Item 9A9A - 1
M E M O R A N D U M
September 29, 2010
To:
Shana Yelverton, City Manager
From:
Chris Tribble, Director of Community Services
Subject: Approve SPDC Matching Funds request from SDCA for
Safety Town in the amount of $218,273
Action
Requested:
City Council approval of the SPDC Matching Funds request
from the Southlake DPS Citizens Association (SDCA) in the
amount of $218,273 for the construction of Safety Town.
Background
Information:
Southlake DPS Citizens Association (SDCA) is a non-profit
organization in Southlake that has been working with the
City’s Public Safety and Community Services departments to
construct a Safety Town on park property located west of the
DPS facility off Randol Mill Drive and Southlake Boulevard.
Safety Town will be a miniature version of a town
environment, used to promote and teach safe practices for
children through educational programs and interactive
facilities.
The estimated cost of the project is $1.5 million.
SDCA continues to raise funds for the project from donors
and are actively seeking additional sponsorships. SDCA was
awarded $50,000 in SPDC Matching Funds by City Council
on April 15, 2008 and $50,000 in SPDC Matching Funds on
February 16, 2010. As SDCA continues raising funds to
offset the total cost needed for construction of Safety Town,
they will periodically seek SPDC Matching Funds to hold in
reserve until such time as construction may commence.
Currently, SDCA is seeking matching funds in the amount of
$218,273. They have received financial support through in-
kind donations of services and materials from Lee Lewis
Construction ($43,920), Construction Contractors ($12,886)
and Robert Garza & Associates ($136,467). SCDA will also
contribute $25,000 to match SPDC funding.
Financial
Considerations:
At the end of FY 2010, an unencumbered balance of
$263,246.70 remained in the SPDC Matching Funds
account. During the FY 2011 budget process, an additional
9A - 2
Shana Yelverton, City Manager
Page 2
Meeting Date – October 5, 2010
$250,000 in SPDC Matching Funds was approved, resulting
in an available balance of $513,246.70.
A Matching Funds request from Keep Southlake Beautiful in
the amount of $2,350 will also be presented to SPDC and
City Council at the October 5 regular meetings. If approved,
an unencumbered balance of approximately $510,896.70
would be available in the FY 2011 Matching Funds budget.
If the current request for $218,273 from SDCA is granted, an
unencumbered balance of approximately $292,623.70 would
remain.
Strategic Link
: This item is linked to the City’s Strategy Map related to the
focus area of Quality Development and Partnerships and
Volunteerism and meets the corporate objectives to Provide
Attractive and Unique Spaces for Enjoyment of Personal
Interestsand to Promote Opportunities for Partnerships and
Volunteer Involvement.
Citizen Input/
Board Review
: Park Board recommended approval (8-0) at their September
13, 2010 meeting.
SPDC will consider this item at its October 5, 2010 meeting,
followed by City Council consideration the same day.
Legal Review
: N/A
Alternatives
: Alternatives may include the following:
City Council approve as presented
City Council approve with input as desired
City Council decision not to approve
Supporting
Documents
:
SPDC Matching Funds Request Form
Copy of letters of financial support through in-kind
services and materials from Lee Lewis Construction,
including itemized list of donations from subcontractors
(Construction Contractors) and Robert Garza &
Associates
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Shana Yelverton, City Manager
Page 3
Meeting Date – October 5, 2010
Staff
Recommendation
: City Council approval of the SPDC Matching Funds request
from Southlake DPS Citizens Association (SDCA) in the
amount of $218,273 for the construction of Safety Town.
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Shana Yelverton, City Manager
Page 4
Meeting Date – October 5, 2010
PROJECT MATCHING FUNDS REQUEST FORM
Project Name:
Southlake Safety Town Park________________________
Contact Person: ____Anne Wise______________________________________
Mailing Address:
SDCA, P.O. Box 93081_____________________________________
City: __Southlake_________________ State: _TX___ ZIP: __76092_______
Day Phone: _214-207-7354___________
Night Phone: _____Same_____________
Fax No. _________________________________
Additional Contact Person: _____Genny Hale__________
Day Phone: __817 348 8597_____________
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Southlake Safety Town is a miniature town environment that will teach children all about
safety.
Southlake Safety Town will be open for all in the Northeast Tarrant County area to come
to classes and utilize the town. The Safety Town curriculum will first target children from
pre-school to fifth grade. As the program develops we hope to expand the curriculum to
include middle and intermediate school age. Curriculum is being developed with
materials from the National Safety Town Center, Southlake DPS personnel and teachers
from Carroll ISD.
Southlake Safety Town is needed because unfortunately schools today do not have the
available time to spend on proper safety procedures. The extra classroom time is now
allotted to TAKS preparation. Field trips are still on the schedule, however, and
Southlake Safety Town will be an excellent destination to teach the safety courses
children need.
Southlake Safety Town curriculum was developed by the National Safety Town Center in
Ohio. We have taken their courses and have tailored them to meet the needs of the
children in the Northeast Tarrant County area. The curriculum will be broken down by
age group, so returning students get fresh information each year they participate. We are
also working with the Frisco Safety Town to incorporate some of the curriculum that they
have developed for Texas students.
Southlake Safety Town is an aid for teaching young children basic pedestrian, bicycle
and helmet safety. It will also cover fire safety habits, severe weather safety, and
computer safety. Southlake Safety Town will assist parents in teaching the fundamental
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Shana Yelverton, City Manager
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Meeting Date – October 5, 2010
rules of the road to their school age children, skills that are important not only for the
child’s immediate safety, but also are the building blocks for good citizenship. This
program will also teach children trust and respect for the Department of Public Safety
officers.
The safety classes will be taught in a specially designed education building to incorporate
the ‘at home environment’ through a kitchen set with the typical hazards found in one’s
own kitchen, a bedroom that will fill with smoke so children learn how to escape the
room safely and where to go, and to also become familiar with storm warning and where
to seek safety. The town itself will consist of miniature buildings, light fixtures, traffic
signals and signage and other traffic items consistent with Southlake and surrounding
areas, such as round-a-bouts. The children will have access to bikes and helmets as well
as battery operated cars that will teach good driving practices
We anticipate that in our first year of operation we should serve close to 45,000 students.
Southlake/Carroll ISD has agreed that Southlake Safety Town is a great environment to
teach children basic to advanced safety habits. We anticipate that once we are up and
running that the surrounding communities of Grapevine, Colleyville, Keller, Roanoke
and Trophy Club will also send their students on field trips to Southlake Safety Town.
The classes will be taught by professionals, but will also allow high school age students
to assist in the classes, this will further instill in them good safety and driving practices.
Required Start Date: _______________ Projected Completion Date: _______________
Projected Cost: ___$1.5 Million____________ Amount of Funds Requested: __$218,273.00___________
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Shana Yelverton, City Manager
Page 6
Meeting Date – October 5, 2010
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Shana Yelverton, City Manager
Page 7
Meeting Date – October 5, 2010