STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Economic and Neighborhood Vitality
AGENDA DATE: October 13, 2021
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 7
DEPARTMENT: Office of Economic Development
EXECUTIVE: Dr. Eric A. Johnson
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SUBJECT
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Authorize (1) the transfer of $500,000.00 from the Grand Park South TIF District Fund to the Transportation Special Projects Fund to implement a public street lighting improvement project in Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone Number Thirteen (Grand Park South TIF District); (2) an increase in appropriations in an amount not to exceed $500,000.00 in the Transportation Special Projects Fund; and (3) the disbursement of funds in an amount not to exceed $500,000.00 from the Transportation Special Projects Fund - Not to exceed $500,000.00 - Financing: Grand Park South 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 at reducing violent crime in Dallas. One of the report’s recommended strategies was improving public safety by increasing 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 Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works, Office of Data Analytics and Business Intelligence, 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 including City general obligation bond funds, City general funds, City TIF funds, County MCIP 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 Grand Park South TIF District as follows:
• Conversion to light-emitting diode (LED) of approximately 36 fixtures on City-owned historic-style poles on Park Row Avenue (generally between South Malcolm X Boulevard and Interstate-45) and on South Boulevard (generally between South Malcolm X Boulevard and Interstate-45).
• Installation of approximately 40 new City LED lights with historic-style poles on South Boulevard (generally between South Malcolm X Boulevard and Meadow Street), on Park Row Avenue (generally between South Malcolm X Boulevard and Jeffries Street), on Jeffries Street (generally between Al Lipscomb Way and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard), and on Meadow Street (generally between Al Lipscomb Way and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard).
The City’s Transportation Department will implement this public street lighting improvement project through a service price agreement with Highway Intelligent Traffic Solutions, Inc. that was authorized in May 2020 by City Council Resolution 20-0821.
Within the Grand Park South TIF District Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan (the “Plan”), public street lighting improvements are an eligible expenditure under the “Infrastructure Improvements” budget category. On June 3, 2021, the Grand Park South TIF District Board of Directors reviewed this project and recommended City Council approval.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
Begin Construction November 2021
Complete Construction September 2022
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On October 26, 2005, City Council held a public hearing and authorized the establishment of Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone Number Thirteen, the Grand Park South TIF District by Resolution No. 05-3066; Ordinance No. 26147, as amended.
On June 13, 2007, City Council authorized the Final Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan for the Grand Park South TIF District by Resolution No. 07-1738; Ordinance No. 26773.
On June 3, 2021, the Grand Park South TIF District Board of Directors reviewed a request by the City’s Transportation Department in an amount not to exceed $500,000.00 for a public street lighting improvement project and recommended City Council approval.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on September 20, 2021. <https://cityofdallas.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=9820157&GUID=FC8F6DED-FFE2-4376-887F-A868061F0C40>
FISCAL INFORMATION
Fund |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
Future Years |
Grand Park South TIF Fund |
$500,000.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
MAP
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