[00:00:02]
[1. Call the meeting to order.]
IS, UH, JUNE 13TH, 2023.THIS IS THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING SESSION.
I WANNA OFFICIALLY CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
I HAVE 6:00 PM UH, WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT OPEN CARRY IS NOT PERMITTED WITHIN THESE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
AND WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A FULL QUO OF COUNCIL PRESENT.
[2. City Manager Reports: City Council Calendar/Upcoming Events City Operations Conduct a briefing to discuss items for the 7:00 p.m. regular meeting]
OF CITY MANAGER REPORTS.HOW YOU DOING? CITY MANAGER, ERIC.
COUNSEL, IT'S, UH, GREAT TO SEE YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
WE ARE HELL FREE FOR THE MOMENT.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A VERY ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN.
THE EVENINGS HAVE BEEN, UH, UH, QUITE VIGOROUS.
UM, BUT, UH, WE HAVE, UH, FARED THE WEATHER REALLY WELL AND HAVE BEEN BLESSED.
UM, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH A, UH, THANKS AND AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS AT MISSION CEDAR HILL.
THEY HAD THEIR BIG WEEK, UH, THE LAST, UH, THREE DAYS OF LAST WEEK, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY.
I BELIEVE THEY HAD, UH, ABOUT 10 DIFFERENT PROJECTS, UH, FOR NEEDY FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UH, I WANNA EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION, UH, TO REVEREND SNOWDEN AND HIS CONGREGATION, AND REALLY ALL THE FOLKS IN TOWN WHO LEND THEIR TIME AND THEIR SERVICES IN THAT EFFORT.
UM, ESPECIALLY ON THE CITY SIDE.
WE HAD CREWS FROM, UH, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT ALL OUT JOINING WITH, UH, OTHER, UH, COMMUNITY SERVANT LEADERS TO, UH, TAKE CARE OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
SO WE WILL HAVE AN APPROPRIATE CELEBRATION OF, UH, THEIR, THEIR WORK IN A FUTURE MEETING.
BUT, UH, WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WEEKEND AND THEIR GREAT WORK.
UH, WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE YOU A QUICK REPORT, AS YOU KNOW, UH, AFTER A MANY YEARS WORTH OF WORK, UM, BY OUR, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TOM JOHNSON, THE, UH, B N S F HAS FINALLY TAKEN A BIG MOOD TO REPLACE, UH, THE RAILROAD CROSSING AT BELTLINE, WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, GETS, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS OF CARS A DAY.
AND IT'S BEEN ROUGH AND DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
SO, TOM IS A PERSISTENT SORT AND HAS BEEN AFTER THEM ALMOST SINCE THE DAY HE GOT HERE TO GET SOMETHING DONE.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCONVENIENCE WORKING AROUND THE DETOUR.
THEY HANDLED IT REALLY, REALLY WELL.
IT'S GONE AMAZINGLY SMOOTH, UH, GIVEN HOW MUCH TRAFFIC THAT ROAD GETS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THEY SHOULD COMPLETE THEIR WORK BY, UH, TOMORROW, BY NOON TOMORROW, AND THEN WILL BE BACK UP.
GOOD IS NEW, AND HOPEFULLY IN, UH, A MUCH SMOOTHER RIDE THAN WHAT, UH, PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED HERE ON THAT QUARTER FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
SO, THANK YOU, TOM, AND TO YOUR CREWS FOR, UH, THE WORK THERE.
UM, ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, CLIFF SHAW.
HE'S BEEN WORKING OVERTIME, UH, SINCE, UH, WE WENT THROUGH THE RUNOFF PROCESS.
AND SO THIS IS HIS LAST FORMAL MEETING.
AND AGAIN, I WANNA EXPRESS MY, UH, APPRECIATION TO CLIFF FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF, UH, OF SERVICE, INCLUDING HIS OVERTIME SERVICE TO US IN THE LAST, UH, FEW WEEKS,
SO, UH, WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE CALENDAR, UH, BRIEFLY.
AS YOU KNOW, UH, SUMMER MONTHS ARE VERY BUSY ON THE ENGAGEMENT CALENDAR.
UH, WE'RE ALSO, UH, IN THE MIDST OF OUR, UM, UH, VERY POPULAR SUMMER ACTIVITIES.
SO FRIDAY, JUNE 16TH IS THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF THE MUSIC IN THE PARK SERIES.
THIS IS EVERY FRIDAY BETWEEN EIGHT AND 10 DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE.
SO THAT IS HELD AT THE VALLEY RIDGE PARK AMPHITHEATER, WHICH IS ABOUT AS NICE A PLACE AS YOU CAN GO TO ON A NICE, UH, SUMMER EVENING.
AND, UH, SO WE WELCOME YOU TO GO TO, UH, THE NEXT ONE ON THE 16TH.
ON SATURDAY, JUNE 17TH, WE WILL JOIN OUR OTHER BEST SOUTHWEST CITY PARTNERS IN, UH, CELEBRATING THE BEST SOUTHWEST JUNETEENTH.
THIS ONE IS BEING HOSTED BY OUR NEIGHBORS WITH THE CITY OF DUNCANVILLE.
IT'LL BE HELD IN ARMSTRONG PARK FROM, UH, 3:00 PM TO 10:00 PM.
UH, THE, UH, MAYOR IS DESIGNATED, UH, CLIFF SHAW AND CLARA MCGINNIS TO TO BE CEDAR HILL'S OFFICIAL JUNETEENTH, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FOR THIS YEAR.
SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCILMAN SHAW, AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING US DURING THAT, UH, GREAT EVENT, UH, FROM FOUR TO 6:00 PM ALSO ON, UH, SATURDAY JUNE 17TH.
UH, OUR FRIENDS IN, UH, BENT CREEK, WHO I BELIEVE IS ALSO REPRESENTED HERE TODAY, UH, WILL BE HOSTING A NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY.
AND IT WILL BE IN THE CUL-DE-SAC AT, UH, 1201 BENT CREEK COURT.
AND THE COUNCIL, UH, HAS BEEN INVITED TO ATTEND MONDAY, JUNE 19TH, WILL BE THE FIRST OFFICIALLY OBSERVED JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY FOR THE CITY.
SO CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THAT HOLIDAY, UH, ON TUESDAY, JUNE 20TH.
UH, VERY EXCITING MOMENT FOR US, UH, FROM 12:00 PM TO 1:00 PM UH, THE PEOPLE AT WAC LIGHTING WILL BE CELEBRATING A RIBBON CUTTING HERE.
SO THEY ARE THE FIRST COMPANY COMPANY TO
[00:05:01]
ACTUALLY, UH, OCCUPY ONE OF HILLWOODS THREE BUILDINGS.THIS IS, UH, BUILDING ONE, WHICH IS THE, UH, THE ONE THAT IS THE NORTHERNMOST BUILDING.
THEY OCCUPY ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE SPACE IN THAT THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN IN, UH, IN RESIDENCE FOR PROBABLY FOUR MONTHS OR SO.
AND SO THEY WILL, UH, OPEN, UH, THEIR, THEIR NEW FACILITY TO THE PUBLIC, AND IT'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE A NEW COMPANY JOINING OUR, UH, BUSINESS RESIDENTS HERE IN TOWN.
UH, ALSO ON TUESDAY, JUNE 20TH, UH, WE HAVE, UH, BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO AS COUNCIL.
WE WILL MEET IN A SPECIAL MEETING AT FIVE 30, UH, HERE IN THE GOVERNMENT, UH, CENTER AT THE COURT MULTIPURPOSE ROOM, UH, TO CANVAS, TO OFFICIALLY CANVAS THE ELECTION, UH, THE RUNOFF ELECTION OF THIS PAST SATURDAY, JUNE 10TH.
AND THEN AT 6:00 PM WE'LL HAVE A SPECIAL WORKSHOP, UH, TO GO THROUGH BOARD AND COMMISSION INTERVIEWS AND THE SELECTION OF BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS, UH, FOR THE NEXT YEAR ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21ST, THAT'S NEXT WEDNESDAY BETWEEN SIX 30 AND EIGHT 30, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL EVENT, AGAIN IN CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH HERE IN CEDAR HILL.
UH, MS. OPAL LEE, HERSELF WILL BE PRESENT, UH, TO DO A PRESENTATION, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT WILL BE HELD HERE IN THE KENNEDY ROOM, UH, AND, UH, DOES HAVE A PROGRAM ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND.
SO IF YOU WOULD LET CITY SECRETARY OR MARIE WATTS KNOW IF YOU DO PLAN TO ATTEND THAT EVENT, UH, WE WILL TAKE A NOTE OF THAT ACCORDINGLY.
IT'LL BE A VERY SPECIAL EVENING FOR US IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE.
UH, WE'LL, WE WILL BE ALSO A, UH, THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF MUSIC IN THE PARK AT VALLEY RIDGE, SATURDAY, JUNE 24TH.
ALSO A BIG DAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF THE FARMER'S MARKET DOWNTOWN.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS, UH, SPONSORED TO PUT ON, UH, BY OUR, OUR PARTNERS AT THE CEDAR HILL CHAMBER.
UH, IF YOU'VE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO GO THIS YEAR, IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY WELL ATTENDED.
AND, UH, A LOT OF REALLY GOOD NEW VENDORS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF VIBRANT SEA AND ENERGY.
AND SO, UH, UH, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE, MAKE A POINT OF, UH, GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE GREAT PRODUCTS THAT OUR LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS, UM, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, UH, TO CREATE.
UH, ALSO, FROM 10 TO NOON, WE WILL BE HOSTING OUR NEXT MAJOR ENGAGEMENT NEIGHBORHOOD, WALK WITH OUR, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, FIRE, AND, UH, UM, OUR DIRECTORS, AS WELL AS OUR, OUR COUNCIL AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS.
UH, THIS ONE IS GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE CUMBERLAND PORTION OF HIGH POINT, WHICH IS THE PORTION OF THE KIND OF FAR NORTHWEST PART OF, UH, OF HIGH POINT.
WE'RE STARTING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, AND WE'RE GONNA END A LITTLE BIT EARLIER AS WELL.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A SMALLER FOOTPRINT IN KEEPING WITH THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE A HUNDRED DEGREES.
SO WE'RE GONNA, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP EVERYBODY WELL HYDRATED.
BUT WE ALSO, UH, TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE COOLER PART OF THE DAY FOR THAT ENGAGEMENT.
BUT, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS IN CUMBERLAND, UH, NEXT SATURDAY, THE 24TH.
THEN THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING IS, UH, TUESDAY, JUNE THE 27TH.
UH, AND THEN, UH, MUSIC IN THE PARK.
THE FINAL ONE FOR THIS YEAR IS JUNE 30TH.
UH, CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED IN CELEBRATION OF THE 4TH OF JULY.
AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER ITEM I'D BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION TODAY WILL BE TUESDAY, JULY THE 18TH.
THAT'S OUR, UH, NEXT WORKSHOP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET.
AND THAT'LL BE OUR PRELIMINARY BUDGET WORKSHOP FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM AND IT'LL BE IN THE COURT MULTIPURPOSE ROOM HERE AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CALENDAR? ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO A QUICK ORIENTATION TO THE AGENDA TODAY.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF, UH, GREAT BRIEFINGS FOR YOU.
UH, BOTH OF THEM INVOLVE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS.
UH, FIRST ONE IS AN UPDATE, UH, BY, UH, UH, CHIEF RAFAEL REYES ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO PROJECT.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE COUNCIL FOR SEVERAL YEARS, UH, HAS BEEN VERY WELL LED AND VERY WELL DELIVERED, UM, BY ASSISTANT, UH, CHIEF REYES.
AND NOW WE ARE RECEIVING THE BENEFITS OF THAT ACTION AS OUR RADIO SYSTEM IS NOW VERY PROFICIENT AND VERY, UM, INTEROPERABLE TO ALL OF, NOT JUST OUR BEST SOUTHWEST NEIGHBORS, BUT PRETTY MUCH EVERY ENTITY IN THE NORT TEXAS REGION.
IT'S NOW ACCESSIBLE TO US BECAUSE OF THIS RADIO SYSTEM.
SO I KNOW YOU'LL ENJOY HEARING ABOUT THAT.
UH, AND THEN ALSO TONIGHT WILL BE THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2022 FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY, UH, HEARING ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DOING IN THE LAST YEAR AND CONTINUES TO DO FOR US THIS YEAR.
UH, QUICKLY ON THE REGULAR AGENDA, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS, INCLUDING A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATED JUNE 13TH AS DION MAGSON
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DAY IN CEDAR HILL.THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL YOUNG LADY, VERY HIGH HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE MANY TALENTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE YOUTH OF THIS TOWN, AND I KNOW YOU'LL ENJOY GETTING TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER AND CELEBRATING HER ACHIEVEMENTS.
THERE'LL ALSO BE A PRESENTATION OF THE BEST SOUTHWEST, UH, PARTNERSHIP, MAYORAL SCHOLARSHIP, UH, AND THEN A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING JUNE 17TH IS JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION DAY HERE IN CEDAR HILL.
AND THEN ALSO A CEDAR HILL TRADITION THAT, UH, THAT, UH, WE HAVEN'T DONE IN A WHILE, AND THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO.
AND THAT WILL BE THE FORMAL ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS OF OFFICE TO OUR NEW FIRE PERSONNEL.
AND THEN THE PRESENTATION OF A VERY SPECIAL LIFE-SAVING AWARDS TO FIVE MEMBERS OF THE CEDAR HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ASSOCIATED WITH AN AUTOGLASS REPAIR IN TENTING BUSINESS IN THE OLD NTB BUILDING OFF OF, UH, UH, CLARK ROAD HERE IN CEDAR HILL THAT DID HAVE A, AN, AN APPROVAL, UH, RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, UH, UNANIMOUSLY.
UH, THE SECOND ITEM IS A PUBLIC HEARING, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT RELATED TO A, UH, STORE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SALE OF TOBACCO, TOBACCO VAPOR PRODUCTS AND ASSOCIATED ACCESSORIES.
THIS IS IN A, UM, A RETAIL SITE LOCATED IN THE KROGER SHOPPING CENTER.
UH, IT DID ALSO RECEIVE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMME RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF FOUR TO THREE.
UH, AND THEN THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING OF THE, UH, OF THE EVENING RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT IS, UH, AN APPLICATION FOR A SITE PLAN ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT, UH, FOR, UH, THE MADISON, WHICH IS A SENIOR ACTIVE, UH, DEVELOPMENT AT WINTER GREEN, AND HIGHWAY 67.
IT RECEIVED A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL BY THE PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION BY A VOTE OF SIX TO ONE.
UH, THEN YOUR FINAL PUBLIC HEARING OF THE NIGHT IS, UH, TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE INPUT ON THE PROPOSED FY 2024 BUDGET FOR THE C OF CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT COUNSEL IN YOUR CAPACITY AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THAT DISTRICT, UH, UH, ALREADY HAVE RECEIVED AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THAT BUDGET.
THIS WILL BE YOUR ACTION, UH, WEARING YOUR COUNSEL HAT FOR THAT ITEM.
UM, IT'S JUST PUBLIC HEARING HERE.
THE ACTION IS IN THE CONSENT, RIGHT? UM, BELIEVE THAT IT IS, UH, IT IS.
UH, WE HAVE ANOTHER ITEMS, UH, NUMBER OF ITEMS ON THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA AT THIS POINT.
I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE GOT ON THE AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER? ARE THERE ANY ITEMS ON CONSENT TO BE PULLED FOR CONSIDERATION OR DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
CONTINUE ON WITH THE BRIEFING AGENDA.
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS UPDATE
[3. Update on the Public Safety Radio Project. ]
ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO PROJECT.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MR. CITY MANAGER.
IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO GIVE YOU WHAT I THINK IS THE FINAL PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO BRIEF.
UH, IT'S BEEN A, IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY.
WE STARTED THIS INITIATIVE IN 2020, UH, WITH COVID 19.
I BELIEVE THE FIRST, UH, BRIEF WE GAVE WAS UPSTAIRS IN THE, THE ISD UH, TRAINING ROOM.
UH, BUT IT'S, IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE HERE IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU.
UH, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT, UH, MAINLAND COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED AND OUR CITY MANAGERS HAVE PROVIDED.
UH, BUT, UH, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, WE START WITH OUR VISION, MISSION, AND VALUES.
UH, PURSUING PREMIER AND CEDAR HILL IS A SAFE CITY.
UH, THE CORE VALUES FOR CEDAR HILL FIRE AND CEDAR HILL PD, UH, OUR ACRONYM FOR FIRE IS RICH, RESPECT, INTEGRITY, COURAGE AND HONOR.
AND THEN THE C H P D FOR CEDAR HILL PD.
THEY'RE COMPASSIONATE, THEY'RE HONEST, THEY'RE PROFESSIONAL, AND THEY'RE DEDICATED, AND I'M HONORED TO CALL THEM MY, MY PARTNERS AND BROTHERS.
UH, SO WHERE WE CAME FROM, WE CAME FROM A RADIO SYSTEM WHERE WE WERE KIND OF BUILT OUT ON AN ISLAND.
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE RADIOS FROM OUR NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS, WE WERE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.
UH, WE WERE ON A NEXT EDGE 400 SYSTEM.
UM, LIKE I MENTIONED, WE CAME THROUGH, UH, COVID 19 IN, IN 2020.
AND A LOT OF PLANNING AND COORDINATION HAS, HAS TAKEN PLACE.
UH, IT'S BEEN A, A GREAT TEAM EFFORT.
UM, OUR PARTNERS WITH, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR PARTNERS WITH PUBLIC WORKS, AND OUR PARTNERS WITH PARKS AS ALWAYS, UH, HAVE BEEN THERE STEP BY STEP WITH US, THE, THE, THE ENTIRE WAY.
UH, SO OUR CURRENT STATE, I'M HAPPY AND HONORED TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON APRIL 25TH, WE CUT OVER AND WE WENT LIVE.
[00:15:01]
OF EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION AHEAD OF TIME.UH, WE STARTED WITH OUR VEHICLE INSTALLATIONS RIGHT ON, UH, APRIL 24TH.
AND I BELIEVE WE'VE, UH, PRETTY MUCH GOT EVERYTHING INSTALLED.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF, UH, VEHICLES THAT, THAT, UH, CEDAR O PD IS STILL WAITING ON THAT, THAT NEED INSTALLATION.
UH, WE'VE GOT ONE VEHICLE THAT NEEDS INSTALLATION THAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO COME IN TOMORROW, WHICH IS OUR BLOCKER TRUCK, BY THE WAY.
UH, BUT, UH, BUT WE'RE THERE, WE'RE, WE'RE GRATEFUL, UH, HONORED.
UH, I, I, I DON'T, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO, TO ALL OF YOU.
UH, WE HAD A TRANSITION WITH VERY FEW, UH, ISSUES.
UH, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF, UH, EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS WHERE WE HAD A COUPLE OF BAD RADIOS.
UH, BUT THOSE ARE BEING RESOLVED.
BUT MY, UH, MY NIGHTMARES HAVE GONE AWAY
SO OUR, UH, OUR RADIOS WORK GREAT.
UH, WE'RE STILL LEARNING, UH, SPECIAL FEATURES OF OUR, OF OUR NEW RADIO SYSTEM.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, TECHNOLOGY INVOLVED, BUT WE'RE TAKING A BUILDING BLOCK APPROACH FOR SURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UH, ONE OF THE FEATURES THAT, UH, WE'RE REALLY, REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE IS RADIO MANAGEMENT.
UH, WE CAN NOW UPDATE OUR RADIOS, CHANGE THE ALIAS NAMES ON OUR RADIOS WITHOUT PHYSICALLY TOUCHING EACH AND EVERY ONE.
WE CAN DO THAT ALL OVER THE AIR.
THE THE TECHNOLOGY IS AMAZING, AND, UH, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT.
UH, WE ISSUED MR. PORTER, HIS RADIO.
HIS PORT, HIS RADIO IS, UH, IS, UH, HAS A SPECIAL, UH, ALIAS ON IT FOR SURE.
IT'S, UH, CITY MANAGER PORTER 2 0 2.
AND, UH, SO, SO WE'RE ABLE TO NAME EACH POSITION ON OUR FIRETRUCK, UH, WITH A SPECIAL ALIAS.
UH, EACH ONE OF OUR COMPANY OFFICER POSITION IS, IS A LABELED AS CAPTAIN FOR THAT SPECIFIC, UH, PIECE OF APPARATUS.
AND OUR MEDIC UNITS ARE LABELED WITH FIREFIGHTER ONE, FIREFIGHTER TWO OFF OF THE MEDIC UNITS.
SO WE KNOW WHO IN, WHO IS RE TRANSMITTING AND WHO EACH PIECE OF EQUIPMENT BELONGS TO.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL.
UM, MENTIONED SOME OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES WITH THE, WITH THE RADIO SYSTEM.
UH, WE HAVE A, A FEATURE CALLED SMART CONNECT.
IF, UH, WE WERE TO LOSE RADIO SIGNAL FOR WHATEVER REASON, OUR RADIOS AUTOMATICALLY CUT OVER TO AN LTE, UH, FEATURE.
AND WE'RE, WE NEVER LOSE THE ABILITY TO TRANSMIT.
WE'VE, UH, TESTED OUR RADIOS FROM INDIANAPOLIS.
WE HAD A CREW THAT WENT UP THERE FOR A CONFERENCE, AND IT WAS SEAMLESS COMMUNICATION FROM INDIANAPOLIS.
UH, WE TESTED THE SAME, UH, RADIOS FROM, UH, COLLEGE STATION.
WORKED, WORKED AMAZINGLY WELL.
SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE SPECIAL FEATURES.
UH, BECAUSE OF THE GPS FEATURES ATTACHED TO EACH RADIO, WE'LL BE ABLE TO, TO TRACK OUR, OUR PERSONNEL AS A WALKTHROUGH BUILDINGS.
AND THERE'S, UH, A SEVEN SECOND REFRESH, UH, TO EACH RADIO.
SEVEN SECONDS ISN'T THAT LONG WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
SO AS YOU'RE WALKING ACROSS A BUILDING EVERY SEVEN SECONDS, THE THE RADIO REFRESHES, AND WE'RE ABLE TO TRACK OUR PERSONNEL THAT WAY.
GREAT FEATURE FOR FIRE, GREAT FEATURE FOR, FOR PD AS WELL.
SO THIS IS OUR, OUR, UH, COVERAGE AREA, UH, JUST OFF OF THE DALLAS, UH, SYSTEM.
UH, THE SQUARE IS, UH, DALLAS COUNTY, THE SQUIGGLY LINES, THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND THE YELLOW IS, UH, OUR COVERAGE AREA THROUGH THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UH, TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS COVERAGE.
UH, WE NOW HAVE THE, THE ABILITY ALSO TO SWITCH ZONES, UH, TO SPEAK TO OUR PARTNERS IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TO SPEAK TO OUR PARTNERS IN MANSFIELD, TO SPEAK TO OUR PARTNERS IN KAUFMAN COUNTY, TO SPEAK TO OUR PARTNERS UP NORTH IN COLLIN COUNTY.
AND, UH, ALL THE WAY DOWN SOUTH IN, IN DE WACO.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE RELIABLE COMMUNICATIONS FOR, FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
UH, LIKE I MENTIONED, OUR PARTNERS FROM, UH, PD, PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS, THEY ALL HAVE NEW RADIO EQUIPMENT AS WELL.
UH, NEW RADIOS IN THEIR, IN THEIR VEHICLES AS WELL.
UH, PARKS HAS, PARKS HAS ALL, UH, UH, PORTABLES.
UH, PUBLIC WORKS HAS MOBILES AND PORTABLES, BUT, UH, EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME SYSTEM, WHI, WHICH IS GREAT.
UH, WE HAVE OUR SYSTEMS UPGRADE AGREEMENT IN PLACE FOR SEVEN YEARS.
IF THERE'S ANY UPGRADES IN THE SYSTEM, IT'S A NO COST UPGRADE TO, TO US, UH, IN THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL.
SO THAT, THAT'S IN PLACE FOR, FOR THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS.
AND THEN OUR EQUIPMENT WARRANTIES AS WELL.
JUST WANNA EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO, TO ALL OF YOU, UH, FIRST TO, TO CHIEF SMITH.
CHIEF SMITH, UH, TRUSTED ME WITH, WITH, UH, IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM AND IMPLEMENTING THE SYSTEM.
APPRECIATE THE, THE TRUST, UH, CITY MANAGERS,
[00:20:01]
MR. PORTER.THANKS FOR ALL THE, THE SUPPORT AND THE GUIDANCE ALONG THE WAY.
UH, MELISSA'S NOT HERE, BUT, UH, SHE, SHE AND I, UH, HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS, AND SHE GAVE ME TREMENDOUS GUIDANCE AS, AS WELL ALONG THE WAY.
BUT, UH, A LOT OF GRATITUDE TO, TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY.
UH, IT'S, WE FEEL, UH, WE FEEL LOVED.
AND, UH, THIS COMES, UH, THIS COMES FROM ALL OF US FOR ENTITIES, UH, FIREY, PD, PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS.
AND, UH, WE'RE ALSO GRATEFUL FOR OUR OTHER, UH, CEDAR HILL DEPARTMENT, UH, PARTNERS AS WELL.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I'D GLADLY LOVE TO ANSWER 'EM.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE ASSISTANT CHIEF? WELL, ALLOW ME TO, ALLOW ME TO, TO, TO, I GUESS, SHARE WITH YOU HOW EXCITED I AM FOR, FOR YOU AND, AND YOUR, AND YOUR, YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENTS.
UM, WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT'S GOING ON ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ACCUSTOM THAT DEPARTMENTS WORK TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE, UM, NEIGHBORING CITIES.
UM, SO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS RESOURCE, UH, WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, GO NEXT LEVEL.
UM, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING IT ANYWAY WITHOUT IT.
SO NOW JUST BE SEEING HOW PRODUCTIVE YOU CAN BE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE SYSTEM.
UH, I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT.
UH, SO I'M REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU, UH, AND YOUR TEAM, AND, UH, JUST CONTINUE TO KEEP DOING THE GREAT WORK.
[4. Presentation of the 2022 Fire Department Annual Report. ]
ON THE AGENDA IS PRESENTATION OF THE 2022 FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT.EVENING CHIEF, THANK YOU, UM, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO KIND OF PRESENT OUR ANNUAL REPORT AND OUR ANNUAL REPORT.
NOW, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS ASKED BEFORE THE MEETING THAT, UM, SARAH AND, UH, RENEE ACTUALLY HELPED PUT OUR ANNUAL REPORT TOGETHER.
AND, UH, THEY TOLD ME NOT TO CALL 'EM UP, BUT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM BECAUSE THEY DID MOST OF THE WORK ON THE ANNUAL PORT, AND ESPECIALLY SARAH.
SO I WON'T CALL 'EM UP, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.
WHO, WHO IS THAT CHIEF? UH, SARAH SMITH AND RENEE.
UM, I WON'T EVEN WAVE AT 'EM CAUSE THEY TOLD ME, NO, NOT ABSOLUTELY.
DON'T, DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE 'EM TONIGHT, BUT I HAVE TO
SO OUR ANNUAL REPORT, AGAIN, UM, VERY THRILLED AT, UH, THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE FROM, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.
AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENT, AND AS WE CAME OUT OF COVID, THERE WAS A LOT OF SCRATCHING OUR HEADS OF HOW DO WE REENGAGE? AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE ALL THROUGH THE ANNUAL REPORT.
WE WERE ABLE TO REENGAGE THIS YEAR, REALLY START COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND REALLY GET BACK OUT AND OPEN OUR STATIONS.
AND THE VERY, UH, PROUD THAT, UM, ALL OUR MEMBERS WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
AND WE'VE HAD A VERY, VERY GOOD YEAR.
UM, DO YOU HAVE THE, THE OTHER PRESENTATION YOU CAN QUEUE UP? THERE WAS TWO THAT CAME IN FROM, IF NOT, WE CAN, WE CAN GO THROUGH IT.
SO, UH, UM, WE GOT THE CLICKER HERE.
SO AGAIN, UH, WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, OUR MISSION VISION VALUE IS TAKING CARE OF MRS. SMITH.
AND AGAIN, MRS. SMITH ON HER WORST DAY, AND HER BEST DAY IS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND AGAIN, RAPHAEL TOUCHED ON, AND EVERY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS KNOW WE'RE RICH.
AND AGAIN, RESPECT, INTEGRITY, UH, COURAGE AND HONOR, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.
AND, UM, WHEN I LOOK AT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A DEPARTMENT THAT, UM, WE'RE A SMALL DEPARTMENT, BUT WE DO HUGE THINGS EACH AND EVERY DAY.
AND, UH, WE'RE A LEADER, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO EACH AND EVERY DAY.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE VERY VISIBLE IS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THIS ROOM HELP MANAGE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT I'M REALLY OVERWHELMED WHEN I SEE THE REPLIES TO A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT POSTS THAT ARE OUT THERE
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AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT'S TAKEN PLACE OVER THAT PLATFORM.AGAIN, THIS WAS A YEAR OF REEMERGING AND REALLY GETTING BACK OUT AND REALLY OPENING OUR STATIONS BACK UP, UH, TO THE PUBLIC.
AND IT WAS JUST VERY REFRESHING.
AS I SAW DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND KIDS COME BACK INTO THE STATION, I CAN'T TELL YOU, IT REALLY MOVES US AND IT MOVES OUR FOLKS TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AGAIN, WE'VE GOT, UH, UM, OUR FIRE MARSHAL DIVISION THAT, UH, YOU TALK ABOUT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
THEY'RE OUT THERE EACH AND EVERY DAY.
OUR ASSISTANT CHIEF OF EMS, AGAIN, FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ANY FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE MAJORITY OF WHAT WE DO IS EMS. AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE ARE STATE OF ART.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS LOOKING AT IS WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST DEPARTMENTS WITHIN A HUNDRED MILES TO START RUNNING THE AMBULANCE SERVICE YEARS AGO.
AND THAT CONTINUES AND CARRIES OVER TODAY IN, IN WHAT WE DO.
OUR ASSISTANT CHIEF OF OPERATIONS, WE'LL HAVE HIM COME UP AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, UH, YEAR 2022.
AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO ARE PUBLIC SAFETY.
A, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINS AND OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ARE BOTH HUGE AREAS FOR US.
OUR, UM, STATIONS ARE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING NOW, THOUGH, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT IS THAT RESPONSE AREA AND HOW MANY, UH, HOUSEHOLDS, HOW MANY POPULATIONS ARE WITHIN THOSE AREAS.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS ANALYZING AND LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE BUILD A BETTER PRODUCT AND A BETTER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, OUR PHYSICAL FACILITIES ARE LOCATED ALL OVER TOWN, AND I LIKE TO SAY THAT WE'RE YOUR BEST NEIGHBOR.
WE'RE THE NEIGHBOR YOU CAN CALL IF YOU'RE HAVING A HEART ATTACK, OR IF YOUR CAT'S STUCK IN THE TREE, WE GOT YOU COVERED.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS SLIDE HERE, AND I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES WHEN, UH, WE'RE DOING BUDGET AND WHEN WE'RE PROPOSING DIFFERENT THINGS, SOME OF 'EM UP THERE ON THE SCREEN MAY LOOK LIKE TOYS.
AND, UH, I, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHEN, UH, WE PROPOSED BUYING A DRONE, WHAT SOME OF THE REACTIONS WERE.
I KNOW PORTER AND I TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT IT, BUT WHEN WE'RE OUT AT THE STATE PARK AND WE'RE SEARCHING FOR A KID THAT'S BEEN LOST OUT THERE IN THE STATE PARK OVERNIGHT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GAME CHANGER.
WHEN WE'RE WATCHING A FIRE SPREAD FROM MIDDLEN COMING INTO LAKE RIDGE, AND WE'RE ABLE TO PUT A DRONE UP AND KEEP IT OUT OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS, AGAIN, THAT'S A GAME CHANGER.
UH, WHEN THE RESCUE TRUCK, WE HAD A, UH, A VICTIM TRAPPED UNDER A BOBTAIL TRUCK UP ON 20, AND USING THAT RESOURCE TO EXTRICATE THAT INDIVIDUAL OUT, THAT TOOK OVER AN HOUR.
AGAIN, THAT'S A RESOURCE THAT YOU GUYS MADE AVAILABLE FOR US, AND THAT'S HOW WE CAN REALLY HELP MRS. SMITH AND KEEP MRS. SMITH SAFE.
THE AMBU, UH, YESTERDAY, UH, AMBU TRANSPORTED 11 PATIENTS FROM, UM, UM, ANHYDROUS AMMONIA LEAK OVER IN LANCASTER TO PARKLAND.
THAT'S A REGIONAL RESOURCE, AND AGAIN, IT'S A REGIONAL RESOURCE THAT'S, ITS HOME IS RIGHT HERE IN CEDAR HILL AND AVAILABLE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
AGAIN, THE MULE, UM, AUTO BOND WITH A BROKEN LEG, UM, THAT MULE GETTING DOWN IN THERE AND BEING ABLE TO BRING THAT PATIENT OUT.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THIS AND KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS MADE THAT HAPPEN, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT MRS. SMITH AND KEEPING MRS. SMITH SAFE, UH, IT REALLY, UH, IT'S A WARM SPOT IN MY HEART.
AND, UH, WE ARE, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR BUDGET.
WE'RE VERY, UH, HAPPY ABOUT THE PAY PLAN THAT YOU GUYS APPROVED AND ROLLED OUT, AND OUR GUYS ARE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL OF THAT.
AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE FRUITS, FRUITS OF THAT LABOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, THAT'S BEEN THE THEME ALL WEEK.
UH, WELL, I WON'T STOP IT A WEEK.
THAT'S BEEN THE THEME THE LAST FEW YEARS.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WHETHER IT'S THE ICE STORMED, WHETHER IT'S THE, UH, THE HELL LAST NIGHT, UH, OR THE LAST HOWEVER MANY NIGHTS.
AGAIN, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS ANOTHER AREA THAT WE'RE VERY FOCUSED AND VERY MINDFUL OF.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA HAVE RAPHAEL COME UP AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OPERATIONS DIVISION.
COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME UP HERE.
UH, SO 2022 OPERATIONS, LIKE THE CHIEF SAID, IT WAS A TIME FOR RE-ENGAGEMENT.
IT WAS A TIME WHERE WE SAW A 10% INCREASE IN OUR CALLS FROM 2021.
WE RAN ALMOST 8,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE OUT OF OUR FOUR FIRE STATIONS.
THE CHIEF TALKED ABOUT, UH, ABOUT ALL THE, THE APPARATUS AND, AND STAFFING THOSE APPARATUS.
AND, UH, DURING THE ICE STORM IN 2021, UH, WE STAFFED OUR TWO BRUSH TRUCKS AS WELL.
SO, UH, WE STAFFED THOSE WITH PERSONNEL AND RAN, RAN EM MOORE AS A SQUAD, UH, TYPE UNIT.
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BUT WE'RE TAKING AN ALL HAZARDS APPROACH, UH, IN FIREFIGHTING, IN EMS, IN HEAVY VEHICLE EXTRICATION, UH, HIGH ANGLE RESCUE AND COLLAPSE, AND OVERALL URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE.SO WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, INCORPORATE AN ALL HAZARDS APPROACH AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE.
UH, HERE PRETTY QUICK, WE'RE GONNA SEE SOME EXPERIMENTATION WITH A, AN ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE VEHICLE.
UH, THE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE VEHICLE WILL BE A SQUAD TYPE RESPONSE, UH, A TWO-PERSON SQUAD WHERE THE GOAL IS TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE STATION QUICKER, REDUCING RESPONSE TIMES, UH, SAVING MONEY, AND, UH, REALLY PROVIDING AN, AN OVERALL BETTER SERVICE TO, TO OUR CITIZENS.
UH, SO WE'RE STILL IN THE, UH, POLISHING PHASES OF, UH, OF THAT ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE VEHICLE.
BUT, UH, THAT PROGRAM IS, IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR US.
UM, I'M SURE THAT, UH, OPERATIONS IS ALL ABOUT FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS.
WE'RE FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS WITH, UH, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND TAKING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH INTO COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION.
UH, SO WE'RE LOOKING TO, UH, FOSTER THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, WITH OUR VOLUNTEER GROUPS.
UH, WE'VE DONE SOME WORK WITH, UH, VOLUNTEER GROUPS SUCH AS, UH, THE FOOD PANTRY FOR SURE.
UH, WE WANT TO, WE WANNA PARTNER WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, UH, OUR OUTSIDE AGENCIES FROM, UH, UH, OUR SURROUNDING CITIES FOR SURE, ARE GONNA BE OUR PARTNERS, OUR SENIOR OFFICIALS ARE GONNA BE OUR PARTNERS.
AND REALLY, LIKE I SAID, UH, TAKING THAT WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH AS WE MOVE INTO THE, INTO THE FUTURE WITH WITH OPERATIONS.
UH, THE GOAL IS GONNA BE TO OVERALL BOLSTER AWARENESS INTO OUR HAZARDS HERE IN THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL.
AND OUR HAZARDS ARE, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY KNOWS OUR WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE.
UH, I, UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, SOME MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UH, I HAVE SOME IDEAS ON MOVING IN THE FUTURE WITH, UH, ENGAGING OUR PUBLIC AND DOING SOME, UH, COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION WITH, WITH OUR, OUR, UH, CITIZENS AND OUR PARTNERS.
UH, OVERALL, UH, THE GOAL OF OPERATIONS IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL.
UH, WITH THAT, I'M GONNA PASS IT OVER TO CHIEF HARRISON WITH EMS. GOOD EVENING.
UH, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO PRESENT THE EMS DIVISION AND WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE, UM, STRUGGLED WITH IN 2022.
UH, AS ALL OF US KNOW, IT WAS A YEAR THAT WE WERE COMING OUT OF COVID, AND THAT WAS THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC AND ENTERED INTO A MORE STABLE, WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER OUR NEW NORMAL.
UH, SO ALL OF US, IT TOOK ALL OF US TO GET USED TO WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
AND THE EMS DIVISION WAS, WAS NO EXCEPTION.
UH, CALL VOLUME DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC INCREASED CONSIDERABLY AND HAS NOT SLOWED DOWN SINCE.
SOME OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH, UH, UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE IN THE AGING POPULATION.
SO OUR BABY BOOMERS ARE GETTING OLDER AND ENTERING INTO MEDICAL CARE SYSTEMS. OUR, UH, POPULATION'S INCREASING, NOT ONLY HERE IN CEDAR HILL, BUT IN THE METROPLEX, SO WE HAVE MORE VISITORS COMING THROUGH, WHICH ALL OF THAT JUST TOTALLY INCREASES OUR CALL VOLUME ON THE EMS SIDE.
AS CHIEF SMITH, UH, MENTIONED, WE ARE A EMS BASED FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT SOMETIMES DOES FIRE.
SO 80% OF WHAT WE DO DAILY IS EMS RELATED.
AND I AM BLESSED, AND I WOULD SAY ALL OF US ARE BLESSED IN THIS CITY TO HAVE THE BEST PARAMEDICS, UH, IN EMS, THE, IN THIS AREA.
UM, EVERY SINGLE DAY, THEY AMAZE ME WITH THEIR, UH, TENACITY, THEIR, UH, RESILIENCY, AND THEIR ABILITY TO CARE FOR THE PATIENTS THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH AS A FAMILY MEMBER.
AND WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
AS, UH, CHIEF SMITH MENTIONED, WE WERE THE FIRST AND, UH, TO BECOME A EMS AGENCY, AND WE'LL CONTINUE THAT LEGACY OF LEADING, UH, IN OUR REGION.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE WERE FACING COMING OUT OF, UH, COVID, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE RECLASSIFICATION OF SIX OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS TO POSITIONS THAT WE CONSIDER, OR WE, WE NAMED MEDICAL OPERATIONS TECHNICIANS.
WHAT THESE INDIVIDUALS DO IS, BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING DEMAND ON THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, THEY PROVIDE OPERATIONAL ASSISTANCE ON DAILY DUTIES, ENSURING THAT THE AMBULANCES AND THE EQUIPMENT IS MAINTAINED ON A DAILY BASIS, SO THAT IT'S READY FOR RESPONSE, SHOULD ANYBODY CALL FOR IT.
AND WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION LATER TONIGHT WHERE YOU'LL SEE, OR THAT COMES INTO PLAY.
UH, FURTHERMORE, PLEASED TO, UH, ANNOUNCE THAT, UH, OUR, THAT RELATIONSHIPS MATTER AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH DALLAS COUNTY DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, UH, PAID OFF IN A BIG WAY.
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2022, SEPTEMBER OF 2022, THE STATE FUNDED MENTAL HEALTH RESILIENCY PROGRAM, UH, WAS NOT REFUNDED BY THE STATE DUE TO WE HAD HAD IT THREE TIMES.SO IT WAS TIME TO LET SOMEBODY ELSE HAVE THAT MONEY.
UH, WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT WAS, UH, GONNA BE A CHALLENGE THAT CAME.
AND BECAUSE OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE ESTABLISHED WITH DALLAS COUNTY, ALL IT TOOK WAS A PHONE CALL TO, UH, JUDGE CLAY JENKINS.
AND AFTER THAT PHONE CALL WAS OVER, WE HAD A MILLION DOLLARS, UH, AVAILABLE FOR DALLAS COUNTY THAT, UH, WENT FROM A RESILIENCY PROGRAM THAT ONLY BENEFITED NINE, UH, AGENCIES IN THE REGION TO, UH, FUNDING ALMOST 26 DEPARTMENTS IN THE AREA.
SO, HUGE INCREASE, UH, CONTINUING TO SPREAD WHAT WE'VE CREATED IN THIS REGION, A MENTAL HEALTH RESILIENCY PROGRAM THROUGHOUT SOMETHING WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF.
IN FACT, WE HAVE MORE TRAINING THIS WEEK, UH, GOING ON AT GRITTY LAMB, DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH RESILIENCY.
THE CEDAR HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT INVEST DIVISION CONTINUES TO BE A LEADER IN OUR REGION.
UM, WE ARE DETERMINED, WE ARE RESOURCEFUL, WE ARE INNOVATIVE, AND WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY, COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR NEIGHBORS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND IN CONCLUSION, I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR EMS AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO FACE AS OUR CITY SEES THIS UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH.
AND ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, UM, AS YOU'VE ALWAYS GIVEN US.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR FIRE MARSHAL, REGGIE ALEXANDER.
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MR. CITY, UH, CITY MANAGER.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE AND HONOR TO, UH, PRESENT THE GOOD WORKS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO YOU ALL.
UM, FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION, AS CHIEF SMITH SAID, UH, YOU KNOW, WE ARE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ALSO.
WE ENGAGE A LOT WITH OUR, UH, CITY DEPARTMENTS AND BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTINUE TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, ALONG 67, WE'VE BEEN PRETTY BUSY.
UH, WE'RE NEARLY 4 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF, OF WAREHOUSING COMING IN, SO MYSELF AND TAMMY AND, UH, JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE OUR FIREFIGHTERS ALSO TO, WHO ALSO HELP US OUT WITH, UH, OUR INSPECTIONS.
UH, WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM.
UM, A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT.
UM, BACK IN 2017, THE COUNCIL APPROVED FOR US TO, UM, START CHARGING FOR PERMITS.
AND, UH, AS A RESULT OF THAT, UM, WE STARTED DOING OUR IN-HOUSE FIRE PLAN REVIEWS.
AND SO, UH, THE HIGHLIGHT OF THAT IS, UH, LAST YEAR WE GENERATED $45,000 IN PERMIT FEES.
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HADN'T, UH, NEVER DONE BEFORE HERE IN CEDAR HILL.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR APPROVING THAT, UH, HAVING FEES.
ALSO, THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IS THAT, UH, THE TEXAS FIRE MARSHAL ASSOCIATION AWARDED THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL SILVER, THE SILVER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, JUST FOR OUR FIRE PREVENTION EFFORTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND, UH, THE NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL BUSINESS INSPECTIONS AND, UH, ACTIVITY THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE YEAR.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, WE ALSO MANAGE THE, UH, COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION PROGRAMS, AND I'D INVITE TAMMY COOPER TO COME UP AND, UH, JUST GO OVER ALL THE RISK REDUCTION PROGRAMS WE'VE DONE IN COMMUNITY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS. WE'VE HAD GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER.
SO, AS I LIKE TO SAY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS BOOKED AND BUSY, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
SO A SECOND, WHAT CHIEF SMITH TALKED ABOUT WAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO OPEN OUR STATIONS AND GET BACK TO DOING WHAT WE LOVE, WHICH IS SERVING A COMMUNITY.
UH, IT IS ONE OF OUR TRUE PLEASURES AND DEFINITELY A STRENGTH OF OURS.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE REALLY WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO, AS WE'VE DONE AS A, IN THE PAST, IS CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH DIALOGUE, PARTNERSHIPS, UH, ORGANIZING AND JUST, UH, BEING OPEN.
SO, I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE CONTINUED TO DO PRE COVID THAT WE WERE DOING POST COVID.
UH, ONE OF OUR, ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT PROGRAMS, I THINK, IS OUR SMOKE ALARM PROGRAM.
AS WE KNOW, WE WANT EVERY HOME TO HAVE WORKING ACTIVE SMOKE ALARM, BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY SAVE LIVES.
SO OF COURSE, WE PARTNER WITH THE RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE PICK A NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE GO IN
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AND INSTALL THESE SMOKE ALARMS AT NO COST.SO THAT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL PROGRAM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO DO.
UH, WE ENGAGE OUR YOUTH FROM DAYCARE AGE, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, UH, EVEN OUR ADULT, UH, SPECIAL NEED GROUPS.
THEY COME TO THE FIRE STATION, THEY GET A FULL TOUR, AND THEY GET TO SEE WHAT WE DO AND FEEL A PART OF OUR STATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS WE DO, UH, OUR HEROES WALK AND OUR HEROES DANCE WITH OUR SPED PROGRAM WITH I S D.
UM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LOVED DOING.
WE ACTUALLY JUST HAD A DANCE IN APRIL, AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.
UH, OUR SENIOR COMMUNITY, WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT THEM.
WE ENGAGE WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR OUR SENIOR LUNCHEONS, OUR SENIOR SAFETY PRESENTATION PROGRAMS, THEY INVITE US TO THE SENIOR CENTER, AND WE PARTICIPATE IN A HANDFUL OF PROGRAMS WITH THEM AS WELL.
OUR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IS OUR TEAM FIRE ACADEMY AND OUR EXPLORER PROGRAM.
UM, THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO US BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO SHOW THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY WHAT WE DO, UH, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT LIVE HERE AND THAT MAY WANNA SERVE ON A FIRE DEPARTMENT ONE DAY, WHETHER IT'S CEDAR HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT OR ANOTHER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE WANT THEM TO FEEL WELCOME, AND WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE, UH, VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY CAN DO THIS JOB AS WELL.
SO ALLOWING US TO BRING THEM IN AND, UM, SIT BESIDE US, WORK BESIDE US, AND TRAIN WITH US.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
UH, OUR CITIZEN FIRE ACADEMY IS OUR PROGRAM THAT WE DO WITH THE ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER THEY WORK IN CEDAR HILL, LIVE IN CEDAR HILL, TO BRING THEM IN AND SEE WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.
THEY GET TO ENGAGE THEIR DEPARTMENT, SEE HOW WE OPERATE THE FUNCTIONS OF OUR DEPARTMENT, UM, AND THEY TRULY LEAVE WITH A, UH, I GUESS A TRUE VALUE AND FEELING INSPIRED OF WHAT WE DO IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, OF COURSE, DURING THE HOLIDAYS, WE STAY BOOKED AND BUSY AGAIN.
WE DO MANY HOLIDAY INITIATIVES FROM TOY DRIVES TO THANKSGIVING BASKET.
WE AS A DEPARTMENT PARTNER WITH CEDAR HILL SHARES, AND WE FEED OVER 50 FAMILIES, UH, DURING THANKSGIVING AND PROVIDING 'EM WITH FULL THANKSGIVING MEALS.
SO THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WITH ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD WALKS AND OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT WE DO.
AGAIN, IT IS OUR TRUE PLEASURE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THEM.
AND, AND AGAIN, IT'S HONORED TO BRING THIS PRESENTATION TO YOU TONIGHT ON THE, ON THE LAST PAGE OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT, YOU'LL NOTICE THERE'S A QR CODE, AND THAT QR CODE LINKS YOU TO A STORY MAP, UH, WHICH LINKS YOU TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOME DIFFERENT, UH, SNIPPETS THAT'S ON THERE ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
UH, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL?
YEAH, I, YOU KNOW, UH, I'M HEARING THE, THE REPORTS, BUT I MEAN, THERE'S STILL A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF THAT, THAT YOU HADN'T EVEN CAPTURED ON HERE.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE DONE, UH, A WHOLE LOT.
I KNOW YOU PRESENTED TO COUNSEL, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SHARE SOME AWARDS, UH, BEFORE US TODAY.
UM, SO I KNOW THAT'S A LOT THAT YOU HAVE, BUT WE DO APPRECIATE, AND MAYBE I'M THINKING ABOUT THE CURRENT YEAR.
THIS IS LIKE LAST YEAR GUEST REPORT.
UH, BUT ANYWAY, UH, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO FOR US.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING US, UH, TO THE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.
AND, AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT'S, IT'S NOT ME THAT DOES IT, IT'S THESE FOLKS BACK HERE, AND I'D CALL 'EM ALL UP, BUT THEY'D COME
BUT, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND THANK YOU.
SORRY, NEXT I, ON THE, A AGENDA IS TO ADJOURN, BUT BEFORE I ASK FOR THAT, COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, EARLIER WHEN YOU WAS, UM, UH, DOING THE CALENDARS, UH, YOU MAY HAVE MENTIONED JUNE 20TH, WAS THE RIBBON CUTTING? YES.
UM, DO YOU, UH, IS COUNCIL EXPECTED TO DO ANYTHING OR WE JUST GOING IN SUPPORT? IS THIS A CHAMBER EVENT OR CHAMBER? I BELIEVE IT'S FINE.
ANYTHING ELSE, COUNSEL? IF NOT, UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN? I DO HAVE A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION IN, IN THE SECOND FOR MAYOR PRO, TIM SIMS? UH, ALL THE FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.