The city of Dallas plans to vote on a $1 billion public improvement bond in 2024, and many city needs are vying for a share of the money.
The Dallas Police and Fire Department on Monday submitted a need list totaling $730 million to the City Council Public Safety Commission.
The Dallas Fire and Rescue Service is proposing the addition of five all-new stations. Most of them are located along Interstate 20 south of Dallas, where many new residential and industrial buildings are located.
“On the worst days, they want us to be as close as possible and get them there as soon as possible. Because it’s just ‘too far,’ said Jim McDade, president of the Dallas Firefighters Association.
The $265 million DFR request also calls for the replacement of seven other older fire stations. Of the 59 DFR stations currently in operation, 21 are over 50 years old. Many of them were not designed for today’s heavy duty fire trucks.
Dallas police are seeking $465 million in a brief filed with the commission on Monday.
Police photos posted at the press conference show a small lot of rooms outside an old building, lined with storage containers for overflow storage.
Dallas Police Association president Mike Mata said, “It’s taking too long to address these issues until they become very big problems. With facilities, perhaps $1 billion for a $3 billion problem. I am ready,” he said.
Police hope to replace some other very old facilities.
But at a Monday meeting, police officials said a replacement for the Dallas Police Academy is a top priority.
A new academy is planned for the University of North Texas, Dallas campus.
Firefighters also want training schools to be updated.
“And that’s a huge need we have and we have to stay connected,” McDade said.
Feedback from residents will help city hall determine what will be included in the final bond referendum plan after a series of public opinion meetings that will begin Monday night in city council constituencies across the city. .
Learn more about the bond referendum here. here.
The meeting schedule for the week of June 5th is as follows:
Monday, June 5th:
- ** District 2: 6:00 p.m. Samuel Grand Recreation Center, 6200 E. Grand Avenue
Tuesday, June 6th:
- District 9: 6:00 PM, Ridgewood Recreation Center, 6818 Fisher Road
- **District 8: 6pm, Singing Hills Recreation Center, 6805 Patrol Way
Wednesday, June 7th:
- District 3: 6 PM: Thurgood Marshall Recreation Centre, 5150 Mark Trail Way
Thursday, June 8th:
- District 11: 6 p.m., Prism Center (District Office), 5580 Peterson Lane, Suite 175
City Hall will be held in person or virtually. Closed captioning with automatic translation into languages other than English will be available for virtual meetings. Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish is available for meetings marked with two asterisks.
To request an ASL or other language interpreter, please call the Bonds and Construction Management Office at 214-671-5390. The conference will run until June.