City Lights January 2022.pub

January/February 2022 www.desototexas.gov

DeSoto City Lights DESOTO LAUNCHES “FAIR CHANCE” EMPLOYMENT POLICY January 1 st Marks a New Day in DeSoto For JusƟce‐Involved Job Seekers by MaƩ Smith, CommunicaƟons Manager When the DeSoto City Council passed its new “Fair Chance” Employment Ordinance at its April 6th meeting, the action was viewed as a bold step towards employment fairness and made DeSoto just one of a few Texas government bodies to adopt such a policy. On January 1, 2022, this ordinance formally took effect, and the City of DeSoto is reaching out to DeSoto businesses to make sure that they are aware of the details of the ordinance and of the importance of compliance. DeSoto City Manager Brandon Wright sent out an informational letters to DeSoto businesses reminding them that the Fair Chance Ordinance took effect January 1 st .

“The City is encouraging employers to assess candidates’ qualifications and skills before seeking information about their criminal history. This has been shown to support the successful reintegration of and increase economic opportunities for qualified individuals with criminal histories who are ready to contribute to the workforce.” City Manager Wright’s letter added that while the ordinance excludes the question from the initial application, it does not preclude seeking criminal history information after the application is made in accordance with federal law. Said Wright in his letter, “Nothing in the ordinance limits an employer's authority to make a hiring decision for lawful reasons, including the determination that an individual may be unsuitable for the job based on an assessment of the applicant’s criminal history.” The new ordinance applies to businesses located in DeSoto with fifteen or more employees that are not non-profit 501(c) organizations, state agencies, or governmental bodies (Per Section 552.003 of the Government Code). Even though it is a governmental body, the City of DeSoto has removed any exemption it would have received to ensure that the City will be in full compliance. Also, the ordinance does not apply to any position for which an individual’s criminal history must be known in order to comply with restrictions under federal, state, or local law or to comply with a legally mandated insurance or bond requirement.

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Included with the City Manager’s outreach letter to DeSoto businesses is a window sticker (pictured below) that will allow them to advertise their compliance with the ordinance and direct interested individuals to a resource page that the City has established to provide detailed information and FAQ’s concerning the ordinance. This information can be accessed at www.desototexas.gov/FairChance. FAIR CHANCE HIRING CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

CITY CALENDAR JANUARY 3 Arts Commission Mtg. ‐ Canceled 3 Park Board Mtg. ‐ Civic Ctr. 6:30 pm 4 City Council Mtg. ‐ City Hall– 6 pm 6 Library Board Mtg. ‐ Library ‐ 7 pm 6 KDB Board Mtg. ‐ Civic Ctr. 6:30 pm 11 Planning & Zoning Mtg. ‐ City Hall ‐ 6 pm 13 Historical FoundaƟon Mtg. ‐ 6 pm 17 City FaciliƟes Closed ‐ MLK Holiday 18 City Council Mtg. ‐ City Hall ‐ 6 pm 20 Police Town Hall ‐ City Hall ‐ 6 pm 24 Development Board Mtg. City Hall 9 am 25 Planning & Zoning Mtg. ‐ City Hall ‐ 6 pm FEBRUARY 1 City Council Mtg. ‐ City Hall ‐ 6 pm 3 State of the City ‐ Civic Ctr. 11:30am 3 Library Board MeeƟng Library 7 pm 3 KDB Board Mtg. Civic Ctr. 6:30 pm 5 Daddy Daughter Dance Civic Ctr. 6 pm 7 Park Board MeeƟng ‐ Civic Ctr. 6:30 pm 7 Arts Commission Mtg. ‐ City Hall 6 pm 14 Planning & Zoning Mtg. ‐ City Hall 6 pm 15 City Council Mtg. ‐ City Hall ‐ 6 pm 22 Planning & Zoning Mtg.—City Hall 6 pm 28 DeSoto Dev. Board Mtg. ‐ City Hall‐ 9 am Mayor Rachel L. Proctor will present her State of the City Address to the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce on February 3, 2022 at 11:30 am at the DeSoto Civic Center. The public is welcome to attend. For tickets, contact 972.224.3565. .

“January 1 st is here, so we ask all qualifying DeSoto businesses to familiarize themselves with the ordinance and implement it,” said DeSoto Mayor Rachel L. Proctor. “If you are a DeSoto business and still have any questions that aren’t answered on our Fair Chance Resource Page please feel free to contact the City Manager’s Office at 972.230.9643.”

The City will address complaints and violations under this ordinance with DeSoto employers starting first with written warnings and moving up to issuing fines of up to $500 for subsequent violations. If there are any job candidates in DeSoto who apply to businesses included in the ordinance after January 1, 2022 and are still asked questions about a criminal background on their initial application, we ask that they contact the City of DeSoto’s Action Center with the details at 972.230.9600 or 972.274.CITY(2489).

972.230.9690 Emergency Repair Program The City of DeSoto is launching a program to assist homeowners in need of emergency home repairs with up to $5,000 for those who qualify. This Emergency Repair Assistance Program is intended to eliminate immanent threats or hazards to the health, sanitation, and safety of low-income households. Covered repairs could include: no water, lack of hot water, or damaged and/or severely leaking water pipes; standing raw sewage; electrical hazards; no heating source in the unit or if the furnace has been determined to be hazardous by the utility company; storm damage causing severe leaking; removal of architectural barriers (accessibility improvements); a floor area weakened by water damage, subject to collapse and/or other situations as determined solely by staff to be an immediate threat to the health or safety of the occupants, including air conditioning. To participate, the home must be located in the City of DeSoto and be owner occupied. The home must meet the criteria for repairs and will be denied if the total cost exceeds $5,000. The total household income for all adults living in the home cannot exceed more than 80% of the area’s median income to qualify.

For more information or to determine eligibility, go to www.desototexas.gov.

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STAR Transit’s Same Day Rides in DeSoto Cost $2

The City of DeSoto will hold a General Election on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The following places will be voted on in this election: Mayor - Place 1 Councilmember - Place 3 Councilmember - Place 5 DeSoto residents who are interested in filing for one of these city council seats must live within the bounds of the district to be eligible. However, all candidates are elected at large. Candidate Filing Information Packets can be requested by sending an email to the City Secretary at [email protected]. Please include your name, address, email address and contact phone number. Packets can also be picked up in the City Secretary’s office during regular business hours. Filing for a place on the ballot takes place from January 19, 2022 through February 18, 2022 between the hours of 9 am and 12 noon and from 1 pm to 4 pm in the City Secretary’s office. On February 18, 2022, the office will close promptly at 5:00pm and no filing information will be accepted after that time. Please visit the City of DeSoto website at www.desototexas.gov for updates on the municipal election or contact the City Secretary’s office at 972.230.9664. INFORMATION REGARDING THE UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTION

Rides within STARNow’s on-demand DeSoto travel zone now cost $2, “a bargain” according to riders who are enthusiastically using the new service. “Our drivers are telling us how well received our new service is,” said Tommy Henricks, STAR Transit executive director. “They are finding it very convenient for going to work, school, shopping and out to eat. Transit on demand adds tremendous flexibility. It means you no longer have to be at a fixed spot at a fixed time to come aboard and go where you need to go.” The service began operating Monday-Friday, 6 am to 6 pm, on December 1st. By calling customer service or using the STARNow mobile app, DeSoto riders can expect a vehicle at their curb within 15 to 20 minutes. Effective January 3rd, rides within the DeSoto travel zone are $2. Fares for qualified seniors, veterans and persons with disabilities are $1, and children 12 and under remain free. Riders must be 13 or older to ride unaccompanied. DeSoto residents may continue pre-booking medical trips by contacting the agency’s call center. Fares remain $1 to $12 depending on the mileage. Riders can book a trip in the DeSoto travel zone in real time via the STARNow mobile app which can be downloaded from the Apple App store and Google Play store.

To Book a Ride:  Open the STARNow app on your mobile device.

 Tap on the "Where to?” box and select your drop-off location by searching for a point-of-interest or address. When selecting

your pickup spot you can use your current location (the default) or enter your pickup location/address manually.  Add additional passengers or request accessibility features by tapping on the “Passenger” or “Wheelchair” icons.  If you want to schedule your trip in advance, select a later time by tapping

“Schedule” in the lower right corner. Trips can only be scheduled for the same day.  Choose to add a credit card and pay for your trip in the app or select cash and pay on the vehicle.  Review your estimated pickup and drop-off time and tap “Request Ride” when ready. For more information, go to www.STARtransit.org, email customer service at [email protected], or call 877.631.5278.

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Parks will provide a flyer on the Dallas Black Dance Theatre Performance and the Daddy Daughter Dance on Monday and they will go in this blank space. DeSoto Arts Commission Chair, James Adams recently made a presentation

Public Welcome! Justin London – digital artist Alexandria Morris – dancer Dana Proulx Willis – story teller Michelle Pryor – weaver and jewelry maker King Shak r – spok n word artist Carol Simmons – visual artist Tony Vinto – theatrical director/ producer Rolanda Brigham – Master Artist and Project Here’s the list of artists who make up the inaugural DeSoto Artists Lab: Felicia Fisher – weaver and basket maker Johnathon Foster – visual artist to the DeSoto City Council on the DeSoto Artists Lab. This is a pilot program called for by the recently adopted Community Cultural Arts Master plan which creates a new arts grant program whose focus is to develop local artists. The nine artists who have been accepted for the DeSoto Artists Lab will be in residence for up to nine months, working in DeSoto Public Library, the DeSoto Senior Center, the Grow DeSoto Marketplace and other public facilities and private spaces that are open to the general public. The residencies provide programs for children, teens, young adults, and/or seniors. Each residency will conclude with an onsite celebratory event, such as a performance, exhibition, project unveiling or community festival. Watch this newsletter for more information on these program scheduled to begin in March, 2022.

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