Public Safety, Health, and Environment Committee

CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 300 WEST MAIN STREET MONDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2022 AT 3:03 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER PRESENT Chairwoman Jorja Clemson Council Member Dennis King Council Member Junior Ezeonu STAFF PRESENTATIONS 1. Microtransit Vehicle for Hire Service (VIA) 2022 Goals An update was given about the Microtransit Vehicle for Hire Service (VIA). The launch date is set for April 20th with a dry run set for April 11th for any Council Members that want to try it out. The VIA App is in the works now and will be ready soon. The App is where anyone who wants to use VIA in Grand Prairie can request and pay for a ride. The charge for a one-way ride is $3 - $4 which is much cheaper than UBER or other ride share options. We will start out with 10 vehicles running six days a week with a max wait time for riders of 12 minutes. Once restrictions are lifted each VIA vehicle can pick up eight people at a time. Drivers for VIA are drug tested and if someone is interested in driving for VIA they will have to contact them directly. Informational item only. 2. Big Event Briefing Amy Sprinkles briefed the committee on this item. She explained that the Big Event will take place Saturday, March 26th this year from 8am to 1pm. Cutoff time for volunteer sign up and to submit a job is March 1st. Between March 1st and the 26th, all jobs will be vetted and volunteers will be matched to the different jobs. Marketing for The Big Event has been done via social media, emails to past participants, yard signs, website and video clip. There will be a kickoff party this year at South Grand Prairie High School parking lot at 8am. There will also be Zone leaders that will go by different jobs in their zone to make sure everything is running smoothly. The goal for 2022 is to have 100 jobs, 1,000 volunteers and 60 tons of garbage collected. This event is sponsored and doesn't cost the city anything. Informational item only. 3. Review of Registered Child Care Home Ordinance Cindy Mendez briefed the committee on this item and explained that she is seeking input from the committee on the Registered Child Care Home Ordinance. Right now Grand Prairie only has two types of childcare, Registered Family Home and Licensed Childcare Centers. There have been requests from several Registered Family Home operators to allow Licensed Child Care Homes in order to receive federal funding. Public Safety, Health, and Environment Committee – February 07, 2022 Page 1 of 3  An advocacy group has contacted us and were wanting more options for childcare for the children in Grand Prairie. What we learned is if we allow Licensed Child Care Homes they are supposed to have a fire sprinkler system, which costs approximately $5,000 - $7,000 in a 2,000 square foot home. Grand Prairie has taken extra precautions since a kidnapping happened in the 80's to make sure that our children are safe. The Committee Members are in favor of allowing License Child Care Homes but also do not want to put anyone out of business due to the high cost of the fire sprinkler system. We will do more research and brainstorming on this item and bring it back to this committee at a later date. Speakers who spoke in favor of this item: Roslyn Chaney, 4527 Queenswood Dr., Grand Prairie, TX 75052 Leah Stanley, 332 Clemente Dr., Grand Prairie, TX 75052 Jerletta MCDonald, 57722 Indian Hills, Arlington, TX 76018 AGENDA ITEMS 4. January 10, 2022 Public Safety, Health and Environmental Meeting Minutes Chairwoman Jorja Clemson requested a motion to approve the minutes as written. Motion made by Council Member Ezeonu, Seconded by Council Member King. Voting Yea: Chairwoman Clemson, Council Member King, Council Member Ezeonu 5. Resolution Designating A Portion of EpicCentral As A “Public Entertainment Zone” Deputy City Manager Megan Mahan briefed the committee on this item. She explained that a portion of EpicCentral will be designated as a Public Entertainment Zone. This will enable patrons of the different restaurants in this area to purchase an alcoholic beverage from one place and walk around with it in this space. We had to go to legislature to get a special law passed, which specifically states that a Public Safety Building has to be within the Public Entertainment Zone. Motion made by Council Member King, Seconded by Council Member Ezeonu. Voting Yea: Chairwoman Clemson, Council Member King, Council Member Ezeonu EXECUTIVE SESSION No Executive Session Public Safety, Health, and Environment Committee – February 07, 2022 Page 2 of 3 ADJOURNMENT 4:02 pm Jorja Clemson, Chairwoman Public Safety, Health, and Environment Committee – February 07, 2022 Page 3 of 3