STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Economic Development
AGENDA DATE: March 9, 2022
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 10
DEPARTMENT: Office of Economic Development
EXECUTIVE: Majed Al-Ghafry
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SUBJECT
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Authorize (1) the transfer of $572,000.00 from the Skillman Corridor TIF District Fund to the Transportation Special Projects Fund to implement a public street lighting improvement project in Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone Number Fourteen (Skillman Corridor TIF District); (2) an increase in appropriations in an amount not to exceed $572,000.00 in the Transportation Special Projects Fund; and (3) the disbursement of funds in an amount not to exceed $572,000.00 from the Transportation Special Projects Fund - Not to exceed $572,000.00 - Financing: Skillman Corridor TIF District Fund
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BACKGROUND
In 2019, the Mayor’s Task Force on Safe Communities released a report detailing recommended strategies aimed to reduce violent crime in Dallas. One of the recommended strategies in the report is to improve public safety by increasing the outdoor lighting of public areas.
Beginning in fiscal year 2020-2021, the City began to align public street lighting efforts across multiple departments including the Transportation Department, Public Works Department, Office of Data Analytics, Police Department, and the newly created Office of Integrated Public Safety Solutions (OIPSS). These coordinated efforts also aim to optimize and leverage funding from a variety of sources, such as City General Obligation Bond Funds, City General Funds, City Tax Increment Financing Funds, County Major Capital Improvement Program Funds, and federal CARES Act Funds. A geospatial analysis tool was developed to identify areas called Priority Improvement Zones with the most immediate public street lighting needs. These Zones were developed using several factors which align the economic, equity, and safety focus areas of multiple departments. Priority Improvement Zones represent a collaborative and comprehensive approach to enhancing City-focused and data-driven decision-making by guiding safety and investment strategies.
Based on the efforts and analysis described above, a project scope and priority lighting locations have been identified in the Skillman Corridor TIF District as follows:
• Install approximately 26 new City light-emitting diode (LED) street lights and approximately 5,200 linear feet of fiber optics along the following locations:
(1) West and East Ferris Branch Boulevard: 3 street light poles
(2) Ferris Branch Boulevard from West/East Ferris Branch Boulevard to Whitehurst Drive: 5 street light poles
(3) Fair Oaks Crossing from Royal Lane to Whitehurst Drive: 12 street light poles
(4) Fair Oaks Crossing from Royal Lane to Skillman Street: 6 street light poles
The City’s Transportation Department will implement this public street lighting improvement project through a service price agreement with Highway Intelligent Traffic Solutions, Inc., which was authorized in May 2020, by City Council Resolution No. 20-0821. The Transportation Department will implement the installation of fiberoptic cable through a price agreement with Durable Specialties, Inc., which was authorized in December 2018, by City Council Resolution No. 18-1787.
Within the Skillman Corridor TIF District Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan (the “Plan”), public street lighting improvements are an eligible expenditure under the “Streetscape Improvements” budget category (Other Skillman Corridor Improvements). On December 3, 2021, the Skillman Corridor TIF District Board of Directors reviewed this project and unanimously recommended City Council approval.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
Begin Construction March 2022
Complete Construction December 2022
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On October 26, 2005, City Council authorized the creation of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Fourteen, (the "Skillman Corridor TIF District"), in accordance with the Texas Tax Code, Chapter 311, the Tax Increment Financing Act, to promote development and redevelopment in the Skillman Corridor area through tax increment financing by Resolution No. 05-3067; Ordinance No. 26148, as amended.
On December 13, 2006, City Council authorized an ordinance approving the Final Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan for the Skillman Corridor TIF District by Resolution No. 06-3434; Ordinance No. 26534, as amended.
On December 3, 2021, the Skillman Corridor TIF District Board of Directors reviewed a request by the City’s Department of Transportation in an amount not to exceed $572,000.00 for a public street lighting improvement project and unanimously recommended City Council approval.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on February 22, 2022. <https://cityofdallas.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10538869&GUID=1A4FDB43-95E6-4A4C-86A0-4057069ADF2E>
FISCAL INFORMATION
Fund |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
Future Years |
Skillman Corridor TIF District Fund |
$572,000.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
MAP
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