My First 4 Years

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

New industry and business has thrived in Mesquite. Business and industry has found that Mesquite is the place to be. Mesquite’s location, business climate, incentives, and visionary community leaders have brought this business to the city. In addition many long-time Mesquite industries have chosen to remain and to expand their facilities. The following list includes new and expanded businesses in the last four years.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Police Department has initiated many new and expanded programs during the past four years, many of them leading the way and making our police department one of the foremost law enforcement agencies in the state. New personnel, both sworn and non-sworn, have been added, as well as new equipment. Many of these changes have come at little or no cost to the taxpayer. Better utilization of personnel, equipment, resources, and funding have allowed citizens to reap the benefits of having a safer and more livable city to live and raise their families.

• Ten additional officer positions added
• Six non-officer positions added (three replaced officers working non enforcement positions allowing them to return to enforcement duties)
• Equipment:
• MDC project upgrade completed
• Replacement of antiquated mobile and handheld radios
• Plasma Screen Display of AVL
• Skywatch tower
• Scooter/Bike Bot for crime prevention (donation)
• Communication center console update

• Voice Print recording system for 911 center
• Digital jail recording system
• Police e-mail server
• Flashlights for officers
• EDGE technology
• Cyber crime computer lab
• Temporary building annex (to be used later as classroom at range)
• Rifles for all officers
• Crown Victoria Fire Protection
• Replaced 214 sidearms
• Conversion of F350 truck for crime prevention (seizure)
• Debusk Park crime camera surveillance system
• Building security update
• LED lights for squad cars
• New badges (donation)
• New squad car graphics

• Programs:
• Problem Oriented Policing
• Weekly crime mapping
• Citizen input link—MPD Web site
• VIN etching program
• CrimeWeb (donation)
• MiniWarehouse Association
• Restaurant Managers Association
• Fatal Vision Program (donation)
• JIS
• MPD Intranet allowing expansion of databases throughout the department
• Court Notify Automated Electronic Court Routing System
• Expanded Web services to citizen

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Fire Department has continued to improve its capabilities by constantly upgrading and replacing equipment, adding and reclassifying personnel to improve efficiency, and constructing new facilities. The Mesquite Fire Department strives to provide the best emergency service possible for the citizens of Mesquite to ensure their safety and welfare in fire and emergency medical services.

• Completion of Station No. 3
• Construction of Station No. 1
• Equipment:
• Four ambulances replaced
• Aerial truck for Station No. 1 (included hiring five additional firefighters)
• Two engines (Units 10 & 12) replaced
• Workout equipment upgrade

• Three thermal imaging cameras
• Large bomb suit
• Pre-planning software and computers
• Headphones for engine
• Upgrade extraction tools for trucks 1 & 5
• Replaced warning siren at Station No. 2
• SCBA Upgrade
• Technical replacement program (14 PCs and 2 printers)
• Opticom (41 intersections)
• Radio replacement
• Radio system upgrade (in conjunction with Police)
• Two new warning sirens in Falcon’s Lair and Tealwood

• Personnel:
• Eight firefighter positions (five firefighters for Station No. 1 and three firefighters for Engine 4*)
• Two driver-engineer positions
• Staff position for CE Nurse
• Upgrade Deputy Chief position to Assistant Chief

*Four out of seven engines now have a four-person staff.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Community Development has made many inroads into improving the quality of life in the city through innovative use of new technology, improved customer service, and new programs. A brief summary of some of the programs follows:

“Addressing Mesquite ”: A Neighborhood Preservation Program

The City Council approved a program to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining the exterior of single-family homes and preserving the value of neighborhoods.

• Mesquite is one of only four cities in the metroplex to examine the condition of EVERY single-family home. 84% of homes are in good condition.
• A comprehensive program that “addresses” the integrity of neighborhoods. It combines upgrading exterior building conditions with traditional neighborhood revitalization efforts.
• The City Council selected four neighborhoods to pilot “Addressing Mesquite.” The program will spread to other neighborhoods over time.
• A Neighborhood Planner position has been added to work with residents in target neighborhoods to enhance program understanding, support and compliance.

Effective Code Enforcement

The City Council continues to give high priority to the enforcement and removal of nuisances that affect property values and Mesquite’s quality of life.

• Staff has the best technology available, making it possible for inspectors to be the most productive and efficient code inspectors in the metroplex (Source: NCTCOG).
• Voluntary compliance stands at 97%. Only 3% of violations must be corrected by the City or enforced in municipal court.
• Last year City employees removed more than 17,000 illegal signs from streets and intersections.
• Staff is looking at ways to strengthen the enforcement of cars parking in yards and hording junk vehicles.
• District and area realignments to lessen the area each inspector had to cover allowing more frequent inspections

Environmental Code Online Complaint System

The City Council asked for an easy system that allows citizens to report a code violation and stay informed about progress in resolving the problem. Improvements to the City’s online system include:

• Tracking capability ― The citizen can retrieve their complaint at any time and review its status and comments from the inspector.
• Photographs ― The citizen can upload photographs to their complaint to document the problem.
• Automatic messaging ― The online system automatically generates several messages back to the citizen. If desired, the citizen may request to be automatically notified whenever the inspector updates the complaint record.
• Surveying ― Citizens who provide an e-mail address receive a satisfaction survey from the Director. They provide feedback on response time, expectations, and further improvements to the online system.

Building Inspection Division Improvements  

In January 2004 Building inspection began the conversion process for the field inspection staff from “combination” inspectors to “trade specific” inspectors. This operational change gives a higher quality inspection allowing inspectors holding state licenses in specific trades to inspect those areas they are most familiar with. The change resulted in the City gaining certified and licensed inspectors in the various phases of construction. In addition, during the 2004/2005 budget year approval was granted to purchase laptops for all building inspection vehicles. This technology upgrade allows inspectors to upload and download inspection and permit information. The use of laptops to record data also allows contractors access to retrieval of their inspection reports via the City’s Web site.

Animal Shelter and Adoption Center

A new Animal Shelter is currently under construction at 1650 Gross Road which will more than double the space of the current facility. The facility will also provide adoption opportunities for stray animals.

• 11,400 sq. ft. facility
• Approximately $2.5 million
• Double the number of animal cages as well as providing separate facilities for exotic animals
• Office space for volunteers
• Sally port for off loading of animals
• State-of-the-art sanitary waste flush system
• Visiting room

PUBLIC WORKS

The availability of adequate infrastructure is a key component for both economic development and habitability for the citizens of Mesquite. The City has taken a proactive approach in addressing street and drainage issues. The City often funds many of these projects in partnership with other governmental entities. The City has seen many major street and drainage improvements throughout the city as well as the continued maintenance of existing streets and alleys.

Major Street and Drainage Projects

• Cartwright Road (Pioneer to Lawson)
• $12.6 million
• Improved from 2-lane asphalt to 6-lane divided concrete
• Completed October 2004
• Edwards Church Road (Cartwright to Clay-Mathis)
• $4 million
• Improve from 2-lane asphalt to 4-lane undivided concrete
• Install 16-inch diameter water line
• Scheduled start date May 2005
• Clay-Mathis Road (Edwards Church to Lawson)
• $4 million
• Improve from 2-lane asphalt to 4-lane divided concrete
• Scheduled completion date June 2005
• Via Del Norte street and drainage project
• $3.5 million
• Under construction
• Military Parkway (IH 635 to Carmack)
• $6.5 million
• Start date spring 2005
• Pioneer Road (McKenzie to Cartwright)
• $7 million
• Start date 2007

• Lawson Road (Milam to Clay-Mathis)
• $10 million (estimated)
• Design phase
• Start date 2008

Asphalt Overlays  

• Approximately $2,250,600 has been dedicated to overlaying existing streets with asphalt since 2001
• Over 45 streets have been overlayed with asphalt since 2001

• Approximately $3,101,000 has been dedicated to improvements and reconstruction of alleys throughout the City.
• 33 alleys have either been reconstructed or are under design

• Phase 1 completion of Town Centre bridge and entrance/exit ramps
• Phase 2 renovation of Town East Boulevard interchange entrance/exit ramps, service road connection to IH-30
• The City has dedicated $9.3 million towards the total cost of $38.6 million. These projects will provide citizens and visitors better access to The Rows of Texas.

AIRPORT

The City of Mesquite owns and operates Mesquite Metro Airport which is a designated reliever airport. It is the only airport in southeastern Dallas County capable of serving corporate aircraft. The many improvements and upgrades at the airport will only enhance the ability of Mesquite to attract new business and industry and bring visitors to our city. The airport is located on 349 acres with a single 100’ x 6,000’ concrete runway, and is base to 225 aircraft, including single-engine, multi-engine, helicopters, and private jets. There are over 110,000 annual operations at the airport bringing an economic impact of $8.3 million. Improvements at the airport since 2001 include:

• A modern 5,000 sq. ft. terminal facility with conference rooms, pilot lounge and shower, lobby, administrative and fueling operations offices and future restaurant area
• Newly renovated City-owned hanger units
• Ramp extensions
• Drainage and runway safety area improvements
• Runway marking/striping
• New runway and taxiway signage
• Perimeter fencing
• Security gate access
• Purchase of 25 privately owned hanger units which will generate $74,400 in rental income annually
• Navigational aids
• PAPI 4
• Lead-in lights
• Electrical vault
• Segmented circle and windsock
• Automated weather observation system
• Ground communications
• Projects underway
• Updates to 1998 Airport Master Plan
• Aircraft hanger construction able to house 18 additional aircraft which will generate $88,000 in new revenue annually
• New business construction
• P & S Aerowest—100’ x 80’ hanger for corporate aircraft and flight operations
• Faith Air—100’ x 80’ hanger for an aircraft maintenance facility

PARKS AND RECREATION

Parks and Recreation has used funding from bond sales, 4B tax dollars, grants, partnership with the schools, private donations, and many other creative and innovative ways to improve the quality of life in Mesquite . The department’s goal in all of its projects is to make them safe, attractive, and well maintained for our citizens. The department provides quality of life and recreation for all ages. Many of the parks projects project a visual image to visitors that gives them the image of Mesquite as a place that they would like to live and work. The City’s list of accomplishments in this area is long, but a few of the more noteworthy projects within the last four years are:

• Renovation and upgrade of the playground at Hodges Park to bring it up to current standards—approximately $40,000
• Westlake Tennis Center improvements to renovate the roof of the covered tennis courts and resurface all courts—approximately $70,000
• Construction of new parking lot at City Lake Park to support activities at Lakeside community Center and City Lake activities—approximately $125,000
• Construction of a 12-acre Soccer Practice Facility on East Glen Rd. —approximately $115,000
• Partnership with school district to construct and equip a new school park at Gentry Elementary—approximately $275,000
• Highway corridor maintenance of major portions of IH635 and US Hwy 80 to bring these areas up to City standards (14-15 mowings/year). The state maintained these areas to rural standards (3-4 mowings/year)—approximately $210,000 per year
• Evans baseball practice fields (6) on Gross Rd. —approximately $350,000
• Partnership with school district to reconstruct Town East Swimming Pool—approximately $925,000 (school district contributed $200,000 of this amount)
• Opal Lawrence House/Historical Park renovation—approximately $400,000 has been spent from 4B monies with more donated through the efforts of Historic Mesquite.

OVER 65/DISABLED PERSONS TAX FREEZE  

• For persons over 65 or disabled
• A ceiling is set on property taxes (homestead only) for eligible persons, even if tax rate or appraisal values go up at the level they are paying at the time they became eligible
• If taxes went down the taxpayer would be taxed below ceiling levels but never above