[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6693335,"mediaKeyId","2333223-7e743aa76ae0bcedf3eb57b333c8e916","parentId",2333223,"title","Dallas Public Library outlines strategic plan progress, Recollect digital archive and facilities priorities","audioSeconds",702,"startMs",2140000,"endMs",2842000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333223-7e743aa76ae0bcedf3eb57b333c8e916&start=2140&end=2842","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333223-7e743aa76ae0bcedf3eb57b333c8e916/thumbnail_2140000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6693335/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Dallas-Public-Library-outlines-strategic-plan-progress-Recollect-digital-archive-and-facilities-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6693335-00e85c9d0480da798abcadf569f4d891/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108002&Signature=Cgu3152b5EGazcCsF74W4uN~WUgtDXPJpjr8eH8M2RJ71s4D2KL61vtNUjbYpTFUI0e1FRxiUf4qi8FklGEmzwTxp7Oeg0bRY-BHj5qcFGYpvq4uWsyJj8ktpgd1gcEBs7HkB-VyRiTqZdTGA47-CFjLx4fB0r1dGaVTkTXI8sD-GgbJEU1PSUlyzwoFCkYz~Ce7bfChK6Xl78FAcqsnD8PXp2M8CbfcMCTH56O1ZMKR2KR3kVrAggBa0RD2DtO1sDpNHa6a4ASDg85dTzAJL-IFkQml750uNFy1NVSUV~4QHureOAyfil32oS56CRJi86yTySIABcRodUrDG~GMEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dallas","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Interim Dallas Public Library Director Heather Lowe briefed the Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee on Feb. 18 about progress during year one of the library’s strategic plan and a 20‑year facilities plan adopted by council last year.

Lowe said the plan’s eight goals focus on technology, collections, equitable access, facilities and staff development. “The library just launched Recollect, a digital repository of photos, recordings, maps, and other special collection items,” Lowe said, noting the repository already contains “a little over 11,000 items.”

Why it matters: committee members said the plan helps prioritize bond and budget decisions and highlighted the library’s role in early childhood education, workforce development and neighborhood services. Several members urged the library to better publicize services and to pursue partnerships for programs such as homebound delivery of materials.

Key updates and programs: Lowe said the library and ITS are aligning on a five‑year technology plan, and that the library intends to move its catalog to a vendor‑hosted instance to improve uptime and reduce internal IT burden. The library also reported progress on ADA bathroom upgrades and accessibility door improvements at multiple branches and said work to upgrade HVAC systems at two branches is scheduled for spring.

Equity and access: Lowe said the library plans to offer sensory story times for neurodivergent children with funding from Atmos Energy and Friends of the Dallas Public Library, and that a new website design with improved language and accessibility features is expected by mid‑summer. A proposed homebound delivery program remains on the library’s priority list but has been postponed due to lack of secured funding.

Facilities and partnerships: Lowe said the library is coordinating with Facilities and Real Estate Management on projects and is exploring multi‑use approaches and collaborations with parks and other city departments to extend program reach. Committee members suggested pursuing philanthropic partners for children’s areas and aligning library facility needs with potential bond funding.

Questions and follow up: committee members asked for counts of active and inactive library cardholders (Lowe said she believes there are about 600,000 active cardholders but offered to confirm), for details on summer camp partnerships with Parks, and for the library to explore partnering with home‑delivery providers for a materials delivery program. Members also discussed contingency planning for potential branch closures and asset security.

Ending: The committee praised the library’s strategic focus and requested additional follow‑up on cardholder data, branch‑level summer programming plans and the library’s timeline for accessibility and technology upgrades.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Dallas - Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee - Feb 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Interim director Heather Lowe briefed the committee on year‑one progress implementing the library’s council‑adopted strategic plan, including a new digital repository (Recollect), technology updates, ADA upgrades and staff development work; some initiatives (like homebound delivery) remain pending funding.","taxTitle","Dallas, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",2781,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6693340,"Thanksgiving Foundation outlines $20M–$30M vision to expand Thanksgiving Square into a downtown district",784,62000,846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333223-7e743aa76ae0bcedf3eb57b333c8e916&start=62&end=846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333223-7e743aa76ae0bcedf3eb57b333c8e916/thumbnail_62000.jpg","/articles/6693340/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Thanksgiving-Foundation-outlines-20M30M-vision-to-expand-Thanksgiving-Square-into-a-downtown-district","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6693340-b9a96ef00cad8b5c9009d882bde2aeb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108002&Signature=R9doTgDsjw729Th00hJfKj010yqIgTwJVjGYdB5vJD27lJFm3xLSgYFzwJ3aPkvn8wN9mE6P30Ojb7AEZzXAgsu6KKJ9DeH2TNCzFRuDnoPWtEZm3UX4AIXhgYN95PXhg-mGkUBJi9gv77IBn95ixyKY766UM0QxTp670NtKWbiFH59jC-djTcuq2v~uA6QQqYoLvIuxVOZhY87KiXqkkI7uTj8n0QOG6r8GKVNaNz-t4SgSF2Xx~v3AJXpamnaebOLi9-svHxFb8Ac009mDrvRAJq~uEXcYZ6FQQeAT3FymrnalFwW3UZberXtmfUw-52iFsA25XZOrW8offTAqCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Thanksgiving Foundation presented a multi‑million dollar plan on Feb. 18 to expand Thanksgiving Square into a Thanksgiving District in downtown Dallas and asked the Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee for city coordination and public support.

The project team described new public‑facing elements — including a large shade structure (stoa), pop‑up vendor spaces, ramps to make the chapel ADA‑compliant and a new restaurant/event building — and said fundraising would cover construction and endowment costs estimated in the low tens of millions. “My ask of you is to understand what we’re trying to accomplish here and to get behind us and help us make this a reality for the city of Dallas,” said Mr. Ogden, presenting the plan and identified later in the meeting as the project lead.

The committee was told the vision is intended to preserve the Square’s original mission while increasing accessibility and downtown activation. The presentation described Thanksgiving Square’s history, noting it was founded in the 1960s and opened in 1977 with work by Philip Johnson, and said the site attracts roughly 205,000 visits per year based on third‑party foot‑traffic data.

Why it matters: foundation leaders said the expansion would create a more walkable downtown, increase hotel and property tax revenue, and provide new cultural programming while preserving the Square’s nonsectarian mission. Committee members pressed the presenters on fundraising, maintenance, and how the effort would fit within existing downtown planning.

Funding and engineering support: the presenters said the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) approved $10,000,000 of project funding, contingent on a 2‑for‑1 match from philanthropy and other sources, and that NCTCOG advanced $500,000 to begin preliminary engineering. “The $10,000,000 is primarily for infrastructure improvements … contingent upon the Thanksgiving Square raising the 20,000,000,” said Gus Kincarley, transportation and public works director, clarifying the regional funding is for roadway, signal and pedestrian infrastructure tied to the project.

Project cost and fundraising: foundation representatives said hard construction costs are currently estimated in the “$22.25 million to $25 million” range and that a working total for a fully endowed project has been near $30 million but could be higher depending on endowment and scope choices. The foundation said it has retained a fundraising consultant and is forming a campaign planning committee; several committee members stressed the need to define maintenance/operations commitments and to avoid asking the city to bear long‑term upkeep without clear terms. The presenters stated there is no current intention to ask the city to assume ongoing maintenance costs for the property.

Questions from committee members focused on: whether the foundation’s fundraising and board commitments are sufficient, how the proposal aligns with the city’s downtown parks master plan, how ADA upgrades would be handled (the square was built before ADA standards), and whether the project risks changing the Square’s contemplative mission. “We want to be very distinctive. We want to be a place of welcoming and belonging and contemplation,” Ogden said in response to concerns about mission drift.

Next steps: presenters said they are coordinating with city staff, downtown planning groups and philanthropic partners and will continue fundraising and engineering work. City staff indicated the transportation department expects to hire an outside consultant to scope infrastructure improvements. The presentation did not include a formal request for a city funding vote; the foundation asked for increased city visibility and coordination as it develops the campaign.

Ending: Committee members expressed cautious support while asking for clearer budgets, maintenance plans and formal alignment with the downtown master plan as the foundation moves from concept and engineering toward fundraising.","The Thanksgiving Foundation presented renderings and a fundraising plan for a proposed Thanksgiving District in downtown Dallas, seeking city visibility and coordination after a $10 million infrastructure commitment from the North Central Texas Council of Governments contingent on philanthropic matching.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6693325,"Votes at a glance: Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee — Feb. 18",44,4000,48000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333223-7e743aa76ae0bcedf3eb57b333c8e916&start=4&end=48","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333223-7e743aa76ae0bcedf3eb57b333c8e916/thumbnail_4000.jpg","/articles/6693325/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Quality-of-Life-Arts-and-Culture-Committee-Feb-18","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6693325-8ab95299700bd73d30dfca729513e555/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108002&Signature=mbcVQxfv3-0qQZOoym3JV59Ee~rsVXOBLeziF5qAhb9csE2s30ivk-dek5dglOxruB4Sd71ReMOdBiC~k7LyEmA9N6K7tTfGf7kH2YMtgLZ7q-HxCey5ztQCnPSF2u2rkoKt6bZx2FrGJJfCzGkTlJjQc-emR5xbHl2ohyc2O~IuAtRxDPPSu3cBbMwepeg-nrfNF1UP~bodPcHf1lqIQ6EnkZNJIXS-pjHG76Ha7PjGsp~JZ8bO3F5MlhuEhTZSt3MuaKc~i6s4mJ6OdZnlFUfKZLEcKLEbuQrS2HCsUW5qFfAo79vFMZVJncdnjt8uI9LE9ohHXPfTnwDfimFZlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee approved the minutes of its Jan. 21 meeting by voice vote at the Feb. 18 meeting.

Chair Ridley called for approval of the Jan. 21 minutes and reported a motion and second. \"Any discussion? All those in favor, please say aye.\" Committee members responded, \"Aye. Aye.\" No roll call or recorded no/abstain votes were recorded in the transcript.

Ending: No other formal votes were recorded in the meeting transcript.","The committee approved the minutes from the Jan. 21 meeting by voice vote at the start of the Feb. 18 meeting.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6693329,"Office of Arts and Culture to seek short‑term extension with Dallas Museum of Art as longer agreement is negotiated",125,3992000,4117000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333223-7e743aa76ae0bcedf3eb57b333c8e916&start=3992&end=4117","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333223-7e743aa76ae0bcedf3eb57b333c8e916/thumbnail_3992000.jpg","/articles/6693329/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Office-of-Arts-and-Culture-to-seek-shortterm-extension-with-Dallas-Museum-of-Art-as-longer-agreement-is-negotiated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6693329-72edb85d881add2b47a867ee7fcb8332/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108002&Signature=TOjdKGe0i38My2r9QUZPCFw7ahFC8zA01gXyVwi18isDDz4iWIQmhL6rlzYtNqL9szsCYgZ95mb3750if-mmcq7dZYNSCl6p4FMDPLO-88fOSb5aXRJN~ATA2YUFjT4TXnb5pXgGojLR6-v93OUJb57RAk4-TlTCtWzgNwHbkOP1hgV6AeQzwVFi9quHyo2IJGbJNXmi35BKEElAYLeQHcwOmOSXglewU7AdTkgvxj5NKAz6vS9uiVrT51KaJHFtdlqUsdYs3tod39UVKskI9mb2~2f-WXmt40HAt-dEtPJqxBYHagEEeOKYwXB7pHOnt5tUiGibb7q3x13eEEOYXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff updated the Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee on Feb. 18 about negotiations with the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) and said staff will seek a short‑term extension of the DMA’s current agreement so both parties can continue talks on a longer‑term arrangement.

Miss Phillippe, director of the Office of Arts and Culture, presented the memo and was joined by DMA staff including the museum’s director of external affairs and the chief experience officer. “We do have an item that will be put forth before council on March 26. We intend to bring a short term extension, before the body, to give us a bit of time to discuss a new long term agreement with this particular facility,” Miss Phillippe said.

Why it matters: city staff said the extension would provide time for continued negotiation of terms that could include a transition of more responsibility to the DMA; staff also listed work planned in the 2024 bond program and noted recent amendments to the existing agreement.

Discussion: committee members asked clarifying questions and city and DMA staff said they were discussing options and the best outcomes for both parties over a two‑year process. DMA representatives present declined to elaborate on negotiation details during the committee briefing.

Next steps: staff said a short‑term contract extension would be forwarded to council for consideration on March 26 and that discussions on a possible long‑term agreement will continue during the extension period.

Ending: No formal council action was taken at the committee meeting; city staff signaled an administrative recommendation for a short‑term extension to be considered at the March council meeting.","City staff briefed the committee on an upcoming council item to extend the existing agreement with the Dallas Museum of Art while the city and museum continue negotiations on a longer‑term transition of responsibilities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Dallas Public Library outlines strategic plan progress, Recollect digital archive and facilities priorities

Thanksgiving Foundation outlines $20M–$30M vision to expand Thanksgiving Square into a downtown district

Votes at a glance: Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee — Feb. 18

Office of Arts and Culture to seek short‑term extension with Dallas Museum of Art as longer agreement is negotiated