for public comment from Monday, July 17, through Sunday, August 6. A virtual public meeting is planned for Tuesday, July 25, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Look for more information soon. Read more. 

• Code Compliance Services (CCS) has created a short-term rental (STR) resource page to answer your questions about new regulations set to take effect in December. STRs (Airbnb, Vrbo) will no longer be allowed in single-family residential areas. They will still be allowed in multi-family areas, including Downtown. Read more.

As a reminder, the Dallas City Council is on recess until August. Several Dallas boards and commissions -- and other area governmental entities -- continue to meet. The following is a sampling of what we will be watching this week.

Meetings of Interest

Tuesday, July 11

🌆 Comprehensive Land Use Committee (CLUP), 8:30 a.m., City Council Chambers, Dallas City Hall

• This committee, which includes DDI President & CEO Jennifer Scripps, continues its work updating the City's Forward Dallas land use plan.

🚉

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Committee-of-the-Whole, 12:45 p.m.; Board of Directors, 6 p.m., Board Room, 1401 Pacific Ave., Dallas

• The Board is being asked to approve collaborative agreements with partner agencies including Downtown Dallas, Inc., "to provide valuable information and access to resources to address the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness or behavioral heath concerns on DART's system using tele-technology services." DDI is proud to partner with DART's Public Transit Multi-Disciplinary Response Team (PTMDRT), which is similar to the Dallas RIGHT Care program launched as a pilot in 2018. Other partners include The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center; Integrated Psychotherapeutic Services; Metrocare Services; Our Calling; Parkland Health; Social Security Outreach, Access, and Recovery; and the Veterans Administratio

• A presentation on the fiscal 2024 budget and 20-year financial plan notes the above plans for expanded weekend service. DART reports weekend ridership has recovered to nearly pre-pandemic levels. More frequent weekend service is good news for those headed into Downtown for events and entertainment.

• A briefing on DART's System Modernization Program includes the above key takeaways from a recent customer experience survey of nearly 4,000 riders and employees.

Thursday, July 13

🚎

 Regional Transportation Council (RTC), 1 p.m., North Texas Council of Governments, 616 Six Flags Dr., Arlington

• This meeting includes a DART-City of Dallas mediation plan on the Silver Line, with a final $5.3 million commitment of federal funds. It also includes a policy statement on communications going forward on rail and trail elements of the project.

Quote of the Week

 Dallas Morning News editorial in favor of expanding a city program that turns parking spots into outdoor dining areas: 

"Dallasites have shown they are willing to give up parking spots for a nicer, more inviting streetscape. Give them more of what they want."

  Read more 

Did we miss anything? Do you have any questions? Just want to talk about meetings?

Let me know

.

Tell your friends to sign up for this and other DDI newsletters

here

.

DDI's Meetings of Interest newsletter will be on a brief recess while I travel with my family. I'll be back ahead of the City Council's return to action.

Enjoy your week.

Best,

Scott GoldsteinChief of External Affairs& Government RelationsDowntown Dallas, Inc.

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