City of Duncanville

Pictured above: Mayor Greg Contreras, Councilmember DeMonica Gooden, and Councilmember Don McBurnett with Brenda Waters of Championship Barbeque Alliance and Red, White, & BBQ winning teams Cast Iron Cookers and Team Kook'n.

• A total of 1,973 single-family rental properties have been registered to date, with no new properties registered since the last update. Twenty-two inspections have been completed since the previous update; eight passed, fourteen failed, and none were canceled. The primary reason for the failed inspections was the absence of a Grounded/Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection and missing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
  
• Since the Single-Family Rental Registration Program inspections in July 2024, 229 Certificates of Occupancy have been re-issued.
  
• This week, 84 Building inspections and 18 Health Inspections were conducted. The total amount of fees collected was $9,735.00.
  
• This week, 67 permits were issued. 

In the news...

Read the July 1, 2024, Champion Weekly Update

• Summer Camp Week #6 – Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Thursday – Lock-in at Duncanville Skateland 
    
  • Friday – Fieldtrip to NRH20 Waterpark
    
• GASO (Great American Shootout) VI Basketball Tournament, six courts – Thursday, 3:30 PM to 10:30 PM, Friday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Sunday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
  
• Masters League Adult Basketball League, three courts – Sunday, 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
  
• Next-up Youth Basketball League – Sunday, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

The Fire Department responded to 143 calls for service in the past seven days, which included:

• Fires: 
  • 1 Building fire in Desoto; 1 chimney fire in Duncanville; 1 grass fire in Duncanville; and 1 dumpster fire in Duncanville 
    
• EMS: 113
  
• Motor Vehicle Accidents: 9
  

• Recruits J. Vang, E. Ortiz, J. Garza, and A. Lopez (pictured above) have begun their Police Academy Training; this week, they covered physical fitness, racial profiling, professionalism, and ethics.
  
• Officer Barbosa was sworn in on Friday, July 5. She has begun Phase I of her Field Training process. 

• Week 6 of the Summer Reading Club had more great programs for our guests, including our Lego programs, summer movies, and numerous Storytimes. We had a total of 175 attendees. Children participating in the Summer Reading Club Book Challenge can now turn in their reading logs and collect prize packets and free books. They will also be entered into the drawing for the grand prize: one of four bicycles and accessories sponsored by the Friends of the Duncanville Library. Grand prize winners will be selected at the end of July.
  
• Transfers between our Best Southwest Libraries for the week of June 29 – July 5 totaled 251. We also welcomed 41 visitors from the other Best Southwest Libraries to the Duncanville Library to check out items in person.

The Library has a Little Free Fridge in our Pantry. The Pantry and the Fridge are open to anyone in need, and staff members can receive donations.

Sister Girls Soul Kitchen (coming soon) will host the July 30th Duncanville Community and Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) and City Council meeting at Wheatland Plaza.

Business Retention visits are designed to let local business owners know that the Duncanville Community and Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) and the city are here to help with solutions and resources. Our primary goals are to listen and help find resources.  Our recent visits include: 

• Judy’s Café #2: 126 W. Camp Wisdom Road
  • Judy’s Café #2 is a beloved gathering spot where hearty comfort food and friendly service create a nostalgic and welcoming atmosphere for all who visit.
    
• Cash Money Pawn Shop: 222 W. Camp Wisdom Road
  
  • Cash Money Pawn Shop boasts a diverse array of fascinating items, from vintage guitars and exquisite jewelry to high-end electronics, offering both shoppers and sellers alike a treasure trove of possibilities
    
• Kim & Jenny’s Café: 450 E. Wheatland Road
  
  • Kim & Jenny’s Café graces patrons with warm hospitality and delightful culinary experiences. 

Upcoming Events Happening in Duncanville:

• Saturday, July 13, 2024: Sidewalk Sale and Charity Collection Event | Knick Knacks | Knick Knacks (215 W Camp Wisdom Rd #8, Duncanville, TX 75116)
• Saturday, July 20, 2024: Duncan Switch Street Market | Duncanville Chamber of Commerce | Main Street (N Main St & E Center St)

West Nile Virus (WNV) Samples Results

Testing conducted by Dallas County Mosquito Control.

June 18, 2024 - Negative

June 25, 2024 - Negative

July 3, 2024 - Negative

July 10, 2024 - Negative

Accounting and Reporting – Week of July 4 – July 10: 

• Electronic Funds Transfer Payments: 35 invoices were processed, totaling $204,388.13.

The Human Resources Department is currently recruiting for the following positions:

• Police Chief
  
• Fire Chief 
  
• Human Resources Director
  
• Police Officer
  
• Firefighter
  
• Crew Leader – Utilities
  
• Streets Maintenance I
  
• Streets Maintenance II
  
• Utilities Maintenance I
  
• Utilities Maintenance II
  
• IT Intern (unpaid)
  
• IT Specialist
  
• Seasonal Maintenance Worker Parks
  
• Recreation Attendant (Part-time)
  
• Fieldhouse Attendant (Part-time)
  
• Fieldhouse Attendant Front Desk (Part-time)
  
• Mechanic
  
• Equipment Services Superintendent
  
• Assistant Director of Public Works

Senior Meal Program: Monday through Thursday, everyone who dines with us will receive a breakfast bag and a boxed lunch to take home. On Fridays, each person will receive two breakfast bags and two boxed lunches to enjoy on Saturday and Sunday. This is due to additional state funding from the Dallas Area Agency on Aging (DAAA). The funding and expanded meal program will continue through the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2024, and there is no additional cost to the City.

Become a member today! The minimum age to join is 50. For more information, contact the Senior Center at (972) 707-3864.

Upcoming Senior Center Events:

• Ivory Truth Music Performance – Friday, July 12 | 10:00 AM
  
• Trip: Alley Cats Bowling in Arlington, TX – Monday, July 15 | 9:30 AM
  
• Loteria – Monday, July 15 | 10:30 AM
  
• Trip: Mystery Lunch – Tuesday, July 16 | 12:00 PM
  
• Bagel Social – Wednesday, July 17 | 9:00 AM
  
• Trip: Chislom Trail Museum in Cleburne, TX – Friday, July 19 | 9:00 AM
  
• Bingo with Oak Street – Friday, July 19 | 10:30 AM

PARKS

• The Parks and Recreation department spent most of the week preparing for and executing the Red, White & BBQ Special Event at Armstrong Park.
  
• The Athletic Crews continued their off-season summer field maintenance with aerification and Verti-cutting playing fields and have begun to top dress and level fields.

 Projects:

• Staff conducted tree trimming along streets and medians around the City.
  
• Crews continue renovating the Old Fire Station as the Park team prepares to transition. 

Keep Duncanville Beautiful and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board participated in the Duncanville Lions Club Fourth of July Parade and at a vendor’s booth during the celebration.

Recreation Center

Pickleball Youth Camp – Monday, July 29, Wednesday, July 31, and Friday, August 2, 2024 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

This is a three-day camp for youth ages 5 to 16. Participants will learn the basics of the game, e.g., the court lines and rules, information on a single or double play, technique, scoring, etc. Coach Richard and Councilmember Mr. Jeremy Koontz will also assist with coaching. The camp will occur during our regular pickleball hours - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning. This is a FREE event with limited space available.

Contact the Recreation Center at (972) 780-5070 for more information.

• Special Use Permit (SUP) request for “School, Primary or Secondary (Private)” at 323 West Wheatland Road.
  
  • Recommended for approval at the June 3rd Planning and Zoning Commission meeting; staff is brought back this item to the July 8, 2024, Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.

• SUP request for “Banquet or Event Center” at 119 E. Danieldale Road. 
  
  • Recommended for approval at the July 8 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.

• Proposed New Development at 518 East Highway 67
  
  • The proposed project has moved forward to the building permit stage; the building permit was issued on December 18, 2023.
    
  • Owners have applied for a certificate of occupancy and will receive it once all inspections have been completed.

• Proposed New Development at 704 North Main Street
  
  • Site Plan submitted August 30, 2023.
    
  • Building permit application submitted November 18, 2022.
    
  • Replat approved at the March 10, 2023 Planning and Zoning meeting.
    
  • Building Inspections is currently waiting on revised plans; fire is waiting on fire sprinkler plans.
    
  • Civil engineering plans have been approved.

• Proposed New Development at 626 Crestside Drive
  
  • Pre-development meeting occurred on November 7.
    
  • SUP application submitted on December 6; SUP request scheduled for February 12. Planning and Zoning Commission meeting docket and March 5 City Council docket.
    
  • SUP request tabled at the January 8 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting; recommended for approval at the February 12 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
    
  • Replat application submitted on December 13; Replat approved at the January 8 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
    
  • SUP request approved by City Council on March 5.
    
  • Civil engineering plans sent to the developer on March 21, 2024.

• Proposed New Development at 282 West Highway 67
  
  • Pre-Development meeting occurred on January 9, 2024.
    
  • Staff sent out comments on January 9, 2024 after the meeting.
    
  • Latest plans submitted on February 7, 2024. Staff markups were sent to developers on 02/16.
    
  • SUP request for the use of “Retail, Sundry” was heard at the April 29, 2024 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting and is recommended for approval.
    
  • Applicants requested to be removed from June 4, 2024 City Council meeting until further notice.

• Proposed New Development at 914 and 918 East Highway 67
  
  • Development Review Committee October 24, 2023
    
  • The Planning Director met with developers on March 3 to discuss site plans.
    
  • Development Review Committee March 8
  •  Planned Development submittal sent to City on May 29, 2024. Staff are currently reviewing.

• Proposed New Development at 515 West Center Street
  
  • The applicant was approved for a special exception to allow six (6) additional accessory structures by the Zoning Board of Adjustment on March 28, 2024.
    
  • The applicant has not yet submitted the building permit applications for accessory structures.

• Proposed New Development at the Corner of Cockrell Hill Road & Danieldale Road)
  
  • Applicant was scheduled for the June 3, 2024, Planning & Zoning Commission meeting for Planned Development (PD) request; item was removed from agenda; future date to be determined.

• Proposed New Development at 1430 South Main Street
  
  • Applicant met with staff on September 5, 2023.
    
  • Applicant has been continuously working with staff on plans.
    
  • Planned Development application submitted on April 3, 2024.
    
  • Applicant met with staff on June 10, 2024.
    
  • The applicant is currently working on revisions and additional needed plans.

• Comp Plan Five-Year Update
  
  • Request for Qualifications has been posted to the City website by Chief Procurement Officer Elton Brock.
    
  • Pre-Statement of Qualifications Meeting for RFQ 24-0014 held on March 6.
    
  • Statement of Qualifications due March 26, 2024, at 2:00 PM.
    
  • Evaluations were completed, and three (3) firms have been selected. 
    
  • The Comprehensive Plan Committee selected one (1) firm. This firm will conduct a briefing at the July 16 City Council meeting with their proposal and a meeting with the Comprehensive Plan Committee and the Duncanville Community Economic Development Corporation Board at the end of July. 

• The City Council granted five (5) Properties a Specific Use Permit in July 2022. One of the five properties no longer operate as a short-term rental.
  
• Four properties were mailed a certified final notice from the Building Official on December 18, 2023.
  
• One property was mailed a final notice from the Planning Division on January 19, 2024.
  
• Two properties were mailed an initial notice from the Planning Division on January 19, 2024.

• The City Council granted three properties a Specific Use Permit on May 21, 2024.

Street Division

• Crews poured concrete sidewalks on Hummingbird Lane.
  
• Overgrown tree branches on Limetree Lane have been trimmed.
  
• Fallen trees were removed from the right-of-way on Candlelight Avenue and Bow Creek Drive.
  
• Crews cleaned fourteen drainage headwalls on Meadowglen Drive, E. Wheatland Road, Green Tree Lane, Cliffcrest Drive, Green Hills Road, and Harrington Park.
  
• Crews removed and disposed of debris and trimmed high weeds behind a guardrail and around a drainage headwall on Cliffcrest Drive.

Utilities Division 

• Water usage was 65,264,400 gallons (MG) during this reporting period, July 1 – July 7, 2024, down from 68,934,200 MG the previous week. The daily peak water demand occurred on Thursday, July 4, 2024, when 10,862,000 MG of water was used. There was 0.0 inches of precipitation during this period. There was an estimated 49,000 gallons of water loss.

CIP Construction

• Ten Mile Creek Embankment and Drainage Improvements
  
  • Stoic Construction is focusing its efforts on the Site 1 wall.
    
    
• Wren Avenue and Oriole Boulevard Water Main Replacement I-20 Aerial Crossing
  
  • No update from last week. The aerial crossing is being insulated, and the project is nearing completion.
    
    
• Softwood Drive Sanitary Sewer Aerial Crossing Repair
  
  • No update from last week. Crews await the beam delivery.

Other Construction

No update from last week. 

Texas Department of Transportation TxDOT) I-20 Construction Cockrell Hill Road to Hampton Road TxDOT is constructing new service roads and ramps from Cockrell Hill Road in Duncanville to Hampton Road in Dallas, including new bridges across US-67. This project also includes construction by TXDOT of a Texas U-Turn at US 67 and Cockrell Hill Road on the southwest side of the bridge, which is projected to be completed by Fall 2024, barring any unforeseen conditions. The entire project has an estimated completion date of September 2025.

TxDOT Project Tracker - The U-Turn construction at US67 and Cockrell Hill is part of a larger project along I-20 (Control Section Job #237404085)