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Desoto Residents’ Comment on Latest Mayor Pro Tem Vote

DESOTO – Citizen’s comments took up most of the time at the most recent DeSoto City Council meeting.

Shanitta Cleveland began the comments with a thorough discussion of the May 21 Mayor Pro Tem vote. While she spoke for three minutes and then had her microphone turned off, she had an issue with the recent voting for the city’s Mayor Pro Tem. Cleveland felt, as did others who spoke after her, that Place 5 Dinah Marks had originally won and not current Mayor Pro Tem Letitia Hughes, who is serving her second Mayor Pro Tem term.

She felt the Marks vote, which was originally 4 – 3, was a win for Marks, but then she stated, “There was a second unlawful vote that stripped her of that title. She started to dissent, but” Cleveland said after that current Mayor Pro Tem Letitia Hughes said she did not vote correctly, and the vote started again, this time with Hughes keeping her Pro Tem seat.

“You guys have corruption in the city, and it is going to continue, and it is not going anywhere,” Cleveland said to the mic, which had been silenced as she walked away with no time left to speak.

Rachelle Jones spoke as a concerned citizen, educator and former city employee. She said she has a concern for the city, and she is not happy with the safety in the city and the lack of security.

Bernadine Harrison said she was speaking out because she does not like the way DeSoto is headed.

“Nothing seems to get better in this city other than the fact that everything seems to get more expensive,” Harrison told the city council. She had an issue with the short three minutes residents are allowed to speak at the council meetings and added, “They can talk to you forever when they are out there looking for votes.”

Harrison also brought up the ISD $7 million missing money, “but we can’t take care of the needs of a child who has been molested.”

Harrison went on to add “it is time for change” and she is going to try and make change happen. She said she is starting a website and asks, “We the People, all you need to do is take one day out of your busy day, and I wish the council would remind people regularly you can get this meeting online so we can do something about it.”

Mary Bonaparte, a 34-year DeSoto resident, said she is challenging the city council to do the right thing.

“This is not the city I moved into 34 years ago, this city has declined as you have allowed developers, investors, Airbnb, and rental property owners to run this city down while they make big money on the backs of us taxpayers.”

Bonaparte, too, mentioned the Mayor Pro Tem election and said, “After Marks had given her speech, Mayor Proctor said there was a voting mistake by Hughes.”

So, Marks’ win was taken away and given to Hughes. Bonaparte insisted Marks won the Mayor Pro Tem nomination, adding, “ignorance of the law is no excuse, which is what the judge tells everybody downtown. You cannot start a meeting using Roberts Rules of Order and then change the rules to benefit your own agenda. I am going to ask you to put your differences aside and honor the initial Mayor Pro Tem vote by confirming Councilmember Marks as the new Mayor Pro Tem. And be reminded this city belongs to every citizen in DeSoto and not the nine individuals sitting on this dais. If we, the citizens, must put our differences aside and rally together to get change in DeSoto, that is what we are going to do. I am asking ya’ll to do the right thing.”

Anna Williams, a 33-year resident, said, “I stand before you in shame and disbelief in what our morals have adapted to. We have allowed personal feelings and greed to ruin our once-beautiful community and city. We have allowed investors, developers, and slumlords to disturb the peace of our once-quiet community. We, the residents of DeSoto, say no more. You are putting $10,000 worth of tires on a $1000 city.”

She sa

74,000 Square Foot “ARC” In DeSoto’s McCowan Park Will Create A Vibrant Sports Center & Multi-Generational Destination

The City of DeSoto broke ground Monday morning for a 74,000 square foot Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC) which will become the central hub for DeSoto’s Curtistene S. McCowan Park and a citywide venue for fitness and multigenerational recreation. This $53 million project represents a major milestone in the life of DeSoto and is welcome addition that has been the subject of active community engagement and discussion for more than a decade.

DeSoto’s new “ARC” is one of the key components for the City of DeSoto’s Parks Master Plan and will anchor the broader park complex. It will include a full-scale indoor competition pool and observation decks on the second level to allow for competitive swimming events.

A 400-foot fitness track for cardio workouts will be suspended above the facility’s first level. A fully equipped fitness area will include a leisure pool, gyms, strength training equipment, meeting rooms, and a social gathering space for group activities such as basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. With the grounds of McCowan Park surrounding it, the entire area will be transformed into a multi-sport layout experience that will stand out in a region already known for athleticism.

The new facility is designed to offer health and fitness support to young families and provide a physical and social venue for active seniors through year-round senior activities.
Located in Curtistene S. McCowan Park, the facility is being realized as part of a larger master plan, which includes other public and sports-related amenities, including additional sports fields, an amphitheater, a sculpture garden, water features, and surrounding trails.

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Amateurs are invited to attend the annual emergency preparedness exercise (Field Day) of the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) this weekend. The Southwest Dallas County Amateur Radio Club (SWDCARC) will be participating in the annual ARRL Field Day. This event is held in many different venues nationwide, and is intended to exercise the many different types of amateur radio equipment. Those participating attempt to contact as many different locations worldwide as possible.

The SWDCARC will hold their Field Day on June 22 and 23 at the DeSoto Fire Training Center at 501 East Pleasant Run Road. Parking is available behind the Training Center in Grimes Park. This is an overnight event, and visitors are welcome.

Field Day for Amateur Radio Operators

Even those who do not have an Amateur Radio license will be allowed to operate at the G.O.T.A. (get-on-the-air) station with a licensed coach. Several stations will be set up and available especially for guests.

Participants in the field exercise will begin operating on Saturday, June 22 at 1 p.m., and will take down the equipment before noon on Sunday, when everyone starts to get tired and hot.

SWDCARC Monthly Meetings

The SWDCARC meets the third Tuesday of each month in the music room at First United Methodist Church on Main Street in Duncanville. The Board of Directors meet at 6 p.m., and the General Membership meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

Please check out the web site at SWDCARC.ORG for additional information, or contact Pat Roberson, the secretary for the Southwest Dallas County Amateur Radio Club (SWDCARC), at pvroberson@sbcglobal.net

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DESOTO – The DeSoto City Council met earlier this week to discuss the city’s existing Drought Contingency and Water Conservation Plan.

All water suppliers with more than 3,300 service connections must update each of these plans every five years, specific to the Texas Water Code and Texas Administrative Code.

The council heard recommendations originating from the Public Works Department and an outside company to create a more proactive approach to drought and water issues in the future.

It was stressed that the most important method of helping residents understand the city’s overall needs is to help them understand the importance of using water wisely.

Water in any city is needed to protect residents’ health and provide for the Fire Department’s needs.

Two points were considered: what triggers the need for a Drought Contingency and Water Conservation Plan and how the city will respond.

The city’s plan currently has five stages; it was proposed to reduce the number to three.

Public awareness was front and center for the first stage, to educate the public about an 80% water demand, a more proactive approach.

Drought response stages were discussed as triggering events that made voluntary compliance mandatory.

At the point of a mandatory compliance situation, it was suggested that DeSoto mirror its neighboring cities to a fixed date irrigation schedule of even/odd addresses two days per week for watering.

Drought stages would increase as water demand increased, which could lead to a red stage with 95% capacity for over two days.

Enforcement would begin with education followed by warnings, fines, and discontinued water use if necessary.

The council had minimal changes for staff to complete, and the item will be brought back to the council for a final vote on the suggested changes.

The Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendations for potential revisions to the City’s Facility Naming Policy were discussed.

This item was brought up in November 2023 due to actions to name or rename city facilities with recommendations; at that time, the ad hoc committee was created. It comprised Mayor Pro Tem Letitia Hughes, Place 2 Pierette Parker, and Place 3 Nicole Raphiel. The ad hoc committee met on January 29, 2024, to discuss the proposed new City Facility Naming Policy recommendations:

• Clarify that applications will be presented and voted on in January and July City Council Meetings annually, with the requirement that they be submitted to the City Secretary and City Manager at least 60 days in advance.
• Add the requirement that renaming applications be published with water bills, providing directions on where to obtain details for review 30 days in advance of the January and July Council Meetings.
• Add the requirement that facility renaming applications by Council members must require at least 25 verifiable signatures. Verifiable signatures are the signatures of owners of properties in the City of DeSoto.
• Add the requirement that support must be provided by any coordinating commission or board such as the Library Board, Tri-City Animal Shelter, etc.
• Add a requirement that petition signatures be those of registered voters instead of property owners.
• Add a requirement that the costs associated with the naming request be borne by the requesting person, group, or entity instead of the City.
• Add the requirement for a mandatory waiting period of 12 to 24 months before the same facility can be considered for renaming again.

The City Council had previously approved a Facility Naming Policy in March 2023.

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CITY OF DESOTO
NOTICE OF 30-DAY
COMMENT PERIOD AND PUBLIC HEARING #2

The City of DeSoto is designated as an Entitlement City and participates in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Grant (CDBG) Program. As a participant in the CDBG Program, the City of DeSoto is required to prepare and submit the FY 2024 Annual Action Plan which describes how the City will use its CDBG funds. The City of DeSoto anticipates receiving $273,973 in CDBG funds for the program period of October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025.

The City of DeSoto initiated a CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD starting May 6, 2024, to invite citizen input on the FY 2024 Annual Action Plan for the CDBG Program. The Citizen Comment Period will be held between May 6, 2024, through July 16, 2024. During this comment period, residents may complete a housing and community development needs survey or submit written feedback. To access the electronic survey and for more information on the public comment process, please visit http://www.desototexas.gov/cdbg.

On June 14, 2024, a summary of the proposed FY 2024 Annual Action Plan will be made available for review in electronic form via the City website (http://www.desototexas.gov/cdbg) and will be made available in paper form in the DeSoto City Hall Atrium, located at 211 East Pleasant Run Road in DeSoto, Texas. Citizens will have 30 days to review the draft Action Plan documents and submit comments.

Citizen comments about the FY 2024 Annual Action Plan should be submitted to the Office of Administration, City of DeSoto, 211 East Pleasant Run Road, DeSoto, Texas 75115. All citizen comments will be considered in preparing the final FY 2024 Annual Action .

The City hosted a PUBLIC HEARING on May 21, 2024, to receive comments on housing and community development needs to be addressed with CDBG funds in preparation for the FY 2024 Annual Action Plan. A second and final PUBLIC HEARING will be scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at the City Council Meeting at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers in City Hall at Town Center after which the final FY 2024 Annual Action Plan may be presented to the DeSoto City Council for consideration for approval during the meeting or any regular City Council meeting thereafter.

The building is wheelchair accessible. Access to the building and special parking are available at the primary west entrance facing Hampton Road.

For more information about FY 2024 Annual Plan process, or to make disability accommodations, please contact Esther Williams at (972) 230-9690 or ewilliams@desototexas.gov.

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